Sabatino's

This is one of the best Itallian restaurants... my husband and I have been going here for years now and the best feature is their romantic booths!! This is the place we celebrate our special ocassions!
I've only tried the vegeitarian part of the menu and the bow tie pasta with cream sauce and the fettucine with mushroom cream sauce are the best. Good drinks and huge portions... we always walk out with lunch for the next day! Bit pricy but its well worth it!!

The tiramasu and the baked alaska is a very good dessert choice.

Make reservation for the booth... its prefect for couples!! I would definately recommend this to families and couples.... dont be fooled by the outside... You have to walk inside and try this place!!

Pros: Romantic, good food, free and valet parking...

Cons: gets really crowded .. make reservations

Posted 12/02/08

Sabatino's had always been one of my family's favorite resturants. I grew up in the neighborhood and looked forward to going for special occaisons. We loved the attentive service, the large portions and the tasty food. Chicken Parm and Chateaubriand were are favorites. We recommend Sabatino's to all of our family and friends.

Recently we visted and had a bad experience. We were very disappointed. One of the steaks was overcooked and we asked for a replacement. One of the owners came to the table and argued that the steak was cooked correctly. He was extremely rude. Never-the-less, the steak was replaced but came back still overcooked and tough. We were most shocked by the owner's behavior since this was a man who had greeted us warmly in the past and knew us from the neighborhood.

That night, my sister became extremely ill. She was rushed to the emergency room and told she had food psnng. The doctor said that based on the timing of the symptoms, the food psnng must have come from the meal at Sabaino's. A few days later my sister called Sabatino's and told them she had gotten food psnng. She mostly wanted to make them aware. They were very rude and insisted that it was not because of thier food. They also told my sister, "she could not prove it was thier food that got her sick."

In addition to the horrific service, the once charming decor has begun to look dated and worn. We hope that Sabatino's makes the necessary improvements to return it to the nice family resturant it once was. At this point, we are not interested in returning.

Pros: traditional italian food

Cons: RUDE service

Posted 06/25/08

My husband and I have been visiting Sabatino's from the South Side for nearly 30 years and have never (I repeat NEVER) been disappointed in their fine food and service. It is one of the truly precious Italian (real ITALIAN) restaurants left in Chicagoland. It is affordable and friendly. If someone is unhappy with the food....say something!! I'm sure that it will be remedied immediately. The owners aim to please.....like I said, I've been going there for nearly 30 years. Oh, did I say that I, too, am a chef?

Posted 01/09/08

Hostess was less than charming - when we told her we didn't have reservations she made a face. We were seated quickly and server took our drink orders. Place began to crowd up after 630 to the point every 5mins bus boys and waitresses kept excusing themselves to get through to other parties. The area we were located in was definitely not a romantic spot - it was too noisy you can practicately hear everyone's conversations. Soup, Salad, Entrees were served every 30 mins. When entrees finally arrived my friends chicken had an eye lash on it she disregarded it. My entree the norweign salmon had a black short hair on the sauce. Plate was replaced but after having my entire party finish their food. In total we were there 2hrs and 15 mins. I can suggest that servers should try to lift trays higher to prevent their hairs from being dropped on food because they carry entree trays so close to their necks.. I will NOT go back to Sabtino's this place is better off kept a secret.

Posted 07/30/07

We enjoy Sabatino's. Along Irving Park Road, It is a classy place in a middle-class neighborhood: valet parking but parking is always easy on Irving, but Irving being a main street that cuts through the north side, you can easily take the El here or grab the bus in front.

Very nice Italian fare and lowered lights makes this a PERFECT place for a group of friends to quietly chat and enjoy dinner together. If you leave it still hungry, you're not trying: it's Italain, for gosh sakes: indulge!

Dress well: this isn't McDonald's. Wines are varied, so try a recommendation with assurance that they'll do a good job for you. You go here to eat well but also to impress. you may try to plan a movie or show after your visit, but Sabatino's IS the show for the evening, so spend, eat and smile.

This is 1950's class that refuses to go away, thank god! For those times when you want to impress someone, Sabatino's is one of our fav places, and has been for nearly three decades!

Mark Braun
Food Industry News

Pros: Classy, busy but still intimate. good service and excellent Italian menu

Cons: Reservations needed! Dress well

Posted 05/03/07

This is old-school Italian without the sticker shock. I've never spent more than $40 a head, and that's with appetizer, salad, entree and drinks. A strolling violinist with singer go from table to table--my kids get a real kick out of them.

Posted 04/08/07

first time it was great . good food kinna fun and decent service.
last time totally sucked. tasted like chef boy r dee and the wine was too expensive. bar tab was 4 times the food bill. local westside goodfellas dump.

Pros: feels like the goodfellas

Cons: taste like ragu

Posted 04/04/07

I couldnt believe how dissapointed I was, this past Valentines day. You take the time to make reservations in advance and ask the right questions but it was the opposite of my expectations. We were seated next to the Kitchen door, It was very noisy and very non-romantic. The waiter was ignorant and rushed us to order. The food was very undercooked and it lacked flavor. We were really looking forward to a good Itailian meal and got pasta that tasted like it was out of a can. I had confirmed they had a lobster special that evening and they changed it because it was valentines day. If your looking for a good itailian restaurant, do not waist your time nor Money on this place... you will be dissapointed too!!!

J. Garcia

Pros: Free Valet

Posted 03/31/07

meal was nice but have been hotter visited in oct while on vac there were seven of us and we were all dissapointed as it looked so nice

Posted 02/06/07

Sabatinos. Simply my favorite restaurant around. You can always rely on one thing. Thats a great meal. I've been going here for years and have never seen anything but the best service, food and atmosphere. Start off with the baked claims. Their pizza bread while traditional is great. Their specials range daily but are great every time. Whatever you go with ends up great so order what you want the menu could satisfy anyone. The baked Alaska is like no other. So grab a glass of wine and Salute! Because Sabatinos has been around for years, their classic and its a good time. Oh and make a reservation because like all good places it's busy at peak times.

Posted 10/19/06

My husband and I went on a Friday night after making reservations earlier that day for 8:30. Upon arriving right at 8:30, were told there was a 15 minute wait for our table. 30 minutes later we were seated.... They have a very good wine selection (Shiraz was wonderful) and Italian beers. The main pasta, steak and fish entrees come with your choice of soup and salad (salads were just OK. Way too much dressing. Ask them not to put too much dressing). We got the Chef special New York Strip (24 oz!!!!!) and the surf and turf. Lobster was wonderful and the filet was very good but was not medium-well like I had asked. It was more well than medium. Still juicy and delicious though. Our waitress was fantastic. Very attentive but not TOO much so and she had great recomendations. The best part of the night was the Banana Foster dessert. It was heaven. They make it right in front of you so the smell gets you ready to dig in!! It tasted better than it smelled!! HIGHLY recommend the banana foster if you can't tell! The place is a little on the small side but is decorated nicely. Seemed a bit Soprano's-esque which was fun! Piano player was not that great (but my husband has been playing piano for 20 years so he is a tough critic!). A different player took over towards the end of the night and he had people singing along. Bartenders were also attentive and knowledgable. Overall a great Italian place. Worth checking out.

Pros: You guessed it, BANANA FOSTER!! :) oh and free valet parking! good service

Cons: reservation wasn't kept.

Posted 09/29/06

My girlfriend took me to Sabatino's for my birthday and boy was I blown away. We had a fantastic private booth in the center dining room, perfect for couples. I enjoyed everything from the baked clams and oysters rockefeller to the Rich's special. My girlfriend had the Chilean Seabass with sun dried tomatoes, it was fabulous as well. The fish was fresher than you get at a seafood restaurant and a really generous portion. For dessert we had the bananas foster and got to watch the owner cook it at the table. A+ to Sabatino's, we will definitely be going back soon!

Pros: Awsome Food, Free Valet Parking, Outstanding Service

Posted 04/12/06

Never wrote one of these, but after my experience, I felt the need to sign up and write.

I travel excessively for business. In unfamiliar cities, I depend on the Editorial reviews in citysearch for good places to eat. Generally when it is "highly recommended" by the editor, in whatever city, it is very good.

Either Sabatino's went down hill since the review, or the editor is related to the family.

I came looking for an authentic Italian meal. My first clue should have been the sign outside that says "American and Italian food." My second clue should have been the fact baked potato was an optional side item.

Onto the food... The calamari was definately prepackaged, as was most of the sea food in my entree (rubbery). The salad tasted like the smell of dishwater. The antipaste platter had nice meats on it, but unfresh and stale. HUGE disappointment.

Pros: reasonable price

Cons: Food, food, food

Posted 02/09/06

I have been there many many times .. growing up with the owner's son, i know they take great pride in the quality of their food. It can get busy at times but the food makes it all worthwhile! Gnocchi was one of my favorites there(not to be one-sided but its a personal favorite); they make it like no other place in america. their gnocchi is ten times better than tuscany restaurant and all the other italian restaurants ive tried in america.

Pros: good italian food, romantic setting

Posted 02/07/06

went to this restaraunt last year for my 1 year anniversary and loved it. sat in the enclosed booth lit by candles. very classy and the food was terrific. plan on making sabatinos a tradition for our anniversary

Pros: value, romantic, classy

Cons: wait for private room, but well worth it

Posted 11/16/05

Alright- This place was NOTHING special, and a waste of money. The only thing romantic about it was the low lighting. The food was bad- I ordered a simple pasta dish, and only ate a few bites. The rest of the people (ALL 8 of us) in my party agreed.

Pros: Ummmm.........

Cons: food , atmosphere

Posted 09/19/05

Took the wife here for our 1st wedding anniversary. Couldn't have asked for anything better. The food was great. Service was great. I got the Filet Mignonwith lemon sauce. (I think it was called Filet Mignon Mignuer). It was so tender I could cut it with my fork. The flavor was amazing. Didn't care for the Anti-pasta appetiser, but we tried it because we wanted to do something different. My wife got the Shrimp della casa. The shrimp was great, mushrooms were great. We sat in the middle room with the small enclosures. It was nice to have privacy for our wedding privacy. Dinner for the 2 of us cost us $58. We got dinner, appetiser, and the chocolate musse cake for dessert. It was very....VERY good. We were stuffed full and all for under $60. Cant beat that. My highest recommendations.

Pros: Great food, Great service, Great price

Cons: Cant think of any!!

Posted 09/17/05

I have heard about this place for sometime now. So last year my boyfriend took me. It was the day before Feb 14. When I walked in it was nothing what I expected. There was no room and the bar was full. (the bar area is not to hot) When we were taken to our table. It sucked! It was a small table close to the corner. The service was not good at all. I have heard nothin but good things about this place but it was not

Cons: to small, not good service

Posted 05/12/05

Though the service and decor can be iffy, the food is completely amazing. There is obvious attention to detail in the preparation, resulting in authentic and flavorful dishes. The best Italian I've had in Chicago, hands down.

Pros: Free Valet, Excellent Food, Inexpensive

Posted 05/02/05

Found out about Sabatino's after watching the show "Check Please" which showcases some of Chicago's best neighborhood restaurants. My first experience dining at Sabatino's was everything I had hoped for and more. The food was excellent, truly authentic Italian cuisine. The service is hit or miss, however the food is always fantastic and reservations are strongly recommended. Both food and wine are very reasonable.

Pros: Great value, easy parking

Cons: crowded, service hit or miss

Posted 03/29/05

Growing up in a pure Italian household, you develop a keen sense for truly good and authentic food... Sabatino's truly meets all the criteria for an authentic dining experience and delicious food. Its a great place for a romatic date or for some solo endulgence. I highly reccommend the veal in cream sauce. (not always on the menu so ask)

Pros: Food, Service

Posted 06/12/04

There food is very good. Unfortunately, the service is not consistant. It may be wonderful on certain nights and horrible on others. We love to order the banana's foster, have had it several times, unfortunately where the restaurant is busy the banana's do too. The person preparing the dish was rushed and burned our banana's. I've heard this complaint from others. We still enjoy it very much.

Pros: Reasonably priced, excellent food, usually good service

Cons: rushed wait staff

Posted 09/15/03

I've been to Sab's many times and I will continue to go there. The food is great and if you're lucky enough to get one of their private booths it makes for a very romantic evening.

Pros: Great Food, Great Value

Posted 08/06/03

This by far is the best Restaraunt in Chicago
Sabatinos by far is the best restaurant in Chicago. The service is fantastic Every table in the house is number one for owners Enzo and Angelo Pagni. Try Lobster Diablo or Chicken Sabatino.

For desert try Cherry or Banana jubilee. Prepared at your table personally by the owners

On the weekends after dinner can be spent by the piano bar!

Pros: Free Valet, Great Deserts, Home Cooking

Posted 07/05/03

Made reservations a week in advance only to get there and find there was no reservation under my name. Did get seated at reservation time. The first time we meet our waitress, she complained about her tip at another table. Ordered White wine and had to ask a bus boy to get a wine bucket. The food was outstanding. The minestrone was as good as as I ever had. Delicious chicken parmasean. I would go again just because of the food but never go again if the service was lousy.

Pros: Good Atmosphere, Good Food

Cons: Poor Service, Could of been great

Posted 03/10/03

The food tasted great and they give you generous portions. The waitstaff was wonderful and attentive. The ambience is perfect for a date - the lighting was low but not too dark and the decor was charming. The only complaint I had was that I couldn't finish my meal.

Pros: Valet parking

Posted 09/18/02

Sabatino's is probably Chicago's best kept secret as far as classy restaurants go. Sabatino's comperhensive attention to detail shines with its experienced waitstaff, vast wine selection, excellent pizza bread, appetizers, soup and salads. I have eaten here many times and whether you go with fish, steak, veal, or pasta dishes, the high quality and food consistency reigns across the board. What puts Sabatino's over the top is the value; $30 per person. Usually I would have to pay $50 and up per person for this level of service and food quality. A fine mix of class and value ideal for the guy trying to impress a 1st date without going broke.

Pros: experienced waitstaff, great value, class

Cons: bland neighborhood, parking

Posted 07/24/02

This neighborhood restaurant has wonderful ambience. Italian music plays in the background. The portions are very generous and all dishes are prepared with care. You will find dishes here that you won't find anywhere else. Prices are very fair for the amount of food you receive. Waiters are very attentive to all customers - first timers as well as semi-regulars and regulars.

Pros: Good Food Value, Wonderful food, Friendly waiters

Cons: Not enough parking

Posted 07/24/02

Sabatino's is somewhat of a hidden gem on the Northwest side. Not too many people know about it but those who do, go there often. The service is usually great and the amount of quality food you get for your money is terrific. The pizza bread you are served when you first sit down is excellent and the fettucini alfredo is some of the best I've ever had.

Posted 06/09/02