Message from Macello

Ambiance. Service. Italian Culinary Voyage.
  • Wood Burning Brick Pizza Ovens
  • Italian Cuisine with a Scene
  • An Italian Escape

At this meatpacking district location, you will notice the slaughterhouse hooks hanging from the ceiling. There are handsome black and white photographs of Little Italy and it's slaughterhouses over 100 years ago. Let Macello warm you with its exposed brick, views of wood burning pizza ovens and multi-colorful hand painted glass globe lights. The staff at Macello is dedicated to delivering the ultimate Italian dining experience by preparing authentic dishes with the freshest ingredients and making all feel like family. Come escape to owner Giovanni's re-created motherland for imported goods out of the deli case. Have a pizza fresh out of the brick oven. Lamb chops are cut three-fingers thick so that the flame-licked edges are crunchy, the center a juicy crimson. The well-marbled, bone-in rib eye is just as expertly cooked. Finish off with grappa or limoncello and relax.

MarkerMacello

4 Star Rating - Very good 1 review – Review Macello

(312) 850-9870

1235 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60661

Editorial Description by Citysearch
Italian ristorante makes use of its wood-burning oven in a 1920s slaughterhouse space.
Rated 9.2 out of 10 by Citysearch.

1 Review of Macello in Chicago

...Write yours here!

Macello  4 Star Rating - Very good

The pizza here was really good. It was cooked to almost perfection and the service was great. The resteraunt was very clean and I would probably go back again.

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5 Reviews by Citysearch: (read all 6 reviews on Citysearch)

Love it! 5 Star Rating - World class

Great food, Excellent Atmosphere! From the moment I walked in I was mesmorized! The staff was friendly I was promptly seated and I just had a wonderful time! If you want great food and excellent service this is definitely the place for you!

Pros: Overall Just wonderful
Cons: Don't think there were any
Posted 06/16/08 at 11:17am

a must! 4 Star Rating - Very good

this place is great for a first date. You feel as if you are at a bistro in Italy! Love the pasta dishes and the pizza is a must try!!! My new favorite spot!

Posted 05/28/08 at 6:41pm

All-around Fabulous Experience! 5 Star Rating - World class

You name it - ambiance, service, wine list, food - it's all here & it's all fantastic. We shared the mussels & the mixed seafood grill appetizers - we all wanted more, but knew we had "good stuff" coming, so we held off! Four of us had 3 different dishes lamb (cooked to temperature perfection for both diners), tiger prawns (the biggest I'd ever had!), a seafood pasta (homemade pasta- oh my gosh!). Portions were generous & flavors of the FOOD stood out - no overpowering seasoning here! The wine list was not overpriced, and the waiter could have offered up something more expensive, but instead suggested the lowest-priced of 3 comparable bottles - & we went back for a second! We were celebrating a special event, so he also organized a dessert sampler, which was amazing. Oh - the cappuccino had the thickest foam I've ever encountered - it was awesome! We can't wait to go back!

Pros: Everything
Cons: Not one
Posted 04/21/08 at 1:56pm

great ambiance 5 Star Rating - World class

We dine out frequently and really enjoyed a Saturday night dinner at Macello. The service was excellent, food delicious, and prices were reasonable. The most outstanding feature of the restaurant is the ambiance and decor, hidden off the beaten track on Lake Street.

I would recommend the thin crust pizzas, the varied specials, and well-done desserts. We tried an eggplant starter that was very fresh. The eggplant was lightly fried and paired with creamy mozzerella. The tomatos were not as falvorfull as the rest of the ingrediants, however. The desserts were fantastic and the wine list was big enough and well priced.

Pros: service ambiance
Posted 03/09/08 at 11:29am

excellent food, beautiful decor, courteous staff 5 Star Rating - World class

I have been here twice in the last 2 weeks, and both times I would I give it 5 stars.

The decor is like a beautiful home to die for (lovely exposed brick, gorgeous fireplaces, festive light coverings), and has some of the nicest lighting I have seen in a restaurant. The atmosphere and layout make it nice for a romantic evening if you want to have a private corner, but they seemed also very welcoming to families as well.

The staff were very helpful and accommodating--extra important since I have a small child. My son loved the attention and the food. Some of the dishes are spicy so as the waitstaff what they recommend for kids (pizza and the meat dishes to share are good choices).

The seafood was very fresh, and the pasta not overcooked. My second visit I had the "pork chop" with risotto and at first I thought I was brought a new york strip steak by mistake--it was so tender and delicious, one of the nicest cuts of pork I have had in this city. There was so much that even sharing with my son, we still had to bring a doggy bag home.

The meat dishes (steak or pork or lamb) are a bit more expensive as expected, but enough for two in some cases, and I think for a classy place, the portions are quite filling and large. This is important to me since many upscale restaurants the portions are too small...not here. Very generous.

There is a very nice bar area too if you want to chill before dinner.

sorbetto and gelato are good choices for dessert.

There are enough native Italian speakers that you can practice Italiano. Siamo felici e visiteremo ancora.

We will be back often.

Pros: flavorful food, wide variety of food
Cons: none that I can think of so far
Posted 10/21/07 at 7:25pm