Italian Village

What can I say? It's the "veelajay" as my Uncle Louie called it. He was a fixture on there staff for eons and my family has so many memories here. This is the place for heavy duty family gatherings as well as romantic date spot. It's near the beautiful Chicago Lyric Opera House & is thee place for post operatic drinks and eats. If someone is not familiar with it, it is a compilation of separate dining rooms each with their own decor and ambience. From casual to sophisticated, whatever your mood. It makes up the "village".
The Capitanini family have been running this for generations and they are pure class. The food is incredible and you will find offerings not available anywhere else. As everyone knows, I'm choosy about my Italian restaurants and this one is a gem with a dear place in my heart. They have award winning cuisine and one of the largest restaurant wine cellars in the country. If you are a visitor to Chicago do yourself a favor and visit the village because it is more than just food, it is an experience.

Pros: World class fare in the heart of the loop.

Cons: none

Posted 10/27/07

This was the best food and service I have had. The range of prices on the menu fits everyones needs. We were seated promptly on a busy night without reservations. We were treated great and even had the staff sang Happy Birthday to my friend. The atmosphere is fun and casual. The bar is awesome all lit up with twinkling stars. The Management at the front was awesome and recognized us as soon as we walked in with a warm welcome. The food was tasty and authentic Italian style. What a great experience !! Thank you.

Pros: Food, location and personal guest service at a casual style

Posted 08/30/07

The prices for this restaurant are unbelievable. The food and value was exceptional, not to mention the great service by our experienced waiter and the Captain that took care of our table. I felt like a V.I.P. The wine director also helped us choose a wine off the award winning list of about 1500 wines, by the way, not overpriced like I am use to seeing. You can't go wrong in this landmark restaurant that is truly a gem.

Pros: Prices, service and original Italian cuisine

Posted 05/20/07

A friend and I traveled to Chicago for a semi vacation, but I also had a gift certificate to The Village, the upstairs restaurant of the Italian Village. We were there in the evening and with it being a week night there was no wait. The atmosphere was nice, but the service was great. I presented my gift certificate as soon as I sat down and I wondered if the service would get sloppy since I "wasn't paying", but it didn't. The staff there is great. We ordered wine, pinot noir and riesling. Both were fantastic. For an appetizer we got the Shrimp and Mussels. Both great. The main dishes were Tortelli and the seafood combination for my friend. This is where it gets fuzzy. The main dishes? not so great. Not bad, but not great. Nothing to put my finger on; they just didn't "wow" us. Then for dessert we ordered the cannoli and the tiramisu. Again, both great. It was worth the time and trip since it only cost me $20 (tip). I would go back because of the service and just order a different main course.

Pros: Super great service and pretty good food. Awesome wine!

Posted 03/06/07

This restaurant is a gem. The Village upstairs has a great, romantic atmosphere. The kitchen is hidden away, and seating is intimate and cosy. Food is very good. We both had pasta dishes. Portions are large so be prepared to take food home, or better yet, order one entree and split it with an appetizer or two. Service is excellent; water glasses are always filled; wait staff is fast but don't get in your way. Meals are a terrific value for the Loop. Make reservations for weekend nights.

Pros: Excellent ambiance, service, and food.

Cons: Not a great place for large groups or business; suitable for a group of 4.

Posted 03/03/07

So my friends had little time to eat before we went to the Bulls game. When you walk into the Italian Village you have three restaurants to choose from. Thank goodness we chose the right one! The space was small but the food was delicious! I had the Chicken Pasta and it was incredible! And our service was even better. We had a waitress named Anetta and she was so down to earth and incredible friendly. A cameron diaz look-alike!

Pros: food, service, location

Cons: small space but bearable

Posted 02/27/07

This restaurant is a Chicago landmark! Great italian food for great prices. Fun ambiance- like a little italian village.

Pros: Great italian food!

Posted 11/16/06

I have been going to the Italian Village for years and it is still one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. We traditionally go for special occasions and we always have a great time. If you have an party of 2 or more, you can make reservations in one of there private dining tables which look like little Italian huts. One of my favorites is not on the dinner menu, Capalinni D'Angelo. It is a Angel hair pasta with marinara and riccotta sause topped with capers. Be sure to ask for it!

Pros: Prices, location, service

Cons: Reservations are not taken for party of 2

Posted 11/13/06

Wow, we've tried Vivere & loved it. But Italian village is incredible! From the host to the bar we were treated wonderfully. The bar staff actually is friendly & attentive. While the host when calling out names over the loud speaker actually catches your eye to nod yes or no if he's calling for you.

Once inside ... it's a Italian Village! Really! The aisle's are the streets and the seating area's are either al fresco or within little buildings. It reminded us of being in Disney World. Everywhere you looked there was something to see. The atmostsphere was lively, yet not over whelming or overly loud. Our waiter was prompt and definitely attentive. Our food was excellent & earned it's reveiws. We felt it was on par with all the other excellent independent Italian restaurants in Chicago.

As for price, we felt that the check was definitely more reasonable than most restaurants found downtown, even after an appetizer (excellent grilled calamari) & wine for 2. So if you are planning a special occasion or have folks in from out of town, this will wow them without breaking your wallet.

We will definitely go back!

Pros: food, service, price, even the valet was quick

Cons: downtown, lot's of stairs-not handicap accessable

Posted 10/24/06

My family was recently visiting Chicago, to celebrate my son graduating from bootcamp at Greatlakes. When we came in from the street we were seated immediately and treated as if we were very important people the Matre'D was very attentive and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. There was a song on "my tutaloot" it was very funny and to see and hear my son laugh was wonderful he his girlfriend 2 friends and parents laughing and enjoying each other the food was great. To top it all off the Matre'D brought was the tray with change on it When we told him we hadn't paid or bill yet that a mistake was made he said "actually it was already paid for that a very classy lady had been dining and asked that she could pay for our meal there was over 50.00 dollars on the tray we were so greatful that we offered back the change as a tip. My son and I and all of us were touched by such generousity and well always wonder who/why. We feel blessed to be treated so well Thank You to your wait staff and especially Thank You to the Lady who made my son feel like he as an american servicemember was and is appreciated for being willing to serve his country. Thank YOU Thank YOU ThankYOU

Posted 09/12/06

I was stranded in Chicago overnight and took the blue line downtown and tried the upstairs Italian Village, knowing nothing about it in advance. I went in about 5:30 on Saturday, no reservation, and only had to wait in the lounge about 15 minutes for a table. (If you come later you probably should get a reservation, I would assume.)The bartender was nice, but when asked to make a dinner or beverage recommendation, all I could get was, "What do you feel like?" The painted ceiling in the lounge is pretty cool, too.

The atmosphere is great, I can see why this is a good place for families and dates. Once seated and the waiter got over the shock that I was dining alone, all was well. Service was extremely attentive. No such thing as an empty water glass in this place. The wine was good. I mistakenly ordered walleye at an Italian restaurant (hey, we can't get it on the west coast)...the fish itself was good, but it was coated in what tasted like sugared bread crumbs, which caused me to look longingly at some of the pasta pizza dishes destined for other tables. Prices were very reasonable. I would go again, but order traditional Italian food next time. (I'll wait until I visit Minnesota to order walleye again...) Recommended for ambience, service, price, and the way dishes other than the one I ordered looked...

Pros: Ambience, price, location

Posted 07/24/06

We went last week and the place was lively and full. We had no reservation because we were out shopping and became hungry. The Maire 'D and Manager took our name and we were seated like family. The wine list is exceptional, the prices below reasonable, the food great and even the children had a special menu to choose from. The service was knowledgeable and eficient in this busy restaurant. We had a perfect end to our day.

Pros: Efficient , Fast, Friendly

Posted 12/20/05

On saturday night 11/12,I dined at italian village in the basement resturant. My seating
was in the hallway across from noisy bar area.It took over 10 minutes for any service at all,and when I finally ordered a beer it took another 10 minutes for my drink. I ordered veal parmesean with pasta,my veal was soggy,the breading was not browned,and my pasta was over cooked.My wife ordered seafood stuffed tortellini,it was ravioli with canned scallops,and two tiny shrimps on top of it.

Cons: noisy, cramped seating

Posted 11/14/05

Italian Village is my favorite place for taking out of town guests!

Posted 06/03/05

The food was excellent and there was seating for large parties or for couples. With the three different restaurants, you can choose your mood. The younger kids love the booths in the Village level.

Posted 05/26/05

what a place!!! the decor is amazing, the romance is all over, the service is like nothing in Chicago. The have all the levels of servers, you do not even get to put your fork down and they are there for your every need! The food is so authenic and delicious and I have never seen a wine list. Best of all, they are happy to have you.

Pros: romantic, great food, affordable

Posted 05/18/05

Took three friends to the Village (1 or 3 restaurants in the Village). It was packed, but we were seated within minutes of arriving (w/o a reservation). Make reservations, if possible, especially on weekends. Service was pretty good, but not outstanding--w/ so many people to serve, it must be overwhelming to please everyone 100%. We had two servers--one for drinks/odds-ends, & another for entrees, which made things a bit confusing. Food quality is very good. Bread is fabulous when served HOT--unfortunately they served us cold bread initially. Portions are also sizable but not as monumental as, say, Rosebud or Carmine's. Prices are pretty good, considering the area--I got a generous plate of meat spaghetti, w/ salad, for $11.50! Ambience is awesome--it appears as if you're in--get this--an Italian village. (Great place to take a date.) It's cramped--a small place that takes advantage of every square foot of floor space. Recommended!

Pros: Food!, Ambience, Value

Posted 12/23/03

i treated my best friend to a weekend in chicago for her birthday--and dinner at the village made the trip extraordinary! we arrived around 5pm, and we were seated immediately. the food was delicious (yummy cheese & spinach ravioli for me, and a chicken/sausage concoction with fettucine alfredo for my friend)...the service was first-rate (frank was our waiter: attentive without 'hovering,' extremely polite; and the other waitstaff were friendly and prompt)...the price was reasonable for the location. i highly recommend the village!!!

Pros: impeccable service, short walk to theatre, reasonable prices

Posted 11/10/03

Best ambiance in an Italian restaurant that I have found here and abroad. It's a great date spot and they have a fantastic wine list that's pages and pages long. The service is friendly and intimate and the food speaks for itself. The pollo ala vesuvio is wonderful if you love garlic and the eggplant parmigiana is the best that I've had. The Italian Rum cake is also really tasty. I don't think that the prices are too expensive and lunchtime is a great value. Liked the background music too which wasn't merely Frankie and Dean crooning out the same tunes that I hear in every other Italian restaurant, although they sang too. It was nice to hear a variety of songs including ones actually sung in Italian

Pros: moderately priced, beautiful decor, friendly

Posted 08/10/03

Within a short walking distance to all the major theaters in the Theater District, this place has a head start in being the establishment of choice for a meal before the show. You can also specify what time you need to be out by and the waitstaff will do everything they can to help pace your meal, accordingly. The food is just ordinary, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Prices are reasonable and coupled with an intimate, romantic atmosphere and top-notch service, this place will have you headed out to the show with a spring in your steps!

Pros: excellent service, intimate atmosphere, good prices

Cons: average food, no parking, limited seating

Posted 06/04/03

The food was very tasty, but I have to say the best part of the Village was the atmosphere. The service was outstanding, although the one bad point would have to be the overcrowding... but that's due to the restaurant's popularity!

Pros: service, food, setting

Cons: expensive, crowded, bad parking

Posted 02/25/03

with a reservation we had to wait for half hour. then we were seated by the door(!!!) almost at the coat check counter. around us were all young couples like us (who seemed not worthy enough to be seated more towards the center of the restaurant!). the food was ok but not worth the money. portions are very small

Posted 02/17/03

Don't waste your money! Our food was cold, the waiter spilt water on my daughter's lap, the food lacked flavor. Very, very disappointing... The best part was the bread and butter served before our meal. This place has a great reputation, but I'm not really sure why. Maybe the other 2 restaurants they own are better - but I will wait for someone else to review those.

Posted 02/17/03

Wow, what a Saturday afternoon lunch, a real Italian experience. The Italian Village continues to be a top notch dinning pleasure. Service was wonderful and attentive. The food was great and the portions were more then expected. For our out of town guest, Italian Village provided real charm and they easily accomodated our party of nine in our own special dinning room.

Pros: Great Value, Great Service, Great Food

Cons: Oh those stairs!

Posted 01/13/03

The food is good but pretty ordinary. The portions are decent. The service is excellent. If you need to feed a large group, these guys can handle it. Otherwise, you can do much better.

Pros: downtown, service

Cons: ordinary menu

Posted 12/19/02

I have been dining at the Italian Village since my child hood. When my father first came from Italy ,back in the old days, he was a busboy there. I have eaten all over the city and never experienced another restaurant with its level of ambiance.

Pros: good prices, Excellent servers, valet parking

Posted 11/14/02

Best calamari I've ever had! Great service. Quiet, private booths.....a great evening out!

Posted 11/09/02

a great place for lunch or supper. great food. and a good for a large group. i would recommend highly.

Posted 11/09/02

This was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The chocolate mousse at the end of dinner was wonderful. I took a friend here a short time ago before a Chicago Symphony concert and we had a great meal, and a great time. I will agree that the service did seem a little rushed (Kind of the opposite of most Italian restaurants) but I encourage everyone to try this place! Expect a short wait around dinner - best time to go is early evening.

Posted 06/06/02

This place gets my recommendation for the best place for Italian Dining in the City. The food , service and decor are fantastic. Everytime I go I am treated as family and request a nice booth to entertain clients or my dates . The Wine List is one of the Best and it takes some time to get through it. Best to ask the Wine Guy to help with a selection. Try the manicotti or the Chicken Vesuvio which is first rate. I believe this place has been around from the 20's and it resembles a quaint town of Italy. Very romantic and pleasing.
I know I sound over the hill but this place Rocks !

Pros: Food, Service, Wine List

Posted 05/29/02