Stefani Prime

We went here for my best friend’s birthday and had an amazing time! Tim was our waiter and he was the best! The food was delicious and my friend loved the tomato soup so much that she said the only thing that would have made it better would be a grilled cheese sandwich. Tim surprised us all and brought her a grilled cheese sandwich with more soup along with her entree (lobster risotto). We happened to come on ladies night which had a raffle for a Versace purse and a $100 gift card. We had so much fun and laughed so much.

UPDATE 7/2/2025 Stefani Prime is a great place to eat any night of the week but be sure to make reservations ahead of time as they are busy and book up fast! They have valet parking and the guys do a great job of quick service in and out! All the food on the menu is top drawer quality and doesn’t disappoint! We were celebrating my birthday and boy what a fantastic meal we had. Matt our server was so friendly, made us feel comfortable and didn’t miss a thing! 10 stars for him alone! We had calamari to start then I ordered the 22oz. ribeye which was cooked to perfection. My sister ordered the lobster risotto which was decadent! We also had a NY Strip and Lake Superior White fish. We went on a Tuesday night and the place was packed but then it’s always packed! It was a really memorable meal and the entire wait staff was exceptional! —————————- Stefani Prime is a hidden gem in Lincolnwood. Highly acclaimed by Chicago Tribune and others. Their entire parking lot is Valet and keeps your car and belongings safe. There is a very nice ambience once inside. They have tables, booths, party room and an outside dining area. The outside dining during winter is covered/enclosed and surprisingly very nice. It’s super heated warm from top to bottom and quieter than the main dining area. Mike was our waiter and did an outstanding impeccable job of serving our family. All the servers were so personable before, during and after our meal. I almost felt like we were family. All the drinks, food and service are top drawer here. I had wedge salad, eggplant Parmesan and cookie skillet. The eggplant had a nice flavor and was not overly breaded accompanied with pasta marinara. The pasta was perfect as was the sauce! My sisters and husband each had Veal Piccata and broiled fish. The chocolate martinis after dinner were decadent! They give generous portions and the platings are beautifully rustic and simplistic. You’re not rushed here and all the servers have impeccable timing with food and beverage delivery to your table. Great place for any special occasion or just because you are craving their specialties. They have something for everyone! Thanks for a memorable night!

Very rarely do I go to a restaurant and not have a complaint. This restaurant was in that list of no complaints steak was perfectly seasoned with an amazing crust and mashed potatoes and corn were amazing. Fiancé got the salmon and they flambé table side which was pretty cool. Would definitely recommend going here for a date night.

Our first time at Stefani's and it was fantastic! Wasn't sure about the margaritas though. I think they need some work, but my man enjoyed the filthy dirty Martini. The food was prepared perfectly. Enjoyed everything we ordered. The time tartare was amazing and seasoned nicely. The truffle fries were outstanding. Our waiter, can't remember his name but he was attentive and funny.

Went here for early Christmas Eve dinner / friend's birthday and was so impressed!! Valet service was quick, they took our jackets right away upon entering and our server was the sweetest. Christmas decor was cozy and tastefully since. Food was outstanding! Split a tomahawk steak and it was perfectly done - sauces were not needed, but also very delicious (we did chimichuri and an au jus). Good drink and wine selection too!

One of the best dining experiences I ever had. The best calamari, scallops and crème brulee. Plus for those that enjoy a phenomenal cocktail this is your place. Fantastic staff and overall wonderful place worth every penny. Loved it!

Nice new modern place with all the comfort you want to have. Good location, close to the expressway and major streets yet relaxed easy accesibile and with valet parking. The food was good, (I went for lunch) prices were accessible and most on the menu but one was under $20. The appetizer, calamari was delicious and disappeared fast, overall good experience in

Went there today on Valentines, had reservations place was busy. They had valet and he was extremely nice! Before our meal he said enjoy and after he asked how it was. When we walked in the hostess was not welcoming seem like she did not want to be there but I don't feel like it was fair to take away a star on account of her. Juan our server was amazing, he was really nice and made our experience better. The food was also great!! Me and my gf enjoy the food, cocktails and dessert. We will definitely be back!

The staff was very attentive, even though it was extremely busy. The prices may seem high, but the food is supreme in quality. Complimentary valet parking only, but they are fast & courteous. A great place for special occasions. We were there for an early Christmas celebration. Hubby had the center cut fillet & I had the linguini special. Entries came with salad & we added potatoes for sides. Our guests had 2 other kind of steaks. Both were cooked to perfection.

First time here!! We were greeted by smiles. And seated immediately. A little crowded but Valentine's Day to be expected. Drinks and dinner were great. Hubby had the Tomahawk, and he enjoyed every bit of it😍!!!

Beyond my expectations on everything here. Starting with free valet and valet guy is super nice and he even ran inside to ask do we need to wait for table. Inside was elegant and comfortable feel. Service was top notch. SEAFOOD TOWER so fresh and CHAR GRILLED OCTOPUS just delicious. We're older CAPESANTE E PENNE and SPAGHETTI FRUTTI DI MARE for share and add more spicy in to the dishes. Came out perfect pasta that we didn't have for long time since Boston. A few dessert and four alcohol were excellent as well. This is river north quality but suburban price.

This place is always great foodwise and service! The short rib was enough for two. The lamb was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Truly the only downside here is their gin selection and cocktail offerings. You'll only get the basics here. It would be nice if they expanded their selection to Botonist, Sipsmith, or Plymouth...anything other than Tanqueray and Bombay sapphire. People we have brought here are always surprised by the lack of gin selection. Update: They now carry Hendricks Gin! Thank you! And make Sazeracs! Food is always delicious! Really love this place! Pastas are great! Their fish is great! Their Kale and Apple salad with buttermilk dressing is in my dreams! How can a salad be this good?! Here are several dishes we have had over a few recent visits!

Was my first time being in a fancy restaurant in a while. Never ever had valet parking before & it was complementary of coming here. They handled my car with care. The environment is nice to be in. It's quiet enough to where you can hear the people next to you even thou it was completely packed. Our server Mike was great. Attended to all our questions & was knowledgeable about the places wine & could explain it to a complete noob like me & recommended something I really enjoyed. The place is pretty pricy to be honest but the portion & quality of the food makes up for that. I ordered the Short Rib Ravioli dish & a Cesar salad. I was amazed with how great tasting & minimum the salad was. It's parmesan cheese it was topped with was unlike any other cheese I have ever had & it had just the right portion of dressing it needed. Topped with a little bit of cracked black pepper made it even better. I ordered the Short Rib Ravioli dish. The short rib meat was very flavorful & probably the most tender & smooth pork I have ever had. Just the right portion of everything, enough to make what you paid for well worth it. Again, the cheese was phenomenal. Whatever the ravioli was stuffed with, I'm not sure, I should have asked but it was very smooth & flavorful. Never have I had anything like that. Next time I want something fancy, I will remember this place. I do recommend coming here. Be sure to make a reservation.

Food and service was 10 out of 10! My girlfriend took me here to celebrate my 27th birthday and the also brought me out a slice of some amazing cake! Big thank you to our waiter Brenden!

A wonderful evening and definitely the best beef I have ever eaten! So many top starters that I can no longer say in retrospect which was the best, however, the lamb has also clearly remained in the memory. Summary: Again and again with pleasure!

Best dinner we have had in a while. The bone in filet and double baked potato. Highly recommend!

Stefani Prime is a true gem on the North Side! From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with warm hospitality and top-tier service. The staff is attentive, professional, and really makes you feel at home. The food is absolutely outstanding. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared and cooked to perfection. The steaks are top quality—tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Sides and appetizers are just as impressive, and the wine list has something for everyone. Whether you're there for a special occasion or a nice night out, the atmosphere is elegant yet comfortable. If you're looking for a top-notch dining experience with great service and incredible food, Stefani Prime never disappoints. Highly recommended!

The honest truth is we LOVE our Waiter, Jimmy, at the bar! He is always attentive, courteous and efficient and gives not just us, but all the patrons excellent service. Stefani Prime is very lucky to have him!

We have known head chef Bolla for years back to his days at Tuscany in wheeling. This year for our Latkes and Lasagna celebration, I reached out to see if Bolla could make a full pan of lasagna like he did at Tuscany. We had 24 people and thankfully had a bit leftover which was great for us. EVERYONE was talking about how good that lasagna was and wanted to know were we got it. Bolla is wonderful and deliverd as usual. We have eaten at the restaurant and the place is really nice and the food is great

I ordered New Year’s Eve catering take out menu and the food was packed with care. Everything tastes delicious the Beef short ribs, Chicken Mezzaluna and Salmon Vesuvio were amazing! It just tastes wonderful.

I hadn't been to this restaurant before but I'll be back . Great split pea soup, shrimp in spicy marinara sauce was worth the ride. Sea bass in parchment was a big Winner and the filet was cooked perfect. Maybe the best oysters I have had outside of New Orleans.

Superior place. Elegant environment. Extraordinary service. Polite and friendly waiter who read the table and asked us when to bring out food as we chatted. Excellent food and drink. Complimentary valet.

I love Stefani Prime! The Tomahawk is the best anywhere in the world. BUT, the main reason I come in is because of Jimmy the bartender. He always welcomes me with a friendly and familiar smile. His service is second to none, and his drinks are amazing. Jimmy is a fun guy to chat with, and makes for a wonderful evening sitting at the bar with him, and meeting other great people who sit at the bar. Thanks, Jimmy, for always making Stefani Prime a fantastic time!

Went for my Anniversary with my wife. The Wagyu meatball and the Lobster arancini were delicious. The wagyu meatbal was very tender and flavorful. Itis definitely big enough to share. The Lobster arancini were crisp on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. The Lobster filling in the arancini had shredded Lobster in it rather than chunks and had a mild Lobster flavor. The New York Strip from the specials menu was a bit tough. Not sure if it was the cut of steak ot because it was slightly under the med rare that I ordered. My wife had the Chicken vesuvius. That was absolutely delicious. The potatoes thar came with it had crispy skins with soft tender insides. The chicken was moist, tender, and very flavorful. The canke with the candles is their house made white chocolate mousse cake. This dessert is rich, flavorful, and decadent. It is one of my favorites on their dessert menu but in my opinion needs a cup of coffee or something with it to cut the richness. We also had the trio of Gelato. The flavors currently are hazelnut, chocolate, and vanilla. It is very flavorful and creamy. The chocolate has a flavor that reminds me of a fudgsicle. The hazelnut has a strong natural hazelnut flavor. It does not taste like an extract. The vanilla is light and clean. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and will be going back.

For the people in the suburbs who don't want to make the drive to downtown Chicago and wants downtown quality and cost, this place is a good alternative. I was here for a company event. While these types of old school prime Italian, steak and chop shops like Rosebud, Chicago Chop House and The Capital Grill are somewhat of a dying breed for the younger and hipper crowd, there are plenty of old fashion (and old) customers here. I felt like walking into a nursing home. Let's start with the appetizers, which is not their strong suit. The coconut shrimp, while they were served burn your mouth off hot, the breading was soggy, no crunch whatsoever, it soaked up to much oil. The prosciutto was good but pretty standard, and came with a lb of mozzarella. The tomato creame soup with rice was literally just tomato creame with some rice in it, not memorable. My biggest surprise were the oysters. You can see in my picture that they are tiny, each is the size of a thumb nail and for $21. Seriously? The freebie side salad was drenched in dressing, if that is how you like it. Now the mains, they are similar to downtown quality, good meats and flavorful pasta but the prices are actually higher than most downtown joints at the same quality level. So if you don't mind overpaying and don't feel like driving to Chicago downtown, this place is perfect. Just stay away from the appetizers.

I came for dinner on Valentine’s Day. The service was great! Our waiter did a good job on such a busy night. We had the spicy octopus salad and the surf&turf dinner special for the holiday. The octopus salad was so delicious. It was savory, acidic, and heat. The surf&turf was such a vision. It caught so much eyes as the waiter made their way with it to us. It did take quite some waiting for it. The steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The shrimp was so plumped. The lobster was fresh. Sadly, the baguettes with the dinner were way over toasted. Each piece on one side was pretty much black charred. So we didn’t eat much of the bread. 7/10 would recommend and come again 👌🏻

Stefani Prime in Lincolnwood, IL, presents an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere with a courteous staff. The ambiance is inviting, and the service is commendable, creating a positive dining experience. The cocktail selection is noteworthy, crafted skillfully to satisfy varied preferences. However, the culinary aspect leaves room for improvement. The overall food quality is deemed mediocre, with the seafood pasta being passable but notably small in portion. The wedge salad stands out as an enjoyable choice, while the surprising highlight is the sizable and delicious meatball. Despite this positive note, the discrepancy between portion sizes and prices may leave diners feeling unsatisfied. On a practical note, the valet service ensures convenient parking, contributing to a hassle-free visit. The cleanliness of the establishment adds to the positive aspects, creating a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. In summary, Stefani Prime offers a mixed dining experience, with an appealing ambiance, friendly service, and some highlights in the menu, though the overall value proposition could be reconsidered.

This place is a pretty penny for sure. The waiter was great and the food was delicious. We got a dozen of oysters which could have been chucked better for appetizers and then ordered seared tuna and corn as our main dish. The seared tuna was missing something but it was good nonetheless. The corn was great. The free valet is also nice.

I was very impressed Stefani in many ways, but disappointed in others. However, I would still come back here. The good is that all the food was very delicious and I thought that quantity/quality/price was perfect! You definitely won't feel like you're getting ripped off here even though it is on the expensive side of dining. The steak tartare was definitely one of the best I tried, and when I tasted it I wish I ordered one for myself! The Rack of Lamb was the best I've had (and don't bother paying extra for saice because it has TONS of flavor as is). The soup of the day was good, but could have been better. The Brussel sprouts, mushroom and spek was delicious as well: the Brussel sprouts were cooked perfectly, the mushrooms had loads of flavor and the spek gave the dish a nice salty compliment. So why the 4 stars? Read below. Service was slow. I would say they were around 70% capacity and it our group of six 2.5 hours from being seated to exiting the establishment. When I finished my soup it took them 10 minutes to remove it from the table. Service could have been better especially when paying nearly $100 per person. When I go to a steak house, I expect the meat to be cooked perfectly. I asked for my rack of lamb to be medium rare as is typical. I cut into it and immediately called the waiter because it was cooked medium well. Then they remade the dish, and they clear rushed it. I cut into it and the outside was cooked, but the inside was still blue! It looked like a seared tuna steak! Gross! How does a steak house mess up a rack of the lamb twice in a row? I couldn't grab a picture because the server took it away immediately once he saw it wasn't edible. This was truly unacceptable for a steak house. However every other persons meat came out perfectly cooked. The soup came out way too hot--like you'll burn the roof of your mouth hot. It needed to have more substance to it to make it worth the price. I would have been happier sticking to the salad. However, one thing they did right was that it wasn't too salty. I feel a lot of restaurants over salt their soups. Overall I didn't have a perfect experience, but it was good enough that I would definitely give it another try.

Come for the 5-star hospitality 🟢 Service - above average. 🟡 Food - mixed bag 🟢 Space - beautiful, clean, valet parking 🟢🤵‍♂️ Service - I have a LOT of diet restrictions and everyone went above and beyond. I called a few hours before and spoke with the manager (Juan/John?), who knew all the ingredients. Same with our server, Jamie. When we arrived, the valet was friendly and prompt. Full disclosure: we were a party of 5 and started with 4 dozen oysters, but everyone was friendly even before we ordered 😂 🟢 🦪 Raw oysters - we had 2 dozen East Coast, 2 West Coast. Everyone raved so much about them my mom enjoyed few, and she does NOT eat raw seafood. All were fresh. 🟡 🥩 Tomahawk steak - all 3 were cooked well, but the crust was over seasoned. 🟡 🐟 Branzino - underseasoned. I skipped the butter sauce, but Juan said it's normally served on the side, while Jamie implied it's baked with the fish. Good portion size and fish done-ness. 🟡 🐙 Polpi salad - underwhelming. The octopus was 💯 IMO, some thought it was overdone. Good portion, but under-seasoned, boring, missing cohesion to tie the dish together. I found a large piece of wilted radicchio. 🟡 🥗 House salad - salad sadness continues. Underseasoned IMO (some disagree), only greens, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes. Came with all of our entrees, so it's low-effort and it shows. Consider an upgrade. 🟡 🥬 Brussel sprouts and asparagus - nothing remarkable. 🔴 🍰 Tiramisu - I didn't have any, but it looked like it was missing egg yolks. My mom did NOT like it 🤣 Others said it didn't have enough lady fingers, so it was missing coffee flavor. 🟢 🍨Gelato Trio - Vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut. Everyone finished it, so I assume there were no complaints. 🟢 We had reservations for an early Sunday dinner, but the restaurant was only ~50% full. The dining room had lots of great natural light, good sound proofing though the street is busy, the bathroom is clean.

We went there for our anniversary, the service and food were great, however the house salad wasnt great. Also parking is only valet which it took a bit longer to get our car.

I’ve been to Stefani Prime before, and on previous visits the food was excellent and the customer service was top-tier. That’s why I was surprised by my most recent experience last week. We were seated around 8:45 p.m. in the back enclosed patio, right next to an exit door and the utensil station. At first, I didn’t think much of it since the main dining area looked full, but there was definitely other seating available in the patio. We placed our appetizer and main dish orders about 15–20 minutes after being seated. The appetizers came out fairly quickly, but our main dishes didn’t arrive until over an hour later, about 15 minutes after closing. It honestly felt like our entrees may have been forgotten. When the food finally arrived, my steak wasn’t cooked to my liking. The server and who I believe was the manager were apologetic and insisted on taking it back to fix it, which I appreciated. However, by that point it was already about 30 minutes after closing, and the restaurant had mostly cleared out. During that time, bus staff were repeatedly peeking into our area every few minutes, which made us feel rushed and uncomfortable. That said, I do want to acknowledge that the server and manager genuinely tried to make things right by offering us a round of drinks and dessert, which was a nice gesture and appreciated. Overall, this visit didn’t live up to the experiences I’ve had here before. I still believe Stefani Prime is capable of delivering great food and service, but this night felt disorganized and rushed, especially toward the end of the evening.

Came here for Valentine’s Day ! The food was amazing !!!! The Staff was really friendly and helpful. The valet parking was terrible!!! The valet guys left my husband window down during a snow storm ! The car was snowed in almost . Took them 20 minutes to find our car key . I also asked to speak with the manager I was told “ he’s outside looking for someone else car” !Overall experience was okay

Specifically booked a table for 6 at the restaurant but they only had room at the bar. They asked if our party, with two elderly guests, would like to sit at a high top… Finally got a table, a seat wasn't cleaned. In general, the tables were very close together and we had to move our chairs in and out throughout our meal. It was also quite loud in there. Food was good. The only saving grace.

We weren't impressed with our food. They are more expensive than traditional known steak houses and the food isn't better. We got the ribeye steak, mashed potatoes, mushrooms, short rib raviolacci and wagyu meatball. We felt the food was underseasoned, especially the meatball. They did give us a complimentary chocolate cake slice since we celebrated our birthday which was very nice. It was our first time here but we won't be coming back.

This restaurant has really declined and management should take a serious look at the quality of their food. Last night at dinner everything was just terrible. The baked potatoes appeared to be reheated from the previous day and were definitely not fresh (came out lukewarm and hard), side dishes all came out lukewarm, and the meats were all cooked to the wrong temperature and not at all edible. Everything is too oily or bland. Not what you expect when you pay top dollar. I encourage leadership to visit a houston’s/ hillstone location (unfortunately not in Chicago) to learn some best practices.

Stefani Prime charges high-end prices for awful food and slow service. It was ridiculous that we had to chase our server down to put our order in. Bread was grossly undersalted and void of any flavor. What a bleak start to our dinner. Steak tatare was pathetic to say the least: steak was underseasoned, cornichons tasted extremely odd, and their "flatbread" turned out to be fried chips. Unsurprisingly, the polpi salad was also underwhelming. Most of the octopus pieces were chewy and about half of them were burnt to the point of tasting bitter. I wouldn't go here if you want some flavor in your food.

I dined at Stefani Prime, a place that prides itself on offering a fine dining experience. Unfortunately, my visit did not live up to the high expectations set by the restaurant’s reputation. To start, I ordered the steak, which is often a highlight at such establishments. However, I was disappointed to find that the steak was overcooked. Instead of the tender, juicy cut I anticipated, it was dry and lacked the rich flavor that a perfectly cooked steak should have. This was a significant letdown, especially considering the premium price point. Additionally, I tried the pasta, hoping it would redeem the meal. Sadly, the pasta was undercooked. It was far too al dente, bordering on raw, which made it difficult to enjoy. The sauce, while flavorful, couldn’t compensate for the texture issues of the pasta itself. For a fine dining restaurant, I expected a much higher standard of food quality. The ambiance and service were commendable, but the primary reason for dining out—the food—fell short. Fine dining should be an experience where every detail, especially the food, is meticulously crafted and executed. Unfortunately, this was not the case during my visit. I hope that Stefani Prime takes this feedback to heart and makes the necessary adjustments to ensure that future diners have a more satisfying culinary experience. Fine dining is about more than just the setting; it’s about delivering exceptional food that justifies the premium experience.

I’m extremely disappointed. This was supposed to be an upscale restaurant, yet a bug crawled out of my salad while I was eating. When I brought it to the manager’s attention, she casually said, “Oh, it’s an indoor bug — like a gnat.” My response was, It crawled! it’s still a BUG! Completely unacceptable, especially for a place that prides itself on fine dining. I expected much better standards of cleanliness and professionalism.

Reservation was not honored, even though we confirmed the day before and arrive a few minutes before our time. We were treated as if we didn't have a reservation. We were seated 38 mins after reservation time and being punctual; approximately 40 mins prior to closing. We patiently waited and observed others reservation times be honored. We inquired at the 20 mins mark and we were rudely told there are 6 more ppl ahead of us. That was a bit baffling. I've not ever experienced such poor management of being seated and poor service of a "fine dining" establishment requiring a fee if cancel. If we were late 38 mins they would have had every right to "fit us in" or not seat us at all. After being seated, we were rushed to place drink orders, we hadn't had a chance to take our coats off before the waiter asked about drinks. Can we look at the menu first? We weren't afforded the opportunity to enjoy our evening. The experience was awful. 0 out of 10 I would not recommend. To think I was so excited about experiencing this restaurant and its food, it was such a disappointment.