Il Culaccino

The food was really good. The chicken lemon was flavorful and chicken was cooked perfectly. The lemon sauce was too thick to be called a sauce but it was good. The carrot cake was the star of the show. Just delicious.

Attentive service and incredible flavors. Even the kid’s mac and cheese was delicious! —creamy, flavorful, and a big hit. Highly recommend this place!

There is inside and outside seating both are nice. There was a pollen allergy in our group and we had to relocate seats inside. The staff were very accommodating. The manager helped adjust our request without question and our waiter was able to stay with us as well. They were very conscious of food allergies well. Food was served and wow. We started with warm bread and an appetizer of pesto & buratta. Some of the best I’ve had. Caesar salad had what tasted like a homemade dressing. The pasta and fish the others had were equally delicious. We would return!

Stopped here after the conference. My server Mark was very sweet and works very hard!!!! First time in Chicago and I will be sad I may not visit again. If you have one dinner available I would recommend here!

We were walking by and stopped here because it smelled soooo good, even from outside. They were really busy (concert next door) but we were still seated immediately. All the plates are enormous, so bring a group or come hungry. Highly recommend the stuffed peppers - the sauce was really tasty and they were spicier than I expected. Spicy pesto and chicken marsala were also good. We didn't have room for dessert (how could you??) but I saw a couple cake slices come out that looked amazing.

Great for lunch! Went here on a weekday with colleagues, plenty of tables available out on the covered, enclosed patio that felt open and let in wonderful natural light. Nonna's Meatball Salad was just right for a light lunch that still has some protein to stick with you for a bit. The flavorful, sauced meatballs are the real star of the show, the rest was basic salad fare. Splurged for some San Pellegrino to round out a fine meal.

Traveling for work, and trying to stay gluten-free is hard. Yesterday I caved, and I felt TERRIBLE all day today. However, I saw a review mentioning Il Culaccino had GF substitutions, and decided to give it a shot. I called to place my order for take-out, and Marissa was knowledgeable and friendly! The penne alla vodka with the GF penne was to die for. The sauce was creamy and flavorful as was the chicken, but the ricotta cheese gave it an amazing richness and flavor. 10/10 - highly recommend!

The best carrot cake I’ve had in a loooong time! I literally ordered from Il Culaccino just for their cake, and it did not disappoint. The slice is massive—it’s taken me three days to finish it! 😂 As a nibbler, I can confidently say this is the perfect treat to savor over a few days. It stays fresh in the fridge and keeps delivering that amazing flavor every time. The cake itself is moist, perfectly spiced, and paired with creamy frosting that isn’t overly sweet—absolute perfection. If you’re a carrot cake lover or just someone looking for a decadent dessert, this is a must-try. I’ll definitely be ordering from here again!

Our server, Shane, was awesome and super knowledgeable about the menu. He did not steer us wrong. The meatball salad was solid, and the chicken giardineria was tasty. Loved the Rossini (strawberry puree with prosecco). The cannoli dip also was a good choice. Great outdoor space. Can't wait to go back.

My 2022 Mother's Day started off at a play and ended with dinner at IL Culaccino Italian Restaurant. This restaurant was boisterous, the service was great, the food was delicious and the pricing was comperable. I enjoyed the House Salad and Linguine with Clams. Oh my .. this delicious dish was full of chopped and shelled clams. Our party of four shared the Fried Calamari, Tiramisu and Vanilla Gelato.

Went here with a few friends and well worth the stop. The staff and service were awesome. Food I felt was great especially the grilled calamari appetizer. It was awesome. All of our dinners came out great and we had a great time.

Made online reservations, good thing because it was packed but the service was very quick, efficient and on point! Food arrived quickly and hot. Dessert was yummy as was the Baked Calamari and classic. 3 dinner specials sounded good but we atayed to the menu. Even tho we were full, we splurged for dessert. Pricey but sooo worth it. Decor was nice with old pics of Sinatra, Dinero, Peschi and others.

Despite it being super busy, the staff was very attentive and welcoming. The food and drinks were delicious. The children loved their spaghetti and meatballs. We would have appreciated coasters—the table ended rather messy.

This is a true local gem. The main restaurant area has an old school chubby look. The enclosed year round patio makes it feel like summer all the time. The food is fantastic. Yesterday I tried the eggplant parmesan for the first-time and it was some of the best I've had. I am very picky about my eggplant and this one knocked it out of the park. Im adding it to my regular rotation.

Here for a work conference, was the best bowl of shrimp Fra Diavalo I have had in a very long time. I asked for it extra spicy and they delivered perfectly! They even let me substitute the linguine for pappardelle. Highly recommend!

It was so so nice. The Staff and Mgr you could send them roses 🌹. It would be my pleasure to go back to this restaurant. It was my grandson's birthday dinner. He is late 30's We will be back, the party was for Miles.

In Chicago a couple weeks ago for conference. This restaurant was right across from the venue so we decided to go. I ordered the Tortellini Carbonara and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was the best I have EVER tasted! Next time I'm in Chicago, come hell or high water we will be going back. I had it with the moscato and it was perfect! Also ridiculously reasonable in price. It was enough for two people to share. I didn't 🤣🤣 because it was so good, but I could have. Staff was amazong attentive but not overbearing, beverages stayed topped off with minimal to no interference to our conversation. Just all around sensational!

My experience at Il Culaccino was superb. The food and service were exemplary. Outstanding drinks and the BEST espresso martini I've ever had!

Calamari is a hard sell for me but this restaurant converted me. The appetizer was delicious ( get it grilled ) 👍 We were visiting for a conference and stumbled into Il Culaccino. The staff was amazing and our table in the greenhouse was very pleasant. I loved my gnocchi and the classic, hearty flavors.

Julia was a great bartender. We had a lovely time with her and enjoyed the chicken Marsala and arugula salad. Portions are big and delicious. Can’t wait to come back when we’re in the area again!

Great ambiance, awesome food, tentative staff and amazing company. What more could you need?!? Also, the staff accommodated my dietary restrictions and with a dessert I could have. Great night and this was not the 1st time I was there. The 1st time was equally as good; however, different experience as it was a very large party.

We had a nice dinner at Il Culacinno, we love the service & ambiance. The fried calamari & white wine clam linguine were tasty. My preteen daughter liked her Penne Buttera could use a little more sauce, the flavor was good. Veal Milanese is a must order at Franco Ristorante(owner’s Dad/parents’ original restaurant in Armour Sq) decided to try it last night here, it was very dry. Anita our server, asked if she could replace the dish, we already ate some, didn’t think it was polite to do so. To our surprise, she brought us a complimentary dessert- the cannoli dip which was really good. This attentive service is rear these days, it made us want to come back & try other dishes like the spicy shrimp pasta.

Came here for a quick girls dinner this past Saturday! I LOVED how Christmas decorated the place was - it was beautiful! The place was pretty empty when we went too which allowed for an intimate setting and to hear the Christmas playlist! The food was good and the wine delicious!!! (We got the vodka pasta, spicy pesto, and fried calamari with a Pinot noir and sweet red wines! This will definitely be a place we go back to!

I ordered from Il Culaccino from Door Dash. We ordered an Eggplant Parmigiana, Penne Buttera and a slice of Cannoli Cake. Everything was really good. The Eggplant was huge and I could only eat half of it, so I had the rest the day after. The Cannoli cake was delicious! I’d order from here again or maybe I’ll try dining in the restaurant. I highly recommend ordered via DoorDash.

We stopped in for lunch while in Chicago for a work conference. The space had a great vibe, both indoors and on the patio. It was in the low 80s when we visited, and sitting outside was surprisingly comfortable. The service was quick, friendly, and professional. Credit to the staff (wish I’d gotten their names to give them a proper shoutout). Visually, the food looked amazing. Unfortunately, the flavor didn’t quite match the presentation. My grilled chicken sandwich was quite dry, which made the meal a bit disappointing overall. That said, the setting and service were strong enough that I’d consider giving it another try. Maybe sampling something from their pasta menu next time.

This place is a staple of the neighborhood. It has some of the best Italian food around and really good wine and cocktails as well. The owner always comes by and says hello to my friends when we visit since they’re regulars. I tried the eggplant parm and it was delicious. They also have a really nice, humongous covered patio. Parking can be a little tough in the area, but they have a lot and valet as well.

Stopped by here while looking for a spot to eat after flying into Chicago. Lunch rush was coming in but was relatively empty. Tried some various food options and all were pretty good. Only downfall was all the cheese on everyone’s sandwich was cold. The fries were very tasty and The sausage and peppers and onions were incredible. Should definitely order that as an appetizer. Probably every time you come. Staff seemed bugged but overall service was good. I would def come back for a visit. The place had pretty authentic food and had a nice ambience. I think i would like to visit and have dinner there sometime and try some of their dinner dishes.

I was in Chicago recently on a work trip and had the chance to connect with the team over dinner one evening. We picked a spot within walking distance of the hotel—great atmosphere, convenient location, and a nice vibe overall. I went with the Orecchiette. It was okay, though I was expecting a bolder, more tomato-forward flavor. It leaned a bit watery for my taste, but everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals! Our server was fantastic—full of energy, personable, and kept us smiling throughout the night. Still, the highlight was spending time with such a great team. Sharing good food and even better conversation is always a win.

Decent experience. Last minute dinner decision. Our food was prepared quickly, served hot, but each dish had very light flavor. I would give this a 2nd try, but I would not recommend at this time. What we had: - Daily Risotto (Served warm, chicken could have been a bit more tender, and the flavor was faint. It was not as rich as other risotto I've experienced) - Spicy Shrimp Diavolo (served warm, and it delivered on the spice but no flavor. I love spicy flavorful dishes) - Arugula Salad (Fresh ingredients, nicely plated, Vinaigrette dressing was flavorless as well, even a squeeze of lemon would have helped). The serve fresh bread as you wait. The bread had a nice firm exterior and soft middle. Shaved parmesan vs grated would plus us the pasta experience.

Food was good, with the pork chop dish being the best! Tender, juicy and thick pork chop. Asking for extra sauce for the pork chop was a charge of $9,60, which was a bit disappointing. They do take reservations. Indoor seating as well as covered indoor patio seating. Interior is clean. Tables are spaced nicely. Metered street parking.

Food was great. Dishes are packed with flavor and dessert was just perfect to finish the meal. The only thing is that the restaurant doesn't serve pizza and the espresso machine was not functioning so I couldn't order any prepared beverages with coffee. Overall, a good place for a business meal or hanging out with friends.

Good was fresh and flavorful but not exciting. I loved that the food came out very hot. The waitress was too inexperienced for this type of restaurant. The atmosphere looks nice, but the tables are small and close together.

Conferencing at the McCormick and just 7min walk so decided to try since very packed inside the hall. Not v packed, sat at the atrium, the guy brought the water and then ignored us for a long time, we tried to wave as politely as possible as we wanted to return to our meeting. So lunch took 2hrs. Appetizers nice. The veal was ok but the shrimp pasta was too spicy as if they used a lot of tobasco. Coffee bland.

Food was ok. Server really seemed like he did not care. Came halfway through our meal to ask if we wanted grated cheese on our food, which he did not have with him. Had an upcharge for potatoes that were not very good. We Got sat near the door which opened constantly and was a terribly cold draft. Our main dishes were delicious though!

Not much more than a Fancy olive garden. Table of 6. Two with gluten sensitivity. Servers switched meals,almost giving gluten sensitivity plate to wrong person. Gave wrong meal to another person and manager refused to switch out or replace it with correct meal. Martini was served in a cracked champagne glass. Gluten free pasta was low quality. We enjoyed ourselves regardless of the middle of the road dining experience.

Oh my gosh, this is soooo suboptimal to everything: supposedly Italian cuisine which it can get away with but… food prepared without love, soaked in oil and butter, overcooked, subpar. People who work here seem lost like it is first time for them working in a restaurant plus the price doesn’t justify anything. Overall bad experience.

I added salt 🧂 to the chicken parmigiana 🥺 Nothing too memorable about the flavors of the food here.. calamari was very chewy. The moscato tasted a bit watered down. I think I had my hopes too high expecting flavorful dishes. The service was.. good.. a bit aggressive & loud. Some of us don’t like to be “touched” when talked to. Please give us our space without feeling the need to nudge or poke us when giving us the rundown on your specials. I didn’t appreciate that at all.

The food was okay, nothing very special. I don't know why I was expecting more. As other reviews have stated here and on yelp, their service sucks. That is one thing to be aware of. Also the place is absolutely blastingly loud. Not energetic, just people yelling over each other. This place is absolutely not good for a business dinner.

Place looks nice. Service was good, the food wasn’t. Soup watery just veggies in a broth or water, not much taste or flavor. Chicken calabrese was absolutely dry , like leather dry and very spicy. We ordered veal but got chicken. Chicken Giardniera even more dry , than sand in a desert. We were promised free desert, but it never materialized. Oh, sandwich Grilled chicken, also dry. Can the chief cook? I’m sure I can cook better. Anyway the food wasn’t bad, not going there, not recommended.

We had a reservation at IL Culaccino at 4 pm, and the restaurant wasn’t busy at all. When we sat down, the bread basket was dirty, and two of the four plates at our table had visible residue. We waited over 20 minutes without being greeted or acknowledged while a table seated after us received prompt service. We eventually got up and left. It was disappointing because we were really looking forward to this meal. Everyone was friendly as we walked out, but no one, including the host asked why we were leaving so quickly. The lack of attention and cleanliness left a very poor impression.