Buona Terra

Hands-down the best Italian restaurant in Chicago. Neighborhood vibe, extremely friendly owners, and the food is outstanding. We've been a bunch of times and are always surprised by how excellent the food is, especially the pasta. Recently, we had the porchetta pork roast and crab-stuffed fish dish for the holidays. The no-contact delivery worked perfectly and the food was amazing! It was probably the freshest-tasting delivery food I've ever had from a restaurant. Even the fish tasted extremely fresh. They also have a great wine list and excellent desserts! If you haven't tried Buona Terra yet, you're missing out.

Contemporary italian dishes. Loved the Softshell crab Almondine, neapolitan pizza crust with zucchini blooms and salsa rosa and the corn chowder. Focaccia bread came just baked from the oven with a fragrant dipping oil made with black olives and garlic. Everything made from scratch.

I'm currently trying to determine how frequently I can eat here per week without looking like a weirdo or going bankrupt. Firstly, the bread with roasted garlic spread was a genius idea. I'm going to try that at home. The wood fired chicken special tasted delicious. The Caesar salad was the only thing that didn't wow me, but it's what you'd expect. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. You can't beat the smell of a wood fire oven.

Rich and delicate flavors! Great relaxed ambiance and awesome service. What a great find in the city!

We had a fantastic dining experience here. They served all dishes perfectly executed and pecked with great flavors. Bread - fresh hot basket of bread was brought out with Evo, and a bowl of garlic/parm/oil paste that was perfectly made to spread thickly over the bread. There was none left by end of meal. Apps - grilled octopus was perfectly cooked. Crispy but not rubbery, and drizzled in a quality baslmic. The beet carpacio was very nice with large thin slices of beets and a small fried call of goat cheese. Pasta - the brown butter acorn squash ravioli was really special. The crispy fried sage really set it part. The rock shrimp pasta was fine, but was everyone's least favorite thing (it was still great, just the least of the great). Mains - smoked chicken was everyone's favorite. The smoked tomato sauce was deep and flavorful. All of the sauce was consumed with the remaining bread and garlic spread. The veal was delicious as well. Rich mushroom sauce and well cooked thin veal patties made for some delicious bites. Cocktails - these were fine. They were generous with the booze, but be warned, the old fashioned is made with muddled orange and maraschino cherry. Highchairs were plentiful and they were friendly towards families. Will definitely be going back.

Really loved this place! They had complimentary warm bread with some kind of garlic spread that was really good. We got the burrata appetizer with prosciutto, pappardelle bolognese, and the agnolotti zucca (which was amazing). Will definitely be back!

Held a birthday bash for an 87 and 90 year old couple surrounded by family and friends. Everyone from the youngest 30 year old to the 90 yo birthday boy had a blast. Fantastic variety of food and spot on service - everything was perfect.

Great appetizers, delicious pizza, good service, pretty interior. I ordered pizza the first few times I went because it was so good but I finally decided to try the duck entre and it was amazing. Give this place a try and you wont be dissapointed!

My dining companion and I had nothing but an absolutely wonderful time. The awesome staff and exceptional menu items totally gave us a case of happy-belly.

Great cocktails. Great service . Had the steak and pork chop. Both were really good. Also had the in house tiramisu. Would def come back.

I've been coming here for at least 15 years and it never disappoints. Still my favorite Italian restaurant in all of Chicago.

Absolutely fantastic! Between the apps and the main course then dessert and drinks was a great night! Thank you! Next time i wanna see that 1000 degree pizza oven going!

One of our most absolutely favorite neighborhood places to eat. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for amazing food and drinks in the area.

This place is probably THE best Italian food I’ve ever had. The service is always fast and friendly and I like how they have daily specials which change frequently. Not to mention, their garlic spread is to die for. We got the calamari to start and as our entree, we got the butternut squash ravioli and spicy tomato pasta with chicken. If you’re looking for a place to eat, look no further!

This is one of my favorite spots in the city. I love so many of the dishes here. The calamari, the Green Goddess Pizza, all the pastas. It's a reliable stand-by but also a lovely treat each and every time. They make great martinis as a bonus. And the wine list is perfect.

Really great Italian food. Prices are reasonable and food is fresh and delicious. I especially enjoyed their panacota dessert. Twas soooo good! 😊👍

Came here for dinner as part of a business meeting and I will definitely be back with the family. The cocktails (old fashioned and wine), appetizers (clams and calamari), and meals (special) we had were all delicious. I also met the owner, Eileen, who was so kind and treated me like family.

Went with friends, and we had the best meal! The bread! #iykyk The butternut squash ravioli was divine! And the cocktail called The Independent is not to be missed!

I have eaten here at least a dozen times. Honestly the best restaurant service I have ever received. The food is excellent, well prepared, consistently good. It's an amazing neighborhood spot.

Always a favorite for Italian food in the city. Eileen and Chepe really know what they're doing! The food is always delicious and the service is top notch. We've been coming since 2014 roughly and the quality has remained the same, even through the consolidation of both concepts. We love it. Keep up the good work you two! 😄

True Italian cuisine. Top notch service. The eggplant here is a knockout in the first round. The pizza is delicious. All of the family's entrees were made with passion. I will definitely be back for a return tour of the fabulous menu.

Great food I used to go to the one at California it’s nice to see the food has not change it is still amazing even though it was a far drive for me to lic up food it was well worth it! The owner are amazing

Absolutely love this place. The food is rich, delicious, and filling! The service is great!

Last week I hosted a private party for 20 people. We had drinks, dinner, dessert and it was all delicious! The service was outstanding and Eileen went out of her way to ensure the event was beautifully planned. It was everything I could have asked for. Thank you!

The food was amazing! Great customer service as well. Friendly place. 5 stars

Wonderful Italian restaurant in the heart of Old Irving Park. We really appreciate the fun and welcoming vibe at this restaurant. They have handmade flatbreads, many pasta dishes and fresh made bread that comes to the table.

Been coming to this place for over 20 years the food is always fresh and excellent service is great. It’s a little bit of a drive for me over an hour but well worth it would recommend 10 out of 10.

Easily some of the best pasta I've ever had. I ordered the Bolognese and my husband had the linguini and clams. He said it was the best he's ever had. I also want to point out that the head of the house (woman) went above and beyond from the moment we walked in. She even gave me a few to-go bowls to help me with my breakfast for the marathon.

We mostly ordered from the appetizer menu! Grilled calamari on micro greens, mussels in an amazingly deep, slightly spicy red sauce (I took the leftover sauce home), Greek salad and panna cotta. We split everything and left very happy! We may try the entrees next time, but then again, maybe not...

My family has been eating here since I was a baby and they were in Logan Square. Hands down the best Italian food in the city!! My favorite dish is the linguine in white clam sauce

The service, food, and wine selection was amazing! We ordered the Mista salad, Rigatoni Buona Terra, Agnolotti Zucca, and a Margarita pizza. Everything was incredible. Even the bread comes out with a candied jalapeno dip and a garlic dip that were to die for. The owners were in and they are the nicest people! I can't wait to return.

Everything is outstanding! The calamari sautéed in red sauce was the most tender we have ever had. The veal was mouthwatering. The swordfish was cooked and seasoned so well. All the pastas we had were cooked perfectly with sauces that are very rich and deep in flavor. Cheppy and Irene and team do an outstanding job of making sure every experiment is the best it can be! Highly recommend!

We had a fantastic experience at Buona Terra Ristorante. The food was fresh and absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere felt warm and authentic. Michael, our waiter, was phenomenal attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely kind. He truly made the night special. We’ll definitely be back!

I appreciate you taking the time to reply. We (wife and I) were happy to try in-person dining. The soup breadsticks/croutons: how do I get more?!? The salmon was delicious. The pizza tasted quality coming straight out of the oven! Balcony seating deserves a 9 out 10. Was a pleasure and I look forward to another visit. Thanks!

First time here, really impressed by the service and the menu options. This used to be Hearth and Crust, and since I’m always on the lookout for great Italian food, this really fit the bill. I ordered pollo affumicato, which combines chicken parmigiana with essence of bacon and mashed potatoes. Definitely a treat.

Lucky to have this gem in the neighborhood. I've had dinner here three times now in the last few months and each time has been really delicious! Tried different dishes and pizzas each time though the fried Calamari is a must! The pizzas are crisp yet chewy and are topped just right not too much sauce or cheese with fresh and flavorful toppings. The rigatoni is excellent and I love the garlic dip they serve with their fresh baked bread for the table. Friendly service and casual neighborhood feels with plenty of regulars chatting away at the bar all contribute to a welcoming environment. I'll keep coming back and trying other dishes!

The first time we went we loved it so much so we went back again. The second time we were sadly disappointed! There was a special burrata appetizer that was $20 that came with crackers that were dry and hard, three pieces of prosciutto and random slices of tomato on the plate. It just didn’t seem like a $20 plate to me. Also we ordered the pork chop which was overcooked and the “gnocchi” side was so hard and burnt that we couldn’t even chew through them. I asked the server if the gnocchi was meant to be burnt and cooked extra well done and he said yes so I didn’t want to push the issue further. We left it all on the plate. For me as a server that would be a red flag to ask if there was something wrong but that’s just me.

Customer service was great and my wine as well. Environment seems to be calm, safe and relaxing (also influenced by the customers). However, my entree choice wasn't the best. I ordered Duck Breast with Risotto. Meat was pretty decent but risotto was too cheesy and high in calories. I am not allergic to cheese and risotto made my tongue sore and itchy. I also ordered dessert and it was very high in refined sugar. If you have healthy lifestyle, just look hard into the menu and ask questions about the ingredients used so you know what you will be eating.

The food was decent and the service was fine — but the night ended on a sour note when our server confronted us over the 10% tip we left. Tipping is discretionary and there is no obligation to leave a certain amount. If staff take issue with their wages, that’s something for them to raise with the management of the restaurant — not with customers. We left feeling awkward and unwelcome, which completely ruined what had been a pleasant evening.

Besides of course the delicious food, the main reason I love going to local restaurants is great customer service. I have gone to this restaurant many a times and eaten their nice menu picks. I have even brought friends there and provided referrals. Sadly after many years of business I will no longer be an avid supporter. It truly is a shame when, during covid I have ordered many times as well, the restaurant will refuse to provide any reasonable customer service. I ordered the primavera pasta and it truly was dry/lacking any sauce-a bowl of noodles you could say. I understand this can happen with a carry out order. Things aren't always made divinely. But for $20.00, I truly just was unhappy with the dish. From a customer standpoint I feel like this could be understandable. I was not even asking for a refund. I was willing to even drive back to switch out to another pasta. I honestly have never done this before and after spending honestly thousands of dollars here you would think they could just simply make a quick switch. Maybe this restaurant has gotten too big for good customer service? I have attached a photo to emphasize the lack in sauce/appeal. I am just a little shocked that I was not even asking for a refund and I would bring the dish back-that the restaurant would not even work with me- a customer that has been going there for years honestly. So if you want overall good food come here, but just hope you don't have any issues.