$$$$, Business Dining, Date Spot, Local Favorite, Lunch Spot, Notable Wine List, Online Reservations, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Open 7 Days
Experience Tuscan, Italian cuisine at vibrant and lively Coco Pazzo Cafe, sister restaurant of landmark Coco Pazzo. Just steps away from Magnificent Mile shopping, major hotels, Northwestern Hospital, Prentice Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute, the Cafe offers a casual atmosphere, a diverse menu, and Italian wines by the glass. Enjoy the warmth of the Modigliani inspired murals, theatrical flower arrangements and the copper topped bar which is also popular for dining. And, when the weather allows, choose a table on the relaxing patio. Coco Pazzo Cafe has been voted by Chicago Zagat readers as one of the finest alfresco restaurants in town. Coco Pazzo Cafe's atmosphere is warm and inviting. It's the perfect spot for romance or business while lingering over a glass of wine and sharing appetizers such as hand-cut, tossed Tuscan Fries with fried zucchini and sweet red onions toppe
Great lovely place to go to, especially during summer time. They definitely will provide good atmosphere for lunch or dinner. I have not been there during morning time so don't know about breakfast.
Posted 11/09/09 | Report Abuse
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My co-worker and I were looking for an quick lunch break but not busy and loud to discuss upcoming events and eat at the same time.
When visiting Coco Pazzo Cafe the atmosphere was wonderful and pleasant. Our food came out in timely manner, the server was friendly. T
he time went by and we were so comfortable in our setting we lost track of time! We will be visiting Coco Pazzo Cafe again.
Thank You!
Posted 04/22/08 | Report Abuse
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This restaurant is less expensive than its cousin on Hubbard street, but the food here is also very good and you don't need to make a reservation. I had something simple like lasagna but it was memorable!
Posted 04/12/08 | Report Abuse
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I've been researching a project and chatting with chefs across America. The sous chef hung up on me without even listening to what I had said. If that's what service is like in the kitchen, I can only imagine what the food is like.
Posted 02/09/09
I made reservations here upon a recommendation from a friend for their great food. Online reviews were favorable so I thought 'why not?'. I should have been suspicious when I was able to make a reservation for two at 7 p.m. on a Saturday night the day before (on Valentine's Day weekend) without a problem. My husband and I were expecting a romantic evening out and were very disappointed. We were seated in the corner of a very small alcove with barely room to spare. NOT ROMANTIC. No music, no dim lights. Our fellow diners were TOO close, and the server had to lean over the head of the table next to us to take our order. We felt totally rushed by the wait staff. I had no sooner ordered my martini and taken a sip when our main course was delivered to the table, and that was after I had ordered wine to go with the food. I am not exagerrating when I say that the food was delivered to our table within 10 minutes of being seated. I would applaud this kind of service during the lunch hour, but not on a Saturday evening. The Ravolini was delicious, and so was the spaguetti, but the atmosphere was totally lacking in ambience. I would not recommend Cocco Pazzo for a special occassion, or romantic dinner. The only way I would try it again would be in the summer, for lunch, on the patio. Wine list was just okay.
Posted 02/17/08
Best Italian food I've had so far. I had the Tortino di Asparagi, the Ossobuco, and the Frutta con Zabaione and EVERYTHING was delicious! I highly recommend this place. I'll definitely make this restaurant a stop every time I'm in Chicago.
Pros: Great food and customer service
Cons: Parking (?) or you can always take a cab
Posted 12/13/07
The food was very well done, classic dishes with a slightly fancy spin. The lasagna and the duck pasta were both great. I might skip the cheese plate at the end, though the walnuts on it were very good. Large selection of wines by the bottle including some less pricy options. The service was also very nice, not hurried but not inattentive either.
Posted 12/03/06
We love Coco Pazzo's on Hubbard st and love this spin off also. It's a block off Michigan ave so it's a great spot to relax and have lunch after hitting the stores. We enjoyed the outdoor seating, though if you don't like pigeons don't eat outside in Chicago (they are a fact of life). The food is great, though a bit on the pricy side.
Posted 11/03/06
Very nice food, the crowd is like fish out of water. Alot of people who look like they rather belong the the gold coast than on St. Clair street. The outdoor cafe attracts rolex wearin' aston martin driving puff your cheast out dudes in search of the most expensive thing on the menu.
but the resturaunt itself is great
Pros: food staff and drink list
Cons: the clientle
Posted 10/27/06
i was in chicago last week for only 2 days and on the second night i met an engineer from new york. i would have never gone to this place if this engineer hadnt invited me. i had calimari and bruscheti for the first time! the food was excellent! my friend had the ceasar salad and she said it was the best salad shes ever had! i had lasagna, which was also exceptional. service was good too, they let us stay for almost 45 minutes past closing time, awesome! highly recommended
Pros: great food, romantic, great service
Cons: hardly anyone there
Posted 10/10/05
Pazzo has standardly decent Italian food, certainly no worse than dozens of other Chicago restaurants. I understand in summer, their outdoor cafe is quite nice. In winter, however, through a combination of terrible acoustics and poor ventilation, you dine in the din of dozens of shrieking corporate types getting progressively blasted. Despite whirling ceiling fans attempting to clear the air, cigarette smoke is the order of the day. It's a lunchtime restaurant and except for the crowd at the bar, the place was virtually empty at 7:30 PM
Pros: decent food, nice waitstaff
Cons: horrible ambience
Posted 03/10/05
I have lived here for a little over a year and this is the best Itailian restaurant I have found in the city. Always consistant! Try the specials they are always great and the caeser salad is the best!
Posted 12/04/04
I mean, probably the worst gnocchi in the city, and I've been to a lot of places. Really disappointed...absolutely NO romance in the air. Romantic? Who are you guys kidding? Place was a mortuary, filled with 60 year old couples. What a wasted evening.
Posted 08/27/03
Most of the food is QUITE excellent. Some of the food is... to say the least, interesting. The ambience - the outdoor patio was not open and maybe that makes a difference - however, the ambience was slightly painful for me. It looked cute, but there were so many people "milling around" that I never felt at ease. The waitstaff is very courteous and proper, however, there may be a *slight* language barrier if you don't have an ear for thick accents :) All in all, a good experience, I'd definately go back, but I wouldn't take a new girlfriend or in-laws with me...
Pros: Fast!, Courteous staff, Great menu
Cons: Cramped
Posted 04/09/03
"We've gone to the one in Schaumburg... absolutely love it! Great atmosphere, ..."
