The Rosebud

First of all my wife wanted to celebrate her 50th Birthday at Rosebuds on Taylor. I thought great we have been going there periodically over thirty years. So i called and made reservations two days ahead of time. I asked for window seats and the person i spoke to said this would be no problem if i were to come in a little later around 9 p.m. I agreed and left all the infomation they required over the phone. When my two sons my wife and myself arrived I was told by Nick some twenty something ,that i would not be getting a window seat. After nicely explaining to him i had requested these seats days prior to, and was told this should not be a problem Nick informed me that he doubted the person on the phone told me that. Too bad because that was the wrong answer. Very unproffesional and inapporpriate attitude. So of course we were than given the seats from hell, in between two other parties crushed like sardines . Needless to say it was a very unenjoyable experience. And i would not have written this if not for my two sons infoming me that the internet is a powerful force. So if this deters just one person from not going to Rosebud on Taylor GREAT. P.S. It all starts from the top Nickey boy, and we will find a new Italian restaurant after this experience!

Pros: Leaving

Cons: Nick, worst host ever!!

Posted 09/25/09

I have tried quite a few Italian restaurants in Chicago (Dinotto, Trattoria Roma, Club Lago, Bice, Quartino's). I found out about this place after reading revieiws for Spiaggia and Coco Pazzo. The cheaper cafes of these two (Spiaggia Cafe and Coco Pazzo Cafe) offer prices comparative to Rosebut and are highly recommended, however, I have not yet been to either.
The Rosebud offers family style portions, so for two people, one dish and one or two appetizers is more than enough.
Many reviews complain about the poor service. I would say taht the service is attentive, however, our server, Vita, was not as friendly as we may have liked. But keep in mind, the servers at The Rosebud are not 20 somethings bouncing around the restaurant like eager bunnies looking to please you and checking on you every 5 minutes. The service at Rosebud was good, not exceptional, but what I will be going back for is the food.
I had the Eggplant Parm and my wife had the Rigatone a la Vodka. Both were amazoing and we had enough leftover for dinner the next day. The eggplant parm was probably the best i have ever had.
Ambiance is good: dimly lit, and nice wood panel decor. Not the most romantic place since there were plenty of large tables (great for families) with kids, but the
restaurant was quiet enough for a romanttic dinner.
Street parking is available (be sure to pay the meter and leave receipt slip on your dashboard) but most people elect to use the valet. I recommend making reservations and opt for the tables by the Taylor st windows!
Overall, I highly recommend this place!

Pros: Lots of great food (family style dining) at a good price.

Cons: parking may be hard to find.

Posted 08/01/08

My wife had the Ciapono and I had the Eggplant Parmigiano. Both were enormous portions, the eggplant thinly sliced and baked (not pan fried), delicate and delicious. The presentation on the Ciapono was appealing, and the calamari in the Ciapono was the tenderest I have eaten in a long time. We had the Ensalada Caprese, thick slices of tomato and delightfully fresh mozarella, topped with a thin slice of sweet onion and roasted red sweet peppers, and of course the fresh basil and tasty aged balsamic. We ate on a busy Saturday night, but service was brisk and attentive without being intrusive, and speed was consistent with meals made from scratch. A delightful authentic Little Italy experience, such as Chicago is known for.

Posted 06/07/08

I'll keep this short and simple. My brick chicken was amazing. His pasta side and chicken Marsala was great. Our beverages were outstanding. OUR WAITER WAS THE WORST EXAMPLE OF SERVICE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF MAN. I WANTED TO POKE HIS EYES OUT WITH MY FORK. HE RUINED OUR SPECIAL OCCASION WITH HIS FUMBLING INEPTITUDE AND COMPLETE LACK OF INTEREST IN OUR TABLE. WE WILL NOT RETURN!

Pros: Excellent food

Cons: Horrible service

Posted 03/15/08

I wanted to try the original location, never had any of the other Rosebuds. Made reservations a week ahead of time, had a window-side table. Great antipasto plate, classic caprese salad. All the pasta plates are classic, well made, perfectly seasoned. On the table were veal marsala, shrimp broccoli shells, and rigatoni with vodka sauce, everything was great! Generous portions, good times. Classic cannolli and creme brulee for dessert. Can not express how simple yet wonderful everything was. Highly recommended.

Pros: classic italian, reasonable prices, good ambiance

Cons: none

Posted 11/10/07

Food is awesome. Service is good too. Try the mushrooms for an appitizer. They are almost as thick as steak. If you go on a day you can sit outside, you will really enjoy it very much.

Pros: Great food

Cons: Price

Posted 10/17/07

Went with a party of six. Were were seated right away and had an awesome waiter who patiently explained everything. Everyone loved their meal. The sea bass special was very, very good, but very pricey at $36 (the waiter did not say) Another special was also $36. Regular menu prices are much lower. Expensive drink prices. Stick with the better priced pastas and have a great meal. Old Blue eyes is there overlooking you.

Pros: Pasta , service, seafood

Cons: expensive specials

Posted 04/08/06

Arrived with a party of 10 at 6 pm on a saturday. we had reservations and were seated promptly. after the wine was served, and some bread and oil, out table was cleared of food and we had no service and no food for 1 and 1/2 hours. when the food did arrive the entrees were hot but the sides were cold. we wanted to impress our out of town guests, and we did,badly! never again.

Pros: good valet, good taste of food

Cons: poor service, veerry slooow

Posted 10/12/05

Fantastic! No matter what you order the food is always prepared to perfection.

Posted 06/13/05

You get so much food for the price. The resturant is beautiful inside, and the food is wonderful. If you are going to go to one of the Rosebud's Resutrants, this is the one that I would go to. I would go back myself, and I would recommend it to everyone. I have a hard time going out for Italian food anywhere else now.

Pros: food, price, ambience

Cons: price, surrounding area

Posted 02/13/05

When I visited here the food was saporous, and the service was impeccable. The host pulled out our chairs and our server placed our napkins in our lap. The servers are very charming and professional. Clams and Stuffed Mushrooms were ambrosial. This is a great place..Highly recommended.

Pros: Charming, Great Service, Wonderful Desserts

Posted 03/14/03

I've been to Spiaggia, Coco Pazzo, and Gene & Georgetti's. Throughout all those dining experiences I was pining for Rosebud's cuisine. Service, however, is gruff and rushed. But hey, they have a takeout menu!

Pros: great food, great prices, huge portions

Cons: questionable service

Posted 02/03/03

What this great restaurant lacks in atmosphere is more than made up for in the delicious-and huge-portions of great Italian food. Arriving early on the evening after Christmas, and with no reservations, we were seated quickly and found the service to be friendly and informative. Nice to find a place that indeed lives up to its reputation.

Pros: Tasty food, Large portions, Knowledgeable waiter

Cons: Noisy

Posted 12/27/02

Food is excellent. Thier Alfredo sauce is exactly how mom made it. one of my top ten favorite spots in chicago.

Posted 11/13/02

I thought Rosebud was fairly nice, but pricey for what you got. I think a better place not listed is Orso's on N Wells. Excellent food, and the best, most romantic first date ever atmosphere!! :)

Posted 10/31/02

Not much to say about Rosebuds except that it has the best Italian food in town. It's expensive, but you get alot of food. You probably could have the leftovers for the next day's lunch and dinner. You get seated right away and it's great for a large party. It's very clean and is very nice and cozy. The only thing that is remotely bad is that it is expensive. I would deffinetly reccomend this restaurant to anyone who wants some good Italian food.

Pros: Great Food, Clean, Good Service

Cons: Expensive

Posted 08/19/02

What more can you ask for besides fantastic food, great atmosphere, fun, attentive knowledgeable waitstaff and a moderate bill?? Nothing....so go to Rosebud.

Posted 06/23/02

Everyone knows Rosebud and their high priority for their guests, but what most may not know is that the company was founded by one man and his dream to make people happy. Most may think something fell into his lap, but guts and sweat is what has made all of the Rosebud restaurants what they are today. So for everyone out there who thinks this is just another coporation, it is not. It is the hard work from the one and only person who owns the company with the hard work from all of his employees. Other restaurants may try to be Rosebud, but I know none of the others that have been around for 26 yrs.

Posted 06/05/02

As you enter, there is usually a long table made up of a group of locals from the neighborhood (Little Italy). The waiters are experienced and attentive. I find their baked clams and veal parmigiana to be the best in town. And, with regards to the veal, the biggest serving.

Pros: great service, the best food

Cons: little pricey

Posted 05/16/02