For years, we have eaten at Viaggio before attending summer concerts at Ravinia. This year, we learned that Viaggio had "evolved" into Nico, so we didn't know what to expect. It turns out, Nico is GREAT! Many of our favorites from Viaggio remain on the menu; the crusty bread, the Caesar salad, the gnocchi, the chicken Parmesan, all were top-notch. Terrific seafood dishes remain, too, although we didn't try them during this visit. And some new items that will be fun to try have been added, such as pizza. As always, the service was friendly and efficient. And best of all, the spumoni bombe is still on the menu! (It's our favorite and SO delicious.). Other delightful desserts, such as Tiramisu, are also available. We loved Nico and we will return soon! read more

Nico's, formerly Viaggio's, underwent a full renovation and change of ownership. Thankfully, much of the excellent staff remains. We loved the old Viaggio's and really wanted to love Nico's, but one major design decision has completely changed the experience for us. The bar was always the heart of this restaurant. It was a comfortable neighborhood bar where locals could have dinner, drinks and conversation. The new owners installed the pizza oven and pizza-making station directly in the middle of it. As a result, the bar is now literally a pizza counter. When you sit there, you are sitting directly in front of a working pizza station, watching pizzas being prepared, with boxes and supplies around the bar. Instead of feeling like you're having dinner and drinks at a neighborhood bar, it feels like you're sitting at the counter of a pizzeria. For us, that simply isn't an appealing or relaxing way to spend an evening. The layout also makes normal bar service extremely awkward. The pizza operation physically separates the bartenders from many of the customers sitting at the bar, requiring them to walk around the bar to take orders and serve patrons. Finally, you are sitting directly in front of a large, very hot pizza oven. The heat is significant. The pizza maker working in front of the oven was, quite understandably, sweating heavily throughout the evening just a few feet in front of us while we were trying to eat dinner. That's not a criticism of the employee--it's an illustration of why placing a commercial pizza oven directly in the middle of a dining bar simply doesn't work. The frustrating part is that so much about Nico's is good, particularly the staff. But putting the pizza operation in the middle of what was previously the heart of the restaurant fundamentally changes the experience. I hope the owners reconsider the layout and return the bar to being a bar. We would happily come back. read more

Server seemed to be unhappy having to help us and she was rushing us from the start. Food was just ok- Not great - not terrible. Overpriced for sure! This was our second time here since it became Nico ( formerly Viaggio.). But we won't come again. There are too many other places in the area. They have created a vibe here that doesn't give you any good reason to return. read more

They did it again! We enjoyed another great birthday dinner here. Everyone is so friendly here, the vibe is cozy and lively, and the food is bueno! Our crew enjoyed the chopped salad and calamari ( needs more than ketchupy dips) starters and the mains --chicken Marsala, cavatelli, nanas gravy, rigatoni vodka, and of course the signature meatballs. A very nice slice of tiramisu arrived with a candle for the birthday boy. If it were closer I'd be here every week. read more

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If I could give this place less than a star, I would. What went right? I found a parking spot in the small lot and the bread was good (when they actually brought it to is after asking four times). And mind you, they were not busy at all. There were a lot of empty tables. Everything else was terrible: service was non-existent, food was flavorless, bussers kept taking our appetizer/bread plates away, and the noise level at the bar was loud. We could not hear people talking at our own table. They put two tables together and covered the difference in heights with table clothes, so naturally our glasses fell over and spilled water all over me. Their solution was not to remove the soaking wet table clothes, they brought another one to put on top of the wet ones. Not a good solution. The waiter never checked on us after we got our entrees. My wife's pasta dish was just a bowl of mushy noodles in a bland sauce. My chicken lemone was flavorless and drowning in an equally flavorless sauce. Instead of the mashed cauliflower, I ordered the Vesuvio potatoes that turned out to be four small potatoes that were overcooked and mushy sitting on a bed of peas. No olive oil or oregano. Just flavorless mushy potatoes. How a chef lets this food leave the kitchen is beyond me. The hostess was at the bar constantly chatting up the other people sitting there which was directly behind our table and they were obnoxiously loud. We're done coming here. read more

The food is good and the owner and staff are great. We love sitting outside and being able to walk to the restaurant, truly a neighborhood staple. read more

Food was amazing. Very tasty with mega portions...food coma style. We did delivery and it feels super special. The food arrived very fast and very hot. read more

We visited here before a Ravinia concert. Weeknight before classical music show. All the other patrons were a homogenous sea of faces: 50+ years old. The food reflects that. Unremarkable bread basket. Roasted Brussel Sprouts, 4/5-- generous portion but roasted beyond recognition. Do you see this pic?! Excellent choice of capers though. Skirt Steak, 3/5 -- fine read more

Nico Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

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Good food. Good service. Would recommend and I will be going back. The eight finger cavatelli is heavy in a good way. Would also recommend the Chicken Parm. read more

Food excellent! Service Good Ambiance outdoor dining in summer Meatball salad favorite gnocchi excellent Minestrone Soup yum Calamari read more

My wife and I had the good fortune to discover Viaggio Highland Park last night. We dined early and initially had the cozy spot nearly to ourselves, but it soon began filling up with couples, groups, and families with children of all ages. We quickly learned the reason for the popularity of this outstanding Italian restaurant. The host and staff were gracious, welcoming, and friendly as we were seated and greeted by all. Our server displayed her in-depth knowledge of the menu and specials and was helpful with recommendations based on our questions and comments. We started with grilled calamari, which was right up there with the best I've ever tasted. A large serving perfectly grilled, tender, and served with lemon in a light balsamic sauce. With the warm crusty bread served with oil, grated parmesan, and roasted green peppers, it was an excellent start to our meal. Our entrees were rigatoni in vodka sauce, and rigatoni in nana's gravy, chunks of braised beef in a rich dark tomato and wine sauce, topped with ricotta cheese. Potions were large, and both entrees were delicious. For dessert, we could not resist the house-made profiterole with salted caramel gelato and chocolate sauce. All I can say is it tasted even better than it looked, and that's really saying something. It was a great dining experience. Excellent food and service. We will be returning soon with some foodie friends we want to introduce to Viaggio. read more

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Viaggio is one of my favorite restaurants in the entire Chicago area. The food is excellent (I especially like the penne arrabiatta, as well as the bread and peppers they put out right when you sit down ). And last but definitely not least, the service is excellent. The staff really goes out of their way to make sure the customers have a top notch experience read more

Better food, - literaly everything we ordered was bad. Better service - the person that delivered our food to the table wore a baseball cap and a hoody. Our waiter had too many tables and was not available. read more

I rarely go further north for dinner but a friend had recommended this place so I came with some family and it was a very nice experience for the 3 generations (group of five). We ordered grilled calamari, the meatball appetizer and bruschetta and they were all extremely tasty and delicious. We pretty much devoured it. My husband had the braised beef in Nana's gravy and there were big chunks of beef with noodles and he almost finished it! My son had the brick chicken and he liked his but I didn't have room to try. My daughter in law and I split the pork chop and white fish of the day and both were fantastic! The pork chop was huge so it must have been a pretty fat pig ! We couldn't finish half of the pork chop but managed the fish pretty well. The little one so enjoyed his spaghetti and meatballs and so there was so much for all of us. The roasted vegetables were perfectly done, too. The brownie sundae was yummy but the ice cream had some crystals in it. The tiramisu is good too. Dining outside was beautiful as well. The indoor seating is very romantic inside. They offer specialty drinks and many fine wines. I can't remember but I don't think they have draft beers but canned I think. I highly recommend it here. read more

Nico Restaurant - a woman holding a glass of wine - Italian Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

Todd and his team recently did a marvelous job catering for my group of 40. For starters, we have sausage and peppers, followed by a fresh house salad, then a main of pasta marina, pasta vodka sauce, and chicken vesuvio. Everything was delicious and pipping hot - except for the salad, which was not hot! The group was delighted, I think I may have won 39 new followers for the restaurant. If you want a good Italian feed in Highland Park, go to Viaggio. Thank you guys and keep up the good work. read more

Solid all around. Brussel sprouts are the best I have ever had. Crispy and salty with capers and lemon. I am a big fan. Solid food all around. read more

We always enjoy our dining experience at Viaggio. It's a warm environment where the owner checks on you and the servers are prompt and kind. My favorite entree there is chicken marsala. The lasagna and other pasta dishes are excellent as well. It's a convenient place to dine before a Ravinia concert (park and walk to the venue) but make a reservation far ahead of time because they fill up. read more

Great Italian with a family feel. Cavatelli is freshly made and everyone loved the lasagne and meatballs as well. Loved the roasted peppers that are complimentary with fresh baked bread. Save room for their tiramisu and cannolis. Portion of every dish is very generous. Friendly staff and they don't rush you. Outdoor seating is plentiful and you can park in the dry cleaner spots after they've closed. read more

IN LOVE with this hole-in-the-wall restaurant within a mile of Ravinia! I'm always at a bit of a loss when it comes to getting dinner before or after a Ravinia show. I attended a classical concert not too long ago and some people attending the show recommended this place. Excellent choice!! My tablemates and I split a bottle of wine and raved about the delicious, fresh food, as we chatted about the show we just saw. To top things off, I guess this is a hot spot among Ravinia performers--the performers we saw were enjoying drinks at the bar when we were on our way out. We got to chat with them a bit and congratulate them on a show well done. Just to vouch for how amazing the food was, I totally spaced on photographing my amazing eggplant Parmesan because it looked so darn delicious. Complimentary bread and peppers come with your meal. The eggplant came with a side of tortellini and Alfredo but I subbed that out with some yummy grilled asparagus. The wine was just unspeakably refreshing after a muggy walk around the Ravinia grounds. I'll be back for sure!! read more

Sausage and peppers are tremendous.. Chicken Milanese was fantastic... go there... go there now !!!

We've eaten here a few times but tonight we carried out and the results were pretty good for take home. Our salad looked small but was adequate with pretty average ingredients. The dressing was tasty but very thick? Bread and peppers tasty and filling. My friends enjoyed the Brussels sprouts while I excused myself from their pungent aroma. Our mains were the chicken Milanese and rigatoni in vodka sauce. The chicken was very good with a nice coating and well fried while the sauce with it was too greasy for my liking. The pasta was overcooked and too creamy for my taste but others enjoyed it. It's a better experience and meal eating there and that's the plan for next time. read more

Amazing Italian restaurant with incredible dishes and flavors. Can be extremely busy but worth the wait. Lasagna was great but so were all the dishes ( Chicken Parm, ravioli, etc...) . Service was incredible. This place is the real deal!! read more

Great Italian food with a small town atmosphere. Theres also outside seating. I enjoyed the ravioli and vodka pasta. Parking is easy to find. Prices are average. Food amounts are generous. a great date locaction. read more

Went here for a family birthday on Saturday night and had a great time. We were actually able to get seated inside right away, though the outdoor area had quite a wait. Everybody loved their food, and the portions were huge! We had the chicken parm, shrimp scampi, lasagna, vodka rigatoni, and the eight finger cavatelli. Everyone tried everyones, and the consensus was it was all really good. Ohhh, and the bread that came out was a perfect crunch of crust and hot inside. The service was a little slow, but I kind of expect that with Italian food, and we were in no rush so we didn't mind. The owners were also so nice, came over and asked about the food, the family and how things were going. When they heard there was a birthday they brought over a dessert and were just so nice about it. Loved the family atmosphere this place gave off! read more

We had a fantastic dinner tonight !! Veal parmigiana, chicken Vesuvio , baked lasagna, skirt steak and egg plant parm. The service far exceeded our expectations!! Lisetttttt killed it !! Highly recommend Viaggio's!! L. feldman and friends Vernon Hills, Il 60062? read more

Our party of four stopped in for dinner on a Saturday night around 6 pm. The dining room has a polished but comfortable feel to it. When we first arrived the restaurant was half full which contributed to an environment where conversation was easy. As the restaurant began to fill up conversation became very difficult which was disappointing because we were looking forward to catching up. The menu has all the Italian basics you would expect and the portions were reasonable. The special menu had some interesting options. One member of our party ordered the whitefish special which came with mashed sweet potatoes and a balsamic glaze which seemed to be a unique way to serve whitefish. We thought the food was good but overpriced for what it was. read more

Wonderful Italian restaurant with authentic and tasteful food with great size portions Beautiful ambience, eating outside in the summer. read more

TL:DR - food is good. Service is sloooooow. We had a 7:45 reservation, were seated pretty quickly. Placed order for entrees at 8:15. Entrees arrived at 9:25. They were busy, but over an hour wait for food is beyond our limit. The food is good, but not good enough to justify that kind of wait. read more

rigatoni vodka and Nonas gravy was delicious! Being from an Italian family that loves to cook, its hard to get Italian food that I love from a restaurant but Viaggio was amazing! read more

Here's what you need to know: food was worth 1.5-2 stars. Service was good, so I'll round up to 3 stars. We ordered 1 dish - the linguine with clams in white sauce and it was very disappointing. There was just no flavor in the sauce at all, and the pasta literally tasted like unsalted boiled pasta. This pasta was $30 before tax, and unfortunately worth none of that charge. This is not reflective of food that comes from a professionally run restaurant kitchen. No seasoning or flavor in the white sauce either, which is so ironic given that people order a clams in a pasta/sauce to taste like seafood. This tasted like nothing. Very disappointing. I genuinely wanted to love this neighborhood Italian restaurant, but I can't possibly order from here again. There was no flavor or value in our meal. The house bread with grated parmesan was a nice touch and was enjoyable with since olive oil we drizzled on top. But since we are in the middle of a pandemic I won't give a 1 or 2 star rating. read more

Incredible food service and ambiance. My absolute go to for Italian on Northshore. I love their appetizers as well as their pasta dishes, both of which are truly authetic. read more

Very good food and every staff person was hustling! First time here as a stop on the way to Ravinia. Very pleasant outdoor seating. Made reservations online but did not need them even given the time frame we showed up- 5:00 on a Saturday. We both had the Nanas Gravy and it was very good. Our biggest reason for the five star review was our server Liss. She was friendly, attentive and spunky. Will definitely return when in the area. read more

Viaggio is a delicious Italian spot to serve you some Italian comfort food during these uncertain times. I felt as though the prices were generous for the portions that came with the order. Also ordered but not pictured was the Brick chicken, Eggplant Parmesan and fish of the day which was a White Fish. Everything that was ordered was hot and packed full of delicious flavor. They also sent a nice portion of warm Italian bread with some marinated green peppers on the side for no additional cost. I had high expectations as the Italian restaurant previously in that location was also a 5 star in my book, but Viaggio definitely exceeded my expectations. I look forward to eating inside the restaurant in the future. read more

Nico Restaurant - Side of Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Highland Park, Illinois

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Very nice outside seating. They did a great job utilizing the parking lot for socially-distanced tables. It was unseasonably cold at dinner (54F), so the heating lamps were a GREAT touch! The food came out quick, and the hot dishes were piping hot - especially in light of the "frosty" 50-something outside temperature :). The food tasted amazing! Fresh! Plentiful portions! And very flavorful! We really liked the Nana's Gravy and the Chicken Milanese dishes. Special thanks for their table spicy sautéed peppers - nice wake up for the taste buds! The price point is on a higher side of reasonable, but this is a great place for a date-night or (finally) dinner with friends occasions - I would estimate about $40 per person without drinks. We would definitely come back, and would recommend this place to others! read more

The friendly staff was nice. And the noise level just right. Foo was going ok. A nice neighborhood spot but my calamari was fair and sort of a small portion. Bread was not top of the line you could find and other Italian places. read more

My sister and I had a wonderful dinner yesterday. They started us off with bread, Parmesan and marinated peppers. I ordered a lemon drop and wow that's a great cocktail! Our appetizer was the baked clams. Some of the best I have ever had! My godfather's mother-in-law made them in the basement of a place in Elmwood Park. So I am spoiled. Sister ordered the chicken Milanese which I sampled and it was so juicy and across so crispy unbelievable. I had the chicken Vesuvio with a side of pasta olive oil and garlic. It was better than little Italy places. Our service was perfect! I brought my dog and they brought water and treated us like family. Can't wait to go back and have some more clams read more

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This is where the locals eat! You instantly get that vibe when you walk into the restaurant... the hosts and staff know the diners, and so many people are getting up to greet each other. The food is fantastic and comes out piping hot. The baked clams were delicious, and the pasta was perfectly cooked. Viaggio's is a gem and definitely our top choice for Italian! read more

Unless you are a regular... Had a reservation, seated quickly, provided with bread and water - then nothing for over 30 minutes while we watched others get seated, orders taken, etc. Flagged some one down twice - still no service. read more

Honestly every single item I had was perfect. Baked clams were amazing, the 8 finger cavatelli was phenomenal and everything else from the salad to the other entrées. read more

I recently reviewed the restaurant with higher remarks across the board. The food itself is outstanding the passion for the cuisine is 100% there. The last time that me and my girlfriend went it was during the re-opening of restaurants and there was a very limited amount of people at the restaurant. Because we live in a world with Covid safety precautions trump any other standard when it comes to dining and unfortunately what I observed today was not with the customers safety in mind. While the food was outstanding and the service was OK the restaurant was packed the seating arrangements were within 2 to 3 feet of each other and every single table was full. Considering that this is a family owned restaurant and a family operated restaurant you would think that the safety of their patrons would come first and foremost but when you're packing the restaurant wall-to-wall and you do not have proper 6 feet distance between tables it is disturbing. While we will continue to come to the restaurant because they have wonderful food we will either be eating outside or ordering out to go. read more