Bacchanalia Ristorante
2413 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL, 60608
Bacchanalia Ristorante Menu
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Main
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Main
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Address :
2413 S Oakley Ave
Chicago, IL, 60608 - Phone (773) 254-6555
- Website https://www.bacchanaliainchicago.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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kiley w.
I came here not to long ago with a group of people. It's a very small intimate place. It's kind of a hidden gem in the Pilsen neighborhood. I have never heard of this place or even passed by it. When I first got there, I thought it looked very out of place being a Italian restaurant in a Mexican dominant neighborhood. There is a coupon you could print out from their website for a free pasta appetizer. We did just that, and it was great. It was a angelhair pasta mixed in a cheese and tomatoe sauce. It was very good. Couldve counted as a full meal also due to the size of the portion. We also had fried calamri, and it was the freshest and best calamari I ever had anywhere. Even the sauce that came with it was very good. I had the lobster ravioli, best ravioli ever. Huge pieces and again great size and large portion. For dessert we had homemade tirimisu. We thought it was gonna be a small piece. But it was big enough for the 5 of us. Very good, and plenty of alcohol in it. I would definitely come here again. The bill was not bad at all, and the service is great. Just beaware that it will probably be extremely packed on a weekend, since the place is pretty small. Also note that they do not accept creditcards.
(5)Lisa S.
I was not sure how this place would be but I loved it. We were welcomed right away. The staff was friendly, and the servings are huge! Lots of yummy leftovers. Definitely not a fancy place, but for good local Italian, I highly recommend!
(4)Logan S.
Visited Saturday evening without a reservation. Everyone was warm and welcoming and we were seated within minutes. The bread was fresh and tasty and the rye bread breadsticks were really good. Had to specifically ask for oil and a shaker of cheese. Got the oil, had to snag the cheese ourselves from another table. We ordered baked clams, which were excellent, and pasta entrees. The food was great, homestyle cooking. The house chianti is a good, comfortable table wine. Ambiance? It's a noisy, friendly, low-key and totally unpretentious atmosphere. You can dress up, or wear jeans, and still feel welcome here. Unfortunately, our inattentive waitress cost the restaurant the sale of two desserts and two coffees when she disappeared for fifteen minutes after our plates were cleared. ( She also cost herself my usual generous tip.) We'll definitely go back, but I think I'll place my dessert order at the same time I place my appetizer order.
(3)Erica S.
The most DELICIOUS Chicken Vesuvio i've ever had.... and believe me, i've tried it EVERYWHERE!! Really cute resturant, it looks fancy & very romantic and the prices are REALLY decent.
(5)Y L.
I'm so happy to see that this place is still around. Great, home-style Italian-American food, and it really embodies the quintessence of Chicago. I love the pasta e fagiole, and enjoyed everything else I'd ever ordered from the menu. It's also rewarding because it's a little marvel that's off the beaten track, and reasonably priced. Bring cash, because they don't accept credit cards.
(5)Stephanie F.
I came here for lunch yesterday, for the first time, and I was pretty impressed. There were plenty of open tables, so we did not have to wait. They bring some tasty pizza bread (of sorts) before dinner, along with the usual bread (both are highly delicious). For my main course, I ended up choosing Mastacholli. It was very good; better than Italian Village, almost on par with Mia Francesca's, in my opinion. Portions are big, so I had plenty to take home. The cons of the restaurant: They do not accept credit cards, so bring your checkbook (if anyone still has one of those), cash or ATM card to get cash out front. Also, the bathrooms are tiny, but clean. Oh, and they still have the rolling towel thing to dry your hands (not a fan of those more-than-average germ-infested things). But I'll deal. If I find myself in the area again, I'll definitely stop by.
(4)Catherine K.
This place is a hidden gem. The staff could not be more welcoming and the food could not be more delicious. It's very affordable and I have never had a bad experience there--not to mention they will always fill your wine glass to the very top! I constantly recommend this place to my family and friends--you will not be disappointed.
(5)Julie R.
I love Bacchanalia's! I feel like I walk into the most authentic Italian neighborhood in Chicago every time we come here. Taylor Street is too commercial - not like the old days. Oakley/Heart of Italy is still perfect and the food at Bacchanalia's is so delicious. I don't know if it's still true but get thee to a bank/atm before you go. It was always cash only :). (They actually took a check from us many years ago - lol!)
(5)Becky S.
Mmmm. MMMM! If this restaurant was in my neighborhood, I would befriend all of the lovely motherly waitresses and become a daily fixture. I would sit at the bar and chain smoke and be reminded of how nice it is to be in a restaurant that just serves wonderful food without an ounce of pretension. After the smoking ban goes into effect in 2008, however, I would just go there for the pasta. After a few years, the gooey mozzarella-y sauces would have squashed my desire to ever work out or move again and I would then be transported from door to door in a wheelbarrow pushed by my roommate. The neighborhood children would point and laugh, but I would have my deliciously cheesy lasagna to comfort me. Thankfully, they're in LITTLE Little Italy (basically, in a tucked away residential area with a main drag with a number of restaurants), so I'm safe.. for now. They lose .5 star because this was the quickest meal ever, and another .5 star because they're cash only (which we knew beforehand, thankfully). We walked in at 7:06 on a Saturday, and were out the door by 7:51. This could be good at times, but we kind of wanted to hang out and drink wine and watch the Sox game and not feel so rushed. But the food was swell.
(4)Sara C.
Although it's been a while since we've been to Bacchanalia, we've always had a great time and wonderful food. The wine is just so-so, but the food overall is so great - and yes - I love the atmosphere. It can be a bit loud, but that's what you go to a place like this for - great food and old school charm. I have two final words about the food (and the dish that haunts my dreams) - white fish! It is outstanding, but a whole fish cooked perfectly in lots of butter is going to be that way.
(4)Jordan L.
Here's the truth about this place -- this is half home-style Italian cooking like many of the reviews assert, and half stuff they serve you out of the can. First, the good stuff. The white fish was very good. People at my table also loved their shrimp and chicken dishes. The tomato onion salad is wonderful. I also thought the service was great and the wine list, while small, is extremely well priced. Now the bad. Even though the whitefish was good, it would have been excellent if not overcooked. Only the fact that it was cooked in lots of butter kept it moist. The chicken, while my dining mates loved it, was just sitting in a pool of brown gravy. Not very appetizing. The bruschetta is terrible. It tastes like something out of a jar put on white bread. The spinach side that came with my fish was FROZEN spinach. What self-respecting restaurant uses frozen spinach for a side of spinach?? Of the 12 desserts they have, all are store bought other than two. I don't come to a restaurant to eat reheated frozen spinach, bruschetta out of a jar and store bought desserts. But they are friendly, people in the neighborhood love them, and they are cheap (even if they do only take cash).
(2)C P.
I absolutely LOVE this restaurant. I adore the "little Italy" setting. I'm amazed at the considerate and helpful waitstaff. And most importantly I crave the authentic Italian fabulous food. I always come back for the gnocchi (I get the spinach and Gorgonzola gnocchi combo with vodka sauce) but I try something new every time I visit as well. Last night, I had the fettucchini with broccoli and scampi and I was stunned by the flavor. Amazing. My compliments to the chef!!! Skip the other places in the hood and stick with this one! FYI - the wine is a great deal too!
(5)Angie G.
I've been coming here for special occassions since I was a wee one. My mom is great friends with one of the owners, so this definitely skews my review a tad, but hey--good food is good food! Sure, the decor is outdated. Sure, the tables are crammed in there. But you have to understand that this is old school Italian. That's how they do things here! My grandma owned an Italian restaurant for years and I never knew that restaurants existed where half-naked statues, purple and pink lighting, seascapes of the Italian coast, and plastic ficus plants weren't the decor of choice. The cash-only policy is a bit of a pain, but they've got an ATM in there. They'll take your checks, too. The food, however, is amazing. I've never had anything less than phenomenal. The risottos have been great, and the pastas are all fabulous. This is Little Italy Italian at its finest. The gorganzola stuffed gnocchi is some of the best I've had--ever. They make their sauces by hand here. BY HAND. Bottom line: This is hearty, amazing, old school food. Everything on the menu is fantastic. This is Little Italy. Screw Taylor Street. This is where you need to be.
(5)Michelle H.
Almost hilariously so - a throw-back dining experience. The dining room reminded me of a smaller version of a VFW hall back in the 70's. A very elderly crowd to boot. The chef is masterful with garlic. The pastas were pretty good, solid. Our bus boy took care of us MUCH better than the Marsha Brady's Mom waitress. We received almost zero service from her and that made the evening a little unhappy as we rarely received anything - but the meal - that we ordered.
(3)Sea J.
I absolutely love this family-owned Italian restaurant. It is the best resaurant on Oakley. I used to live a couple of blocks from Bacchanalia's and would eat there or take out at least twice a week. Oh how I miss the old hood. The portions are large and the prices are great . Here's a list of my favorite dishes: Chicken Vesuvio Chicken Bacchanalia Veal Al Lemone Veal Vesuvio Shrimp Vesuvio Shrimp Bacchanalia Linguini and Mussels red or white wine sauce Baked Clams Mostaccioli Ravioli Tortellini Make sure you save room for the Tiramisu.
(5)Dawn B.
Let me preface this by saying that we might have gone on an off night. While it was really good, I'm not sure it's worthy of five stars. The good things: -Great servers. Not the fake, "I'm trying to get my hands in your wallet" types, but genuinely pleasant. -Cool, old-world feel. -Decent and well priced wine list. -Awesome food and plenty of it. -Good value. The bad: -Waited nearly 40 minutes after our reservation time. -Just walking through the bar (we waited outside) made me leave smelling like an ashtray. Better ventilation could prevent this. -The salads were a bogus attempt at best. That said, it was an interesting experience and overall the food was good. I had the stuffed gnocchi and my girlfriend had baked shells. Both were very good but my guess is that you can't go wrong with any of the pastas. The dining room is small and there was a table of 12 seated behind us which made for a loud dinner. Midweek might be a better option if you're looking for a romantic night out.
(4)Phil A.
Food was good, loved the atmosphere and the service! First time and will be back!
(4)Rachel H.
My companion and I have been all about trying stuff in our neighborhood lately and this little place is just a few blocks from me. At around 8 on a Monday night it was not crowded and we felt like we were in someone's home just listening to the kitchen staff chat away. I cracked up overhearing our waitress talking about thinking of pouring vodka in her bad eye to cure it. My baked mostaccioli was delish and so huge I will be eating it all week. The minestrone is also very good and house made. We will definitely be adding this to our list of regulars.
(5)Pam F.
Haven't been in a while but seeing these other reviews makes me want to saw something about this place. I grew up in the building across the alley from this place.......when Bacchanalia used to be a tavern (where I could always find my uncle Frank). My dad says that before that it was a car fix it place. Go figure. Anyways, when my nonna was still alive she would go here begrudingly (she always got claustrophobic here) but always enjoyed the food. One of the few places in the neighborhood (besides Bruna's) that serves great Italian food.
(4)C F.
This is a hidden gem spot for sure. Unassuming from the decor, but the food is like youe grandmothers kitchen. Monica is our waitress usually, and the sausage and peppers is just so ridiculously GOOD! You have to order them 40 minutes ahead, but sooo good!
(4)Brad F.
This is one of my other favorite italian joints in chicago. They have a full bar. Everything and i mean everything is made fresh and homecooked. The wait staff and bussers have been there for over 20+ years. Shows they are doign something right. Its always a great place to go grab a drink after work too.
(5)Susan P.
What happened? Used to be my favorite. Service is always great and friendly......but the food..... Pasta was boring with way too much garlic. Meat entrees were tiny. Quality not nearly as good as it used to be. Why the change? Bring back the old Bacchanalia that I remember and loved!
(2)RJ W.
Great neighborhood Italian restaurant.; Excellent food, big portions, cheesy bar in the front of the restaurant. VERY Chicago, in all the best ways. Only one heads up issue, they do not take credit cards, as I was embarassed to find out.....
(4)Tina T.
If you haven't been down to this charming little area called the Heart of Italy, go there next time you've got a taste for great Italian food! Tucked away in an industrial area of the city, this 4 block radius of beautiful 3 flats and old school Italian restaurants boasts many great options for dining. Bacchanalia has got that old neighborhood charm, like when you walk in you feel like you're in your old Italian aunt's 3 flat. That's because you basically are in a 3 flat; it's crowded, it's full of Italian lights and tables crammed together, and a lot of really big cigars being smoked by very old neighborhood Italian men. But it's great - the food is so delicious, and the portions are huge - like dinner for the next 3 nights! We made reservations with a group of friends for this past Saturday night, and I had called on Wednesday and had no problem getting a table for a larger group. We tried several appetizers; highly recommended is the fried calamari, lightly battered and spiced to perfection. I would agree with the other reviewer that this is probably the best calamari in the city. The baked clams were also really good. Vesuvio style seems to be a great bet here; they have chicken vesuvio and swordfish vesuvio, which I had and was really good. Also, you can get a lot of different pasta dishes sans meat, and they also have a baccanalia style chicken or shrimp which also was quite good. Pretty much anything on the menu that I tasted was wonderful! If you come here, don't be shy; you have to walk thru the very crowded, very narrow bar to get to the dining area, and you will brush up very closely against everyone and anyone standing in the way. As it gets quite crowded on the weekend nights, it is inevitable that you will intimately have a brushing encounter with many strangers. So realize also that if you come on a weekend night, you will probably have to wait in this very crowded, very smoky bar. Or you could come at 5:30 for dinner like we did and not wait at all!
(5)K N.
Wonderful Italian food...best in Chicago! This is in my top 3 favorite restaurants in Chicago for sure. The lasagna, tiramisu, and house chianti are my faves here. Go if you haven't already!
(5)Christina R.
It took someone dying for me to find out about this place. This little patch of Italian restaurants, Bacchanalia specifically, is a diamond in the rough. Located just north of Blue Island on Oakley, it is stuck in the middle of a residential area and is reminiscent of Little Italy in NYC (but with parking in the area!). The previous reviews correctly characterized the decor. As for the food, this place is a solid 4. Not the best Italian food I have ever had, but still very good. We started with the Caprese, and was it delicious! A plate COVERED with medium slices of beautiful red tomatoes, perfectly sliced red onions, great mozzarella and fresh basil with a drizzling of the house vinagrette drizzled over the top. SO good. I followed it with the three cheese raviolis, which were pretty good and homemade. The cheese was quite nice, but I didn't really like the shape of the pasta, and it could have used a little more sauce. My companion got Eggplant Parmesan, which isn't on the menu, and wasn't bad; it would have been better had they used the non bolognese sauce, but we didn't think to ask since it isn't usual to put meat sauce in eggplant parmesan. Also, the busboys hover. Don't leave your plate unguarded if you want to keep it around. My companion had finished half his meal, and we were talking and the busboy swooped in and asked if he wanted it wrapped up. It probably isn't as bad when it is busy, but we went on a Friday night about 6 PM and the busboys were right on the edge of being annoying. Overall, this is definitely a place to support and head down to for its old school style. Plus, you might get to see the chef sitting by the bar who has to be named Luigi. Of course, if you refuse to support a place that serves a lot of veal and unsustainable "Chilean Seabass", this isn't the place for you! EDIT - 1/24/2008 - I have downgraded my original review by one star. My foodie companion and I dined out last weekend, baring the FREEZING cold (yes, those sub-zero temperatures) because I wanted some delicious pasta, and he wanted their amazing fried chicken. The fried chicken met all our expectations, and it was delish - and their hand cut fries, excellent. My dish was absolute crap. I ordered the calamari linguine, but instead of getting it with a red sauce, I asked for an alfredo. No big deal, right? Well, it is a big deal when i comes out, and the alfredo is the consistecy of soup, there is no grab to the linguine whatsoever, and the whole thing makes you want to vomit. I am not one to usually send things back, but I sent it back. The fact the chef had the audacity to send it out like that apalled me. Even worse, he sent to waitress out telling me that since I asked for something "not on the menu" (aka, for white sauce instead of the red sauce) that he wasn't responsible for how it turned out. And he is a chef? What is so hard about cooking calamari, and throwing it into some fettuccine alfredo? And what moron of a chef actually cooks the calamari IN the alfredo sauce? Because the owner wasn't at the restaurant, the chef was the final authority, and of course HE couldn't be responsible for making a mistake! Oh no! The waitress was nice, and brought me a salad and gave us a couple tiny desserts free, but the whole debacle soured me on Bacchanalia. Hence, I offer you this advice -- NEVER order off menu here, and always beware the chefs, because they are jerks. They won't be voted top chef here anytime soon!
(3)Natalie S.
Ohhhh deliciousness. I love this place, I throw a fit when anyone I know has Italian anywhere else. This place is cozy and warm and the staff reminds me of a team of sweet grandmas making sure you're so full you can hardly move. There's plenty for vegetarians including an amazing garlic and olive oil pasta and delicious ravioli and manacotti. Plus, I discovered this place while stalking an old friend's dad who we were sure was in the mafia. We found him in there having espresso with a bunch of rich old Italian guys. Awesome!
(5)Martha Z.
I had no idea this little row of fancy restaurants existed in middle of such an industrial ghetto. Saturday night and this one block is jammed packed with valet service and people in fur coats like it was Michigan avenue. We came here on a double date with Rachel H. The dining room was packed, luckily we were able to snag a table in the bar area. The food was plentiful and delicious, for $5 you can upgrade your meal to soup, salad, dessert and coffee status. Which is great because sometimes it's so hard for me to decide if I want soup OR salad, here I get both. I did get antsy after awhile due to the fact that the bar area was so cramped and smokey (BLEH), there was constantly a person's ass in my face or the worry of someone sitting down in my mostaccioli. Next time I will probably head over to this place on a weekday, or make reservations to sit in the dining room.
(4)Karen L.
This cozy and quaint Italian restaurant is very "old school" Italian like its neighboring restaurants in the Heart of Chicago. I went there for lunch and the portions are huge and the prices very reasonable. You get a small bowl of soup with your meal and bread and foccacia. The food was fresh and flavorful. I opted to try the gorgonzola gnocchi. This gnocchi was stuffed with the cheese and covered with a homemade marinara sauce. The flavor of the cheese was a little strong for my taste with the power of the marinara as well. However, it was still good to try it. I would definitely go back there and try a different pasta dish or the eggplant parmesan.
(4)Rosa de C.
The restaurant is on the ground floor of a three-flat, so the bar and the dining room behind it are long and narrow, but informal and comfortable. The complimentary warm tomato bread is delicious, and helps you to be patient on a hectic night. When I lived nearby, this was the only Italian place in the neighborhood I went to. Entrees might seem to take longer than average to get to your table, but my favorite waitress explained to me that the sauces are made to order, which has to be unheard of anywhere else. The proof is in how fresh they taste. The spaghetti carbonara is the best I've had anywhere, and I'm pretty sure I've tried it everywhere. It's not on the regular menu, look for it on the specials list. When the carbonara isn't available, I get the ravioli. The filling is perfect, and the pasta is made fresh. Awesome.
(4)Kim J.
Great Food!, Great Service! NO CREDIT CARDS-BRING CASH. If you want fru-fru, you're in the wrong neighborhood! Registrations recommended on Fri/Sat. Bacchanalia is in little Italy--has been there for ages and you can imagine the history when you walk in--old time restraint, old time Chicago--deals being made in the back dining room over a drink. The place has many regulars, is small and family owned. The son and daughter of the original owners run it now and one of them are usually on hand. All dishes are prepared from scratch, including the lasagna. The menu includes items that can be ordered as a full dinner item or ala carte(dinner includes soup/salad, specified dessert, drink), appetizers, side dishes(the spinach is one to try)desserts and categorized items(pasta, chicken, seafood). My husband usually orders the gnocchi's with a side of sausage, but i order all over the menu! The Shrimp Bacchanalia is one of their signature dishes and is excellent, as are the vesuvio dishes. We feel they also make some of the best calamari in the city and I wouldn't turn down the Tiramisu either! Specials are run nightly, including on Sundays. I don't think I've had many bad experiences here. Why not 5 stars? The bathrooms. They're clean, but it's a regular bathroom, so only 1 person at a time.
(4)Mike D.
If I were to rate this place by the size of the portions, it would definitely get 5 stars. We made the trek down from the northside to check out this supposed "hidden gem." I almost hate to give it a poor rating because the people were very nice and the restaurant has a quirky Italian feel to it. But the food just was not that good. One of us had the aforementioned lobster ravioli. The pieces were huge, but the filling was incredibly flavorless. I doubt anyone in a blind taste test would guess it was lobster. I had the seafood and pasta which must have included a pound of pasta. The seafood was nicely done but the sauce didn't do anything for me. I simply picked out the seafood which was probably the best food on the table. The last person ordered whitefish. The dish came out sizzling and that's a shame because her fish was overdone. I get the sense locals love this place for the monster portions and the reasonable prices. If you are looking for abbondanza, this might be your place but you might be the type of person who is just as happy at the Olive Garden. Final thought- the valet mistakenly thought we had paid until I insisted (even though the car was ready and we could have left without paying) we had not. When he finally took my ten for the $7 charge, he waited until I had to ask him for change. The guy seemed genuinely surprised I wanted a dollar back despite the fact that he never acknowledged our honesty. Overall, a very disappointing evening.
(2)Bob S.
What a shock to see a block of unbelievable Italian restaurants in the middle of a neighborhood! I expected Paulie, Tony, and Chris to be sitting out in front of some of these places. Bacchanalia is the only spot I've been to on the famous stretch of Oakley Ave. Bacchanalia is so good that I can never convince myself to try another spot. The atmosphere is great, small place, with older full time waitstaff that really knows every ingredient in what your ordered. Try the shrimp Bacchanalia! You get the feeling that you are dinning in someones house. Pay attention to note how small the kitchen is. Bacchanalia is a must for any Italian lover in the city. Taylor street is nice, but this Heart of Italy or Heart of Chicago area is a must see and taste!
(5)Stefanie A.
Fantastic traditional Italian food! Portions are very big- great for sharing or family style meals. Always delicious, & a very relaxed atmosphere. Owners are great-you'll feel like family when you eat here. And that's what this food taste like, like a classic home cooked meal your italian grandma would make!
(5)Donna C.
If you are in the mood for a delicious italian meal, look no further. This place is the real deal. Amazing food - fresh ingredients, homemade and skillfully prepared with spices and wine, specifically Chicken Bacchanalia, a winner EVERY time. The meat ravioli and lasagna are also delicious. The servers are friendly and attentive but I'm a very low key familiar way, always checking in to see that you have what you need. Then there is the cannoli Words cannot describe the perfection on a plate ! The filling is velvety smooth, sweet and rich with chocolate chips in a tasty shell. A MUST HAVE!!! In short, I love going to this place because I leave happy and content. And that is what keeps us coming back. This is what should bring you in for your first visit!
(5)Hannah C.
CASH ONLY! This place is a charming mom and pop affair in a Little Italy I didn't even know chicago had! It's a little hit or miss, but quite affordable. The good: The wine is well priced and I quite liked mine. The meat lasagna was great. They use a béchamel sauce rather than ricotta so it is amazingly creamy The cannoli - delicious creamy filling that was to die for The not-so-good: The yelp pasta appetizer - this is just a plate of whatever pasta the chef wants with a little sauce. Our night it was penne with a red sauce that, while clearly homemade, was basically just crushed tomatoes. I was not a fan The spinach gnocchi - very pillowy but lacked flavor for me Bread basket - it all tasted a little stale to me Overall, it had good service and didn't seem busy at all on the weeknight we went. I would probably come here from time to time if I lived in the neighborhood.
(3)Luca P.
Mediocre, but cheap American-Italian food Bacchanalia has a welcoming homy atmosphere that gave a good impression to me and my group of friends. I came in with high expectations, as I read this restaurant is the most underrated Italian place in town. Unfortunately I was very disappointed with the food. With the exception of a few appetizers, the food is hardly Italian (I grew up in Rome). Ingredients didn't seem particularly fresh and the execution of most entrees was a little on the heavy side. The only good thing about the experience is that the price tag was very small. Not recommended - go to Quartino instead.
(1)Shannan P.
My absolutely favorite restaurant!!! I love coming here. I've been coming here since I was a child and now drive over 30 miles to get here! The food is always delicious! The prices can't be beat!! I would pay double... It's that GREAT!!!
(5)Sandy M.
Simply fabulous, best Calimari ever, pasta, everything from scratch. Go there, eat there.
(5)Sunni J.
Stopped in last night after a Sox game. The food and service was terrific! Craving more of my linguini with clam sauce today! We will be back!
(5)Steve S.
The website says open til 9. I show up at 840 on a pleasant summer evening (no weather issues at all) to see the staff relaxing with a leisurely glass of wine at the bar with a "closed" sign in the window. This kind of carelessness and disrespect toward customers drives me bonkers. So I went across the street to Bruna's, where there appeared to be plenty of business.
(1)John K.
The only reason I'm not giving this amazing spot 5 stars is the size of it. Limited space and a bit cramped when crowded. That's really the only negative I can give to Bacchanalia as this classic, old neighborhood Italian eatery, that I would be willing to bet most members of the Chicago mob likely have come to at least once, really delivers old and new world recipes at a reasonable price. A warm greeting by Paula or Danny behind the bar(owners) is typical and usually I sit in Liz's section, tell her Big John sent you ... Be sure to check in on Yelp and get your free pasta appetizer( bow tie pasta with vodka sauce) which is excellent. My Auntie went with the Sausage and Peppers which is one of my favorite dishes of all time in Chicago South Side Italian cuisine and this place serves it up the best as far as I'm concerned, SUPER flavorful and just a HUGE portion. I had the house specialty which the Gorgonzola Gnocchi with Vodka sauce, made from scratch in house and truly a expertly executed dish that if you are a fan of the stinky cheeses as I am you will be sure to love it. We washed it all down with a bottle of the house Chianti and of course a piece of the home made tiramisu that just simply melts in your mouth. My entire experience here was truly top notch and on point all the way around. You will be seeing me sooner than later Bacchanalias'
(4)Philip G.
Had a wonderful dinner during Festa Pasta Vino. The wait staff was attentive without hovering. The portions were quite good. I had the linguini with white clam sauce and there was no shortage of clams; the linguini was cooked the way I like it. My wife had the Chicken Bacchanalia; the meat was flavorful and tender and the portion was ample.
(5)Horace L.
Classic Italian restaurant. Huge portions, fairly tasty food. Service was meh, good for families.
(3)Martin P.
A quaint little restaurant with big flavor! While limited on space, this restaurant has an expansive offering of service and food. Patrons make their way to the dining room via the bar which is not the best gateway to a fine dining establishment, but I was willing to overlook that. Once seated, the waiter greeted us warmly and made us feel as if we were his only table. He was professional, good energy, and paid attention to all the details of our dining experience. We received complementary bow tie pasta in vodka creme sauce...a nice touch. Each dish was delivered in a reasonable amount of time, piping hot, with care and courtesy. I had the Filet Mignon smothered in mushrooms and white wine sauce. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and flavor of the meal. I have paid much more for a lot less. Absolutely a flavorful and pleasing experience. Excellent variety of entrees, ravioli, shrimp, calamari, veal, pork, something to appeal to every taste. The ambiance, is an "Old School Italian" theme, complete with the standard Frank, Dino, and Vic Damone playing in the background. A fine example of an old fashioned Italian family restaurant. Many have mentioned this establishment does not accept credit cards, but they accepted mine on this occasion, so apparently they have changed the policy. Overall, our party of three had a wonderful dining experience and I have full confidence you will enjoy a nice meal here.
(4)Rebecca R.
The restaurant was small but nicely decorated with Italian touches. The only downside is that it was a little dark in there. The dark breadsticks in the breadbasket were to die for!! We both had the minestrone soup and it had a really tasty broth flavor with big chunks of veggies in it. The side salads were huge and the bleu cheese and garlic dressings were both good. I love garlic but it seems like at many restaurants it is very bland. Theirs was full of flavor. Hubby said the bleu cheese was creamy and sweet rather than sharp like at some restaurants. The salad was full of fresh cucumbers, carrots and onions. I had the baked manicotti and the cheese inside was wonderful, as well as the melted cheese on top. The sauce was flavorful. Hubby had the baked mostaccoli and he loved it. It had a different sauce than mine, but still very good. And lots of cheese. For dessert, we had rum flavored ice cream and although we were both full, we forced ourselves to eat the ice cream as it was sooo good. Only downside is that we had to pay for valet parking as there was no parking to be found. Definitely make reservations. We will definitely be back there even though it was about 45 minutes from home. Well worth the drive.
(5)Susan C.
I went here with my husband along with a good friend for the first time which our friend recommended the place. It's a small restaurant located in the neighborhood of little Italy. The restaurant had a nice decor and ambiance and there was musical instrument playing my two guys which was nice. The food was delicious and the service was great. It's a plus when they gave you something free on the house. I would definitely come back and make sure I have cash since they don't accept credit cards.
(4)Allie S.
AMAZING. I am half Italian, and this brought me back to my grandmother's cooking. Robert, our server was very knowledgeable, and had a great energy about him. We went with another couple in beginning of the week and had no problem getting a table. They even brought us out the Focaccia bread to try which was fantastic. I ordered the baked manicotti, my husband had the eggplant parmesan and we barely were able to talk it was so good! Thanks for an exceptional experience. We went off of the reviews from Open table, so I felt it my duty to keep the great word of mouth out there!
(5)Michael B.
Rock solid Italian food. I'm guessing it's from the middle of the country and by the sea as there are several seafood choices, and the food is not as "refined" as northern Italian nor uses as much red sauce as southern Italian food. Result is large portions of fresh, delicious, savory fare from an interesting menu with lots of classic old school favorites for the not so adventurous. Any dish with the name house name "Bacchanalia" in it, is outstanding, which is good because the portions are so large you will be eating them for three days. I thought the non-red sauce dishes were better than the red sauce dishes as the sauce was a little acidic. Southern Italians put a little sugar in the sauce to sweeten it so maybe its a regional difference so be prepared for it. Still very good. The staff are delightful, friendly and professional. Prices are very reasonable for the portions you receive. We were a party of 7 and ordered an appetizer that came in a portion of six so they threw an extra piece on the dish.. that's a class act! Come hungry and enjoy.
(4)Sara K.
It's a little off of the beaten path (not horrible to get to by train, but if I could do it again I would have driven there), but the food is fantastic, the service was excellent, and it has a real friendly, local vibe to it.
(4)Rebecca B.
Had lunch, our waitress was friendly and very knowledgeable about the food and was able to answer all my questions. Once her shift was over I never got a greeting nor introduction to the new waitress with short red/brown hair. No smile, she seemed pretty cold. Food: The complementary bread was cold and stiff, however the focaccia bread that was brought over was amazing! Ordered the Pesto and cheese stuffed tortellini verde which was delicious, on the other hand the Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken wasn't the best, too soupy but the chicken itself was yummy. My recommendation just go to Ignotz down the street.
(2)Carla P.
The epitome of Italian hospitality, fantastic food, huge portions, quaint atmosphere but, they only take cash payments. Went here with a decent sized group of people (7 adults, 1 child). Upon entering we were immediately greeted by the gentleman behind the bar with a welcoming smile. He knew our reservation by first and last name, advised us of the progress of our table and party, introduced us to our waitress and just made me feel like they were there just for us. It was very nice. The restaurant is not large, probably has a fire code of less than 150 patrons, and the tables are a little snug but we had plenty of room at ours, it was clean and fully decorated. The food. O M G the food! Extremely tasty, huge portions, everything tasted fresh and homemade. I sampled the calamari, tomato/basil/mozzarella salad, capellini, spaghetti, three-cheese ravioli, chicken Bacchanalia, and my own choice spinach gnocchi. Everything was top notch. Flavorful and well prepared. I would definitely recommend trying it out. It's about 1/2 way between I-290 and I-55 off Western, they have valet parking ($7) and there is some street parking available if you can find it (which we did). Oh and it's important to know that they only take cash payments. There is an ATM inside if you don't know (but I just told you lol) or forget, but then you may have ATM fees.
(5)Natalie V.
I really liked this restaurant. We had the Gorgonzola stuffed gnocchi in vodka sauce which was so good! The only thing I didn't like was the artichoke. It was not tender at all BUT the redeeming quality of the dish was the breadcrumbs. They were so creamy and had a great flavor. I find that not a lot of restaurants cook their artichokes the way I'm used to eating them. I guess I could have asked them to cook it longer. I would definitely come back to try other dishes.
(4)La Tonya G.
We came here for a friends birthday party and it ended up being a large group! I have to say they did accomodate everyone wanting seperate checks but the reason I took away a star because I feel the waitress was rude for calling me a Pony on the check!!! Other people had red shirt, blue shirt, glasses etc. How did I get pony? Now, I know this has nothing to do with food which wasn't all that great either!!! I didn't leave this place thinking oh yeah I can't wait to go back!!! I had fun as always with my friends but I trully don't see why some people think the food is so great at this place...its average at best!
(2)Meatdowntown C.
Absolutely authentic. Very large portions with very atypical service (not a fancy place at all) and old fashioned italian family restaurant. The stuffed gnocchi is crazy good, just crazy!! I can eat those soft mini pillows all day long. It is funny but I enjoy the all the appetizers at this place much better than the main dish.
(4)Mabely D.
I love this place! Though the front is kind of like a bar, the back room is just wonderful! Every time that I've come here, my waitress is super nice and helpful- especially when it comes to picking what to eat! I tend to be super indecisive in choosing what to eat, and every time, my waitress has been patient with me and helped me choose something delicious (the chicken bacchanalia is amazing!) All in all, I really like this place and I definitely recommend if you wanna go somewhere small, nice, relaxing, and good!
(5)Lorie R.
Going to Bacchanalia for dinner is like going to grandma's on Sunday for dinner. Its cozy, inviting and the food is so good. Its not over priced, its consistent, and best of all it's just sooooooooooooo yummy! Don't miss Pasta Vino Italia Festa in the Summer with Bacchanalia makes their famous sangria!
(5)Claudia M.
I thought this place needed some more 5 star reviews so here I am! Great little Italian restaurant on Oakley. Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday and I was surprised how jam packed it was. The food was amazing. I had a simple fettucine alfredo with chicken. It was so tasty but the portion was enormous and because we were such a large table we received a table appetizer of red vodka sauce bow tie pasta before our entrees, and I was stuffed. Had to take my left overs home. My husband had the Bacchanalia Sea Food plate, it was delicious. The wine kept coming and the tiramisu was ok. They do have Valet parking outside if you need it. Such a great place to bring your family!
(5)Suzanne T.
Broke gluten fast for this and couldn't be happier. This isn't the best Italian food I've ever had but it is far from the worst. The service here is friendly and prompt. Portions are very large. Be mindful that they don't accept credit cards. There are at least three other restaurants within 1 block--very impressed that they are all in business. This place has been Zagat rated as fuck for years, so there's a touch of resting on laurels here, but if you've got 50 or 75 bucks to blow for a date, I'd recommend this place for sure.
(4)Adam S.
If you're looking for that old skool "eh, whatsa mattah you?" feel in an Italian joint, get here now. We had the Spaghetti Carbonara, Eggplant Parmesean, and Bruschetta. Everything was incredible. The ambience is perfect, you're inside an old house that was converted into a restaurant. They do a perfect job of cramming just enough people in there so you feel 'almost' elbow to elbow, but there's enough room for everyone; that classic small restaurant feel, through and through. Food is crazy good, staff were very friendly, price is plenty fair for what you're getting. If you're a fan of the real Italian deal, this place is yours.
(4)Dave K.
I've only been here one time and the food was delicious. I look forward to visiting again soon!!
(5)Melissa B.
I've been in here for drinks and always wanted to have a full dinner here. I finally got around to it last night. I'm just sorry I waited so long. I love this neighborhood and am a huge fan of several spots on Oakley. Bacchanalia may be the best one of them all. Everyone we dealt with was very friendly and our reservations were honored with a nice table. We ordered the chicken vesuvio and shrimp vesuvio. We decided to skip appetizers and instead added the full dinner on for $5.95. This adds soup, salad, coffee and tortoni to the meal. The prices are reasonable to begin with, so I thought it was a great deal. In addition to the usual bread we were given some focaccia bread as well. The bread was just sort of meh to me as was the salad. Everything else was amazing. The focaccia bread, soup and both vesuvio dishes. I also enjoyed the coffee and tortoni. I was tempted to try a heavier dessert, but the tortoni was a perfect way to end the meal. We both ended up wrapping almost half of our food. I think I will try to split a meal with someone next time. The wine list is decent with very nice pours. Cash only! If you forget they do have an ATM in the bar area. Street parking is always easy in the area. If you don't want to deal with it they usually have valet (possibly just on weekends).
(4)Joanne N.
Came here last night with my boyfriend and we loved it. His parents have been telling us to try it for years but we just never made it out to Pilsen. Anyway, if you want that comfortable, cozy, large portions, non-trendy, traditional Italian meal- this is the place. The food was amazing, and the service was really great too. Our waitress, Liz, took really good care of us. She even overheard us discussing whether or not to get a side of spinach or broccoli- so she brought us both! We stuck to menu items that were Bacchanalia staples, indicated on the menu with an asterisk, and they were delicious- bruschetta, calamari, meat ravioli, and veal piccata- mmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Really fair pricing, excellent atmosphere, great service and free parking right down the street. I am sure we will be back here again and again. Thanks, Bacchanalia, for a fun night out!!
(5)Charmaine C.
Amazing! You can't go wrong but the best fish of my life was here. Try the Superior White Fish! You won't be sorry!
(5)Grace C.
I've been coming here since I was 2!! It's just a tiny, family run place. They have OUTSTANDING food!!! I HIGHLY recommend the Gnocci!!! Their pizza bread is also very good. Although it's in a little bit of a "bad" neighborhood, the people are still very hospitable. It's a great place to go with your family or for a night out!
(5)Mike H.
Went to Bacchanalia with two other couples. Super friendly staff, very attentive. Feels like you are having dinner at a friend's house. Food is delicious and helpings are very large. You will not go away hungry. Got to try a sampling of lasagna, whitefish, shrimp, along with my own veal dish--all were excellent. If you are looking for a cozy, casual place for good Italian food, you can't miss with this place.
(5)Judie G.
Love! Excellent food - excellent service. I usually let the server decide what I'm having. The only thing I tried here and didn't like was the lobster ravioli. Everything else - delicious. Don't see it on the menu? Ask - they will usually make something to meet your tastes / needs. *No credit cards accepted
(5)Sally W.
It's so hard to review this place. It's exactly what you think, but then EXACTLY that. That is, the martini is perfect, the ambiance is cheesy and the real thing, Frank, a bartender who is exactly who he should be... and the food is that old-school Italian, which, if you've gotten used to something better, you'll be grossed out by. Like 1960's Italian, pasta overdone, sauce out of a can, iceberg, the grossest stuffed artichoke on the planet. That said, it's super fun to sit at the bar and choke down some chicken parm. Hard to rate, just be realistic, eat something before or after, and you will have a blast.
(3)Olga J.
I loved the caprese salad and the garlic shrimp! So delicious! Huge portions and good service from the busboys to the waiters. I'd recommend it!
(5)Jessica C.
walking into this place I feel like im in a goodfellas movie lol I love it. the food is delish the staff is amazing. def true old school Italian restaurant!
(4)Damon G.
THEY DON"T TAKE CREDIT CARDS! For Christmas in Chicago 2012, my girlfriend and I wanted a special dinner of authentic Chicago Italian. The recommendation of a Chicago born-&-raised cousin brought us to Bacchinalia. We asked for a hole in the wall, mom & pop place where the food is reminiscent of "grandma's Italian cooking." All the better if grandma is in the kitchen rolling meatballs all day. We got exactly what we asked for, minus grandma. Boo. The food was pretty good. We both had gnocchi. I had the gorgonzola stuffed and she had the spinach. Both were fine but I wouldn't order them again. Not my thing. I added meatballs and those were awesome. Firm yet spongy and flavorful! The vodka sauce was really what I was after. Homemade Italian vodka sauce! I should have just asked for a bowl of that and a straw. It was perfect. Unfortunately, the service took away from the dinner and exacerbated annoying details that I would otherwise dismiss. Our waitress was friendly and personable when we saw her. The problem was we would only see her once every 20 to 30 minutes. Like from the time she sat us down, to the time we actually got our menus. And from the time when they took our plates to the time we got our check. I finally had to ask the busser to find our check. Keep in mind, this place is the size of your living room and it wasn't busy. She never checked back after we were served which is a pet peeve of mine and I believe a Server 101 basic skill. All in all, I would give our experience a C- D+. I am glad we went, but we won't be going back. If you were set on going here before you read this review, I would say still GO! The cousin raved about how great it was and she has been there many times. Perhaps we hit a bad night or perhaps you will get a different server. I hate when I am excited about a place and I am soured by reading one bad review on Yelp. Take all of above for what it is worth. Side note: The bartender was nice enough to call us a cab after dinner. Thanks!
(2)Irene F.
Chicken lugana! Is my favorite dish here or the breaded pork tenderloin ! I will sit by the bar when I come and the locals are hilarious!!!!!! So are the bar tenders , if you're looking for good food and an entertaining night come here!!!!!!!
(4)Julie I.
I really wanted to like Bacchanalia. It's definitely a cute place, but unfortunately it didn't win my heart. We went at a quiet hour, and the first thing I noticed was a strange smell. Perhaps, it's because the building is older, but it bothered me until the food came. The Bruchetta was good! I ordered a Shrimp Bacchanalia, and my boyfriend ordered the Cabonara. The portions were large, but the food was average. The dessert tasted store bought. Maybe to some it's nostalgic, but I don't get where the hype is coming from. The food wasn't bad, but definitely not that great.
(3)Sara L.
This is located in the Little Italy neighborhood. When you first walk into the place it looks like a bar but there is seating in the back. The food was tasty and the setting is cute/intimate. I had the calamari for an appetizer and spinach gnocchi in vodka sauce. I really enjoyed the food there. The busboy was so amazing and detailed with his work and service was good. I would come back here again.
(4)Brian F.
Well I was definitely disappointed after reading the rave reviews. The Stuffed Mushrooms were tasty from the sausage based stuffing but almost indedible due to the incredible amount of salt. The Caprese salad was a HUGE plate of tomatoes, onions, and some mozzarella with a garnish of Basil and no balsamic vinegar. The Veal Parmigiana was just ok. And last but no least... man the Tiramisu sucked. The waitress didn't even bat an eye when we sent it back to the kitchen. She cautioned me not to say anything since the owners mother makes the Tiramisu. I didn't know what to say. I guess I would come back if someone else was paying and maybe I'd try their signature Chicken Vesuvio.
(2)Rene P.
I go to Bacchanalia with friends a couple times a year. There are usually 6 of us, though the group has been as large as 12. We typically have a 7:00 reservation on a Saturday, will arrive at 7 and be seated sometime before 8. The bar is small but we manage to squeeze in while we wait. The drinks and the food are average priced and the wine list is pathetic. We never get out of there in less than 3 hours. This is dinner for when eating is the event. I have had things from their menu that have been so/so, but most of the time, the things that I order are outstanding. Though our group always orders appetizers, we tend to see a free pasta or cheese bread show up at our table to apologize for the wait. The appetizer pasta, typically angel hair with arrabiata, is worth the trip itself. I often get the chicken vesuvio which is just an amazing sweet and stinky plate of garlic drowned chicken. I've also had their seafood diablo several times which is quite tasty. My partner and our friends usually go for the veal and rave about it. This is also the kind of place that not only does not mind if you stick around to enjoy your coffee and dessert, they almost insist on it. Don't go to Bacchanalia expecting to have fast service, great wine and the best food of your life because you will be disappointed. Go there expecting a nice, laid back dinner experience, good, homestyle food, and friendly service. Just don't forget to bring cash : ( For us it's typically between $100 and $150 a couple.
(4)Greg P.
HANDS DOWN THE BEST ITALIAN FOOD!!! Please don't waste your time with other places or chains. You get the best, most authentic food! The establishment is small and quaint and service staff are friendly (and have been there for years)! You really get a great value for your money! I became engaged here 9 years ago and it's my favorite restaurant no matter what the season! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Renay S.
My husband came here for lunch today to celebrate his co workers birthday. There was only 2 other people dining when their party of 10 arrived. Well they got full off bread, his boss had to leave before their food came because she had to go back to work for a meeting. They waited 1 1/2 hours for their food (I'm glad I didn't go because it would not have been pretty,nor would I wait that long for anybody's food)! He ordered me a salad no tomatoes.....yep, salad loaded with tomatoes! Everyone got a doggy bag, one person left theirs on the table, went right back in (literally less than a minute) to get it and it was gone, mind you the table had not even been cleared off, but her doggy bag was gone. Needless to say they wont be going back!
(1)Linda R.
I've been a fan for 30 years. It doesn't get much better than this. Pay no attention to any negative reviews here. The food is delicious, homestyle Italian cooking. Whenever I stop in, I see customers that I remember seeing for the past 30 years, something keeps people coming back. Yes, they do not take credit cards, but it's not like they make it a secret.
(4)Andrew F.
OMFG. This place was a complete disappointment and probably the first time that Yelp has ever led me astray...hence..this review is going up fast...we ate there yesterday. We made a reservation on OpenTable which was really not needed. We walked in and were the only people in the restaurant. Well that seemed strange, but we were already there and it has a good review right?!? We are seated and get our menus and take a look. We already had decided what we wanted based on some previous recommendations from Yelp, but wanted to see if there was anything else unique we wanted to try. Nope, just your standard Italian fare. So we are the ONLY people here and it takes a while to get water filled, bread delivered, and the wine menu. The waitress remarks that she isn't used to playing "bus boy". Well when there are only 2 people in your restaurant and 4 or 5 people are working in the dining area, step it up a notch. You can easily see we don't have the things we need to make us comfortable or make the meal progress. When we finally get bread it was day old at best and tasted like something the Catholic church delivers as body of Christ. You know that pasty wafer that dissolves in your mouth? If you were never subjected to this, think freshly baked bread that has hung around for a few days too long. We were hungry so we smothered it with oil and choked it down. When our entrees finally come my friend had lasagna which was basically a frozen slab of TV dinner thrown into a broiler for 10 minutes. I had the lobster ravioli which was RAVED about on yelp but was completely disgusting. There were no less than 5 pieces of some kind of "lobster" that were chewy and inedible that I had to spit out. The ravioli was also not consistent in texture and had some parts that were lumpy or still not cooked. We joked that they must have hired a firm to "bump" their yelp score to get people to come. There is NO way this place should be rated the way it is. Oh and I forgot to mention, at one point during dinner, God Bless America was playing. I don't want to sound "un-American" but is that appropriate music for a more formal Italian restaurant? :) Anyway, if I can save one person from being fooled by the current rating of this place I have done my duty. Also...no credit cards...are you still in the 1960's? Really????
(1)Michelle M.
Cute place. Baked clams awesome. Linguine with red clam sauce way too fishy. I could not eat it. My eating buddy tried it too and they said not good. The waitress Lizette was really nice.
(2)William C.
We had a wonderful dinner. The veal was excellent. Baked clams outstanding.
(5)Danielle S.
Amazing chicken bacchanalia and farfelle with vodka sauce!!! Portions were huge and food was tasty. My entire party talked about coming back soon and we hadn't even paid the check yet! Highly recommend!
(5)Yvonne O.
Husband ate here on another business lunch and believes that the place across the street has better and fresher food.
(2)Janet N.
My New favorite dish is the Veal Scallopini love all the mushrooms on the dish and with a side of spinach just Completes it!!!! My 2nd Fav is The Chicken Lugana excellent dish!!!
(5)Carol K.
They tried. They tried to please us yet I felt that Bacchanalia would move one step forward only to move one step back. Let's just say our experience started and ended on a rough note but the middle was great! I like this little stretch of Oakley with it's "old school" Italian restaurant offerings. I had not tried Bacchanalia yet and since it had been on my list for awhile to try- it popped into my head when I had a craving for some good Italian food. We found a table (I was surprised that it was actually as full as it was for a weeknight) and looked at the menu. The server came over and we ordered the special appetizer of the day (stuffed artichoke) and a couple of drinks. Well the artichoke was not good. It was mushy and had no "meat" on it's leaves. It came out so fast that we suspected that it was microwaved which would account for it's mushiness. We took a few bites and gave up. The bus boy noticed we did not eat it and told the server. She apologized and then brought us out some complementary pasta to compensate. Nice. Our entrees, on the other hand, were delicious. My veal Parmesan was covered with mushrooms and cheese and this amazing red sauce and came with a side of pasta. Really good! My friend had a ribeye steak- done perfectly but my dish was clearly the winner of the evening. Entrees come a la carte or for $5.95 you can add soup, salad, dessert and coffee to it. I had the soup to start and other than it needed to be warmer it was a good minestrone. For dessert, we ordered the tortini which is some type of rum/almond ice cream. It came out and tasted like the freezer it had been stored in. Not so good. As we were getting ready to pay the bill- my final surprise of the evening. This place is CASH or check only. Well since I haven't carried a check book since the 80's I started going through my wallet to see if I had the $120 that I needed to pay the bill. I get that some bars are still cash only but a restaurant where the average check is probably $45? The server was helpful in telling me where the cash machine was but crisis was averted as I found the necessary cash. All in all 3.5 stars. Stick with the traditional Italian food and you will be happy. And know before you go that it is cash only so you don't get the same ending surprise that I did.
(3)Mimi C.
SKIP IT! During the ultra-boring Festa Pasta Vino, I was thirsty, it was very hot out and I figured I'd have a cocktail before making the trek home. Walked in here and found a single barstool right away. Tried to make eye contact with one of the two bartenders working, but they weren't having it. They were way too involved in talking to their friends and neighbors. After waiting over ten minutes with my cash in hand, I asked the female bartender if I could get a vodka & tonic. She acted surprised and said she hadn't seen me there. Bullshit!! Passed me at least ten times, as did the male bartender, and there were only about 12 seats at the bar. If you have to know someone to drink or eat here, why didn't these yahoos just open a bar in their HOME?!
(1)Erik B.
Bacchanalia is one of my favorite Chicago restaurants . The chicken baccanalia is my favorite dish. The rest of the food has been very good too. Prices are great, but dont forget to bring cash.
(5)Christy L.
I brought my parents here last time they were in town. They've visited Chicago about 20+ times, so I needed to find something 'off the beaten path' as they've been to most of the standards. The restaurant was exactly like what I had imagined it to be: cozy, authentic, basic Italian food & experience. This is not a ritzy place - it is a casual, home-grown gem. Their menu had all of the standards you would expect. The wine list left a bit to be desired however. We all enjoyed our meals & took home left-overs. The environment was very warm and inviting. All the tables were filled, but somehow the small-ish room wasn't that loud, making for a very cozy & comfortable evening full of great conversation. I have to give a specific shout out to the waitstaff. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of our waitress, but she was fabulous! She had been working there for 20+ years - amazing! She was very friendly and dealt with my father (who is a lot to handle) very well. She tossed his jokes and jabs right back at him - he loved it! We stayed quite long - I think we were the only party to dine at that table that night - and the waitress didn't seem to mind at all & did not rush us. I will be coming back here to eat again, especially with guests who have already done the 'classic Chicago' thing & just wand a nice meal with great company.
(4)d l.
Have been going to bacchanalia for many years and it has really gone down hill! I could not believe how bad the food, service, and drinks were. It was really disappointing. Nothing tasted fresh, clams seemed to be from a can, baked manicotti was all bread, veal was really fatty.
(1)Ynaffit B.
This is the best restaurant ever they serve the best meals love the lasagna simply the best. over all the food is fresh specially the lasagna it is NOT frozen like other fake Italian restaurants reminds me of my grandmothers cooking :)
(5)Ashley M.
My parents were in town for my graduation and we wanted a nice, homestyle, Italian place for dinner with my boyfriend. I read a few "talk" posts about the restaurants along 24th and Oakley and though this one would be good to try. It was! Had reservations for a Saturday night, but were late. Called them and they said it was just fine. When we walked in, we were confused as to who to checkin with. There were employees sitting at the tables in the front of the restaurant and when we tried to walk by them, a woman stopped us and asked how many people were in our party. After informing them we had a reservation, they showed us to our table. It was very tight, but the atmosphere was nice. Not too loud. The bread and olive oil was a good start to the meal. We also opted for the stuffed artichoke and mushrooms. The artichoke was nothing like we had seen before and we weren't quite sure how to eat it. Both dishes though were good. Between the 4 of us, we had: spinach gnocchi, lasagna, baked mostacholi and manicotti. Everything was wonderful! We also had side salads and the house dressing was great. The only negative thing was that as soon as our waitress got our payment, other staff swarmed in and cleared everything off of the table. This interrupted our conversation and made us feel that they needed us to get out. Granted, their menu says on the weekends, they limit customers to 2 hours, but even being late with our reservation, we still have 30 minutes left. Poor service.
(4)Dana I.
I have no idea how this restaurant gets the ratings it does. Everything about this place is incredibly low rent-- the vinyl tablecloths, the 80s nightmare decor, the television playing sporting events, the bizarre seating arrangement that often has strangers sharing tables, the team waitressing that leaves you wondering who your server is, the saltines and butter packages that they bring out when you sit down, the menu that contains about 200 items but no ceasar salad, the fact that they don't take cards (WHAT!!??).... Yeah, I guess this place has an authentic grandma's house feel to it, if your grandma is like my crazy grandma Alma who has five poodles, shag carpetting, and watches talk shows on full volume all day long in her housecoat. The food is, eh, okay. When we went we ordered fried calamari; then my husband had the Mostaccioli and I had the Lobster Ravioli. The calamari had a little bit of a weird taste to them, kind of a raw flour taste, and were only served with cocktail sauce (it seems like almost every place these days gives you some sort of remoulade, so I expected that and was disappointed to get only a tub of glorified ketchup instead). The Lobster ravioli in vodka sauce were edible, but the vodka sauce that I buy in a jar at the grocery store is better. Also, I kept running into little bits of lobster shell in my ravioli, and the pasta was overcooked. The Mostaccioli was fine--but, come on, anybody can mix together some tomato sauce, cheese, and penne and the meat in the bolognese was not terribly appetizing. We didn't even finish half of our food and we left he to go boxes on the table. But they gave us free bic pens when we left...ummm, thanks?
(1)Kate S.
We came here last night, and I was not overly impressed. Not at all. We began by ordering an appetizer of baked clams. After about twenty minutes we still hadn't received them, and I think they realized this, so they brought us out some pizza bread. It was not especially good. The bread was pretty soggy, and not any better than something frozen. Then the clams came out, and they were swimming in a pool of butter. The clams themselves also were not of good quality. Shortly after, we got our main dishes. My spinach gnocchi weren't great (I didn't like the spinach), but I thought the vodka sauce was decent, pushing the review up from one star to two. The mussel sauce was as disappointing as the clams. They were overly fishy, which is never a good sign. All in all, I don't intend to come back.
(2)S L.
I am with Colleen A. and her review. This is one of my top 5 favorite restaurants. Maybe even top 3. (curious to know Colleen's A. other 4 since we obviously have similar taste). We have been coming here about 18 years and I never tire of it. I LOVE garlic and Baccanalia's Chicken Vesuvio has no competition anywhere. Also they have chicken lombardo (lemon chicken with capers) that is to die for. I am also strangely addicted to their rye breadsticks ( and I hate rye bread). The only thing I am not in love with is their ravioli or gnocci dishes--other than that, everything else is can't miss. The cramped bar is very "old school tavern" you have to take it for what it is and find the charm in the small, because trendy, Baccanalia is not. It is definately more throw back. The cash thing is something you get used to, but I am sure it puts people off. Baccanalia will you please start accepting charge cards?
(5)Jackie C.
The food here is excellent. This is why Bacchanalia gets three stars. The reasons why it doesn't get all five: 1-cramped, small dining area 2-very old, boring decor 3-cash only (no miles or points from my credit card) 4-service not very friendly We will go back in the future if we are in little Italy but now we know what to expect. If you're looking for a romantic place with fabulous service, this is not really it. If you're looking for great food, fair prices, huge servings, and don't mind sitting in a small room with lots of other people, this is it!
(3)Enrique F.
I love this place. Their gravy is so GOOD. I go here a lot this is truly my secound family. I enjoy the good talks I have with other patrons that go there. People around the neighborhood that enjoy a drink or a meal.
(5)Brad W.
Bacchanalia is the best place to go for homemade Italian food! The service is great and friendly, and the atmosphere is perfect. Everything I've had at Bacchanalia has been marvelous, they also make the best vodka sauce I've ever had. A definite 5 stars for this Italian classic on Oakley!
(5)Sam C.
This place is just average. Ate here a few years ago and I remember it being better. Calamari and baked clam appetizers were good, but my veal Parmesan was swimming in too much liquid. Pasta side was also pretty blah; gummy and unremarkable. Our waitress was great and handled our table of 9 (as well as every other table in the place) quite well. The menu is reminiscent of Italian restaurants from a few decades ago. Nothing trendy, just basic. Coming out of there we all agreed that it didn't live up to the $320 bill. The place also doesn't accept credit cards! Didn't realize this until we were seated and saw it printed in the menu.
(2)Naz A.
Like coming home for a home-cooked meal. The place was filled with locals and loyal fans of the restaurant. I took my husband and his family for a birthday celebration, and the restaurant was accommodating of our large group. Everything was delicious and the portion sizes were huge! I will definitely be going back.
(4)Colleen A.
Bacchanalia is #1 on my list of Italian restaurants in Chicago, and probably in my top 5 favorite restaurants all together. You cannot beat the warmth you feel from entering a family-run restaurant that treats you as part of the family. I have yet to eat something I haven't drooled over at Bacchanalia. The have the best tomato-vodka sauce hands-down, which means I tend to order the lobster ravioli - and it is to die for. The lasagna is phenomenal and the veal dishes are great. They always have a "special" of the night which you get a plate of for free for your table, which is always a bonus! And I could drink a jug of that house chianti. It is simply perfect. You won't have room for dessert, but make it happen. They have amazing cannolis and tiramisu. All around great place, fantastic service and it continues to impress me everytime I return.
(5)Tad S.
I disagree with the 4 star rating whole heartedly. I did not care for the food, and I felt the guy sitting behind me... so closely that I was bumped multiple times throughout my dinner was ridiculous. I didn't really care for the bread. It was dry, and no flavor. The food all seemed very cheap and thrown together. Not for me. Skip this place and go to Ignotz down the street!
(1)Jenna S.
What are you yelpers thinking??!! I am a long time fan of Ignotz's next door and figured with a 4 star rating that Bacchanalia's was bound to be my new favorite...EW, WRONG!!!!!!!!!! Cramped seating, incredibly outdated decor (think hot pink 80's walls, purple neon lights running along the ceiling, and a pink and purple 80's air brushed painting on the wall...) To top it off, the service was slow and unpersonable. The food is another story. We ordered the "dinner option" with ala cart menu items which includes soup, salad, your entree, and a dessert. The soup was beyond overcooked and all the ingredients were soggy. Nothing memorable about the salad...and the entree was even worse! Horrible vodka sauce, which I can only compare to that of an Italian Lean Cuisine. My entree was the spinach and gorgonzola gnocchi. The gorgonzola was horrible!!! I couldn't stomach to eat more than 1 bite, and spinach was...well...spinach. Even worse than my own meal, my boyfriend had the Lobster Ravioli which were not ravioli size...but more like GIANT meatball size. The lobster taste was of lemons and freezer burn. (Not sure how often this entree is ordered??!) After sitting so long, with yuck food...we passed on our desserts included with the price and hunted down our server outside the kitchen and attempted to leave. Little to our dismay, the restaurant does not accept credit cards?! Where was that posted anywhere in the restaurant, and why wasn't that on the menu? I left more than peeved that I had to use some shady ATM in a dark corner of LIttle Italy. Who doesn't take credit cards?!
(1)Sara L.
This place has great italian food. I'm a huge fan of the chicken parm, lasagna, and tortellini. It has been my familys go-to for italian for years. However, as some people mentioned they don't take credit cards which is really annoying but they do have an ATM in the restaurant. Also, the dining room is set up to be cozy and romantic but then they have big screen TV's on the wall like a sports bar? I thought that was a little odd as well. However, despite the lack of credit card acceptance and the decor, the food is great. Try it!
(4)mark l.
Bacchanalia's is an excellent restaurant. I am surprised the first reviewer referred to the cash only policy as a "crisis" since they have an ATM machine in the restaurant. You may not carry a checkbook, but I suspect you carry your ATM card. Go and enjoy because the food and service is excellent.
(4)Elena D.
shucks guys, I really wanted to like this place. The waitstaff were nice, reasonably efficient, the atmosphere was relaxed on a Tuesday night, but the food was mediocre and lacked that characteristic Mediterranean flavor. More a fatty, bland Midwestern idea of Italian food than the real thing, like those paint-by-numbers of the Last Supper. My tilapia ala toscana was decent enough, but the antipasto salad had more girth than green...my friend's steak sandwich was just steak and crusty white bread. The tiramisu was strongly alcoholic and puddinglike. Blech. It pains me to say it, but I think the Olive Garden has tastier dishes for comparable prices.
(2)Tina B.
This is one of a whole bunch of Italian eateries along Oakley and 24th that is like a littler Little Italy than Taylor Street (Wikipedia calls the area "The Heart of Italy" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li… and who am I to argue with the learned likes of Wikipedia?). I think Bacchanalia is a place where some people have 5 star experiences and others have 1 star experiences, you just have to know what to eat and what to expect. The combination of: their cramped quarters and having to enter through the bar with the dining room in the back the tiny little tucked away bathroom their cash (or check!) only policy even though they sell $20 and $30 plates of food and the often delicious food made me immediately think of that one restaurant scene in The Godfather that starts off "I'm gonna speak Italian to Mike" and then doesn't end too well for that one guy. youtube.com/watch?v=ymoG… Food that was heavenly - Gorgonzola stuffed gnocchi with vodka sauce. Damn. It was so wonderfully multi-layered with flavor that it makes you say damn like three different times with each bite. Vodka sauce that is fresh and tomatoey, but certainly spiked, lovely clouds of gnocchi with some chew and the final POW of sharp gorgonzola at the end. Perfect. Just amazing. The stuffed mushrooms have no description about what they're stuffed with, but it's something really good. Really really good. And I can't quite place it, which is kind of exciting (maybe veal..). Delicious - some of the best I've ever had maybe. Seriously bursting with flavor. And the cannoli...oh my. This might actually be the best cannoli I have ever had or at least the best I can ever remember having. Actually crispy and fresh shell, with nothing soggy and no crappy chocolate layer hiding in there trying to mask a soggily nasty cannoli shell. Perfectly crispy with a crunch. Generously sized. And bursting with the most wonderful marscapone cream and crushed green pistachios. Man. I only had a few tastes of someone else's (sorry dude...) and I am MAD I didn't take several home. I know. Everyone knows. You're supposed to take the cannoli. It's just that they are often so bad! But now, here, I know. Ah, but the rub. They sold me a plate of the absolute worst risotto I have ever had. It was scampi asparagus risotto and the shrimp was beautiful and delicious, but the rice was just horrible. Individual grains of pearly arborio rice should angrily protest out front because they called the sticky heap of medium to long grain rice that I got here risotto. [insert appropriately foul hand/arm gesture here]. And the cash only thing. Look, this doesn't take much explanation - the check will be about $20-$40 a person NOT counting booze. Un-the-hell-acceptable. This wack policy (and broketitude) will certainly keep me from spending as much money as I'd like to on fantastical pastas. Which is, of course, a damn shame. I'm planning on now eating my way through the rest of these places on Oakley, but I will be back here too- count on it - because there are just way too many other things that I must try now, like the mushroom raviolis and a plate of seven cannolis all to myself.
(3)James M.
One of the best Italian food places in Chicago. The service is good, the prices are reasonable, and the food is amazing. We usually get the same thing when we go, Gorgonzola stuffed gnocchi and spinach stuffed gnocchi with vodka sauce, a side of Italian sausage, wall-eyed pike fish, and pasta in marinara sauce. All are equally delectable. The wine selection is decent but not extensive, and most are pretty decent. You are kind of forced to buy their wine as they have a $15 corkage fee-which is the main reason why they only get 4 stars. The tiramisu is also quite good. The place is small and quaint, and well worth trying.
(4)Bob K.
I used to LOVE this place, the food, the service, the atmosphere all fantastic. Then I don't know what happened but the the last couple times I've been there something has changed in all category's. Please fix it.
(3)Diana R.
We LOVE Bacchanalia & for those who don't know... THIS IS THE REAL LITTLE ITALY, not Taylor Street in University Village Yes the decor is gaudy & a little cramped but, what do you expect from some of Chicago's oldest Italian restaurants? Its an old school Italian dining experience. The food & the service are always superb. We're always treated with warm welcomes like good friends of the family. Having been to most of the Italian restaurants on Taylor at the end I always wished we would've stuck to our favorite, Bacchanalia. No ones marinara compares...
(5)Amanda S.
I'm only leaving out one star because it is somewhat lacking in decor, but then again, the decor totally adds to experience. I've been going here with my family since I was a kid, and re-discovered Bacchanalia after going to the festival on Oakley street this summer. We got a vodka sauced pasta "appetizer" on the house and the plate was so big, that itself could have feed a party of four. For entrees, we got more pasta- the ravoli with cheese and spinach (they let us mix and match) and the chicken parmigana. Both were really really good and huge portions. We also got the house wine which was only $5 and perfectly decent. We were too full for dessert, but will definitely be back for the tiramisu! This seems like the perfect place to go on a lazy weekday when you don't want to make dinner but don't want to go out-out to eat. Even after leaving a 30% tip, I think this was cheaper than our normal take out and the service really makes you feel like you're at home.
(4)Alex F.
Entering Oakley Street in Little Italy is like entering a time warp onto the set of Goodfellas. Entering Bacchanalia deftly reinforces it. The time warp is evident both in the physical appearance of the place and in the demeanor of the clientele. Everybody in the cramped front bar (formica countertop: check) knows each other quite well - their conversations, which are oddly enthralling to overhear, give it away. If it was August, they'd be having the some conversations on each other's front steps. The dining room, also cramped, is like a little banquet hall that hasn't been updated since the '70s. It all adds to the old school charm. The food is absolutely top-notch authentic Italian. The menu is simple: veal, chicken, and seafood prepared in various sauces. The portions are huge. And I have no qualms about saying that their bruschetta is the best I've ever had. And my mom agrees... Whew.
(5)Diana S.
This is an amazing restaurant! Tucked away in Pilsen, this family-run restaurant is an absolute gem. My (adult) sons and I went last night and we enjoyed a wonderful meal. The owner/bartender welcomed us right away and we had a very helpful waitress. We especially enjoyed the bruschetta, delicious gnocchi, lobster ravioli, and the Chicken Bacchanalia. If you are looking for an authentic Italian meal in an intimate, neighborhood setting - this is your spot!
(5)