Low-lit and intimate, this Old-World Italian eatery mimics a quaint village.
Oldest Italian Restaurant
Family -owned
Loop Lunch
A beloved Chicago Landmark, the Village is a casual restaurant located on the second floor. Designed like a small Italian town, customers dine in cozy nooks with such names as La Taverna (The Tavern) and La Banca (the Bank). The Northern Italian menu features an endless selection of pasta, veal, beef, seafood, chicken, pizza, panini and salads.
Located on the second floor of a family-run complex of restaurants is this small, endearing trattoria, which has been a go-to spot for daters, theatergoers and suits since 1927. Designed to look like a town in Italy, the room is built for romance with white tablecloths, private nooks, faux building facades and twinkling white lights. As for the eats, they're red sauce-classic, beginning with fried calamari, an antipasto platter and clams baked with oregano-specked breadcrumbs. From Chicken Vesuvio to Veal Parm, ample portions are the mantra. The wine lengthy wine list touts upwards of 1,000 affordable and celebration-worthy bottles.
The Italian Village is actually three different Italian restaurants in one building. All of the restaurants are excellent. be sure to make a reservation before trying to go to dinner on a weekend!
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This is my favorite italian resturant. The food and service is always superb. The atmosphere makes you feel like you are in Italy for a party of two or more. During lunch hours or dinner the resturant is kid friendly!
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I have eaten at the Italian Village twice and have found it to be just okay. The food was not as good as some place in Little Italy for example, but it was not bad either. I made reservations and would recommend doing so because it can get rather crowded.
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This has been my favorite for years. There are actually three restaurants in their complex, two casual and one very fine dining. I prefer the casual where I can get a meatball sandwich and fries. Good choice.
PROS:
CONS: Crowded at Lunch.
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Latest reviews by Citysearch:
(read all 65 reviews
on Citysearch)
Three great restaurants
By ShoppingQueen
Try their stuffed ravioli or eggplant Florentine.
The restaurant on the top floor is the best for a date. Its designed to look like Venice at night with lots of vines and little lights to simulate stars. All three floors have a different menu.
Pros: Best Italian food in Chicago Cons: Not cheap and no walk ins
Posted 06/03/09
It's a standard
By Metromix
A place I can take co-workers or my dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pros: Great food, good price, fast service
Posted 05/14/09
Authentic Italian!!!
By chicubsjeremy
Im a huge fan of the Italian Village. The food is excellent, and the wine list is the best! Ive been here several times for lunch and dinner and have always had a great experience, which keeps me coming back. The prices are fantastic for the portions and the pasta is always cooked just right. This is a great restaurant to come to late night, as their are some pretty famous Chicago celebs that come here. I highly recommend this place.
Pros: Pasta, wine, dessert, ambience
Posted 03/29/09
Great Food, Great Service, Great Atmosphere!!
By bearsbob
I love this place!!! From the appetizers to the scenery, its awesome!! I've come here several times and have never been disappointed. The service is always outstanding and the food is excellent. The wine cellar is shared between the 3 restaurants at the village, and has over 40,000 bottles. The sommelier knows them all too, and can recommend a great pairing with whatever you order. I would recommend the Ossobucco, the tomato sauce is outstanding. They also have a very extensive seafood menu and the seafood is always fresh.
Pros: Best wine list in the City
Posted 03/26/09
Waste of time and money.
By AlphonseAndolini
I was meeting my daughter's boyfriend for the first time and she wanted it to be special. I made reservations at the Italian Village because their website showed a nice, fancy dining area with table clothes, etc. . Instead we were herded to a wooden booth right next to the bar. The bread sticks and bread were stale and I could have prepared the main courses myself (I don't cook). The portions were small and not very tasty (Veal Parm). The bus boys tried to pull plates before we were finished so we felt rushed. The waitress copped an attitude when I told her that their website is not reflective of the actual dining experience. As a matter of fact, this restaurant does not deliver on any of it's claims of a great dining experience. I was embarrased and promised my guests to take them out to a better restaurant in the near future.
Pros: Parking attendants were very polite. Cons: Price, service, food, disgraceful.
