Last Updated: June 2026
The best Italian restaurants in Chicago aren’t a single style — they’re red-sauce-and-Sunday-gravy family rooms where the recipes taste like someone’s grandmother made them, glamorous River North dining rooms built for a night out, and modern pasta destinations that have put the city on the national map. I’ve eaten my way through all of them, and these twelve are the ones I send people to depending on the night they’re planning. Chicago’s Italian roots run deep, and this is where they show up on the plate.
This is a personal list, not a ranking pulled from a guidebook. My mother-in-law was a proud Chicago Italian who cooked the real thing, and my husband carries on that tradition — so I’ve spent years eating at these places with people who know the difference. I’ve also covered Chicago dining for more than 10 years. Below, each spot comes with its neighborhood, address, nearest CTA stop, what I order, and who it’s best for, so you can match the restaurant to the occasion. If you’re chasing a specifically romantic table, our guide to the most romantic restaurants in Chicago by neighborhood pairs well with this one.
In a Nutshell
- My two go-tos: La Scarola (River West) and Viaggio (West Loop) — the first tastes like family, the second is pure romance.
- Best modern pasta: Monteverde — Sarah Grueneberg’s West Loop room, one of the most acclaimed Italian kitchens in the country.
- Hardest reservation: Ciccio Mio — book 21 days out at 9 a.m. and it still goes fast.
- Best old-school history: The Village (Loop, since 1927) and Tufano’s (Little Italy, since 1930).
- Where they cluster: West Loop, River North, and Little Italy hold most of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago — all easy to reach by CTA.
A quick note on how to use this list. Chicago’s Italian scene splits roughly into three camps: classic red-sauce family rooms (La Scarola, Tufano’s, Rosebud, Carmine’s), glamorous see-and-be-seen spots (RPM Italian, Ciccio Mio, Pizzeria Portofino), and modern or special-occasion destinations (Monteverde, The Village, Gibsons-adjacent rooms). Figure out which kind of night you want first, then pick from that group — I’ve labeled each one so it’s easy.
Chicago Italian restaurants at a glance
| Restaurant | Neighborhood · best for |
|---|---|
| La Scarola | River West · tastes-like-family red sauce |
| Viaggio | West Loop · romance, the mirrored ceiling |
| Monteverde | West Loop · modern handmade pasta |
| Ciccio Mio | River North · intimate, special-occasion |
| RPM Italian | River North · glamour, a night out |
| Carmine’s | Gold Coast · classic Rosebud red sauce, reopened |
| Rosebud on Taylor | Little Italy · old-school institution |
| Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap | Little Italy · 1930s family classic, cash only |
| The Village | Loop · historic, romantic grotto since 1927 |
| Sapori Trattoria | Lincoln Park · cozy North Side neighborhood spot |
| Pizzeria Portofino | River North · riverfront pizza & coastal vibe |
| Tuscany on Taylor | Little Italy · Northern Italian, the polenta, pre-game |
La Scarola: just like my mother-in-law made it
La Scarola is my number-one go-to, the place I bring people when I want them to taste real Chicago Italian. Tucked into a small River West storefront on Grand Avenue, it’s the rare restaurant that’s hands-down just like my mother-in-law made — the eggplant parmigiana, the peppers and sausage, the pasta fagioli. The room is tiny and lined with framed photos of the owner and his guests, and on a busy night it has the warm, loud, everyone’s-family energy that the best Italian-American spots run on.
What I order: the eggplant parmigiana, the penne alla vodka with shrimp and arugula, and whatever’s on the night’s specials board.
- 📍 721 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60610 (River West)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Grand (Blue Line) or Chicago (Brown/Purple)
- ⏰ Closed Mondays; dinner only (hours can change — confirm before you go)
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations recommended (text the restaurant)
- 🌐 lascarola.com
Pro Tip: Their phone system is unreliable, so text your name, party size, and time to book — and go on a weeknight if you want to actually hear your table conversation. Weekends get loud in the best way.
Viaggio: the romantic one with the mirrored ceiling
Viaggio is my other go-to, and it’s the one I pick when the night calls for romance. The West Loop dining room on Madison has a glamorous, modern feel — and that mirrored ceiling makes for the perfect social-media shot if you’re celebrating something. The food is generous classic Italian done well (the rigatoni vodka, the chicken parm, the veal), and the service has the warm, owner-on-the-floor attentiveness that makes a date feel special.
It’s also a smart pre-event dinner — it is just a short ride from the United Center, so it fills up before concerts and games. The West Loop around it has become one of the city’s best dining neighborhoods. What I order: the rigatoni vodka, the chicken parm, and a cocktail to start.
- 📍 1027 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL 60607 (West Loop)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Morgan (Green/Pink) or Clinton (Green/Pink)
- ⏰ Dinner nightly; weekend and event nights are busiest
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations recommended for weekends and event nights
- 🌐 viaggiochicago.com
Monteverde: the modern pasta destination
Monteverde is the West Loop room that put modern Chicago Italian on the national map, and it’s where I send people who want pasta treated as the main event. Chef Sarah Grueneberg’s handmade pastas — the tortelloni, the cacio e pepe done tableside-style — are the draw, and the bright, lively dining room is a genuine destination rather than a neighborhood standby. This is the more contemporary end of the spectrum, less red sauce and more craft, though it never loses the warmth.
What I order: whatever handmade pasta the kitchen is showcasing that season, plus an antipasti to share.
- 📍 1020 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL 60607 (West Loop)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Morgan (Green/Pink)
- ⏰ Dinner; closed some early-week days — confirm before you go
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations strongly recommended, well in advance
- 🌐 monteverdechicago.com
Ciccio Mio: the hardest table in River North
Ciccio Mio is the River North supper club everyone’s trying to get into, and the dim, art-lined room is reason enough to make the effort. From the Hogsalt team behind Bavette’s and Gilt Bar, the 51-seat space feels like the parlor of an old mansion — ornate chandeliers, red leather booths, 1920s jazz, and a leg of aged prosciutto sliced in the middle of the floor. The Italian-American cooking lives up to the setting, from the spicy vodka rigatoni to a chicken parm people plan their week around.
What I order: the spicy vodka rigatoni, the chicken parmesan, and the meatballs to start.
- 📍 226 W. Kinzie St., Chicago, IL 60654 (River North)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Merchandise Mart (Brown/Purple) or Grand (Red Line)
- ⏰ Dinner nightly; complimentary valet during dinner service
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations released online 21 days out at 9 a.m. and go fast
- 🌐 cicciomio.com
I’ll be honest — I booked a month out and still felt lucky to get in. If the dates are gone, the small number of walk-in seats and the waitlist are your best shot.
RPM Italian: glamour and a proper night out
RPM Italian is the River North pick when the meal is the event. This is the Lettuce Entertain You glamour room — sleek, high-energy, often dotted with a familiar face or two — built around daily housemade pastas and shareable Italian plates. It’s modern in approach and Italian in spirit, and it’s my recommendation for a celebratory dinner where the scene is part of the appeal.
What I order: a housemade pasta off the daily list, the meatballs, and a spritz to keep the night going.
- 📍 52 W. Illinois St., Chicago, IL 60654 (River North)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Grand (Red Line)
- ⏰ Lunch and dinner; busiest on weekend nights
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations recommended
- 🌐 rpmrestaurants.com
Carmine’s: a Chicago classic, back again
Carmine’s has always been my dependable special-occasion spot, and after more than two years away it reopened in 2026 on Rush Street in the Gold Coast as a Rosebud Restaurant Group flagship. The newly rebuilt space leans elegant — a grand curved staircase, moody tones, plush banquettes — but the menu still celebrates the Rosebud classics that made it a Chicago institution: square noodles, eight-finger cavatelli, meatball salad, and Mama Maria’s braciole over the red sauce they make fresh daily. If you loved the old Carmine’s, the soul carried over. It’s one of several standouts in our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Chicago’s Gold Coast.
What I order: the meatball salad, the square noodles, and the braciole when I want the full red-sauce experience.
- 📍 1043 N. Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611 (Gold Coast — confirm exact reopened address)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Clark/Division (Red Line) or Chicago (Red Line)
- ⏰ Dinner; newly reopened, so confirm hours
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations recommended
- 🌐 Rosebud Restaurant Group
Rosebud on Taylor: the Little Italy institution
Rosebud on Taylor is the original anchor of the Rosebud empire and the heart of old-school Little Italy dining. I was there right after it opened, and Paul Newman had just left — the whole place was still abuzz from it. That’s the kind of room this is: big portions, classic red-sauce cooking, and the sense that you’re eating somewhere with real Chicago history in the walls. It’s a fixture for a reason.
What I order: the cavatelli, the chicken Vesuvio, and a classic baked pasta.
- 📍 1500 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60607 (Little Italy)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Polk (Pink Line) or UIC-Halsted (Blue Line)
- ⏰ Lunch and dinner; confirm current hours
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations recommended
- 🌐 rosebudrestaurants.com
Title: Tufano’s Sausage and Peppers
Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap: family since 1930
Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap is my dependable Little Italy classic, and for my family it’s personal. The Tufano family goes way back — my mother-in-law knew one of them growing up, and we used to bump into her old friend around Little Italy. A meal at Tufano’s always feels like more than dinner: it’s a fun with old friends. The restaurant has been in the same building since 1930, earned a James Beard American Classic award, and still runs on a handwritten chalkboard menu and homemade recipes passed down through the DiBuono family.
What I order: the lemon chicken, or the veal Vesuvio, and whatever’s chalked up that day.
- 📍 1073 W. Vernon Park Pl., Chicago, IL 60607 (Little Italy)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Polk (Pink Line) or UIC-Halsted (Blue Line)
- ⏰ Closed Mondays; lunch and dinner Tue–Sun (confirm before you go)
- 💰 $$; cash or check only — no credit cards
- 🌐 @tufanosrestaurant
Pro Tip: Bring cash — Tufano’s famously doesn’t take cards, and there’s no ATM inside. It’s part of the old-school charm, but it’s caught more than one first-timer off guard at the end of a great meal.
The Village: romantic and historic since 1927
The Village is the most charming old-school room downtown, and my pick for a romantic dinner with a sense of history. Part of the Italian Village complex in the Loop, this top-floor restaurant has been serving since 1927 under a ceiling of twinkling lights meant to feel like an Italian courtyard at night. It’s quirky, cozy, and unapologetically traditional, with cozy nooks, a 1,200-bottle wine list, and Northern Italian dishes inspired by founder Alfredo Capitanini’s hometown of Lucca.
What I order: the chicken Vesuvio, a classic baked pasta, and a glass from that enormous wine list.
- 📍 71 W. Monroe St., Chicago, IL 60603 (the Loop)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Monroe (Red or Blue Line) or Madison/Wabash
- ⏰ Lunch and dinner; confirm current hours
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations recommended, especially for the grotto tables
- 🌐 italianvillage-chicago.com
Sapori Trattoria: the cozy North Side neighborhood spot
Sapori Trattoria is my North Side pick, the warm Lincoln Park neighborhood trattoria for a relaxed date or a family dinner without the downtown bustle. It’s a cozy, multi-room spot on Halsted known for fresh pasta and authentic dishes, with the kind of friendly, homey service that makes it a regular for people who live nearby. If everything else on this list skews West Loop and River North, this is the easygoing neighborhood counterweight.
What I order: a fresh pasta special, the seafood when it’s on, and tiramisu to close.
- 📍 2701 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614 (Lincoln Park)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Diversey (Brown/Purple)
- ⏰ Dinner; confirm current hours
- 💰 $$; reservations recommended on weekends
- 🌐 saporitrattoria.net
Pizzeria Portofino: riverfront pizza and coastal vibes
Pizzeria Portofino is the Italian spot I pick when I want a sun-drenched patio and a view of the water. Sitting directly on the riverfront from the RPM Restaurants team, it trades red-sauce nostalgia for an Italian Riviera feel — hand-stretched pizzas, charcoal-grilled seafood, and coastal wines on an expansive patio. It’s also one of the few genuinely good Italian rooms downtown that stays open year-round, with an indoor dining room for winter. We celebrated an anniversary here few years ago and even though it was winter, it was warm and cozy, and the river views were amazing.
What I order: the black truffle & three cheese pizza, the charred pepperoni, and a spritz on the patio.
- 📍 317 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654 (River North / riverfront)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Clark/Lake or State/Lake
- ⏰ Year-round (indoor & outdoor riverfront seating)
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations required for guaranteed seating
- 🌐 pizzeriaportofino.com
It also makes our list of the best Chicago Riverwalk restaurants — handy if you’re already planning a day along the water.
Tuscany on Taylor: Northern Italian since 1990
Tuscany on Taylor is the Little Italy trattoria I’ve loved since the day it opened in 1990, and it rounds out this list as the warm, dependable Northern Italian room every Italian city needs. It was the original restaurant in what became the Tuscany family, and more than three decades later it still does things the way it always has — handmade pastas, wood-burning-oven pizzas, and signature chicken and veal dishes, with the kind of Stefani-family hospitality that keeps locals coming back. It’s a short walk from UIC and an easy pre-game dinner before a United Center event.
The dish I always come back for is the polenta — it’s amazing, creamy and rich and exactly what you want on a cool Chicago night. Pair it with the calamari to start and you’ve got the makings of a perfect Taylor Street dinner.
- 📍 1014 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60607 (Little Italy)
- 🚇 Nearest L: Polk (Pink Line) or UIC-Halsted (Blue Line)
- ⏰ Closed Mondays; dinner Tue–Sun, lunch on weekdays (confirm before you go)
- 💰 $$–$$$; reservations recommended, patio seating in good weather
- 🌐 tuscanychicago.com/taylor
How to choose your Chicago Italian dinner
If you want the food to taste like someone’s family made it, go to La Scarola, Tufano’s, Rosebud, or Carmine’s. If you want romance or a celebration, Viaggio, Ciccio Mio, and The Village deliver the atmosphere. For a glamorous night out, it’s RPM Italian; for modern, craft-forward pasta, Monteverde; and for a relaxed neighborhood meal, Sapori in Lincoln Park or Pompei in Little Italy.
Geographically, the densest cluster is in the West Loop and River North, with a tight knot of historic spots along Taylor Street in Little Italy — all reachable on the CTA, so you can leave the car at home (our Chicago CTA guide covers the lines and fares). A few, like Ciccio Mio and Monteverde, need reservations well in advance; others, like La Scarola and Pompei, reward a spontaneous weeknight visit.
These twelve are the Italian restaurants I come back to, each for a different reason and a different kind of night. Chicago’s Italian heritage is real and still cooking — at family tables in Little Italy, on glamorous River North banquettes, and in modern West Loop kitchens. Pick the one that fits your evening, and save room for dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the night. For red sauce that tastes like family, La Scarola in River West is a local favorite. For modern handmade pasta, Monteverde in the West Loop ranks among the country’s best. For a romantic, hard-to-book night out, Ciccio Mio in River North is the one people plan weeks ahead for.
Little Italy runs along Taylor Street on the Near West Side, reachable via the Pink Line (Polk) or Blue Line (UIC-Halsted). The classics are Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap (since 1930, cash only), Rosebud on Taylor, and casual Pompei (since 1909) for square slices and baked pastas.
Viaggio in the West Loop is a top romantic pick — its mirrored ceiling makes a great photo. The Village in the Loop offers a historic, twinkling-lights grotto, and Ciccio Mio in River North is intimate and candlelit, though it requires booking 21 days ahead.
Yes. After more than two years closed, Carmine’s reopened in 2026 in the Gold Coast as a Rosebud Restaurant Group flagship, with a redesigned space and the classic Rosebud menu — square noodles, meatball salad, and Mama Maria’s braciole over fresh daily red sauce.
For Ciccio Mio and Monteverde, yes — book well in advance (Ciccio Mio releases tables 21 days out at 9 a.m.). Viaggio, RPM Italian, The Village, and Pizzeria Portofino take reservations and fill on weekends. La Scarola, Tufano’s, and Pompei are friendlier to a spontaneous visit.