I don't know if I have no class or if this place is just bizarre but it was the worst meal that I have ever had. I have never had bruschetta made like that. The smell of it was so bad that I would not even eat it. My friend took a bite and spit it back out. Then we had a ravoli dish. Personally, I think meat and mint should not mix. The service was amazing but the food was just too much for me!
(1)
Jeff A.
It had been well over a year since my last Dance with the Anteprima, Last time it was a close friend and I, this time it was for a first date... I know right, who dates anymore, well I was lucky enough to find myself on a date and where better then Antiprima when your date likes Italian? ( I do too of-course) We kicked off our date across the street with a piece of cake at A Taste Of Heaven, it was our first date so we thought we would break the ice-in a more casual atmosphere, plus I always like my dessert up-front and I am slowly starting a cult of dessert first followers! I regress Enter Antiprima, we decided we would do many courses split them all and make sure they were awash in a wonderful wine... After choosing the direction of our courses we chose a bottle of Pino Noir to compliment all the strong flavors Kellerei Cantina Terlan 2007, it was buttery and wonderful and we both loved it until the very last drop disappeared... Our first course was a creamy chanterelle mushroom, leak, shallot, pasta preparation, I get weak in the knees for all things shallot and this did not disappoint! The mushrooms were strong and every other flavor followed behind like good little soldiers, it was divine! Number 2 was the lobster ravioli with a sweet corn butter foundation, it was solid, maybe a little too Al dente for me, and perhaps a little less punch then I would have expected, but It did follow the flavor explosion of chanterelle and Pino Noir, It was solid no matter how you cut it! Our third course was the show stopper! Lamb chops, we were both chatty and having a great time-however-once we each found interaction with the Lamb chops all conversation ceased and we got lost in the heaven that was Lamb a la Anteprima... We did make room for coos and hmmms and all types of primal food related comments of lust and ecstasy... Our unexpected 4th course; the waiter approaches the table, I am filleting every last moment of meat from the bone in front of me... "Lets do it all over again" he half laughs and then I say no I'm not kidding do it up again, we rewind and repeat! Laugh it away for us acting like a couple of fat kids, I used to be a 44" waist and 260 LBs, and at this moment I embraced that former eating stamina and went for a second round of Lamb chops perched upon pickled carrots and beats I believe it was... I explained to the table next to us we still had some wonderful Pinot left in the bottle and it was just perfect for the Lamb so why not do it again, they laughed and considered some chops for themselves... Our final hoorah was the fresh peach and puff pastry delight! It was perfect, not too sweet! It danced on my tongue, it was just melting away, putting smiles on both of our faces-for sure! ( I almost backed up the proverbial truck once again for more fresh peach and pastry divinity alas I did not) This was a wonderful dinner by all accounts! My only complaint would be the lobster ravioli, but I don't think it really is a compliant more then a personal preference, I wanted more sweet-corn in my butter and more give in my ravioli but thats just me, anyway you cut it; not enough to take away a star!
(5)
Mike M.
I'm still sitting here wishing the meal wasn't over. The crispy skin bass was a crispy piece of heaven. The pappardelle was exactly what I wanted to satisfy my carb-loading fantasy. Our waiter was Armando and he was as fabulous as the food. I couldn't have asked for a better date night with the little lady. Now someone get a wheel barrel and get my ass out of here!
(5)
Matt H.
I am happy we finally had dinner here last night! I had called the evening of to see if we could eat at 6:30 and they were able to get us in at 7:30. Other yelpers have raved about the fixed price menu for $29 on Sundays-Thursdays and that got my attention. Everyone is right, it's a great deal and the food is positively memorable. The establishment is small but I liked its charm. I have seen pictures of the back deck but did not see it in person. We sat at a table for two towards the back. Note: the restaurant is very lively. You will have to raise your voice to be heard by your significant other. :) Here's what we ordered: Me- Grilled Shrimp (starter), Pork Saltimbocca (main entree) and Strawberry Lime Tart (dessert); my partner Chris- Roasted Beets (starter), Bison Flank Steak (main entree) and Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (dessert). For my appetizer, four grilled shrimp came on top of spinach and beans. I found everything on the plate to be more than satisfactory. The preserved lemon vinaigrette went very well with the dish. The Roasted Beets appetizer that Chris ordered came with arugula, gorgonzola cheese and walnuts. He told me that it was outstanding. If you like prosciutto, order the Pork Saltimbocca if it's on the menu. It covers the entire top of the pork loin. That entree went down my gullet quite fast. It was served with potato medallions and snow peas. The veggies were wonderful. The snow peas, in particular, had a healthy crunch. Chris said his Bison Flank Steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and the romesco sauce atop it was a brilliant addition. It came with an assortment of veggies that were appreciated as well. I loved my Strawberry Lime Tart; the perfect early summer dessert. The salty crust mixed with the fruity goodness made for a fabulous taste sensation. Chris said the flavors of his Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp were good but it ended up being a bit too soupy. The speed of service was appropriate. I feel I should make a couple of comments about the staff. We asked one of the busboys if we could have more water and he must've forgotten, because we had to ask our actual server if he could bring us some. As for the server himself, he was a bit aloof and never asked us how we liked our food which we found very strange. All in all, I feel everyone should swing by Andersonville and check this place out. The fixed price menu is a terrific deal and overall, the food is fantastic. A couple sitting next to us said that the octopus is to die for. We will return with some energetic and hungry peeps! xoxo
(4)
Joe P.
Food was good, but for the price I expected a bit better. Service was mediocre at best. In my opinion you get a better meal with better service for less at Quartinos or Caro Mio.
(3)
Lord Of T.
This place rocks! The grilled sardines are nice.... All the pasta is great. They have a nice wine list. It is a little loud, dark and cramped..... but the food is great. The "hosts" could crack a smile once in a while.... but again the food is worth showing up for.
(4)
David R.
When I booked a Tuesday-night table at Anteprima, I didn't yet know about their killer $29 prix fixe offer. However, now that I have enjoyed one meal there, I have to say that the prix fixe is a big reason to visit, and to come on a weeknight. You can have a starter, a half-order of pasta, and an entree, OR a starter, an entree, and a dessert. For under thirty bucks. Not to mention a much easier time getting a table than a Friday or Saturday night. Do it! First of all, I have to observe how cozy and charming this place is. It is really perfect for date night or romantic special occasions. The food was mostly really good, mostly. In particular, I liked my rabbit entree and my wife's trout, and the stuffed calamari entree was phenomenal. It was spilling with couscous and boasted a gorgeous grilled flavor, all of which was nicely complemented by the spinach and the vinaigrette. One major miss was the scallop risotto. I liked the mushrooms...but that's it. Everything else was wrong, wrong, wrong: it came out lukewarm, the rice grains were large and hard, the dish overall was watery and terribly bland, and the scallops, though numerous, offered nothing but a faint plasticy flavor. It was really a shockingly awful dish amidst an otherwise delicious meal. We finished up by sharing the carrot cake, which tasted less of carrots than of caramel. That's not necessarily a demerit though; it was good cake. I regret that we've lived in the neighborhood for so long without trying Anteprima. We will definitely be back the next time we want to eat sophisticated Italian food and stare into each other's eyes for a while.
(4)
Claire F.
Zucchini squash appetizer was cold. Black linguine with shrimp overpriced for the small amount of shrimp given. Asked for more bread and the restaurant was out. Maybe we didn't order the right things but I won't be back :(
(2)
Angie M.
I would highly recommend coming to Anteprima if you have a weeknight date. Their Sun-Thur prefixe option is INSANELY well-priced. For $29 you get a sampling of all of the courses (I can't remember exactly how this works, but I think it's along the lines of Option 1: app, main course, dessert or Option 2: app, 1/2 pasta and main course. You'll have plenty of $$ left to buy a bottle of wine and not break the bank. My guy and I wandered into Anteprima on a Monday night. The place was pretty empty at 7:30pm. They take reservations, but you probably won't need them during the early days of the week. Anteprima is adorably tiny on the inside. Like, close together tables, kind of eclectic looking. Now, we were there when it wasn't busy and got a nice table towards the front along a wall, but I noticed there's high potential for a crappy table on a busy night. They have 2 tops stuffed into kind of random places that don't feel cozy or comfortable at all. You'll find the menu to be pure Italian. Apps like marinated olives, marsala glazed turnips and grilled shrimp or octopus are delightfully rustic and tasty. I had the tagliatelle with pancetta ragu for my main course. It was good, but not mind blowing. My guy had the NY strip and devoured every last bite. He especially loved the arugula on the side. Desserts are also the business. They rotate, I believe, but I think they have the hazelnut chocolate torte on the menu regularly and you should absolutely order it. It's super rich. But awesome. Oooooh... There's also a killer bread basket. Ooof. Anteprima is an impressive date spot. It's not showy. It's subtle, romantic and you'll look like you know what's up if you take someone here.
(4)
James R.
The atmosphere is nice and the wine selection is more than adequate. Ample selection of items on the menu and the portions are average (not large like common Italian-American places). The egg and fried green tomato appetizer lacked flavor but my friend had the zucchini flower appetizer and it was better. Overall the service was a little slow and the food was just average for the hype.
(3)
Elizabeth F.
My boyfriend took us here for our first date and I loved it. We sat outside under string lights which was especially great because romantic outdoor seating can be hard to come by in Chicago. We ordered wine and each got a different pasta dish under our waiter's recommendation. The gnocchi I had was perfectly cooked and everything was portioned so I didn't leave the meal feeling stuffed and gross. I look forward to coming here again!
(4)
Matt T.
The gf and I decided to pick at random an Andersonville spot for our Friday night out. We walked by and saw it was busy with people who clearly looked like they were enjoying themselves, so we put our name on the list. We were in no hurry so an 1hr 15 min wait didn't put us off, we grabbed drinks at their pizza place a few doors down. Ok to the space, very cozy and lively. Packed with other guests, typical for any popular place on a Friday night. I'd give the space 4 stars. The food, I thought was just OK. We got 2 appetizers- the polenta (OK) and the beets (my gf enjoyed a lot, for me, meh). We were both in the mood for pasta dishes so that's what we got as our entree. She got a buffalo moz. basil pasta, again it was ok. Pretty good. I got the spicy lamb sausage pasta with pecorino and it was awesome! The star of the show, and my gf agreed. The basket of bread you get was alright, tasted fresh but I've had better. There's no butter or olive oil that comes with the bread and I thought that was strange. For dessert we had the chocolate hazelnut tart which was great. We also had a bottle of wine with our meal and the wine selection is reasonably priced. The service was good, no complaints there. I decided on 3 stars because of the 5 dishes we tried I only really enjoyed 2 of them. My gf liked the beets. For over $100 (without tip) for 2 people I'd hope for better. That being said I'd give it another shot. The pre-fixe menu on Tuesdays sounds great.
(3)
Alison T.
I could eat the lamb sausage pasta every day. Go for the weeknight $29 fixed price menu - it's a real steal!
(4)
Sergio N.
The place ambience is rustic Italian which transcribed to the taste of their food ... The staff are super friendly and very attentive .. Fresh food ... Great ambience .. Great service .. Great location .. I had one of the best fish I've ever tasted ! Definitely will go back to this place !!!
(5)
Stephen G.
Went here on a cold winter's night with our good friends who had made the choice. Lucky us! Great menu, good service, excellent cocktails (our choice) and a fine wine list for our friends. This was a Tuesday night, so the fixed price menu at $29.00 was available. We all went for the starter, half-pasta and full entre option. Besides my chicken livers (excellent) I also had a taste of the grilled octopus - extraordinary - and the grilled shrimp - very good. All of the pastas were superb. The entrees did not disappoint. I went with the lamb shank and my dining partners had the chicken, skate wing and pork. Raves all around. The portions on all of the items, including the starters and half-pastas were quite large, so a word of caution - pace yourself! Oh, forgot to mention the breadsticks - could have eaten them all night. As regards the atmosphere, very comfortable and conversation friendly. Our only question was why had we not come to this place sooner. We will be back.
(5)
J M.
A neighborhood gem. Step inside and leave your worries behind. Be Italian for a moment. Enjoy every bite. Drink a lot of wine. Linger. Get the octopus, papardelle, a side of arugula w/lemon and shaved Parmesan to share. Rosemary steak too, if you're hungry or sharing. They get busy and do quality food, so don't expect food to always be prompt or perfectly timed. It will depend on the night. Just order another drink, start with the octopus and enjoy your company before the dishes arrive.
(4)
Dylan M.
Love all the various starter options. It gives you an opportunity to sample lots of different things, many are vegetarian. The service was very good. The food was good but not great. I enjoyed everything I tried but nothing wowed me which was surprising since I tried many starters and the risotto. The food comes out super fast which led me to believe almost everything is prepped ahead of time.
(4)
Katrina S.
I'm going to start with the good news first. This is for the kale salad, bread basket & generous pour of a very nice prosecco by the glass. We tried 3 pasta dishes which I found mediocre at best. The most agreeable was definitely the gnocchi. The atmosphere is warm, service - meh & there is nowhere to wait or stand comfortably before you are seated. I would definitely go back for the salad, bread basket (those bread sticks are incredibly well seasoned) & the delightful prosecco. Parking is difficult in the area so allow time for that if you are driving.
(3)
Daphne L.
Another incredibly small space, with tightly packed tables. Despite my absolute aversion to this set up, it somehow works in this space, and it doesn't feel stifling. Making a reservation is a wise idea. The food we had was delicious and really inventive and different: we shared the grilled octopus, and I had a pasta dish, my husband one of the specials. There was nothing left on either plate. Great wine selection, too.
(4)
Rowena M.
My first time at Anteprima was less than spectacular. I kept thinking to myself: "What was the hype about?!" But destiny took me back to Andersonville once again and we decided that it was time to give Anteprima another chance. I have to say that this time around, we were pleased with the food and especially loved one of the specials of the evening - bucatini pasta with pork cheek bacon (I know that sounds gross but you know where "regular" bacon comes from, don't you?). It had the right amount of saltiness and buttery goodness at the same time. I ordered the brick-grilled chicken and enjoyed just the right amount of charred and smoky flavor contrasted with the spicy greens and garlic-lemon sauce. Hubby had the new york strip steak, another special for the evening and thought it was a fine choice. So you might ask yourself, what's with the 3 stars. Everything was lovely until a baby roach decided to stop by and keep us company during our dinner. We informed the waiter, who also watched as it slithered along the wall where our teeny tiny table was perched against. His comment? "I think it's a beetle!" Who cares if it's a beetle? There is no excuse for that unwanted guest during dinner. Needless to say, we were grossed out. I don't want to be ignorant; I've seen the movie Ratatouille after all :) but I'm sorry...I just shouldn't see that!
(3)
Larisa O.
Sometimes restaurants are so good that people have nothing left to do but complain about them. This is the best restaurant in Andersonville, hands down. Anteprima has been open for years now, has a cool look, (same owner as M.Henry I believe) and is always bustling, though you can often get a table without a reservation, so do try. Just ate there last night and again, we were very happy. I've probably been here 8 times over the years and have never had a meal that was anything less than fabulous. Same for wine. When I saw it had 3.5 stars, I was like, WHAAAAT??? Are you kidding me? Be warned, it's romantic, but loud. They do have an outdoor patio. They offer to tweak meals to accommodate children -- that's amazing in a nice restaurant. Even my 11-year-old son really likes it.
(5)
Mark D.
This restaurant is small and cozy. The food was wonderful and the service was great. I enjoyed the gnocchi with slow roasted duck, and my friend ordered the wild boar with brussel sprouts. I savored every bite of my dish and tasted a bit more than I should have of my friend's. We both left very satisfied.
(4)
Tyler P.
I went here on valentines day. The food was dismal and the atmosphere felt rushed. They were definitely trying to whip tables in and out which tells me they don't care about their customers. The best thing I had to eat was the bread and make sure you avoid the flank steak.
(3)
Jessica H.
I cannot say enough about this hidden jem! I use to come here all the time and still pop in when I need my fix! They have some very unique dishes! Their Orecchiette is one of the most delicious entrees! Great wine selection! Interesting desserts!
(5)
Calin D.
The indoor seating is well appointed. The nine tables on the small outdoor back patio are my preference. It's positioned just next to a small residence, and makes you feel like you're dining in your own backyard. Anteprima has really good breadsticks and wines to tide you over while you wait for excellent organic local dishes to arrive from the kitchen. The pork ribs and salmon are good choices, though I'd have to say the hazelnut chocolate pie is one of the best around.
(4)
Jeff A.
The food was solid, but the experience was overwhelming. Way too much heavy food. No interest in a return trip.
(2)
Holly S.
I love this restaurant. Fantastic menu choices and great service. The only reasons I gave four stars is because: A) The tables are very very close together. Don't expect any kind of intimate seating. B) There are a lot of Italian places in Chicago that have larger portions of the same dishes for the same price. Overall a good restaurant to go to a few times a year!
(4)
Chelsea B.
Tasty tasty tasty! They do a fantastic job here, on all fronts. Great service, great food, good homemade pastas, delicious flavor combinations. We've come in for fancy meals, and we've come in even all sweaty in exercise clothes after working out at the gym, and no one says boo to us. We've always been really well treated. It's our number-one pick when we're up for a good meal and have a bit of extra money to spend for it. The patio is especially great! Highly recommend the lemon panna cotta for dessert :-)
(5)
Erika G.
This restaurant is a gem in the neighborhood. And my friend CH is a gem for taking me to dinner here. Yay! I finally get to go to Anteprima! Prixy-fixy dinner is VERY reasonable. $29 for an appetizer, half pasta and entree. Perfect! You can also go for appetizer-entree-dessert, but since I'm not all that much of a dessert girl, I opted for the pasta. Cocktails: Fantastic. I got some delicious something or other that was quickly consumed, so I had to get another. Oh, damn! That one had to go away when a FLY ended up in my drink (not the restaurants fault, it was buzzing around). Our handsome and charming waiter whisked it away and corrected the situation right away. The service here is excellent. Our water was smoove, knowledgeable and super handsome. What a fabulous man! Appetizer: I had the charcuterie - salami! Perfect assortment of yummy cured meats. Salumi (grrr. hate the word, love the meat), prosciutto di parma, soppressata, pork terrine, mostarda, onion jam - Yes, please! Pasta: I had black squid ink pasta, which I've never tried until now - so I had to have it. Just great, with a few shrimps scattered on top. Perfect portion size, not too giant. For my entree, I had the grilled berkshire pork ribs - YUM! The meat was just on the edge of being cooked too much, but the flavor was still yummy. The menu is ever changing and there's a reason why this restaurant is still packed most nights, and lives on in the Andersonville restaurant scene, where others have fallen *cough*IFS*cough*. It's a restaurant that gets it right.
(5)
Jeff S.
I have heard great things about Anteprima for years and finally made it there for a Sunday night dinner. All the praise for Anteprima is well deserved, the food and service were both hits. Our whole table opted for the $29 pre fixe menu that is really a fantastic deal. We got to sample starters, pastas, entrees and desserts, not a bad dish in the bunch. The grilled octopus starter, the pork shoulder entree, and the spaghetti with ramps were all standouts. My only gripe would be there limited beer choices, only three available options. We will definitely be back to Anteprima.
(4)
Ray D.
Seated 35 minutes past reservation time. Portions were SMALL. Why serve appetizer portions for 2-3 people when there is a party of 4 sitting at the table? Every time an appetizer (4) came out it was just too small to share with 4 people. Pasta dish portions were too SMALL and lacked meat in sauce. Service was good but won't be going back due to over priced, wait time and small portions.
(3)
Steve T.
Great food! Good service. Lovely atmosphere. A hidden gem in Andersonville. Every time I've been there it has exceeded my expectations. I'm a foodie. Eating great food with friends and family is my past time. I know good food.... You get it here.
(5)
Stephanie L.
So I can echo a lot of the other reviews. I had a reservation at 8PM and didnt get sat until 845PM on a Friday night. Slightly annoying, especially because there is NO WHERE to go in this restaurant. The point of reservations is so you can eat when you want...not wait 45 mins to be seated. This seems like a common theme for this place. Once we got sat, service was lackluster. Our server barely checked on us, didnt refill drinks, and we ran out of water several times. The dining room is extremely loud. We had 3 in our party and were sat at a large round table so we were all huddled on one side of the table so we could actually hear each other. The food was good, not necessarily worth the wait. Nothing blew my socks off. We had: Stuffed Calamari-it was grilled nicely and the stuffing was tasty Grilled Octopus-this was a refreshing dish, but I felt that it was too oily. Roasted Beets-meh, I have definitely had better beet salads. It was just bland Risotto-good, not great. It was watery but the texture was good. The peas were fresh and crisp Pappardelle-delish pasta with meat...whats not to like Ricotta-disappointing. It was just kind of meh. I really like cheeses and this just didnt do anything for me. Asparagus Sformato-this was different. It actually was great. It was everything blended up and then in a mold. It was very taste-y Carrot Cake-just ok. Let me say, their bread is delicious. The sticks and the pieces...yum! But we had to ask for olive oil and no cheese?? Weird at an Italian place. Overall, I would say, I might go back on a random week night when the place isnt packed. I bet I would have a different experience if the service were better and we didnt wait so long to get seated...
(3)
Jen R.
There's the five star half of this place: awesome bartender, tasty food, and strong drinks. Then there's the zero stars half: blowing off our reservations, trying to give us a crap table, and the overserving of a certain friend, who shall remain nameless ;) When we arrived for our reservation, they told us they had no room, and to grab a seat at the bar until a table opened up. Not a problem, since the bartender was one awesome chick who helped us out with drink and app suggestions that made us forget the wait. Half an hour later four tables were open, and when we reminded them we were waiting to be seated, we were offered the first table by the kitchen. We asked for one of the other tables, and were told they were reserved and we'd have to wait for another table to open up (no one sat at those tables for the rest of the night). Forty-five minutes after our reservations, we had seats. We continued our meal with some entrees, and while everything was good, it's pricey for what you get. When I pay $14 for pasta, I hope I at least get enough to semi-fill my tummy. If it wasn't for all the apps we had at the bar, I would've had to make a fast food run afterwards. Also, I hate hate hate when I'm with someone who's visibly intoxicated and even after asking the waiter to not serve my friend he brings new drinks anyway. And jic you thought maybe my friend didn't look that toasted, he fell asleep in that final martini they brought him. As in, with his elbow on the table, he lifted the glass to his lips and konked out. Perfectly balanced, of course, because he's a true professional. The whole experience was not worth the $200 it cost us for three people. On a side note, I did return, since I live in the neighborhood and thought this night was a fluke. It wasn't. The next time I ordered an entree and a drink. Since the waiter never returned after taking our order, and only stopped by to drop off the check, I never did get that drink. Boo.
(2)
Laura K.
Maybe I went in with too high of expectations, or maybe we just ordered the wrong things...but overall we didn't love our dinner at Anteprima. The food was fine, but nothing special or all that memorable. The seating is very typical for Italian places (right on top of each other) which I never like, because I end up listening to conversations next to me instead of engaging with my dinner date. The service was just OK - our server did not really give us any good suggestions as far as what to order (or how much), and things came our very sporadically. Maybe he was new, I don't know... Overall, I was just not digging this place the way I thought I would. Note - there is NO parking in that area so give yourself a lot of time to find parking if you drive (no valet option when we drove).
(3)
Beth S.
We are so fortunate to have this elevated take on Italian fare right here in Andersonville. We can walk to this amazing place that is as good as ( or better than ) many better known Italian eateries downtown. Proportions are not excessive. Service is very attentive and personal. Food is exquisite.
(5)
Samantha E.
Came by on a date and found Anteprima positively bustling. Since the only spot available was at the bar we were happy to take it. The wine selection was good as was the food, but it did nothing to wow me. There are plenty of Italian restaurants in Chicago and quite a variety of great restaurants in the Andersonville area so choose from. Anteprime was good food with good service but I think I would like to explore my other options a bit more.
(3)
Linda F.
There is so much to be said for this wonderful experience. This begins with the decor and tone of the restaurant. What a beautiful bar, warm lighting, and feeling of coziness (even on a very cold evening). But, decor does not make a restaurant ... it's primarily the food, closely followed by the service. Read on ... We were shown to the perfect table at the back of the room in a tucked away corner. It is much quieter than the main part of the room and we went on to enjoy a quiet evening. Armando was our server and offered his thoughts as we studied the menu. Anteprima offers a fixed price menu on Sunday through Thursday. This 3 course options offers multiple combinations and provides selections from the main menu -- such a bargain. My selections were the grilled shrimp appetizer (fabulous), a half order of orecchietta with lamp sausage, and an entree of seafood spezzatino. Each dish was incredible and served piping hot. With bread being one of the components of a meal that is very important to me, I must say that this is a feature of dining at Anteprima. I couldn't get enough of it and the bread sticks.
(5)
Cynthianna H.
A friend and I went to Anteprima last night, a Thursday, arriving at 6:30 PM. We got a nice table and chose items from the fixed price menu of $29. At that time, the restaurant was quiet and uncrowded. We were given a small complimentary appetizer, and our starters, the beet salad and a shrimp dish, arrived promptly. My friend said the shrimp was delicious. My salad was just OK. Then, we waited til about 7:40PM for our entrees - too long a wait! My friend liked his salmon dish with lentils but my chicken dish seemed greasy and had too strong a garlic flavor. The carrot cake was OK as was the lemon panna cotta. By then, it was 8:30 PM and the restaurant was full and noisy. Note that at 6:30 PM, we were able to find metered parking nearby on Clark Street. The restaurant has no parking.
(2)
Ebs B.
Yelp tells me that 3 stars means "A-OK"; well "A-OK" just sounds like I'm holding a thumbs up in the air with a cheesy grin. Since that's not happening after my experience here, I'm going with 2 stars because I've definitely experienced better. The highlight of the evening was definitely the grilled octopus which was tender and seasoned perfectly. And, I'll even give 4 stars for the pasta with duck in it. From there, nothing else seemed to impress me. The pork was astounding and huge, but alas, it was not tender. The risotto...cooked too al dente for my taste. The waitress...oh I can say a lot about her, but I'll simply mention that she was rude and gave us all attitude (she could at least pretend to like her job). What made it worse is the bread was so delicious until I saw her not wash her hands after taking care of all of her tables (cashing out, etc) and then barrel her hands into the bread stick bucket to grab them. Then she continued to handle the other bread with her bare hands. Look, I've worked in restaurants before and I know how it goes, but please do it where I can't see it! Please! All in all, I probably won't come here again, but glad I tried it since I've heard so much about it.
(2)
Tim K.
I've been here a couple of times now and everything I've had has been very very good. The prix fixe menu during the week is an especially great value for a nice weeknight dinner date. The only drawback is the space itself, which always feels pretty cramped. However, it's definitely worth that small inconvenience.
(4)
Nathan K.
In a city with fabulous restaurants, this is one of my top five. Thankfully, it's in my hood and only a few blocks from a few bars for pre- and post-dinner cocktails. The food and service at Anteprima are nearly flawless every time. And oh, that fresh pasta. I rarely order pasta at a restaurant because it's so easy to cook at home. But these guys know their pasta -- fresh, perfectly cooked and paired with flavorful sauces. I regularly crave the orecchiette and lamb sausage with broccoli rabe. So. Damn. Perfect. Other must try items are the grilled octopus (best I've had in the states), berkshire pork chop (top quality meat grilled to perfection) and fennel salad (a burst of fresh flavors). The servers are pros, and know how to balance professionalism, food/wine know-how and a friendly approach that's very Andersonville. Wine pours are very generous, and the selection of Italian varietals is impressive. (Even more impressive is the staff's familiarity with each one). If I had to criticize on one thing, it would be the relatively open dining room. It's quaint, warm and feels truly authentic. But depending on where you're seated, you may feel as though you're on center stage. The patio - however - is spectacular. Intimate, classy, warm and simply perfect on a late spring or early fall evening. I can't wait to return!
(5)
Erica K.
Food Love. And right in the midst of my neighborhood. Our waitress was helpful in all the right ways from characterizing the flavor of dishes to being all around friendly and witty. We sat outside in back and enjoyed the waning days of summer. The ribs and roasted chicken were amazing. The gnocchi also got the thumbs up. We didn't spend as much time here as I would have liked because our guests were leaving town that evening, but I am dying to go back and almost certainly will.
(4)
Neda And Mark R.
Authentically Italian. Just got back from Tuscany and I have to say this restaurant does it right. The food was very good, but some dishes were better than others. I went with a group of girls on a Sunday night. So between the 5 of us we tried a lot of things on the menu. We all had the prix fixe dinner which was great. They allow you to order off the specials or menu which added up to a lot of choices. I had the grilled octopus app, orrechiette with lamb sausage, and ribs. Also on our table were the halibut, special tagliatelle, polenta, risotto, New York strip steak, and also the strawberry rhubarb tart for dessert. The winning dishes were the grilled octopus, halibut, and tart. The octopus dish tasted exactly like the frutta del mar I had in Cinque Terre. Very tasty. The halibut was delicious, flaky and well-seasoned, without being overdone or salty -- so PERFECT. And the tart was sweet, but not too sweet. Delicious. Unfortunately, a couple of dishes I would skip next time. The risotto is vegetarian including the stock, which left the flavor a bit flat, which was very sad. The orrechiette with lamb sausage was VERY spicy, according to everyone at the table, which included a few seasoned spicy-food lovers. For them, however, the dish was considered a success. We had asked the waiter before ordering the dish, and he said it was only mildly spicy. The ribs were also missing a little something, maybe salt. So overall, I'm a fan. I'd go back. For the price, it was reasonable and the service was wonderful. We stayed a very long time and had about a billion questions and our waiter was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Great for a big group or intimate date!
(4)
Hugh B.
Having spent some time here in its previous incarnation, I always get a smile when going into Anteprima. That smile generally stays. The space is pretty. The service is always professional and knowledgeable. The menu is large and wide-ranging. The pastas are fresh and delicious. And it doesn't cost a fortune. Big fan.
(5)
Alex A.
3.25 stars. We ordered the plate of appetizers, and this was a good choice. The ravioli with lemon zest were a bit soggy and disappointing though. The service was good.
(3)
Bridget T.
Honestly, so f'n amazing I can hardly stand it. After my fifth visit Monday night I am finally compelled to share my love of this place with others. I am hearting the $29.00 you pick 'em prix fixe they have this summer, what a great way to try a whole mess of food! I have had the octopus salad every time I've gone there this summer as well as the lemon panna cotta which haunts my dreams. The Lobster/Ricotta Ravioli with Corn Butter was mind blowing...whoever thought of combing butter and corn and turning it into a sauce needs to give me a call, I think we might like each other...alot.
(5)
Paige H.
Have only had dinner here once, and I wasn't impressed. The atmosphere is cute but the food is nothing special. Service is good and you can get a good pasta dish here, but its overpriced for what it is. Wouldn't go back--there's too many other great places in Andersonville.
(2)
Sharla C.
Anteprima, is not just a preview of good food, it is the main attraction. I spent my birthday at this Italian food hotspot. I have always loved coming here for the simplicity of the food, the creative pastas, the laid back atmosphere and the dedication to seasonal ingredients. I love Italian food and am not impressed by most places that offer the usual fare of Eggplant parmesan, pasta marinara, or chicken cacciatore. I appreciate the rustic, peasant style food that comes from a long tradition of great Italian culinary history. Italian food is more than just cheese, tomatoes and pasta, it is a culmination of seasonal foods, fresh ingredients and a celebration of simple flavors. Anteprima has achieved the feel of eating at an authentic Italian table with recipes that have a long tradition in an Italian grandmother's kitchen. My friends and I ordered almost all the appetizers on the menu. I love the Fava bean puree with rapini, the fried smelts, the sweet and sour cippolini onions, the prawns with roasted fennel, the creamy wild mushrooms, the grilled polenta with bitter greens and tomato, cannellini beans with sage, the roasted beats with almonds and arugula, the brussel sprouts with pancetta, and the salumi platter. We also ordered the grilled octopus which was tender and cooked perfectly except the char on the outside was a bit too bitter and overwhelmed the actual flavor of the octopus. We tried 8 different pastas, the strozzapretti, toasted walnut pesto, pecorino was one of our favorites! The pork shoulder was perfection, falling off the bone and melting in our mouths. The whole porgy was delicious and was served with a nice romesco sauce. All in all, it was a satisfying and a delicious meal! Anteprima can satisfy even the most die hard Italian food fans. Expect excellent simply cooked food without a lot of fanfare. It's just good food, buon appetito!
(5)
Kate C.
So let me first preface this by saying I was here wth a group of ten people on NYE. Large groups are very awkward in this place, as my back was sandwiched against the side of someone else's table. I hope I didn't get hair in their food. We also may have been the only straight people here? I'm not terribly familiar with the neighborhoods in Chicago, but there were quite alot of (adorable) gay couples. Its all good. So initially, it was great... the bread was pretty good, the bartender made me a fantastic gin and tonic, etc. I had the oricchette, which was absolutely wonderful... perfect kick to the sausage and a nice sized portion as well. The pasta was nice and thick, like real pasta should be. The ravioli, although delicious, was not portioned well. Only eight raviolis come with the dish and they aren't much larger than the chef boyardee variety. So if you're coming to eat with a capital E, avoid filled pastas (which is pretty much the rule everywhere, yes?). The spaghetti was sort of boring. And I understand spaghetti can be fantastic if done well, even though it is a simple dish. This.. was not done well. Things were cooked properly, but it had the flavor of cooked celery, which is to say, not much. The duck with mushrooms and chestnuts was cooked quite well and was delicious, but the chestnuts themselves were sort of mealy and... not terribly tasty. The gnocchi was also good, from what I tried, but I'm pretty sure the oricchete was the best dish on our table. The desserts were decent but not anything to write home about. The chocolate hazelnut torte was pretty good, although it didn't warrant finishing the whole piece. And the chocolate mousse with almonds was also pretty good, as it had a wonderful creamy texture, but again, nothing outstanding. The biggest downfall was that the waitress couldn't have been any more blatant about how badly she wanted to get us out of there. I understand a ten top is a hassle, especially on an event night and in a small, intimate restaurant. But at least be cordial. I'd consider going back if I were in a group of two. And not on an event night. PS. Forgot to mention: their bathrooms are unisex and DONT HAVE LOCKS. This caused a ..."situation"... when I busted in on somebody. Good thing they were only washing their hands :/
(3)
Christine W.
Very nice, interesting choices. A bit crowded and gets loud later in the evening.
(4)
janet f.
Where to start? How about this...Anteprima is the poster child for mediocre faux-Italian restaurants that seem to have peppered the landscape of North Side neighborhoods in the past 5 or so years. I give this restaurant 1 star because the maitre'd was very helpful and polite to us when no one else seemed to give a crap. The appetizer platter we ordered mirrored so many of the milquetoast school picnics I frequented as a child...mushy, bland pasta salad creations that all tasted the same, underripe olives, and not a hint of seasoning to be found! Most of the entrees were sold out when we ordered at 8 p.m.(!), and the orrichiette with boar sausage tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for 3 hours. The service was dismissive and forgetful, the decor confused, the food overpriced. Nothing about this restaurant was redeemable except for that poor maitre'd.
(1)
Hanna A.
I really wanted to love this place. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the service is great. However, it was disappointing. The food was very fresh, but lacked flavor. If it weren't for the spectacular brussel sprouts, we would've really regretted going there. We only regret it a little now.
(3)
Kathryn G.
My husband and I came here on a Friday night after receiving a gift card from friends. We weren't able to get a table but were happy to sit at the bar. The place is cozy, comfortable and well-decorated. The food could not have been better and we enjoyed the 'quartino' serving size off the wine list. The bartender seemed a bit frazzled and while attentive was not as friendly or welcoming as I would have liked. Never having been there before we had some questions about the menu and I appreciate being treated graciously when dropping a pretty penny on food. The rest of the guests seemed to be having a great time and while the crowd seemed a bit older and well-to-do, we will be back, with a reso for a table, to partake of the wonderful food.
(4)
Ger S.
Wow. What a great meal. Excellent, as always. The spicy mussels were perfect, the bucatini was a 7 on 10. The tagliatelli was great, and so was the cod. We tried the goat cheesecake - not so good. Returned it and went with the server's recommendation of the chocolate mousse, Excellent. Never a bad meal ,,, and in the heart of Andersonville. Highly recommended. Oh, and the cocktails before dinner were perfectly prepared. Great bartender.
(5)
Rob D.
Anteprima is a great (relatively) new addition to the Chicago Italian restaurant portfolio. We dined at Anteprima for the third time (in two years) this past Saturday. I am fairly picky as far as Italian cuisine goes, having been raised Italian-American and spoiled by great family chefs. So you'll be hard pressed to get five stars out of me for an Italian joint. Anteprima is pretty darn close though. All three meals were great. Two out of three times I had pasta dishes as an entree, as did my wife. All were pretty spectacular. Portions are middle of the road (to very slightly below average) in terms of what you can expect in Chicago. If you like spicy, try the orrecchiete or buccatini. Both were rock solid. On my most recent visit I was craving some meat - ordered a flank steak which was both tasty and tender. This was off the specials list. For appetizers, we like the anti pasta sampler. This provides a good assortment of the smaller plates, and will certainly feed 2-4 people, depending on hunger. I've had a few special appetizers that included marinated grilled eggplant, and all were delicious. Never had dessert - prefer to wander the streets of the 'ville to get some ice cream. During all three visits service was attentive, friendly, and helpful. Most importantly they were honest - waiters and waitresses answered questions based on their perspective, and never did I feel like they were trying to steer my dinner selection. We were also seated promptly at our reservation time despite the restaurant being very crowded during two of the visits.
(4)
Chitown D.
Went on a Saturday and had to wait 20+ minutes, although we had reservations. We went with another couple and had about two salads, six appetizers, three entrees, and two desserts. Everything was a B- or better. It's very loud and not a good spot for a "romantic dinner". Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable.
(4)
A. G.
Never been treated so badly at a restaurant. In a nutshell... Running late for a 6:00 rez. Called and notified we'd be there at 6:15, was told no problem. Showed up at 6:20. One half of our party of 4 came to claim the table, while the other half went to park. At 6:25, the owner comes over and growls, "When's the rest of you're party coming?" "They're parking, so whenever they find a spot." Saturday night in Andersonville. Who knows how long that'll take. Owner stomps away. Five minutes later, he comes over and says, "If they're not here in five or ten minutes, we'll have to do...something." Lots of attitude. I say, "Are you gonna throw us out?" He stammers for a second, then says, "It's been an hour. You're an hour late." I say, "It's been just over 30 minutes, and we called to tell you were were running late." He says, "It's not fair to the other customers. If they're not here in a couple of minutes, I'm gonna separate the table." (Meaning, I guess, that he was going to take the two two-tops that comprised our four top and split them apart.) Then he stomps away. We were just about to bail when the other half of our party showed up. It had taken them 20 minutes to park, and they weren't really into splitting, so we stayed and had a slightly-above-average, somewhat overpriced meal. (Both seafood dishes were way to fishy.) Our server was quite pleasant, but the irony is that he didn't try to rush us out like his boss probably would've wanted. Don't get me wrong: I understand where the dude was coming from. It was a crowded Saturday night, and things were hectic, but you never, ever, ever speak to your diners like that, no matter how trendoid you are. Never going back, and it would be great if y'all followed suit.
(1)
Nicole C.
-delicious Italian food -great Italian wine list, but also fun cocktail/martini list -not a huge space, so you may wait for a table They "don't" take reservations, but we got one with a party of 8 on a Sunday evening. If you do have to wait for a table, t
(4)
Rachel I.
I got a gift certificate for Anteprima for my birthday. It took me forever to use it despite the fact that the restaurant is walking distance from my house. When I looked at their menu online, I had to look up a number of ingredients because I had no idea what the foods were--and I write menus for a living. The food just sounded intimidating. Once I finally got around to going over there, I kicked myself for waiting so long. Delicious! Delicious, I tell you! Risotto, to die for... super creamy and perfectly seasoned. I had a shrimp dish as well and loved the flavor, but hated the fact that the shells and little legs were still on them... very difficult to eat in polite company. All the desserts we shared at the table were quite good too...not always the case at many restaurants. I will return!
(5)
Andrew B.
Fattest country on the planet or no, the portions at this place are way too small for the money. I am not fat. The people I was with were small, thin, and from other countries. None of us were full. The food itself was overpriced and disappointing. The menu sounded inspired, but the execution just wasn't tasty. Seven of us went and I was the only one who had read any reviews before hand. I kept my mouth shut but everyone voiced their dissatisfaction afterwards. On the plus side, it's a cute spot both inside and out.
(2)
Christopher M.
Before going to Anteprima, I was saying for weeks that there weren't really any Italian places that I really, really liked. There are quite a few spots that I like but nowhere that I feel the need to frequent again and again. Anteprima just became that place. I was there with my fiance and future in-laws last weekend. We had a 5-star experience. They had eaten at Milk and Honey for breakfast, Gibson's for lunch, and Anteprima was far and away their favorite. First, we were ordering a bottle of wine. I had selected the Sangiovese but inquired with the waiter first before ordering. He actually down-sold me to a great bottle that we all loved. We had the veal meatballs to start which were amazing. Everyone loved their pasta also. Everything felt fresh and expertly prepared. I hadn't had pasta this good in a long while. I preferred it to even Terra Gusto which has amazing fresh pasta. I had the spaghetti which seems like a boring order. The simple things and how they are prepared though really get you to the heart of the place. I liked what I found when I got there. From there, we were excited to get at the dessert. I am a huge panna cotta fan and the lemon panna cotta was certainly calling me. Apparently our waiter thought we had waited a little too long when we sat down and they did some sort of waiter switching. This was at most a four minute wait. We made no complaints though and we were grinning ear to ear by the end of the meal. Before we could order, they brought out a panna cotta and slice of the orange cake on the house for our trouble (there was none). The panna cotta was incredible. I can't say enough good things about this experience.
(5)
steve l.
Just had a great evening---server did not rush us at all and gave sound advice, wonderfully diverse menu and flavors, great wine. Yes, it is a bit crowded and loud, but I'm a big fan.
(4)
Matt M.
Food that isn't good leaves bad memories, but food that tries to be avant garde and just ends up confusing the palate is just plain wrong. Though they encouraged sharing, with a group of six there was rarely more than two bites of any dish if we were to split them evenly. Perhaps they were having an off-day, but I was far from impressed. I wish I could provide more details, but even their failure wasn't that memorable. Reading other reviews it seems like Anteprima does have off nights and I could have experienced one of them. My opinion? Save yourself the trouble of hoping you don't get an off-night and go elsewhere.
(2)
Kendra F.
DEFINITELY MAKING THIS A REGULAR STOP!! After trying their sister restaurant, Acre, my husband and I couldn't WAIT to try Anteprima, and it did NOT disappoint!! Chicago is a great town for Italian food so the competition is fierce, and these guys DEFINITELY MEASURE UP!! For starters, you can't miss with the grilled octopus or crispy pork terrine. My husband then had strichetti with duck, while I opted for a pappardelle that made my TOES curl!! For the final course, he had a lamb dish that was cooked to perfection, while I opted for a the whole grilled fish - AMAZING!!! The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star review was that the chocolate hazelnut tart that my mom had was just OK - NOT bad, just OK - but if i could give it 4.8 stars, I would!. On top of all of this, they have a very nice wine list, extremely friendly and attentive staff and a cozy-yet-chic atmosphere that encourages you to linger over coffee and bask in the glow of a fabulous meal. Bravo!
(4)
John W.
Ok everyone, America is the fattest country on the planet and Chicago is one of the fattest cities in America. The portions here are what they should be. You don't need 8 lbs of pasta. Now, $16 for 6 ravioli is a bit ridiculous. I had some kind of thick pasta in tomato sauce and it was average. If I bought fresh pasta I could have made a better dish at home. My girlfriend had the $2.66 a piece ravioli plate with mushrooms and bland wouldn't begin to describe it. The menue didn't exactly have a lot of options either. The portions are fine if you aren't Tony Soprano but it is a little pricey for what you get. The waiter picked out two great wines for us so that was nice but not enough to get me to go back. If you are in Andersonville and you want Italian, go to Leonardos which is right up Clark Street or just go across the street to Calo. Both are far superior in terms of flavor, variety, price and atmosphere. It wasn't terrible but I probably won't give this place a second chance due to the other choices in the neighborhood.
(2)
Seth M.
The first time we went to Anteprima it was on a cold winter night, we were seated by the window and it felt romantic, like we were in a special place. The service was great and the food and wine were perfect. Last night we decided to go again for a celebration. First the service was odd, the server didn't explain any of the specials and made strange faces when we would ask questions. We ordered a calamari app that was completely inedible, it was almost like they poured salt on it to mask the fact that it was not fresh. We had to send it back. The server questioned our tastes by saying "do you want something that's not so strong", I had to remind her that it was inedible, over salted. The next app was just OK and the entrees were pretty flavorless and had the over salted technique again. The high point was the wine that was suggested. I'm not sure we will be going back...
(2)
Richard C.
My wife and I ate at Antiprima for the first time last night as we were strolling through Andersonville. Saw the cute place and took a chance. We were thrilled. The food was deilicous and the service was excellent. My wife is doing her best to get me into more neighborhoods to enjoy the diversity that Chicago has and one of the benefits is finding these kind of places. Lucky we got there early (5:30 approx) because by the time we left, the place was packed. Would go there again in a heart beat and highly recommend the place for its' food and character.
(4)
Will S.
Definitely a destination spot. Low key vibe with attentive, smart service. I couldn't decide between the trout and the ravioli so the waiter suggested a 1/2 order of the ravioli for the table and trout as an entree. Great choice. Also had cannellini beans, roasted beets and fregola as appetizers. All were excellent. My friends had the whole fish special which they filet so you don't have to do it yourself, although they still found a few bones in it. Total tab for 3 w/ 3 drinks was approx $132 before tax and tip
(4)
Josie L.
Had a family birthday dinner last night. Fun looking spot, cute area of the city, nice menu. Our service was so bad, we would never come back. We were a table of 8 people....most servers would see dollar signs and know they could keep the drinks and food coming. Our server just kept dissappearing. He also brought out the food in a crazy order so people could not all eat together. Food was pretty good, but not good enough to offset the service.
(2)
Charlotte Y.
If size matters to you, then ensure you get the female server. Just kidding... well, no not really. Here's the deal - my dining companion and I noticed that at least on the patio, the female server brings out her bread baskets sporting the long bread sticks, while the male server brings his breadbaskets out with the short bread sticks (actually, they are just cracked in half and put into the basket). I know, I'm being petty, but it was just an observation. In any event, a group of friends and I dined here last Friday and I loved it so much that I returned 2 nights later! The pasta is just perfect - especially the special pasta (stracinatte?) with the pesto, garlic and cherry tomatoes and the veal ragu (or prosciutto ragu). I've tried the grilled sardines, the stuffed zucchini flowers, the burrata, the above pastas, the stuffed roasted pork entree and the olive oil cake and I have not one complaint. I am, however, a pasta fan, and as Anteprima does theirs perfectly, I am smitten and slightly biased for life.
(4)
Erin T.
I had a bad experience here - we had a reservation for a large group, but they kept us waiting for about 30 minutes past the reservation time after pushing it back. The waiting area is the bar, but the bar has maybe 4-5 seats and the rest of us were basically standing in a small space between the kitchen and bathroom. Not great, but we were excited about the food. Unfortunately, it was disappointing. Everything on the menu looked great, but we ended up paying a lot for very bland food. We were also ignored by the waiter for long stretches of time. There seem to be a lot of good reviews on here so maybe it was just a bad night, but I had no intention of going back after my experience.
(2)
Douglas O.
After reading so many reviews online, we visited Anteprima on 1/1/08. The server seemed knowledgeable and the menu offered a variety of options. The soup that night was a chicken soup and was very tasty, probably the best part of the meal. We ordered the Spaghetti and the Calamari Entree. The spaghetti was a bit oily and a bit dry. For dessert we ordered the chocolate hazelnut tart and the orange cake. The orange cake was horrible, I have never eaten a sponge, but the cake had less moisture in it than cornbread, with a slight bit of orange syrup/flavoring. The chocolate hazelnut tart was mediocre at best. Our server was very kind when he made it over to the table, but even with the restaurant dead, took 10+ minutes to order. If you visit often, and he knows you, you will get great service (if not, you will wait patiently as he spends an excessive amount of time servicing frequent diners). Unfortunately, will not be back, overrated, not sure how anyone can love a place that has extremely bland food and average service.
(2)
Monica W.
I had a craving for Italian and we decided to go here because of their $30 menu for ANY app, meal, desert -or- app, 1/2 pasta, meal. It's a great way to try anything on their menu without spending too much. The total amount of food we had was enough to stuff two starving people. Everything we ate was really good. The grilled octopus was very very tender. Our server was awesome! Gave great recommendations. We will be back.
(5)
Lori M.
Beet and Ricotta Ravioli with a hint of poppy seed - now THAT's what I'm talkin' about! Loved the creativity of the menu, though heavy on the meat side. I would be thrilled to see this place get a few more vegetarian primo e secondi piatti on the menu. The delicate rosamarino breadsticks were 'lish, the bottle of schioppettino wine - mmmmmmm, and the chocolate cake, well. let me just say this: it caused a chocogasm. yes it did. And the well thought out starters includes farro, with grilled radicchio, horseradish, pecorino... and my favorite, caponata, a sicilian eggplant relish with pine nuts! You can order a sampling of 8 starters for $15 ! That's more than dinner for two right there. Hot date on a budget. Next time though, I'm going to try the apple fennel bread pudding! Sounds amazing. Mama would be proud to dine here - and I'd love to give Anteprima one more star if only they add a few more vegetarian options! Very cute space with a nice bar, but tables are crammed in here super tight, so check your coat. Mannaggia calda !
(4)
Laura S.
Just enjoyed a wonderful dinner here with friends. To get to the point, everything is AMAZING. I had the grilled octopus appetizer and I wanted to slop up every remainig drop of sauce with the delicious, salt encrusted bread. The entree I had was the orechiette with spicy lamb sausage. It had a GREAT spice and a nice salt to it. I was so full, yet couldn't stop eating it. The pasta tasted extrememly fresh and homemade. Dessert was the strawberry tart. All was excellent. Make reservations! It's so worth it for a fun night out! Also... Excellent service.
(4)
Susan G.
Haven't been disappointed here yet. Dined here for my husband's birthday on a hideous rainy evening. Had trouble finding parking nearby, but once we got to the restaurant all of that faded away. Delicious appetizers (I had polenta with kale) and wonderful entrees. My husband had duck breast for his entree and said it was excellent. I had skatewing and it too was delicious. Save room for dessert especially the chocolate hazlenut tart. We had wine by the glass which worked out just fine. My only complaint with this place is that the tables are SO CLOSE together that you fear that you will knock things off your own or the table next to you being seated. Cost per person, including dessert and wine by the glass was about $75 per person.
(4)
Jessica V.
Let me put it simple I always get whatever ravioli they are serving because it is always sweet and savory. The menu frequently changes and the ravioli is always something different BUT never ceases to be A-mazing! The onion tart they give you is a good little treat & the bread and olive oil go nice with one of their Italian wines. I have tried a lot of their apps and have picked off my guys dinner plate a number of times and can honestly say I have not had one bad thing here to eat. And I don't know what some people are talking about the server for .. He's just doing his job in a small, crowded restuarants. I always get the guy people are talking about with the glasses and he means nothing but well. He always had suggestions on great wine to go with a meal. He also reccommended apps and entrees to my friend and I. Maybe people caught him on a bad day? But I have had him 5 times in a row and he has been nothing but helpful. So maybe give him another try - he's busy as well as everyone else and ask questions ( coming from a former waitress) ! Otherwise, you will be helplessly lost because I was - I could not read the menu. :( waaah
(5)
jim h.
I love this place. I have been about 4 times and have never been dissapointed. On my parents last visit I took them here and they quickly fell in love. They are both foodies and travel internationally a lot. Just in case you needed more convincing! I find the food fresh and delicious, the wait staff helpful and attentive, and the decor inviting. One of the top restaurants in andersonville
(5)
Casia J.
I didn't have the pannacotta, but it did look outstanding! Liked the atmosphere. Food is average to good, so yes--in my opinion, as others have said, it is too expensive for the portions and quality. I had a half order of the spaghetti with mussles and clams. Gerber makes larger portions, but I was saving room for a giant waffle cone down the street so that was ok. The sauce was skimpy and nothing special. Hubby had the ravioli and I thought it was great, but pricey. Server was a little kooky, and not in a good way. However, they were packed and rushed and everyone still seemed pleasant and in no way did they make us feel like we had to get out so they could use our table. If they changed the menu/prices a little, I'd probably be a fan. As-is? Meh.
(3)
Anne M.
Pretty good Italian - chicken liver starter was good if you like that sort of thing, jerusalem artichokes needed to be sliced a lot thinner, but the flavors were good. The pasta dish we ordered (with lamb sausage and chili) was great and we split the baby chicken - also good. The walnut tart was so-so but the bread pudding was delicious (could have used a touch more moisture). The dinner room is crowded with too many dining tables and it can get loud, but despite this, it's sorta cozy.
(3)
Kendrah R.
These items sound pretty good on the menu but they do not know how to adjust the spices here. The salt is so over done it over powers subtler flavors like lemon zest, the chili so strong it over powered the mint flavor. I eat at a lot of restaurants that are similarly priced and would not go back here because they charge waaaaay to much for what they dish out.
(2)
Joel S.
Among stiff competition, this is probably my favorite place in my neighborhood (and check out my A-ville list, I loooooooove my neighborhood restaurants). Why do I love Anteprima? They do simple, straightforward rustic Italian food. It's not cheap, but it's near top quality because of the delicious ingredients they use. I'm not familiar with Italian wines as much as I would like, and I always have been able to get a great recommendation from the manager, who makes the rounds but not in an intrusive manner. Very enjoyable guy to converse with - for instance, after ordering our apps, wine and meal once last summer, he stopped by to point out greens he grew in his garden and some of the other quality ingredients. And this probably puts it over the top from four stars to five in my book. The only drawback to this place is that it does get very loud and busy - make sure to have a reservation, and ideally have 4 or less in your party - tried to squeeze in five here once and it didn't really work. Anteprima is my go-to spot for a quick celebration or treat, and a great example of the best Chicago has to offer.
(5)
Inspector G.
Agreed with 3 1/2 stars. Extra points for atmosphere, friendly service and interesting menu. Pricing isn't cheap but definitely on the upper end of the range for Andersonville. Overall, value is fair. $35pp for 3 courses and wine. Now for the food. While not bad, it's certainly not up to par with the hype or the atmosphere. Of course, the kitchen is only a few weeks in business, so they're still figuring out the rhythm. Also, given the small size of the kitchen area, they're probably tripping over themselves. Ravioli were drowning in butter (overwhelming) and while some pasta dishes need a little extra salt, others were way over-seasoned. Bottom line - while we've had better Italian food, we'll definitely be going back.
(4)
Dalla A.
I would honestly go back to this place just for the chicken livers appetizer they had for a special last weekend-- it was THAT good-- but there are plenty of other reasons to return. The staff was very accomodating- I had forgotten my phone that day, so I had no clock, and showed up about 20 minutes early for my reservation. They sat me anyway at the table I picked out, and brought me a complimentary piece of onion tart while I waited. Martini and chocolate mousse were fine, but stay away from the boar ragu; it didn't have a lot of taste at all.
(3)
cathy c.
Oh, Anteprima how I did love you. I Yelped passionately about you (as you can see from my first enthusiastic review). I took my foodie friends there and asked them to spread the word. I returned time and time again. I loved the food but also loved the way I felt welcomed and taken care of, as if you really wanted me to be there. And then...tonight (April 29/09). It all came unravelled. The food is still good, although seems to be losing a bit of its edge. But the service, oh my. The room was attended by a vagabound crew who seemed terribly disinterested that anyone showed up at all as they chatted and lounged around the bar. We took a table for six and arrived early when the place was empty. Bread arrived - 45 minutes after we sat down. Menus were never picked up after our orders were taken. Water glasses not filled. Not one basic need was anticipated. I was mortified because I had brought friends who had never been to Anteprima before and I had gushed about the place. Sadly, you've lost me as a fan - next time I'll go to the Bristol where the food is equally (if not more) interesting and the staffers actually act like they're (very) happy you came in. My advice to those who are reading Anteprima's reviews: when you make a reservation make SURE the owner will be there - he runs a tight ship. Alas, when the cat's away...you may never get your bread. Or much of anything without begging for it. Sigh.
(1)
Jessica B.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this restaurant. I think that this is the best restaurant in Andersonville. Doug the manager, is super nice. The food is great- classic Italian simplicity but with excellent flavors. Whomever said the portion sizes are too small, is crazy. It is simply sized to have enjoyed an appetizer first. I will say that the desserts leave a little bit to be desired, but I am also super critical on dessert. You can't go wrong choosing the restaurant. Make sure you try for the patio in the summer- it's awesome.
(5)
ER S.
The food here is AMAZING. My favorite things are the roasted cippolina onions and the spicy lamb sausage pasta. They are so delicious! I keep thinking about them... hmm, maybe it's time to head back. (My husband is a fan of the bolognese, but I think it's a bit bland) In the summer, the back patio is very nice.
(5)
Cathy C.
i'm a big fan. i don't seem to get tired of going here. That's probably because the menu is always new and always fresh. Don't know what to order? Ask the staff. They are very forthcoming and very good. The bread sticks are the best in the city. the house made pasta is delicious. The spicy orchiette is unforgettable and the braised specials always delicious. Can be crowded, loud and my biggest complaint... it can get really hot in there. Marty turn the heat down!
(5)
Kerry S.
Had another lovely dinner at Anteprima last night. The orrechiette with lamb sausage was particularly good. I'm writing the review, though, to specifically mention our server, Chris. We sat on the back patio and we were a table of five. Chris was really informative about the wine and menu, didn't go crazy up-selling anything, and didn't seem to be rushing us at all. We sat there for a long time, on a busy night, on the VERY DESIRABLE patio. He was just really good to us. I really like Anteprima. Can't wait to go back for a romantic dinner with just my husband!
(4)
Angie T.
delicious! precious outdoor patio. awesome staff. great wine list. desserts sub par there were mascarpone stuffed figs wrapped in prochuttio - a blue cheese, beet, walnut, arugula salad - grilled octopus with summer potatoes - goat cheese ravioli in the most amazing orange, butter sauce - pasta that tasted like lasagna- smoked sausage, roasted red peppers and who knows what else pasta - tasty tilefish - delicious tomato focaccia - and the best breadsticks i have ever tasted. all of which was accompanied by a bottle of bubbles and two of red. please do try. i cannot wait to go back.
(4)
Tamara D.
Truly delicious, fresh, homemade food. The crostini toscani is rich and fantastic. The pastas all seemed to be fresh-made. Even the breadsticks were unbelievable. The wine was great and the server was super. He even went next door to their other restaurant to get my 3 year old some gelato. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Ellen F.
Had dinner at Anteprima last night. They have a nice wine and martini list - martini was chilled well and very good. We shared the antipasto appetizer which was excellent. I ordered from the regular menu and had the orrechiette with lamb sausage - it was slightly spicy and prepared perfectly. My friend had an item off the specials menu - which was a spaghetti carbonara. It did not have the usual heavy carbonara sauce and was excellent. We shared the "espresso" dessert which was flan like, but nicely flavored. The service was good, but a little pushy on getting the order placed. I like to relax and have some talk time before ordering - but that was a minor point. Overall, it was very good!
(4)
Aristotle P.
We started out at Hamburger Mary's for dinner but wanted something else for dessert. After dinner we decided to go over to Anteprima. The place was packed and was buzzing with activity. As we walked in, I surveyed the dining area and there was but one available table by the front windows. The amiable hostess greeted us and asked for our reservations. Ooops. Sarah told her we hadn't made reservations but that we were only interested in dessert. The hostess asked us if we wouldn't mind sitting at the bar and we quickly made our way through the dining area towards the bar. The bartender was very likeable. Great ink Jasmine! Jasmine greeted us and gave us a couple of dessert menus. It was a short list but everything sounded good. The panna cotta with lemon sauce and torta della nonna sounded especially delicious so that's what we ordered. Jasmine asked us if we'd decided on our choice of drinks. We told her no. But after we told her what desserts we had just ordered, she suggested an espresso and sambuca (sp) drink. She explained that it would have a warming effect. That sounded good so we ordered two. And she was right! I generally don't like sambuca but it was tasty. Can't go wrong with a drink with both a stimulant and relaxant in one. Sarah liked it well enough but the alcohol was a bit much. Anyway, on to the desserts. First, you have to try the panna cotta. If you don't know what that is, it's heaven on a plate. It's basically cream, lemon, sugar, vanilla, gelatin, buttermilk (or some sort of acid). The texture was that of a very light and airy cream cheese. The flavor... What can I say?! It was rich and creamy with a lightly sweet taste and with just a touch of lemon and vanilla. I can eat this all day. It went well with the espresso/sambuca drink. The torta della nonna was just the opposite (texture wise) but was nearly equally tasty. It looked like a cheesecake with pine nuts mixed in but was not as heavy. While I liked it, I preferred the panna cotta. Service - Jasmine made us feel right at home. She warmly greeted us when we sat at the bar and made wonderful suggestions. Even gave us complimentary dessert wine which she said would go well with the panna cotta. It did! It was a moscato d'asti - Andrel Villa Giada. She suggested we try Andersonville Wine & Liquor to see if they could order it for us. Anyway, it wasn't overly sweet like some moscatos I've had. She was also good enough to give us a slice of another dessert but cannot recall what it was called. It had three layers - a buttery crust, chestnuts and some crumble-like topping. Light flavor with a mild sweet taste accompanied with the toasty and sweet flavor from the chestnuts. Very good. So there you have it. A dessert review at Anteprima. I highly recommend the panna cotta paired with a mascota d'asti. If you can live with it, forget the tables. Ask to be seated at the bar and ask Jasmine for some espresso. You won't regret it.
(4)
Seth P.
I can't claim expertise in Italian cuisine, but the food in this place really reminds me of what food was like when I was in Italy a few years ago -- really fresh ingredients, carefully cooked. This time, the appetizer specials were truly special - lightly fried small lake fish (smelts?) that were perfectly crispy and juicy without being greasy, with lemon rind and parsley perfectly, lightly, crunchily fried the same way and thrown into the mix! We also had a zucchini flower stuffed with riccotta, which turned out to be a baby zucchino (is that the singular?) with the flower growing out of it -- so that you got all three flavors and textures in a single bite!
(5)
Dianna D.
Went here for dinner with some friends and absolutely loved it! For the starter, we got the "pick 8", and it was a great start, with some delicious Cab Sav recommended by the attentive waiter. We each then ordered the smaller portion of a pasta meal, and for the life of me, I can't remember what the friends ordered. My partner had the orichiette with home made lamb sausage. so delicious! And I had a ravioli that was on special that night made with chestnut I believe. The portions were great, and we came early to beat some of the bigger crowd, so we didn't have the issue of noise that some others have had. The topper? Taste of Heaven is just a couple of blocks north for dessert!
(4)
Adam L.
I honestly don't know why anyone wouldn't give this restaurant 5 stars - well, I guess I could imagine... but I'll say that not only have I never had a bad experience eating here, everyone with whom I'm dining almost always starts lavishing praise once the food arrives. I think this is partly due to the fact that the food is described on the menu pretty plainly, but arrives with such delicacy and such abundance of flavor. Here's my personal catch - I'm a vegetarian and although they don't have too many vegi options, I just don't care, because whatever they're serving has always been just delicious. As usual, I can't testify to the quality of the meat dishes, but if my usual company is any consideration, I'd say its probably equally delicious. I'll let y'all know if this restaurant ever surprises me with a bad meal.
(5)
Glenn B.
It doesn't remind you so much of an Italian restaurant as much as an actual restaurant in Italy. One of those small tratorias where you walk in and the chairs don't quite match and the interior is a little rustic but the food is incredible and in season. They are extremely creative and the menu changes frequently for new foodie adventures while they also keep the crowd favorites on the menu. Try the lemon panna cotta.
(5)
Jenna P.
Been there twice, and loved it! Only 4 stars because it can get really noisy and the bread basket is cold (I love warm bread!). Great wine list, great service - we typically choose some small pasta dishes and other apps, like polenta, fried fish, butternut squash ravioli, etc. Delicious!
(4)
Jeanne M.
A completely delightful find! We popped in there without plans and thoroughly enjoyed this lovely place. The food was less traditional Italian-American fare, which will throw some people off. But if you are feeling adventurous, you won't be disappointed as most everything was tasty and creative. I'm knocking it down a star because the dessert we chose didn't match the level of the appetizers or entrees (IMO), however, the pinot noir that we were offered as a quartino to share was flat out awesome.
(4)
Nicole C.
Simple, authentic, delicious Italian cuisine. This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city and definitely the best in Andersonville. They have amazing homemade pasta and I love the prosciutto ragu. The farro with vegetables is my favorite appetizer....I'd love to have the recipe and recreate it at home! The atmosphere is very rustic and cozy - a great date spot or with a group of friends.
(5)
sarah y.
I just wasn't very impressed with what I ordered here. There are other restaurants in the Andersonville area that offer much better food.
(3)
Stephanie B.
The other reviews I read before I went to Anteprima were right on: DEF get the octopus appetizer. DEF do the prix fixe menu. And yes... some things (ie my halibut) were a touch salty, but it did not keep me from cleaning my plate. I read where someone said the spicy lamb orrechiette pasta was way too spicy, and I did not think that was the case at ALL- it was my favorite thing. The pasta was also really dense and not perfectly shaped, which I love b/c you could tell it was homemade. We had the espresso mousse for dessert which was just okay... not to die for. But I would come back to this place in a skinny second. Service was great. It did, however, get REALLY loud once it started filling up, so that made conversation a little tricky.
(4)
David E.
I would recommend trying this place out. The atmosphere and the food were on point. My only negative comment is that the place was a little loud. It was somewhat difficult to have a conversation. As for the food, I was impressed. The appetizers (mussels and the sweet & sour onion with prusciutto) were excellent and very unique. I really enjoyed the soft texture of the pearl-like onion against the firm prusciutto. For my entree, I tried the crispy cornish hen with little broccoli florets. All I can say is that the chicken was cooked to perfection and seasoned well with a delicious crispy outside. I will definitely visit this establishment again. If you are looking for an Italian restaurant with a lot of character, give this place a try.
(4)
Liz K.
Delicious! I had the pasta with the boar!
(5)
Masumi Y.
Flat out fantastic. Ambiance was great, even if we sat at the bar; I felt that we were in our own little world. Cocktails were excellent. Highly recommend Pimm's Cup (I think that's what it was called- nice and light). We did the prix fixe for $29 a person, it was an amazing deal for a starter, entree and dessert. I had the grilled octopus as many have recommended and couldn't have enough of it, really amazing. I also had the scallops for the entree and it was the perfect size. Delicious! Dessert was also great and the bar tender gave us a complimentary glass of moscato to go along with our desserts. Fabulous service and will definitely go again!
(5)
Jeremy P.
i've been here twice in one week - first by chance, second by choice. the homemade pasta and friendly, knowledgeable service is incredible! i was blown away by the tagliatelle with morels and an amazing alfredo sauce. i was even more impressed with their signature lemon panna cotta! the atmosphere is so relaxing, charming and warm...the food is excellent and the service outstanding. i can't wait to go back for #3!
(4)
Silvia B.
Great service great atmosphere great food will go back frequently
(5)
Kathleen O.
I agree with Mike g. It was ok. The place itself is very cute and the wait staff was great. We did enjoy the new potoes appetizer and would have loved more (there were 4)! The "large" pasta dishes were so small! I had the paesanelle pasta and it lacked flavor. My friends had the salmon and seemed to be ok.
With so many great Italian places, this was not my first choice but I was with a group (6 ppl) and obliged. The fact of the matter was, it was a good meal but I hardly see myself returning there anytime soon, namely due to the fact that there is no valet service (tough parking area), its VERY loud there and, as I said, there are just so many good Italian spots already. This just didnt make the grade. In defense though, its a very good place. If I lived around the corner, I'd probably go again. Strong selection of appetizers with a few standouts including the grilled octopus and bean dish, although the roasted beets were quite bland. My scallop main course that I shared was very good but the grilled calamari was a bit spicier than I had planned. Desserts were downright bad. Nothing worth ordering there I thought, but most Italian desserts are mediocre at best.
(3)
Kelly C.
Mmm mmm mmm. Yummy and creative Italian food, with tons of different appetizers. Had the prosciutto-wrapped venison, and the missus had orange cream lobster on spaghetti. Delicious, and they're very friendly and cost-conscious, with their weeknight fixed price menus. Highly recommended!
(5)
Lori K.
Go here, you'll love it. Food was excellent, convo was a little loud at times, and the waiter needed to quit hovering, but overall really fresh, flavorful, and delicious. Get the octopus. Ok, and the risotto. The smaller serving is plenty.
(4)
Carter G.
Made a reservation for 9:00 pm for three people last Friday. We arrived on time, and they were running behind. Their own bar was full so they sent us down to Ombra, their sister-restaurant, two doors down. They would call us, they said. Fine. No problem. We're easy-going. But 15 minutes, nothing. At 25 minutes, we called again and were told 5-10 more minutes. Still OK. We can manage. At 9:45, though, we went back over to ask what was happening, and they still had not seated the other 9:00 pm tables. They told us they had no idea when or if they could seat us for our reservation. We were also told that parking in the neighborhood is bad nowadays, and so tables get out of whack as the night wears on. But if they know this problem exists, though, they really ought to start offering valet service or adjusting their timelines so they allocate reservations properly. The host staff wasn't even sympathetic about not honoring our reservation, and we ultimately had to go elsewhere. What kind of place does that? Won't be trying again.
(1)
C C.
Just had another of many dinners here this past week. I love the food. It is consistently good. But I will not be going back again soon. After all the times I've eaten here, I have to say that the service has never gotten better. The servers are not friendly and always annoyed when you ask questions. We have never been greeted at the door by a friendly face that seemed happy that we were there (again) to spend lots of money on their food and wine. What's with the attitude? The second issue that is going to keep me from going back is the deafening noise level. It is not "energetic" as some try to spin it. It is conversation un-friendly. It's time for restaurants to get customer-friendly aagain and start using noise-reducing surfaces to encourage conversation. Being with friends and enjoying good food is why we go out to eat. When I want a noisy "scene" I go to a club.
(3)
RJ H.
This place is amazing! I will go back again and again and again. Their menu is a little hard to interpret, but I think they've done and excellent job and the food, service and atmosphere is outstanding....
(5)
Melissa S.
Chicago Italian is NOT true Italian, says the blond from Chicago, but after living there for years I have a leg up on traditional. This is about as good as it gets. The dishes are authentic, the portions are NOT American style (huge) and I enjoy the seasonal specials. The owner is a nice man too! Cheers, keep it up.
(4)
graham h.
After reading in Chicago magazine that this was a "best new restaurant," I was psyched to go for some good Italian. The angry critics at yelp, who never cease to find fault with any place, gave me pause in my choice to take Dad to Anteprima for father's day. Turns out, there's a reason that professional food critics exist - this restaurant is great. The atmosphere is super comfortable. The service was informal and intelligent. Every thing I tasted was awesome, and just different enough to edge this place above the generic Italian food that's so easy to find in this city. I found it to be overall quite reasonable as well. The pork was delicious, cooked beautifully. All the pastas were fantastic, with inventive use of ingredients that tasted familiar yet new. The berry tart for dessert was lightweight and tasty. The family can't wait to go back, and neither can I.
(5)
Susan J.
We decided to give Anteprima a second chance after a very shaky first visit. Our first server was beyond pretentious and was dismayed when we shared an entree....little did we know that it was an "in" place and made it into Chicago Magazine....so, we drove up to Andersonville once again and decided that wherever we found parking, that's where we will dine...well, lucky us that our second visit was wonderful and our server was fun, personable, efficient and let us linger. This is true Italian food and is what you might find in the heart of Tuscany. Super fresh ingredients, a yummy bread basket and not your run of the mill Italian menu options at all. The portions are appropriate to European standards which is fine because the quality is there. We are happy that we returned and would definitely recommend.
(4)
Steven N.
Wow! I was shocked by how great the food was. Fresh pasta, great atmosphere, and friendly staff. It's a perfect for a date night. Love that they serve local, Talbott Teas! Blueberry tea gave me the perfect ending to a great meal!
(5)
Cat B.
Finally tried this new bistro-style spot in Andersonville. This place is Chalkboard meets M Henry with the countryside decor and the window panes hanging to separate spots in the room. I went here on a Wednesday night and this place was busy. Our waitress was nice and offered some good selections for wine. My friend Susan ordered the Cornish hens and I ordered the halibut. While we waited, we were given a basket of delicious freshly cooked breads. The wines that were suggested were very tasty. Susan and I split our food so that we could both taste different entrees. Both the fish and the Cornish hens were delicious, but for $25 the halibut should have had some veggies to compliment the plate. The halibut came with lentils underneath, but I could have used some broccoli or a couple asparagus or something. Then with Susan's Cornish hens...they came with veggies, but no starch. It would have been really easy...and cheap...to throw a little rice on the side. The food was delicious, but for the price I would have expected a little more. Another component of this place was that it was REALLY loud. So, a good place to go with friends and eat some delicious fare, but be prepared to have to talk loudly. So, I would have given it 3 1/2 stars. Good food and a beautiful space, but a few things I would improve upon.
(4)
Daniel K.
I really love this place. I live about 4 blocks away and have now been there three times since it opened (including last night). The previous reviews (at least the positive ones) have covered things pretty well. Two things I want to add: 1. They now TAKE RESERVATIONS. I think this just happened within the last few days. I made a reservation yesterday on OpenTable.com and even though we were about 15 minutes late, there was no attitude, and we were seated right away. 2. For those of you who like good beer, you have to try one of the two specialty beers they list at the bottom of the wine menu. They are brewed in a very small brewery in Italy and are very high quality, well crafted beer. The cost ($25 for a 750 ml bottle) might shock you, as it did me, but it was at least as good as any wine on the menu (same size bottle). I love this place.
(4)
Cathy G.
My friend and I have eaten here about 5 times since they've been open. We come back for the food. It's very reliable- not stupendous but good. It often reminds me of the food you get at good trattorias in Italy - similar deep classic flavors. We are bad at making reservations so we end up waiting a fair amount if we get in at all. Last time we waited in the tiny bar almost an hour. We were finally seated and our wine at the bar was comped which was very nice. But THEN, we find that our waiter always seems to be the guy I affectionately call Waiter-From-Hell. Honestly, he is like something out of an SNL skit - unsmiling and bothered by everyone, he is unfailingly rude, unhelpful, and doesn't even do his job very well, yet for some reason he has been there the whole time they have been in business. As I read every review here which complains about service, my guess is it's always HIM...he is a large guy, stocky, 40-something with glasses and a big attitude. Everyone else there is FINE. I wish someone at Anteprima would get a clue - this guy is the worst fully-employed waiter in town. After all these years, all we do is laugh when we get him. I wish I could tell him that my friend is normally a very big tipper --- just not at Anteprima!
(4)
John B.
C and I have had our eye on this place for some time and I had high hopes. Our friends were visiting for the weekend, from Madison, and we wanted to take them someplace special. I requested a table on the patio and was pleased that we actually got one, since the host warned me on the phone that it was no guarantee; merely noted as a preference. It was hot as hell out there, unfortunately, but more unfortunate is that they don't have any fans to at least move air around. I actually removed my shirt. On the other hand, it was a blessing to be outside because the sound level inside is VERY LOUD. Before being seated outside, I asked the bartender at the tiny bar, a young woman, the how a soave differed from a pinot grigio. She looked at me incredulously and gave an enormous sigh, and said, with an exasperated affect, "The difference? A soave is a soave." When our table was ready, the host informed us that we had to pay for the wine before they would seat us. Sorry, but that's annoying. Outside, the wait for the waiter was longer than comfortable. He was polite, but too business-like. We had brought our bottle of white wine into the heat of the patio (the waiter complained of the heat), but didn't offer a bucket of ice to keep our wine cool. When I ordered a second bottle, he failed to offer a bucket again. I had to ask for one and it took a long while for him to appear with a marble cooler. We ordered our appetizers and selections. The appetizers were tasty and C's pappardelle with prosciutto was nice. My pasta with mushrooms, on the other hand, was memorably flavorless. Overall impression: The food is okay, but nothing special. I will mention that the fellow pouring water was on top of his game. I wish I could have left him a tip. The patio is pleasant, but on a evening that was 88 or so, it was too hot without fans or an air cooling system. Also, the tables are way too close together. Inside, it's really rather loud. A note about the ice bucket complaint: In contrast, we went to Yes Thai for dinner the next evening. The waitress, seeing that we walked in with white wine, brought a bucket of ice to the table instantly. i.e. within 2 minutes.
(3)
Calcinor J.
I am a big fan of Anteprima and have dined here a few times. We came out last Friday night to see a good friend off on his new journey in life and had a nice time. There were a few misses but overall the food was good and the service was decent. We started off with a sampling of several appetizers serviced from the meze counter that shares equal billing with the bar. The items on the meze were good and most certainly very healthy. We went with the octopus with potato and chile and experienced a very inconsistent hand in the seasoning of the dish. There were mouthfuls that were just right and then there were tastings that were flat out salty to the point where it was inedible. The tuna carpaccio was excellent. Very well seasoned and fresh! We ordered two of the seared blue fin entree specials, the halibut, a pork chop and the orecchiette pasta. All of the entrees hit the table with the exception of the halibut which was probably never fired by the kitchen staff as it was finally served about 10 minutes later. Mistakes happen. Our waiter was stuck in a tight spot but we understand that mistakes can happen. The halibut was cooked perfectly with a great seasoning, golden sear and a succulent mouth feel. The rest of the plate was forgettable as the set had some ramps and a puree of needles of some sort that was far more ambitious in thought then in execution. We were looking for the trout but it was not on the menu even though our waiter thought that it was, The pork chop was given a big thumbs up as well as the orecchiette pasta which was described as "one of the best pasta dishes ever eaten" by a dining companion. We indulged on the lemon panna cotta and the hazelnut chocolate tart and BOTH were incredible. Overall- food was good but some lapses in execution and the service was decent which was a bit odd considering the fact that we were there when the dining room was only half full.
(4)
Michelle O.
I must say that my experience at Anteprima was in whole a positive experience, however, there was something quintessential missing that forced me to give it only two stars. The food tasted ok enough, but it was nothing special and for the price (and small portions) you walk away paying a lot for something that was good but not phenomenal. Based on the price point you expect more. I will not be going back.
(2)
annie c.
My husband and I wanted to treat ourselves to a nice day off and we ended the evening here. It was absolutely wonderful. No wait! Not that crowded, although it is pretty noisy. The bread sticks might be my favorite thing about this place. We had the sample anti-pasta platter and ate every morsel. I had pumpkin ravioli and he had ox tale ragu and pasta, we hardly spoke as we savored every bite and both of us had big smiles on our faces. Great wine selection. The only complaint was from Luke, he didn't feel the torta Della Nonna was the real deal, but I could care less b/c it tasted like heaven. Amen!
(5)
Katie T.
I LOVE this place. The food is excellent! The space is cramped and loud but I look past it to eat the wonderful dishes they create.
(4)
Tyler C.
It was a nice prixe fixe menu, so we could at least try the restaurant. The prixe fiixe menu allowed for a fair variety of choices. The restaurant was of course crowded for a Tuesday night, but service was still decent. Good wine list offered a nice selection to pair with our dinner. Overall - definitely on the pricier side and the food was only partially worth the price. We may go back, but it didn't truly impress us. Flavor profiles were generally standard. Of all the restaurants in Andersonville - Anteprima is definitely one of them.
(3)
Hannah S.
We really like Anteprima, its one of our go-to places for a date night, since its not the most kid-friendly of places. Plus when you want to order a few courses and enjoy your meal, kids don't usually mix with that. Though we have brought our daughter there during the summer when the back patio is open and just enjoy a couple courses. We like how many specials they offer, though we also have a few favorites from the main menu, like the brick cooked baby chicken which is prefect to split as an entree if you both want an appetizer and pasta course. This last time I started with the sheep's milk ricotta with English peas and walnuts and mint, which pretty much tasted like spring on a plate and was excellent spread on their Italian bread. Then for pasta, got the trofie (which is a small rolled pasta) with pesto and buffalo mozzerella and cherry tomatoes. The pesto was too buttery for my taste and over-powered the really good cheese and there were not enough tomatoes, but the pasta as always was cooked excellently. Then my husband and I split the baby chicken. We skipped dessert in favor of going to First Slice down on Balmoral and Ashland slice he loves pie and Anteprima's desserts are nothing too special. And for weekends definitely make a reservation ahead of time, calling on a Saturday afternoon will only get you a 9:00 table.
(4)
Nicki W.
My family took me here for dinner and I really enjoyed every aspect of Anteprima. First, the vibe is very calming and laid back which is something that I always look for (especially when you want to have nice conversation with who you are dining with). Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. She was able to help me pick out a fantastic wine as well as describe some of the interesting menu items. As always, I like to try a little bit of everything so that I can have a better feel for the direction a restaurant is trying to go. I enjoyed that the menu was very simple and to the point. I assume that it changes all the time which is great. We started off with some smaller dishes to share. We tried the Roasted Market Squash with hazelnuts and raisins which was awesome. The Spicy Calamari was great as well but I didn't expect it to come out grilled (still fine). For my dinner I ordered the Market Winter Squash Ravioli with brown butter, sage and parmigiano. I LOVED IT. Keep in mind that with the pastas, there are two sizes. The smaller portion is pretty small, so you would certainly want to either get something else or get the larger size. I had a side of the garden salad which was served with a mustard vinaigrette, but I think the server went overboard with the ground pepper! Aye. We like to try a little bit of each others food, I tried some of the Lamb Chops which were nice a juicy. I'm not Venison person, but someone at the table did have it and said it was fantastic. Dessert of course is something that can never be missed. I decided to just order everything they had listed so we could try it all. Some of my favorites were the Chocolate Hazelnut Tart with vanilla bean whipped cream...it was heaven. The Lemon Panna Cotta was also great as well as the Pumpkin Cake with Pistachios and sweet cream. Overall, the atmosphere, service and food was very impressive. I just wish it wasn't so far North from me. I will have to make the trip back for sure. It's a nice place to take friends and family.
(4)
K C.
Absolutely outstanding! Loved everything.
(5)
John C.
Great atmosphere, excellent service and really good, authentic food. Everything we ordered was fresh and cooked to perfection. They also offer up a great wine list. When we arrived without a reservation, the host very politely told us there was a 25-30 minute wait. He also mentioned that the bar was pretty full so suggested we head next door to Acre (previously Charlie's Ale House). Once our table was ready, the host came to escort us to our table...and to that I say, "well played, sir!" The appetizers and pasta dishes were perfectly portioned and I would recommend checking out this newer addition to the lively Andersonville restaurant scene.
(4)
Jason W.
Ate here last night, and for those that read this in the future it was 80 degrees yesterday on April 1st. To say they were busy was an understatement. The service was great even though they had so many people in there. Our server was attentive enough to even tell us it would be a bit until our main course was ready after our apps. It took about 15 minutes which gave us enough time to start digesting the first two courses. Everything was cooked perfectly. Highly recommend the prix fix menu. $30 for app, meal, desert -or- app, 1/2 pasta, meal. The portions were smaller for the apps (understandable), but the total amount of food we had was enough to stuff two starving people.
(5)
Shonda D.
I would actually give Anteprima 3.5 stars, if I could. I love the location and it's a great place to stroll in the evenings. Anteprima is quite lively and usually pretty packed. The food was ok. We had the arugula, asparagus ravioli, olives, and the strawberry rhubarb crisp. Very nice wine list... they only serve Italian wines, but a wonderful array. Everything was nicely prepared and the service was outstanding. The food was tasty, but it didn't wow me. I think the ambiance hyped me up, more than the food. However, I would still go back to Anteprima, if someone else were buying.
(3)
M H.
Given some of the raves I've read here, I was expecting a much better experience than I had. I was hoping for a Cafe Spiaggia type of deliciousness, but ended up with food that, while authentic Italian, fell just below nearby Calo's level of deliciousness. Service was somewhat disappointing too--my date and I felt more like we were our waiter's afterthought. Overall: not bad by any means, but there are better places around to spend a night.
(3)
Brian H.
The experience of dining at Anteprima is getting more onerous and less pleasureful. It was a pain to get a reservation; they required me to wait when our party wasn't all there (our party was 2 people and there were plenty of open tables!); our server was borderline rude and acted irritated when we asked for anything (like when we had the audacity to ask for more water or for recommendations on the menu. Gasp!). The menu is fine but very heavy on small plates/appetizers with far fewer options for entrees. I like to support local business and independent restaurants and I will continue to do so... but not at Anteprima.
(2)
Julie B.
Happy to have the fabulous weather this week-end, I wanted to enjoy great food outdoors. Friends had shared that Anteprima had an intimate patio and I was ready to try it out! As I'm able to walk to Anteprima, we were greeted promptly and taken to the lovely patio (small due to the large parties). Our server was a lack luster server who really did not provide any guidance and no assistance describing the menu. He just stood in front of us like we were supposed to take the Q and provide him direction (mute actor perhaps??). The food however was fantastic! Sunday - Thursday, they have a $29 3 course prix fixed menu with 2 options: 1 starter, 1 pasta 1/2 order, 1 entree OR 1 starter, 1 entree, 1 dessert. We went full bellied and went for the pasta inclusive option (insert smile and rubbing belly motion). We had the grilled octopus and zuccini florets - both perfectly prepared and delicious, next came the pasta: orecchiette pasta with spicy lamb sausage and bitter greens- good and spicy but the bitter greens soured me a bit, would not get again. The spaghetti with clams was to die for, still thinking about it today!! Entrees were the grilled duck and portebello mushrooms and NY Strip steak with arugala, preferred the savory duck but both were solid choices. Overall, excellent food, great neighborhood italian place, want to go back but the service was really lacking.
(4)
Shida B.
Not bad. While it was nearly 10PM, the place was packed on a weeknight. The kitchen closed at 10PM so we were cutting it close, but the waitstaff still received us with warm smiles and friendly service. The intimate space was relatively plain inside; stained glass windows and vintagey wood (distressed and faded) made for a rustic Italian feel ... unlike the modern spot across the street with their dim lighting and fire places. This felt like eating in a country kitchen. The crowd must've been there for a while judging by the loudness (e.g. drunkenness) of their conversation. The bar, which seated about 5 comfortably, was empty, but cute in the middle of the room. Ordered small plates: asparagus & ricotta ravioli, butter, parmigiano ($11); grilled octopus, potatoes, red onion, chilis, parsley, lemon, olive oil ($9); marinated olives, garlic, orange, chilis ($4); and the arugula, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese ($6). The food came quickly and was fresh, not just thrown together as some last meals of the evening can be. The ravioli needed a kick. The rich sauce clung nicely to the pasta (although it could've been more velvety, less buttery -- perhaps it broke and was saved?), but the bland dish offered very little flavor besides cheesy and buttery. The octopus was a little chewy from being a tad over grilled, but still it was flavorful. I just sopped up the extra olive oil with the fresh bread that was brought to the table to start. The greens were crisp, the parm freshly shaved, and the dressing light. The pepper mill gave it a nice crunch. Loved the salad. I ordered a specialty drink, something like basil and vodka with lemon. It was relatively uneventful, though the combination had so much promise. There were others on the list, something with vodka and rosemary, that I really want to try. The prices were good, so I'll return at a more reasonable hour. I might even need reservations.
(3)
Tiffany D.
How do I even begin to explain my newly found love for Anteprima?!?!?! I love the feel... it's very Italy-esque with the warm space.. delicious aromas in the air, friendly waiters... and fellow customers :] I guess the owner knew we were "foodies" from all the non-typical food items we ordered...... he was super sweet and actually gave us "special" olive oil to drizzle on our food and salumi and a special something something "XX" drink afterwards. Even a complimentary truffled pecorino and poached pear. My favs of the night were.. omg, ALL OF IT.. but if I had to choose.. the grilled octopus... the garganelli, pancetta & tomato ragu, homemade ricotta.... (which has trotters in it) andddddddd... their pasta is cooked to perfection and so fresh and delicious. PERFECT proportions!!! (my biggest rant @ italian american places is WAY too much food... and WAY too much sauce.. here it's perfectly balanced.. it's the PASTA that's the star of the show and it's accented by the perfect amount of delicious sauce...) omg their specials are amazing. fried anchovies were amazing. THE GOAT!!!!! their yogurt/honey dessert.. oh me oh my!!!
(5)
Kristina K.
We went here with friends and found the place packed, so were glad we made a reservation. The service was very good and the waiter did a good job answering questions about the menu. We decided to be the $29 special, picking 3 plates. All the appetizers were wonderful. The mussels and clams dish was a very nice size portion, and the grilled octopus was really tasty and a different slant on the usual. The orecchiette with spicy lamb was a great dish, but the grilled lamb was ho hum. The panna cota was delicious and lemony. I will return, but probably for their appetizers and pastas....
(4)
Eric K.
Anteprima is a cute place - very inviting from the outside and the inside decor. However once inside it is jam packed full of people sitting practically on top of one another. This is an experience common in NYC but not so great in Chi-town. Plus it is so LOUD you practically have to shout to talk to your friends over dinner. The menu is diverse but I was hoping they would have a few normal italian items on the menu. Do I have to eat goats stomach or whatever the odd meat and seafood choices were. Chicken Picatta may be boring but I would have ordered it cause I like it. Mussels picata or whatever they had wasn't going to do it for me. The server was stone faced, cold, not friendly at all and barely interacted with us. In fact it took about 5 minutes for him to get out of my way so I could even sit down when I arrived. All the waitstaff seemed stressed and serious. I've definately been spoiled by the friendly competent servers from the LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU restaurants I guess. My friend ordered the ravioli and it was a couple teeny tiny pieces that tasted like oranges. Portion and taste were terrile. I think he had to eat something later cause he was not happy. Overall - too crowded, loud, expensive and we will not be going back. One thing to say about the crowd - it seemed to be a lot of Lincoln Park Stye yuppies over impressed with themselves. I had to sit back and laugh because this space used to be a gay male strip club. It made their pretentions being there seem hilarious.
(2)
Jacob E.
This is just an OK place but not worth the wait.
(2)
Hannah M.
I've been here several times. It's a really great menu-- lots of choices-- and I like the $29 prix fixe option. I've always liked what I've ordered. But the service is very, very strange. Every time it's been super, super slow, cold, and unfriendly. No one comes to say hello-- some awkward waiter just appears out of the blue and asks you to order. And everything tends to take a really long time-- from getting the bill to getting the carafe of water refilled. I'll keep going back, because for me food trumps service, and this is a good spot in Andersonville, but the waitstaff could use a pep talk. I almost never notice service, but it's pretty perceptibly bizarre here.
(3)
Beth O.
Only recently have I pulled my mouth away from plates of pasta to pay attention to the meat and fish entrees-- and thus I wish I were a professional eater. Instead I leave Anteprima now looking like a disheveled Oscar Meyer wiener, due to massive wine and food consumption. Several things to know when going as a novice: -Quartinos of wine are priced proportionately the same as bottles, so you do not save money by not ordering full bottles. -A wiser or more frugal person than I would thus drink only what they need (i.e. less than a bottle). I use this reality to do large scale comparative wine tasting-- Primitivo vs. Nero D'Avola! Yay! -Get the sampler appetizer of starters from above. It is always refreshing and delicious. -Other than the rubbery bucatini, all of the house made pastas are EXCELLENT. My husband and I went to Rome in August during the national holiday, ate pasta, came back and went to Anteprima-- and found its strozzapretti amatriciana better than (off-season) Rome. -The tuna is MIND-BLOWINGLY GOOD. -End with the laurel liqueur. Wow.
(5)
Cindy R.
Continues to be a great place for dinner. Had to get the grilled octopus app again because it is SO good but lots of the others sound good too. I think they do a great job cooking fish here; if you're a fish lover I highly recommend getting any of the fish dishes. They're currently featuring lots of early spring veggies so mine (the whitefish) had leeks and purple artichokes... delicious. They no longer have exactly the same orange cake for dessert - it's got pistachios in it now. I liked it better before but it's still good.
(5)
Jeff K.
Consistently delivers wonderful food and attentive service. The ingredients are always very fresh, the entrees - well prepared and well presented. When I have made a reservation, my table has always been waiting for me upon arrival. Neg - the portions tend to be very small. I'm not looking for the usual vats of pasta that you find at some restaurants, but a slightly larger portion would be nice.
(4)
Lou S.
The Strozzapreti Amatriciana with guanciale, tomato, red onion, garlic, chili flakes and pecorino is quite amazing and not your typical American Italian fare. The pasta was cooked al dente and finished in a white wine sauce with onions and hand-smashed canned tomatoes which soaked up the sauce and gave each bite more flavor. Guanciale is unsmoked Italian bacon prepared with pig's jowl or cheeks and tastes different than pancetta and hard to find.
(4)
art s.
Good food in a nice little place with somewhat of a New York feel [in a good way]. A little pricey for the portion size, which isn't a bad thing - just need to understand it is a quality play, not a quantity play. Ambiance I can't quite put my finger on why this place made me feel more like I was in the Village in New York than in Andersonville, but it did. They only have 12 - 15 tables in the main room [we didn't see the garden area], and the layout looks a little cozy for the middle tables. And noise carries wherever you are, even along the perimeter of the dining room. We had what should have been a great spot at the corner/window 2-top. But unfortunately our visit coincided with that of the relentless blowhard at the next table. Picture a bad combo of the Bruno Kirby character from Harry Met Sally and Bruce Arena [former US soccer coach]. Now wind him up and watch him perform the obnoxious know-it-all role for 60 minutes running. That can put a damper on things. Which, of course, is not anteprima's fault whatsoever. The Food The only appetizer we tried were the three cheese zucchini flowers. Aside from the fact that they look a bit like mouse tempura with the tail-like stems sticking out, these were really good. Light, tasty, with a little bit of marinara. Good opening act. My wife got the red snapper in some yellow pepper sauce that she thought was great. It was a modest size at $24, but she thought the quality was solid. I had the bucatini, which comes with olive oil, shaved/grated pecorino, pea shoots and some garlic chilis. It was nicely done - al dente, flavorful. Personally I'd prefer a few less pea shoots and a few more garlic chilis, but it was a nice dish. Not bad at $16 [I think]. The Wine I think the list was made up of entirely Italian options, and they cover a wide spectrum of regions and varieties. They had a couple of Lagrein options, which isn't something I've seen a lot of restaurants carry [but maybe I just need to check out more Italian places]. I wish they had a few more options by the glass, though. I'd estimate that maybe 1/6th of their bottles were available by the glass. Service Decent, but perhaps a bit leisurely [or continental, if you prefer]. They were full [Saturday night, ~8:45], but it took a little longer than you might expect for the wine to come out, then for the check to come out. Not bad - we definitely were not neglected by any means. Time may have just dragged along a bit with our Bruno Kirby neighbor loudly explaining why he's an expert in various fields of finance and real estate.
(3)
Ed K.
I love this place. My go-to for special occasions...and even a Sunday night when I don't feel like cooking. Go with the lamb sausage and orecchiette. My favorite!
(5)
Heather R.
First things first, you absolutely have to get the grilled octopus appetizer. You'll dream about it. Anteprima's whole menu is filled with unique food that separates them from just another ho-hum neighborhood italian restaurant. It does get crowded and it is quite cozy, but the food makes you forget about listening to anyone else's conversation.
(4)
Jon L.
The stretch of North Clark Street in Andersonville is becoming a better and better place to eat, with the hearty but uninteresting swedish meatballs of yesteryear and phoned-in Italian now competing with a new brand of dining experience that caters to the neighborhood's increasingly well-heeled and culinarily-attuned residents. Anteprima's substantial menu of regional Italian dishes literally ups the ante. Homemade pastas-including pappardelle with a boar ragu and orecchiette with housemade sausage-abound and are available in half portions, which makes an appropriate starter for mains like whole roasted bronzino, chianti-braised pork, and "brick-grilled" cornish hen. Rotating specials have been known to include killer sformatos, proprietary headcheese, and more. With a restaurant as consistently popular as this one, service occasionally falters, but the wait for your food can be tempered by a creative cocktail, such as the Cyn-cyn. Hats off to any establishment that showcases Cynar, a bittersweet Italian aperitif made from artichokes that sports nifty Art Deco label and a reputation as an aphrodisiac.
(5)
David C.
This is my favorite Italian spot in Chicago. The food here is amazing. I've eaten here countless times as it is a block from home. I have never had a bad meal. I have had problems with the temperature in the dining room... on my last trip it was VERY hot and it can get VERY loud in the establishment as well. That being said, the food keeps me coming back. The octopus on the appetizer menu is AMAZING. For those of you afraid of it, do try it. The octopus is tender and tasty. You can not go wrong with any of the pasta dishes... especially if it involves a boar ragu. As for dessert, I would take a pass. I've yet to have an amazing dessert at this spot. However, as for Italian food in Chicago... this is as good as it gets!
(5)
Emily S.
My husband and I took my parents, my brother and his girlfriend to Anteprima as a Christmas gift to my parents. We'd been before and really liked it. Fortunately, it was still very good and impressed my foodie parents. We started with the rabbit sausage, the grilled octupus and the antipasto plate. Everything was very tasty, and there were lots of little, very authentic Italian bites to go around. We shared two salads - the arugula and the fennel salad. The arugula was pretty standard (but very fresh). The fennel salad was excellent - shaved fennel, persimmons, pomegranate seeds, parmesan and a drizzle of fine olive oil. Yum. Everyone liked their main course - we had the sea bass, the bucatini with tuna conserva, the duck leg, the lamb shoulder and the pancetta wrapped venison. All were excellent, but the lamb shoulder really seemed to be the big winner at our table. Desserts were almost all great. The lemon panna cotta is second to none - so delicious. The winter squash dessert was absolutely amazing. Skip the lemon and orange cakes - so, so dry and the one disappointment of the meal. Wine list is extremely reasonably priced with plenty of bottles under $40. We had three bottles of a nice Montepulciano that was right in our price range at $33. Service was good, and we will definitely go back.
(4)
Ryan T.
Anteprima is probably my most favorite italian restaurant in the andersonville/edgewater neighborhood. It's small, cozy, kinda rambunctious atmosphere is perfect for small get togethers with friends or family. Perfect for a date if you don't mind the close quarters and cacophany of mingled conversations. The food definetly makes up for it. The wine list is fairly full and looks complex if you're unfamiliar with italian wine terminology. Servers have always been patient to explain them or offering recommendations on similar wines not on the list. Most servers have asked if we've dined there before, but there have been a few times when the server just plops the menu down. For the most part the servers are attentive, weekends or busy nights you might have to make extra effort to be noticed. Their dinner menu changes often seasonally or whatever is available from organic and local growers, which makes the experience almost new if you haven't been in awhile. But if you're like me and order the same thing, many of their main dishes like the sliced new york strip with arugula are unchanged and for good reason. Fish main courses constantly change, as I've seen porgy, sea bass, monkfish, and dover sole on their menu. Many of the dishes and appetizers have what appears to be an unsual combination of food stuffs, but when tasted you can tell a great amount of care and effort is given by the chef to make the dish interesting and pleasant, the deviled eggs with lobster and pesto for example. Their dessert menu is small and unspectacular, many of them having a slight tartness in flavor which is actually kinda refreshing to finish off a meal. The restaurant can be busy on almost any given night, so definetly make a reservation online, very convenient. I frequent this place quite often and am always very satisfied with the quality of food and the service has been great most times.
(4)
Darlene L.
Food here is pitch perfect with pastas, fresh catch and antipasta as star features.The vibe was good from the start when I made the reservation and was told about limited free parking in the lot around the corner. We sat outside in the comfortable little covered patio. We enjoyed an excellent Baralo as the waiter patiently responded to questions about the specials. Started with a variety of appetizers including olives, peppers, zucchini, couscous,and beets. It was a veritable delight with good ciabatta and EVOO. Halibut in a bag was moist and flavorful. The whole fish special of sea bass was bones for us and grilled to perfection. Nice dessert offerings include yummy chocolate tart and strawberry and rhubarb fritatta. Service was friendly and efficient. All four in my party raved about their food.
(5)
Amy A.
This place is so overrated. I don't get it. Against my better judgement I went back for a second try with a friend that wanted to try it. No different. The food is ok, but there are other Italian places in the neighborhood that are just as good, have better service, and you can actually hear the person sitting across the table from you. Oh, and I thought the wine list was a bit pretentious for a place that is supposed to be a "neighborhood" dining room. No house wine? A lot of people seem to like it here, but I don't think I'll go back.
(2)
Lex N.
This place is to die for! Went with my dad and his friend who knows Marty (the owner) and most of the staff here. We were treated like royalty. Marty is such a nice guy as well as is the rest of the staff. We tried several different appetizers. Among my favorites were the cuddlefish (it had so much flavor), this ravioli dish with squash inside, and the octopus. But everything, and I truely mean everything that I tried was excellent! Usually when I go to a restaurant and try several things and a few end up being just ok. Well, there was not one thing that I tasted and thought, eh, it's only ok. I loved it all. Great place, check it out!!
(5)
Marina M.
I love going to dinner and being able to try a bunch of different items, so a small plates menu is always a draw. We started with grilled octopus and the pork belly. Both were perfectly done and had great flavor. I really enjoyed how the octopus was seared. We followed up with goat cheese ravioli w/orange zest and pappardelle w/boar ragu. The pastas were excellent and you could tell they were homemade. I enjoyed the goat cheese ravioli but it's pretty rich so I can't imagine eating a whole order by myself. The boar ragu was amazing! For dolci we had the winter squash budino w/pumpkin seed brittle. It's kind of like flan, but much better. The budino was light and had a great texture. The squash provided a unique and delightful flavor.
(4)
Tracy O.
I've been to Anteprima twice. Both times I've loved just walking in. There's a cozy hustle and bustle that coos "Hey, come in, really enjoy a meal." Service is great. The staff are warm and friendly. I sat at the bar once and it seemed like the bartender is also responsible for plating desserts and antipasi. Kudos for that! Both times, food has been A-OK. My main qualm is that dishes are too salty. I could tell that if it weren't for the saltiness, the food here would be good. The blueberry tart, however, is delicious! Sunday to Thursday, $29 3-course prix fixe meal is something to consider. I also appreciate that there are two size choices for pasta dishes.
(3)
Hansel K.
Excellent food! Great service. You will leave satisfied for sure.
(5)
Anthony Z.
Have been here three times...most recently this past Monday. Sort of picky about Italian food, and this place is fine, but certainly not great. On Monday had the orecchiette as a starter, and it was too oily. Lamb sausage flavoring was good, but it did not taste freshly prepared. Salmon entree was good. Chocolate hazelnut torte was not memorable; the word adequate comes to mind. Wine choices by the glass are a good option, with a generous pour. As others have mentioned, it can get a little loud. Service was a little creepy. 29 dollar prix fixe special early in the week is a pretty good deal.
(3)
Laura F.
I've had mixed experiences here, and it often happens because my husband's or friend's entree ends up looking way better than mine! Some of the pasta dishes are so light on sauce and salt that it's underwhelming, while others are home runs. I tend toward anything with mushrooms, and for whatever reason those are the lackluster experiences. Go with what's seasonal and what your server recommends. A bit pricy, but a really nice neighborhood place.
(3)
Jessica B.
I went there tonight for my first time and left full and pleased with my meal! We had reservations at 6 and then because of pouring rain and parking issues were a few minutes late. When we checked in, the host was a little rude, reminding us we were late (yes, we knew but did our best to get there on time) and then seated us with a huff. Okay, not the best way to start but what lacked in a greeting made up for in food. My friend and I got the grilled octopus (amazing!!!) and daily special of blood orange salad, which was refreshing and sweet. Portion sizes were easy to share and a nice way to tee up the meal. For dinner, I got the maltagliati with house smoked pork belly, fagioli, spinach, tomato and it was really delicious. It had really good flavors and was light. The great thing is that Anteprima also offers full and half sizes of the meals so you can get additional dishes or get better portion control. I got the pasta as a full dish and it was still a good size portion without being too heavy or filling. For dessert, we got the lemon panna cotta, which was good and had a Greek yogurt consistency. It was good and definitely perfect to share, it would have been to heavy on its own. Finally, we had blood orange bellini's which were delish! Overall, I was really happy with our meal, even if the host wasn't the nicest and the waiter was a big hoverer. I would go back! Note though, until the patio opens, the main dining area can get VERY warm, I was sweating throughout the meal, which was not the most attractive.
(4)
David B.
My partner and I had a great meal here to celebrate my birthday. I had the Alaskan halibut which is cooked in parchment paper and then served with an amazing sauce. It was probably the best halibut I have ever eaten. My partner had a delicious asparagus and ricotta ravioli. It needed a bit of pepper, but otherwise was quite tasty as well. We had excellent service -- attentive, friendly, but not intrusive -- and she appreciated our slightly warped sense of humor. All in all, a fabulous meal in a very lovely room. For those who like outdoor dining, there is a nice space in their back yard that is nice change of pace from the tables in front of restaurants where the bus fumes "enhance" the meal.
(5)
olen h.
I almost gave this place two stars, but didn't because it was super cute and I heard the guy behind me say "I've been to this place too many times to know that this is a fluke" when he sent his fish back. I had sent my venison back five minutes before him because it tasted funny. The chef must still have been on xmas vacation because the food was NOT good. Squid was so salty it was practically inedible. i'm serious. it made my gums burn. so were the beans with the salmon. I would return to give it a second chance if someone insisted.
(3)
Kevin S.
Service is okay, but the food is excellent- so is the decor. Great place for a date.
(5)
Phil B.
There's only one word for Anteprima: perfect. Don't go to this restaurant because you want "Italian". While Anteprima is indeed Italian food, it's "rustic" (Tuscan I think?) What it's NOT is pasta with red sauce and meatballs (go to La Scarola for a wonderful version of that Italian food experience). I've been to Anteprima with my wife now 5 times. In every single case, the food and service were superb. The meal always starts with a complimentary sample pastry. Tonight it was greens with some pine nuts. We've had a zuchini pastry in the past. It's just a little one-bite appetizer to get the palate ready. Tonight I had the fixed menu (which is available S-Th). You choose either a starter, small pasta and entree OR a starter, entree and dessert. All for $29. Knowing that on my wife's birthday dessert would be a must, I chose the former. I had: Tomato bread salad: tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, basil and big bread pieces (not too hard, not too soft) with infused oil. These are VERY fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and in the summer, this salad is a refreshing start to the meal. I've had this during other visits and LOVED it. Spaghetti with chillies, tomatoes and some crunchy thingys: this was where I talked about the meal being "perfect". The pasta is cooked perfectly, the ingredients and herbs are distributed perfectly throughout the dish and it tastes FRESH! The dish is simple, but has a wow factor that comes from the blending of flavors. It's not too big, not too small, not too messy, not too salty or plain, it's just PERFECT. Sliced New York Strip: I ordered medium rare. The steak might have been a little undercooked (my only complaint about the meal). But it was delicious and was served VERY HOT. The plate was so hot it was untouchable. They took this steak from the grill and must have delivered it in 10 seconds to my table. Alongside the steak was an arugula salad with shaved parmesan that cooked a little bit on the hot plate. The cheese melted a little too and it turned out to be a wonderful accompaniment to the steak. I cut up pieces of the steak and ate them with the greens and cheese. As I keep saying, this was a delicious and simple dish. It was steak with a little green salad and some shaved parmesan. But the flavors were spectacular and their simplicity was SO satisfying. We had 2 desserts - a peach crostata and the "cherries in pastry". The cherries were reduced into a compote and served in a puffed-pastry. That's the whole dish. Very simple/delicious. Frankly, the cherries dish paled compared to the peach crostata. It was basically an Italian peach pie with very dry crust and peaches. My wife remarked that the fruits in both dishes were not "over sugared". The fruits were center stage. And keeping with my theme - both desserts were SIMPLE, fresh and delicious. Some other dishes we've had in previous visits that are spectacular: the orecchiette with lamb sausage and rapini. This is a spicy pasta dish that I love. We've also had an orange cake dessert that our waiter told us tonight they serve only in the winter. The orange cake is all my wife talks about! In summary - the few people that complain about Anteprima call it "ho hum" or plain. I prefer "simple". I would tell those people to pay attention to the details of these dishes. Pay attention to the care the chef puts into the flavors, the ingredients, the freshness. There is a GORGEOUS SUBTLETY to Anteprima that is NOT to be missed. It's officially my favorite restaurant on the north side and a refreshing change from the everyday restaurant experience.
(5)
Matt P.
Finally, I made it to Anteprima for dinner! I wish I had gone here sooner! This restaurant is a very pretty spot and popular, located right in the middle of Andersonville. On a Friday or Saturday evening, I highly recommend reservations, as there will almost certainly be a wait for a table. Also, this is not a pasta/pizza type of Italian restaurant, Anteprima specializes is more of a rustic/country style of cuisine. They do have pasta dishes on the menu, but its not going to be typical Chicago Italian restaurant fare. The interior space has a casual yet a warm upscale feel. As with most neighborhood restaurants, the tables are in close proximity of each other and the noise level can get high. We sat on the patio/deck in back, which has a much more quiet relaxed vibe and has the feel of a cozy outdoor room. They do have patio heaters, so are we go into Fall, you can still be comfortable on a cool evening. We started with the Grilled Shrimp marinated along with both sweet and hot peppers, it was excellent. The bread and thin bread sticks were quite good as well. I selected the pan-seared Scallops for my main course. It was quite possibly the best Scallops I've ever had. The wait staff was highly attentive, very helpful with wine selections and we didn't feel like we had to quickly leave to free up a table.
(5)
Justin H.
I have been wanting to try Anteprima for several months now and finally had the money and friend to do so. Stepped in here without reservations and were seated in under a minute in the front window 2 top. The kitchen brought out 2 complimentary zucchini/cheese amuse bouche for us to try and they were delicious. I ordered one of the red wines to go with my ravioli entree from the extensive wine list. The ravioli were spectacular and my friend had the New York strip seasoned and cooked to perfection. Only downside is the prices. $17 for a plate of 8 to 10 small homemade ravioli with a touch of sauce. That's almost $2 per ravioli. The breads brought to the table were amazing as well. Thanks Anteprima, I will be back for this truly authentic Italian again.
(4)
Amy N.
With recommendation from friends and the high rating from yelp, we were a bit underwhelmed with Anteprima. My dinner was pretty good, zucchini flower, lobster ravioli and seared scallop. I would give my dinner 4 stars. My hubby's dinner was a total disappointment. The pasta dish, orecchiette with spicy lamb sausage was way too salty even though the pasta was very fresh. The wood grilled spare ribs has no flavor even though the meat was tender. Maybe the chef was having an off night?!?! The saving grace is their $29 prix fixe price along with the nice alfresco area and service.
(3)
Matt L.
We went for "Dine out for Life" an HIV/AIDS fund raising dinner. The Food was excellent and the table was ready in a more than a reasonable amount of time from the stated reservation. The food was excellent and prepared just right!! The grilled octopus was excellent and I would highly recommend it to anyone trying the restaurant. The waiter could have checked on us maybe a couple more times and the person bringing out the entrees misplaced the dishes.....pretty minor in my book, but I can't give it 5 stars. I look forward to trying it again.....Highly recommended!!!
(4)
Shea G.
My husband and I were very excited to visit anteprima because of the reviews we had read and we love authentic Italian food. We even took another couple with us, the guy being from Italy with a strong background in Italian cuisine. Our whole experience started out badly when we showed up for our 9:00 reservation only to be told that the wait would be 45 minutes for their patio. When I initially made our reservation, the person I spoke with said that being seated on the patio at 9:00 would not be a problem. However, the host standing in front of me said that they never reserve tables on their patio, it's first come first serve (there are only 10 tables on their back patio). While I was questioning why I was told differently, the owner showed up and instead of apologizing for the mistake, said, "I'm the owner, I think I would know..." Really? No apologies, no thank you's for even coming? He even said, "this is our policy." Business 101 tells you that that is NOT a phrase to be used with an upset client. Moving on to the food however, we started with the sweet corn and basil bruchetta and it was phenomenal. A bit salty, but very very tasty. We then had the ricotta stuffed figs with carpaccio. Equally as good. Great start to our meal. For my main course, I had the sweet corn and crab risotto. I was expecting it to melt in my mouth, but everything tasted quite separate and I never felt like it all went together. My husband had the Orichette and liked it ok, but again, he was a bit disapointed with the flavor profiles. This was an okay place, but definitely not in our top ten favorite Italian places in the city. I'll wait until the customer service improves...which means I have to wait until they change management.
(2)
Gayle G.
The recession is good for dining out! Anteprima's three course $29 prix fixe on Sunday -- Thursday is a great deal. For two people do this: one app & , one order of pasta to share, two entrees and one dessert to share for $58. What a deal! Ok, so we had four or five drinks and a second dessert to throw the total well over $100, but it was still a great deal and oh so good. Anteprima isn't "fancy" per se, but it's probably not the kind of place you'll go every week. It makes me happy to have in my 'hood, though. The servers are very well informed and good natured. It's always a leisurely, casual and unrushed dining experience. There was a bucatini with artichoke pasta special that was so good! It tasted like spring. And the NY Strip with rosemary and lemon, served on a bed of arugula with shaved parm was spectacular. That dish would almost make me forsake carbs (except for the bowl of pasta before and the dessert after). The steak is so juicy & flavorful with the peppery arugula and the salty parm. I want it right now! The orange cake is simplicity at its best. The hazelnut dark chocolate tarte is decadence disguised as a pie of pie. Looking forward to eating on the patio again and enjoying the spring menu once the weather warms up more. Ciao!
(4)
Marjorie F.
I just went there this weekend with one of my best friends. We started with the grilled octopus. I'm not usually a fan of grilled octopus - many places make it too chewy. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it at Anteprima. It actually melted in my mouth!!! For my main course, I ordered the ricotta and chard ravioli in butter sauce. While it was very rich, I enjoyed every morsel. But then again, I love butter! For dessert, we shared a lemon custard (I'm not sure what the name is exactly - the pannacotta?). It was light, creamy, and not too sweet. Just right after a rich meal! We shared a bottle of Il Bugiardo 2002. I don't know much about Italian wines, but if you like merlot and shiraz - you'll like this!
(4)
Meera S.
We had New Year's Eve dinner here with four friends, and it was delicious. My husband and I walked in 25 minutes early for our reservation, because we were dorks and didn't check our watches after giving ourselves a good buffer of time to travel there from Hyde Park. The staff was unfazed, even though the restaurant is tiny and there wasn't any more room to sit at the bar. We ordered a cocktail to share while we waited (something lemony and rosemary-y, delicious) and just sort of pressed ourselves up against a wall while waiters flitted by bearing wonderful-smelling things. The food was great -- portions aren't insanely large, and I thought the menu was reasonably priced for the quality of food we got. Our total bill, including taxes and tip, was $315. For that we got 5 appetizers (get the lobster bisque. It's amazing), 6 main courses (I had the bucatini and loved it, and I heard moans of delight coming from the part of the table where the duck saltimboca and sliced NY strip lived), 3 desserts (they had a chocolate-espresso tart as a special, and the lemon panna cotta was also divine), 2 bottles of red, a glass of grappa, and a coffee. It wasn't the most amazing Italian food I've ever had, but it was a really cozy place to eat at with friends, the service was good despite the fact that they were super busy, and everyone in my party left stuffed and happy. We stole a NYE balloon as we were leaving. :-)
(4)
Nick M.
Pro's Handmade pasta Fresh ingredients Unique Menu Great Wine List Great Deserts (recommend the bread pudding) Con's Service is nonexistent and snobbish So loud I couldn't hear my date (no she wasn't a low talker) Over priced for the portions Seating/Decor didn't do anything for me Food overall... eh! If you drag me here... yes I will be kicking and screaming!!
(3)
Liz P.
Hands down, the best Italian I've had in the city so far. I absolutely love the atmosphere and decor--it really sets the mood for a wonderful evening. Our server was incredibly friendly and helpful in recommending some dishes. Their menu changes weekly so the bucatini amatriciana may not be there for long, but I highly recommend it if you see it on the menu! It was absolutely decadent, how well the flavors played on each other and left the palate very satiated. The chianti braised pork shoulder was a delicious appetizer that literally melted in your mouth. Speaking of wine, of which they have a great selection, they were very generous with the serving, which I always appreciate. If you want to treat yourself or others to a superb dining experience, Anteprima is the place to go.
(5)
Daniel S.
I didn't actually intend on dining here. Rather, this was second choice as when we tried to go to Spacca Napoli it was closed for Summer Holiday! I had heard solid anecdotal reviews of Anteprima, but considering the messenger(s), I filed it away as 'accurate but not entirely credible'. On the evening of Sept 3rd, the opportunity presented itself so away we went. Without a reservation on a Thursday night- around 830- we were able to be seated immediately. They didn't give us any lip about not having a reservation either. Note: I am not anti-reservation, rather quite the opposite, but sometimes spontaneity rules! My dear friend was moving away, and we wanted to have a nice little super in honour of the occasion. So we started off sampling an array of apps- zucchini, boar sausage, scallops etc- all were tasty and well prepared. The Italian red we picked stood up well to the varied flavours too. We shared a lobster ravioli and finished with a desert wine. I am hard pressed to find fault with this spot. The menu is well conceived and authentic. Should you find yourself in A'ville and desirous for a 'regional' theme I'd recommend Anteprima. Personally I'd return just for the boar sausage, but note a spot like this is ideally suited for sampling/sharing.
(4)
Scott H.
A neighbor suggested Anteprima after we were having trouble deciding on a spot for a Friday evening meal in Andersonville. What a cool vibe! A very casual and rustic, but classy room where I felt instantly at home. No pretense, the complimentary "amuse bouche", no haggling over bottle vs. tap water had be won over before the food even arrived. While I'm no sommelier myself, the wine list seemed complete and seemed to have quality options at all price points. We all shared the orecchiette, pappardelle and asparagus risotto dishes and all were delicious. Our server was attentive and was truly interested in our having an enjoyable evening. We found ourselves too full to enjoy any dessert this night, but we'll be sure to save room next time!
(4)
Steven W.
I've eaten here three times over the last year or so, but my most recent visit is what prompted this review. They are offering a three course, $29 menu which is an INCREDIBLE deal. You can either have a antipasti, entree and dessert OR antipasti, half order of pasta and entree. My date and I each went for the latter. I started with a peppered beef stew with rosemary which was incredibly tender, flavorful and generous. Perfectly seasoned and nice and peppery! My date had (I think) chicken liver pate which she described as rich and wonderful. Then, the pasta. Holy crap. My date ha goat cheese raviolis in a light tomato sauce inexplicably garnished with orange zest. I wasn't sure about the orange zest. Did it belong?? Upon trying it - YES it belongs. It was the perfect acid component to cut the richness of the goat cheese. Bravo, chef! My pasta was strozzapretti with guanciale (cured pig jowel), red onion and chiles. It was absolutely amazing. It's been a very long time since a pasta dish impressed me and this one definitely did it for me. Salty, sweet, crunchy and rich but totally balanced. I actually don't remember our entrees because of the pasta high I was on, but I know we both finished our entrees and i recall being happy with mine! Our server was very knowledgable and gave great recommendations including an excellent bottle of falanghina which really hit the spot. Good job anteprima - we'll be back!!!
(5)
Lada M.
There were 8 of us and we ordered about half of the menu. The pastas are amazing! The chicken entree was my favorite. The smoked trout stuffed with crab was tasty as well. The blackberry cheese cake and strawberry mouse!!
(5)
Christine J.
I was here on a rainy Saturday night, which was unfortunate because everyone doddled longer than necessary, and the restaurant got into trouble when the 8 PM reservations showed up and no one was getting up. I feel like the restaurant could have done a better job managing this. Pastas were very well made, but the sauces left me wanting. I expected a blander sauce with flavorful pasta like ravioli. But we were getting olive oil and garlic on plain pastas.
(3)
Ellie L.
The octopus appetizer was phenomenal. I say that because I haven't eaten octopus in a cozy manner. It was warm and with potatoes, onions, peppers, down right cozy. Not cold and sharp, but warm and fuzzy, but also fresh tasting. Highly recommended, The half portions were enough, because they were so rich and satisfying. I had the lamb sausage, my husband had the delectable veal ragu. The cocktails were inventive and smart, and the wine list goes on and on. I appreciate the 250ml glass for $10-a good deal. The waiter was informative and there when we needed him. Just overall a really nice date experience. The fact that the restaurant was packed on a Monday night, explains a lot.
(4)
Deborah B.
We live in this neighborhood and thought we would give it a shot. La Tache was already booked for the evening, which was our first choice. Anteprima has one thing right-the food /inventive menu. I had the salmon with cauliflower puree, my date had the NY Strip. With the side of Brussels sprouts, SO none of us tried pasta. The flavoring of the food was amazing. My date reported the NY strip as being slightly overdone. I loved my salmon. Also-the drinks were good, and we tried the laurel drink which is made at the restaurant-very interesting and good. Kind of reminded me of absinthe, but better. For dessert...We finished the meal off with the apple fennel bread pudding. Fantastic!!! So the food really rocks...my appreciation of the food is what made me give this restaurant 3 stars. HOWEVER....... What Anteprima gets an F for is the fact that they try squeeze as many tables into as small a space as humanly possible. We arrived early had a reservation, and there were several tables available. We got stuck next to the station by the bar where the servers fill up the bread and olives for there table. I saw that and thought "ok I hope this will not be a problem"...it really wasn't.. until my date was bumped. My date was bumped by the waitstaff...and not just bumped pressed into and his chair actually moved...Oh and not by the busboys but the really tall, older -looking woman waitress. Fine... I get it, its crowded but...no "Excuse me" or "Sorry." NADA! So..we alerted the manager and he didn't say sorry, anything. It is one thing when its other diners doing this but your own waitstaff?? We asked to move as there were still 3 or 4 other tables for two and acted as though it was a huge deal that we wanted to move, We moved and long story short..got bumped yet again. by a busboy mainly and the actual manager once. We ate fantastic food, but Anteprima. get your act together!! Either take a few tables out , or teach your inconsiderate staff and manager some manners!!!
(3)
Thomas A.
The food is bland. The cocktails were good - using different italian aperitifs and digestivos in an intersting way - but cocktails aren't dinner. Polenta was nothing but filler - not cheesy, buttery, salty, or even "corny" - just bland mass of mush. The stuffed fish - they shouldn't have bothered stuffing it. I don't know what else to say. If you try a lot of flavor and it doesn't work out, I will give you points for trying. Everything I ate needed more flavor.
(2)
Jenna M.
Anteprima seems to have found and filled a very specific niche that is perfect for this neighborhood. It's nice, but not too nice. It has a special feel without being pretentious. The food is very good, approachable, a bit more expensive than at your average neighborhood place. As a rule, I do not go out for Italian, but I will go here on occasion. The first time was with my then-fiance to tell my future in-laws about our engagement. The second was last night after the husband and I watched Big Night and were jonesing for some Italian. Service is not intrusive. We sat in between what felt like uncomfortable first dates between well off people, which felt about right. I am rating this as a neighborhood spot, not a destination restaurant, and for that, I think it's great.
(4)
Bryan S.
I will revisit this restaurant and my rating another time, but my first experience was disappointing. It makes me sad, too, because I had heard nothing but awesome reviews. I wonder if it's another victim to Andersonville's restaurant scene - a burst of popularity in a trendy neighborhood, and then forgets all attention to detail. We walked in on a Wednesday at 9pm to get a glass of wine and an appetizer on the patio. The manager, who was acting as host, hesitated about whether he wanted to give us a coveted table on the patio. There were three open, it was 9pm, it was a Wednesday. I ordered the only rose on the menu. They were out. My friend ordered an appetizer. They were out. No apology, no second recommendation, no nothing. Our bumbling server dropped off our wines, came back once to see if we wanted to order any other food, and then dropped the check. I put cash in the check presenter, and accidentally put my elbow on the presenter (I still left 20%). He came back and actually took the check out from under my elbow without as much as an excuse me. On our way out, we were able to see the manager eating at the bar, and then the bartender coming out from behind the bar and the busser out from inside the kitchen both cut us off. I know it's a popular restaurant with delicious food (allegedly), but attention to detail is the lifeblood of sustainability in a restaurant. I certainly hope it improves.
Bad service, below average food, crowded, and zero soundproofing (about 105bB on Sat night!). I had the pasta w/shimp. It was fair. My husband had ravioli - Again fair. We shared a tomato salad which was three slices of tomato with shredded cheese on the top (like you get a Jewel) and a dash of fresh basil. To say it was simple would be an understatement. We were there a couple years ago and swore we wouldn't be back. We decided to give it another shot... And THIS time we really mean it.... Will not be back. This is Chicago!! Great Italian food is everywhere, w/ the service and ambiance to goo with it. Don't waste money at Anteprima.
(1)
A.J. M.
Hopleaf let us down for dinner, too full, but not before my parents had to be carded when we entered. Let's just say my folks don't look under 21. Whatever. So we walked down the street to find someplace else. My mom reminded me that we had been to Anteprima a few years back, but I don't really recall, so we gave it a shot. I'm really glad we did. The service was very friendly and the food was fantastic. I had the mussel appetizer, which was fantastic, and tried out some of the goat cheese ravioli my dad had. Also pretty tasty. I had the duck breast, which was unbelievably flavorful, and also tried some of my moms crispy baby chicken. I would go back just for both. Plus, they're very generous with the wine. Always a plus!
(5)
Resa H.
My husband and I had dinner on a Saturday night. Every table was full and the place was bustling. It's a small restaurant with tables close together but not so close that you feel like you are sharing a table. Greeting: We were about 30 minutes early for our reservations and there was no where to wait so the hostess walked us down to their other place, Acre (almost next door) where they have a fantastic selection of beer. She came to get us when our table was ready. Food: My husband had the steak and I had the pork with polenta. Both were flavorful and cooked perfectly. We also had an amazing chocolate mousse for dessert. The menu had a great selection and I'd go back to try the risotto and the ravioli.
(4)
Mike G.
So, it looks like I am the only Yelper who doesn't love this place. It is not that I dont get "it"--I dig Italian food the further it gets away from Italian-American as much as the next Italian kid--but they just don't nail. Now, it isn't that the ingredients weren't good--they were great. It wasn't that the wine list wasn't interesting--it was. It was the combination of things. Every dish was extremely under-salted--you need salt to enhance the flavor folks. The beet and ricotta ravioli was tasty--only after said table salt application. The appetizer selection of 8 things left a lot to be desired. Now let's talk about service: We never got bread/breadsticks or olives. Our wine arrived after our appetizers. The service just seemed rushed the whole time. The 6-top next to us was so close that every time the server was working with them his a$$ was on my friends shoulder--and then he would touch her and say "sorry". Not what I was expecting--prolly not a return visit in store for me.
(2)
M P.
Went here last night and had such an amazing experience! Now I have a habit of checking out menus online before I go to a place and one of the specials was a goat-cheese gnocchi.....I was so excited about it! Well, the specials had changed by the night we got there - but friend mentioned it to the owner. He comes back ten minutes later and says they have a few gnocchi left and can throw it together with some spinach & tomatoes. Yes please! It was incredibly good - and really so nice of the owner. He also recommended a beautiful bottle of chianti, that we really enjoyed. The neat thing about this place is their anti-pasto type bar, which is in the main room. We ordered the assortment, cause there were so many good things to try; sweet potatoes, faro w/grilled peaches and the eggplant were our favorites. And we ended with the lemon panna cotta, which was just perfect. So exceptional service, delicious food....we'll be back!
(5)
adam k.
Surprised to see so many good reviews here. My experience with Anteprima was one of the worst I've had in Chicago in a while. Poor service, poor management, poor food, poor interior. Not much to like about this place. We were there on a busy, but not packed Saturday night. It was so loud we couldn't talk across our table. Our server agreed and claimed it was unusual. I don't see how that could be because the interior is stark and not well designed. We inquired about moving to the patio, and after checking ourselves to see it was 1/2 empty, the manager quickly ran over and said there were no open tables on the patio. After this our server knew we didn't want to be there, and treated us as such. Food. Meh. Mostly over cooked mush and confused dishes soaked in olive oil that I wouldn't exactly consider Italian. Like others mentioned, the goat cheese ravioli is good, but come on, it's goat cheese. The bacon wrapped monk fish was rubbery, despite the bacon. We were also put off that the Mezze (and bread) was sitting out uncovered in the main hallway were people are walking by. I get the "home-style" concept, but don't think it is appropriate for this setting. At least put it in the back of the prep kitchen (open to the dining room) where it can be seen but not dripped on by passers by headed back from the bathroom. Wine list seems like it was borrowed from a fancier restaurant. I seem to recall maybe 2 bottles under $30? And no house wine carafe? Not what you'd expect at a "home-style" themed restaurant. Again, see above - "confused". Our server wasn't very helpful with the wine either - but this was after the table incident, so who knows. After leaving I was convinced this place would not make it. But I see here it has a loyal following. Maybe its the connection to Andersonville? Maybe cause it's new and different? Not sure, and not willing to try it again. Much better Italian restaurants in the area.
(1)
Linda C.
I'm debating the star rating as I write this between 2 and 3 stars. The service and the atmosphere were just fine. The staff were perfectly nice. It wasn't too loud, despite the fact that it was a full house. Sure, I waited 20 minutes before being seated despite having a reservation, but that usually never bothers me. It was nasty out so I don't blame the restaurant for the other diners not wanting to brave the cold rain. I sure didn't want to be outside, either. I went to Anteprima after reading many a review singing it's praises. I was on the search for an awesome Italian place for a birthday dinner for my boyfriend. The lure of fresh ingredients and the recommendation from people who are self proclaimed Italian food snobs swayed my decision: they're Italian and swore their very picky Italian mothers approved. Who was I to argue with an Italian mother? Honestly, the food wasn't bad, but it didn't wow me. They gave us a delicious onion tart to start, which was the best thing we had all night. As for the entree.. well.. meh. For the price, the taste and portions didn't seem like a good value. The wine was fantastic, but it was better than the food. I chose poorly for the desert portion. I'll admit I'm a pastry snob, having made a lot of the things myself (that sounded more pretentious than i wanted it to, but i'll move on...). The chocolate hazelnut tart's crust and hazelnut layer seemed like they were undercooked, and the chocolate ganache was barely on this side of creamy. When I didn't eat more than a bite, our server asked if it was ok. I tried to be nice about saying that I didn't like it. She very generously took it off our bill (i didn't ask her to do that). She tipped this review to 3 stars. Maybe a different night would have been better as I understand they change their menu often to offer seasonally pertinent menus. I however was not that impressed that night and took my boyfriend to a different Italian restaurant the next night so he could get a more satisfying Italian birthday dinner.
(3)
Frankie R.
Okay so let me just say that I love Andersonville and we like trying new restaurants so I was excited to find a new little Italian place right in our 'hood. We went for dinner on a late Saturday night (conveniently made reservations right on their website). The place was extremely busy when we got there and our table was waiting for us...great. However our server really ruined what could have been a nice dinner. I don't know if he was just overwhelmed by the VERY crowded place or if he is just normally a rude tool....but either way, he sucked. We asked for recommendations and he answered without hesitation, but when we asked if he had actually tried what he suggested, he quickly said no. Food was okay.....just okay. Also, they claim to have a full bar, but they didn't carry many of what we would consider staples...leaving us thirsty as we dealt with the rude waiter. So if you want bad service by someone with a "painted on smile" who has no clue what he is talking about in a really loud crowded place.....this is a great choice!
(2)
Jim C.
Holy Crap, I am so full!
(5)
Adam M.
Bottom line: incredible food, horrible service. Actually, the wait staff is knowledgable, courteous, and enthusiastic, but it's the folks at the front of the restaurant that are the problem. News flash: when you make someone wait an hour from their reservation time for a bad table, maybe you should comp something. Or at least refrain from being rude.
(1)
Alissa G.
A party of 10 and I took Anteprima by storm this past December. My roommate waited for about an hour when she went to Anteprima the weekend before, so I was happy to have enough people to make a reservation. However, while the place was certainly happening, it never felt overly crowded. The dim lighting was romantic, but while I could see bringing a date here, it wasn't only a DATE place. As for food, we tried the octopus(pulpo) as an appetizer and the waiter was dead-on when he said it was one of the best items on the menu. I also had a half order of the pumpkin ravioli. The ravioli was delicious--but in trying to save $6 on the whole order, i got literally 4 piece of ravioli. Youch. Good thing there was plenty of bread and olive oil! **Hint, breadpudding lovers--look not further. The breadpudding here many be the best in the city--and def my hungry stomach feel all better pronto pronto!
(4)
F a.
Too bad for the low review, as the food is actually very good. However, the service was pretty bad - all due to our waitress. I went early with a few friends (not crowded yet), and it was a special night as one had been ill. After the meal, I asked my friends if they found the server rude (perhaps it was my imagination?) and everyone else chimed in and agreed. We don't know if it's because we didn't all get wine/appetizers, or what it was. One of my friends said it's as though she didn't like us (!). I very casually mentioned this to the Manager on the way out, and while he did apologize, it did not feel sincere at all. I was very calm & complimented him on the food quality, so definitely wasn't maintenance about it.. We did not get the feeling that he was going to do anything about it. So, since we are fortunate enough to live in a city where there are outstanding restaurants - Italian or other - why go to a place where the service is poor?
(2)
Jorge M.
I was looking for the a place to have some dessert and love every bite. However when I took a look at the menu, I got hungry and decided to try something. We got the assorted starters, I only like 2 of them. HINT their goat tart is really good. I was going to go for the dessert, but the Risotto sound it good... It was by far the saltiest thing I've ever had. I don't like sending food back, so we finished it, but it was almost painful to eat it at the end. Drinks were okay, I've never seen a sazerac served on the rocks... As I said before dessert was extremely good. Server was pretty slow and just weird, very weird.
(3)
Fitness P.
Top-notch neighborhood spot. It's VERY loud, so don't go with folks with whom you want to converse in depth. Waiter gave terrific recommendations, and all of the dishes were great. Especially loved the grilled calamari app and the halibut entree. Really neat and extensive Italian wine list, many of which have quartino (250 ml) option. Everything is relatively inexpensive considering the quality of food and service. Tight-knit quarters, but that's the scene here. Will go back for sure!
(4)
Tim G.
I have dined here on several occasions, and the restaurant is consistently good. Service is slow - too many tables per server. The restaurant is loud, the wine list lofty, and the pricing is a little high for portions. Dessert menu is skimpy. However, the food is always reliable. The menu is fun, traditional, rustic Italian comprised of local ingredients. Overall, we always enjoy the food and experience. One more wait person to split the room better would go a long way.
(4)
Henry S.
Every time I go to Anterprima, I am transported back to Italy. On a recent windy, blustery spring night, I imagine myself in sunny Umbria, surrounded by grape vines and gnarly olive trees. Ok... back to reality. In my opinion, there are 2 restaurants in Chicago that really makes me feel like I'm back in Italy. Anteprima never fails to give me that feeling. The small storefront is always packed and bustling, and one hopes for when their back patio is open, to give some breathing room. After you sit down, an amuse bouche of zucchini tart welcomes you. Then, the bread basket arrives. OMG I can live on that alone. Crunchy dense house-made bread sticks, good sourdough, and crumbly foccacia with a soft interior. There is a regular seasonal menu, and a smaller daily specials menu. All told, there are about 15 antipasti to choose from. Certain smaller ones you can even get as a mixed platter. All pasta and risotto can be ordered in full or half sized options. Anything that comes out of the wood burning oven is always a sure bet. On this visit, I had the Chicken Liver Crostini with pickled okra; wood-grilled Iroquois Polenta with fava, ramps, and English peas; grilled Octopus with potatoes, red onion, chile, parsley, lemon and olive oil. For our mains, I had the wood-grilled Rabbit with roasted artichokes & fennel, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and pine nuts. My partner had the Stuffed wild turkey breast with spinach and prosciutto. The smooth Liver was a sharp contrast to the crunchy, oily bread underneath. Batons of radishes on top brought bursts of freshness. The pickled okra provided a good counterpoint to all the richness. The Polenta looked almost like a piece of steak with all the grill marks and woodsy aroma. The ragout of spring veggies underneath, in a light tomato sauce, was a perfect foil for all the creaminess. One of their signature antipasti, the Octopus, was next. Wood grilled tender octopus chunks, in a salad of punchy flavors and textures. The only dish that could rival this would be the Pulpo con Patatas at Mercat ala Planxa. Wood grilled vs confit octopus? I can't decide. Our entrees really brought us back to the rustic cuisine of Italy. So, rabbit. Haters stop here. If you can't imagine having little Peter for dinner, that's cool. I grew up eating rabbits and would jump on the chance whenever they are on the menu. Anyways, the rabbit were presented as cutlets, quiet a departure from the usual leg-and-loin-on-the-bone preparation. It was grilled ala diavola style, with a mess of herbs and tons of pungent black pepper corn. The accompanying veggies provided a symphony of complements to the meat. The artichoke was toothsome, the fennel nicely caramelized and sweet. The wild turkey breast was a similar variation on the same theme as the rabbit. A turkey breast, stuffed with spinach and prosciutto, rolled and crusted with tons of herbs. Perfection. We washed all the food down with a Nebbiolo, the 2000 Bianchi from Sizzano. Medium bodied, yet dark and murky. It was perfect for that night's weather. Dessert was the usual liquid route. I had the fig infused house grappa. I felt the burn as always, but now the edge has been tempered a wee bit by the sweetness of the figs. I was ready to snuggle up in bed. Why 4 stars? Anteprima transports me back to Italy, time and time again. They serve a lot of dishes that are not available elsewhere in this area. Their cooking method is grounded in the Italian tradition, using fresh seasonal ingredients. That is the spirit of Italian cuisine. Mr Fosse the owner is ever so gracious. The all-Italian wine list offers a wide range of varieties. The room is charming (a bit tight), and it is truly a neighborhood gem.
(4)
Joel C.
Hands down, my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago and the closest thing to a true family-style Italian restaurant meal outside of the boot. This is a must for groups of friends and loyalists to fresh pasta and authenticity. It's a great place for a date if you can handle loud, boisterous atmospheres. Ante Prima features a long list of outstanding antipasti that offer a wide variety of meats, vegetables and cheeses. Always a good move to do an assortment and pass around. The caponata is an extraordinary marinated eggplant that can not be missed. Pastas are handmade and the sauces represent a party of different flavors and textures. As with the antipasti, definitely order a variety and pass the plates around. The Orecchiette with Spicy Lamb Ragu is always a hit and one of my all-time favorite dishes. Entrees and wine list are fantastic (plenty of recognizable Italian producers) and the service is friendly and insightful. Parking across the street at the bank is a HUGE bonus. We brought kids along our first time there and they had a great time. The older one with a good palate loved exploring new flavors. Meanwhile, the younger one who was a little freaked out by the menu ended up having a great time and the kitchen was more than happy to whip up a simple pasta and marinara for her.
(5)
AJ L.
In a word - amazing! I went on a romantic date and it couldn't have been better. We went on Friday night at 7:30 and the place was full but we made reservations so we had a table waiting. The seating is a bit crowded but we managed to get a table in the corner so it was very intimate and private. The food: we started with an amuse bouche. No explanation was given, it just appeared shortly after we sat down so I still have no idea what it was except that it was delicious, and a perfect preview of the great food to come. We started with the grilled octopus and the tuna bruschetta, both very good. The bruschetta had a great tartness to it and the bread was perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. For an entree I had one of the pasta specials with homemade over-sized bowtie pasta and veal. After the two appetizers I just got the small portion which was the perfect amount. So good. My date had the orecchiette and lamb sausage which he said had the just the right amount of spice to it. The service: Our waiter was perfect. Equal parts charming, attentive and helpful without being overbearing or pushy. My date and I were so busy talking that we took awhile to order and did it in parts. Despite being quite busy, our server never rushed us or made us feel bad for lingering over our meal, and he was quick to bring us new cocktails while we were deciding. All in all, a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Alanna O.
I went here with a girlfriend and felt immediately at home with the decor! So cute!! The food was delicious and, as someone else pointed out, the portions are not completely huge like at most places. For 1 App, 2 entrees and 2 gls. wine, it was about $100. A little pricey, but everything was very good and the service was awesome!! We asked the waiter a LOT of questions about the menu and he did an excellent job of describing and explaining everything for us. The only complaint I would have is that a took forever to get our wine. All that being said, I would totally go back!!
(4)
Paul J.
There's only one thing wrong with Anteprima, an Italian restaurant with absolutely fabulous food, and it's a problem egregious enough to merit knocking a couple stars off what would otherwise be a perfect score: They cram way too many tables into a small place, making the restaurant so unnecessarily crowded and noisy that it significantly undermines the pleasure of dining there. If you read the other reviews on this site you'll see this is a recurring complaint. The noise has little to do with acoustics or with the enthusiasm of diners and everything to do with the owner's business model. There are just too many tables. My wife and I have dined at Anteprima at least 10 times in the last year, so we ought to know. Last night's experience was so bad I'm driven to complain about it here. We had reservations and were put at a table that shouldn't have even been set. It was so near the entry door that cold air whooshed in on us whenever anyone came or went, and there was a constant bustle of people flowing by inches from our table as they came and went. The six-person table behind us was nearly on top of us. Two men seated there were closer to me than my wife who was sitting at MY table, and all night long I was subjected to their conversation about fishing in New England and problems with the medical profession. One had only to stand up and peer across the room to see the problem. It was just a sea of people. Imagine a college classroom crammed with rows of seats 20 deep with people jammed elbow-to-elbow and you'll get the idea. There was very little room to negotiate the maze of tables as one tried to make one's way to the bathroom amidst the bustle of servers trying to thread their way through the crowd. As I got up to leave and looked around the solution to this problem was absolutely clear. Pull 4 or 5 tables out of the room. The problem could be solved as simply as that, but apparently the owner so wants the extra revenue those tables generate that he's unwilling to make an adjustment that would enhance the quality of everyone's dining experience so that it matched the excellent food he serves. Pop in down the street at the wonderful Jin Ju or Ceres' Table, or up Clark at Antica Pizzeria, and you'll see how the room at Anteprima ought to be managed. It's a pity this wonderful restaurant fails so badly when it comes to ambience.
(3)
Laurie R.
Three of us ate at Anteprima last night. I would go back even though we found the food somewhat inconsistent. We ordered a platter with a sample of apps and it was tasty and would easily serve a table of four - great value. I should have sent my pasta entre back as the red paper flakes so dominated the dish I could barely eat it, and I like spicy food. My friend has a pasta with lamb sausage that was amazing. My other friend ordered a half order of pasta that was so ridiculously small I was surprised they would send it out. The space is lovely but LOUD. Wine prices quite reasonable given the quality.
(3)
Kimberly L.
The first time I came here they had just opened. The restaurant is incredibly charming but the overall experience was pretty average. I came here again over the winter with a large group of friends and I'd have to say we had an amazing meal and a very special time here. I'd say that not everything on the menu is spectacular--and I had some kind of fig tart for dessert that was perfectly awful--but if you ask the waiter for recommendations, you're sure to have a wonderful experience. I'd definitely come back.
(4)
Mike M.
Last weekend I took my family (which included my 1 yr old neice) and sat outside on the patio. The weather was amazing, which added to the beautiful, comfortable atmosphere they've created out back. The service was terrific! attentive, but not overbearing...allowed us to relax and enjoy coursing out the evening. I started off with a delicious and STRONG signature cocktail with Gin, Campari, Vermouth, and a KICK! The Antipasti was delicious and the portions were perfect. I had the orecchiette with spicy sausage which I loved, but my dad's bucatini came away as the fam favorite for the evening. I can't wait to go back! Most italian restaurants leave you feeling full and heavy, but I loved the light and fresh flavors and look forward to going back for another great night on the patio with friends and family (if I can drag them down to the city again soon!) The food and wine prices were reasonable too, so it's not going to break the bank. **I'm back to write yet again a review saying how perfect my evening was there. Went on Friday. Sat at the bar and had a terrific meal with stellar service. Marty the owner was kind and generous and I'm already excited to go back and bring close friends. Terrific in every way.
(5)
Sarah F.
I would actually give Anteprima 4 1/2 stars. We went on a Saturday night around 8 p.m. - to this latest "it" spot in Andersonville - so it was pretty much our fault that we waited for nearly an hour and a half to sit down to eat (they don't take resos). Boy was it worth it though! The space is quite adorable and home-y, but with an equally elegant feel. Our experience from start to finish was wonderful. Even though it was later - nearly 10p.m.- when we got sat (and they close at like 11) our server was helpful and tourguided us through all the specials, menu and wine list. The service and food were prompt (I'm sure they knew after all the wait we were hungry), but we did not feel rushed at all. All of our food was flavorful and perfectly done. We started with a chilly bottle of Prosecco, along with a special, and amazing Leek Tart for an appetizer. God that was good! We also shared an arugula salad. The combination of the spicy dressing with the arugula salad was a bit overpowering (all the peppery flavor) but still it was pretty good. At the suggestion of my friend, who had been there before, all three of us at my table got the NY Strip steak. OMG was it perfectly seasoned and crusted on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. Exceptionally perfect! That may have been one of the most beautifully presented and best tasting steaks I've ever had (and from a little Andersonville storefront type Italian restaurant none-the-less!!). I would go back just for that. I think the steak came with some spinach salad and other greens, which was Italian-appropriate and made the entire dish somewhat lighter. I appreciated that. We had been drinking a lot of white wine/sparkling, so wanted to stick with white, even though we were having red meat. Our server came to the rescue and recommend a completely perfect, tad heavier white wine (it was Italian, but don't remember the grape) that worked just beautifully with the meat. It actually REALLY complimented it! Our server was really great! The desserts we shared, a chocolate hazelnut pie and berry tart, were very nice also. The best part was definitely that steak though. I WILL BE BACK!
(4)
David R.
Terrific neighborhood restaurant with excellent food, relaxing atmosphere and attentive service. We started with the anti pasta plate, moved on to the hearty and tasty wild boar parpadelle and finished with the halibut and suckling pig specials. The roasted pig had a wonderful smokey flavor, and the fish was cooked perfectly. The lemon panna cotta was a refreshing finish to a great dining experience.
(4)
Alison T.
My husband and I have eaten at this reast. 3 or 4 times over the last few years. It is always outstanding. Last weekend I had the homemade pappardelle noodles with prosciutto ragu and it was outstanding. Everything we've ever eaten here has been first rate. Serivice is friendly and nice. My only criticism - is that it is a very crowded space. It's a little hard to maneuver around the reast. at times - but totally worth it.
(5)
Lauren W.
Ultimately, I wouldn't travel up to the 5300 block of Clark Street in order to eat here, but if I were up there and looking for a good bite, I would probably go back. My biggest issues were with service and the pasta dishes, but otherwise the food was pretty good. Careful with dishes that include chili oil - they're not fooling around when it comes to adding heat. Here's how it went down: Right off the bat, we ordered a bottle of sparkling rose to celebrate one of my best friends' birthdays. At the same time, we ordered the assortment of the first eight starters on the menu as well as a special starter and a salad: grilled scamorza cheese with chili oil and lemon and the market salad with fresh sugar snap peas, fava beans and shaved pecorino in a light lemon and herb dressing. The assortment was wonderful: red beets, white turnips, cannellini beans, asparagus, farro, eggplant caponata, roasted peppers with a breadcrumb topping and olives. We ate just about the whole plate between the three of us. The scamorza cheese was VERY spicy and delicious, but had a fried-looking coating which was inconsistent with the "grilled" description. The spice kind of took over and didn't leave room for the other flavors, but that didn't kill the dish for me. The market salad was excellent - very light and fresh and crisp. That was gone in under 3 minutes. We'd pretty much finished all of our starters (and, as you can see, we ordered a lot of them) when we realized that we didn't have our rose. Or the basket of bread that everyone around us seemed to have. Or a new bottle of water (which was pretty important since the cheese was so hot). When our waiter finally came back, we very nicely reminded him of the rose and he was quick to admit that he had completely forgotten it. He was racing back to the kitchen before we could also ask for the bread and water. He finally got us the wine and raced around for the bread and water as soon as we asked. We figured that even though he was a little forgetful, he was trying to make up for it. Plus, from the moment we came into the restaurant he had been fluttering around our table complimenting us and "flirting" as much as a middle-aged gay man can with three twenty-somethings. I figured it was in the hope of getting a better tip. Anyway, after the wine, bread and water incident, he mentioned in an apologetic way that he would make it up to us and to make sure the birthday girl left room for dessert. In my head, I figured "free dessert" or at least free something. Our entrees arrived and they initially brought me the wrong pasta. I took a look at it and quickly explained that this didn't look like the strozzapretti the waiter had described - he had said "bowtie pasta" and this was penne of some kind. They very quickly made the switch, so I wasn't really put off by the mixup. But when they set my correct dish in front of me, I was confused by what the waiter thought a bowtie looked like. The pasta was clearly homemade, which I appreciated, but it was just thick, dense strips of dough - not light and al dente. The seasonings were good - spicy from the chilis and pretty fishy due to the anchovy soffritto, but the pasta itself was just not well made. Period. The other pasta at our table was the orrechiette with lamb sausage. The pasta actually looked like orrechiette, so that was good, but when I tasted it, I was similarly disappointed. Too dense and doughy - not al dente at all (at least I didn't think it was - the orderer of the dish didn't seem to mind). The flavors in the orrechiete were, again good, but still lacking a little. I wanted there to be more sauce. As it was, the pasta was a little too dry for me. It was really too bad about both pasta dishes because I go to Italian places for the purpose of ordering pasta and I want it to be excellent every time. However, I think Anteprima is a place for traditional main courses because the birthday girl's hangar steak was to die for. The steak itself was grilled rare with excellent, crusty seasonings and sat on a bed of farro with a mint and fava bean pesto. The pesto was excellent and tasted really light and fresh. With the farro and juicy steak, the dish was incredible. I don't order steak very much because I generally figure I know what the flavor of a steak is and want to try something new, but I would probably order the hangar steak if I went back - the flavors were very original. I was impressed. We didn't do a dessert (we walked down the block to share a sundae at George's instead - the Grasshopper is spectacular), but the list provided a lot of variety and involved a lot of fresh fruit, which I appreciated. The bill came promptly and to my surprise there was no comped anything and no secret birthday dessert. This didn't really bother me, but it didn't improve my overall sentiments about the lacking service.
(3)
Josie F.
Came to here for Sunday dinner, and will be back often. Our server Deian was really good but the food was great. We ordered four starters. She did not really recommend the saffron veal meatballs which where our favorite. Also great was the wild boar ragu with parpardell. The hand made pasta was lite and delicate. Two of us ordered pasta and two of us ordered meat dishes. The duck saltiambocca was perfection. I was also impressed with the manager who was happy to help me pick out wine. I told him I normally enjoy viogney and sv. blanc and he new just what to bring me. The price point seemed appropriate just do not bring anyone on a small budget.
(5)
David N.
Well lets just say I was extremely disappointed in this place. A friend and I were in the mood for some good Italian food and decided to come try this place out. First of all, being a vegetarian I was very limited to what I could order. There were only two pasta dishes from the whole menu that I could pick from. My friend and I decided to split the Ravioli dish that had peas, butter, and mint leaves. We also ordered some bruschetta for an appetizer. What we got for bruschetta, we were not expecting at all. Bread covered with spinach, and had a horrible smell to it. I had one little taste of it and could not eat any more. Our main dish came, and this also was disappointing, our server had informed us that the mint you could not taste a whole lot of, but we both agreed that the mint did nothing for this ravioli dish and would have tasted better with it left off. Our server was gracious enough to not charge us for the bruschetta, but this is definitely not a place I will come back to. There are many really good italian restaurants out there that I enjoy much better.
(2)
Robin D.
Theres a reason why this place is always packed. it has good food, its as simple as that. Ive been to this place 3x. The first time, I had pasta and it was really good. The second time I ordered the specials which really didnt blow me away and the third time I had the pork chops which were just ok. My personal lesson, stick wih the pasta and risotto dishes coz they really are good. Try the Budino for dessert it is light and heavenly. If you want rustic traditional authentic italian dishes this is the place to go.
(4)
Aaron M.
My favorite restaurant in Chicago, without question. Cozy, unpretentious atmosphere with great service and great food. You get the same quality of ingredients and preparation as, say, Blackbird, but in a much warmer environment. The menu changes frequently, but if they have the Trotter appetizer, pasta w/ chicken liver, or the venison w/ sweet potato puree, please order them.
(5)
A. R.
The portions are small and the menu is a la carte so you have spend another $9 to get a meager salad with your entree. We did get a nice basket of bread before our meal but had to ask to get oil and butter. The service is so-so, and the prices a bit too high for what you get. Not worth a second visit.
(2)
ryan h.
Grabbed dinner there on Friday night and was a little nervous because of all the mixed reviews. I must say that my wife and I were very impressed. The food was great, and our waitress did an amazing job. Asparagus appetizer was phenomenal. If Asparagus, Quiche and a Souffle made a love child it would be this. Just phenomenal. I had the lamb which was pit roasted and it was very well spiced and well cooked. I'm sure we'll go back soon.
(4)
Lauren R.
Second visit tonight. This place is amazing. The flavors! The service! The charm! It might be my favorite neighborhood Italian place in Chicago. Highly recommended: the pastas, any of them, although the agnolotti w/goat cheese, orange and fennel pollen is beyond words. And the polenta w/spicy rapini starter, another fave. And the (fantastic) wine selection allows a "by the glass" quartino, which is the perfect amount. Had a different waiter each time and have just adored each one, making for two wonderful evenings. I was happy to see that they were crowded tonight, on a Monday. So hopefully they'll be around for a long, long time.
(5)
Jon S.
Where to even begin with this place: wait staff, food, wine, atmosphere, prices, selection, location, .... all are wonderful! OMG I love this place. I highly recommend making reservations before you go, but honestly I've walked in at least 4 times this summer with no reservation and they made space for me. I'm not a meat eater and they do a great job of altering the dishes to make sure you have multiple options; all their pastas are made fresh daily and delicious. My meat eating friends seem to always get the steak cooked in olive oil and rosemary; laid on a bed of arugula ... I've yet to see anyone leave even a bite on the plate. It's devoured and gushed over it's complex tastes and texture experience! Go here; you won't regret it. Ask lots of questions about the food and how it's cooked, the wait staff actually know what they are talking about and love to share the info. Also, great wine selection and the wait staff will bend over backwards to help you find something you love!
(5)
hey a t.
This little Italian Bistro is cute, and the food is sensational. The pasta is made daily. The one thing I really liked about this restaurant was that they were not rushing us out the door. If you like great Italian, you are headed in the right direction.
(5)
Moe f.
So Hot Doug and his crew came in while we were eating so you know it's gotta be good. In spite of the chilly Aug weather, we sat on the back patio which I recommend as it was jammed pack inside when we were leaving. Started with a bottle of red and the house made goat sausage which was fantastic. Then we had half orders of the lobster & ricotta ravioli and the orcecchiete with spicy lamb sausage. Both were excellent but the orecchiette had so many great flavors. We split the wood grilled rabbit which was very good too and they split it up for us on two plates which was nice. We finished with a chocolate-hazelnut tart(get it) and blueberry tart(skip it). Service was excellent. I didn't feel it was too pricey considering the quality of food. Tab was $120(sans tip) but we didn't get the cheapest bottle of vino and had cappuccinos as well. Definately want to come back on the prix fixe night then. So then on a side note, my celebrity chef sighting continued when I look over at some range rover and see Art Smith driving with another dude. I tell my wife who looks over and says "wow that is him and he's picking his nose". I think it looked more like a scratch but very amusing.
(4)
Scott V.
This restaurant is in the space vacated by Madrigals. I went there for the first time the day after Christmas. At about 7:30 pm, the place was packed, so there was a half hour wait to get a seat. We were seated at the first table in the window, which made feel a tad removed from the crowd (not a good thing). I like to try new things, but the menu descriptions were written so that everything listed sounded too spicy or strange. We had the squid appetizer, which was good and plentiful, but was rather flavorless (at least it wasn't fishy). I do not even recall what we ordered for our entrees--so they were not very memorable. Disappointing best sums up our experience at Anteprima. If you are in Andersonville, and you are in the mood for Italian, you would be better off going to Calo's.
(3)
Stephanie S.
Really innovative, fresh and delicious food. The waitstaff clearly loves food and will happily give you a recommendation if you are undecided on your meal- which is very likely because their menu is fantastic.
(4)
K P.
Some really tasty dishes. I particularly like the chargrilled octopus as a starter, and the other night I tried the roast suckling pig which was delicious. Some of the servings are a little small - but with an appetizer to share and 1/2 dishes of pasta we went home full. The waiters are always ready to lend a hand deciphering some of the oddly named dishes or to help you pick a wine for a certain dish. They can be pretty busy, so reservations are a good idea.
(4)
Aurora B.
This place is great. The atmosphere is really cute and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The wine list is pretty extensive and a little intimidating since I had never heard of ANY of the italian wines that were listed, but our waitress was very patient with us and inquired about what qualities we like in wine and then gave us a great recommendation. The salads and main dishes were very good at just the right proportion size. I left feeling totally satisfied without that overstuffed italian food feeling
(4)
Jerry U.
I really want to enjoy this restaurant. It's very quaint and has wonderful potential in a great location. I tried it about a year ago and while I enjoyed the sliced steak entree, my friend was completely disappointed with his pasta choice. So after a year, last night we decided to give it another try at my request. This time, it was me that came away completely disappointed. I agree with everyone's comments about the service - it was simply poor and completely lacking - we even dined late so they were not that busy by the time we sat down to eat. This time, I tried the pasta and it was just bad. I had the orecchiette pasta with spicy house made lamb. I've had a similar dish at some of my other favorite italian joints that I've really enjoyed but the execution on this was terrible. Heavy, starchy pasta, greasy sausage with no real sauce or broth and a few dandelion weeds. It was hands down the worst pasta dish I've ever had in a restaurant before and I eat out a LOT. There are so many GREAT restaurants in the city and even in Andersonville that I do really wonder why Anteprima seems to be busy all the time? Maybe I made a bad menu choice - but two strikes and I'm done.
(2)
Paul P.
The first person I met in your restaurant was so full of attitude that I was grateful when there was a wait. "The Reservation Name...?" poured out of his mouth with such unwelcome, and condescension, as if too say, "how could you possibly expect to get a seat in this restaurant tonight without a reservation?" We were all on the same page... you and I both knew that we didn't have a reservation. If you did think we actually had a reservation, you never would have approached us with such an attitude. Too bad, all we were looking for was an idea of the wait time, and an invitation to the bar where we would have gladly dropped cash on drinks while we waited. People who are looking to dine in Andersonville, eat elsewhere... Calo, Great Lakes, the new Vincent, which had less open tables, and still sat us right away, with a smile and what seemed like a sense of appreciation for our business.
(1)
Jim M.
After several attempts to get a table on a number of Saturday nights, Anteprima managed to squeeze me and my friend in at 6:30 for dinner (my preferred time is 7:30 to 9:30) this past Saturday. Upon arriving, we were seated immediately and our server was courteous, swift and helpful. We shared a 1st course of mussels and it was absolutely delicious. For the main course I had the lamb chops and my friend had the wide noodles with boar meat. Both were good, but not outstanding. The wine list was good. As we were near finishing our dinner, a number of tables opened up and stayed open. I can only question why it was so difficult to get a reservation at 7:30 or later. Perhaps my expectations were raised with all the fuss over reservations here, but with so many good restaurants to select in the Andersonville neighborhood, it is doubtful that I'll return to this one.
(3)
Jeff W.
Nice find in the neighborhood. Fresh pasta with some fun choices. Try the wild boar ragu with a quartino of one of their exceptionally well-chosen Italian varietals. They offer smaller portions of most pastas which is a nice option when you're just popping in from a walk around Andersonville for a quick bite.
(5)
shell h.
This place fooled me with the packed crowd and glowing recommendations but I was very disappointed. The free little vegetable pastry they brought to our table didn't look appetizing at all more like cold pizza. The bread was great that they brought to the table with no oil or butter, we had to ask.. isn't this an italian restaurant? I actually had a hard time picking something off the menu so i chose the dusted grouper which was a nightmare, it tasted like it had been just taken out of a freezer bag and deep-fried, it was fried on the outside but still mushy and overly salted??? I don't know why a place charging 19$ for this entree would serve something so horrible and tasteless. My boyfriend had a squid steak with garbanzo beans, which he said he could have made it at home and saved some money. The goat cheese ravioli was the only delicious item that stood out. The lamb shank another friend ordered tasted like pot roast and was a little chewy. I don't think we were even asked if we liked our meal at all, the hostess was great but the server came to our table maybe 3 times. I regret going here but I guess I know now that if you want good seafood in Andersonville you have to go to the Hopleaf.
(1)
Jen J.
i have never had a bad meal here and the service is always beyond friendly and helpful. their seasonal menus are fantastic. the pastas are always fresh and the meats always tender. the panna cotta is not to be missed. i go here when i'm ready to drop some cash because i will have to have 3 courses and a bottle of wine. the prices are reasonable for the type of atmosphere and cuisine. they also have a small patio in the back with 5-6 tables in the summer. great place.
(5)
Sue P.
The atmosphere was warm and the staff knowledgeable about the foods. Salad was good for starters, the pasta delicious but for 11 dollars - it only had 6 pieces of ravioli but very, very good. The dessert was unbelievable. Will go back when someone pays my way.
(5)
Sooyon H.
Anteprima is located in such a cute, little neighborhood with so much charm! We were able to find a non-metered parking spot right away. The restaurant has a cozy feel to it. . . a lot of smaller tables packed into the room. We started off with the highly recommended grilled octopus, which was to my liking. . . seasoned well without it being overwhelmingly chewy. We also settled on getting one of their specials for the day as another appetizer. As for the entrees, I absolutely loved their bucatini. . . so light and fresh, using such simple ingredients. I can alone go back to the restaurant for this dish. Unfortunately, the pasta dish with prosciutto that I had ordered was simply just okay. . . it didn't really stand out to me. All in all though, we enjoyed our experience here from the moment that we got seated right away with our reservations to having such an accommodating waiter who was attentive to our requests. What was even more delightful is their back patio, which was decorated nicely.
(4)
Dan C.
Very Pleasantly surprised. Our friends had said that the portions were too small for the price, but we found the portions to be just right. We also thought that the quality of our meals definitely justified the price.
(4)
J. Richard W.
We tried to eat at Anteprima on the Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend but they were so disorganized that, after waiting 40 minutes past our reservation time, we just gave up and ate somewhere else. What was particularly annoying was that when we showed up they told us that it would be a 15-20 minute wait. I specifically asked: "when you say 15-20 minutes do you really mean 40-50 minutes or is it really 15-20?". The host assured us that it would be no more than 20 because the party at our table was in the process of paying their bill. What is also annoying is that one member of our party ate there a few weeks ago and had the same problem - i.e. having to wait for an extended time past their reservation time. (By the way Anteprima doesn't even have a bar where customers can wait for their table. Instead they send you to their sister restaurant down the street.) Restaurants that can't get it organized enough to know how long it takes them to turn over tables and who then lie about the true wait time don't deserve my business. There are too many good restaurants out there that also provide good service and have respect for their patrons' time.
(1)
Amanda A.
I'll say it again and again - the food can only take a restaurant so far...the service is truly half the battle - the make or break often of any evening out. I had passed by this restaurant several weeks ago while visiting one of my andersonville favorites - jin ju and thought that it looked absolutely charming and quaint. When friends and fellow foodies of mine had invited me to join them for dinner here, I was absolutely thrilled to tag along and try somewhere new that had already caught my eye. On the way there - before we ever even got to the restaurant - Anteprima put a bad taste in my mouth. One of my friends had been there previously and they had been out of the entree he had wanted to try and so had called ahead to see if he could preorder (and prepay) so that he would be able to try it on this visit. They refused! (and of course they were out of it again when we arrived). We were 2 minutes away from the restaurant, when the host called to find out where we were - at a point when we were actually not yet late. While I can appreciate a host being on top of things - let it be said that his questions regarding our whereabouts were not without an attitude that extended to when we actually arrived at the restaurant and as he sat us without hiding his obvious unneccessary annoyance. BEYOND THAT POINT though - our food was phenomenal - the grilled octupus appetizer was delectable and tender - the polenta was so light and fluffy that it literally melted in my mouth and my monkfish was superb. Our server was wonderful and made excellent suggestions for both beverage and food. I will go back and hopefully make it past the host stand with a smile still on my face so that I can give this restaurant a review that matches the excellence of the meal itself.
(3)
Wayne L.
Love the decor, the Andersonville location and even the food. However, after finishing my $18 pasta dish, I was still hungry. The whole time I was eating my food, I was saying to myself that this better be the half portion size. It wasn't, and that's a shame. On top of that, I feel that the service was only adequate. I'll go back optimistic that things will be better, but only after several months of them fine-tuning the kinks.
(3)
Erik M.
I would love to give a higher rating to Anteprima but there has been a consistency issue. First time we went there it was a 4 boarding on 5 rating, we looked forward to coming back. The 2nd time was a 3 star on the food, atmosphere always a 4-5 experience, very cozy and lively. The reason 3 star on food was too much salt, a little dry on the rabbit dish I had, just not nailing the dishes. I also based my ratings with price in mind. If you going to charge $15-20 or more for an entree, you have to deliver a plate that meets the value. Unfortunately they come up short. The food is good here, one of the better Italian resturants in the city, but not consistently top. We want back a third time hoping for a great meal, and still got good to OK food. Service and atmosphere is very good, but can be hit or miss on the meal. For best Italian I have had so far in the city it has to be A Tavola over in Wicker Park/East Village on Chicago Ave. It is more expensive, but always delivers.
(3)
Ellen P.
Absolutely fantastic service and food from start to finish! First, it was my mother's birthday, and I was completely disorganized. I'd walked by this place millions of times on my way to and from other Andersonville spots, and thought "Have to try this place." It's always packed, a good sign. I procrastinated making a dinner reservation, couldn't remember the name, and finally had to get my lazy butt off the couch, walk the three blocks, and ask if they had any reservations left for THAT day, a Saturday! My friend told me I was crazy "It's cold. You really going to walk over there? Let's just go to Calo (another great Andersonville place), and try them another day." My effort was instantly rewarded. I was greeted by Marty, the owner, who shook my hand, and offered help. I confessed that I was a disorganized daughter, and needed a reservation for 6, that evening if possible. He offered 5:30 pm or 9, and while I quickly made phone calls to friends to make sure 5:30 wasn't too early, he quickly called all of his 6:30 reservations to confirm that they were coming. I walked home, in the cold and snow (are you reading, mom?) with a reservation in hand. Our dinner experience was equally wonderful. Our waiter was Paul, who with very good humor guided four giddy women (see note about wine below) and two kids through the menu. The chef very graciously accommodated my friend's request to let her 8 year old son try a little bit of their soup before ordering a full bowl -- we weren't sure what he'd think of escarole - he loved it. We ordered wine, appetizers, dessert, and they threw in an after dinner dessert wine for my mom as a b-day treat. Everything we ordered, which included beef, lamb and pasta, was superb. The bottled wine selection had lots of great Italian selections, and a good price range (note: if your party can agree on a bottle, you will definitely save money with this option -- individual glasses were $9 and above, and most were "above"). We also noticed that the table next to us brought their own wine, so BYOB is an option. A great addition to Andersonville, we'll be returning often!
(5)
Mike C.
My bf took me here for my birthday and the food and service were amazing. I will say that I was pretty buzzed from the wine (which, the waiter was cool enough to recommend after I told him what I like) but overall my experience was great. Only draw back is that it is very crowded and a little loud but that can be expected when the food is this good - everyone will show up eventually
(5)
A. B.
Mediocre at best. The only worthwhile thing about this restaurant was the unique beer choices. Terrible menu, difficult to call this place an Italian restaurant.
(1)
Alvin d.
great energy, nice wine selection, very good service, decent price points (I especially like the 2 choices for portion size of the pasta dishes) and the menu is great. come here for pasta choices beyond your typical tomato or cream sauces, the entree selection is fun as well.
(4)
Kate H.
Even with the deals they offered, the food is not worth the price. Flat priced meals (an appetizer, entree and dessert or an appetizer, half pasta and and entree for $30) certainly helped (my meal would have come to $45 with out the deal), however, it wasn't enough to merit a return trip. For appetizers, we tried the house made rabbit sausage and the salama/prosciutto etc sampler. The sausage was spicy but quite good, however, the sampler was a miss. The quality of the meat was not notable. The winter squash ravioli was nice, however, a half portion is anemic. Of the main courses, ribs w/polenta and peppers and spicy chicken with spinach and broccoli, only the tender ribs were worth remembrance. The polenta was flavorless and the spinach was bitter to the point of being inedible. The chicken, while not terribly over cooked, was dry. For dessert, a dry, bland bread pudding. Definitely can't recommend this restaurant for these prices.
(2)
sarah c.
My boyfriend and I went here for the first time the other night, for Valentine's Day dinner, a night that he usually loathes going out for, due to the crowdedness, overpriced menus, and poor service that usually go hand in hand w/ the occasion. I was able to convince him to go out this year, and fortunately, we were both pleasantly surprised! Our waiter was prompt and friendly. Food came out in a timely fashion, despite the packed house. The food was EXCELLENT!!!!(And I never say that lightly). All the food was great, but the entrees really stole the show - my boyfriend had the double-cut lamb chops and I had a scallops special. Everything was cooked to perfection, the flavors were excellent. It was a culinary delight! It wasn't cheap, but for a special occasion, it was definitely worth the price. All in all, it was a perfect v-day meal, and I can't wait to go back and try some of the other dishes.
(5)
Jeff G.
i hate to split hairs, but i would give this a 3.75 overall rating. all the food we ordered was above average but to me was not amazing. fingerling potato appetizer was kind of bland. just a little egg and a lot of celery in there. i liked the homemade lamb sausage with ravioli type deal, but there was barely any meat at all. the brsiket special with brussle sprouts and polenta was the winner of the night we would probably go back
(4)
Jay C.
Midrare bison flank steak. Fantastic. Knocked a star for 30min late on resv and nowhere good to wait, being a small joint.
(4)
Cat D.
Anteprima gets 5 stars right off the bat because the pappardelle dish they had in July tasted exactly like my family's ravioli. The noodles, the sauce, everything. Over the years, I have become a ravioli snob because this is the one pasta dish we still make fresh and from scratch, and there's just no comparing it to the thick, doughy stuff you usually find in restaurants - even good ones. So, naturally, I was shocked to all hell when I put that mound of loveliness in my mouth. I was so shocked, I couldn't even tell you now which pasta dish *I* had ordered. It was an equally lovely pasta that I enjoyed thoroughly, but it wasn't that. So, 5 stars for Anteprima. Overall, the evening was lovely. I went with a couple friends, and we had some wine at the bar while waiting for a table on the patio to open up. Then we each ordered an appetizer, 1/2 pasta and 1/2 entree from the prix fixe menu. And dessert. Because you have to. Everything from wine on down through dessert was just fantastic (ok, except for my tuna entree... That fell a little flat for me, but that's what I get for ordering pepper-crusted anything. I was trying to be adventurous). The staff wound up having to ask us to leave because they wanted to close and go home for the evening. We just didn't want to go! So, I'm bringing more friends there next week, and you should, too. :)
(5)
A L.
Hopefully the style of Italian cooking at Anteprima is the beginning of a trend. A trend where the pasta is handmade and not drowning in red sauce or oil. Where a wide selection of interesting dishes are presented (no Chicken Parm or baked manicotti here!). Where portion sizes are just-right and you don't go home with a 5 lb bag of leftovers. Where the wine selection is well thought-out and well-priced. This is not bastardized "Italian" cooking popularized in the 70's. This is what Italian food should be like and you shouldn't have to pony up Spiaggia-type prices. A girl can dream! The 4-stars instead of 5 is because after all it's not perfect...service was somewhat spotty (although nice) and one of the pastas was slightly overcooked (very easy to do when using fresh pasta which cooks in seconds), but I liked this place so much I hate to even bring up anything negative. I came to this restaurant twice in one week....and that says it all.
(4)
Robb S.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Every meal I've had there has been incredible. I've even gone home and tried to replicate a few of the meals I've had there, being an amateur chef. The place is really cute, and the staff wonderful. I had a suprise dinner planned for my boyfriend and was giving him a wedding band...I contacted them ahead and they had everything ready for me...the table I requested, the champagne I ordered...it was perfect. I will come back here every chance I get. Excellent job guys!
(5)
Rohan D.
The food is quite good, especially the seafood and ravioli. Service is good. The tables are too close together, so you're somewhat at the mercy of the manners and sense of decorum of your dining neighbors. This is another loud restaurant, enough that good conversation is a little hampered.
(3)
Joyce C.
It was a cold Friday night and I felt like drowning myself in a big ass bowl of warm, tasty pasta. We tried two of the pastas the first time we came and they were delicious, so I was pretty excited to get the full sized version of them. We ordered the braised veal cheek app to start off with. Good, but I had to dig through my memory banks for that one so I can't say it was memorable. We decided on doing 4 half orders of pastas, so we could have a mini pasta buffet at our table. We got the pappardelle with the braised wild boar (delicious), some kinda gnocchi (just meh, overcooked, mushy and bland), some kinda tuna infused spaghetti with capers and olives (the worst dish... it tasted weird and it was our least favorite by far), and dammit I can't remember the last pasta dish. Whatever it was it was just ok though. Soooooooo disappointed. Oh well, still a 4-star because of the prix-fixe.
(4)
Brian R.
Went last night for a "date night" with my wife. Will agree with many of the reviews that it was kind of loud...but very energetic. Food was fantastic. Mushroom ravioli for me; orrechetti for my wife. Great value and will be back for sure!
(4)
Lakshmi R.
Andersonville has lots of restaurants but not a lot of *nice* restaurants, if you catch my drift. Anteprima is an exception: decent wine list, interesting cocktails, and an array of well-made meals...that'll cost ya. Cocktails go for about $9 each, entrees between $10-$20. We all had limited budgets, so we didn't get much food for a bill of around $130, but the food was at least good. I stuck with dessert, having eaten beforehand, and was a big fan of my chocolate tart: succulent, dark, rich...heaven! Unfortunately, the ginger mint julep that three out of four of us ordered turned out to be a mint julep with a barely discernable twinge of ginger. Hmm. Service is very so-so here. Our server, maybe tiring of waiting for us to order since we ourselves were awaiting the arrival of our fourth dining companion, wandered off for a long time. We ended up having to grab a busboy with a plea to find our server, and he ended up sending the restaurant's host to our table. He was none too happy about this and it seemed like our server ended up with a talking-to, so that was awkward. All said and done: a solid, 'nice' place that could do with some improvement.
(3)
Ryan Y.
I've been a couple times. The service is average to above-average and they shove maybe four or six seats too many than is comfortable when full, but the food is to die for. The grilled octopus somehow had the texture of high-quality beef -- and that's surprisingly a good thing. Also, my friend had to actually apologize to the server; he ordered some sort of steak, and when it arrived no steak knife was given. After asking for it he realized it was so tender it just melted off with a fork. Definitely give it a try, but make a reservation. Both times I arrived early at opening, but by the time I left it was packed to capacity.
(4)
Franny S.
A group of us had dinner here last week to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a wonderful meal. We all did the three-course weeknight prix fixe. I had an appetizer (grilled polenta, delicious), entree (scallops, absolutely FABULOUS) and dessert (a friend and I split the lemon pannacotta and the chocolate hazelnut torte, both were very good). You can also get a pasta course instead of dessert if you prefer. It really is a great deal for $29...the scallops alone were priced at $23 on the menu. I took off one star because the alcohol there is kinda pricey (and we drank a lot of it) and the service just a bit slow (though we were a party of eight so perhaps that's par for the course). I'd definitely go back on a weeknight for the prix fixe. I hear they have a really nice patio out back in the summer too!
(4)
Eric B.
For me, the true measure of a great Italian restaurant is its ability to deliver on non-pasta dishes. It isn't an Atkins sourced aversion towards carbs, I just find that pasta gets in the way of meat and sauce flavors; aside from ravioli stuffed with meat in a meat sauce, I'm not interested. So, that's my bias. And Anteprima is more than ready for it, with entrees ranging from pork to steak to bison and beyond. Tonight I opted for the grilled octopus appetizer followed by the pork porterhouse special, grilled with peaches, faro, and smoked onion. The octopus was pleasantly chewy and flavorful, but the pork blew me away. It was a massive cut, cooked perfectly juicy, even at medium, the flavor enhanced by the juicy peaches and savory smoked onions, among the best I have ever tasted. The owner is attentive and ready to make recommendations on the wine list, and heartily recommended my choice, a valpolicella ripasso with some age and earthy tannins that smoothed out beautifully fifteen minutes after opening. He was correct, it evoked a baby amarone, and possessed a well balanced old world style that would complement any of the meat dishes on the menu. Finally, for dessert, the chocolate budino gives any French pot de creme, whether made at my place or elsewhere, a serious run for its money. The chocolate tart is a close second, and the coffee, Metropolitan's Red Line blend, is dark and heavy but extremely well balanced. The food is complemented by an Italian bistro decor and attentive but unhurried service. For high end casual Italian fare on the North side, Anteprima is worth a visit.
(4)
Carly O.
My cousin wanted to treat me to dinner for my birthday. I happily hopped on Yelp to sift through the multitude of restaurants I have yet to try. But then I remembered that Anteprima is right up the street and absolutely wonderful. First off, make a reservation. Second, get the octopus appetizer because it will rock your socks off. Third, anything pasta is a winner. Our server coursed our meal, so everything came out already separated for two. The mushroom ravioli was so savory and rich. At first when I saw the bowl of just four squares I was like "really?", but there's no way I could have eaten anymore. The trout was cooked to perfection, nicely seasoned and wonderfully crispy. I know I should have gotten the lemon panna cotta, but we opted for the chocolate and hazelnut dessert and weren't disappointed. Anteprima is a gem.
(5)
Nicole M.
I'd been to Anteprima last year and didn't have the best experience (thought it was noisy, slow service, and mediocre food), but after learning that an Italian friend of mine is an Anteprima regular, I thought I should give it another shot. And I'm so happy I did! My husband and I walked in on a Friday night around 7:45 p.m. without a reservation but were promptly offered a spot at the bar, which suited us just fine. We ordered the grilled octopus (with potatoes, red onion, chilis, parsley, lemon, olive oil) and fennel salad with oranges, walnuts, and parmigiano (one of the specials). Both were excellent and perfect for sharing. The octopus had a nice smoky flavor to it. The ingredients in both dishes were fresh and delicious. For entrees, we each got the smaller verison of two pasta dishes. I had the orecchiette with spicy house made lamb sausage, bitter greens, chilis, and pecorino. Even the smaller portion was still quite generous. My husband ordered the mushroom & ricotta ravioli with dried porcini cream, and parmigiano. It was nice to feel full but not stuffed at the end of our meal, and we prolonged our time by getting dessert - the cinnamon budino (sort of like a flan), which had a nice subtle flavor, and the apple walnut tart, which had a delicious crust. We had good service and although the restaurant was packed the entire time we were there (more than an hour an a half), it wasn't too loud. I am certainly going to be going back as there are a number of things on the menu I would love to try.
(4)
Christopher K.
Anteprima flat out brought it. From eats to service to atmosphere, this place got it done. First impression was great as it was our anniversary and they reserved a special table for us right by the window and it just got better from there... Starters: Choices were overwhelming, but our server was very helpful in narrowing down the winners and losers. We went with the pork meatballs and grilled octopus - both were exceptional. Mains: Had the entree portions of the ravioli and orecchiette which didn't disappoint. About the only thing I would change about the whole experience would be to get the smaller portion of the pasta so I could try one of their main course dishes. Dessert: Passed on dessert, but they brought us out each a glass of dessert wine to celebrate our anniversary. A nice touch. Ambiance: Very romantic and a touch loud, but if you can score a seat by the window and watch the hustle and bustle on Clark, it's almost perfect. Service: Server was very attentive and helpful in selecting some of the best options from the menu. Host also greeted us warmly upon entering and wished us a happy anniversary. Overall: Would definitely recommend Anteprima for a date night or intimate evening with friends. Awesome experience!
(5)
Tari M.
I LOVED this restaurant! The menu was very unique and exciting. Deciding what to order was a little bit of an ordeal. However, we ordered the mixed appetizer plate to start and I'm pretty sure my brain and my taste buds shared a moment. If I could date the brussel sprouts I would. In a word: wow. Our server was awesome - very helpful and knowledgeble. And patient (let me referenc the heavily optioned menu once again). The space is cute and cozy and the perfect place to catch up with friends OR enjoy a date. This is going on my list of top 10 favorite restaurants. As soon as I decide to make a list.
(4)
Justin M.
Review 33 4 Stars Food : 4/5 Service : 5/5 Ambiance : 4/5 Value : 3/5 Consistency : 4/5 (2 visits) Summary Anteprima offers an extensive, rustic Italian menu with great, attentive service and very flavorful yet simple foods. Serving sizes are a little small, but designed so you have a proper Italian 4-course dinner (antipasti, primi, secondi, dessert). Details Originally, we had planned to celebrate my birthday dinner at another restaurant, but they happened to inform us they would be closed on my birthday for renovations. With two days notice. Really? Well, I will cover that in my next review of _that_ establishement So, at Anteprima, we celebrated my Birthday dinner here and it was a great experience and we will most certainly be back. I enjoy more traditional Italian and Tuscan food than American Italian and this was certainly the former. The decor at Anteprima was really welcoming, a nice bar, bread baskets ready to go and a laid back feel. Some people have written its a little cramped but we had no issue with it. The service was outstanding - attentive, patient, fresh cutlery for every course - just the little things. We were there just before 7pm, so I'm sure later on it gets busier and things may get a little hectic, but our experience was great. Onto the food - we had grilled polenta and pork meatballs for appetizer. The polenta was good, though I like mine a little cheesier and crisper, but all in all it was good. The pork meatballs were delicious - in a wonderful flavorful broth with just the right amount of heat and some nice onion there to discover. Next was pasta - we had the proscuitto ragu and swiss chard ravioli in brown butter sauce. The freshness of the pasta was wonderful - the ragu I would have like to be a little stronger in flavor, but still complemented the pasta well while for the ravioli was very nice. For secondi, we had the NY strip steak - melt in your mouth - served with arugula, lemon and parmesan cheese - just simple flavors adding to a sum greater then their parts. At this point we could not resist dessert - a trio of sorbet, including a mint one which was unique at it had the flavour of real mint along with a sweetness, and we also had the hazelnut chocolate tart. Yum. The quartinos of wine are just the right amount. Anteprima is deservingly busy, and we look forward to going there again soon as we can! Consistency We have been here twice - very consistent, lively and highly recommended. We had other pastas and the charcuterie plate that was very nice.
(4)
Marget B.
I love this place! The ingredients are always fresh, the flavors subtle, the ambiance is pleasant and low-key. One of my favorite place to eat Italian in Chicago.
(5)
Charlie B.
Just an update. I went back this past Sunday and had a super great and wonderful dinner there. It gets a star bump in my book for excellent food, a changing menu, lots of yummy wines and a great deal when they have the 3-course deal.
(4)
Mark N.
There are those times when you're having such a WONDERFUL experience that you just can't wait to write a review on how awesome your entire experience was. This is one of those times. On a recent visit to Chicago (I live in Los Angeles) I had one of my best dining experiences ever when my gal pal and I went to Anteprima. From the moment Jeffrey greeted us at the front door with a smile as big as Julie Robert's, we knew we were going to have a great time. While we waited for our table, Jasmine poured us a mean martini. Straight up but of course. Sara was our server and her service was nothing short of impeccable while providing the perfect wine and food pairings and having just the right amount of friendliness thrown in. The food. WOW! Where do I start? The scallops were to die for! Everything was the best, so try it all. Needless to say, the evening eventually had to end, but not without saying goodbye (for now) to our new favorite restaurant and wonderful staff that we look forward to seeing again soon. See you in November!
(5)
Lorenzo L.
Really liked the place when it first opened a few years ago, but have been really disappointed with the food the last two times I had dinner there. On both occasions, whoever was on the line had a heavy hand with the salt. Every dish we ordered was laden with salt, really masking the natural flavors of the various foods. Had it happened only one time, I would have chalked it up to " a bad night in the kitchen". But twice in a row appears to be " a trend". I won't go back again. Mediocre.
(2)
Minna A.
very cute decor and attentive service! My friend and I came here to bid adieu as she left for a semester in Paris. We shared two dishes, and the waitstaff was kind enough to split the portions in half and plate the two different menu items separately for us. The Zucchini flowers with marinara? Delicious! I had no idea zucchini blooms would taste so good! All in all, the meal was great and the service attentive! I'll be sure to head on back this way soon!
(3)
Victoria S.
go on a night the owner (Marty) is working- the kitchen is just better those nights than when he isn't there- that said the food is consistently good quality and fresh- lots of seasonal choices and the patio is also a plus when the weather cooperates... we have been here probably twenty or more times and are always glad to return
(4)
Anceert M.
I am a fan of this place. Centrally located on the heart of Andersonville.(no cheap) but the food is great, specially the crostini toscani, traditional chicken liver topping, pickled vegetable (I love it). Great place to have dinner with your friends, but not for dates(It's a bit loud inside)
(4)
Timothy G.
I have been going to this great little eatery for years, and always look forward to the great menu, fair prices and charming atmosphere. Its far better than all the downtown italian places that are overrated, and also the menus to fattening and too big of servings.Chicago needs more places like this.
(5)
Bradley S.
Partner and I dined here recently at the suggestion of friends. We arrived way too early for the reservation and it was suggested we wait at their sister bar, Bar Ombra, two doors south. We returned at the reserved time and were seated promptly. Four of us shared 2 appetizers which were unique and very tasty. I ordered a bottle of wine, an Italian red meritage type, to which I had been introduced earlier at Bar Ombra. When we ordered our entrees I ordered another bottle (I guess the whole table liked it.) Partner had the duck breast which he loved. I had the chianti braised pork shoulder which was superb. One of our friends had a pork tenderloin dish which he proclaimed delicious. Our server was engaging and attentive. The space is a tad noisy perhaps but I think it worked out well for us in as much as Partner was a bit impassioned in parts of our conversation and it didn't disurb the neighboring tables. I think it's a very good value as four of us ate for about $250 which included two bottles of wine.
(4)
Chicagoa N.
Our fourth or fifth trip to Anteprima was quite enjoyable, as were the earlier visits. My salad of heirloomtomatoes with diced cucumber, thin-sliced watermelon, dressed with mint, olive oil and lemon juice was the perfect starter on a muggy August evening. My farfalle with a prosciutto ragu was rich and satisfying, a small portion was more than enough. The lady enjoyed her choices as well, and the service was attentive and courteous. Anteprima is very noisy, not the place for a quiet chat, but for those in a festive mood, it's a wonderful reason to visit Andersonville. Moreover, if weather permits, the noise is not an issue if seating is available on the patio out back. Upscale and eclectic Italian food is served, but the cafe is never empty, reservations advised.
(4)
Philip K.
We dined at Anteprima for the second time last night and for the second time enjoyed the food, but were disappointed by the service. Maybe it was because we weren't ready the first time the waiter came to take our order, but after ordering and beginning to drink a bottle of wine, we waited what seemed like an eternity to order food. A similar painful would-be eternity came between the dropping off of the dessert menu and the return of the waiter. Ok, so I sound whiney. But there's just something maddening about seeing your waiter flit across the room, cut bread at the bar, and chit chat with co-workers when you desperately want to order! On a more satisfying note, the food is delicious. We tried the octopus starter as many yelpers suggested--wonderful. The portions are sensible. So the food is great, service questionable. My final comment is on the phenomenon of small, trendy restaurants like this that pack in diners to create a very loud, claustrophobic atmosphere. Why do we flock to these places? Is the food really that great? or does the reservations-only buzz create a false sense of urgency? I mean, I'm not gonna lie--I felt somewhat special being a part of this seemingly elite room. "We know what's up. Look at us and our delicious, expensive food." Makes everything taste better, I guess :)
(3)
Junchen F.
An Italian friend told me to check out anteprima after I told him I want some real Italian food. Boy was he right! The grilled octopus is exquisite and the pasta are a balance of flavor and fluidity. Just for these two, I would drive all the way up north again. The rainbow trout is also pretty good. We asked for an easy drinking wine but I possess no expertise in red wine so I will just leave it as we got what we asked for. Above all, the price tag is very very reasonable, compared to some other Italian places I have been.
(5)
Jon K.
A friend and I went here. My first visit, he has been many times. Its not a large place, but we didn't need the reservation we had. I had the grilled polenta appetizer and it was good, not amazing. Friend raved about the octopus appetizer. Not a fan of octopus here though. I had one of the pastas (pappardelle) for my entree and it was excellent. Dessert was chocolate hazelnut torte. Sounded better than it was. It was really cold and I think it could have been excellent if it had been at room temperature. Service was fine, nothing that memorable. Good neighborhood joint overall, probably not worth a trip from downtown.
(4)
Debbi R.
Food & Service were superb. Home-made fettucine with wild mushrooms, pancetta, butter & parmesan was heavenly.
(5)
Rachel G.
My husband and I had been meaning to try this restaurant out for a long time and we are so glad that we finally did! We ate there on a Thursday evening with a 7:30 reservation. By 8:30, the place was bustling and energetic...highly recommend a reservation! The staff was attentive and friendly, making wonderful and honest menu suggestions. The food was GREAT. First of all, I am obsessed with stuffed zucchini flowers and can rarely get them anywhere. So obviously, I was overjoyed to see this on the starter menu. For dinner, I had an amazing arctic char dish that was prepared perfectly. If only I could cook fish like this! My husband had pappardelle with prosciutto ragu that was lick-your-plate great. It reminded me of my Grandmother's incredible cooking. That's how amazing it was. That's how much love was in that dish. He also had a pork dish that he really enjoyed, but found a tiny bit fatty...not a deal breaker though. He said it was delicious. Dessert was absolutely amazing. I had the BEST, freshest, most decadent berry crisp that I have ever had. I could have eaten 5 of them. No joke. My husband had the chocolate almond tart which was so great...rich, but not too rich. It is clear that this restaurant cares about the ingredients it uses. Everything was fresh and REAL right down to the bread basket. I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Rustygirl M.
Great! Had butternut squash ravioli and red wine. Wine was a large portion but when you're paying 12$/glass you want a lot. Boyfriend had chicken. He said it had a lot of bone, but the bite I had was delicious. There were plenty of wines to choose from but only 3 or 4 beers. Also had the multi app platter. It included 8 apps that were pre picked for this particular app tray. It was ok. Def will return.
(4)
Katie W.
Fresh, unique, and tasty (some options were on the pricier side) menu, plus delicious drinks! Our waiter was so nice and accommodating with all our questions and requests. Weather permitting, definitely ask to sit on the back patio. Would love to go back here soon!
(4)
Mark S.
Upscale Italian in Andersonville. Anteprima is just a few miles from where I live, and I have been meaning to check it out for ages based on recommendations from friends and neighbors. We sat down around 6pm last Friday night and started out with some cocktails, which were delicious but not very strong and on the pricey side at $12 each. The three of us shared two appetizers that were on the specials list, chicken livers and fava beans. Very good but skimpy on the quantity for the price. For our main dishes we ordered the "large" portions of the mushroom gnocchi (average), the ricotta and pea ravioli (delicious) and the orecchiette with lamb sausage (delicious). The "large" portions were just about right for an average appetite, which is nice, because I tend to overeat if it's in front of me. The bread and breadsticks served were high quality. Service was professional, helpful and friendly. I really hated to complain a bit about the prices because I'm sure the quality is top notch, and the dining experience is really enjoyable. In reality, I think if the prices were lower it would be close to impossible to get a table here. We will come back, maybe skip the cocktails and go out to Hopleaf before or after (or both!). We got free parking a couple blocks away on a side street.
(4)
Yaeko M.
My dinner experience at Anteprima was a lot better than expectation. The food was awesome, We had stuffed calamari and grilled octopus as for the starter, berkshire pork ribs and lamb leg as for the main, rum cake and chocolate moose for the dessert. All came with right portion and very good. We had a great time. They offer $28 for fixed menu on week days. I suggest to try that out.
I love to sit here at the window and have a nice early dinner with my guy. Perfect service, lovely seasonal menu, relaxed and efficient and sick ass breadsticks that are like crack. Pasta is sometimes hit or miss, but everything is usually great, and I'm always so happy there.
(4)
John O.
Great appetizers and wine list
(4)
Leah H.
Not really A-OK...but I have a soft spot for this place. I have experienced better, in fact, at Anteprima circa 2010, 2011, 2012....I have been to Anteprima dozens of times since it last opened. Lately, though, I feel like something's amiss. I think that something is the level of friendliness, warmth and a genuine "glad you are here" niceness. When I called earlier in the week to let them know that I would be bringing two bottles (they do not have any Barolo or Barbaresco with any age on it on their wine list) the person who answered was not polite - just wanted to get me off the phone "$20!" they said, which is totally acceptable for corkage. I explained that I got it, no problem, but just wanted to give them advance notice. "$20" OK, yes, I know, just wanted to let you know so it isn't awkward when we arrive. No warmth, no friendliness, nothing. Recently had to wait 10-15 minutes for our reserved table, and was told rather abruptly to stand over by the bar. The food - well, it is ok. I had the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms. Just ok. Had the salmon - have had it a number of times before. I wish they would change the preparation, because, as I said, I have had it a number of times before. Service is a bit rushed and harried, always has been, but even more so. Dessert was actually an improvement. I would rather go next door to Ombra, where the staff is warm, friendly and always happy to see me. Same owner, so the love is still there.
(3)
Tim H.
Finally got to Anteprima and I was a little disappointed. I've heard rave reviews that it was one of the more solid restaurants in the city, but unfortunately I left underwhelmed. The cost is higher than the taste. I had the fixed menu and the appetizer was meh (calamari), the entree was ok (rabbit) and the dessert was tasty (chocolate creme). Had a bite of the risotto as well and it wasn't good. Not sure what the buzz is about. Perhaps I will check it out in the future to see if my occasion was an 'off night,' but I'm in no rush to do so.
(3)
Chris M.
The staff and food here are very good. The people make you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. Went here on a busy Saturday night and were able to get a table on the patio for 6 right away. Our waiter was friendly, efficient, a skilled server, and gave us good recommendations on food. Good Italian food without being pretentious. Would have had given 5 stars if portions were just a little bit bigger. Great experience.
(4)
Alfred T.
This place is perfect.
(5)
Rohan S.
Nice cute Italian restaurant with delicious food. Meat appetizers were delicious and the pasta is the way to go. Nice house wine as well.
(5)
Leslie P.
This place is great. Was in Andersonville at the Galleria on a Friday night, and we went across the street for a late dinner. The service was great, and the atmosphere reminded me of a rustic, intimate Italian restaurant. The roasted squash and ricotta ravioli entree was absolutely divine. Perfection in my book. It was more savory than sweet, and the sage made the dish. I will not make the mistake of sharing dishes next time - I'm getting the ravioli all to myself. :)
(4)
Thomas T.
I'm amazed that this place has never been on "Check Please!" Well I just applied to be a guest host on the show, and the submission form asked for a few paragraphs about my favorite restaurant. this is what I wrote about Anteprima: Picking my favorite restaurant is sorta like picking my favorite song. Wait a week and you'll get a different answer. But all things considered - food, service, value, atmosphere - I'll choose Anteprima in Andersonville. The menu features items you just don't see at your average Italian restaurant. Like Testa (which happens to be my original family name!), which is head cheese. I had to try it just based on the name alone - it was yummy! I had farro for the first time here, often they'll have fresh sardines, sweetbreads, boar sausage and other unusual ingredients. I'm kind of a promiscuous eater - I rarely have the same item again when I return to a restaurant, no matter how much I liked it the first time. And I never run out of new things to try at Anteprima! As a former server myself, I really appreciate a server who knows the menu, can size up a customer and give good suggestions. The servers at Anteprima have been around since the beginning (always a good sign), and really know the menu and wine list. They're especially helpful with wine, since Italian wines aren't ID'd by grape - so I'd be lost otherwise. They are charming and opinionated, relaxed yet efficient, not too obtrusive but show up just when you need them. The food and service are both so good here that I don't mind that it's usually loud and crowded. I had a really great waiter last night at Francesca's on Bryn Mawr, and realized that somehow really good service makes the food taste better! I think it just puts me in a more receptive mood, and makes me happier. When I have a great meal and great conversation at Anteprima, I am VERY happy.
This review is for dessert only - which was TERRIBLE! 2 desserts and two decafs were $24. I'm fine with paying much more than this for dessert if it's GOOD. Chocolate Hazelnut Tart & Peach Cream Cake - both super sweet to the point of disgust. The flavors also tasted like something from a can. NOT GOOD! Decaf was way watered down. A McDonald's sunday is less sweet and has more sophisticated flavors. The stars are for the waiter who was very nice and accommodating. I feel ripped off!
(2)
Kris B.
Very authentic Italian flavors, great antipasto, and a really lovely patio in the back. This is a gem on Clark St. Nice wine, delicious bread & breadsticks, and traditional pasta dishes like orecchiette, sausage & greens and pappardelle with ragu bolognese. The weekday 3-course fixed price dinner menu for $29 is a good deal.
(4)
Rhoda G.
My friends and I came here on a nice Sunday night and sat out back in the outdoor patio. Since this was my first visit (and definitely not my last) here, I decided to get their $29 prixe fixe menu. What a great deal - starter, pasta/entree, dessert. We started off by ordering a round cocktails. I got a "I'm Here for a Good Time..." Very refreshing and got another one in the middle of dinner. Then we got our apps - grilled polenta and grilled octopus along with complimentary bread. Those were delicious especially the octopus. I wanted to try their pastas, so I decided to get the pappardelle, pancetta ragu, parmigiano. The pasta was so good! I loved the how fresh the noodles were and the portion size was perfect. For dessert, it was so hard to choose. I originally wanted the chocolate hazelnut tart, but they ran out, so I got the blueberry budino, which is something I never had before and loved it. Very light and flavorful. I don't go to Italian restaurants too often, but this visit to Anteprima may change this. I love how the menu changes often and I definitely need to go back to try that hazelnut tart.
(4)
Seth F.
It's Italian food. My dislike of going out to eat Italian food is well documented to the Yelp community and I will not bore them with more of it. Suffice to say that my experience at Anteprima was a microcosm of my feelings towards the entire genre of Italian restaurants. And no I have no idea if I spelled microcosm correctly...or, I suppose, if I used it correctly in that sentence. Basically, nothing was bad, but nothing was great, and everything I ate I felt like I could've made with relative ease at home, and I assure you, my cooking talent could be labeled as amateur at best. I do remember that my friend kept complaining that there wasn't Vin Santo. I don't know who this Vin guy is or where he was when neglecting his duties as an employee of Anteprima but I think we should cut him some slack. It can't be easy working at a mediocre Italian restaurant when your brother is such an accomplished Hall-of-Fame Chicago Cub.
(3)
Charlene B.
Having traveled a fair amount through Italy, I can say that Anteprima does a decent job of approximating the experience of eating there, especially their house made pastas and vegetable sides. I like the atmosphere, too - intimate, homey, a bit cramped. It's one of the standout restaurants in Andersonville and among the more authentic Italian spots in the Chicago area.
(4)
Lakesha C.
I was highly disappointed with my experience at this establishment. The service, food, and wine were terrible. We started with the eight sample appetizers. Of the eight appetizers, only two were really edible. They were a waste of money. One of the entrees that we ordered was the trout. This was the worst trout that I ever had. The spinach and cous cous stuffing did not go well together. The trout itself was really grainy. Stay away from the trout. The pasta menu was limited, which is odd. We order a simple spaghetti dish and it was undercooked. We couldn't get a break at this place. The Italian champagne that I order was cheap. It didn't even bubble like normal champagne. Overall, this place was overpriced for the quality of food, and the waiter was extremely slow. We would have been better off eating at Hamburger Mary's down the street.
(1)
Christy L.
Anteprima is not your traditional Italian red tablecloth establishment but a more charming neighborhood restaurant with a less extensive, but more eclectic, menu. And this is exactly why I like Anteprima - the dishes are unique and well prepared - but if you're craving your grandma's lasagna or spaghetti bolognese, you may want to head down to Topo Gigio in Old Town. My favorite dish is the orecchiette with lamb sausage, which has a little kick to it. The restaurant itself is small and popular; be sure to make a reservation, especially on the weekend. Also, it's a bit cramped and loud in a way that adds, rather than deters, from the ambience. All in all, Anteprima is one of my go-to Andersonville restaurants.
(5)
Leslie G.
I've been coming to Anteprima since it opened and have yet to be disappointed. I consider it the best restaurant in the neighborhood and often take my parents here when they visit. Over the years, I've had a variety of pasta dishes, such as squid ink linguine, tagliatelle with mushrooms, stinging nettle linguine, etc. All have been excellent. Same goes for the appetizers. Early on, I tried ordering a couple of salads here and was not thrilled with those. I found them to be oddly salty. Since then, I've steered clear of salads. Desserts are also delicious here as are the little vegetable tarts they bring to your table as a starter. One thing that is a bit annoying about this place is that it's become incredibly difficult to walk in without a reservation (this was not so when they first opened). A friend and I did manage to walk in and get a table recently on a Sat. night but that was only because we got there at 6 (they needed the table back by 7). It's a popular spot for a reason, however, and I'm glad they're doing brisk business.
(4)
Todd R.
It's just so tiring you know. I'm just so tired. From all of it. All of it. And then this food - so promising it sounds - but then there are execution flaws. It's just too much. Stuff like this shouldn't happen. There was a pool of grease - you guys gotta drain your sausage. You gotta do it ok? I don't want a freaking pool of sausage grease in the bottom of my pasta. And watch your salt! My plate was REALLY salty - and it's not because I'd been puffity puffin on that THC.pipe=o all day long - my dish was definitely saltier than my girlfriends - and my girlfriend is polish. Loves bacon. BACONE come si dice in Italiano. Mamma Mia anteprima Lei deve fare attenzione - abbiamo bisogno del cibi BUONI italiani.
(3)
Allison M.
My experience at Anteprima was neither horrible nor fantastic. The food was very tasty (I'm a vegetarian) I had the Fusilli pasta with pesto and pine nuts. My boyfriend had the oricchiette, with lamb sausage, and he liked it as well. For desert we had the red wine poached pear, which was good, but not really worth the price. Wine was good but I'm definitely not a wine connoisseur. I would go here again, but will choose a weeknight as weekends are too busy for me.
(3)
Zan B.
Summary: If you like great Italian food and don't mind being ignored by the waiter or waiting 40-50 minutes for your food, then this place is for you. Will I return? Only if they offer take-out. The first thing I want to comment on is, if this waiter had actually tried to sell me something, I would've bought it. I wanted to throw my money at this place if someone would have made the effort. I would have bought 1-2 more drinks and an extra side if someone was there to take my order. Aesthetics: The place looked fine and the seats weren't too close to each other. Staff: Whoever was at the door to greet us was nice. The waiter looked like he didn't have a thought in is head, well, that is until a couple (that had a similar skin tone as the waiter) sat next to us. He couldn't stop talking to them for some reason. The other waiters seemed similar. I didn't see much interaction between staff and customers. I don't get it either. It's not like there were too many tables to deal with! It's just a shoebox, people. Get it together! Talking to customers is easy! Price: For the money, the food is well worth it. Food: OMG the food! It was great. I wished I got another ravioli or two on my plate, but I had enough appetizers to hold me over. That's the other thing. Get appetizers. You may spend so much time waiting that you will need something to hold you over (their bread was good, too). If it weren't for the bad service I would have had an over-all great experience.
(2)
Rick R.
I think Anteprima means "Afterbirth" because thats what I had after eating here. The only positive was George our waiter who was very attentive.
(1)
Tim T.
Epic fail. Had a reservation for 8:30, arrived early, lots of empty tables, asked to be seated and the attitude from the hostess started. Almost as if I insulted her. She reluctantly seated us. Waited forever for water and drinks. The waiter had zero personality and could have cared less if we enjoyed it or not. Prices here are insane for the quantity. I ordered a special salad from the specials, it was $10 for less than 1 tomatoes chopped with a slice of cucumber. The bread was good. Sorry we will not be back, way to many other choices with great food and service in the area.
(2)
Matt M.
The food was neither plentiful nor delicious. It was highly over-priced for mid to low quality italian food. The waitress also was flustered if interuppted and made no attempts to hide it. She actually made the "who the hell do you think you are look" a couple of times to our table of 5. I will not be back, but it was not the worst dining experience I have ever had. If I had paid $20 for two people I would have given it 3.25 stars.
(2)
Robert Y.
Absolutely incredible pasta dishes. Came in for a lighter dinner, and I had the orecchiette with the spicy lamb sausage with an incredible glass of montepulciano that the waiter recommended and it was perfect. I'll definitely be coming back to try a full on meal with appetizer, main course and dessert!
(5)
Jules D.
Let me get the less-than-great thing out of the way first: It gets loud in there on a Saturday evening. Now let's move onto what was enjoyed: Everything else. The food was fresh and well prepared, like what we love most about eating in Italy. Nice wines available in quartinos for us light drinkers. I had the roasted beet salad with ricotta salata, candied nuts and arugula. Ok, there were three small pieces of arugula, but plenty of the tasty rest of it. And the balance of cheese and beet was well done. My entree was the delicate squash and ricotta ravioli in a sage brown butter sauce. Rich, but not too rich, melt-in-your-mouth filling and light pasta--a hit! The chocolate hazelnut tart was heavenly, from the touch of whipped cream to the cookie crust and everything in between-- that chocolate was supremely satisfying. Service was timely and thoughtful. Our waiter understood that the espressos would come after the dessert, again, he was helpful and friendly throughout our meal. The menu has many things I'd like to try--we'll be back.
(4)
Dhruv P.
My friend and I tried Anteprima yesterday and the food and ambiance was exceptional. Tip: Make reservations! - We went around 7pm and the place was empty, however, we were told that only tables were at bar or table would be available at 9pm, which was fine for us, however, we were surprised as there were ample empty tables. Well, in 15 minutes of our seating, the place was quickly on its way of being full. We ordered an appetizer that was 2 fried eggs (with very slight liquid yolk) mixed with homemade tomato sauce on oiled bread. We were told that is a traditional Southern Italy dish and it was tasty, after realizing it was boiling hot. My dish was a ravioli with chestnuts and mushroom cream sauce. I ordered the dinner portion and it was the the right size. You can choose to do a tasting portion, but you'll need at least 2 dishes to make a meal. The ravioli was done well and the chestnut flavor was balanced with the mushroom creme sauce. Actually, I would have liked the chestnuts to have a slight stronger flavor as it was a bit masked by the sauce instead of balanced. I could tell that the ravioli were made in house and along with everything there was made by them. Only the breads were brought in from a bakery, and they give a nice selection of breads in a basket before the appetizer arrives. Antepasta, according to the bartender who was well versed in the menu, uses little sauce in its dish, just to bring out the flavors of the dishes instead of masking the flavors. Just keep in mind, that if you are looking for a sauce dish, you won't find it there. I will definitely be going there again to sample more off the menu and try a Dolci on the next try.
(4)
Christina S.
If you like bland food.... this place is for you! My boyfriend surprised me and took me here for my Birthday celebration dinner and made a bad choice. The food was bland, table wast crowded and the music/ambiance was not "Modern Italian" at all. The best part about the restaurant is its location next to Georgies Ice Cream that was the highlight and best part of the night! Thank you Anteprima for giving me a tasteless Birthday dinner, we will never be back nor recommend.
(1)
Cadence K.
There's no where I would rather eat in Chicago, or really anywhere. It is romantic and homey, and the food is rustic but elegant.
(5)
Sarah M.
There's certain things that I look for in a restaurant before I even go: good cocktails, fairly vegetarian friendly, and dessert for my sweet tooth. Anteprima appeared to hit all three, so I took my parents here for a night out in my 'hood. Since it was a beautiful night, we sat out on the patio. My dad was nervous at first b/c there were absolutely zero patrons inside the restaurant... but that's only b/c everyone was on the patio. It's a nice little area, but slightly crowded. Whatever, we live in Chicago, I'm not going to complain when I can really only eat outside for about 3 weeks out of the year. Fabulous cocktails, check. Not much in the way of beer ( I think my dad only had 2 to choose from?), but a decent wine list. There are more appetizers than entrees, but honestly, I could have eaten my way through the appetizers list. The menu does change weekly so I won't go into great detail about the specifics of my meal, other than all three of us ate every single bite on our plates. My dad had a heritage pork chop and raved about it. My mom, who claims to dislike fish skin, even sampled some of the crispy skin of her salmon and was happy about it. As a vegetarian, I had options to choose from, and the swiss chard ravioli I ate was amazing. Dessert though. I die. I had a hazelnut tart with this AMAZING vanilla whipped cream. If it were acceptable to just dive head first into it, I would have, but then my parents would have thought they raised an awful child. Service was, for the most part, great. Jonathan was an excellent server. There were times that the staff was slightly slow about clearing plates/glasses from our table (something I really hate is having to play a virtual tetris on my table with rearranging all the used plates/glasses to make room for the new plates/glasses), but other than that, no complaints. I'd definitely go back here.
(4)
Christina C.
Thanks to a great recommendation from a friend of my partner's, we initiated a monthly excursion we're calling "Secret Sups." Each month, one of us picks out a new restaurant and arranges a reservation ... without disclosing its location to the other. It must be a new/out of the ordinary place for us, and secrecy of the location is half the fun! We are by no means food novices, but we tend to frequent the same handful of places within a few-block radius of home, so this is a great catalyst to get us out our neighborhood routine. I chose Anteprima in Andersonville for our inaugural event. While having a post-dinner drink at Marty's on Balmoral, we developed our criteria and rating scale to apply to each Secret Sup. SCALE: 0 = Nonexistent. 1 = Sucky. 2 = Mediocre. 3 = Average/nothing to write home about. 4 = Good! 5 = Outstanding/like, really wowed us! 6 = Like nothing we've ever had before. CRITERIA Reservation ease - 5 Reservations are accepted via Open Table, so it was super easy to navigate. Wait time/comfort - 5 Though we were about 15 minutes early for our reservation, we were immediately shown to our table upon arrival. There was a small bar area in the back of the restaurant where we could have waited if necessary. Server - 5 Our waiter, Jonathan, was fabulous. He came to greet us very quickly, asked us if we'd been there before, and gave a brief description of the "rustic Italian" style of cuisine when we said we hadn't. He offered to answer any questions we might have and left us to peruse the menu briefly. He seemed to arrive at our table just when we needed him--not too overbearing but as attentive as we needed/wanted. We did have a handful of questions regarding some elements of the menu, and Jonathan answered with ease. He was very friendly throughout the duration of our experience, and gave some wonderful recommendations when requested. Food - 5 We ordered a bottle of the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, La Valentina, which was delicious--smooth and velvety, yet robust. We chose the grilled octopus (with potatoes, red onion, chilies, parsley, lemon, and olive oil) and the pesciolini (a special: crispy lake smelt with lemons and parsley) to start. There were no strange sauces or extraneous accouterments--just good quality food prepared simply. The appetizers were delicious. The octopus had wonderful texture, the potatoes were sliced incredibly thinly, and the combination of flavors was delightful. The pesciolini was a new adventure for us. It was light and crispy with just the right amount of breading and addition of citrus to highlight to flavor. For our main courses, I chose the spaghetti "carbonara," a house specialty (with house guanciale, an unsmoked Italian bacon, asparagus, farm egg, and pecorino), and my partner chose the pan-seared salmon (with roasted shallots and asparagus, balsamic, and porcini vinaigrette). Both dishes were extraordinary. The salmon had a wonderful bit of crunch to its texture, and the spaghetti was fabulous. Perfectly "al dente," the flavor was big and rich without being too much. My partner couldn't stop sneaking bites! We looked to our server for a dessert recommendation to please both the dark chocolate lover (my partner) and the vanilla/crème brulee lover (me). After confiding that he was "on my team" for dessert (and dessert alone, we understood!), Jonathan suggested the coffee crema. It had a wonderful, thick, creamy texture, and the coffee flavor wasn't too overpowering. It was topped with a bit of light whipped cream, and was a nice ending to an incredible meal. While it likely would not have been our first choice, it was still tasty. The timing of the meal felt very natural. Overall, it was a nice infusion of variety from our typical standby fare. Neither of us had ever had smelt or guanciale, and they were both delicious. The quality of the food was remarkable. The simplicity of the preparation and presentation allowed the flavors of the ingredients to shine. None of the dishes felt too heavy, and we left the restaurant feeling fortified and satiated, not overly stuffed. Ambiance - 5 The ambiance of Anteprima is absolutely another of its strengths. We had a wonderful little table by the front window. The lighting was dim enough to feel romantic, but not so dark that we felt like we were being lulled to sleep. The music was nicely background. The tables are close, but it felt like we had our own personal space. The bathroom was great--very clean, well stocked, and had no line. We'd absolutely recommend a visit to Anteprima for exceptional rustic Italian food and a tremendous experience. Fabulous date night!
(5)
kate k.
okay, confession- i used to work here, as a cook, so i maybe can't give an impartial review but i can tell you that even after eating here for a year i STILL crave the octopus salad with those lemony spicy charred notes, and the greasy-good orrechiete with lamb sausage. i have yet to come here and sit on the damned patio because the weather has always duped me, but it looks great and maybe this year.
(5)
Joey T.
Overall: The food was OK; the seating/atmosphere was good; and the service was meh. My wife and I went to Anteprima, via reservation, on a Friday night around 8 pm. It wasn't overly crowded, and we were seated immediately. The tables are well situated... not too close and not too far away. It was quiet enough inside to carry on a great conversation, but loud enough where you can laugh and have a good time. The service was strange. I couldn't tell if the staff were simply playing it cool, or really wanted to be anywhere else but there. There really wasn't any attitude or anything, maybe just a sense of indifference. We started with the octopus. I thought it was well presented and tasted fine. Upon the recommendation of the server, I went with the Salmon and paired it with couple glasses of terlaner classico. The Salmon was cooked well, but it generally lacked anything of note. I have had much better salmon... and much worse. My wife had the rigatoni and she thought it was OK as well.
(3)
Katie T.
The beets were delicious, the carrots were delicious. My pasta was outstanding and the dessert we ordered was perfect. I will be back.
(5)
Aminda S.
Even seated at the worst table in the house (you know, the one by the door where all the people waiting for tables congregate/the one that gets blasted directly by cold wind whenever a patron enters the restaurant) I more than enjoyed my experience at Anteprima. My two girlfriends and I had made the reservation a few weeks in advance and admittedly I forgot where we were even going until about ten minutes before we headed out. I don't spend much time in Andersonville with the exception of Hopleaf so I was more than excited to try somewhere new in the 'hood. The space is small and intimate - great date spot for certain. It took awhile...actually way too long, before we were asked for our drink order which is my only reason for taking away a star...and the lack of attention to our empty glasses continued through the night unfortunately. But I was fortunate enough to get two drink orders in both of which were superb - a delectable Prosecco and a specialty cocktail made with lemon, soda water, basil and vodka - think Mojita, minus mint, plus fresh basil. I loved it. Would have loved to order a third, but as I mentioned... Now for our order - Asparagus Salad - chilled and delicious. You like asparagus? Don't pass it up, ya hear? Warm Mushroom Salad - My favorite of the night. Perfectly executed. Burrata - Show me a person who doesn't like burrata and I will punch my own self in the face. (Lactose intolerant need not apply) Onto our three pasta orders which we all shared (there are two sizes to choose from) - Bucatini with peas and soft shell crab - this was the failure of the bunch. As a peas and pasta dish it would have stood out, but the crab was all wrong and brought the dish down a notch. Was it the crab? The preparation? Something was amiss. The peas however were the size of eyeballs. Seriously the biggest and freshest peas I've ever tasted. Yum. Orecchiette with lamb sausage - My second favorite dish. Spicy. Enough said. Artichoke risotto - rich, but not so much so that it wouldn't be a good option for an entree for one. All in all, Anteprima exceeded my expectations as far as the food was concerned. I can only hope my next visit will include improved service, and improved weather - so I can sit on that patio in the back!
(4)
Keely J.
I love Antiprima. The service is always great and the food is always delicious. It is true and authentic to it's Tuscan/souther Italian style of food and really has a ton of different plates to chose from. The menu changes pretty often but there is something for everyone and I always leave inspired to try and make what they serve.
(4)
KELLIE K.
Dear Anteprima, You sneaky devil, you took me by surprise. You moved into my neighborhood, waited around, and finally, one day while my +1 and I were out in search of a birthday dinner venue, you lured me in with your screams of a $29 prixe fixe. Temptress. Damn. Even though I wanted to check you out a long time ago, your pricier menu and bustling tables kept me away. I'm glad that you change your menu often, especially the specials. I may not remember exactly what we ordered, so we'll go with "you may not get it again anyway". I'll be back to check out your patio someday. Love, Kellie K.
(4)
Jeff R.
Everyone has such great things to say about Anteprima, unfortunately we did not get to taste all those praises. We were in the mood for a good Italian dinner and more than a few friends have encouraged me to take Anteprima off my wish list. It also helps that there is a three course "meal" (not really a prix fixe...) for $29 Sunday through Thursday with very little restrictions. Even with a great price and great hype, the food did not perform. The most common flavor was little flavor at all. "Bland" was the word of the night, which is hard to fathom for Italian food when all you have to do is add olive oil and garlic. Oh well, not our best meal but you can't win them all. The three course "special" allows you to choose one entree, and any two other dishes (half pasta, dessert, starter - it doesn't matter the combination). I was impressed with the size and scope of the menu, especially since a lot of choices push the envelope of "traditional" Italian cuisine (i.e. NOT Maggianos or Mia Francesca). But what concerned us was that even though we had six dishes to choose for dinner, we had trouble finding that many that looked appealing. I realize we might have been acting picky, but that is usually a red flag in my mind that my personal taste preferences might not match well with the Chef's. We decided on a celery salad, two small pasta starters, one large pasta main, halibut and a dessert. Maybe a celery salad is hard to make flavorful, but all I could taste was the very good parmesan cheese. Our two small pasta dishes were tagliatelle with mushrooms and linguine with crab meat. The tagliatelle was pretty bland throughout, where the linguine crab was very fishy tasting. The entrees were the best course of the evening. Erica liked the Halibut, though my little bite was uninspiring, and my pasta (orecchiette with spicy lamb) was good though slightly over cooked. I really enjoyed the spicy sauce and flavors of the lamb. We ended the meal with a refreshing lemon panna cotta. Maybe my expectations were unreasonable, but the food was still below regular standards - especially for feel good Italian. We had good service with a friendly and knowledgeable server. The atmosphere was a bit loud but it's nice to be in a lively and packed restaurant on a Wednesday evening. While this meal wasn't fabulous, I do look forward to checking out their next project Acre next door.
(2)
Kristen W.
Downgrading my initial review, and am extremely bummed out to be doing so. I have always reserved Anteprima for a special occasion type place. Well you can take it off your list and put Chucky Cheese back on. At least the service there is nicer. Dinner here on Friday night with a reservation. Had to wait for reservation. Crappy table. HORRIBLE lighting. Asked waiter if the lights could be dimmed (through squinted eyes) and he responded "I can't do that". Oh, thanks so much. Amuse bouche: COLD vegetable tart. Could have been yummy but it was cold so had the texture of congealed lard with the taste of a vegetable tart. Not smart. Ordered the cod cooked in parchment. Zero flavor. Should be served in a nursing home for those with sensitive stomachs. Waiter forgot my order for another prosecco. After walking by me so many times the light bulb finally came on and he remembered, so gave it to me free. Okay so I will give a point for that.
(2)
Hallie B.
I love everything about Anteprima. First, it's a relazed, cozy environment, but still feels upscale. I would feel comfortable dining in both jeans and a tee shirt and a snazzy little cocktail dress. I love places like that. The service when I was there was fantastic. Our waiter had excellent wine recommendations. Everyone in my group has very different taste in wine, and we all LOVED the wine he chose for us and hated the wines he chose for the other members of the group. I feel like this demonstrates that he really listened to our individual tastes and picked the perfect wine for each person. At first I was thrown off by the wine prices, $15 a glass seems very expensive, but then I found out that they are for quartinos of wine, so it was actually a great deal. I really don't have any complaints. It was an excellent meal from start to finish.
(5)
Nikki R.
Been here more than a handful of times. Love this place. The homemade bread sticks are soooo good! Pastas are made in house and always fresh. I have a few favs including the grilled octopus appetizer and the pappardelle and orecchiette pasta dishes. They offer 1/2 orders of pasta which is great because I can't always agree with my partner about which pasta to share. Service is usually pretty good but if they are super busy it can get a little slow and as some other people mentioned it does get crowded loud in there during the rush but none of that bothers me. If the crowd and noise is not your thing, there is a really cute outdoor area in the back where the tables aren't on top of each other and it's a lot quieter.
(5)
Edward S.
I'm love the outdoor patio in the back on a spring/summer day. They had a special going on and I got grilled stuff calamari (I've only ever had calamari breaded and fried, so I appreciated the dish), tagliatelle with pancetta ragu (sauce was ok, but the pasta wasn't anything spectacular), and porkchop for $35, which I thought was a steal. Very good Italian wine selection, I love the barbaresco.
(3)
Dennis J.
Came here with friends when it first opened and we were disappointed. Just nothing special or memorable. Nothing terrible either. Space was also very cramped. No desire to go back.
(2)
The Big O.
I'm willing to stick my neck out for this place. Others may not give it 5 stars, but I do, unhesitatingly. I think it's a gem, a little miracle of a place, a tad too loud sometimes, when it's crowded, but excellent food and service. I have been there many times in the last six months, on dates, with my parents, with friends, and it is always a great neighborhood restaurant (even if I'm not from the Andersonville neighborhood). The only thing that's never totally wowed me is their desserts, though I don't have criticisms of them. They just don't float my boat--just not my type of desserts. One of the things I really like about this place is the prix fixe deal--astonishing value. And I salute their low-cost wines ... and happen to love one of the very cheap Nero d'Albas that they offer, tastes great with pretty much anything.
(5)
Gail M.
The pasta's quite good -- and it's great that they have both small and large options for it -- but really, this place excels in appetizers. Order a bunch of starters and make a lovely meal of them. Don't forget the grilled octopus, which is just wonderful.
Great food! Great service! They serve you bread while you are waiting that is fantastic. I've heard the rooftop is fantastic. Cons: Small portion sizes for the $
(4)
Jerry S.
We had the trout and blackened linguine with shrimp and both were delicious. Will definitely return. The green cauliflower appetizer was also good, but the spicy greens were just salty. Very good selection of Italian wines. But the service was inattentive. I suspect they were short a waiter?
(4)
John B.
Anteprima is now serving a prix fixe dinner Sun-Thurs, which is a great way to experience this somewhat pricey spot. $29 for an appetizer, a half pasta, and an entree, or for an appetizer, and entree, and dessert. Go with a friend, get two apps, two entrees, and split a small pasta and dessert. Excellent. Of course, drinks are $9 and up, so your wallet will still feel the bite, but not as bad. On my last visit, we ordered almost everything off the specials menu, which is extensive. Sweetbreads and octopus as the appetizers, tagliatelle loaded with morel mushrooms, grilled spare ribs and halibut as the entrees, and strawberry rhubarb crostata for dessert. Not a bad choice in the bunch. Service is efficient, but not stuffy. We went after the wine walk, and were dressed very casually, and did not feel out of place. We went on the spur of the moment, and got in just as they were opening. By the time we left, the place was really filling up. If you're going on a weekend, I would definitely recommend making reservations. They also have patio seating out back, which is nice if you like that sort of thing.
(5)
Jessica B.
So. First things first. I went on a Wednesday evening in late October with some friends. Our reservation was for 7 p.m. I was 15 minutes late, they were 30 (but the lovely hostess still seated me right away. Yay!). I was shocked by how, um, mature the crowd was. Really. It looked like every white-haired septuagenarian resident within a 30-mile radius was dining that evening. Was there some sort of senior special going on? Who knows. By the time we rolled out at 10:30, the crowd had thinned out (since the place closes at...10 p.m.) and youthened up. So maybe this was just the rare, odd occurrence. And I should say: thanks to the staff for letting us linger with nary a hint of rushing us out. Our waitress was such a doll. She was funny and down to earth and flaky (flighty?) in an endearing way, and she made our experience that much better. Some other friends had raved to me about the amazing/life-changing/delectable spicy lamb sausage entree (served with orechiette and assorted chilis and bitter greens) and I'm happy to report that my life indeed has been changed. The pasta was tender and deliciously soft and doughy, the sausage was spicy but not overwhelmingly so (because I like to actually taste my food and flavors instead of just putting out a fire in my mouth) and the greens were a lovely balancing complement. The dish was overall a tiny bit too salty for my liking, but I'd absolutely order it again. I had a half serving of the pasta/sausage dish (in place of an appetizer, as we each ordered a three-course prix fixe meal) and enjoyed the slow-cooked lamb shoulder for my entree. Soooo lovely. The lamb was tender and moist and falling apart. And the perfect serving size. Just enough to fill you up and leave a little room for dessert. To close out the meal, I chose the strawberry cream cake, which is kind of a silly choice for fall (given the abundance of more seasonal options on the menu, e.g. butternut squash budino and apple-fennel bread pudding) and it was competent and satisfying but not outstanding. One of my dining companions raved about her chocolate tart thingamajig, comparing it favorably to "the best chocolate tart [she] ever had." That's always good. Drinks-wise, I loved (loved) my Autunno (can't recall if it was a special or if it's always on the menu). I'm a sucker for Maker's Mark, and as it turns out, it's so very nice when blended with apple cider and ginger beer. Smooth and sweet: liquid candy. I'll be recreating this one on my own at home...
(4)
Kelly K.
We came for an anniversary dinner and we were very impressed, especially for my boyfriend who is notoriously picky. Starters- Olive plate, buffalo mozzarella with pesto, grilled shrimp The olive plate was par for the course, but the buffalo mozzarella was incredibly fresh and the grilled shrimp were amazing. Main Course- crab linguini and asparagus risotto Both were amaaaazing. Risotto can be a little soupy if not prepared right, but this was the perfect balance of creamy. Dessert- strawberry rhubarb crisp and chocolate hazelnut tart My boyfriend LOVED the crisp. I'm not the biggest fan of rhubarb, but the chocolate hazelnut tart was just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.
(4)
Renata F.
My boyfriend and I enjoyed an incredibly delicious New Year's Eve meal here this past Dec/January. (We're talking a still-can't-stop-dreaming-of-our-meals level of delicious.) Reservations were easy to come by -- even a week in advance of the holiday -- and the front of house was especially accommodating when we changed our reservation party from two to four, then back to two again. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bear with me as neither Matt nor I can remember the particular names of anything we ordered; Anteprima's menu rotates in and out, so none of the dishes are currently listed on their online menu for me to reference. (Shame on me for procrastinating...) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Drinks: we both ordered off Anteprima's specialty drink menu. His was some orange concoction and very sweet; mine was some form of a gin-based martini and sweet-ish. If that's not a terrible description, I don't know what is, but we were both happy with our selections! - Appetizers: we shared a sweet-potato, apple and endive (?) salad. There could not have been a better start to our meal! The dish was refreshing and full of flavors we continue to obsess over. The salad exceeded expectations, was unlike any combination we've tried before (in an exciting way), and was very light -- so it didn't weigh us down before our main courses arrived. Perfect. - Entrees: I believe both of our dishes were specials at the time. He opted for a pork sausage served atop what looked like cooked mini-peas. The sausage had a diameter similar to that you'd expect of a pork tenderloin and was cut into medallions. It wasn't overly-greasy/fatty tasting, which I appreciated. Paired with a bite of the peas (?), the dish felt complete. While his pork was certainly great, my pepper-crusted seared tuna served over butternut squash was other-worldly. Repeat: OTHER-WORLDLY. (Boyfriend generally doesn't enjoy seafood, but even he can agree the flavor profile was out of bounds!) The tuna could not have been of higher quality, nor seared more perfectly (read: aside from the slightest of cooked outer rings made to trap in that wonderful pepper crusting, it might as well have been raw). The tuna's bedding consisted of chopped butternut squash (sauteed) mixed in with other greenery. I could eat that squash mixture every day it was so delicious -- plus it was refreshing, much like our appetizer. Pair it with that majestic tuna and you've found yourself the perfect dish. I'm in love. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The restaurant is small and feels smaller yet given how tightly Anteprima crams tables into an already tight space. I quickly forgive this, though, as their food was so delicious I didn't think twice about the setup once we were served. As cost-conscious individuals, Anteprima's price point is bit of an indulgence for us, so we consider it a special-occasion-type spot. That said, we enjoyed ourselves so thoroughly, we often try coming up with reasons to head back on a more regular basis. Without a doubt, we will be back -- much sooner than later.
(5)
Dusty K.
Anteprima has a lot going for it. Price for one, but it was very lively for a Thursday night and the place was packed. Because they squeeze you in like sardines it's a little loud and cramped on the inside. It's not a very intimate place if that's what you're going for but has all the charm of a neighborhood spot. The food was good. I liked everything I received including the free bread and bread sticks (grissini) passed around as an appetizer. So many restaurants give boring bread to start but Anteprima's had flavor. I was happily surprised. And you can taste the ridiculous amounts of butter in the grissini which is why they're so damn good. The unfortunate thing was that no olive oil or butter were provided. So eating dry bread was the only option. My steak was cooked as I had ordered and topped with fresh herbs. I've never had a steak where, once finished cooking, fresh herbs were then put on top. They were very strong and a bit overpowering so I had to scrape them off as I was eating. They were all I tasted as I began eating. My main problem were the portion sizes. The ravioli was ordered by someone in the party and they received 6 or 8 smallish ravioli. They finished well before anyone else and immediately asked for more bread at the table. Portions here are rather small. Prices on the otherhand aren't outrageous so ordering an appetizer and dessert may be what you need. Then Anteprima no longer becomes the good value. I'd describe Anteprima as a nice neighborhood spot where you can get a quick meal for $20 on a week night when you don't want to cook. It's nothing more or less than that.
(3)
Kelly C.
The food experience at this restaurant was very nice - highlights included the octopus starter which had fresh flavors to tempt the palette. Another highlight was the beef main dish which was nicely flavored yet light. The scallop starter had a very nice mushroom ragout, but I found the scallops alone to be too salty. Unlike other reviewers I found the portions to be a good size, however do not expect this to be Maggiano's with enough food for you, the person sitting next to you and to bring home for later. It's a good value for quality food. The biggest downside to the restaurant is the noise. We went on a Saturday evening with my parents and sat indoors following a graduation; the noise was so loud that we could barely hear each other and had to nearly yell to talk to the person across the table. The restaurant has made an effort with some insulation under tables and on the ceiling, but the wood floors and metal ceiling which make the ambiance so inviting also amplify the noise. The service was good, but not as great as other reviewers have noted - perhaps since it was a Saturday night. We also experienced the restaurant being out of a few dishes on the menu despite ordering around 7:30pm. All in all, I probably will not go back unless it is on a mid-week day since the noise made the experience un-enjoyable.
(2)
Kim A.
My husband and I went to dinner here last Saturday night - we went fairly early, but did have a reservation. The food was very good and the server was friendly and seemed honest - he recommended a good bottle of wine (that was not the most expensive on the list). It's a smaller, cozy place, but a nice atmosphere. We would definitely go again.
(4)
Monica G.
Anteprima helped my boyfriend and I celebrate our 5 year anniversary together. With reservations, we got a saturday evening table. Our server was friendly, attentive and helped us make some great menu decisions. We had grilled octopus and pork sausage with white beans to start - both were 10s. My boyfriend has homemade bowtie pasta with duck, I had butternut squash ravioli - again both excellent. The smaller portions were a perfect size. They gave us a free lemon panna cotta with a candle in honor of our date! It was my favorite part of the meal - totally out of this world. I wish there was a 4.75 button! Only thing preventing me from giving this a 5? The space is tiny. Like, we could hear everything at the tables around us, even smell their dishes. As long as you really know that's what you are in for, the food is worth it. Boy is it worth it!
(4)
Stephen R.
I dont like to give 5 stars to anyone, but in my view this place earned it. 1. good atmosphere (yes its cozy and tight) 2. food is varied and tasy.something for everyone in terms of variety and portion sizes (half and full). 3. Unique in terms of you will not see these items at another place. I loved the following -brussel sprouts -yes...i said it -grilled octupus -orriechiete pasta -any fish they have is fantastic-there is a whole fish thats outstanding but I cant remember the name because I had too much wine. -pork ribs with white beans..fantastic -sides of polenta Overall, great place and service and awesome wine list.
(5)
Rebekah P.
I made a 7:00pm reservation at Anteprima for a Tuesday night. I got caught in some traffic and when I called to let them know I would be a bit late, there was no answer. Thankfully, they called me to check in, and had no problem holding the table until we arrived. The place was packed, so it was very nice of them to hold the table for us. I'm glad they did too, because I did enjoy my experience at Anteprima. Everyone I was with really liked their food. The ones I remember people ordering: Butternut squash ravioli, orecchiette, amberjack, and I think the spaghetto cacio e pepe). Their wine list is impressive and very reasonably priced. I would recommend Anteprima to friends, but there are a few things I would note. It is very loud here. I'm sensitive to this because I don't have the best hearing, so it was a bit of an issue for me. Also, they took my stepmom's food away before she was finished, which was also weird because no one else at the table was even close to being finished with their food. So, not only was she still hungry for her food, but she was sitting with nothing in front of her while we all ate. Very strange (though we didn't say anything because we still enjoyed the experience overall). Overall good place. I'd go back for sure.
(4)
Loni H.
Great food! Bread is great and love love the octopus appetizer. Entrees are tasty but space is cramped and reservations are a must. Outdoor patio is coolio on a nice day.
(4)
Scott T.
We ate here about 6 months ago and were very impressed with the food and service. My wife has some food restrictions and the server was extremely accommodating, which made her feel good vs. being perceived as a troubled guest. We returned this past weekend and had a repeat performance. Good food and service makes Anteprima a favorite of ours.
(4)
Lisa C.
I thought it was a nice touch to have a large bottle of water on the table when we arrived but by the end of the night I realized it was only because you'd never get a refill on anything unless I walked into the kitchen and turned the tap on yourself. If I were just rating the food, 4-5 stars. Wonderful ravioli, risotto, steak, and a panna cotta were devoured. I wanted to lick the plate after the risotto it was so creamy and good. On the flip side, I would give ZERO stars for service. I had the same experience as Greg D and would swear we were at the same table if I hadn't dined at Anteprima a day after his review posted. The restaurant was busy and the kitchen was backed up. It happens and in these situations, even an average waiter should have a few tricks to keeping guests from noticing that courses are coming out with 30 minutes between them. You may not control how fast they are firing plates but you can control that your customer's wine is replenished. It becomes painfully obvious you're waiting when the glasses are empty and the table is barren of food. Even a kind word once in a while..."sorry we're backed up tonight, would you like another glass?" makes an immeasurable difference on the perception of the dining. Our waiter barely spoke to us, came by once in two hours of dining so we could order a second round and that was after asking a busboy to help find him. He avoided any eye contact as he walked the restaurant and made himself impossible to flag down. I'll be the first to sympathize with an overworked waiter if they at least seem to care about providing good service. Our waiter was pretty much a sack of flour for all the effort he put into his job. It was a huge disappointment that undercut how great the food was. As a side note, we were there to celebrate my birthday. We didn't tell the staff as we were not trying to make any extra fuss, we just picked Anteprima as a special evening for ourselves to celebrate. I'd be upset about poor service any time, but it was an extra letdown that the place we picked to spend a special evening was such a bust. I even ordered our dessert course when the main course was brought as I half-joked to my boyfriend, "who knows when we might see our waiter again?" Not a good sign when table conversation turns to laughing about how bad the waiter is. In short, the food was great and I may visit again in the distant future (and I'll walk right back out the door if I see that waiter again). But in the meantime there are a lot of places in Andersonville that I'll be trying before I come back to Anteprima.
(2)
Aaron S.
The atmosphere and decor of this place is really lovely and beautiful. I enjoyed my food, but the fish I had was very salty, maybe that's just the way that fish is. I had a squash soup that was soooo tasty. I would go back again.
(3)
Lochin S.
Sat. night late dinner. started with Anchovies, really really liked the salt and crunch on these. Also the grilled octopus was seasoned very well and the texture was perfect. This came with some straw parm sticks that I could not stop eating. had to ask for more. For dinner we split the scallops. I cant remember what kind of sauce it was in, but I could have licked the plate clean. Service was incredible, no complaints! This is a spot we will def visit again. great for gathering a small party.
(5)
Tanya M.
Awful service. The noise was deafening. The kitchen was clearly backed-up. And what made it worse was that there was no manager or owner making the rounds to check on the customers. Nobody noticed how unhappy we were, and we were sitting right by the host stand. My date and I couldn't hear each other without yelling, so we just ended up staring at each other for an hour and 45 minutes. Our server wasn't rude, but I definitely felt like I was in his way. The employees looked annoyed and rushed. They needed another server on the floor. At one point I finished my water and our water pitcher was empty. I waited ten minutes. A busboy came and cleared the empty pitcher, BUT DIDN'T BRING A FULL ONE BACK. I waited another ten minutes, staring at my empty glass. Finally we had to flag somebody down to get us more water. Our food wasn't timed correctly, or the kitchen was backed up, because there was a very long wait in between courses. And again, nobody noticed, nobody came by to let us know when to expect our next course. The one star is for the lemon panna cotta, which was very good. Oh but wait, our server didn't offer us coffee or tea with our dessert. That's pretty much common etiquette for a restaurant of this level. I know I only had water with my entree, but I usually like tea with dessert. Thanks. Here's the deal. I've worked in the service industry for over ten years. Restaurants get over-booked. Kitchens get backed up. Servers get over-sat. This crap happens. But what makes the difference between an awful restaurant and a great restaurant is letting the customer know what to expect. That's what a good manager is for. To take the emotional temperature of each table and make sure each guest feels special. We just felt forgotten.
(1)
searah d.
Oh Anteprima...I used to love you but last Saturday night you left us waiting over a half hour for our 9:30 reservation. Then at 10pm when we came back to check in, we were told that there were still 4 tables ahead of us. What did the hostess do? Shrug her shoulders and offer our party of three two spaces at the bar. Sigh. Your food is good but your service needs some polish. We are pretty easy diners but you left us feeling neglected and unappreciated. The two stars is for last time I had a good meal there.
(2)
Kyle H.
This place was delicious. Make sure to get the antipasti sampler, as you get a gigantic plate of every antipasti they offer. I had one of the specials, a lobster and saffron risotto - god god, rich deliciousness. They seem to have an awesome dinner crowd, as we had a reservation for some absurdly early old-person dinnertime, like 5:30 or 6, and they were almost full even then. I didn't love the space - kind of a lot of tables crammed into one small space, which made for a very loud dinner. But the food, the wine and the service were all top notch.
(4)
Maureen M.
My family and I had brunch today at Anti Prima. It was wonderful!!! We were 5 adults and a 7 yr old. The staff couldn't have been more accommodating. They cooked a special dish for or little princess and the sommelier was informative, attentive, and paired amazing wines with our prie fixe meal. The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the 'family' concept where an appetizer assortment was served to the table so we could sample them all. Then there were two perfectly sized dishes -- a pasta and entree followed by another assortment of desserts. It was so yummy!! We will certainly go back! Maureen
(5)
Carol K.
What a great little find! Anteprima really surprised me the other night with it's extensive wine list (including 2 of my all time favorite wines) innovative menu and welcoming ambiance. We got there around 7 on a Thursday night and I was surprised to see how crowded the place was. We were quickly seated at a great table right in the front window so we could watch the people coming and going which is always good in my book. The complimentary onion tart amuse bouche was just a portent of things to come. Service was excellent- we told our server that we wanted to catch up over our wine for awhile before ordering and he was very accommodating- checking in periodically but never being invasive. We ordered a couple of appetizers- the octopus and the antipasto plate. Both were delicious! The octopus was grilled , served warm with peppers, garlic and oil. And the antipasti was thin slices of various meats served with fig jelly and crusty toast. As for our entrees we split a pasta and a entree. The pasta had spicy lamb and dandelion greens (now I know what to do with those pesky weeds in my garden!) and the entree was a braised pork with polenta. Amazing. Finally- we finished off our night with some homemade lemoncello (got hooked on that during a trip to Italy) coupled with lemon panna cotta. A lovely evening at a great place. So if you are looking for a great place to get a taste of Italy- right in the neighborhood- check out Anteprima. It's a great little find!
(5)
Michael S.
I wanted to like this place - it's Italian and close to my place and the atmosphere looked really great! However, after my experience there, it is very unlikely I will go back. The atmosphere was good but that is where to good ended. I didn't give the place 1 Star because one person in our party really liked their risotto, but everyone else was disappointed by their dishes. Bland was the overall comment - this coupled with the awkward interactions with the staff and waiting an inordinate amount of time for our food made for a disappointing evening. Oh well - there are plenty of other great Italian places in the neighborhood so one less option isn't the end of the world.
(2)
Viper B.
I wanted to like this place but it just underperformed. Service was unapologetically slow (they weren't packed on a Sun night). Fish came out too salty and the table was finished eating before our waiter was back to check. With that said there were some good dishes: burrata deserved a double order, the amatriciana with guanciale could not have been better, pork shoulder was solid. I wouldn't try to go back here, but it's quaint and not all bad if you're in the 'hood.
(2)
Lydia B.
I live right by here so I have been waiting to try it for awhile. We had a reservation so we were seated immediately when we came in. For an appetizer we had the marinated olives, garlic, orange, and chilies. The waiter did a great job. I had some type of fish and my boyfriend had a steak and they were OK. The place was good but didn't really stick out so I don't know if we'll be back but it was good.
Loved this place! Hubby brought me here for date night and we really enjoyed it! Made a reservation and ran a little late but called them and they held our tale which was great! Our waiter Jonathon gave us great wine and food recommendations too! My only knock on this place was the noise level. It's small and pretty packed so with everyone chatting away, it made it hard to hear my hubby or the waiter. Also, looked like more of a wait for tables later when we left and there really isn't place inside to wait. We had a great experience though!
(4)
Susan L.
Welcome to my new favorite restaurant! Delicious rustic Italian food with fresh, seasonal ingredients. What more can you ask for? We went with another couple and weren't incredibly hungry. So we got the 8-app sampler, 2 half-order pastas, and 2 entrees and split everything. PERFECT amount of food. Pasta is fresh as a daisy. The eggplant app is to die for. The halibut is incredible, and, my friend from Wisconsin who is a huge meat eater said that their pork chop is the BEST she's ever had! (It was pretty juicy and delish...) P.S. The Chen Chen (sp?) cocktail is NOT for everyone. If you like Pimms & ginger ale, you'll like this. If you don't like yours, I'll finish it!
(5)
J V.
Went with the ol girl on a Tuesday and both went with the Prix Fixe option for $29. I ordered entirely off the specials menu, starting with stewed goat over polenta, a spicy buccatini pasta and then finished with a pork shoulder osso bucco, all of which were excellent. Girlfriend had a salumi plate, roasted squash risotto and brick baby chicken and enjoyed them as well. Lot of food and terrific bread, especially the little buttery "sticks". Does get sorta loud but all in all, a great meal and with a bottle of wine, $115 with tax and tip. Would definitely go back and have recommended to someone else already.
(4)
Greg D.
I was a little concerned going there because the reviews weren't sounding too great. Also, I couldn't even look at the website to preview the menu because my computer's security wouldn't let me, it said their website could be "harmful" to my computer (maybe a foreshadowing?). I will say that when I walked in, I really liked the ambiance and liked that it was intimate. However, once it gets really busy, then you have waiters, busboys and patrons bumping into you the whole night because it's pretty tight. One of the reviewers I had read said their waiter had zero personality. And that's who we got. I'm not sure this should be his desired way to make a living, because he clearly didn't seem to enjoy it. The food was pretty good, nothing special, and very small quantities for the price. The busboy took our water bottle away (a table of 7 people) before the main course arrived and never brought it back. It wouldn't have been too bad if I had the glass of wine I had ordered, but that was never brought either. The waiter apologized an hour later as we were paying asking if I wanted it now. Seriously?? Even my fellow diners had to grab the waiter to ask for more drinks, he never came back during a two and a half hour dinner to ask. The host had to actually go get us more water before we finished. Now that I think of it, the waiter and bartender could probably keep up with the orders if they weren't doing kitchen duties like plating appetizers or cutting bread for the bread baskets. The poor bartender looked like she was going to pass out because she was trying to fill all the drink requests and make appetizer plates for the whole restaurant. I'm thinking maybe once they've been open for a while they will get their bearings, then someone told me they've been open for 5 years. Wow. I don't think I've had that uncomfortable of a dining experience in the 15 years I've been in Chicago. Maybe it would be a better experience to go during a weekday when it's not busy. But with those prices, there are so many better options along Clark Street where you get the service you deserve.
(2)
Natalie S.
I was given a gift certificate from a friend for my birthday last year. We sat on it awhile and finally got our way over there to give it a whirl. See... I'm not wild about Italian food. I will very rarely ever suggest it as a dinner option. But, free food is free food so we made a reservation and went on over. Atmosphere: awesome. Loud enough so you don't feel the people next to you are listening to your conversation but quiet enough where we weren't shouting at each other. Waiter: helpful and friendly. My friend who gifted me with the certificate recommended a specific wine which they were out of (boo) but he suggested something he felt was similar. It was delicious. I had a duck dish (don't remember specifically) that was YUMMMM. When I get an Italian food craving, I'll be back!
(4)
Steve K.
I may be going out on a limb, but I would venture to say that Anteprima has the best NY strip steak in the city. I would love to share more about this quaint little joint, but it's all I've ever gotten when I've gone. It's served with a warm arugula salad with shaved parmesean cheese that, when mixed with the juices from the steak, allow you to very easily clean your plate. A bit pricey and not much elbow room, but worth it.
(5)
Candace T.
We ate outside on the back patio, which was very nice, and not too crowded. The food was hit or miss for me: the grilled octopus was one of the most delicious things ever...sooo amazingly tender. My roasted beet ravioli, however, was pretty flavorless, aside from the parmigiana sprinkled on top. Nevertheless, with a shared bottle of delicious wine, it was a completely enjoyable meal. Seriously, get the octopus, though!! Lastly, I'm not exactly a fancy frou frou eater, usually, and I dislike nothing more than having a waiter give a little attitude. Not even close at Anteprima, greeters and waiters were incredibly welcoming and not at all snooty. Wheelchair Accessibility Review: Fully accessible through the front door AND they have a little ramp to get to the back patio, which is a very welcome consideration that you don't always find (It's removable, though, so just ask someone if it isn't out when you get back there). Tables are of normal height that you can roll right up, and there was no problem with crowding, or moving the other chair out of the way. Didn't use the restrooms, so I can't speak to the accessibility of those.
(4)
Rob M.
I learned of Anteprima after the website Chicago Eater ranked it No. 1. As it turned out, service was the standout. Our server emphasized the seafood, which was an excellent pointer. If scallops are available, order them. I also recommend the meatballs as an appetizer. Among a table of four, the only let down was a pasta dish: pappardelle, prosciutto ragu, parmigiano. For dessert, we shared three, which divided well because they were relatively small. Prices are reasonable and menu items rotate. Judging by the menus posted online as I write this, what I ordered at Anteprima just recently does not seem to be available if I were to return today. Yet, I would not hesitate to return based on the strength of my first visit.
(4)
Karen N.
I love this place. I was so mesmerized by the menu and all the seasonal items that I couldn't decide what to order for a long time. We got 3 apps: Tuscan grilled Bread Salad, stuffed zuchini blossoms and grilled octopus. Oh, we knew we were in for a treat as soon as the zuchini blossoms came to our table. Then we had two small orders of pasta: orrechete with sausage, chilli and dandelion greens. Risotto with corn and crab. Delicious! The server split the plates for us without asking. If we had one more person, we would have gotten 1 or two entrees to share... the special whole grilled fish looked good, and also the calamari. The 1 star off is because the desserts were just ok. We looked at the selection and decided to go next door to have icecream. Not a big deal though.
Been twice and had a great meal both times. Great non "traditional" Italian food (i.e.not just pizza and pasta). Recommend sharing a few of the pastas as appetizers. Highly recommend the sliced strip w/ rosemary, lemon, and olive oil--so, so good. Service is fine, atmosphere was inviting.
(4)
Steve W.
I'm usually mum on Italian, but I really loved this place. First of all, we showed up really late - around 9:30 or so, but the (handsome) server was incredibly accomodating and attentive the whole time. We started off with the artichoke caponata and grilled octopus. The caponata was light and slightly sweet. Highly recommend it. And, yes, the octopus is just as good as advertised. They're grilled until they're soft but not chewy in the least; a tasty and light kickoff to your meal. For the entrees, we split the asparagus ravioli, which was delicious. Its lightness belied the buttery sauce on top. And we split the Mediterranean whole fish, which came with crisp fingerling potatoes. Again, (you may sense a theme) light and delicious. We capped the whole thing off with the chocolate tart with vanilla creme. As someone that usually isn't a huge chocolate fan (strange, I know), it was perfect with the flaky crust. So yet another great restaurant in Andersonville I wish I could steal for my 'hood.
(4)
Matt R.
This is a cool place! They serve fast, and very interesting and tasty foods. The portions are pretty small, but the wine choices are good and the staff are friendly and good at what they do. Food is overall not that expensive either. This place has the coolest look from the outside since you really only see the first couple tables and then you get inside and see how many people they have inside. I'm glad I checked this place out, all the food is creative. I've never had polenta (goat) before, but I enjoyed it. Baaaaaah.
(5)
Frances K.
We spent my partner's birthday evening here two years in a row. This year, the kids and grandparents were with us. The food is uniformly interesting and flavorful. Service is helpful and friendly. Anteprima also has a nice selection of house specialty cocktails that are unique. We had an array of appetizers including the grilled polenta, the stuffed calamari, and the grilled squid. The polenta was the weakest of the three but still had terrific flavor - the wilted greens served with the polenta had a slightly bitter flavor that worked as a nice counterpoint to the dish. Nothing to be said about octopus and calamari except that they were both excellent. Dinner involved stuffed pork loin, the brick roasted chicken, mussels, and for the kids, pasta with olive oil. All the entrees were tasty and received rave reviews. The only constructive comment is that the seasoning on the chicken shaded towards a bit over-salty. The kids loved their pasta too (although how bad can pasta with olive oil and parmesan cheese be). Anteprima would have received five stars except that we made a point, on our reservations, of stressing that it was a birthday dinner. There was no acknowledgement from the waitstaff, no dessert birthday greeting, nothing. That was a bit disappointing especially because we love this place so much.
(4)
Matt M.
Anteprima was one of the best meals that I have ever had, no exaggeration. I don't often go out to pricey dinners but I just may based off of the food here. I wish I could remember exactly what my date and I ordered but I can not and their website's current menu is not what we saw New Year's Eve. We ordered off of their custom drink menu, shared an appetizer and each had an entree and everything was fantastic. My girlfriend and I are suckers for anything squash or sweet potato related and Anteprima's offerings were definetly worth the money. Food: 10 Atmosphere: 6 (It's cramped and noisy but most places are) Service: 7 (Nothing special)
(5)
Jeff L.
I'm just a rookie at this Yelp Review business, but I can tell you this. Anteprima was awesome. I picked it based on the Yelp reviews (although the service comments and noise concerned me) and its proximity to The Steep theatre. I had my wife, mom, mom-in-law (and her husband) and sister-in-law meeting for dinner for birthdays. Mom said: Best ravioli she's ever had. Yummy bread sticks. Great veal. Great service--thanks Chris (who got us out of there when we were running out of time). A little loud once the full crowd is there, but we had the cozy big table in the back corner--perfect for us. The vegan amongst us was also able to order what she wanted. All and all, a great experience where everyone enjoyed the food, wine, and service. By the way, great specials that night added to the surprise of an extended selection of great choices. Six thumbs up!
(5)
Matthew S.
There are a lot of great restaurants in Andersonville and Anteprima is one of them! The service, atmosphere, and wine list were the highlights for me. The food was really tasty but I wouldn't suggest ordering the salad assortment. I think it might have been better to just order a couple. I loved the beet salad and the rest of the items were just ok. This is why I gave Ateprima 4 stars. Our entree's were really tasty. My girlfriend ordered the risotto and I had a pasta with Pancetta that would have made Chef Boiardee look like a shit-head. I would like to come back and try the Coho Salmon. If anyone has had it there you have to let me know how it is. Our server made some nice suggestions for wine and the half bottle options are great if you want to try a red and a white. Also, I never felt rushed and it's always nice when the server realizes that people don't like to be asked "how are you" every 15 seconds. They were extremely attentive and constantly kept an eye on our table to make sure we were aight! This is a great place for nice night out with some good friends or just your special lady or man or lady-man.
(4)
Eme L.
There $29 3-course just can't be beat. It's a bit noisy - not the spot for a romantic date - but the service is fantastic and the food (at least what we sampled) is delicious. Our party of four tried: Appetizers: pork terrine, calamari, octopus, mushrooms in parchment. All super tasty with my dabs being the pork and the spicy calamari. Pasta: spaghetti with tuna, ravioli, and pasta with pesto. Fav was the ravioli (hovering between sweet/savory). Pesto wasn't cooked and was taken off our bill. Entree: quail, pork ham, and whitefish. Fab was pork ham...whatever that is. Dessert: chocolate tart, rhubarb crumble, walnut cake. Walnut was the best. Memorable meal and worth a return visit. l
(4)
Jean C.
For hubby's graduation dinner, we decided on coming to Anteprima. We perused the menu during Midsommerfest and liked what we read. The reservation was made originally for 7:30 but I was able to change it to 6pm since the reception for his program seemed to end sooner than expected. When we arrived, there were a few tables already but it got packed as we had our meal. Since we nibbled a bit at the party we only ordered entrees. I went with the stuffed rainbow trout with spinach and artichoke. It was delicious. The food was well done and well presented. Everyone enjoyed their dish. Service was lovely but the dining room was a tad noisy. It was hard to have a conversation with someone on the other side of the table. I was pleased with Anteprima and would come here again for dinner. A walk around Andersonville is definitely in order after your meal!
(4)
Christine F.
3.75 stars. Can't do half stars (or quarter stars) on here. We took my parents here on their bi-yearly visit...our first time around our waiter was kind of a jerk and we had a meh time, but since the reviews of Anteprima have improved we gave it another go. Right off the bat, they kind of pissed me off. I had a res at 7, but they said the table wouldn't be ready for 15 minutes. Well, you know, that's why I make a reservation....so we don't have to wait. If Anteprima had a bar inside I wouldn't have minded so much, but we had to go next door to Acre (there's nowhere to stand in Anteprima). What made the situation a little better is that since Anteprima owns Acre, we could carry our drinks back from Acre to Anteprima (so we didn't have to slam our beers...yay). But still. The res starting late got a bit of an eyebrow raise from me, but it wasn't a dealbreaker. Especially after I had a beer. Ha. Our waitress was really nice. She kept our drinks full and brought us delicious breads and olive oil. I ordered the polenta app (on greens and tomatoes) and a ricotta gnocchi with an arugula pesto with sundried tomatoes. The polenta was kind of blah, it wasn't terribly flavorful....which is really unfortunate, since I LOVE a good polenta (Terragusto is pro at this). However, the gnocchi was freaking awesome. I was so full I couldn't eat it all, but I wish I could have eaten more. It was cheezy, salty, arugula-y (my favorite type of greens) and delicious. We didn't have any room for dessert, but everyone enjoyed their meals and had a good time.
(4)
Ben G T.
Sat at bar. Great mussels, great service, great vibe & company.
(5)
Josh G.
We had reservations for two, and upon arrival, asked if we could change it to three; Jeffrey gladly changed it for us. Greeting: We were greeted by the Host/Manager named Jeffrey. He was very helpful and friendly. Service: Good service. Not only did our own server interact with us, but the other servers did as well. They were genuinely friendly, helpful and playful. Food: Starter- Breads. We were given three types of breads initially. They all had unique textures and flavors. Grilled prawns, apples, celery, radishes, preserved lemon vinaigrette $9 *This was packed with amazing flavor. The warm prawns with the cold apples and celery in the preserved lemon vinaigrette pairing was an amazing creation of infused flavor. Half Pasta Order: Roasted beet ravioli, butter, parmigiano $11 *The beet flavor was mild in a yummy cream sauce. *The serving was small. I believe I had 4 or 5 ravioli in my bowl. Entree: Sliced new york strip, rosemary, lemon, cracked pepper, olive oil, arugula $26 *This was a small portion. I don't think it is at all worth $26. Luckily I had the special. I wouldn't have paid full price for it by itself. It was tasty, tender, and well made. I enjoyed it a lot!! Drinks: I ordered a cocktail, as did the other two, and they were just under $10 each. My drink was something fruity, but didn't rock my world. They have glass/bottles of wine as well. The beta delta pinot grigio-chardonnay blend, lageder alto adige 2009 went for $39/bottle. Pricing: They have a three course meal for $29 Sun-Thurs. So, I got all of the above for much less than if I purchased them individually. The small portions for the price on some of the items seemed to excessive to me. I was completely happy with the flavor of everything though. They did not disappoint! Ambiance: I went on a Sunday night at 8:15pm, and it was packed! They really cram as many people in there as they can. We still had good service though. It was not loud even with a packed out crowd. I enjoyed it.
(4)
Jen L.
All I can say is Wow. I decided to go here on recommendation for a father's day double date (how awkward). The hope was that the two dads would like each other and chat away while us young'uns exert less effort. Thankfully, the food was so good that it provided a great amount of conversation for the evening. Being the nice kids that we are, we decided to go all out for father's day dinner with the appetizer sampler, entrees, and desserts. The sampler was amazing with eight different tasting portions of their delicious appetizers. I thought the farro was especially delicious, and my dad drooled over the olives. I got the asparagus risotto for my entree - awesome move there. Not too salty but still had tons of flavor. The boyfriend had the bison, and he liked his plate clean. For dessert, I had the sorbet trio; the strawberry and lemon were amazing, but the mint was a little strong for my tastes. I really don't have anything bad to say about Anteprima. The service was delightful and the food was amazing. We did spend a pretty penny for the holiday, but I hope to be back for some appetizers and cocktails in the future!
(5)
Annie R.
As someone who is not typically a fan of Italian, I really enjoyed this place. The service was a little inconsistent, but the food was great and the back patio was beautiful. Probably not a place I'll frequent, but a good go-to when you're in the mood for some good wine and heavy duty, delicious carbs.
(4)
Gary B.
I have yet to eat here but we will start with 5 stars. Reason being, we (4 people)stopped in last night around 7:30 without a reservation. The place was busy and the host was being very accommodating. He said that it would be a 45min wait. He could tell there was some apprehension in the group as to the wait so he offered a few options. We could leave a contact number and he would call us when the table was ready, wait out side or sit at the bar and have drinks and appetizers. The place was busy and word of mouth and Yelp reviews seem to be attracting a crowd. We will make reservations the next time so I can review the food but the host was very pleasant.
(5)
Rich R.
This was my first visit to this restaurant. When we arrived to be seated for our reservation, they told us there was not a table available and to go to their sister restaurant 2 buildings over for a drink and they would come get us in 10 min. Half hour later, I had to go back and check on them. The hostess told me that she was on her way to come get us. Funny, when I think of a reservation, I would think they would hold a table for that time. As for the wait service, we watched everyone around get water and bread, but we were neglected and had to ask them to bring it to us. We were not tucked away in a corner or anything, we were right in the middle of the restaurant. Then my girlfriend asked about something on the menu and the waiter told us that he didn't care for it. After we got through the service issues, the food was pretty good. I had the rainbow trout which was very good and my girlfriend had the rosotto and she enjoyed it as well. I was very disappointed when the bill came and nobody acknowledged any of their service and reservation mishaps. They seemed not to care. All in all, food was good, but I'm not going back.
(1)
Tiffany G.
UNREAL. The absolute BEST ... and I do mean BEST octopus I have ever had. We've been preparing octopus at home for many, many years and do a fine job, but it's an incredibly difficult dish to make well and above all, to get TENDER (even when using baby octopus). Our own efforts cannot even come close to Anteprima's - the octopus was so tender it melted in your mouth and the preparation was absolutely phenomenal - so flavorful but not overpowering. We are not impressed easily, especially when it comes to seafood, and yet, were surely were! Such a memorable dish. Bravo! Now that we were off to a great start, we followed up with their special pasta of the evening, Spaghetti Botarga. A very light, and enjoyable primo piatto ... On our next trip I would like to try their orecchiette with house made lamb sausage and bitter greens. For our secondi we ordered the venison loin and the night's special rabbit. Both were absolute perfection. The venison melted like butter and the rabbit as well - juicy, tender, cooked JUST RIGHT - and full of flavor. I have had these two game meats at several other restaurants and there is just no comparison - Anteprima reigns supreme. We finished our meal with the Vin Santo and biscotti - something I've not had since my time in Italy. The service was wonderful, the atmosphere warm and inviting, the food: Italian as it should be - absolutely authentic and delicious. Anteprima is a superb place that I couldn't recommend more highly.
(5)
Deepika T.
So we did the birthday dinner here last night, and must say it is a great date spot. Very cozy, you might knock elbows with the next table, but nice nonetheless. Our waiter was great, attentive and had suggestions whenever we asked for any. The food by itself was OK, we've had better Italian. The roasted peppers appetizer was neither cold nor warm, but the grilled peaches appetizer was great! Be warned, if you don't like Gorgonzola cheese, this particular appetizer might be overwhelming. We tried the risotto and gnochhi pastas - good, but not great. The highlight of the evening was the dessert - a light fluffy piece of lemon panna cota. Omg, I would go to this place again only for this. Perfect texture, with a great glaze on top. The best ever. Ask for the outdoor deck seating if you head there with good weather, we didn't realize that we had the option until after we finished our meal.
(3)
Jade H.
What can I say that the 180 reviews before me hasn't already said? I just want to add in my five stars to the list. This place is so tasty. My favorite dish of all the dishes we ordered was the octopus salad. It had a very complex flavor. I could taste so many levels of sweet and tangy and salty and even a little fruity. The texture was marvelous. I wish I hogged it all up from my boyfriend. I also had a surprising cocktail with rosemary flavoring. It was very good. The plume of rosemary filled my olfactory senses with every sip. The other dishes were fantastic too. I even appreciated the pasta (although I am still not a pasta fan.) Order the octopus.
(5)
Matt L.
We went for "Dine out for Life" an HIV/AIDS fund raising dinner. The Food was excellent and the table was ready in a more than a reasonable amount of time from the stated reservation. The food was excellent and prepared just right!! The grilled octopus was excellent and I would highly recommend it to anyone trying the restaurant. The waiter could have checked on us maybe a couple more times and the person bringing out the entrees misplaced the dishes.....pretty minor in my book, but I can't give it 5 stars. I look forward to trying it again.....Highly recommended!!!
(4)
Brian H.
The experience of dining at Anteprima is getting more onerous and less pleasureful. It was a pain to get a reservation; they required me to wait when our party wasn't all there (our party was 2 people and there were plenty of open tables!); our server was borderline rude and acted irritated when we asked for anything (like when we had the audacity to ask for more water or for recommendations on the menu. Gasp!). The menu is fine but very heavy on small plates/appetizers with far fewer options for entrees. I like to support local business and independent restaurants and I will continue to do so... but not at Anteprima.
(2)
Lex N.
This place is to die for! Went with my dad and his friend who knows Marty (the owner) and most of the staff here. We were treated like royalty. Marty is such a nice guy as well as is the rest of the staff. We tried several different appetizers. Among my favorites were the cuddlefish (it had so much flavor), this ravioli dish with squash inside, and the octopus. But everything, and I truely mean everything that I tried was excellent! Usually when I go to a restaurant and try several things and a few end up being just ok. Well, there was not one thing that I tasted and thought, eh, it's only ok. I loved it all. Great place, check it out!!
(5)
Hannah M.
I've been here several times. It's a really great menu-- lots of choices-- and I like the $29 prix fixe option. I've always liked what I've ordered. But the service is very, very strange. Every time it's been super, super slow, cold, and unfriendly. No one comes to say hello-- some awkward waiter just appears out of the blue and asks you to order. And everything tends to take a really long time-- from getting the bill to getting the carafe of water refilled. I'll keep going back, because for me food trumps service, and this is a good spot in Andersonville, but the waitstaff could use a pep talk. I almost never notice service, but it's pretty perceptibly bizarre here.
(3)
Zan B.
Summary: If you like great Italian food and don't mind being ignored by the waiter or waiting 40-50 minutes for your food, then this place is for you. Will I return? Only if they offer take-out. The first thing I want to comment on is, if this waiter had actually tried to sell me something, I would've bought it. I wanted to throw my money at this place if someone would have made the effort. I would have bought 1-2 more drinks and an extra side if someone was there to take my order. Aesthetics: The place looked fine and the seats weren't too close to each other. Staff: Whoever was at the door to greet us was nice. The waiter looked like he didn't have a thought in is head, well, that is until a couple (that had a similar skin tone as the waiter) sat next to us. He couldn't stop talking to them for some reason. The other waiters seemed similar. I didn't see much interaction between staff and customers. I don't get it either. It's not like there were too many tables to deal with! It's just a shoebox, people. Get it together! Talking to customers is easy! Price: For the money, the food is well worth it. Food: OMG the food! It was great. I wished I got another ravioli or two on my plate, but I had enough appetizers to hold me over. That's the other thing. Get appetizers. You may spend so much time waiting that you will need something to hold you over (their bread was good, too). If it weren't for the bad service I would have had an over-all great experience.
(2)
Rick R.
I think Anteprima means "Afterbirth" because thats what I had after eating here. The only positive was George our waiter who was very attentive.
(1)
Tim T.
Epic fail. Had a reservation for 8:30, arrived early, lots of empty tables, asked to be seated and the attitude from the hostess started. Almost as if I insulted her. She reluctantly seated us. Waited forever for water and drinks. The waiter had zero personality and could have cared less if we enjoyed it or not. Prices here are insane for the quantity. I ordered a special salad from the specials, it was $10 for less than 1 tomatoes chopped with a slice of cucumber. The bread was good. Sorry we will not be back, way to many other choices with great food and service in the area.
(2)
Matt M.
The food was neither plentiful nor delicious. It was highly over-priced for mid to low quality italian food. The waitress also was flustered if interuppted and made no attempts to hide it. She actually made the "who the hell do you think you are look" a couple of times to our table of 5. I will not be back, but it was not the worst dining experience I have ever had. If I had paid $20 for two people I would have given it 3.25 stars.
(2)
Robert Y.
Absolutely incredible pasta dishes. Came in for a lighter dinner, and I had the orecchiette with the spicy lamb sausage with an incredible glass of montepulciano that the waiter recommended and it was perfect. I'll definitely be coming back to try a full on meal with appetizer, main course and dessert!
(5)
Jules D.
Let me get the less-than-great thing out of the way first: It gets loud in there on a Saturday evening. Now let's move onto what was enjoyed: Everything else. The food was fresh and well prepared, like what we love most about eating in Italy. Nice wines available in quartinos for us light drinkers. I had the roasted beet salad with ricotta salata, candied nuts and arugula. Ok, there were three small pieces of arugula, but plenty of the tasty rest of it. And the balance of cheese and beet was well done. My entree was the delicate squash and ricotta ravioli in a sage brown butter sauce. Rich, but not too rich, melt-in-your-mouth filling and light pasta--a hit! The chocolate hazelnut tart was heavenly, from the touch of whipped cream to the cookie crust and everything in between-- that chocolate was supremely satisfying. Service was timely and thoughtful. Our waiter understood that the espressos would come after the dessert, again, he was helpful and friendly throughout our meal. The menu has many things I'd like to try--we'll be back.
(4)
Dhruv P.
My friend and I tried Anteprima yesterday and the food and ambiance was exceptional. Tip: Make reservations! - We went around 7pm and the place was empty, however, we were told that only tables were at bar or table would be available at 9pm, which was fine for us, however, we were surprised as there were ample empty tables. Well, in 15 minutes of our seating, the place was quickly on its way of being full. We ordered an appetizer that was 2 fried eggs (with very slight liquid yolk) mixed with homemade tomato sauce on oiled bread. We were told that is a traditional Southern Italy dish and it was tasty, after realizing it was boiling hot. My dish was a ravioli with chestnuts and mushroom cream sauce. I ordered the dinner portion and it was the the right size. You can choose to do a tasting portion, but you'll need at least 2 dishes to make a meal. The ravioli was done well and the chestnut flavor was balanced with the mushroom creme sauce. Actually, I would have liked the chestnuts to have a slight stronger flavor as it was a bit masked by the sauce instead of balanced. I could tell that the ravioli were made in house and along with everything there was made by them. Only the breads were brought in from a bakery, and they give a nice selection of breads in a basket before the appetizer arrives. Antepasta, according to the bartender who was well versed in the menu, uses little sauce in its dish, just to bring out the flavors of the dishes instead of masking the flavors. Just keep in mind, that if you are looking for a sauce dish, you won't find it there. I will definitely be going there again to sample more off the menu and try a Dolci on the next try.
(4)
Christina S.
If you like bland food.... this place is for you! My boyfriend surprised me and took me here for my Birthday celebration dinner and made a bad choice. The food was bland, table wast crowded and the music/ambiance was not "Modern Italian" at all. The best part about the restaurant is its location next to Georgies Ice Cream that was the highlight and best part of the night! Thank you Anteprima for giving me a tasteless Birthday dinner, we will never be back nor recommend.
(1)
Cadence K.
There's no where I would rather eat in Chicago, or really anywhere. It is romantic and homey, and the food is rustic but elegant.
(5)
Sarah M.
There's certain things that I look for in a restaurant before I even go: good cocktails, fairly vegetarian friendly, and dessert for my sweet tooth. Anteprima appeared to hit all three, so I took my parents here for a night out in my 'hood. Since it was a beautiful night, we sat out on the patio. My dad was nervous at first b/c there were absolutely zero patrons inside the restaurant... but that's only b/c everyone was on the patio. It's a nice little area, but slightly crowded. Whatever, we live in Chicago, I'm not going to complain when I can really only eat outside for about 3 weeks out of the year. Fabulous cocktails, check. Not much in the way of beer ( I think my dad only had 2 to choose from?), but a decent wine list. There are more appetizers than entrees, but honestly, I could have eaten my way through the appetizers list. The menu does change weekly so I won't go into great detail about the specifics of my meal, other than all three of us ate every single bite on our plates. My dad had a heritage pork chop and raved about it. My mom, who claims to dislike fish skin, even sampled some of the crispy skin of her salmon and was happy about it. As a vegetarian, I had options to choose from, and the swiss chard ravioli I ate was amazing. Dessert though. I die. I had a hazelnut tart with this AMAZING vanilla whipped cream. If it were acceptable to just dive head first into it, I would have, but then my parents would have thought they raised an awful child. Service was, for the most part, great. Jonathan was an excellent server. There were times that the staff was slightly slow about clearing plates/glasses from our table (something I really hate is having to play a virtual tetris on my table with rearranging all the used plates/glasses to make room for the new plates/glasses), but other than that, no complaints. I'd definitely go back here.
(4)
Christina C.
Thanks to a great recommendation from a friend of my partner's, we initiated a monthly excursion we're calling "Secret Sups." Each month, one of us picks out a new restaurant and arranges a reservation ... without disclosing its location to the other. It must be a new/out of the ordinary place for us, and secrecy of the location is half the fun! We are by no means food novices, but we tend to frequent the same handful of places within a few-block radius of home, so this is a great catalyst to get us out our neighborhood routine. I chose Anteprima in Andersonville for our inaugural event. While having a post-dinner drink at Marty's on Balmoral, we developed our criteria and rating scale to apply to each Secret Sup. SCALE: 0 = Nonexistent. 1 = Sucky. 2 = Mediocre. 3 = Average/nothing to write home about. 4 = Good! 5 = Outstanding/like, really wowed us! 6 = Like nothing we've ever had before. CRITERIA Reservation ease - 5 Reservations are accepted via Open Table, so it was super easy to navigate. Wait time/comfort - 5 Though we were about 15 minutes early for our reservation, we were immediately shown to our table upon arrival. There was a small bar area in the back of the restaurant where we could have waited if necessary. Server - 5 Our waiter, Jonathan, was fabulous. He came to greet us very quickly, asked us if we'd been there before, and gave a brief description of the "rustic Italian" style of cuisine when we said we hadn't. He offered to answer any questions we might have and left us to peruse the menu briefly. He seemed to arrive at our table just when we needed him--not too overbearing but as attentive as we needed/wanted. We did have a handful of questions regarding some elements of the menu, and Jonathan answered with ease. He was very friendly throughout the duration of our experience, and gave some wonderful recommendations when requested. Food - 5 We ordered a bottle of the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, La Valentina, which was delicious--smooth and velvety, yet robust. We chose the grilled octopus (with potatoes, red onion, chilies, parsley, lemon, and olive oil) and the pesciolini (a special: crispy lake smelt with lemons and parsley) to start. There were no strange sauces or extraneous accouterments--just good quality food prepared simply. The appetizers were delicious. The octopus had wonderful texture, the potatoes were sliced incredibly thinly, and the combination of flavors was delightful. The pesciolini was a new adventure for us. It was light and crispy with just the right amount of breading and addition of citrus to highlight to flavor. For our main courses, I chose the spaghetti "carbonara," a house specialty (with house guanciale, an unsmoked Italian bacon, asparagus, farm egg, and pecorino), and my partner chose the pan-seared salmon (with roasted shallots and asparagus, balsamic, and porcini vinaigrette). Both dishes were extraordinary. The salmon had a wonderful bit of crunch to its texture, and the spaghetti was fabulous. Perfectly "al dente," the flavor was big and rich without being too much. My partner couldn't stop sneaking bites! We looked to our server for a dessert recommendation to please both the dark chocolate lover (my partner) and the vanilla/crème brulee lover (me). After confiding that he was "on my team" for dessert (and dessert alone, we understood!), Jonathan suggested the coffee crema. It had a wonderful, thick, creamy texture, and the coffee flavor wasn't too overpowering. It was topped with a bit of light whipped cream, and was a nice ending to an incredible meal. While it likely would not have been our first choice, it was still tasty. The timing of the meal felt very natural. Overall, it was a nice infusion of variety from our typical standby fare. Neither of us had ever had smelt or guanciale, and they were both delicious. The quality of the food was remarkable. The simplicity of the preparation and presentation allowed the flavors of the ingredients to shine. None of the dishes felt too heavy, and we left the restaurant feeling fortified and satiated, not overly stuffed. Ambiance - 5 The ambiance of Anteprima is absolutely another of its strengths. We had a wonderful little table by the front window. The lighting was dim enough to feel romantic, but not so dark that we felt like we were being lulled to sleep. The music was nicely background. The tables are close, but it felt like we had our own personal space. The bathroom was great--very clean, well stocked, and had no line. We'd absolutely recommend a visit to Anteprima for exceptional rustic Italian food and a tremendous experience. Fabulous date night!
(5)
Susan L.
Welcome to my new favorite restaurant! Delicious rustic Italian food with fresh, seasonal ingredients. What more can you ask for? We went with another couple and weren't incredibly hungry. So we got the 8-app sampler, 2 half-order pastas, and 2 entrees and split everything. PERFECT amount of food. Pasta is fresh as a daisy. The eggplant app is to die for. The halibut is incredible, and, my friend from Wisconsin who is a huge meat eater said that their pork chop is the BEST she's ever had! (It was pretty juicy and delish...) P.S. The Chen Chen (sp?) cocktail is NOT for everyone. If you like Pimms & ginger ale, you'll like this. If you don't like yours, I'll finish it!
(5)
J V.
Went with the ol girl on a Tuesday and both went with the Prix Fixe option for $29. I ordered entirely off the specials menu, starting with stewed goat over polenta, a spicy buccatini pasta and then finished with a pork shoulder osso bucco, all of which were excellent. Girlfriend had a salumi plate, roasted squash risotto and brick baby chicken and enjoyed them as well. Lot of food and terrific bread, especially the little buttery "sticks". Does get sorta loud but all in all, a great meal and with a bottle of wine, $115 with tax and tip. Would definitely go back and have recommended to someone else already.
(4)
Aminda S.
Even seated at the worst table in the house (you know, the one by the door where all the people waiting for tables congregate/the one that gets blasted directly by cold wind whenever a patron enters the restaurant) I more than enjoyed my experience at Anteprima. My two girlfriends and I had made the reservation a few weeks in advance and admittedly I forgot where we were even going until about ten minutes before we headed out. I don't spend much time in Andersonville with the exception of Hopleaf so I was more than excited to try somewhere new in the 'hood. The space is small and intimate - great date spot for certain. It took awhile...actually way too long, before we were asked for our drink order which is my only reason for taking away a star...and the lack of attention to our empty glasses continued through the night unfortunately. But I was fortunate enough to get two drink orders in both of which were superb - a delectable Prosecco and a specialty cocktail made with lemon, soda water, basil and vodka - think Mojita, minus mint, plus fresh basil. I loved it. Would have loved to order a third, but as I mentioned... Now for our order - Asparagus Salad - chilled and delicious. You like asparagus? Don't pass it up, ya hear? Warm Mushroom Salad - My favorite of the night. Perfectly executed. Burrata - Show me a person who doesn't like burrata and I will punch my own self in the face. (Lactose intolerant need not apply) Onto our three pasta orders which we all shared (there are two sizes to choose from) - Bucatini with peas and soft shell crab - this was the failure of the bunch. As a peas and pasta dish it would have stood out, but the crab was all wrong and brought the dish down a notch. Was it the crab? The preparation? Something was amiss. The peas however were the size of eyeballs. Seriously the biggest and freshest peas I've ever tasted. Yum. Orecchiette with lamb sausage - My second favorite dish. Spicy. Enough said. Artichoke risotto - rich, but not so much so that it wouldn't be a good option for an entree for one. All in all, Anteprima exceeded my expectations as far as the food was concerned. I can only hope my next visit will include improved service, and improved weather - so I can sit on that patio in the back!
(4)
Keely J.
I love Antiprima. The service is always great and the food is always delicious. It is true and authentic to it's Tuscan/souther Italian style of food and really has a ton of different plates to chose from. The menu changes pretty often but there is something for everyone and I always leave inspired to try and make what they serve.
(4)
Aaron S.
The atmosphere and decor of this place is really lovely and beautiful. I enjoyed my food, but the fish I had was very salty, maybe that's just the way that fish is. I had a squash soup that was soooo tasty. I would go back again.
(3)
Lochin S.
Sat. night late dinner. started with Anchovies, really really liked the salt and crunch on these. Also the grilled octopus was seasoned very well and the texture was perfect. This came with some straw parm sticks that I could not stop eating. had to ask for more. For dinner we split the scallops. I cant remember what kind of sauce it was in, but I could have licked the plate clean. Service was incredible, no complaints! This is a spot we will def visit again. great for gathering a small party.
(5)
Jeff R.
Everyone has such great things to say about Anteprima, unfortunately we did not get to taste all those praises. We were in the mood for a good Italian dinner and more than a few friends have encouraged me to take Anteprima off my wish list. It also helps that there is a three course "meal" (not really a prix fixe...) for $29 Sunday through Thursday with very little restrictions. Even with a great price and great hype, the food did not perform. The most common flavor was little flavor at all. "Bland" was the word of the night, which is hard to fathom for Italian food when all you have to do is add olive oil and garlic. Oh well, not our best meal but you can't win them all. The three course "special" allows you to choose one entree, and any two other dishes (half pasta, dessert, starter - it doesn't matter the combination). I was impressed with the size and scope of the menu, especially since a lot of choices push the envelope of "traditional" Italian cuisine (i.e. NOT Maggianos or Mia Francesca). But what concerned us was that even though we had six dishes to choose for dinner, we had trouble finding that many that looked appealing. I realize we might have been acting picky, but that is usually a red flag in my mind that my personal taste preferences might not match well with the Chef's. We decided on a celery salad, two small pasta starters, one large pasta main, halibut and a dessert. Maybe a celery salad is hard to make flavorful, but all I could taste was the very good parmesan cheese. Our two small pasta dishes were tagliatelle with mushrooms and linguine with crab meat. The tagliatelle was pretty bland throughout, where the linguine crab was very fishy tasting. The entrees were the best course of the evening. Erica liked the Halibut, though my little bite was uninspiring, and my pasta (orecchiette with spicy lamb) was good though slightly over cooked. I really enjoyed the spicy sauce and flavors of the lamb. We ended the meal with a refreshing lemon panna cotta. Maybe my expectations were unreasonable, but the food was still below regular standards - especially for feel good Italian. We had good service with a friendly and knowledgeable server. The atmosphere was a bit loud but it's nice to be in a lively and packed restaurant on a Wednesday evening. While this meal wasn't fabulous, I do look forward to checking out their next project Acre next door.
(2)
Kristen W.
Downgrading my initial review, and am extremely bummed out to be doing so. I have always reserved Anteprima for a special occasion type place. Well you can take it off your list and put Chucky Cheese back on. At least the service there is nicer. Dinner here on Friday night with a reservation. Had to wait for reservation. Crappy table. HORRIBLE lighting. Asked waiter if the lights could be dimmed (through squinted eyes) and he responded "I can't do that". Oh, thanks so much. Amuse bouche: COLD vegetable tart. Could have been yummy but it was cold so had the texture of congealed lard with the taste of a vegetable tart. Not smart. Ordered the cod cooked in parchment. Zero flavor. Should be served in a nursing home for those with sensitive stomachs. Waiter forgot my order for another prosecco. After walking by me so many times the light bulb finally came on and he remembered, so gave it to me free. Okay so I will give a point for that.
(2)
Joey T.
Overall: The food was OK; the seating/atmosphere was good; and the service was meh. My wife and I went to Anteprima, via reservation, on a Friday night around 8 pm. It wasn't overly crowded, and we were seated immediately. The tables are well situated... not too close and not too far away. It was quiet enough inside to carry on a great conversation, but loud enough where you can laugh and have a good time. The service was strange. I couldn't tell if the staff were simply playing it cool, or really wanted to be anywhere else but there. There really wasn't any attitude or anything, maybe just a sense of indifference. We started with the octopus. I thought it was well presented and tasted fine. Upon the recommendation of the server, I went with the Salmon and paired it with couple glasses of terlaner classico. The Salmon was cooked well, but it generally lacked anything of note. I have had much better salmon... and much worse. My wife had the rigatoni and she thought it was OK as well.
(3)
Katie T.
The beets were delicious, the carrots were delicious. My pasta was outstanding and the dessert we ordered was perfect. I will be back.
(5)
Allison M.
My experience at Anteprima was neither horrible nor fantastic. The food was very tasty (I'm a vegetarian) I had the Fusilli pasta with pesto and pine nuts. My boyfriend had the oricchiette, with lamb sausage, and he liked it as well. For desert we had the red wine poached pear, which was good, but not really worth the price. Wine was good but I'm definitely not a wine connoisseur. I would go here again, but will choose a weeknight as weekends are too busy for me.
(3)
KELLIE K.
Dear Anteprima, You sneaky devil, you took me by surprise. You moved into my neighborhood, waited around, and finally, one day while my +1 and I were out in search of a birthday dinner venue, you lured me in with your screams of a $29 prixe fixe. Temptress. Damn. Even though I wanted to check you out a long time ago, your pricier menu and bustling tables kept me away. I'm glad that you change your menu often, especially the specials. I may not remember exactly what we ordered, so we'll go with "you may not get it again anyway". I'll be back to check out your patio someday. Love, Kellie K.
(4)
Hallie B.
I love everything about Anteprima. First, it's a relazed, cozy environment, but still feels upscale. I would feel comfortable dining in both jeans and a tee shirt and a snazzy little cocktail dress. I love places like that. The service when I was there was fantastic. Our waiter had excellent wine recommendations. Everyone in my group has very different taste in wine, and we all LOVED the wine he chose for us and hated the wines he chose for the other members of the group. I feel like this demonstrates that he really listened to our individual tastes and picked the perfect wine for each person. At first I was thrown off by the wine prices, $15 a glass seems very expensive, but then I found out that they are for quartinos of wine, so it was actually a great deal. I really don't have any complaints. It was an excellent meal from start to finish.
(5)
Nikki R.
Been here more than a handful of times. Love this place. The homemade bread sticks are soooo good! Pastas are made in house and always fresh. I have a few favs including the grilled octopus appetizer and the pappardelle and orecchiette pasta dishes. They offer 1/2 orders of pasta which is great because I can't always agree with my partner about which pasta to share. Service is usually pretty good but if they are super busy it can get a little slow and as some other people mentioned it does get crowded loud in there during the rush but none of that bothers me. If the crowd and noise is not your thing, there is a really cute outdoor area in the back where the tables aren't on top of each other and it's a lot quieter.
(5)
Edward S.
I'm love the outdoor patio in the back on a spring/summer day. They had a special going on and I got grilled stuff calamari (I've only ever had calamari breaded and fried, so I appreciated the dish), tagliatelle with pancetta ragu (sauce was ok, but the pasta wasn't anything spectacular), and porkchop for $35, which I thought was a steal. Very good Italian wine selection, I love the barbaresco.
(3)
Dennis J.
Came here with friends when it first opened and we were disappointed. Just nothing special or memorable. Nothing terrible either. Space was also very cramped. No desire to go back.
(2)
The Big O.
I'm willing to stick my neck out for this place. Others may not give it 5 stars, but I do, unhesitatingly. I think it's a gem, a little miracle of a place, a tad too loud sometimes, when it's crowded, but excellent food and service. I have been there many times in the last six months, on dates, with my parents, with friends, and it is always a great neighborhood restaurant (even if I'm not from the Andersonville neighborhood). The only thing that's never totally wowed me is their desserts, though I don't have criticisms of them. They just don't float my boat--just not my type of desserts. One of the things I really like about this place is the prix fixe deal--astonishing value. And I salute their low-cost wines ... and happen to love one of the very cheap Nero d'Albas that they offer, tastes great with pretty much anything.
(5)
Gail M.
The pasta's quite good -- and it's great that they have both small and large options for it -- but really, this place excels in appetizers. Order a bunch of starters and make a lovely meal of them. Don't forget the grilled octopus, which is just wonderful.
(4)
Jerry S.
We had the trout and blackened linguine with shrimp and both were delicious. Will definitely return. The green cauliflower appetizer was also good, but the spicy greens were just salty. Very good selection of Italian wines. But the service was inattentive. I suspect they were short a waiter?
Great food! Great service! They serve you bread while you are waiting that is fantastic. I've heard the rooftop is fantastic. Cons: Small portion sizes for the $
(4)
Lydia B.
I live right by here so I have been waiting to try it for awhile. We had a reservation so we were seated immediately when we came in. For an appetizer we had the marinated olives, garlic, orange, and chilies. The waiter did a great job. I had some type of fish and my boyfriend had a steak and they were OK. The place was good but didn't really stick out so I don't know if we'll be back but it was good.
(3)
Kyle H.
This place was delicious. Make sure to get the antipasti sampler, as you get a gigantic plate of every antipasti they offer. I had one of the specials, a lobster and saffron risotto - god god, rich deliciousness. They seem to have an awesome dinner crowd, as we had a reservation for some absurdly early old-person dinnertime, like 5:30 or 6, and they were almost full even then. I didn't love the space - kind of a lot of tables crammed into one small space, which made for a very loud dinner. But the food, the wine and the service were all top notch.
(4)
Jessica B.
So. First things first. I went on a Wednesday evening in late October with some friends. Our reservation was for 7 p.m. I was 15 minutes late, they were 30 (but the lovely hostess still seated me right away. Yay!). I was shocked by how, um, mature the crowd was. Really. It looked like every white-haired septuagenarian resident within a 30-mile radius was dining that evening. Was there some sort of senior special going on? Who knows. By the time we rolled out at 10:30, the crowd had thinned out (since the place closes at...10 p.m.) and youthened up. So maybe this was just the rare, odd occurrence. And I should say: thanks to the staff for letting us linger with nary a hint of rushing us out. Our waitress was such a doll. She was funny and down to earth and flaky (flighty?) in an endearing way, and she made our experience that much better. Some other friends had raved to me about the amazing/life-changing/delectable spicy lamb sausage entree (served with orechiette and assorted chilis and bitter greens) and I'm happy to report that my life indeed has been changed. The pasta was tender and deliciously soft and doughy, the sausage was spicy but not overwhelmingly so (because I like to actually taste my food and flavors instead of just putting out a fire in my mouth) and the greens were a lovely balancing complement. The dish was overall a tiny bit too salty for my liking, but I'd absolutely order it again. I had a half serving of the pasta/sausage dish (in place of an appetizer, as we each ordered a three-course prix fixe meal) and enjoyed the slow-cooked lamb shoulder for my entree. Soooo lovely. The lamb was tender and moist and falling apart. And the perfect serving size. Just enough to fill you up and leave a little room for dessert. To close out the meal, I chose the strawberry cream cake, which is kind of a silly choice for fall (given the abundance of more seasonal options on the menu, e.g. butternut squash budino and apple-fennel bread pudding) and it was competent and satisfying but not outstanding. One of my dining companions raved about her chocolate tart thingamajig, comparing it favorably to "the best chocolate tart [she] ever had." That's always good. Drinks-wise, I loved (loved) my Autunno (can't recall if it was a special or if it's always on the menu). I'm a sucker for Maker's Mark, and as it turns out, it's so very nice when blended with apple cider and ginger beer. Smooth and sweet: liquid candy. I'll be recreating this one on my own at home...
(4)
Leslie P.
This place is great. Was in Andersonville at the Galleria on a Friday night, and we went across the street for a late dinner. The service was great, and the atmosphere reminded me of a rustic, intimate Italian restaurant. The roasted squash and ricotta ravioli entree was absolutely divine. Perfection in my book. It was more savory than sweet, and the sage made the dish. I will not make the mistake of sharing dishes next time - I'm getting the ravioli all to myself. :)
(4)
Maureen M.
My family and I had brunch today at Anti Prima. It was wonderful!!! We were 5 adults and a 7 yr old. The staff couldn't have been more accommodating. They cooked a special dish for or little princess and the sommelier was informative, attentive, and paired amazing wines with our prie fixe meal. The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the 'family' concept where an appetizer assortment was served to the table so we could sample them all. Then there were two perfectly sized dishes -- a pasta and entree followed by another assortment of desserts. It was so yummy!! We will certainly go back! Maureen
(5)
Renata F.
My boyfriend and I enjoyed an incredibly delicious New Year's Eve meal here this past Dec/January. (We're talking a still-can't-stop-dreaming-of-our-meals level of delicious.) Reservations were easy to come by -- even a week in advance of the holiday -- and the front of house was especially accommodating when we changed our reservation party from two to four, then back to two again. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bear with me as neither Matt nor I can remember the particular names of anything we ordered; Anteprima's menu rotates in and out, so none of the dishes are currently listed on their online menu for me to reference. (Shame on me for procrastinating...) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Drinks: we both ordered off Anteprima's specialty drink menu. His was some orange concoction and very sweet; mine was some form of a gin-based martini and sweet-ish. If that's not a terrible description, I don't know what is, but we were both happy with our selections! - Appetizers: we shared a sweet-potato, apple and endive (?) salad. There could not have been a better start to our meal! The dish was refreshing and full of flavors we continue to obsess over. The salad exceeded expectations, was unlike any combination we've tried before (in an exciting way), and was very light -- so it didn't weigh us down before our main courses arrived. Perfect. - Entrees: I believe both of our dishes were specials at the time. He opted for a pork sausage served atop what looked like cooked mini-peas. The sausage had a diameter similar to that you'd expect of a pork tenderloin and was cut into medallions. It wasn't overly-greasy/fatty tasting, which I appreciated. Paired with a bite of the peas (?), the dish felt complete. While his pork was certainly great, my pepper-crusted seared tuna served over butternut squash was other-worldly. Repeat: OTHER-WORLDLY. (Boyfriend generally doesn't enjoy seafood, but even he can agree the flavor profile was out of bounds!) The tuna could not have been of higher quality, nor seared more perfectly (read: aside from the slightest of cooked outer rings made to trap in that wonderful pepper crusting, it might as well have been raw). The tuna's bedding consisted of chopped butternut squash (sauteed) mixed in with other greenery. I could eat that squash mixture every day it was so delicious -- plus it was refreshing, much like our appetizer. Pair it with that majestic tuna and you've found yourself the perfect dish. I'm in love. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The restaurant is small and feels smaller yet given how tightly Anteprima crams tables into an already tight space. I quickly forgive this, though, as their food was so delicious I didn't think twice about the setup once we were served. As cost-conscious individuals, Anteprima's price point is bit of an indulgence for us, so we consider it a special-occasion-type spot. That said, we enjoyed ourselves so thoroughly, we often try coming up with reasons to head back on a more regular basis. Without a doubt, we will be back -- much sooner than later.
(5)
Dusty K.
Anteprima has a lot going for it. Price for one, but it was very lively for a Thursday night and the place was packed. Because they squeeze you in like sardines it's a little loud and cramped on the inside. It's not a very intimate place if that's what you're going for but has all the charm of a neighborhood spot. The food was good. I liked everything I received including the free bread and bread sticks (grissini) passed around as an appetizer. So many restaurants give boring bread to start but Anteprima's had flavor. I was happily surprised. And you can taste the ridiculous amounts of butter in the grissini which is why they're so damn good. The unfortunate thing was that no olive oil or butter were provided. So eating dry bread was the only option. My steak was cooked as I had ordered and topped with fresh herbs. I've never had a steak where, once finished cooking, fresh herbs were then put on top. They were very strong and a bit overpowering so I had to scrape them off as I was eating. They were all I tasted as I began eating. My main problem were the portion sizes. The ravioli was ordered by someone in the party and they received 6 or 8 smallish ravioli. They finished well before anyone else and immediately asked for more bread at the table. Portions here are rather small. Prices on the otherhand aren't outrageous so ordering an appetizer and dessert may be what you need. Then Anteprima no longer becomes the good value. I'd describe Anteprima as a nice neighborhood spot where you can get a quick meal for $20 on a week night when you don't want to cook. It's nothing more or less than that.
(3)
Kelly C.
The food experience at this restaurant was very nice - highlights included the octopus starter which had fresh flavors to tempt the palette. Another highlight was the beef main dish which was nicely flavored yet light. The scallop starter had a very nice mushroom ragout, but I found the scallops alone to be too salty. Unlike other reviewers I found the portions to be a good size, however do not expect this to be Maggiano's with enough food for you, the person sitting next to you and to bring home for later. It's a good value for quality food. The biggest downside to the restaurant is the noise. We went on a Saturday evening with my parents and sat indoors following a graduation; the noise was so loud that we could barely hear each other and had to nearly yell to talk to the person across the table. The restaurant has made an effort with some insulation under tables and on the ceiling, but the wood floors and metal ceiling which make the ambiance so inviting also amplify the noise. The service was good, but not as great as other reviewers have noted - perhaps since it was a Saturday night. We also experienced the restaurant being out of a few dishes on the menu despite ordering around 7:30pm. All in all, I probably will not go back unless it is on a mid-week day since the noise made the experience un-enjoyable.
(2)
Viper B.
I wanted to like this place but it just underperformed. Service was unapologetically slow (they weren't packed on a Sun night). Fish came out too salty and the table was finished eating before our waiter was back to check. With that said there were some good dishes: burrata deserved a double order, the amatriciana with guanciale could not have been better, pork shoulder was solid. I wouldn't try to go back here, but it's quaint and not all bad if you're in the 'hood.
(2)
Monica G.
Anteprima helped my boyfriend and I celebrate our 5 year anniversary together. With reservations, we got a saturday evening table. Our server was friendly, attentive and helped us make some great menu decisions. We had grilled octopus and pork sausage with white beans to start - both were 10s. My boyfriend has homemade bowtie pasta with duck, I had butternut squash ravioli - again both excellent. The smaller portions were a perfect size. They gave us a free lemon panna cotta with a candle in honor of our date! It was my favorite part of the meal - totally out of this world. I wish there was a 4.75 button! Only thing preventing me from giving this a 5? The space is tiny. Like, we could hear everything at the tables around us, even smell their dishes. As long as you really know that's what you are in for, the food is worth it. Boy is it worth it!
(4)
Stephen R.
I dont like to give 5 stars to anyone, but in my view this place earned it. 1. good atmosphere (yes its cozy and tight) 2. food is varied and tasy.something for everyone in terms of variety and portion sizes (half and full). 3. Unique in terms of you will not see these items at another place. I loved the following -brussel sprouts -yes...i said it -grilled octupus -orriechiete pasta -any fish they have is fantastic-there is a whole fish thats outstanding but I cant remember the name because I had too much wine. -pork ribs with white beans..fantastic -sides of polenta Overall, great place and service and awesome wine list.
(5)
Rebekah P.
I made a 7:00pm reservation at Anteprima for a Tuesday night. I got caught in some traffic and when I called to let them know I would be a bit late, there was no answer. Thankfully, they called me to check in, and had no problem holding the table until we arrived. The place was packed, so it was very nice of them to hold the table for us. I'm glad they did too, because I did enjoy my experience at Anteprima. Everyone I was with really liked their food. The ones I remember people ordering: Butternut squash ravioli, orecchiette, amberjack, and I think the spaghetto cacio e pepe). Their wine list is impressive and very reasonably priced. I would recommend Anteprima to friends, but there are a few things I would note. It is very loud here. I'm sensitive to this because I don't have the best hearing, so it was a bit of an issue for me. Also, they took my stepmom's food away before she was finished, which was also weird because no one else at the table was even close to being finished with their food. So, not only was she still hungry for her food, but she was sitting with nothing in front of her while we all ate. Very strange (though we didn't say anything because we still enjoyed the experience overall). Overall good place. I'd go back for sure.
(4)
Loni H.
Great food! Bread is great and love love the octopus appetizer. Entrees are tasty but space is cramped and reservations are a must. Outdoor patio is coolio on a nice day.
(4)
Scott T.
We ate here about 6 months ago and were very impressed with the food and service. My wife has some food restrictions and the server was extremely accommodating, which made her feel good vs. being perceived as a troubled guest. We returned this past weekend and had a repeat performance. Good food and service makes Anteprima a favorite of ours.
(4)
John B.
Anteprima is now serving a prix fixe dinner Sun-Thurs, which is a great way to experience this somewhat pricey spot. $29 for an appetizer, a half pasta, and an entree, or for an appetizer, and entree, and dessert. Go with a friend, get two apps, two entrees, and split a small pasta and dessert. Excellent. Of course, drinks are $9 and up, so your wallet will still feel the bite, but not as bad. On my last visit, we ordered almost everything off the specials menu, which is extensive. Sweetbreads and octopus as the appetizers, tagliatelle loaded with morel mushrooms, grilled spare ribs and halibut as the entrees, and strawberry rhubarb crostata for dessert. Not a bad choice in the bunch. Service is efficient, but not stuffy. We went after the wine walk, and were dressed very casually, and did not feel out of place. We went on the spur of the moment, and got in just as they were opening. By the time we left, the place was really filling up. If you're going on a weekend, I would definitely recommend making reservations. They also have patio seating out back, which is nice if you like that sort of thing.
(5)
Lisa C.
I thought it was a nice touch to have a large bottle of water on the table when we arrived but by the end of the night I realized it was only because you'd never get a refill on anything unless I walked into the kitchen and turned the tap on yourself. If I were just rating the food, 4-5 stars. Wonderful ravioli, risotto, steak, and a panna cotta were devoured. I wanted to lick the plate after the risotto it was so creamy and good. On the flip side, I would give ZERO stars for service. I had the same experience as Greg D and would swear we were at the same table if I hadn't dined at Anteprima a day after his review posted. The restaurant was busy and the kitchen was backed up. It happens and in these situations, even an average waiter should have a few tricks to keeping guests from noticing that courses are coming out with 30 minutes between them. You may not control how fast they are firing plates but you can control that your customer's wine is replenished. It becomes painfully obvious you're waiting when the glasses are empty and the table is barren of food. Even a kind word once in a while..."sorry we're backed up tonight, would you like another glass?" makes an immeasurable difference on the perception of the dining. Our waiter barely spoke to us, came by once in two hours of dining so we could order a second round and that was after asking a busboy to help find him. He avoided any eye contact as he walked the restaurant and made himself impossible to flag down. I'll be the first to sympathize with an overworked waiter if they at least seem to care about providing good service. Our waiter was pretty much a sack of flour for all the effort he put into his job. It was a huge disappointment that undercut how great the food was. As a side note, we were there to celebrate my birthday. We didn't tell the staff as we were not trying to make any extra fuss, we just picked Anteprima as a special evening for ourselves to celebrate. I'd be upset about poor service any time, but it was an extra letdown that the place we picked to spend a special evening was such a bust. I even ordered our dessert course when the main course was brought as I half-joked to my boyfriend, "who knows when we might see our waiter again?" Not a good sign when table conversation turns to laughing about how bad the waiter is. In short, the food was great and I may visit again in the distant future (and I'll walk right back out the door if I see that waiter again). But in the meantime there are a lot of places in Andersonville that I'll be trying before I come back to Anteprima.
(2)
Tanya M.
Awful service. The noise was deafening. The kitchen was clearly backed-up. And what made it worse was that there was no manager or owner making the rounds to check on the customers. Nobody noticed how unhappy we were, and we were sitting right by the host stand. My date and I couldn't hear each other without yelling, so we just ended up staring at each other for an hour and 45 minutes. Our server wasn't rude, but I definitely felt like I was in his way. The employees looked annoyed and rushed. They needed another server on the floor. At one point I finished my water and our water pitcher was empty. I waited ten minutes. A busboy came and cleared the empty pitcher, BUT DIDN'T BRING A FULL ONE BACK. I waited another ten minutes, staring at my empty glass. Finally we had to flag somebody down to get us more water. Our food wasn't timed correctly, or the kitchen was backed up, because there was a very long wait in between courses. And again, nobody noticed, nobody came by to let us know when to expect our next course. The one star is for the lemon panna cotta, which was very good. Oh but wait, our server didn't offer us coffee or tea with our dessert. That's pretty much common etiquette for a restaurant of this level. I know I only had water with my entree, but I usually like tea with dessert. Thanks. Here's the deal. I've worked in the service industry for over ten years. Restaurants get over-booked. Kitchens get backed up. Servers get over-sat. This crap happens. But what makes the difference between an awful restaurant and a great restaurant is letting the customer know what to expect. That's what a good manager is for. To take the emotional temperature of each table and make sure each guest feels special. We just felt forgotten.
(1)
searah d.
Oh Anteprima...I used to love you but last Saturday night you left us waiting over a half hour for our 9:30 reservation. Then at 10pm when we came back to check in, we were told that there were still 4 tables ahead of us. What did the hostess do? Shrug her shoulders and offer our party of three two spaces at the bar. Sigh. Your food is good but your service needs some polish. We are pretty easy diners but you left us feeling neglected and unappreciated. The two stars is for last time I had a good meal there.
(2)
Carol K.
What a great little find! Anteprima really surprised me the other night with it's extensive wine list (including 2 of my all time favorite wines) innovative menu and welcoming ambiance. We got there around 7 on a Thursday night and I was surprised to see how crowded the place was. We were quickly seated at a great table right in the front window so we could watch the people coming and going which is always good in my book. The complimentary onion tart amuse bouche was just a portent of things to come. Service was excellent- we told our server that we wanted to catch up over our wine for awhile before ordering and he was very accommodating- checking in periodically but never being invasive. We ordered a couple of appetizers- the octopus and the antipasto plate. Both were delicious! The octopus was grilled , served warm with peppers, garlic and oil. And the antipasti was thin slices of various meats served with fig jelly and crusty toast. As for our entrees we split a pasta and a entree. The pasta had spicy lamb and dandelion greens (now I know what to do with those pesky weeds in my garden!) and the entree was a braised pork with polenta. Amazing. Finally- we finished off our night with some homemade lemoncello (got hooked on that during a trip to Italy) coupled with lemon panna cotta. A lovely evening at a great place. So if you are looking for a great place to get a taste of Italy- right in the neighborhood- check out Anteprima. It's a great little find!
(5)
Michael S.
I wanted to like this place - it's Italian and close to my place and the atmosphere looked really great! However, after my experience there, it is very unlikely I will go back. The atmosphere was good but that is where to good ended. I didn't give the place 1 Star because one person in our party really liked their risotto, but everyone else was disappointed by their dishes. Bland was the overall comment - this coupled with the awkward interactions with the staff and waiting an inordinate amount of time for our food made for a disappointing evening. Oh well - there are plenty of other great Italian places in the neighborhood so one less option isn't the end of the world.
(2)
Jeff G.
i hate to split hairs, but i would give this a 3.75 overall rating. all the food we ordered was above average but to me was not amazing. fingerling potato appetizer was kind of bland. just a little egg and a lot of celery in there. i liked the homemade lamb sausage with ravioli type deal, but there was barely any meat at all. the brsiket special with brussle sprouts and polenta was the winner of the night we would probably go back
(4)
Jay C.
Midrare bison flank steak. Fantastic. Knocked a star for 30min late on resv and nowhere good to wait, being a small joint.
(4)
Tyler C.
It was a nice prixe fixe menu, so we could at least try the restaurant. The prixe fiixe menu allowed for a fair variety of choices. The restaurant was of course crowded for a Tuesday night, but service was still decent. Good wine list offered a nice selection to pair with our dinner. Overall - definitely on the pricier side and the food was only partially worth the price. We may go back, but it didn't truly impress us. Flavor profiles were generally standard. Of all the restaurants in Andersonville - Anteprima is definitely one of them.
Loved this place! Hubby brought me here for date night and we really enjoyed it! Made a reservation and ran a little late but called them and they held our tale which was great! Our waiter Jonathon gave us great wine and food recommendations too! My only knock on this place was the noise level. It's small and pretty packed so with everyone chatting away, it made it hard to hear my hubby or the waiter. Also, looked like more of a wait for tables later when we left and there really isn't place inside to wait. We had a great experience though!
(4)
Greg D.
I was a little concerned going there because the reviews weren't sounding too great. Also, I couldn't even look at the website to preview the menu because my computer's security wouldn't let me, it said their website could be "harmful" to my computer (maybe a foreshadowing?). I will say that when I walked in, I really liked the ambiance and liked that it was intimate. However, once it gets really busy, then you have waiters, busboys and patrons bumping into you the whole night because it's pretty tight. One of the reviewers I had read said their waiter had zero personality. And that's who we got. I'm not sure this should be his desired way to make a living, because he clearly didn't seem to enjoy it. The food was pretty good, nothing special, and very small quantities for the price. The busboy took our water bottle away (a table of 7 people) before the main course arrived and never brought it back. It wouldn't have been too bad if I had the glass of wine I had ordered, but that was never brought either. The waiter apologized an hour later as we were paying asking if I wanted it now. Seriously?? Even my fellow diners had to grab the waiter to ask for more drinks, he never came back during a two and a half hour dinner to ask. The host had to actually go get us more water before we finished. Now that I think of it, the waiter and bartender could probably keep up with the orders if they weren't doing kitchen duties like plating appetizers or cutting bread for the bread baskets. The poor bartender looked like she was going to pass out because she was trying to fill all the drink requests and make appetizer plates for the whole restaurant. I'm thinking maybe once they've been open for a while they will get their bearings, then someone told me they've been open for 5 years. Wow. I don't think I've had that uncomfortable of a dining experience in the 15 years I've been in Chicago. Maybe it would be a better experience to go during a weekday when it's not busy. But with those prices, there are so many better options along Clark Street where you get the service you deserve.
(2)
Natalie S.
I was given a gift certificate from a friend for my birthday last year. We sat on it awhile and finally got our way over there to give it a whirl. See... I'm not wild about Italian food. I will very rarely ever suggest it as a dinner option. But, free food is free food so we made a reservation and went on over. Atmosphere: awesome. Loud enough so you don't feel the people next to you are listening to your conversation but quiet enough where we weren't shouting at each other. Waiter: helpful and friendly. My friend who gifted me with the certificate recommended a specific wine which they were out of (boo) but he suggested something he felt was similar. It was delicious. I had a duck dish (don't remember specifically) that was YUMMMM. When I get an Italian food craving, I'll be back!
(4)
Candace T.
We ate outside on the back patio, which was very nice, and not too crowded. The food was hit or miss for me: the grilled octopus was one of the most delicious things ever...sooo amazingly tender. My roasted beet ravioli, however, was pretty flavorless, aside from the parmigiana sprinkled on top. Nevertheless, with a shared bottle of delicious wine, it was a completely enjoyable meal. Seriously, get the octopus, though!! Lastly, I'm not exactly a fancy frou frou eater, usually, and I dislike nothing more than having a waiter give a little attitude. Not even close at Anteprima, greeters and waiters were incredibly welcoming and not at all snooty. Wheelchair Accessibility Review: Fully accessible through the front door AND they have a little ramp to get to the back patio, which is a very welcome consideration that you don't always find (It's removable, though, so just ask someone if it isn't out when you get back there). Tables are of normal height that you can roll right up, and there was no problem with crowding, or moving the other chair out of the way. Didn't use the restrooms, so I can't speak to the accessibility of those.
(4)
Rob M.
I learned of Anteprima after the website Chicago Eater ranked it No. 1. As it turned out, service was the standout. Our server emphasized the seafood, which was an excellent pointer. If scallops are available, order them. I also recommend the meatballs as an appetizer. Among a table of four, the only let down was a pasta dish: pappardelle, prosciutto ragu, parmigiano. For dessert, we shared three, which divided well because they were relatively small. Prices are reasonable and menu items rotate. Judging by the menus posted online as I write this, what I ordered at Anteprima just recently does not seem to be available if I were to return today. Yet, I would not hesitate to return based on the strength of my first visit.
(4)
Karen N.
I love this place. I was so mesmerized by the menu and all the seasonal items that I couldn't decide what to order for a long time. We got 3 apps: Tuscan grilled Bread Salad, stuffed zuchini blossoms and grilled octopus. Oh, we knew we were in for a treat as soon as the zuchini blossoms came to our table. Then we had two small orders of pasta: orrechete with sausage, chilli and dandelion greens. Risotto with corn and crab. Delicious! The server split the plates for us without asking. If we had one more person, we would have gotten 1 or two entrees to share... the special whole grilled fish looked good, and also the calamari. The 1 star off is because the desserts were just ok. We looked at the selection and decided to go next door to have icecream. Not a big deal though.
Been twice and had a great meal both times. Great non "traditional" Italian food (i.e.not just pizza and pasta). Recommend sharing a few of the pastas as appetizers. Highly recommend the sliced strip w/ rosemary, lemon, and olive oil--so, so good. Service is fine, atmosphere was inviting.
(4)
Steve W.
I'm usually mum on Italian, but I really loved this place. First of all, we showed up really late - around 9:30 or so, but the (handsome) server was incredibly accomodating and attentive the whole time. We started off with the artichoke caponata and grilled octopus. The caponata was light and slightly sweet. Highly recommend it. And, yes, the octopus is just as good as advertised. They're grilled until they're soft but not chewy in the least; a tasty and light kickoff to your meal. For the entrees, we split the asparagus ravioli, which was delicious. Its lightness belied the buttery sauce on top. And we split the Mediterranean whole fish, which came with crisp fingerling potatoes. Again, (you may sense a theme) light and delicious. We capped the whole thing off with the chocolate tart with vanilla creme. As someone that usually isn't a huge chocolate fan (strange, I know), it was perfect with the flaky crust. So yet another great restaurant in Andersonville I wish I could steal for my 'hood.
(4)
Matt R.
This is a cool place! They serve fast, and very interesting and tasty foods. The portions are pretty small, but the wine choices are good and the staff are friendly and good at what they do. Food is overall not that expensive either. This place has the coolest look from the outside since you really only see the first couple tables and then you get inside and see how many people they have inside. I'm glad I checked this place out, all the food is creative. I've never had polenta (goat) before, but I enjoyed it. Baaaaaah.
(5)
Frances K.
We spent my partner's birthday evening here two years in a row. This year, the kids and grandparents were with us. The food is uniformly interesting and flavorful. Service is helpful and friendly. Anteprima also has a nice selection of house specialty cocktails that are unique. We had an array of appetizers including the grilled polenta, the stuffed calamari, and the grilled squid. The polenta was the weakest of the three but still had terrific flavor - the wilted greens served with the polenta had a slightly bitter flavor that worked as a nice counterpoint to the dish. Nothing to be said about octopus and calamari except that they were both excellent. Dinner involved stuffed pork loin, the brick roasted chicken, mussels, and for the kids, pasta with olive oil. All the entrees were tasty and received rave reviews. The only constructive comment is that the seasoning on the chicken shaded towards a bit over-salty. The kids loved their pasta too (although how bad can pasta with olive oil and parmesan cheese be). Anteprima would have received five stars except that we made a point, on our reservations, of stressing that it was a birthday dinner. There was no acknowledgement from the waitstaff, no dessert birthday greeting, nothing. That was a bit disappointing especially because we love this place so much.
(4)
Matt M.
Anteprima was one of the best meals that I have ever had, no exaggeration. I don't often go out to pricey dinners but I just may based off of the food here. I wish I could remember exactly what my date and I ordered but I can not and their website's current menu is not what we saw New Year's Eve. We ordered off of their custom drink menu, shared an appetizer and each had an entree and everything was fantastic. My girlfriend and I are suckers for anything squash or sweet potato related and Anteprima's offerings were definetly worth the money. Food: 10 Atmosphere: 6 (It's cramped and noisy but most places are) Service: 7 (Nothing special)
(5)
Christine F.
3.75 stars. Can't do half stars (or quarter stars) on here. We took my parents here on their bi-yearly visit...our first time around our waiter was kind of a jerk and we had a meh time, but since the reviews of Anteprima have improved we gave it another go. Right off the bat, they kind of pissed me off. I had a res at 7, but they said the table wouldn't be ready for 15 minutes. Well, you know, that's why I make a reservation....so we don't have to wait. If Anteprima had a bar inside I wouldn't have minded so much, but we had to go next door to Acre (there's nowhere to stand in Anteprima). What made the situation a little better is that since Anteprima owns Acre, we could carry our drinks back from Acre to Anteprima (so we didn't have to slam our beers...yay). But still. The res starting late got a bit of an eyebrow raise from me, but it wasn't a dealbreaker. Especially after I had a beer. Ha. Our waitress was really nice. She kept our drinks full and brought us delicious breads and olive oil. I ordered the polenta app (on greens and tomatoes) and a ricotta gnocchi with an arugula pesto with sundried tomatoes. The polenta was kind of blah, it wasn't terribly flavorful....which is really unfortunate, since I LOVE a good polenta (Terragusto is pro at this). However, the gnocchi was freaking awesome. I was so full I couldn't eat it all, but I wish I could have eaten more. It was cheezy, salty, arugula-y (my favorite type of greens) and delicious. We didn't have any room for dessert, but everyone enjoyed their meals and had a good time.
(4)
Ben G T.
Sat at bar. Great mussels, great service, great vibe & company.
(5)
Josh G.
We had reservations for two, and upon arrival, asked if we could change it to three; Jeffrey gladly changed it for us. Greeting: We were greeted by the Host/Manager named Jeffrey. He was very helpful and friendly. Service: Good service. Not only did our own server interact with us, but the other servers did as well. They were genuinely friendly, helpful and playful. Food: Starter- Breads. We were given three types of breads initially. They all had unique textures and flavors. Grilled prawns, apples, celery, radishes, preserved lemon vinaigrette $9 *This was packed with amazing flavor. The warm prawns with the cold apples and celery in the preserved lemon vinaigrette pairing was an amazing creation of infused flavor. Half Pasta Order: Roasted beet ravioli, butter, parmigiano $11 *The beet flavor was mild in a yummy cream sauce. *The serving was small. I believe I had 4 or 5 ravioli in my bowl. Entree: Sliced new york strip, rosemary, lemon, cracked pepper, olive oil, arugula $26 *This was a small portion. I don't think it is at all worth $26. Luckily I had the special. I wouldn't have paid full price for it by itself. It was tasty, tender, and well made. I enjoyed it a lot!! Drinks: I ordered a cocktail, as did the other two, and they were just under $10 each. My drink was something fruity, but didn't rock my world. They have glass/bottles of wine as well. The beta delta pinot grigio-chardonnay blend, lageder alto adige 2009 went for $39/bottle. Pricing: They have a three course meal for $29 Sun-Thurs. So, I got all of the above for much less than if I purchased them individually. The small portions for the price on some of the items seemed to excessive to me. I was completely happy with the flavor of everything though. They did not disappoint! Ambiance: I went on a Sunday night at 8:15pm, and it was packed! They really cram as many people in there as they can. We still had good service though. It was not loud even with a packed out crowd. I enjoyed it.
(4)
Jen L.
All I can say is Wow. I decided to go here on recommendation for a father's day double date (how awkward). The hope was that the two dads would like each other and chat away while us young'uns exert less effort. Thankfully, the food was so good that it provided a great amount of conversation for the evening. Being the nice kids that we are, we decided to go all out for father's day dinner with the appetizer sampler, entrees, and desserts. The sampler was amazing with eight different tasting portions of their delicious appetizers. I thought the farro was especially delicious, and my dad drooled over the olives. I got the asparagus risotto for my entree - awesome move there. Not too salty but still had tons of flavor. The boyfriend had the bison, and he liked his plate clean. For dessert, I had the sorbet trio; the strawberry and lemon were amazing, but the mint was a little strong for my tastes. I really don't have anything bad to say about Anteprima. The service was delightful and the food was amazing. We did spend a pretty penny for the holiday, but I hope to be back for some appetizers and cocktails in the future!
(5)
Annie R.
As someone who is not typically a fan of Italian, I really enjoyed this place. The service was a little inconsistent, but the food was great and the back patio was beautiful. Probably not a place I'll frequent, but a good go-to when you're in the mood for some good wine and heavy duty, delicious carbs.
(4)
Gary B.
I have yet to eat here but we will start with 5 stars. Reason being, we (4 people)stopped in last night around 7:30 without a reservation. The place was busy and the host was being very accommodating. He said that it would be a 45min wait. He could tell there was some apprehension in the group as to the wait so he offered a few options. We could leave a contact number and he would call us when the table was ready, wait out side or sit at the bar and have drinks and appetizers. The place was busy and word of mouth and Yelp reviews seem to be attracting a crowd. We will make reservations the next time so I can review the food but the host was very pleasant.
(5)
Rich R.
This was my first visit to this restaurant. When we arrived to be seated for our reservation, they told us there was not a table available and to go to their sister restaurant 2 buildings over for a drink and they would come get us in 10 min. Half hour later, I had to go back and check on them. The hostess told me that she was on her way to come get us. Funny, when I think of a reservation, I would think they would hold a table for that time. As for the wait service, we watched everyone around get water and bread, but we were neglected and had to ask them to bring it to us. We were not tucked away in a corner or anything, we were right in the middle of the restaurant. Then my girlfriend asked about something on the menu and the waiter told us that he didn't care for it. After we got through the service issues, the food was pretty good. I had the rainbow trout which was very good and my girlfriend had the rosotto and she enjoyed it as well. I was very disappointed when the bill came and nobody acknowledged any of their service and reservation mishaps. They seemed not to care. All in all, food was good, but I'm not going back.
(1)
Tiffany G.
UNREAL. The absolute BEST ... and I do mean BEST octopus I have ever had. We've been preparing octopus at home for many, many years and do a fine job, but it's an incredibly difficult dish to make well and above all, to get TENDER (even when using baby octopus). Our own efforts cannot even come close to Anteprima's - the octopus was so tender it melted in your mouth and the preparation was absolutely phenomenal - so flavorful but not overpowering. We are not impressed easily, especially when it comes to seafood, and yet, were surely were! Such a memorable dish. Bravo! Now that we were off to a great start, we followed up with their special pasta of the evening, Spaghetti Botarga. A very light, and enjoyable primo piatto ... On our next trip I would like to try their orecchiette with house made lamb sausage and bitter greens. For our secondi we ordered the venison loin and the night's special rabbit. Both were absolute perfection. The venison melted like butter and the rabbit as well - juicy, tender, cooked JUST RIGHT - and full of flavor. I have had these two game meats at several other restaurants and there is just no comparison - Anteprima reigns supreme. We finished our meal with the Vin Santo and biscotti - something I've not had since my time in Italy. The service was wonderful, the atmosphere warm and inviting, the food: Italian as it should be - absolutely authentic and delicious. Anteprima is a superb place that I couldn't recommend more highly.
(5)
Deepika T.
So we did the birthday dinner here last night, and must say it is a great date spot. Very cozy, you might knock elbows with the next table, but nice nonetheless. Our waiter was great, attentive and had suggestions whenever we asked for any. The food by itself was OK, we've had better Italian. The roasted peppers appetizer was neither cold nor warm, but the grilled peaches appetizer was great! Be warned, if you don't like Gorgonzola cheese, this particular appetizer might be overwhelming. We tried the risotto and gnochhi pastas - good, but not great. The highlight of the evening was the dessert - a light fluffy piece of lemon panna cota. Omg, I would go to this place again only for this. Perfect texture, with a great glaze on top. The best ever. Ask for the outdoor deck seating if you head there with good weather, we didn't realize that we had the option until after we finished our meal.
(3)
Jade H.
What can I say that the 180 reviews before me hasn't already said? I just want to add in my five stars to the list. This place is so tasty. My favorite dish of all the dishes we ordered was the octopus salad. It had a very complex flavor. I could taste so many levels of sweet and tangy and salty and even a little fruity. The texture was marvelous. I wish I hogged it all up from my boyfriend. I also had a surprising cocktail with rosemary flavoring. It was very good. The plume of rosemary filled my olfactory senses with every sip. The other dishes were fantastic too. I even appreciated the pasta (although I am still not a pasta fan.) Order the octopus.
(5)
Cat D.
Anteprima gets 5 stars right off the bat because the pappardelle dish they had in July tasted exactly like my family's ravioli. The noodles, the sauce, everything. Over the years, I have become a ravioli snob because this is the one pasta dish we still make fresh and from scratch, and there's just no comparing it to the thick, doughy stuff you usually find in restaurants - even good ones. So, naturally, I was shocked to all hell when I put that mound of loveliness in my mouth. I was so shocked, I couldn't even tell you now which pasta dish *I* had ordered. It was an equally lovely pasta that I enjoyed thoroughly, but it wasn't that. So, 5 stars for Anteprima. Overall, the evening was lovely. I went with a couple friends, and we had some wine at the bar while waiting for a table on the patio to open up. Then we each ordered an appetizer, 1/2 pasta and 1/2 entree from the prix fixe menu. And dessert. Because you have to. Everything from wine on down through dessert was just fantastic (ok, except for my tuna entree... That fell a little flat for me, but that's what I get for ordering pepper-crusted anything. I was trying to be adventurous). The staff wound up having to ask us to leave because they wanted to close and go home for the evening. We just didn't want to go! So, I'm bringing more friends there next week, and you should, too. :)
(5)
A L.
Hopefully the style of Italian cooking at Anteprima is the beginning of a trend. A trend where the pasta is handmade and not drowning in red sauce or oil. Where a wide selection of interesting dishes are presented (no Chicken Parm or baked manicotti here!). Where portion sizes are just-right and you don't go home with a 5 lb bag of leftovers. Where the wine selection is well thought-out and well-priced. This is not bastardized "Italian" cooking popularized in the 70's. This is what Italian food should be like and you shouldn't have to pony up Spiaggia-type prices. A girl can dream! The 4-stars instead of 5 is because after all it's not perfect...service was somewhat spotty (although nice) and one of the pastas was slightly overcooked (very easy to do when using fresh pasta which cooks in seconds), but I liked this place so much I hate to even bring up anything negative. I came to this restaurant twice in one week....and that says it all.
(4)
Robb S.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Every meal I've had there has been incredible. I've even gone home and tried to replicate a few of the meals I've had there, being an amateur chef. The place is really cute, and the staff wonderful. I had a suprise dinner planned for my boyfriend and was giving him a wedding band...I contacted them ahead and they had everything ready for me...the table I requested, the champagne I ordered...it was perfect. I will come back here every chance I get. Excellent job guys!
(5)
Rohan D.
The food is quite good, especially the seafood and ravioli. Service is good. The tables are too close together, so you're somewhat at the mercy of the manners and sense of decorum of your dining neighbors. This is another loud restaurant, enough that good conversation is a little hampered.
(3)
Joyce C.
It was a cold Friday night and I felt like drowning myself in a big ass bowl of warm, tasty pasta. We tried two of the pastas the first time we came and they were delicious, so I was pretty excited to get the full sized version of them. We ordered the braised veal cheek app to start off with. Good, but I had to dig through my memory banks for that one so I can't say it was memorable. We decided on doing 4 half orders of pastas, so we could have a mini pasta buffet at our table. We got the pappardelle with the braised wild boar (delicious), some kinda gnocchi (just meh, overcooked, mushy and bland), some kinda tuna infused spaghetti with capers and olives (the worst dish... it tasted weird and it was our least favorite by far), and dammit I can't remember the last pasta dish. Whatever it was it was just ok though. Soooooooo disappointed. Oh well, still a 4-star because of the prix-fixe.
(4)
Brian R.
Went last night for a "date night" with my wife. Will agree with many of the reviews that it was kind of loud...but very energetic. Food was fantastic. Mushroom ravioli for me; orrechetti for my wife. Great value and will be back for sure!
(4)
Lakshmi R.
Andersonville has lots of restaurants but not a lot of *nice* restaurants, if you catch my drift. Anteprima is an exception: decent wine list, interesting cocktails, and an array of well-made meals...that'll cost ya. Cocktails go for about $9 each, entrees between $10-$20. We all had limited budgets, so we didn't get much food for a bill of around $130, but the food was at least good. I stuck with dessert, having eaten beforehand, and was a big fan of my chocolate tart: succulent, dark, rich...heaven! Unfortunately, the ginger mint julep that three out of four of us ordered turned out to be a mint julep with a barely discernable twinge of ginger. Hmm. Service is very so-so here. Our server, maybe tiring of waiting for us to order since we ourselves were awaiting the arrival of our fourth dining companion, wandered off for a long time. We ended up having to grab a busboy with a plea to find our server, and he ended up sending the restaurant's host to our table. He was none too happy about this and it seemed like our server ended up with a talking-to, so that was awkward. All said and done: a solid, 'nice' place that could do with some improvement.
(3)
Ryan Y.
I've been a couple times. The service is average to above-average and they shove maybe four or six seats too many than is comfortable when full, but the food is to die for. The grilled octopus somehow had the texture of high-quality beef -- and that's surprisingly a good thing. Also, my friend had to actually apologize to the server; he ordered some sort of steak, and when it arrived no steak knife was given. After asking for it he realized it was so tender it just melted off with a fork. Definitely give it a try, but make a reservation. Both times I arrived early at opening, but by the time I left it was packed to capacity.
(4)
Franny S.
A group of us had dinner here last week to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a wonderful meal. We all did the three-course weeknight prix fixe. I had an appetizer (grilled polenta, delicious), entree (scallops, absolutely FABULOUS) and dessert (a friend and I split the lemon pannacotta and the chocolate hazelnut torte, both were very good). You can also get a pasta course instead of dessert if you prefer. It really is a great deal for $29...the scallops alone were priced at $23 on the menu. I took off one star because the alcohol there is kinda pricey (and we drank a lot of it) and the service just a bit slow (though we were a party of eight so perhaps that's par for the course). I'd definitely go back on a weeknight for the prix fixe. I hear they have a really nice patio out back in the summer too!
(4)
Eric B.
For me, the true measure of a great Italian restaurant is its ability to deliver on non-pasta dishes. It isn't an Atkins sourced aversion towards carbs, I just find that pasta gets in the way of meat and sauce flavors; aside from ravioli stuffed with meat in a meat sauce, I'm not interested. So, that's my bias. And Anteprima is more than ready for it, with entrees ranging from pork to steak to bison and beyond. Tonight I opted for the grilled octopus appetizer followed by the pork porterhouse special, grilled with peaches, faro, and smoked onion. The octopus was pleasantly chewy and flavorful, but the pork blew me away. It was a massive cut, cooked perfectly juicy, even at medium, the flavor enhanced by the juicy peaches and savory smoked onions, among the best I have ever tasted. The owner is attentive and ready to make recommendations on the wine list, and heartily recommended my choice, a valpolicella ripasso with some age and earthy tannins that smoothed out beautifully fifteen minutes after opening. He was correct, it evoked a baby amarone, and possessed a well balanced old world style that would complement any of the meat dishes on the menu. Finally, for dessert, the chocolate budino gives any French pot de creme, whether made at my place or elsewhere, a serious run for its money. The chocolate tart is a close second, and the coffee, Metropolitan's Red Line blend, is dark and heavy but extremely well balanced. The food is complemented by an Italian bistro decor and attentive but unhurried service. For high end casual Italian fare on the North side, Anteprima is worth a visit.
(4)
Carly O.
My cousin wanted to treat me to dinner for my birthday. I happily hopped on Yelp to sift through the multitude of restaurants I have yet to try. But then I remembered that Anteprima is right up the street and absolutely wonderful. First off, make a reservation. Second, get the octopus appetizer because it will rock your socks off. Third, anything pasta is a winner. Our server coursed our meal, so everything came out already separated for two. The mushroom ravioli was so savory and rich. At first when I saw the bowl of just four squares I was like "really?", but there's no way I could have eaten anymore. The trout was cooked to perfection, nicely seasoned and wonderfully crispy. I know I should have gotten the lemon panna cotta, but we opted for the chocolate and hazelnut dessert and weren't disappointed. Anteprima is a gem.
(5)
Nicole M.
I'd been to Anteprima last year and didn't have the best experience (thought it was noisy, slow service, and mediocre food), but after learning that an Italian friend of mine is an Anteprima regular, I thought I should give it another shot. And I'm so happy I did! My husband and I walked in on a Friday night around 7:45 p.m. without a reservation but were promptly offered a spot at the bar, which suited us just fine. We ordered the grilled octopus (with potatoes, red onion, chilis, parsley, lemon, olive oil) and fennel salad with oranges, walnuts, and parmigiano (one of the specials). Both were excellent and perfect for sharing. The octopus had a nice smoky flavor to it. The ingredients in both dishes were fresh and delicious. For entrees, we each got the smaller verison of two pasta dishes. I had the orecchiette with spicy house made lamb sausage, bitter greens, chilis, and pecorino. Even the smaller portion was still quite generous. My husband ordered the mushroom & ricotta ravioli with dried porcini cream, and parmigiano. It was nice to feel full but not stuffed at the end of our meal, and we prolonged our time by getting dessert - the cinnamon budino (sort of like a flan), which had a nice subtle flavor, and the apple walnut tart, which had a delicious crust. We had good service and although the restaurant was packed the entire time we were there (more than an hour an a half), it wasn't too loud. I am certainly going to be going back as there are a number of things on the menu I would love to try.
(4)
Christopher K.
Anteprima flat out brought it. From eats to service to atmosphere, this place got it done. First impression was great as it was our anniversary and they reserved a special table for us right by the window and it just got better from there... Starters: Choices were overwhelming, but our server was very helpful in narrowing down the winners and losers. We went with the pork meatballs and grilled octopus - both were exceptional. Mains: Had the entree portions of the ravioli and orecchiette which didn't disappoint. About the only thing I would change about the whole experience would be to get the smaller portion of the pasta so I could try one of their main course dishes. Dessert: Passed on dessert, but they brought us out each a glass of dessert wine to celebrate our anniversary. A nice touch. Ambiance: Very romantic and a touch loud, but if you can score a seat by the window and watch the hustle and bustle on Clark, it's almost perfect. Service: Server was very attentive and helpful in selecting some of the best options from the menu. Host also greeted us warmly upon entering and wished us a happy anniversary. Overall: Would definitely recommend Anteprima for a date night or intimate evening with friends. Awesome experience!
(5)
Tari M.
I LOVED this restaurant! The menu was very unique and exciting. Deciding what to order was a little bit of an ordeal. However, we ordered the mixed appetizer plate to start and I'm pretty sure my brain and my taste buds shared a moment. If I could date the brussel sprouts I would. In a word: wow. Our server was awesome - very helpful and knowledgeble. And patient (let me referenc the heavily optioned menu once again). The space is cute and cozy and the perfect place to catch up with friends OR enjoy a date. This is going on my list of top 10 favorite restaurants. As soon as I decide to make a list.
(4)
Justin M.
Review 33 4 Stars Food : 4/5 Service : 5/5 Ambiance : 4/5 Value : 3/5 Consistency : 4/5 (2 visits) Summary Anteprima offers an extensive, rustic Italian menu with great, attentive service and very flavorful yet simple foods. Serving sizes are a little small, but designed so you have a proper Italian 4-course dinner (antipasti, primi, secondi, dessert). Details Originally, we had planned to celebrate my birthday dinner at another restaurant, but they happened to inform us they would be closed on my birthday for renovations. With two days notice. Really? Well, I will cover that in my next review of _that_ establishement So, at Anteprima, we celebrated my Birthday dinner here and it was a great experience and we will most certainly be back. I enjoy more traditional Italian and Tuscan food than American Italian and this was certainly the former. The decor at Anteprima was really welcoming, a nice bar, bread baskets ready to go and a laid back feel. Some people have written its a little cramped but we had no issue with it. The service was outstanding - attentive, patient, fresh cutlery for every course - just the little things. We were there just before 7pm, so I'm sure later on it gets busier and things may get a little hectic, but our experience was great. Onto the food - we had grilled polenta and pork meatballs for appetizer. The polenta was good, though I like mine a little cheesier and crisper, but all in all it was good. The pork meatballs were delicious - in a wonderful flavorful broth with just the right amount of heat and some nice onion there to discover. Next was pasta - we had the proscuitto ragu and swiss chard ravioli in brown butter sauce. The freshness of the pasta was wonderful - the ragu I would have like to be a little stronger in flavor, but still complemented the pasta well while for the ravioli was very nice. For secondi, we had the NY strip steak - melt in your mouth - served with arugula, lemon and parmesan cheese - just simple flavors adding to a sum greater then their parts. At this point we could not resist dessert - a trio of sorbet, including a mint one which was unique at it had the flavour of real mint along with a sweetness, and we also had the hazelnut chocolate tart. Yum. The quartinos of wine are just the right amount. Anteprima is deservingly busy, and we look forward to going there again soon as we can! Consistency We have been here twice - very consistent, lively and highly recommended. We had other pastas and the charcuterie plate that was very nice.
(4)
Marget B.
I love this place! The ingredients are always fresh, the flavors subtle, the ambiance is pleasant and low-key. One of my favorite place to eat Italian in Chicago.
(5)
Charlie B.
Just an update. I went back this past Sunday and had a super great and wonderful dinner there. It gets a star bump in my book for excellent food, a changing menu, lots of yummy wines and a great deal when they have the 3-course deal.
(4)
Mark N.
There are those times when you're having such a WONDERFUL experience that you just can't wait to write a review on how awesome your entire experience was. This is one of those times. On a recent visit to Chicago (I live in Los Angeles) I had one of my best dining experiences ever when my gal pal and I went to Anteprima. From the moment Jeffrey greeted us at the front door with a smile as big as Julie Robert's, we knew we were going to have a great time. While we waited for our table, Jasmine poured us a mean martini. Straight up but of course. Sara was our server and her service was nothing short of impeccable while providing the perfect wine and food pairings and having just the right amount of friendliness thrown in. The food. WOW! Where do I start? The scallops were to die for! Everything was the best, so try it all. Needless to say, the evening eventually had to end, but not without saying goodbye (for now) to our new favorite restaurant and wonderful staff that we look forward to seeing again soon. See you in November!
(5)
Lorenzo L.
Really liked the place when it first opened a few years ago, but have been really disappointed with the food the last two times I had dinner there. On both occasions, whoever was on the line had a heavy hand with the salt. Every dish we ordered was laden with salt, really masking the natural flavors of the various foods. Had it happened only one time, I would have chalked it up to " a bad night in the kitchen". But twice in a row appears to be " a trend". I won't go back again. Mediocre.
(2)
Minna A.
very cute decor and attentive service! My friend and I came here to bid adieu as she left for a semester in Paris. We shared two dishes, and the waitstaff was kind enough to split the portions in half and plate the two different menu items separately for us. The Zucchini flowers with marinara? Delicious! I had no idea zucchini blooms would taste so good! All in all, the meal was great and the service attentive! I'll be sure to head on back this way soon!
(3)
Victoria S.
go on a night the owner (Marty) is working- the kitchen is just better those nights than when he isn't there- that said the food is consistently good quality and fresh- lots of seasonal choices and the patio is also a plus when the weather cooperates... we have been here probably twenty or more times and are always glad to return
(4)
Anceert M.
I am a fan of this place. Centrally located on the heart of Andersonville.(no cheap) but the food is great, specially the crostini toscani, traditional chicken liver topping, pickled vegetable (I love it). Great place to have dinner with your friends, but not for dates(It's a bit loud inside)
(4)
Timothy G.
I have been going to this great little eatery for years, and always look forward to the great menu, fair prices and charming atmosphere. Its far better than all the downtown italian places that are overrated, and also the menus to fattening and too big of servings.Chicago needs more places like this.
(5)
Bradley S.
Partner and I dined here recently at the suggestion of friends. We arrived way too early for the reservation and it was suggested we wait at their sister bar, Bar Ombra, two doors south. We returned at the reserved time and were seated promptly. Four of us shared 2 appetizers which were unique and very tasty. I ordered a bottle of wine, an Italian red meritage type, to which I had been introduced earlier at Bar Ombra. When we ordered our entrees I ordered another bottle (I guess the whole table liked it.) Partner had the duck breast which he loved. I had the chianti braised pork shoulder which was superb. One of our friends had a pork tenderloin dish which he proclaimed delicious. Our server was engaging and attentive. The space is a tad noisy perhaps but I think it worked out well for us in as much as Partner was a bit impassioned in parts of our conversation and it didn't disurb the neighboring tables. I think it's a very good value as four of us ate for about $250 which included two bottles of wine.
(4)
Jeff A.
It had been well over a year since my last Dance with the Anteprima, Last time it was a close friend and I, this time it was for a first date... I know right, who dates anymore, well I was lucky enough to find myself on a date and where better then Antiprima when your date likes Italian? ( I do too of-course) We kicked off our date across the street with a piece of cake at A Taste Of Heaven, it was our first date so we thought we would break the ice-in a more casual atmosphere, plus I always like my dessert up-front and I am slowly starting a cult of dessert first followers! I regress Enter Antiprima, we decided we would do many courses split them all and make sure they were awash in a wonderful wine... After choosing the direction of our courses we chose a bottle of Pino Noir to compliment all the strong flavors Kellerei Cantina Terlan 2007, it was buttery and wonderful and we both loved it until the very last drop disappeared... Our first course was a creamy chanterelle mushroom, leak, shallot, pasta preparation, I get weak in the knees for all things shallot and this did not disappoint! The mushrooms were strong and every other flavor followed behind like good little soldiers, it was divine! Number 2 was the lobster ravioli with a sweet corn butter foundation, it was solid, maybe a little too Al dente for me, and perhaps a little less punch then I would have expected, but It did follow the flavor explosion of chanterelle and Pino Noir, It was solid no matter how you cut it! Our third course was the show stopper! Lamb chops, we were both chatty and having a great time-however-once we each found interaction with the Lamb chops all conversation ceased and we got lost in the heaven that was Lamb a la Anteprima... We did make room for coos and hmmms and all types of primal food related comments of lust and ecstasy... Our unexpected 4th course; the waiter approaches the table, I am filleting every last moment of meat from the bone in front of me... "Lets do it all over again" he half laughs and then I say no I'm not kidding do it up again, we rewind and repeat! Laugh it away for us acting like a couple of fat kids, I used to be a 44" waist and 260 LBs, and at this moment I embraced that former eating stamina and went for a second round of Lamb chops perched upon pickled carrots and beats I believe it was... I explained to the table next to us we still had some wonderful Pinot left in the bottle and it was just perfect for the Lamb so why not do it again, they laughed and considered some chops for themselves... Our final hoorah was the fresh peach and puff pastry delight! It was perfect, not too sweet! It danced on my tongue, it was just melting away, putting smiles on both of our faces-for sure! ( I almost backed up the proverbial truck once again for more fresh peach and pastry divinity alas I did not) This was a wonderful dinner by all accounts! My only complaint would be the lobster ravioli, but I don't think it really is a compliant more then a personal preference, I wanted more sweet-corn in my butter and more give in my ravioli but thats just me, anyway you cut it; not enough to take away a star!
(5)
Chicagoa N.
Our fourth or fifth trip to Anteprima was quite enjoyable, as were the earlier visits. My salad of heirloomtomatoes with diced cucumber, thin-sliced watermelon, dressed with mint, olive oil and lemon juice was the perfect starter on a muggy August evening. My farfalle with a prosciutto ragu was rich and satisfying, a small portion was more than enough. The lady enjoyed her choices as well, and the service was attentive and courteous. Anteprima is very noisy, not the place for a quiet chat, but for those in a festive mood, it's a wonderful reason to visit Andersonville. Moreover, if weather permits, the noise is not an issue if seating is available on the patio out back. Upscale and eclectic Italian food is served, but the cafe is never empty, reservations advised.
(4)
Philip K.
We dined at Anteprima for the second time last night and for the second time enjoyed the food, but were disappointed by the service. Maybe it was because we weren't ready the first time the waiter came to take our order, but after ordering and beginning to drink a bottle of wine, we waited what seemed like an eternity to order food. A similar painful would-be eternity came between the dropping off of the dessert menu and the return of the waiter. Ok, so I sound whiney. But there's just something maddening about seeing your waiter flit across the room, cut bread at the bar, and chit chat with co-workers when you desperately want to order! On a more satisfying note, the food is delicious. We tried the octopus starter as many yelpers suggested--wonderful. The portions are sensible. So the food is great, service questionable. My final comment is on the phenomenon of small, trendy restaurants like this that pack in diners to create a very loud, claustrophobic atmosphere. Why do we flock to these places? Is the food really that great? or does the reservations-only buzz create a false sense of urgency? I mean, I'm not gonna lie--I felt somewhat special being a part of this seemingly elite room. "We know what's up. Look at us and our delicious, expensive food." Makes everything taste better, I guess :)
(3)
Ian M.
I don't know if I have no class or if this place is just bizarre but it was the worst meal that I have ever had. I have never had bruschetta made like that. The smell of it was so bad that I would not even eat it. My friend took a bite and spit it back out. Then we had a ravoli dish. Personally, I think meat and mint should not mix. The service was amazing but the food was just too much for me!
(1)
Steve K.
I may be going out on a limb, but I would venture to say that Anteprima has the best NY strip steak in the city. I would love to share more about this quaint little joint, but it's all I've ever gotten when I've gone. It's served with a warm arugula salad with shaved parmesean cheese that, when mixed with the juices from the steak, allow you to very easily clean your plate. A bit pricey and not much elbow room, but worth it.
(5)
Hannah S.
We really like Anteprima, its one of our go-to places for a date night, since its not the most kid-friendly of places. Plus when you want to order a few courses and enjoy your meal, kids don't usually mix with that. Though we have brought our daughter there during the summer when the back patio is open and just enjoy a couple courses. We like how many specials they offer, though we also have a few favorites from the main menu, like the brick cooked baby chicken which is prefect to split as an entree if you both want an appetizer and pasta course. This last time I started with the sheep's milk ricotta with English peas and walnuts and mint, which pretty much tasted like spring on a plate and was excellent spread on their Italian bread. Then for pasta, got the trofie (which is a small rolled pasta) with pesto and buffalo mozzerella and cherry tomatoes. The pesto was too buttery for my taste and over-powered the really good cheese and there were not enough tomatoes, but the pasta as always was cooked excellently. Then my husband and I split the baby chicken. We skipped dessert in favor of going to First Slice down on Balmoral and Ashland slice he loves pie and Anteprima's desserts are nothing too special. And for weekends definitely make a reservation ahead of time, calling on a Saturday afternoon will only get you a 9:00 table.
(4)
Nicki W.
My family took me here for dinner and I really enjoyed every aspect of Anteprima. First, the vibe is very calming and laid back which is something that I always look for (especially when you want to have nice conversation with who you are dining with). Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. She was able to help me pick out a fantastic wine as well as describe some of the interesting menu items. As always, I like to try a little bit of everything so that I can have a better feel for the direction a restaurant is trying to go. I enjoyed that the menu was very simple and to the point. I assume that it changes all the time which is great. We started off with some smaller dishes to share. We tried the Roasted Market Squash with hazelnuts and raisins which was awesome. The Spicy Calamari was great as well but I didn't expect it to come out grilled (still fine). For my dinner I ordered the Market Winter Squash Ravioli with brown butter, sage and parmigiano. I LOVED IT. Keep in mind that with the pastas, there are two sizes. The smaller portion is pretty small, so you would certainly want to either get something else or get the larger size. I had a side of the garden salad which was served with a mustard vinaigrette, but I think the server went overboard with the ground pepper! Aye. We like to try a little bit of each others food, I tried some of the Lamb Chops which were nice a juicy. I'm not Venison person, but someone at the table did have it and said it was fantastic. Dessert of course is something that can never be missed. I decided to just order everything they had listed so we could try it all. Some of my favorites were the Chocolate Hazelnut Tart with vanilla bean whipped cream...it was heaven. The Lemon Panna Cotta was also great as well as the Pumpkin Cake with Pistachios and sweet cream. Overall, the atmosphere, service and food was very impressive. I just wish it wasn't so far North from me. I will have to make the trip back for sure. It's a nice place to take friends and family.
(4)
K C.
Absolutely outstanding! Loved everything.
(5)
Jeff L.
I'm just a rookie at this Yelp Review business, but I can tell you this. Anteprima was awesome. I picked it based on the Yelp reviews (although the service comments and noise concerned me) and its proximity to The Steep theatre. I had my wife, mom, mom-in-law (and her husband) and sister-in-law meeting for dinner for birthdays. Mom said: Best ravioli she's ever had. Yummy bread sticks. Great veal. Great service--thanks Chris (who got us out of there when we were running out of time). A little loud once the full crowd is there, but we had the cozy big table in the back corner--perfect for us. The vegan amongst us was also able to order what she wanted. All and all, a great experience where everyone enjoyed the food, wine, and service. By the way, great specials that night added to the surprise of an extended selection of great choices. Six thumbs up!
(5)
Matthew S.
There are a lot of great restaurants in Andersonville and Anteprima is one of them! The service, atmosphere, and wine list were the highlights for me. The food was really tasty but I wouldn't suggest ordering the salad assortment. I think it might have been better to just order a couple. I loved the beet salad and the rest of the items were just ok. This is why I gave Ateprima 4 stars. Our entree's were really tasty. My girlfriend ordered the risotto and I had a pasta with Pancetta that would have made Chef Boiardee look like a shit-head. I would like to come back and try the Coho Salmon. If anyone has had it there you have to let me know how it is. Our server made some nice suggestions for wine and the half bottle options are great if you want to try a red and a white. Also, I never felt rushed and it's always nice when the server realizes that people don't like to be asked "how are you" every 15 seconds. They were extremely attentive and constantly kept an eye on our table to make sure we were aight! This is a great place for nice night out with some good friends or just your special lady or man or lady-man.
(4)
Eme L.
There $29 3-course just can't be beat. It's a bit noisy - not the spot for a romantic date - but the service is fantastic and the food (at least what we sampled) is delicious. Our party of four tried: Appetizers: pork terrine, calamari, octopus, mushrooms in parchment. All super tasty with my dabs being the pork and the spicy calamari. Pasta: spaghetti with tuna, ravioli, and pasta with pesto. Fav was the ravioli (hovering between sweet/savory). Pesto wasn't cooked and was taken off our bill. Entree: quail, pork ham, and whitefish. Fab was pork ham...whatever that is. Dessert: chocolate tart, rhubarb crumble, walnut cake. Walnut was the best. Memorable meal and worth a return visit. l
(4)
Jean C.
For hubby's graduation dinner, we decided on coming to Anteprima. We perused the menu during Midsommerfest and liked what we read. The reservation was made originally for 7:30 but I was able to change it to 6pm since the reception for his program seemed to end sooner than expected. When we arrived, there were a few tables already but it got packed as we had our meal. Since we nibbled a bit at the party we only ordered entrees. I went with the stuffed rainbow trout with spinach and artichoke. It was delicious. The food was well done and well presented. Everyone enjoyed their dish. Service was lovely but the dining room was a tad noisy. It was hard to have a conversation with someone on the other side of the table. I was pleased with Anteprima and would come here again for dinner. A walk around Andersonville is definitely in order after your meal!
(4)
Beth O.
Only recently have I pulled my mouth away from plates of pasta to pay attention to the meat and fish entrees-- and thus I wish I were a professional eater. Instead I leave Anteprima now looking like a disheveled Oscar Meyer wiener, due to massive wine and food consumption. Several things to know when going as a novice: -Quartinos of wine are priced proportionately the same as bottles, so you do not save money by not ordering full bottles. -A wiser or more frugal person than I would thus drink only what they need (i.e. less than a bottle). I use this reality to do large scale comparative wine tasting-- Primitivo vs. Nero D'Avola! Yay! -Get the sampler appetizer of starters from above. It is always refreshing and delicious. -Other than the rubbery bucatini, all of the house made pastas are EXCELLENT. My husband and I went to Rome in August during the national holiday, ate pasta, came back and went to Anteprima-- and found its strozzapretti amatriciana better than (off-season) Rome. -The tuna is MIND-BLOWINGLY GOOD. -End with the laurel liqueur. Wow.
(5)
Cindy R.
Continues to be a great place for dinner. Had to get the grilled octopus app again because it is SO good but lots of the others sound good too. I think they do a great job cooking fish here; if you're a fish lover I highly recommend getting any of the fish dishes. They're currently featuring lots of early spring veggies so mine (the whitefish) had leeks and purple artichokes... delicious. They no longer have exactly the same orange cake for dessert - it's got pistachios in it now. I liked it better before but it's still good.
(5)
Jeff K.
Consistently delivers wonderful food and attentive service. The ingredients are always very fresh, the entrees - well prepared and well presented. When I have made a reservation, my table has always been waiting for me upon arrival. Neg - the portions tend to be very small. I'm not looking for the usual vats of pasta that you find at some restaurants, but a slightly larger portion would be nice.
(4)
Lou S.
The Strozzapreti Amatriciana with guanciale, tomato, red onion, garlic, chili flakes and pecorino is quite amazing and not your typical American Italian fare. The pasta was cooked al dente and finished in a white wine sauce with onions and hand-smashed canned tomatoes which soaked up the sauce and gave each bite more flavor. Guanciale is unsmoked Italian bacon prepared with pig's jowl or cheeks and tastes different than pancetta and hard to find.
(4)
Heather R.
First things first, you absolutely have to get the grilled octopus appetizer. You'll dream about it. Anteprima's whole menu is filled with unique food that separates them from just another ho-hum neighborhood italian restaurant. It does get crowded and it is quite cozy, but the food makes you forget about listening to anyone else's conversation.
(4)
art s.
Good food in a nice little place with somewhat of a New York feel [in a good way]. A little pricey for the portion size, which isn't a bad thing - just need to understand it is a quality play, not a quantity play. Ambiance I can't quite put my finger on why this place made me feel more like I was in the Village in New York than in Andersonville, but it did. They only have 12 - 15 tables in the main room [we didn't see the garden area], and the layout looks a little cozy for the middle tables. And noise carries wherever you are, even along the perimeter of the dining room. We had what should have been a great spot at the corner/window 2-top. But unfortunately our visit coincided with that of the relentless blowhard at the next table. Picture a bad combo of the Bruno Kirby character from Harry Met Sally and Bruce Arena [former US soccer coach]. Now wind him up and watch him perform the obnoxious know-it-all role for 60 minutes running. That can put a damper on things. Which, of course, is not anteprima's fault whatsoever. The Food The only appetizer we tried were the three cheese zucchini flowers. Aside from the fact that they look a bit like mouse tempura with the tail-like stems sticking out, these were really good. Light, tasty, with a little bit of marinara. Good opening act. My wife got the red snapper in some yellow pepper sauce that she thought was great. It was a modest size at $24, but she thought the quality was solid. I had the bucatini, which comes with olive oil, shaved/grated pecorino, pea shoots and some garlic chilis. It was nicely done - al dente, flavorful. Personally I'd prefer a few less pea shoots and a few more garlic chilis, but it was a nice dish. Not bad at $16 [I think]. The Wine I think the list was made up of entirely Italian options, and they cover a wide spectrum of regions and varieties. They had a couple of Lagrein options, which isn't something I've seen a lot of restaurants carry [but maybe I just need to check out more Italian places]. I wish they had a few more options by the glass, though. I'd estimate that maybe 1/6th of their bottles were available by the glass. Service Decent, but perhaps a bit leisurely [or continental, if you prefer]. They were full [Saturday night, ~8:45], but it took a little longer than you might expect for the wine to come out, then for the check to come out. Not bad - we definitely were not neglected by any means. Time may have just dragged along a bit with our Bruno Kirby neighbor loudly explaining why he's an expert in various fields of finance and real estate.
(3)
Ed K.
I love this place. My go-to for special occasions...and even a Sunday night when I don't feel like cooking. Go with the lamb sausage and orecchiette. My favorite!
(5)
Anthony Z.
Have been here three times...most recently this past Monday. Sort of picky about Italian food, and this place is fine, but certainly not great. On Monday had the orecchiette as a starter, and it was too oily. Lamb sausage flavoring was good, but it did not taste freshly prepared. Salmon entree was good. Chocolate hazelnut torte was not memorable; the word adequate comes to mind. Wine choices by the glass are a good option, with a generous pour. As others have mentioned, it can get a little loud. Service was a little creepy. 29 dollar prix fixe special early in the week is a pretty good deal.
(3)
Jon L.
The stretch of North Clark Street in Andersonville is becoming a better and better place to eat, with the hearty but uninteresting swedish meatballs of yesteryear and phoned-in Italian now competing with a new brand of dining experience that caters to the neighborhood's increasingly well-heeled and culinarily-attuned residents. Anteprima's substantial menu of regional Italian dishes literally ups the ante. Homemade pastas-including pappardelle with a boar ragu and orecchiette with housemade sausage-abound and are available in half portions, which makes an appropriate starter for mains like whole roasted bronzino, chianti-braised pork, and "brick-grilled" cornish hen. Rotating specials have been known to include killer sformatos, proprietary headcheese, and more. With a restaurant as consistently popular as this one, service occasionally falters, but the wait for your food can be tempered by a creative cocktail, such as the Cyn-cyn. Hats off to any establishment that showcases Cynar, a bittersweet Italian aperitif made from artichokes that sports nifty Art Deco label and a reputation as an aphrodisiac.
(5)
David C.
This is my favorite Italian spot in Chicago. The food here is amazing. I've eaten here countless times as it is a block from home. I have never had a bad meal. I have had problems with the temperature in the dining room... on my last trip it was VERY hot and it can get VERY loud in the establishment as well. That being said, the food keeps me coming back. The octopus on the appetizer menu is AMAZING. For those of you afraid of it, do try it. The octopus is tender and tasty. You can not go wrong with any of the pasta dishes... especially if it involves a boar ragu. As for dessert, I would take a pass. I've yet to have an amazing dessert at this spot. However, as for Italian food in Chicago... this is as good as it gets!
(5)
Emily S.
My husband and I took my parents, my brother and his girlfriend to Anteprima as a Christmas gift to my parents. We'd been before and really liked it. Fortunately, it was still very good and impressed my foodie parents. We started with the rabbit sausage, the grilled octupus and the antipasto plate. Everything was very tasty, and there were lots of little, very authentic Italian bites to go around. We shared two salads - the arugula and the fennel salad. The arugula was pretty standard (but very fresh). The fennel salad was excellent - shaved fennel, persimmons, pomegranate seeds, parmesan and a drizzle of fine olive oil. Yum. Everyone liked their main course - we had the sea bass, the bucatini with tuna conserva, the duck leg, the lamb shoulder and the pancetta wrapped venison. All were excellent, but the lamb shoulder really seemed to be the big winner at our table. Desserts were almost all great. The lemon panna cotta is second to none - so delicious. The winter squash dessert was absolutely amazing. Skip the lemon and orange cakes - so, so dry and the one disappointment of the meal. Wine list is extremely reasonably priced with plenty of bottles under $40. We had three bottles of a nice Montepulciano that was right in our price range at $33. Service was good, and we will definitely go back.
(4)
Ryan T.
Anteprima is probably my most favorite italian restaurant in the andersonville/edgewater neighborhood. It's small, cozy, kinda rambunctious atmosphere is perfect for small get togethers with friends or family. Perfect for a date if you don't mind the close quarters and cacophany of mingled conversations. The food definetly makes up for it. The wine list is fairly full and looks complex if you're unfamiliar with italian wine terminology. Servers have always been patient to explain them or offering recommendations on similar wines not on the list. Most servers have asked if we've dined there before, but there have been a few times when the server just plops the menu down. For the most part the servers are attentive, weekends or busy nights you might have to make extra effort to be noticed. Their dinner menu changes often seasonally or whatever is available from organic and local growers, which makes the experience almost new if you haven't been in awhile. But if you're like me and order the same thing, many of their main dishes like the sliced new york strip with arugula are unchanged and for good reason. Fish main courses constantly change, as I've seen porgy, sea bass, monkfish, and dover sole on their menu. Many of the dishes and appetizers have what appears to be an unsual combination of food stuffs, but when tasted you can tell a great amount of care and effort is given by the chef to make the dish interesting and pleasant, the deviled eggs with lobster and pesto for example. Their dessert menu is small and unspectacular, many of them having a slight tartness in flavor which is actually kinda refreshing to finish off a meal. The restaurant can be busy on almost any given night, so definetly make a reservation online, very convenient. I frequent this place quite often and am always very satisfied with the quality of food and the service has been great most times.
(4)
Darlene L.
Food here is pitch perfect with pastas, fresh catch and antipasta as star features.The vibe was good from the start when I made the reservation and was told about limited free parking in the lot around the corner. We sat outside in the comfortable little covered patio. We enjoyed an excellent Baralo as the waiter patiently responded to questions about the specials. Started with a variety of appetizers including olives, peppers, zucchini, couscous,and beets. It was a veritable delight with good ciabatta and EVOO. Halibut in a bag was moist and flavorful. The whole fish special of sea bass was bones for us and grilled to perfection. Nice dessert offerings include yummy chocolate tart and strawberry and rhubarb fritatta. Service was friendly and efficient. All four in my party raved about their food.
(5)
Amy A.
This place is so overrated. I don't get it. Against my better judgement I went back for a second try with a friend that wanted to try it. No different. The food is ok, but there are other Italian places in the neighborhood that are just as good, have better service, and you can actually hear the person sitting across the table from you. Oh, and I thought the wine list was a bit pretentious for a place that is supposed to be a "neighborhood" dining room. No house wine? A lot of people seem to like it here, but I don't think I'll go back.
(2)
Marina M.
I love going to dinner and being able to try a bunch of different items, so a small plates menu is always a draw. We started with grilled octopus and the pork belly. Both were perfectly done and had great flavor. I really enjoyed how the octopus was seared. We followed up with goat cheese ravioli w/orange zest and pappardelle w/boar ragu. The pastas were excellent and you could tell they were homemade. I enjoyed the goat cheese ravioli but it's pretty rich so I can't imagine eating a whole order by myself. The boar ragu was amazing! For dolci we had the winter squash budino w/pumpkin seed brittle. It's kind of like flan, but much better. The budino was light and had a great texture. The squash provided a unique and delightful flavor.
(4)
Tracy O.
I've been to Anteprima twice. Both times I've loved just walking in. There's a cozy hustle and bustle that coos "Hey, come in, really enjoy a meal." Service is great. The staff are warm and friendly. I sat at the bar once and it seemed like the bartender is also responsible for plating desserts and antipasi. Kudos for that! Both times, food has been A-OK. My main qualm is that dishes are too salty. I could tell that if it weren't for the saltiness, the food here would be good. The blueberry tart, however, is delicious! Sunday to Thursday, $29 3-course prix fixe meal is something to consider. I also appreciate that there are two size choices for pasta dishes.
(3)
Hansel K.
Excellent food! Great service. You will leave satisfied for sure.
(5)
Jessica B.
I went there tonight for my first time and left full and pleased with my meal! We had reservations at 6 and then because of pouring rain and parking issues were a few minutes late. When we checked in, the host was a little rude, reminding us we were late (yes, we knew but did our best to get there on time) and then seated us with a huff. Okay, not the best way to start but what lacked in a greeting made up for in food. My friend and I got the grilled octopus (amazing!!!) and daily special of blood orange salad, which was refreshing and sweet. Portion sizes were easy to share and a nice way to tee up the meal. For dinner, I got the maltagliati with house smoked pork belly, fagioli, spinach, tomato and it was really delicious. It had really good flavors and was light. The great thing is that Anteprima also offers full and half sizes of the meals so you can get additional dishes or get better portion control. I got the pasta as a full dish and it was still a good size portion without being too heavy or filling. For dessert, we got the lemon panna cotta, which was good and had a Greek yogurt consistency. It was good and definitely perfect to share, it would have been to heavy on its own. Finally, we had blood orange bellini's which were delish! Overall, I was really happy with our meal, even if the host wasn't the nicest and the waiter was a big hoverer. I would go back! Note though, until the patio opens, the main dining area can get VERY warm, I was sweating throughout the meal, which was not the most attractive.
(4)
David B.
My partner and I had a great meal here to celebrate my birthday. I had the Alaskan halibut which is cooked in parchment paper and then served with an amazing sauce. It was probably the best halibut I have ever eaten. My partner had a delicious asparagus and ricotta ravioli. It needed a bit of pepper, but otherwise was quite tasty as well. We had excellent service -- attentive, friendly, but not intrusive -- and she appreciated our slightly warped sense of humor. All in all, a fabulous meal in a very lovely room. For those who like outdoor dining, there is a nice space in their back yard that is nice change of pace from the tables in front of restaurants where the bus fumes "enhance" the meal.
(5)
Matt P.
Finally, I made it to Anteprima for dinner! I wish I had gone here sooner! This restaurant is a very pretty spot and popular, located right in the middle of Andersonville. On a Friday or Saturday evening, I highly recommend reservations, as there will almost certainly be a wait for a table. Also, this is not a pasta/pizza type of Italian restaurant, Anteprima specializes is more of a rustic/country style of cuisine. They do have pasta dishes on the menu, but its not going to be typical Chicago Italian restaurant fare. The interior space has a casual yet a warm upscale feel. As with most neighborhood restaurants, the tables are in close proximity of each other and the noise level can get high. We sat on the patio/deck in back, which has a much more quiet relaxed vibe and has the feel of a cozy outdoor room. They do have patio heaters, so are we go into Fall, you can still be comfortable on a cool evening. We started with the Grilled Shrimp marinated along with both sweet and hot peppers, it was excellent. The bread and thin bread sticks were quite good as well. I selected the pan-seared Scallops for my main course. It was quite possibly the best Scallops I've ever had. The wait staff was highly attentive, very helpful with wine selections and we didn't feel like we had to quickly leave to free up a table.
(5)
Justin H.
I have been wanting to try Anteprima for several months now and finally had the money and friend to do so. Stepped in here without reservations and were seated in under a minute in the front window 2 top. The kitchen brought out 2 complimentary zucchini/cheese amuse bouche for us to try and they were delicious. I ordered one of the red wines to go with my ravioli entree from the extensive wine list. The ravioli were spectacular and my friend had the New York strip seasoned and cooked to perfection. Only downside is the prices. $17 for a plate of 8 to 10 small homemade ravioli with a touch of sauce. That's almost $2 per ravioli. The breads brought to the table were amazing as well. Thanks Anteprima, I will be back for this truly authentic Italian again.
(4)
Amy N.
With recommendation from friends and the high rating from yelp, we were a bit underwhelmed with Anteprima. My dinner was pretty good, zucchini flower, lobster ravioli and seared scallop. I would give my dinner 4 stars. My hubby's dinner was a total disappointment. The pasta dish, orecchiette with spicy lamb sausage was way too salty even though the pasta was very fresh. The wood grilled spare ribs has no flavor even though the meat was tender. Maybe the chef was having an off night?!?! The saving grace is their $29 prix fixe price along with the nice alfresco area and service.
(3)
Phil B.
There's only one word for Anteprima: perfect. Don't go to this restaurant because you want "Italian". While Anteprima is indeed Italian food, it's "rustic" (Tuscan I think?) What it's NOT is pasta with red sauce and meatballs (go to La Scarola for a wonderful version of that Italian food experience). I've been to Anteprima with my wife now 5 times. In every single case, the food and service were superb. The meal always starts with a complimentary sample pastry. Tonight it was greens with some pine nuts. We've had a zuchini pastry in the past. It's just a little one-bite appetizer to get the palate ready. Tonight I had the fixed menu (which is available S-Th). You choose either a starter, small pasta and entree OR a starter, entree and dessert. All for $29. Knowing that on my wife's birthday dessert would be a must, I chose the former. I had: Tomato bread salad: tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, basil and big bread pieces (not too hard, not too soft) with infused oil. These are VERY fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and in the summer, this salad is a refreshing start to the meal. I've had this during other visits and LOVED it. Spaghetti with chillies, tomatoes and some crunchy thingys: this was where I talked about the meal being "perfect". The pasta is cooked perfectly, the ingredients and herbs are distributed perfectly throughout the dish and it tastes FRESH! The dish is simple, but has a wow factor that comes from the blending of flavors. It's not too big, not too small, not too messy, not too salty or plain, it's just PERFECT. Sliced New York Strip: I ordered medium rare. The steak might have been a little undercooked (my only complaint about the meal). But it was delicious and was served VERY HOT. The plate was so hot it was untouchable. They took this steak from the grill and must have delivered it in 10 seconds to my table. Alongside the steak was an arugula salad with shaved parmesan that cooked a little bit on the hot plate. The cheese melted a little too and it turned out to be a wonderful accompaniment to the steak. I cut up pieces of the steak and ate them with the greens and cheese. As I keep saying, this was a delicious and simple dish. It was steak with a little green salad and some shaved parmesan. But the flavors were spectacular and their simplicity was SO satisfying. We had 2 desserts - a peach crostata and the "cherries in pastry". The cherries were reduced into a compote and served in a puffed-pastry. That's the whole dish. Very simple/delicious. Frankly, the cherries dish paled compared to the peach crostata. It was basically an Italian peach pie with very dry crust and peaches. My wife remarked that the fruits in both dishes were not "over sugared". The fruits were center stage. And keeping with my theme - both desserts were SIMPLE, fresh and delicious. Some other dishes we've had in previous visits that are spectacular: the orecchiette with lamb sausage and rapini. This is a spicy pasta dish that I love. We've also had an orange cake dessert that our waiter told us tonight they serve only in the winter. The orange cake is all my wife talks about! In summary - the few people that complain about Anteprima call it "ho hum" or plain. I prefer "simple". I would tell those people to pay attention to the details of these dishes. Pay attention to the care the chef puts into the flavors, the ingredients, the freshness. There is a GORGEOUS SUBTLETY to Anteprima that is NOT to be missed. It's officially my favorite restaurant on the north side and a refreshing change from the everyday restaurant experience.
(5)
Shea G.
My husband and I were very excited to visit anteprima because of the reviews we had read and we love authentic Italian food. We even took another couple with us, the guy being from Italy with a strong background in Italian cuisine. Our whole experience started out badly when we showed up for our 9:00 reservation only to be told that the wait would be 45 minutes for their patio. When I initially made our reservation, the person I spoke with said that being seated on the patio at 9:00 would not be a problem. However, the host standing in front of me said that they never reserve tables on their patio, it's first come first serve (there are only 10 tables on their back patio). While I was questioning why I was told differently, the owner showed up and instead of apologizing for the mistake, said, "I'm the owner, I think I would know..." Really? No apologies, no thank you's for even coming? He even said, "this is our policy." Business 101 tells you that that is NOT a phrase to be used with an upset client. Moving on to the food however, we started with the sweet corn and basil bruchetta and it was phenomenal. A bit salty, but very very tasty. We then had the ricotta stuffed figs with carpaccio. Equally as good. Great start to our meal. For my main course, I had the sweet corn and crab risotto. I was expecting it to melt in my mouth, but everything tasted quite separate and I never felt like it all went together. My husband had the Orichette and liked it ok, but again, he was a bit disapointed with the flavor profiles. This was an okay place, but definitely not in our top ten favorite Italian places in the city. I'll wait until the customer service improves...which means I have to wait until they change management.
(2)
Gayle G.
The recession is good for dining out! Anteprima's three course $29 prix fixe on Sunday -- Thursday is a great deal. For two people do this: one app & , one order of pasta to share, two entrees and one dessert to share for $58. What a deal! Ok, so we had four or five drinks and a second dessert to throw the total well over $100, but it was still a great deal and oh so good. Anteprima isn't "fancy" per se, but it's probably not the kind of place you'll go every week. It makes me happy to have in my 'hood, though. The servers are very well informed and good natured. It's always a leisurely, casual and unrushed dining experience. There was a bucatini with artichoke pasta special that was so good! It tasted like spring. And the NY Strip with rosemary and lemon, served on a bed of arugula with shaved parm was spectacular. That dish would almost make me forsake carbs (except for the bowl of pasta before and the dessert after). The steak is so juicy & flavorful with the peppery arugula and the salty parm. I want it right now! The orange cake is simplicity at its best. The hazelnut dark chocolate tarte is decadence disguised as a pie of pie. Looking forward to eating on the patio again and enjoying the spring menu once the weather warms up more. Ciao!
(4)
Marjorie F.
I just went there this weekend with one of my best friends. We started with the grilled octopus. I'm not usually a fan of grilled octopus - many places make it too chewy. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it at Anteprima. It actually melted in my mouth!!! For my main course, I ordered the ricotta and chard ravioli in butter sauce. While it was very rich, I enjoyed every morsel. But then again, I love butter! For dessert, we shared a lemon custard (I'm not sure what the name is exactly - the pannacotta?). It was light, creamy, and not too sweet. Just right after a rich meal! We shared a bottle of Il Bugiardo 2002. I don't know much about Italian wines, but if you like merlot and shiraz - you'll like this!
(4)
Meera S.
We had New Year's Eve dinner here with four friends, and it was delicious. My husband and I walked in 25 minutes early for our reservation, because we were dorks and didn't check our watches after giving ourselves a good buffer of time to travel there from Hyde Park. The staff was unfazed, even though the restaurant is tiny and there wasn't any more room to sit at the bar. We ordered a cocktail to share while we waited (something lemony and rosemary-y, delicious) and just sort of pressed ourselves up against a wall while waiters flitted by bearing wonderful-smelling things. The food was great -- portions aren't insanely large, and I thought the menu was reasonably priced for the quality of food we got. Our total bill, including taxes and tip, was $315. For that we got 5 appetizers (get the lobster bisque. It's amazing), 6 main courses (I had the bucatini and loved it, and I heard moans of delight coming from the part of the table where the duck saltimboca and sliced NY strip lived), 3 desserts (they had a chocolate-espresso tart as a special, and the lemon panna cotta was also divine), 2 bottles of red, a glass of grappa, and a coffee. It wasn't the most amazing Italian food I've ever had, but it was a really cozy place to eat at with friends, the service was good despite the fact that they were super busy, and everyone in my party left stuffed and happy. We stole a NYE balloon as we were leaving. :-)
(4)
Nick M.
Pro's Handmade pasta Fresh ingredients Unique Menu Great Wine List Great Deserts (recommend the bread pudding) Con's Service is nonexistent and snobbish So loud I couldn't hear my date (no she wasn't a low talker) Over priced for the portions Seating/Decor didn't do anything for me Food overall... eh! If you drag me here... yes I will be kicking and screaming!!
(3)
Liz P.
Hands down, the best Italian I've had in the city so far. I absolutely love the atmosphere and decor--it really sets the mood for a wonderful evening. Our server was incredibly friendly and helpful in recommending some dishes. Their menu changes weekly so the bucatini amatriciana may not be there for long, but I highly recommend it if you see it on the menu! It was absolutely decadent, how well the flavors played on each other and left the palate very satiated. The chianti braised pork shoulder was a delicious appetizer that literally melted in your mouth. Speaking of wine, of which they have a great selection, they were very generous with the serving, which I always appreciate. If you want to treat yourself or others to a superb dining experience, Anteprima is the place to go.
(5)
Laura F.
I've had mixed experiences here, and it often happens because my husband's or friend's entree ends up looking way better than mine! Some of the pasta dishes are so light on sauce and salt that it's underwhelming, while others are home runs. I tend toward anything with mushrooms, and for whatever reason those are the lackluster experiences. Go with what's seasonal and what your server recommends. A bit pricy, but a really nice neighborhood place.
(3)
Daniel S.
I didn't actually intend on dining here. Rather, this was second choice as when we tried to go to Spacca Napoli it was closed for Summer Holiday! I had heard solid anecdotal reviews of Anteprima, but considering the messenger(s), I filed it away as 'accurate but not entirely credible'. On the evening of Sept 3rd, the opportunity presented itself so away we went. Without a reservation on a Thursday night- around 830- we were able to be seated immediately. They didn't give us any lip about not having a reservation either. Note: I am not anti-reservation, rather quite the opposite, but sometimes spontaneity rules! My dear friend was moving away, and we wanted to have a nice little super in honour of the occasion. So we started off sampling an array of apps- zucchini, boar sausage, scallops etc- all were tasty and well prepared. The Italian red we picked stood up well to the varied flavours too. We shared a lobster ravioli and finished with a desert wine. I am hard pressed to find fault with this spot. The menu is well conceived and authentic. Should you find yourself in A'ville and desirous for a 'regional' theme I'd recommend Anteprima. Personally I'd return just for the boar sausage, but note a spot like this is ideally suited for sampling/sharing.
(4)
Scott H.
A neighbor suggested Anteprima after we were having trouble deciding on a spot for a Friday evening meal in Andersonville. What a cool vibe! A very casual and rustic, but classy room where I felt instantly at home. No pretense, the complimentary "amuse bouche", no haggling over bottle vs. tap water had be won over before the food even arrived. While I'm no sommelier myself, the wine list seemed complete and seemed to have quality options at all price points. We all shared the orecchiette, pappardelle and asparagus risotto dishes and all were delicious. Our server was attentive and was truly interested in our having an enjoyable evening. We found ourselves too full to enjoy any dessert this night, but we'll be sure to save room next time!
(4)
M H.
Given some of the raves I've read here, I was expecting a much better experience than I had. I was hoping for a Cafe Spiaggia type of deliciousness, but ended up with food that, while authentic Italian, fell just below nearby Calo's level of deliciousness. Service was somewhat disappointing too--my date and I felt more like we were our waiter's afterthought. Overall: not bad by any means, but there are better places around to spend a night.
(3)
Steven W.
I've eaten here three times over the last year or so, but my most recent visit is what prompted this review. They are offering a three course, $29 menu which is an INCREDIBLE deal. You can either have a antipasti, entree and dessert OR antipasti, half order of pasta and entree. My date and I each went for the latter. I started with a peppered beef stew with rosemary which was incredibly tender, flavorful and generous. Perfectly seasoned and nice and peppery! My date had (I think) chicken liver pate which she described as rich and wonderful. Then, the pasta. Holy crap. My date ha goat cheese raviolis in a light tomato sauce inexplicably garnished with orange zest. I wasn't sure about the orange zest. Did it belong?? Upon trying it - YES it belongs. It was the perfect acid component to cut the richness of the goat cheese. Bravo, chef! My pasta was strozzapretti with guanciale (cured pig jowel), red onion and chiles. It was absolutely amazing. It's been a very long time since a pasta dish impressed me and this one definitely did it for me. Salty, sweet, crunchy and rich but totally balanced. I actually don't remember our entrees because of the pasta high I was on, but I know we both finished our entrees and i recall being happy with mine! Our server was very knowledgable and gave great recommendations including an excellent bottle of falanghina which really hit the spot. Good job anteprima - we'll be back!!!
(5)
Lada M.
There were 8 of us and we ordered about half of the menu. The pastas are amazing! The chicken entree was my favorite. The smoked trout stuffed with crab was tasty as well. The blackberry cheese cake and strawberry mouse!!
(5)
Christine J.
I was here on a rainy Saturday night, which was unfortunate because everyone doddled longer than necessary, and the restaurant got into trouble when the 8 PM reservations showed up and no one was getting up. I feel like the restaurant could have done a better job managing this. Pastas were very well made, but the sauces left me wanting. I expected a blander sauce with flavorful pasta like ravioli. But we were getting olive oil and garlic on plain pastas.
(3)
Ellie L.
The octopus appetizer was phenomenal. I say that because I haven't eaten octopus in a cozy manner. It was warm and with potatoes, onions, peppers, down right cozy. Not cold and sharp, but warm and fuzzy, but also fresh tasting. Highly recommended, The half portions were enough, because they were so rich and satisfying. I had the lamb sausage, my husband had the delectable veal ragu. The cocktails were inventive and smart, and the wine list goes on and on. I appreciate the 250ml glass for $10-a good deal. The waiter was informative and there when we needed him. Just overall a really nice date experience. The fact that the restaurant was packed on a Monday night, explains a lot.
(4)
Deborah B.
We live in this neighborhood and thought we would give it a shot. La Tache was already booked for the evening, which was our first choice. Anteprima has one thing right-the food /inventive menu. I had the salmon with cauliflower puree, my date had the NY Strip. With the side of Brussels sprouts, SO none of us tried pasta. The flavoring of the food was amazing. My date reported the NY strip as being slightly overdone. I loved my salmon. Also-the drinks were good, and we tried the laurel drink which is made at the restaurant-very interesting and good. Kind of reminded me of absinthe, but better. For dessert...We finished the meal off with the apple fennel bread pudding. Fantastic!!! So the food really rocks...my appreciation of the food is what made me give this restaurant 3 stars. HOWEVER....... What Anteprima gets an F for is the fact that they try squeeze as many tables into as small a space as humanly possible. We arrived early had a reservation, and there were several tables available. We got stuck next to the station by the bar where the servers fill up the bread and olives for there table. I saw that and thought "ok I hope this will not be a problem"...it really wasn't.. until my date was bumped. My date was bumped by the waitstaff...and not just bumped pressed into and his chair actually moved...Oh and not by the busboys but the really tall, older -looking woman waitress. Fine... I get it, its crowded but...no "Excuse me" or "Sorry." NADA! So..we alerted the manager and he didn't say sorry, anything. It is one thing when its other diners doing this but your own waitstaff?? We asked to move as there were still 3 or 4 other tables for two and acted as though it was a huge deal that we wanted to move, We moved and long story short..got bumped yet again. by a busboy mainly and the actual manager once. We ate fantastic food, but Anteprima. get your act together!! Either take a few tables out , or teach your inconsiderate staff and manager some manners!!!
(3)
Thomas A.
The food is bland. The cocktails were good - using different italian aperitifs and digestivos in an intersting way - but cocktails aren't dinner. Polenta was nothing but filler - not cheesy, buttery, salty, or even "corny" - just bland mass of mush. The stuffed fish - they shouldn't have bothered stuffing it. I don't know what else to say. If you try a lot of flavor and it doesn't work out, I will give you points for trying. Everything I ate needed more flavor.
(2)
Jenna M.
Anteprima seems to have found and filled a very specific niche that is perfect for this neighborhood. It's nice, but not too nice. It has a special feel without being pretentious. The food is very good, approachable, a bit more expensive than at your average neighborhood place. As a rule, I do not go out for Italian, but I will go here on occasion. The first time was with my then-fiance to tell my future in-laws about our engagement. The second was last night after the husband and I watched Big Night and were jonesing for some Italian. Service is not intrusive. We sat in between what felt like uncomfortable first dates between well off people, which felt about right. I am rating this as a neighborhood spot, not a destination restaurant, and for that, I think it's great.
(4)
Bryan S.
I will revisit this restaurant and my rating another time, but my first experience was disappointing. It makes me sad, too, because I had heard nothing but awesome reviews. I wonder if it's another victim to Andersonville's restaurant scene - a burst of popularity in a trendy neighborhood, and then forgets all attention to detail. We walked in on a Wednesday at 9pm to get a glass of wine and an appetizer on the patio. The manager, who was acting as host, hesitated about whether he wanted to give us a coveted table on the patio. There were three open, it was 9pm, it was a Wednesday. I ordered the only rose on the menu. They were out. My friend ordered an appetizer. They were out. No apology, no second recommendation, no nothing. Our bumbling server dropped off our wines, came back once to see if we wanted to order any other food, and then dropped the check. I put cash in the check presenter, and accidentally put my elbow on the presenter (I still left 20%). He came back and actually took the check out from under my elbow without as much as an excuse me. On our way out, we were able to see the manager eating at the bar, and then the bartender coming out from behind the bar and the busser out from inside the kitchen both cut us off. I know it's a popular restaurant with delicious food (allegedly), but attention to detail is the lifeblood of sustainability in a restaurant. I certainly hope it improves.
(2)
John C.
Great atmosphere, excellent service and really good, authentic food. Everything we ordered was fresh and cooked to perfection. They also offer up a great wine list. When we arrived without a reservation, the host very politely told us there was a 25-30 minute wait. He also mentioned that the bar was pretty full so suggested we head next door to Acre (previously Charlie's Ale House). Once our table was ready, the host came to escort us to our table...and to that I say, "well played, sir!" The appetizers and pasta dishes were perfectly portioned and I would recommend checking out this newer addition to the lively Andersonville restaurant scene.
(4)
Jason W.
Ate here last night, and for those that read this in the future it was 80 degrees yesterday on April 1st. To say they were busy was an understatement. The service was great even though they had so many people in there. Our server was attentive enough to even tell us it would be a bit until our main course was ready after our apps. It took about 15 minutes which gave us enough time to start digesting the first two courses. Everything was cooked perfectly. Highly recommend the prix fix menu. $30 for app, meal, desert -or- app, 1/2 pasta, meal. The portions were smaller for the apps (understandable), but the total amount of food we had was enough to stuff two starving people.
(5)
Shonda D.
I would actually give Anteprima 3.5 stars, if I could. I love the location and it's a great place to stroll in the evenings. Anteprima is quite lively and usually pretty packed. The food was ok. We had the arugula, asparagus ravioli, olives, and the strawberry rhubarb crisp. Very nice wine list... they only serve Italian wines, but a wonderful array. Everything was nicely prepared and the service was outstanding. The food was tasty, but it didn't wow me. I think the ambiance hyped me up, more than the food. However, I would still go back to Anteprima, if someone else were buying.
(3)
Julie B.
Happy to have the fabulous weather this week-end, I wanted to enjoy great food outdoors. Friends had shared that Anteprima had an intimate patio and I was ready to try it out! As I'm able to walk to Anteprima, we were greeted promptly and taken to the lovely patio (small due to the large parties). Our server was a lack luster server who really did not provide any guidance and no assistance describing the menu. He just stood in front of us like we were supposed to take the Q and provide him direction (mute actor perhaps??). The food however was fantastic! Sunday - Thursday, they have a $29 3 course prix fixed menu with 2 options: 1 starter, 1 pasta 1/2 order, 1 entree OR 1 starter, 1 entree, 1 dessert. We went full bellied and went for the pasta inclusive option (insert smile and rubbing belly motion). We had the grilled octopus and zuccini florets - both perfectly prepared and delicious, next came the pasta: orecchiette pasta with spicy lamb sausage and bitter greens- good and spicy but the bitter greens soured me a bit, would not get again. The spaghetti with clams was to die for, still thinking about it today!! Entrees were the grilled duck and portebello mushrooms and NY Strip steak with arugala, preferred the savory duck but both were solid choices. Overall, excellent food, great neighborhood italian place, want to go back but the service was really lacking.
(4)
Shida B.
Not bad. While it was nearly 10PM, the place was packed on a weeknight. The kitchen closed at 10PM so we were cutting it close, but the waitstaff still received us with warm smiles and friendly service. The intimate space was relatively plain inside; stained glass windows and vintagey wood (distressed and faded) made for a rustic Italian feel ... unlike the modern spot across the street with their dim lighting and fire places. This felt like eating in a country kitchen. The crowd must've been there for a while judging by the loudness (e.g. drunkenness) of their conversation. The bar, which seated about 5 comfortably, was empty, but cute in the middle of the room. Ordered small plates: asparagus & ricotta ravioli, butter, parmigiano ($11); grilled octopus, potatoes, red onion, chilis, parsley, lemon, olive oil ($9); marinated olives, garlic, orange, chilis ($4); and the arugula, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese ($6). The food came quickly and was fresh, not just thrown together as some last meals of the evening can be. The ravioli needed a kick. The rich sauce clung nicely to the pasta (although it could've been more velvety, less buttery -- perhaps it broke and was saved?), but the bland dish offered very little flavor besides cheesy and buttery. The octopus was a little chewy from being a tad over grilled, but still it was flavorful. I just sopped up the extra olive oil with the fresh bread that was brought to the table to start. The greens were crisp, the parm freshly shaved, and the dressing light. The pepper mill gave it a nice crunch. Loved the salad. I ordered a specialty drink, something like basil and vodka with lemon. It was relatively uneventful, though the combination had so much promise. There were others on the list, something with vodka and rosemary, that I really want to try. The prices were good, so I'll return at a more reasonable hour. I might even need reservations.
(3)
Tiffany D.
How do I even begin to explain my newly found love for Anteprima?!?!?! I love the feel... it's very Italy-esque with the warm space.. delicious aromas in the air, friendly waiters... and fellow customers :] I guess the owner knew we were "foodies" from all the non-typical food items we ordered...... he was super sweet and actually gave us "special" olive oil to drizzle on our food and salumi and a special something something "XX" drink afterwards. Even a complimentary truffled pecorino and poached pear. My favs of the night were.. omg, ALL OF IT.. but if I had to choose.. the grilled octopus... the garganelli, pancetta & tomato ragu, homemade ricotta.... (which has trotters in it) andddddddd... their pasta is cooked to perfection and so fresh and delicious. PERFECT proportions!!! (my biggest rant @ italian american places is WAY too much food... and WAY too much sauce.. here it's perfectly balanced.. it's the PASTA that's the star of the show and it's accented by the perfect amount of delicious sauce...) omg their specials are amazing. fried anchovies were amazing. THE GOAT!!!!! their yogurt/honey dessert.. oh me oh my!!!
(5)
Kristina K.
We went here with friends and found the place packed, so were glad we made a reservation. The service was very good and the waiter did a good job answering questions about the menu. We decided to be the $29 special, picking 3 plates. All the appetizers were wonderful. The mussels and clams dish was a very nice size portion, and the grilled octopus was really tasty and a different slant on the usual. The orecchiette with spicy lamb was a great dish, but the grilled lamb was ho hum. The panna cota was delicious and lemony. I will return, but probably for their appetizers and pastas....
(4)
Eric K.
Anteprima is a cute place - very inviting from the outside and the inside decor. However once inside it is jam packed full of people sitting practically on top of one another. This is an experience common in NYC but not so great in Chi-town. Plus it is so LOUD you practically have to shout to talk to your friends over dinner. The menu is diverse but I was hoping they would have a few normal italian items on the menu. Do I have to eat goats stomach or whatever the odd meat and seafood choices were. Chicken Picatta may be boring but I would have ordered it cause I like it. Mussels picata or whatever they had wasn't going to do it for me. The server was stone faced, cold, not friendly at all and barely interacted with us. In fact it took about 5 minutes for him to get out of my way so I could even sit down when I arrived. All the waitstaff seemed stressed and serious. I've definately been spoiled by the friendly competent servers from the LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU restaurants I guess. My friend ordered the ravioli and it was a couple teeny tiny pieces that tasted like oranges. Portion and taste were terrile. I think he had to eat something later cause he was not happy. Overall - too crowded, loud, expensive and we will not be going back. One thing to say about the crowd - it seemed to be a lot of Lincoln Park Stye yuppies over impressed with themselves. I had to sit back and laugh because this space used to be a gay male strip club. It made their pretentions being there seem hilarious.
Bad service, below average food, crowded, and zero soundproofing (about 105bB on Sat night!). I had the pasta w/shimp. It was fair. My husband had ravioli - Again fair. We shared a tomato salad which was three slices of tomato with shredded cheese on the top (like you get a Jewel) and a dash of fresh basil. To say it was simple would be an understatement. We were there a couple years ago and swore we wouldn't be back. We decided to give it another shot... And THIS time we really mean it.... Will not be back. This is Chicago!! Great Italian food is everywhere, w/ the service and ambiance to goo with it. Don't waste money at Anteprima.
(1)
A.J. M.
Hopleaf let us down for dinner, too full, but not before my parents had to be carded when we entered. Let's just say my folks don't look under 21. Whatever. So we walked down the street to find someplace else. My mom reminded me that we had been to Anteprima a few years back, but I don't really recall, so we gave it a shot. I'm really glad we did. The service was very friendly and the food was fantastic. I had the mussel appetizer, which was fantastic, and tried out some of the goat cheese ravioli my dad had. Also pretty tasty. I had the duck breast, which was unbelievably flavorful, and also tried some of my moms crispy baby chicken. I would go back just for both. Plus, they're very generous with the wine. Always a plus!
(5)
Resa H.
My husband and I had dinner on a Saturday night. Every table was full and the place was bustling. It's a small restaurant with tables close together but not so close that you feel like you are sharing a table. Greeting: We were about 30 minutes early for our reservations and there was no where to wait so the hostess walked us down to their other place, Acre (almost next door) where they have a fantastic selection of beer. She came to get us when our table was ready. Food: My husband had the steak and I had the pork with polenta. Both were flavorful and cooked perfectly. We also had an amazing chocolate mousse for dessert. The menu had a great selection and I'd go back to try the risotto and the ravioli.
(4)
Mike G.
So, it looks like I am the only Yelper who doesn't love this place. It is not that I dont get "it"--I dig Italian food the further it gets away from Italian-American as much as the next Italian kid--but they just don't nail. Now, it isn't that the ingredients weren't good--they were great. It wasn't that the wine list wasn't interesting--it was. It was the combination of things. Every dish was extremely under-salted--you need salt to enhance the flavor folks. The beet and ricotta ravioli was tasty--only after said table salt application. The appetizer selection of 8 things left a lot to be desired. Now let's talk about service: We never got bread/breadsticks or olives. Our wine arrived after our appetizers. The service just seemed rushed the whole time. The 6-top next to us was so close that every time the server was working with them his a$$ was on my friends shoulder--and then he would touch her and say "sorry". Not what I was expecting--prolly not a return visit in store for me.
(2)
M P.
Went here last night and had such an amazing experience! Now I have a habit of checking out menus online before I go to a place and one of the specials was a goat-cheese gnocchi.....I was so excited about it! Well, the specials had changed by the night we got there - but friend mentioned it to the owner. He comes back ten minutes later and says they have a few gnocchi left and can throw it together with some spinach & tomatoes. Yes please! It was incredibly good - and really so nice of the owner. He also recommended a beautiful bottle of chianti, that we really enjoyed. The neat thing about this place is their anti-pasto type bar, which is in the main room. We ordered the assortment, cause there were so many good things to try; sweet potatoes, faro w/grilled peaches and the eggplant were our favorites. And we ended with the lemon panna cotta, which was just perfect. So exceptional service, delicious food....we'll be back!
(5)
adam k.
Surprised to see so many good reviews here. My experience with Anteprima was one of the worst I've had in Chicago in a while. Poor service, poor management, poor food, poor interior. Not much to like about this place. We were there on a busy, but not packed Saturday night. It was so loud we couldn't talk across our table. Our server agreed and claimed it was unusual. I don't see how that could be because the interior is stark and not well designed. We inquired about moving to the patio, and after checking ourselves to see it was 1/2 empty, the manager quickly ran over and said there were no open tables on the patio. After this our server knew we didn't want to be there, and treated us as such. Food. Meh. Mostly over cooked mush and confused dishes soaked in olive oil that I wouldn't exactly consider Italian. Like others mentioned, the goat cheese ravioli is good, but come on, it's goat cheese. The bacon wrapped monk fish was rubbery, despite the bacon. We were also put off that the Mezze (and bread) was sitting out uncovered in the main hallway were people are walking by. I get the "home-style" concept, but don't think it is appropriate for this setting. At least put it in the back of the prep kitchen (open to the dining room) where it can be seen but not dripped on by passers by headed back from the bathroom. Wine list seems like it was borrowed from a fancier restaurant. I seem to recall maybe 2 bottles under $30? And no house wine carafe? Not what you'd expect at a "home-style" themed restaurant. Again, see above - "confused". Our server wasn't very helpful with the wine either - but this was after the table incident, so who knows. After leaving I was convinced this place would not make it. But I see here it has a loyal following. Maybe its the connection to Andersonville? Maybe cause it's new and different? Not sure, and not willing to try it again. Much better Italian restaurants in the area.
(1)
Fitness P.
Top-notch neighborhood spot. It's VERY loud, so don't go with folks with whom you want to converse in depth. Waiter gave terrific recommendations, and all of the dishes were great. Especially loved the grilled calamari app and the halibut entree. Really neat and extensive Italian wine list, many of which have quartino (250 ml) option. Everything is relatively inexpensive considering the quality of food and service. Tight-knit quarters, but that's the scene here. Will go back for sure!
(4)
Linda C.
I'm debating the star rating as I write this between 2 and 3 stars. The service and the atmosphere were just fine. The staff were perfectly nice. It wasn't too loud, despite the fact that it was a full house. Sure, I waited 20 minutes before being seated despite having a reservation, but that usually never bothers me. It was nasty out so I don't blame the restaurant for the other diners not wanting to brave the cold rain. I sure didn't want to be outside, either. I went to Anteprima after reading many a review singing it's praises. I was on the search for an awesome Italian place for a birthday dinner for my boyfriend. The lure of fresh ingredients and the recommendation from people who are self proclaimed Italian food snobs swayed my decision: they're Italian and swore their very picky Italian mothers approved. Who was I to argue with an Italian mother? Honestly, the food wasn't bad, but it didn't wow me. They gave us a delicious onion tart to start, which was the best thing we had all night. As for the entree.. well.. meh. For the price, the taste and portions didn't seem like a good value. The wine was fantastic, but it was better than the food. I chose poorly for the desert portion. I'll admit I'm a pastry snob, having made a lot of the things myself (that sounded more pretentious than i wanted it to, but i'll move on...). The chocolate hazelnut tart's crust and hazelnut layer seemed like they were undercooked, and the chocolate ganache was barely on this side of creamy. When I didn't eat more than a bite, our server asked if it was ok. I tried to be nice about saying that I didn't like it. She very generously took it off our bill (i didn't ask her to do that). She tipped this review to 3 stars. Maybe a different night would have been better as I understand they change their menu often to offer seasonally pertinent menus. I however was not that impressed that night and took my boyfriend to a different Italian restaurant the next night so he could get a more satisfying Italian birthday dinner.
(3)
Frankie R.
Okay so let me just say that I love Andersonville and we like trying new restaurants so I was excited to find a new little Italian place right in our 'hood. We went for dinner on a late Saturday night (conveniently made reservations right on their website). The place was extremely busy when we got there and our table was waiting for us...great. However our server really ruined what could have been a nice dinner. I don't know if he was just overwhelmed by the VERY crowded place or if he is just normally a rude tool....but either way, he sucked. We asked for recommendations and he answered without hesitation, but when we asked if he had actually tried what he suggested, he quickly said no. Food was okay.....just okay. Also, they claim to have a full bar, but they didn't carry many of what we would consider staples...leaving us thirsty as we dealt with the rude waiter. So if you want bad service by someone with a "painted on smile" who has no clue what he is talking about in a really loud crowded place.....this is a great choice!
(2)
Jim C.
Holy Crap, I am so full!
(5)
Adam M.
Bottom line: incredible food, horrible service. Actually, the wait staff is knowledgable, courteous, and enthusiastic, but it's the folks at the front of the restaurant that are the problem. News flash: when you make someone wait an hour from their reservation time for a bad table, maybe you should comp something. Or at least refrain from being rude.
(1)
Alissa G.
A party of 10 and I took Anteprima by storm this past December. My roommate waited for about an hour when she went to Anteprima the weekend before, so I was happy to have enough people to make a reservation. However, while the place was certainly happening, it never felt overly crowded. The dim lighting was romantic, but while I could see bringing a date here, it wasn't only a DATE place. As for food, we tried the octopus(pulpo) as an appetizer and the waiter was dead-on when he said it was one of the best items on the menu. I also had a half order of the pumpkin ravioli. The ravioli was delicious--but in trying to save $6 on the whole order, i got literally 4 piece of ravioli. Youch. Good thing there was plenty of bread and olive oil! **Hint, breadpudding lovers--look not further. The breadpudding here many be the best in the city--and def my hungry stomach feel all better pronto pronto!
(4)
F a.
Too bad for the low review, as the food is actually very good. However, the service was pretty bad - all due to our waitress. I went early with a few friends (not crowded yet), and it was a special night as one had been ill. After the meal, I asked my friends if they found the server rude (perhaps it was my imagination?) and everyone else chimed in and agreed. We don't know if it's because we didn't all get wine/appetizers, or what it was. One of my friends said it's as though she didn't like us (!). I very casually mentioned this to the Manager on the way out, and while he did apologize, it did not feel sincere at all. I was very calm & complimented him on the food quality, so definitely wasn't maintenance about it.. We did not get the feeling that he was going to do anything about it. So, since we are fortunate enough to live in a city where there are outstanding restaurants - Italian or other - why go to a place where the service is poor?
(2)
Jorge M.
I was looking for the a place to have some dessert and love every bite. However when I took a look at the menu, I got hungry and decided to try something. We got the assorted starters, I only like 2 of them. HINT their goat tart is really good. I was going to go for the dessert, but the Risotto sound it good... It was by far the saltiest thing I've ever had. I don't like sending food back, so we finished it, but it was almost painful to eat it at the end. Drinks were okay, I've never seen a sazerac served on the rocks... As I said before dessert was extremely good. Server was pretty slow and just weird, very weird.
(3)
Tim G.
I have dined here on several occasions, and the restaurant is consistently good. Service is slow - too many tables per server. The restaurant is loud, the wine list lofty, and the pricing is a little high for portions. Dessert menu is skimpy. However, the food is always reliable. The menu is fun, traditional, rustic Italian comprised of local ingredients. Overall, we always enjoy the food and experience. One more wait person to split the room better would go a long way.
(4)
Henry S.
Every time I go to Anterprima, I am transported back to Italy. On a recent windy, blustery spring night, I imagine myself in sunny Umbria, surrounded by grape vines and gnarly olive trees. Ok... back to reality. In my opinion, there are 2 restaurants in Chicago that really makes me feel like I'm back in Italy. Anteprima never fails to give me that feeling. The small storefront is always packed and bustling, and one hopes for when their back patio is open, to give some breathing room. After you sit down, an amuse bouche of zucchini tart welcomes you. Then, the bread basket arrives. OMG I can live on that alone. Crunchy dense house-made bread sticks, good sourdough, and crumbly foccacia with a soft interior. There is a regular seasonal menu, and a smaller daily specials menu. All told, there are about 15 antipasti to choose from. Certain smaller ones you can even get as a mixed platter. All pasta and risotto can be ordered in full or half sized options. Anything that comes out of the wood burning oven is always a sure bet. On this visit, I had the Chicken Liver Crostini with pickled okra; wood-grilled Iroquois Polenta with fava, ramps, and English peas; grilled Octopus with potatoes, red onion, chile, parsley, lemon and olive oil. For our mains, I had the wood-grilled Rabbit with roasted artichokes & fennel, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and pine nuts. My partner had the Stuffed wild turkey breast with spinach and prosciutto. The smooth Liver was a sharp contrast to the crunchy, oily bread underneath. Batons of radishes on top brought bursts of freshness. The pickled okra provided a good counterpoint to all the richness. The Polenta looked almost like a piece of steak with all the grill marks and woodsy aroma. The ragout of spring veggies underneath, in a light tomato sauce, was a perfect foil for all the creaminess. One of their signature antipasti, the Octopus, was next. Wood grilled tender octopus chunks, in a salad of punchy flavors and textures. The only dish that could rival this would be the Pulpo con Patatas at Mercat ala Planxa. Wood grilled vs confit octopus? I can't decide. Our entrees really brought us back to the rustic cuisine of Italy. So, rabbit. Haters stop here. If you can't imagine having little Peter for dinner, that's cool. I grew up eating rabbits and would jump on the chance whenever they are on the menu. Anyways, the rabbit were presented as cutlets, quiet a departure from the usual leg-and-loin-on-the-bone preparation. It was grilled ala diavola style, with a mess of herbs and tons of pungent black pepper corn. The accompanying veggies provided a symphony of complements to the meat. The artichoke was toothsome, the fennel nicely caramelized and sweet. The wild turkey breast was a similar variation on the same theme as the rabbit. A turkey breast, stuffed with spinach and prosciutto, rolled and crusted with tons of herbs. Perfection. We washed all the food down with a Nebbiolo, the 2000 Bianchi from Sizzano. Medium bodied, yet dark and murky. It was perfect for that night's weather. Dessert was the usual liquid route. I had the fig infused house grappa. I felt the burn as always, but now the edge has been tempered a wee bit by the sweetness of the figs. I was ready to snuggle up in bed. Why 4 stars? Anteprima transports me back to Italy, time and time again. They serve a lot of dishes that are not available elsewhere in this area. Their cooking method is grounded in the Italian tradition, using fresh seasonal ingredients. That is the spirit of Italian cuisine. Mr Fosse the owner is ever so gracious. The all-Italian wine list offers a wide range of varieties. The room is charming (a bit tight), and it is truly a neighborhood gem.
(4)
Joel C.
Hands down, my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago and the closest thing to a true family-style Italian restaurant meal outside of the boot. This is a must for groups of friends and loyalists to fresh pasta and authenticity. It's a great place for a date if you can handle loud, boisterous atmospheres. Ante Prima features a long list of outstanding antipasti that offer a wide variety of meats, vegetables and cheeses. Always a good move to do an assortment and pass around. The caponata is an extraordinary marinated eggplant that can not be missed. Pastas are handmade and the sauces represent a party of different flavors and textures. As with the antipasti, definitely order a variety and pass the plates around. The Orecchiette with Spicy Lamb Ragu is always a hit and one of my all-time favorite dishes. Entrees and wine list are fantastic (plenty of recognizable Italian producers) and the service is friendly and insightful. Parking across the street at the bank is a HUGE bonus. We brought kids along our first time there and they had a great time. The older one with a good palate loved exploring new flavors. Meanwhile, the younger one who was a little freaked out by the menu ended up having a great time and the kitchen was more than happy to whip up a simple pasta and marinara for her.
(5)
AJ L.
In a word - amazing! I went on a romantic date and it couldn't have been better. We went on Friday night at 7:30 and the place was full but we made reservations so we had a table waiting. The seating is a bit crowded but we managed to get a table in the corner so it was very intimate and private. The food: we started with an amuse bouche. No explanation was given, it just appeared shortly after we sat down so I still have no idea what it was except that it was delicious, and a perfect preview of the great food to come. We started with the grilled octopus and the tuna bruschetta, both very good. The bruschetta had a great tartness to it and the bread was perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. For an entree I had one of the pasta specials with homemade over-sized bowtie pasta and veal. After the two appetizers I just got the small portion which was the perfect amount. So good. My date had the orecchiette and lamb sausage which he said had the just the right amount of spice to it. The service: Our waiter was perfect. Equal parts charming, attentive and helpful without being overbearing or pushy. My date and I were so busy talking that we took awhile to order and did it in parts. Despite being quite busy, our server never rushed us or made us feel bad for lingering over our meal, and he was quick to bring us new cocktails while we were deciding. All in all, a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Erica K.
Food Love. And right in the midst of my neighborhood. Our waitress was helpful in all the right ways from characterizing the flavor of dishes to being all around friendly and witty. We sat outside in back and enjoyed the waning days of summer. The ribs and roasted chicken were amazing. The gnocchi also got the thumbs up. We didn't spend as much time here as I would have liked because our guests were leaving town that evening, but I am dying to go back and almost certainly will.
(4)
Neda And Mark R.
Authentically Italian. Just got back from Tuscany and I have to say this restaurant does it right. The food was very good, but some dishes were better than others. I went with a group of girls on a Sunday night. So between the 5 of us we tried a lot of things on the menu. We all had the prix fixe dinner which was great. They allow you to order off the specials or menu which added up to a lot of choices. I had the grilled octopus app, orrechiette with lamb sausage, and ribs. Also on our table were the halibut, special tagliatelle, polenta, risotto, New York strip steak, and also the strawberry rhubarb tart for dessert. The winning dishes were the grilled octopus, halibut, and tart. The octopus dish tasted exactly like the frutta del mar I had in Cinque Terre. Very tasty. The halibut was delicious, flaky and well-seasoned, without being overdone or salty -- so PERFECT. And the tart was sweet, but not too sweet. Delicious. Unfortunately, a couple of dishes I would skip next time. The risotto is vegetarian including the stock, which left the flavor a bit flat, which was very sad. The orrechiette with lamb sausage was VERY spicy, according to everyone at the table, which included a few seasoned spicy-food lovers. For them, however, the dish was considered a success. We had asked the waiter before ordering the dish, and he said it was only mildly spicy. The ribs were also missing a little something, maybe salt. So overall, I'm a fan. I'd go back. For the price, it was reasonable and the service was wonderful. We stayed a very long time and had about a billion questions and our waiter was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Great for a big group or intimate date!
(4)
Hugh B.
Having spent some time here in its previous incarnation, I always get a smile when going into Anteprima. That smile generally stays. The space is pretty. The service is always professional and knowledgeable. The menu is large and wide-ranging. The pastas are fresh and delicious. And it doesn't cost a fortune. Big fan.
(5)
Alex A.
3.25 stars. We ordered the plate of appetizers, and this was a good choice. The ravioli with lemon zest were a bit soggy and disappointing though. The service was good.
(3)
Bridget T.
Honestly, so f'n amazing I can hardly stand it. After my fifth visit Monday night I am finally compelled to share my love of this place with others. I am hearting the $29.00 you pick 'em prix fixe they have this summer, what a great way to try a whole mess of food! I have had the octopus salad every time I've gone there this summer as well as the lemon panna cotta which haunts my dreams. The Lobster/Ricotta Ravioli with Corn Butter was mind blowing...whoever thought of combing butter and corn and turning it into a sauce needs to give me a call, I think we might like each other...alot.
(5)
Paige H.
Have only had dinner here once, and I wasn't impressed. The atmosphere is cute but the food is nothing special. Service is good and you can get a good pasta dish here, but its overpriced for what it is. Wouldn't go back--there's too many other great places in Andersonville.
(2)
Sharla C.
Anteprima, is not just a preview of good food, it is the main attraction. I spent my birthday at this Italian food hotspot. I have always loved coming here for the simplicity of the food, the creative pastas, the laid back atmosphere and the dedication to seasonal ingredients. I love Italian food and am not impressed by most places that offer the usual fare of Eggplant parmesan, pasta marinara, or chicken cacciatore. I appreciate the rustic, peasant style food that comes from a long tradition of great Italian culinary history. Italian food is more than just cheese, tomatoes and pasta, it is a culmination of seasonal foods, fresh ingredients and a celebration of simple flavors. Anteprima has achieved the feel of eating at an authentic Italian table with recipes that have a long tradition in an Italian grandmother's kitchen. My friends and I ordered almost all the appetizers on the menu. I love the Fava bean puree with rapini, the fried smelts, the sweet and sour cippolini onions, the prawns with roasted fennel, the creamy wild mushrooms, the grilled polenta with bitter greens and tomato, cannellini beans with sage, the roasted beats with almonds and arugula, the brussel sprouts with pancetta, and the salumi platter. We also ordered the grilled octopus which was tender and cooked perfectly except the char on the outside was a bit too bitter and overwhelmed the actual flavor of the octopus. We tried 8 different pastas, the strozzapretti, toasted walnut pesto, pecorino was one of our favorites! The pork shoulder was perfection, falling off the bone and melting in our mouths. The whole porgy was delicious and was served with a nice romesco sauce. All in all, it was a satisfying and a delicious meal! Anteprima can satisfy even the most die hard Italian food fans. Expect excellent simply cooked food without a lot of fanfare. It's just good food, buon appetito!
(5)
Kathryn G.
My husband and I came here on a Friday night after receiving a gift card from friends. We weren't able to get a table but were happy to sit at the bar. The place is cozy, comfortable and well-decorated. The food could not have been better and we enjoyed the 'quartino' serving size off the wine list. The bartender seemed a bit frazzled and while attentive was not as friendly or welcoming as I would have liked. Never having been there before we had some questions about the menu and I appreciate being treated graciously when dropping a pretty penny on food. The rest of the guests seemed to be having a great time and while the crowd seemed a bit older and well-to-do, we will be back, with a reso for a table, to partake of the wonderful food.
(4)
Ger S.
Wow. What a great meal. Excellent, as always. The spicy mussels were perfect, the bucatini was a 7 on 10. The tagliatelli was great, and so was the cod. We tried the goat cheesecake - not so good. Returned it and went with the server's recommendation of the chocolate mousse, Excellent. Never a bad meal ,,, and in the heart of Andersonville. Highly recommended. Oh, and the cocktails before dinner were perfectly prepared. Great bartender.
(5)
Kate C.
So let me first preface this by saying I was here wth a group of ten people on NYE. Large groups are very awkward in this place, as my back was sandwiched against the side of someone else's table. I hope I didn't get hair in their food. We also may have been the only straight people here? I'm not terribly familiar with the neighborhoods in Chicago, but there were quite alot of (adorable) gay couples. Its all good. So initially, it was great... the bread was pretty good, the bartender made me a fantastic gin and tonic, etc. I had the oricchette, which was absolutely wonderful... perfect kick to the sausage and a nice sized portion as well. The pasta was nice and thick, like real pasta should be. The ravioli, although delicious, was not portioned well. Only eight raviolis come with the dish and they aren't much larger than the chef boyardee variety. So if you're coming to eat with a capital E, avoid filled pastas (which is pretty much the rule everywhere, yes?). The spaghetti was sort of boring. And I understand spaghetti can be fantastic if done well, even though it is a simple dish. This.. was not done well. Things were cooked properly, but it had the flavor of cooked celery, which is to say, not much. The duck with mushrooms and chestnuts was cooked quite well and was delicious, but the chestnuts themselves were sort of mealy and... not terribly tasty. The gnocchi was also good, from what I tried, but I'm pretty sure the oricchete was the best dish on our table. The desserts were decent but not anything to write home about. The chocolate hazelnut torte was pretty good, although it didn't warrant finishing the whole piece. And the chocolate mousse with almonds was also pretty good, as it had a wonderful creamy texture, but again, nothing outstanding. The biggest downfall was that the waitress couldn't have been any more blatant about how badly she wanted to get us out of there. I understand a ten top is a hassle, especially on an event night and in a small, intimate restaurant. But at least be cordial. I'd consider going back if I were in a group of two. And not on an event night. PS. Forgot to mention: their bathrooms are unisex and DONT HAVE LOCKS. This caused a ..."situation"... when I busted in on somebody. Good thing they were only washing their hands :/
(3)
Christine W.
Very nice, interesting choices. A bit crowded and gets loud later in the evening.
(4)
janet f.
Where to start? How about this...Anteprima is the poster child for mediocre faux-Italian restaurants that seem to have peppered the landscape of North Side neighborhoods in the past 5 or so years. I give this restaurant 1 star because the maitre'd was very helpful and polite to us when no one else seemed to give a crap. The appetizer platter we ordered mirrored so many of the milquetoast school picnics I frequented as a child...mushy, bland pasta salad creations that all tasted the same, underripe olives, and not a hint of seasoning to be found! Most of the entrees were sold out when we ordered at 8 p.m.(!), and the orrichiette with boar sausage tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for 3 hours. The service was dismissive and forgetful, the decor confused, the food overpriced. Nothing about this restaurant was redeemable except for that poor maitre'd.
(1)
Hanna A.
I really wanted to love this place. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the service is great. However, it was disappointing. The food was very fresh, but lacked flavor. If it weren't for the spectacular brussel sprouts, we would've really regretted going there. We only regret it a little now.
(3)
Rob D.
Anteprima is a great (relatively) new addition to the Chicago Italian restaurant portfolio. We dined at Anteprima for the third time (in two years) this past Saturday. I am fairly picky as far as Italian cuisine goes, having been raised Italian-American and spoiled by great family chefs. So you'll be hard pressed to get five stars out of me for an Italian joint. Anteprima is pretty darn close though. All three meals were great. Two out of three times I had pasta dishes as an entree, as did my wife. All were pretty spectacular. Portions are middle of the road (to very slightly below average) in terms of what you can expect in Chicago. If you like spicy, try the orrecchiete or buccatini. Both were rock solid. On my most recent visit I was craving some meat - ordered a flank steak which was both tasty and tender. This was off the specials list. For appetizers, we like the anti pasta sampler. This provides a good assortment of the smaller plates, and will certainly feed 2-4 people, depending on hunger. I've had a few special appetizers that included marinated grilled eggplant, and all were delicious. Never had dessert - prefer to wander the streets of the 'ville to get some ice cream. During all three visits service was attentive, friendly, and helpful. Most importantly they were honest - waiters and waitresses answered questions based on their perspective, and never did I feel like they were trying to steer my dinner selection. We were also seated promptly at our reservation time despite the restaurant being very crowded during two of the visits.
(4)
A. G.
Never been treated so badly at a restaurant. In a nutshell... Running late for a 6:00 rez. Called and notified we'd be there at 6:15, was told no problem. Showed up at 6:20. One half of our party of 4 came to claim the table, while the other half went to park. At 6:25, the owner comes over and growls, "When's the rest of you're party coming?" "They're parking, so whenever they find a spot." Saturday night in Andersonville. Who knows how long that'll take. Owner stomps away. Five minutes later, he comes over and says, "If they're not here in five or ten minutes, we'll have to do...something." Lots of attitude. I say, "Are you gonna throw us out?" He stammers for a second, then says, "It's been an hour. You're an hour late." I say, "It's been just over 30 minutes, and we called to tell you were were running late." He says, "It's not fair to the other customers. If they're not here in a couple of minutes, I'm gonna separate the table." (Meaning, I guess, that he was going to take the two two-tops that comprised our four top and split them apart.) Then he stomps away. We were just about to bail when the other half of our party showed up. It had taken them 20 minutes to park, and they weren't really into splitting, so we stayed and had a slightly-above-average, somewhat overpriced meal. (Both seafood dishes were way to fishy.) Our server was quite pleasant, but the irony is that he didn't try to rush us out like his boss probably would've wanted. Don't get me wrong: I understand where the dude was coming from. It was a crowded Saturday night, and things were hectic, but you never, ever, ever speak to your diners like that, no matter how trendoid you are. Never going back, and it would be great if y'all followed suit.
(1)
Nicole C.
-delicious Italian food -great Italian wine list, but also fun cocktail/martini list -not a huge space, so you may wait for a table They "don't" take reservations, but we got one with a party of 8 on a Sunday evening. If you do have to wait for a table, t
(4)
Rachel I.
I got a gift certificate for Anteprima for my birthday. It took me forever to use it despite the fact that the restaurant is walking distance from my house. When I looked at their menu online, I had to look up a number of ingredients because I had no idea what the foods were--and I write menus for a living. The food just sounded intimidating. Once I finally got around to going over there, I kicked myself for waiting so long. Delicious! Delicious, I tell you! Risotto, to die for... super creamy and perfectly seasoned. I had a shrimp dish as well and loved the flavor, but hated the fact that the shells and little legs were still on them... very difficult to eat in polite company. All the desserts we shared at the table were quite good too...not always the case at many restaurants. I will return!
(5)
Andrew B.
Fattest country on the planet or no, the portions at this place are way too small for the money. I am not fat. The people I was with were small, thin, and from other countries. None of us were full. The food itself was overpriced and disappointing. The menu sounded inspired, but the execution just wasn't tasty. Seven of us went and I was the only one who had read any reviews before hand. I kept my mouth shut but everyone voiced their dissatisfaction afterwards. On the plus side, it's a cute spot both inside and out.
(2)
Christopher M.
Before going to Anteprima, I was saying for weeks that there weren't really any Italian places that I really, really liked. There are quite a few spots that I like but nowhere that I feel the need to frequent again and again. Anteprima just became that place. I was there with my fiance and future in-laws last weekend. We had a 5-star experience. They had eaten at Milk and Honey for breakfast, Gibson's for lunch, and Anteprima was far and away their favorite. First, we were ordering a bottle of wine. I had selected the Sangiovese but inquired with the waiter first before ordering. He actually down-sold me to a great bottle that we all loved. We had the veal meatballs to start which were amazing. Everyone loved their pasta also. Everything felt fresh and expertly prepared. I hadn't had pasta this good in a long while. I preferred it to even Terra Gusto which has amazing fresh pasta. I had the spaghetti which seems like a boring order. The simple things and how they are prepared though really get you to the heart of the place. I liked what I found when I got there. From there, we were excited to get at the dessert. I am a huge panna cotta fan and the lemon panna cotta was certainly calling me. Apparently our waiter thought we had waited a little too long when we sat down and they did some sort of waiter switching. This was at most a four minute wait. We made no complaints though and we were grinning ear to ear by the end of the meal. Before we could order, they brought out a panna cotta and slice of the orange cake on the house for our trouble (there was none). The panna cotta was incredible. I can't say enough good things about this experience.
(5)
steve l.
Just had a great evening---server did not rush us at all and gave sound advice, wonderfully diverse menu and flavors, great wine. Yes, it is a bit crowded and loud, but I'm a big fan.
(4)
Matt M.
Food that isn't good leaves bad memories, but food that tries to be avant garde and just ends up confusing the palate is just plain wrong. Though they encouraged sharing, with a group of six there was rarely more than two bites of any dish if we were to split them evenly. Perhaps they were having an off-day, but I was far from impressed. I wish I could provide more details, but even their failure wasn't that memorable. Reading other reviews it seems like Anteprima does have off nights and I could have experienced one of them. My opinion? Save yourself the trouble of hoping you don't get an off-night and go elsewhere.
(2)
Kendra F.
DEFINITELY MAKING THIS A REGULAR STOP!! After trying their sister restaurant, Acre, my husband and I couldn't WAIT to try Anteprima, and it did NOT disappoint!! Chicago is a great town for Italian food so the competition is fierce, and these guys DEFINITELY MEASURE UP!! For starters, you can't miss with the grilled octopus or crispy pork terrine. My husband then had strichetti with duck, while I opted for a pappardelle that made my TOES curl!! For the final course, he had a lamb dish that was cooked to perfection, while I opted for a the whole grilled fish - AMAZING!!! The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star review was that the chocolate hazelnut tart that my mom had was just OK - NOT bad, just OK - but if i could give it 4.8 stars, I would!. On top of all of this, they have a very nice wine list, extremely friendly and attentive staff and a cozy-yet-chic atmosphere that encourages you to linger over coffee and bask in the glow of a fabulous meal. Bravo!
(4)
John W.
Ok everyone, America is the fattest country on the planet and Chicago is one of the fattest cities in America. The portions here are what they should be. You don't need 8 lbs of pasta. Now, $16 for 6 ravioli is a bit ridiculous. I had some kind of thick pasta in tomato sauce and it was average. If I bought fresh pasta I could have made a better dish at home. My girlfriend had the $2.66 a piece ravioli plate with mushrooms and bland wouldn't begin to describe it. The menue didn't exactly have a lot of options either. The portions are fine if you aren't Tony Soprano but it is a little pricey for what you get. The waiter picked out two great wines for us so that was nice but not enough to get me to go back. If you are in Andersonville and you want Italian, go to Leonardos which is right up Clark Street or just go across the street to Calo. Both are far superior in terms of flavor, variety, price and atmosphere. It wasn't terrible but I probably won't give this place a second chance due to the other choices in the neighborhood.
(2)
Seth M.
The first time we went to Anteprima it was on a cold winter night, we were seated by the window and it felt romantic, like we were in a special place. The service was great and the food and wine were perfect. Last night we decided to go again for a celebration. First the service was odd, the server didn't explain any of the specials and made strange faces when we would ask questions. We ordered a calamari app that was completely inedible, it was almost like they poured salt on it to mask the fact that it was not fresh. We had to send it back. The server questioned our tastes by saying "do you want something that's not so strong", I had to remind her that it was inedible, over salted. The next app was just OK and the entrees were pretty flavorless and had the over salted technique again. The high point was the wine that was suggested. I'm not sure we will be going back...
(2)
Richard C.
My wife and I ate at Antiprima for the first time last night as we were strolling through Andersonville. Saw the cute place and took a chance. We were thrilled. The food was deilicous and the service was excellent. My wife is doing her best to get me into more neighborhoods to enjoy the diversity that Chicago has and one of the benefits is finding these kind of places. Lucky we got there early (5:30 approx) because by the time we left, the place was packed. Would go there again in a heart beat and highly recommend the place for its' food and character.
(4)
Will S.
Definitely a destination spot. Low key vibe with attentive, smart service. I couldn't decide between the trout and the ravioli so the waiter suggested a 1/2 order of the ravioli for the table and trout as an entree. Great choice. Also had cannellini beans, roasted beets and fregola as appetizers. All were excellent. My friends had the whole fish special which they filet so you don't have to do it yourself, although they still found a few bones in it. Total tab for 3 w/ 3 drinks was approx $132 before tax and tip
(4)
Josie L.
Had a family birthday dinner last night. Fun looking spot, cute area of the city, nice menu. Our service was so bad, we would never come back. We were a table of 8 people....most servers would see dollar signs and know they could keep the drinks and food coming. Our server just kept dissappearing. He also brought out the food in a crazy order so people could not all eat together. Food was pretty good, but not good enough to offset the service.
(2)
Charlotte Y.
If size matters to you, then ensure you get the female server. Just kidding... well, no not really. Here's the deal - my dining companion and I noticed that at least on the patio, the female server brings out her bread baskets sporting the long bread sticks, while the male server brings his breadbaskets out with the short bread sticks (actually, they are just cracked in half and put into the basket). I know, I'm being petty, but it was just an observation. In any event, a group of friends and I dined here last Friday and I loved it so much that I returned 2 nights later! The pasta is just perfect - especially the special pasta (stracinatte?) with the pesto, garlic and cherry tomatoes and the veal ragu (or prosciutto ragu). I've tried the grilled sardines, the stuffed zucchini flowers, the burrata, the above pastas, the stuffed roasted pork entree and the olive oil cake and I have not one complaint. I am, however, a pasta fan, and as Anteprima does theirs perfectly, I am smitten and slightly biased for life.
(4)
Erin T.
I had a bad experience here - we had a reservation for a large group, but they kept us waiting for about 30 minutes past the reservation time after pushing it back. The waiting area is the bar, but the bar has maybe 4-5 seats and the rest of us were basically standing in a small space between the kitchen and bathroom. Not great, but we were excited about the food. Unfortunately, it was disappointing. Everything on the menu looked great, but we ended up paying a lot for very bland food. We were also ignored by the waiter for long stretches of time. There seem to be a lot of good reviews on here so maybe it was just a bad night, but I had no intention of going back after my experience.
(2)
Douglas O.
After reading so many reviews online, we visited Anteprima on 1/1/08. The server seemed knowledgeable and the menu offered a variety of options. The soup that night was a chicken soup and was very tasty, probably the best part of the meal. We ordered the Spaghetti and the Calamari Entree. The spaghetti was a bit oily and a bit dry. For dessert we ordered the chocolate hazelnut tart and the orange cake. The orange cake was horrible, I have never eaten a sponge, but the cake had less moisture in it than cornbread, with a slight bit of orange syrup/flavoring. The chocolate hazelnut tart was mediocre at best. Our server was very kind when he made it over to the table, but even with the restaurant dead, took 10+ minutes to order. If you visit often, and he knows you, you will get great service (if not, you will wait patiently as he spends an excessive amount of time servicing frequent diners). Unfortunately, will not be back, overrated, not sure how anyone can love a place that has extremely bland food and average service.
(2)
Monica W.
I had a craving for Italian and we decided to go here because of their $30 menu for ANY app, meal, desert -or- app, 1/2 pasta, meal. It's a great way to try anything on their menu without spending too much. The total amount of food we had was enough to stuff two starving people. Everything we ate was really good. The grilled octopus was very very tender. Our server was awesome! Gave great recommendations. We will be back.
(5)
Chitown D.
Went on a Saturday and had to wait 20+ minutes, although we had reservations. We went with another couple and had about two salads, six appetizers, three entrees, and two desserts. Everything was a B- or better. It's very loud and not a good spot for a "romantic dinner". Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable.
(4)
Lori M.
Beet and Ricotta Ravioli with a hint of poppy seed - now THAT's what I'm talkin' about! Loved the creativity of the menu, though heavy on the meat side. I would be thrilled to see this place get a few more vegetarian primo e secondi piatti on the menu. The delicate rosamarino breadsticks were 'lish, the bottle of schioppettino wine - mmmmmmm, and the chocolate cake, well. let me just say this: it caused a chocogasm. yes it did. And the well thought out starters includes farro, with grilled radicchio, horseradish, pecorino... and my favorite, caponata, a sicilian eggplant relish with pine nuts! You can order a sampling of 8 starters for $15 ! That's more than dinner for two right there. Hot date on a budget. Next time though, I'm going to try the apple fennel bread pudding! Sounds amazing. Mama would be proud to dine here - and I'd love to give Anteprima one more star if only they add a few more vegetarian options! Very cute space with a nice bar, but tables are crammed in here super tight, so check your coat. Mannaggia calda !
(4)
Laura S.
Just enjoyed a wonderful dinner here with friends. To get to the point, everything is AMAZING. I had the grilled octopus appetizer and I wanted to slop up every remainig drop of sauce with the delicious, salt encrusted bread. The entree I had was the orechiette with spicy lamb sausage. It had a GREAT spice and a nice salt to it. I was so full, yet couldn't stop eating it. The pasta tasted extrememly fresh and homemade. Dessert was the strawberry tart. All was excellent. Make reservations! It's so worth it for a fun night out! Also... Excellent service.
(4)
Susan G.
Haven't been disappointed here yet. Dined here for my husband's birthday on a hideous rainy evening. Had trouble finding parking nearby, but once we got to the restaurant all of that faded away. Delicious appetizers (I had polenta with kale) and wonderful entrees. My husband had duck breast for his entree and said it was excellent. I had skatewing and it too was delicious. Save room for dessert especially the chocolate hazlenut tart. We had wine by the glass which worked out just fine. My only complaint with this place is that the tables are SO CLOSE together that you fear that you will knock things off your own or the table next to you being seated. Cost per person, including dessert and wine by the glass was about $75 per person.
(4)
Jessica V.
Let me put it simple I always get whatever ravioli they are serving because it is always sweet and savory. The menu frequently changes and the ravioli is always something different BUT never ceases to be A-mazing! The onion tart they give you is a good little treat & the bread and olive oil go nice with one of their Italian wines. I have tried a lot of their apps and have picked off my guys dinner plate a number of times and can honestly say I have not had one bad thing here to eat. And I don't know what some people are talking about the server for .. He's just doing his job in a small, crowded restuarants. I always get the guy people are talking about with the glasses and he means nothing but well. He always had suggestions on great wine to go with a meal. He also reccommended apps and entrees to my friend and I. Maybe people caught him on a bad day? But I have had him 5 times in a row and he has been nothing but helpful. So maybe give him another try - he's busy as well as everyone else and ask questions ( coming from a former waitress) ! Otherwise, you will be helplessly lost because I was - I could not read the menu. :( waaah
(5)
jim h.
I love this place. I have been about 4 times and have never been dissapointed. On my parents last visit I took them here and they quickly fell in love. They are both foodies and travel internationally a lot. Just in case you needed more convincing! I find the food fresh and delicious, the wait staff helpful and attentive, and the decor inviting. One of the top restaurants in andersonville
(5)
Casia J.
I didn't have the pannacotta, but it did look outstanding! Liked the atmosphere. Food is average to good, so yes--in my opinion, as others have said, it is too expensive for the portions and quality. I had a half order of the spaghetti with mussles and clams. Gerber makes larger portions, but I was saving room for a giant waffle cone down the street so that was ok. The sauce was skimpy and nothing special. Hubby had the ravioli and I thought it was great, but pricey. Server was a little kooky, and not in a good way. However, they were packed and rushed and everyone still seemed pleasant and in no way did they make us feel like we had to get out so they could use our table. If they changed the menu/prices a little, I'd probably be a fan. As-is? Meh.
(3)
Anne M.
Pretty good Italian - chicken liver starter was good if you like that sort of thing, jerusalem artichokes needed to be sliced a lot thinner, but the flavors were good. The pasta dish we ordered (with lamb sausage and chili) was great and we split the baby chicken - also good. The walnut tart was so-so but the bread pudding was delicious (could have used a touch more moisture). The dinner room is crowded with too many dining tables and it can get loud, but despite this, it's sorta cozy.
(3)
Kendrah R.
These items sound pretty good on the menu but they do not know how to adjust the spices here. The salt is so over done it over powers subtler flavors like lemon zest, the chili so strong it over powered the mint flavor. I eat at a lot of restaurants that are similarly priced and would not go back here because they charge waaaaay to much for what they dish out.
(2)
Joel S.
Among stiff competition, this is probably my favorite place in my neighborhood (and check out my A-ville list, I loooooooove my neighborhood restaurants). Why do I love Anteprima? They do simple, straightforward rustic Italian food. It's not cheap, but it's near top quality because of the delicious ingredients they use. I'm not familiar with Italian wines as much as I would like, and I always have been able to get a great recommendation from the manager, who makes the rounds but not in an intrusive manner. Very enjoyable guy to converse with - for instance, after ordering our apps, wine and meal once last summer, he stopped by to point out greens he grew in his garden and some of the other quality ingredients. And this probably puts it over the top from four stars to five in my book. The only drawback to this place is that it does get very loud and busy - make sure to have a reservation, and ideally have 4 or less in your party - tried to squeeze in five here once and it didn't really work. Anteprima is my go-to spot for a quick celebration or treat, and a great example of the best Chicago has to offer.
(5)
Inspector G.
Agreed with 3 1/2 stars. Extra points for atmosphere, friendly service and interesting menu. Pricing isn't cheap but definitely on the upper end of the range for Andersonville. Overall, value is fair. $35pp for 3 courses and wine. Now for the food. While not bad, it's certainly not up to par with the hype or the atmosphere. Of course, the kitchen is only a few weeks in business, so they're still figuring out the rhythm. Also, given the small size of the kitchen area, they're probably tripping over themselves. Ravioli were drowning in butter (overwhelming) and while some pasta dishes need a little extra salt, others were way over-seasoned. Bottom line - while we've had better Italian food, we'll definitely be going back.
(4)
Dalla A.
I would honestly go back to this place just for the chicken livers appetizer they had for a special last weekend-- it was THAT good-- but there are plenty of other reasons to return. The staff was very accomodating- I had forgotten my phone that day, so I had no clock, and showed up about 20 minutes early for my reservation. They sat me anyway at the table I picked out, and brought me a complimentary piece of onion tart while I waited. Martini and chocolate mousse were fine, but stay away from the boar ragu; it didn't have a lot of taste at all.
(3)
cathy c.
Oh, Anteprima how I did love you. I Yelped passionately about you (as you can see from my first enthusiastic review). I took my foodie friends there and asked them to spread the word. I returned time and time again. I loved the food but also loved the way I felt welcomed and taken care of, as if you really wanted me to be there. And then...tonight (April 29/09). It all came unravelled. The food is still good, although seems to be losing a bit of its edge. But the service, oh my. The room was attended by a vagabound crew who seemed terribly disinterested that anyone showed up at all as they chatted and lounged around the bar. We took a table for six and arrived early when the place was empty. Bread arrived - 45 minutes after we sat down. Menus were never picked up after our orders were taken. Water glasses not filled. Not one basic need was anticipated. I was mortified because I had brought friends who had never been to Anteprima before and I had gushed about the place. Sadly, you've lost me as a fan - next time I'll go to the Bristol where the food is equally (if not more) interesting and the staffers actually act like they're (very) happy you came in. My advice to those who are reading Anteprima's reviews: when you make a reservation make SURE the owner will be there - he runs a tight ship. Alas, when the cat's away...you may never get your bread. Or much of anything without begging for it. Sigh.
(1)
Jessica B.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this restaurant. I think that this is the best restaurant in Andersonville. Doug the manager, is super nice. The food is great- classic Italian simplicity but with excellent flavors. Whomever said the portion sizes are too small, is crazy. It is simply sized to have enjoyed an appetizer first. I will say that the desserts leave a little bit to be desired, but I am also super critical on dessert. You can't go wrong choosing the restaurant. Make sure you try for the patio in the summer- it's awesome.
(5)
ER S.
The food here is AMAZING. My favorite things are the roasted cippolina onions and the spicy lamb sausage pasta. They are so delicious! I keep thinking about them... hmm, maybe it's time to head back. (My husband is a fan of the bolognese, but I think it's a bit bland) In the summer, the back patio is very nice.
(5)
Cathy C.
i'm a big fan. i don't seem to get tired of going here. That's probably because the menu is always new and always fresh. Don't know what to order? Ask the staff. They are very forthcoming and very good. The bread sticks are the best in the city. the house made pasta is delicious. The spicy orchiette is unforgettable and the braised specials always delicious. Can be crowded, loud and my biggest complaint... it can get really hot in there. Marty turn the heat down!
(5)
Kerry S.
Had another lovely dinner at Anteprima last night. The orrechiette with lamb sausage was particularly good. I'm writing the review, though, to specifically mention our server, Chris. We sat on the back patio and we were a table of five. Chris was really informative about the wine and menu, didn't go crazy up-selling anything, and didn't seem to be rushing us at all. We sat there for a long time, on a busy night, on the VERY DESIRABLE patio. He was just really good to us. I really like Anteprima. Can't wait to go back for a romantic dinner with just my husband!
(4)
Angie T.
delicious! precious outdoor patio. awesome staff. great wine list. desserts sub par there were mascarpone stuffed figs wrapped in prochuttio - a blue cheese, beet, walnut, arugula salad - grilled octopus with summer potatoes - goat cheese ravioli in the most amazing orange, butter sauce - pasta that tasted like lasagna- smoked sausage, roasted red peppers and who knows what else pasta - tasty tilefish - delicious tomato focaccia - and the best breadsticks i have ever tasted. all of which was accompanied by a bottle of bubbles and two of red. please do try. i cannot wait to go back.
(4)
Tamara D.
Truly delicious, fresh, homemade food. The crostini toscani is rich and fantastic. The pastas all seemed to be fresh-made. Even the breadsticks were unbelievable. The wine was great and the server was super. He even went next door to their other restaurant to get my 3 year old some gelato. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Ellen F.
Had dinner at Anteprima last night. They have a nice wine and martini list - martini was chilled well and very good. We shared the antipasto appetizer which was excellent. I ordered from the regular menu and had the orrechiette with lamb sausage - it was slightly spicy and prepared perfectly. My friend had an item off the specials menu - which was a spaghetti carbonara. It did not have the usual heavy carbonara sauce and was excellent. We shared the "espresso" dessert which was flan like, but nicely flavored. The service was good, but a little pushy on getting the order placed. I like to relax and have some talk time before ordering - but that was a minor point. Overall, it was very good!
(4)
Dianna D.
Went here for dinner with some friends and absolutely loved it! For the starter, we got the "pick 8", and it was a great start, with some delicious Cab Sav recommended by the attentive waiter. We each then ordered the smaller portion of a pasta meal, and for the life of me, I can't remember what the friends ordered. My partner had the orichiette with home made lamb sausage. so delicious! And I had a ravioli that was on special that night made with chestnut I believe. The portions were great, and we came early to beat some of the bigger crowd, so we didn't have the issue of noise that some others have had. The topper? Taste of Heaven is just a couple of blocks north for dessert!
(4)
Adam L.
I honestly don't know why anyone wouldn't give this restaurant 5 stars - well, I guess I could imagine... but I'll say that not only have I never had a bad experience eating here, everyone with whom I'm dining almost always starts lavishing praise once the food arrives. I think this is partly due to the fact that the food is described on the menu pretty plainly, but arrives with such delicacy and such abundance of flavor. Here's my personal catch - I'm a vegetarian and although they don't have too many vegi options, I just don't care, because whatever they're serving has always been just delicious. As usual, I can't testify to the quality of the meat dishes, but if my usual company is any consideration, I'd say its probably equally delicious. I'll let y'all know if this restaurant ever surprises me with a bad meal.
(5)
Aristotle P.
We started out at Hamburger Mary's for dinner but wanted something else for dessert. After dinner we decided to go over to Anteprima. The place was packed and was buzzing with activity. As we walked in, I surveyed the dining area and there was but one available table by the front windows. The amiable hostess greeted us and asked for our reservations. Ooops. Sarah told her we hadn't made reservations but that we were only interested in dessert. The hostess asked us if we wouldn't mind sitting at the bar and we quickly made our way through the dining area towards the bar. The bartender was very likeable. Great ink Jasmine! Jasmine greeted us and gave us a couple of dessert menus. It was a short list but everything sounded good. The panna cotta with lemon sauce and torta della nonna sounded especially delicious so that's what we ordered. Jasmine asked us if we'd decided on our choice of drinks. We told her no. But after we told her what desserts we had just ordered, she suggested an espresso and sambuca (sp) drink. She explained that it would have a warming effect. That sounded good so we ordered two. And she was right! I generally don't like sambuca but it was tasty. Can't go wrong with a drink with both a stimulant and relaxant in one. Sarah liked it well enough but the alcohol was a bit much. Anyway, on to the desserts. First, you have to try the panna cotta. If you don't know what that is, it's heaven on a plate. It's basically cream, lemon, sugar, vanilla, gelatin, buttermilk (or some sort of acid). The texture was that of a very light and airy cream cheese. The flavor... What can I say?! It was rich and creamy with a lightly sweet taste and with just a touch of lemon and vanilla. I can eat this all day. It went well with the espresso/sambuca drink. The torta della nonna was just the opposite (texture wise) but was nearly equally tasty. It looked like a cheesecake with pine nuts mixed in but was not as heavy. While I liked it, I preferred the panna cotta. Service - Jasmine made us feel right at home. She warmly greeted us when we sat at the bar and made wonderful suggestions. Even gave us complimentary dessert wine which she said would go well with the panna cotta. It did! It was a moscato d'asti - Andrel Villa Giada. She suggested we try Andersonville Wine & Liquor to see if they could order it for us. Anyway, it wasn't overly sweet like some moscatos I've had. She was also good enough to give us a slice of another dessert but cannot recall what it was called. It had three layers - a buttery crust, chestnuts and some crumble-like topping. Light flavor with a mild sweet taste accompanied with the toasty and sweet flavor from the chestnuts. Very good. So there you have it. A dessert review at Anteprima. I highly recommend the panna cotta paired with a mascota d'asti. If you can live with it, forget the tables. Ask to be seated at the bar and ask Jasmine for some espresso. You won't regret it.
(4)
Seth P.
I can't claim expertise in Italian cuisine, but the food in this place really reminds me of what food was like when I was in Italy a few years ago -- really fresh ingredients, carefully cooked. This time, the appetizer specials were truly special - lightly fried small lake fish (smelts?) that were perfectly crispy and juicy without being greasy, with lemon rind and parsley perfectly, lightly, crunchily fried the same way and thrown into the mix! We also had a zucchini flower stuffed with riccotta, which turned out to be a baby zucchino (is that the singular?) with the flower growing out of it -- so that you got all three flavors and textures in a single bite!
(5)
Glenn B.
It doesn't remind you so much of an Italian restaurant as much as an actual restaurant in Italy. One of those small tratorias where you walk in and the chairs don't quite match and the interior is a little rustic but the food is incredible and in season. They are extremely creative and the menu changes frequently for new foodie adventures while they also keep the crowd favorites on the menu. Try the lemon panna cotta.
(5)
Jenna P.
Been there twice, and loved it! Only 4 stars because it can get really noisy and the bread basket is cold (I love warm bread!). Great wine list, great service - we typically choose some small pasta dishes and other apps, like polenta, fried fish, butternut squash ravioli, etc. Delicious!
(4)
Jeanne M.
A completely delightful find! We popped in there without plans and thoroughly enjoyed this lovely place. The food was less traditional Italian-American fare, which will throw some people off. But if you are feeling adventurous, you won't be disappointed as most everything was tasty and creative. I'm knocking it down a star because the dessert we chose didn't match the level of the appetizers or entrees (IMO), however, the pinot noir that we were offered as a quartino to share was flat out awesome.
(4)
Nicole C.
Simple, authentic, delicious Italian cuisine. This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city and definitely the best in Andersonville. They have amazing homemade pasta and I love the prosciutto ragu. The farro with vegetables is my favorite appetizer....I'd love to have the recipe and recreate it at home! The atmosphere is very rustic and cozy - a great date spot or with a group of friends.
(5)
sarah y.
I just wasn't very impressed with what I ordered here. There are other restaurants in the Andersonville area that offer much better food.
(3)
Stephanie B.
The other reviews I read before I went to Anteprima were right on: DEF get the octopus appetizer. DEF do the prix fixe menu. And yes... some things (ie my halibut) were a touch salty, but it did not keep me from cleaning my plate. I read where someone said the spicy lamb orrechiette pasta was way too spicy, and I did not think that was the case at ALL- it was my favorite thing. The pasta was also really dense and not perfectly shaped, which I love b/c you could tell it was homemade. We had the espresso mousse for dessert which was just okay... not to die for. But I would come back to this place in a skinny second. Service was great. It did, however, get REALLY loud once it started filling up, so that made conversation a little tricky.
(4)
Alison T.
My husband and I have eaten at this reast. 3 or 4 times over the last few years. It is always outstanding. Last weekend I had the homemade pappardelle noodles with prosciutto ragu and it was outstanding. Everything we've ever eaten here has been first rate. Serivice is friendly and nice. My only criticism - is that it is a very crowded space. It's a little hard to maneuver around the reast. at times - but totally worth it.
(5)
Lauren W.
Ultimately, I wouldn't travel up to the 5300 block of Clark Street in order to eat here, but if I were up there and looking for a good bite, I would probably go back. My biggest issues were with service and the pasta dishes, but otherwise the food was pretty good. Careful with dishes that include chili oil - they're not fooling around when it comes to adding heat. Here's how it went down: Right off the bat, we ordered a bottle of sparkling rose to celebrate one of my best friends' birthdays. At the same time, we ordered the assortment of the first eight starters on the menu as well as a special starter and a salad: grilled scamorza cheese with chili oil and lemon and the market salad with fresh sugar snap peas, fava beans and shaved pecorino in a light lemon and herb dressing. The assortment was wonderful: red beets, white turnips, cannellini beans, asparagus, farro, eggplant caponata, roasted peppers with a breadcrumb topping and olives. We ate just about the whole plate between the three of us. The scamorza cheese was VERY spicy and delicious, but had a fried-looking coating which was inconsistent with the "grilled" description. The spice kind of took over and didn't leave room for the other flavors, but that didn't kill the dish for me. The market salad was excellent - very light and fresh and crisp. That was gone in under 3 minutes. We'd pretty much finished all of our starters (and, as you can see, we ordered a lot of them) when we realized that we didn't have our rose. Or the basket of bread that everyone around us seemed to have. Or a new bottle of water (which was pretty important since the cheese was so hot). When our waiter finally came back, we very nicely reminded him of the rose and he was quick to admit that he had completely forgotten it. He was racing back to the kitchen before we could also ask for the bread and water. He finally got us the wine and raced around for the bread and water as soon as we asked. We figured that even though he was a little forgetful, he was trying to make up for it. Plus, from the moment we came into the restaurant he had been fluttering around our table complimenting us and "flirting" as much as a middle-aged gay man can with three twenty-somethings. I figured it was in the hope of getting a better tip. Anyway, after the wine, bread and water incident, he mentioned in an apologetic way that he would make it up to us and to make sure the birthday girl left room for dessert. In my head, I figured "free dessert" or at least free something. Our entrees arrived and they initially brought me the wrong pasta. I took a look at it and quickly explained that this didn't look like the strozzapretti the waiter had described - he had said "bowtie pasta" and this was penne of some kind. They very quickly made the switch, so I wasn't really put off by the mixup. But when they set my correct dish in front of me, I was confused by what the waiter thought a bowtie looked like. The pasta was clearly homemade, which I appreciated, but it was just thick, dense strips of dough - not light and al dente. The seasonings were good - spicy from the chilis and pretty fishy due to the anchovy soffritto, but the pasta itself was just not well made. Period. The other pasta at our table was the orrechiette with lamb sausage. The pasta actually looked like orrechiette, so that was good, but when I tasted it, I was similarly disappointed. Too dense and doughy - not al dente at all (at least I didn't think it was - the orderer of the dish didn't seem to mind). The flavors in the orrechiete were, again good, but still lacking a little. I wanted there to be more sauce. As it was, the pasta was a little too dry for me. It was really too bad about both pasta dishes because I go to Italian places for the purpose of ordering pasta and I want it to be excellent every time. However, I think Anteprima is a place for traditional main courses because the birthday girl's hangar steak was to die for. The steak itself was grilled rare with excellent, crusty seasonings and sat on a bed of farro with a mint and fava bean pesto. The pesto was excellent and tasted really light and fresh. With the farro and juicy steak, the dish was incredible. I don't order steak very much because I generally figure I know what the flavor of a steak is and want to try something new, but I would probably order the hangar steak if I went back - the flavors were very original. I was impressed. We didn't do a dessert (we walked down the block to share a sundae at George's instead - the Grasshopper is spectacular), but the list provided a lot of variety and involved a lot of fresh fruit, which I appreciated. The bill came promptly and to my surprise there was no comped anything and no secret birthday dessert. This didn't really bother me, but it didn't improve my overall sentiments about the lacking service.
(3)
David E.
I would recommend trying this place out. The atmosphere and the food were on point. My only negative comment is that the place was a little loud. It was somewhat difficult to have a conversation. As for the food, I was impressed. The appetizers (mussels and the sweet & sour onion with prusciutto) were excellent and very unique. I really enjoyed the soft texture of the pearl-like onion against the firm prusciutto. For my entree, I tried the crispy cornish hen with little broccoli florets. All I can say is that the chicken was cooked to perfection and seasoned well with a delicious crispy outside. I will definitely visit this establishment again. If you are looking for an Italian restaurant with a lot of character, give this place a try.
(4)
Liz K.
Delicious! I had the pasta with the boar!
(5)
Masumi Y.
Flat out fantastic. Ambiance was great, even if we sat at the bar; I felt that we were in our own little world. Cocktails were excellent. Highly recommend Pimm's Cup (I think that's what it was called- nice and light). We did the prix fixe for $29 a person, it was an amazing deal for a starter, entree and dessert. I had the grilled octopus as many have recommended and couldn't have enough of it, really amazing. I also had the scallops for the entree and it was the perfect size. Delicious! Dessert was also great and the bar tender gave us a complimentary glass of moscato to go along with our desserts. Fabulous service and will definitely go again!
(5)
Jeremy P.
i've been here twice in one week - first by chance, second by choice. the homemade pasta and friendly, knowledgeable service is incredible! i was blown away by the tagliatelle with morels and an amazing alfredo sauce. i was even more impressed with their signature lemon panna cotta! the atmosphere is so relaxing, charming and warm...the food is excellent and the service outstanding. i can't wait to go back for #3!
(4)
Silvia B.
Great service great atmosphere great food will go back frequently
(5)
Susan J.
We decided to give Anteprima a second chance after a very shaky first visit. Our first server was beyond pretentious and was dismayed when we shared an entree....little did we know that it was an "in" place and made it into Chicago Magazine....so, we drove up to Andersonville once again and decided that wherever we found parking, that's where we will dine...well, lucky us that our second visit was wonderful and our server was fun, personable, efficient and let us linger. This is true Italian food and is what you might find in the heart of Tuscany. Super fresh ingredients, a yummy bread basket and not your run of the mill Italian menu options at all. The portions are appropriate to European standards which is fine because the quality is there. We are happy that we returned and would definitely recommend.
(4)
Steven N.
Wow! I was shocked by how great the food was. Fresh pasta, great atmosphere, and friendly staff. It's a perfect for a date night. Love that they serve local, Talbott Teas! Blueberry tea gave me the perfect ending to a great meal!
(5)
Cat B.
Finally tried this new bistro-style spot in Andersonville. This place is Chalkboard meets M Henry with the countryside decor and the window panes hanging to separate spots in the room. I went here on a Wednesday night and this place was busy. Our waitress was nice and offered some good selections for wine. My friend Susan ordered the Cornish hens and I ordered the halibut. While we waited, we were given a basket of delicious freshly cooked breads. The wines that were suggested were very tasty. Susan and I split our food so that we could both taste different entrees. Both the fish and the Cornish hens were delicious, but for $25 the halibut should have had some veggies to compliment the plate. The halibut came with lentils underneath, but I could have used some broccoli or a couple asparagus or something. Then with Susan's Cornish hens...they came with veggies, but no starch. It would have been really easy...and cheap...to throw a little rice on the side. The food was delicious, but for the price I would have expected a little more. Another component of this place was that it was REALLY loud. So, a good place to go with friends and eat some delicious fare, but be prepared to have to talk loudly. So, I would have given it 3 1/2 stars. Good food and a beautiful space, but a few things I would improve upon.
(4)
Daniel K.
I really love this place. I live about 4 blocks away and have now been there three times since it opened (including last night). The previous reviews (at least the positive ones) have covered things pretty well. Two things I want to add: 1. They now TAKE RESERVATIONS. I think this just happened within the last few days. I made a reservation yesterday on OpenTable.com and even though we were about 15 minutes late, there was no attitude, and we were seated right away. 2. For those of you who like good beer, you have to try one of the two specialty beers they list at the bottom of the wine menu. They are brewed in a very small brewery in Italy and are very high quality, well crafted beer. The cost ($25 for a 750 ml bottle) might shock you, as it did me, but it was at least as good as any wine on the menu (same size bottle). I love this place.
(4)
Cathy G.
My friend and I have eaten here about 5 times since they've been open. We come back for the food. It's very reliable- not stupendous but good. It often reminds me of the food you get at good trattorias in Italy - similar deep classic flavors. We are bad at making reservations so we end up waiting a fair amount if we get in at all. Last time we waited in the tiny bar almost an hour. We were finally seated and our wine at the bar was comped which was very nice. But THEN, we find that our waiter always seems to be the guy I affectionately call Waiter-From-Hell. Honestly, he is like something out of an SNL skit - unsmiling and bothered by everyone, he is unfailingly rude, unhelpful, and doesn't even do his job very well, yet for some reason he has been there the whole time they have been in business. As I read every review here which complains about service, my guess is it's always HIM...he is a large guy, stocky, 40-something with glasses and a big attitude. Everyone else there is FINE. I wish someone at Anteprima would get a clue - this guy is the worst fully-employed waiter in town. After all these years, all we do is laugh when we get him. I wish I could tell him that my friend is normally a very big tipper --- just not at Anteprima!
(4)
John B.
C and I have had our eye on this place for some time and I had high hopes. Our friends were visiting for the weekend, from Madison, and we wanted to take them someplace special. I requested a table on the patio and was pleased that we actually got one, since the host warned me on the phone that it was no guarantee; merely noted as a preference. It was hot as hell out there, unfortunately, but more unfortunate is that they don't have any fans to at least move air around. I actually removed my shirt. On the other hand, it was a blessing to be outside because the sound level inside is VERY LOUD. Before being seated outside, I asked the bartender at the tiny bar, a young woman, the how a soave differed from a pinot grigio. She looked at me incredulously and gave an enormous sigh, and said, with an exasperated affect, "The difference? A soave is a soave." When our table was ready, the host informed us that we had to pay for the wine before they would seat us. Sorry, but that's annoying. Outside, the wait for the waiter was longer than comfortable. He was polite, but too business-like. We had brought our bottle of white wine into the heat of the patio (the waiter complained of the heat), but didn't offer a bucket of ice to keep our wine cool. When I ordered a second bottle, he failed to offer a bucket again. I had to ask for one and it took a long while for him to appear with a marble cooler. We ordered our appetizers and selections. The appetizers were tasty and C's pappardelle with prosciutto was nice. My pasta with mushrooms, on the other hand, was memorably flavorless. Overall impression: The food is okay, but nothing special. I will mention that the fellow pouring water was on top of his game. I wish I could have left him a tip. The patio is pleasant, but on a evening that was 88 or so, it was too hot without fans or an air cooling system. Also, the tables are way too close together. Inside, it's really rather loud. A note about the ice bucket complaint: In contrast, we went to Yes Thai for dinner the next evening. The waitress, seeing that we walked in with white wine, brought a bucket of ice to the table instantly. i.e. within 2 minutes.
(3)
Alanna O.
I went here with a girlfriend and felt immediately at home with the decor! So cute!! The food was delicious and, as someone else pointed out, the portions are not completely huge like at most places. For 1 App, 2 entrees and 2 gls. wine, it was about $100. A little pricey, but everything was very good and the service was awesome!! We asked the waiter a LOT of questions about the menu and he did an excellent job of describing and explaining everything for us. The only complaint I would have is that a took forever to get our wine. All that being said, I would totally go back!!
(4)
David R.
Terrific neighborhood restaurant with excellent food, relaxing atmosphere and attentive service. We started with the anti pasta plate, moved on to the hearty and tasty wild boar parpadelle and finished with the halibut and suckling pig specials. The roasted pig had a wonderful smokey flavor, and the fish was cooked perfectly. The lemon panna cotta was a refreshing finish to a great dining experience.
(4)
Calcinor J.
I am a big fan of Anteprima and have dined here a few times. We came out last Friday night to see a good friend off on his new journey in life and had a nice time. There were a few misses but overall the food was good and the service was decent. We started off with a sampling of several appetizers serviced from the meze counter that shares equal billing with the bar. The items on the meze were good and most certainly very healthy. We went with the octopus with potato and chile and experienced a very inconsistent hand in the seasoning of the dish. There were mouthfuls that were just right and then there were tastings that were flat out salty to the point where it was inedible. The tuna carpaccio was excellent. Very well seasoned and fresh! We ordered two of the seared blue fin entree specials, the halibut, a pork chop and the orecchiette pasta. All of the entrees hit the table with the exception of the halibut which was probably never fired by the kitchen staff as it was finally served about 10 minutes later. Mistakes happen. Our waiter was stuck in a tight spot but we understand that mistakes can happen. The halibut was cooked perfectly with a great seasoning, golden sear and a succulent mouth feel. The rest of the plate was forgettable as the set had some ramps and a puree of needles of some sort that was far more ambitious in thought then in execution. We were looking for the trout but it was not on the menu even though our waiter thought that it was, The pork chop was given a big thumbs up as well as the orecchiette pasta which was described as "one of the best pasta dishes ever eaten" by a dining companion. We indulged on the lemon panna cotta and the hazelnut chocolate tart and BOTH were incredible. Overall- food was good but some lapses in execution and the service was decent which was a bit odd considering the fact that we were there when the dining room was only half full.
(4)
Michelle O.
I must say that my experience at Anteprima was in whole a positive experience, however, there was something quintessential missing that forced me to give it only two stars. The food tasted ok enough, but it was nothing special and for the price (and small portions) you walk away paying a lot for something that was good but not phenomenal. Based on the price point you expect more. I will not be going back.
(2)
annie c.
My husband and I wanted to treat ourselves to a nice day off and we ended the evening here. It was absolutely wonderful. No wait! Not that crowded, although it is pretty noisy. The bread sticks might be my favorite thing about this place. We had the sample anti-pasta platter and ate every morsel. I had pumpkin ravioli and he had ox tale ragu and pasta, we hardly spoke as we savored every bite and both of us had big smiles on our faces. Great wine selection. The only complaint was from Luke, he didn't feel the torta Della Nonna was the real deal, but I could care less b/c it tasted like heaven. Amen!
(5)
Katie T.
I LOVE this place. The food is excellent! The space is cramped and loud but I look past it to eat the wonderful dishes they create.
(4)
Paul J.
There's only one thing wrong with Anteprima, an Italian restaurant with absolutely fabulous food, and it's a problem egregious enough to merit knocking a couple stars off what would otherwise be a perfect score: They cram way too many tables into a small place, making the restaurant so unnecessarily crowded and noisy that it significantly undermines the pleasure of dining there. If you read the other reviews on this site you'll see this is a recurring complaint. The noise has little to do with acoustics or with the enthusiasm of diners and everything to do with the owner's business model. There are just too many tables. My wife and I have dined at Anteprima at least 10 times in the last year, so we ought to know. Last night's experience was so bad I'm driven to complain about it here. We had reservations and were put at a table that shouldn't have even been set. It was so near the entry door that cold air whooshed in on us whenever anyone came or went, and there was a constant bustle of people flowing by inches from our table as they came and went. The six-person table behind us was nearly on top of us. Two men seated there were closer to me than my wife who was sitting at MY table, and all night long I was subjected to their conversation about fishing in New England and problems with the medical profession. One had only to stand up and peer across the room to see the problem. It was just a sea of people. Imagine a college classroom crammed with rows of seats 20 deep with people jammed elbow-to-elbow and you'll get the idea. There was very little room to negotiate the maze of tables as one tried to make one's way to the bathroom amidst the bustle of servers trying to thread their way through the crowd. As I got up to leave and looked around the solution to this problem was absolutely clear. Pull 4 or 5 tables out of the room. The problem could be solved as simply as that, but apparently the owner so wants the extra revenue those tables generate that he's unwilling to make an adjustment that would enhance the quality of everyone's dining experience so that it matched the excellent food he serves. Pop in down the street at the wonderful Jin Ju or Ceres' Table, or up Clark at Antica Pizzeria, and you'll see how the room at Anteprima ought to be managed. It's a pity this wonderful restaurant fails so badly when it comes to ambience.
(3)
Laurie R.
Three of us ate at Anteprima last night. I would go back even though we found the food somewhat inconsistent. We ordered a platter with a sample of apps and it was tasty and would easily serve a table of four - great value. I should have sent my pasta entre back as the red paper flakes so dominated the dish I could barely eat it, and I like spicy food. My friend has a pasta with lamb sausage that was amazing. My other friend ordered a half order of pasta that was so ridiculously small I was surprised they would send it out. The space is lovely but LOUD. Wine prices quite reasonable given the quality.
(3)
Kimberly L.
The first time I came here they had just opened. The restaurant is incredibly charming but the overall experience was pretty average. I came here again over the winter with a large group of friends and I'd have to say we had an amazing meal and a very special time here. I'd say that not everything on the menu is spectacular--and I had some kind of fig tart for dessert that was perfectly awful--but if you ask the waiter for recommendations, you're sure to have a wonderful experience. I'd definitely come back.
(4)
Mike M.
Last weekend I took my family (which included my 1 yr old neice) and sat outside on the patio. The weather was amazing, which added to the beautiful, comfortable atmosphere they've created out back. The service was terrific! attentive, but not overbearing...allowed us to relax and enjoy coursing out the evening. I started off with a delicious and STRONG signature cocktail with Gin, Campari, Vermouth, and a KICK! The Antipasti was delicious and the portions were perfect. I had the orecchiette with spicy sausage which I loved, but my dad's bucatini came away as the fam favorite for the evening. I can't wait to go back! Most italian restaurants leave you feeling full and heavy, but I loved the light and fresh flavors and look forward to going back for another great night on the patio with friends and family (if I can drag them down to the city again soon!) The food and wine prices were reasonable too, so it's not going to break the bank. **I'm back to write yet again a review saying how perfect my evening was there. Went on Friday. Sat at the bar and had a terrific meal with stellar service. Marty the owner was kind and generous and I'm already excited to go back and bring close friends. Terrific in every way.
(5)
Sarah F.
I would actually give Anteprima 4 1/2 stars. We went on a Saturday night around 8 p.m. - to this latest "it" spot in Andersonville - so it was pretty much our fault that we waited for nearly an hour and a half to sit down to eat (they don't take resos). Boy was it worth it though! The space is quite adorable and home-y, but with an equally elegant feel. Our experience from start to finish was wonderful. Even though it was later - nearly 10p.m.- when we got sat (and they close at like 11) our server was helpful and tourguided us through all the specials, menu and wine list. The service and food were prompt (I'm sure they knew after all the wait we were hungry), but we did not feel rushed at all. All of our food was flavorful and perfectly done. We started with a chilly bottle of Prosecco, along with a special, and amazing Leek Tart for an appetizer. God that was good! We also shared an arugula salad. The combination of the spicy dressing with the arugula salad was a bit overpowering (all the peppery flavor) but still it was pretty good. At the suggestion of my friend, who had been there before, all three of us at my table got the NY Strip steak. OMG was it perfectly seasoned and crusted on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. Exceptionally perfect! That may have been one of the most beautifully presented and best tasting steaks I've ever had (and from a little Andersonville storefront type Italian restaurant none-the-less!!). I would go back just for that. I think the steak came with some spinach salad and other greens, which was Italian-appropriate and made the entire dish somewhat lighter. I appreciated that. We had been drinking a lot of white wine/sparkling, so wanted to stick with white, even though we were having red meat. Our server came to the rescue and recommend a completely perfect, tad heavier white wine (it was Italian, but don't remember the grape) that worked just beautifully with the meat. It actually REALLY complimented it! Our server was really great! The desserts we shared, a chocolate hazelnut pie and berry tart, were very nice also. The best part was definitely that steak though. I WILL BE BACK!
(4)
Josie F.
Came to here for Sunday dinner, and will be back often. Our server Deian was really good but the food was great. We ordered four starters. She did not really recommend the saffron veal meatballs which where our favorite. Also great was the wild boar ragu with parpardell. The hand made pasta was lite and delicate. Two of us ordered pasta and two of us ordered meat dishes. The duck saltiambocca was perfection. I was also impressed with the manager who was happy to help me pick out wine. I told him I normally enjoy viogney and sv. blanc and he new just what to bring me. The price point seemed appropriate just do not bring anyone on a small budget.
(5)
David N.
Well lets just say I was extremely disappointed in this place. A friend and I were in the mood for some good Italian food and decided to come try this place out. First of all, being a vegetarian I was very limited to what I could order. There were only two pasta dishes from the whole menu that I could pick from. My friend and I decided to split the Ravioli dish that had peas, butter, and mint leaves. We also ordered some bruschetta for an appetizer. What we got for bruschetta, we were not expecting at all. Bread covered with spinach, and had a horrible smell to it. I had one little taste of it and could not eat any more. Our main dish came, and this also was disappointing, our server had informed us that the mint you could not taste a whole lot of, but we both agreed that the mint did nothing for this ravioli dish and would have tasted better with it left off. Our server was gracious enough to not charge us for the bruschetta, but this is definitely not a place I will come back to. There are many really good italian restaurants out there that I enjoy much better.
(2)
Robin D.
Theres a reason why this place is always packed. it has good food, its as simple as that. Ive been to this place 3x. The first time, I had pasta and it was really good. The second time I ordered the specials which really didnt blow me away and the third time I had the pork chops which were just ok. My personal lesson, stick wih the pasta and risotto dishes coz they really are good. Try the Budino for dessert it is light and heavenly. If you want rustic traditional authentic italian dishes this is the place to go.
(4)
Aaron M.
My favorite restaurant in Chicago, without question. Cozy, unpretentious atmosphere with great service and great food. You get the same quality of ingredients and preparation as, say, Blackbird, but in a much warmer environment. The menu changes frequently, but if they have the Trotter appetizer, pasta w/ chicken liver, or the venison w/ sweet potato puree, please order them.
(5)
A. R.
The portions are small and the menu is a la carte so you have spend another $9 to get a meager salad with your entree. We did get a nice basket of bread before our meal but had to ask to get oil and butter. The service is so-so, and the prices a bit too high for what you get. Not worth a second visit.
(2)
olen h.
I almost gave this place two stars, but didn't because it was super cute and I heard the guy behind me say "I've been to this place too many times to know that this is a fluke" when he sent his fish back. I had sent my venison back five minutes before him because it tasted funny. The chef must still have been on xmas vacation because the food was NOT good. Squid was so salty it was practically inedible. i'm serious. it made my gums burn. so were the beans with the salmon. I would return to give it a second chance if someone insisted.
(3)
Kevin S.
Service is okay, but the food is excellent- so is the decor. Great place for a date.
(5)
ryan h.
Grabbed dinner there on Friday night and was a little nervous because of all the mixed reviews. I must say that my wife and I were very impressed. The food was great, and our waitress did an amazing job. Asparagus appetizer was phenomenal. If Asparagus, Quiche and a Souffle made a love child it would be this. Just phenomenal. I had the lamb which was pit roasted and it was very well spiced and well cooked. I'm sure we'll go back soon.
(4)
Lauren R.
Second visit tonight. This place is amazing. The flavors! The service! The charm! It might be my favorite neighborhood Italian place in Chicago. Highly recommended: the pastas, any of them, although the agnolotti w/goat cheese, orange and fennel pollen is beyond words. And the polenta w/spicy rapini starter, another fave. And the (fantastic) wine selection allows a "by the glass" quartino, which is the perfect amount. Had a different waiter each time and have just adored each one, making for two wonderful evenings. I was happy to see that they were crowded tonight, on a Monday. So hopefully they'll be around for a long, long time.
(5)
Jon S.
Where to even begin with this place: wait staff, food, wine, atmosphere, prices, selection, location, .... all are wonderful! OMG I love this place. I highly recommend making reservations before you go, but honestly I've walked in at least 4 times this summer with no reservation and they made space for me. I'm not a meat eater and they do a great job of altering the dishes to make sure you have multiple options; all their pastas are made fresh daily and delicious. My meat eating friends seem to always get the steak cooked in olive oil and rosemary; laid on a bed of arugula ... I've yet to see anyone leave even a bite on the plate. It's devoured and gushed over it's complex tastes and texture experience! Go here; you won't regret it. Ask lots of questions about the food and how it's cooked, the wait staff actually know what they are talking about and love to share the info. Also, great wine selection and the wait staff will bend over backwards to help you find something you love!
(5)
hey a t.
This little Italian Bistro is cute, and the food is sensational. The pasta is made daily. The one thing I really liked about this restaurant was that they were not rushing us out the door. If you like great Italian, you are headed in the right direction.
(5)
Aurora B.
This place is great. The atmosphere is really cute and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The wine list is pretty extensive and a little intimidating since I had never heard of ANY of the italian wines that were listed, but our waitress was very patient with us and inquired about what qualities we like in wine and then gave us a great recommendation. The salads and main dishes were very good at just the right proportion size. I left feeling totally satisfied without that overstuffed italian food feeling
(4)
Dan C.
Very Pleasantly surprised. Our friends had said that the portions were too small for the price, but we found the portions to be just right. We also thought that the quality of our meals definitely justified the price.
(4)
Moe f.
So Hot Doug and his crew came in while we were eating so you know it's gotta be good. In spite of the chilly Aug weather, we sat on the back patio which I recommend as it was jammed pack inside when we were leaving. Started with a bottle of red and the house made goat sausage which was fantastic. Then we had half orders of the lobster & ricotta ravioli and the orcecchiete with spicy lamb sausage. Both were excellent but the orecchiette had so many great flavors. We split the wood grilled rabbit which was very good too and they split it up for us on two plates which was nice. We finished with a chocolate-hazelnut tart(get it) and blueberry tart(skip it). Service was excellent. I didn't feel it was too pricey considering the quality of food. Tab was $120(sans tip) but we didn't get the cheapest bottle of vino and had cappuccinos as well. Definately want to come back on the prix fixe night then. So then on a side note, my celebrity chef sighting continued when I look over at some range rover and see Art Smith driving with another dude. I tell my wife who looks over and says "wow that is him and he's picking his nose". I think it looked more like a scratch but very amusing.
(4)
Scott V.
This restaurant is in the space vacated by Madrigals. I went there for the first time the day after Christmas. At about 7:30 pm, the place was packed, so there was a half hour wait to get a seat. We were seated at the first table in the window, which made feel a tad removed from the crowd (not a good thing). I like to try new things, but the menu descriptions were written so that everything listed sounded too spicy or strange. We had the squid appetizer, which was good and plentiful, but was rather flavorless (at least it wasn't fishy). I do not even recall what we ordered for our entrees--so they were not very memorable. Disappointing best sums up our experience at Anteprima. If you are in Andersonville, and you are in the mood for Italian, you would be better off going to Calo's.
(3)
Stephanie S.
Really innovative, fresh and delicious food. The waitstaff clearly loves food and will happily give you a recommendation if you are undecided on your meal- which is very likely because their menu is fantastic.
(4)
K P.
Some really tasty dishes. I particularly like the chargrilled octopus as a starter, and the other night I tried the roast suckling pig which was delicious. Some of the servings are a little small - but with an appetizer to share and 1/2 dishes of pasta we went home full. The waiters are always ready to lend a hand deciphering some of the oddly named dishes or to help you pick a wine for a certain dish. They can be pretty busy, so reservations are a good idea.
(4)
A. B.
Mediocre at best. The only worthwhile thing about this restaurant was the unique beer choices. Terrible menu, difficult to call this place an Italian restaurant.
(1)
Alvin d.
great energy, nice wine selection, very good service, decent price points (I especially like the 2 choices for portion size of the pasta dishes) and the menu is great. come here for pasta choices beyond your typical tomato or cream sauces, the entree selection is fun as well.
(4)
Jerry U.
I really want to enjoy this restaurant. It's very quaint and has wonderful potential in a great location. I tried it about a year ago and while I enjoyed the sliced steak entree, my friend was completely disappointed with his pasta choice. So after a year, last night we decided to give it another try at my request. This time, it was me that came away completely disappointed. I agree with everyone's comments about the service - it was simply poor and completely lacking - we even dined late so they were not that busy by the time we sat down to eat. This time, I tried the pasta and it was just bad. I had the orecchiette pasta with spicy house made lamb. I've had a similar dish at some of my other favorite italian joints that I've really enjoyed but the execution on this was terrible. Heavy, starchy pasta, greasy sausage with no real sauce or broth and a few dandelion weeds. It was hands down the worst pasta dish I've ever had in a restaurant before and I eat out a LOT. There are so many GREAT restaurants in the city and even in Andersonville that I do really wonder why Anteprima seems to be busy all the time? Maybe I made a bad menu choice - but two strikes and I'm done.
(2)
Paul P.
The first person I met in your restaurant was so full of attitude that I was grateful when there was a wait. "The Reservation Name...?" poured out of his mouth with such unwelcome, and condescension, as if too say, "how could you possibly expect to get a seat in this restaurant tonight without a reservation?" We were all on the same page... you and I both knew that we didn't have a reservation. If you did think we actually had a reservation, you never would have approached us with such an attitude. Too bad, all we were looking for was an idea of the wait time, and an invitation to the bar where we would have gladly dropped cash on drinks while we waited. People who are looking to dine in Andersonville, eat elsewhere... Calo, Great Lakes, the new Vincent, which had less open tables, and still sat us right away, with a smile and what seemed like a sense of appreciation for our business.
(1)
Jim M.
After several attempts to get a table on a number of Saturday nights, Anteprima managed to squeeze me and my friend in at 6:30 for dinner (my preferred time is 7:30 to 9:30) this past Saturday. Upon arriving, we were seated immediately and our server was courteous, swift and helpful. We shared a 1st course of mussels and it was absolutely delicious. For the main course I had the lamb chops and my friend had the wide noodles with boar meat. Both were good, but not outstanding. The wine list was good. As we were near finishing our dinner, a number of tables opened up and stayed open. I can only question why it was so difficult to get a reservation at 7:30 or later. Perhaps my expectations were raised with all the fuss over reservations here, but with so many good restaurants to select in the Andersonville neighborhood, it is doubtful that I'll return to this one.
(3)
Jeff W.
Nice find in the neighborhood. Fresh pasta with some fun choices. Try the wild boar ragu with a quartino of one of their exceptionally well-chosen Italian varietals. They offer smaller portions of most pastas which is a nice option when you're just popping in from a walk around Andersonville for a quick bite.
(5)
shell h.
This place fooled me with the packed crowd and glowing recommendations but I was very disappointed. The free little vegetable pastry they brought to our table didn't look appetizing at all more like cold pizza. The bread was great that they brought to the table with no oil or butter, we had to ask.. isn't this an italian restaurant? I actually had a hard time picking something off the menu so i chose the dusted grouper which was a nightmare, it tasted like it had been just taken out of a freezer bag and deep-fried, it was fried on the outside but still mushy and overly salted??? I don't know why a place charging 19$ for this entree would serve something so horrible and tasteless. My boyfriend had a squid steak with garbanzo beans, which he said he could have made it at home and saved some money. The goat cheese ravioli was the only delicious item that stood out. The lamb shank another friend ordered tasted like pot roast and was a little chewy. I don't think we were even asked if we liked our meal at all, the hostess was great but the server came to our table maybe 3 times. I regret going here but I guess I know now that if you want good seafood in Andersonville you have to go to the Hopleaf.
(1)
Jen J.
i have never had a bad meal here and the service is always beyond friendly and helpful. their seasonal menus are fantastic. the pastas are always fresh and the meats always tender. the panna cotta is not to be missed. i go here when i'm ready to drop some cash because i will have to have 3 courses and a bottle of wine. the prices are reasonable for the type of atmosphere and cuisine. they also have a small patio in the back with 5-6 tables in the summer. great place.
(5)
Sue P.
The atmosphere was warm and the staff knowledgeable about the foods. Salad was good for starters, the pasta delicious but for 11 dollars - it only had 6 pieces of ravioli but very, very good. The dessert was unbelievable. Will go back when someone pays my way.
(5)
Sooyon H.
Anteprima is located in such a cute, little neighborhood with so much charm! We were able to find a non-metered parking spot right away. The restaurant has a cozy feel to it. . . a lot of smaller tables packed into the room. We started off with the highly recommended grilled octopus, which was to my liking. . . seasoned well without it being overwhelmingly chewy. We also settled on getting one of their specials for the day as another appetizer. As for the entrees, I absolutely loved their bucatini. . . so light and fresh, using such simple ingredients. I can alone go back to the restaurant for this dish. Unfortunately, the pasta dish with prosciutto that I had ordered was simply just okay. . . it didn't really stand out to me. All in all though, we enjoyed our experience here from the moment that we got seated right away with our reservations to having such an accommodating waiter who was attentive to our requests. What was even more delightful is their back patio, which was decorated nicely.
(4)
J. Richard W.
We tried to eat at Anteprima on the Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend but they were so disorganized that, after waiting 40 minutes past our reservation time, we just gave up and ate somewhere else. What was particularly annoying was that when we showed up they told us that it would be a 15-20 minute wait. I specifically asked: "when you say 15-20 minutes do you really mean 40-50 minutes or is it really 15-20?". The host assured us that it would be no more than 20 because the party at our table was in the process of paying their bill. What is also annoying is that one member of our party ate there a few weeks ago and had the same problem - i.e. having to wait for an extended time past their reservation time. (By the way Anteprima doesn't even have a bar where customers can wait for their table. Instead they send you to their sister restaurant down the street.) Restaurants that can't get it organized enough to know how long it takes them to turn over tables and who then lie about the true wait time don't deserve my business. There are too many good restaurants out there that also provide good service and have respect for their patrons' time.
(1)
Amanda A.
I'll say it again and again - the food can only take a restaurant so far...the service is truly half the battle - the make or break often of any evening out. I had passed by this restaurant several weeks ago while visiting one of my andersonville favorites - jin ju and thought that it looked absolutely charming and quaint. When friends and fellow foodies of mine had invited me to join them for dinner here, I was absolutely thrilled to tag along and try somewhere new that had already caught my eye. On the way there - before we ever even got to the restaurant - Anteprima put a bad taste in my mouth. One of my friends had been there previously and they had been out of the entree he had wanted to try and so had called ahead to see if he could preorder (and prepay) so that he would be able to try it on this visit. They refused! (and of course they were out of it again when we arrived). We were 2 minutes away from the restaurant, when the host called to find out where we were - at a point when we were actually not yet late. While I can appreciate a host being on top of things - let it be said that his questions regarding our whereabouts were not without an attitude that extended to when we actually arrived at the restaurant and as he sat us without hiding his obvious unneccessary annoyance. BEYOND THAT POINT though - our food was phenomenal - the grilled octupus appetizer was delectable and tender - the polenta was so light and fluffy that it literally melted in my mouth and my monkfish was superb. Our server was wonderful and made excellent suggestions for both beverage and food. I will go back and hopefully make it past the host stand with a smile still on my face so that I can give this restaurant a review that matches the excellence of the meal itself.
(3)
Wayne L.
Love the decor, the Andersonville location and even the food. However, after finishing my $18 pasta dish, I was still hungry. The whole time I was eating my food, I was saying to myself that this better be the half portion size. It wasn't, and that's a shame. On top of that, I feel that the service was only adequate. I'll go back optimistic that things will be better, but only after several months of them fine-tuning the kinks.
(3)
Erik M.
I would love to give a higher rating to Anteprima but there has been a consistency issue. First time we went there it was a 4 boarding on 5 rating, we looked forward to coming back. The 2nd time was a 3 star on the food, atmosphere always a 4-5 experience, very cozy and lively. The reason 3 star on food was too much salt, a little dry on the rabbit dish I had, just not nailing the dishes. I also based my ratings with price in mind. If you going to charge $15-20 or more for an entree, you have to deliver a plate that meets the value. Unfortunately they come up short. The food is good here, one of the better Italian resturants in the city, but not consistently top. We want back a third time hoping for a great meal, and still got good to OK food. Service and atmosphere is very good, but can be hit or miss on the meal. For best Italian I have had so far in the city it has to be A Tavola over in Wicker Park/East Village on Chicago Ave. It is more expensive, but always delivers.
(3)
Ellen P.
Absolutely fantastic service and food from start to finish! First, it was my mother's birthday, and I was completely disorganized. I'd walked by this place millions of times on my way to and from other Andersonville spots, and thought "Have to try this place." It's always packed, a good sign. I procrastinated making a dinner reservation, couldn't remember the name, and finally had to get my lazy butt off the couch, walk the three blocks, and ask if they had any reservations left for THAT day, a Saturday! My friend told me I was crazy "It's cold. You really going to walk over there? Let's just go to Calo (another great Andersonville place), and try them another day." My effort was instantly rewarded. I was greeted by Marty, the owner, who shook my hand, and offered help. I confessed that I was a disorganized daughter, and needed a reservation for 6, that evening if possible. He offered 5:30 pm or 9, and while I quickly made phone calls to friends to make sure 5:30 wasn't too early, he quickly called all of his 6:30 reservations to confirm that they were coming. I walked home, in the cold and snow (are you reading, mom?) with a reservation in hand. Our dinner experience was equally wonderful. Our waiter was Paul, who with very good humor guided four giddy women (see note about wine below) and two kids through the menu. The chef very graciously accommodated my friend's request to let her 8 year old son try a little bit of their soup before ordering a full bowl -- we weren't sure what he'd think of escarole - he loved it. We ordered wine, appetizers, dessert, and they threw in an after dinner dessert wine for my mom as a b-day treat. Everything we ordered, which included beef, lamb and pasta, was superb. The bottled wine selection had lots of great Italian selections, and a good price range (note: if your party can agree on a bottle, you will definitely save money with this option -- individual glasses were $9 and above, and most were "above"). We also noticed that the table next to us brought their own wine, so BYOB is an option. A great addition to Andersonville, we'll be returning often!
(5)
Mike C.
My bf took me here for my birthday and the food and service were amazing. I will say that I was pretty buzzed from the wine (which, the waiter was cool enough to recommend after I told him what I like) but overall my experience was great. Only draw back is that it is very crowded and a little loud but that can be expected when the food is this good - everyone will show up eventually
(5)
Kate H.
Even with the deals they offered, the food is not worth the price. Flat priced meals (an appetizer, entree and dessert or an appetizer, half pasta and and entree for $30) certainly helped (my meal would have come to $45 with out the deal), however, it wasn't enough to merit a return trip. For appetizers, we tried the house made rabbit sausage and the salama/prosciutto etc sampler. The sausage was spicy but quite good, however, the sampler was a miss. The quality of the meat was not notable. The winter squash ravioli was nice, however, a half portion is anemic. Of the main courses, ribs w/polenta and peppers and spicy chicken with spinach and broccoli, only the tender ribs were worth remembrance. The polenta was flavorless and the spinach was bitter to the point of being inedible. The chicken, while not terribly over cooked, was dry. For dessert, a dry, bland bread pudding. Definitely can't recommend this restaurant for these prices.
(2)
sarah c.
My boyfriend and I went here for the first time the other night, for Valentine's Day dinner, a night that he usually loathes going out for, due to the crowdedness, overpriced menus, and poor service that usually go hand in hand w/ the occasion. I was able to convince him to go out this year, and fortunately, we were both pleasantly surprised! Our waiter was prompt and friendly. Food came out in a timely fashion, despite the packed house. The food was EXCELLENT!!!!(And I never say that lightly). All the food was great, but the entrees really stole the show - my boyfriend had the double-cut lamb chops and I had a scallops special. Everything was cooked to perfection, the flavors were excellent. It was a culinary delight! It wasn't cheap, but for a special occasion, it was definitely worth the price. All in all, it was a perfect v-day meal, and I can't wait to go back and try some of the other dishes.
(5)
Kathleen O.
I agree with Mike g. It was ok. The place itself is very cute and the wait staff was great. We did enjoy the new potoes appetizer and would have loved more (there were 4)! The "large" pasta dishes were so small! I had the paesanelle pasta and it lacked flavor. My friends had the salmon and seemed to be ok.
(3)
Lori K.
Go here, you'll love it. Food was excellent, convo was a little loud at times, and the waiter needed to quit hovering, but overall really fresh, flavorful, and delicious. Get the octopus. Ok, and the risotto. The smaller serving is plenty.
(4)
Carter G.
Made a reservation for 9:00 pm for three people last Friday. We arrived on time, and they were running behind. Their own bar was full so they sent us down to Ombra, their sister-restaurant, two doors down. They would call us, they said. Fine. No problem. We're easy-going. But 15 minutes, nothing. At 25 minutes, we called again and were told 5-10 more minutes. Still OK. We can manage. At 9:45, though, we went back over to ask what was happening, and they still had not seated the other 9:00 pm tables. They told us they had no idea when or if they could seat us for our reservation. We were also told that parking in the neighborhood is bad nowadays, and so tables get out of whack as the night wears on. But if they know this problem exists, though, they really ought to start offering valet service or adjusting their timelines so they allocate reservations properly. The host staff wasn't even sympathetic about not honoring our reservation, and we ultimately had to go elsewhere. What kind of place does that? Won't be trying again.
With so many great Italian places, this was not my first choice but I was with a group (6 ppl) and obliged. The fact of the matter was, it was a good meal but I hardly see myself returning there anytime soon, namely due to the fact that there is no valet service (tough parking area), its VERY loud there and, as I said, there are just so many good Italian spots already. This just didnt make the grade. In defense though, its a very good place. If I lived around the corner, I'd probably go again. Strong selection of appetizers with a few standouts including the grilled octopus and bean dish, although the roasted beets were quite bland. My scallop main course that I shared was very good but the grilled calamari was a bit spicier than I had planned. Desserts were downright bad. Nothing worth ordering there I thought, but most Italian desserts are mediocre at best.
(3)
Kelly C.
Mmm mmm mmm. Yummy and creative Italian food, with tons of different appetizers. Had the prosciutto-wrapped venison, and the missus had orange cream lobster on spaghetti. Delicious, and they're very friendly and cost-conscious, with their weeknight fixed price menus. Highly recommended!
(5)
C C.
Just had another of many dinners here this past week. I love the food. It is consistently good. But I will not be going back again soon. After all the times I've eaten here, I have to say that the service has never gotten better. The servers are not friendly and always annoyed when you ask questions. We have never been greeted at the door by a friendly face that seemed happy that we were there (again) to spend lots of money on their food and wine. What's with the attitude? The second issue that is going to keep me from going back is the deafening noise level. It is not "energetic" as some try to spin it. It is conversation un-friendly. It's time for restaurants to get customer-friendly aagain and start using noise-reducing surfaces to encourage conversation. Being with friends and enjoying good food is why we go out to eat. When I want a noisy "scene" I go to a club.
(3)
RJ H.
This place is amazing! I will go back again and again and again. Their menu is a little hard to interpret, but I think they've done and excellent job and the food, service and atmosphere is outstanding....
(5)
Melissa S.
Chicago Italian is NOT true Italian, says the blond from Chicago, but after living there for years I have a leg up on traditional. This is about as good as it gets. The dishes are authentic, the portions are NOT American style (huge) and I enjoy the seasonal specials. The owner is a nice man too! Cheers, keep it up.
(4)
graham h.
After reading in Chicago magazine that this was a "best new restaurant," I was psyched to go for some good Italian. The angry critics at yelp, who never cease to find fault with any place, gave me pause in my choice to take Dad to Anteprima for father's day. Turns out, there's a reason that professional food critics exist - this restaurant is great. The atmosphere is super comfortable. The service was informal and intelligent. Every thing I tasted was awesome, and just different enough to edge this place above the generic Italian food that's so easy to find in this city. I found it to be overall quite reasonable as well. The pork was delicious, cooked beautifully. All the pastas were fantastic, with inventive use of ingredients that tasted familiar yet new. The berry tart for dessert was lightweight and tasty. The family can't wait to go back, and neither can I.
(5)
Mike M.
I'm still sitting here wishing the meal wasn't over. The crispy skin bass was a crispy piece of heaven. The pappardelle was exactly what I wanted to satisfy my carb-loading fantasy. Our waiter was Armando and he was as fabulous as the food. I couldn't have asked for a better date night with the little lady. Now someone get a wheel barrel and get my ass out of here!
(5)
Matt H.
I am happy we finally had dinner here last night! I had called the evening of to see if we could eat at 6:30 and they were able to get us in at 7:30. Other yelpers have raved about the fixed price menu for $29 on Sundays-Thursdays and that got my attention. Everyone is right, it's a great deal and the food is positively memorable. The establishment is small but I liked its charm. I have seen pictures of the back deck but did not see it in person. We sat at a table for two towards the back. Note: the restaurant is very lively. You will have to raise your voice to be heard by your significant other. :) Here's what we ordered: Me- Grilled Shrimp (starter), Pork Saltimbocca (main entree) and Strawberry Lime Tart (dessert); my partner Chris- Roasted Beets (starter), Bison Flank Steak (main entree) and Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (dessert). For my appetizer, four grilled shrimp came on top of spinach and beans. I found everything on the plate to be more than satisfactory. The preserved lemon vinaigrette went very well with the dish. The Roasted Beets appetizer that Chris ordered came with arugula, gorgonzola cheese and walnuts. He told me that it was outstanding. If you like prosciutto, order the Pork Saltimbocca if it's on the menu. It covers the entire top of the pork loin. That entree went down my gullet quite fast. It was served with potato medallions and snow peas. The veggies were wonderful. The snow peas, in particular, had a healthy crunch. Chris said his Bison Flank Steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and the romesco sauce atop it was a brilliant addition. It came with an assortment of veggies that were appreciated as well. I loved my Strawberry Lime Tart; the perfect early summer dessert. The salty crust mixed with the fruity goodness made for a fabulous taste sensation. Chris said the flavors of his Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp were good but it ended up being a bit too soupy. The speed of service was appropriate. I feel I should make a couple of comments about the staff. We asked one of the busboys if we could have more water and he must've forgotten, because we had to ask our actual server if he could bring us some. As for the server himself, he was a bit aloof and never asked us how we liked our food which we found very strange. All in all, I feel everyone should swing by Andersonville and check this place out. The fixed price menu is a terrific deal and overall, the food is fantastic. A couple sitting next to us said that the octopus is to die for. We will return with some energetic and hungry peeps! xoxo
(4)
Joe P.
Food was good, but for the price I expected a bit better. Service was mediocre at best. In my opinion you get a better meal with better service for less at Quartinos or Caro Mio.
(3)
Lord Of T.
This place rocks! The grilled sardines are nice.... All the pasta is great. They have a nice wine list. It is a little loud, dark and cramped..... but the food is great. The "hosts" could crack a smile once in a while.... but again the food is worth showing up for.
(4)
David R.
When I booked a Tuesday-night table at Anteprima, I didn't yet know about their killer $29 prix fixe offer. However, now that I have enjoyed one meal there, I have to say that the prix fixe is a big reason to visit, and to come on a weeknight. You can have a starter, a half-order of pasta, and an entree, OR a starter, an entree, and a dessert. For under thirty bucks. Not to mention a much easier time getting a table than a Friday or Saturday night. Do it! First of all, I have to observe how cozy and charming this place is. It is really perfect for date night or romantic special occasions. The food was mostly really good, mostly. In particular, I liked my rabbit entree and my wife's trout, and the stuffed calamari entree was phenomenal. It was spilling with couscous and boasted a gorgeous grilled flavor, all of which was nicely complemented by the spinach and the vinaigrette. One major miss was the scallop risotto. I liked the mushrooms...but that's it. Everything else was wrong, wrong, wrong: it came out lukewarm, the rice grains were large and hard, the dish overall was watery and terribly bland, and the scallops, though numerous, offered nothing but a faint plasticy flavor. It was really a shockingly awful dish amidst an otherwise delicious meal. We finished up by sharing the carrot cake, which tasted less of carrots than of caramel. That's not necessarily a demerit though; it was good cake. I regret that we've lived in the neighborhood for so long without trying Anteprima. We will definitely be back the next time we want to eat sophisticated Italian food and stare into each other's eyes for a while.
(4)
Claire F.
Zucchini squash appetizer was cold. Black linguine with shrimp overpriced for the small amount of shrimp given. Asked for more bread and the restaurant was out. Maybe we didn't order the right things but I won't be back :(
(2)
Angie M.
I would highly recommend coming to Anteprima if you have a weeknight date. Their Sun-Thur prefixe option is INSANELY well-priced. For $29 you get a sampling of all of the courses (I can't remember exactly how this works, but I think it's along the lines of Option 1: app, main course, dessert or Option 2: app, 1/2 pasta and main course. You'll have plenty of $$ left to buy a bottle of wine and not break the bank. My guy and I wandered into Anteprima on a Monday night. The place was pretty empty at 7:30pm. They take reservations, but you probably won't need them during the early days of the week. Anteprima is adorably tiny on the inside. Like, close together tables, kind of eclectic looking. Now, we were there when it wasn't busy and got a nice table towards the front along a wall, but I noticed there's high potential for a crappy table on a busy night. They have 2 tops stuffed into kind of random places that don't feel cozy or comfortable at all. You'll find the menu to be pure Italian. Apps like marinated olives, marsala glazed turnips and grilled shrimp or octopus are delightfully rustic and tasty. I had the tagliatelle with pancetta ragu for my main course. It was good, but not mind blowing. My guy had the NY strip and devoured every last bite. He especially loved the arugula on the side. Desserts are also the business. They rotate, I believe, but I think they have the hazelnut chocolate torte on the menu regularly and you should absolutely order it. It's super rich. But awesome. Oooooh... There's also a killer bread basket. Ooof. Anteprima is an impressive date spot. It's not showy. It's subtle, romantic and you'll look like you know what's up if you take someone here.
(4)
James R.
The atmosphere is nice and the wine selection is more than adequate. Ample selection of items on the menu and the portions are average (not large like common Italian-American places). The egg and fried green tomato appetizer lacked flavor but my friend had the zucchini flower appetizer and it was better. Overall the service was a little slow and the food was just average for the hype.
(3)
Elizabeth F.
My boyfriend took us here for our first date and I loved it. We sat outside under string lights which was especially great because romantic outdoor seating can be hard to come by in Chicago. We ordered wine and each got a different pasta dish under our waiter's recommendation. The gnocchi I had was perfectly cooked and everything was portioned so I didn't leave the meal feeling stuffed and gross. I look forward to coming here again!
(4)
Matt T.
The gf and I decided to pick at random an Andersonville spot for our Friday night out. We walked by and saw it was busy with people who clearly looked like they were enjoying themselves, so we put our name on the list. We were in no hurry so an 1hr 15 min wait didn't put us off, we grabbed drinks at their pizza place a few doors down. Ok to the space, very cozy and lively. Packed with other guests, typical for any popular place on a Friday night. I'd give the space 4 stars. The food, I thought was just OK. We got 2 appetizers- the polenta (OK) and the beets (my gf enjoyed a lot, for me, meh). We were both in the mood for pasta dishes so that's what we got as our entree. She got a buffalo moz. basil pasta, again it was ok. Pretty good. I got the spicy lamb sausage pasta with pecorino and it was awesome! The star of the show, and my gf agreed. The basket of bread you get was alright, tasted fresh but I've had better. There's no butter or olive oil that comes with the bread and I thought that was strange. For dessert we had the chocolate hazelnut tart which was great. We also had a bottle of wine with our meal and the wine selection is reasonably priced. The service was good, no complaints there. I decided on 3 stars because of the 5 dishes we tried I only really enjoyed 2 of them. My gf liked the beets. For over $100 (without tip) for 2 people I'd hope for better. That being said I'd give it another shot. The pre-fixe menu on Tuesdays sounds great.
(3)
Alison T.
I could eat the lamb sausage pasta every day. Go for the weeknight $29 fixed price menu - it's a real steal!
(4)
Sergio N.
The place ambience is rustic Italian which transcribed to the taste of their food ... The staff are super friendly and very attentive .. Fresh food ... Great ambience .. Great service .. Great location .. I had one of the best fish I've ever tasted ! Definitely will go back to this place !!!
(5)
Stephen G.
Went here on a cold winter's night with our good friends who had made the choice. Lucky us! Great menu, good service, excellent cocktails (our choice) and a fine wine list for our friends. This was a Tuesday night, so the fixed price menu at $29.00 was available. We all went for the starter, half-pasta and full entre option. Besides my chicken livers (excellent) I also had a taste of the grilled octopus - extraordinary - and the grilled shrimp - very good. All of the pastas were superb. The entrees did not disappoint. I went with the lamb shank and my dining partners had the chicken, skate wing and pork. Raves all around. The portions on all of the items, including the starters and half-pastas were quite large, so a word of caution - pace yourself! Oh, forgot to mention the breadsticks - could have eaten them all night. As regards the atmosphere, very comfortable and conversation friendly. Our only question was why had we not come to this place sooner. We will be back.
(5)
J M.
A neighborhood gem. Step inside and leave your worries behind. Be Italian for a moment. Enjoy every bite. Drink a lot of wine. Linger. Get the octopus, papardelle, a side of arugula w/lemon and shaved Parmesan to share. Rosemary steak too, if you're hungry or sharing. They get busy and do quality food, so don't expect food to always be prompt or perfectly timed. It will depend on the night. Just order another drink, start with the octopus and enjoy your company before the dishes arrive.
(4)
Dylan M.
Love all the various starter options. It gives you an opportunity to sample lots of different things, many are vegetarian. The service was very good. The food was good but not great. I enjoyed everything I tried but nothing wowed me which was surprising since I tried many starters and the risotto. The food comes out super fast which led me to believe almost everything is prepped ahead of time.
(4)
Katrina S.
I'm going to start with the good news first. This is for the kale salad, bread basket & generous pour of a very nice prosecco by the glass. We tried 3 pasta dishes which I found mediocre at best. The most agreeable was definitely the gnocchi. The atmosphere is warm, service - meh & there is nowhere to wait or stand comfortably before you are seated. I would definitely go back for the salad, bread basket (those bread sticks are incredibly well seasoned) & the delightful prosecco. Parking is difficult in the area so allow time for that if you are driving.
(3)
Daphne L.
Another incredibly small space, with tightly packed tables. Despite my absolute aversion to this set up, it somehow works in this space, and it doesn't feel stifling. Making a reservation is a wise idea. The food we had was delicious and really inventive and different: we shared the grilled octopus, and I had a pasta dish, my husband one of the specials. There was nothing left on either plate. Great wine selection, too.
(4)
Rowena M.
My first time at Anteprima was less than spectacular. I kept thinking to myself: "What was the hype about?!" But destiny took me back to Andersonville once again and we decided that it was time to give Anteprima another chance. I have to say that this time around, we were pleased with the food and especially loved one of the specials of the evening - bucatini pasta with pork cheek bacon (I know that sounds gross but you know where "regular" bacon comes from, don't you?). It had the right amount of saltiness and buttery goodness at the same time. I ordered the brick-grilled chicken and enjoyed just the right amount of charred and smoky flavor contrasted with the spicy greens and garlic-lemon sauce. Hubby had the new york strip steak, another special for the evening and thought it was a fine choice. So you might ask yourself, what's with the 3 stars. Everything was lovely until a baby roach decided to stop by and keep us company during our dinner. We informed the waiter, who also watched as it slithered along the wall where our teeny tiny table was perched against. His comment? "I think it's a beetle!" Who cares if it's a beetle? There is no excuse for that unwanted guest during dinner. Needless to say, we were grossed out. I don't want to be ignorant; I've seen the movie Ratatouille after all :) but I'm sorry...I just shouldn't see that!
(3)
Larisa O.
Sometimes restaurants are so good that people have nothing left to do but complain about them. This is the best restaurant in Andersonville, hands down. Anteprima has been open for years now, has a cool look, (same owner as M.Henry I believe) and is always bustling, though you can often get a table without a reservation, so do try. Just ate there last night and again, we were very happy. I've probably been here 8 times over the years and have never had a meal that was anything less than fabulous. Same for wine. When I saw it had 3.5 stars, I was like, WHAAAAT??? Are you kidding me? Be warned, it's romantic, but loud. They do have an outdoor patio. They offer to tweak meals to accommodate children -- that's amazing in a nice restaurant. Even my 11-year-old son really likes it.
(5)
Mark D.
This restaurant is small and cozy. The food was wonderful and the service was great. I enjoyed the gnocchi with slow roasted duck, and my friend ordered the wild boar with brussel sprouts. I savored every bite of my dish and tasted a bit more than I should have of my friend's. We both left very satisfied.
(4)
Tyler P.
I went here on valentines day. The food was dismal and the atmosphere felt rushed. They were definitely trying to whip tables in and out which tells me they don't care about their customers. The best thing I had to eat was the bread and make sure you avoid the flank steak.
(3)
Jessica H.
I cannot say enough about this hidden jem! I use to come here all the time and still pop in when I need my fix! They have some very unique dishes! Their Orecchiette is one of the most delicious entrees! Great wine selection! Interesting desserts!
(5)
Calin D.
The indoor seating is well appointed. The nine tables on the small outdoor back patio are my preference. It's positioned just next to a small residence, and makes you feel like you're dining in your own backyard. Anteprima has really good breadsticks and wines to tide you over while you wait for excellent organic local dishes to arrive from the kitchen. The pork ribs and salmon are good choices, though I'd have to say the hazelnut chocolate pie is one of the best around.
(4)
Jeff A.
The food was solid, but the experience was overwhelming. Way too much heavy food. No interest in a return trip.
(2)
Holly S.
I love this restaurant. Fantastic menu choices and great service. The only reasons I gave four stars is because: A) The tables are very very close together. Don't expect any kind of intimate seating. B) There are a lot of Italian places in Chicago that have larger portions of the same dishes for the same price. Overall a good restaurant to go to a few times a year!
(4)
Chelsea B.
Tasty tasty tasty! They do a fantastic job here, on all fronts. Great service, great food, good homemade pastas, delicious flavor combinations. We've come in for fancy meals, and we've come in even all sweaty in exercise clothes after working out at the gym, and no one says boo to us. We've always been really well treated. It's our number-one pick when we're up for a good meal and have a bit of extra money to spend for it. The patio is especially great! Highly recommend the lemon panna cotta for dessert :-)
(5)
Erika G.
This restaurant is a gem in the neighborhood. And my friend CH is a gem for taking me to dinner here. Yay! I finally get to go to Anteprima! Prixy-fixy dinner is VERY reasonable. $29 for an appetizer, half pasta and entree. Perfect! You can also go for appetizer-entree-dessert, but since I'm not all that much of a dessert girl, I opted for the pasta. Cocktails: Fantastic. I got some delicious something or other that was quickly consumed, so I had to get another. Oh, damn! That one had to go away when a FLY ended up in my drink (not the restaurants fault, it was buzzing around). Our handsome and charming waiter whisked it away and corrected the situation right away. The service here is excellent. Our water was smoove, knowledgeable and super handsome. What a fabulous man! Appetizer: I had the charcuterie - salami! Perfect assortment of yummy cured meats. Salumi (grrr. hate the word, love the meat), prosciutto di parma, soppressata, pork terrine, mostarda, onion jam - Yes, please! Pasta: I had black squid ink pasta, which I've never tried until now - so I had to have it. Just great, with a few shrimps scattered on top. Perfect portion size, not too giant. For my entree, I had the grilled berkshire pork ribs - YUM! The meat was just on the edge of being cooked too much, but the flavor was still yummy. The menu is ever changing and there's a reason why this restaurant is still packed most nights, and lives on in the Andersonville restaurant scene, where others have fallen *cough*IFS*cough*. It's a restaurant that gets it right.
(5)
Jeff S.
I have heard great things about Anteprima for years and finally made it there for a Sunday night dinner. All the praise for Anteprima is well deserved, the food and service were both hits. Our whole table opted for the $29 pre fixe menu that is really a fantastic deal. We got to sample starters, pastas, entrees and desserts, not a bad dish in the bunch. The grilled octopus starter, the pork shoulder entree, and the spaghetti with ramps were all standouts. My only gripe would be there limited beer choices, only three available options. We will definitely be back to Anteprima.
(4)
Ray D.
Seated 35 minutes past reservation time. Portions were SMALL. Why serve appetizer portions for 2-3 people when there is a party of 4 sitting at the table? Every time an appetizer (4) came out it was just too small to share with 4 people. Pasta dish portions were too SMALL and lacked meat in sauce. Service was good but won't be going back due to over priced, wait time and small portions.
(3)
Steve T.
Great food! Good service. Lovely atmosphere. A hidden gem in Andersonville. Every time I've been there it has exceeded my expectations. I'm a foodie. Eating great food with friends and family is my past time. I know good food.... You get it here.
(5)
Stephanie L.
So I can echo a lot of the other reviews. I had a reservation at 8PM and didnt get sat until 845PM on a Friday night. Slightly annoying, especially because there is NO WHERE to go in this restaurant. The point of reservations is so you can eat when you want...not wait 45 mins to be seated. This seems like a common theme for this place. Once we got sat, service was lackluster. Our server barely checked on us, didnt refill drinks, and we ran out of water several times. The dining room is extremely loud. We had 3 in our party and were sat at a large round table so we were all huddled on one side of the table so we could actually hear each other. The food was good, not necessarily worth the wait. Nothing blew my socks off. We had: Stuffed Calamari-it was grilled nicely and the stuffing was tasty Grilled Octopus-this was a refreshing dish, but I felt that it was too oily. Roasted Beets-meh, I have definitely had better beet salads. It was just bland Risotto-good, not great. It was watery but the texture was good. The peas were fresh and crisp Pappardelle-delish pasta with meat...whats not to like Ricotta-disappointing. It was just kind of meh. I really like cheeses and this just didnt do anything for me. Asparagus Sformato-this was different. It actually was great. It was everything blended up and then in a mold. It was very taste-y Carrot Cake-just ok. Let me say, their bread is delicious. The sticks and the pieces...yum! But we had to ask for olive oil and no cheese?? Weird at an Italian place. Overall, I would say, I might go back on a random week night when the place isnt packed. I bet I would have a different experience if the service were better and we didnt wait so long to get seated...
(3)
Jen R.
There's the five star half of this place: awesome bartender, tasty food, and strong drinks. Then there's the zero stars half: blowing off our reservations, trying to give us a crap table, and the overserving of a certain friend, who shall remain nameless ;) When we arrived for our reservation, they told us they had no room, and to grab a seat at the bar until a table opened up. Not a problem, since the bartender was one awesome chick who helped us out with drink and app suggestions that made us forget the wait. Half an hour later four tables were open, and when we reminded them we were waiting to be seated, we were offered the first table by the kitchen. We asked for one of the other tables, and were told they were reserved and we'd have to wait for another table to open up (no one sat at those tables for the rest of the night). Forty-five minutes after our reservations, we had seats. We continued our meal with some entrees, and while everything was good, it's pricey for what you get. When I pay $14 for pasta, I hope I at least get enough to semi-fill my tummy. If it wasn't for all the apps we had at the bar, I would've had to make a fast food run afterwards. Also, I hate hate hate when I'm with someone who's visibly intoxicated and even after asking the waiter to not serve my friend he brings new drinks anyway. And jic you thought maybe my friend didn't look that toasted, he fell asleep in that final martini they brought him. As in, with his elbow on the table, he lifted the glass to his lips and konked out. Perfectly balanced, of course, because he's a true professional. The whole experience was not worth the $200 it cost us for three people. On a side note, I did return, since I live in the neighborhood and thought this night was a fluke. It wasn't. The next time I ordered an entree and a drink. Since the waiter never returned after taking our order, and only stopped by to drop off the check, I never did get that drink. Boo.
(2)
Laura K.
Maybe I went in with too high of expectations, or maybe we just ordered the wrong things...but overall we didn't love our dinner at Anteprima. The food was fine, but nothing special or all that memorable. The seating is very typical for Italian places (right on top of each other) which I never like, because I end up listening to conversations next to me instead of engaging with my dinner date. The service was just OK - our server did not really give us any good suggestions as far as what to order (or how much), and things came our very sporadically. Maybe he was new, I don't know... Overall, I was just not digging this place the way I thought I would. Note - there is NO parking in that area so give yourself a lot of time to find parking if you drive (no valet option when we drove).
(3)
Beth S.
We are so fortunate to have this elevated take on Italian fare right here in Andersonville. We can walk to this amazing place that is as good as ( or better than ) many better known Italian eateries downtown. Proportions are not excessive. Service is very attentive and personal. Food is exquisite.
(5)
Samantha E.
Came by on a date and found Anteprima positively bustling. Since the only spot available was at the bar we were happy to take it. The wine selection was good as was the food, but it did nothing to wow me. There are plenty of Italian restaurants in Chicago and quite a variety of great restaurants in the Andersonville area so choose from. Anteprime was good food with good service but I think I would like to explore my other options a bit more.
(3)
Linda F.
There is so much to be said for this wonderful experience. This begins with the decor and tone of the restaurant. What a beautiful bar, warm lighting, and feeling of coziness (even on a very cold evening). But, decor does not make a restaurant ... it's primarily the food, closely followed by the service. Read on ... We were shown to the perfect table at the back of the room in a tucked away corner. It is much quieter than the main part of the room and we went on to enjoy a quiet evening. Armando was our server and offered his thoughts as we studied the menu. Anteprima offers a fixed price menu on Sunday through Thursday. This 3 course options offers multiple combinations and provides selections from the main menu -- such a bargain. My selections were the grilled shrimp appetizer (fabulous), a half order of orecchietta with lamp sausage, and an entree of seafood spezzatino. Each dish was incredible and served piping hot. With bread being one of the components of a meal that is very important to me, I must say that this is a feature of dining at Anteprima. I couldn't get enough of it and the bread sticks.
(5)
Cynthianna H.
A friend and I went to Anteprima last night, a Thursday, arriving at 6:30 PM. We got a nice table and chose items from the fixed price menu of $29. At that time, the restaurant was quiet and uncrowded. We were given a small complimentary appetizer, and our starters, the beet salad and a shrimp dish, arrived promptly. My friend said the shrimp was delicious. My salad was just OK. Then, we waited til about 7:40PM for our entrees - too long a wait! My friend liked his salmon dish with lentils but my chicken dish seemed greasy and had too strong a garlic flavor. The carrot cake was OK as was the lemon panna cotta. By then, it was 8:30 PM and the restaurant was full and noisy. Note that at 6:30 PM, we were able to find metered parking nearby on Clark Street. The restaurant has no parking.
(2)
Ebs B.
Yelp tells me that 3 stars means "A-OK"; well "A-OK" just sounds like I'm holding a thumbs up in the air with a cheesy grin. Since that's not happening after my experience here, I'm going with 2 stars because I've definitely experienced better. The highlight of the evening was definitely the grilled octopus which was tender and seasoned perfectly. And, I'll even give 4 stars for the pasta with duck in it. From there, nothing else seemed to impress me. The pork was astounding and huge, but alas, it was not tender. The risotto...cooked too al dente for my taste. The waitress...oh I can say a lot about her, but I'll simply mention that she was rude and gave us all attitude (she could at least pretend to like her job). What made it worse is the bread was so delicious until I saw her not wash her hands after taking care of all of her tables (cashing out, etc) and then barrel her hands into the bread stick bucket to grab them. Then she continued to handle the other bread with her bare hands. Look, I've worked in restaurants before and I know how it goes, but please do it where I can't see it! Please! All in all, I probably won't come here again, but glad I tried it since I've heard so much about it.
(2)
Tim K.
I've been here a couple of times now and everything I've had has been very very good. The prix fixe menu during the week is an especially great value for a nice weeknight dinner date. The only drawback is the space itself, which always feels pretty cramped. However, it's definitely worth that small inconvenience.
(4)
Nathan K.
In a city with fabulous restaurants, this is one of my top five. Thankfully, it's in my hood and only a few blocks from a few bars for pre- and post-dinner cocktails. The food and service at Anteprima are nearly flawless every time. And oh, that fresh pasta. I rarely order pasta at a restaurant because it's so easy to cook at home. But these guys know their pasta -- fresh, perfectly cooked and paired with flavorful sauces. I regularly crave the orecchiette and lamb sausage with broccoli rabe. So. Damn. Perfect. Other must try items are the grilled octopus (best I've had in the states), berkshire pork chop (top quality meat grilled to perfection) and fennel salad (a burst of fresh flavors). The servers are pros, and know how to balance professionalism, food/wine know-how and a friendly approach that's very Andersonville. Wine pours are very generous, and the selection of Italian varietals is impressive. (Even more impressive is the staff's familiarity with each one). If I had to criticize on one thing, it would be the relatively open dining room. It's quaint, warm and feels truly authentic. But depending on where you're seated, you may feel as though you're on center stage. The patio - however - is spectacular. Intimate, classy, warm and simply perfect on a late spring or early fall evening. I can't wait to return!
(5)
Junchen F.
An Italian friend told me to check out anteprima after I told him I want some real Italian food. Boy was he right! The grilled octopus is exquisite and the pasta are a balance of flavor and fluidity. Just for these two, I would drive all the way up north again. The rainbow trout is also pretty good. We asked for an easy drinking wine but I possess no expertise in red wine so I will just leave it as we got what we asked for. Above all, the price tag is very very reasonable, compared to some other Italian places I have been.
(5)
Jon K.
A friend and I went here. My first visit, he has been many times. Its not a large place, but we didn't need the reservation we had. I had the grilled polenta appetizer and it was good, not amazing. Friend raved about the octopus appetizer. Not a fan of octopus here though. I had one of the pastas (pappardelle) for my entree and it was excellent. Dessert was chocolate hazelnut torte. Sounded better than it was. It was really cold and I think it could have been excellent if it had been at room temperature. Service was fine, nothing that memorable. Good neighborhood joint overall, probably not worth a trip from downtown.
(4)
Debbi R.
Food & Service were superb. Home-made fettucine with wild mushrooms, pancetta, butter & parmesan was heavenly.
(5)
Yaeko M.
My dinner experience at Anteprima was a lot better than expectation. The food was awesome, We had stuffed calamari and grilled octopus as for the starter, berkshire pork ribs and lamb leg as for the main, rum cake and chocolate moose for the dessert. All came with right portion and very good. We had a great time. They offer $28 for fixed menu on week days. I suggest to try that out.
(5)
Rachel G.
My husband and I had been meaning to try this restaurant out for a long time and we are so glad that we finally did! We ate there on a Thursday evening with a 7:30 reservation. By 8:30, the place was bustling and energetic...highly recommend a reservation! The staff was attentive and friendly, making wonderful and honest menu suggestions. The food was GREAT. First of all, I am obsessed with stuffed zucchini flowers and can rarely get them anywhere. So obviously, I was overjoyed to see this on the starter menu. For dinner, I had an amazing arctic char dish that was prepared perfectly. If only I could cook fish like this! My husband had pappardelle with prosciutto ragu that was lick-your-plate great. It reminded me of my Grandmother's incredible cooking. That's how amazing it was. That's how much love was in that dish. He also had a pork dish that he really enjoyed, but found a tiny bit fatty...not a deal breaker though. He said it was delicious. Dessert was absolutely amazing. I had the BEST, freshest, most decadent berry crisp that I have ever had. I could have eaten 5 of them. No joke. My husband had the chocolate almond tart which was so great...rich, but not too rich. It is clear that this restaurant cares about the ingredients it uses. Everything was fresh and REAL right down to the bread basket. I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Rustygirl M.
Great! Had butternut squash ravioli and red wine. Wine was a large portion but when you're paying 12$/glass you want a lot. Boyfriend had chicken. He said it had a lot of bone, but the bite I had was delicious. There were plenty of wines to choose from but only 3 or 4 beers. Also had the multi app platter. It included 8 apps that were pre picked for this particular app tray. It was ok. Def will return.
(4)
Katie W.
Fresh, unique, and tasty (some options were on the pricier side) menu, plus delicious drinks! Our waiter was so nice and accommodating with all our questions and requests. Weather permitting, definitely ask to sit on the back patio. Would love to go back here soon!
(4)
Mark S.
Upscale Italian in Andersonville. Anteprima is just a few miles from where I live, and I have been meaning to check it out for ages based on recommendations from friends and neighbors. We sat down around 6pm last Friday night and started out with some cocktails, which were delicious but not very strong and on the pricey side at $12 each. The three of us shared two appetizers that were on the specials list, chicken livers and fava beans. Very good but skimpy on the quantity for the price. For our main dishes we ordered the "large" portions of the mushroom gnocchi (average), the ricotta and pea ravioli (delicious) and the orecchiette with lamb sausage (delicious). The "large" portions were just about right for an average appetite, which is nice, because I tend to overeat if it's in front of me. The bread and breadsticks served were high quality. Service was professional, helpful and friendly. I really hated to complain a bit about the prices because I'm sure the quality is top notch, and the dining experience is really enjoyable. In reality, I think if the prices were lower it would be close to impossible to get a table here. We will come back, maybe skip the cocktails and go out to Hopleaf before or after (or both!). We got free parking a couple blocks away on a side street.
I love to sit here at the window and have a nice early dinner with my guy. Perfect service, lovely seasonal menu, relaxed and efficient and sick ass breadsticks that are like crack. Pasta is sometimes hit or miss, but everything is usually great, and I'm always so happy there.
(4)
John O.
Great appetizers and wine list
(4)
Kelly K.
We came for an anniversary dinner and we were very impressed, especially for my boyfriend who is notoriously picky. Starters- Olive plate, buffalo mozzarella with pesto, grilled shrimp The olive plate was par for the course, but the buffalo mozzarella was incredibly fresh and the grilled shrimp were amazing. Main Course- crab linguini and asparagus risotto Both were amaaaazing. Risotto can be a little soupy if not prepared right, but this was the perfect balance of creamy. Dessert- strawberry rhubarb crisp and chocolate hazelnut tart My boyfriend LOVED the crisp. I'm not the biggest fan of rhubarb, but the chocolate hazelnut tart was just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.
(4)
Leah H.
Not really A-OK...but I have a soft spot for this place. I have experienced better, in fact, at Anteprima circa 2010, 2011, 2012....I have been to Anteprima dozens of times since it last opened. Lately, though, I feel like something's amiss. I think that something is the level of friendliness, warmth and a genuine "glad you are here" niceness. When I called earlier in the week to let them know that I would be bringing two bottles (they do not have any Barolo or Barbaresco with any age on it on their wine list) the person who answered was not polite - just wanted to get me off the phone "$20!" they said, which is totally acceptable for corkage. I explained that I got it, no problem, but just wanted to give them advance notice. "$20" OK, yes, I know, just wanted to let you know so it isn't awkward when we arrive. No warmth, no friendliness, nothing. Recently had to wait 10-15 minutes for our reserved table, and was told rather abruptly to stand over by the bar. The food - well, it is ok. I had the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms. Just ok. Had the salmon - have had it a number of times before. I wish they would change the preparation, because, as I said, I have had it a number of times before. Service is a bit rushed and harried, always has been, but even more so. Dessert was actually an improvement. I would rather go next door to Ombra, where the staff is warm, friendly and always happy to see me. Same owner, so the love is still there.
(3)
Tim H.
Finally got to Anteprima and I was a little disappointed. I've heard rave reviews that it was one of the more solid restaurants in the city, but unfortunately I left underwhelmed. The cost is higher than the taste. I had the fixed menu and the appetizer was meh (calamari), the entree was ok (rabbit) and the dessert was tasty (chocolate creme). Had a bite of the risotto as well and it wasn't good. Not sure what the buzz is about. Perhaps I will check it out in the future to see if my occasion was an 'off night,' but I'm in no rush to do so.
(3)
Chris M.
The staff and food here are very good. The people make you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. Went here on a busy Saturday night and were able to get a table on the patio for 6 right away. Our waiter was friendly, efficient, a skilled server, and gave us good recommendations on food. Good Italian food without being pretentious. Would have had given 5 stars if portions were just a little bit bigger. Great experience.
(4)
Alfred T.
This place is perfect.
(5)
Rohan S.
Nice cute Italian restaurant with delicious food. Meat appetizers were delicious and the pasta is the way to go. Nice house wine as well.
(5)
kate k.
okay, confession- i used to work here, as a cook, so i maybe can't give an impartial review but i can tell you that even after eating here for a year i STILL crave the octopus salad with those lemony spicy charred notes, and the greasy-good orrechiete with lamb sausage. i have yet to come here and sit on the damned patio because the weather has always duped me, but it looks great and maybe this year.
(5)
Thomas T.
I'm amazed that this place has never been on "Check Please!" Well I just applied to be a guest host on the show, and the submission form asked for a few paragraphs about my favorite restaurant. this is what I wrote about Anteprima: Picking my favorite restaurant is sorta like picking my favorite song. Wait a week and you'll get a different answer. But all things considered - food, service, value, atmosphere - I'll choose Anteprima in Andersonville. The menu features items you just don't see at your average Italian restaurant. Like Testa (which happens to be my original family name!), which is head cheese. I had to try it just based on the name alone - it was yummy! I had farro for the first time here, often they'll have fresh sardines, sweetbreads, boar sausage and other unusual ingredients. I'm kind of a promiscuous eater - I rarely have the same item again when I return to a restaurant, no matter how much I liked it the first time. And I never run out of new things to try at Anteprima! As a former server myself, I really appreciate a server who knows the menu, can size up a customer and give good suggestions. The servers at Anteprima have been around since the beginning (always a good sign), and really know the menu and wine list. They're especially helpful with wine, since Italian wines aren't ID'd by grape - so I'd be lost otherwise. They are charming and opinionated, relaxed yet efficient, not too obtrusive but show up just when you need them. The food and service are both so good here that I don't mind that it's usually loud and crowded. I had a really great waiter last night at Francesca's on Bryn Mawr, and realized that somehow really good service makes the food taste better! I think it just puts me in a more receptive mood, and makes me happier. When I have a great meal and great conversation at Anteprima, I am VERY happy.
This review is for dessert only - which was TERRIBLE! 2 desserts and two decafs were $24. I'm fine with paying much more than this for dessert if it's GOOD. Chocolate Hazelnut Tart & Peach Cream Cake - both super sweet to the point of disgust. The flavors also tasted like something from a can. NOT GOOD! Decaf was way watered down. A McDonald's sunday is less sweet and has more sophisticated flavors. The stars are for the waiter who was very nice and accommodating. I feel ripped off!
(2)
Kris B.
Very authentic Italian flavors, great antipasto, and a really lovely patio in the back. This is a gem on Clark St. Nice wine, delicious bread & breadsticks, and traditional pasta dishes like orecchiette, sausage & greens and pappardelle with ragu bolognese. The weekday 3-course fixed price dinner menu for $29 is a good deal.
(4)
Rhoda G.
My friends and I came here on a nice Sunday night and sat out back in the outdoor patio. Since this was my first visit (and definitely not my last) here, I decided to get their $29 prixe fixe menu. What a great deal - starter, pasta/entree, dessert. We started off by ordering a round cocktails. I got a "I'm Here for a Good Time..." Very refreshing and got another one in the middle of dinner. Then we got our apps - grilled polenta and grilled octopus along with complimentary bread. Those were delicious especially the octopus. I wanted to try their pastas, so I decided to get the pappardelle, pancetta ragu, parmigiano. The pasta was so good! I loved the how fresh the noodles were and the portion size was perfect. For dessert, it was so hard to choose. I originally wanted the chocolate hazelnut tart, but they ran out, so I got the blueberry budino, which is something I never had before and loved it. Very light and flavorful. I don't go to Italian restaurants too often, but this visit to Anteprima may change this. I love how the menu changes often and I definitely need to go back to try that hazelnut tart.
(4)
Seth F.
It's Italian food. My dislike of going out to eat Italian food is well documented to the Yelp community and I will not bore them with more of it. Suffice to say that my experience at Anteprima was a microcosm of my feelings towards the entire genre of Italian restaurants. And no I have no idea if I spelled microcosm correctly...or, I suppose, if I used it correctly in that sentence. Basically, nothing was bad, but nothing was great, and everything I ate I felt like I could've made with relative ease at home, and I assure you, my cooking talent could be labeled as amateur at best. I do remember that my friend kept complaining that there wasn't Vin Santo. I don't know who this Vin guy is or where he was when neglecting his duties as an employee of Anteprima but I think we should cut him some slack. It can't be easy working at a mediocre Italian restaurant when your brother is such an accomplished Hall-of-Fame Chicago Cub.
(3)
Charlene B.
Having traveled a fair amount through Italy, I can say that Anteprima does a decent job of approximating the experience of eating there, especially their house made pastas and vegetable sides. I like the atmosphere, too - intimate, homey, a bit cramped. It's one of the standout restaurants in Andersonville and among the more authentic Italian spots in the Chicago area.
(4)
Lakesha C.
I was highly disappointed with my experience at this establishment. The service, food, and wine were terrible. We started with the eight sample appetizers. Of the eight appetizers, only two were really edible. They were a waste of money. One of the entrees that we ordered was the trout. This was the worst trout that I ever had. The spinach and cous cous stuffing did not go well together. The trout itself was really grainy. Stay away from the trout. The pasta menu was limited, which is odd. We order a simple spaghetti dish and it was undercooked. We couldn't get a break at this place. The Italian champagne that I order was cheap. It didn't even bubble like normal champagne. Overall, this place was overpriced for the quality of food, and the waiter was extremely slow. We would have been better off eating at Hamburger Mary's down the street.
(1)
Christy L.
Anteprima is not your traditional Italian red tablecloth establishment but a more charming neighborhood restaurant with a less extensive, but more eclectic, menu. And this is exactly why I like Anteprima - the dishes are unique and well prepared - but if you're craving your grandma's lasagna or spaghetti bolognese, you may want to head down to Topo Gigio in Old Town. My favorite dish is the orecchiette with lamb sausage, which has a little kick to it. The restaurant itself is small and popular; be sure to make a reservation, especially on the weekend. Also, it's a bit cramped and loud in a way that adds, rather than deters, from the ambience. All in all, Anteprima is one of my go-to Andersonville restaurants.
(5)
Leslie G.
I've been coming to Anteprima since it opened and have yet to be disappointed. I consider it the best restaurant in the neighborhood and often take my parents here when they visit. Over the years, I've had a variety of pasta dishes, such as squid ink linguine, tagliatelle with mushrooms, stinging nettle linguine, etc. All have been excellent. Same goes for the appetizers. Early on, I tried ordering a couple of salads here and was not thrilled with those. I found them to be oddly salty. Since then, I've steered clear of salads. Desserts are also delicious here as are the little vegetable tarts they bring to your table as a starter. One thing that is a bit annoying about this place is that it's become incredibly difficult to walk in without a reservation (this was not so when they first opened). A friend and I did manage to walk in and get a table recently on a Sat. night but that was only because we got there at 6 (they needed the table back by 7). It's a popular spot for a reason, however, and I'm glad they're doing brisk business.
(4)
Todd R.
It's just so tiring you know. I'm just so tired. From all of it. All of it. And then this food - so promising it sounds - but then there are execution flaws. It's just too much. Stuff like this shouldn't happen. There was a pool of grease - you guys gotta drain your sausage. You gotta do it ok? I don't want a freaking pool of sausage grease in the bottom of my pasta. And watch your salt! My plate was REALLY salty - and it's not because I'd been puffity puffin on that THC.pipe=o all day long - my dish was definitely saltier than my girlfriends - and my girlfriend is polish. Loves bacon. BACONE come si dice in Italiano. Mamma Mia anteprima Lei deve fare attenzione - abbiamo bisogno del cibi BUONI italiani.
(3)
Kim A.
My husband and I went to dinner here last Saturday night - we went fairly early, but did have a reservation. The food was very good and the server was friendly and seemed honest - he recommended a good bottle of wine (that was not the most expensive on the list). It's a smaller, cozy place, but a nice atmosphere. We would definitely go again.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual, Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Ian M.
I don't know if I have no class or if this place is just bizarre but it was the worst meal that I have ever had. I have never had bruschetta made like that. The smell of it was so bad that I would not even eat it. My friend took a bite and spit it back out. Then we had a ravoli dish. Personally, I think meat and mint should not mix. The service was amazing but the food was just too much for me!
(1)Jeff A.
It had been well over a year since my last Dance with the Anteprima, Last time it was a close friend and I, this time it was for a first date... I know right, who dates anymore, well I was lucky enough to find myself on a date and where better then Antiprima when your date likes Italian? ( I do too of-course) We kicked off our date across the street with a piece of cake at A Taste Of Heaven, it was our first date so we thought we would break the ice-in a more casual atmosphere, plus I always like my dessert up-front and I am slowly starting a cult of dessert first followers! I regress Enter Antiprima, we decided we would do many courses split them all and make sure they were awash in a wonderful wine... After choosing the direction of our courses we chose a bottle of Pino Noir to compliment all the strong flavors Kellerei Cantina Terlan 2007, it was buttery and wonderful and we both loved it until the very last drop disappeared... Our first course was a creamy chanterelle mushroom, leak, shallot, pasta preparation, I get weak in the knees for all things shallot and this did not disappoint! The mushrooms were strong and every other flavor followed behind like good little soldiers, it was divine! Number 2 was the lobster ravioli with a sweet corn butter foundation, it was solid, maybe a little too Al dente for me, and perhaps a little less punch then I would have expected, but It did follow the flavor explosion of chanterelle and Pino Noir, It was solid no matter how you cut it! Our third course was the show stopper! Lamb chops, we were both chatty and having a great time-however-once we each found interaction with the Lamb chops all conversation ceased and we got lost in the heaven that was Lamb a la Anteprima... We did make room for coos and hmmms and all types of primal food related comments of lust and ecstasy... Our unexpected 4th course; the waiter approaches the table, I am filleting every last moment of meat from the bone in front of me... "Lets do it all over again" he half laughs and then I say no I'm not kidding do it up again, we rewind and repeat! Laugh it away for us acting like a couple of fat kids, I used to be a 44" waist and 260 LBs, and at this moment I embraced that former eating stamina and went for a second round of Lamb chops perched upon pickled carrots and beats I believe it was... I explained to the table next to us we still had some wonderful Pinot left in the bottle and it was just perfect for the Lamb so why not do it again, they laughed and considered some chops for themselves... Our final hoorah was the fresh peach and puff pastry delight! It was perfect, not too sweet! It danced on my tongue, it was just melting away, putting smiles on both of our faces-for sure! ( I almost backed up the proverbial truck once again for more fresh peach and pastry divinity alas I did not) This was a wonderful dinner by all accounts! My only complaint would be the lobster ravioli, but I don't think it really is a compliant more then a personal preference, I wanted more sweet-corn in my butter and more give in my ravioli but thats just me, anyway you cut it; not enough to take away a star!
(5)Mike M.
I'm still sitting here wishing the meal wasn't over. The crispy skin bass was a crispy piece of heaven. The pappardelle was exactly what I wanted to satisfy my carb-loading fantasy. Our waiter was Armando and he was as fabulous as the food. I couldn't have asked for a better date night with the little lady. Now someone get a wheel barrel and get my ass out of here!
(5)Matt H.
I am happy we finally had dinner here last night! I had called the evening of to see if we could eat at 6:30 and they were able to get us in at 7:30. Other yelpers have raved about the fixed price menu for $29 on Sundays-Thursdays and that got my attention. Everyone is right, it's a great deal and the food is positively memorable. The establishment is small but I liked its charm. I have seen pictures of the back deck but did not see it in person. We sat at a table for two towards the back. Note: the restaurant is very lively. You will have to raise your voice to be heard by your significant other. :) Here's what we ordered: Me- Grilled Shrimp (starter), Pork Saltimbocca (main entree) and Strawberry Lime Tart (dessert); my partner Chris- Roasted Beets (starter), Bison Flank Steak (main entree) and Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (dessert). For my appetizer, four grilled shrimp came on top of spinach and beans. I found everything on the plate to be more than satisfactory. The preserved lemon vinaigrette went very well with the dish. The Roasted Beets appetizer that Chris ordered came with arugula, gorgonzola cheese and walnuts. He told me that it was outstanding. If you like prosciutto, order the Pork Saltimbocca if it's on the menu. It covers the entire top of the pork loin. That entree went down my gullet quite fast. It was served with potato medallions and snow peas. The veggies were wonderful. The snow peas, in particular, had a healthy crunch. Chris said his Bison Flank Steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and the romesco sauce atop it was a brilliant addition. It came with an assortment of veggies that were appreciated as well. I loved my Strawberry Lime Tart; the perfect early summer dessert. The salty crust mixed with the fruity goodness made for a fabulous taste sensation. Chris said the flavors of his Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp were good but it ended up being a bit too soupy. The speed of service was appropriate. I feel I should make a couple of comments about the staff. We asked one of the busboys if we could have more water and he must've forgotten, because we had to ask our actual server if he could bring us some. As for the server himself, he was a bit aloof and never asked us how we liked our food which we found very strange. All in all, I feel everyone should swing by Andersonville and check this place out. The fixed price menu is a terrific deal and overall, the food is fantastic. A couple sitting next to us said that the octopus is to die for. We will return with some energetic and hungry peeps! xoxo
(4)Joe P.
Food was good, but for the price I expected a bit better. Service was mediocre at best. In my opinion you get a better meal with better service for less at Quartinos or Caro Mio.
(3)Lord Of T.
This place rocks! The grilled sardines are nice.... All the pasta is great. They have a nice wine list. It is a little loud, dark and cramped..... but the food is great. The "hosts" could crack a smile once in a while.... but again the food is worth showing up for.
(4)David R.
When I booked a Tuesday-night table at Anteprima, I didn't yet know about their killer $29 prix fixe offer. However, now that I have enjoyed one meal there, I have to say that the prix fixe is a big reason to visit, and to come on a weeknight. You can have a starter, a half-order of pasta, and an entree, OR a starter, an entree, and a dessert. For under thirty bucks. Not to mention a much easier time getting a table than a Friday or Saturday night. Do it! First of all, I have to observe how cozy and charming this place is. It is really perfect for date night or romantic special occasions. The food was mostly really good, mostly. In particular, I liked my rabbit entree and my wife's trout, and the stuffed calamari entree was phenomenal. It was spilling with couscous and boasted a gorgeous grilled flavor, all of which was nicely complemented by the spinach and the vinaigrette. One major miss was the scallop risotto. I liked the mushrooms...but that's it. Everything else was wrong, wrong, wrong: it came out lukewarm, the rice grains were large and hard, the dish overall was watery and terribly bland, and the scallops, though numerous, offered nothing but a faint plasticy flavor. It was really a shockingly awful dish amidst an otherwise delicious meal. We finished up by sharing the carrot cake, which tasted less of carrots than of caramel. That's not necessarily a demerit though; it was good cake. I regret that we've lived in the neighborhood for so long without trying Anteprima. We will definitely be back the next time we want to eat sophisticated Italian food and stare into each other's eyes for a while.
(4)Claire F.
Zucchini squash appetizer was cold. Black linguine with shrimp overpriced for the small amount of shrimp given. Asked for more bread and the restaurant was out. Maybe we didn't order the right things but I won't be back :(
(2)Angie M.
I would highly recommend coming to Anteprima if you have a weeknight date. Their Sun-Thur prefixe option is INSANELY well-priced. For $29 you get a sampling of all of the courses (I can't remember exactly how this works, but I think it's along the lines of Option 1: app, main course, dessert or Option 2: app, 1/2 pasta and main course. You'll have plenty of $$ left to buy a bottle of wine and not break the bank. My guy and I wandered into Anteprima on a Monday night. The place was pretty empty at 7:30pm. They take reservations, but you probably won't need them during the early days of the week. Anteprima is adorably tiny on the inside. Like, close together tables, kind of eclectic looking. Now, we were there when it wasn't busy and got a nice table towards the front along a wall, but I noticed there's high potential for a crappy table on a busy night. They have 2 tops stuffed into kind of random places that don't feel cozy or comfortable at all. You'll find the menu to be pure Italian. Apps like marinated olives, marsala glazed turnips and grilled shrimp or octopus are delightfully rustic and tasty. I had the tagliatelle with pancetta ragu for my main course. It was good, but not mind blowing. My guy had the NY strip and devoured every last bite. He especially loved the arugula on the side. Desserts are also the business. They rotate, I believe, but I think they have the hazelnut chocolate torte on the menu regularly and you should absolutely order it. It's super rich. But awesome. Oooooh... There's also a killer bread basket. Ooof. Anteprima is an impressive date spot. It's not showy. It's subtle, romantic and you'll look like you know what's up if you take someone here.
(4)James R.
The atmosphere is nice and the wine selection is more than adequate. Ample selection of items on the menu and the portions are average (not large like common Italian-American places). The egg and fried green tomato appetizer lacked flavor but my friend had the zucchini flower appetizer and it was better. Overall the service was a little slow and the food was just average for the hype.
(3)Elizabeth F.
My boyfriend took us here for our first date and I loved it. We sat outside under string lights which was especially great because romantic outdoor seating can be hard to come by in Chicago. We ordered wine and each got a different pasta dish under our waiter's recommendation. The gnocchi I had was perfectly cooked and everything was portioned so I didn't leave the meal feeling stuffed and gross. I look forward to coming here again!
(4)Matt T.
The gf and I decided to pick at random an Andersonville spot for our Friday night out. We walked by and saw it was busy with people who clearly looked like they were enjoying themselves, so we put our name on the list. We were in no hurry so an 1hr 15 min wait didn't put us off, we grabbed drinks at their pizza place a few doors down. Ok to the space, very cozy and lively. Packed with other guests, typical for any popular place on a Friday night. I'd give the space 4 stars. The food, I thought was just OK. We got 2 appetizers- the polenta (OK) and the beets (my gf enjoyed a lot, for me, meh). We were both in the mood for pasta dishes so that's what we got as our entree. She got a buffalo moz. basil pasta, again it was ok. Pretty good. I got the spicy lamb sausage pasta with pecorino and it was awesome! The star of the show, and my gf agreed. The basket of bread you get was alright, tasted fresh but I've had better. There's no butter or olive oil that comes with the bread and I thought that was strange. For dessert we had the chocolate hazelnut tart which was great. We also had a bottle of wine with our meal and the wine selection is reasonably priced. The service was good, no complaints there. I decided on 3 stars because of the 5 dishes we tried I only really enjoyed 2 of them. My gf liked the beets. For over $100 (without tip) for 2 people I'd hope for better. That being said I'd give it another shot. The pre-fixe menu on Tuesdays sounds great.
(3)Alison T.
I could eat the lamb sausage pasta every day. Go for the weeknight $29 fixed price menu - it's a real steal!
(4)Sergio N.
The place ambience is rustic Italian which transcribed to the taste of their food ... The staff are super friendly and very attentive .. Fresh food ... Great ambience .. Great service .. Great location .. I had one of the best fish I've ever tasted ! Definitely will go back to this place !!!
(5)Stephen G.
Went here on a cold winter's night with our good friends who had made the choice. Lucky us! Great menu, good service, excellent cocktails (our choice) and a fine wine list for our friends. This was a Tuesday night, so the fixed price menu at $29.00 was available. We all went for the starter, half-pasta and full entre option. Besides my chicken livers (excellent) I also had a taste of the grilled octopus - extraordinary - and the grilled shrimp - very good. All of the pastas were superb. The entrees did not disappoint. I went with the lamb shank and my dining partners had the chicken, skate wing and pork. Raves all around. The portions on all of the items, including the starters and half-pastas were quite large, so a word of caution - pace yourself! Oh, forgot to mention the breadsticks - could have eaten them all night. As regards the atmosphere, very comfortable and conversation friendly. Our only question was why had we not come to this place sooner. We will be back.
(5)J M.
A neighborhood gem. Step inside and leave your worries behind. Be Italian for a moment. Enjoy every bite. Drink a lot of wine. Linger. Get the octopus, papardelle, a side of arugula w/lemon and shaved Parmesan to share. Rosemary steak too, if you're hungry or sharing. They get busy and do quality food, so don't expect food to always be prompt or perfectly timed. It will depend on the night. Just order another drink, start with the octopus and enjoy your company before the dishes arrive.
(4)Dylan M.
Love all the various starter options. It gives you an opportunity to sample lots of different things, many are vegetarian. The service was very good. The food was good but not great. I enjoyed everything I tried but nothing wowed me which was surprising since I tried many starters and the risotto. The food comes out super fast which led me to believe almost everything is prepped ahead of time.
(4)Katrina S.
I'm going to start with the good news first. This is for the kale salad, bread basket & generous pour of a very nice prosecco by the glass. We tried 3 pasta dishes which I found mediocre at best. The most agreeable was definitely the gnocchi. The atmosphere is warm, service - meh & there is nowhere to wait or stand comfortably before you are seated. I would definitely go back for the salad, bread basket (those bread sticks are incredibly well seasoned) & the delightful prosecco. Parking is difficult in the area so allow time for that if you are driving.
(3)Daphne L.
Another incredibly small space, with tightly packed tables. Despite my absolute aversion to this set up, it somehow works in this space, and it doesn't feel stifling. Making a reservation is a wise idea. The food we had was delicious and really inventive and different: we shared the grilled octopus, and I had a pasta dish, my husband one of the specials. There was nothing left on either plate. Great wine selection, too.
(4)Rowena M.
My first time at Anteprima was less than spectacular. I kept thinking to myself: "What was the hype about?!" But destiny took me back to Andersonville once again and we decided that it was time to give Anteprima another chance. I have to say that this time around, we were pleased with the food and especially loved one of the specials of the evening - bucatini pasta with pork cheek bacon (I know that sounds gross but you know where "regular" bacon comes from, don't you?). It had the right amount of saltiness and buttery goodness at the same time. I ordered the brick-grilled chicken and enjoyed just the right amount of charred and smoky flavor contrasted with the spicy greens and garlic-lemon sauce. Hubby had the new york strip steak, another special for the evening and thought it was a fine choice. So you might ask yourself, what's with the 3 stars. Everything was lovely until a baby roach decided to stop by and keep us company during our dinner. We informed the waiter, who also watched as it slithered along the wall where our teeny tiny table was perched against. His comment? "I think it's a beetle!" Who cares if it's a beetle? There is no excuse for that unwanted guest during dinner. Needless to say, we were grossed out. I don't want to be ignorant; I've seen the movie Ratatouille after all :) but I'm sorry...I just shouldn't see that!
(3)Larisa O.
Sometimes restaurants are so good that people have nothing left to do but complain about them. This is the best restaurant in Andersonville, hands down. Anteprima has been open for years now, has a cool look, (same owner as M.Henry I believe) and is always bustling, though you can often get a table without a reservation, so do try. Just ate there last night and again, we were very happy. I've probably been here 8 times over the years and have never had a meal that was anything less than fabulous. Same for wine. When I saw it had 3.5 stars, I was like, WHAAAAT??? Are you kidding me? Be warned, it's romantic, but loud. They do have an outdoor patio. They offer to tweak meals to accommodate children -- that's amazing in a nice restaurant. Even my 11-year-old son really likes it.
(5)Mark D.
This restaurant is small and cozy. The food was wonderful and the service was great. I enjoyed the gnocchi with slow roasted duck, and my friend ordered the wild boar with brussel sprouts. I savored every bite of my dish and tasted a bit more than I should have of my friend's. We both left very satisfied.
(4)Tyler P.
I went here on valentines day. The food was dismal and the atmosphere felt rushed. They were definitely trying to whip tables in and out which tells me they don't care about their customers. The best thing I had to eat was the bread and make sure you avoid the flank steak.
(3)Jessica H.
I cannot say enough about this hidden jem! I use to come here all the time and still pop in when I need my fix! They have some very unique dishes! Their Orecchiette is one of the most delicious entrees! Great wine selection! Interesting desserts!
(5)Calin D.
The indoor seating is well appointed. The nine tables on the small outdoor back patio are my preference. It's positioned just next to a small residence, and makes you feel like you're dining in your own backyard. Anteprima has really good breadsticks and wines to tide you over while you wait for excellent organic local dishes to arrive from the kitchen. The pork ribs and salmon are good choices, though I'd have to say the hazelnut chocolate pie is one of the best around.
(4)Jeff A.
The food was solid, but the experience was overwhelming. Way too much heavy food. No interest in a return trip.
(2)Holly S.
I love this restaurant. Fantastic menu choices and great service. The only reasons I gave four stars is because: A) The tables are very very close together. Don't expect any kind of intimate seating. B) There are a lot of Italian places in Chicago that have larger portions of the same dishes for the same price. Overall a good restaurant to go to a few times a year!
(4)Chelsea B.
Tasty tasty tasty! They do a fantastic job here, on all fronts. Great service, great food, good homemade pastas, delicious flavor combinations. We've come in for fancy meals, and we've come in even all sweaty in exercise clothes after working out at the gym, and no one says boo to us. We've always been really well treated. It's our number-one pick when we're up for a good meal and have a bit of extra money to spend for it. The patio is especially great! Highly recommend the lemon panna cotta for dessert :-)
(5)Erika G.
This restaurant is a gem in the neighborhood. And my friend CH is a gem for taking me to dinner here. Yay! I finally get to go to Anteprima! Prixy-fixy dinner is VERY reasonable. $29 for an appetizer, half pasta and entree. Perfect! You can also go for appetizer-entree-dessert, but since I'm not all that much of a dessert girl, I opted for the pasta. Cocktails: Fantastic. I got some delicious something or other that was quickly consumed, so I had to get another. Oh, damn! That one had to go away when a FLY ended up in my drink (not the restaurants fault, it was buzzing around). Our handsome and charming waiter whisked it away and corrected the situation right away. The service here is excellent. Our water was smoove, knowledgeable and super handsome. What a fabulous man! Appetizer: I had the charcuterie - salami! Perfect assortment of yummy cured meats. Salumi (grrr. hate the word, love the meat), prosciutto di parma, soppressata, pork terrine, mostarda, onion jam - Yes, please! Pasta: I had black squid ink pasta, which I've never tried until now - so I had to have it. Just great, with a few shrimps scattered on top. Perfect portion size, not too giant. For my entree, I had the grilled berkshire pork ribs - YUM! The meat was just on the edge of being cooked too much, but the flavor was still yummy. The menu is ever changing and there's a reason why this restaurant is still packed most nights, and lives on in the Andersonville restaurant scene, where others have fallen *cough*IFS*cough*. It's a restaurant that gets it right.
(5)Jeff S.
I have heard great things about Anteprima for years and finally made it there for a Sunday night dinner. All the praise for Anteprima is well deserved, the food and service were both hits. Our whole table opted for the $29 pre fixe menu that is really a fantastic deal. We got to sample starters, pastas, entrees and desserts, not a bad dish in the bunch. The grilled octopus starter, the pork shoulder entree, and the spaghetti with ramps were all standouts. My only gripe would be there limited beer choices, only three available options. We will definitely be back to Anteprima.
(4)Ray D.
Seated 35 minutes past reservation time. Portions were SMALL. Why serve appetizer portions for 2-3 people when there is a party of 4 sitting at the table? Every time an appetizer (4) came out it was just too small to share with 4 people. Pasta dish portions were too SMALL and lacked meat in sauce. Service was good but won't be going back due to over priced, wait time and small portions.
(3)Steve T.
Great food! Good service. Lovely atmosphere. A hidden gem in Andersonville. Every time I've been there it has exceeded my expectations. I'm a foodie. Eating great food with friends and family is my past time. I know good food.... You get it here.
(5)Stephanie L.
So I can echo a lot of the other reviews. I had a reservation at 8PM and didnt get sat until 845PM on a Friday night. Slightly annoying, especially because there is NO WHERE to go in this restaurant. The point of reservations is so you can eat when you want...not wait 45 mins to be seated. This seems like a common theme for this place. Once we got sat, service was lackluster. Our server barely checked on us, didnt refill drinks, and we ran out of water several times. The dining room is extremely loud. We had 3 in our party and were sat at a large round table so we were all huddled on one side of the table so we could actually hear each other. The food was good, not necessarily worth the wait. Nothing blew my socks off. We had: Stuffed Calamari-it was grilled nicely and the stuffing was tasty Grilled Octopus-this was a refreshing dish, but I felt that it was too oily. Roasted Beets-meh, I have definitely had better beet salads. It was just bland Risotto-good, not great. It was watery but the texture was good. The peas were fresh and crisp Pappardelle-delish pasta with meat...whats not to like Ricotta-disappointing. It was just kind of meh. I really like cheeses and this just didnt do anything for me. Asparagus Sformato-this was different. It actually was great. It was everything blended up and then in a mold. It was very taste-y Carrot Cake-just ok. Let me say, their bread is delicious. The sticks and the pieces...yum! But we had to ask for olive oil and no cheese?? Weird at an Italian place. Overall, I would say, I might go back on a random week night when the place isnt packed. I bet I would have a different experience if the service were better and we didnt wait so long to get seated...
(3)Jen R.
There's the five star half of this place: awesome bartender, tasty food, and strong drinks. Then there's the zero stars half: blowing off our reservations, trying to give us a crap table, and the overserving of a certain friend, who shall remain nameless ;) When we arrived for our reservation, they told us they had no room, and to grab a seat at the bar until a table opened up. Not a problem, since the bartender was one awesome chick who helped us out with drink and app suggestions that made us forget the wait. Half an hour later four tables were open, and when we reminded them we were waiting to be seated, we were offered the first table by the kitchen. We asked for one of the other tables, and were told they were reserved and we'd have to wait for another table to open up (no one sat at those tables for the rest of the night). Forty-five minutes after our reservations, we had seats. We continued our meal with some entrees, and while everything was good, it's pricey for what you get. When I pay $14 for pasta, I hope I at least get enough to semi-fill my tummy. If it wasn't for all the apps we had at the bar, I would've had to make a fast food run afterwards. Also, I hate hate hate when I'm with someone who's visibly intoxicated and even after asking the waiter to not serve my friend he brings new drinks anyway. And jic you thought maybe my friend didn't look that toasted, he fell asleep in that final martini they brought him. As in, with his elbow on the table, he lifted the glass to his lips and konked out. Perfectly balanced, of course, because he's a true professional. The whole experience was not worth the $200 it cost us for three people. On a side note, I did return, since I live in the neighborhood and thought this night was a fluke. It wasn't. The next time I ordered an entree and a drink. Since the waiter never returned after taking our order, and only stopped by to drop off the check, I never did get that drink. Boo.
(2)Laura K.
Maybe I went in with too high of expectations, or maybe we just ordered the wrong things...but overall we didn't love our dinner at Anteprima. The food was fine, but nothing special or all that memorable. The seating is very typical for Italian places (right on top of each other) which I never like, because I end up listening to conversations next to me instead of engaging with my dinner date. The service was just OK - our server did not really give us any good suggestions as far as what to order (or how much), and things came our very sporadically. Maybe he was new, I don't know... Overall, I was just not digging this place the way I thought I would. Note - there is NO parking in that area so give yourself a lot of time to find parking if you drive (no valet option when we drove).
(3)Beth S.
We are so fortunate to have this elevated take on Italian fare right here in Andersonville. We can walk to this amazing place that is as good as ( or better than ) many better known Italian eateries downtown. Proportions are not excessive. Service is very attentive and personal. Food is exquisite.
(5)Samantha E.
Came by on a date and found Anteprima positively bustling. Since the only spot available was at the bar we were happy to take it. The wine selection was good as was the food, but it did nothing to wow me. There are plenty of Italian restaurants in Chicago and quite a variety of great restaurants in the Andersonville area so choose from. Anteprime was good food with good service but I think I would like to explore my other options a bit more.
(3)Linda F.
There is so much to be said for this wonderful experience. This begins with the decor and tone of the restaurant. What a beautiful bar, warm lighting, and feeling of coziness (even on a very cold evening). But, decor does not make a restaurant ... it's primarily the food, closely followed by the service. Read on ... We were shown to the perfect table at the back of the room in a tucked away corner. It is much quieter than the main part of the room and we went on to enjoy a quiet evening. Armando was our server and offered his thoughts as we studied the menu. Anteprima offers a fixed price menu on Sunday through Thursday. This 3 course options offers multiple combinations and provides selections from the main menu -- such a bargain. My selections were the grilled shrimp appetizer (fabulous), a half order of orecchietta with lamp sausage, and an entree of seafood spezzatino. Each dish was incredible and served piping hot. With bread being one of the components of a meal that is very important to me, I must say that this is a feature of dining at Anteprima. I couldn't get enough of it and the bread sticks.
(5)Cynthianna H.
A friend and I went to Anteprima last night, a Thursday, arriving at 6:30 PM. We got a nice table and chose items from the fixed price menu of $29. At that time, the restaurant was quiet and uncrowded. We were given a small complimentary appetizer, and our starters, the beet salad and a shrimp dish, arrived promptly. My friend said the shrimp was delicious. My salad was just OK. Then, we waited til about 7:40PM for our entrees - too long a wait! My friend liked his salmon dish with lentils but my chicken dish seemed greasy and had too strong a garlic flavor. The carrot cake was OK as was the lemon panna cotta. By then, it was 8:30 PM and the restaurant was full and noisy. Note that at 6:30 PM, we were able to find metered parking nearby on Clark Street. The restaurant has no parking.
(2)Ebs B.
Yelp tells me that 3 stars means "A-OK"; well "A-OK" just sounds like I'm holding a thumbs up in the air with a cheesy grin. Since that's not happening after my experience here, I'm going with 2 stars because I've definitely experienced better. The highlight of the evening was definitely the grilled octopus which was tender and seasoned perfectly. And, I'll even give 4 stars for the pasta with duck in it. From there, nothing else seemed to impress me. The pork was astounding and huge, but alas, it was not tender. The risotto...cooked too al dente for my taste. The waitress...oh I can say a lot about her, but I'll simply mention that she was rude and gave us all attitude (she could at least pretend to like her job). What made it worse is the bread was so delicious until I saw her not wash her hands after taking care of all of her tables (cashing out, etc) and then barrel her hands into the bread stick bucket to grab them. Then she continued to handle the other bread with her bare hands. Look, I've worked in restaurants before and I know how it goes, but please do it where I can't see it! Please! All in all, I probably won't come here again, but glad I tried it since I've heard so much about it.
(2)Tim K.
I've been here a couple of times now and everything I've had has been very very good. The prix fixe menu during the week is an especially great value for a nice weeknight dinner date. The only drawback is the space itself, which always feels pretty cramped. However, it's definitely worth that small inconvenience.
(4)Nathan K.
In a city with fabulous restaurants, this is one of my top five. Thankfully, it's in my hood and only a few blocks from a few bars for pre- and post-dinner cocktails. The food and service at Anteprima are nearly flawless every time. And oh, that fresh pasta. I rarely order pasta at a restaurant because it's so easy to cook at home. But these guys know their pasta -- fresh, perfectly cooked and paired with flavorful sauces. I regularly crave the orecchiette and lamb sausage with broccoli rabe. So. Damn. Perfect. Other must try items are the grilled octopus (best I've had in the states), berkshire pork chop (top quality meat grilled to perfection) and fennel salad (a burst of fresh flavors). The servers are pros, and know how to balance professionalism, food/wine know-how and a friendly approach that's very Andersonville. Wine pours are very generous, and the selection of Italian varietals is impressive. (Even more impressive is the staff's familiarity with each one). If I had to criticize on one thing, it would be the relatively open dining room. It's quaint, warm and feels truly authentic. But depending on where you're seated, you may feel as though you're on center stage. The patio - however - is spectacular. Intimate, classy, warm and simply perfect on a late spring or early fall evening. I can't wait to return!
(5)Erica K.
Food Love. And right in the midst of my neighborhood. Our waitress was helpful in all the right ways from characterizing the flavor of dishes to being all around friendly and witty. We sat outside in back and enjoyed the waning days of summer. The ribs and roasted chicken were amazing. The gnocchi also got the thumbs up. We didn't spend as much time here as I would have liked because our guests were leaving town that evening, but I am dying to go back and almost certainly will.
(4)Neda And Mark R.
Authentically Italian. Just got back from Tuscany and I have to say this restaurant does it right. The food was very good, but some dishes were better than others. I went with a group of girls on a Sunday night. So between the 5 of us we tried a lot of things on the menu. We all had the prix fixe dinner which was great. They allow you to order off the specials or menu which added up to a lot of choices. I had the grilled octopus app, orrechiette with lamb sausage, and ribs. Also on our table were the halibut, special tagliatelle, polenta, risotto, New York strip steak, and also the strawberry rhubarb tart for dessert. The winning dishes were the grilled octopus, halibut, and tart. The octopus dish tasted exactly like the frutta del mar I had in Cinque Terre. Very tasty. The halibut was delicious, flaky and well-seasoned, without being overdone or salty -- so PERFECT. And the tart was sweet, but not too sweet. Delicious. Unfortunately, a couple of dishes I would skip next time. The risotto is vegetarian including the stock, which left the flavor a bit flat, which was very sad. The orrechiette with lamb sausage was VERY spicy, according to everyone at the table, which included a few seasoned spicy-food lovers. For them, however, the dish was considered a success. We had asked the waiter before ordering the dish, and he said it was only mildly spicy. The ribs were also missing a little something, maybe salt. So overall, I'm a fan. I'd go back. For the price, it was reasonable and the service was wonderful. We stayed a very long time and had about a billion questions and our waiter was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Great for a big group or intimate date!
(4)Hugh B.
Having spent some time here in its previous incarnation, I always get a smile when going into Anteprima. That smile generally stays. The space is pretty. The service is always professional and knowledgeable. The menu is large and wide-ranging. The pastas are fresh and delicious. And it doesn't cost a fortune. Big fan.
(5)Alex A.
3.25 stars. We ordered the plate of appetizers, and this was a good choice. The ravioli with lemon zest were a bit soggy and disappointing though. The service was good.
(3)Bridget T.
Honestly, so f'n amazing I can hardly stand it. After my fifth visit Monday night I am finally compelled to share my love of this place with others. I am hearting the $29.00 you pick 'em prix fixe they have this summer, what a great way to try a whole mess of food! I have had the octopus salad every time I've gone there this summer as well as the lemon panna cotta which haunts my dreams. The Lobster/Ricotta Ravioli with Corn Butter was mind blowing...whoever thought of combing butter and corn and turning it into a sauce needs to give me a call, I think we might like each other...alot.
(5)Paige H.
Have only had dinner here once, and I wasn't impressed. The atmosphere is cute but the food is nothing special. Service is good and you can get a good pasta dish here, but its overpriced for what it is. Wouldn't go back--there's too many other great places in Andersonville.
(2)Sharla C.
Anteprima, is not just a preview of good food, it is the main attraction. I spent my birthday at this Italian food hotspot. I have always loved coming here for the simplicity of the food, the creative pastas, the laid back atmosphere and the dedication to seasonal ingredients. I love Italian food and am not impressed by most places that offer the usual fare of Eggplant parmesan, pasta marinara, or chicken cacciatore. I appreciate the rustic, peasant style food that comes from a long tradition of great Italian culinary history. Italian food is more than just cheese, tomatoes and pasta, it is a culmination of seasonal foods, fresh ingredients and a celebration of simple flavors. Anteprima has achieved the feel of eating at an authentic Italian table with recipes that have a long tradition in an Italian grandmother's kitchen. My friends and I ordered almost all the appetizers on the menu. I love the Fava bean puree with rapini, the fried smelts, the sweet and sour cippolini onions, the prawns with roasted fennel, the creamy wild mushrooms, the grilled polenta with bitter greens and tomato, cannellini beans with sage, the roasted beats with almonds and arugula, the brussel sprouts with pancetta, and the salumi platter. We also ordered the grilled octopus which was tender and cooked perfectly except the char on the outside was a bit too bitter and overwhelmed the actual flavor of the octopus. We tried 8 different pastas, the strozzapretti, toasted walnut pesto, pecorino was one of our favorites! The pork shoulder was perfection, falling off the bone and melting in our mouths. The whole porgy was delicious and was served with a nice romesco sauce. All in all, it was a satisfying and a delicious meal! Anteprima can satisfy even the most die hard Italian food fans. Expect excellent simply cooked food without a lot of fanfare. It's just good food, buon appetito!
(5)Kate C.
So let me first preface this by saying I was here wth a group of ten people on NYE. Large groups are very awkward in this place, as my back was sandwiched against the side of someone else's table. I hope I didn't get hair in their food. We also may have been the only straight people here? I'm not terribly familiar with the neighborhoods in Chicago, but there were quite alot of (adorable) gay couples. Its all good. So initially, it was great... the bread was pretty good, the bartender made me a fantastic gin and tonic, etc. I had the oricchette, which was absolutely wonderful... perfect kick to the sausage and a nice sized portion as well. The pasta was nice and thick, like real pasta should be. The ravioli, although delicious, was not portioned well. Only eight raviolis come with the dish and they aren't much larger than the chef boyardee variety. So if you're coming to eat with a capital E, avoid filled pastas (which is pretty much the rule everywhere, yes?). The spaghetti was sort of boring. And I understand spaghetti can be fantastic if done well, even though it is a simple dish. This.. was not done well. Things were cooked properly, but it had the flavor of cooked celery, which is to say, not much. The duck with mushrooms and chestnuts was cooked quite well and was delicious, but the chestnuts themselves were sort of mealy and... not terribly tasty. The gnocchi was also good, from what I tried, but I'm pretty sure the oricchete was the best dish on our table. The desserts were decent but not anything to write home about. The chocolate hazelnut torte was pretty good, although it didn't warrant finishing the whole piece. And the chocolate mousse with almonds was also pretty good, as it had a wonderful creamy texture, but again, nothing outstanding. The biggest downfall was that the waitress couldn't have been any more blatant about how badly she wanted to get us out of there. I understand a ten top is a hassle, especially on an event night and in a small, intimate restaurant. But at least be cordial. I'd consider going back if I were in a group of two. And not on an event night. PS. Forgot to mention: their bathrooms are unisex and DONT HAVE LOCKS. This caused a ..."situation"... when I busted in on somebody. Good thing they were only washing their hands :/
(3)Christine W.
Very nice, interesting choices. A bit crowded and gets loud later in the evening.
(4)janet f.
Where to start? How about this...Anteprima is the poster child for mediocre faux-Italian restaurants that seem to have peppered the landscape of North Side neighborhoods in the past 5 or so years. I give this restaurant 1 star because the maitre'd was very helpful and polite to us when no one else seemed to give a crap. The appetizer platter we ordered mirrored so many of the milquetoast school picnics I frequented as a child...mushy, bland pasta salad creations that all tasted the same, underripe olives, and not a hint of seasoning to be found! Most of the entrees were sold out when we ordered at 8 p.m.(!), and the orrichiette with boar sausage tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for 3 hours. The service was dismissive and forgetful, the decor confused, the food overpriced. Nothing about this restaurant was redeemable except for that poor maitre'd.
(1)Hanna A.
I really wanted to love this place. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the service is great. However, it was disappointing. The food was very fresh, but lacked flavor. If it weren't for the spectacular brussel sprouts, we would've really regretted going there. We only regret it a little now.
(3)Kathryn G.
My husband and I came here on a Friday night after receiving a gift card from friends. We weren't able to get a table but were happy to sit at the bar. The place is cozy, comfortable and well-decorated. The food could not have been better and we enjoyed the 'quartino' serving size off the wine list. The bartender seemed a bit frazzled and while attentive was not as friendly or welcoming as I would have liked. Never having been there before we had some questions about the menu and I appreciate being treated graciously when dropping a pretty penny on food. The rest of the guests seemed to be having a great time and while the crowd seemed a bit older and well-to-do, we will be back, with a reso for a table, to partake of the wonderful food.
(4)Ger S.
Wow. What a great meal. Excellent, as always. The spicy mussels were perfect, the bucatini was a 7 on 10. The tagliatelli was great, and so was the cod. We tried the goat cheesecake - not so good. Returned it and went with the server's recommendation of the chocolate mousse, Excellent. Never a bad meal ,,, and in the heart of Andersonville. Highly recommended. Oh, and the cocktails before dinner were perfectly prepared. Great bartender.
(5)Rob D.
Anteprima is a great (relatively) new addition to the Chicago Italian restaurant portfolio. We dined at Anteprima for the third time (in two years) this past Saturday. I am fairly picky as far as Italian cuisine goes, having been raised Italian-American and spoiled by great family chefs. So you'll be hard pressed to get five stars out of me for an Italian joint. Anteprima is pretty darn close though. All three meals were great. Two out of three times I had pasta dishes as an entree, as did my wife. All were pretty spectacular. Portions are middle of the road (to very slightly below average) in terms of what you can expect in Chicago. If you like spicy, try the orrecchiete or buccatini. Both were rock solid. On my most recent visit I was craving some meat - ordered a flank steak which was both tasty and tender. This was off the specials list. For appetizers, we like the anti pasta sampler. This provides a good assortment of the smaller plates, and will certainly feed 2-4 people, depending on hunger. I've had a few special appetizers that included marinated grilled eggplant, and all were delicious. Never had dessert - prefer to wander the streets of the 'ville to get some ice cream. During all three visits service was attentive, friendly, and helpful. Most importantly they were honest - waiters and waitresses answered questions based on their perspective, and never did I feel like they were trying to steer my dinner selection. We were also seated promptly at our reservation time despite the restaurant being very crowded during two of the visits.
(4)Chitown D.
Went on a Saturday and had to wait 20+ minutes, although we had reservations. We went with another couple and had about two salads, six appetizers, three entrees, and two desserts. Everything was a B- or better. It's very loud and not a good spot for a "romantic dinner". Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable.
(4)A. G.
Never been treated so badly at a restaurant. In a nutshell... Running late for a 6:00 rez. Called and notified we'd be there at 6:15, was told no problem. Showed up at 6:20. One half of our party of 4 came to claim the table, while the other half went to park. At 6:25, the owner comes over and growls, "When's the rest of you're party coming?" "They're parking, so whenever they find a spot." Saturday night in Andersonville. Who knows how long that'll take. Owner stomps away. Five minutes later, he comes over and says, "If they're not here in five or ten minutes, we'll have to do...something." Lots of attitude. I say, "Are you gonna throw us out?" He stammers for a second, then says, "It's been an hour. You're an hour late." I say, "It's been just over 30 minutes, and we called to tell you were were running late." He says, "It's not fair to the other customers. If they're not here in a couple of minutes, I'm gonna separate the table." (Meaning, I guess, that he was going to take the two two-tops that comprised our four top and split them apart.) Then he stomps away. We were just about to bail when the other half of our party showed up. It had taken them 20 minutes to park, and they weren't really into splitting, so we stayed and had a slightly-above-average, somewhat overpriced meal. (Both seafood dishes were way to fishy.) Our server was quite pleasant, but the irony is that he didn't try to rush us out like his boss probably would've wanted. Don't get me wrong: I understand where the dude was coming from. It was a crowded Saturday night, and things were hectic, but you never, ever, ever speak to your diners like that, no matter how trendoid you are. Never going back, and it would be great if y'all followed suit.
(1)Nicole C.
-delicious Italian food -great Italian wine list, but also fun cocktail/martini list -not a huge space, so you may wait for a table They "don't" take reservations, but we got one with a party of 8 on a Sunday evening. If you do have to wait for a table, t
(4)Rachel I.
I got a gift certificate for Anteprima for my birthday. It took me forever to use it despite the fact that the restaurant is walking distance from my house. When I looked at their menu online, I had to look up a number of ingredients because I had no idea what the foods were--and I write menus for a living. The food just sounded intimidating. Once I finally got around to going over there, I kicked myself for waiting so long. Delicious! Delicious, I tell you! Risotto, to die for... super creamy and perfectly seasoned. I had a shrimp dish as well and loved the flavor, but hated the fact that the shells and little legs were still on them... very difficult to eat in polite company. All the desserts we shared at the table were quite good too...not always the case at many restaurants. I will return!
(5)Andrew B.
Fattest country on the planet or no, the portions at this place are way too small for the money. I am not fat. The people I was with were small, thin, and from other countries. None of us were full. The food itself was overpriced and disappointing. The menu sounded inspired, but the execution just wasn't tasty. Seven of us went and I was the only one who had read any reviews before hand. I kept my mouth shut but everyone voiced their dissatisfaction afterwards. On the plus side, it's a cute spot both inside and out.
(2)Christopher M.
Before going to Anteprima, I was saying for weeks that there weren't really any Italian places that I really, really liked. There are quite a few spots that I like but nowhere that I feel the need to frequent again and again. Anteprima just became that place. I was there with my fiance and future in-laws last weekend. We had a 5-star experience. They had eaten at Milk and Honey for breakfast, Gibson's for lunch, and Anteprima was far and away their favorite. First, we were ordering a bottle of wine. I had selected the Sangiovese but inquired with the waiter first before ordering. He actually down-sold me to a great bottle that we all loved. We had the veal meatballs to start which were amazing. Everyone loved their pasta also. Everything felt fresh and expertly prepared. I hadn't had pasta this good in a long while. I preferred it to even Terra Gusto which has amazing fresh pasta. I had the spaghetti which seems like a boring order. The simple things and how they are prepared though really get you to the heart of the place. I liked what I found when I got there. From there, we were excited to get at the dessert. I am a huge panna cotta fan and the lemon panna cotta was certainly calling me. Apparently our waiter thought we had waited a little too long when we sat down and they did some sort of waiter switching. This was at most a four minute wait. We made no complaints though and we were grinning ear to ear by the end of the meal. Before we could order, they brought out a panna cotta and slice of the orange cake on the house for our trouble (there was none). The panna cotta was incredible. I can't say enough good things about this experience.
(5)steve l.
Just had a great evening---server did not rush us at all and gave sound advice, wonderfully diverse menu and flavors, great wine. Yes, it is a bit crowded and loud, but I'm a big fan.
(4)Matt M.
Food that isn't good leaves bad memories, but food that tries to be avant garde and just ends up confusing the palate is just plain wrong. Though they encouraged sharing, with a group of six there was rarely more than two bites of any dish if we were to split them evenly. Perhaps they were having an off-day, but I was far from impressed. I wish I could provide more details, but even their failure wasn't that memorable. Reading other reviews it seems like Anteprima does have off nights and I could have experienced one of them. My opinion? Save yourself the trouble of hoping you don't get an off-night and go elsewhere.
(2)Kendra F.
DEFINITELY MAKING THIS A REGULAR STOP!! After trying their sister restaurant, Acre, my husband and I couldn't WAIT to try Anteprima, and it did NOT disappoint!! Chicago is a great town for Italian food so the competition is fierce, and these guys DEFINITELY MEASURE UP!! For starters, you can't miss with the grilled octopus or crispy pork terrine. My husband then had strichetti with duck, while I opted for a pappardelle that made my TOES curl!! For the final course, he had a lamb dish that was cooked to perfection, while I opted for a the whole grilled fish - AMAZING!!! The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star review was that the chocolate hazelnut tart that my mom had was just OK - NOT bad, just OK - but if i could give it 4.8 stars, I would!. On top of all of this, they have a very nice wine list, extremely friendly and attentive staff and a cozy-yet-chic atmosphere that encourages you to linger over coffee and bask in the glow of a fabulous meal. Bravo!
(4)John W.
Ok everyone, America is the fattest country on the planet and Chicago is one of the fattest cities in America. The portions here are what they should be. You don't need 8 lbs of pasta. Now, $16 for 6 ravioli is a bit ridiculous. I had some kind of thick pasta in tomato sauce and it was average. If I bought fresh pasta I could have made a better dish at home. My girlfriend had the $2.66 a piece ravioli plate with mushrooms and bland wouldn't begin to describe it. The menue didn't exactly have a lot of options either. The portions are fine if you aren't Tony Soprano but it is a little pricey for what you get. The waiter picked out two great wines for us so that was nice but not enough to get me to go back. If you are in Andersonville and you want Italian, go to Leonardos which is right up Clark Street or just go across the street to Calo. Both are far superior in terms of flavor, variety, price and atmosphere. It wasn't terrible but I probably won't give this place a second chance due to the other choices in the neighborhood.
(2)Seth M.
The first time we went to Anteprima it was on a cold winter night, we were seated by the window and it felt romantic, like we were in a special place. The service was great and the food and wine were perfect. Last night we decided to go again for a celebration. First the service was odd, the server didn't explain any of the specials and made strange faces when we would ask questions. We ordered a calamari app that was completely inedible, it was almost like they poured salt on it to mask the fact that it was not fresh. We had to send it back. The server questioned our tastes by saying "do you want something that's not so strong", I had to remind her that it was inedible, over salted. The next app was just OK and the entrees were pretty flavorless and had the over salted technique again. The high point was the wine that was suggested. I'm not sure we will be going back...
(2)Richard C.
My wife and I ate at Antiprima for the first time last night as we were strolling through Andersonville. Saw the cute place and took a chance. We were thrilled. The food was deilicous and the service was excellent. My wife is doing her best to get me into more neighborhoods to enjoy the diversity that Chicago has and one of the benefits is finding these kind of places. Lucky we got there early (5:30 approx) because by the time we left, the place was packed. Would go there again in a heart beat and highly recommend the place for its' food and character.
(4)Will S.
Definitely a destination spot. Low key vibe with attentive, smart service. I couldn't decide between the trout and the ravioli so the waiter suggested a 1/2 order of the ravioli for the table and trout as an entree. Great choice. Also had cannellini beans, roasted beets and fregola as appetizers. All were excellent. My friends had the whole fish special which they filet so you don't have to do it yourself, although they still found a few bones in it. Total tab for 3 w/ 3 drinks was approx $132 before tax and tip
(4)Josie L.
Had a family birthday dinner last night. Fun looking spot, cute area of the city, nice menu. Our service was so bad, we would never come back. We were a table of 8 people....most servers would see dollar signs and know they could keep the drinks and food coming. Our server just kept dissappearing. He also brought out the food in a crazy order so people could not all eat together. Food was pretty good, but not good enough to offset the service.
(2)Charlotte Y.
If size matters to you, then ensure you get the female server. Just kidding... well, no not really. Here's the deal - my dining companion and I noticed that at least on the patio, the female server brings out her bread baskets sporting the long bread sticks, while the male server brings his breadbaskets out with the short bread sticks (actually, they are just cracked in half and put into the basket). I know, I'm being petty, but it was just an observation. In any event, a group of friends and I dined here last Friday and I loved it so much that I returned 2 nights later! The pasta is just perfect - especially the special pasta (stracinatte?) with the pesto, garlic and cherry tomatoes and the veal ragu (or prosciutto ragu). I've tried the grilled sardines, the stuffed zucchini flowers, the burrata, the above pastas, the stuffed roasted pork entree and the olive oil cake and I have not one complaint. I am, however, a pasta fan, and as Anteprima does theirs perfectly, I am smitten and slightly biased for life.
(4)Erin T.
I had a bad experience here - we had a reservation for a large group, but they kept us waiting for about 30 minutes past the reservation time after pushing it back. The waiting area is the bar, but the bar has maybe 4-5 seats and the rest of us were basically standing in a small space between the kitchen and bathroom. Not great, but we were excited about the food. Unfortunately, it was disappointing. Everything on the menu looked great, but we ended up paying a lot for very bland food. We were also ignored by the waiter for long stretches of time. There seem to be a lot of good reviews on here so maybe it was just a bad night, but I had no intention of going back after my experience.
(2)Douglas O.
After reading so many reviews online, we visited Anteprima on 1/1/08. The server seemed knowledgeable and the menu offered a variety of options. The soup that night was a chicken soup and was very tasty, probably the best part of the meal. We ordered the Spaghetti and the Calamari Entree. The spaghetti was a bit oily and a bit dry. For dessert we ordered the chocolate hazelnut tart and the orange cake. The orange cake was horrible, I have never eaten a sponge, but the cake had less moisture in it than cornbread, with a slight bit of orange syrup/flavoring. The chocolate hazelnut tart was mediocre at best. Our server was very kind when he made it over to the table, but even with the restaurant dead, took 10+ minutes to order. If you visit often, and he knows you, you will get great service (if not, you will wait patiently as he spends an excessive amount of time servicing frequent diners). Unfortunately, will not be back, overrated, not sure how anyone can love a place that has extremely bland food and average service.
(2)Monica W.
I had a craving for Italian and we decided to go here because of their $30 menu for ANY app, meal, desert -or- app, 1/2 pasta, meal. It's a great way to try anything on their menu without spending too much. The total amount of food we had was enough to stuff two starving people. Everything we ate was really good. The grilled octopus was very very tender. Our server was awesome! Gave great recommendations. We will be back.
(5)Lori M.
Beet and Ricotta Ravioli with a hint of poppy seed - now THAT's what I'm talkin' about! Loved the creativity of the menu, though heavy on the meat side. I would be thrilled to see this place get a few more vegetarian primo e secondi piatti on the menu. The delicate rosamarino breadsticks were 'lish, the bottle of schioppettino wine - mmmmmmm, and the chocolate cake, well. let me just say this: it caused a chocogasm. yes it did. And the well thought out starters includes farro, with grilled radicchio, horseradish, pecorino... and my favorite, caponata, a sicilian eggplant relish with pine nuts! You can order a sampling of 8 starters for $15 ! That's more than dinner for two right there. Hot date on a budget. Next time though, I'm going to try the apple fennel bread pudding! Sounds amazing. Mama would be proud to dine here - and I'd love to give Anteprima one more star if only they add a few more vegetarian options! Very cute space with a nice bar, but tables are crammed in here super tight, so check your coat. Mannaggia calda !
(4)Laura S.
Just enjoyed a wonderful dinner here with friends. To get to the point, everything is AMAZING. I had the grilled octopus appetizer and I wanted to slop up every remainig drop of sauce with the delicious, salt encrusted bread. The entree I had was the orechiette with spicy lamb sausage. It had a GREAT spice and a nice salt to it. I was so full, yet couldn't stop eating it. The pasta tasted extrememly fresh and homemade. Dessert was the strawberry tart. All was excellent. Make reservations! It's so worth it for a fun night out! Also... Excellent service.
(4)Susan G.
Haven't been disappointed here yet. Dined here for my husband's birthday on a hideous rainy evening. Had trouble finding parking nearby, but once we got to the restaurant all of that faded away. Delicious appetizers (I had polenta with kale) and wonderful entrees. My husband had duck breast for his entree and said it was excellent. I had skatewing and it too was delicious. Save room for dessert especially the chocolate hazlenut tart. We had wine by the glass which worked out just fine. My only complaint with this place is that the tables are SO CLOSE together that you fear that you will knock things off your own or the table next to you being seated. Cost per person, including dessert and wine by the glass was about $75 per person.
(4)Jessica V.
Let me put it simple I always get whatever ravioli they are serving because it is always sweet and savory. The menu frequently changes and the ravioli is always something different BUT never ceases to be A-mazing! The onion tart they give you is a good little treat & the bread and olive oil go nice with one of their Italian wines. I have tried a lot of their apps and have picked off my guys dinner plate a number of times and can honestly say I have not had one bad thing here to eat. And I don't know what some people are talking about the server for .. He's just doing his job in a small, crowded restuarants. I always get the guy people are talking about with the glasses and he means nothing but well. He always had suggestions on great wine to go with a meal. He also reccommended apps and entrees to my friend and I. Maybe people caught him on a bad day? But I have had him 5 times in a row and he has been nothing but helpful. So maybe give him another try - he's busy as well as everyone else and ask questions ( coming from a former waitress) ! Otherwise, you will be helplessly lost because I was - I could not read the menu. :( waaah
(5)jim h.
I love this place. I have been about 4 times and have never been dissapointed. On my parents last visit I took them here and they quickly fell in love. They are both foodies and travel internationally a lot. Just in case you needed more convincing! I find the food fresh and delicious, the wait staff helpful and attentive, and the decor inviting. One of the top restaurants in andersonville
(5)Casia J.
I didn't have the pannacotta, but it did look outstanding! Liked the atmosphere. Food is average to good, so yes--in my opinion, as others have said, it is too expensive for the portions and quality. I had a half order of the spaghetti with mussles and clams. Gerber makes larger portions, but I was saving room for a giant waffle cone down the street so that was ok. The sauce was skimpy and nothing special. Hubby had the ravioli and I thought it was great, but pricey. Server was a little kooky, and not in a good way. However, they were packed and rushed and everyone still seemed pleasant and in no way did they make us feel like we had to get out so they could use our table. If they changed the menu/prices a little, I'd probably be a fan. As-is? Meh.
(3)Anne M.
Pretty good Italian - chicken liver starter was good if you like that sort of thing, jerusalem artichokes needed to be sliced a lot thinner, but the flavors were good. The pasta dish we ordered (with lamb sausage and chili) was great and we split the baby chicken - also good. The walnut tart was so-so but the bread pudding was delicious (could have used a touch more moisture). The dinner room is crowded with too many dining tables and it can get loud, but despite this, it's sorta cozy.
(3)Kendrah R.
These items sound pretty good on the menu but they do not know how to adjust the spices here. The salt is so over done it over powers subtler flavors like lemon zest, the chili so strong it over powered the mint flavor. I eat at a lot of restaurants that are similarly priced and would not go back here because they charge waaaaay to much for what they dish out.
(2)Joel S.
Among stiff competition, this is probably my favorite place in my neighborhood (and check out my A-ville list, I loooooooove my neighborhood restaurants). Why do I love Anteprima? They do simple, straightforward rustic Italian food. It's not cheap, but it's near top quality because of the delicious ingredients they use. I'm not familiar with Italian wines as much as I would like, and I always have been able to get a great recommendation from the manager, who makes the rounds but not in an intrusive manner. Very enjoyable guy to converse with - for instance, after ordering our apps, wine and meal once last summer, he stopped by to point out greens he grew in his garden and some of the other quality ingredients. And this probably puts it over the top from four stars to five in my book. The only drawback to this place is that it does get very loud and busy - make sure to have a reservation, and ideally have 4 or less in your party - tried to squeeze in five here once and it didn't really work. Anteprima is my go-to spot for a quick celebration or treat, and a great example of the best Chicago has to offer.
(5)Inspector G.
Agreed with 3 1/2 stars. Extra points for atmosphere, friendly service and interesting menu. Pricing isn't cheap but definitely on the upper end of the range for Andersonville. Overall, value is fair. $35pp for 3 courses and wine. Now for the food. While not bad, it's certainly not up to par with the hype or the atmosphere. Of course, the kitchen is only a few weeks in business, so they're still figuring out the rhythm. Also, given the small size of the kitchen area, they're probably tripping over themselves. Ravioli were drowning in butter (overwhelming) and while some pasta dishes need a little extra salt, others were way over-seasoned. Bottom line - while we've had better Italian food, we'll definitely be going back.
(4)Dalla A.
I would honestly go back to this place just for the chicken livers appetizer they had for a special last weekend-- it was THAT good-- but there are plenty of other reasons to return. The staff was very accomodating- I had forgotten my phone that day, so I had no clock, and showed up about 20 minutes early for my reservation. They sat me anyway at the table I picked out, and brought me a complimentary piece of onion tart while I waited. Martini and chocolate mousse were fine, but stay away from the boar ragu; it didn't have a lot of taste at all.
(3)cathy c.
Oh, Anteprima how I did love you. I Yelped passionately about you (as you can see from my first enthusiastic review). I took my foodie friends there and asked them to spread the word. I returned time and time again. I loved the food but also loved the way I felt welcomed and taken care of, as if you really wanted me to be there. And then...tonight (April 29/09). It all came unravelled. The food is still good, although seems to be losing a bit of its edge. But the service, oh my. The room was attended by a vagabound crew who seemed terribly disinterested that anyone showed up at all as they chatted and lounged around the bar. We took a table for six and arrived early when the place was empty. Bread arrived - 45 minutes after we sat down. Menus were never picked up after our orders were taken. Water glasses not filled. Not one basic need was anticipated. I was mortified because I had brought friends who had never been to Anteprima before and I had gushed about the place. Sadly, you've lost me as a fan - next time I'll go to the Bristol where the food is equally (if not more) interesting and the staffers actually act like they're (very) happy you came in. My advice to those who are reading Anteprima's reviews: when you make a reservation make SURE the owner will be there - he runs a tight ship. Alas, when the cat's away...you may never get your bread. Or much of anything without begging for it. Sigh.
(1)Jessica B.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this restaurant. I think that this is the best restaurant in Andersonville. Doug the manager, is super nice. The food is great- classic Italian simplicity but with excellent flavors. Whomever said the portion sizes are too small, is crazy. It is simply sized to have enjoyed an appetizer first. I will say that the desserts leave a little bit to be desired, but I am also super critical on dessert. You can't go wrong choosing the restaurant. Make sure you try for the patio in the summer- it's awesome.
(5)ER S.
The food here is AMAZING. My favorite things are the roasted cippolina onions and the spicy lamb sausage pasta. They are so delicious! I keep thinking about them... hmm, maybe it's time to head back. (My husband is a fan of the bolognese, but I think it's a bit bland) In the summer, the back patio is very nice.
(5)Cathy C.
i'm a big fan. i don't seem to get tired of going here. That's probably because the menu is always new and always fresh. Don't know what to order? Ask the staff. They are very forthcoming and very good. The bread sticks are the best in the city. the house made pasta is delicious. The spicy orchiette is unforgettable and the braised specials always delicious. Can be crowded, loud and my biggest complaint... it can get really hot in there. Marty turn the heat down!
(5)Kerry S.
Had another lovely dinner at Anteprima last night. The orrechiette with lamb sausage was particularly good. I'm writing the review, though, to specifically mention our server, Chris. We sat on the back patio and we were a table of five. Chris was really informative about the wine and menu, didn't go crazy up-selling anything, and didn't seem to be rushing us at all. We sat there for a long time, on a busy night, on the VERY DESIRABLE patio. He was just really good to us. I really like Anteprima. Can't wait to go back for a romantic dinner with just my husband!
(4)Angie T.
delicious! precious outdoor patio. awesome staff. great wine list. desserts sub par there were mascarpone stuffed figs wrapped in prochuttio - a blue cheese, beet, walnut, arugula salad - grilled octopus with summer potatoes - goat cheese ravioli in the most amazing orange, butter sauce - pasta that tasted like lasagna- smoked sausage, roasted red peppers and who knows what else pasta - tasty tilefish - delicious tomato focaccia - and the best breadsticks i have ever tasted. all of which was accompanied by a bottle of bubbles and two of red. please do try. i cannot wait to go back.
(4)Tamara D.
Truly delicious, fresh, homemade food. The crostini toscani is rich and fantastic. The pastas all seemed to be fresh-made. Even the breadsticks were unbelievable. The wine was great and the server was super. He even went next door to their other restaurant to get my 3 year old some gelato. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Ellen F.
Had dinner at Anteprima last night. They have a nice wine and martini list - martini was chilled well and very good. We shared the antipasto appetizer which was excellent. I ordered from the regular menu and had the orrechiette with lamb sausage - it was slightly spicy and prepared perfectly. My friend had an item off the specials menu - which was a spaghetti carbonara. It did not have the usual heavy carbonara sauce and was excellent. We shared the "espresso" dessert which was flan like, but nicely flavored. The service was good, but a little pushy on getting the order placed. I like to relax and have some talk time before ordering - but that was a minor point. Overall, it was very good!
(4)Aristotle P.
We started out at Hamburger Mary's for dinner but wanted something else for dessert. After dinner we decided to go over to Anteprima. The place was packed and was buzzing with activity. As we walked in, I surveyed the dining area and there was but one available table by the front windows. The amiable hostess greeted us and asked for our reservations. Ooops. Sarah told her we hadn't made reservations but that we were only interested in dessert. The hostess asked us if we wouldn't mind sitting at the bar and we quickly made our way through the dining area towards the bar. The bartender was very likeable. Great ink Jasmine! Jasmine greeted us and gave us a couple of dessert menus. It was a short list but everything sounded good. The panna cotta with lemon sauce and torta della nonna sounded especially delicious so that's what we ordered. Jasmine asked us if we'd decided on our choice of drinks. We told her no. But after we told her what desserts we had just ordered, she suggested an espresso and sambuca (sp) drink. She explained that it would have a warming effect. That sounded good so we ordered two. And she was right! I generally don't like sambuca but it was tasty. Can't go wrong with a drink with both a stimulant and relaxant in one. Sarah liked it well enough but the alcohol was a bit much. Anyway, on to the desserts. First, you have to try the panna cotta. If you don't know what that is, it's heaven on a plate. It's basically cream, lemon, sugar, vanilla, gelatin, buttermilk (or some sort of acid). The texture was that of a very light and airy cream cheese. The flavor... What can I say?! It was rich and creamy with a lightly sweet taste and with just a touch of lemon and vanilla. I can eat this all day. It went well with the espresso/sambuca drink. The torta della nonna was just the opposite (texture wise) but was nearly equally tasty. It looked like a cheesecake with pine nuts mixed in but was not as heavy. While I liked it, I preferred the panna cotta. Service - Jasmine made us feel right at home. She warmly greeted us when we sat at the bar and made wonderful suggestions. Even gave us complimentary dessert wine which she said would go well with the panna cotta. It did! It was a moscato d'asti - Andrel Villa Giada. She suggested we try Andersonville Wine & Liquor to see if they could order it for us. Anyway, it wasn't overly sweet like some moscatos I've had. She was also good enough to give us a slice of another dessert but cannot recall what it was called. It had three layers - a buttery crust, chestnuts and some crumble-like topping. Light flavor with a mild sweet taste accompanied with the toasty and sweet flavor from the chestnuts. Very good. So there you have it. A dessert review at Anteprima. I highly recommend the panna cotta paired with a mascota d'asti. If you can live with it, forget the tables. Ask to be seated at the bar and ask Jasmine for some espresso. You won't regret it.
(4)Seth P.
I can't claim expertise in Italian cuisine, but the food in this place really reminds me of what food was like when I was in Italy a few years ago -- really fresh ingredients, carefully cooked. This time, the appetizer specials were truly special - lightly fried small lake fish (smelts?) that were perfectly crispy and juicy without being greasy, with lemon rind and parsley perfectly, lightly, crunchily fried the same way and thrown into the mix! We also had a zucchini flower stuffed with riccotta, which turned out to be a baby zucchino (is that the singular?) with the flower growing out of it -- so that you got all three flavors and textures in a single bite!
(5)Dianna D.
Went here for dinner with some friends and absolutely loved it! For the starter, we got the "pick 8", and it was a great start, with some delicious Cab Sav recommended by the attentive waiter. We each then ordered the smaller portion of a pasta meal, and for the life of me, I can't remember what the friends ordered. My partner had the orichiette with home made lamb sausage. so delicious! And I had a ravioli that was on special that night made with chestnut I believe. The portions were great, and we came early to beat some of the bigger crowd, so we didn't have the issue of noise that some others have had. The topper? Taste of Heaven is just a couple of blocks north for dessert!
(4)Adam L.
I honestly don't know why anyone wouldn't give this restaurant 5 stars - well, I guess I could imagine... but I'll say that not only have I never had a bad experience eating here, everyone with whom I'm dining almost always starts lavishing praise once the food arrives. I think this is partly due to the fact that the food is described on the menu pretty plainly, but arrives with such delicacy and such abundance of flavor. Here's my personal catch - I'm a vegetarian and although they don't have too many vegi options, I just don't care, because whatever they're serving has always been just delicious. As usual, I can't testify to the quality of the meat dishes, but if my usual company is any consideration, I'd say its probably equally delicious. I'll let y'all know if this restaurant ever surprises me with a bad meal.
(5)Glenn B.
It doesn't remind you so much of an Italian restaurant as much as an actual restaurant in Italy. One of those small tratorias where you walk in and the chairs don't quite match and the interior is a little rustic but the food is incredible and in season. They are extremely creative and the menu changes frequently for new foodie adventures while they also keep the crowd favorites on the menu. Try the lemon panna cotta.
(5)Jenna P.
Been there twice, and loved it! Only 4 stars because it can get really noisy and the bread basket is cold (I love warm bread!). Great wine list, great service - we typically choose some small pasta dishes and other apps, like polenta, fried fish, butternut squash ravioli, etc. Delicious!
(4)Jeanne M.
A completely delightful find! We popped in there without plans and thoroughly enjoyed this lovely place. The food was less traditional Italian-American fare, which will throw some people off. But if you are feeling adventurous, you won't be disappointed as most everything was tasty and creative. I'm knocking it down a star because the dessert we chose didn't match the level of the appetizers or entrees (IMO), however, the pinot noir that we were offered as a quartino to share was flat out awesome.
(4)Nicole C.
Simple, authentic, delicious Italian cuisine. This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city and definitely the best in Andersonville. They have amazing homemade pasta and I love the prosciutto ragu. The farro with vegetables is my favorite appetizer....I'd love to have the recipe and recreate it at home! The atmosphere is very rustic and cozy - a great date spot or with a group of friends.
(5)sarah y.
I just wasn't very impressed with what I ordered here. There are other restaurants in the Andersonville area that offer much better food.
(3)Stephanie B.
The other reviews I read before I went to Anteprima were right on: DEF get the octopus appetizer. DEF do the prix fixe menu. And yes... some things (ie my halibut) were a touch salty, but it did not keep me from cleaning my plate. I read where someone said the spicy lamb orrechiette pasta was way too spicy, and I did not think that was the case at ALL- it was my favorite thing. The pasta was also really dense and not perfectly shaped, which I love b/c you could tell it was homemade. We had the espresso mousse for dessert which was just okay... not to die for. But I would come back to this place in a skinny second. Service was great. It did, however, get REALLY loud once it started filling up, so that made conversation a little tricky.
(4)David E.
I would recommend trying this place out. The atmosphere and the food were on point. My only negative comment is that the place was a little loud. It was somewhat difficult to have a conversation. As for the food, I was impressed. The appetizers (mussels and the sweet & sour onion with prusciutto) were excellent and very unique. I really enjoyed the soft texture of the pearl-like onion against the firm prusciutto. For my entree, I tried the crispy cornish hen with little broccoli florets. All I can say is that the chicken was cooked to perfection and seasoned well with a delicious crispy outside. I will definitely visit this establishment again. If you are looking for an Italian restaurant with a lot of character, give this place a try.
(4)Liz K.
Delicious! I had the pasta with the boar!
(5)Masumi Y.
Flat out fantastic. Ambiance was great, even if we sat at the bar; I felt that we were in our own little world. Cocktails were excellent. Highly recommend Pimm's Cup (I think that's what it was called- nice and light). We did the prix fixe for $29 a person, it was an amazing deal for a starter, entree and dessert. I had the grilled octopus as many have recommended and couldn't have enough of it, really amazing. I also had the scallops for the entree and it was the perfect size. Delicious! Dessert was also great and the bar tender gave us a complimentary glass of moscato to go along with our desserts. Fabulous service and will definitely go again!
(5)Jeremy P.
i've been here twice in one week - first by chance, second by choice. the homemade pasta and friendly, knowledgeable service is incredible! i was blown away by the tagliatelle with morels and an amazing alfredo sauce. i was even more impressed with their signature lemon panna cotta! the atmosphere is so relaxing, charming and warm...the food is excellent and the service outstanding. i can't wait to go back for #3!
(4)Silvia B.
Great service great atmosphere great food will go back frequently
(5)Kathleen O.
I agree with Mike g. It was ok. The place itself is very cute and the wait staff was great. We did enjoy the new potoes appetizer and would have loved more (there were 4)! The "large" pasta dishes were so small! I had the paesanelle pasta and it lacked flavor. My friends had the salmon and seemed to be ok.
(3)Daniel H.
The place has some very good aspects and some significant flaws. In an attempt to ward off a sense of impending pessimism, I'll start with the virtues. The menu is very unique and I respect that they hand-make virtually every item from scratch; a fact reflected in the final product. They have a pretty extensive wine list; you can get several good quality whites and red by the glass. Their cured meat appetizer is exceptional, definitely worth the price. I know quite a lot about italian food and cured meats, and I found items on this plate that I had not tried before - so well done. For an entré, I had the NY strip on a bed of arugula with pecorino shavings. It was excellent, cooked exactly to my specifications (medium rare). The only improvement I can think of would be to drizzle a little balsamico tradizionale over it, but honeslty, you can't expect them to do that. We had dessert down the street at the Sicilian Bakery. Perhaps the primary flaw of this restaurant is dish consistency. While some dish combinations are prepared well, others fall far short, and at a restaurant like this, with prices like those, every dish should be excellent. In addition to the cured meat appetizer, we ordered the sampler, which for the most part was too oily and just simply not very good. Olive oil is supposed to be DRIZZLED over food, not poured. My companion's entré looked very interesting on the menu, hollow pasta with a panchetta based tomato sauce. However, leaving the chunks of pig fat in the dish when serving is not a good choice. The left-in pieces of panchetta were difficult to eat and the inevitable biting down in to a chunk of fat detracted from the experience. I'm half Italian, and my Italian grandmother always takes the panchetta out before serving! The crowdedness of the dining area was an annoyance. We had to move tables because we were sat just to close to another table. We were moved eventually, but our new location, while better than the first, was still a little too close for comfort. We edned up having a dinner conversation with the people at the next table because it would have been too awkward to pretend we couldn't hear each other. This place is worth going to once if you've got some cash to blow and are looking for an eclectic Italian menu. However, this restaurant is far from a must patronize .
(3)H S.
With so many great Italian places, this was not my first choice but I was with a group (6 ppl) and obliged. The fact of the matter was, it was a good meal but I hardly see myself returning there anytime soon, namely due to the fact that there is no valet service (tough parking area), its VERY loud there and, as I said, there are just so many good Italian spots already. This just didnt make the grade. In defense though, its a very good place. If I lived around the corner, I'd probably go again. Strong selection of appetizers with a few standouts including the grilled octopus and bean dish, although the roasted beets were quite bland. My scallop main course that I shared was very good but the grilled calamari was a bit spicier than I had planned. Desserts were downright bad. Nothing worth ordering there I thought, but most Italian desserts are mediocre at best.
(3)Kelly C.
Mmm mmm mmm. Yummy and creative Italian food, with tons of different appetizers. Had the prosciutto-wrapped venison, and the missus had orange cream lobster on spaghetti. Delicious, and they're very friendly and cost-conscious, with their weeknight fixed price menus. Highly recommended!
(5)Lori K.
Go here, you'll love it. Food was excellent, convo was a little loud at times, and the waiter needed to quit hovering, but overall really fresh, flavorful, and delicious. Get the octopus. Ok, and the risotto. The smaller serving is plenty.
(4)Carter G.
Made a reservation for 9:00 pm for three people last Friday. We arrived on time, and they were running behind. Their own bar was full so they sent us down to Ombra, their sister-restaurant, two doors down. They would call us, they said. Fine. No problem. We're easy-going. But 15 minutes, nothing. At 25 minutes, we called again and were told 5-10 more minutes. Still OK. We can manage. At 9:45, though, we went back over to ask what was happening, and they still had not seated the other 9:00 pm tables. They told us they had no idea when or if they could seat us for our reservation. We were also told that parking in the neighborhood is bad nowadays, and so tables get out of whack as the night wears on. But if they know this problem exists, though, they really ought to start offering valet service or adjusting their timelines so they allocate reservations properly. The host staff wasn't even sympathetic about not honoring our reservation, and we ultimately had to go elsewhere. What kind of place does that? Won't be trying again.
(1)C C.
Just had another of many dinners here this past week. I love the food. It is consistently good. But I will not be going back again soon. After all the times I've eaten here, I have to say that the service has never gotten better. The servers are not friendly and always annoyed when you ask questions. We have never been greeted at the door by a friendly face that seemed happy that we were there (again) to spend lots of money on their food and wine. What's with the attitude? The second issue that is going to keep me from going back is the deafening noise level. It is not "energetic" as some try to spin it. It is conversation un-friendly. It's time for restaurants to get customer-friendly aagain and start using noise-reducing surfaces to encourage conversation. Being with friends and enjoying good food is why we go out to eat. When I want a noisy "scene" I go to a club.
(3)RJ H.
This place is amazing! I will go back again and again and again. Their menu is a little hard to interpret, but I think they've done and excellent job and the food, service and atmosphere is outstanding....
(5)Melissa S.
Chicago Italian is NOT true Italian, says the blond from Chicago, but after living there for years I have a leg up on traditional. This is about as good as it gets. The dishes are authentic, the portions are NOT American style (huge) and I enjoy the seasonal specials. The owner is a nice man too! Cheers, keep it up.
(4)graham h.
After reading in Chicago magazine that this was a "best new restaurant," I was psyched to go for some good Italian. The angry critics at yelp, who never cease to find fault with any place, gave me pause in my choice to take Dad to Anteprima for father's day. Turns out, there's a reason that professional food critics exist - this restaurant is great. The atmosphere is super comfortable. The service was informal and intelligent. Every thing I tasted was awesome, and just different enough to edge this place above the generic Italian food that's so easy to find in this city. I found it to be overall quite reasonable as well. The pork was delicious, cooked beautifully. All the pastas were fantastic, with inventive use of ingredients that tasted familiar yet new. The berry tart for dessert was lightweight and tasty. The family can't wait to go back, and neither can I.
(5)Susan J.
We decided to give Anteprima a second chance after a very shaky first visit. Our first server was beyond pretentious and was dismayed when we shared an entree....little did we know that it was an "in" place and made it into Chicago Magazine....so, we drove up to Andersonville once again and decided that wherever we found parking, that's where we will dine...well, lucky us that our second visit was wonderful and our server was fun, personable, efficient and let us linger. This is true Italian food and is what you might find in the heart of Tuscany. Super fresh ingredients, a yummy bread basket and not your run of the mill Italian menu options at all. The portions are appropriate to European standards which is fine because the quality is there. We are happy that we returned and would definitely recommend.
(4)Steven N.
Wow! I was shocked by how great the food was. Fresh pasta, great atmosphere, and friendly staff. It's a perfect for a date night. Love that they serve local, Talbott Teas! Blueberry tea gave me the perfect ending to a great meal!
(5)Cat B.
Finally tried this new bistro-style spot in Andersonville. This place is Chalkboard meets M Henry with the countryside decor and the window panes hanging to separate spots in the room. I went here on a Wednesday night and this place was busy. Our waitress was nice and offered some good selections for wine. My friend Susan ordered the Cornish hens and I ordered the halibut. While we waited, we were given a basket of delicious freshly cooked breads. The wines that were suggested were very tasty. Susan and I split our food so that we could both taste different entrees. Both the fish and the Cornish hens were delicious, but for $25 the halibut should have had some veggies to compliment the plate. The halibut came with lentils underneath, but I could have used some broccoli or a couple asparagus or something. Then with Susan's Cornish hens...they came with veggies, but no starch. It would have been really easy...and cheap...to throw a little rice on the side. The food was delicious, but for the price I would have expected a little more. Another component of this place was that it was REALLY loud. So, a good place to go with friends and eat some delicious fare, but be prepared to have to talk loudly. So, I would have given it 3 1/2 stars. Good food and a beautiful space, but a few things I would improve upon.
(4)Daniel K.
I really love this place. I live about 4 blocks away and have now been there three times since it opened (including last night). The previous reviews (at least the positive ones) have covered things pretty well. Two things I want to add: 1. They now TAKE RESERVATIONS. I think this just happened within the last few days. I made a reservation yesterday on OpenTable.com and even though we were about 15 minutes late, there was no attitude, and we were seated right away. 2. For those of you who like good beer, you have to try one of the two specialty beers they list at the bottom of the wine menu. They are brewed in a very small brewery in Italy and are very high quality, well crafted beer. The cost ($25 for a 750 ml bottle) might shock you, as it did me, but it was at least as good as any wine on the menu (same size bottle). I love this place.
(4)Cathy G.
My friend and I have eaten here about 5 times since they've been open. We come back for the food. It's very reliable- not stupendous but good. It often reminds me of the food you get at good trattorias in Italy - similar deep classic flavors. We are bad at making reservations so we end up waiting a fair amount if we get in at all. Last time we waited in the tiny bar almost an hour. We were finally seated and our wine at the bar was comped which was very nice. But THEN, we find that our waiter always seems to be the guy I affectionately call Waiter-From-Hell. Honestly, he is like something out of an SNL skit - unsmiling and bothered by everyone, he is unfailingly rude, unhelpful, and doesn't even do his job very well, yet for some reason he has been there the whole time they have been in business. As I read every review here which complains about service, my guess is it's always HIM...he is a large guy, stocky, 40-something with glasses and a big attitude. Everyone else there is FINE. I wish someone at Anteprima would get a clue - this guy is the worst fully-employed waiter in town. After all these years, all we do is laugh when we get him. I wish I could tell him that my friend is normally a very big tipper --- just not at Anteprima!
(4)John B.
C and I have had our eye on this place for some time and I had high hopes. Our friends were visiting for the weekend, from Madison, and we wanted to take them someplace special. I requested a table on the patio and was pleased that we actually got one, since the host warned me on the phone that it was no guarantee; merely noted as a preference. It was hot as hell out there, unfortunately, but more unfortunate is that they don't have any fans to at least move air around. I actually removed my shirt. On the other hand, it was a blessing to be outside because the sound level inside is VERY LOUD. Before being seated outside, I asked the bartender at the tiny bar, a young woman, the how a soave differed from a pinot grigio. She looked at me incredulously and gave an enormous sigh, and said, with an exasperated affect, "The difference? A soave is a soave." When our table was ready, the host informed us that we had to pay for the wine before they would seat us. Sorry, but that's annoying. Outside, the wait for the waiter was longer than comfortable. He was polite, but too business-like. We had brought our bottle of white wine into the heat of the patio (the waiter complained of the heat), but didn't offer a bucket of ice to keep our wine cool. When I ordered a second bottle, he failed to offer a bucket again. I had to ask for one and it took a long while for him to appear with a marble cooler. We ordered our appetizers and selections. The appetizers were tasty and C's pappardelle with prosciutto was nice. My pasta with mushrooms, on the other hand, was memorably flavorless. Overall impression: The food is okay, but nothing special. I will mention that the fellow pouring water was on top of his game. I wish I could have left him a tip. The patio is pleasant, but on a evening that was 88 or so, it was too hot without fans or an air cooling system. Also, the tables are way too close together. Inside, it's really rather loud. A note about the ice bucket complaint: In contrast, we went to Yes Thai for dinner the next evening. The waitress, seeing that we walked in with white wine, brought a bucket of ice to the table instantly. i.e. within 2 minutes.
(3)Calcinor J.
I am a big fan of Anteprima and have dined here a few times. We came out last Friday night to see a good friend off on his new journey in life and had a nice time. There were a few misses but overall the food was good and the service was decent. We started off with a sampling of several appetizers serviced from the meze counter that shares equal billing with the bar. The items on the meze were good and most certainly very healthy. We went with the octopus with potato and chile and experienced a very inconsistent hand in the seasoning of the dish. There were mouthfuls that were just right and then there were tastings that were flat out salty to the point where it was inedible. The tuna carpaccio was excellent. Very well seasoned and fresh! We ordered two of the seared blue fin entree specials, the halibut, a pork chop and the orecchiette pasta. All of the entrees hit the table with the exception of the halibut which was probably never fired by the kitchen staff as it was finally served about 10 minutes later. Mistakes happen. Our waiter was stuck in a tight spot but we understand that mistakes can happen. The halibut was cooked perfectly with a great seasoning, golden sear and a succulent mouth feel. The rest of the plate was forgettable as the set had some ramps and a puree of needles of some sort that was far more ambitious in thought then in execution. We were looking for the trout but it was not on the menu even though our waiter thought that it was, The pork chop was given a big thumbs up as well as the orecchiette pasta which was described as "one of the best pasta dishes ever eaten" by a dining companion. We indulged on the lemon panna cotta and the hazelnut chocolate tart and BOTH were incredible. Overall- food was good but some lapses in execution and the service was decent which was a bit odd considering the fact that we were there when the dining room was only half full.
(4)Michelle O.
I must say that my experience at Anteprima was in whole a positive experience, however, there was something quintessential missing that forced me to give it only two stars. The food tasted ok enough, but it was nothing special and for the price (and small portions) you walk away paying a lot for something that was good but not phenomenal. Based on the price point you expect more. I will not be going back.
(2)annie c.
My husband and I wanted to treat ourselves to a nice day off and we ended the evening here. It was absolutely wonderful. No wait! Not that crowded, although it is pretty noisy. The bread sticks might be my favorite thing about this place. We had the sample anti-pasta platter and ate every morsel. I had pumpkin ravioli and he had ox tale ragu and pasta, we hardly spoke as we savored every bite and both of us had big smiles on our faces. Great wine selection. The only complaint was from Luke, he didn't feel the torta Della Nonna was the real deal, but I could care less b/c it tasted like heaven. Amen!
(5)Katie T.
I LOVE this place. The food is excellent! The space is cramped and loud but I look past it to eat the wonderful dishes they create.
(4)Tyler C.
It was a nice prixe fixe menu, so we could at least try the restaurant. The prixe fiixe menu allowed for a fair variety of choices. The restaurant was of course crowded for a Tuesday night, but service was still decent. Good wine list offered a nice selection to pair with our dinner. Overall - definitely on the pricier side and the food was only partially worth the price. We may go back, but it didn't truly impress us. Flavor profiles were generally standard. Of all the restaurants in Andersonville - Anteprima is definitely one of them.
(3)Hannah S.
We really like Anteprima, its one of our go-to places for a date night, since its not the most kid-friendly of places. Plus when you want to order a few courses and enjoy your meal, kids don't usually mix with that. Though we have brought our daughter there during the summer when the back patio is open and just enjoy a couple courses. We like how many specials they offer, though we also have a few favorites from the main menu, like the brick cooked baby chicken which is prefect to split as an entree if you both want an appetizer and pasta course. This last time I started with the sheep's milk ricotta with English peas and walnuts and mint, which pretty much tasted like spring on a plate and was excellent spread on their Italian bread. Then for pasta, got the trofie (which is a small rolled pasta) with pesto and buffalo mozzerella and cherry tomatoes. The pesto was too buttery for my taste and over-powered the really good cheese and there were not enough tomatoes, but the pasta as always was cooked excellently. Then my husband and I split the baby chicken. We skipped dessert in favor of going to First Slice down on Balmoral and Ashland slice he loves pie and Anteprima's desserts are nothing too special. And for weekends definitely make a reservation ahead of time, calling on a Saturday afternoon will only get you a 9:00 table.
(4)Nicki W.
My family took me here for dinner and I really enjoyed every aspect of Anteprima. First, the vibe is very calming and laid back which is something that I always look for (especially when you want to have nice conversation with who you are dining with). Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. She was able to help me pick out a fantastic wine as well as describe some of the interesting menu items. As always, I like to try a little bit of everything so that I can have a better feel for the direction a restaurant is trying to go. I enjoyed that the menu was very simple and to the point. I assume that it changes all the time which is great. We started off with some smaller dishes to share. We tried the Roasted Market Squash with hazelnuts and raisins which was awesome. The Spicy Calamari was great as well but I didn't expect it to come out grilled (still fine). For my dinner I ordered the Market Winter Squash Ravioli with brown butter, sage and parmigiano. I LOVED IT. Keep in mind that with the pastas, there are two sizes. The smaller portion is pretty small, so you would certainly want to either get something else or get the larger size. I had a side of the garden salad which was served with a mustard vinaigrette, but I think the server went overboard with the ground pepper! Aye. We like to try a little bit of each others food, I tried some of the Lamb Chops which were nice a juicy. I'm not Venison person, but someone at the table did have it and said it was fantastic. Dessert of course is something that can never be missed. I decided to just order everything they had listed so we could try it all. Some of my favorites were the Chocolate Hazelnut Tart with vanilla bean whipped cream...it was heaven. The Lemon Panna Cotta was also great as well as the Pumpkin Cake with Pistachios and sweet cream. Overall, the atmosphere, service and food was very impressive. I just wish it wasn't so far North from me. I will have to make the trip back for sure. It's a nice place to take friends and family.
(4)K C.
Absolutely outstanding! Loved everything.
(5)John C.
Great atmosphere, excellent service and really good, authentic food. Everything we ordered was fresh and cooked to perfection. They also offer up a great wine list. When we arrived without a reservation, the host very politely told us there was a 25-30 minute wait. He also mentioned that the bar was pretty full so suggested we head next door to Acre (previously Charlie's Ale House). Once our table was ready, the host came to escort us to our table...and to that I say, "well played, sir!" The appetizers and pasta dishes were perfectly portioned and I would recommend checking out this newer addition to the lively Andersonville restaurant scene.
(4)Jason W.
Ate here last night, and for those that read this in the future it was 80 degrees yesterday on April 1st. To say they were busy was an understatement. The service was great even though they had so many people in there. Our server was attentive enough to even tell us it would be a bit until our main course was ready after our apps. It took about 15 minutes which gave us enough time to start digesting the first two courses. Everything was cooked perfectly. Highly recommend the prix fix menu. $30 for app, meal, desert -or- app, 1/2 pasta, meal. The portions were smaller for the apps (understandable), but the total amount of food we had was enough to stuff two starving people.
(5)Shonda D.
I would actually give Anteprima 3.5 stars, if I could. I love the location and it's a great place to stroll in the evenings. Anteprima is quite lively and usually pretty packed. The food was ok. We had the arugula, asparagus ravioli, olives, and the strawberry rhubarb crisp. Very nice wine list... they only serve Italian wines, but a wonderful array. Everything was nicely prepared and the service was outstanding. The food was tasty, but it didn't wow me. I think the ambiance hyped me up, more than the food. However, I would still go back to Anteprima, if someone else were buying.
(3)M H.
Given some of the raves I've read here, I was expecting a much better experience than I had. I was hoping for a Cafe Spiaggia type of deliciousness, but ended up with food that, while authentic Italian, fell just below nearby Calo's level of deliciousness. Service was somewhat disappointing too--my date and I felt more like we were our waiter's afterthought. Overall: not bad by any means, but there are better places around to spend a night.
(3)Brian H.
The experience of dining at Anteprima is getting more onerous and less pleasureful. It was a pain to get a reservation; they required me to wait when our party wasn't all there (our party was 2 people and there were plenty of open tables!); our server was borderline rude and acted irritated when we asked for anything (like when we had the audacity to ask for more water or for recommendations on the menu. Gasp!). The menu is fine but very heavy on small plates/appetizers with far fewer options for entrees. I like to support local business and independent restaurants and I will continue to do so... but not at Anteprima.
(2)Julie B.
Happy to have the fabulous weather this week-end, I wanted to enjoy great food outdoors. Friends had shared that Anteprima had an intimate patio and I was ready to try it out! As I'm able to walk to Anteprima, we were greeted promptly and taken to the lovely patio (small due to the large parties). Our server was a lack luster server who really did not provide any guidance and no assistance describing the menu. He just stood in front of us like we were supposed to take the Q and provide him direction (mute actor perhaps??). The food however was fantastic! Sunday - Thursday, they have a $29 3 course prix fixed menu with 2 options: 1 starter, 1 pasta 1/2 order, 1 entree OR 1 starter, 1 entree, 1 dessert. We went full bellied and went for the pasta inclusive option (insert smile and rubbing belly motion). We had the grilled octopus and zuccini florets - both perfectly prepared and delicious, next came the pasta: orecchiette pasta with spicy lamb sausage and bitter greens- good and spicy but the bitter greens soured me a bit, would not get again. The spaghetti with clams was to die for, still thinking about it today!! Entrees were the grilled duck and portebello mushrooms and NY Strip steak with arugala, preferred the savory duck but both were solid choices. Overall, excellent food, great neighborhood italian place, want to go back but the service was really lacking.
(4)Shida B.
Not bad. While it was nearly 10PM, the place was packed on a weeknight. The kitchen closed at 10PM so we were cutting it close, but the waitstaff still received us with warm smiles and friendly service. The intimate space was relatively plain inside; stained glass windows and vintagey wood (distressed and faded) made for a rustic Italian feel ... unlike the modern spot across the street with their dim lighting and fire places. This felt like eating in a country kitchen. The crowd must've been there for a while judging by the loudness (e.g. drunkenness) of their conversation. The bar, which seated about 5 comfortably, was empty, but cute in the middle of the room. Ordered small plates: asparagus & ricotta ravioli, butter, parmigiano ($11); grilled octopus, potatoes, red onion, chilis, parsley, lemon, olive oil ($9); marinated olives, garlic, orange, chilis ($4); and the arugula, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese ($6). The food came quickly and was fresh, not just thrown together as some last meals of the evening can be. The ravioli needed a kick. The rich sauce clung nicely to the pasta (although it could've been more velvety, less buttery -- perhaps it broke and was saved?), but the bland dish offered very little flavor besides cheesy and buttery. The octopus was a little chewy from being a tad over grilled, but still it was flavorful. I just sopped up the extra olive oil with the fresh bread that was brought to the table to start. The greens were crisp, the parm freshly shaved, and the dressing light. The pepper mill gave it a nice crunch. Loved the salad. I ordered a specialty drink, something like basil and vodka with lemon. It was relatively uneventful, though the combination had so much promise. There were others on the list, something with vodka and rosemary, that I really want to try. The prices were good, so I'll return at a more reasonable hour. I might even need reservations.
(3)Tiffany D.
How do I even begin to explain my newly found love for Anteprima?!?!?! I love the feel... it's very Italy-esque with the warm space.. delicious aromas in the air, friendly waiters... and fellow customers :] I guess the owner knew we were "foodies" from all the non-typical food items we ordered...... he was super sweet and actually gave us "special" olive oil to drizzle on our food and salumi and a special something something "XX" drink afterwards. Even a complimentary truffled pecorino and poached pear. My favs of the night were.. omg, ALL OF IT.. but if I had to choose.. the grilled octopus... the garganelli, pancetta & tomato ragu, homemade ricotta.... (which has trotters in it) andddddddd... their pasta is cooked to perfection and so fresh and delicious. PERFECT proportions!!! (my biggest rant @ italian american places is WAY too much food... and WAY too much sauce.. here it's perfectly balanced.. it's the PASTA that's the star of the show and it's accented by the perfect amount of delicious sauce...) omg their specials are amazing. fried anchovies were amazing. THE GOAT!!!!! their yogurt/honey dessert.. oh me oh my!!!
(5)Kristina K.
We went here with friends and found the place packed, so were glad we made a reservation. The service was very good and the waiter did a good job answering questions about the menu. We decided to be the $29 special, picking 3 plates. All the appetizers were wonderful. The mussels and clams dish was a very nice size portion, and the grilled octopus was really tasty and a different slant on the usual. The orecchiette with spicy lamb was a great dish, but the grilled lamb was ho hum. The panna cota was delicious and lemony. I will return, but probably for their appetizers and pastas....
(4)Eric K.
Anteprima is a cute place - very inviting from the outside and the inside decor. However once inside it is jam packed full of people sitting practically on top of one another. This is an experience common in NYC but not so great in Chi-town. Plus it is so LOUD you practically have to shout to talk to your friends over dinner. The menu is diverse but I was hoping they would have a few normal italian items on the menu. Do I have to eat goats stomach or whatever the odd meat and seafood choices were. Chicken Picatta may be boring but I would have ordered it cause I like it. Mussels picata or whatever they had wasn't going to do it for me. The server was stone faced, cold, not friendly at all and barely interacted with us. In fact it took about 5 minutes for him to get out of my way so I could even sit down when I arrived. All the waitstaff seemed stressed and serious. I've definately been spoiled by the friendly competent servers from the LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU restaurants I guess. My friend ordered the ravioli and it was a couple teeny tiny pieces that tasted like oranges. Portion and taste were terrile. I think he had to eat something later cause he was not happy. Overall - too crowded, loud, expensive and we will not be going back. One thing to say about the crowd - it seemed to be a lot of Lincoln Park Stye yuppies over impressed with themselves. I had to sit back and laugh because this space used to be a gay male strip club. It made their pretentions being there seem hilarious.
(2)Jacob E.
This is just an OK place but not worth the wait.
(2)Hannah M.
I've been here several times. It's a really great menu-- lots of choices-- and I like the $29 prix fixe option. I've always liked what I've ordered. But the service is very, very strange. Every time it's been super, super slow, cold, and unfriendly. No one comes to say hello-- some awkward waiter just appears out of the blue and asks you to order. And everything tends to take a really long time-- from getting the bill to getting the carafe of water refilled. I'll keep going back, because for me food trumps service, and this is a good spot in Andersonville, but the waitstaff could use a pep talk. I almost never notice service, but it's pretty perceptibly bizarre here.
(3)Beth O.
Only recently have I pulled my mouth away from plates of pasta to pay attention to the meat and fish entrees-- and thus I wish I were a professional eater. Instead I leave Anteprima now looking like a disheveled Oscar Meyer wiener, due to massive wine and food consumption. Several things to know when going as a novice: -Quartinos of wine are priced proportionately the same as bottles, so you do not save money by not ordering full bottles. -A wiser or more frugal person than I would thus drink only what they need (i.e. less than a bottle). I use this reality to do large scale comparative wine tasting-- Primitivo vs. Nero D'Avola! Yay! -Get the sampler appetizer of starters from above. It is always refreshing and delicious. -Other than the rubbery bucatini, all of the house made pastas are EXCELLENT. My husband and I went to Rome in August during the national holiday, ate pasta, came back and went to Anteprima-- and found its strozzapretti amatriciana better than (off-season) Rome. -The tuna is MIND-BLOWINGLY GOOD. -End with the laurel liqueur. Wow.
(5)Cindy R.
Continues to be a great place for dinner. Had to get the grilled octopus app again because it is SO good but lots of the others sound good too. I think they do a great job cooking fish here; if you're a fish lover I highly recommend getting any of the fish dishes. They're currently featuring lots of early spring veggies so mine (the whitefish) had leeks and purple artichokes... delicious. They no longer have exactly the same orange cake for dessert - it's got pistachios in it now. I liked it better before but it's still good.
(5)Jeff K.
Consistently delivers wonderful food and attentive service. The ingredients are always very fresh, the entrees - well prepared and well presented. When I have made a reservation, my table has always been waiting for me upon arrival. Neg - the portions tend to be very small. I'm not looking for the usual vats of pasta that you find at some restaurants, but a slightly larger portion would be nice.
(4)Lou S.
The Strozzapreti Amatriciana with guanciale, tomato, red onion, garlic, chili flakes and pecorino is quite amazing and not your typical American Italian fare. The pasta was cooked al dente and finished in a white wine sauce with onions and hand-smashed canned tomatoes which soaked up the sauce and gave each bite more flavor. Guanciale is unsmoked Italian bacon prepared with pig's jowl or cheeks and tastes different than pancetta and hard to find.
(4)art s.
Good food in a nice little place with somewhat of a New York feel [in a good way]. A little pricey for the portion size, which isn't a bad thing - just need to understand it is a quality play, not a quantity play. Ambiance I can't quite put my finger on why this place made me feel more like I was in the Village in New York than in Andersonville, but it did. They only have 12 - 15 tables in the main room [we didn't see the garden area], and the layout looks a little cozy for the middle tables. And noise carries wherever you are, even along the perimeter of the dining room. We had what should have been a great spot at the corner/window 2-top. But unfortunately our visit coincided with that of the relentless blowhard at the next table. Picture a bad combo of the Bruno Kirby character from Harry Met Sally and Bruce Arena [former US soccer coach]. Now wind him up and watch him perform the obnoxious know-it-all role for 60 minutes running. That can put a damper on things. Which, of course, is not anteprima's fault whatsoever. The Food The only appetizer we tried were the three cheese zucchini flowers. Aside from the fact that they look a bit like mouse tempura with the tail-like stems sticking out, these were really good. Light, tasty, with a little bit of marinara. Good opening act. My wife got the red snapper in some yellow pepper sauce that she thought was great. It was a modest size at $24, but she thought the quality was solid. I had the bucatini, which comes with olive oil, shaved/grated pecorino, pea shoots and some garlic chilis. It was nicely done - al dente, flavorful. Personally I'd prefer a few less pea shoots and a few more garlic chilis, but it was a nice dish. Not bad at $16 [I think]. The Wine I think the list was made up of entirely Italian options, and they cover a wide spectrum of regions and varieties. They had a couple of Lagrein options, which isn't something I've seen a lot of restaurants carry [but maybe I just need to check out more Italian places]. I wish they had a few more options by the glass, though. I'd estimate that maybe 1/6th of their bottles were available by the glass. Service Decent, but perhaps a bit leisurely [or continental, if you prefer]. They were full [Saturday night, ~8:45], but it took a little longer than you might expect for the wine to come out, then for the check to come out. Not bad - we definitely were not neglected by any means. Time may have just dragged along a bit with our Bruno Kirby neighbor loudly explaining why he's an expert in various fields of finance and real estate.
(3)Ed K.
I love this place. My go-to for special occasions...and even a Sunday night when I don't feel like cooking. Go with the lamb sausage and orecchiette. My favorite!
(5)Heather R.
First things first, you absolutely have to get the grilled octopus appetizer. You'll dream about it. Anteprima's whole menu is filled with unique food that separates them from just another ho-hum neighborhood italian restaurant. It does get crowded and it is quite cozy, but the food makes you forget about listening to anyone else's conversation.
(4)Jon L.
The stretch of North Clark Street in Andersonville is becoming a better and better place to eat, with the hearty but uninteresting swedish meatballs of yesteryear and phoned-in Italian now competing with a new brand of dining experience that caters to the neighborhood's increasingly well-heeled and culinarily-attuned residents. Anteprima's substantial menu of regional Italian dishes literally ups the ante. Homemade pastas-including pappardelle with a boar ragu and orecchiette with housemade sausage-abound and are available in half portions, which makes an appropriate starter for mains like whole roasted bronzino, chianti-braised pork, and "brick-grilled" cornish hen. Rotating specials have been known to include killer sformatos, proprietary headcheese, and more. With a restaurant as consistently popular as this one, service occasionally falters, but the wait for your food can be tempered by a creative cocktail, such as the Cyn-cyn. Hats off to any establishment that showcases Cynar, a bittersweet Italian aperitif made from artichokes that sports nifty Art Deco label and a reputation as an aphrodisiac.
(5)David C.
This is my favorite Italian spot in Chicago. The food here is amazing. I've eaten here countless times as it is a block from home. I have never had a bad meal. I have had problems with the temperature in the dining room... on my last trip it was VERY hot and it can get VERY loud in the establishment as well. That being said, the food keeps me coming back. The octopus on the appetizer menu is AMAZING. For those of you afraid of it, do try it. The octopus is tender and tasty. You can not go wrong with any of the pasta dishes... especially if it involves a boar ragu. As for dessert, I would take a pass. I've yet to have an amazing dessert at this spot. However, as for Italian food in Chicago... this is as good as it gets!
(5)Emily S.
My husband and I took my parents, my brother and his girlfriend to Anteprima as a Christmas gift to my parents. We'd been before and really liked it. Fortunately, it was still very good and impressed my foodie parents. We started with the rabbit sausage, the grilled octupus and the antipasto plate. Everything was very tasty, and there were lots of little, very authentic Italian bites to go around. We shared two salads - the arugula and the fennel salad. The arugula was pretty standard (but very fresh). The fennel salad was excellent - shaved fennel, persimmons, pomegranate seeds, parmesan and a drizzle of fine olive oil. Yum. Everyone liked their main course - we had the sea bass, the bucatini with tuna conserva, the duck leg, the lamb shoulder and the pancetta wrapped venison. All were excellent, but the lamb shoulder really seemed to be the big winner at our table. Desserts were almost all great. The lemon panna cotta is second to none - so delicious. The winter squash dessert was absolutely amazing. Skip the lemon and orange cakes - so, so dry and the one disappointment of the meal. Wine list is extremely reasonably priced with plenty of bottles under $40. We had three bottles of a nice Montepulciano that was right in our price range at $33. Service was good, and we will definitely go back.
(4)Ryan T.
Anteprima is probably my most favorite italian restaurant in the andersonville/edgewater neighborhood. It's small, cozy, kinda rambunctious atmosphere is perfect for small get togethers with friends or family. Perfect for a date if you don't mind the close quarters and cacophany of mingled conversations. The food definetly makes up for it. The wine list is fairly full and looks complex if you're unfamiliar with italian wine terminology. Servers have always been patient to explain them or offering recommendations on similar wines not on the list. Most servers have asked if we've dined there before, but there have been a few times when the server just plops the menu down. For the most part the servers are attentive, weekends or busy nights you might have to make extra effort to be noticed. Their dinner menu changes often seasonally or whatever is available from organic and local growers, which makes the experience almost new if you haven't been in awhile. But if you're like me and order the same thing, many of their main dishes like the sliced new york strip with arugula are unchanged and for good reason. Fish main courses constantly change, as I've seen porgy, sea bass, monkfish, and dover sole on their menu. Many of the dishes and appetizers have what appears to be an unsual combination of food stuffs, but when tasted you can tell a great amount of care and effort is given by the chef to make the dish interesting and pleasant, the deviled eggs with lobster and pesto for example. Their dessert menu is small and unspectacular, many of them having a slight tartness in flavor which is actually kinda refreshing to finish off a meal. The restaurant can be busy on almost any given night, so definetly make a reservation online, very convenient. I frequent this place quite often and am always very satisfied with the quality of food and the service has been great most times.
(4)Darlene L.
Food here is pitch perfect with pastas, fresh catch and antipasta as star features.The vibe was good from the start when I made the reservation and was told about limited free parking in the lot around the corner. We sat outside in the comfortable little covered patio. We enjoyed an excellent Baralo as the waiter patiently responded to questions about the specials. Started with a variety of appetizers including olives, peppers, zucchini, couscous,and beets. It was a veritable delight with good ciabatta and EVOO. Halibut in a bag was moist and flavorful. The whole fish special of sea bass was bones for us and grilled to perfection. Nice dessert offerings include yummy chocolate tart and strawberry and rhubarb fritatta. Service was friendly and efficient. All four in my party raved about their food.
(5)Amy A.
This place is so overrated. I don't get it. Against my better judgement I went back for a second try with a friend that wanted to try it. No different. The food is ok, but there are other Italian places in the neighborhood that are just as good, have better service, and you can actually hear the person sitting across the table from you. Oh, and I thought the wine list was a bit pretentious for a place that is supposed to be a "neighborhood" dining room. No house wine? A lot of people seem to like it here, but I don't think I'll go back.
(2)Lex N.
This place is to die for! Went with my dad and his friend who knows Marty (the owner) and most of the staff here. We were treated like royalty. Marty is such a nice guy as well as is the rest of the staff. We tried several different appetizers. Among my favorites were the cuddlefish (it had so much flavor), this ravioli dish with squash inside, and the octopus. But everything, and I truely mean everything that I tried was excellent! Usually when I go to a restaurant and try several things and a few end up being just ok. Well, there was not one thing that I tasted and thought, eh, it's only ok. I loved it all. Great place, check it out!!
(5)Marina M.
I love going to dinner and being able to try a bunch of different items, so a small plates menu is always a draw. We started with grilled octopus and the pork belly. Both were perfectly done and had great flavor. I really enjoyed how the octopus was seared. We followed up with goat cheese ravioli w/orange zest and pappardelle w/boar ragu. The pastas were excellent and you could tell they were homemade. I enjoyed the goat cheese ravioli but it's pretty rich so I can't imagine eating a whole order by myself. The boar ragu was amazing! For dolci we had the winter squash budino w/pumpkin seed brittle. It's kind of like flan, but much better. The budino was light and had a great texture. The squash provided a unique and delightful flavor.
(4)Tracy O.
I've been to Anteprima twice. Both times I've loved just walking in. There's a cozy hustle and bustle that coos "Hey, come in, really enjoy a meal." Service is great. The staff are warm and friendly. I sat at the bar once and it seemed like the bartender is also responsible for plating desserts and antipasi. Kudos for that! Both times, food has been A-OK. My main qualm is that dishes are too salty. I could tell that if it weren't for the saltiness, the food here would be good. The blueberry tart, however, is delicious! Sunday to Thursday, $29 3-course prix fixe meal is something to consider. I also appreciate that there are two size choices for pasta dishes.
(3)Hansel K.
Excellent food! Great service. You will leave satisfied for sure.
(5)Anthony Z.
Have been here three times...most recently this past Monday. Sort of picky about Italian food, and this place is fine, but certainly not great. On Monday had the orecchiette as a starter, and it was too oily. Lamb sausage flavoring was good, but it did not taste freshly prepared. Salmon entree was good. Chocolate hazelnut torte was not memorable; the word adequate comes to mind. Wine choices by the glass are a good option, with a generous pour. As others have mentioned, it can get a little loud. Service was a little creepy. 29 dollar prix fixe special early in the week is a pretty good deal.
(3)Laura F.
I've had mixed experiences here, and it often happens because my husband's or friend's entree ends up looking way better than mine! Some of the pasta dishes are so light on sauce and salt that it's underwhelming, while others are home runs. I tend toward anything with mushrooms, and for whatever reason those are the lackluster experiences. Go with what's seasonal and what your server recommends. A bit pricy, but a really nice neighborhood place.
(3)Jessica B.
I went there tonight for my first time and left full and pleased with my meal! We had reservations at 6 and then because of pouring rain and parking issues were a few minutes late. When we checked in, the host was a little rude, reminding us we were late (yes, we knew but did our best to get there on time) and then seated us with a huff. Okay, not the best way to start but what lacked in a greeting made up for in food. My friend and I got the grilled octopus (amazing!!!) and daily special of blood orange salad, which was refreshing and sweet. Portion sizes were easy to share and a nice way to tee up the meal. For dinner, I got the maltagliati with house smoked pork belly, fagioli, spinach, tomato and it was really delicious. It had really good flavors and was light. The great thing is that Anteprima also offers full and half sizes of the meals so you can get additional dishes or get better portion control. I got the pasta as a full dish and it was still a good size portion without being too heavy or filling. For dessert, we got the lemon panna cotta, which was good and had a Greek yogurt consistency. It was good and definitely perfect to share, it would have been to heavy on its own. Finally, we had blood orange bellini's which were delish! Overall, I was really happy with our meal, even if the host wasn't the nicest and the waiter was a big hoverer. I would go back! Note though, until the patio opens, the main dining area can get VERY warm, I was sweating throughout the meal, which was not the most attractive.
(4)David B.
My partner and I had a great meal here to celebrate my birthday. I had the Alaskan halibut which is cooked in parchment paper and then served with an amazing sauce. It was probably the best halibut I have ever eaten. My partner had a delicious asparagus and ricotta ravioli. It needed a bit of pepper, but otherwise was quite tasty as well. We had excellent service -- attentive, friendly, but not intrusive -- and she appreciated our slightly warped sense of humor. All in all, a fabulous meal in a very lovely room. For those who like outdoor dining, there is a nice space in their back yard that is nice change of pace from the tables in front of restaurants where the bus fumes "enhance" the meal.
(5)olen h.
I almost gave this place two stars, but didn't because it was super cute and I heard the guy behind me say "I've been to this place too many times to know that this is a fluke" when he sent his fish back. I had sent my venison back five minutes before him because it tasted funny. The chef must still have been on xmas vacation because the food was NOT good. Squid was so salty it was practically inedible. i'm serious. it made my gums burn. so were the beans with the salmon. I would return to give it a second chance if someone insisted.
(3)Kevin S.
Service is okay, but the food is excellent- so is the decor. Great place for a date.
(5)Phil B.
There's only one word for Anteprima: perfect. Don't go to this restaurant because you want "Italian". While Anteprima is indeed Italian food, it's "rustic" (Tuscan I think?) What it's NOT is pasta with red sauce and meatballs (go to La Scarola for a wonderful version of that Italian food experience). I've been to Anteprima with my wife now 5 times. In every single case, the food and service were superb. The meal always starts with a complimentary sample pastry. Tonight it was greens with some pine nuts. We've had a zuchini pastry in the past. It's just a little one-bite appetizer to get the palate ready. Tonight I had the fixed menu (which is available S-Th). You choose either a starter, small pasta and entree OR a starter, entree and dessert. All for $29. Knowing that on my wife's birthday dessert would be a must, I chose the former. I had: Tomato bread salad: tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, basil and big bread pieces (not too hard, not too soft) with infused oil. These are VERY fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and in the summer, this salad is a refreshing start to the meal. I've had this during other visits and LOVED it. Spaghetti with chillies, tomatoes and some crunchy thingys: this was where I talked about the meal being "perfect". The pasta is cooked perfectly, the ingredients and herbs are distributed perfectly throughout the dish and it tastes FRESH! The dish is simple, but has a wow factor that comes from the blending of flavors. It's not too big, not too small, not too messy, not too salty or plain, it's just PERFECT. Sliced New York Strip: I ordered medium rare. The steak might have been a little undercooked (my only complaint about the meal). But it was delicious and was served VERY HOT. The plate was so hot it was untouchable. They took this steak from the grill and must have delivered it in 10 seconds to my table. Alongside the steak was an arugula salad with shaved parmesan that cooked a little bit on the hot plate. The cheese melted a little too and it turned out to be a wonderful accompaniment to the steak. I cut up pieces of the steak and ate them with the greens and cheese. As I keep saying, this was a delicious and simple dish. It was steak with a little green salad and some shaved parmesan. But the flavors were spectacular and their simplicity was SO satisfying. We had 2 desserts - a peach crostata and the "cherries in pastry". The cherries were reduced into a compote and served in a puffed-pastry. That's the whole dish. Very simple/delicious. Frankly, the cherries dish paled compared to the peach crostata. It was basically an Italian peach pie with very dry crust and peaches. My wife remarked that the fruits in both dishes were not "over sugared". The fruits were center stage. And keeping with my theme - both desserts were SIMPLE, fresh and delicious. Some other dishes we've had in previous visits that are spectacular: the orecchiette with lamb sausage and rapini. This is a spicy pasta dish that I love. We've also had an orange cake dessert that our waiter told us tonight they serve only in the winter. The orange cake is all my wife talks about! In summary - the few people that complain about Anteprima call it "ho hum" or plain. I prefer "simple". I would tell those people to pay attention to the details of these dishes. Pay attention to the care the chef puts into the flavors, the ingredients, the freshness. There is a GORGEOUS SUBTLETY to Anteprima that is NOT to be missed. It's officially my favorite restaurant on the north side and a refreshing change from the everyday restaurant experience.
(5)Matt P.
Finally, I made it to Anteprima for dinner! I wish I had gone here sooner! This restaurant is a very pretty spot and popular, located right in the middle of Andersonville. On a Friday or Saturday evening, I highly recommend reservations, as there will almost certainly be a wait for a table. Also, this is not a pasta/pizza type of Italian restaurant, Anteprima specializes is more of a rustic/country style of cuisine. They do have pasta dishes on the menu, but its not going to be typical Chicago Italian restaurant fare. The interior space has a casual yet a warm upscale feel. As with most neighborhood restaurants, the tables are in close proximity of each other and the noise level can get high. We sat on the patio/deck in back, which has a much more quiet relaxed vibe and has the feel of a cozy outdoor room. They do have patio heaters, so are we go into Fall, you can still be comfortable on a cool evening. We started with the Grilled Shrimp marinated along with both sweet and hot peppers, it was excellent. The bread and thin bread sticks were quite good as well. I selected the pan-seared Scallops for my main course. It was quite possibly the best Scallops I've ever had. The wait staff was highly attentive, very helpful with wine selections and we didn't feel like we had to quickly leave to free up a table.
(5)Justin H.
I have been wanting to try Anteprima for several months now and finally had the money and friend to do so. Stepped in here without reservations and were seated in under a minute in the front window 2 top. The kitchen brought out 2 complimentary zucchini/cheese amuse bouche for us to try and they were delicious. I ordered one of the red wines to go with my ravioli entree from the extensive wine list. The ravioli were spectacular and my friend had the New York strip seasoned and cooked to perfection. Only downside is the prices. $17 for a plate of 8 to 10 small homemade ravioli with a touch of sauce. That's almost $2 per ravioli. The breads brought to the table were amazing as well. Thanks Anteprima, I will be back for this truly authentic Italian again.
(4)Amy N.
With recommendation from friends and the high rating from yelp, we were a bit underwhelmed with Anteprima. My dinner was pretty good, zucchini flower, lobster ravioli and seared scallop. I would give my dinner 4 stars. My hubby's dinner was a total disappointment. The pasta dish, orecchiette with spicy lamb sausage was way too salty even though the pasta was very fresh. The wood grilled spare ribs has no flavor even though the meat was tender. Maybe the chef was having an off night?!?! The saving grace is their $29 prix fixe price along with the nice alfresco area and service.
(3)Matt L.
We went for "Dine out for Life" an HIV/AIDS fund raising dinner. The Food was excellent and the table was ready in a more than a reasonable amount of time from the stated reservation. The food was excellent and prepared just right!! The grilled octopus was excellent and I would highly recommend it to anyone trying the restaurant. The waiter could have checked on us maybe a couple more times and the person bringing out the entrees misplaced the dishes.....pretty minor in my book, but I can't give it 5 stars. I look forward to trying it again.....Highly recommended!!!
(4)Shea G.
My husband and I were very excited to visit anteprima because of the reviews we had read and we love authentic Italian food. We even took another couple with us, the guy being from Italy with a strong background in Italian cuisine. Our whole experience started out badly when we showed up for our 9:00 reservation only to be told that the wait would be 45 minutes for their patio. When I initially made our reservation, the person I spoke with said that being seated on the patio at 9:00 would not be a problem. However, the host standing in front of me said that they never reserve tables on their patio, it's first come first serve (there are only 10 tables on their back patio). While I was questioning why I was told differently, the owner showed up and instead of apologizing for the mistake, said, "I'm the owner, I think I would know..." Really? No apologies, no thank you's for even coming? He even said, "this is our policy." Business 101 tells you that that is NOT a phrase to be used with an upset client. Moving on to the food however, we started with the sweet corn and basil bruchetta and it was phenomenal. A bit salty, but very very tasty. We then had the ricotta stuffed figs with carpaccio. Equally as good. Great start to our meal. For my main course, I had the sweet corn and crab risotto. I was expecting it to melt in my mouth, but everything tasted quite separate and I never felt like it all went together. My husband had the Orichette and liked it ok, but again, he was a bit disapointed with the flavor profiles. This was an okay place, but definitely not in our top ten favorite Italian places in the city. I'll wait until the customer service improves...which means I have to wait until they change management.
(2)Gayle G.
The recession is good for dining out! Anteprima's three course $29 prix fixe on Sunday -- Thursday is a great deal. For two people do this: one app & , one order of pasta to share, two entrees and one dessert to share for $58. What a deal! Ok, so we had four or five drinks and a second dessert to throw the total well over $100, but it was still a great deal and oh so good. Anteprima isn't "fancy" per se, but it's probably not the kind of place you'll go every week. It makes me happy to have in my 'hood, though. The servers are very well informed and good natured. It's always a leisurely, casual and unrushed dining experience. There was a bucatini with artichoke pasta special that was so good! It tasted like spring. And the NY Strip with rosemary and lemon, served on a bed of arugula with shaved parm was spectacular. That dish would almost make me forsake carbs (except for the bowl of pasta before and the dessert after). The steak is so juicy & flavorful with the peppery arugula and the salty parm. I want it right now! The orange cake is simplicity at its best. The hazelnut dark chocolate tarte is decadence disguised as a pie of pie. Looking forward to eating on the patio again and enjoying the spring menu once the weather warms up more. Ciao!
(4)Marjorie F.
I just went there this weekend with one of my best friends. We started with the grilled octopus. I'm not usually a fan of grilled octopus - many places make it too chewy. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it at Anteprima. It actually melted in my mouth!!! For my main course, I ordered the ricotta and chard ravioli in butter sauce. While it was very rich, I enjoyed every morsel. But then again, I love butter! For dessert, we shared a lemon custard (I'm not sure what the name is exactly - the pannacotta?). It was light, creamy, and not too sweet. Just right after a rich meal! We shared a bottle of Il Bugiardo 2002. I don't know much about Italian wines, but if you like merlot and shiraz - you'll like this!
(4)Meera S.
We had New Year's Eve dinner here with four friends, and it was delicious. My husband and I walked in 25 minutes early for our reservation, because we were dorks and didn't check our watches after giving ourselves a good buffer of time to travel there from Hyde Park. The staff was unfazed, even though the restaurant is tiny and there wasn't any more room to sit at the bar. We ordered a cocktail to share while we waited (something lemony and rosemary-y, delicious) and just sort of pressed ourselves up against a wall while waiters flitted by bearing wonderful-smelling things. The food was great -- portions aren't insanely large, and I thought the menu was reasonably priced for the quality of food we got. Our total bill, including taxes and tip, was $315. For that we got 5 appetizers (get the lobster bisque. It's amazing), 6 main courses (I had the bucatini and loved it, and I heard moans of delight coming from the part of the table where the duck saltimboca and sliced NY strip lived), 3 desserts (they had a chocolate-espresso tart as a special, and the lemon panna cotta was also divine), 2 bottles of red, a glass of grappa, and a coffee. It wasn't the most amazing Italian food I've ever had, but it was a really cozy place to eat at with friends, the service was good despite the fact that they were super busy, and everyone in my party left stuffed and happy. We stole a NYE balloon as we were leaving. :-)
(4)Nick M.
Pro's Handmade pasta Fresh ingredients Unique Menu Great Wine List Great Deserts (recommend the bread pudding) Con's Service is nonexistent and snobbish So loud I couldn't hear my date (no she wasn't a low talker) Over priced for the portions Seating/Decor didn't do anything for me Food overall... eh! If you drag me here... yes I will be kicking and screaming!!
(3)Liz P.
Hands down, the best Italian I've had in the city so far. I absolutely love the atmosphere and decor--it really sets the mood for a wonderful evening. Our server was incredibly friendly and helpful in recommending some dishes. Their menu changes weekly so the bucatini amatriciana may not be there for long, but I highly recommend it if you see it on the menu! It was absolutely decadent, how well the flavors played on each other and left the palate very satiated. The chianti braised pork shoulder was a delicious appetizer that literally melted in your mouth. Speaking of wine, of which they have a great selection, they were very generous with the serving, which I always appreciate. If you want to treat yourself or others to a superb dining experience, Anteprima is the place to go.
(5)Daniel S.
I didn't actually intend on dining here. Rather, this was second choice as when we tried to go to Spacca Napoli it was closed for Summer Holiday! I had heard solid anecdotal reviews of Anteprima, but considering the messenger(s), I filed it away as 'accurate but not entirely credible'. On the evening of Sept 3rd, the opportunity presented itself so away we went. Without a reservation on a Thursday night- around 830- we were able to be seated immediately. They didn't give us any lip about not having a reservation either. Note: I am not anti-reservation, rather quite the opposite, but sometimes spontaneity rules! My dear friend was moving away, and we wanted to have a nice little super in honour of the occasion. So we started off sampling an array of apps- zucchini, boar sausage, scallops etc- all were tasty and well prepared. The Italian red we picked stood up well to the varied flavours too. We shared a lobster ravioli and finished with a desert wine. I am hard pressed to find fault with this spot. The menu is well conceived and authentic. Should you find yourself in A'ville and desirous for a 'regional' theme I'd recommend Anteprima. Personally I'd return just for the boar sausage, but note a spot like this is ideally suited for sampling/sharing.
(4)Scott H.
A neighbor suggested Anteprima after we were having trouble deciding on a spot for a Friday evening meal in Andersonville. What a cool vibe! A very casual and rustic, but classy room where I felt instantly at home. No pretense, the complimentary "amuse bouche", no haggling over bottle vs. tap water had be won over before the food even arrived. While I'm no sommelier myself, the wine list seemed complete and seemed to have quality options at all price points. We all shared the orecchiette, pappardelle and asparagus risotto dishes and all were delicious. Our server was attentive and was truly interested in our having an enjoyable evening. We found ourselves too full to enjoy any dessert this night, but we'll be sure to save room next time!
(4)Steven W.
I've eaten here three times over the last year or so, but my most recent visit is what prompted this review. They are offering a three course, $29 menu which is an INCREDIBLE deal. You can either have a antipasti, entree and dessert OR antipasti, half order of pasta and entree. My date and I each went for the latter. I started with a peppered beef stew with rosemary which was incredibly tender, flavorful and generous. Perfectly seasoned and nice and peppery! My date had (I think) chicken liver pate which she described as rich and wonderful. Then, the pasta. Holy crap. My date ha goat cheese raviolis in a light tomato sauce inexplicably garnished with orange zest. I wasn't sure about the orange zest. Did it belong?? Upon trying it - YES it belongs. It was the perfect acid component to cut the richness of the goat cheese. Bravo, chef! My pasta was strozzapretti with guanciale (cured pig jowel), red onion and chiles. It was absolutely amazing. It's been a very long time since a pasta dish impressed me and this one definitely did it for me. Salty, sweet, crunchy and rich but totally balanced. I actually don't remember our entrees because of the pasta high I was on, but I know we both finished our entrees and i recall being happy with mine! Our server was very knowledgable and gave great recommendations including an excellent bottle of falanghina which really hit the spot. Good job anteprima - we'll be back!!!
(5)Lada M.
There were 8 of us and we ordered about half of the menu. The pastas are amazing! The chicken entree was my favorite. The smoked trout stuffed with crab was tasty as well. The blackberry cheese cake and strawberry mouse!!
(5)Christine J.
I was here on a rainy Saturday night, which was unfortunate because everyone doddled longer than necessary, and the restaurant got into trouble when the 8 PM reservations showed up and no one was getting up. I feel like the restaurant could have done a better job managing this. Pastas were very well made, but the sauces left me wanting. I expected a blander sauce with flavorful pasta like ravioli. But we were getting olive oil and garlic on plain pastas.
(3)Ellie L.
The octopus appetizer was phenomenal. I say that because I haven't eaten octopus in a cozy manner. It was warm and with potatoes, onions, peppers, down right cozy. Not cold and sharp, but warm and fuzzy, but also fresh tasting. Highly recommended, The half portions were enough, because they were so rich and satisfying. I had the lamb sausage, my husband had the delectable veal ragu. The cocktails were inventive and smart, and the wine list goes on and on. I appreciate the 250ml glass for $10-a good deal. The waiter was informative and there when we needed him. Just overall a really nice date experience. The fact that the restaurant was packed on a Monday night, explains a lot.
(4)Deborah B.
We live in this neighborhood and thought we would give it a shot. La Tache was already booked for the evening, which was our first choice. Anteprima has one thing right-the food /inventive menu. I had the salmon with cauliflower puree, my date had the NY Strip. With the side of Brussels sprouts, SO none of us tried pasta. The flavoring of the food was amazing. My date reported the NY strip as being slightly overdone. I loved my salmon. Also-the drinks were good, and we tried the laurel drink which is made at the restaurant-very interesting and good. Kind of reminded me of absinthe, but better. For dessert...We finished the meal off with the apple fennel bread pudding. Fantastic!!! So the food really rocks...my appreciation of the food is what made me give this restaurant 3 stars. HOWEVER....... What Anteprima gets an F for is the fact that they try squeeze as many tables into as small a space as humanly possible. We arrived early had a reservation, and there were several tables available. We got stuck next to the station by the bar where the servers fill up the bread and olives for there table. I saw that and thought "ok I hope this will not be a problem"...it really wasn't.. until my date was bumped. My date was bumped by the waitstaff...and not just bumped pressed into and his chair actually moved...Oh and not by the busboys but the really tall, older -looking woman waitress. Fine... I get it, its crowded but...no "Excuse me" or "Sorry." NADA! So..we alerted the manager and he didn't say sorry, anything. It is one thing when its other diners doing this but your own waitstaff?? We asked to move as there were still 3 or 4 other tables for two and acted as though it was a huge deal that we wanted to move, We moved and long story short..got bumped yet again. by a busboy mainly and the actual manager once. We ate fantastic food, but Anteprima. get your act together!! Either take a few tables out , or teach your inconsiderate staff and manager some manners!!!
(3)Thomas A.
The food is bland. The cocktails were good - using different italian aperitifs and digestivos in an intersting way - but cocktails aren't dinner. Polenta was nothing but filler - not cheesy, buttery, salty, or even "corny" - just bland mass of mush. The stuffed fish - they shouldn't have bothered stuffing it. I don't know what else to say. If you try a lot of flavor and it doesn't work out, I will give you points for trying. Everything I ate needed more flavor.
(2)Jenna M.
Anteprima seems to have found and filled a very specific niche that is perfect for this neighborhood. It's nice, but not too nice. It has a special feel without being pretentious. The food is very good, approachable, a bit more expensive than at your average neighborhood place. As a rule, I do not go out for Italian, but I will go here on occasion. The first time was with my then-fiance to tell my future in-laws about our engagement. The second was last night after the husband and I watched Big Night and were jonesing for some Italian. Service is not intrusive. We sat in between what felt like uncomfortable first dates between well off people, which felt about right. I am rating this as a neighborhood spot, not a destination restaurant, and for that, I think it's great.
(4)Bryan S.
I will revisit this restaurant and my rating another time, but my first experience was disappointing. It makes me sad, too, because I had heard nothing but awesome reviews. I wonder if it's another victim to Andersonville's restaurant scene - a burst of popularity in a trendy neighborhood, and then forgets all attention to detail. We walked in on a Wednesday at 9pm to get a glass of wine and an appetizer on the patio. The manager, who was acting as host, hesitated about whether he wanted to give us a coveted table on the patio. There were three open, it was 9pm, it was a Wednesday. I ordered the only rose on the menu. They were out. My friend ordered an appetizer. They were out. No apology, no second recommendation, no nothing. Our bumbling server dropped off our wines, came back once to see if we wanted to order any other food, and then dropped the check. I put cash in the check presenter, and accidentally put my elbow on the presenter (I still left 20%). He came back and actually took the check out from under my elbow without as much as an excuse me. On our way out, we were able to see the manager eating at the bar, and then the bartender coming out from behind the bar and the busser out from inside the kitchen both cut us off. I know it's a popular restaurant with delicious food (allegedly), but attention to detail is the lifeblood of sustainability in a restaurant. I certainly hope it improves.
(2)J W.
I must give this place 5 stars! My fiancé and I went on our first date here and got engaged en route to here as well. In our neighborhood, great atmosphere, always good friendly service, and the food doesn't disappoint.
(5)Debra S.
Bad service, below average food, crowded, and zero soundproofing (about 105bB on Sat night!). I had the pasta w/shimp. It was fair. My husband had ravioli - Again fair. We shared a tomato salad which was three slices of tomato with shredded cheese on the top (like you get a Jewel) and a dash of fresh basil. To say it was simple would be an understatement. We were there a couple years ago and swore we wouldn't be back. We decided to give it another shot... And THIS time we really mean it.... Will not be back. This is Chicago!! Great Italian food is everywhere, w/ the service and ambiance to goo with it. Don't waste money at Anteprima.
(1)A.J. M.
Hopleaf let us down for dinner, too full, but not before my parents had to be carded when we entered. Let's just say my folks don't look under 21. Whatever. So we walked down the street to find someplace else. My mom reminded me that we had been to Anteprima a few years back, but I don't really recall, so we gave it a shot. I'm really glad we did. The service was very friendly and the food was fantastic. I had the mussel appetizer, which was fantastic, and tried out some of the goat cheese ravioli my dad had. Also pretty tasty. I had the duck breast, which was unbelievably flavorful, and also tried some of my moms crispy baby chicken. I would go back just for both. Plus, they're very generous with the wine. Always a plus!
(5)Resa H.
My husband and I had dinner on a Saturday night. Every table was full and the place was bustling. It's a small restaurant with tables close together but not so close that you feel like you are sharing a table. Greeting: We were about 30 minutes early for our reservations and there was no where to wait so the hostess walked us down to their other place, Acre (almost next door) where they have a fantastic selection of beer. She came to get us when our table was ready. Food: My husband had the steak and I had the pork with polenta. Both were flavorful and cooked perfectly. We also had an amazing chocolate mousse for dessert. The menu had a great selection and I'd go back to try the risotto and the ravioli.
(4)Mike G.
So, it looks like I am the only Yelper who doesn't love this place. It is not that I dont get "it"--I dig Italian food the further it gets away from Italian-American as much as the next Italian kid--but they just don't nail. Now, it isn't that the ingredients weren't good--they were great. It wasn't that the wine list wasn't interesting--it was. It was the combination of things. Every dish was extremely under-salted--you need salt to enhance the flavor folks. The beet and ricotta ravioli was tasty--only after said table salt application. The appetizer selection of 8 things left a lot to be desired. Now let's talk about service: We never got bread/breadsticks or olives. Our wine arrived after our appetizers. The service just seemed rushed the whole time. The 6-top next to us was so close that every time the server was working with them his a$$ was on my friends shoulder--and then he would touch her and say "sorry". Not what I was expecting--prolly not a return visit in store for me.
(2)M P.
Went here last night and had such an amazing experience! Now I have a habit of checking out menus online before I go to a place and one of the specials was a goat-cheese gnocchi.....I was so excited about it! Well, the specials had changed by the night we got there - but friend mentioned it to the owner. He comes back ten minutes later and says they have a few gnocchi left and can throw it together with some spinach & tomatoes. Yes please! It was incredibly good - and really so nice of the owner. He also recommended a beautiful bottle of chianti, that we really enjoyed. The neat thing about this place is their anti-pasto type bar, which is in the main room. We ordered the assortment, cause there were so many good things to try; sweet potatoes, faro w/grilled peaches and the eggplant were our favorites. And we ended with the lemon panna cotta, which was just perfect. So exceptional service, delicious food....we'll be back!
(5)adam k.
Surprised to see so many good reviews here. My experience with Anteprima was one of the worst I've had in Chicago in a while. Poor service, poor management, poor food, poor interior. Not much to like about this place. We were there on a busy, but not packed Saturday night. It was so loud we couldn't talk across our table. Our server agreed and claimed it was unusual. I don't see how that could be because the interior is stark and not well designed. We inquired about moving to the patio, and after checking ourselves to see it was 1/2 empty, the manager quickly ran over and said there were no open tables on the patio. After this our server knew we didn't want to be there, and treated us as such. Food. Meh. Mostly over cooked mush and confused dishes soaked in olive oil that I wouldn't exactly consider Italian. Like others mentioned, the goat cheese ravioli is good, but come on, it's goat cheese. The bacon wrapped monk fish was rubbery, despite the bacon. We were also put off that the Mezze (and bread) was sitting out uncovered in the main hallway were people are walking by. I get the "home-style" concept, but don't think it is appropriate for this setting. At least put it in the back of the prep kitchen (open to the dining room) where it can be seen but not dripped on by passers by headed back from the bathroom. Wine list seems like it was borrowed from a fancier restaurant. I seem to recall maybe 2 bottles under $30? And no house wine carafe? Not what you'd expect at a "home-style" themed restaurant. Again, see above - "confused". Our server wasn't very helpful with the wine either - but this was after the table incident, so who knows. After leaving I was convinced this place would not make it. But I see here it has a loyal following. Maybe its the connection to Andersonville? Maybe cause it's new and different? Not sure, and not willing to try it again. Much better Italian restaurants in the area.
(1)Linda C.
I'm debating the star rating as I write this between 2 and 3 stars. The service and the atmosphere were just fine. The staff were perfectly nice. It wasn't too loud, despite the fact that it was a full house. Sure, I waited 20 minutes before being seated despite having a reservation, but that usually never bothers me. It was nasty out so I don't blame the restaurant for the other diners not wanting to brave the cold rain. I sure didn't want to be outside, either. I went to Anteprima after reading many a review singing it's praises. I was on the search for an awesome Italian place for a birthday dinner for my boyfriend. The lure of fresh ingredients and the recommendation from people who are self proclaimed Italian food snobs swayed my decision: they're Italian and swore their very picky Italian mothers approved. Who was I to argue with an Italian mother? Honestly, the food wasn't bad, but it didn't wow me. They gave us a delicious onion tart to start, which was the best thing we had all night. As for the entree.. well.. meh. For the price, the taste and portions didn't seem like a good value. The wine was fantastic, but it was better than the food. I chose poorly for the desert portion. I'll admit I'm a pastry snob, having made a lot of the things myself (that sounded more pretentious than i wanted it to, but i'll move on...). The chocolate hazelnut tart's crust and hazelnut layer seemed like they were undercooked, and the chocolate ganache was barely on this side of creamy. When I didn't eat more than a bite, our server asked if it was ok. I tried to be nice about saying that I didn't like it. She very generously took it off our bill (i didn't ask her to do that). She tipped this review to 3 stars. Maybe a different night would have been better as I understand they change their menu often to offer seasonally pertinent menus. I however was not that impressed that night and took my boyfriend to a different Italian restaurant the next night so he could get a more satisfying Italian birthday dinner.
(3)Frankie R.
Okay so let me just say that I love Andersonville and we like trying new restaurants so I was excited to find a new little Italian place right in our 'hood. We went for dinner on a late Saturday night (conveniently made reservations right on their website). The place was extremely busy when we got there and our table was waiting for us...great. However our server really ruined what could have been a nice dinner. I don't know if he was just overwhelmed by the VERY crowded place or if he is just normally a rude tool....but either way, he sucked. We asked for recommendations and he answered without hesitation, but when we asked if he had actually tried what he suggested, he quickly said no. Food was okay.....just okay. Also, they claim to have a full bar, but they didn't carry many of what we would consider staples...leaving us thirsty as we dealt with the rude waiter. So if you want bad service by someone with a "painted on smile" who has no clue what he is talking about in a really loud crowded place.....this is a great choice!
(2)Jim C.
Holy Crap, I am so full!
(5)Adam M.
Bottom line: incredible food, horrible service. Actually, the wait staff is knowledgable, courteous, and enthusiastic, but it's the folks at the front of the restaurant that are the problem. News flash: when you make someone wait an hour from their reservation time for a bad table, maybe you should comp something. Or at least refrain from being rude.
(1)Alissa G.
A party of 10 and I took Anteprima by storm this past December. My roommate waited for about an hour when she went to Anteprima the weekend before, so I was happy to have enough people to make a reservation. However, while the place was certainly happening, it never felt overly crowded. The dim lighting was romantic, but while I could see bringing a date here, it wasn't only a DATE place. As for food, we tried the octopus(pulpo) as an appetizer and the waiter was dead-on when he said it was one of the best items on the menu. I also had a half order of the pumpkin ravioli. The ravioli was delicious--but in trying to save $6 on the whole order, i got literally 4 piece of ravioli. Youch. Good thing there was plenty of bread and olive oil! **Hint, breadpudding lovers--look not further. The breadpudding here many be the best in the city--and def my hungry stomach feel all better pronto pronto!
(4)F a.
Too bad for the low review, as the food is actually very good. However, the service was pretty bad - all due to our waitress. I went early with a few friends (not crowded yet), and it was a special night as one had been ill. After the meal, I asked my friends if they found the server rude (perhaps it was my imagination?) and everyone else chimed in and agreed. We don't know if it's because we didn't all get wine/appetizers, or what it was. One of my friends said it's as though she didn't like us (!). I very casually mentioned this to the Manager on the way out, and while he did apologize, it did not feel sincere at all. I was very calm & complimented him on the food quality, so definitely wasn't maintenance about it.. We did not get the feeling that he was going to do anything about it. So, since we are fortunate enough to live in a city where there are outstanding restaurants - Italian or other - why go to a place where the service is poor?
(2)Jorge M.
I was looking for the a place to have some dessert and love every bite. However when I took a look at the menu, I got hungry and decided to try something. We got the assorted starters, I only like 2 of them. HINT their goat tart is really good. I was going to go for the dessert, but the Risotto sound it good... It was by far the saltiest thing I've ever had. I don't like sending food back, so we finished it, but it was almost painful to eat it at the end. Drinks were okay, I've never seen a sazerac served on the rocks... As I said before dessert was extremely good. Server was pretty slow and just weird, very weird.
(3)Fitness P.
Top-notch neighborhood spot. It's VERY loud, so don't go with folks with whom you want to converse in depth. Waiter gave terrific recommendations, and all of the dishes were great. Especially loved the grilled calamari app and the halibut entree. Really neat and extensive Italian wine list, many of which have quartino (250 ml) option. Everything is relatively inexpensive considering the quality of food and service. Tight-knit quarters, but that's the scene here. Will go back for sure!
(4)Tim G.
I have dined here on several occasions, and the restaurant is consistently good. Service is slow - too many tables per server. The restaurant is loud, the wine list lofty, and the pricing is a little high for portions. Dessert menu is skimpy. However, the food is always reliable. The menu is fun, traditional, rustic Italian comprised of local ingredients. Overall, we always enjoy the food and experience. One more wait person to split the room better would go a long way.
(4)Henry S.
Every time I go to Anterprima, I am transported back to Italy. On a recent windy, blustery spring night, I imagine myself in sunny Umbria, surrounded by grape vines and gnarly olive trees. Ok... back to reality. In my opinion, there are 2 restaurants in Chicago that really makes me feel like I'm back in Italy. Anteprima never fails to give me that feeling. The small storefront is always packed and bustling, and one hopes for when their back patio is open, to give some breathing room. After you sit down, an amuse bouche of zucchini tart welcomes you. Then, the bread basket arrives. OMG I can live on that alone. Crunchy dense house-made bread sticks, good sourdough, and crumbly foccacia with a soft interior. There is a regular seasonal menu, and a smaller daily specials menu. All told, there are about 15 antipasti to choose from. Certain smaller ones you can even get as a mixed platter. All pasta and risotto can be ordered in full or half sized options. Anything that comes out of the wood burning oven is always a sure bet. On this visit, I had the Chicken Liver Crostini with pickled okra; wood-grilled Iroquois Polenta with fava, ramps, and English peas; grilled Octopus with potatoes, red onion, chile, parsley, lemon and olive oil. For our mains, I had the wood-grilled Rabbit with roasted artichokes & fennel, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and pine nuts. My partner had the Stuffed wild turkey breast with spinach and prosciutto. The smooth Liver was a sharp contrast to the crunchy, oily bread underneath. Batons of radishes on top brought bursts of freshness. The pickled okra provided a good counterpoint to all the richness. The Polenta looked almost like a piece of steak with all the grill marks and woodsy aroma. The ragout of spring veggies underneath, in a light tomato sauce, was a perfect foil for all the creaminess. One of their signature antipasti, the Octopus, was next. Wood grilled tender octopus chunks, in a salad of punchy flavors and textures. The only dish that could rival this would be the Pulpo con Patatas at Mercat ala Planxa. Wood grilled vs confit octopus? I can't decide. Our entrees really brought us back to the rustic cuisine of Italy. So, rabbit. Haters stop here. If you can't imagine having little Peter for dinner, that's cool. I grew up eating rabbits and would jump on the chance whenever they are on the menu. Anyways, the rabbit were presented as cutlets, quiet a departure from the usual leg-and-loin-on-the-bone preparation. It was grilled ala diavola style, with a mess of herbs and tons of pungent black pepper corn. The accompanying veggies provided a symphony of complements to the meat. The artichoke was toothsome, the fennel nicely caramelized and sweet. The wild turkey breast was a similar variation on the same theme as the rabbit. A turkey breast, stuffed with spinach and prosciutto, rolled and crusted with tons of herbs. Perfection. We washed all the food down with a Nebbiolo, the 2000 Bianchi from Sizzano. Medium bodied, yet dark and murky. It was perfect for that night's weather. Dessert was the usual liquid route. I had the fig infused house grappa. I felt the burn as always, but now the edge has been tempered a wee bit by the sweetness of the figs. I was ready to snuggle up in bed. Why 4 stars? Anteprima transports me back to Italy, time and time again. They serve a lot of dishes that are not available elsewhere in this area. Their cooking method is grounded in the Italian tradition, using fresh seasonal ingredients. That is the spirit of Italian cuisine. Mr Fosse the owner is ever so gracious. The all-Italian wine list offers a wide range of varieties. The room is charming (a bit tight), and it is truly a neighborhood gem.
(4)Joel C.
Hands down, my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago and the closest thing to a true family-style Italian restaurant meal outside of the boot. This is a must for groups of friends and loyalists to fresh pasta and authenticity. It's a great place for a date if you can handle loud, boisterous atmospheres. Ante Prima features a long list of outstanding antipasti that offer a wide variety of meats, vegetables and cheeses. Always a good move to do an assortment and pass around. The caponata is an extraordinary marinated eggplant that can not be missed. Pastas are handmade and the sauces represent a party of different flavors and textures. As with the antipasti, definitely order a variety and pass the plates around. The Orecchiette with Spicy Lamb Ragu is always a hit and one of my all-time favorite dishes. Entrees and wine list are fantastic (plenty of recognizable Italian producers) and the service is friendly and insightful. Parking across the street at the bank is a HUGE bonus. We brought kids along our first time there and they had a great time. The older one with a good palate loved exploring new flavors. Meanwhile, the younger one who was a little freaked out by the menu ended up having a great time and the kitchen was more than happy to whip up a simple pasta and marinara for her.
(5)AJ L.
In a word - amazing! I went on a romantic date and it couldn't have been better. We went on Friday night at 7:30 and the place was full but we made reservations so we had a table waiting. The seating is a bit crowded but we managed to get a table in the corner so it was very intimate and private. The food: we started with an amuse bouche. No explanation was given, it just appeared shortly after we sat down so I still have no idea what it was except that it was delicious, and a perfect preview of the great food to come. We started with the grilled octopus and the tuna bruschetta, both very good. The bruschetta had a great tartness to it and the bread was perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. For an entree I had one of the pasta specials with homemade over-sized bowtie pasta and veal. After the two appetizers I just got the small portion which was the perfect amount. So good. My date had the orecchiette and lamb sausage which he said had the just the right amount of spice to it. The service: Our waiter was perfect. Equal parts charming, attentive and helpful without being overbearing or pushy. My date and I were so busy talking that we took awhile to order and did it in parts. Despite being quite busy, our server never rushed us or made us feel bad for lingering over our meal, and he was quick to bring us new cocktails while we were deciding. All in all, a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Alanna O.
I went here with a girlfriend and felt immediately at home with the decor! So cute!! The food was delicious and, as someone else pointed out, the portions are not completely huge like at most places. For 1 App, 2 entrees and 2 gls. wine, it was about $100. A little pricey, but everything was very good and the service was awesome!! We asked the waiter a LOT of questions about the menu and he did an excellent job of describing and explaining everything for us. The only complaint I would have is that a took forever to get our wine. All that being said, I would totally go back!!
(4)Paul J.
There's only one thing wrong with Anteprima, an Italian restaurant with absolutely fabulous food, and it's a problem egregious enough to merit knocking a couple stars off what would otherwise be a perfect score: They cram way too many tables into a small place, making the restaurant so unnecessarily crowded and noisy that it significantly undermines the pleasure of dining there. If you read the other reviews on this site you'll see this is a recurring complaint. The noise has little to do with acoustics or with the enthusiasm of diners and everything to do with the owner's business model. There are just too many tables. My wife and I have dined at Anteprima at least 10 times in the last year, so we ought to know. Last night's experience was so bad I'm driven to complain about it here. We had reservations and were put at a table that shouldn't have even been set. It was so near the entry door that cold air whooshed in on us whenever anyone came or went, and there was a constant bustle of people flowing by inches from our table as they came and went. The six-person table behind us was nearly on top of us. Two men seated there were closer to me than my wife who was sitting at MY table, and all night long I was subjected to their conversation about fishing in New England and problems with the medical profession. One had only to stand up and peer across the room to see the problem. It was just a sea of people. Imagine a college classroom crammed with rows of seats 20 deep with people jammed elbow-to-elbow and you'll get the idea. There was very little room to negotiate the maze of tables as one tried to make one's way to the bathroom amidst the bustle of servers trying to thread their way through the crowd. As I got up to leave and looked around the solution to this problem was absolutely clear. Pull 4 or 5 tables out of the room. The problem could be solved as simply as that, but apparently the owner so wants the extra revenue those tables generate that he's unwilling to make an adjustment that would enhance the quality of everyone's dining experience so that it matched the excellent food he serves. Pop in down the street at the wonderful Jin Ju or Ceres' Table, or up Clark at Antica Pizzeria, and you'll see how the room at Anteprima ought to be managed. It's a pity this wonderful restaurant fails so badly when it comes to ambience.
(3)Laurie R.
Three of us ate at Anteprima last night. I would go back even though we found the food somewhat inconsistent. We ordered a platter with a sample of apps and it was tasty and would easily serve a table of four - great value. I should have sent my pasta entre back as the red paper flakes so dominated the dish I could barely eat it, and I like spicy food. My friend has a pasta with lamb sausage that was amazing. My other friend ordered a half order of pasta that was so ridiculously small I was surprised they would send it out. The space is lovely but LOUD. Wine prices quite reasonable given the quality.
(3)Kimberly L.
The first time I came here they had just opened. The restaurant is incredibly charming but the overall experience was pretty average. I came here again over the winter with a large group of friends and I'd have to say we had an amazing meal and a very special time here. I'd say that not everything on the menu is spectacular--and I had some kind of fig tart for dessert that was perfectly awful--but if you ask the waiter for recommendations, you're sure to have a wonderful experience. I'd definitely come back.
(4)Mike M.
Last weekend I took my family (which included my 1 yr old neice) and sat outside on the patio. The weather was amazing, which added to the beautiful, comfortable atmosphere they've created out back. The service was terrific! attentive, but not overbearing...allowed us to relax and enjoy coursing out the evening. I started off with a delicious and STRONG signature cocktail with Gin, Campari, Vermouth, and a KICK! The Antipasti was delicious and the portions were perfect. I had the orecchiette with spicy sausage which I loved, but my dad's bucatini came away as the fam favorite for the evening. I can't wait to go back! Most italian restaurants leave you feeling full and heavy, but I loved the light and fresh flavors and look forward to going back for another great night on the patio with friends and family (if I can drag them down to the city again soon!) The food and wine prices were reasonable too, so it's not going to break the bank. **I'm back to write yet again a review saying how perfect my evening was there. Went on Friday. Sat at the bar and had a terrific meal with stellar service. Marty the owner was kind and generous and I'm already excited to go back and bring close friends. Terrific in every way.
(5)Sarah F.
I would actually give Anteprima 4 1/2 stars. We went on a Saturday night around 8 p.m. - to this latest "it" spot in Andersonville - so it was pretty much our fault that we waited for nearly an hour and a half to sit down to eat (they don't take resos). Boy was it worth it though! The space is quite adorable and home-y, but with an equally elegant feel. Our experience from start to finish was wonderful. Even though it was later - nearly 10p.m.- when we got sat (and they close at like 11) our server was helpful and tourguided us through all the specials, menu and wine list. The service and food were prompt (I'm sure they knew after all the wait we were hungry), but we did not feel rushed at all. All of our food was flavorful and perfectly done. We started with a chilly bottle of Prosecco, along with a special, and amazing Leek Tart for an appetizer. God that was good! We also shared an arugula salad. The combination of the spicy dressing with the arugula salad was a bit overpowering (all the peppery flavor) but still it was pretty good. At the suggestion of my friend, who had been there before, all three of us at my table got the NY Strip steak. OMG was it perfectly seasoned and crusted on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. Exceptionally perfect! That may have been one of the most beautifully presented and best tasting steaks I've ever had (and from a little Andersonville storefront type Italian restaurant none-the-less!!). I would go back just for that. I think the steak came with some spinach salad and other greens, which was Italian-appropriate and made the entire dish somewhat lighter. I appreciated that. We had been drinking a lot of white wine/sparkling, so wanted to stick with white, even though we were having red meat. Our server came to the rescue and recommend a completely perfect, tad heavier white wine (it was Italian, but don't remember the grape) that worked just beautifully with the meat. It actually REALLY complimented it! Our server was really great! The desserts we shared, a chocolate hazelnut pie and berry tart, were very nice also. The best part was definitely that steak though. I WILL BE BACK!
(4)David R.
Terrific neighborhood restaurant with excellent food, relaxing atmosphere and attentive service. We started with the anti pasta plate, moved on to the hearty and tasty wild boar parpadelle and finished with the halibut and suckling pig specials. The roasted pig had a wonderful smokey flavor, and the fish was cooked perfectly. The lemon panna cotta was a refreshing finish to a great dining experience.
(4)Alison T.
My husband and I have eaten at this reast. 3 or 4 times over the last few years. It is always outstanding. Last weekend I had the homemade pappardelle noodles with prosciutto ragu and it was outstanding. Everything we've ever eaten here has been first rate. Serivice is friendly and nice. My only criticism - is that it is a very crowded space. It's a little hard to maneuver around the reast. at times - but totally worth it.
(5)Lauren W.
Ultimately, I wouldn't travel up to the 5300 block of Clark Street in order to eat here, but if I were up there and looking for a good bite, I would probably go back. My biggest issues were with service and the pasta dishes, but otherwise the food was pretty good. Careful with dishes that include chili oil - they're not fooling around when it comes to adding heat. Here's how it went down: Right off the bat, we ordered a bottle of sparkling rose to celebrate one of my best friends' birthdays. At the same time, we ordered the assortment of the first eight starters on the menu as well as a special starter and a salad: grilled scamorza cheese with chili oil and lemon and the market salad with fresh sugar snap peas, fava beans and shaved pecorino in a light lemon and herb dressing. The assortment was wonderful: red beets, white turnips, cannellini beans, asparagus, farro, eggplant caponata, roasted peppers with a breadcrumb topping and olives. We ate just about the whole plate between the three of us. The scamorza cheese was VERY spicy and delicious, but had a fried-looking coating which was inconsistent with the "grilled" description. The spice kind of took over and didn't leave room for the other flavors, but that didn't kill the dish for me. The market salad was excellent - very light and fresh and crisp. That was gone in under 3 minutes. We'd pretty much finished all of our starters (and, as you can see, we ordered a lot of them) when we realized that we didn't have our rose. Or the basket of bread that everyone around us seemed to have. Or a new bottle of water (which was pretty important since the cheese was so hot). When our waiter finally came back, we very nicely reminded him of the rose and he was quick to admit that he had completely forgotten it. He was racing back to the kitchen before we could also ask for the bread and water. He finally got us the wine and raced around for the bread and water as soon as we asked. We figured that even though he was a little forgetful, he was trying to make up for it. Plus, from the moment we came into the restaurant he had been fluttering around our table complimenting us and "flirting" as much as a middle-aged gay man can with three twenty-somethings. I figured it was in the hope of getting a better tip. Anyway, after the wine, bread and water incident, he mentioned in an apologetic way that he would make it up to us and to make sure the birthday girl left room for dessert. In my head, I figured "free dessert" or at least free something. Our entrees arrived and they initially brought me the wrong pasta. I took a look at it and quickly explained that this didn't look like the strozzapretti the waiter had described - he had said "bowtie pasta" and this was penne of some kind. They very quickly made the switch, so I wasn't really put off by the mixup. But when they set my correct dish in front of me, I was confused by what the waiter thought a bowtie looked like. The pasta was clearly homemade, which I appreciated, but it was just thick, dense strips of dough - not light and al dente. The seasonings were good - spicy from the chilis and pretty fishy due to the anchovy soffritto, but the pasta itself was just not well made. Period. The other pasta at our table was the orrechiette with lamb sausage. The pasta actually looked like orrechiette, so that was good, but when I tasted it, I was similarly disappointed. Too dense and doughy - not al dente at all (at least I didn't think it was - the orderer of the dish didn't seem to mind). The flavors in the orrechiete were, again good, but still lacking a little. I wanted there to be more sauce. As it was, the pasta was a little too dry for me. It was really too bad about both pasta dishes because I go to Italian places for the purpose of ordering pasta and I want it to be excellent every time. However, I think Anteprima is a place for traditional main courses because the birthday girl's hangar steak was to die for. The steak itself was grilled rare with excellent, crusty seasonings and sat on a bed of farro with a mint and fava bean pesto. The pesto was excellent and tasted really light and fresh. With the farro and juicy steak, the dish was incredible. I don't order steak very much because I generally figure I know what the flavor of a steak is and want to try something new, but I would probably order the hangar steak if I went back - the flavors were very original. I was impressed. We didn't do a dessert (we walked down the block to share a sundae at George's instead - the Grasshopper is spectacular), but the list provided a lot of variety and involved a lot of fresh fruit, which I appreciated. The bill came promptly and to my surprise there was no comped anything and no secret birthday dessert. This didn't really bother me, but it didn't improve my overall sentiments about the lacking service.
(3)Josie F.
Came to here for Sunday dinner, and will be back often. Our server Deian was really good but the food was great. We ordered four starters. She did not really recommend the saffron veal meatballs which where our favorite. Also great was the wild boar ragu with parpardell. The hand made pasta was lite and delicate. Two of us ordered pasta and two of us ordered meat dishes. The duck saltiambocca was perfection. I was also impressed with the manager who was happy to help me pick out wine. I told him I normally enjoy viogney and sv. blanc and he new just what to bring me. The price point seemed appropriate just do not bring anyone on a small budget.
(5)David N.
Well lets just say I was extremely disappointed in this place. A friend and I were in the mood for some good Italian food and decided to come try this place out. First of all, being a vegetarian I was very limited to what I could order. There were only two pasta dishes from the whole menu that I could pick from. My friend and I decided to split the Ravioli dish that had peas, butter, and mint leaves. We also ordered some bruschetta for an appetizer. What we got for bruschetta, we were not expecting at all. Bread covered with spinach, and had a horrible smell to it. I had one little taste of it and could not eat any more. Our main dish came, and this also was disappointing, our server had informed us that the mint you could not taste a whole lot of, but we both agreed that the mint did nothing for this ravioli dish and would have tasted better with it left off. Our server was gracious enough to not charge us for the bruschetta, but this is definitely not a place I will come back to. There are many really good italian restaurants out there that I enjoy much better.
(2)Robin D.
Theres a reason why this place is always packed. it has good food, its as simple as that. Ive been to this place 3x. The first time, I had pasta and it was really good. The second time I ordered the specials which really didnt blow me away and the third time I had the pork chops which were just ok. My personal lesson, stick wih the pasta and risotto dishes coz they really are good. Try the Budino for dessert it is light and heavenly. If you want rustic traditional authentic italian dishes this is the place to go.
(4)Aaron M.
My favorite restaurant in Chicago, without question. Cozy, unpretentious atmosphere with great service and great food. You get the same quality of ingredients and preparation as, say, Blackbird, but in a much warmer environment. The menu changes frequently, but if they have the Trotter appetizer, pasta w/ chicken liver, or the venison w/ sweet potato puree, please order them.
(5)A. R.
The portions are small and the menu is a la carte so you have spend another $9 to get a meager salad with your entree. We did get a nice basket of bread before our meal but had to ask to get oil and butter. The service is so-so, and the prices a bit too high for what you get. Not worth a second visit.
(2)ryan h.
Grabbed dinner there on Friday night and was a little nervous because of all the mixed reviews. I must say that my wife and I were very impressed. The food was great, and our waitress did an amazing job. Asparagus appetizer was phenomenal. If Asparagus, Quiche and a Souffle made a love child it would be this. Just phenomenal. I had the lamb which was pit roasted and it was very well spiced and well cooked. I'm sure we'll go back soon.
(4)Lauren R.
Second visit tonight. This place is amazing. The flavors! The service! The charm! It might be my favorite neighborhood Italian place in Chicago. Highly recommended: the pastas, any of them, although the agnolotti w/goat cheese, orange and fennel pollen is beyond words. And the polenta w/spicy rapini starter, another fave. And the (fantastic) wine selection allows a "by the glass" quartino, which is the perfect amount. Had a different waiter each time and have just adored each one, making for two wonderful evenings. I was happy to see that they were crowded tonight, on a Monday. So hopefully they'll be around for a long, long time.
(5)Jon S.
Where to even begin with this place: wait staff, food, wine, atmosphere, prices, selection, location, .... all are wonderful! OMG I love this place. I highly recommend making reservations before you go, but honestly I've walked in at least 4 times this summer with no reservation and they made space for me. I'm not a meat eater and they do a great job of altering the dishes to make sure you have multiple options; all their pastas are made fresh daily and delicious. My meat eating friends seem to always get the steak cooked in olive oil and rosemary; laid on a bed of arugula ... I've yet to see anyone leave even a bite on the plate. It's devoured and gushed over it's complex tastes and texture experience! Go here; you won't regret it. Ask lots of questions about the food and how it's cooked, the wait staff actually know what they are talking about and love to share the info. Also, great wine selection and the wait staff will bend over backwards to help you find something you love!
(5)hey a t.
This little Italian Bistro is cute, and the food is sensational. The pasta is made daily. The one thing I really liked about this restaurant was that they were not rushing us out the door. If you like great Italian, you are headed in the right direction.
(5)Moe f.
So Hot Doug and his crew came in while we were eating so you know it's gotta be good. In spite of the chilly Aug weather, we sat on the back patio which I recommend as it was jammed pack inside when we were leaving. Started with a bottle of red and the house made goat sausage which was fantastic. Then we had half orders of the lobster & ricotta ravioli and the orcecchiete with spicy lamb sausage. Both were excellent but the orecchiette had so many great flavors. We split the wood grilled rabbit which was very good too and they split it up for us on two plates which was nice. We finished with a chocolate-hazelnut tart(get it) and blueberry tart(skip it). Service was excellent. I didn't feel it was too pricey considering the quality of food. Tab was $120(sans tip) but we didn't get the cheapest bottle of vino and had cappuccinos as well. Definately want to come back on the prix fixe night then. So then on a side note, my celebrity chef sighting continued when I look over at some range rover and see Art Smith driving with another dude. I tell my wife who looks over and says "wow that is him and he's picking his nose". I think it looked more like a scratch but very amusing.
(4)Scott V.
This restaurant is in the space vacated by Madrigals. I went there for the first time the day after Christmas. At about 7:30 pm, the place was packed, so there was a half hour wait to get a seat. We were seated at the first table in the window, which made feel a tad removed from the crowd (not a good thing). I like to try new things, but the menu descriptions were written so that everything listed sounded too spicy or strange. We had the squid appetizer, which was good and plentiful, but was rather flavorless (at least it wasn't fishy). I do not even recall what we ordered for our entrees--so they were not very memorable. Disappointing best sums up our experience at Anteprima. If you are in Andersonville, and you are in the mood for Italian, you would be better off going to Calo's.
(3)Stephanie S.
Really innovative, fresh and delicious food. The waitstaff clearly loves food and will happily give you a recommendation if you are undecided on your meal- which is very likely because their menu is fantastic.
(4)K P.
Some really tasty dishes. I particularly like the chargrilled octopus as a starter, and the other night I tried the roast suckling pig which was delicious. Some of the servings are a little small - but with an appetizer to share and 1/2 dishes of pasta we went home full. The waiters are always ready to lend a hand deciphering some of the oddly named dishes or to help you pick a wine for a certain dish. They can be pretty busy, so reservations are a good idea.
(4)Aurora B.
This place is great. The atmosphere is really cute and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The wine list is pretty extensive and a little intimidating since I had never heard of ANY of the italian wines that were listed, but our waitress was very patient with us and inquired about what qualities we like in wine and then gave us a great recommendation. The salads and main dishes were very good at just the right proportion size. I left feeling totally satisfied without that overstuffed italian food feeling
(4)Jerry U.
I really want to enjoy this restaurant. It's very quaint and has wonderful potential in a great location. I tried it about a year ago and while I enjoyed the sliced steak entree, my friend was completely disappointed with his pasta choice. So after a year, last night we decided to give it another try at my request. This time, it was me that came away completely disappointed. I agree with everyone's comments about the service - it was simply poor and completely lacking - we even dined late so they were not that busy by the time we sat down to eat. This time, I tried the pasta and it was just bad. I had the orecchiette pasta with spicy house made lamb. I've had a similar dish at some of my other favorite italian joints that I've really enjoyed but the execution on this was terrible. Heavy, starchy pasta, greasy sausage with no real sauce or broth and a few dandelion weeds. It was hands down the worst pasta dish I've ever had in a restaurant before and I eat out a LOT. There are so many GREAT restaurants in the city and even in Andersonville that I do really wonder why Anteprima seems to be busy all the time? Maybe I made a bad menu choice - but two strikes and I'm done.
(2)Paul P.
The first person I met in your restaurant was so full of attitude that I was grateful when there was a wait. "The Reservation Name...?" poured out of his mouth with such unwelcome, and condescension, as if too say, "how could you possibly expect to get a seat in this restaurant tonight without a reservation?" We were all on the same page... you and I both knew that we didn't have a reservation. If you did think we actually had a reservation, you never would have approached us with such an attitude. Too bad, all we were looking for was an idea of the wait time, and an invitation to the bar where we would have gladly dropped cash on drinks while we waited. People who are looking to dine in Andersonville, eat elsewhere... Calo, Great Lakes, the new Vincent, which had less open tables, and still sat us right away, with a smile and what seemed like a sense of appreciation for our business.
(1)Jim M.
After several attempts to get a table on a number of Saturday nights, Anteprima managed to squeeze me and my friend in at 6:30 for dinner (my preferred time is 7:30 to 9:30) this past Saturday. Upon arriving, we were seated immediately and our server was courteous, swift and helpful. We shared a 1st course of mussels and it was absolutely delicious. For the main course I had the lamb chops and my friend had the wide noodles with boar meat. Both were good, but not outstanding. The wine list was good. As we were near finishing our dinner, a number of tables opened up and stayed open. I can only question why it was so difficult to get a reservation at 7:30 or later. Perhaps my expectations were raised with all the fuss over reservations here, but with so many good restaurants to select in the Andersonville neighborhood, it is doubtful that I'll return to this one.
(3)Jeff W.
Nice find in the neighborhood. Fresh pasta with some fun choices. Try the wild boar ragu with a quartino of one of their exceptionally well-chosen Italian varietals. They offer smaller portions of most pastas which is a nice option when you're just popping in from a walk around Andersonville for a quick bite.
(5)shell h.
This place fooled me with the packed crowd and glowing recommendations but I was very disappointed. The free little vegetable pastry they brought to our table didn't look appetizing at all more like cold pizza. The bread was great that they brought to the table with no oil or butter, we had to ask.. isn't this an italian restaurant? I actually had a hard time picking something off the menu so i chose the dusted grouper which was a nightmare, it tasted like it had been just taken out of a freezer bag and deep-fried, it was fried on the outside but still mushy and overly salted??? I don't know why a place charging 19$ for this entree would serve something so horrible and tasteless. My boyfriend had a squid steak with garbanzo beans, which he said he could have made it at home and saved some money. The goat cheese ravioli was the only delicious item that stood out. The lamb shank another friend ordered tasted like pot roast and was a little chewy. I don't think we were even asked if we liked our meal at all, the hostess was great but the server came to our table maybe 3 times. I regret going here but I guess I know now that if you want good seafood in Andersonville you have to go to the Hopleaf.
(1)Jen J.
i have never had a bad meal here and the service is always beyond friendly and helpful. their seasonal menus are fantastic. the pastas are always fresh and the meats always tender. the panna cotta is not to be missed. i go here when i'm ready to drop some cash because i will have to have 3 courses and a bottle of wine. the prices are reasonable for the type of atmosphere and cuisine. they also have a small patio in the back with 5-6 tables in the summer. great place.
(5)Sue P.
The atmosphere was warm and the staff knowledgeable about the foods. Salad was good for starters, the pasta delicious but for 11 dollars - it only had 6 pieces of ravioli but very, very good. The dessert was unbelievable. Will go back when someone pays my way.
(5)Sooyon H.
Anteprima is located in such a cute, little neighborhood with so much charm! We were able to find a non-metered parking spot right away. The restaurant has a cozy feel to it. . . a lot of smaller tables packed into the room. We started off with the highly recommended grilled octopus, which was to my liking. . . seasoned well without it being overwhelmingly chewy. We also settled on getting one of their specials for the day as another appetizer. As for the entrees, I absolutely loved their bucatini. . . so light and fresh, using such simple ingredients. I can alone go back to the restaurant for this dish. Unfortunately, the pasta dish with prosciutto that I had ordered was simply just okay. . . it didn't really stand out to me. All in all though, we enjoyed our experience here from the moment that we got seated right away with our reservations to having such an accommodating waiter who was attentive to our requests. What was even more delightful is their back patio, which was decorated nicely.
(4)Dan C.
Very Pleasantly surprised. Our friends had said that the portions were too small for the price, but we found the portions to be just right. We also thought that the quality of our meals definitely justified the price.
(4)J. Richard W.
We tried to eat at Anteprima on the Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend but they were so disorganized that, after waiting 40 minutes past our reservation time, we just gave up and ate somewhere else. What was particularly annoying was that when we showed up they told us that it would be a 15-20 minute wait. I specifically asked: "when you say 15-20 minutes do you really mean 40-50 minutes or is it really 15-20?". The host assured us that it would be no more than 20 because the party at our table was in the process of paying their bill. What is also annoying is that one member of our party ate there a few weeks ago and had the same problem - i.e. having to wait for an extended time past their reservation time. (By the way Anteprima doesn't even have a bar where customers can wait for their table. Instead they send you to their sister restaurant down the street.) Restaurants that can't get it organized enough to know how long it takes them to turn over tables and who then lie about the true wait time don't deserve my business. There are too many good restaurants out there that also provide good service and have respect for their patrons' time.
(1)Amanda A.
I'll say it again and again - the food can only take a restaurant so far...the service is truly half the battle - the make or break often of any evening out. I had passed by this restaurant several weeks ago while visiting one of my andersonville favorites - jin ju and thought that it looked absolutely charming and quaint. When friends and fellow foodies of mine had invited me to join them for dinner here, I was absolutely thrilled to tag along and try somewhere new that had already caught my eye. On the way there - before we ever even got to the restaurant - Anteprima put a bad taste in my mouth. One of my friends had been there previously and they had been out of the entree he had wanted to try and so had called ahead to see if he could preorder (and prepay) so that he would be able to try it on this visit. They refused! (and of course they were out of it again when we arrived). We were 2 minutes away from the restaurant, when the host called to find out where we were - at a point when we were actually not yet late. While I can appreciate a host being on top of things - let it be said that his questions regarding our whereabouts were not without an attitude that extended to when we actually arrived at the restaurant and as he sat us without hiding his obvious unneccessary annoyance. BEYOND THAT POINT though - our food was phenomenal - the grilled octupus appetizer was delectable and tender - the polenta was so light and fluffy that it literally melted in my mouth and my monkfish was superb. Our server was wonderful and made excellent suggestions for both beverage and food. I will go back and hopefully make it past the host stand with a smile still on my face so that I can give this restaurant a review that matches the excellence of the meal itself.
(3)Wayne L.
Love the decor, the Andersonville location and even the food. However, after finishing my $18 pasta dish, I was still hungry. The whole time I was eating my food, I was saying to myself that this better be the half portion size. It wasn't, and that's a shame. On top of that, I feel that the service was only adequate. I'll go back optimistic that things will be better, but only after several months of them fine-tuning the kinks.
(3)Erik M.
I would love to give a higher rating to Anteprima but there has been a consistency issue. First time we went there it was a 4 boarding on 5 rating, we looked forward to coming back. The 2nd time was a 3 star on the food, atmosphere always a 4-5 experience, very cozy and lively. The reason 3 star on food was too much salt, a little dry on the rabbit dish I had, just not nailing the dishes. I also based my ratings with price in mind. If you going to charge $15-20 or more for an entree, you have to deliver a plate that meets the value. Unfortunately they come up short. The food is good here, one of the better Italian resturants in the city, but not consistently top. We want back a third time hoping for a great meal, and still got good to OK food. Service and atmosphere is very good, but can be hit or miss on the meal. For best Italian I have had so far in the city it has to be A Tavola over in Wicker Park/East Village on Chicago Ave. It is more expensive, but always delivers.
(3)Ellen P.
Absolutely fantastic service and food from start to finish! First, it was my mother's birthday, and I was completely disorganized. I'd walked by this place millions of times on my way to and from other Andersonville spots, and thought "Have to try this place." It's always packed, a good sign. I procrastinated making a dinner reservation, couldn't remember the name, and finally had to get my lazy butt off the couch, walk the three blocks, and ask if they had any reservations left for THAT day, a Saturday! My friend told me I was crazy "It's cold. You really going to walk over there? Let's just go to Calo (another great Andersonville place), and try them another day." My effort was instantly rewarded. I was greeted by Marty, the owner, who shook my hand, and offered help. I confessed that I was a disorganized daughter, and needed a reservation for 6, that evening if possible. He offered 5:30 pm or 9, and while I quickly made phone calls to friends to make sure 5:30 wasn't too early, he quickly called all of his 6:30 reservations to confirm that they were coming. I walked home, in the cold and snow (are you reading, mom?) with a reservation in hand. Our dinner experience was equally wonderful. Our waiter was Paul, who with very good humor guided four giddy women (see note about wine below) and two kids through the menu. The chef very graciously accommodated my friend's request to let her 8 year old son try a little bit of their soup before ordering a full bowl -- we weren't sure what he'd think of escarole - he loved it. We ordered wine, appetizers, dessert, and they threw in an after dinner dessert wine for my mom as a b-day treat. Everything we ordered, which included beef, lamb and pasta, was superb. The bottled wine selection had lots of great Italian selections, and a good price range (note: if your party can agree on a bottle, you will definitely save money with this option -- individual glasses were $9 and above, and most were "above"). We also noticed that the table next to us brought their own wine, so BYOB is an option. A great addition to Andersonville, we'll be returning often!
(5)Mike C.
My bf took me here for my birthday and the food and service were amazing. I will say that I was pretty buzzed from the wine (which, the waiter was cool enough to recommend after I told him what I like) but overall my experience was great. Only draw back is that it is very crowded and a little loud but that can be expected when the food is this good - everyone will show up eventually
(5)A. B.
Mediocre at best. The only worthwhile thing about this restaurant was the unique beer choices. Terrible menu, difficult to call this place an Italian restaurant.
(1)Alvin d.
great energy, nice wine selection, very good service, decent price points (I especially like the 2 choices for portion size of the pasta dishes) and the menu is great. come here for pasta choices beyond your typical tomato or cream sauces, the entree selection is fun as well.
(4)Kate H.
Even with the deals they offered, the food is not worth the price. Flat priced meals (an appetizer, entree and dessert or an appetizer, half pasta and and entree for $30) certainly helped (my meal would have come to $45 with out the deal), however, it wasn't enough to merit a return trip. For appetizers, we tried the house made rabbit sausage and the salama/prosciutto etc sampler. The sausage was spicy but quite good, however, the sampler was a miss. The quality of the meat was not notable. The winter squash ravioli was nice, however, a half portion is anemic. Of the main courses, ribs w/polenta and peppers and spicy chicken with spinach and broccoli, only the tender ribs were worth remembrance. The polenta was flavorless and the spinach was bitter to the point of being inedible. The chicken, while not terribly over cooked, was dry. For dessert, a dry, bland bread pudding. Definitely can't recommend this restaurant for these prices.
(2)sarah c.
My boyfriend and I went here for the first time the other night, for Valentine's Day dinner, a night that he usually loathes going out for, due to the crowdedness, overpriced menus, and poor service that usually go hand in hand w/ the occasion. I was able to convince him to go out this year, and fortunately, we were both pleasantly surprised! Our waiter was prompt and friendly. Food came out in a timely fashion, despite the packed house. The food was EXCELLENT!!!!(And I never say that lightly). All the food was great, but the entrees really stole the show - my boyfriend had the double-cut lamb chops and I had a scallops special. Everything was cooked to perfection, the flavors were excellent. It was a culinary delight! It wasn't cheap, but for a special occasion, it was definitely worth the price. All in all, it was a perfect v-day meal, and I can't wait to go back and try some of the other dishes.
(5)Jeff G.
i hate to split hairs, but i would give this a 3.75 overall rating. all the food we ordered was above average but to me was not amazing. fingerling potato appetizer was kind of bland. just a little egg and a lot of celery in there. i liked the homemade lamb sausage with ravioli type deal, but there was barely any meat at all. the brsiket special with brussle sprouts and polenta was the winner of the night we would probably go back
(4)Jay C.
Midrare bison flank steak. Fantastic. Knocked a star for 30min late on resv and nowhere good to wait, being a small joint.
(4)Cat D.
Anteprima gets 5 stars right off the bat because the pappardelle dish they had in July tasted exactly like my family's ravioli. The noodles, the sauce, everything. Over the years, I have become a ravioli snob because this is the one pasta dish we still make fresh and from scratch, and there's just no comparing it to the thick, doughy stuff you usually find in restaurants - even good ones. So, naturally, I was shocked to all hell when I put that mound of loveliness in my mouth. I was so shocked, I couldn't even tell you now which pasta dish *I* had ordered. It was an equally lovely pasta that I enjoyed thoroughly, but it wasn't that. So, 5 stars for Anteprima. Overall, the evening was lovely. I went with a couple friends, and we had some wine at the bar while waiting for a table on the patio to open up. Then we each ordered an appetizer, 1/2 pasta and 1/2 entree from the prix fixe menu. And dessert. Because you have to. Everything from wine on down through dessert was just fantastic (ok, except for my tuna entree... That fell a little flat for me, but that's what I get for ordering pepper-crusted anything. I was trying to be adventurous). The staff wound up having to ask us to leave because they wanted to close and go home for the evening. We just didn't want to go! So, I'm bringing more friends there next week, and you should, too. :)
(5)A L.
Hopefully the style of Italian cooking at Anteprima is the beginning of a trend. A trend where the pasta is handmade and not drowning in red sauce or oil. Where a wide selection of interesting dishes are presented (no Chicken Parm or baked manicotti here!). Where portion sizes are just-right and you don't go home with a 5 lb bag of leftovers. Where the wine selection is well thought-out and well-priced. This is not bastardized "Italian" cooking popularized in the 70's. This is what Italian food should be like and you shouldn't have to pony up Spiaggia-type prices. A girl can dream! The 4-stars instead of 5 is because after all it's not perfect...service was somewhat spotty (although nice) and one of the pastas was slightly overcooked (very easy to do when using fresh pasta which cooks in seconds), but I liked this place so much I hate to even bring up anything negative. I came to this restaurant twice in one week....and that says it all.
(4)Robb S.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Every meal I've had there has been incredible. I've even gone home and tried to replicate a few of the meals I've had there, being an amateur chef. The place is really cute, and the staff wonderful. I had a suprise dinner planned for my boyfriend and was giving him a wedding band...I contacted them ahead and they had everything ready for me...the table I requested, the champagne I ordered...it was perfect. I will come back here every chance I get. Excellent job guys!
(5)Rohan D.
The food is quite good, especially the seafood and ravioli. Service is good. The tables are too close together, so you're somewhat at the mercy of the manners and sense of decorum of your dining neighbors. This is another loud restaurant, enough that good conversation is a little hampered.
(3)Joyce C.
It was a cold Friday night and I felt like drowning myself in a big ass bowl of warm, tasty pasta. We tried two of the pastas the first time we came and they were delicious, so I was pretty excited to get the full sized version of them. We ordered the braised veal cheek app to start off with. Good, but I had to dig through my memory banks for that one so I can't say it was memorable. We decided on doing 4 half orders of pastas, so we could have a mini pasta buffet at our table. We got the pappardelle with the braised wild boar (delicious), some kinda gnocchi (just meh, overcooked, mushy and bland), some kinda tuna infused spaghetti with capers and olives (the worst dish... it tasted weird and it was our least favorite by far), and dammit I can't remember the last pasta dish. Whatever it was it was just ok though. Soooooooo disappointed. Oh well, still a 4-star because of the prix-fixe.
(4)Brian R.
Went last night for a "date night" with my wife. Will agree with many of the reviews that it was kind of loud...but very energetic. Food was fantastic. Mushroom ravioli for me; orrechetti for my wife. Great value and will be back for sure!
(4)Lakshmi R.
Andersonville has lots of restaurants but not a lot of *nice* restaurants, if you catch my drift. Anteprima is an exception: decent wine list, interesting cocktails, and an array of well-made meals...that'll cost ya. Cocktails go for about $9 each, entrees between $10-$20. We all had limited budgets, so we didn't get much food for a bill of around $130, but the food was at least good. I stuck with dessert, having eaten beforehand, and was a big fan of my chocolate tart: succulent, dark, rich...heaven! Unfortunately, the ginger mint julep that three out of four of us ordered turned out to be a mint julep with a barely discernable twinge of ginger. Hmm. Service is very so-so here. Our server, maybe tiring of waiting for us to order since we ourselves were awaiting the arrival of our fourth dining companion, wandered off for a long time. We ended up having to grab a busboy with a plea to find our server, and he ended up sending the restaurant's host to our table. He was none too happy about this and it seemed like our server ended up with a talking-to, so that was awkward. All said and done: a solid, 'nice' place that could do with some improvement.
(3)Ryan Y.
I've been a couple times. The service is average to above-average and they shove maybe four or six seats too many than is comfortable when full, but the food is to die for. The grilled octopus somehow had the texture of high-quality beef -- and that's surprisingly a good thing. Also, my friend had to actually apologize to the server; he ordered some sort of steak, and when it arrived no steak knife was given. After asking for it he realized it was so tender it just melted off with a fork. Definitely give it a try, but make a reservation. Both times I arrived early at opening, but by the time I left it was packed to capacity.
(4)Franny S.
A group of us had dinner here last week to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a wonderful meal. We all did the three-course weeknight prix fixe. I had an appetizer (grilled polenta, delicious), entree (scallops, absolutely FABULOUS) and dessert (a friend and I split the lemon pannacotta and the chocolate hazelnut torte, both were very good). You can also get a pasta course instead of dessert if you prefer. It really is a great deal for $29...the scallops alone were priced at $23 on the menu. I took off one star because the alcohol there is kinda pricey (and we drank a lot of it) and the service just a bit slow (though we were a party of eight so perhaps that's par for the course). I'd definitely go back on a weeknight for the prix fixe. I hear they have a really nice patio out back in the summer too!
(4)Eric B.
For me, the true measure of a great Italian restaurant is its ability to deliver on non-pasta dishes. It isn't an Atkins sourced aversion towards carbs, I just find that pasta gets in the way of meat and sauce flavors; aside from ravioli stuffed with meat in a meat sauce, I'm not interested. So, that's my bias. And Anteprima is more than ready for it, with entrees ranging from pork to steak to bison and beyond. Tonight I opted for the grilled octopus appetizer followed by the pork porterhouse special, grilled with peaches, faro, and smoked onion. The octopus was pleasantly chewy and flavorful, but the pork blew me away. It was a massive cut, cooked perfectly juicy, even at medium, the flavor enhanced by the juicy peaches and savory smoked onions, among the best I have ever tasted. The owner is attentive and ready to make recommendations on the wine list, and heartily recommended my choice, a valpolicella ripasso with some age and earthy tannins that smoothed out beautifully fifteen minutes after opening. He was correct, it evoked a baby amarone, and possessed a well balanced old world style that would complement any of the meat dishes on the menu. Finally, for dessert, the chocolate budino gives any French pot de creme, whether made at my place or elsewhere, a serious run for its money. The chocolate tart is a close second, and the coffee, Metropolitan's Red Line blend, is dark and heavy but extremely well balanced. The food is complemented by an Italian bistro decor and attentive but unhurried service. For high end casual Italian fare on the North side, Anteprima is worth a visit.
(4)Carly O.
My cousin wanted to treat me to dinner for my birthday. I happily hopped on Yelp to sift through the multitude of restaurants I have yet to try. But then I remembered that Anteprima is right up the street and absolutely wonderful. First off, make a reservation. Second, get the octopus appetizer because it will rock your socks off. Third, anything pasta is a winner. Our server coursed our meal, so everything came out already separated for two. The mushroom ravioli was so savory and rich. At first when I saw the bowl of just four squares I was like "really?", but there's no way I could have eaten anymore. The trout was cooked to perfection, nicely seasoned and wonderfully crispy. I know I should have gotten the lemon panna cotta, but we opted for the chocolate and hazelnut dessert and weren't disappointed. Anteprima is a gem.
(5)Nicole M.
I'd been to Anteprima last year and didn't have the best experience (thought it was noisy, slow service, and mediocre food), but after learning that an Italian friend of mine is an Anteprima regular, I thought I should give it another shot. And I'm so happy I did! My husband and I walked in on a Friday night around 7:45 p.m. without a reservation but were promptly offered a spot at the bar, which suited us just fine. We ordered the grilled octopus (with potatoes, red onion, chilis, parsley, lemon, olive oil) and fennel salad with oranges, walnuts, and parmigiano (one of the specials). Both were excellent and perfect for sharing. The octopus had a nice smoky flavor to it. The ingredients in both dishes were fresh and delicious. For entrees, we each got the smaller verison of two pasta dishes. I had the orecchiette with spicy house made lamb sausage, bitter greens, chilis, and pecorino. Even the smaller portion was still quite generous. My husband ordered the mushroom & ricotta ravioli with dried porcini cream, and parmigiano. It was nice to feel full but not stuffed at the end of our meal, and we prolonged our time by getting dessert - the cinnamon budino (sort of like a flan), which had a nice subtle flavor, and the apple walnut tart, which had a delicious crust. We had good service and although the restaurant was packed the entire time we were there (more than an hour an a half), it wasn't too loud. I am certainly going to be going back as there are a number of things on the menu I would love to try.
(4)Christopher K.
Anteprima flat out brought it. From eats to service to atmosphere, this place got it done. First impression was great as it was our anniversary and they reserved a special table for us right by the window and it just got better from there... Starters: Choices were overwhelming, but our server was very helpful in narrowing down the winners and losers. We went with the pork meatballs and grilled octopus - both were exceptional. Mains: Had the entree portions of the ravioli and orecchiette which didn't disappoint. About the only thing I would change about the whole experience would be to get the smaller portion of the pasta so I could try one of their main course dishes. Dessert: Passed on dessert, but they brought us out each a glass of dessert wine to celebrate our anniversary. A nice touch. Ambiance: Very romantic and a touch loud, but if you can score a seat by the window and watch the hustle and bustle on Clark, it's almost perfect. Service: Server was very attentive and helpful in selecting some of the best options from the menu. Host also greeted us warmly upon entering and wished us a happy anniversary. Overall: Would definitely recommend Anteprima for a date night or intimate evening with friends. Awesome experience!
(5)Tari M.
I LOVED this restaurant! The menu was very unique and exciting. Deciding what to order was a little bit of an ordeal. However, we ordered the mixed appetizer plate to start and I'm pretty sure my brain and my taste buds shared a moment. If I could date the brussel sprouts I would. In a word: wow. Our server was awesome - very helpful and knowledgeble. And patient (let me referenc the heavily optioned menu once again). The space is cute and cozy and the perfect place to catch up with friends OR enjoy a date. This is going on my list of top 10 favorite restaurants. As soon as I decide to make a list.
(4)Justin M.
Review 33 4 Stars Food : 4/5 Service : 5/5 Ambiance : 4/5 Value : 3/5 Consistency : 4/5 (2 visits) Summary Anteprima offers an extensive, rustic Italian menu with great, attentive service and very flavorful yet simple foods. Serving sizes are a little small, but designed so you have a proper Italian 4-course dinner (antipasti, primi, secondi, dessert). Details Originally, we had planned to celebrate my birthday dinner at another restaurant, but they happened to inform us they would be closed on my birthday for renovations. With two days notice. Really? Well, I will cover that in my next review of _that_ establishement So, at Anteprima, we celebrated my Birthday dinner here and it was a great experience and we will most certainly be back. I enjoy more traditional Italian and Tuscan food than American Italian and this was certainly the former. The decor at Anteprima was really welcoming, a nice bar, bread baskets ready to go and a laid back feel. Some people have written its a little cramped but we had no issue with it. The service was outstanding - attentive, patient, fresh cutlery for every course - just the little things. We were there just before 7pm, so I'm sure later on it gets busier and things may get a little hectic, but our experience was great. Onto the food - we had grilled polenta and pork meatballs for appetizer. The polenta was good, though I like mine a little cheesier and crisper, but all in all it was good. The pork meatballs were delicious - in a wonderful flavorful broth with just the right amount of heat and some nice onion there to discover. Next was pasta - we had the proscuitto ragu and swiss chard ravioli in brown butter sauce. The freshness of the pasta was wonderful - the ragu I would have like to be a little stronger in flavor, but still complemented the pasta well while for the ravioli was very nice. For secondi, we had the NY strip steak - melt in your mouth - served with arugula, lemon and parmesan cheese - just simple flavors adding to a sum greater then their parts. At this point we could not resist dessert - a trio of sorbet, including a mint one which was unique at it had the flavour of real mint along with a sweetness, and we also had the hazelnut chocolate tart. Yum. The quartinos of wine are just the right amount. Anteprima is deservingly busy, and we look forward to going there again soon as we can! Consistency We have been here twice - very consistent, lively and highly recommended. We had other pastas and the charcuterie plate that was very nice.
(4)Marget B.
I love this place! The ingredients are always fresh, the flavors subtle, the ambiance is pleasant and low-key. One of my favorite place to eat Italian in Chicago.
(5)Charlie B.
Just an update. I went back this past Sunday and had a super great and wonderful dinner there. It gets a star bump in my book for excellent food, a changing menu, lots of yummy wines and a great deal when they have the 3-course deal.
(4)Mark N.
There are those times when you're having such a WONDERFUL experience that you just can't wait to write a review on how awesome your entire experience was. This is one of those times. On a recent visit to Chicago (I live in Los Angeles) I had one of my best dining experiences ever when my gal pal and I went to Anteprima. From the moment Jeffrey greeted us at the front door with a smile as big as Julie Robert's, we knew we were going to have a great time. While we waited for our table, Jasmine poured us a mean martini. Straight up but of course. Sara was our server and her service was nothing short of impeccable while providing the perfect wine and food pairings and having just the right amount of friendliness thrown in. The food. WOW! Where do I start? The scallops were to die for! Everything was the best, so try it all. Needless to say, the evening eventually had to end, but not without saying goodbye (for now) to our new favorite restaurant and wonderful staff that we look forward to seeing again soon. See you in November!
(5)Lorenzo L.
Really liked the place when it first opened a few years ago, but have been really disappointed with the food the last two times I had dinner there. On both occasions, whoever was on the line had a heavy hand with the salt. Every dish we ordered was laden with salt, really masking the natural flavors of the various foods. Had it happened only one time, I would have chalked it up to " a bad night in the kitchen". But twice in a row appears to be " a trend". I won't go back again. Mediocre.
(2)Minna A.
very cute decor and attentive service! My friend and I came here to bid adieu as she left for a semester in Paris. We shared two dishes, and the waitstaff was kind enough to split the portions in half and plate the two different menu items separately for us. The Zucchini flowers with marinara? Delicious! I had no idea zucchini blooms would taste so good! All in all, the meal was great and the service attentive! I'll be sure to head on back this way soon!
(3)Victoria S.
go on a night the owner (Marty) is working- the kitchen is just better those nights than when he isn't there- that said the food is consistently good quality and fresh- lots of seasonal choices and the patio is also a plus when the weather cooperates... we have been here probably twenty or more times and are always glad to return
(4)Anceert M.
I am a fan of this place. Centrally located on the heart of Andersonville.(no cheap) but the food is great, specially the crostini toscani, traditional chicken liver topping, pickled vegetable (I love it). Great place to have dinner with your friends, but not for dates(It's a bit loud inside)
(4)Timothy G.
I have been going to this great little eatery for years, and always look forward to the great menu, fair prices and charming atmosphere. Its far better than all the downtown italian places that are overrated, and also the menus to fattening and too big of servings.Chicago needs more places like this.
(5)Bradley S.
Partner and I dined here recently at the suggestion of friends. We arrived way too early for the reservation and it was suggested we wait at their sister bar, Bar Ombra, two doors south. We returned at the reserved time and were seated promptly. Four of us shared 2 appetizers which were unique and very tasty. I ordered a bottle of wine, an Italian red meritage type, to which I had been introduced earlier at Bar Ombra. When we ordered our entrees I ordered another bottle (I guess the whole table liked it.) Partner had the duck breast which he loved. I had the chianti braised pork shoulder which was superb. One of our friends had a pork tenderloin dish which he proclaimed delicious. Our server was engaging and attentive. The space is a tad noisy perhaps but I think it worked out well for us in as much as Partner was a bit impassioned in parts of our conversation and it didn't disurb the neighboring tables. I think it's a very good value as four of us ate for about $250 which included two bottles of wine.
(4)Chicagoa N.
Our fourth or fifth trip to Anteprima was quite enjoyable, as were the earlier visits. My salad of heirloomtomatoes with diced cucumber, thin-sliced watermelon, dressed with mint, olive oil and lemon juice was the perfect starter on a muggy August evening. My farfalle with a prosciutto ragu was rich and satisfying, a small portion was more than enough. The lady enjoyed her choices as well, and the service was attentive and courteous. Anteprima is very noisy, not the place for a quiet chat, but for those in a festive mood, it's a wonderful reason to visit Andersonville. Moreover, if weather permits, the noise is not an issue if seating is available on the patio out back. Upscale and eclectic Italian food is served, but the cafe is never empty, reservations advised.
(4)Philip K.
We dined at Anteprima for the second time last night and for the second time enjoyed the food, but were disappointed by the service. Maybe it was because we weren't ready the first time the waiter came to take our order, but after ordering and beginning to drink a bottle of wine, we waited what seemed like an eternity to order food. A similar painful would-be eternity came between the dropping off of the dessert menu and the return of the waiter. Ok, so I sound whiney. But there's just something maddening about seeing your waiter flit across the room, cut bread at the bar, and chit chat with co-workers when you desperately want to order! On a more satisfying note, the food is delicious. We tried the octopus starter as many yelpers suggested--wonderful. The portions are sensible. So the food is great, service questionable. My final comment is on the phenomenon of small, trendy restaurants like this that pack in diners to create a very loud, claustrophobic atmosphere. Why do we flock to these places? Is the food really that great? or does the reservations-only buzz create a false sense of urgency? I mean, I'm not gonna lie--I felt somewhat special being a part of this seemingly elite room. "We know what's up. Look at us and our delicious, expensive food." Makes everything taste better, I guess :)
(3)Junchen F.
An Italian friend told me to check out anteprima after I told him I want some real Italian food. Boy was he right! The grilled octopus is exquisite and the pasta are a balance of flavor and fluidity. Just for these two, I would drive all the way up north again. The rainbow trout is also pretty good. We asked for an easy drinking wine but I possess no expertise in red wine so I will just leave it as we got what we asked for. Above all, the price tag is very very reasonable, compared to some other Italian places I have been.
(5)Jon K.
A friend and I went here. My first visit, he has been many times. Its not a large place, but we didn't need the reservation we had. I had the grilled polenta appetizer and it was good, not amazing. Friend raved about the octopus appetizer. Not a fan of octopus here though. I had one of the pastas (pappardelle) for my entree and it was excellent. Dessert was chocolate hazelnut torte. Sounded better than it was. It was really cold and I think it could have been excellent if it had been at room temperature. Service was fine, nothing that memorable. Good neighborhood joint overall, probably not worth a trip from downtown.
(4)Debbi R.
Food & Service were superb. Home-made fettucine with wild mushrooms, pancetta, butter & parmesan was heavenly.
(5)Rachel G.
My husband and I had been meaning to try this restaurant out for a long time and we are so glad that we finally did! We ate there on a Thursday evening with a 7:30 reservation. By 8:30, the place was bustling and energetic...highly recommend a reservation! The staff was attentive and friendly, making wonderful and honest menu suggestions. The food was GREAT. First of all, I am obsessed with stuffed zucchini flowers and can rarely get them anywhere. So obviously, I was overjoyed to see this on the starter menu. For dinner, I had an amazing arctic char dish that was prepared perfectly. If only I could cook fish like this! My husband had pappardelle with prosciutto ragu that was lick-your-plate great. It reminded me of my Grandmother's incredible cooking. That's how amazing it was. That's how much love was in that dish. He also had a pork dish that he really enjoyed, but found a tiny bit fatty...not a deal breaker though. He said it was delicious. Dessert was absolutely amazing. I had the BEST, freshest, most decadent berry crisp that I have ever had. I could have eaten 5 of them. No joke. My husband had the chocolate almond tart which was so great...rich, but not too rich. It is clear that this restaurant cares about the ingredients it uses. Everything was fresh and REAL right down to the bread basket. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Rustygirl M.
Great! Had butternut squash ravioli and red wine. Wine was a large portion but when you're paying 12$/glass you want a lot. Boyfriend had chicken. He said it had a lot of bone, but the bite I had was delicious. There were plenty of wines to choose from but only 3 or 4 beers. Also had the multi app platter. It included 8 apps that were pre picked for this particular app tray. It was ok. Def will return.
(4)Katie W.
Fresh, unique, and tasty (some options were on the pricier side) menu, plus delicious drinks! Our waiter was so nice and accommodating with all our questions and requests. Weather permitting, definitely ask to sit on the back patio. Would love to go back here soon!
(4)Mark S.
Upscale Italian in Andersonville. Anteprima is just a few miles from where I live, and I have been meaning to check it out for ages based on recommendations from friends and neighbors. We sat down around 6pm last Friday night and started out with some cocktails, which were delicious but not very strong and on the pricey side at $12 each. The three of us shared two appetizers that were on the specials list, chicken livers and fava beans. Very good but skimpy on the quantity for the price. For our main dishes we ordered the "large" portions of the mushroom gnocchi (average), the ricotta and pea ravioli (delicious) and the orecchiette with lamb sausage (delicious). The "large" portions were just about right for an average appetite, which is nice, because I tend to overeat if it's in front of me. The bread and breadsticks served were high quality. Service was professional, helpful and friendly. I really hated to complain a bit about the prices because I'm sure the quality is top notch, and the dining experience is really enjoyable. In reality, I think if the prices were lower it would be close to impossible to get a table here. We will come back, maybe skip the cocktails and go out to Hopleaf before or after (or both!). We got free parking a couple blocks away on a side street.
(4)Yaeko M.
My dinner experience at Anteprima was a lot better than expectation. The food was awesome, We had stuffed calamari and grilled octopus as for the starter, berkshire pork ribs and lamb leg as for the main, rum cake and chocolate moose for the dessert. All came with right portion and very good. We had a great time. They offer $28 for fixed menu on week days. I suggest to try that out.
(5)Jenna N.
Oh Anteprima, why did you have to be such a disappointment! Man! This place could be really good, but they'll need to fix the following before I give them another go. 1. First things first. Very overpriced for very mediocre food. Being that it was my first time here, I decided to go with the waiter's suggestions. We shared the Grilled Octopus, Pappardelle, Sliced New York Strip and Grilled Shrimp. All of which were just meh ... the Grilled Octopus being my least favorite and the New York Strip being the table's favorite. Note to self: Take a waiter's suggestions, but go with your gut. 2. Nice variety of wine, but completely sold out. They were out of both bottles of wine that I wanted to order. The third bottle (which I was told would be similar to the Malbec I wanted was bitter and again just okay. It was another poor suggestion from our waiter (sigh). 2. Our waiter disappeared during dinner. Which can be okay sometimes, but he never returned to refill our wine or clear our plates. Here's the thing. If you're going to sell your table a $50 bottle of wine than AT LEAST have the courtesy and attentiveness to refill it. Who knows you might even get another bottle out of it. Note to servers: Restaurants with mediocre food should strive for GREAT service. It's an easy way to turn an unsatisfied diner into a satisfied one. Keep an eye on your table or at the very least keep an eye on their wine. 3. Last, but not least was dessert. It was my mom's birthday and I asked if they could put a candle in the slice of cake that we ordered. "Of course!" they said. However, the cake (which came 15 minutes later) had no candle. Ironically, you could say this was the icing on the cake. Note to Anteprima: It's not that you should or shouldn't have birthday candles (even though you probably should). It's more than that and here's why. Dessert is the last thing a customer experiences before they pay or in some instances write their review of you on Yelp. So when you tell your customer that you have something and then you don't deliver (or you take 15 minutes for cake) you're kinda saying that you don't really care. Which is fine (if you don't), but sometimes even a crappy dinner experience can be salvaged with the simplicity of a birthday candle. I'll probably never give this place another chance, but I'll end my review with a positive. I thought their ambience was REALLY charming - cute tables and nice décor. If they improve their food and service this place could become a decent spot.
(2)Sally W.
I love to sit here at the window and have a nice early dinner with my guy. Perfect service, lovely seasonal menu, relaxed and efficient and sick ass breadsticks that are like crack. Pasta is sometimes hit or miss, but everything is usually great, and I'm always so happy there.
(4)John O.
Great appetizers and wine list
(4)Leah H.
Not really A-OK...but I have a soft spot for this place. I have experienced better, in fact, at Anteprima circa 2010, 2011, 2012....I have been to Anteprima dozens of times since it last opened. Lately, though, I feel like something's amiss. I think that something is the level of friendliness, warmth and a genuine "glad you are here" niceness. When I called earlier in the week to let them know that I would be bringing two bottles (they do not have any Barolo or Barbaresco with any age on it on their wine list) the person who answered was not polite - just wanted to get me off the phone "$20!" they said, which is totally acceptable for corkage. I explained that I got it, no problem, but just wanted to give them advance notice. "$20" OK, yes, I know, just wanted to let you know so it isn't awkward when we arrive. No warmth, no friendliness, nothing. Recently had to wait 10-15 minutes for our reserved table, and was told rather abruptly to stand over by the bar. The food - well, it is ok. I had the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms. Just ok. Had the salmon - have had it a number of times before. I wish they would change the preparation, because, as I said, I have had it a number of times before. Service is a bit rushed and harried, always has been, but even more so. Dessert was actually an improvement. I would rather go next door to Ombra, where the staff is warm, friendly and always happy to see me. Same owner, so the love is still there.
(3)Tim H.
Finally got to Anteprima and I was a little disappointed. I've heard rave reviews that it was one of the more solid restaurants in the city, but unfortunately I left underwhelmed. The cost is higher than the taste. I had the fixed menu and the appetizer was meh (calamari), the entree was ok (rabbit) and the dessert was tasty (chocolate creme). Had a bite of the risotto as well and it wasn't good. Not sure what the buzz is about. Perhaps I will check it out in the future to see if my occasion was an 'off night,' but I'm in no rush to do so.
(3)Chris M.
The staff and food here are very good. The people make you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. Went here on a busy Saturday night and were able to get a table on the patio for 6 right away. Our waiter was friendly, efficient, a skilled server, and gave us good recommendations on food. Good Italian food without being pretentious. Would have had given 5 stars if portions were just a little bit bigger. Great experience.
(4)Alfred T.
This place is perfect.
(5)Rohan S.
Nice cute Italian restaurant with delicious food. Meat appetizers were delicious and the pasta is the way to go. Nice house wine as well.
(5)Leslie P.
This place is great. Was in Andersonville at the Galleria on a Friday night, and we went across the street for a late dinner. The service was great, and the atmosphere reminded me of a rustic, intimate Italian restaurant. The roasted squash and ricotta ravioli entree was absolutely divine. Perfection in my book. It was more savory than sweet, and the sage made the dish. I will not make the mistake of sharing dishes next time - I'm getting the ravioli all to myself. :)
(4)Thomas T.
I'm amazed that this place has never been on "Check Please!" Well I just applied to be a guest host on the show, and the submission form asked for a few paragraphs about my favorite restaurant. this is what I wrote about Anteprima: Picking my favorite restaurant is sorta like picking my favorite song. Wait a week and you'll get a different answer. But all things considered - food, service, value, atmosphere - I'll choose Anteprima in Andersonville. The menu features items you just don't see at your average Italian restaurant. Like Testa (which happens to be my original family name!), which is head cheese. I had to try it just based on the name alone - it was yummy! I had farro for the first time here, often they'll have fresh sardines, sweetbreads, boar sausage and other unusual ingredients. I'm kind of a promiscuous eater - I rarely have the same item again when I return to a restaurant, no matter how much I liked it the first time. And I never run out of new things to try at Anteprima! As a former server myself, I really appreciate a server who knows the menu, can size up a customer and give good suggestions. The servers at Anteprima have been around since the beginning (always a good sign), and really know the menu and wine list. They're especially helpful with wine, since Italian wines aren't ID'd by grape - so I'd be lost otherwise. They are charming and opinionated, relaxed yet efficient, not too obtrusive but show up just when you need them. The food and service are both so good here that I don't mind that it's usually loud and crowded. I had a really great waiter last night at Francesca's on Bryn Mawr, and realized that somehow really good service makes the food taste better! I think it just puts me in a more receptive mood, and makes me happier. When I have a great meal and great conversation at Anteprima, I am VERY happy.
(5)Emann B.
Despite the somewhat churlish server, good food and great friends made up. 8:30pm reservation on a hoppin' Saturday night, seated in about 15 minutes. Recommend the sampler starter which looked to be all vegetarian. Chow it down with the tasty focaccia and breadsticks. Darn those crack-like sticks! I think I ate five. I had the bacala salad, a little dry, but nice mouth feel with the radishes and thinly sliced potato. Very much enjoyed the scallops for my entrée , the sweet edge was a nice surprise. Desserts were solid; we shared chocolate tart, some kind of super heavenly fruit tart, a thick pudding-like chocolate/almond treat, and the orange rosemary cake (dry and forgettable).
(4)Amy J.
This review is for dessert only - which was TERRIBLE! 2 desserts and two decafs were $24. I'm fine with paying much more than this for dessert if it's GOOD. Chocolate Hazelnut Tart & Peach Cream Cake - both super sweet to the point of disgust. The flavors also tasted like something from a can. NOT GOOD! Decaf was way watered down. A McDonald's sunday is less sweet and has more sophisticated flavors. The stars are for the waiter who was very nice and accommodating. I feel ripped off!
(2)Kris B.
Very authentic Italian flavors, great antipasto, and a really lovely patio in the back. This is a gem on Clark St. Nice wine, delicious bread & breadsticks, and traditional pasta dishes like orecchiette, sausage & greens and pappardelle with ragu bolognese. The weekday 3-course fixed price dinner menu for $29 is a good deal.
(4)Rhoda G.
My friends and I came here on a nice Sunday night and sat out back in the outdoor patio. Since this was my first visit (and definitely not my last) here, I decided to get their $29 prixe fixe menu. What a great deal - starter, pasta/entree, dessert. We started off by ordering a round cocktails. I got a "I'm Here for a Good Time..." Very refreshing and got another one in the middle of dinner. Then we got our apps - grilled polenta and grilled octopus along with complimentary bread. Those were delicious especially the octopus. I wanted to try their pastas, so I decided to get the pappardelle, pancetta ragu, parmigiano. The pasta was so good! I loved the how fresh the noodles were and the portion size was perfect. For dessert, it was so hard to choose. I originally wanted the chocolate hazelnut tart, but they ran out, so I got the blueberry budino, which is something I never had before and loved it. Very light and flavorful. I don't go to Italian restaurants too often, but this visit to Anteprima may change this. I love how the menu changes often and I definitely need to go back to try that hazelnut tart.
(4)Seth F.
It's Italian food. My dislike of going out to eat Italian food is well documented to the Yelp community and I will not bore them with more of it. Suffice to say that my experience at Anteprima was a microcosm of my feelings towards the entire genre of Italian restaurants. And no I have no idea if I spelled microcosm correctly...or, I suppose, if I used it correctly in that sentence. Basically, nothing was bad, but nothing was great, and everything I ate I felt like I could've made with relative ease at home, and I assure you, my cooking talent could be labeled as amateur at best. I do remember that my friend kept complaining that there wasn't Vin Santo. I don't know who this Vin guy is or where he was when neglecting his duties as an employee of Anteprima but I think we should cut him some slack. It can't be easy working at a mediocre Italian restaurant when your brother is such an accomplished Hall-of-Fame Chicago Cub.
(3)Charlene B.
Having traveled a fair amount through Italy, I can say that Anteprima does a decent job of approximating the experience of eating there, especially their house made pastas and vegetable sides. I like the atmosphere, too - intimate, homey, a bit cramped. It's one of the standout restaurants in Andersonville and among the more authentic Italian spots in the Chicago area.
(4)Lakesha C.
I was highly disappointed with my experience at this establishment. The service, food, and wine were terrible. We started with the eight sample appetizers. Of the eight appetizers, only two were really edible. They were a waste of money. One of the entrees that we ordered was the trout. This was the worst trout that I ever had. The spinach and cous cous stuffing did not go well together. The trout itself was really grainy. Stay away from the trout. The pasta menu was limited, which is odd. We order a simple spaghetti dish and it was undercooked. We couldn't get a break at this place. The Italian champagne that I order was cheap. It didn't even bubble like normal champagne. Overall, this place was overpriced for the quality of food, and the waiter was extremely slow. We would have been better off eating at Hamburger Mary's down the street.
(1)Christy L.
Anteprima is not your traditional Italian red tablecloth establishment but a more charming neighborhood restaurant with a less extensive, but more eclectic, menu. And this is exactly why I like Anteprima - the dishes are unique and well prepared - but if you're craving your grandma's lasagna or spaghetti bolognese, you may want to head down to Topo Gigio in Old Town. My favorite dish is the orecchiette with lamb sausage, which has a little kick to it. The restaurant itself is small and popular; be sure to make a reservation, especially on the weekend. Also, it's a bit cramped and loud in a way that adds, rather than deters, from the ambience. All in all, Anteprima is one of my go-to Andersonville restaurants.
(5)Leslie G.
I've been coming to Anteprima since it opened and have yet to be disappointed. I consider it the best restaurant in the neighborhood and often take my parents here when they visit. Over the years, I've had a variety of pasta dishes, such as squid ink linguine, tagliatelle with mushrooms, stinging nettle linguine, etc. All have been excellent. Same goes for the appetizers. Early on, I tried ordering a couple of salads here and was not thrilled with those. I found them to be oddly salty. Since then, I've steered clear of salads. Desserts are also delicious here as are the little vegetable tarts they bring to your table as a starter. One thing that is a bit annoying about this place is that it's become incredibly difficult to walk in without a reservation (this was not so when they first opened). A friend and I did manage to walk in and get a table recently on a Sat. night but that was only because we got there at 6 (they needed the table back by 7). It's a popular spot for a reason, however, and I'm glad they're doing brisk business.
(4)Todd R.
It's just so tiring you know. I'm just so tired. From all of it. All of it. And then this food - so promising it sounds - but then there are execution flaws. It's just too much. Stuff like this shouldn't happen. There was a pool of grease - you guys gotta drain your sausage. You gotta do it ok? I don't want a freaking pool of sausage grease in the bottom of my pasta. And watch your salt! My plate was REALLY salty - and it's not because I'd been puffity puffin on that THC.pipe=o all day long - my dish was definitely saltier than my girlfriends - and my girlfriend is polish. Loves bacon. BACONE come si dice in Italiano. Mamma Mia anteprima Lei deve fare attenzione - abbiamo bisogno del cibi BUONI italiani.
(3)Allison M.
My experience at Anteprima was neither horrible nor fantastic. The food was very tasty (I'm a vegetarian) I had the Fusilli pasta with pesto and pine nuts. My boyfriend had the oricchiette, with lamb sausage, and he liked it as well. For desert we had the red wine poached pear, which was good, but not really worth the price. Wine was good but I'm definitely not a wine connoisseur. I would go here again, but will choose a weeknight as weekends are too busy for me.
(3)Zan B.
Summary: If you like great Italian food and don't mind being ignored by the waiter or waiting 40-50 minutes for your food, then this place is for you. Will I return? Only if they offer take-out. The first thing I want to comment on is, if this waiter had actually tried to sell me something, I would've bought it. I wanted to throw my money at this place if someone would have made the effort. I would have bought 1-2 more drinks and an extra side if someone was there to take my order. Aesthetics: The place looked fine and the seats weren't too close to each other. Staff: Whoever was at the door to greet us was nice. The waiter looked like he didn't have a thought in is head, well, that is until a couple (that had a similar skin tone as the waiter) sat next to us. He couldn't stop talking to them for some reason. The other waiters seemed similar. I didn't see much interaction between staff and customers. I don't get it either. It's not like there were too many tables to deal with! It's just a shoebox, people. Get it together! Talking to customers is easy! Price: For the money, the food is well worth it. Food: OMG the food! It was great. I wished I got another ravioli or two on my plate, but I had enough appetizers to hold me over. That's the other thing. Get appetizers. You may spend so much time waiting that you will need something to hold you over (their bread was good, too). If it weren't for the bad service I would have had an over-all great experience.
(2)Rick R.
I think Anteprima means "Afterbirth" because thats what I had after eating here. The only positive was George our waiter who was very attentive.
(1)Tim T.
Epic fail. Had a reservation for 8:30, arrived early, lots of empty tables, asked to be seated and the attitude from the hostess started. Almost as if I insulted her. She reluctantly seated us. Waited forever for water and drinks. The waiter had zero personality and could have cared less if we enjoyed it or not. Prices here are insane for the quantity. I ordered a special salad from the specials, it was $10 for less than 1 tomatoes chopped with a slice of cucumber. The bread was good. Sorry we will not be back, way to many other choices with great food and service in the area.
(2)Matt M.
The food was neither plentiful nor delicious. It was highly over-priced for mid to low quality italian food. The waitress also was flustered if interuppted and made no attempts to hide it. She actually made the "who the hell do you think you are look" a couple of times to our table of 5. I will not be back, but it was not the worst dining experience I have ever had. If I had paid $20 for two people I would have given it 3.25 stars.
(2)Robert Y.
Absolutely incredible pasta dishes. Came in for a lighter dinner, and I had the orecchiette with the spicy lamb sausage with an incredible glass of montepulciano that the waiter recommended and it was perfect. I'll definitely be coming back to try a full on meal with appetizer, main course and dessert!
(5)Jules D.
Let me get the less-than-great thing out of the way first: It gets loud in there on a Saturday evening. Now let's move onto what was enjoyed: Everything else. The food was fresh and well prepared, like what we love most about eating in Italy. Nice wines available in quartinos for us light drinkers. I had the roasted beet salad with ricotta salata, candied nuts and arugula. Ok, there were three small pieces of arugula, but plenty of the tasty rest of it. And the balance of cheese and beet was well done. My entree was the delicate squash and ricotta ravioli in a sage brown butter sauce. Rich, but not too rich, melt-in-your-mouth filling and light pasta--a hit! The chocolate hazelnut tart was heavenly, from the touch of whipped cream to the cookie crust and everything in between-- that chocolate was supremely satisfying. Service was timely and thoughtful. Our waiter understood that the espressos would come after the dessert, again, he was helpful and friendly throughout our meal. The menu has many things I'd like to try--we'll be back.
(4)Dhruv P.
My friend and I tried Anteprima yesterday and the food and ambiance was exceptional. Tip: Make reservations! - We went around 7pm and the place was empty, however, we were told that only tables were at bar or table would be available at 9pm, which was fine for us, however, we were surprised as there were ample empty tables. Well, in 15 minutes of our seating, the place was quickly on its way of being full. We ordered an appetizer that was 2 fried eggs (with very slight liquid yolk) mixed with homemade tomato sauce on oiled bread. We were told that is a traditional Southern Italy dish and it was tasty, after realizing it was boiling hot. My dish was a ravioli with chestnuts and mushroom cream sauce. I ordered the dinner portion and it was the the right size. You can choose to do a tasting portion, but you'll need at least 2 dishes to make a meal. The ravioli was done well and the chestnut flavor was balanced with the mushroom creme sauce. Actually, I would have liked the chestnuts to have a slight stronger flavor as it was a bit masked by the sauce instead of balanced. I could tell that the ravioli were made in house and along with everything there was made by them. Only the breads were brought in from a bakery, and they give a nice selection of breads in a basket before the appetizer arrives. Antepasta, according to the bartender who was well versed in the menu, uses little sauce in its dish, just to bring out the flavors of the dishes instead of masking the flavors. Just keep in mind, that if you are looking for a sauce dish, you won't find it there. I will definitely be going there again to sample more off the menu and try a Dolci on the next try.
(4)Christina S.
If you like bland food.... this place is for you! My boyfriend surprised me and took me here for my Birthday celebration dinner and made a bad choice. The food was bland, table wast crowded and the music/ambiance was not "Modern Italian" at all. The best part about the restaurant is its location next to Georgies Ice Cream that was the highlight and best part of the night! Thank you Anteprima for giving me a tasteless Birthday dinner, we will never be back nor recommend.
(1)Cadence K.
There's no where I would rather eat in Chicago, or really anywhere. It is romantic and homey, and the food is rustic but elegant.
(5)Sarah M.
There's certain things that I look for in a restaurant before I even go: good cocktails, fairly vegetarian friendly, and dessert for my sweet tooth. Anteprima appeared to hit all three, so I took my parents here for a night out in my 'hood. Since it was a beautiful night, we sat out on the patio. My dad was nervous at first b/c there were absolutely zero patrons inside the restaurant... but that's only b/c everyone was on the patio. It's a nice little area, but slightly crowded. Whatever, we live in Chicago, I'm not going to complain when I can really only eat outside for about 3 weeks out of the year. Fabulous cocktails, check. Not much in the way of beer ( I think my dad only had 2 to choose from?), but a decent wine list. There are more appetizers than entrees, but honestly, I could have eaten my way through the appetizers list. The menu does change weekly so I won't go into great detail about the specifics of my meal, other than all three of us ate every single bite on our plates. My dad had a heritage pork chop and raved about it. My mom, who claims to dislike fish skin, even sampled some of the crispy skin of her salmon and was happy about it. As a vegetarian, I had options to choose from, and the swiss chard ravioli I ate was amazing. Dessert though. I die. I had a hazelnut tart with this AMAZING vanilla whipped cream. If it were acceptable to just dive head first into it, I would have, but then my parents would have thought they raised an awful child. Service was, for the most part, great. Jonathan was an excellent server. There were times that the staff was slightly slow about clearing plates/glasses from our table (something I really hate is having to play a virtual tetris on my table with rearranging all the used plates/glasses to make room for the new plates/glasses), but other than that, no complaints. I'd definitely go back here.
(4)Christina C.
Thanks to a great recommendation from a friend of my partner's, we initiated a monthly excursion we're calling "Secret Sups." Each month, one of us picks out a new restaurant and arranges a reservation ... without disclosing its location to the other. It must be a new/out of the ordinary place for us, and secrecy of the location is half the fun! We are by no means food novices, but we tend to frequent the same handful of places within a few-block radius of home, so this is a great catalyst to get us out our neighborhood routine. I chose Anteprima in Andersonville for our inaugural event. While having a post-dinner drink at Marty's on Balmoral, we developed our criteria and rating scale to apply to each Secret Sup. SCALE: 0 = Nonexistent. 1 = Sucky. 2 = Mediocre. 3 = Average/nothing to write home about. 4 = Good! 5 = Outstanding/like, really wowed us! 6 = Like nothing we've ever had before. CRITERIA Reservation ease - 5 Reservations are accepted via Open Table, so it was super easy to navigate. Wait time/comfort - 5 Though we were about 15 minutes early for our reservation, we were immediately shown to our table upon arrival. There was a small bar area in the back of the restaurant where we could have waited if necessary. Server - 5 Our waiter, Jonathan, was fabulous. He came to greet us very quickly, asked us if we'd been there before, and gave a brief description of the "rustic Italian" style of cuisine when we said we hadn't. He offered to answer any questions we might have and left us to peruse the menu briefly. He seemed to arrive at our table just when we needed him--not too overbearing but as attentive as we needed/wanted. We did have a handful of questions regarding some elements of the menu, and Jonathan answered with ease. He was very friendly throughout the duration of our experience, and gave some wonderful recommendations when requested. Food - 5 We ordered a bottle of the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, La Valentina, which was delicious--smooth and velvety, yet robust. We chose the grilled octopus (with potatoes, red onion, chilies, parsley, lemon, and olive oil) and the pesciolini (a special: crispy lake smelt with lemons and parsley) to start. There were no strange sauces or extraneous accouterments--just good quality food prepared simply. The appetizers were delicious. The octopus had wonderful texture, the potatoes were sliced incredibly thinly, and the combination of flavors was delightful. The pesciolini was a new adventure for us. It was light and crispy with just the right amount of breading and addition of citrus to highlight to flavor. For our main courses, I chose the spaghetti "carbonara," a house specialty (with house guanciale, an unsmoked Italian bacon, asparagus, farm egg, and pecorino), and my partner chose the pan-seared salmon (with roasted shallots and asparagus, balsamic, and porcini vinaigrette). Both dishes were extraordinary. The salmon had a wonderful bit of crunch to its texture, and the spaghetti was fabulous. Perfectly "al dente," the flavor was big and rich without being too much. My partner couldn't stop sneaking bites! We looked to our server for a dessert recommendation to please both the dark chocolate lover (my partner) and the vanilla/crème brulee lover (me). After confiding that he was "on my team" for dessert (and dessert alone, we understood!), Jonathan suggested the coffee crema. It had a wonderful, thick, creamy texture, and the coffee flavor wasn't too overpowering. It was topped with a bit of light whipped cream, and was a nice ending to an incredible meal. While it likely would not have been our first choice, it was still tasty. The timing of the meal felt very natural. Overall, it was a nice infusion of variety from our typical standby fare. Neither of us had ever had smelt or guanciale, and they were both delicious. The quality of the food was remarkable. The simplicity of the preparation and presentation allowed the flavors of the ingredients to shine. None of the dishes felt too heavy, and we left the restaurant feeling fortified and satiated, not overly stuffed. Ambiance - 5 The ambiance of Anteprima is absolutely another of its strengths. We had a wonderful little table by the front window. The lighting was dim enough to feel romantic, but not so dark that we felt like we were being lulled to sleep. The music was nicely background. The tables are close, but it felt like we had our own personal space. The bathroom was great--very clean, well stocked, and had no line. We'd absolutely recommend a visit to Anteprima for exceptional rustic Italian food and a tremendous experience. Fabulous date night!
(5)kate k.
okay, confession- i used to work here, as a cook, so i maybe can't give an impartial review but i can tell you that even after eating here for a year i STILL crave the octopus salad with those lemony spicy charred notes, and the greasy-good orrechiete with lamb sausage. i have yet to come here and sit on the damned patio because the weather has always duped me, but it looks great and maybe this year.
(5)Joey T.
Overall: The food was OK; the seating/atmosphere was good; and the service was meh. My wife and I went to Anteprima, via reservation, on a Friday night around 8 pm. It wasn't overly crowded, and we were seated immediately. The tables are well situated... not too close and not too far away. It was quiet enough inside to carry on a great conversation, but loud enough where you can laugh and have a good time. The service was strange. I couldn't tell if the staff were simply playing it cool, or really wanted to be anywhere else but there. There really wasn't any attitude or anything, maybe just a sense of indifference. We started with the octopus. I thought it was well presented and tasted fine. Upon the recommendation of the server, I went with the Salmon and paired it with couple glasses of terlaner classico. The Salmon was cooked well, but it generally lacked anything of note. I have had much better salmon... and much worse. My wife had the rigatoni and she thought it was OK as well.
(3)Katie T.
The beets were delicious, the carrots were delicious. My pasta was outstanding and the dessert we ordered was perfect. I will be back.
(5)Aminda S.
Even seated at the worst table in the house (you know, the one by the door where all the people waiting for tables congregate/the one that gets blasted directly by cold wind whenever a patron enters the restaurant) I more than enjoyed my experience at Anteprima. My two girlfriends and I had made the reservation a few weeks in advance and admittedly I forgot where we were even going until about ten minutes before we headed out. I don't spend much time in Andersonville with the exception of Hopleaf so I was more than excited to try somewhere new in the 'hood. The space is small and intimate - great date spot for certain. It took awhile...actually way too long, before we were asked for our drink order which is my only reason for taking away a star...and the lack of attention to our empty glasses continued through the night unfortunately. But I was fortunate enough to get two drink orders in both of which were superb - a delectable Prosecco and a specialty cocktail made with lemon, soda water, basil and vodka - think Mojita, minus mint, plus fresh basil. I loved it. Would have loved to order a third, but as I mentioned... Now for our order - Asparagus Salad - chilled and delicious. You like asparagus? Don't pass it up, ya hear? Warm Mushroom Salad - My favorite of the night. Perfectly executed. Burrata - Show me a person who doesn't like burrata and I will punch my own self in the face. (Lactose intolerant need not apply) Onto our three pasta orders which we all shared (there are two sizes to choose from) - Bucatini with peas and soft shell crab - this was the failure of the bunch. As a peas and pasta dish it would have stood out, but the crab was all wrong and brought the dish down a notch. Was it the crab? The preparation? Something was amiss. The peas however were the size of eyeballs. Seriously the biggest and freshest peas I've ever tasted. Yum. Orecchiette with lamb sausage - My second favorite dish. Spicy. Enough said. Artichoke risotto - rich, but not so much so that it wouldn't be a good option for an entree for one. All in all, Anteprima exceeded my expectations as far as the food was concerned. I can only hope my next visit will include improved service, and improved weather - so I can sit on that patio in the back!
(4)Keely J.
I love Antiprima. The service is always great and the food is always delicious. It is true and authentic to it's Tuscan/souther Italian style of food and really has a ton of different plates to chose from. The menu changes pretty often but there is something for everyone and I always leave inspired to try and make what they serve.
(4)KELLIE K.
Dear Anteprima, You sneaky devil, you took me by surprise. You moved into my neighborhood, waited around, and finally, one day while my +1 and I were out in search of a birthday dinner venue, you lured me in with your screams of a $29 prixe fixe. Temptress. Damn. Even though I wanted to check you out a long time ago, your pricier menu and bustling tables kept me away. I'm glad that you change your menu often, especially the specials. I may not remember exactly what we ordered, so we'll go with "you may not get it again anyway". I'll be back to check out your patio someday. Love, Kellie K.
(4)Jeff R.
Everyone has such great things to say about Anteprima, unfortunately we did not get to taste all those praises. We were in the mood for a good Italian dinner and more than a few friends have encouraged me to take Anteprima off my wish list. It also helps that there is a three course "meal" (not really a prix fixe...) for $29 Sunday through Thursday with very little restrictions. Even with a great price and great hype, the food did not perform. The most common flavor was little flavor at all. "Bland" was the word of the night, which is hard to fathom for Italian food when all you have to do is add olive oil and garlic. Oh well, not our best meal but you can't win them all. The three course "special" allows you to choose one entree, and any two other dishes (half pasta, dessert, starter - it doesn't matter the combination). I was impressed with the size and scope of the menu, especially since a lot of choices push the envelope of "traditional" Italian cuisine (i.e. NOT Maggianos or Mia Francesca). But what concerned us was that even though we had six dishes to choose for dinner, we had trouble finding that many that looked appealing. I realize we might have been acting picky, but that is usually a red flag in my mind that my personal taste preferences might not match well with the Chef's. We decided on a celery salad, two small pasta starters, one large pasta main, halibut and a dessert. Maybe a celery salad is hard to make flavorful, but all I could taste was the very good parmesan cheese. Our two small pasta dishes were tagliatelle with mushrooms and linguine with crab meat. The tagliatelle was pretty bland throughout, where the linguine crab was very fishy tasting. The entrees were the best course of the evening. Erica liked the Halibut, though my little bite was uninspiring, and my pasta (orecchiette with spicy lamb) was good though slightly over cooked. I really enjoyed the spicy sauce and flavors of the lamb. We ended the meal with a refreshing lemon panna cotta. Maybe my expectations were unreasonable, but the food was still below regular standards - especially for feel good Italian. We had good service with a friendly and knowledgeable server. The atmosphere was a bit loud but it's nice to be in a lively and packed restaurant on a Wednesday evening. While this meal wasn't fabulous, I do look forward to checking out their next project Acre next door.
(2)Kristen W.
Downgrading my initial review, and am extremely bummed out to be doing so. I have always reserved Anteprima for a special occasion type place. Well you can take it off your list and put Chucky Cheese back on. At least the service there is nicer. Dinner here on Friday night with a reservation. Had to wait for reservation. Crappy table. HORRIBLE lighting. Asked waiter if the lights could be dimmed (through squinted eyes) and he responded "I can't do that". Oh, thanks so much. Amuse bouche: COLD vegetable tart. Could have been yummy but it was cold so had the texture of congealed lard with the taste of a vegetable tart. Not smart. Ordered the cod cooked in parchment. Zero flavor. Should be served in a nursing home for those with sensitive stomachs. Waiter forgot my order for another prosecco. After walking by me so many times the light bulb finally came on and he remembered, so gave it to me free. Okay so I will give a point for that.
(2)Hallie B.
I love everything about Anteprima. First, it's a relazed, cozy environment, but still feels upscale. I would feel comfortable dining in both jeans and a tee shirt and a snazzy little cocktail dress. I love places like that. The service when I was there was fantastic. Our waiter had excellent wine recommendations. Everyone in my group has very different taste in wine, and we all LOVED the wine he chose for us and hated the wines he chose for the other members of the group. I feel like this demonstrates that he really listened to our individual tastes and picked the perfect wine for each person. At first I was thrown off by the wine prices, $15 a glass seems very expensive, but then I found out that they are for quartinos of wine, so it was actually a great deal. I really don't have any complaints. It was an excellent meal from start to finish.
(5)Nikki R.
Been here more than a handful of times. Love this place. The homemade bread sticks are soooo good! Pastas are made in house and always fresh. I have a few favs including the grilled octopus appetizer and the pappardelle and orecchiette pasta dishes. They offer 1/2 orders of pasta which is great because I can't always agree with my partner about which pasta to share. Service is usually pretty good but if they are super busy it can get a little slow and as some other people mentioned it does get crowded loud in there during the rush but none of that bothers me. If the crowd and noise is not your thing, there is a really cute outdoor area in the back where the tables aren't on top of each other and it's a lot quieter.
(5)Edward S.
I'm love the outdoor patio in the back on a spring/summer day. They had a special going on and I got grilled stuff calamari (I've only ever had calamari breaded and fried, so I appreciated the dish), tagliatelle with pancetta ragu (sauce was ok, but the pasta wasn't anything spectacular), and porkchop for $35, which I thought was a steal. Very good Italian wine selection, I love the barbaresco.
(3)Dennis J.
Came here with friends when it first opened and we were disappointed. Just nothing special or memorable. Nothing terrible either. Space was also very cramped. No desire to go back.
(2)The Big O.
I'm willing to stick my neck out for this place. Others may not give it 5 stars, but I do, unhesitatingly. I think it's a gem, a little miracle of a place, a tad too loud sometimes, when it's crowded, but excellent food and service. I have been there many times in the last six months, on dates, with my parents, with friends, and it is always a great neighborhood restaurant (even if I'm not from the Andersonville neighborhood). The only thing that's never totally wowed me is their desserts, though I don't have criticisms of them. They just don't float my boat--just not my type of desserts. One of the things I really like about this place is the prix fixe deal--astonishing value. And I salute their low-cost wines ... and happen to love one of the very cheap Nero d'Albas that they offer, tastes great with pretty much anything.
(5)Gail M.
The pasta's quite good -- and it's great that they have both small and large options for it -- but really, this place excels in appetizers. Order a bunch of starters and make a lovely meal of them. Don't forget the grilled octopus, which is just wonderful.
(4)Kristin M.
I had heard excellent things about Anteprima, but was worried by the low average rating. After eating here, I have to say I wholeheartedly disagree. My meal was fantastic! I chose the weekday (Sunday-Thursday) $29 Prix Fixe menu. You get to choose any starter, entrée and either a 1/2 pasta dish or dessert. Here's what I got: -grilled polenta starter - this was recommended by Yelpers. It's served like a grilled dense cake (looked like a filet of salmon) atop boiled down greens. It just went against the creaminess I love about polenta, but it's exactly what it purports to be. There was a nice smokey flavor to the dish. I liked it, but my other two courses were much better. -orecchiette with lamb sausage - this was delicious, the pasta tasted fresh and the spicy crumbled lamb sausage was so good. The bitter greens complimented the dish. It was a winner. I could have ordered the full plate as a main course and been happy. -slow cooked pork shoulder - OMG, I died when I ate this. The pork was superbly tender, the flavors from the pork drippings and roasted vegetables were so amazingly perfect, I just couldn't stop eating (though I was pretty full at this point). I cannot recommend this highly enough. It was the perfect cold weather dish without being too heavy. I am knocking off a star because the service was lacklustre. I arrived before my friend and they were happy to seat me. However, my waiter seemed to avoid me like the plague. After about 10 minutes, he came over and asked if I wanted a drink, but I didn't have a cocktail menu. Once he came back with one, he waited another 10 minutes to return for my order (I got the "For a Good Time...", gin, lemoncello and sage, it was good, not great). I thought he was going to take our orders when he brought the drink, but, no, that took another 10 minutes of waiting. The courses came out back-to-back-to-back. It would have been nice had they been spaced more attentively. Overall, though, it won't stop me from returning.
(4)Amanda W.
Great food! Great service! They serve you bread while you are waiting that is fantastic. I've heard the rooftop is fantastic. Cons: Small portion sizes for the $
(4)Jerry S.
We had the trout and blackened linguine with shrimp and both were delicious. Will definitely return. The green cauliflower appetizer was also good, but the spicy greens were just salty. Very good selection of Italian wines. But the service was inattentive. I suspect they were short a waiter?
(4)John B.
Anteprima is now serving a prix fixe dinner Sun-Thurs, which is a great way to experience this somewhat pricey spot. $29 for an appetizer, a half pasta, and an entree, or for an appetizer, and entree, and dessert. Go with a friend, get two apps, two entrees, and split a small pasta and dessert. Excellent. Of course, drinks are $9 and up, so your wallet will still feel the bite, but not as bad. On my last visit, we ordered almost everything off the specials menu, which is extensive. Sweetbreads and octopus as the appetizers, tagliatelle loaded with morel mushrooms, grilled spare ribs and halibut as the entrees, and strawberry rhubarb crostata for dessert. Not a bad choice in the bunch. Service is efficient, but not stuffy. We went after the wine walk, and were dressed very casually, and did not feel out of place. We went on the spur of the moment, and got in just as they were opening. By the time we left, the place was really filling up. If you're going on a weekend, I would definitely recommend making reservations. They also have patio seating out back, which is nice if you like that sort of thing.
(5)Jessica B.
So. First things first. I went on a Wednesday evening in late October with some friends. Our reservation was for 7 p.m. I was 15 minutes late, they were 30 (but the lovely hostess still seated me right away. Yay!). I was shocked by how, um, mature the crowd was. Really. It looked like every white-haired septuagenarian resident within a 30-mile radius was dining that evening. Was there some sort of senior special going on? Who knows. By the time we rolled out at 10:30, the crowd had thinned out (since the place closes at...10 p.m.) and youthened up. So maybe this was just the rare, odd occurrence. And I should say: thanks to the staff for letting us linger with nary a hint of rushing us out. Our waitress was such a doll. She was funny and down to earth and flaky (flighty?) in an endearing way, and she made our experience that much better. Some other friends had raved to me about the amazing/life-changing/delectable spicy lamb sausage entree (served with orechiette and assorted chilis and bitter greens) and I'm happy to report that my life indeed has been changed. The pasta was tender and deliciously soft and doughy, the sausage was spicy but not overwhelmingly so (because I like to actually taste my food and flavors instead of just putting out a fire in my mouth) and the greens were a lovely balancing complement. The dish was overall a tiny bit too salty for my liking, but I'd absolutely order it again. I had a half serving of the pasta/sausage dish (in place of an appetizer, as we each ordered a three-course prix fixe meal) and enjoyed the slow-cooked lamb shoulder for my entree. Soooo lovely. The lamb was tender and moist and falling apart. And the perfect serving size. Just enough to fill you up and leave a little room for dessert. To close out the meal, I chose the strawberry cream cake, which is kind of a silly choice for fall (given the abundance of more seasonal options on the menu, e.g. butternut squash budino and apple-fennel bread pudding) and it was competent and satisfying but not outstanding. One of my dining companions raved about her chocolate tart thingamajig, comparing it favorably to "the best chocolate tart [she] ever had." That's always good. Drinks-wise, I loved (loved) my Autunno (can't recall if it was a special or if it's always on the menu). I'm a sucker for Maker's Mark, and as it turns out, it's so very nice when blended with apple cider and ginger beer. Smooth and sweet: liquid candy. I'll be recreating this one on my own at home...
(4)Kelly K.
We came for an anniversary dinner and we were very impressed, especially for my boyfriend who is notoriously picky. Starters- Olive plate, buffalo mozzarella with pesto, grilled shrimp The olive plate was par for the course, but the buffalo mozzarella was incredibly fresh and the grilled shrimp were amazing. Main Course- crab linguini and asparagus risotto Both were amaaaazing. Risotto can be a little soupy if not prepared right, but this was the perfect balance of creamy. Dessert- strawberry rhubarb crisp and chocolate hazelnut tart My boyfriend LOVED the crisp. I'm not the biggest fan of rhubarb, but the chocolate hazelnut tart was just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.
(4)Renata F.
My boyfriend and I enjoyed an incredibly delicious New Year's Eve meal here this past Dec/January. (We're talking a still-can't-stop-dreaming-of-our-meals level of delicious.) Reservations were easy to come by -- even a week in advance of the holiday -- and the front of house was especially accommodating when we changed our reservation party from two to four, then back to two again. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bear with me as neither Matt nor I can remember the particular names of anything we ordered; Anteprima's menu rotates in and out, so none of the dishes are currently listed on their online menu for me to reference. (Shame on me for procrastinating...) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Drinks: we both ordered off Anteprima's specialty drink menu. His was some orange concoction and very sweet; mine was some form of a gin-based martini and sweet-ish. If that's not a terrible description, I don't know what is, but we were both happy with our selections! - Appetizers: we shared a sweet-potato, apple and endive (?) salad. There could not have been a better start to our meal! The dish was refreshing and full of flavors we continue to obsess over. The salad exceeded expectations, was unlike any combination we've tried before (in an exciting way), and was very light -- so it didn't weigh us down before our main courses arrived. Perfect. - Entrees: I believe both of our dishes were specials at the time. He opted for a pork sausage served atop what looked like cooked mini-peas. The sausage had a diameter similar to that you'd expect of a pork tenderloin and was cut into medallions. It wasn't overly-greasy/fatty tasting, which I appreciated. Paired with a bite of the peas (?), the dish felt complete. While his pork was certainly great, my pepper-crusted seared tuna served over butternut squash was other-worldly. Repeat: OTHER-WORLDLY. (Boyfriend generally doesn't enjoy seafood, but even he can agree the flavor profile was out of bounds!) The tuna could not have been of higher quality, nor seared more perfectly (read: aside from the slightest of cooked outer rings made to trap in that wonderful pepper crusting, it might as well have been raw). The tuna's bedding consisted of chopped butternut squash (sauteed) mixed in with other greenery. I could eat that squash mixture every day it was so delicious -- plus it was refreshing, much like our appetizer. Pair it with that majestic tuna and you've found yourself the perfect dish. I'm in love. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The restaurant is small and feels smaller yet given how tightly Anteprima crams tables into an already tight space. I quickly forgive this, though, as their food was so delicious I didn't think twice about the setup once we were served. As cost-conscious individuals, Anteprima's price point is bit of an indulgence for us, so we consider it a special-occasion-type spot. That said, we enjoyed ourselves so thoroughly, we often try coming up with reasons to head back on a more regular basis. Without a doubt, we will be back -- much sooner than later.
(5)Dusty K.
Anteprima has a lot going for it. Price for one, but it was very lively for a Thursday night and the place was packed. Because they squeeze you in like sardines it's a little loud and cramped on the inside. It's not a very intimate place if that's what you're going for but has all the charm of a neighborhood spot. The food was good. I liked everything I received including the free bread and bread sticks (grissini) passed around as an appetizer. So many restaurants give boring bread to start but Anteprima's had flavor. I was happily surprised. And you can taste the ridiculous amounts of butter in the grissini which is why they're so damn good. The unfortunate thing was that no olive oil or butter were provided. So eating dry bread was the only option. My steak was cooked as I had ordered and topped with fresh herbs. I've never had a steak where, once finished cooking, fresh herbs were then put on top. They were very strong and a bit overpowering so I had to scrape them off as I was eating. They were all I tasted as I began eating. My main problem were the portion sizes. The ravioli was ordered by someone in the party and they received 6 or 8 smallish ravioli. They finished well before anyone else and immediately asked for more bread at the table. Portions here are rather small. Prices on the otherhand aren't outrageous so ordering an appetizer and dessert may be what you need. Then Anteprima no longer becomes the good value. I'd describe Anteprima as a nice neighborhood spot where you can get a quick meal for $20 on a week night when you don't want to cook. It's nothing more or less than that.
(3)Kelly C.
The food experience at this restaurant was very nice - highlights included the octopus starter which had fresh flavors to tempt the palette. Another highlight was the beef main dish which was nicely flavored yet light. The scallop starter had a very nice mushroom ragout, but I found the scallops alone to be too salty. Unlike other reviewers I found the portions to be a good size, however do not expect this to be Maggiano's with enough food for you, the person sitting next to you and to bring home for later. It's a good value for quality food. The biggest downside to the restaurant is the noise. We went on a Saturday evening with my parents and sat indoors following a graduation; the noise was so loud that we could barely hear each other and had to nearly yell to talk to the person across the table. The restaurant has made an effort with some insulation under tables and on the ceiling, but the wood floors and metal ceiling which make the ambiance so inviting also amplify the noise. The service was good, but not as great as other reviewers have noted - perhaps since it was a Saturday night. We also experienced the restaurant being out of a few dishes on the menu despite ordering around 7:30pm. All in all, I probably will not go back unless it is on a mid-week day since the noise made the experience un-enjoyable.
(2)Kim A.
My husband and I went to dinner here last Saturday night - we went fairly early, but did have a reservation. The food was very good and the server was friendly and seemed honest - he recommended a good bottle of wine (that was not the most expensive on the list). It's a smaller, cozy place, but a nice atmosphere. We would definitely go again.
(4)Monica G.
Anteprima helped my boyfriend and I celebrate our 5 year anniversary together. With reservations, we got a saturday evening table. Our server was friendly, attentive and helped us make some great menu decisions. We had grilled octopus and pork sausage with white beans to start - both were 10s. My boyfriend has homemade bowtie pasta with duck, I had butternut squash ravioli - again both excellent. The smaller portions were a perfect size. They gave us a free lemon panna cotta with a candle in honor of our date! It was my favorite part of the meal - totally out of this world. I wish there was a 4.75 button! Only thing preventing me from giving this a 5? The space is tiny. Like, we could hear everything at the tables around us, even smell their dishes. As long as you really know that's what you are in for, the food is worth it. Boy is it worth it!
(4)Stephen R.
I dont like to give 5 stars to anyone, but in my view this place earned it. 1. good atmosphere (yes its cozy and tight) 2. food is varied and tasy.something for everyone in terms of variety and portion sizes (half and full). 3. Unique in terms of you will not see these items at another place. I loved the following -brussel sprouts -yes...i said it -grilled octupus -orriechiete pasta -any fish they have is fantastic-there is a whole fish thats outstanding but I cant remember the name because I had too much wine. -pork ribs with white beans..fantastic -sides of polenta Overall, great place and service and awesome wine list.
(5)Rebekah P.
I made a 7:00pm reservation at Anteprima for a Tuesday night. I got caught in some traffic and when I called to let them know I would be a bit late, there was no answer. Thankfully, they called me to check in, and had no problem holding the table until we arrived. The place was packed, so it was very nice of them to hold the table for us. I'm glad they did too, because I did enjoy my experience at Anteprima. Everyone I was with really liked their food. The ones I remember people ordering: Butternut squash ravioli, orecchiette, amberjack, and I think the spaghetto cacio e pepe). Their wine list is impressive and very reasonably priced. I would recommend Anteprima to friends, but there are a few things I would note. It is very loud here. I'm sensitive to this because I don't have the best hearing, so it was a bit of an issue for me. Also, they took my stepmom's food away before she was finished, which was also weird because no one else at the table was even close to being finished with their food. So, not only was she still hungry for her food, but she was sitting with nothing in front of her while we all ate. Very strange (though we didn't say anything because we still enjoyed the experience overall). Overall good place. I'd go back for sure.
(4)Loni H.
Great food! Bread is great and love love the octopus appetizer. Entrees are tasty but space is cramped and reservations are a must. Outdoor patio is coolio on a nice day.
(4)Scott T.
We ate here about 6 months ago and were very impressed with the food and service. My wife has some food restrictions and the server was extremely accommodating, which made her feel good vs. being perceived as a troubled guest. We returned this past weekend and had a repeat performance. Good food and service makes Anteprima a favorite of ours.
(4)Lisa C.
I thought it was a nice touch to have a large bottle of water on the table when we arrived but by the end of the night I realized it was only because you'd never get a refill on anything unless I walked into the kitchen and turned the tap on yourself. If I were just rating the food, 4-5 stars. Wonderful ravioli, risotto, steak, and a panna cotta were devoured. I wanted to lick the plate after the risotto it was so creamy and good. On the flip side, I would give ZERO stars for service. I had the same experience as Greg D and would swear we were at the same table if I hadn't dined at Anteprima a day after his review posted. The restaurant was busy and the kitchen was backed up. It happens and in these situations, even an average waiter should have a few tricks to keeping guests from noticing that courses are coming out with 30 minutes between them. You may not control how fast they are firing plates but you can control that your customer's wine is replenished. It becomes painfully obvious you're waiting when the glasses are empty and the table is barren of food. Even a kind word once in a while..."sorry we're backed up tonight, would you like another glass?" makes an immeasurable difference on the perception of the dining. Our waiter barely spoke to us, came by once in two hours of dining so we could order a second round and that was after asking a busboy to help find him. He avoided any eye contact as he walked the restaurant and made himself impossible to flag down. I'll be the first to sympathize with an overworked waiter if they at least seem to care about providing good service. Our waiter was pretty much a sack of flour for all the effort he put into his job. It was a huge disappointment that undercut how great the food was. As a side note, we were there to celebrate my birthday. We didn't tell the staff as we were not trying to make any extra fuss, we just picked Anteprima as a special evening for ourselves to celebrate. I'd be upset about poor service any time, but it was an extra letdown that the place we picked to spend a special evening was such a bust. I even ordered our dessert course when the main course was brought as I half-joked to my boyfriend, "who knows when we might see our waiter again?" Not a good sign when table conversation turns to laughing about how bad the waiter is. In short, the food was great and I may visit again in the distant future (and I'll walk right back out the door if I see that waiter again). But in the meantime there are a lot of places in Andersonville that I'll be trying before I come back to Anteprima.
(2)Aaron S.
The atmosphere and decor of this place is really lovely and beautiful. I enjoyed my food, but the fish I had was very salty, maybe that's just the way that fish is. I had a squash soup that was soooo tasty. I would go back again.
(3)Lochin S.
Sat. night late dinner. started with Anchovies, really really liked the salt and crunch on these. Also the grilled octopus was seasoned very well and the texture was perfect. This came with some straw parm sticks that I could not stop eating. had to ask for more. For dinner we split the scallops. I cant remember what kind of sauce it was in, but I could have licked the plate clean. Service was incredible, no complaints! This is a spot we will def visit again. great for gathering a small party.
(5)Tanya M.
Awful service. The noise was deafening. The kitchen was clearly backed-up. And what made it worse was that there was no manager or owner making the rounds to check on the customers. Nobody noticed how unhappy we were, and we were sitting right by the host stand. My date and I couldn't hear each other without yelling, so we just ended up staring at each other for an hour and 45 minutes. Our server wasn't rude, but I definitely felt like I was in his way. The employees looked annoyed and rushed. They needed another server on the floor. At one point I finished my water and our water pitcher was empty. I waited ten minutes. A busboy came and cleared the empty pitcher, BUT DIDN'T BRING A FULL ONE BACK. I waited another ten minutes, staring at my empty glass. Finally we had to flag somebody down to get us more water. Our food wasn't timed correctly, or the kitchen was backed up, because there was a very long wait in between courses. And again, nobody noticed, nobody came by to let us know when to expect our next course. The one star is for the lemon panna cotta, which was very good. Oh but wait, our server didn't offer us coffee or tea with our dessert. That's pretty much common etiquette for a restaurant of this level. I know I only had water with my entree, but I usually like tea with dessert. Thanks. Here's the deal. I've worked in the service industry for over ten years. Restaurants get over-booked. Kitchens get backed up. Servers get over-sat. This crap happens. But what makes the difference between an awful restaurant and a great restaurant is letting the customer know what to expect. That's what a good manager is for. To take the emotional temperature of each table and make sure each guest feels special. We just felt forgotten.
(1)searah d.
Oh Anteprima...I used to love you but last Saturday night you left us waiting over a half hour for our 9:30 reservation. Then at 10pm when we came back to check in, we were told that there were still 4 tables ahead of us. What did the hostess do? Shrug her shoulders and offer our party of three two spaces at the bar. Sigh. Your food is good but your service needs some polish. We are pretty easy diners but you left us feeling neglected and unappreciated. The two stars is for last time I had a good meal there.
(2)Kyle H.
This place was delicious. Make sure to get the antipasti sampler, as you get a gigantic plate of every antipasti they offer. I had one of the specials, a lobster and saffron risotto - god god, rich deliciousness. They seem to have an awesome dinner crowd, as we had a reservation for some absurdly early old-person dinnertime, like 5:30 or 6, and they were almost full even then. I didn't love the space - kind of a lot of tables crammed into one small space, which made for a very loud dinner. But the food, the wine and the service were all top notch.
(4)Maureen M.
My family and I had brunch today at Anti Prima. It was wonderful!!! We were 5 adults and a 7 yr old. The staff couldn't have been more accommodating. They cooked a special dish for or little princess and the sommelier was informative, attentive, and paired amazing wines with our prie fixe meal. The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the 'family' concept where an appetizer assortment was served to the table so we could sample them all. Then there were two perfectly sized dishes -- a pasta and entree followed by another assortment of desserts. It was so yummy!! We will certainly go back! Maureen
(5)Carol K.
What a great little find! Anteprima really surprised me the other night with it's extensive wine list (including 2 of my all time favorite wines) innovative menu and welcoming ambiance. We got there around 7 on a Thursday night and I was surprised to see how crowded the place was. We were quickly seated at a great table right in the front window so we could watch the people coming and going which is always good in my book. The complimentary onion tart amuse bouche was just a portent of things to come. Service was excellent- we told our server that we wanted to catch up over our wine for awhile before ordering and he was very accommodating- checking in periodically but never being invasive. We ordered a couple of appetizers- the octopus and the antipasto plate. Both were delicious! The octopus was grilled , served warm with peppers, garlic and oil. And the antipasti was thin slices of various meats served with fig jelly and crusty toast. As for our entrees we split a pasta and a entree. The pasta had spicy lamb and dandelion greens (now I know what to do with those pesky weeds in my garden!) and the entree was a braised pork with polenta. Amazing. Finally- we finished off our night with some homemade lemoncello (got hooked on that during a trip to Italy) coupled with lemon panna cotta. A lovely evening at a great place. So if you are looking for a great place to get a taste of Italy- right in the neighborhood- check out Anteprima. It's a great little find!
(5)Michael S.
I wanted to like this place - it's Italian and close to my place and the atmosphere looked really great! However, after my experience there, it is very unlikely I will go back. The atmosphere was good but that is where to good ended. I didn't give the place 1 Star because one person in our party really liked their risotto, but everyone else was disappointed by their dishes. Bland was the overall comment - this coupled with the awkward interactions with the staff and waiting an inordinate amount of time for our food made for a disappointing evening. Oh well - there are plenty of other great Italian places in the neighborhood so one less option isn't the end of the world.
(2)Viper B.
I wanted to like this place but it just underperformed. Service was unapologetically slow (they weren't packed on a Sun night). Fish came out too salty and the table was finished eating before our waiter was back to check. With that said there were some good dishes: burrata deserved a double order, the amatriciana with guanciale could not have been better, pork shoulder was solid. I wouldn't try to go back here, but it's quaint and not all bad if you're in the 'hood.
(2)Lydia B.
I live right by here so I have been waiting to try it for awhile. We had a reservation so we were seated immediately when we came in. For an appetizer we had the marinated olives, garlic, orange, and chilies. The waiter did a great job. I had some type of fish and my boyfriend had a steak and they were OK. The place was good but didn't really stick out so I don't know if we'll be back but it was good.
(3)Michael E.
It was time to treat one of my best friends to a dinner and thought she'd like to explore the hinter lands of Andersonville.....as least in her opinion *wink*. Anteprima gets high marks from many folks and now I know why. From an extensive wine list to a very authentic menu of Italian dishes, this is a great date place or something to do when you want to feel a little special when you are eating. Reservations were made at 6:30pm on a Thursday, but within an hour the place was packed, so keep that in mind....also use Opentable.com if you want to make those reservations quickly. Following a tradition of my mother, we ordered wine and decided to catch up, conversing for over 30 minutes and enjoying our wine with the waiter never rushing us. This is my favorite way to dine....taking your time and enjoying both who you are with as well as the food and drink. Then the ordering commenced. Appetizers were the grilled octopus and the antipasto plate. Yummy! Entrees were a pasta dish that had spicy lamb and dandelion greens - spicy is an understatement, but still very good. The other entrée was braised pork with polenta and also as good. We shared both plates...as friends should and enjoyed it all. Dessert was an interesting experience for me as I had both a drink and dessert that were both derived from lemons. The drink was a lemoncello which is vodka, basil, and lemons made at the restaurant and the dessert was a lemon panna cotta which was a first for me and very good. So if you ever want to check out a darling little neighborhood establishment then come up my way and enjoy what Andersonville has to offer.
(5)Ambika M.
Loved this place! Hubby brought me here for date night and we really enjoyed it! Made a reservation and ran a little late but called them and they held our tale which was great! Our waiter Jonathon gave us great wine and food recommendations too! My only knock on this place was the noise level. It's small and pretty packed so with everyone chatting away, it made it hard to hear my hubby or the waiter. Also, looked like more of a wait for tables later when we left and there really isn't place inside to wait. We had a great experience though!
(4)Susan L.
Welcome to my new favorite restaurant! Delicious rustic Italian food with fresh, seasonal ingredients. What more can you ask for? We went with another couple and weren't incredibly hungry. So we got the 8-app sampler, 2 half-order pastas, and 2 entrees and split everything. PERFECT amount of food. Pasta is fresh as a daisy. The eggplant app is to die for. The halibut is incredible, and, my friend from Wisconsin who is a huge meat eater said that their pork chop is the BEST she's ever had! (It was pretty juicy and delish...) P.S. The Chen Chen (sp?) cocktail is NOT for everyone. If you like Pimms & ginger ale, you'll like this. If you don't like yours, I'll finish it!
(5)J V.
Went with the ol girl on a Tuesday and both went with the Prix Fixe option for $29. I ordered entirely off the specials menu, starting with stewed goat over polenta, a spicy buccatini pasta and then finished with a pork shoulder osso bucco, all of which were excellent. Girlfriend had a salumi plate, roasted squash risotto and brick baby chicken and enjoyed them as well. Lot of food and terrific bread, especially the little buttery "sticks". Does get sorta loud but all in all, a great meal and with a bottle of wine, $115 with tax and tip. Would definitely go back and have recommended to someone else already.
(4)Greg D.
I was a little concerned going there because the reviews weren't sounding too great. Also, I couldn't even look at the website to preview the menu because my computer's security wouldn't let me, it said their website could be "harmful" to my computer (maybe a foreshadowing?). I will say that when I walked in, I really liked the ambiance and liked that it was intimate. However, once it gets really busy, then you have waiters, busboys and patrons bumping into you the whole night because it's pretty tight. One of the reviewers I had read said their waiter had zero personality. And that's who we got. I'm not sure this should be his desired way to make a living, because he clearly didn't seem to enjoy it. The food was pretty good, nothing special, and very small quantities for the price. The busboy took our water bottle away (a table of 7 people) before the main course arrived and never brought it back. It wouldn't have been too bad if I had the glass of wine I had ordered, but that was never brought either. The waiter apologized an hour later as we were paying asking if I wanted it now. Seriously?? Even my fellow diners had to grab the waiter to ask for more drinks, he never came back during a two and a half hour dinner to ask. The host had to actually go get us more water before we finished. Now that I think of it, the waiter and bartender could probably keep up with the orders if they weren't doing kitchen duties like plating appetizers or cutting bread for the bread baskets. The poor bartender looked like she was going to pass out because she was trying to fill all the drink requests and make appetizer plates for the whole restaurant. I'm thinking maybe once they've been open for a while they will get their bearings, then someone told me they've been open for 5 years. Wow. I don't think I've had that uncomfortable of a dining experience in the 15 years I've been in Chicago. Maybe it would be a better experience to go during a weekday when it's not busy. But with those prices, there are so many better options along Clark Street where you get the service you deserve.
(2)Natalie S.
I was given a gift certificate from a friend for my birthday last year. We sat on it awhile and finally got our way over there to give it a whirl. See... I'm not wild about Italian food. I will very rarely ever suggest it as a dinner option. But, free food is free food so we made a reservation and went on over. Atmosphere: awesome. Loud enough so you don't feel the people next to you are listening to your conversation but quiet enough where we weren't shouting at each other. Waiter: helpful and friendly. My friend who gifted me with the certificate recommended a specific wine which they were out of (boo) but he suggested something he felt was similar. It was delicious. I had a duck dish (don't remember specifically) that was YUMMMM. When I get an Italian food craving, I'll be back!
(4)Steve K.
I may be going out on a limb, but I would venture to say that Anteprima has the best NY strip steak in the city. I would love to share more about this quaint little joint, but it's all I've ever gotten when I've gone. It's served with a warm arugula salad with shaved parmesean cheese that, when mixed with the juices from the steak, allow you to very easily clean your plate. A bit pricey and not much elbow room, but worth it.
(5)Candace T.
We ate outside on the back patio, which was very nice, and not too crowded. The food was hit or miss for me: the grilled octopus was one of the most delicious things ever...sooo amazingly tender. My roasted beet ravioli, however, was pretty flavorless, aside from the parmigiana sprinkled on top. Nevertheless, with a shared bottle of delicious wine, it was a completely enjoyable meal. Seriously, get the octopus, though!! Lastly, I'm not exactly a fancy frou frou eater, usually, and I dislike nothing more than having a waiter give a little attitude. Not even close at Anteprima, greeters and waiters were incredibly welcoming and not at all snooty. Wheelchair Accessibility Review: Fully accessible through the front door AND they have a little ramp to get to the back patio, which is a very welcome consideration that you don't always find (It's removable, though, so just ask someone if it isn't out when you get back there). Tables are of normal height that you can roll right up, and there was no problem with crowding, or moving the other chair out of the way. Didn't use the restrooms, so I can't speak to the accessibility of those.
(4)Rob M.
I learned of Anteprima after the website Chicago Eater ranked it No. 1. As it turned out, service was the standout. Our server emphasized the seafood, which was an excellent pointer. If scallops are available, order them. I also recommend the meatballs as an appetizer. Among a table of four, the only let down was a pasta dish: pappardelle, prosciutto ragu, parmigiano. For dessert, we shared three, which divided well because they were relatively small. Prices are reasonable and menu items rotate. Judging by the menus posted online as I write this, what I ordered at Anteprima just recently does not seem to be available if I were to return today. Yet, I would not hesitate to return based on the strength of my first visit.
(4)Karen N.
I love this place. I was so mesmerized by the menu and all the seasonal items that I couldn't decide what to order for a long time. We got 3 apps: Tuscan grilled Bread Salad, stuffed zuchini blossoms and grilled octopus. Oh, we knew we were in for a treat as soon as the zuchini blossoms came to our table. Then we had two small orders of pasta: orrechete with sausage, chilli and dandelion greens. Risotto with corn and crab. Delicious! The server split the plates for us without asking. If we had one more person, we would have gotten 1 or two entrees to share... the special whole grilled fish looked good, and also the calamari. The 1 star off is because the desserts were just ok. We looked at the selection and decided to go next door to have icecream. Not a big deal though.
(4)Comensal A.
I rate this visit to Anteprima at 3.5 stars -- not great, but enjoyable. I probably would not have discovered it, but my companion heard about it from a friend and thought it would be worth a try (and it had been a long time since we'd strolled around Andersonville, so that cinched it). One very curious thing about trying to view Anteprima's website: both Yelp and Google intercepted my request, warning me that my computer might be damaged by malware if I continued to the site. I'd think that Anteprima would fix this, but apparently management doesn't know or doesn't care about it. (NOTE: Subsequent to posting this review with the paragraph above, I received a message from the restaurant's owner stating "we have been talking to google for in excess of a month trying to get the problem fixed. we definitely know and we definitely care In fact, what we have discovered is we have to completely rebuild our website. I'm a bit perplexed that you would make a comment as to the fact that we could not care." In the interest of fairness, I want to acknowledge that management does care about the problem and is trying to fix it.) But on to the food. I'm glad we visited -- the menu is appealing; there are many non-typical Italian plates with some Sicilian dishes and a compact but well-chosen wine list. We came on a weekday, so tried their "prix fixe" deal: $29/diner for a starter, an entrée, and either a half-order of pasta or a dessert -- a pretty good deal. A shrimp appetizer was an engaging combo of grilled shrimp and cauliflower in a pleasantly peppery sauce; it was a nice concept, but the shrimp were a little limp. A grilled calamari starter was similarly inventive, but the bite of squid I tasted was a little rubbery and the vinaigrette a bit sharp for my taste. Cauliflower risotto was pleasant enough. A sautéed rabbit entrée had good flavors, though it was just a little drier that I'd prefer. A braised duck leg with couscous was the star of the show, tender & richly flavored. For dessert, a chocolate hazelnut tart was satisfying, and cappuccino was pricey but acceptably flavorful. Overall, the food was good, but not quite as good as it could have been -- hence 3.5 rather than 4 stars. Anteprima's dining room is homey & relaxing, the music is appropriate and not intrusive (though the room got louder than I prefer as more diners arrived). There's a nice patio out back, too, though the fan noise detracts from the ambiance. Our server was cordial & helpful, and the bussers asked if they might clear plates (rather than snatching them away or asking "are you still working on that?") -- bonus points for good training. I may give Anteprima another try -- there's promise here, and an interesting menu...
(3)Colin E.
Been twice and had a great meal both times. Great non "traditional" Italian food (i.e.not just pizza and pasta). Recommend sharing a few of the pastas as appetizers. Highly recommend the sliced strip w/ rosemary, lemon, and olive oil--so, so good. Service is fine, atmosphere was inviting.
(4)Steve W.
I'm usually mum on Italian, but I really loved this place. First of all, we showed up really late - around 9:30 or so, but the (handsome) server was incredibly accomodating and attentive the whole time. We started off with the artichoke caponata and grilled octopus. The caponata was light and slightly sweet. Highly recommend it. And, yes, the octopus is just as good as advertised. They're grilled until they're soft but not chewy in the least; a tasty and light kickoff to your meal. For the entrees, we split the asparagus ravioli, which was delicious. Its lightness belied the buttery sauce on top. And we split the Mediterranean whole fish, which came with crisp fingerling potatoes. Again, (you may sense a theme) light and delicious. We capped the whole thing off with the chocolate tart with vanilla creme. As someone that usually isn't a huge chocolate fan (strange, I know), it was perfect with the flaky crust. So yet another great restaurant in Andersonville I wish I could steal for my 'hood.
(4)Matt R.
This is a cool place! They serve fast, and very interesting and tasty foods. The portions are pretty small, but the wine choices are good and the staff are friendly and good at what they do. Food is overall not that expensive either. This place has the coolest look from the outside since you really only see the first couple tables and then you get inside and see how many people they have inside. I'm glad I checked this place out, all the food is creative. I've never had polenta (goat) before, but I enjoyed it. Baaaaaah.
(5)Frances K.
We spent my partner's birthday evening here two years in a row. This year, the kids and grandparents were with us. The food is uniformly interesting and flavorful. Service is helpful and friendly. Anteprima also has a nice selection of house specialty cocktails that are unique. We had an array of appetizers including the grilled polenta, the stuffed calamari, and the grilled squid. The polenta was the weakest of the three but still had terrific flavor - the wilted greens served with the polenta had a slightly bitter flavor that worked as a nice counterpoint to the dish. Nothing to be said about octopus and calamari except that they were both excellent. Dinner involved stuffed pork loin, the brick roasted chicken, mussels, and for the kids, pasta with olive oil. All the entrees were tasty and received rave reviews. The only constructive comment is that the seasoning on the chicken shaded towards a bit over-salty. The kids loved their pasta too (although how bad can pasta with olive oil and parmesan cheese be). Anteprima would have received five stars except that we made a point, on our reservations, of stressing that it was a birthday dinner. There was no acknowledgement from the waitstaff, no dessert birthday greeting, nothing. That was a bit disappointing especially because we love this place so much.
(4)Matt M.
Anteprima was one of the best meals that I have ever had, no exaggeration. I don't often go out to pricey dinners but I just may based off of the food here. I wish I could remember exactly what my date and I ordered but I can not and their website's current menu is not what we saw New Year's Eve. We ordered off of their custom drink menu, shared an appetizer and each had an entree and everything was fantastic. My girlfriend and I are suckers for anything squash or sweet potato related and Anteprima's offerings were definetly worth the money. Food: 10 Atmosphere: 6 (It's cramped and noisy but most places are) Service: 7 (Nothing special)
(5)Jeff L.
I'm just a rookie at this Yelp Review business, but I can tell you this. Anteprima was awesome. I picked it based on the Yelp reviews (although the service comments and noise concerned me) and its proximity to The Steep theatre. I had my wife, mom, mom-in-law (and her husband) and sister-in-law meeting for dinner for birthdays. Mom said: Best ravioli she's ever had. Yummy bread sticks. Great veal. Great service--thanks Chris (who got us out of there when we were running out of time). A little loud once the full crowd is there, but we had the cozy big table in the back corner--perfect for us. The vegan amongst us was also able to order what she wanted. All and all, a great experience where everyone enjoyed the food, wine, and service. By the way, great specials that night added to the surprise of an extended selection of great choices. Six thumbs up!
(5)Matthew S.
There are a lot of great restaurants in Andersonville and Anteprima is one of them! The service, atmosphere, and wine list were the highlights for me. The food was really tasty but I wouldn't suggest ordering the salad assortment. I think it might have been better to just order a couple. I loved the beet salad and the rest of the items were just ok. This is why I gave Ateprima 4 stars. Our entree's were really tasty. My girlfriend ordered the risotto and I had a pasta with Pancetta that would have made Chef Boiardee look like a shit-head. I would like to come back and try the Coho Salmon. If anyone has had it there you have to let me know how it is. Our server made some nice suggestions for wine and the half bottle options are great if you want to try a red and a white. Also, I never felt rushed and it's always nice when the server realizes that people don't like to be asked "how are you" every 15 seconds. They were extremely attentive and constantly kept an eye on our table to make sure we were aight! This is a great place for nice night out with some good friends or just your special lady or man or lady-man.
(4)Eme L.
There $29 3-course just can't be beat. It's a bit noisy - not the spot for a romantic date - but the service is fantastic and the food (at least what we sampled) is delicious. Our party of four tried: Appetizers: pork terrine, calamari, octopus, mushrooms in parchment. All super tasty with my dabs being the pork and the spicy calamari. Pasta: spaghetti with tuna, ravioli, and pasta with pesto. Fav was the ravioli (hovering between sweet/savory). Pesto wasn't cooked and was taken off our bill. Entree: quail, pork ham, and whitefish. Fab was pork ham...whatever that is. Dessert: chocolate tart, rhubarb crumble, walnut cake. Walnut was the best. Memorable meal and worth a return visit. l
(4)Jean C.
For hubby's graduation dinner, we decided on coming to Anteprima. We perused the menu during Midsommerfest and liked what we read. The reservation was made originally for 7:30 but I was able to change it to 6pm since the reception for his program seemed to end sooner than expected. When we arrived, there were a few tables already but it got packed as we had our meal. Since we nibbled a bit at the party we only ordered entrees. I went with the stuffed rainbow trout with spinach and artichoke. It was delicious. The food was well done and well presented. Everyone enjoyed their dish. Service was lovely but the dining room was a tad noisy. It was hard to have a conversation with someone on the other side of the table. I was pleased with Anteprima and would come here again for dinner. A walk around Andersonville is definitely in order after your meal!
(4)Christine F.
3.75 stars. Can't do half stars (or quarter stars) on here. We took my parents here on their bi-yearly visit...our first time around our waiter was kind of a jerk and we had a meh time, but since the reviews of Anteprima have improved we gave it another go. Right off the bat, they kind of pissed me off. I had a res at 7, but they said the table wouldn't be ready for 15 minutes. Well, you know, that's why I make a reservation....so we don't have to wait. If Anteprima had a bar inside I wouldn't have minded so much, but we had to go next door to Acre (there's nowhere to stand in Anteprima). What made the situation a little better is that since Anteprima owns Acre, we could carry our drinks back from Acre to Anteprima (so we didn't have to slam our beers...yay). But still. The res starting late got a bit of an eyebrow raise from me, but it wasn't a dealbreaker. Especially after I had a beer. Ha. Our waitress was really nice. She kept our drinks full and brought us delicious breads and olive oil. I ordered the polenta app (on greens and tomatoes) and a ricotta gnocchi with an arugula pesto with sundried tomatoes. The polenta was kind of blah, it wasn't terribly flavorful....which is really unfortunate, since I LOVE a good polenta (Terragusto is pro at this). However, the gnocchi was freaking awesome. I was so full I couldn't eat it all, but I wish I could have eaten more. It was cheezy, salty, arugula-y (my favorite type of greens) and delicious. We didn't have any room for dessert, but everyone enjoyed their meals and had a good time.
(4)Ben G T.
Sat at bar. Great mussels, great service, great vibe & company.
(5)Josh G.
We had reservations for two, and upon arrival, asked if we could change it to three; Jeffrey gladly changed it for us. Greeting: We were greeted by the Host/Manager named Jeffrey. He was very helpful and friendly. Service: Good service. Not only did our own server interact with us, but the other servers did as well. They were genuinely friendly, helpful and playful. Food: Starter- Breads. We were given three types of breads initially. They all had unique textures and flavors. Grilled prawns, apples, celery, radishes, preserved lemon vinaigrette $9 *This was packed with amazing flavor. The warm prawns with the cold apples and celery in the preserved lemon vinaigrette pairing was an amazing creation of infused flavor. Half Pasta Order: Roasted beet ravioli, butter, parmigiano $11 *The beet flavor was mild in a yummy cream sauce. *The serving was small. I believe I had 4 or 5 ravioli in my bowl. Entree: Sliced new york strip, rosemary, lemon, cracked pepper, olive oil, arugula $26 *This was a small portion. I don't think it is at all worth $26. Luckily I had the special. I wouldn't have paid full price for it by itself. It was tasty, tender, and well made. I enjoyed it a lot!! Drinks: I ordered a cocktail, as did the other two, and they were just under $10 each. My drink was something fruity, but didn't rock my world. They have glass/bottles of wine as well. The beta delta pinot grigio-chardonnay blend, lageder alto adige 2009 went for $39/bottle. Pricing: They have a three course meal for $29 Sun-Thurs. So, I got all of the above for much less than if I purchased them individually. The small portions for the price on some of the items seemed to excessive to me. I was completely happy with the flavor of everything though. They did not disappoint! Ambiance: I went on a Sunday night at 8:15pm, and it was packed! They really cram as many people in there as they can. We still had good service though. It was not loud even with a packed out crowd. I enjoyed it.
(4)Jen L.
All I can say is Wow. I decided to go here on recommendation for a father's day double date (how awkward). The hope was that the two dads would like each other and chat away while us young'uns exert less effort. Thankfully, the food was so good that it provided a great amount of conversation for the evening. Being the nice kids that we are, we decided to go all out for father's day dinner with the appetizer sampler, entrees, and desserts. The sampler was amazing with eight different tasting portions of their delicious appetizers. I thought the farro was especially delicious, and my dad drooled over the olives. I got the asparagus risotto for my entree - awesome move there. Not too salty but still had tons of flavor. The boyfriend had the bison, and he liked his plate clean. For dessert, I had the sorbet trio; the strawberry and lemon were amazing, but the mint was a little strong for my tastes. I really don't have anything bad to say about Anteprima. The service was delightful and the food was amazing. We did spend a pretty penny for the holiday, but I hope to be back for some appetizers and cocktails in the future!
(5)Annie R.
As someone who is not typically a fan of Italian, I really enjoyed this place. The service was a little inconsistent, but the food was great and the back patio was beautiful. Probably not a place I'll frequent, but a good go-to when you're in the mood for some good wine and heavy duty, delicious carbs.
(4)Gary B.
I have yet to eat here but we will start with 5 stars. Reason being, we (4 people)stopped in last night around 7:30 without a reservation. The place was busy and the host was being very accommodating. He said that it would be a 45min wait. He could tell there was some apprehension in the group as to the wait so he offered a few options. We could leave a contact number and he would call us when the table was ready, wait out side or sit at the bar and have drinks and appetizers. The place was busy and word of mouth and Yelp reviews seem to be attracting a crowd. We will make reservations the next time so I can review the food but the host was very pleasant.
(5)Rich R.
This was my first visit to this restaurant. When we arrived to be seated for our reservation, they told us there was not a table available and to go to their sister restaurant 2 buildings over for a drink and they would come get us in 10 min. Half hour later, I had to go back and check on them. The hostess told me that she was on her way to come get us. Funny, when I think of a reservation, I would think they would hold a table for that time. As for the wait service, we watched everyone around get water and bread, but we were neglected and had to ask them to bring it to us. We were not tucked away in a corner or anything, we were right in the middle of the restaurant. Then my girlfriend asked about something on the menu and the waiter told us that he didn't care for it. After we got through the service issues, the food was pretty good. I had the rainbow trout which was very good and my girlfriend had the rosotto and she enjoyed it as well. I was very disappointed when the bill came and nobody acknowledged any of their service and reservation mishaps. They seemed not to care. All in all, food was good, but I'm not going back.
(1)Tiffany G.
UNREAL. The absolute BEST ... and I do mean BEST octopus I have ever had. We've been preparing octopus at home for many, many years and do a fine job, but it's an incredibly difficult dish to make well and above all, to get TENDER (even when using baby octopus). Our own efforts cannot even come close to Anteprima's - the octopus was so tender it melted in your mouth and the preparation was absolutely phenomenal - so flavorful but not overpowering. We are not impressed easily, especially when it comes to seafood, and yet, were surely were! Such a memorable dish. Bravo! Now that we were off to a great start, we followed up with their special pasta of the evening, Spaghetti Botarga. A very light, and enjoyable primo piatto ... On our next trip I would like to try their orecchiette with house made lamb sausage and bitter greens. For our secondi we ordered the venison loin and the night's special rabbit. Both were absolute perfection. The venison melted like butter and the rabbit as well - juicy, tender, cooked JUST RIGHT - and full of flavor. I have had these two game meats at several other restaurants and there is just no comparison - Anteprima reigns supreme. We finished our meal with the Vin Santo and biscotti - something I've not had since my time in Italy. The service was wonderful, the atmosphere warm and inviting, the food: Italian as it should be - absolutely authentic and delicious. Anteprima is a superb place that I couldn't recommend more highly.
(5)Deepika T.
So we did the birthday dinner here last night, and must say it is a great date spot. Very cozy, you might knock elbows with the next table, but nice nonetheless. Our waiter was great, attentive and had suggestions whenever we asked for any. The food by itself was OK, we've had better Italian. The roasted peppers appetizer was neither cold nor warm, but the grilled peaches appetizer was great! Be warned, if you don't like Gorgonzola cheese, this particular appetizer might be overwhelming. We tried the risotto and gnochhi pastas - good, but not great. The highlight of the evening was the dessert - a light fluffy piece of lemon panna cota. Omg, I would go to this place again only for this. Perfect texture, with a great glaze on top. The best ever. Ask for the outdoor deck seating if you head there with good weather, we didn't realize that we had the option until after we finished our meal.
(3)Jade H.
What can I say that the 180 reviews before me hasn't already said? I just want to add in my five stars to the list. This place is so tasty. My favorite dish of all the dishes we ordered was the octopus salad. It had a very complex flavor. I could taste so many levels of sweet and tangy and salty and even a little fruity. The texture was marvelous. I wish I hogged it all up from my boyfriend. I also had a surprising cocktail with rosemary flavoring. It was very good. The plume of rosemary filled my olfactory senses with every sip. The other dishes were fantastic too. I even appreciated the pasta (although I am still not a pasta fan.) Order the octopus.
(5)Matt L.
We went for "Dine out for Life" an HIV/AIDS fund raising dinner. The Food was excellent and the table was ready in a more than a reasonable amount of time from the stated reservation. The food was excellent and prepared just right!! The grilled octopus was excellent and I would highly recommend it to anyone trying the restaurant. The waiter could have checked on us maybe a couple more times and the person bringing out the entrees misplaced the dishes.....pretty minor in my book, but I can't give it 5 stars. I look forward to trying it again.....Highly recommended!!!
(4)Brian H.
The experience of dining at Anteprima is getting more onerous and less pleasureful. It was a pain to get a reservation; they required me to wait when our party wasn't all there (our party was 2 people and there were plenty of open tables!); our server was borderline rude and acted irritated when we asked for anything (like when we had the audacity to ask for more water or for recommendations on the menu. Gasp!). The menu is fine but very heavy on small plates/appetizers with far fewer options for entrees. I like to support local business and independent restaurants and I will continue to do so... but not at Anteprima.
(2)Lex N.
This place is to die for! Went with my dad and his friend who knows Marty (the owner) and most of the staff here. We were treated like royalty. Marty is such a nice guy as well as is the rest of the staff. We tried several different appetizers. Among my favorites were the cuddlefish (it had so much flavor), this ravioli dish with squash inside, and the octopus. But everything, and I truely mean everything that I tried was excellent! Usually when I go to a restaurant and try several things and a few end up being just ok. Well, there was not one thing that I tasted and thought, eh, it's only ok. I loved it all. Great place, check it out!!
(5)Hannah M.
I've been here several times. It's a really great menu-- lots of choices-- and I like the $29 prix fixe option. I've always liked what I've ordered. But the service is very, very strange. Every time it's been super, super slow, cold, and unfriendly. No one comes to say hello-- some awkward waiter just appears out of the blue and asks you to order. And everything tends to take a really long time-- from getting the bill to getting the carafe of water refilled. I'll keep going back, because for me food trumps service, and this is a good spot in Andersonville, but the waitstaff could use a pep talk. I almost never notice service, but it's pretty perceptibly bizarre here.
(3)Zan B.
Summary: If you like great Italian food and don't mind being ignored by the waiter or waiting 40-50 minutes for your food, then this place is for you. Will I return? Only if they offer take-out. The first thing I want to comment on is, if this waiter had actually tried to sell me something, I would've bought it. I wanted to throw my money at this place if someone would have made the effort. I would have bought 1-2 more drinks and an extra side if someone was there to take my order. Aesthetics: The place looked fine and the seats weren't too close to each other. Staff: Whoever was at the door to greet us was nice. The waiter looked like he didn't have a thought in is head, well, that is until a couple (that had a similar skin tone as the waiter) sat next to us. He couldn't stop talking to them for some reason. The other waiters seemed similar. I didn't see much interaction between staff and customers. I don't get it either. It's not like there were too many tables to deal with! It's just a shoebox, people. Get it together! Talking to customers is easy! Price: For the money, the food is well worth it. Food: OMG the food! It was great. I wished I got another ravioli or two on my plate, but I had enough appetizers to hold me over. That's the other thing. Get appetizers. You may spend so much time waiting that you will need something to hold you over (their bread was good, too). If it weren't for the bad service I would have had an over-all great experience.
(2)Rick R.
I think Anteprima means "Afterbirth" because thats what I had after eating here. The only positive was George our waiter who was very attentive.
(1)Tim T.
Epic fail. Had a reservation for 8:30, arrived early, lots of empty tables, asked to be seated and the attitude from the hostess started. Almost as if I insulted her. She reluctantly seated us. Waited forever for water and drinks. The waiter had zero personality and could have cared less if we enjoyed it or not. Prices here are insane for the quantity. I ordered a special salad from the specials, it was $10 for less than 1 tomatoes chopped with a slice of cucumber. The bread was good. Sorry we will not be back, way to many other choices with great food and service in the area.
(2)Matt M.
The food was neither plentiful nor delicious. It was highly over-priced for mid to low quality italian food. The waitress also was flustered if interuppted and made no attempts to hide it. She actually made the "who the hell do you think you are look" a couple of times to our table of 5. I will not be back, but it was not the worst dining experience I have ever had. If I had paid $20 for two people I would have given it 3.25 stars.
(2)Robert Y.
Absolutely incredible pasta dishes. Came in for a lighter dinner, and I had the orecchiette with the spicy lamb sausage with an incredible glass of montepulciano that the waiter recommended and it was perfect. I'll definitely be coming back to try a full on meal with appetizer, main course and dessert!
(5)Jules D.
Let me get the less-than-great thing out of the way first: It gets loud in there on a Saturday evening. Now let's move onto what was enjoyed: Everything else. The food was fresh and well prepared, like what we love most about eating in Italy. Nice wines available in quartinos for us light drinkers. I had the roasted beet salad with ricotta salata, candied nuts and arugula. Ok, there were three small pieces of arugula, but plenty of the tasty rest of it. And the balance of cheese and beet was well done. My entree was the delicate squash and ricotta ravioli in a sage brown butter sauce. Rich, but not too rich, melt-in-your-mouth filling and light pasta--a hit! The chocolate hazelnut tart was heavenly, from the touch of whipped cream to the cookie crust and everything in between-- that chocolate was supremely satisfying. Service was timely and thoughtful. Our waiter understood that the espressos would come after the dessert, again, he was helpful and friendly throughout our meal. The menu has many things I'd like to try--we'll be back.
(4)Dhruv P.
My friend and I tried Anteprima yesterday and the food and ambiance was exceptional. Tip: Make reservations! - We went around 7pm and the place was empty, however, we were told that only tables were at bar or table would be available at 9pm, which was fine for us, however, we were surprised as there were ample empty tables. Well, in 15 minutes of our seating, the place was quickly on its way of being full. We ordered an appetizer that was 2 fried eggs (with very slight liquid yolk) mixed with homemade tomato sauce on oiled bread. We were told that is a traditional Southern Italy dish and it was tasty, after realizing it was boiling hot. My dish was a ravioli with chestnuts and mushroom cream sauce. I ordered the dinner portion and it was the the right size. You can choose to do a tasting portion, but you'll need at least 2 dishes to make a meal. The ravioli was done well and the chestnut flavor was balanced with the mushroom creme sauce. Actually, I would have liked the chestnuts to have a slight stronger flavor as it was a bit masked by the sauce instead of balanced. I could tell that the ravioli were made in house and along with everything there was made by them. Only the breads were brought in from a bakery, and they give a nice selection of breads in a basket before the appetizer arrives. Antepasta, according to the bartender who was well versed in the menu, uses little sauce in its dish, just to bring out the flavors of the dishes instead of masking the flavors. Just keep in mind, that if you are looking for a sauce dish, you won't find it there. I will definitely be going there again to sample more off the menu and try a Dolci on the next try.
(4)Christina S.
If you like bland food.... this place is for you! My boyfriend surprised me and took me here for my Birthday celebration dinner and made a bad choice. The food was bland, table wast crowded and the music/ambiance was not "Modern Italian" at all. The best part about the restaurant is its location next to Georgies Ice Cream that was the highlight and best part of the night! Thank you Anteprima for giving me a tasteless Birthday dinner, we will never be back nor recommend.
(1)Cadence K.
There's no where I would rather eat in Chicago, or really anywhere. It is romantic and homey, and the food is rustic but elegant.
(5)Sarah M.
There's certain things that I look for in a restaurant before I even go: good cocktails, fairly vegetarian friendly, and dessert for my sweet tooth. Anteprima appeared to hit all three, so I took my parents here for a night out in my 'hood. Since it was a beautiful night, we sat out on the patio. My dad was nervous at first b/c there were absolutely zero patrons inside the restaurant... but that's only b/c everyone was on the patio. It's a nice little area, but slightly crowded. Whatever, we live in Chicago, I'm not going to complain when I can really only eat outside for about 3 weeks out of the year. Fabulous cocktails, check. Not much in the way of beer ( I think my dad only had 2 to choose from?), but a decent wine list. There are more appetizers than entrees, but honestly, I could have eaten my way through the appetizers list. The menu does change weekly so I won't go into great detail about the specifics of my meal, other than all three of us ate every single bite on our plates. My dad had a heritage pork chop and raved about it. My mom, who claims to dislike fish skin, even sampled some of the crispy skin of her salmon and was happy about it. As a vegetarian, I had options to choose from, and the swiss chard ravioli I ate was amazing. Dessert though. I die. I had a hazelnut tart with this AMAZING vanilla whipped cream. If it were acceptable to just dive head first into it, I would have, but then my parents would have thought they raised an awful child. Service was, for the most part, great. Jonathan was an excellent server. There were times that the staff was slightly slow about clearing plates/glasses from our table (something I really hate is having to play a virtual tetris on my table with rearranging all the used plates/glasses to make room for the new plates/glasses), but other than that, no complaints. I'd definitely go back here.
(4)Christina C.
Thanks to a great recommendation from a friend of my partner's, we initiated a monthly excursion we're calling "Secret Sups." Each month, one of us picks out a new restaurant and arranges a reservation ... without disclosing its location to the other. It must be a new/out of the ordinary place for us, and secrecy of the location is half the fun! We are by no means food novices, but we tend to frequent the same handful of places within a few-block radius of home, so this is a great catalyst to get us out our neighborhood routine. I chose Anteprima in Andersonville for our inaugural event. While having a post-dinner drink at Marty's on Balmoral, we developed our criteria and rating scale to apply to each Secret Sup. SCALE: 0 = Nonexistent. 1 = Sucky. 2 = Mediocre. 3 = Average/nothing to write home about. 4 = Good! 5 = Outstanding/like, really wowed us! 6 = Like nothing we've ever had before. CRITERIA Reservation ease - 5 Reservations are accepted via Open Table, so it was super easy to navigate. Wait time/comfort - 5 Though we were about 15 minutes early for our reservation, we were immediately shown to our table upon arrival. There was a small bar area in the back of the restaurant where we could have waited if necessary. Server - 5 Our waiter, Jonathan, was fabulous. He came to greet us very quickly, asked us if we'd been there before, and gave a brief description of the "rustic Italian" style of cuisine when we said we hadn't. He offered to answer any questions we might have and left us to peruse the menu briefly. He seemed to arrive at our table just when we needed him--not too overbearing but as attentive as we needed/wanted. We did have a handful of questions regarding some elements of the menu, and Jonathan answered with ease. He was very friendly throughout the duration of our experience, and gave some wonderful recommendations when requested. Food - 5 We ordered a bottle of the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, La Valentina, which was delicious--smooth and velvety, yet robust. We chose the grilled octopus (with potatoes, red onion, chilies, parsley, lemon, and olive oil) and the pesciolini (a special: crispy lake smelt with lemons and parsley) to start. There were no strange sauces or extraneous accouterments--just good quality food prepared simply. The appetizers were delicious. The octopus had wonderful texture, the potatoes were sliced incredibly thinly, and the combination of flavors was delightful. The pesciolini was a new adventure for us. It was light and crispy with just the right amount of breading and addition of citrus to highlight to flavor. For our main courses, I chose the spaghetti "carbonara," a house specialty (with house guanciale, an unsmoked Italian bacon, asparagus, farm egg, and pecorino), and my partner chose the pan-seared salmon (with roasted shallots and asparagus, balsamic, and porcini vinaigrette). Both dishes were extraordinary. The salmon had a wonderful bit of crunch to its texture, and the spaghetti was fabulous. Perfectly "al dente," the flavor was big and rich without being too much. My partner couldn't stop sneaking bites! We looked to our server for a dessert recommendation to please both the dark chocolate lover (my partner) and the vanilla/crème brulee lover (me). After confiding that he was "on my team" for dessert (and dessert alone, we understood!), Jonathan suggested the coffee crema. It had a wonderful, thick, creamy texture, and the coffee flavor wasn't too overpowering. It was topped with a bit of light whipped cream, and was a nice ending to an incredible meal. While it likely would not have been our first choice, it was still tasty. The timing of the meal felt very natural. Overall, it was a nice infusion of variety from our typical standby fare. Neither of us had ever had smelt or guanciale, and they were both delicious. The quality of the food was remarkable. The simplicity of the preparation and presentation allowed the flavors of the ingredients to shine. None of the dishes felt too heavy, and we left the restaurant feeling fortified and satiated, not overly stuffed. Ambiance - 5 The ambiance of Anteprima is absolutely another of its strengths. We had a wonderful little table by the front window. The lighting was dim enough to feel romantic, but not so dark that we felt like we were being lulled to sleep. The music was nicely background. The tables are close, but it felt like we had our own personal space. The bathroom was great--very clean, well stocked, and had no line. We'd absolutely recommend a visit to Anteprima for exceptional rustic Italian food and a tremendous experience. Fabulous date night!
(5)Susan L.
Welcome to my new favorite restaurant! Delicious rustic Italian food with fresh, seasonal ingredients. What more can you ask for? We went with another couple and weren't incredibly hungry. So we got the 8-app sampler, 2 half-order pastas, and 2 entrees and split everything. PERFECT amount of food. Pasta is fresh as a daisy. The eggplant app is to die for. The halibut is incredible, and, my friend from Wisconsin who is a huge meat eater said that their pork chop is the BEST she's ever had! (It was pretty juicy and delish...) P.S. The Chen Chen (sp?) cocktail is NOT for everyone. If you like Pimms & ginger ale, you'll like this. If you don't like yours, I'll finish it!
(5)J V.
Went with the ol girl on a Tuesday and both went with the Prix Fixe option for $29. I ordered entirely off the specials menu, starting with stewed goat over polenta, a spicy buccatini pasta and then finished with a pork shoulder osso bucco, all of which were excellent. Girlfriend had a salumi plate, roasted squash risotto and brick baby chicken and enjoyed them as well. Lot of food and terrific bread, especially the little buttery "sticks". Does get sorta loud but all in all, a great meal and with a bottle of wine, $115 with tax and tip. Would definitely go back and have recommended to someone else already.
(4)Aminda S.
Even seated at the worst table in the house (you know, the one by the door where all the people waiting for tables congregate/the one that gets blasted directly by cold wind whenever a patron enters the restaurant) I more than enjoyed my experience at Anteprima. My two girlfriends and I had made the reservation a few weeks in advance and admittedly I forgot where we were even going until about ten minutes before we headed out. I don't spend much time in Andersonville with the exception of Hopleaf so I was more than excited to try somewhere new in the 'hood. The space is small and intimate - great date spot for certain. It took awhile...actually way too long, before we were asked for our drink order which is my only reason for taking away a star...and the lack of attention to our empty glasses continued through the night unfortunately. But I was fortunate enough to get two drink orders in both of which were superb - a delectable Prosecco and a specialty cocktail made with lemon, soda water, basil and vodka - think Mojita, minus mint, plus fresh basil. I loved it. Would have loved to order a third, but as I mentioned... Now for our order - Asparagus Salad - chilled and delicious. You like asparagus? Don't pass it up, ya hear? Warm Mushroom Salad - My favorite of the night. Perfectly executed. Burrata - Show me a person who doesn't like burrata and I will punch my own self in the face. (Lactose intolerant need not apply) Onto our three pasta orders which we all shared (there are two sizes to choose from) - Bucatini with peas and soft shell crab - this was the failure of the bunch. As a peas and pasta dish it would have stood out, but the crab was all wrong and brought the dish down a notch. Was it the crab? The preparation? Something was amiss. The peas however were the size of eyeballs. Seriously the biggest and freshest peas I've ever tasted. Yum. Orecchiette with lamb sausage - My second favorite dish. Spicy. Enough said. Artichoke risotto - rich, but not so much so that it wouldn't be a good option for an entree for one. All in all, Anteprima exceeded my expectations as far as the food was concerned. I can only hope my next visit will include improved service, and improved weather - so I can sit on that patio in the back!
(4)Keely J.
I love Antiprima. The service is always great and the food is always delicious. It is true and authentic to it's Tuscan/souther Italian style of food and really has a ton of different plates to chose from. The menu changes pretty often but there is something for everyone and I always leave inspired to try and make what they serve.
(4)Aaron S.
The atmosphere and decor of this place is really lovely and beautiful. I enjoyed my food, but the fish I had was very salty, maybe that's just the way that fish is. I had a squash soup that was soooo tasty. I would go back again.
(3)Lochin S.
Sat. night late dinner. started with Anchovies, really really liked the salt and crunch on these. Also the grilled octopus was seasoned very well and the texture was perfect. This came with some straw parm sticks that I could not stop eating. had to ask for more. For dinner we split the scallops. I cant remember what kind of sauce it was in, but I could have licked the plate clean. Service was incredible, no complaints! This is a spot we will def visit again. great for gathering a small party.
(5)Jeff R.
Everyone has such great things to say about Anteprima, unfortunately we did not get to taste all those praises. We were in the mood for a good Italian dinner and more than a few friends have encouraged me to take Anteprima off my wish list. It also helps that there is a three course "meal" (not really a prix fixe...) for $29 Sunday through Thursday with very little restrictions. Even with a great price and great hype, the food did not perform. The most common flavor was little flavor at all. "Bland" was the word of the night, which is hard to fathom for Italian food when all you have to do is add olive oil and garlic. Oh well, not our best meal but you can't win them all. The three course "special" allows you to choose one entree, and any two other dishes (half pasta, dessert, starter - it doesn't matter the combination). I was impressed with the size and scope of the menu, especially since a lot of choices push the envelope of "traditional" Italian cuisine (i.e. NOT Maggianos or Mia Francesca). But what concerned us was that even though we had six dishes to choose for dinner, we had trouble finding that many that looked appealing. I realize we might have been acting picky, but that is usually a red flag in my mind that my personal taste preferences might not match well with the Chef's. We decided on a celery salad, two small pasta starters, one large pasta main, halibut and a dessert. Maybe a celery salad is hard to make flavorful, but all I could taste was the very good parmesan cheese. Our two small pasta dishes were tagliatelle with mushrooms and linguine with crab meat. The tagliatelle was pretty bland throughout, where the linguine crab was very fishy tasting. The entrees were the best course of the evening. Erica liked the Halibut, though my little bite was uninspiring, and my pasta (orecchiette with spicy lamb) was good though slightly over cooked. I really enjoyed the spicy sauce and flavors of the lamb. We ended the meal with a refreshing lemon panna cotta. Maybe my expectations were unreasonable, but the food was still below regular standards - especially for feel good Italian. We had good service with a friendly and knowledgeable server. The atmosphere was a bit loud but it's nice to be in a lively and packed restaurant on a Wednesday evening. While this meal wasn't fabulous, I do look forward to checking out their next project Acre next door.
(2)Kristen W.
Downgrading my initial review, and am extremely bummed out to be doing so. I have always reserved Anteprima for a special occasion type place. Well you can take it off your list and put Chucky Cheese back on. At least the service there is nicer. Dinner here on Friday night with a reservation. Had to wait for reservation. Crappy table. HORRIBLE lighting. Asked waiter if the lights could be dimmed (through squinted eyes) and he responded "I can't do that". Oh, thanks so much. Amuse bouche: COLD vegetable tart. Could have been yummy but it was cold so had the texture of congealed lard with the taste of a vegetable tart. Not smart. Ordered the cod cooked in parchment. Zero flavor. Should be served in a nursing home for those with sensitive stomachs. Waiter forgot my order for another prosecco. After walking by me so many times the light bulb finally came on and he remembered, so gave it to me free. Okay so I will give a point for that.
(2)Joey T.
Overall: The food was OK; the seating/atmosphere was good; and the service was meh. My wife and I went to Anteprima, via reservation, on a Friday night around 8 pm. It wasn't overly crowded, and we were seated immediately. The tables are well situated... not too close and not too far away. It was quiet enough inside to carry on a great conversation, but loud enough where you can laugh and have a good time. The service was strange. I couldn't tell if the staff were simply playing it cool, or really wanted to be anywhere else but there. There really wasn't any attitude or anything, maybe just a sense of indifference. We started with the octopus. I thought it was well presented and tasted fine. Upon the recommendation of the server, I went with the Salmon and paired it with couple glasses of terlaner classico. The Salmon was cooked well, but it generally lacked anything of note. I have had much better salmon... and much worse. My wife had the rigatoni and she thought it was OK as well.
(3)Katie T.
The beets were delicious, the carrots were delicious. My pasta was outstanding and the dessert we ordered was perfect. I will be back.
(5)Allison M.
My experience at Anteprima was neither horrible nor fantastic. The food was very tasty (I'm a vegetarian) I had the Fusilli pasta with pesto and pine nuts. My boyfriend had the oricchiette, with lamb sausage, and he liked it as well. For desert we had the red wine poached pear, which was good, but not really worth the price. Wine was good but I'm definitely not a wine connoisseur. I would go here again, but will choose a weeknight as weekends are too busy for me.
(3)KELLIE K.
Dear Anteprima, You sneaky devil, you took me by surprise. You moved into my neighborhood, waited around, and finally, one day while my +1 and I were out in search of a birthday dinner venue, you lured me in with your screams of a $29 prixe fixe. Temptress. Damn. Even though I wanted to check you out a long time ago, your pricier menu and bustling tables kept me away. I'm glad that you change your menu often, especially the specials. I may not remember exactly what we ordered, so we'll go with "you may not get it again anyway". I'll be back to check out your patio someday. Love, Kellie K.
(4)Hallie B.
I love everything about Anteprima. First, it's a relazed, cozy environment, but still feels upscale. I would feel comfortable dining in both jeans and a tee shirt and a snazzy little cocktail dress. I love places like that. The service when I was there was fantastic. Our waiter had excellent wine recommendations. Everyone in my group has very different taste in wine, and we all LOVED the wine he chose for us and hated the wines he chose for the other members of the group. I feel like this demonstrates that he really listened to our individual tastes and picked the perfect wine for each person. At first I was thrown off by the wine prices, $15 a glass seems very expensive, but then I found out that they are for quartinos of wine, so it was actually a great deal. I really don't have any complaints. It was an excellent meal from start to finish.
(5)Nikki R.
Been here more than a handful of times. Love this place. The homemade bread sticks are soooo good! Pastas are made in house and always fresh. I have a few favs including the grilled octopus appetizer and the pappardelle and orecchiette pasta dishes. They offer 1/2 orders of pasta which is great because I can't always agree with my partner about which pasta to share. Service is usually pretty good but if they are super busy it can get a little slow and as some other people mentioned it does get crowded loud in there during the rush but none of that bothers me. If the crowd and noise is not your thing, there is a really cute outdoor area in the back where the tables aren't on top of each other and it's a lot quieter.
(5)Edward S.
I'm love the outdoor patio in the back on a spring/summer day. They had a special going on and I got grilled stuff calamari (I've only ever had calamari breaded and fried, so I appreciated the dish), tagliatelle with pancetta ragu (sauce was ok, but the pasta wasn't anything spectacular), and porkchop for $35, which I thought was a steal. Very good Italian wine selection, I love the barbaresco.
(3)Dennis J.
Came here with friends when it first opened and we were disappointed. Just nothing special or memorable. Nothing terrible either. Space was also very cramped. No desire to go back.
(2)The Big O.
I'm willing to stick my neck out for this place. Others may not give it 5 stars, but I do, unhesitatingly. I think it's a gem, a little miracle of a place, a tad too loud sometimes, when it's crowded, but excellent food and service. I have been there many times in the last six months, on dates, with my parents, with friends, and it is always a great neighborhood restaurant (even if I'm not from the Andersonville neighborhood). The only thing that's never totally wowed me is their desserts, though I don't have criticisms of them. They just don't float my boat--just not my type of desserts. One of the things I really like about this place is the prix fixe deal--astonishing value. And I salute their low-cost wines ... and happen to love one of the very cheap Nero d'Albas that they offer, tastes great with pretty much anything.
(5)Gail M.
The pasta's quite good -- and it's great that they have both small and large options for it -- but really, this place excels in appetizers. Order a bunch of starters and make a lovely meal of them. Don't forget the grilled octopus, which is just wonderful.
(4)Jerry S.
We had the trout and blackened linguine with shrimp and both were delicious. Will definitely return. The green cauliflower appetizer was also good, but the spicy greens were just salty. Very good selection of Italian wines. But the service was inattentive. I suspect they were short a waiter?
(4)Kristin M.
I had heard excellent things about Anteprima, but was worried by the low average rating. After eating here, I have to say I wholeheartedly disagree. My meal was fantastic! I chose the weekday (Sunday-Thursday) $29 Prix Fixe menu. You get to choose any starter, entrée and either a 1/2 pasta dish or dessert. Here's what I got: -grilled polenta starter - this was recommended by Yelpers. It's served like a grilled dense cake (looked like a filet of salmon) atop boiled down greens. It just went against the creaminess I love about polenta, but it's exactly what it purports to be. There was a nice smokey flavor to the dish. I liked it, but my other two courses were much better. -orecchiette with lamb sausage - this was delicious, the pasta tasted fresh and the spicy crumbled lamb sausage was so good. The bitter greens complimented the dish. It was a winner. I could have ordered the full plate as a main course and been happy. -slow cooked pork shoulder - OMG, I died when I ate this. The pork was superbly tender, the flavors from the pork drippings and roasted vegetables were so amazingly perfect, I just couldn't stop eating (though I was pretty full at this point). I cannot recommend this highly enough. It was the perfect cold weather dish without being too heavy. I am knocking off a star because the service was lacklustre. I arrived before my friend and they were happy to seat me. However, my waiter seemed to avoid me like the plague. After about 10 minutes, he came over and asked if I wanted a drink, but I didn't have a cocktail menu. Once he came back with one, he waited another 10 minutes to return for my order (I got the "For a Good Time...", gin, lemoncello and sage, it was good, not great). I thought he was going to take our orders when he brought the drink, but, no, that took another 10 minutes of waiting. The courses came out back-to-back-to-back. It would have been nice had they been spaced more attentively. Overall, though, it won't stop me from returning.
(4)Amanda W.
Great food! Great service! They serve you bread while you are waiting that is fantastic. I've heard the rooftop is fantastic. Cons: Small portion sizes for the $
(4)Lydia B.
I live right by here so I have been waiting to try it for awhile. We had a reservation so we were seated immediately when we came in. For an appetizer we had the marinated olives, garlic, orange, and chilies. The waiter did a great job. I had some type of fish and my boyfriend had a steak and they were OK. The place was good but didn't really stick out so I don't know if we'll be back but it was good.
(3)Kyle H.
This place was delicious. Make sure to get the antipasti sampler, as you get a gigantic plate of every antipasti they offer. I had one of the specials, a lobster and saffron risotto - god god, rich deliciousness. They seem to have an awesome dinner crowd, as we had a reservation for some absurdly early old-person dinnertime, like 5:30 or 6, and they were almost full even then. I didn't love the space - kind of a lot of tables crammed into one small space, which made for a very loud dinner. But the food, the wine and the service were all top notch.
(4)Jessica B.
So. First things first. I went on a Wednesday evening in late October with some friends. Our reservation was for 7 p.m. I was 15 minutes late, they were 30 (but the lovely hostess still seated me right away. Yay!). I was shocked by how, um, mature the crowd was. Really. It looked like every white-haired septuagenarian resident within a 30-mile radius was dining that evening. Was there some sort of senior special going on? Who knows. By the time we rolled out at 10:30, the crowd had thinned out (since the place closes at...10 p.m.) and youthened up. So maybe this was just the rare, odd occurrence. And I should say: thanks to the staff for letting us linger with nary a hint of rushing us out. Our waitress was such a doll. She was funny and down to earth and flaky (flighty?) in an endearing way, and she made our experience that much better. Some other friends had raved to me about the amazing/life-changing/delectable spicy lamb sausage entree (served with orechiette and assorted chilis and bitter greens) and I'm happy to report that my life indeed has been changed. The pasta was tender and deliciously soft and doughy, the sausage was spicy but not overwhelmingly so (because I like to actually taste my food and flavors instead of just putting out a fire in my mouth) and the greens were a lovely balancing complement. The dish was overall a tiny bit too salty for my liking, but I'd absolutely order it again. I had a half serving of the pasta/sausage dish (in place of an appetizer, as we each ordered a three-course prix fixe meal) and enjoyed the slow-cooked lamb shoulder for my entree. Soooo lovely. The lamb was tender and moist and falling apart. And the perfect serving size. Just enough to fill you up and leave a little room for dessert. To close out the meal, I chose the strawberry cream cake, which is kind of a silly choice for fall (given the abundance of more seasonal options on the menu, e.g. butternut squash budino and apple-fennel bread pudding) and it was competent and satisfying but not outstanding. One of my dining companions raved about her chocolate tart thingamajig, comparing it favorably to "the best chocolate tart [she] ever had." That's always good. Drinks-wise, I loved (loved) my Autunno (can't recall if it was a special or if it's always on the menu). I'm a sucker for Maker's Mark, and as it turns out, it's so very nice when blended with apple cider and ginger beer. Smooth and sweet: liquid candy. I'll be recreating this one on my own at home...
(4)Leslie P.
This place is great. Was in Andersonville at the Galleria on a Friday night, and we went across the street for a late dinner. The service was great, and the atmosphere reminded me of a rustic, intimate Italian restaurant. The roasted squash and ricotta ravioli entree was absolutely divine. Perfection in my book. It was more savory than sweet, and the sage made the dish. I will not make the mistake of sharing dishes next time - I'm getting the ravioli all to myself. :)
(4)Maureen M.
My family and I had brunch today at Anti Prima. It was wonderful!!! We were 5 adults and a 7 yr old. The staff couldn't have been more accommodating. They cooked a special dish for or little princess and the sommelier was informative, attentive, and paired amazing wines with our prie fixe meal. The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the 'family' concept where an appetizer assortment was served to the table so we could sample them all. Then there were two perfectly sized dishes -- a pasta and entree followed by another assortment of desserts. It was so yummy!! We will certainly go back! Maureen
(5)Renata F.
My boyfriend and I enjoyed an incredibly delicious New Year's Eve meal here this past Dec/January. (We're talking a still-can't-stop-dreaming-of-our-meals level of delicious.) Reservations were easy to come by -- even a week in advance of the holiday -- and the front of house was especially accommodating when we changed our reservation party from two to four, then back to two again. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bear with me as neither Matt nor I can remember the particular names of anything we ordered; Anteprima's menu rotates in and out, so none of the dishes are currently listed on their online menu for me to reference. (Shame on me for procrastinating...) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Drinks: we both ordered off Anteprima's specialty drink menu. His was some orange concoction and very sweet; mine was some form of a gin-based martini and sweet-ish. If that's not a terrible description, I don't know what is, but we were both happy with our selections! - Appetizers: we shared a sweet-potato, apple and endive (?) salad. There could not have been a better start to our meal! The dish was refreshing and full of flavors we continue to obsess over. The salad exceeded expectations, was unlike any combination we've tried before (in an exciting way), and was very light -- so it didn't weigh us down before our main courses arrived. Perfect. - Entrees: I believe both of our dishes were specials at the time. He opted for a pork sausage served atop what looked like cooked mini-peas. The sausage had a diameter similar to that you'd expect of a pork tenderloin and was cut into medallions. It wasn't overly-greasy/fatty tasting, which I appreciated. Paired with a bite of the peas (?), the dish felt complete. While his pork was certainly great, my pepper-crusted seared tuna served over butternut squash was other-worldly. Repeat: OTHER-WORLDLY. (Boyfriend generally doesn't enjoy seafood, but even he can agree the flavor profile was out of bounds!) The tuna could not have been of higher quality, nor seared more perfectly (read: aside from the slightest of cooked outer rings made to trap in that wonderful pepper crusting, it might as well have been raw). The tuna's bedding consisted of chopped butternut squash (sauteed) mixed in with other greenery. I could eat that squash mixture every day it was so delicious -- plus it was refreshing, much like our appetizer. Pair it with that majestic tuna and you've found yourself the perfect dish. I'm in love. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The restaurant is small and feels smaller yet given how tightly Anteprima crams tables into an already tight space. I quickly forgive this, though, as their food was so delicious I didn't think twice about the setup once we were served. As cost-conscious individuals, Anteprima's price point is bit of an indulgence for us, so we consider it a special-occasion-type spot. That said, we enjoyed ourselves so thoroughly, we often try coming up with reasons to head back on a more regular basis. Without a doubt, we will be back -- much sooner than later.
(5)Dusty K.
Anteprima has a lot going for it. Price for one, but it was very lively for a Thursday night and the place was packed. Because they squeeze you in like sardines it's a little loud and cramped on the inside. It's not a very intimate place if that's what you're going for but has all the charm of a neighborhood spot. The food was good. I liked everything I received including the free bread and bread sticks (grissini) passed around as an appetizer. So many restaurants give boring bread to start but Anteprima's had flavor. I was happily surprised. And you can taste the ridiculous amounts of butter in the grissini which is why they're so damn good. The unfortunate thing was that no olive oil or butter were provided. So eating dry bread was the only option. My steak was cooked as I had ordered and topped with fresh herbs. I've never had a steak where, once finished cooking, fresh herbs were then put on top. They were very strong and a bit overpowering so I had to scrape them off as I was eating. They were all I tasted as I began eating. My main problem were the portion sizes. The ravioli was ordered by someone in the party and they received 6 or 8 smallish ravioli. They finished well before anyone else and immediately asked for more bread at the table. Portions here are rather small. Prices on the otherhand aren't outrageous so ordering an appetizer and dessert may be what you need. Then Anteprima no longer becomes the good value. I'd describe Anteprima as a nice neighborhood spot where you can get a quick meal for $20 on a week night when you don't want to cook. It's nothing more or less than that.
(3)Kelly C.
The food experience at this restaurant was very nice - highlights included the octopus starter which had fresh flavors to tempt the palette. Another highlight was the beef main dish which was nicely flavored yet light. The scallop starter had a very nice mushroom ragout, but I found the scallops alone to be too salty. Unlike other reviewers I found the portions to be a good size, however do not expect this to be Maggiano's with enough food for you, the person sitting next to you and to bring home for later. It's a good value for quality food. The biggest downside to the restaurant is the noise. We went on a Saturday evening with my parents and sat indoors following a graduation; the noise was so loud that we could barely hear each other and had to nearly yell to talk to the person across the table. The restaurant has made an effort with some insulation under tables and on the ceiling, but the wood floors and metal ceiling which make the ambiance so inviting also amplify the noise. The service was good, but not as great as other reviewers have noted - perhaps since it was a Saturday night. We also experienced the restaurant being out of a few dishes on the menu despite ordering around 7:30pm. All in all, I probably will not go back unless it is on a mid-week day since the noise made the experience un-enjoyable.
(2)Viper B.
I wanted to like this place but it just underperformed. Service was unapologetically slow (they weren't packed on a Sun night). Fish came out too salty and the table was finished eating before our waiter was back to check. With that said there were some good dishes: burrata deserved a double order, the amatriciana with guanciale could not have been better, pork shoulder was solid. I wouldn't try to go back here, but it's quaint and not all bad if you're in the 'hood.
(2)Monica G.
Anteprima helped my boyfriend and I celebrate our 5 year anniversary together. With reservations, we got a saturday evening table. Our server was friendly, attentive and helped us make some great menu decisions. We had grilled octopus and pork sausage with white beans to start - both were 10s. My boyfriend has homemade bowtie pasta with duck, I had butternut squash ravioli - again both excellent. The smaller portions were a perfect size. They gave us a free lemon panna cotta with a candle in honor of our date! It was my favorite part of the meal - totally out of this world. I wish there was a 4.75 button! Only thing preventing me from giving this a 5? The space is tiny. Like, we could hear everything at the tables around us, even smell their dishes. As long as you really know that's what you are in for, the food is worth it. Boy is it worth it!
(4)Stephen R.
I dont like to give 5 stars to anyone, but in my view this place earned it. 1. good atmosphere (yes its cozy and tight) 2. food is varied and tasy.something for everyone in terms of variety and portion sizes (half and full). 3. Unique in terms of you will not see these items at another place. I loved the following -brussel sprouts -yes...i said it -grilled octupus -orriechiete pasta -any fish they have is fantastic-there is a whole fish thats outstanding but I cant remember the name because I had too much wine. -pork ribs with white beans..fantastic -sides of polenta Overall, great place and service and awesome wine list.
(5)Rebekah P.
I made a 7:00pm reservation at Anteprima for a Tuesday night. I got caught in some traffic and when I called to let them know I would be a bit late, there was no answer. Thankfully, they called me to check in, and had no problem holding the table until we arrived. The place was packed, so it was very nice of them to hold the table for us. I'm glad they did too, because I did enjoy my experience at Anteprima. Everyone I was with really liked their food. The ones I remember people ordering: Butternut squash ravioli, orecchiette, amberjack, and I think the spaghetto cacio e pepe). Their wine list is impressive and very reasonably priced. I would recommend Anteprima to friends, but there are a few things I would note. It is very loud here. I'm sensitive to this because I don't have the best hearing, so it was a bit of an issue for me. Also, they took my stepmom's food away before she was finished, which was also weird because no one else at the table was even close to being finished with their food. So, not only was she still hungry for her food, but she was sitting with nothing in front of her while we all ate. Very strange (though we didn't say anything because we still enjoyed the experience overall). Overall good place. I'd go back for sure.
(4)Loni H.
Great food! Bread is great and love love the octopus appetizer. Entrees are tasty but space is cramped and reservations are a must. Outdoor patio is coolio on a nice day.
(4)Scott T.
We ate here about 6 months ago and were very impressed with the food and service. My wife has some food restrictions and the server was extremely accommodating, which made her feel good vs. being perceived as a troubled guest. We returned this past weekend and had a repeat performance. Good food and service makes Anteprima a favorite of ours.
(4)John B.
Anteprima is now serving a prix fixe dinner Sun-Thurs, which is a great way to experience this somewhat pricey spot. $29 for an appetizer, a half pasta, and an entree, or for an appetizer, and entree, and dessert. Go with a friend, get two apps, two entrees, and split a small pasta and dessert. Excellent. Of course, drinks are $9 and up, so your wallet will still feel the bite, but not as bad. On my last visit, we ordered almost everything off the specials menu, which is extensive. Sweetbreads and octopus as the appetizers, tagliatelle loaded with morel mushrooms, grilled spare ribs and halibut as the entrees, and strawberry rhubarb crostata for dessert. Not a bad choice in the bunch. Service is efficient, but not stuffy. We went after the wine walk, and were dressed very casually, and did not feel out of place. We went on the spur of the moment, and got in just as they were opening. By the time we left, the place was really filling up. If you're going on a weekend, I would definitely recommend making reservations. They also have patio seating out back, which is nice if you like that sort of thing.
(5)Lisa C.
I thought it was a nice touch to have a large bottle of water on the table when we arrived but by the end of the night I realized it was only because you'd never get a refill on anything unless I walked into the kitchen and turned the tap on yourself. If I were just rating the food, 4-5 stars. Wonderful ravioli, risotto, steak, and a panna cotta were devoured. I wanted to lick the plate after the risotto it was so creamy and good. On the flip side, I would give ZERO stars for service. I had the same experience as Greg D and would swear we were at the same table if I hadn't dined at Anteprima a day after his review posted. The restaurant was busy and the kitchen was backed up. It happens and in these situations, even an average waiter should have a few tricks to keeping guests from noticing that courses are coming out with 30 minutes between them. You may not control how fast they are firing plates but you can control that your customer's wine is replenished. It becomes painfully obvious you're waiting when the glasses are empty and the table is barren of food. Even a kind word once in a while..."sorry we're backed up tonight, would you like another glass?" makes an immeasurable difference on the perception of the dining. Our waiter barely spoke to us, came by once in two hours of dining so we could order a second round and that was after asking a busboy to help find him. He avoided any eye contact as he walked the restaurant and made himself impossible to flag down. I'll be the first to sympathize with an overworked waiter if they at least seem to care about providing good service. Our waiter was pretty much a sack of flour for all the effort he put into his job. It was a huge disappointment that undercut how great the food was. As a side note, we were there to celebrate my birthday. We didn't tell the staff as we were not trying to make any extra fuss, we just picked Anteprima as a special evening for ourselves to celebrate. I'd be upset about poor service any time, but it was an extra letdown that the place we picked to spend a special evening was such a bust. I even ordered our dessert course when the main course was brought as I half-joked to my boyfriend, "who knows when we might see our waiter again?" Not a good sign when table conversation turns to laughing about how bad the waiter is. In short, the food was great and I may visit again in the distant future (and I'll walk right back out the door if I see that waiter again). But in the meantime there are a lot of places in Andersonville that I'll be trying before I come back to Anteprima.
(2)Tanya M.
Awful service. The noise was deafening. The kitchen was clearly backed-up. And what made it worse was that there was no manager or owner making the rounds to check on the customers. Nobody noticed how unhappy we were, and we were sitting right by the host stand. My date and I couldn't hear each other without yelling, so we just ended up staring at each other for an hour and 45 minutes. Our server wasn't rude, but I definitely felt like I was in his way. The employees looked annoyed and rushed. They needed another server on the floor. At one point I finished my water and our water pitcher was empty. I waited ten minutes. A busboy came and cleared the empty pitcher, BUT DIDN'T BRING A FULL ONE BACK. I waited another ten minutes, staring at my empty glass. Finally we had to flag somebody down to get us more water. Our food wasn't timed correctly, or the kitchen was backed up, because there was a very long wait in between courses. And again, nobody noticed, nobody came by to let us know when to expect our next course. The one star is for the lemon panna cotta, which was very good. Oh but wait, our server didn't offer us coffee or tea with our dessert. That's pretty much common etiquette for a restaurant of this level. I know I only had water with my entree, but I usually like tea with dessert. Thanks. Here's the deal. I've worked in the service industry for over ten years. Restaurants get over-booked. Kitchens get backed up. Servers get over-sat. This crap happens. But what makes the difference between an awful restaurant and a great restaurant is letting the customer know what to expect. That's what a good manager is for. To take the emotional temperature of each table and make sure each guest feels special. We just felt forgotten.
(1)searah d.
Oh Anteprima...I used to love you but last Saturday night you left us waiting over a half hour for our 9:30 reservation. Then at 10pm when we came back to check in, we were told that there were still 4 tables ahead of us. What did the hostess do? Shrug her shoulders and offer our party of three two spaces at the bar. Sigh. Your food is good but your service needs some polish. We are pretty easy diners but you left us feeling neglected and unappreciated. The two stars is for last time I had a good meal there.
(2)Carol K.
What a great little find! Anteprima really surprised me the other night with it's extensive wine list (including 2 of my all time favorite wines) innovative menu and welcoming ambiance. We got there around 7 on a Thursday night and I was surprised to see how crowded the place was. We were quickly seated at a great table right in the front window so we could watch the people coming and going which is always good in my book. The complimentary onion tart amuse bouche was just a portent of things to come. Service was excellent- we told our server that we wanted to catch up over our wine for awhile before ordering and he was very accommodating- checking in periodically but never being invasive. We ordered a couple of appetizers- the octopus and the antipasto plate. Both were delicious! The octopus was grilled , served warm with peppers, garlic and oil. And the antipasti was thin slices of various meats served with fig jelly and crusty toast. As for our entrees we split a pasta and a entree. The pasta had spicy lamb and dandelion greens (now I know what to do with those pesky weeds in my garden!) and the entree was a braised pork with polenta. Amazing. Finally- we finished off our night with some homemade lemoncello (got hooked on that during a trip to Italy) coupled with lemon panna cotta. A lovely evening at a great place. So if you are looking for a great place to get a taste of Italy- right in the neighborhood- check out Anteprima. It's a great little find!
(5)Michael S.
I wanted to like this place - it's Italian and close to my place and the atmosphere looked really great! However, after my experience there, it is very unlikely I will go back. The atmosphere was good but that is where to good ended. I didn't give the place 1 Star because one person in our party really liked their risotto, but everyone else was disappointed by their dishes. Bland was the overall comment - this coupled with the awkward interactions with the staff and waiting an inordinate amount of time for our food made for a disappointing evening. Oh well - there are plenty of other great Italian places in the neighborhood so one less option isn't the end of the world.
(2)Jeff G.
i hate to split hairs, but i would give this a 3.75 overall rating. all the food we ordered was above average but to me was not amazing. fingerling potato appetizer was kind of bland. just a little egg and a lot of celery in there. i liked the homemade lamb sausage with ravioli type deal, but there was barely any meat at all. the brsiket special with brussle sprouts and polenta was the winner of the night we would probably go back
(4)Jay C.
Midrare bison flank steak. Fantastic. Knocked a star for 30min late on resv and nowhere good to wait, being a small joint.
(4)Tyler C.
It was a nice prixe fixe menu, so we could at least try the restaurant. The prixe fiixe menu allowed for a fair variety of choices. The restaurant was of course crowded for a Tuesday night, but service was still decent. Good wine list offered a nice selection to pair with our dinner. Overall - definitely on the pricier side and the food was only partially worth the price. We may go back, but it didn't truly impress us. Flavor profiles were generally standard. Of all the restaurants in Andersonville - Anteprima is definitely one of them.
(3)Michael E.
It was time to treat one of my best friends to a dinner and thought she'd like to explore the hinter lands of Andersonville.....as least in her opinion *wink*. Anteprima gets high marks from many folks and now I know why. From an extensive wine list to a very authentic menu of Italian dishes, this is a great date place or something to do when you want to feel a little special when you are eating. Reservations were made at 6:30pm on a Thursday, but within an hour the place was packed, so keep that in mind....also use Opentable.com if you want to make those reservations quickly. Following a tradition of my mother, we ordered wine and decided to catch up, conversing for over 30 minutes and enjoying our wine with the waiter never rushing us. This is my favorite way to dine....taking your time and enjoying both who you are with as well as the food and drink. Then the ordering commenced. Appetizers were the grilled octopus and the antipasto plate. Yummy! Entrees were a pasta dish that had spicy lamb and dandelion greens - spicy is an understatement, but still very good. The other entrée was braised pork with polenta and also as good. We shared both plates...as friends should and enjoyed it all. Dessert was an interesting experience for me as I had both a drink and dessert that were both derived from lemons. The drink was a lemoncello which is vodka, basil, and lemons made at the restaurant and the dessert was a lemon panna cotta which was a first for me and very good. So if you ever want to check out a darling little neighborhood establishment then come up my way and enjoy what Andersonville has to offer.
(5)Ambika M.
Loved this place! Hubby brought me here for date night and we really enjoyed it! Made a reservation and ran a little late but called them and they held our tale which was great! Our waiter Jonathon gave us great wine and food recommendations too! My only knock on this place was the noise level. It's small and pretty packed so with everyone chatting away, it made it hard to hear my hubby or the waiter. Also, looked like more of a wait for tables later when we left and there really isn't place inside to wait. We had a great experience though!
(4)Greg D.
I was a little concerned going there because the reviews weren't sounding too great. Also, I couldn't even look at the website to preview the menu because my computer's security wouldn't let me, it said their website could be "harmful" to my computer (maybe a foreshadowing?). I will say that when I walked in, I really liked the ambiance and liked that it was intimate. However, once it gets really busy, then you have waiters, busboys and patrons bumping into you the whole night because it's pretty tight. One of the reviewers I had read said their waiter had zero personality. And that's who we got. I'm not sure this should be his desired way to make a living, because he clearly didn't seem to enjoy it. The food was pretty good, nothing special, and very small quantities for the price. The busboy took our water bottle away (a table of 7 people) before the main course arrived and never brought it back. It wouldn't have been too bad if I had the glass of wine I had ordered, but that was never brought either. The waiter apologized an hour later as we were paying asking if I wanted it now. Seriously?? Even my fellow diners had to grab the waiter to ask for more drinks, he never came back during a two and a half hour dinner to ask. The host had to actually go get us more water before we finished. Now that I think of it, the waiter and bartender could probably keep up with the orders if they weren't doing kitchen duties like plating appetizers or cutting bread for the bread baskets. The poor bartender looked like she was going to pass out because she was trying to fill all the drink requests and make appetizer plates for the whole restaurant. I'm thinking maybe once they've been open for a while they will get their bearings, then someone told me they've been open for 5 years. Wow. I don't think I've had that uncomfortable of a dining experience in the 15 years I've been in Chicago. Maybe it would be a better experience to go during a weekday when it's not busy. But with those prices, there are so many better options along Clark Street where you get the service you deserve.
(2)Natalie S.
I was given a gift certificate from a friend for my birthday last year. We sat on it awhile and finally got our way over there to give it a whirl. See... I'm not wild about Italian food. I will very rarely ever suggest it as a dinner option. But, free food is free food so we made a reservation and went on over. Atmosphere: awesome. Loud enough so you don't feel the people next to you are listening to your conversation but quiet enough where we weren't shouting at each other. Waiter: helpful and friendly. My friend who gifted me with the certificate recommended a specific wine which they were out of (boo) but he suggested something he felt was similar. It was delicious. I had a duck dish (don't remember specifically) that was YUMMMM. When I get an Italian food craving, I'll be back!
(4)Candace T.
We ate outside on the back patio, which was very nice, and not too crowded. The food was hit or miss for me: the grilled octopus was one of the most delicious things ever...sooo amazingly tender. My roasted beet ravioli, however, was pretty flavorless, aside from the parmigiana sprinkled on top. Nevertheless, with a shared bottle of delicious wine, it was a completely enjoyable meal. Seriously, get the octopus, though!! Lastly, I'm not exactly a fancy frou frou eater, usually, and I dislike nothing more than having a waiter give a little attitude. Not even close at Anteprima, greeters and waiters were incredibly welcoming and not at all snooty. Wheelchair Accessibility Review: Fully accessible through the front door AND they have a little ramp to get to the back patio, which is a very welcome consideration that you don't always find (It's removable, though, so just ask someone if it isn't out when you get back there). Tables are of normal height that you can roll right up, and there was no problem with crowding, or moving the other chair out of the way. Didn't use the restrooms, so I can't speak to the accessibility of those.
(4)Rob M.
I learned of Anteprima after the website Chicago Eater ranked it No. 1. As it turned out, service was the standout. Our server emphasized the seafood, which was an excellent pointer. If scallops are available, order them. I also recommend the meatballs as an appetizer. Among a table of four, the only let down was a pasta dish: pappardelle, prosciutto ragu, parmigiano. For dessert, we shared three, which divided well because they were relatively small. Prices are reasonable and menu items rotate. Judging by the menus posted online as I write this, what I ordered at Anteprima just recently does not seem to be available if I were to return today. Yet, I would not hesitate to return based on the strength of my first visit.
(4)Karen N.
I love this place. I was so mesmerized by the menu and all the seasonal items that I couldn't decide what to order for a long time. We got 3 apps: Tuscan grilled Bread Salad, stuffed zuchini blossoms and grilled octopus. Oh, we knew we were in for a treat as soon as the zuchini blossoms came to our table. Then we had two small orders of pasta: orrechete with sausage, chilli and dandelion greens. Risotto with corn and crab. Delicious! The server split the plates for us without asking. If we had one more person, we would have gotten 1 or two entrees to share... the special whole grilled fish looked good, and also the calamari. The 1 star off is because the desserts were just ok. We looked at the selection and decided to go next door to have icecream. Not a big deal though.
(4)Comensal A.
I rate this visit to Anteprima at 3.5 stars -- not great, but enjoyable. I probably would not have discovered it, but my companion heard about it from a friend and thought it would be worth a try (and it had been a long time since we'd strolled around Andersonville, so that cinched it). One very curious thing about trying to view Anteprima's website: both Yelp and Google intercepted my request, warning me that my computer might be damaged by malware if I continued to the site. I'd think that Anteprima would fix this, but apparently management doesn't know or doesn't care about it. (NOTE: Subsequent to posting this review with the paragraph above, I received a message from the restaurant's owner stating "we have been talking to google for in excess of a month trying to get the problem fixed. we definitely know and we definitely care In fact, what we have discovered is we have to completely rebuild our website. I'm a bit perplexed that you would make a comment as to the fact that we could not care." In the interest of fairness, I want to acknowledge that management does care about the problem and is trying to fix it.) But on to the food. I'm glad we visited -- the menu is appealing; there are many non-typical Italian plates with some Sicilian dishes and a compact but well-chosen wine list. We came on a weekday, so tried their "prix fixe" deal: $29/diner for a starter, an entrée, and either a half-order of pasta or a dessert -- a pretty good deal. A shrimp appetizer was an engaging combo of grilled shrimp and cauliflower in a pleasantly peppery sauce; it was a nice concept, but the shrimp were a little limp. A grilled calamari starter was similarly inventive, but the bite of squid I tasted was a little rubbery and the vinaigrette a bit sharp for my taste. Cauliflower risotto was pleasant enough. A sautéed rabbit entrée had good flavors, though it was just a little drier that I'd prefer. A braised duck leg with couscous was the star of the show, tender & richly flavored. For dessert, a chocolate hazelnut tart was satisfying, and cappuccino was pricey but acceptably flavorful. Overall, the food was good, but not quite as good as it could have been -- hence 3.5 rather than 4 stars. Anteprima's dining room is homey & relaxing, the music is appropriate and not intrusive (though the room got louder than I prefer as more diners arrived). There's a nice patio out back, too, though the fan noise detracts from the ambiance. Our server was cordial & helpful, and the bussers asked if they might clear plates (rather than snatching them away or asking "are you still working on that?") -- bonus points for good training. I may give Anteprima another try -- there's promise here, and an interesting menu...
(3)Colin E.
Been twice and had a great meal both times. Great non "traditional" Italian food (i.e.not just pizza and pasta). Recommend sharing a few of the pastas as appetizers. Highly recommend the sliced strip w/ rosemary, lemon, and olive oil--so, so good. Service is fine, atmosphere was inviting.
(4)Steve W.
I'm usually mum on Italian, but I really loved this place. First of all, we showed up really late - around 9:30 or so, but the (handsome) server was incredibly accomodating and attentive the whole time. We started off with the artichoke caponata and grilled octopus. The caponata was light and slightly sweet. Highly recommend it. And, yes, the octopus is just as good as advertised. They're grilled until they're soft but not chewy in the least; a tasty and light kickoff to your meal. For the entrees, we split the asparagus ravioli, which was delicious. Its lightness belied the buttery sauce on top. And we split the Mediterranean whole fish, which came with crisp fingerling potatoes. Again, (you may sense a theme) light and delicious. We capped the whole thing off with the chocolate tart with vanilla creme. As someone that usually isn't a huge chocolate fan (strange, I know), it was perfect with the flaky crust. So yet another great restaurant in Andersonville I wish I could steal for my 'hood.
(4)Matt R.
This is a cool place! They serve fast, and very interesting and tasty foods. The portions are pretty small, but the wine choices are good and the staff are friendly and good at what they do. Food is overall not that expensive either. This place has the coolest look from the outside since you really only see the first couple tables and then you get inside and see how many people they have inside. I'm glad I checked this place out, all the food is creative. I've never had polenta (goat) before, but I enjoyed it. Baaaaaah.
(5)Frances K.
We spent my partner's birthday evening here two years in a row. This year, the kids and grandparents were with us. The food is uniformly interesting and flavorful. Service is helpful and friendly. Anteprima also has a nice selection of house specialty cocktails that are unique. We had an array of appetizers including the grilled polenta, the stuffed calamari, and the grilled squid. The polenta was the weakest of the three but still had terrific flavor - the wilted greens served with the polenta had a slightly bitter flavor that worked as a nice counterpoint to the dish. Nothing to be said about octopus and calamari except that they were both excellent. Dinner involved stuffed pork loin, the brick roasted chicken, mussels, and for the kids, pasta with olive oil. All the entrees were tasty and received rave reviews. The only constructive comment is that the seasoning on the chicken shaded towards a bit over-salty. The kids loved their pasta too (although how bad can pasta with olive oil and parmesan cheese be). Anteprima would have received five stars except that we made a point, on our reservations, of stressing that it was a birthday dinner. There was no acknowledgement from the waitstaff, no dessert birthday greeting, nothing. That was a bit disappointing especially because we love this place so much.
(4)Matt M.
Anteprima was one of the best meals that I have ever had, no exaggeration. I don't often go out to pricey dinners but I just may based off of the food here. I wish I could remember exactly what my date and I ordered but I can not and their website's current menu is not what we saw New Year's Eve. We ordered off of their custom drink menu, shared an appetizer and each had an entree and everything was fantastic. My girlfriend and I are suckers for anything squash or sweet potato related and Anteprima's offerings were definetly worth the money. Food: 10 Atmosphere: 6 (It's cramped and noisy but most places are) Service: 7 (Nothing special)
(5)Christine F.
3.75 stars. Can't do half stars (or quarter stars) on here. We took my parents here on their bi-yearly visit...our first time around our waiter was kind of a jerk and we had a meh time, but since the reviews of Anteprima have improved we gave it another go. Right off the bat, they kind of pissed me off. I had a res at 7, but they said the table wouldn't be ready for 15 minutes. Well, you know, that's why I make a reservation....so we don't have to wait. If Anteprima had a bar inside I wouldn't have minded so much, but we had to go next door to Acre (there's nowhere to stand in Anteprima). What made the situation a little better is that since Anteprima owns Acre, we could carry our drinks back from Acre to Anteprima (so we didn't have to slam our beers...yay). But still. The res starting late got a bit of an eyebrow raise from me, but it wasn't a dealbreaker. Especially after I had a beer. Ha. Our waitress was really nice. She kept our drinks full and brought us delicious breads and olive oil. I ordered the polenta app (on greens and tomatoes) and a ricotta gnocchi with an arugula pesto with sundried tomatoes. The polenta was kind of blah, it wasn't terribly flavorful....which is really unfortunate, since I LOVE a good polenta (Terragusto is pro at this). However, the gnocchi was freaking awesome. I was so full I couldn't eat it all, but I wish I could have eaten more. It was cheezy, salty, arugula-y (my favorite type of greens) and delicious. We didn't have any room for dessert, but everyone enjoyed their meals and had a good time.
(4)Ben G T.
Sat at bar. Great mussels, great service, great vibe & company.
(5)Josh G.
We had reservations for two, and upon arrival, asked if we could change it to three; Jeffrey gladly changed it for us. Greeting: We were greeted by the Host/Manager named Jeffrey. He was very helpful and friendly. Service: Good service. Not only did our own server interact with us, but the other servers did as well. They were genuinely friendly, helpful and playful. Food: Starter- Breads. We were given three types of breads initially. They all had unique textures and flavors. Grilled prawns, apples, celery, radishes, preserved lemon vinaigrette $9 *This was packed with amazing flavor. The warm prawns with the cold apples and celery in the preserved lemon vinaigrette pairing was an amazing creation of infused flavor. Half Pasta Order: Roasted beet ravioli, butter, parmigiano $11 *The beet flavor was mild in a yummy cream sauce. *The serving was small. I believe I had 4 or 5 ravioli in my bowl. Entree: Sliced new york strip, rosemary, lemon, cracked pepper, olive oil, arugula $26 *This was a small portion. I don't think it is at all worth $26. Luckily I had the special. I wouldn't have paid full price for it by itself. It was tasty, tender, and well made. I enjoyed it a lot!! Drinks: I ordered a cocktail, as did the other two, and they were just under $10 each. My drink was something fruity, but didn't rock my world. They have glass/bottles of wine as well. The beta delta pinot grigio-chardonnay blend, lageder alto adige 2009 went for $39/bottle. Pricing: They have a three course meal for $29 Sun-Thurs. So, I got all of the above for much less than if I purchased them individually. The small portions for the price on some of the items seemed to excessive to me. I was completely happy with the flavor of everything though. They did not disappoint! Ambiance: I went on a Sunday night at 8:15pm, and it was packed! They really cram as many people in there as they can. We still had good service though. It was not loud even with a packed out crowd. I enjoyed it.
(4)Jen L.
All I can say is Wow. I decided to go here on recommendation for a father's day double date (how awkward). The hope was that the two dads would like each other and chat away while us young'uns exert less effort. Thankfully, the food was so good that it provided a great amount of conversation for the evening. Being the nice kids that we are, we decided to go all out for father's day dinner with the appetizer sampler, entrees, and desserts. The sampler was amazing with eight different tasting portions of their delicious appetizers. I thought the farro was especially delicious, and my dad drooled over the olives. I got the asparagus risotto for my entree - awesome move there. Not too salty but still had tons of flavor. The boyfriend had the bison, and he liked his plate clean. For dessert, I had the sorbet trio; the strawberry and lemon were amazing, but the mint was a little strong for my tastes. I really don't have anything bad to say about Anteprima. The service was delightful and the food was amazing. We did spend a pretty penny for the holiday, but I hope to be back for some appetizers and cocktails in the future!
(5)Annie R.
As someone who is not typically a fan of Italian, I really enjoyed this place. The service was a little inconsistent, but the food was great and the back patio was beautiful. Probably not a place I'll frequent, but a good go-to when you're in the mood for some good wine and heavy duty, delicious carbs.
(4)Gary B.
I have yet to eat here but we will start with 5 stars. Reason being, we (4 people)stopped in last night around 7:30 without a reservation. The place was busy and the host was being very accommodating. He said that it would be a 45min wait. He could tell there was some apprehension in the group as to the wait so he offered a few options. We could leave a contact number and he would call us when the table was ready, wait out side or sit at the bar and have drinks and appetizers. The place was busy and word of mouth and Yelp reviews seem to be attracting a crowd. We will make reservations the next time so I can review the food but the host was very pleasant.
(5)Rich R.
This was my first visit to this restaurant. When we arrived to be seated for our reservation, they told us there was not a table available and to go to their sister restaurant 2 buildings over for a drink and they would come get us in 10 min. Half hour later, I had to go back and check on them. The hostess told me that she was on her way to come get us. Funny, when I think of a reservation, I would think they would hold a table for that time. As for the wait service, we watched everyone around get water and bread, but we were neglected and had to ask them to bring it to us. We were not tucked away in a corner or anything, we were right in the middle of the restaurant. Then my girlfriend asked about something on the menu and the waiter told us that he didn't care for it. After we got through the service issues, the food was pretty good. I had the rainbow trout which was very good and my girlfriend had the rosotto and she enjoyed it as well. I was very disappointed when the bill came and nobody acknowledged any of their service and reservation mishaps. They seemed not to care. All in all, food was good, but I'm not going back.
(1)Tiffany G.
UNREAL. The absolute BEST ... and I do mean BEST octopus I have ever had. We've been preparing octopus at home for many, many years and do a fine job, but it's an incredibly difficult dish to make well and above all, to get TENDER (even when using baby octopus). Our own efforts cannot even come close to Anteprima's - the octopus was so tender it melted in your mouth and the preparation was absolutely phenomenal - so flavorful but not overpowering. We are not impressed easily, especially when it comes to seafood, and yet, were surely were! Such a memorable dish. Bravo! Now that we were off to a great start, we followed up with their special pasta of the evening, Spaghetti Botarga. A very light, and enjoyable primo piatto ... On our next trip I would like to try their orecchiette with house made lamb sausage and bitter greens. For our secondi we ordered the venison loin and the night's special rabbit. Both were absolute perfection. The venison melted like butter and the rabbit as well - juicy, tender, cooked JUST RIGHT - and full of flavor. I have had these two game meats at several other restaurants and there is just no comparison - Anteprima reigns supreme. We finished our meal with the Vin Santo and biscotti - something I've not had since my time in Italy. The service was wonderful, the atmosphere warm and inviting, the food: Italian as it should be - absolutely authentic and delicious. Anteprima is a superb place that I couldn't recommend more highly.
(5)Deepika T.
So we did the birthday dinner here last night, and must say it is a great date spot. Very cozy, you might knock elbows with the next table, but nice nonetheless. Our waiter was great, attentive and had suggestions whenever we asked for any. The food by itself was OK, we've had better Italian. The roasted peppers appetizer was neither cold nor warm, but the grilled peaches appetizer was great! Be warned, if you don't like Gorgonzola cheese, this particular appetizer might be overwhelming. We tried the risotto and gnochhi pastas - good, but not great. The highlight of the evening was the dessert - a light fluffy piece of lemon panna cota. Omg, I would go to this place again only for this. Perfect texture, with a great glaze on top. The best ever. Ask for the outdoor deck seating if you head there with good weather, we didn't realize that we had the option until after we finished our meal.
(3)Jade H.
What can I say that the 180 reviews before me hasn't already said? I just want to add in my five stars to the list. This place is so tasty. My favorite dish of all the dishes we ordered was the octopus salad. It had a very complex flavor. I could taste so many levels of sweet and tangy and salty and even a little fruity. The texture was marvelous. I wish I hogged it all up from my boyfriend. I also had a surprising cocktail with rosemary flavoring. It was very good. The plume of rosemary filled my olfactory senses with every sip. The other dishes were fantastic too. I even appreciated the pasta (although I am still not a pasta fan.) Order the octopus.
(5)Cat D.
Anteprima gets 5 stars right off the bat because the pappardelle dish they had in July tasted exactly like my family's ravioli. The noodles, the sauce, everything. Over the years, I have become a ravioli snob because this is the one pasta dish we still make fresh and from scratch, and there's just no comparing it to the thick, doughy stuff you usually find in restaurants - even good ones. So, naturally, I was shocked to all hell when I put that mound of loveliness in my mouth. I was so shocked, I couldn't even tell you now which pasta dish *I* had ordered. It was an equally lovely pasta that I enjoyed thoroughly, but it wasn't that. So, 5 stars for Anteprima. Overall, the evening was lovely. I went with a couple friends, and we had some wine at the bar while waiting for a table on the patio to open up. Then we each ordered an appetizer, 1/2 pasta and 1/2 entree from the prix fixe menu. And dessert. Because you have to. Everything from wine on down through dessert was just fantastic (ok, except for my tuna entree... That fell a little flat for me, but that's what I get for ordering pepper-crusted anything. I was trying to be adventurous). The staff wound up having to ask us to leave because they wanted to close and go home for the evening. We just didn't want to go! So, I'm bringing more friends there next week, and you should, too. :)
(5)A L.
Hopefully the style of Italian cooking at Anteprima is the beginning of a trend. A trend where the pasta is handmade and not drowning in red sauce or oil. Where a wide selection of interesting dishes are presented (no Chicken Parm or baked manicotti here!). Where portion sizes are just-right and you don't go home with a 5 lb bag of leftovers. Where the wine selection is well thought-out and well-priced. This is not bastardized "Italian" cooking popularized in the 70's. This is what Italian food should be like and you shouldn't have to pony up Spiaggia-type prices. A girl can dream! The 4-stars instead of 5 is because after all it's not perfect...service was somewhat spotty (although nice) and one of the pastas was slightly overcooked (very easy to do when using fresh pasta which cooks in seconds), but I liked this place so much I hate to even bring up anything negative. I came to this restaurant twice in one week....and that says it all.
(4)Robb S.
Hands down my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Every meal I've had there has been incredible. I've even gone home and tried to replicate a few of the meals I've had there, being an amateur chef. The place is really cute, and the staff wonderful. I had a suprise dinner planned for my boyfriend and was giving him a wedding band...I contacted them ahead and they had everything ready for me...the table I requested, the champagne I ordered...it was perfect. I will come back here every chance I get. Excellent job guys!
(5)Rohan D.
The food is quite good, especially the seafood and ravioli. Service is good. The tables are too close together, so you're somewhat at the mercy of the manners and sense of decorum of your dining neighbors. This is another loud restaurant, enough that good conversation is a little hampered.
(3)Joyce C.
It was a cold Friday night and I felt like drowning myself in a big ass bowl of warm, tasty pasta. We tried two of the pastas the first time we came and they were delicious, so I was pretty excited to get the full sized version of them. We ordered the braised veal cheek app to start off with. Good, but I had to dig through my memory banks for that one so I can't say it was memorable. We decided on doing 4 half orders of pastas, so we could have a mini pasta buffet at our table. We got the pappardelle with the braised wild boar (delicious), some kinda gnocchi (just meh, overcooked, mushy and bland), some kinda tuna infused spaghetti with capers and olives (the worst dish... it tasted weird and it was our least favorite by far), and dammit I can't remember the last pasta dish. Whatever it was it was just ok though. Soooooooo disappointed. Oh well, still a 4-star because of the prix-fixe.
(4)Brian R.
Went last night for a "date night" with my wife. Will agree with many of the reviews that it was kind of loud...but very energetic. Food was fantastic. Mushroom ravioli for me; orrechetti for my wife. Great value and will be back for sure!
(4)Lakshmi R.
Andersonville has lots of restaurants but not a lot of *nice* restaurants, if you catch my drift. Anteprima is an exception: decent wine list, interesting cocktails, and an array of well-made meals...that'll cost ya. Cocktails go for about $9 each, entrees between $10-$20. We all had limited budgets, so we didn't get much food for a bill of around $130, but the food was at least good. I stuck with dessert, having eaten beforehand, and was a big fan of my chocolate tart: succulent, dark, rich...heaven! Unfortunately, the ginger mint julep that three out of four of us ordered turned out to be a mint julep with a barely discernable twinge of ginger. Hmm. Service is very so-so here. Our server, maybe tiring of waiting for us to order since we ourselves were awaiting the arrival of our fourth dining companion, wandered off for a long time. We ended up having to grab a busboy with a plea to find our server, and he ended up sending the restaurant's host to our table. He was none too happy about this and it seemed like our server ended up with a talking-to, so that was awkward. All said and done: a solid, 'nice' place that could do with some improvement.
(3)Ryan Y.
I've been a couple times. The service is average to above-average and they shove maybe four or six seats too many than is comfortable when full, but the food is to die for. The grilled octopus somehow had the texture of high-quality beef -- and that's surprisingly a good thing. Also, my friend had to actually apologize to the server; he ordered some sort of steak, and when it arrived no steak knife was given. After asking for it he realized it was so tender it just melted off with a fork. Definitely give it a try, but make a reservation. Both times I arrived early at opening, but by the time I left it was packed to capacity.
(4)Franny S.
A group of us had dinner here last week to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a wonderful meal. We all did the three-course weeknight prix fixe. I had an appetizer (grilled polenta, delicious), entree (scallops, absolutely FABULOUS) and dessert (a friend and I split the lemon pannacotta and the chocolate hazelnut torte, both were very good). You can also get a pasta course instead of dessert if you prefer. It really is a great deal for $29...the scallops alone were priced at $23 on the menu. I took off one star because the alcohol there is kinda pricey (and we drank a lot of it) and the service just a bit slow (though we were a party of eight so perhaps that's par for the course). I'd definitely go back on a weeknight for the prix fixe. I hear they have a really nice patio out back in the summer too!
(4)Eric B.
For me, the true measure of a great Italian restaurant is its ability to deliver on non-pasta dishes. It isn't an Atkins sourced aversion towards carbs, I just find that pasta gets in the way of meat and sauce flavors; aside from ravioli stuffed with meat in a meat sauce, I'm not interested. So, that's my bias. And Anteprima is more than ready for it, with entrees ranging from pork to steak to bison and beyond. Tonight I opted for the grilled octopus appetizer followed by the pork porterhouse special, grilled with peaches, faro, and smoked onion. The octopus was pleasantly chewy and flavorful, but the pork blew me away. It was a massive cut, cooked perfectly juicy, even at medium, the flavor enhanced by the juicy peaches and savory smoked onions, among the best I have ever tasted. The owner is attentive and ready to make recommendations on the wine list, and heartily recommended my choice, a valpolicella ripasso with some age and earthy tannins that smoothed out beautifully fifteen minutes after opening. He was correct, it evoked a baby amarone, and possessed a well balanced old world style that would complement any of the meat dishes on the menu. Finally, for dessert, the chocolate budino gives any French pot de creme, whether made at my place or elsewhere, a serious run for its money. The chocolate tart is a close second, and the coffee, Metropolitan's Red Line blend, is dark and heavy but extremely well balanced. The food is complemented by an Italian bistro decor and attentive but unhurried service. For high end casual Italian fare on the North side, Anteprima is worth a visit.
(4)Carly O.
My cousin wanted to treat me to dinner for my birthday. I happily hopped on Yelp to sift through the multitude of restaurants I have yet to try. But then I remembered that Anteprima is right up the street and absolutely wonderful. First off, make a reservation. Second, get the octopus appetizer because it will rock your socks off. Third, anything pasta is a winner. Our server coursed our meal, so everything came out already separated for two. The mushroom ravioli was so savory and rich. At first when I saw the bowl of just four squares I was like "really?", but there's no way I could have eaten anymore. The trout was cooked to perfection, nicely seasoned and wonderfully crispy. I know I should have gotten the lemon panna cotta, but we opted for the chocolate and hazelnut dessert and weren't disappointed. Anteprima is a gem.
(5)Nicole M.
I'd been to Anteprima last year and didn't have the best experience (thought it was noisy, slow service, and mediocre food), but after learning that an Italian friend of mine is an Anteprima regular, I thought I should give it another shot. And I'm so happy I did! My husband and I walked in on a Friday night around 7:45 p.m. without a reservation but were promptly offered a spot at the bar, which suited us just fine. We ordered the grilled octopus (with potatoes, red onion, chilis, parsley, lemon, olive oil) and fennel salad with oranges, walnuts, and parmigiano (one of the specials). Both were excellent and perfect for sharing. The octopus had a nice smoky flavor to it. The ingredients in both dishes were fresh and delicious. For entrees, we each got the smaller verison of two pasta dishes. I had the orecchiette with spicy house made lamb sausage, bitter greens, chilis, and pecorino. Even the smaller portion was still quite generous. My husband ordered the mushroom & ricotta ravioli with dried porcini cream, and parmigiano. It was nice to feel full but not stuffed at the end of our meal, and we prolonged our time by getting dessert - the cinnamon budino (sort of like a flan), which had a nice subtle flavor, and the apple walnut tart, which had a delicious crust. We had good service and although the restaurant was packed the entire time we were there (more than an hour an a half), it wasn't too loud. I am certainly going to be going back as there are a number of things on the menu I would love to try.
(4)Christopher K.
Anteprima flat out brought it. From eats to service to atmosphere, this place got it done. First impression was great as it was our anniversary and they reserved a special table for us right by the window and it just got better from there... Starters: Choices were overwhelming, but our server was very helpful in narrowing down the winners and losers. We went with the pork meatballs and grilled octopus - both were exceptional. Mains: Had the entree portions of the ravioli and orecchiette which didn't disappoint. About the only thing I would change about the whole experience would be to get the smaller portion of the pasta so I could try one of their main course dishes. Dessert: Passed on dessert, but they brought us out each a glass of dessert wine to celebrate our anniversary. A nice touch. Ambiance: Very romantic and a touch loud, but if you can score a seat by the window and watch the hustle and bustle on Clark, it's almost perfect. Service: Server was very attentive and helpful in selecting some of the best options from the menu. Host also greeted us warmly upon entering and wished us a happy anniversary. Overall: Would definitely recommend Anteprima for a date night or intimate evening with friends. Awesome experience!
(5)Tari M.
I LOVED this restaurant! The menu was very unique and exciting. Deciding what to order was a little bit of an ordeal. However, we ordered the mixed appetizer plate to start and I'm pretty sure my brain and my taste buds shared a moment. If I could date the brussel sprouts I would. In a word: wow. Our server was awesome - very helpful and knowledgeble. And patient (let me referenc the heavily optioned menu once again). The space is cute and cozy and the perfect place to catch up with friends OR enjoy a date. This is going on my list of top 10 favorite restaurants. As soon as I decide to make a list.
(4)Justin M.
Review 33 4 Stars Food : 4/5 Service : 5/5 Ambiance : 4/5 Value : 3/5 Consistency : 4/5 (2 visits) Summary Anteprima offers an extensive, rustic Italian menu with great, attentive service and very flavorful yet simple foods. Serving sizes are a little small, but designed so you have a proper Italian 4-course dinner (antipasti, primi, secondi, dessert). Details Originally, we had planned to celebrate my birthday dinner at another restaurant, but they happened to inform us they would be closed on my birthday for renovations. With two days notice. Really? Well, I will cover that in my next review of _that_ establishement So, at Anteprima, we celebrated my Birthday dinner here and it was a great experience and we will most certainly be back. I enjoy more traditional Italian and Tuscan food than American Italian and this was certainly the former. The decor at Anteprima was really welcoming, a nice bar, bread baskets ready to go and a laid back feel. Some people have written its a little cramped but we had no issue with it. The service was outstanding - attentive, patient, fresh cutlery for every course - just the little things. We were there just before 7pm, so I'm sure later on it gets busier and things may get a little hectic, but our experience was great. Onto the food - we had grilled polenta and pork meatballs for appetizer. The polenta was good, though I like mine a little cheesier and crisper, but all in all it was good. The pork meatballs were delicious - in a wonderful flavorful broth with just the right amount of heat and some nice onion there to discover. Next was pasta - we had the proscuitto ragu and swiss chard ravioli in brown butter sauce. The freshness of the pasta was wonderful - the ragu I would have like to be a little stronger in flavor, but still complemented the pasta well while for the ravioli was very nice. For secondi, we had the NY strip steak - melt in your mouth - served with arugula, lemon and parmesan cheese - just simple flavors adding to a sum greater then their parts. At this point we could not resist dessert - a trio of sorbet, including a mint one which was unique at it had the flavour of real mint along with a sweetness, and we also had the hazelnut chocolate tart. Yum. The quartinos of wine are just the right amount. Anteprima is deservingly busy, and we look forward to going there again soon as we can! Consistency We have been here twice - very consistent, lively and highly recommended. We had other pastas and the charcuterie plate that was very nice.
(4)Marget B.
I love this place! The ingredients are always fresh, the flavors subtle, the ambiance is pleasant and low-key. One of my favorite place to eat Italian in Chicago.
(5)Charlie B.
Just an update. I went back this past Sunday and had a super great and wonderful dinner there. It gets a star bump in my book for excellent food, a changing menu, lots of yummy wines and a great deal when they have the 3-course deal.
(4)Mark N.
There are those times when you're having such a WONDERFUL experience that you just can't wait to write a review on how awesome your entire experience was. This is one of those times. On a recent visit to Chicago (I live in Los Angeles) I had one of my best dining experiences ever when my gal pal and I went to Anteprima. From the moment Jeffrey greeted us at the front door with a smile as big as Julie Robert's, we knew we were going to have a great time. While we waited for our table, Jasmine poured us a mean martini. Straight up but of course. Sara was our server and her service was nothing short of impeccable while providing the perfect wine and food pairings and having just the right amount of friendliness thrown in. The food. WOW! Where do I start? The scallops were to die for! Everything was the best, so try it all. Needless to say, the evening eventually had to end, but not without saying goodbye (for now) to our new favorite restaurant and wonderful staff that we look forward to seeing again soon. See you in November!
(5)Lorenzo L.
Really liked the place when it first opened a few years ago, but have been really disappointed with the food the last two times I had dinner there. On both occasions, whoever was on the line had a heavy hand with the salt. Every dish we ordered was laden with salt, really masking the natural flavors of the various foods. Had it happened only one time, I would have chalked it up to " a bad night in the kitchen". But twice in a row appears to be " a trend". I won't go back again. Mediocre.
(2)Minna A.
very cute decor and attentive service! My friend and I came here to bid adieu as she left for a semester in Paris. We shared two dishes, and the waitstaff was kind enough to split the portions in half and plate the two different menu items separately for us. The Zucchini flowers with marinara? Delicious! I had no idea zucchini blooms would taste so good! All in all, the meal was great and the service attentive! I'll be sure to head on back this way soon!
(3)Victoria S.
go on a night the owner (Marty) is working- the kitchen is just better those nights than when he isn't there- that said the food is consistently good quality and fresh- lots of seasonal choices and the patio is also a plus when the weather cooperates... we have been here probably twenty or more times and are always glad to return
(4)Anceert M.
I am a fan of this place. Centrally located on the heart of Andersonville.(no cheap) but the food is great, specially the crostini toscani, traditional chicken liver topping, pickled vegetable (I love it). Great place to have dinner with your friends, but not for dates(It's a bit loud inside)
(4)Timothy G.
I have been going to this great little eatery for years, and always look forward to the great menu, fair prices and charming atmosphere. Its far better than all the downtown italian places that are overrated, and also the menus to fattening and too big of servings.Chicago needs more places like this.
(5)Bradley S.
Partner and I dined here recently at the suggestion of friends. We arrived way too early for the reservation and it was suggested we wait at their sister bar, Bar Ombra, two doors south. We returned at the reserved time and were seated promptly. Four of us shared 2 appetizers which were unique and very tasty. I ordered a bottle of wine, an Italian red meritage type, to which I had been introduced earlier at Bar Ombra. When we ordered our entrees I ordered another bottle (I guess the whole table liked it.) Partner had the duck breast which he loved. I had the chianti braised pork shoulder which was superb. One of our friends had a pork tenderloin dish which he proclaimed delicious. Our server was engaging and attentive. The space is a tad noisy perhaps but I think it worked out well for us in as much as Partner was a bit impassioned in parts of our conversation and it didn't disurb the neighboring tables. I think it's a very good value as four of us ate for about $250 which included two bottles of wine.
(4)Jeff A.
It had been well over a year since my last Dance with the Anteprima, Last time it was a close friend and I, this time it was for a first date... I know right, who dates anymore, well I was lucky enough to find myself on a date and where better then Antiprima when your date likes Italian? ( I do too of-course) We kicked off our date across the street with a piece of cake at A Taste Of Heaven, it was our first date so we thought we would break the ice-in a more casual atmosphere, plus I always like my dessert up-front and I am slowly starting a cult of dessert first followers! I regress Enter Antiprima, we decided we would do many courses split them all and make sure they were awash in a wonderful wine... After choosing the direction of our courses we chose a bottle of Pino Noir to compliment all the strong flavors Kellerei Cantina Terlan 2007, it was buttery and wonderful and we both loved it until the very last drop disappeared... Our first course was a creamy chanterelle mushroom, leak, shallot, pasta preparation, I get weak in the knees for all things shallot and this did not disappoint! The mushrooms were strong and every other flavor followed behind like good little soldiers, it was divine! Number 2 was the lobster ravioli with a sweet corn butter foundation, it was solid, maybe a little too Al dente for me, and perhaps a little less punch then I would have expected, but It did follow the flavor explosion of chanterelle and Pino Noir, It was solid no matter how you cut it! Our third course was the show stopper! Lamb chops, we were both chatty and having a great time-however-once we each found interaction with the Lamb chops all conversation ceased and we got lost in the heaven that was Lamb a la Anteprima... We did make room for coos and hmmms and all types of primal food related comments of lust and ecstasy... Our unexpected 4th course; the waiter approaches the table, I am filleting every last moment of meat from the bone in front of me... "Lets do it all over again" he half laughs and then I say no I'm not kidding do it up again, we rewind and repeat! Laugh it away for us acting like a couple of fat kids, I used to be a 44" waist and 260 LBs, and at this moment I embraced that former eating stamina and went for a second round of Lamb chops perched upon pickled carrots and beats I believe it was... I explained to the table next to us we still had some wonderful Pinot left in the bottle and it was just perfect for the Lamb so why not do it again, they laughed and considered some chops for themselves... Our final hoorah was the fresh peach and puff pastry delight! It was perfect, not too sweet! It danced on my tongue, it was just melting away, putting smiles on both of our faces-for sure! ( I almost backed up the proverbial truck once again for more fresh peach and pastry divinity alas I did not) This was a wonderful dinner by all accounts! My only complaint would be the lobster ravioli, but I don't think it really is a compliant more then a personal preference, I wanted more sweet-corn in my butter and more give in my ravioli but thats just me, anyway you cut it; not enough to take away a star!
(5)Chicagoa N.
Our fourth or fifth trip to Anteprima was quite enjoyable, as were the earlier visits. My salad of heirloomtomatoes with diced cucumber, thin-sliced watermelon, dressed with mint, olive oil and lemon juice was the perfect starter on a muggy August evening. My farfalle with a prosciutto ragu was rich and satisfying, a small portion was more than enough. The lady enjoyed her choices as well, and the service was attentive and courteous. Anteprima is very noisy, not the place for a quiet chat, but for those in a festive mood, it's a wonderful reason to visit Andersonville. Moreover, if weather permits, the noise is not an issue if seating is available on the patio out back. Upscale and eclectic Italian food is served, but the cafe is never empty, reservations advised.
(4)Philip K.
We dined at Anteprima for the second time last night and for the second time enjoyed the food, but were disappointed by the service. Maybe it was because we weren't ready the first time the waiter came to take our order, but after ordering and beginning to drink a bottle of wine, we waited what seemed like an eternity to order food. A similar painful would-be eternity came between the dropping off of the dessert menu and the return of the waiter. Ok, so I sound whiney. But there's just something maddening about seeing your waiter flit across the room, cut bread at the bar, and chit chat with co-workers when you desperately want to order! On a more satisfying note, the food is delicious. We tried the octopus starter as many yelpers suggested--wonderful. The portions are sensible. So the food is great, service questionable. My final comment is on the phenomenon of small, trendy restaurants like this that pack in diners to create a very loud, claustrophobic atmosphere. Why do we flock to these places? Is the food really that great? or does the reservations-only buzz create a false sense of urgency? I mean, I'm not gonna lie--I felt somewhat special being a part of this seemingly elite room. "We know what's up. Look at us and our delicious, expensive food." Makes everything taste better, I guess :)
(3)Ian M.
I don't know if I have no class or if this place is just bizarre but it was the worst meal that I have ever had. I have never had bruschetta made like that. The smell of it was so bad that I would not even eat it. My friend took a bite and spit it back out. Then we had a ravoli dish. Personally, I think meat and mint should not mix. The service was amazing but the food was just too much for me!
(1)Steve K.
I may be going out on a limb, but I would venture to say that Anteprima has the best NY strip steak in the city. I would love to share more about this quaint little joint, but it's all I've ever gotten when I've gone. It's served with a warm arugula salad with shaved parmesean cheese that, when mixed with the juices from the steak, allow you to very easily clean your plate. A bit pricey and not much elbow room, but worth it.
(5)Hannah S.
We really like Anteprima, its one of our go-to places for a date night, since its not the most kid-friendly of places. Plus when you want to order a few courses and enjoy your meal, kids don't usually mix with that. Though we have brought our daughter there during the summer when the back patio is open and just enjoy a couple courses. We like how many specials they offer, though we also have a few favorites from the main menu, like the brick cooked baby chicken which is prefect to split as an entree if you both want an appetizer and pasta course. This last time I started with the sheep's milk ricotta with English peas and walnuts and mint, which pretty much tasted like spring on a plate and was excellent spread on their Italian bread. Then for pasta, got the trofie (which is a small rolled pasta) with pesto and buffalo mozzerella and cherry tomatoes. The pesto was too buttery for my taste and over-powered the really good cheese and there were not enough tomatoes, but the pasta as always was cooked excellently. Then my husband and I split the baby chicken. We skipped dessert in favor of going to First Slice down on Balmoral and Ashland slice he loves pie and Anteprima's desserts are nothing too special. And for weekends definitely make a reservation ahead of time, calling on a Saturday afternoon will only get you a 9:00 table.
(4)Nicki W.
My family took me here for dinner and I really enjoyed every aspect of Anteprima. First, the vibe is very calming and laid back which is something that I always look for (especially when you want to have nice conversation with who you are dining with). Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. She was able to help me pick out a fantastic wine as well as describe some of the interesting menu items. As always, I like to try a little bit of everything so that I can have a better feel for the direction a restaurant is trying to go. I enjoyed that the menu was very simple and to the point. I assume that it changes all the time which is great. We started off with some smaller dishes to share. We tried the Roasted Market Squash with hazelnuts and raisins which was awesome. The Spicy Calamari was great as well but I didn't expect it to come out grilled (still fine). For my dinner I ordered the Market Winter Squash Ravioli with brown butter, sage and parmigiano. I LOVED IT. Keep in mind that with the pastas, there are two sizes. The smaller portion is pretty small, so you would certainly want to either get something else or get the larger size. I had a side of the garden salad which was served with a mustard vinaigrette, but I think the server went overboard with the ground pepper! Aye. We like to try a little bit of each others food, I tried some of the Lamb Chops which were nice a juicy. I'm not Venison person, but someone at the table did have it and said it was fantastic. Dessert of course is something that can never be missed. I decided to just order everything they had listed so we could try it all. Some of my favorites were the Chocolate Hazelnut Tart with vanilla bean whipped cream...it was heaven. The Lemon Panna Cotta was also great as well as the Pumpkin Cake with Pistachios and sweet cream. Overall, the atmosphere, service and food was very impressive. I just wish it wasn't so far North from me. I will have to make the trip back for sure. It's a nice place to take friends and family.
(4)K C.
Absolutely outstanding! Loved everything.
(5)Jeff L.
I'm just a rookie at this Yelp Review business, but I can tell you this. Anteprima was awesome. I picked it based on the Yelp reviews (although the service comments and noise concerned me) and its proximity to The Steep theatre. I had my wife, mom, mom-in-law (and her husband) and sister-in-law meeting for dinner for birthdays. Mom said: Best ravioli she's ever had. Yummy bread sticks. Great veal. Great service--thanks Chris (who got us out of there when we were running out of time). A little loud once the full crowd is there, but we had the cozy big table in the back corner--perfect for us. The vegan amongst us was also able to order what she wanted. All and all, a great experience where everyone enjoyed the food, wine, and service. By the way, great specials that night added to the surprise of an extended selection of great choices. Six thumbs up!
(5)Matthew S.
There are a lot of great restaurants in Andersonville and Anteprima is one of them! The service, atmosphere, and wine list were the highlights for me. The food was really tasty but I wouldn't suggest ordering the salad assortment. I think it might have been better to just order a couple. I loved the beet salad and the rest of the items were just ok. This is why I gave Ateprima 4 stars. Our entree's were really tasty. My girlfriend ordered the risotto and I had a pasta with Pancetta that would have made Chef Boiardee look like a shit-head. I would like to come back and try the Coho Salmon. If anyone has had it there you have to let me know how it is. Our server made some nice suggestions for wine and the half bottle options are great if you want to try a red and a white. Also, I never felt rushed and it's always nice when the server realizes that people don't like to be asked "how are you" every 15 seconds. They were extremely attentive and constantly kept an eye on our table to make sure we were aight! This is a great place for nice night out with some good friends or just your special lady or man or lady-man.
(4)Eme L.
There $29 3-course just can't be beat. It's a bit noisy - not the spot for a romantic date - but the service is fantastic and the food (at least what we sampled) is delicious. Our party of four tried: Appetizers: pork terrine, calamari, octopus, mushrooms in parchment. All super tasty with my dabs being the pork and the spicy calamari. Pasta: spaghetti with tuna, ravioli, and pasta with pesto. Fav was the ravioli (hovering between sweet/savory). Pesto wasn't cooked and was taken off our bill. Entree: quail, pork ham, and whitefish. Fab was pork ham...whatever that is. Dessert: chocolate tart, rhubarb crumble, walnut cake. Walnut was the best. Memorable meal and worth a return visit. l
(4)Jean C.
For hubby's graduation dinner, we decided on coming to Anteprima. We perused the menu during Midsommerfest and liked what we read. The reservation was made originally for 7:30 but I was able to change it to 6pm since the reception for his program seemed to end sooner than expected. When we arrived, there were a few tables already but it got packed as we had our meal. Since we nibbled a bit at the party we only ordered entrees. I went with the stuffed rainbow trout with spinach and artichoke. It was delicious. The food was well done and well presented. Everyone enjoyed their dish. Service was lovely but the dining room was a tad noisy. It was hard to have a conversation with someone on the other side of the table. I was pleased with Anteprima and would come here again for dinner. A walk around Andersonville is definitely in order after your meal!
(4)Beth O.
Only recently have I pulled my mouth away from plates of pasta to pay attention to the meat and fish entrees-- and thus I wish I were a professional eater. Instead I leave Anteprima now looking like a disheveled Oscar Meyer wiener, due to massive wine and food consumption. Several things to know when going as a novice: -Quartinos of wine are priced proportionately the same as bottles, so you do not save money by not ordering full bottles. -A wiser or more frugal person than I would thus drink only what they need (i.e. less than a bottle). I use this reality to do large scale comparative wine tasting-- Primitivo vs. Nero D'Avola! Yay! -Get the sampler appetizer of starters from above. It is always refreshing and delicious. -Other than the rubbery bucatini, all of the house made pastas are EXCELLENT. My husband and I went to Rome in August during the national holiday, ate pasta, came back and went to Anteprima-- and found its strozzapretti amatriciana better than (off-season) Rome. -The tuna is MIND-BLOWINGLY GOOD. -End with the laurel liqueur. Wow.
(5)Cindy R.
Continues to be a great place for dinner. Had to get the grilled octopus app again because it is SO good but lots of the others sound good too. I think they do a great job cooking fish here; if you're a fish lover I highly recommend getting any of the fish dishes. They're currently featuring lots of early spring veggies so mine (the whitefish) had leeks and purple artichokes... delicious. They no longer have exactly the same orange cake for dessert - it's got pistachios in it now. I liked it better before but it's still good.
(5)Jeff K.
Consistently delivers wonderful food and attentive service. The ingredients are always very fresh, the entrees - well prepared and well presented. When I have made a reservation, my table has always been waiting for me upon arrival. Neg - the portions tend to be very small. I'm not looking for the usual vats of pasta that you find at some restaurants, but a slightly larger portion would be nice.
(4)Lou S.
The Strozzapreti Amatriciana with guanciale, tomato, red onion, garlic, chili flakes and pecorino is quite amazing and not your typical American Italian fare. The pasta was cooked al dente and finished in a white wine sauce with onions and hand-smashed canned tomatoes which soaked up the sauce and gave each bite more flavor. Guanciale is unsmoked Italian bacon prepared with pig's jowl or cheeks and tastes different than pancetta and hard to find.
(4)Heather R.
First things first, you absolutely have to get the grilled octopus appetizer. You'll dream about it. Anteprima's whole menu is filled with unique food that separates them from just another ho-hum neighborhood italian restaurant. It does get crowded and it is quite cozy, but the food makes you forget about listening to anyone else's conversation.
(4)art s.
Good food in a nice little place with somewhat of a New York feel [in a good way]. A little pricey for the portion size, which isn't a bad thing - just need to understand it is a quality play, not a quantity play. Ambiance I can't quite put my finger on why this place made me feel more like I was in the Village in New York than in Andersonville, but it did. They only have 12 - 15 tables in the main room [we didn't see the garden area], and the layout looks a little cozy for the middle tables. And noise carries wherever you are, even along the perimeter of the dining room. We had what should have been a great spot at the corner/window 2-top. But unfortunately our visit coincided with that of the relentless blowhard at the next table. Picture a bad combo of the Bruno Kirby character from Harry Met Sally and Bruce Arena [former US soccer coach]. Now wind him up and watch him perform the obnoxious know-it-all role for 60 minutes running. That can put a damper on things. Which, of course, is not anteprima's fault whatsoever. The Food The only appetizer we tried were the three cheese zucchini flowers. Aside from the fact that they look a bit like mouse tempura with the tail-like stems sticking out, these were really good. Light, tasty, with a little bit of marinara. Good opening act. My wife got the red snapper in some yellow pepper sauce that she thought was great. It was a modest size at $24, but she thought the quality was solid. I had the bucatini, which comes with olive oil, shaved/grated pecorino, pea shoots and some garlic chilis. It was nicely done - al dente, flavorful. Personally I'd prefer a few less pea shoots and a few more garlic chilis, but it was a nice dish. Not bad at $16 [I think]. The Wine I think the list was made up of entirely Italian options, and they cover a wide spectrum of regions and varieties. They had a couple of Lagrein options, which isn't something I've seen a lot of restaurants carry [but maybe I just need to check out more Italian places]. I wish they had a few more options by the glass, though. I'd estimate that maybe 1/6th of their bottles were available by the glass. Service Decent, but perhaps a bit leisurely [or continental, if you prefer]. They were full [Saturday night, ~8:45], but it took a little longer than you might expect for the wine to come out, then for the check to come out. Not bad - we definitely were not neglected by any means. Time may have just dragged along a bit with our Bruno Kirby neighbor loudly explaining why he's an expert in various fields of finance and real estate.
(3)Ed K.
I love this place. My go-to for special occasions...and even a Sunday night when I don't feel like cooking. Go with the lamb sausage and orecchiette. My favorite!
(5)Anthony Z.
Have been here three times...most recently this past Monday. Sort of picky about Italian food, and this place is fine, but certainly not great. On Monday had the orecchiette as a starter, and it was too oily. Lamb sausage flavoring was good, but it did not taste freshly prepared. Salmon entree was good. Chocolate hazelnut torte was not memorable; the word adequate comes to mind. Wine choices by the glass are a good option, with a generous pour. As others have mentioned, it can get a little loud. Service was a little creepy. 29 dollar prix fixe special early in the week is a pretty good deal.
(3)Jon L.
The stretch of North Clark Street in Andersonville is becoming a better and better place to eat, with the hearty but uninteresting swedish meatballs of yesteryear and phoned-in Italian now competing with a new brand of dining experience that caters to the neighborhood's increasingly well-heeled and culinarily-attuned residents. Anteprima's substantial menu of regional Italian dishes literally ups the ante. Homemade pastas-including pappardelle with a boar ragu and orecchiette with housemade sausage-abound and are available in half portions, which makes an appropriate starter for mains like whole roasted bronzino, chianti-braised pork, and "brick-grilled" cornish hen. Rotating specials have been known to include killer sformatos, proprietary headcheese, and more. With a restaurant as consistently popular as this one, service occasionally falters, but the wait for your food can be tempered by a creative cocktail, such as the Cyn-cyn. Hats off to any establishment that showcases Cynar, a bittersweet Italian aperitif made from artichokes that sports nifty Art Deco label and a reputation as an aphrodisiac.
(5)David C.
This is my favorite Italian spot in Chicago. The food here is amazing. I've eaten here countless times as it is a block from home. I have never had a bad meal. I have had problems with the temperature in the dining room... on my last trip it was VERY hot and it can get VERY loud in the establishment as well. That being said, the food keeps me coming back. The octopus on the appetizer menu is AMAZING. For those of you afraid of it, do try it. The octopus is tender and tasty. You can not go wrong with any of the pasta dishes... especially if it involves a boar ragu. As for dessert, I would take a pass. I've yet to have an amazing dessert at this spot. However, as for Italian food in Chicago... this is as good as it gets!
(5)Emily S.
My husband and I took my parents, my brother and his girlfriend to Anteprima as a Christmas gift to my parents. We'd been before and really liked it. Fortunately, it was still very good and impressed my foodie parents. We started with the rabbit sausage, the grilled octupus and the antipasto plate. Everything was very tasty, and there were lots of little, very authentic Italian bites to go around. We shared two salads - the arugula and the fennel salad. The arugula was pretty standard (but very fresh). The fennel salad was excellent - shaved fennel, persimmons, pomegranate seeds, parmesan and a drizzle of fine olive oil. Yum. Everyone liked their main course - we had the sea bass, the bucatini with tuna conserva, the duck leg, the lamb shoulder and the pancetta wrapped venison. All were excellent, but the lamb shoulder really seemed to be the big winner at our table. Desserts were almost all great. The lemon panna cotta is second to none - so delicious. The winter squash dessert was absolutely amazing. Skip the lemon and orange cakes - so, so dry and the one disappointment of the meal. Wine list is extremely reasonably priced with plenty of bottles under $40. We had three bottles of a nice Montepulciano that was right in our price range at $33. Service was good, and we will definitely go back.
(4)Ryan T.
Anteprima is probably my most favorite italian restaurant in the andersonville/edgewater neighborhood. It's small, cozy, kinda rambunctious atmosphere is perfect for small get togethers with friends or family. Perfect for a date if you don't mind the close quarters and cacophany of mingled conversations. The food definetly makes up for it. The wine list is fairly full and looks complex if you're unfamiliar with italian wine terminology. Servers have always been patient to explain them or offering recommendations on similar wines not on the list. Most servers have asked if we've dined there before, but there have been a few times when the server just plops the menu down. For the most part the servers are attentive, weekends or busy nights you might have to make extra effort to be noticed. Their dinner menu changes often seasonally or whatever is available from organic and local growers, which makes the experience almost new if you haven't been in awhile. But if you're like me and order the same thing, many of their main dishes like the sliced new york strip with arugula are unchanged and for good reason. Fish main courses constantly change, as I've seen porgy, sea bass, monkfish, and dover sole on their menu. Many of the dishes and appetizers have what appears to be an unsual combination of food stuffs, but when tasted you can tell a great amount of care and effort is given by the chef to make the dish interesting and pleasant, the deviled eggs with lobster and pesto for example. Their dessert menu is small and unspectacular, many of them having a slight tartness in flavor which is actually kinda refreshing to finish off a meal. The restaurant can be busy on almost any given night, so definetly make a reservation online, very convenient. I frequent this place quite often and am always very satisfied with the quality of food and the service has been great most times.
(4)Darlene L.
Food here is pitch perfect with pastas, fresh catch and antipasta as star features.The vibe was good from the start when I made the reservation and was told about limited free parking in the lot around the corner. We sat outside in the comfortable little covered patio. We enjoyed an excellent Baralo as the waiter patiently responded to questions about the specials. Started with a variety of appetizers including olives, peppers, zucchini, couscous,and beets. It was a veritable delight with good ciabatta and EVOO. Halibut in a bag was moist and flavorful. The whole fish special of sea bass was bones for us and grilled to perfection. Nice dessert offerings include yummy chocolate tart and strawberry and rhubarb fritatta. Service was friendly and efficient. All four in my party raved about their food.
(5)Amy A.
This place is so overrated. I don't get it. Against my better judgement I went back for a second try with a friend that wanted to try it. No different. The food is ok, but there are other Italian places in the neighborhood that are just as good, have better service, and you can actually hear the person sitting across the table from you. Oh, and I thought the wine list was a bit pretentious for a place that is supposed to be a "neighborhood" dining room. No house wine? A lot of people seem to like it here, but I don't think I'll go back.
(2)Marina M.
I love going to dinner and being able to try a bunch of different items, so a small plates menu is always a draw. We started with grilled octopus and the pork belly. Both were perfectly done and had great flavor. I really enjoyed how the octopus was seared. We followed up with goat cheese ravioli w/orange zest and pappardelle w/boar ragu. The pastas were excellent and you could tell they were homemade. I enjoyed the goat cheese ravioli but it's pretty rich so I can't imagine eating a whole order by myself. The boar ragu was amazing! For dolci we had the winter squash budino w/pumpkin seed brittle. It's kind of like flan, but much better. The budino was light and had a great texture. The squash provided a unique and delightful flavor.
(4)Tracy O.
I've been to Anteprima twice. Both times I've loved just walking in. There's a cozy hustle and bustle that coos "Hey, come in, really enjoy a meal." Service is great. The staff are warm and friendly. I sat at the bar once and it seemed like the bartender is also responsible for plating desserts and antipasi. Kudos for that! Both times, food has been A-OK. My main qualm is that dishes are too salty. I could tell that if it weren't for the saltiness, the food here would be good. The blueberry tart, however, is delicious! Sunday to Thursday, $29 3-course prix fixe meal is something to consider. I also appreciate that there are two size choices for pasta dishes.
(3)Hansel K.
Excellent food! Great service. You will leave satisfied for sure.
(5)Jessica B.
I went there tonight for my first time and left full and pleased with my meal! We had reservations at 6 and then because of pouring rain and parking issues were a few minutes late. When we checked in, the host was a little rude, reminding us we were late (yes, we knew but did our best to get there on time) and then seated us with a huff. Okay, not the best way to start but what lacked in a greeting made up for in food. My friend and I got the grilled octopus (amazing!!!) and daily special of blood orange salad, which was refreshing and sweet. Portion sizes were easy to share and a nice way to tee up the meal. For dinner, I got the maltagliati with house smoked pork belly, fagioli, spinach, tomato and it was really delicious. It had really good flavors and was light. The great thing is that Anteprima also offers full and half sizes of the meals so you can get additional dishes or get better portion control. I got the pasta as a full dish and it was still a good size portion without being too heavy or filling. For dessert, we got the lemon panna cotta, which was good and had a Greek yogurt consistency. It was good and definitely perfect to share, it would have been to heavy on its own. Finally, we had blood orange bellini's which were delish! Overall, I was really happy with our meal, even if the host wasn't the nicest and the waiter was a big hoverer. I would go back! Note though, until the patio opens, the main dining area can get VERY warm, I was sweating throughout the meal, which was not the most attractive.
(4)David B.
My partner and I had a great meal here to celebrate my birthday. I had the Alaskan halibut which is cooked in parchment paper and then served with an amazing sauce. It was probably the best halibut I have ever eaten. My partner had a delicious asparagus and ricotta ravioli. It needed a bit of pepper, but otherwise was quite tasty as well. We had excellent service -- attentive, friendly, but not intrusive -- and she appreciated our slightly warped sense of humor. All in all, a fabulous meal in a very lovely room. For those who like outdoor dining, there is a nice space in their back yard that is nice change of pace from the tables in front of restaurants where the bus fumes "enhance" the meal.
(5)Matt P.
Finally, I made it to Anteprima for dinner! I wish I had gone here sooner! This restaurant is a very pretty spot and popular, located right in the middle of Andersonville. On a Friday or Saturday evening, I highly recommend reservations, as there will almost certainly be a wait for a table. Also, this is not a pasta/pizza type of Italian restaurant, Anteprima specializes is more of a rustic/country style of cuisine. They do have pasta dishes on the menu, but its not going to be typical Chicago Italian restaurant fare. The interior space has a casual yet a warm upscale feel. As with most neighborhood restaurants, the tables are in close proximity of each other and the noise level can get high. We sat on the patio/deck in back, which has a much more quiet relaxed vibe and has the feel of a cozy outdoor room. They do have patio heaters, so are we go into Fall, you can still be comfortable on a cool evening. We started with the Grilled Shrimp marinated along with both sweet and hot peppers, it was excellent. The bread and thin bread sticks were quite good as well. I selected the pan-seared Scallops for my main course. It was quite possibly the best Scallops I've ever had. The wait staff was highly attentive, very helpful with wine selections and we didn't feel like we had to quickly leave to free up a table.
(5)Justin H.
I have been wanting to try Anteprima for several months now and finally had the money and friend to do so. Stepped in here without reservations and were seated in under a minute in the front window 2 top. The kitchen brought out 2 complimentary zucchini/cheese amuse bouche for us to try and they were delicious. I ordered one of the red wines to go with my ravioli entree from the extensive wine list. The ravioli were spectacular and my friend had the New York strip seasoned and cooked to perfection. Only downside is the prices. $17 for a plate of 8 to 10 small homemade ravioli with a touch of sauce. That's almost $2 per ravioli. The breads brought to the table were amazing as well. Thanks Anteprima, I will be back for this truly authentic Italian again.
(4)Amy N.
With recommendation from friends and the high rating from yelp, we were a bit underwhelmed with Anteprima. My dinner was pretty good, zucchini flower, lobster ravioli and seared scallop. I would give my dinner 4 stars. My hubby's dinner was a total disappointment. The pasta dish, orecchiette with spicy lamb sausage was way too salty even though the pasta was very fresh. The wood grilled spare ribs has no flavor even though the meat was tender. Maybe the chef was having an off night?!?! The saving grace is their $29 prix fixe price along with the nice alfresco area and service.
(3)Phil B.
There's only one word for Anteprima: perfect. Don't go to this restaurant because you want "Italian". While Anteprima is indeed Italian food, it's "rustic" (Tuscan I think?) What it's NOT is pasta with red sauce and meatballs (go to La Scarola for a wonderful version of that Italian food experience). I've been to Anteprima with my wife now 5 times. In every single case, the food and service were superb. The meal always starts with a complimentary sample pastry. Tonight it was greens with some pine nuts. We've had a zuchini pastry in the past. It's just a little one-bite appetizer to get the palate ready. Tonight I had the fixed menu (which is available S-Th). You choose either a starter, small pasta and entree OR a starter, entree and dessert. All for $29. Knowing that on my wife's birthday dessert would be a must, I chose the former. I had: Tomato bread salad: tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, basil and big bread pieces (not too hard, not too soft) with infused oil. These are VERY fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and in the summer, this salad is a refreshing start to the meal. I've had this during other visits and LOVED it. Spaghetti with chillies, tomatoes and some crunchy thingys: this was where I talked about the meal being "perfect". The pasta is cooked perfectly, the ingredients and herbs are distributed perfectly throughout the dish and it tastes FRESH! The dish is simple, but has a wow factor that comes from the blending of flavors. It's not too big, not too small, not too messy, not too salty or plain, it's just PERFECT. Sliced New York Strip: I ordered medium rare. The steak might have been a little undercooked (my only complaint about the meal). But it was delicious and was served VERY HOT. The plate was so hot it was untouchable. They took this steak from the grill and must have delivered it in 10 seconds to my table. Alongside the steak was an arugula salad with shaved parmesan that cooked a little bit on the hot plate. The cheese melted a little too and it turned out to be a wonderful accompaniment to the steak. I cut up pieces of the steak and ate them with the greens and cheese. As I keep saying, this was a delicious and simple dish. It was steak with a little green salad and some shaved parmesan. But the flavors were spectacular and their simplicity was SO satisfying. We had 2 desserts - a peach crostata and the "cherries in pastry". The cherries were reduced into a compote and served in a puffed-pastry. That's the whole dish. Very simple/delicious. Frankly, the cherries dish paled compared to the peach crostata. It was basically an Italian peach pie with very dry crust and peaches. My wife remarked that the fruits in both dishes were not "over sugared". The fruits were center stage. And keeping with my theme - both desserts were SIMPLE, fresh and delicious. Some other dishes we've had in previous visits that are spectacular: the orecchiette with lamb sausage and rapini. This is a spicy pasta dish that I love. We've also had an orange cake dessert that our waiter told us tonight they serve only in the winter. The orange cake is all my wife talks about! In summary - the few people that complain about Anteprima call it "ho hum" or plain. I prefer "simple". I would tell those people to pay attention to the details of these dishes. Pay attention to the care the chef puts into the flavors, the ingredients, the freshness. There is a GORGEOUS SUBTLETY to Anteprima that is NOT to be missed. It's officially my favorite restaurant on the north side and a refreshing change from the everyday restaurant experience.
(5)Shea G.
My husband and I were very excited to visit anteprima because of the reviews we had read and we love authentic Italian food. We even took another couple with us, the guy being from Italy with a strong background in Italian cuisine. Our whole experience started out badly when we showed up for our 9:00 reservation only to be told that the wait would be 45 minutes for their patio. When I initially made our reservation, the person I spoke with said that being seated on the patio at 9:00 would not be a problem. However, the host standing in front of me said that they never reserve tables on their patio, it's first come first serve (there are only 10 tables on their back patio). While I was questioning why I was told differently, the owner showed up and instead of apologizing for the mistake, said, "I'm the owner, I think I would know..." Really? No apologies, no thank you's for even coming? He even said, "this is our policy." Business 101 tells you that that is NOT a phrase to be used with an upset client. Moving on to the food however, we started with the sweet corn and basil bruchetta and it was phenomenal. A bit salty, but very very tasty. We then had the ricotta stuffed figs with carpaccio. Equally as good. Great start to our meal. For my main course, I had the sweet corn and crab risotto. I was expecting it to melt in my mouth, but everything tasted quite separate and I never felt like it all went together. My husband had the Orichette and liked it ok, but again, he was a bit disapointed with the flavor profiles. This was an okay place, but definitely not in our top ten favorite Italian places in the city. I'll wait until the customer service improves...which means I have to wait until they change management.
(2)Gayle G.
The recession is good for dining out! Anteprima's three course $29 prix fixe on Sunday -- Thursday is a great deal. For two people do this: one app & , one order of pasta to share, two entrees and one dessert to share for $58. What a deal! Ok, so we had four or five drinks and a second dessert to throw the total well over $100, but it was still a great deal and oh so good. Anteprima isn't "fancy" per se, but it's probably not the kind of place you'll go every week. It makes me happy to have in my 'hood, though. The servers are very well informed and good natured. It's always a leisurely, casual and unrushed dining experience. There was a bucatini with artichoke pasta special that was so good! It tasted like spring. And the NY Strip with rosemary and lemon, served on a bed of arugula with shaved parm was spectacular. That dish would almost make me forsake carbs (except for the bowl of pasta before and the dessert after). The steak is so juicy & flavorful with the peppery arugula and the salty parm. I want it right now! The orange cake is simplicity at its best. The hazelnut dark chocolate tarte is decadence disguised as a pie of pie. Looking forward to eating on the patio again and enjoying the spring menu once the weather warms up more. Ciao!
(4)Marjorie F.
I just went there this weekend with one of my best friends. We started with the grilled octopus. I'm not usually a fan of grilled octopus - many places make it too chewy. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried it at Anteprima. It actually melted in my mouth!!! For my main course, I ordered the ricotta and chard ravioli in butter sauce. While it was very rich, I enjoyed every morsel. But then again, I love butter! For dessert, we shared a lemon custard (I'm not sure what the name is exactly - the pannacotta?). It was light, creamy, and not too sweet. Just right after a rich meal! We shared a bottle of Il Bugiardo 2002. I don't know much about Italian wines, but if you like merlot and shiraz - you'll like this!
(4)Meera S.
We had New Year's Eve dinner here with four friends, and it was delicious. My husband and I walked in 25 minutes early for our reservation, because we were dorks and didn't check our watches after giving ourselves a good buffer of time to travel there from Hyde Park. The staff was unfazed, even though the restaurant is tiny and there wasn't any more room to sit at the bar. We ordered a cocktail to share while we waited (something lemony and rosemary-y, delicious) and just sort of pressed ourselves up against a wall while waiters flitted by bearing wonderful-smelling things. The food was great -- portions aren't insanely large, and I thought the menu was reasonably priced for the quality of food we got. Our total bill, including taxes and tip, was $315. For that we got 5 appetizers (get the lobster bisque. It's amazing), 6 main courses (I had the bucatini and loved it, and I heard moans of delight coming from the part of the table where the duck saltimboca and sliced NY strip lived), 3 desserts (they had a chocolate-espresso tart as a special, and the lemon panna cotta was also divine), 2 bottles of red, a glass of grappa, and a coffee. It wasn't the most amazing Italian food I've ever had, but it was a really cozy place to eat at with friends, the service was good despite the fact that they were super busy, and everyone in my party left stuffed and happy. We stole a NYE balloon as we were leaving. :-)
(4)Nick M.
Pro's Handmade pasta Fresh ingredients Unique Menu Great Wine List Great Deserts (recommend the bread pudding) Con's Service is nonexistent and snobbish So loud I couldn't hear my date (no she wasn't a low talker) Over priced for the portions Seating/Decor didn't do anything for me Food overall... eh! If you drag me here... yes I will be kicking and screaming!!
(3)Liz P.
Hands down, the best Italian I've had in the city so far. I absolutely love the atmosphere and decor--it really sets the mood for a wonderful evening. Our server was incredibly friendly and helpful in recommending some dishes. Their menu changes weekly so the bucatini amatriciana may not be there for long, but I highly recommend it if you see it on the menu! It was absolutely decadent, how well the flavors played on each other and left the palate very satiated. The chianti braised pork shoulder was a delicious appetizer that literally melted in your mouth. Speaking of wine, of which they have a great selection, they were very generous with the serving, which I always appreciate. If you want to treat yourself or others to a superb dining experience, Anteprima is the place to go.
(5)Laura F.
I've had mixed experiences here, and it often happens because my husband's or friend's entree ends up looking way better than mine! Some of the pasta dishes are so light on sauce and salt that it's underwhelming, while others are home runs. I tend toward anything with mushrooms, and for whatever reason those are the lackluster experiences. Go with what's seasonal and what your server recommends. A bit pricy, but a really nice neighborhood place.
(3)Daniel S.
I didn't actually intend on dining here. Rather, this was second choice as when we tried to go to Spacca Napoli it was closed for Summer Holiday! I had heard solid anecdotal reviews of Anteprima, but considering the messenger(s), I filed it away as 'accurate but not entirely credible'. On the evening of Sept 3rd, the opportunity presented itself so away we went. Without a reservation on a Thursday night- around 830- we were able to be seated immediately. They didn't give us any lip about not having a reservation either. Note: I am not anti-reservation, rather quite the opposite, but sometimes spontaneity rules! My dear friend was moving away, and we wanted to have a nice little super in honour of the occasion. So we started off sampling an array of apps- zucchini, boar sausage, scallops etc- all were tasty and well prepared. The Italian red we picked stood up well to the varied flavours too. We shared a lobster ravioli and finished with a desert wine. I am hard pressed to find fault with this spot. The menu is well conceived and authentic. Should you find yourself in A'ville and desirous for a 'regional' theme I'd recommend Anteprima. Personally I'd return just for the boar sausage, but note a spot like this is ideally suited for sampling/sharing.
(4)Scott H.
A neighbor suggested Anteprima after we were having trouble deciding on a spot for a Friday evening meal in Andersonville. What a cool vibe! A very casual and rustic, but classy room where I felt instantly at home. No pretense, the complimentary "amuse bouche", no haggling over bottle vs. tap water had be won over before the food even arrived. While I'm no sommelier myself, the wine list seemed complete and seemed to have quality options at all price points. We all shared the orecchiette, pappardelle and asparagus risotto dishes and all were delicious. Our server was attentive and was truly interested in our having an enjoyable evening. We found ourselves too full to enjoy any dessert this night, but we'll be sure to save room next time!
(4)M H.
Given some of the raves I've read here, I was expecting a much better experience than I had. I was hoping for a Cafe Spiaggia type of deliciousness, but ended up with food that, while authentic Italian, fell just below nearby Calo's level of deliciousness. Service was somewhat disappointing too--my date and I felt more like we were our waiter's afterthought. Overall: not bad by any means, but there are better places around to spend a night.
(3)Steven W.
I've eaten here three times over the last year or so, but my most recent visit is what prompted this review. They are offering a three course, $29 menu which is an INCREDIBLE deal. You can either have a antipasti, entree and dessert OR antipasti, half order of pasta and entree. My date and I each went for the latter. I started with a peppered beef stew with rosemary which was incredibly tender, flavorful and generous. Perfectly seasoned and nice and peppery! My date had (I think) chicken liver pate which she described as rich and wonderful. Then, the pasta. Holy crap. My date ha goat cheese raviolis in a light tomato sauce inexplicably garnished with orange zest. I wasn't sure about the orange zest. Did it belong?? Upon trying it - YES it belongs. It was the perfect acid component to cut the richness of the goat cheese. Bravo, chef! My pasta was strozzapretti with guanciale (cured pig jowel), red onion and chiles. It was absolutely amazing. It's been a very long time since a pasta dish impressed me and this one definitely did it for me. Salty, sweet, crunchy and rich but totally balanced. I actually don't remember our entrees because of the pasta high I was on, but I know we both finished our entrees and i recall being happy with mine! Our server was very knowledgable and gave great recommendations including an excellent bottle of falanghina which really hit the spot. Good job anteprima - we'll be back!!!
(5)Lada M.
There were 8 of us and we ordered about half of the menu. The pastas are amazing! The chicken entree was my favorite. The smoked trout stuffed with crab was tasty as well. The blackberry cheese cake and strawberry mouse!!
(5)Christine J.
I was here on a rainy Saturday night, which was unfortunate because everyone doddled longer than necessary, and the restaurant got into trouble when the 8 PM reservations showed up and no one was getting up. I feel like the restaurant could have done a better job managing this. Pastas were very well made, but the sauces left me wanting. I expected a blander sauce with flavorful pasta like ravioli. But we were getting olive oil and garlic on plain pastas.
(3)Ellie L.
The octopus appetizer was phenomenal. I say that because I haven't eaten octopus in a cozy manner. It was warm and with potatoes, onions, peppers, down right cozy. Not cold and sharp, but warm and fuzzy, but also fresh tasting. Highly recommended, The half portions were enough, because they were so rich and satisfying. I had the lamb sausage, my husband had the delectable veal ragu. The cocktails were inventive and smart, and the wine list goes on and on. I appreciate the 250ml glass for $10-a good deal. The waiter was informative and there when we needed him. Just overall a really nice date experience. The fact that the restaurant was packed on a Monday night, explains a lot.
(4)Deborah B.
We live in this neighborhood and thought we would give it a shot. La Tache was already booked for the evening, which was our first choice. Anteprima has one thing right-the food /inventive menu. I had the salmon with cauliflower puree, my date had the NY Strip. With the side of Brussels sprouts, SO none of us tried pasta. The flavoring of the food was amazing. My date reported the NY strip as being slightly overdone. I loved my salmon. Also-the drinks were good, and we tried the laurel drink which is made at the restaurant-very interesting and good. Kind of reminded me of absinthe, but better. For dessert...We finished the meal off with the apple fennel bread pudding. Fantastic!!! So the food really rocks...my appreciation of the food is what made me give this restaurant 3 stars. HOWEVER....... What Anteprima gets an F for is the fact that they try squeeze as many tables into as small a space as humanly possible. We arrived early had a reservation, and there were several tables available. We got stuck next to the station by the bar where the servers fill up the bread and olives for there table. I saw that and thought "ok I hope this will not be a problem"...it really wasn't.. until my date was bumped. My date was bumped by the waitstaff...and not just bumped pressed into and his chair actually moved...Oh and not by the busboys but the really tall, older -looking woman waitress. Fine... I get it, its crowded but...no "Excuse me" or "Sorry." NADA! So..we alerted the manager and he didn't say sorry, anything. It is one thing when its other diners doing this but your own waitstaff?? We asked to move as there were still 3 or 4 other tables for two and acted as though it was a huge deal that we wanted to move, We moved and long story short..got bumped yet again. by a busboy mainly and the actual manager once. We ate fantastic food, but Anteprima. get your act together!! Either take a few tables out , or teach your inconsiderate staff and manager some manners!!!
(3)Thomas A.
The food is bland. The cocktails were good - using different italian aperitifs and digestivos in an intersting way - but cocktails aren't dinner. Polenta was nothing but filler - not cheesy, buttery, salty, or even "corny" - just bland mass of mush. The stuffed fish - they shouldn't have bothered stuffing it. I don't know what else to say. If you try a lot of flavor and it doesn't work out, I will give you points for trying. Everything I ate needed more flavor.
(2)Jenna M.
Anteprima seems to have found and filled a very specific niche that is perfect for this neighborhood. It's nice, but not too nice. It has a special feel without being pretentious. The food is very good, approachable, a bit more expensive than at your average neighborhood place. As a rule, I do not go out for Italian, but I will go here on occasion. The first time was with my then-fiance to tell my future in-laws about our engagement. The second was last night after the husband and I watched Big Night and were jonesing for some Italian. Service is not intrusive. We sat in between what felt like uncomfortable first dates between well off people, which felt about right. I am rating this as a neighborhood spot, not a destination restaurant, and for that, I think it's great.
(4)Bryan S.
I will revisit this restaurant and my rating another time, but my first experience was disappointing. It makes me sad, too, because I had heard nothing but awesome reviews. I wonder if it's another victim to Andersonville's restaurant scene - a burst of popularity in a trendy neighborhood, and then forgets all attention to detail. We walked in on a Wednesday at 9pm to get a glass of wine and an appetizer on the patio. The manager, who was acting as host, hesitated about whether he wanted to give us a coveted table on the patio. There were three open, it was 9pm, it was a Wednesday. I ordered the only rose on the menu. They were out. My friend ordered an appetizer. They were out. No apology, no second recommendation, no nothing. Our bumbling server dropped off our wines, came back once to see if we wanted to order any other food, and then dropped the check. I put cash in the check presenter, and accidentally put my elbow on the presenter (I still left 20%). He came back and actually took the check out from under my elbow without as much as an excuse me. On our way out, we were able to see the manager eating at the bar, and then the bartender coming out from behind the bar and the busser out from inside the kitchen both cut us off. I know it's a popular restaurant with delicious food (allegedly), but attention to detail is the lifeblood of sustainability in a restaurant. I certainly hope it improves.
(2)John C.
Great atmosphere, excellent service and really good, authentic food. Everything we ordered was fresh and cooked to perfection. They also offer up a great wine list. When we arrived without a reservation, the host very politely told us there was a 25-30 minute wait. He also mentioned that the bar was pretty full so suggested we head next door to Acre (previously Charlie's Ale House). Once our table was ready, the host came to escort us to our table...and to that I say, "well played, sir!" The appetizers and pasta dishes were perfectly portioned and I would recommend checking out this newer addition to the lively Andersonville restaurant scene.
(4)Jason W.
Ate here last night, and for those that read this in the future it was 80 degrees yesterday on April 1st. To say they were busy was an understatement. The service was great even though they had so many people in there. Our server was attentive enough to even tell us it would be a bit until our main course was ready after our apps. It took about 15 minutes which gave us enough time to start digesting the first two courses. Everything was cooked perfectly. Highly recommend the prix fix menu. $30 for app, meal, desert -or- app, 1/2 pasta, meal. The portions were smaller for the apps (understandable), but the total amount of food we had was enough to stuff two starving people.
(5)Shonda D.
I would actually give Anteprima 3.5 stars, if I could. I love the location and it's a great place to stroll in the evenings. Anteprima is quite lively and usually pretty packed. The food was ok. We had the arugula, asparagus ravioli, olives, and the strawberry rhubarb crisp. Very nice wine list... they only serve Italian wines, but a wonderful array. Everything was nicely prepared and the service was outstanding. The food was tasty, but it didn't wow me. I think the ambiance hyped me up, more than the food. However, I would still go back to Anteprima, if someone else were buying.
(3)Julie B.
Happy to have the fabulous weather this week-end, I wanted to enjoy great food outdoors. Friends had shared that Anteprima had an intimate patio and I was ready to try it out! As I'm able to walk to Anteprima, we were greeted promptly and taken to the lovely patio (small due to the large parties). Our server was a lack luster server who really did not provide any guidance and no assistance describing the menu. He just stood in front of us like we were supposed to take the Q and provide him direction (mute actor perhaps??). The food however was fantastic! Sunday - Thursday, they have a $29 3 course prix fixed menu with 2 options: 1 starter, 1 pasta 1/2 order, 1 entree OR 1 starter, 1 entree, 1 dessert. We went full bellied and went for the pasta inclusive option (insert smile and rubbing belly motion). We had the grilled octopus and zuccini florets - both perfectly prepared and delicious, next came the pasta: orecchiette pasta with spicy lamb sausage and bitter greens- good and spicy but the bitter greens soured me a bit, would not get again. The spaghetti with clams was to die for, still thinking about it today!! Entrees were the grilled duck and portebello mushrooms and NY Strip steak with arugala, preferred the savory duck but both were solid choices. Overall, excellent food, great neighborhood italian place, want to go back but the service was really lacking.
(4)Shida B.
Not bad. While it was nearly 10PM, the place was packed on a weeknight. The kitchen closed at 10PM so we were cutting it close, but the waitstaff still received us with warm smiles and friendly service. The intimate space was relatively plain inside; stained glass windows and vintagey wood (distressed and faded) made for a rustic Italian feel ... unlike the modern spot across the street with their dim lighting and fire places. This felt like eating in a country kitchen. The crowd must've been there for a while judging by the loudness (e.g. drunkenness) of their conversation. The bar, which seated about 5 comfortably, was empty, but cute in the middle of the room. Ordered small plates: asparagus & ricotta ravioli, butter, parmigiano ($11); grilled octopus, potatoes, red onion, chilis, parsley, lemon, olive oil ($9); marinated olives, garlic, orange, chilis ($4); and the arugula, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese ($6). The food came quickly and was fresh, not just thrown together as some last meals of the evening can be. The ravioli needed a kick. The rich sauce clung nicely to the pasta (although it could've been more velvety, less buttery -- perhaps it broke and was saved?), but the bland dish offered very little flavor besides cheesy and buttery. The octopus was a little chewy from being a tad over grilled, but still it was flavorful. I just sopped up the extra olive oil with the fresh bread that was brought to the table to start. The greens were crisp, the parm freshly shaved, and the dressing light. The pepper mill gave it a nice crunch. Loved the salad. I ordered a specialty drink, something like basil and vodka with lemon. It was relatively uneventful, though the combination had so much promise. There were others on the list, something with vodka and rosemary, that I really want to try. The prices were good, so I'll return at a more reasonable hour. I might even need reservations.
(3)Tiffany D.
How do I even begin to explain my newly found love for Anteprima?!?!?! I love the feel... it's very Italy-esque with the warm space.. delicious aromas in the air, friendly waiters... and fellow customers :] I guess the owner knew we were "foodies" from all the non-typical food items we ordered...... he was super sweet and actually gave us "special" olive oil to drizzle on our food and salumi and a special something something "XX" drink afterwards. Even a complimentary truffled pecorino and poached pear. My favs of the night were.. omg, ALL OF IT.. but if I had to choose.. the grilled octopus... the garganelli, pancetta & tomato ragu, homemade ricotta.... (which has trotters in it) andddddddd... their pasta is cooked to perfection and so fresh and delicious. PERFECT proportions!!! (my biggest rant @ italian american places is WAY too much food... and WAY too much sauce.. here it's perfectly balanced.. it's the PASTA that's the star of the show and it's accented by the perfect amount of delicious sauce...) omg their specials are amazing. fried anchovies were amazing. THE GOAT!!!!! their yogurt/honey dessert.. oh me oh my!!!
(5)Kristina K.
We went here with friends and found the place packed, so were glad we made a reservation. The service was very good and the waiter did a good job answering questions about the menu. We decided to be the $29 special, picking 3 plates. All the appetizers were wonderful. The mussels and clams dish was a very nice size portion, and the grilled octopus was really tasty and a different slant on the usual. The orecchiette with spicy lamb was a great dish, but the grilled lamb was ho hum. The panna cota was delicious and lemony. I will return, but probably for their appetizers and pastas....
(4)Eric K.
Anteprima is a cute place - very inviting from the outside and the inside decor. However once inside it is jam packed full of people sitting practically on top of one another. This is an experience common in NYC but not so great in Chi-town. Plus it is so LOUD you practically have to shout to talk to your friends over dinner. The menu is diverse but I was hoping they would have a few normal italian items on the menu. Do I have to eat goats stomach or whatever the odd meat and seafood choices were. Chicken Picatta may be boring but I would have ordered it cause I like it. Mussels picata or whatever they had wasn't going to do it for me. The server was stone faced, cold, not friendly at all and barely interacted with us. In fact it took about 5 minutes for him to get out of my way so I could even sit down when I arrived. All the waitstaff seemed stressed and serious. I've definately been spoiled by the friendly competent servers from the LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU restaurants I guess. My friend ordered the ravioli and it was a couple teeny tiny pieces that tasted like oranges. Portion and taste were terrile. I think he had to eat something later cause he was not happy. Overall - too crowded, loud, expensive and we will not be going back. One thing to say about the crowd - it seemed to be a lot of Lincoln Park Stye yuppies over impressed with themselves. I had to sit back and laugh because this space used to be a gay male strip club. It made their pretentions being there seem hilarious.
(2)Jacob E.
This is just an OK place but not worth the wait.
(2)J W.
I must give this place 5 stars! My fiancé and I went on our first date here and got engaged en route to here as well. In our neighborhood, great atmosphere, always good friendly service, and the food doesn't disappoint.
(5)Debra S.
Bad service, below average food, crowded, and zero soundproofing (about 105bB on Sat night!). I had the pasta w/shimp. It was fair. My husband had ravioli - Again fair. We shared a tomato salad which was three slices of tomato with shredded cheese on the top (like you get a Jewel) and a dash of fresh basil. To say it was simple would be an understatement. We were there a couple years ago and swore we wouldn't be back. We decided to give it another shot... And THIS time we really mean it.... Will not be back. This is Chicago!! Great Italian food is everywhere, w/ the service and ambiance to goo with it. Don't waste money at Anteprima.
(1)A.J. M.
Hopleaf let us down for dinner, too full, but not before my parents had to be carded when we entered. Let's just say my folks don't look under 21. Whatever. So we walked down the street to find someplace else. My mom reminded me that we had been to Anteprima a few years back, but I don't really recall, so we gave it a shot. I'm really glad we did. The service was very friendly and the food was fantastic. I had the mussel appetizer, which was fantastic, and tried out some of the goat cheese ravioli my dad had. Also pretty tasty. I had the duck breast, which was unbelievably flavorful, and also tried some of my moms crispy baby chicken. I would go back just for both. Plus, they're very generous with the wine. Always a plus!
(5)Resa H.
My husband and I had dinner on a Saturday night. Every table was full and the place was bustling. It's a small restaurant with tables close together but not so close that you feel like you are sharing a table. Greeting: We were about 30 minutes early for our reservations and there was no where to wait so the hostess walked us down to their other place, Acre (almost next door) where they have a fantastic selection of beer. She came to get us when our table was ready. Food: My husband had the steak and I had the pork with polenta. Both were flavorful and cooked perfectly. We also had an amazing chocolate mousse for dessert. The menu had a great selection and I'd go back to try the risotto and the ravioli.
(4)Mike G.
So, it looks like I am the only Yelper who doesn't love this place. It is not that I dont get "it"--I dig Italian food the further it gets away from Italian-American as much as the next Italian kid--but they just don't nail. Now, it isn't that the ingredients weren't good--they were great. It wasn't that the wine list wasn't interesting--it was. It was the combination of things. Every dish was extremely under-salted--you need salt to enhance the flavor folks. The beet and ricotta ravioli was tasty--only after said table salt application. The appetizer selection of 8 things left a lot to be desired. Now let's talk about service: We never got bread/breadsticks or olives. Our wine arrived after our appetizers. The service just seemed rushed the whole time. The 6-top next to us was so close that every time the server was working with them his a$$ was on my friends shoulder--and then he would touch her and say "sorry". Not what I was expecting--prolly not a return visit in store for me.
(2)M P.
Went here last night and had such an amazing experience! Now I have a habit of checking out menus online before I go to a place and one of the specials was a goat-cheese gnocchi.....I was so excited about it! Well, the specials had changed by the night we got there - but friend mentioned it to the owner. He comes back ten minutes later and says they have a few gnocchi left and can throw it together with some spinach & tomatoes. Yes please! It was incredibly good - and really so nice of the owner. He also recommended a beautiful bottle of chianti, that we really enjoyed. The neat thing about this place is their anti-pasto type bar, which is in the main room. We ordered the assortment, cause there were so many good things to try; sweet potatoes, faro w/grilled peaches and the eggplant were our favorites. And we ended with the lemon panna cotta, which was just perfect. So exceptional service, delicious food....we'll be back!
(5)adam k.
Surprised to see so many good reviews here. My experience with Anteprima was one of the worst I've had in Chicago in a while. Poor service, poor management, poor food, poor interior. Not much to like about this place. We were there on a busy, but not packed Saturday night. It was so loud we couldn't talk across our table. Our server agreed and claimed it was unusual. I don't see how that could be because the interior is stark and not well designed. We inquired about moving to the patio, and after checking ourselves to see it was 1/2 empty, the manager quickly ran over and said there were no open tables on the patio. After this our server knew we didn't want to be there, and treated us as such. Food. Meh. Mostly over cooked mush and confused dishes soaked in olive oil that I wouldn't exactly consider Italian. Like others mentioned, the goat cheese ravioli is good, but come on, it's goat cheese. The bacon wrapped monk fish was rubbery, despite the bacon. We were also put off that the Mezze (and bread) was sitting out uncovered in the main hallway were people are walking by. I get the "home-style" concept, but don't think it is appropriate for this setting. At least put it in the back of the prep kitchen (open to the dining room) where it can be seen but not dripped on by passers by headed back from the bathroom. Wine list seems like it was borrowed from a fancier restaurant. I seem to recall maybe 2 bottles under $30? And no house wine carafe? Not what you'd expect at a "home-style" themed restaurant. Again, see above - "confused". Our server wasn't very helpful with the wine either - but this was after the table incident, so who knows. After leaving I was convinced this place would not make it. But I see here it has a loyal following. Maybe its the connection to Andersonville? Maybe cause it's new and different? Not sure, and not willing to try it again. Much better Italian restaurants in the area.
(1)Fitness P.
Top-notch neighborhood spot. It's VERY loud, so don't go with folks with whom you want to converse in depth. Waiter gave terrific recommendations, and all of the dishes were great. Especially loved the grilled calamari app and the halibut entree. Really neat and extensive Italian wine list, many of which have quartino (250 ml) option. Everything is relatively inexpensive considering the quality of food and service. Tight-knit quarters, but that's the scene here. Will go back for sure!
(4)Linda C.
I'm debating the star rating as I write this between 2 and 3 stars. The service and the atmosphere were just fine. The staff were perfectly nice. It wasn't too loud, despite the fact that it was a full house. Sure, I waited 20 minutes before being seated despite having a reservation, but that usually never bothers me. It was nasty out so I don't blame the restaurant for the other diners not wanting to brave the cold rain. I sure didn't want to be outside, either. I went to Anteprima after reading many a review singing it's praises. I was on the search for an awesome Italian place for a birthday dinner for my boyfriend. The lure of fresh ingredients and the recommendation from people who are self proclaimed Italian food snobs swayed my decision: they're Italian and swore their very picky Italian mothers approved. Who was I to argue with an Italian mother? Honestly, the food wasn't bad, but it didn't wow me. They gave us a delicious onion tart to start, which was the best thing we had all night. As for the entree.. well.. meh. For the price, the taste and portions didn't seem like a good value. The wine was fantastic, but it was better than the food. I chose poorly for the desert portion. I'll admit I'm a pastry snob, having made a lot of the things myself (that sounded more pretentious than i wanted it to, but i'll move on...). The chocolate hazelnut tart's crust and hazelnut layer seemed like they were undercooked, and the chocolate ganache was barely on this side of creamy. When I didn't eat more than a bite, our server asked if it was ok. I tried to be nice about saying that I didn't like it. She very generously took it off our bill (i didn't ask her to do that). She tipped this review to 3 stars. Maybe a different night would have been better as I understand they change their menu often to offer seasonally pertinent menus. I however was not that impressed that night and took my boyfriend to a different Italian restaurant the next night so he could get a more satisfying Italian birthday dinner.
(3)Frankie R.
Okay so let me just say that I love Andersonville and we like trying new restaurants so I was excited to find a new little Italian place right in our 'hood. We went for dinner on a late Saturday night (conveniently made reservations right on their website). The place was extremely busy when we got there and our table was waiting for us...great. However our server really ruined what could have been a nice dinner. I don't know if he was just overwhelmed by the VERY crowded place or if he is just normally a rude tool....but either way, he sucked. We asked for recommendations and he answered without hesitation, but when we asked if he had actually tried what he suggested, he quickly said no. Food was okay.....just okay. Also, they claim to have a full bar, but they didn't carry many of what we would consider staples...leaving us thirsty as we dealt with the rude waiter. So if you want bad service by someone with a "painted on smile" who has no clue what he is talking about in a really loud crowded place.....this is a great choice!
(2)Jim C.
Holy Crap, I am so full!
(5)Adam M.
Bottom line: incredible food, horrible service. Actually, the wait staff is knowledgable, courteous, and enthusiastic, but it's the folks at the front of the restaurant that are the problem. News flash: when you make someone wait an hour from their reservation time for a bad table, maybe you should comp something. Or at least refrain from being rude.
(1)Alissa G.
A party of 10 and I took Anteprima by storm this past December. My roommate waited for about an hour when she went to Anteprima the weekend before, so I was happy to have enough people to make a reservation. However, while the place was certainly happening, it never felt overly crowded. The dim lighting was romantic, but while I could see bringing a date here, it wasn't only a DATE place. As for food, we tried the octopus(pulpo) as an appetizer and the waiter was dead-on when he said it was one of the best items on the menu. I also had a half order of the pumpkin ravioli. The ravioli was delicious--but in trying to save $6 on the whole order, i got literally 4 piece of ravioli. Youch. Good thing there was plenty of bread and olive oil! **Hint, breadpudding lovers--look not further. The breadpudding here many be the best in the city--and def my hungry stomach feel all better pronto pronto!
(4)F a.
Too bad for the low review, as the food is actually very good. However, the service was pretty bad - all due to our waitress. I went early with a few friends (not crowded yet), and it was a special night as one had been ill. After the meal, I asked my friends if they found the server rude (perhaps it was my imagination?) and everyone else chimed in and agreed. We don't know if it's because we didn't all get wine/appetizers, or what it was. One of my friends said it's as though she didn't like us (!). I very casually mentioned this to the Manager on the way out, and while he did apologize, it did not feel sincere at all. I was very calm & complimented him on the food quality, so definitely wasn't maintenance about it.. We did not get the feeling that he was going to do anything about it. So, since we are fortunate enough to live in a city where there are outstanding restaurants - Italian or other - why go to a place where the service is poor?
(2)Jorge M.
I was looking for the a place to have some dessert and love every bite. However when I took a look at the menu, I got hungry and decided to try something. We got the assorted starters, I only like 2 of them. HINT their goat tart is really good. I was going to go for the dessert, but the Risotto sound it good... It was by far the saltiest thing I've ever had. I don't like sending food back, so we finished it, but it was almost painful to eat it at the end. Drinks were okay, I've never seen a sazerac served on the rocks... As I said before dessert was extremely good. Server was pretty slow and just weird, very weird.
(3)Tim G.
I have dined here on several occasions, and the restaurant is consistently good. Service is slow - too many tables per server. The restaurant is loud, the wine list lofty, and the pricing is a little high for portions. Dessert menu is skimpy. However, the food is always reliable. The menu is fun, traditional, rustic Italian comprised of local ingredients. Overall, we always enjoy the food and experience. One more wait person to split the room better would go a long way.
(4)Henry S.
Every time I go to Anterprima, I am transported back to Italy. On a recent windy, blustery spring night, I imagine myself in sunny Umbria, surrounded by grape vines and gnarly olive trees. Ok... back to reality. In my opinion, there are 2 restaurants in Chicago that really makes me feel like I'm back in Italy. Anteprima never fails to give me that feeling. The small storefront is always packed and bustling, and one hopes for when their back patio is open, to give some breathing room. After you sit down, an amuse bouche of zucchini tart welcomes you. Then, the bread basket arrives. OMG I can live on that alone. Crunchy dense house-made bread sticks, good sourdough, and crumbly foccacia with a soft interior. There is a regular seasonal menu, and a smaller daily specials menu. All told, there are about 15 antipasti to choose from. Certain smaller ones you can even get as a mixed platter. All pasta and risotto can be ordered in full or half sized options. Anything that comes out of the wood burning oven is always a sure bet. On this visit, I had the Chicken Liver Crostini with pickled okra; wood-grilled Iroquois Polenta with fava, ramps, and English peas; grilled Octopus with potatoes, red onion, chile, parsley, lemon and olive oil. For our mains, I had the wood-grilled Rabbit with roasted artichokes & fennel, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and pine nuts. My partner had the Stuffed wild turkey breast with spinach and prosciutto. The smooth Liver was a sharp contrast to the crunchy, oily bread underneath. Batons of radishes on top brought bursts of freshness. The pickled okra provided a good counterpoint to all the richness. The Polenta looked almost like a piece of steak with all the grill marks and woodsy aroma. The ragout of spring veggies underneath, in a light tomato sauce, was a perfect foil for all the creaminess. One of their signature antipasti, the Octopus, was next. Wood grilled tender octopus chunks, in a salad of punchy flavors and textures. The only dish that could rival this would be the Pulpo con Patatas at Mercat ala Planxa. Wood grilled vs confit octopus? I can't decide. Our entrees really brought us back to the rustic cuisine of Italy. So, rabbit. Haters stop here. If you can't imagine having little Peter for dinner, that's cool. I grew up eating rabbits and would jump on the chance whenever they are on the menu. Anyways, the rabbit were presented as cutlets, quiet a departure from the usual leg-and-loin-on-the-bone preparation. It was grilled ala diavola style, with a mess of herbs and tons of pungent black pepper corn. The accompanying veggies provided a symphony of complements to the meat. The artichoke was toothsome, the fennel nicely caramelized and sweet. The wild turkey breast was a similar variation on the same theme as the rabbit. A turkey breast, stuffed with spinach and prosciutto, rolled and crusted with tons of herbs. Perfection. We washed all the food down with a Nebbiolo, the 2000 Bianchi from Sizzano. Medium bodied, yet dark and murky. It was perfect for that night's weather. Dessert was the usual liquid route. I had the fig infused house grappa. I felt the burn as always, but now the edge has been tempered a wee bit by the sweetness of the figs. I was ready to snuggle up in bed. Why 4 stars? Anteprima transports me back to Italy, time and time again. They serve a lot of dishes that are not available elsewhere in this area. Their cooking method is grounded in the Italian tradition, using fresh seasonal ingredients. That is the spirit of Italian cuisine. Mr Fosse the owner is ever so gracious. The all-Italian wine list offers a wide range of varieties. The room is charming (a bit tight), and it is truly a neighborhood gem.
(4)Joel C.
Hands down, my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago and the closest thing to a true family-style Italian restaurant meal outside of the boot. This is a must for groups of friends and loyalists to fresh pasta and authenticity. It's a great place for a date if you can handle loud, boisterous atmospheres. Ante Prima features a long list of outstanding antipasti that offer a wide variety of meats, vegetables and cheeses. Always a good move to do an assortment and pass around. The caponata is an extraordinary marinated eggplant that can not be missed. Pastas are handmade and the sauces represent a party of different flavors and textures. As with the antipasti, definitely order a variety and pass the plates around. The Orecchiette with Spicy Lamb Ragu is always a hit and one of my all-time favorite dishes. Entrees and wine list are fantastic (plenty of recognizable Italian producers) and the service is friendly and insightful. Parking across the street at the bank is a HUGE bonus. We brought kids along our first time there and they had a great time. The older one with a good palate loved exploring new flavors. Meanwhile, the younger one who was a little freaked out by the menu ended up having a great time and the kitchen was more than happy to whip up a simple pasta and marinara for her.
(5)AJ L.
In a word - amazing! I went on a romantic date and it couldn't have been better. We went on Friday night at 7:30 and the place was full but we made reservations so we had a table waiting. The seating is a bit crowded but we managed to get a table in the corner so it was very intimate and private. The food: we started with an amuse bouche. No explanation was given, it just appeared shortly after we sat down so I still have no idea what it was except that it was delicious, and a perfect preview of the great food to come. We started with the grilled octopus and the tuna bruschetta, both very good. The bruschetta had a great tartness to it and the bread was perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. For an entree I had one of the pasta specials with homemade over-sized bowtie pasta and veal. After the two appetizers I just got the small portion which was the perfect amount. So good. My date had the orecchiette and lamb sausage which he said had the just the right amount of spice to it. The service: Our waiter was perfect. Equal parts charming, attentive and helpful without being overbearing or pushy. My date and I were so busy talking that we took awhile to order and did it in parts. Despite being quite busy, our server never rushed us or made us feel bad for lingering over our meal, and he was quick to bring us new cocktails while we were deciding. All in all, a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Erica K.
Food Love. And right in the midst of my neighborhood. Our waitress was helpful in all the right ways from characterizing the flavor of dishes to being all around friendly and witty. We sat outside in back and enjoyed the waning days of summer. The ribs and roasted chicken were amazing. The gnocchi also got the thumbs up. We didn't spend as much time here as I would have liked because our guests were leaving town that evening, but I am dying to go back and almost certainly will.
(4)Neda And Mark R.
Authentically Italian. Just got back from Tuscany and I have to say this restaurant does it right. The food was very good, but some dishes were better than others. I went with a group of girls on a Sunday night. So between the 5 of us we tried a lot of things on the menu. We all had the prix fixe dinner which was great. They allow you to order off the specials or menu which added up to a lot of choices. I had the grilled octopus app, orrechiette with lamb sausage, and ribs. Also on our table were the halibut, special tagliatelle, polenta, risotto, New York strip steak, and also the strawberry rhubarb tart for dessert. The winning dishes were the grilled octopus, halibut, and tart. The octopus dish tasted exactly like the frutta del mar I had in Cinque Terre. Very tasty. The halibut was delicious, flaky and well-seasoned, without being overdone or salty -- so PERFECT. And the tart was sweet, but not too sweet. Delicious. Unfortunately, a couple of dishes I would skip next time. The risotto is vegetarian including the stock, which left the flavor a bit flat, which was very sad. The orrechiette with lamb sausage was VERY spicy, according to everyone at the table, which included a few seasoned spicy-food lovers. For them, however, the dish was considered a success. We had asked the waiter before ordering the dish, and he said it was only mildly spicy. The ribs were also missing a little something, maybe salt. So overall, I'm a fan. I'd go back. For the price, it was reasonable and the service was wonderful. We stayed a very long time and had about a billion questions and our waiter was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Great for a big group or intimate date!
(4)Hugh B.
Having spent some time here in its previous incarnation, I always get a smile when going into Anteprima. That smile generally stays. The space is pretty. The service is always professional and knowledgeable. The menu is large and wide-ranging. The pastas are fresh and delicious. And it doesn't cost a fortune. Big fan.
(5)Alex A.
3.25 stars. We ordered the plate of appetizers, and this was a good choice. The ravioli with lemon zest were a bit soggy and disappointing though. The service was good.
(3)Bridget T.
Honestly, so f'n amazing I can hardly stand it. After my fifth visit Monday night I am finally compelled to share my love of this place with others. I am hearting the $29.00 you pick 'em prix fixe they have this summer, what a great way to try a whole mess of food! I have had the octopus salad every time I've gone there this summer as well as the lemon panna cotta which haunts my dreams. The Lobster/Ricotta Ravioli with Corn Butter was mind blowing...whoever thought of combing butter and corn and turning it into a sauce needs to give me a call, I think we might like each other...alot.
(5)Paige H.
Have only had dinner here once, and I wasn't impressed. The atmosphere is cute but the food is nothing special. Service is good and you can get a good pasta dish here, but its overpriced for what it is. Wouldn't go back--there's too many other great places in Andersonville.
(2)Sharla C.
Anteprima, is not just a preview of good food, it is the main attraction. I spent my birthday at this Italian food hotspot. I have always loved coming here for the simplicity of the food, the creative pastas, the laid back atmosphere and the dedication to seasonal ingredients. I love Italian food and am not impressed by most places that offer the usual fare of Eggplant parmesan, pasta marinara, or chicken cacciatore. I appreciate the rustic, peasant style food that comes from a long tradition of great Italian culinary history. Italian food is more than just cheese, tomatoes and pasta, it is a culmination of seasonal foods, fresh ingredients and a celebration of simple flavors. Anteprima has achieved the feel of eating at an authentic Italian table with recipes that have a long tradition in an Italian grandmother's kitchen. My friends and I ordered almost all the appetizers on the menu. I love the Fava bean puree with rapini, the fried smelts, the sweet and sour cippolini onions, the prawns with roasted fennel, the creamy wild mushrooms, the grilled polenta with bitter greens and tomato, cannellini beans with sage, the roasted beats with almonds and arugula, the brussel sprouts with pancetta, and the salumi platter. We also ordered the grilled octopus which was tender and cooked perfectly except the char on the outside was a bit too bitter and overwhelmed the actual flavor of the octopus. We tried 8 different pastas, the strozzapretti, toasted walnut pesto, pecorino was one of our favorites! The pork shoulder was perfection, falling off the bone and melting in our mouths. The whole porgy was delicious and was served with a nice romesco sauce. All in all, it was a satisfying and a delicious meal! Anteprima can satisfy even the most die hard Italian food fans. Expect excellent simply cooked food without a lot of fanfare. It's just good food, buon appetito!
(5)Kathryn G.
My husband and I came here on a Friday night after receiving a gift card from friends. We weren't able to get a table but were happy to sit at the bar. The place is cozy, comfortable and well-decorated. The food could not have been better and we enjoyed the 'quartino' serving size off the wine list. The bartender seemed a bit frazzled and while attentive was not as friendly or welcoming as I would have liked. Never having been there before we had some questions about the menu and I appreciate being treated graciously when dropping a pretty penny on food. The rest of the guests seemed to be having a great time and while the crowd seemed a bit older and well-to-do, we will be back, with a reso for a table, to partake of the wonderful food.
(4)Ger S.
Wow. What a great meal. Excellent, as always. The spicy mussels were perfect, the bucatini was a 7 on 10. The tagliatelli was great, and so was the cod. We tried the goat cheesecake - not so good. Returned it and went with the server's recommendation of the chocolate mousse, Excellent. Never a bad meal ,,, and in the heart of Andersonville. Highly recommended. Oh, and the cocktails before dinner were perfectly prepared. Great bartender.
(5)Kate C.
So let me first preface this by saying I was here wth a group of ten people on NYE. Large groups are very awkward in this place, as my back was sandwiched against the side of someone else's table. I hope I didn't get hair in their food. We also may have been the only straight people here? I'm not terribly familiar with the neighborhoods in Chicago, but there were quite alot of (adorable) gay couples. Its all good. So initially, it was great... the bread was pretty good, the bartender made me a fantastic gin and tonic, etc. I had the oricchette, which was absolutely wonderful... perfect kick to the sausage and a nice sized portion as well. The pasta was nice and thick, like real pasta should be. The ravioli, although delicious, was not portioned well. Only eight raviolis come with the dish and they aren't much larger than the chef boyardee variety. So if you're coming to eat with a capital E, avoid filled pastas (which is pretty much the rule everywhere, yes?). The spaghetti was sort of boring. And I understand spaghetti can be fantastic if done well, even though it is a simple dish. This.. was not done well. Things were cooked properly, but it had the flavor of cooked celery, which is to say, not much. The duck with mushrooms and chestnuts was cooked quite well and was delicious, but the chestnuts themselves were sort of mealy and... not terribly tasty. The gnocchi was also good, from what I tried, but I'm pretty sure the oricchete was the best dish on our table. The desserts were decent but not anything to write home about. The chocolate hazelnut torte was pretty good, although it didn't warrant finishing the whole piece. And the chocolate mousse with almonds was also pretty good, as it had a wonderful creamy texture, but again, nothing outstanding. The biggest downfall was that the waitress couldn't have been any more blatant about how badly she wanted to get us out of there. I understand a ten top is a hassle, especially on an event night and in a small, intimate restaurant. But at least be cordial. I'd consider going back if I were in a group of two. And not on an event night. PS. Forgot to mention: their bathrooms are unisex and DONT HAVE LOCKS. This caused a ..."situation"... when I busted in on somebody. Good thing they were only washing their hands :/
(3)Christine W.
Very nice, interesting choices. A bit crowded and gets loud later in the evening.
(4)janet f.
Where to start? How about this...Anteprima is the poster child for mediocre faux-Italian restaurants that seem to have peppered the landscape of North Side neighborhoods in the past 5 or so years. I give this restaurant 1 star because the maitre'd was very helpful and polite to us when no one else seemed to give a crap. The appetizer platter we ordered mirrored so many of the milquetoast school picnics I frequented as a child...mushy, bland pasta salad creations that all tasted the same, underripe olives, and not a hint of seasoning to be found! Most of the entrees were sold out when we ordered at 8 p.m.(!), and the orrichiette with boar sausage tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for 3 hours. The service was dismissive and forgetful, the decor confused, the food overpriced. Nothing about this restaurant was redeemable except for that poor maitre'd.
(1)Hanna A.
I really wanted to love this place. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the service is great. However, it was disappointing. The food was very fresh, but lacked flavor. If it weren't for the spectacular brussel sprouts, we would've really regretted going there. We only regret it a little now.
(3)Rob D.
Anteprima is a great (relatively) new addition to the Chicago Italian restaurant portfolio. We dined at Anteprima for the third time (in two years) this past Saturday. I am fairly picky as far as Italian cuisine goes, having been raised Italian-American and spoiled by great family chefs. So you'll be hard pressed to get five stars out of me for an Italian joint. Anteprima is pretty darn close though. All three meals were great. Two out of three times I had pasta dishes as an entree, as did my wife. All were pretty spectacular. Portions are middle of the road (to very slightly below average) in terms of what you can expect in Chicago. If you like spicy, try the orrecchiete or buccatini. Both were rock solid. On my most recent visit I was craving some meat - ordered a flank steak which was both tasty and tender. This was off the specials list. For appetizers, we like the anti pasta sampler. This provides a good assortment of the smaller plates, and will certainly feed 2-4 people, depending on hunger. I've had a few special appetizers that included marinated grilled eggplant, and all were delicious. Never had dessert - prefer to wander the streets of the 'ville to get some ice cream. During all three visits service was attentive, friendly, and helpful. Most importantly they were honest - waiters and waitresses answered questions based on their perspective, and never did I feel like they were trying to steer my dinner selection. We were also seated promptly at our reservation time despite the restaurant being very crowded during two of the visits.
(4)A. G.
Never been treated so badly at a restaurant. In a nutshell... Running late for a 6:00 rez. Called and notified we'd be there at 6:15, was told no problem. Showed up at 6:20. One half of our party of 4 came to claim the table, while the other half went to park. At 6:25, the owner comes over and growls, "When's the rest of you're party coming?" "They're parking, so whenever they find a spot." Saturday night in Andersonville. Who knows how long that'll take. Owner stomps away. Five minutes later, he comes over and says, "If they're not here in five or ten minutes, we'll have to do...something." Lots of attitude. I say, "Are you gonna throw us out?" He stammers for a second, then says, "It's been an hour. You're an hour late." I say, "It's been just over 30 minutes, and we called to tell you were were running late." He says, "It's not fair to the other customers. If they're not here in a couple of minutes, I'm gonna separate the table." (Meaning, I guess, that he was going to take the two two-tops that comprised our four top and split them apart.) Then he stomps away. We were just about to bail when the other half of our party showed up. It had taken them 20 minutes to park, and they weren't really into splitting, so we stayed and had a slightly-above-average, somewhat overpriced meal. (Both seafood dishes were way to fishy.) Our server was quite pleasant, but the irony is that he didn't try to rush us out like his boss probably would've wanted. Don't get me wrong: I understand where the dude was coming from. It was a crowded Saturday night, and things were hectic, but you never, ever, ever speak to your diners like that, no matter how trendoid you are. Never going back, and it would be great if y'all followed suit.
(1)Nicole C.
-delicious Italian food -great Italian wine list, but also fun cocktail/martini list -not a huge space, so you may wait for a table They "don't" take reservations, but we got one with a party of 8 on a Sunday evening. If you do have to wait for a table, t
(4)Rachel I.
I got a gift certificate for Anteprima for my birthday. It took me forever to use it despite the fact that the restaurant is walking distance from my house. When I looked at their menu online, I had to look up a number of ingredients because I had no idea what the foods were--and I write menus for a living. The food just sounded intimidating. Once I finally got around to going over there, I kicked myself for waiting so long. Delicious! Delicious, I tell you! Risotto, to die for... super creamy and perfectly seasoned. I had a shrimp dish as well and loved the flavor, but hated the fact that the shells and little legs were still on them... very difficult to eat in polite company. All the desserts we shared at the table were quite good too...not always the case at many restaurants. I will return!
(5)Andrew B.
Fattest country on the planet or no, the portions at this place are way too small for the money. I am not fat. The people I was with were small, thin, and from other countries. None of us were full. The food itself was overpriced and disappointing. The menu sounded inspired, but the execution just wasn't tasty. Seven of us went and I was the only one who had read any reviews before hand. I kept my mouth shut but everyone voiced their dissatisfaction afterwards. On the plus side, it's a cute spot both inside and out.
(2)Christopher M.
Before going to Anteprima, I was saying for weeks that there weren't really any Italian places that I really, really liked. There are quite a few spots that I like but nowhere that I feel the need to frequent again and again. Anteprima just became that place. I was there with my fiance and future in-laws last weekend. We had a 5-star experience. They had eaten at Milk and Honey for breakfast, Gibson's for lunch, and Anteprima was far and away their favorite. First, we were ordering a bottle of wine. I had selected the Sangiovese but inquired with the waiter first before ordering. He actually down-sold me to a great bottle that we all loved. We had the veal meatballs to start which were amazing. Everyone loved their pasta also. Everything felt fresh and expertly prepared. I hadn't had pasta this good in a long while. I preferred it to even Terra Gusto which has amazing fresh pasta. I had the spaghetti which seems like a boring order. The simple things and how they are prepared though really get you to the heart of the place. I liked what I found when I got there. From there, we were excited to get at the dessert. I am a huge panna cotta fan and the lemon panna cotta was certainly calling me. Apparently our waiter thought we had waited a little too long when we sat down and they did some sort of waiter switching. This was at most a four minute wait. We made no complaints though and we were grinning ear to ear by the end of the meal. Before we could order, they brought out a panna cotta and slice of the orange cake on the house for our trouble (there was none). The panna cotta was incredible. I can't say enough good things about this experience.
(5)steve l.
Just had a great evening---server did not rush us at all and gave sound advice, wonderfully diverse menu and flavors, great wine. Yes, it is a bit crowded and loud, but I'm a big fan.
(4)Matt M.
Food that isn't good leaves bad memories, but food that tries to be avant garde and just ends up confusing the palate is just plain wrong. Though they encouraged sharing, with a group of six there was rarely more than two bites of any dish if we were to split them evenly. Perhaps they were having an off-day, but I was far from impressed. I wish I could provide more details, but even their failure wasn't that memorable. Reading other reviews it seems like Anteprima does have off nights and I could have experienced one of them. My opinion? Save yourself the trouble of hoping you don't get an off-night and go elsewhere.
(2)Kendra F.
DEFINITELY MAKING THIS A REGULAR STOP!! After trying their sister restaurant, Acre, my husband and I couldn't WAIT to try Anteprima, and it did NOT disappoint!! Chicago is a great town for Italian food so the competition is fierce, and these guys DEFINITELY MEASURE UP!! For starters, you can't miss with the grilled octopus or crispy pork terrine. My husband then had strichetti with duck, while I opted for a pappardelle that made my TOES curl!! For the final course, he had a lamb dish that was cooked to perfection, while I opted for a the whole grilled fish - AMAZING!!! The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star review was that the chocolate hazelnut tart that my mom had was just OK - NOT bad, just OK - but if i could give it 4.8 stars, I would!. On top of all of this, they have a very nice wine list, extremely friendly and attentive staff and a cozy-yet-chic atmosphere that encourages you to linger over coffee and bask in the glow of a fabulous meal. Bravo!
(4)John W.
Ok everyone, America is the fattest country on the planet and Chicago is one of the fattest cities in America. The portions here are what they should be. You don't need 8 lbs of pasta. Now, $16 for 6 ravioli is a bit ridiculous. I had some kind of thick pasta in tomato sauce and it was average. If I bought fresh pasta I could have made a better dish at home. My girlfriend had the $2.66 a piece ravioli plate with mushrooms and bland wouldn't begin to describe it. The menue didn't exactly have a lot of options either. The portions are fine if you aren't Tony Soprano but it is a little pricey for what you get. The waiter picked out two great wines for us so that was nice but not enough to get me to go back. If you are in Andersonville and you want Italian, go to Leonardos which is right up Clark Street or just go across the street to Calo. Both are far superior in terms of flavor, variety, price and atmosphere. It wasn't terrible but I probably won't give this place a second chance due to the other choices in the neighborhood.
(2)Seth M.
The first time we went to Anteprima it was on a cold winter night, we were seated by the window and it felt romantic, like we were in a special place. The service was great and the food and wine were perfect. Last night we decided to go again for a celebration. First the service was odd, the server didn't explain any of the specials and made strange faces when we would ask questions. We ordered a calamari app that was completely inedible, it was almost like they poured salt on it to mask the fact that it was not fresh. We had to send it back. The server questioned our tastes by saying "do you want something that's not so strong", I had to remind her that it was inedible, over salted. The next app was just OK and the entrees were pretty flavorless and had the over salted technique again. The high point was the wine that was suggested. I'm not sure we will be going back...
(2)Richard C.
My wife and I ate at Antiprima for the first time last night as we were strolling through Andersonville. Saw the cute place and took a chance. We were thrilled. The food was deilicous and the service was excellent. My wife is doing her best to get me into more neighborhoods to enjoy the diversity that Chicago has and one of the benefits is finding these kind of places. Lucky we got there early (5:30 approx) because by the time we left, the place was packed. Would go there again in a heart beat and highly recommend the place for its' food and character.
(4)Will S.
Definitely a destination spot. Low key vibe with attentive, smart service. I couldn't decide between the trout and the ravioli so the waiter suggested a 1/2 order of the ravioli for the table and trout as an entree. Great choice. Also had cannellini beans, roasted beets and fregola as appetizers. All were excellent. My friends had the whole fish special which they filet so you don't have to do it yourself, although they still found a few bones in it. Total tab for 3 w/ 3 drinks was approx $132 before tax and tip
(4)Josie L.
Had a family birthday dinner last night. Fun looking spot, cute area of the city, nice menu. Our service was so bad, we would never come back. We were a table of 8 people....most servers would see dollar signs and know they could keep the drinks and food coming. Our server just kept dissappearing. He also brought out the food in a crazy order so people could not all eat together. Food was pretty good, but not good enough to offset the service.
(2)Charlotte Y.
If size matters to you, then ensure you get the female server. Just kidding... well, no not really. Here's the deal - my dining companion and I noticed that at least on the patio, the female server brings out her bread baskets sporting the long bread sticks, while the male server brings his breadbaskets out with the short bread sticks (actually, they are just cracked in half and put into the basket). I know, I'm being petty, but it was just an observation. In any event, a group of friends and I dined here last Friday and I loved it so much that I returned 2 nights later! The pasta is just perfect - especially the special pasta (stracinatte?) with the pesto, garlic and cherry tomatoes and the veal ragu (or prosciutto ragu). I've tried the grilled sardines, the stuffed zucchini flowers, the burrata, the above pastas, the stuffed roasted pork entree and the olive oil cake and I have not one complaint. I am, however, a pasta fan, and as Anteprima does theirs perfectly, I am smitten and slightly biased for life.
(4)Erin T.
I had a bad experience here - we had a reservation for a large group, but they kept us waiting for about 30 minutes past the reservation time after pushing it back. The waiting area is the bar, but the bar has maybe 4-5 seats and the rest of us were basically standing in a small space between the kitchen and bathroom. Not great, but we were excited about the food. Unfortunately, it was disappointing. Everything on the menu looked great, but we ended up paying a lot for very bland food. We were also ignored by the waiter for long stretches of time. There seem to be a lot of good reviews on here so maybe it was just a bad night, but I had no intention of going back after my experience.
(2)Douglas O.
After reading so many reviews online, we visited Anteprima on 1/1/08. The server seemed knowledgeable and the menu offered a variety of options. The soup that night was a chicken soup and was very tasty, probably the best part of the meal. We ordered the Spaghetti and the Calamari Entree. The spaghetti was a bit oily and a bit dry. For dessert we ordered the chocolate hazelnut tart and the orange cake. The orange cake was horrible, I have never eaten a sponge, but the cake had less moisture in it than cornbread, with a slight bit of orange syrup/flavoring. The chocolate hazelnut tart was mediocre at best. Our server was very kind when he made it over to the table, but even with the restaurant dead, took 10+ minutes to order. If you visit often, and he knows you, you will get great service (if not, you will wait patiently as he spends an excessive amount of time servicing frequent diners). Unfortunately, will not be back, overrated, not sure how anyone can love a place that has extremely bland food and average service.
(2)Monica W.
I had a craving for Italian and we decided to go here because of their $30 menu for ANY app, meal, desert -or- app, 1/2 pasta, meal. It's a great way to try anything on their menu without spending too much. The total amount of food we had was enough to stuff two starving people. Everything we ate was really good. The grilled octopus was very very tender. Our server was awesome! Gave great recommendations. We will be back.
(5)Chitown D.
Went on a Saturday and had to wait 20+ minutes, although we had reservations. We went with another couple and had about two salads, six appetizers, three entrees, and two desserts. Everything was a B- or better. It's very loud and not a good spot for a "romantic dinner". Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable.
(4)Lori M.
Beet and Ricotta Ravioli with a hint of poppy seed - now THAT's what I'm talkin' about! Loved the creativity of the menu, though heavy on the meat side. I would be thrilled to see this place get a few more vegetarian primo e secondi piatti on the menu. The delicate rosamarino breadsticks were 'lish, the bottle of schioppettino wine - mmmmmmm, and the chocolate cake, well. let me just say this: it caused a chocogasm. yes it did. And the well thought out starters includes farro, with grilled radicchio, horseradish, pecorino... and my favorite, caponata, a sicilian eggplant relish with pine nuts! You can order a sampling of 8 starters for $15 ! That's more than dinner for two right there. Hot date on a budget. Next time though, I'm going to try the apple fennel bread pudding! Sounds amazing. Mama would be proud to dine here - and I'd love to give Anteprima one more star if only they add a few more vegetarian options! Very cute space with a nice bar, but tables are crammed in here super tight, so check your coat. Mannaggia calda !
(4)Laura S.
Just enjoyed a wonderful dinner here with friends. To get to the point, everything is AMAZING. I had the grilled octopus appetizer and I wanted to slop up every remainig drop of sauce with the delicious, salt encrusted bread. The entree I had was the orechiette with spicy lamb sausage. It had a GREAT spice and a nice salt to it. I was so full, yet couldn't stop eating it. The pasta tasted extrememly fresh and homemade. Dessert was the strawberry tart. All was excellent. Make reservations! It's so worth it for a fun night out! Also... Excellent service.
(4)Susan G.
Haven't been disappointed here yet. Dined here for my husband's birthday on a hideous rainy evening. Had trouble finding parking nearby, but once we got to the restaurant all of that faded away. Delicious appetizers (I had polenta with kale) and wonderful entrees. My husband had duck breast for his entree and said it was excellent. I had skatewing and it too was delicious. Save room for dessert especially the chocolate hazlenut tart. We had wine by the glass which worked out just fine. My only complaint with this place is that the tables are SO CLOSE together that you fear that you will knock things off your own or the table next to you being seated. Cost per person, including dessert and wine by the glass was about $75 per person.
(4)Jessica V.
Let me put it simple I always get whatever ravioli they are serving because it is always sweet and savory. The menu frequently changes and the ravioli is always something different BUT never ceases to be A-mazing! The onion tart they give you is a good little treat & the bread and olive oil go nice with one of their Italian wines. I have tried a lot of their apps and have picked off my guys dinner plate a number of times and can honestly say I have not had one bad thing here to eat. And I don't know what some people are talking about the server for .. He's just doing his job in a small, crowded restuarants. I always get the guy people are talking about with the glasses and he means nothing but well. He always had suggestions on great wine to go with a meal. He also reccommended apps and entrees to my friend and I. Maybe people caught him on a bad day? But I have had him 5 times in a row and he has been nothing but helpful. So maybe give him another try - he's busy as well as everyone else and ask questions ( coming from a former waitress) ! Otherwise, you will be helplessly lost because I was - I could not read the menu. :( waaah
(5)jim h.
I love this place. I have been about 4 times and have never been dissapointed. On my parents last visit I took them here and they quickly fell in love. They are both foodies and travel internationally a lot. Just in case you needed more convincing! I find the food fresh and delicious, the wait staff helpful and attentive, and the decor inviting. One of the top restaurants in andersonville
(5)Casia J.
I didn't have the pannacotta, but it did look outstanding! Liked the atmosphere. Food is average to good, so yes--in my opinion, as others have said, it is too expensive for the portions and quality. I had a half order of the spaghetti with mussles and clams. Gerber makes larger portions, but I was saving room for a giant waffle cone down the street so that was ok. The sauce was skimpy and nothing special. Hubby had the ravioli and I thought it was great, but pricey. Server was a little kooky, and not in a good way. However, they were packed and rushed and everyone still seemed pleasant and in no way did they make us feel like we had to get out so they could use our table. If they changed the menu/prices a little, I'd probably be a fan. As-is? Meh.
(3)Anne M.
Pretty good Italian - chicken liver starter was good if you like that sort of thing, jerusalem artichokes needed to be sliced a lot thinner, but the flavors were good. The pasta dish we ordered (with lamb sausage and chili) was great and we split the baby chicken - also good. The walnut tart was so-so but the bread pudding was delicious (could have used a touch more moisture). The dinner room is crowded with too many dining tables and it can get loud, but despite this, it's sorta cozy.
(3)Kendrah R.
These items sound pretty good on the menu but they do not know how to adjust the spices here. The salt is so over done it over powers subtler flavors like lemon zest, the chili so strong it over powered the mint flavor. I eat at a lot of restaurants that are similarly priced and would not go back here because they charge waaaaay to much for what they dish out.
(2)Joel S.
Among stiff competition, this is probably my favorite place in my neighborhood (and check out my A-ville list, I loooooooove my neighborhood restaurants). Why do I love Anteprima? They do simple, straightforward rustic Italian food. It's not cheap, but it's near top quality because of the delicious ingredients they use. I'm not familiar with Italian wines as much as I would like, and I always have been able to get a great recommendation from the manager, who makes the rounds but not in an intrusive manner. Very enjoyable guy to converse with - for instance, after ordering our apps, wine and meal once last summer, he stopped by to point out greens he grew in his garden and some of the other quality ingredients. And this probably puts it over the top from four stars to five in my book. The only drawback to this place is that it does get very loud and busy - make sure to have a reservation, and ideally have 4 or less in your party - tried to squeeze in five here once and it didn't really work. Anteprima is my go-to spot for a quick celebration or treat, and a great example of the best Chicago has to offer.
(5)Inspector G.
Agreed with 3 1/2 stars. Extra points for atmosphere, friendly service and interesting menu. Pricing isn't cheap but definitely on the upper end of the range for Andersonville. Overall, value is fair. $35pp for 3 courses and wine. Now for the food. While not bad, it's certainly not up to par with the hype or the atmosphere. Of course, the kitchen is only a few weeks in business, so they're still figuring out the rhythm. Also, given the small size of the kitchen area, they're probably tripping over themselves. Ravioli were drowning in butter (overwhelming) and while some pasta dishes need a little extra salt, others were way over-seasoned. Bottom line - while we've had better Italian food, we'll definitely be going back.
(4)Dalla A.
I would honestly go back to this place just for the chicken livers appetizer they had for a special last weekend-- it was THAT good-- but there are plenty of other reasons to return. The staff was very accomodating- I had forgotten my phone that day, so I had no clock, and showed up about 20 minutes early for my reservation. They sat me anyway at the table I picked out, and brought me a complimentary piece of onion tart while I waited. Martini and chocolate mousse were fine, but stay away from the boar ragu; it didn't have a lot of taste at all.
(3)cathy c.
Oh, Anteprima how I did love you. I Yelped passionately about you (as you can see from my first enthusiastic review). I took my foodie friends there and asked them to spread the word. I returned time and time again. I loved the food but also loved the way I felt welcomed and taken care of, as if you really wanted me to be there. And then...tonight (April 29/09). It all came unravelled. The food is still good, although seems to be losing a bit of its edge. But the service, oh my. The room was attended by a vagabound crew who seemed terribly disinterested that anyone showed up at all as they chatted and lounged around the bar. We took a table for six and arrived early when the place was empty. Bread arrived - 45 minutes after we sat down. Menus were never picked up after our orders were taken. Water glasses not filled. Not one basic need was anticipated. I was mortified because I had brought friends who had never been to Anteprima before and I had gushed about the place. Sadly, you've lost me as a fan - next time I'll go to the Bristol where the food is equally (if not more) interesting and the staffers actually act like they're (very) happy you came in. My advice to those who are reading Anteprima's reviews: when you make a reservation make SURE the owner will be there - he runs a tight ship. Alas, when the cat's away...you may never get your bread. Or much of anything without begging for it. Sigh.
(1)Jessica B.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this restaurant. I think that this is the best restaurant in Andersonville. Doug the manager, is super nice. The food is great- classic Italian simplicity but with excellent flavors. Whomever said the portion sizes are too small, is crazy. It is simply sized to have enjoyed an appetizer first. I will say that the desserts leave a little bit to be desired, but I am also super critical on dessert. You can't go wrong choosing the restaurant. Make sure you try for the patio in the summer- it's awesome.
(5)ER S.
The food here is AMAZING. My favorite things are the roasted cippolina onions and the spicy lamb sausage pasta. They are so delicious! I keep thinking about them... hmm, maybe it's time to head back. (My husband is a fan of the bolognese, but I think it's a bit bland) In the summer, the back patio is very nice.
(5)Cathy C.
i'm a big fan. i don't seem to get tired of going here. That's probably because the menu is always new and always fresh. Don't know what to order? Ask the staff. They are very forthcoming and very good. The bread sticks are the best in the city. the house made pasta is delicious. The spicy orchiette is unforgettable and the braised specials always delicious. Can be crowded, loud and my biggest complaint... it can get really hot in there. Marty turn the heat down!
(5)Kerry S.
Had another lovely dinner at Anteprima last night. The orrechiette with lamb sausage was particularly good. I'm writing the review, though, to specifically mention our server, Chris. We sat on the back patio and we were a table of five. Chris was really informative about the wine and menu, didn't go crazy up-selling anything, and didn't seem to be rushing us at all. We sat there for a long time, on a busy night, on the VERY DESIRABLE patio. He was just really good to us. I really like Anteprima. Can't wait to go back for a romantic dinner with just my husband!
(4)Angie T.
delicious! precious outdoor patio. awesome staff. great wine list. desserts sub par there were mascarpone stuffed figs wrapped in prochuttio - a blue cheese, beet, walnut, arugula salad - grilled octopus with summer potatoes - goat cheese ravioli in the most amazing orange, butter sauce - pasta that tasted like lasagna- smoked sausage, roasted red peppers and who knows what else pasta - tasty tilefish - delicious tomato focaccia - and the best breadsticks i have ever tasted. all of which was accompanied by a bottle of bubbles and two of red. please do try. i cannot wait to go back.
(4)Tamara D.
Truly delicious, fresh, homemade food. The crostini toscani is rich and fantastic. The pastas all seemed to be fresh-made. Even the breadsticks were unbelievable. The wine was great and the server was super. He even went next door to their other restaurant to get my 3 year old some gelato. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Ellen F.
Had dinner at Anteprima last night. They have a nice wine and martini list - martini was chilled well and very good. We shared the antipasto appetizer which was excellent. I ordered from the regular menu and had the orrechiette with lamb sausage - it was slightly spicy and prepared perfectly. My friend had an item off the specials menu - which was a spaghetti carbonara. It did not have the usual heavy carbonara sauce and was excellent. We shared the "espresso" dessert which was flan like, but nicely flavored. The service was good, but a little pushy on getting the order placed. I like to relax and have some talk time before ordering - but that was a minor point. Overall, it was very good!
(4)Dianna D.
Went here for dinner with some friends and absolutely loved it! For the starter, we got the "pick 8", and it was a great start, with some delicious Cab Sav recommended by the attentive waiter. We each then ordered the smaller portion of a pasta meal, and for the life of me, I can't remember what the friends ordered. My partner had the orichiette with home made lamb sausage. so delicious! And I had a ravioli that was on special that night made with chestnut I believe. The portions were great, and we came early to beat some of the bigger crowd, so we didn't have the issue of noise that some others have had. The topper? Taste of Heaven is just a couple of blocks north for dessert!
(4)Adam L.
I honestly don't know why anyone wouldn't give this restaurant 5 stars - well, I guess I could imagine... but I'll say that not only have I never had a bad experience eating here, everyone with whom I'm dining almost always starts lavishing praise once the food arrives. I think this is partly due to the fact that the food is described on the menu pretty plainly, but arrives with such delicacy and such abundance of flavor. Here's my personal catch - I'm a vegetarian and although they don't have too many vegi options, I just don't care, because whatever they're serving has always been just delicious. As usual, I can't testify to the quality of the meat dishes, but if my usual company is any consideration, I'd say its probably equally delicious. I'll let y'all know if this restaurant ever surprises me with a bad meal.
(5)Aristotle P.
We started out at Hamburger Mary's for dinner but wanted something else for dessert. After dinner we decided to go over to Anteprima. The place was packed and was buzzing with activity. As we walked in, I surveyed the dining area and there was but one available table by the front windows. The amiable hostess greeted us and asked for our reservations. Ooops. Sarah told her we hadn't made reservations but that we were only interested in dessert. The hostess asked us if we wouldn't mind sitting at the bar and we quickly made our way through the dining area towards the bar. The bartender was very likeable. Great ink Jasmine! Jasmine greeted us and gave us a couple of dessert menus. It was a short list but everything sounded good. The panna cotta with lemon sauce and torta della nonna sounded especially delicious so that's what we ordered. Jasmine asked us if we'd decided on our choice of drinks. We told her no. But after we told her what desserts we had just ordered, she suggested an espresso and sambuca (sp) drink. She explained that it would have a warming effect. That sounded good so we ordered two. And she was right! I generally don't like sambuca but it was tasty. Can't go wrong with a drink with both a stimulant and relaxant in one. Sarah liked it well enough but the alcohol was a bit much. Anyway, on to the desserts. First, you have to try the panna cotta. If you don't know what that is, it's heaven on a plate. It's basically cream, lemon, sugar, vanilla, gelatin, buttermilk (or some sort of acid). The texture was that of a very light and airy cream cheese. The flavor... What can I say?! It was rich and creamy with a lightly sweet taste and with just a touch of lemon and vanilla. I can eat this all day. It went well with the espresso/sambuca drink. The torta della nonna was just the opposite (texture wise) but was nearly equally tasty. It looked like a cheesecake with pine nuts mixed in but was not as heavy. While I liked it, I preferred the panna cotta. Service - Jasmine made us feel right at home. She warmly greeted us when we sat at the bar and made wonderful suggestions. Even gave us complimentary dessert wine which she said would go well with the panna cotta. It did! It was a moscato d'asti - Andrel Villa Giada. She suggested we try Andersonville Wine & Liquor to see if they could order it for us. Anyway, it wasn't overly sweet like some moscatos I've had. She was also good enough to give us a slice of another dessert but cannot recall what it was called. It had three layers - a buttery crust, chestnuts and some crumble-like topping. Light flavor with a mild sweet taste accompanied with the toasty and sweet flavor from the chestnuts. Very good. So there you have it. A dessert review at Anteprima. I highly recommend the panna cotta paired with a mascota d'asti. If you can live with it, forget the tables. Ask to be seated at the bar and ask Jasmine for some espresso. You won't regret it.
(4)Seth P.
I can't claim expertise in Italian cuisine, but the food in this place really reminds me of what food was like when I was in Italy a few years ago -- really fresh ingredients, carefully cooked. This time, the appetizer specials were truly special - lightly fried small lake fish (smelts?) that were perfectly crispy and juicy without being greasy, with lemon rind and parsley perfectly, lightly, crunchily fried the same way and thrown into the mix! We also had a zucchini flower stuffed with riccotta, which turned out to be a baby zucchino (is that the singular?) with the flower growing out of it -- so that you got all three flavors and textures in a single bite!
(5)Glenn B.
It doesn't remind you so much of an Italian restaurant as much as an actual restaurant in Italy. One of those small tratorias where you walk in and the chairs don't quite match and the interior is a little rustic but the food is incredible and in season. They are extremely creative and the menu changes frequently for new foodie adventures while they also keep the crowd favorites on the menu. Try the lemon panna cotta.
(5)Jenna P.
Been there twice, and loved it! Only 4 stars because it can get really noisy and the bread basket is cold (I love warm bread!). Great wine list, great service - we typically choose some small pasta dishes and other apps, like polenta, fried fish, butternut squash ravioli, etc. Delicious!
(4)Jeanne M.
A completely delightful find! We popped in there without plans and thoroughly enjoyed this lovely place. The food was less traditional Italian-American fare, which will throw some people off. But if you are feeling adventurous, you won't be disappointed as most everything was tasty and creative. I'm knocking it down a star because the dessert we chose didn't match the level of the appetizers or entrees (IMO), however, the pinot noir that we were offered as a quartino to share was flat out awesome.
(4)Nicole C.
Simple, authentic, delicious Italian cuisine. This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city and definitely the best in Andersonville. They have amazing homemade pasta and I love the prosciutto ragu. The farro with vegetables is my favorite appetizer....I'd love to have the recipe and recreate it at home! The atmosphere is very rustic and cozy - a great date spot or with a group of friends.
(5)sarah y.
I just wasn't very impressed with what I ordered here. There are other restaurants in the Andersonville area that offer much better food.
(3)Stephanie B.
The other reviews I read before I went to Anteprima were right on: DEF get the octopus appetizer. DEF do the prix fixe menu. And yes... some things (ie my halibut) were a touch salty, but it did not keep me from cleaning my plate. I read where someone said the spicy lamb orrechiette pasta was way too spicy, and I did not think that was the case at ALL- it was my favorite thing. The pasta was also really dense and not perfectly shaped, which I love b/c you could tell it was homemade. We had the espresso mousse for dessert which was just okay... not to die for. But I would come back to this place in a skinny second. Service was great. It did, however, get REALLY loud once it started filling up, so that made conversation a little tricky.
(4)Alison T.
My husband and I have eaten at this reast. 3 or 4 times over the last few years. It is always outstanding. Last weekend I had the homemade pappardelle noodles with prosciutto ragu and it was outstanding. Everything we've ever eaten here has been first rate. Serivice is friendly and nice. My only criticism - is that it is a very crowded space. It's a little hard to maneuver around the reast. at times - but totally worth it.
(5)Lauren W.
Ultimately, I wouldn't travel up to the 5300 block of Clark Street in order to eat here, but if I were up there and looking for a good bite, I would probably go back. My biggest issues were with service and the pasta dishes, but otherwise the food was pretty good. Careful with dishes that include chili oil - they're not fooling around when it comes to adding heat. Here's how it went down: Right off the bat, we ordered a bottle of sparkling rose to celebrate one of my best friends' birthdays. At the same time, we ordered the assortment of the first eight starters on the menu as well as a special starter and a salad: grilled scamorza cheese with chili oil and lemon and the market salad with fresh sugar snap peas, fava beans and shaved pecorino in a light lemon and herb dressing. The assortment was wonderful: red beets, white turnips, cannellini beans, asparagus, farro, eggplant caponata, roasted peppers with a breadcrumb topping and olives. We ate just about the whole plate between the three of us. The scamorza cheese was VERY spicy and delicious, but had a fried-looking coating which was inconsistent with the "grilled" description. The spice kind of took over and didn't leave room for the other flavors, but that didn't kill the dish for me. The market salad was excellent - very light and fresh and crisp. That was gone in under 3 minutes. We'd pretty much finished all of our starters (and, as you can see, we ordered a lot of them) when we realized that we didn't have our rose. Or the basket of bread that everyone around us seemed to have. Or a new bottle of water (which was pretty important since the cheese was so hot). When our waiter finally came back, we very nicely reminded him of the rose and he was quick to admit that he had completely forgotten it. He was racing back to the kitchen before we could also ask for the bread and water. He finally got us the wine and raced around for the bread and water as soon as we asked. We figured that even though he was a little forgetful, he was trying to make up for it. Plus, from the moment we came into the restaurant he had been fluttering around our table complimenting us and "flirting" as much as a middle-aged gay man can with three twenty-somethings. I figured it was in the hope of getting a better tip. Anyway, after the wine, bread and water incident, he mentioned in an apologetic way that he would make it up to us and to make sure the birthday girl left room for dessert. In my head, I figured "free dessert" or at least free something. Our entrees arrived and they initially brought me the wrong pasta. I took a look at it and quickly explained that this didn't look like the strozzapretti the waiter had described - he had said "bowtie pasta" and this was penne of some kind. They very quickly made the switch, so I wasn't really put off by the mixup. But when they set my correct dish in front of me, I was confused by what the waiter thought a bowtie looked like. The pasta was clearly homemade, which I appreciated, but it was just thick, dense strips of dough - not light and al dente. The seasonings were good - spicy from the chilis and pretty fishy due to the anchovy soffritto, but the pasta itself was just not well made. Period. The other pasta at our table was the orrechiette with lamb sausage. The pasta actually looked like orrechiette, so that was good, but when I tasted it, I was similarly disappointed. Too dense and doughy - not al dente at all (at least I didn't think it was - the orderer of the dish didn't seem to mind). The flavors in the orrechiete were, again good, but still lacking a little. I wanted there to be more sauce. As it was, the pasta was a little too dry for me. It was really too bad about both pasta dishes because I go to Italian places for the purpose of ordering pasta and I want it to be excellent every time. However, I think Anteprima is a place for traditional main courses because the birthday girl's hangar steak was to die for. The steak itself was grilled rare with excellent, crusty seasonings and sat on a bed of farro with a mint and fava bean pesto. The pesto was excellent and tasted really light and fresh. With the farro and juicy steak, the dish was incredible. I don't order steak very much because I generally figure I know what the flavor of a steak is and want to try something new, but I would probably order the hangar steak if I went back - the flavors were very original. I was impressed. We didn't do a dessert (we walked down the block to share a sundae at George's instead - the Grasshopper is spectacular), but the list provided a lot of variety and involved a lot of fresh fruit, which I appreciated. The bill came promptly and to my surprise there was no comped anything and no secret birthday dessert. This didn't really bother me, but it didn't improve my overall sentiments about the lacking service.
(3)David E.
I would recommend trying this place out. The atmosphere and the food were on point. My only negative comment is that the place was a little loud. It was somewhat difficult to have a conversation. As for the food, I was impressed. The appetizers (mussels and the sweet & sour onion with prusciutto) were excellent and very unique. I really enjoyed the soft texture of the pearl-like onion against the firm prusciutto. For my entree, I tried the crispy cornish hen with little broccoli florets. All I can say is that the chicken was cooked to perfection and seasoned well with a delicious crispy outside. I will definitely visit this establishment again. If you are looking for an Italian restaurant with a lot of character, give this place a try.
(4)Liz K.
Delicious! I had the pasta with the boar!
(5)Masumi Y.
Flat out fantastic. Ambiance was great, even if we sat at the bar; I felt that we were in our own little world. Cocktails were excellent. Highly recommend Pimm's Cup (I think that's what it was called- nice and light). We did the prix fixe for $29 a person, it was an amazing deal for a starter, entree and dessert. I had the grilled octopus as many have recommended and couldn't have enough of it, really amazing. I also had the scallops for the entree and it was the perfect size. Delicious! Dessert was also great and the bar tender gave us a complimentary glass of moscato to go along with our desserts. Fabulous service and will definitely go again!
(5)Jeremy P.
i've been here twice in one week - first by chance, second by choice. the homemade pasta and friendly, knowledgeable service is incredible! i was blown away by the tagliatelle with morels and an amazing alfredo sauce. i was even more impressed with their signature lemon panna cotta! the atmosphere is so relaxing, charming and warm...the food is excellent and the service outstanding. i can't wait to go back for #3!
(4)Silvia B.
Great service great atmosphere great food will go back frequently
(5)Susan J.
We decided to give Anteprima a second chance after a very shaky first visit. Our first server was beyond pretentious and was dismayed when we shared an entree....little did we know that it was an "in" place and made it into Chicago Magazine....so, we drove up to Andersonville once again and decided that wherever we found parking, that's where we will dine...well, lucky us that our second visit was wonderful and our server was fun, personable, efficient and let us linger. This is true Italian food and is what you might find in the heart of Tuscany. Super fresh ingredients, a yummy bread basket and not your run of the mill Italian menu options at all. The portions are appropriate to European standards which is fine because the quality is there. We are happy that we returned and would definitely recommend.
(4)Steven N.
Wow! I was shocked by how great the food was. Fresh pasta, great atmosphere, and friendly staff. It's a perfect for a date night. Love that they serve local, Talbott Teas! Blueberry tea gave me the perfect ending to a great meal!
(5)Cat B.
Finally tried this new bistro-style spot in Andersonville. This place is Chalkboard meets M Henry with the countryside decor and the window panes hanging to separate spots in the room. I went here on a Wednesday night and this place was busy. Our waitress was nice and offered some good selections for wine. My friend Susan ordered the Cornish hens and I ordered the halibut. While we waited, we were given a basket of delicious freshly cooked breads. The wines that were suggested were very tasty. Susan and I split our food so that we could both taste different entrees. Both the fish and the Cornish hens were delicious, but for $25 the halibut should have had some veggies to compliment the plate. The halibut came with lentils underneath, but I could have used some broccoli or a couple asparagus or something. Then with Susan's Cornish hens...they came with veggies, but no starch. It would have been really easy...and cheap...to throw a little rice on the side. The food was delicious, but for the price I would have expected a little more. Another component of this place was that it was REALLY loud. So, a good place to go with friends and eat some delicious fare, but be prepared to have to talk loudly. So, I would have given it 3 1/2 stars. Good food and a beautiful space, but a few things I would improve upon.
(4)Daniel K.
I really love this place. I live about 4 blocks away and have now been there three times since it opened (including last night). The previous reviews (at least the positive ones) have covered things pretty well. Two things I want to add: 1. They now TAKE RESERVATIONS. I think this just happened within the last few days. I made a reservation yesterday on OpenTable.com and even though we were about 15 minutes late, there was no attitude, and we were seated right away. 2. For those of you who like good beer, you have to try one of the two specialty beers they list at the bottom of the wine menu. They are brewed in a very small brewery in Italy and are very high quality, well crafted beer. The cost ($25 for a 750 ml bottle) might shock you, as it did me, but it was at least as good as any wine on the menu (same size bottle). I love this place.
(4)Cathy G.
My friend and I have eaten here about 5 times since they've been open. We come back for the food. It's very reliable- not stupendous but good. It often reminds me of the food you get at good trattorias in Italy - similar deep classic flavors. We are bad at making reservations so we end up waiting a fair amount if we get in at all. Last time we waited in the tiny bar almost an hour. We were finally seated and our wine at the bar was comped which was very nice. But THEN, we find that our waiter always seems to be the guy I affectionately call Waiter-From-Hell. Honestly, he is like something out of an SNL skit - unsmiling and bothered by everyone, he is unfailingly rude, unhelpful, and doesn't even do his job very well, yet for some reason he has been there the whole time they have been in business. As I read every review here which complains about service, my guess is it's always HIM...he is a large guy, stocky, 40-something with glasses and a big attitude. Everyone else there is FINE. I wish someone at Anteprima would get a clue - this guy is the worst fully-employed waiter in town. After all these years, all we do is laugh when we get him. I wish I could tell him that my friend is normally a very big tipper --- just not at Anteprima!
(4)John B.
C and I have had our eye on this place for some time and I had high hopes. Our friends were visiting for the weekend, from Madison, and we wanted to take them someplace special. I requested a table on the patio and was pleased that we actually got one, since the host warned me on the phone that it was no guarantee; merely noted as a preference. It was hot as hell out there, unfortunately, but more unfortunate is that they don't have any fans to at least move air around. I actually removed my shirt. On the other hand, it was a blessing to be outside because the sound level inside is VERY LOUD. Before being seated outside, I asked the bartender at the tiny bar, a young woman, the how a soave differed from a pinot grigio. She looked at me incredulously and gave an enormous sigh, and said, with an exasperated affect, "The difference? A soave is a soave." When our table was ready, the host informed us that we had to pay for the wine before they would seat us. Sorry, but that's annoying. Outside, the wait for the waiter was longer than comfortable. He was polite, but too business-like. We had brought our bottle of white wine into the heat of the patio (the waiter complained of the heat), but didn't offer a bucket of ice to keep our wine cool. When I ordered a second bottle, he failed to offer a bucket again. I had to ask for one and it took a long while for him to appear with a marble cooler. We ordered our appetizers and selections. The appetizers were tasty and C's pappardelle with prosciutto was nice. My pasta with mushrooms, on the other hand, was memorably flavorless. Overall impression: The food is okay, but nothing special. I will mention that the fellow pouring water was on top of his game. I wish I could have left him a tip. The patio is pleasant, but on a evening that was 88 or so, it was too hot without fans or an air cooling system. Also, the tables are way too close together. Inside, it's really rather loud. A note about the ice bucket complaint: In contrast, we went to Yes Thai for dinner the next evening. The waitress, seeing that we walked in with white wine, brought a bucket of ice to the table instantly. i.e. within 2 minutes.
(3)Alanna O.
I went here with a girlfriend and felt immediately at home with the decor! So cute!! The food was delicious and, as someone else pointed out, the portions are not completely huge like at most places. For 1 App, 2 entrees and 2 gls. wine, it was about $100. A little pricey, but everything was very good and the service was awesome!! We asked the waiter a LOT of questions about the menu and he did an excellent job of describing and explaining everything for us. The only complaint I would have is that a took forever to get our wine. All that being said, I would totally go back!!
(4)David R.
Terrific neighborhood restaurant with excellent food, relaxing atmosphere and attentive service. We started with the anti pasta plate, moved on to the hearty and tasty wild boar parpadelle and finished with the halibut and suckling pig specials. The roasted pig had a wonderful smokey flavor, and the fish was cooked perfectly. The lemon panna cotta was a refreshing finish to a great dining experience.
(4)Calcinor J.
I am a big fan of Anteprima and have dined here a few times. We came out last Friday night to see a good friend off on his new journey in life and had a nice time. There were a few misses but overall the food was good and the service was decent. We started off with a sampling of several appetizers serviced from the meze counter that shares equal billing with the bar. The items on the meze were good and most certainly very healthy. We went with the octopus with potato and chile and experienced a very inconsistent hand in the seasoning of the dish. There were mouthfuls that were just right and then there were tastings that were flat out salty to the point where it was inedible. The tuna carpaccio was excellent. Very well seasoned and fresh! We ordered two of the seared blue fin entree specials, the halibut, a pork chop and the orecchiette pasta. All of the entrees hit the table with the exception of the halibut which was probably never fired by the kitchen staff as it was finally served about 10 minutes later. Mistakes happen. Our waiter was stuck in a tight spot but we understand that mistakes can happen. The halibut was cooked perfectly with a great seasoning, golden sear and a succulent mouth feel. The rest of the plate was forgettable as the set had some ramps and a puree of needles of some sort that was far more ambitious in thought then in execution. We were looking for the trout but it was not on the menu even though our waiter thought that it was, The pork chop was given a big thumbs up as well as the orecchiette pasta which was described as "one of the best pasta dishes ever eaten" by a dining companion. We indulged on the lemon panna cotta and the hazelnut chocolate tart and BOTH were incredible. Overall- food was good but some lapses in execution and the service was decent which was a bit odd considering the fact that we were there when the dining room was only half full.
(4)Michelle O.
I must say that my experience at Anteprima was in whole a positive experience, however, there was something quintessential missing that forced me to give it only two stars. The food tasted ok enough, but it was nothing special and for the price (and small portions) you walk away paying a lot for something that was good but not phenomenal. Based on the price point you expect more. I will not be going back.
(2)annie c.
My husband and I wanted to treat ourselves to a nice day off and we ended the evening here. It was absolutely wonderful. No wait! Not that crowded, although it is pretty noisy. The bread sticks might be my favorite thing about this place. We had the sample anti-pasta platter and ate every morsel. I had pumpkin ravioli and he had ox tale ragu and pasta, we hardly spoke as we savored every bite and both of us had big smiles on our faces. Great wine selection. The only complaint was from Luke, he didn't feel the torta Della Nonna was the real deal, but I could care less b/c it tasted like heaven. Amen!
(5)Katie T.
I LOVE this place. The food is excellent! The space is cramped and loud but I look past it to eat the wonderful dishes they create.
(4)Paul J.
There's only one thing wrong with Anteprima, an Italian restaurant with absolutely fabulous food, and it's a problem egregious enough to merit knocking a couple stars off what would otherwise be a perfect score: They cram way too many tables into a small place, making the restaurant so unnecessarily crowded and noisy that it significantly undermines the pleasure of dining there. If you read the other reviews on this site you'll see this is a recurring complaint. The noise has little to do with acoustics or with the enthusiasm of diners and everything to do with the owner's business model. There are just too many tables. My wife and I have dined at Anteprima at least 10 times in the last year, so we ought to know. Last night's experience was so bad I'm driven to complain about it here. We had reservations and were put at a table that shouldn't have even been set. It was so near the entry door that cold air whooshed in on us whenever anyone came or went, and there was a constant bustle of people flowing by inches from our table as they came and went. The six-person table behind us was nearly on top of us. Two men seated there were closer to me than my wife who was sitting at MY table, and all night long I was subjected to their conversation about fishing in New England and problems with the medical profession. One had only to stand up and peer across the room to see the problem. It was just a sea of people. Imagine a college classroom crammed with rows of seats 20 deep with people jammed elbow-to-elbow and you'll get the idea. There was very little room to negotiate the maze of tables as one tried to make one's way to the bathroom amidst the bustle of servers trying to thread their way through the crowd. As I got up to leave and looked around the solution to this problem was absolutely clear. Pull 4 or 5 tables out of the room. The problem could be solved as simply as that, but apparently the owner so wants the extra revenue those tables generate that he's unwilling to make an adjustment that would enhance the quality of everyone's dining experience so that it matched the excellent food he serves. Pop in down the street at the wonderful Jin Ju or Ceres' Table, or up Clark at Antica Pizzeria, and you'll see how the room at Anteprima ought to be managed. It's a pity this wonderful restaurant fails so badly when it comes to ambience.
(3)Laurie R.
Three of us ate at Anteprima last night. I would go back even though we found the food somewhat inconsistent. We ordered a platter with a sample of apps and it was tasty and would easily serve a table of four - great value. I should have sent my pasta entre back as the red paper flakes so dominated the dish I could barely eat it, and I like spicy food. My friend has a pasta with lamb sausage that was amazing. My other friend ordered a half order of pasta that was so ridiculously small I was surprised they would send it out. The space is lovely but LOUD. Wine prices quite reasonable given the quality.
(3)Kimberly L.
The first time I came here they had just opened. The restaurant is incredibly charming but the overall experience was pretty average. I came here again over the winter with a large group of friends and I'd have to say we had an amazing meal and a very special time here. I'd say that not everything on the menu is spectacular--and I had some kind of fig tart for dessert that was perfectly awful--but if you ask the waiter for recommendations, you're sure to have a wonderful experience. I'd definitely come back.
(4)Mike M.
Last weekend I took my family (which included my 1 yr old neice) and sat outside on the patio. The weather was amazing, which added to the beautiful, comfortable atmosphere they've created out back. The service was terrific! attentive, but not overbearing...allowed us to relax and enjoy coursing out the evening. I started off with a delicious and STRONG signature cocktail with Gin, Campari, Vermouth, and a KICK! The Antipasti was delicious and the portions were perfect. I had the orecchiette with spicy sausage which I loved, but my dad's bucatini came away as the fam favorite for the evening. I can't wait to go back! Most italian restaurants leave you feeling full and heavy, but I loved the light and fresh flavors and look forward to going back for another great night on the patio with friends and family (if I can drag them down to the city again soon!) The food and wine prices were reasonable too, so it's not going to break the bank. **I'm back to write yet again a review saying how perfect my evening was there. Went on Friday. Sat at the bar and had a terrific meal with stellar service. Marty the owner was kind and generous and I'm already excited to go back and bring close friends. Terrific in every way.
(5)Sarah F.
I would actually give Anteprima 4 1/2 stars. We went on a Saturday night around 8 p.m. - to this latest "it" spot in Andersonville - so it was pretty much our fault that we waited for nearly an hour and a half to sit down to eat (they don't take resos). Boy was it worth it though! The space is quite adorable and home-y, but with an equally elegant feel. Our experience from start to finish was wonderful. Even though it was later - nearly 10p.m.- when we got sat (and they close at like 11) our server was helpful and tourguided us through all the specials, menu and wine list. The service and food were prompt (I'm sure they knew after all the wait we were hungry), but we did not feel rushed at all. All of our food was flavorful and perfectly done. We started with a chilly bottle of Prosecco, along with a special, and amazing Leek Tart for an appetizer. God that was good! We also shared an arugula salad. The combination of the spicy dressing with the arugula salad was a bit overpowering (all the peppery flavor) but still it was pretty good. At the suggestion of my friend, who had been there before, all three of us at my table got the NY Strip steak. OMG was it perfectly seasoned and crusted on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. Exceptionally perfect! That may have been one of the most beautifully presented and best tasting steaks I've ever had (and from a little Andersonville storefront type Italian restaurant none-the-less!!). I would go back just for that. I think the steak came with some spinach salad and other greens, which was Italian-appropriate and made the entire dish somewhat lighter. I appreciated that. We had been drinking a lot of white wine/sparkling, so wanted to stick with white, even though we were having red meat. Our server came to the rescue and recommend a completely perfect, tad heavier white wine (it was Italian, but don't remember the grape) that worked just beautifully with the meat. It actually REALLY complimented it! Our server was really great! The desserts we shared, a chocolate hazelnut pie and berry tart, were very nice also. The best part was definitely that steak though. I WILL BE BACK!
(4)Josie F.
Came to here for Sunday dinner, and will be back often. Our server Deian was really good but the food was great. We ordered four starters. She did not really recommend the saffron veal meatballs which where our favorite. Also great was the wild boar ragu with parpardell. The hand made pasta was lite and delicate. Two of us ordered pasta and two of us ordered meat dishes. The duck saltiambocca was perfection. I was also impressed with the manager who was happy to help me pick out wine. I told him I normally enjoy viogney and sv. blanc and he new just what to bring me. The price point seemed appropriate just do not bring anyone on a small budget.
(5)David N.
Well lets just say I was extremely disappointed in this place. A friend and I were in the mood for some good Italian food and decided to come try this place out. First of all, being a vegetarian I was very limited to what I could order. There were only two pasta dishes from the whole menu that I could pick from. My friend and I decided to split the Ravioli dish that had peas, butter, and mint leaves. We also ordered some bruschetta for an appetizer. What we got for bruschetta, we were not expecting at all. Bread covered with spinach, and had a horrible smell to it. I had one little taste of it and could not eat any more. Our main dish came, and this also was disappointing, our server had informed us that the mint you could not taste a whole lot of, but we both agreed that the mint did nothing for this ravioli dish and would have tasted better with it left off. Our server was gracious enough to not charge us for the bruschetta, but this is definitely not a place I will come back to. There are many really good italian restaurants out there that I enjoy much better.
(2)Robin D.
Theres a reason why this place is always packed. it has good food, its as simple as that. Ive been to this place 3x. The first time, I had pasta and it was really good. The second time I ordered the specials which really didnt blow me away and the third time I had the pork chops which were just ok. My personal lesson, stick wih the pasta and risotto dishes coz they really are good. Try the Budino for dessert it is light and heavenly. If you want rustic traditional authentic italian dishes this is the place to go.
(4)Aaron M.
My favorite restaurant in Chicago, without question. Cozy, unpretentious atmosphere with great service and great food. You get the same quality of ingredients and preparation as, say, Blackbird, but in a much warmer environment. The menu changes frequently, but if they have the Trotter appetizer, pasta w/ chicken liver, or the venison w/ sweet potato puree, please order them.
(5)A. R.
The portions are small and the menu is a la carte so you have spend another $9 to get a meager salad with your entree. We did get a nice basket of bread before our meal but had to ask to get oil and butter. The service is so-so, and the prices a bit too high for what you get. Not worth a second visit.
(2)olen h.
I almost gave this place two stars, but didn't because it was super cute and I heard the guy behind me say "I've been to this place too many times to know that this is a fluke" when he sent his fish back. I had sent my venison back five minutes before him because it tasted funny. The chef must still have been on xmas vacation because the food was NOT good. Squid was so salty it was practically inedible. i'm serious. it made my gums burn. so were the beans with the salmon. I would return to give it a second chance if someone insisted.
(3)Kevin S.
Service is okay, but the food is excellent- so is the decor. Great place for a date.
(5)ryan h.
Grabbed dinner there on Friday night and was a little nervous because of all the mixed reviews. I must say that my wife and I were very impressed. The food was great, and our waitress did an amazing job. Asparagus appetizer was phenomenal. If Asparagus, Quiche and a Souffle made a love child it would be this. Just phenomenal. I had the lamb which was pit roasted and it was very well spiced and well cooked. I'm sure we'll go back soon.
(4)Lauren R.
Second visit tonight. This place is amazing. The flavors! The service! The charm! It might be my favorite neighborhood Italian place in Chicago. Highly recommended: the pastas, any of them, although the agnolotti w/goat cheese, orange and fennel pollen is beyond words. And the polenta w/spicy rapini starter, another fave. And the (fantastic) wine selection allows a "by the glass" quartino, which is the perfect amount. Had a different waiter each time and have just adored each one, making for two wonderful evenings. I was happy to see that they were crowded tonight, on a Monday. So hopefully they'll be around for a long, long time.
(5)Jon S.
Where to even begin with this place: wait staff, food, wine, atmosphere, prices, selection, location, .... all are wonderful! OMG I love this place. I highly recommend making reservations before you go, but honestly I've walked in at least 4 times this summer with no reservation and they made space for me. I'm not a meat eater and they do a great job of altering the dishes to make sure you have multiple options; all their pastas are made fresh daily and delicious. My meat eating friends seem to always get the steak cooked in olive oil and rosemary; laid on a bed of arugula ... I've yet to see anyone leave even a bite on the plate. It's devoured and gushed over it's complex tastes and texture experience! Go here; you won't regret it. Ask lots of questions about the food and how it's cooked, the wait staff actually know what they are talking about and love to share the info. Also, great wine selection and the wait staff will bend over backwards to help you find something you love!
(5)hey a t.
This little Italian Bistro is cute, and the food is sensational. The pasta is made daily. The one thing I really liked about this restaurant was that they were not rushing us out the door. If you like great Italian, you are headed in the right direction.
(5)Aurora B.
This place is great. The atmosphere is really cute and the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The wine list is pretty extensive and a little intimidating since I had never heard of ANY of the italian wines that were listed, but our waitress was very patient with us and inquired about what qualities we like in wine and then gave us a great recommendation. The salads and main dishes were very good at just the right proportion size. I left feeling totally satisfied without that overstuffed italian food feeling
(4)Dan C.
Very Pleasantly surprised. Our friends had said that the portions were too small for the price, but we found the portions to be just right. We also thought that the quality of our meals definitely justified the price.
(4)Moe f.
So Hot Doug and his crew came in while we were eating so you know it's gotta be good. In spite of the chilly Aug weather, we sat on the back patio which I recommend as it was jammed pack inside when we were leaving. Started with a bottle of red and the house made goat sausage which was fantastic. Then we had half orders of the lobster & ricotta ravioli and the orcecchiete with spicy lamb sausage. Both were excellent but the orecchiette had so many great flavors. We split the wood grilled rabbit which was very good too and they split it up for us on two plates which was nice. We finished with a chocolate-hazelnut tart(get it) and blueberry tart(skip it). Service was excellent. I didn't feel it was too pricey considering the quality of food. Tab was $120(sans tip) but we didn't get the cheapest bottle of vino and had cappuccinos as well. Definately want to come back on the prix fixe night then. So then on a side note, my celebrity chef sighting continued when I look over at some range rover and see Art Smith driving with another dude. I tell my wife who looks over and says "wow that is him and he's picking his nose". I think it looked more like a scratch but very amusing.
(4)Scott V.
This restaurant is in the space vacated by Madrigals. I went there for the first time the day after Christmas. At about 7:30 pm, the place was packed, so there was a half hour wait to get a seat. We were seated at the first table in the window, which made feel a tad removed from the crowd (not a good thing). I like to try new things, but the menu descriptions were written so that everything listed sounded too spicy or strange. We had the squid appetizer, which was good and plentiful, but was rather flavorless (at least it wasn't fishy). I do not even recall what we ordered for our entrees--so they were not very memorable. Disappointing best sums up our experience at Anteprima. If you are in Andersonville, and you are in the mood for Italian, you would be better off going to Calo's.
(3)Stephanie S.
Really innovative, fresh and delicious food. The waitstaff clearly loves food and will happily give you a recommendation if you are undecided on your meal- which is very likely because their menu is fantastic.
(4)K P.
Some really tasty dishes. I particularly like the chargrilled octopus as a starter, and the other night I tried the roast suckling pig which was delicious. Some of the servings are a little small - but with an appetizer to share and 1/2 dishes of pasta we went home full. The waiters are always ready to lend a hand deciphering some of the oddly named dishes or to help you pick a wine for a certain dish. They can be pretty busy, so reservations are a good idea.
(4)A. B.
Mediocre at best. The only worthwhile thing about this restaurant was the unique beer choices. Terrible menu, difficult to call this place an Italian restaurant.
(1)Alvin d.
great energy, nice wine selection, very good service, decent price points (I especially like the 2 choices for portion size of the pasta dishes) and the menu is great. come here for pasta choices beyond your typical tomato or cream sauces, the entree selection is fun as well.
(4)Jerry U.
I really want to enjoy this restaurant. It's very quaint and has wonderful potential in a great location. I tried it about a year ago and while I enjoyed the sliced steak entree, my friend was completely disappointed with his pasta choice. So after a year, last night we decided to give it another try at my request. This time, it was me that came away completely disappointed. I agree with everyone's comments about the service - it was simply poor and completely lacking - we even dined late so they were not that busy by the time we sat down to eat. This time, I tried the pasta and it was just bad. I had the orecchiette pasta with spicy house made lamb. I've had a similar dish at some of my other favorite italian joints that I've really enjoyed but the execution on this was terrible. Heavy, starchy pasta, greasy sausage with no real sauce or broth and a few dandelion weeds. It was hands down the worst pasta dish I've ever had in a restaurant before and I eat out a LOT. There are so many GREAT restaurants in the city and even in Andersonville that I do really wonder why Anteprima seems to be busy all the time? Maybe I made a bad menu choice - but two strikes and I'm done.
(2)Paul P.
The first person I met in your restaurant was so full of attitude that I was grateful when there was a wait. "The Reservation Name...?" poured out of his mouth with such unwelcome, and condescension, as if too say, "how could you possibly expect to get a seat in this restaurant tonight without a reservation?" We were all on the same page... you and I both knew that we didn't have a reservation. If you did think we actually had a reservation, you never would have approached us with such an attitude. Too bad, all we were looking for was an idea of the wait time, and an invitation to the bar where we would have gladly dropped cash on drinks while we waited. People who are looking to dine in Andersonville, eat elsewhere... Calo, Great Lakes, the new Vincent, which had less open tables, and still sat us right away, with a smile and what seemed like a sense of appreciation for our business.
(1)Jim M.
After several attempts to get a table on a number of Saturday nights, Anteprima managed to squeeze me and my friend in at 6:30 for dinner (my preferred time is 7:30 to 9:30) this past Saturday. Upon arriving, we were seated immediately and our server was courteous, swift and helpful. We shared a 1st course of mussels and it was absolutely delicious. For the main course I had the lamb chops and my friend had the wide noodles with boar meat. Both were good, but not outstanding. The wine list was good. As we were near finishing our dinner, a number of tables opened up and stayed open. I can only question why it was so difficult to get a reservation at 7:30 or later. Perhaps my expectations were raised with all the fuss over reservations here, but with so many good restaurants to select in the Andersonville neighborhood, it is doubtful that I'll return to this one.
(3)Jeff W.
Nice find in the neighborhood. Fresh pasta with some fun choices. Try the wild boar ragu with a quartino of one of their exceptionally well-chosen Italian varietals. They offer smaller portions of most pastas which is a nice option when you're just popping in from a walk around Andersonville for a quick bite.
(5)shell h.
This place fooled me with the packed crowd and glowing recommendations but I was very disappointed. The free little vegetable pastry they brought to our table didn't look appetizing at all more like cold pizza. The bread was great that they brought to the table with no oil or butter, we had to ask.. isn't this an italian restaurant? I actually had a hard time picking something off the menu so i chose the dusted grouper which was a nightmare, it tasted like it had been just taken out of a freezer bag and deep-fried, it was fried on the outside but still mushy and overly salted??? I don't know why a place charging 19$ for this entree would serve something so horrible and tasteless. My boyfriend had a squid steak with garbanzo beans, which he said he could have made it at home and saved some money. The goat cheese ravioli was the only delicious item that stood out. The lamb shank another friend ordered tasted like pot roast and was a little chewy. I don't think we were even asked if we liked our meal at all, the hostess was great but the server came to our table maybe 3 times. I regret going here but I guess I know now that if you want good seafood in Andersonville you have to go to the Hopleaf.
(1)Jen J.
i have never had a bad meal here and the service is always beyond friendly and helpful. their seasonal menus are fantastic. the pastas are always fresh and the meats always tender. the panna cotta is not to be missed. i go here when i'm ready to drop some cash because i will have to have 3 courses and a bottle of wine. the prices are reasonable for the type of atmosphere and cuisine. they also have a small patio in the back with 5-6 tables in the summer. great place.
(5)Sue P.
The atmosphere was warm and the staff knowledgeable about the foods. Salad was good for starters, the pasta delicious but for 11 dollars - it only had 6 pieces of ravioli but very, very good. The dessert was unbelievable. Will go back when someone pays my way.
(5)Sooyon H.
Anteprima is located in such a cute, little neighborhood with so much charm! We were able to find a non-metered parking spot right away. The restaurant has a cozy feel to it. . . a lot of smaller tables packed into the room. We started off with the highly recommended grilled octopus, which was to my liking. . . seasoned well without it being overwhelmingly chewy. We also settled on getting one of their specials for the day as another appetizer. As for the entrees, I absolutely loved their bucatini. . . so light and fresh, using such simple ingredients. I can alone go back to the restaurant for this dish. Unfortunately, the pasta dish with prosciutto that I had ordered was simply just okay. . . it didn't really stand out to me. All in all though, we enjoyed our experience here from the moment that we got seated right away with our reservations to having such an accommodating waiter who was attentive to our requests. What was even more delightful is their back patio, which was decorated nicely.
(4)J. Richard W.
We tried to eat at Anteprima on the Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend but they were so disorganized that, after waiting 40 minutes past our reservation time, we just gave up and ate somewhere else. What was particularly annoying was that when we showed up they told us that it would be a 15-20 minute wait. I specifically asked: "when you say 15-20 minutes do you really mean 40-50 minutes or is it really 15-20?". The host assured us that it would be no more than 20 because the party at our table was in the process of paying their bill. What is also annoying is that one member of our party ate there a few weeks ago and had the same problem - i.e. having to wait for an extended time past their reservation time. (By the way Anteprima doesn't even have a bar where customers can wait for their table. Instead they send you to their sister restaurant down the street.) Restaurants that can't get it organized enough to know how long it takes them to turn over tables and who then lie about the true wait time don't deserve my business. There are too many good restaurants out there that also provide good service and have respect for their patrons' time.
(1)Amanda A.
I'll say it again and again - the food can only take a restaurant so far...the service is truly half the battle - the make or break often of any evening out. I had passed by this restaurant several weeks ago while visiting one of my andersonville favorites - jin ju and thought that it looked absolutely charming and quaint. When friends and fellow foodies of mine had invited me to join them for dinner here, I was absolutely thrilled to tag along and try somewhere new that had already caught my eye. On the way there - before we ever even got to the restaurant - Anteprima put a bad taste in my mouth. One of my friends had been there previously and they had been out of the entree he had wanted to try and so had called ahead to see if he could preorder (and prepay) so that he would be able to try it on this visit. They refused! (and of course they were out of it again when we arrived). We were 2 minutes away from the restaurant, when the host called to find out where we were - at a point when we were actually not yet late. While I can appreciate a host being on top of things - let it be said that his questions regarding our whereabouts were not without an attitude that extended to when we actually arrived at the restaurant and as he sat us without hiding his obvious unneccessary annoyance. BEYOND THAT POINT though - our food was phenomenal - the grilled octupus appetizer was delectable and tender - the polenta was so light and fluffy that it literally melted in my mouth and my monkfish was superb. Our server was wonderful and made excellent suggestions for both beverage and food. I will go back and hopefully make it past the host stand with a smile still on my face so that I can give this restaurant a review that matches the excellence of the meal itself.
(3)Wayne L.
Love the decor, the Andersonville location and even the food. However, after finishing my $18 pasta dish, I was still hungry. The whole time I was eating my food, I was saying to myself that this better be the half portion size. It wasn't, and that's a shame. On top of that, I feel that the service was only adequate. I'll go back optimistic that things will be better, but only after several months of them fine-tuning the kinks.
(3)Erik M.
I would love to give a higher rating to Anteprima but there has been a consistency issue. First time we went there it was a 4 boarding on 5 rating, we looked forward to coming back. The 2nd time was a 3 star on the food, atmosphere always a 4-5 experience, very cozy and lively. The reason 3 star on food was too much salt, a little dry on the rabbit dish I had, just not nailing the dishes. I also based my ratings with price in mind. If you going to charge $15-20 or more for an entree, you have to deliver a plate that meets the value. Unfortunately they come up short. The food is good here, one of the better Italian resturants in the city, but not consistently top. We want back a third time hoping for a great meal, and still got good to OK food. Service and atmosphere is very good, but can be hit or miss on the meal. For best Italian I have had so far in the city it has to be A Tavola over in Wicker Park/East Village on Chicago Ave. It is more expensive, but always delivers.
(3)Ellen P.
Absolutely fantastic service and food from start to finish! First, it was my mother's birthday, and I was completely disorganized. I'd walked by this place millions of times on my way to and from other Andersonville spots, and thought "Have to try this place." It's always packed, a good sign. I procrastinated making a dinner reservation, couldn't remember the name, and finally had to get my lazy butt off the couch, walk the three blocks, and ask if they had any reservations left for THAT day, a Saturday! My friend told me I was crazy "It's cold. You really going to walk over there? Let's just go to Calo (another great Andersonville place), and try them another day." My effort was instantly rewarded. I was greeted by Marty, the owner, who shook my hand, and offered help. I confessed that I was a disorganized daughter, and needed a reservation for 6, that evening if possible. He offered 5:30 pm or 9, and while I quickly made phone calls to friends to make sure 5:30 wasn't too early, he quickly called all of his 6:30 reservations to confirm that they were coming. I walked home, in the cold and snow (are you reading, mom?) with a reservation in hand. Our dinner experience was equally wonderful. Our waiter was Paul, who with very good humor guided four giddy women (see note about wine below) and two kids through the menu. The chef very graciously accommodated my friend's request to let her 8 year old son try a little bit of their soup before ordering a full bowl -- we weren't sure what he'd think of escarole - he loved it. We ordered wine, appetizers, dessert, and they threw in an after dinner dessert wine for my mom as a b-day treat. Everything we ordered, which included beef, lamb and pasta, was superb. The bottled wine selection had lots of great Italian selections, and a good price range (note: if your party can agree on a bottle, you will definitely save money with this option -- individual glasses were $9 and above, and most were "above"). We also noticed that the table next to us brought their own wine, so BYOB is an option. A great addition to Andersonville, we'll be returning often!
(5)Mike C.
My bf took me here for my birthday and the food and service were amazing. I will say that I was pretty buzzed from the wine (which, the waiter was cool enough to recommend after I told him what I like) but overall my experience was great. Only draw back is that it is very crowded and a little loud but that can be expected when the food is this good - everyone will show up eventually
(5)Kate H.
Even with the deals they offered, the food is not worth the price. Flat priced meals (an appetizer, entree and dessert or an appetizer, half pasta and and entree for $30) certainly helped (my meal would have come to $45 with out the deal), however, it wasn't enough to merit a return trip. For appetizers, we tried the house made rabbit sausage and the salama/prosciutto etc sampler. The sausage was spicy but quite good, however, the sampler was a miss. The quality of the meat was not notable. The winter squash ravioli was nice, however, a half portion is anemic. Of the main courses, ribs w/polenta and peppers and spicy chicken with spinach and broccoli, only the tender ribs were worth remembrance. The polenta was flavorless and the spinach was bitter to the point of being inedible. The chicken, while not terribly over cooked, was dry. For dessert, a dry, bland bread pudding. Definitely can't recommend this restaurant for these prices.
(2)sarah c.
My boyfriend and I went here for the first time the other night, for Valentine's Day dinner, a night that he usually loathes going out for, due to the crowdedness, overpriced menus, and poor service that usually go hand in hand w/ the occasion. I was able to convince him to go out this year, and fortunately, we were both pleasantly surprised! Our waiter was prompt and friendly. Food came out in a timely fashion, despite the packed house. The food was EXCELLENT!!!!(And I never say that lightly). All the food was great, but the entrees really stole the show - my boyfriend had the double-cut lamb chops and I had a scallops special. Everything was cooked to perfection, the flavors were excellent. It was a culinary delight! It wasn't cheap, but for a special occasion, it was definitely worth the price. All in all, it was a perfect v-day meal, and I can't wait to go back and try some of the other dishes.
(5)Kathleen O.
I agree with Mike g. It was ok. The place itself is very cute and the wait staff was great. We did enjoy the new potoes appetizer and would have loved more (there were 4)! The "large" pasta dishes were so small! I had the paesanelle pasta and it lacked flavor. My friends had the salmon and seemed to be ok.
(3)Lori K.
Go here, you'll love it. Food was excellent, convo was a little loud at times, and the waiter needed to quit hovering, but overall really fresh, flavorful, and delicious. Get the octopus. Ok, and the risotto. The smaller serving is plenty.
(4)Carter G.
Made a reservation for 9:00 pm for three people last Friday. We arrived on time, and they were running behind. Their own bar was full so they sent us down to Ombra, their sister-restaurant, two doors down. They would call us, they said. Fine. No problem. We're easy-going. But 15 minutes, nothing. At 25 minutes, we called again and were told 5-10 more minutes. Still OK. We can manage. At 9:45, though, we went back over to ask what was happening, and they still had not seated the other 9:00 pm tables. They told us they had no idea when or if they could seat us for our reservation. We were also told that parking in the neighborhood is bad nowadays, and so tables get out of whack as the night wears on. But if they know this problem exists, though, they really ought to start offering valet service or adjusting their timelines so they allocate reservations properly. The host staff wasn't even sympathetic about not honoring our reservation, and we ultimately had to go elsewhere. What kind of place does that? Won't be trying again.
(1)Daniel H.
The place has some very good aspects and some significant flaws. In an attempt to ward off a sense of impending pessimism, I'll start with the virtues. The menu is very unique and I respect that they hand-make virtually every item from scratch; a fact reflected in the final product. They have a pretty extensive wine list; you can get several good quality whites and red by the glass. Their cured meat appetizer is exceptional, definitely worth the price. I know quite a lot about italian food and cured meats, and I found items on this plate that I had not tried before - so well done. For an entré, I had the NY strip on a bed of arugula with pecorino shavings. It was excellent, cooked exactly to my specifications (medium rare). The only improvement I can think of would be to drizzle a little balsamico tradizionale over it, but honeslty, you can't expect them to do that. We had dessert down the street at the Sicilian Bakery. Perhaps the primary flaw of this restaurant is dish consistency. While some dish combinations are prepared well, others fall far short, and at a restaurant like this, with prices like those, every dish should be excellent. In addition to the cured meat appetizer, we ordered the sampler, which for the most part was too oily and just simply not very good. Olive oil is supposed to be DRIZZLED over food, not poured. My companion's entré looked very interesting on the menu, hollow pasta with a panchetta based tomato sauce. However, leaving the chunks of pig fat in the dish when serving is not a good choice. The left-in pieces of panchetta were difficult to eat and the inevitable biting down in to a chunk of fat detracted from the experience. I'm half Italian, and my Italian grandmother always takes the panchetta out before serving! The crowdedness of the dining area was an annoyance. We had to move tables because we were sat just to close to another table. We were moved eventually, but our new location, while better than the first, was still a little too close for comfort. We edned up having a dinner conversation with the people at the next table because it would have been too awkward to pretend we couldn't hear each other. This place is worth going to once if you've got some cash to blow and are looking for an eclectic Italian menu. However, this restaurant is far from a must patronize .
(3)H S.
With so many great Italian places, this was not my first choice but I was with a group (6 ppl) and obliged. The fact of the matter was, it was a good meal but I hardly see myself returning there anytime soon, namely due to the fact that there is no valet service (tough parking area), its VERY loud there and, as I said, there are just so many good Italian spots already. This just didnt make the grade. In defense though, its a very good place. If I lived around the corner, I'd probably go again. Strong selection of appetizers with a few standouts including the grilled octopus and bean dish, although the roasted beets were quite bland. My scallop main course that I shared was very good but the grilled calamari was a bit spicier than I had planned. Desserts were downright bad. Nothing worth ordering there I thought, but most Italian desserts are mediocre at best.
(3)Kelly C.
Mmm mmm mmm. Yummy and creative Italian food, with tons of different appetizers. Had the prosciutto-wrapped venison, and the missus had orange cream lobster on spaghetti. Delicious, and they're very friendly and cost-conscious, with their weeknight fixed price menus. Highly recommended!
(5)C C.
Just had another of many dinners here this past week. I love the food. It is consistently good. But I will not be going back again soon. After all the times I've eaten here, I have to say that the service has never gotten better. The servers are not friendly and always annoyed when you ask questions. We have never been greeted at the door by a friendly face that seemed happy that we were there (again) to spend lots of money on their food and wine. What's with the attitude? The second issue that is going to keep me from going back is the deafening noise level. It is not "energetic" as some try to spin it. It is conversation un-friendly. It's time for restaurants to get customer-friendly aagain and start using noise-reducing surfaces to encourage conversation. Being with friends and enjoying good food is why we go out to eat. When I want a noisy "scene" I go to a club.
(3)RJ H.
This place is amazing! I will go back again and again and again. Their menu is a little hard to interpret, but I think they've done and excellent job and the food, service and atmosphere is outstanding....
(5)Melissa S.
Chicago Italian is NOT true Italian, says the blond from Chicago, but after living there for years I have a leg up on traditional. This is about as good as it gets. The dishes are authentic, the portions are NOT American style (huge) and I enjoy the seasonal specials. The owner is a nice man too! Cheers, keep it up.
(4)graham h.
After reading in Chicago magazine that this was a "best new restaurant," I was psyched to go for some good Italian. The angry critics at yelp, who never cease to find fault with any place, gave me pause in my choice to take Dad to Anteprima for father's day. Turns out, there's a reason that professional food critics exist - this restaurant is great. The atmosphere is super comfortable. The service was informal and intelligent. Every thing I tasted was awesome, and just different enough to edge this place above the generic Italian food that's so easy to find in this city. I found it to be overall quite reasonable as well. The pork was delicious, cooked beautifully. All the pastas were fantastic, with inventive use of ingredients that tasted familiar yet new. The berry tart for dessert was lightweight and tasty. The family can't wait to go back, and neither can I.
(5)Mike M.
I'm still sitting here wishing the meal wasn't over. The crispy skin bass was a crispy piece of heaven. The pappardelle was exactly what I wanted to satisfy my carb-loading fantasy. Our waiter was Armando and he was as fabulous as the food. I couldn't have asked for a better date night with the little lady. Now someone get a wheel barrel and get my ass out of here!
(5)Matt H.
I am happy we finally had dinner here last night! I had called the evening of to see if we could eat at 6:30 and they were able to get us in at 7:30. Other yelpers have raved about the fixed price menu for $29 on Sundays-Thursdays and that got my attention. Everyone is right, it's a great deal and the food is positively memorable. The establishment is small but I liked its charm. I have seen pictures of the back deck but did not see it in person. We sat at a table for two towards the back. Note: the restaurant is very lively. You will have to raise your voice to be heard by your significant other. :) Here's what we ordered: Me- Grilled Shrimp (starter), Pork Saltimbocca (main entree) and Strawberry Lime Tart (dessert); my partner Chris- Roasted Beets (starter), Bison Flank Steak (main entree) and Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (dessert). For my appetizer, four grilled shrimp came on top of spinach and beans. I found everything on the plate to be more than satisfactory. The preserved lemon vinaigrette went very well with the dish. The Roasted Beets appetizer that Chris ordered came with arugula, gorgonzola cheese and walnuts. He told me that it was outstanding. If you like prosciutto, order the Pork Saltimbocca if it's on the menu. It covers the entire top of the pork loin. That entree went down my gullet quite fast. It was served with potato medallions and snow peas. The veggies were wonderful. The snow peas, in particular, had a healthy crunch. Chris said his Bison Flank Steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and the romesco sauce atop it was a brilliant addition. It came with an assortment of veggies that were appreciated as well. I loved my Strawberry Lime Tart; the perfect early summer dessert. The salty crust mixed with the fruity goodness made for a fabulous taste sensation. Chris said the flavors of his Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp were good but it ended up being a bit too soupy. The speed of service was appropriate. I feel I should make a couple of comments about the staff. We asked one of the busboys if we could have more water and he must've forgotten, because we had to ask our actual server if he could bring us some. As for the server himself, he was a bit aloof and never asked us how we liked our food which we found very strange. All in all, I feel everyone should swing by Andersonville and check this place out. The fixed price menu is a terrific deal and overall, the food is fantastic. A couple sitting next to us said that the octopus is to die for. We will return with some energetic and hungry peeps! xoxo
(4)Joe P.
Food was good, but for the price I expected a bit better. Service was mediocre at best. In my opinion you get a better meal with better service for less at Quartinos or Caro Mio.
(3)Lord Of T.
This place rocks! The grilled sardines are nice.... All the pasta is great. They have a nice wine list. It is a little loud, dark and cramped..... but the food is great. The "hosts" could crack a smile once in a while.... but again the food is worth showing up for.
(4)David R.
When I booked a Tuesday-night table at Anteprima, I didn't yet know about their killer $29 prix fixe offer. However, now that I have enjoyed one meal there, I have to say that the prix fixe is a big reason to visit, and to come on a weeknight. You can have a starter, a half-order of pasta, and an entree, OR a starter, an entree, and a dessert. For under thirty bucks. Not to mention a much easier time getting a table than a Friday or Saturday night. Do it! First of all, I have to observe how cozy and charming this place is. It is really perfect for date night or romantic special occasions. The food was mostly really good, mostly. In particular, I liked my rabbit entree and my wife's trout, and the stuffed calamari entree was phenomenal. It was spilling with couscous and boasted a gorgeous grilled flavor, all of which was nicely complemented by the spinach and the vinaigrette. One major miss was the scallop risotto. I liked the mushrooms...but that's it. Everything else was wrong, wrong, wrong: it came out lukewarm, the rice grains were large and hard, the dish overall was watery and terribly bland, and the scallops, though numerous, offered nothing but a faint plasticy flavor. It was really a shockingly awful dish amidst an otherwise delicious meal. We finished up by sharing the carrot cake, which tasted less of carrots than of caramel. That's not necessarily a demerit though; it was good cake. I regret that we've lived in the neighborhood for so long without trying Anteprima. We will definitely be back the next time we want to eat sophisticated Italian food and stare into each other's eyes for a while.
(4)Claire F.
Zucchini squash appetizer was cold. Black linguine with shrimp overpriced for the small amount of shrimp given. Asked for more bread and the restaurant was out. Maybe we didn't order the right things but I won't be back :(
(2)Angie M.
I would highly recommend coming to Anteprima if you have a weeknight date. Their Sun-Thur prefixe option is INSANELY well-priced. For $29 you get a sampling of all of the courses (I can't remember exactly how this works, but I think it's along the lines of Option 1: app, main course, dessert or Option 2: app, 1/2 pasta and main course. You'll have plenty of $$ left to buy a bottle of wine and not break the bank. My guy and I wandered into Anteprima on a Monday night. The place was pretty empty at 7:30pm. They take reservations, but you probably won't need them during the early days of the week. Anteprima is adorably tiny on the inside. Like, close together tables, kind of eclectic looking. Now, we were there when it wasn't busy and got a nice table towards the front along a wall, but I noticed there's high potential for a crappy table on a busy night. They have 2 tops stuffed into kind of random places that don't feel cozy or comfortable at all. You'll find the menu to be pure Italian. Apps like marinated olives, marsala glazed turnips and grilled shrimp or octopus are delightfully rustic and tasty. I had the tagliatelle with pancetta ragu for my main course. It was good, but not mind blowing. My guy had the NY strip and devoured every last bite. He especially loved the arugula on the side. Desserts are also the business. They rotate, I believe, but I think they have the hazelnut chocolate torte on the menu regularly and you should absolutely order it. It's super rich. But awesome. Oooooh... There's also a killer bread basket. Ooof. Anteprima is an impressive date spot. It's not showy. It's subtle, romantic and you'll look like you know what's up if you take someone here.
(4)James R.
The atmosphere is nice and the wine selection is more than adequate. Ample selection of items on the menu and the portions are average (not large like common Italian-American places). The egg and fried green tomato appetizer lacked flavor but my friend had the zucchini flower appetizer and it was better. Overall the service was a little slow and the food was just average for the hype.
(3)Elizabeth F.
My boyfriend took us here for our first date and I loved it. We sat outside under string lights which was especially great because romantic outdoor seating can be hard to come by in Chicago. We ordered wine and each got a different pasta dish under our waiter's recommendation. The gnocchi I had was perfectly cooked and everything was portioned so I didn't leave the meal feeling stuffed and gross. I look forward to coming here again!
(4)Matt T.
The gf and I decided to pick at random an Andersonville spot for our Friday night out. We walked by and saw it was busy with people who clearly looked like they were enjoying themselves, so we put our name on the list. We were in no hurry so an 1hr 15 min wait didn't put us off, we grabbed drinks at their pizza place a few doors down. Ok to the space, very cozy and lively. Packed with other guests, typical for any popular place on a Friday night. I'd give the space 4 stars. The food, I thought was just OK. We got 2 appetizers- the polenta (OK) and the beets (my gf enjoyed a lot, for me, meh). We were both in the mood for pasta dishes so that's what we got as our entree. She got a buffalo moz. basil pasta, again it was ok. Pretty good. I got the spicy lamb sausage pasta with pecorino and it was awesome! The star of the show, and my gf agreed. The basket of bread you get was alright, tasted fresh but I've had better. There's no butter or olive oil that comes with the bread and I thought that was strange. For dessert we had the chocolate hazelnut tart which was great. We also had a bottle of wine with our meal and the wine selection is reasonably priced. The service was good, no complaints there. I decided on 3 stars because of the 5 dishes we tried I only really enjoyed 2 of them. My gf liked the beets. For over $100 (without tip) for 2 people I'd hope for better. That being said I'd give it another shot. The pre-fixe menu on Tuesdays sounds great.
(3)Alison T.
I could eat the lamb sausage pasta every day. Go for the weeknight $29 fixed price menu - it's a real steal!
(4)Sergio N.
The place ambience is rustic Italian which transcribed to the taste of their food ... The staff are super friendly and very attentive .. Fresh food ... Great ambience .. Great service .. Great location .. I had one of the best fish I've ever tasted ! Definitely will go back to this place !!!
(5)Stephen G.
Went here on a cold winter's night with our good friends who had made the choice. Lucky us! Great menu, good service, excellent cocktails (our choice) and a fine wine list for our friends. This was a Tuesday night, so the fixed price menu at $29.00 was available. We all went for the starter, half-pasta and full entre option. Besides my chicken livers (excellent) I also had a taste of the grilled octopus - extraordinary - and the grilled shrimp - very good. All of the pastas were superb. The entrees did not disappoint. I went with the lamb shank and my dining partners had the chicken, skate wing and pork. Raves all around. The portions on all of the items, including the starters and half-pastas were quite large, so a word of caution - pace yourself! Oh, forgot to mention the breadsticks - could have eaten them all night. As regards the atmosphere, very comfortable and conversation friendly. Our only question was why had we not come to this place sooner. We will be back.
(5)J M.
A neighborhood gem. Step inside and leave your worries behind. Be Italian for a moment. Enjoy every bite. Drink a lot of wine. Linger. Get the octopus, papardelle, a side of arugula w/lemon and shaved Parmesan to share. Rosemary steak too, if you're hungry or sharing. They get busy and do quality food, so don't expect food to always be prompt or perfectly timed. It will depend on the night. Just order another drink, start with the octopus and enjoy your company before the dishes arrive.
(4)Dylan M.
Love all the various starter options. It gives you an opportunity to sample lots of different things, many are vegetarian. The service was very good. The food was good but not great. I enjoyed everything I tried but nothing wowed me which was surprising since I tried many starters and the risotto. The food comes out super fast which led me to believe almost everything is prepped ahead of time.
(4)Katrina S.
I'm going to start with the good news first. This is for the kale salad, bread basket & generous pour of a very nice prosecco by the glass. We tried 3 pasta dishes which I found mediocre at best. The most agreeable was definitely the gnocchi. The atmosphere is warm, service - meh & there is nowhere to wait or stand comfortably before you are seated. I would definitely go back for the salad, bread basket (those bread sticks are incredibly well seasoned) & the delightful prosecco. Parking is difficult in the area so allow time for that if you are driving.
(3)Daphne L.
Another incredibly small space, with tightly packed tables. Despite my absolute aversion to this set up, it somehow works in this space, and it doesn't feel stifling. Making a reservation is a wise idea. The food we had was delicious and really inventive and different: we shared the grilled octopus, and I had a pasta dish, my husband one of the specials. There was nothing left on either plate. Great wine selection, too.
(4)Rowena M.
My first time at Anteprima was less than spectacular. I kept thinking to myself: "What was the hype about?!" But destiny took me back to Andersonville once again and we decided that it was time to give Anteprima another chance. I have to say that this time around, we were pleased with the food and especially loved one of the specials of the evening - bucatini pasta with pork cheek bacon (I know that sounds gross but you know where "regular" bacon comes from, don't you?). It had the right amount of saltiness and buttery goodness at the same time. I ordered the brick-grilled chicken and enjoyed just the right amount of charred and smoky flavor contrasted with the spicy greens and garlic-lemon sauce. Hubby had the new york strip steak, another special for the evening and thought it was a fine choice. So you might ask yourself, what's with the 3 stars. Everything was lovely until a baby roach decided to stop by and keep us company during our dinner. We informed the waiter, who also watched as it slithered along the wall where our teeny tiny table was perched against. His comment? "I think it's a beetle!" Who cares if it's a beetle? There is no excuse for that unwanted guest during dinner. Needless to say, we were grossed out. I don't want to be ignorant; I've seen the movie Ratatouille after all :) but I'm sorry...I just shouldn't see that!
(3)Larisa O.
Sometimes restaurants are so good that people have nothing left to do but complain about them. This is the best restaurant in Andersonville, hands down. Anteprima has been open for years now, has a cool look, (same owner as M.Henry I believe) and is always bustling, though you can often get a table without a reservation, so do try. Just ate there last night and again, we were very happy. I've probably been here 8 times over the years and have never had a meal that was anything less than fabulous. Same for wine. When I saw it had 3.5 stars, I was like, WHAAAAT??? Are you kidding me? Be warned, it's romantic, but loud. They do have an outdoor patio. They offer to tweak meals to accommodate children -- that's amazing in a nice restaurant. Even my 11-year-old son really likes it.
(5)Mark D.
This restaurant is small and cozy. The food was wonderful and the service was great. I enjoyed the gnocchi with slow roasted duck, and my friend ordered the wild boar with brussel sprouts. I savored every bite of my dish and tasted a bit more than I should have of my friend's. We both left very satisfied.
(4)Tyler P.
I went here on valentines day. The food was dismal and the atmosphere felt rushed. They were definitely trying to whip tables in and out which tells me they don't care about their customers. The best thing I had to eat was the bread and make sure you avoid the flank steak.
(3)Jessica H.
I cannot say enough about this hidden jem! I use to come here all the time and still pop in when I need my fix! They have some very unique dishes! Their Orecchiette is one of the most delicious entrees! Great wine selection! Interesting desserts!
(5)Calin D.
The indoor seating is well appointed. The nine tables on the small outdoor back patio are my preference. It's positioned just next to a small residence, and makes you feel like you're dining in your own backyard. Anteprima has really good breadsticks and wines to tide you over while you wait for excellent organic local dishes to arrive from the kitchen. The pork ribs and salmon are good choices, though I'd have to say the hazelnut chocolate pie is one of the best around.
(4)Jeff A.
The food was solid, but the experience was overwhelming. Way too much heavy food. No interest in a return trip.
(2)Holly S.
I love this restaurant. Fantastic menu choices and great service. The only reasons I gave four stars is because: A) The tables are very very close together. Don't expect any kind of intimate seating. B) There are a lot of Italian places in Chicago that have larger portions of the same dishes for the same price. Overall a good restaurant to go to a few times a year!
(4)Chelsea B.
Tasty tasty tasty! They do a fantastic job here, on all fronts. Great service, great food, good homemade pastas, delicious flavor combinations. We've come in for fancy meals, and we've come in even all sweaty in exercise clothes after working out at the gym, and no one says boo to us. We've always been really well treated. It's our number-one pick when we're up for a good meal and have a bit of extra money to spend for it. The patio is especially great! Highly recommend the lemon panna cotta for dessert :-)
(5)Erika G.
This restaurant is a gem in the neighborhood. And my friend CH is a gem for taking me to dinner here. Yay! I finally get to go to Anteprima! Prixy-fixy dinner is VERY reasonable. $29 for an appetizer, half pasta and entree. Perfect! You can also go for appetizer-entree-dessert, but since I'm not all that much of a dessert girl, I opted for the pasta. Cocktails: Fantastic. I got some delicious something or other that was quickly consumed, so I had to get another. Oh, damn! That one had to go away when a FLY ended up in my drink (not the restaurants fault, it was buzzing around). Our handsome and charming waiter whisked it away and corrected the situation right away. The service here is excellent. Our water was smoove, knowledgeable and super handsome. What a fabulous man! Appetizer: I had the charcuterie - salami! Perfect assortment of yummy cured meats. Salumi (grrr. hate the word, love the meat), prosciutto di parma, soppressata, pork terrine, mostarda, onion jam - Yes, please! Pasta: I had black squid ink pasta, which I've never tried until now - so I had to have it. Just great, with a few shrimps scattered on top. Perfect portion size, not too giant. For my entree, I had the grilled berkshire pork ribs - YUM! The meat was just on the edge of being cooked too much, but the flavor was still yummy. The menu is ever changing and there's a reason why this restaurant is still packed most nights, and lives on in the Andersonville restaurant scene, where others have fallen *cough*IFS*cough*. It's a restaurant that gets it right.
(5)Jeff S.
I have heard great things about Anteprima for years and finally made it there for a Sunday night dinner. All the praise for Anteprima is well deserved, the food and service were both hits. Our whole table opted for the $29 pre fixe menu that is really a fantastic deal. We got to sample starters, pastas, entrees and desserts, not a bad dish in the bunch. The grilled octopus starter, the pork shoulder entree, and the spaghetti with ramps were all standouts. My only gripe would be there limited beer choices, only three available options. We will definitely be back to Anteprima.
(4)Ray D.
Seated 35 minutes past reservation time. Portions were SMALL. Why serve appetizer portions for 2-3 people when there is a party of 4 sitting at the table? Every time an appetizer (4) came out it was just too small to share with 4 people. Pasta dish portions were too SMALL and lacked meat in sauce. Service was good but won't be going back due to over priced, wait time and small portions.
(3)Steve T.
Great food! Good service. Lovely atmosphere. A hidden gem in Andersonville. Every time I've been there it has exceeded my expectations. I'm a foodie. Eating great food with friends and family is my past time. I know good food.... You get it here.
(5)Stephanie L.
So I can echo a lot of the other reviews. I had a reservation at 8PM and didnt get sat until 845PM on a Friday night. Slightly annoying, especially because there is NO WHERE to go in this restaurant. The point of reservations is so you can eat when you want...not wait 45 mins to be seated. This seems like a common theme for this place. Once we got sat, service was lackluster. Our server barely checked on us, didnt refill drinks, and we ran out of water several times. The dining room is extremely loud. We had 3 in our party and were sat at a large round table so we were all huddled on one side of the table so we could actually hear each other. The food was good, not necessarily worth the wait. Nothing blew my socks off. We had: Stuffed Calamari-it was grilled nicely and the stuffing was tasty Grilled Octopus-this was a refreshing dish, but I felt that it was too oily. Roasted Beets-meh, I have definitely had better beet salads. It was just bland Risotto-good, not great. It was watery but the texture was good. The peas were fresh and crisp Pappardelle-delish pasta with meat...whats not to like Ricotta-disappointing. It was just kind of meh. I really like cheeses and this just didnt do anything for me. Asparagus Sformato-this was different. It actually was great. It was everything blended up and then in a mold. It was very taste-y Carrot Cake-just ok. Let me say, their bread is delicious. The sticks and the pieces...yum! But we had to ask for olive oil and no cheese?? Weird at an Italian place. Overall, I would say, I might go back on a random week night when the place isnt packed. I bet I would have a different experience if the service were better and we didnt wait so long to get seated...
(3)Jen R.
There's the five star half of this place: awesome bartender, tasty food, and strong drinks. Then there's the zero stars half: blowing off our reservations, trying to give us a crap table, and the overserving of a certain friend, who shall remain nameless ;) When we arrived for our reservation, they told us they had no room, and to grab a seat at the bar until a table opened up. Not a problem, since the bartender was one awesome chick who helped us out with drink and app suggestions that made us forget the wait. Half an hour later four tables were open, and when we reminded them we were waiting to be seated, we were offered the first table by the kitchen. We asked for one of the other tables, and were told they were reserved and we'd have to wait for another table to open up (no one sat at those tables for the rest of the night). Forty-five minutes after our reservations, we had seats. We continued our meal with some entrees, and while everything was good, it's pricey for what you get. When I pay $14 for pasta, I hope I at least get enough to semi-fill my tummy. If it wasn't for all the apps we had at the bar, I would've had to make a fast food run afterwards. Also, I hate hate hate when I'm with someone who's visibly intoxicated and even after asking the waiter to not serve my friend he brings new drinks anyway. And jic you thought maybe my friend didn't look that toasted, he fell asleep in that final martini they brought him. As in, with his elbow on the table, he lifted the glass to his lips and konked out. Perfectly balanced, of course, because he's a true professional. The whole experience was not worth the $200 it cost us for three people. On a side note, I did return, since I live in the neighborhood and thought this night was a fluke. It wasn't. The next time I ordered an entree and a drink. Since the waiter never returned after taking our order, and only stopped by to drop off the check, I never did get that drink. Boo.
(2)Laura K.
Maybe I went in with too high of expectations, or maybe we just ordered the wrong things...but overall we didn't love our dinner at Anteprima. The food was fine, but nothing special or all that memorable. The seating is very typical for Italian places (right on top of each other) which I never like, because I end up listening to conversations next to me instead of engaging with my dinner date. The service was just OK - our server did not really give us any good suggestions as far as what to order (or how much), and things came our very sporadically. Maybe he was new, I don't know... Overall, I was just not digging this place the way I thought I would. Note - there is NO parking in that area so give yourself a lot of time to find parking if you drive (no valet option when we drove).
(3)Beth S.
We are so fortunate to have this elevated take on Italian fare right here in Andersonville. We can walk to this amazing place that is as good as ( or better than ) many better known Italian eateries downtown. Proportions are not excessive. Service is very attentive and personal. Food is exquisite.
(5)Samantha E.
Came by on a date and found Anteprima positively bustling. Since the only spot available was at the bar we were happy to take it. The wine selection was good as was the food, but it did nothing to wow me. There are plenty of Italian restaurants in Chicago and quite a variety of great restaurants in the Andersonville area so choose from. Anteprime was good food with good service but I think I would like to explore my other options a bit more.
(3)Linda F.
There is so much to be said for this wonderful experience. This begins with the decor and tone of the restaurant. What a beautiful bar, warm lighting, and feeling of coziness (even on a very cold evening). But, decor does not make a restaurant ... it's primarily the food, closely followed by the service. Read on ... We were shown to the perfect table at the back of the room in a tucked away corner. It is much quieter than the main part of the room and we went on to enjoy a quiet evening. Armando was our server and offered his thoughts as we studied the menu. Anteprima offers a fixed price menu on Sunday through Thursday. This 3 course options offers multiple combinations and provides selections from the main menu -- such a bargain. My selections were the grilled shrimp appetizer (fabulous), a half order of orecchietta with lamp sausage, and an entree of seafood spezzatino. Each dish was incredible and served piping hot. With bread being one of the components of a meal that is very important to me, I must say that this is a feature of dining at Anteprima. I couldn't get enough of it and the bread sticks.
(5)Cynthianna H.
A friend and I went to Anteprima last night, a Thursday, arriving at 6:30 PM. We got a nice table and chose items from the fixed price menu of $29. At that time, the restaurant was quiet and uncrowded. We were given a small complimentary appetizer, and our starters, the beet salad and a shrimp dish, arrived promptly. My friend said the shrimp was delicious. My salad was just OK. Then, we waited til about 7:40PM for our entrees - too long a wait! My friend liked his salmon dish with lentils but my chicken dish seemed greasy and had too strong a garlic flavor. The carrot cake was OK as was the lemon panna cotta. By then, it was 8:30 PM and the restaurant was full and noisy. Note that at 6:30 PM, we were able to find metered parking nearby on Clark Street. The restaurant has no parking.
(2)Ebs B.
Yelp tells me that 3 stars means "A-OK"; well "A-OK" just sounds like I'm holding a thumbs up in the air with a cheesy grin. Since that's not happening after my experience here, I'm going with 2 stars because I've definitely experienced better. The highlight of the evening was definitely the grilled octopus which was tender and seasoned perfectly. And, I'll even give 4 stars for the pasta with duck in it. From there, nothing else seemed to impress me. The pork was astounding and huge, but alas, it was not tender. The risotto...cooked too al dente for my taste. The waitress...oh I can say a lot about her, but I'll simply mention that she was rude and gave us all attitude (she could at least pretend to like her job). What made it worse is the bread was so delicious until I saw her not wash her hands after taking care of all of her tables (cashing out, etc) and then barrel her hands into the bread stick bucket to grab them. Then she continued to handle the other bread with her bare hands. Look, I've worked in restaurants before and I know how it goes, but please do it where I can't see it! Please! All in all, I probably won't come here again, but glad I tried it since I've heard so much about it.
(2)Tim K.
I've been here a couple of times now and everything I've had has been very very good. The prix fixe menu during the week is an especially great value for a nice weeknight dinner date. The only drawback is the space itself, which always feels pretty cramped. However, it's definitely worth that small inconvenience.
(4)Nathan K.
In a city with fabulous restaurants, this is one of my top five. Thankfully, it's in my hood and only a few blocks from a few bars for pre- and post-dinner cocktails. The food and service at Anteprima are nearly flawless every time. And oh, that fresh pasta. I rarely order pasta at a restaurant because it's so easy to cook at home. But these guys know their pasta -- fresh, perfectly cooked and paired with flavorful sauces. I regularly crave the orecchiette and lamb sausage with broccoli rabe. So. Damn. Perfect. Other must try items are the grilled octopus (best I've had in the states), berkshire pork chop (top quality meat grilled to perfection) and fennel salad (a burst of fresh flavors). The servers are pros, and know how to balance professionalism, food/wine know-how and a friendly approach that's very Andersonville. Wine pours are very generous, and the selection of Italian varietals is impressive. (Even more impressive is the staff's familiarity with each one). If I had to criticize on one thing, it would be the relatively open dining room. It's quaint, warm and feels truly authentic. But depending on where you're seated, you may feel as though you're on center stage. The patio - however - is spectacular. Intimate, classy, warm and simply perfect on a late spring or early fall evening. I can't wait to return!
(5)Junchen F.
An Italian friend told me to check out anteprima after I told him I want some real Italian food. Boy was he right! The grilled octopus is exquisite and the pasta are a balance of flavor and fluidity. Just for these two, I would drive all the way up north again. The rainbow trout is also pretty good. We asked for an easy drinking wine but I possess no expertise in red wine so I will just leave it as we got what we asked for. Above all, the price tag is very very reasonable, compared to some other Italian places I have been.
(5)Jon K.
A friend and I went here. My first visit, he has been many times. Its not a large place, but we didn't need the reservation we had. I had the grilled polenta appetizer and it was good, not amazing. Friend raved about the octopus appetizer. Not a fan of octopus here though. I had one of the pastas (pappardelle) for my entree and it was excellent. Dessert was chocolate hazelnut torte. Sounded better than it was. It was really cold and I think it could have been excellent if it had been at room temperature. Service was fine, nothing that memorable. Good neighborhood joint overall, probably not worth a trip from downtown.
(4)Debbi R.
Food & Service were superb. Home-made fettucine with wild mushrooms, pancetta, butter & parmesan was heavenly.
(5)Yaeko M.
My dinner experience at Anteprima was a lot better than expectation. The food was awesome, We had stuffed calamari and grilled octopus as for the starter, berkshire pork ribs and lamb leg as for the main, rum cake and chocolate moose for the dessert. All came with right portion and very good. We had a great time. They offer $28 for fixed menu on week days. I suggest to try that out.
(5)Rachel G.
My husband and I had been meaning to try this restaurant out for a long time and we are so glad that we finally did! We ate there on a Thursday evening with a 7:30 reservation. By 8:30, the place was bustling and energetic...highly recommend a reservation! The staff was attentive and friendly, making wonderful and honest menu suggestions. The food was GREAT. First of all, I am obsessed with stuffed zucchini flowers and can rarely get them anywhere. So obviously, I was overjoyed to see this on the starter menu. For dinner, I had an amazing arctic char dish that was prepared perfectly. If only I could cook fish like this! My husband had pappardelle with prosciutto ragu that was lick-your-plate great. It reminded me of my Grandmother's incredible cooking. That's how amazing it was. That's how much love was in that dish. He also had a pork dish that he really enjoyed, but found a tiny bit fatty...not a deal breaker though. He said it was delicious. Dessert was absolutely amazing. I had the BEST, freshest, most decadent berry crisp that I have ever had. I could have eaten 5 of them. No joke. My husband had the chocolate almond tart which was so great...rich, but not too rich. It is clear that this restaurant cares about the ingredients it uses. Everything was fresh and REAL right down to the bread basket. I can't wait to go back!
(4)Rustygirl M.
Great! Had butternut squash ravioli and red wine. Wine was a large portion but when you're paying 12$/glass you want a lot. Boyfriend had chicken. He said it had a lot of bone, but the bite I had was delicious. There were plenty of wines to choose from but only 3 or 4 beers. Also had the multi app platter. It included 8 apps that were pre picked for this particular app tray. It was ok. Def will return.
(4)Katie W.
Fresh, unique, and tasty (some options were on the pricier side) menu, plus delicious drinks! Our waiter was so nice and accommodating with all our questions and requests. Weather permitting, definitely ask to sit on the back patio. Would love to go back here soon!
(4)Mark S.
Upscale Italian in Andersonville. Anteprima is just a few miles from where I live, and I have been meaning to check it out for ages based on recommendations from friends and neighbors. We sat down around 6pm last Friday night and started out with some cocktails, which were delicious but not very strong and on the pricey side at $12 each. The three of us shared two appetizers that were on the specials list, chicken livers and fava beans. Very good but skimpy on the quantity for the price. For our main dishes we ordered the "large" portions of the mushroom gnocchi (average), the ricotta and pea ravioli (delicious) and the orecchiette with lamb sausage (delicious). The "large" portions were just about right for an average appetite, which is nice, because I tend to overeat if it's in front of me. The bread and breadsticks served were high quality. Service was professional, helpful and friendly. I really hated to complain a bit about the prices because I'm sure the quality is top notch, and the dining experience is really enjoyable. In reality, I think if the prices were lower it would be close to impossible to get a table here. We will come back, maybe skip the cocktails and go out to Hopleaf before or after (or both!). We got free parking a couple blocks away on a side street.
(4)Jenna N.
Oh Anteprima, why did you have to be such a disappointment! Man! This place could be really good, but they'll need to fix the following before I give them another go. 1. First things first. Very overpriced for very mediocre food. Being that it was my first time here, I decided to go with the waiter's suggestions. We shared the Grilled Octopus, Pappardelle, Sliced New York Strip and Grilled Shrimp. All of which were just meh ... the Grilled Octopus being my least favorite and the New York Strip being the table's favorite. Note to self: Take a waiter's suggestions, but go with your gut. 2. Nice variety of wine, but completely sold out. They were out of both bottles of wine that I wanted to order. The third bottle (which I was told would be similar to the Malbec I wanted was bitter and again just okay. It was another poor suggestion from our waiter (sigh). 2. Our waiter disappeared during dinner. Which can be okay sometimes, but he never returned to refill our wine or clear our plates. Here's the thing. If you're going to sell your table a $50 bottle of wine than AT LEAST have the courtesy and attentiveness to refill it. Who knows you might even get another bottle out of it. Note to servers: Restaurants with mediocre food should strive for GREAT service. It's an easy way to turn an unsatisfied diner into a satisfied one. Keep an eye on your table or at the very least keep an eye on their wine. 3. Last, but not least was dessert. It was my mom's birthday and I asked if they could put a candle in the slice of cake that we ordered. "Of course!" they said. However, the cake (which came 15 minutes later) had no candle. Ironically, you could say this was the icing on the cake. Note to Anteprima: It's not that you should or shouldn't have birthday candles (even though you probably should). It's more than that and here's why. Dessert is the last thing a customer experiences before they pay or in some instances write their review of you on Yelp. So when you tell your customer that you have something and then you don't deliver (or you take 15 minutes for cake) you're kinda saying that you don't really care. Which is fine (if you don't), but sometimes even a crappy dinner experience can be salvaged with the simplicity of a birthday candle. I'll probably never give this place another chance, but I'll end my review with a positive. I thought their ambience was REALLY charming - cute tables and nice décor. If they improve their food and service this place could become a decent spot.
(2)Sally W.
I love to sit here at the window and have a nice early dinner with my guy. Perfect service, lovely seasonal menu, relaxed and efficient and sick ass breadsticks that are like crack. Pasta is sometimes hit or miss, but everything is usually great, and I'm always so happy there.
(4)John O.
Great appetizers and wine list
(4)Kelly K.
We came for an anniversary dinner and we were very impressed, especially for my boyfriend who is notoriously picky. Starters- Olive plate, buffalo mozzarella with pesto, grilled shrimp The olive plate was par for the course, but the buffalo mozzarella was incredibly fresh and the grilled shrimp were amazing. Main Course- crab linguini and asparagus risotto Both were amaaaazing. Risotto can be a little soupy if not prepared right, but this was the perfect balance of creamy. Dessert- strawberry rhubarb crisp and chocolate hazelnut tart My boyfriend LOVED the crisp. I'm not the biggest fan of rhubarb, but the chocolate hazelnut tart was just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.
(4)Leah H.
Not really A-OK...but I have a soft spot for this place. I have experienced better, in fact, at Anteprima circa 2010, 2011, 2012....I have been to Anteprima dozens of times since it last opened. Lately, though, I feel like something's amiss. I think that something is the level of friendliness, warmth and a genuine "glad you are here" niceness. When I called earlier in the week to let them know that I would be bringing two bottles (they do not have any Barolo or Barbaresco with any age on it on their wine list) the person who answered was not polite - just wanted to get me off the phone "$20!" they said, which is totally acceptable for corkage. I explained that I got it, no problem, but just wanted to give them advance notice. "$20" OK, yes, I know, just wanted to let you know so it isn't awkward when we arrive. No warmth, no friendliness, nothing. Recently had to wait 10-15 minutes for our reserved table, and was told rather abruptly to stand over by the bar. The food - well, it is ok. I had the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms. Just ok. Had the salmon - have had it a number of times before. I wish they would change the preparation, because, as I said, I have had it a number of times before. Service is a bit rushed and harried, always has been, but even more so. Dessert was actually an improvement. I would rather go next door to Ombra, where the staff is warm, friendly and always happy to see me. Same owner, so the love is still there.
(3)Tim H.
Finally got to Anteprima and I was a little disappointed. I've heard rave reviews that it was one of the more solid restaurants in the city, but unfortunately I left underwhelmed. The cost is higher than the taste. I had the fixed menu and the appetizer was meh (calamari), the entree was ok (rabbit) and the dessert was tasty (chocolate creme). Had a bite of the risotto as well and it wasn't good. Not sure what the buzz is about. Perhaps I will check it out in the future to see if my occasion was an 'off night,' but I'm in no rush to do so.
(3)Chris M.
The staff and food here are very good. The people make you feel welcome from the moment you walk in. Went here on a busy Saturday night and were able to get a table on the patio for 6 right away. Our waiter was friendly, efficient, a skilled server, and gave us good recommendations on food. Good Italian food without being pretentious. Would have had given 5 stars if portions were just a little bit bigger. Great experience.
(4)Alfred T.
This place is perfect.
(5)Rohan S.
Nice cute Italian restaurant with delicious food. Meat appetizers were delicious and the pasta is the way to go. Nice house wine as well.
(5)kate k.
okay, confession- i used to work here, as a cook, so i maybe can't give an impartial review but i can tell you that even after eating here for a year i STILL crave the octopus salad with those lemony spicy charred notes, and the greasy-good orrechiete with lamb sausage. i have yet to come here and sit on the damned patio because the weather has always duped me, but it looks great and maybe this year.
(5)Thomas T.
I'm amazed that this place has never been on "Check Please!" Well I just applied to be a guest host on the show, and the submission form asked for a few paragraphs about my favorite restaurant. this is what I wrote about Anteprima: Picking my favorite restaurant is sorta like picking my favorite song. Wait a week and you'll get a different answer. But all things considered - food, service, value, atmosphere - I'll choose Anteprima in Andersonville. The menu features items you just don't see at your average Italian restaurant. Like Testa (which happens to be my original family name!), which is head cheese. I had to try it just based on the name alone - it was yummy! I had farro for the first time here, often they'll have fresh sardines, sweetbreads, boar sausage and other unusual ingredients. I'm kind of a promiscuous eater - I rarely have the same item again when I return to a restaurant, no matter how much I liked it the first time. And I never run out of new things to try at Anteprima! As a former server myself, I really appreciate a server who knows the menu, can size up a customer and give good suggestions. The servers at Anteprima have been around since the beginning (always a good sign), and really know the menu and wine list. They're especially helpful with wine, since Italian wines aren't ID'd by grape - so I'd be lost otherwise. They are charming and opinionated, relaxed yet efficient, not too obtrusive but show up just when you need them. The food and service are both so good here that I don't mind that it's usually loud and crowded. I had a really great waiter last night at Francesca's on Bryn Mawr, and realized that somehow really good service makes the food taste better! I think it just puts me in a more receptive mood, and makes me happier. When I have a great meal and great conversation at Anteprima, I am VERY happy.
(5)Emann B.
Despite the somewhat churlish server, good food and great friends made up. 8:30pm reservation on a hoppin' Saturday night, seated in about 15 minutes. Recommend the sampler starter which looked to be all vegetarian. Chow it down with the tasty focaccia and breadsticks. Darn those crack-like sticks! I think I ate five. I had the bacala salad, a little dry, but nice mouth feel with the radishes and thinly sliced potato. Very much enjoyed the scallops for my entrée , the sweet edge was a nice surprise. Desserts were solid; we shared chocolate tart, some kind of super heavenly fruit tart, a thick pudding-like chocolate/almond treat, and the orange rosemary cake (dry and forgettable).
(4)Amy J.
This review is for dessert only - which was TERRIBLE! 2 desserts and two decafs were $24. I'm fine with paying much more than this for dessert if it's GOOD. Chocolate Hazelnut Tart & Peach Cream Cake - both super sweet to the point of disgust. The flavors also tasted like something from a can. NOT GOOD! Decaf was way watered down. A McDonald's sunday is less sweet and has more sophisticated flavors. The stars are for the waiter who was very nice and accommodating. I feel ripped off!
(2)Kris B.
Very authentic Italian flavors, great antipasto, and a really lovely patio in the back. This is a gem on Clark St. Nice wine, delicious bread & breadsticks, and traditional pasta dishes like orecchiette, sausage & greens and pappardelle with ragu bolognese. The weekday 3-course fixed price dinner menu for $29 is a good deal.
(4)Rhoda G.
My friends and I came here on a nice Sunday night and sat out back in the outdoor patio. Since this was my first visit (and definitely not my last) here, I decided to get their $29 prixe fixe menu. What a great deal - starter, pasta/entree, dessert. We started off by ordering a round cocktails. I got a "I'm Here for a Good Time..." Very refreshing and got another one in the middle of dinner. Then we got our apps - grilled polenta and grilled octopus along with complimentary bread. Those were delicious especially the octopus. I wanted to try their pastas, so I decided to get the pappardelle, pancetta ragu, parmigiano. The pasta was so good! I loved the how fresh the noodles were and the portion size was perfect. For dessert, it was so hard to choose. I originally wanted the chocolate hazelnut tart, but they ran out, so I got the blueberry budino, which is something I never had before and loved it. Very light and flavorful. I don't go to Italian restaurants too often, but this visit to Anteprima may change this. I love how the menu changes often and I definitely need to go back to try that hazelnut tart.
(4)Seth F.
It's Italian food. My dislike of going out to eat Italian food is well documented to the Yelp community and I will not bore them with more of it. Suffice to say that my experience at Anteprima was a microcosm of my feelings towards the entire genre of Italian restaurants. And no I have no idea if I spelled microcosm correctly...or, I suppose, if I used it correctly in that sentence. Basically, nothing was bad, but nothing was great, and everything I ate I felt like I could've made with relative ease at home, and I assure you, my cooking talent could be labeled as amateur at best. I do remember that my friend kept complaining that there wasn't Vin Santo. I don't know who this Vin guy is or where he was when neglecting his duties as an employee of Anteprima but I think we should cut him some slack. It can't be easy working at a mediocre Italian restaurant when your brother is such an accomplished Hall-of-Fame Chicago Cub.
(3)Charlene B.
Having traveled a fair amount through Italy, I can say that Anteprima does a decent job of approximating the experience of eating there, especially their house made pastas and vegetable sides. I like the atmosphere, too - intimate, homey, a bit cramped. It's one of the standout restaurants in Andersonville and among the more authentic Italian spots in the Chicago area.
(4)Lakesha C.
I was highly disappointed with my experience at this establishment. The service, food, and wine were terrible. We started with the eight sample appetizers. Of the eight appetizers, only two were really edible. They were a waste of money. One of the entrees that we ordered was the trout. This was the worst trout that I ever had. The spinach and cous cous stuffing did not go well together. The trout itself was really grainy. Stay away from the trout. The pasta menu was limited, which is odd. We order a simple spaghetti dish and it was undercooked. We couldn't get a break at this place. The Italian champagne that I order was cheap. It didn't even bubble like normal champagne. Overall, this place was overpriced for the quality of food, and the waiter was extremely slow. We would have been better off eating at Hamburger Mary's down the street.
(1)Christy L.
Anteprima is not your traditional Italian red tablecloth establishment but a more charming neighborhood restaurant with a less extensive, but more eclectic, menu. And this is exactly why I like Anteprima - the dishes are unique and well prepared - but if you're craving your grandma's lasagna or spaghetti bolognese, you may want to head down to Topo Gigio in Old Town. My favorite dish is the orecchiette with lamb sausage, which has a little kick to it. The restaurant itself is small and popular; be sure to make a reservation, especially on the weekend. Also, it's a bit cramped and loud in a way that adds, rather than deters, from the ambience. All in all, Anteprima is one of my go-to Andersonville restaurants.
(5)Leslie G.
I've been coming to Anteprima since it opened and have yet to be disappointed. I consider it the best restaurant in the neighborhood and often take my parents here when they visit. Over the years, I've had a variety of pasta dishes, such as squid ink linguine, tagliatelle with mushrooms, stinging nettle linguine, etc. All have been excellent. Same goes for the appetizers. Early on, I tried ordering a couple of salads here and was not thrilled with those. I found them to be oddly salty. Since then, I've steered clear of salads. Desserts are also delicious here as are the little vegetable tarts they bring to your table as a starter. One thing that is a bit annoying about this place is that it's become incredibly difficult to walk in without a reservation (this was not so when they first opened). A friend and I did manage to walk in and get a table recently on a Sat. night but that was only because we got there at 6 (they needed the table back by 7). It's a popular spot for a reason, however, and I'm glad they're doing brisk business.
(4)Todd R.
It's just so tiring you know. I'm just so tired. From all of it. All of it. And then this food - so promising it sounds - but then there are execution flaws. It's just too much. Stuff like this shouldn't happen. There was a pool of grease - you guys gotta drain your sausage. You gotta do it ok? I don't want a freaking pool of sausage grease in the bottom of my pasta. And watch your salt! My plate was REALLY salty - and it's not because I'd been puffity puffin on that THC.pipe=o all day long - my dish was definitely saltier than my girlfriends - and my girlfriend is polish. Loves bacon. BACONE come si dice in Italiano. Mamma Mia anteprima Lei deve fare attenzione - abbiamo bisogno del cibi BUONI italiani.
(3)Kim A.
My husband and I went to dinner here last Saturday night - we went fairly early, but did have a reservation. The food was very good and the server was friendly and seemed honest - he recommended a good bottle of wine (that was not the most expensive on the list). It's a smaller, cozy place, but a nice atmosphere. We would definitely go again.
(4)