Chicago’s Italian heritage dates back to the early 1900s, and today, the city has one of the largest Italian-American populations in the United States.
With this rich heritage comes a passion for Italian food, and Chicago is one of the few cities where you can find restaurants beaming with Italian tradition.
From Italian classics like Spaghetti Bolognese and Tiramisu to many new and unique offerings, we’ve compiled below the absolute best Italian restaurants in Chicago that you MUST visit:
1. Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
From celebrity chef Sarah Grueneberg, Monteverde takes traditional Italian fare and gives it a contemporary twist with influences from the chef/owner’s travels around the world.
This upscale West Loop Italian restaurant has a laid-back vibe and is so popular that you may have to make your reservations months ahead.
Start with Burrata E Ham. Available for both lunch and dinner, this is a plate of fresh, housemade rosemary tigelle (English muffin-like Italian flatbread), which you slice in half to make an indulgent sandwich with the prosciutto, burrata, and other elements on the plate.
This is easily an outstanding small plate you’d be pleased to finish.
The Gnocchetti con Pesto, with fresh, handmade gnocchetti pasta and fresh pesto, is a dish to remember.
Along with the creamy housemade ricotta, huge shavings of Sardinian pecorino, and crunch pine nuts sprinkled on top, this is a truly amazing creation!
Lillian’s Stuffed Cabbage is proof that even a humble vegetable like cabbage can be made the star by the right chef!
The cabbage comes stuffed with herbed crispy polenta and is served with a savory and flavorful porcini bolognese – extraordinary!
The Ragù alla Napoletana gets you excited just by looking at it.
This large shared plate has tender and comforting tomato-braised pork osso bucco, plump and juicy soppressata meatballs, Italian sausage, and fusilli rustico; every single element on the plate tastes delicious.
You can end your meal with their incredible Tiramisu, of course, or the classic Espresso Martini, or both!
What to order: Burrata E Ham, Gnocchetti con Pesto, Lillian’s Stuffed Cabbage, Ragù alla Napoletana, Tiramisu, Espresso Martini
Address: 1020 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60607
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2. Riccardo Trattoria
As a Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient for three years in a row, Riccardo Trattoria in Lincoln Park is the kind of Italian place where you will leave with a sense of satisfaction, of having eaten such good food at such a reasonable price.
This cozy and casual place offers authentic Northern Italian food inspired by regional ingredients.
The Fried Calamari & Red Prawns is a delightful starter dish. The calamari rings and prawns are fried to golden and have a nice crunch to them without being chewy or rubbery.
The puttanesca sauce on the side is both sweet and salty and makes the perfect pairing.
Riccardo Trattoria serves top-class veal dishes, and two of our favorites are the Milk Fed Veal Chop and the Veal Shank Ossobuco.
The veal chop is simple, juicy, and to die for. You can choose from three different sauces – roast au jus, milanese, and emilana.
We recommend the roast au jus to make your veal rich and full of flavor.
To end your night on a sweet note, go with the Panna Cotta. Simple, delicate, light, and creamy, with an acidic touch from the passion fruit coulis, this dessert is ethereal, to say the least.
What to order: Fried Calamari & Red Prawns, Milk Fed Veal Chop, Gnocchi, Veal Shank Ossobuco, Panna Cotta
Address: 2119 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
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3. Quartino Ristorante
Located in the ever-bustling downtown Chicago, Quartino is an Italian restaurant and wine bar known for its small plates featuring regional specialties.
The bi-level space carries charming vintage decor and has a casual and chill vibe, perfect for family gatherings and dinners with friends.
Their White Bean Garlic Dip is not to be missed. With its pleasant olive oil and garlic flavor, and served with toasted Italian sourdough bread, this dip sets the tone for the delightful Italian meal that is to follow.
Try the Tortellini with alfredo sauce, peas, and prosciutto, and it is most likely to become your go-to order every time you visit the restaurant.
Taste their Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo once and you’ll notice your mouth watering every time you think about it after.
The braised beef tomato sauce is extremely flavorful, and the thick and broad pasta (made fresh in-house, and cooked to al dente) is perfect to soak up the meaty sauce.
What to order: White Bean Garlic Dip, Tortellini with alfredo sauce, Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo, Pepperoni pizza
Address: 626 N State Street, Chicago, IL 60654
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4. RPM Italian
When Italian classics meet modern fare, you get RPM Italian in River North area, yet another sister collaboration of the famous RPM restaurants in the city.
Step into a space of black, white, and opulent wood and leather accents, with circular disks of light spanning across the ceiling, perfectly arranged to suit any aesthetic taste.
Fine dining is elevated to the next level with RPM Italian’s star-studded menu.
It features head (and palate) turners such as the Maine Lobster Ravioli made with housemade pasta and ragu that hits home and the Spicy King Crab in squid ink pasta, with all the right spices enhancing the flavor.
The Brussel Sprouts would be an amazing side character to this beautiful story: crispy and flavorful. Roll the curtains down with the sweet flavor and tangy notes of the RPM Cheesecake, along with a glass of Pinot Noir.
What to order: Ricotta Cavatelli, Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Spicy King Crab, Charred Pepperoni Pizzette, RPM Cheesecake
Address: 52 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
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5. La Scarola
La Scarola is a lovely combination of great food and a great ambience. This Italian place is a favorite among locals for all the right reasons – handmade and delicious pasta, huge portions, and affordable pricing.
Not a big fan of fried appetizers? La Scarola has some delightful alternatives like the Sauteed Scarole, and Sausage and Peppers.
For a lightly fried option, go with the Calamari. Breaded with their special seasoned batter, the calamari is pan-fried and comes to the table crispy and tender.
The Penne alla Vodka here is *chef’s kiss*! Loaded with shrimp and mushrooms, and tossed in a creamy vodka sauce, this pasta dish is soothing to the soul.
A favorite of Food Network’s Guy Fieri, the Veal Chop alla Gabe is a huge 10oz. Veal chop pounded paper thin, breaded, and pan-fried; the veal has its juiciness intact, with a crispy exterior, and the lemon-garlic sauce it is served with creates a party in your mouth.
Oh, and don’t forget about Chicago’s very own Chicken Vesuvio. La Scarola’s version of this classic is super delicious.
What to order: Sauteed Scarole, Sausage and Peppers, Calamari, Penne alla Vodka, Veal Chop alla Gabe, Chicken Vesuvio
Address: 721 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60610
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6. Ciccio Mio
A highly popular Italian restaurant where it is difficult to secure a table; Ciccio Mio entices not just with its fantastic food with bold flavors, but also its charming setting, laid-back vibe, and hearty portions. The elegant, low-lit interior makes this a special spot for a romantic dinner date.
If you can get only one pasta dish at Ciccio Mio, we’d recommend that you get the Lasagna Bolognese Rotolo. You get three big slabs of rolled lasagna covered in rich and thick bolognese sauce – fragrant, flavorful, and gratifying!
The Spicy Vodka Rigatoni is, again, incredibly fresh and delicious. There is an enjoyable level of heat in the sauce, and it is equally creamy and luscious.
Another easy standout on the menu is the Chicken Parmesan. You get a generously sized piece of chicken – juicy and tender from the first bite till last – covered in a subtly sweet red sauce with fresh mozzarella and basil.
Even if you’re stuffed, there should be room for the mighty swirl of Fior di Latte gelato. Drizzled with chestnut honey, sprinkled with sea salt, and dusted in fennel pollen, this gelato is nothing like you’ve ever tasted (in the best way possible)!
What to order: Lasagna Bolognese Rotolo, Spicy Vodka Rigatoni, Chicken Parmesan, Fior di Latte gelato
Address: 226 W Kinzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60654
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7. Gibsons Italia
“A modern steakhouse with an Italian accent” is the perfect description of Gibsons Italia, Chicago Riverwalk’s finest Italian restaurant. This is a unique three-level restaurant – comfortable and elegant, and the menu here takes you on a tour of world-class beef, along with elevated Italian classics and American steakhouse staples.
The 22oz Chicago Cut is a stand-out entree at Gibsons Italia. You get a beautiful cut of meat that arrives at your table nicely cooked, with a great char on the outside and a perfect medium rare inside – absolutely juicy and tender!
Their King Crab Bisque would be the perfect dish to start your meal with on a cold evening. It’s smooth, silky, has the most enjoyable crab flavor and comes at the perfect temperature for you to enjoy every spoonful.
The Spicy Rigatoni could easily be the best version of the dish you’ve ever had. The rich and creamy combo of Tomato vodka sauce with the Parmigiano Reggiano gives great depth to the chunky pasta, making this a filling plate of food.
When you’re at Gibsons Italia, you need to ditch the Tiramisu and try their Banana Gelato instead; you’d be glad you did!
What to order: Chicago Cut, King Crab Bisque, Spicy Rigatoni, Banana Gelato
Address: 233 N Canal Street Chicago, IL 60606
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8. Osteria Langhe
Located in the Logan Square neighborhood, Osteria Langhe, unlike the other Italian restaurants in Chicago, is devoted to one particular region of Italy instead of the entire Italian cuisine, and that region is Piedmont.
With bare wood tables that give the interior a rustic feel, the restaurant’s focused and elevated menu is set to give you an unforgettable Italian experience.
The Vitello Tonnato is one of the most talked about dishes from the restaurant. It has thin slices of poached beef along with a crispy egg and creamy and tangy tonnato sauce. This is every bit delicious!
If you love rabbit meat, you’ll love Osteria’s Coniglio. The prosciutto-wrapped rabbit loin is well-cooked and remains juicy without getting tough.
The addition of prosciutto and pork belly adds a nice saltiness to the dish, and the polenta on the bottom adds a beautiful creaminess to make the different types of meat work well together.
All of the restaurant’s pastas are made fresh in-house, of which the most soulful dish would be the Ragu – eggy fettuccine with chunky and savory northern meat ragu.
The Panna Cotta is the clear winner of their Dolci menu. It is light, creamy, jiggly, supple, smooth, and expertly balanced with the different elements.
What to order: Vitello Tonnato, Coniglio, Ragu, Panna Cotta
Address: 2824 W Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
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9. Sapori Trattoria
Sapori Trattoria is a small neighborhood Italian eatery serving fresh, quality, and authentic food in a relaxed setting.
The warm and homey atmosphere of the place makes it a go-to Italian restaurant for all occasions, from first dates to anniversary dinners, and more.
The Bruschetta will be an amazing palate refresher before a rich Italian meal.
Cappellacci All’Aragosta is handmade pasta stuffed with fresh lobster and seafood tossed in a luscious pink sauce. You get sizable pieces of lobster in every bite, and the pink sauce is creamy, rich, and wonderful.
Do make full use of the complimentary bread to soak up every last drop of the yummy sauce.
The Zuppa Di Pesce is marvelous in its own right! Loaded with all kinds of fresh seafood, including salmon and scallops, in a light red sauce along with linguini pasta, this dish is a seafood lover’s heaven.
The Gnocchi Al Brivido has soft and fluffy potato gnocchi with chicken tossed in a fresh and lively basil pine nut pesto sauce.
This dish is so good that you’d want to order extra to-go.
What to order: Bruschetta, Cappellacci All’Aragosta, Zuppa Di Pesce, Gnocchi Al Brivido
Address: 2701 N Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60614
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10. Topo Gigio Ristorante
Located in the heart of Chicago’s historic Old Town, Topo Gigio has been offering Tuscan-style Italian food for over 25 years.
Apart from the warm, cozy, and lively indoor dining room, there is also a lush and beautiful outside garden, which is perfect for dining in during the warm summer months.
An almost perfect pasta dish from Topo Gigio is the Conchiglie alla Sarda.
From the al dente seashell pasta to the silky and rich tomato-cream sauce to the lavish amounts of ground sausage and peas contributing with their distinctive textures and flavors, this plate of pasta doesn’t miss a mark.
The spaghetti bolognese with meatballs here – Spaghetti con le Polpette – is their special recipe, and tastes divine.
PS: Their meatballs are so so good, you can enjoy them separately as a side dish, or add them to any of your favorite pasta dishes.
The Fusilli alla Topo Gigio is a popular offering. Named after the restaurant, the star of the dish is most certainly the four-cheese sauce with salty and porky pancetta and savory chicken pieces.
What to order: Conchiglie alla Sarda, Spaghetti con le Polpette, Fusilli alla Topo Gigio, Meatballs
Address: 1516 N Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60610
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11. Segnatore
Among Chicago’s thronged Italian culinary scene is a gem – Segnatore, a charming little space in Humboldt Park, with a menu influenced by “the evolution of traditional and regional Italian cooking”.
With vintage wallpaper, offbeat furniture, and a wooden bar, this place is truly charismatic.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the house Breads first. Offered with herb butter, the fresh focaccia and sourdough are our favorites.
Segnatore’s Meatballs in Sauce needs a special mention. While the meatballs themselves are juicy and tender, covered in a spicy and flavor-packed red sauce, the fact that they come stuffed with the delicate and sweet scamorza cheese makes them even more scrumptious.
The Freestyle “Lasagna” is the kind of dish you’d daydream about, and one that you wouldn’t want to share with anyone. It’s that good!
And despite being a vegetarian dish, we bet it will make any meat lover drool after just a single bite.
Another extraordinary dish to not miss here is the Leek Gramigne. The best word to describe this dish would be “rich”. The dry vermouth cream sauce is, well, creamy and rich, and the whole dish comes packed with meaty short rib and mushrooms.
It is again tossed with cured egg yolk, which elevates it to an outworldly level.
What to order: Breads, Meatballs in Sauce, Freestyle “Lasagna”, Leek Gramigne, Hash Browns
Address: 1001 N California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
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12. Bongiorno’s Cucina Italiana & Pizzeria
Bongiorno’s is a family-run restaurant taking pride in serving some of the best home-cooked Italian food in Chicago.
The interior setting is more casual and home-like; but, it is the outdoor patio seating along the River Walk that scores more votes.
Bongiorno’s pizzas are named one of the best in the city by food lovers and professionals alike.
Their Pepperoni pizza is likely to give you an instant foodgasm! Though it has all the standard elements, there’s something indescribably special about it that’ll make you rank it among the best.
Some of the other pizzas we’re sure you’d love from Bongiorno’s are Cheese and Sausage.
If you’re in the mood for a sandwich, try the Parmigiana. With crispy and juicy breaded chicken breast and oven-baked with red sauce and mozzarella, this is the ultimate Italian sandwich.
What to order: Pepperoni pizza, Cheese pizza, Sausage pizza, Parmigiana sandwich, Stuffed Gnocchi
Address: 405 North Wabash, Chicago, IL 60611
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13. Regalia Bar & Restaurant
Regalia, located in the heart of Edgewater, serves traditional Italian cuisine with a modern twist, using the freshest ingredients.
The restaurant is upscale yet homey, and the menu features several well-loved and highly popular Italian classics, which can be paired with fine wines or with specialty cocktails.
The Shrimp Gorgonzola is a modernized traditional offering here at Regalia. The tender and juicy shrimp rests on a bed of creamy polenta, and the rich and decadent gorgonzola sauce elevates the seafood flavor.
The Veal Chop Parmigiana comes covered in cheese and dripping in sauce. It is so delicious that you’d want to just pick up the bone-in piece by hand and have your way at it.
Hey, no one’s stopping you!
The Chicken Saltimbocca is chicken cutlets wrapped in prosciutto, tossed in a buttery tomato white wine sauce, and flavored with sage. Take a bite and you’ll know why it is loved by Italians so damn much!
What to order: Shrimp Gorgonzola, Veal Chop Parmigiana, Chicken Saltimbocca
Address: 5959 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660
14. Pizzeria Portofino
A fairly new addition to the Chicago Riverwalk way, Pizzeria Portofino, with its sun-drenched location, hand-stretched pizzas, and coastal wine, aims at transporting diners to the swanky Italian Riviera.
Along with craft pizza and pasta, they also serve charcoal-grilled seafood, all of which are best enjoyed on their chic, airy, and relaxing riverfront terrace.
First order of business – order the Charred Pepperoni pizza. Apart from the amazing hand-stretched crust that is light, airy, and a little bit chewy, the flavors of the pizza truly shine.
Don’t hesitate on the hot honey either.
While the classic Margherita tastes its authentic self with a bomb tomato sauce, you’ll love the Pugliese more because of the spicy and flavorful fennel sausage made in-house.
From their Brunch menu, the Eggs in Purgatory is the ultimate choice. The eggs come poached to perfection in a spicy tomato sauce, and the fresh, crisp, and chewy focaccia on the side is ideal to scoop up all the deliciousness.
Their Pistachio Gelato would be the outstanding Italian frozen treat you need to end your memorable Italian meal.
It is sweet, dense, creamy, and has an intense pistachio flavor.
What to order: Charred Pepperoni, Margherita, Pugliese, Eggs in Purgatory, Rigatoni Vodka, Pistachio Gelato
Address: 317 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654
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15. Bonci Pizzeria
A pizzeria straight out of Italy, Bonci will have you contemplating whether you could still fathom eating pizza from anywhere else other than here!
A small, casual spot with lots of options, including vegan, you can pick exactly how much pizza you want and pay by weight— how amazing is that?
An absolute big hit, the Spicy Eggplant Pizza feels like a cannonball of all the right flavors striking your tongue in just one bite. Creamy and delightfully unique, you’ll wish you had an infinite supply of these at home.
A comforting pizza that is capable of lifting your spirits, Bonci’s Sausage and Mushroom Pizza is everything you need on a bad, hungry day.
From the slightly crisp but chewy crust to the warm cheese and fresh mushrooms, this pizza is to die for!
What to order: Spicy Eggplant Pizza, Sausage and Mushroom Pizza
Address: 161 N Sangamon St, Chicago, IL 60607
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Whether you fancy a restaurant with a view for a dinner date or a scenic waterfront place with amazing food to celebrate a special occasion, Chicago Riverwalk has some solid options for you to consider.
Check out our post on the best Chicago Riverwalk restaurants to know your options.
How We Create Our “Best” Lists
All Noms Magazine’s “best” lists are created using multiple factors and signals to help readers find the best restaurants, things to do, and places to stay at. Some of these factors and signs include personal experiences, correspondence with locals, and compiling experiences from review sites.
Each list is also created to be balanced (in terms of price, cuisine type, ambiance, and more) as possible. This means that the lists are not specifically created in ranking order. You should be comfortable picking from any of the spots on the list and generally have a good time. But of course, YMMV (your mileage may vary) and everyone may have different experiences/palates.