Cafe Ciao
939 W Madison St, Chicago, IL, 60607
Cafe Ciao Menu
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Address :
939 W Madison St
Chicago, IL, 60607 - Phone (312) 850-2426
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Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- 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 : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
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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Chris C.
Dropped by for a latte and to spend some time out of the rain. It's a cozy little cafe in the west loop. My latte was one of the best I've had in a while. They also have a great selection of board games available and their food menu didn't seem to bad. Next time I'm in the west loop, I wouldn't mind trying this place out.
(4)Jill Z.
This place is a hidden neighborhood gem. Consistently good food, great appetizers decent selection of wine. Definitely have the Rigatoni, their specialty. The angel hair pasta dish is good if you want something lite but very tasty. Very cozy. Sometimes gets busy and service can be a little slow. Other than that, definitely in my "go to" book.
(4)Samantha M.
Have walked by here many times and one night decided to go. What a great choice! We came at the right time because they were celebrating their 5th year anniversary. The special was 5 items off of the menu and a bottle of wine for $50. Couldn't beat it! We ended up getting 3 appitizers (goat cheese and toast, margarita flatbread and mac & cheese) 2 pasta entree dishes and a bottle of Cab Sav for $50! They have many other specials throughout the week as well. Can't wait to go back! Will become a regular for sure.
(4)Rhonna V.
Love, love, love the pasta. Frankly, all the food there is pretty good. I didn't give it 5 stars because I've been disappointed with the service more than one time. Also, I think it is a little overpriced.
(4)Ronda U.
Went here for my anniversary dinner and it was the cutest little Italian restaurant ever! If you want a quiet/intimate setting then this is the place for you! The food and service was amazing!! We got the rigatoni with Italian sausage and it was delish;) They also have great deals like half off wine on Mondays ;) This place is a must!
(5)Quantas G.
Very intimate place with great food. Friendly staff and owner. Very cozy spot especially int he winter time. And great place for live music.
(4)christine p.
Love this place! They have my favorite rigatoni in the city. They recently started doing a daily special, something along the lines of certain are buy one entree get one 50% off, or half off a bottle of wine night stuff like that which is great! I highly recommend the goat cheese app and the tiramisu yuuuum! the only reason its not getting 5 stars is because their hours are kinda wonky.
(4)Jasmine S.
Such a lovely little restaurant/wine bar. I live down the street, enjoy coming here to satisfy my cravings for rustic Italian food and wines. It's very small, the menu is limited. The ambience is cozy, comfortable and easy. Good place to open a bottle, sit back and pretend like you are sitting in Italy and have all the time in the world :)
(4)Robert W.
Great pasta, ok prices, flatbreads, and service
(3)HRH J.
Super cute and romantic! Actually very good tasting food (from appetizers to desserts) I have been there twice and both times it's been amazing! Very romantic dates and great food, I have tried multiple dishes and all I've been very content. It breaks my heart I've seen it mostly empty but I kinda like it because it makes it more cozy. Def. try it!
(5)Onda R.
Stopped in many times, b/c the food is damn good! So are the drinks! So is the service! I have tried all of the pasta dishes, but my favorite is the Rigo w/spicy Italian sausage...mmm! Try it! Julie has wine tastings that are awesome and pairs them with tasty cheeses and fruits. She is always welcoming, gives excellent recommendations, and mixes things up by offering different food and drink specials. This is also a great place to host a private party, as I did for my sister's birthday/bachlorette bash and have been here for a baby shower. Since they changed the interior to more of a lounge atmosphere, the place has only improved!
(5)Guy L.
Very nice cozy place. Good food and personable staff. Sometimes we had to wait for a while for the food, but it's definitely worth checking out.
(4)Alex K.
I went there after someone just mentioned it and thought I try a sandwich. I always try to find the ultimate sandwich. Anyways, I ordered the veggie one. It was ok but pretty blend. I could see the balsamic vinegare on the bread but not taste it. weird. Service was awsome. The atmosphere confusing. I walked in and there were some wrapped silverware by the enterence. I wasn't sure If i get those myself or what. I didn't know there was a waitress. Their beers were mostly domestic. And kind confusing since this is suppose to be inspired by italy. I've heard about their wine tastings but have never been myself. Bathrooms were so clean and pretty. No dessert that I could find. Which was kinda sad. I think they have espresso. Ok and when I walked by starbucks just a block away it was packed. I was one of 2 customers in this cafe. Don't really know what it says about it. It basically looks like a cafe with a bar.
(3)Maija T.
Stopped in last night (finally) after living across the street for 3 years. I don't know what took us so long! Very cozy, the owner was so friendly, and the food was great. We got the caprese, spicy chevre, mac and cheese, and the rigatoni. All were delicious! A great little neighborhood spot and we will definitely be back.
(4)James H.
My wife and I decided to try Cafe Ciao on Saturday night. We've walked by several times and it looked quaint and the reviews on Yelp have been positive. We walked in and there were several people scattered across the room. They looked at us like we had three heads. After several uncomfortable minutes without being greeted, we asked the bartender what was going on and she told us there was a private party and they were not open to the public that night. No sign, no nothing. We won't be back because of the lack of communication and uncomfortable situation. Too bad as we had high hopes.
(1)Kathryn S.
I have lived in the west loop/fulton river district for 2 years and have never written a yelp review, but this place definitely justifies one! I found it based on the reviews on yelp (& because I was having an italian food craving). Went there last night for dinner and had great service (the owner) and incredible food! Had the tortellini with gorgonzola and added meatballs (we are at an Italian joint) and it was orgasmic! The wine was great too and everything is reasonably priced. I will definitely be going back again and probably on a regular basis!
(5)Nathan K.
We just went to a birthday party at this place. And it was a perfect choice. A buddy of mine rented the whole place out. From what I hear, it was a great deal compared to getting the party room at other bars/restaurants in Chicago. The space was great for a party. Lot's of table's and chairs for everyone. Part of the package was appetizers and they were delicious. It was all sorts of stuff, but the memmorable bites were little paninis of sorts of varieties: chicken pesto was my favorite. They even served chocolate fondue afterwards. So I loved the place and the food. But there was definitely something off about it: the bar service. They have a very full bar. Which is crazy and awesome for this type of place. It's like Starbucks, and yet there it is, a full liquor bar! They even have a little martini menu to help people looking to be inspired. My wife, who is a chocolate martini addict, got one, and was very happy with it. But man, it was hard to get a drink. The owner was there with 2 employees, and this was the first day for both of these new employees. That's kinda crazy to bring 2 brand new people who don't seem like they've ever worked in a restaurant before to work a party of people at night. I ordered 2 drinks at one point. I got one and after 10 minutes, realized they had forgotten the other drink. On another occasion, they made me 2 drinks and the guy put the drinks on the other side of the bar 15 feet away thinking someone over there had ordered them, until I'm like "Is my drink order still being worked on?". But everyone understood. It's their first day, and it's a party :) So we didn't give them a hard time at all. But you might want to expect that going in, you'll have an awesome place with great food and drinks, great service pretty much all around and personal help from the owner. But drink orders might be a little slow.
(4)Adam K.
Terrible. first 2 entrees we inquired about they were out of. then the next 2 beers we ordered they were out of as well. then we did find a beer we liked we ended up with the last one so then they were out of that too. epic fail!
(1)Geoff C.
I'm a cautious yelp reader as many of the people on here are posers who think they can write whimsical reviews and perhaps get an offer from the New Yorker, or those that truly feel they'll be "doing a disservice to the public" by not writing a review. Cafe Ciao is a locally owned and independently run place, full of people that live in the W. Loop. The food is incredible and the service is generally spot on. So, Amanda S., the couple at the bar who decided to leave that evening in fact, does yelp, albeit very sparingly. The restaurant business is hard and on a night like this, the management is faced with a split second decision, to close or go on with the show. These situations are few and far between and generally an anomaly. For someone not to be able to differentiate an "off night" from a place with truly bad or rude service, then to chirp on and on about bad service, is what is really a disservice to others. This place deserves all the four stars it has, and despite one bad night, I will continue to freqent Cafe Ciao and the dozens of other local establishments that routinely go above and beyond to put out a good product.
(4)Kara G.
For $35.75 you get: 1) a warm coke 2) the worst-looking prosciutto-wrapped melon (didn't taste that great either) 3) average bruschetta 4) ravioli that tasted like Chef Boyardee made it 5) tortellini garnished with withered and browning basil I was interested in trying this place out because I'm new to the neighborhood and thought it had a cute vibe- plus, despite a really small menu, the choices seemed good. However, once our food ( finally) came out after waiting about 15 minutes after we ordered our appetizers, I was sorely disappointed in the quality of the food, although service was good. I won't really bad-mouth the place, because it seems they are trying, but I definitely won't recommend it either. Maybe if the paninis are so good, they should just stick to that.
(1)Jon F.
Nice little place to have a good dinner and drinks. It doesn't have a huge selection but everything is good with a nice atomsphere
(4)Judy L.
I was always a bit confused with Cafe Ciao because leaning on its glass window are a ton of board games ranging from Battle Ship to Connect Four and then when you walk in, you are greeting with an arcade game similar to Pacman. Walk further in and it is indeed a cafe with the usual espresso machine and ceramic mugs but then you open the menu and find that is has a full bar plus a variety of Italian fare. I had a glass of Chianti and a Ravioli dish...superb! The portions are not over the top and the meat as well as pasta was cooked very well. I sat at a table next to the window overlooking Madison but also noticed a couch that would be great for a couple on a date who want to play board games over coffee after a nice meal. Very relaxing and enjoyable experience.
(4)Jen D.
I have walked by this restaurant for over 2 years as I live in the neighborhood and was always intrigued by it, but never stopped in. After seeing them on restaurant.com I figured it was time to try this place. We were blown away with the food, it was absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere was nice and cozy. We had a few small plates for appetizers and some pasta for our meal. The house specialty was so good I cant wait to go back and get it again soon! And the Tiramisu was a delicious end to our wonderful meal. They also have games that you can bring to your table to play and they were showing Halloween movies which was a nice touch for this time of year! This will probably become our new weekly spot!
(5)Danny S.
Cute and cozy space. Definitely has a nice vibe going with the fireplace. It's pretty small. Good wine and drinks, reasonably priced for where it is. Tuesdays $20 special is a good deal. Pizza is OK, pasta is mediocre, spinach artichoke dip is excellent. The Italian meats and cheeses used in the appetizers didn't seem particularly fresh. Service was average and the wait for the food was long; It wasn't even busy the night I went.
(3)Kelly B.
I don't want to tell you about this place...because I want it all to myself. Stumbled in here on a Saturday night...the perfect serene atmosphere, top-notch service (friendly, not stuffy), beautiful live music and fantastical goat cheese dish. I've already made plans to come back next weekend. Great date place, but I'd come here with anyone who likes wine and music.
(5)Christine V.
Enjoyed a great dinner here tonight; actually we were surprised by how good the food was. I agree that the service was a bit slow, but the food made up for it. Try the rigatoni, it was delicious! We will definitely be back, hopefully to sit outside with our dog next time (rained tonight).
(4)Don S.
This place is beyond terrible. Both the service and food were down right awful. Either these positive reviews are coming from the owner or workers or people just have some terrible taste.. This place is a must avoid !
(1)Sim W.
I love Cafe Ciao! The food is great. Everything I've tasted is perfection. It's warm and cosy. Fireplace with TV, sofa and easy chairs around and ottoman. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. People have complained the service is slow. It's relaxed and laid back. No server breathing down your neck every 5 minutes. They don't rush you out, or make you feel like you've overstayed your welcome, either. It's great. Free wi-fi, too!
(5)Sam B.
We recently moved to the area and have been to Cafe Ciao twice, and have really enjoyed the place. The food has been consistently tasty, the wine selection is varied, and the friendly staff round out the experience. In particular, there are a couple of great pasta dishes--the angel hair and one with gorgonzola cheese (think its a ravioli but not totally sure)--which really hit the spot. I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a tasty meal in a low-key environment. The one thing I'd say is missing is dessert!
(4)Mardi T.
I love this place! I went in with my Mom who was visiting, and we had the most enjoyable lunch! Julie, the owner, is sweet and friendly. She made us feel welcome and came by to ensure that we were having a good meal. The panini's are great - and they often have specials that make them really affordable. The space is small, so I wouldn't recommend it for large groups. Other than that - it is a great spot. Oh - and the tiramisu was fabulous as well :)
(5)Jeff B.
This is a small restaurant, maybe enough capacity for 16-20 guests at a time. Don't let the small size fool you. The wine selection is vast with a two sided menu of red and whites. They also have a healthy selection of craft beer. The menu, like the establishment is small, two pages, but it packs a punch. There are about 10 appetizers, try the spicy cherve (goat cheese with spicy salsa with herb bread). The main entree consists of either pasta or a flat bread pizza. I had the house special rigatoni and my wife had the flat bread. Both were excellent and we would highly recommend. Some reviews have knocked the service. There is one main person that seems to be running the show. I can imagine that if the house is full, service could be a little slow. We didn't feel the service was slow. Everything came out is respectable time gaps. Overall, if you are looking for a small italian themed place to eat and have a glass of wine, try Ciao
(4)Jocelyn A.
Not sure why anyone has an issue with service, the place is tiny, if you have a brain and mouth and can conect the two together you will be able to get what you want. If your thinking your going to waited on hand and foot, your clearly confused at best, this is a small storefront. In any event the reviews are pretty much spot on as it relates to quality food, interesting drinks and wine, cute place and the owner is always up for conversation. Its what I consider a neighborhood place at great neighborhood prices.
(4)Ren H.
This is a great casual dining spot. Its still fairly new but thats whats so great about it! Everything is brand new and the owner definitely wants to make everyone's experience enjoyable so she is very personable and friendly! They have good paninis too!
(5)Yogi F.
we found this gem randomly looking online and walking down the street, and now it is my wife and I's favorite hang out. small cafe, with an intimate, romantic setting. the owner is so awesome, and makes you feel at home. the food is fantastic-- everything i get there, rigatoni, mac and chesse, bruchetta, its all amazing. great wine, great beer, great price, never too crowded. lovin' it!
(5)Dave C.
The place was decent and the food was pretty good, but the service was beyond bad. The positives didn't make up for the negative, and I won't be returning.
(2)Jookie K.
The quality of the food for the price I paid is amazing. I had the caprese panini, with really fresh mozzerella and vinegarette--which also came with chips and a soda--for $3.30 after tax. It was part of this week's specials (the other awesome special--$1 import brews), so I don't know if it will stick around. The dining area's a bit smallish, and I can't quite make up my mind about the atmosphere, but they do have free wireless for customers. I want to go back and try the pasta. Maybe I'll see you there.
(4)Meghan M.
My husband hosted my 30th birthday party at Cafe Ciao last Saturday. We had the entire space to ourselves. It was a great change of scenery from the typical "package" deal at some bar. We had wine, beer and appetizers galore. Julie, the owner, was open to all our ideas for the party and was such a great help. Everyone commented on how great the food was and what a "cute" place Cafe Ciao is. My personal favorite was the $20 bottles of the house red and the toasted ravioli! However, I did receive positive feedback from our guests on the goat cheese, caprese salad, pizza and paninis! Everyone had such a great time. It was a great 30th! Thank you to Julie and staff for all of their hard work and dealing with our music/dance party until midnight! Give Cafe Ciao a try, you will not be disappointed!
(5)Vindhya M.
A great neighborhood restaurant! Limited but delicious menu options both in terms of food and wine. My favorite is the Margherita flatbread and the Rigatoni Alla Rigo. I get it without the sausage and it is still very flavorful and spicy! They have live music on the weekends which is a plus! Overall, it makes for a pretty perfect spot for a date as well for hanging out with friends.
(5)Carol M.
Came here with a group of friends for desserts & scarfed away the fabulous tiramisu and bread pudding. Both were very generous portions. The tiramisu was so light and flavorful. The bread pudding was made of famous King's Sweetbread (very famous in Hawaii) and perhaps flown in from Hawaii. What a treat. We were with a big group and had gone to another Italian restaurant down the street but wished we came here instead. The quality and the portions at Cafe Ciao are top notch. The ambiance is also charming, warm and cozy and just a perfect neighborhood restaurant.
(5)Pavnit K.
I don't know why it took me this long to write a review, considering I have been here 3 or 4 times now. This place is...AWESOME. It's not a big place, so I wouldn't suggest a huge party, but it's great for a date or an intimate dinner with friends. The service is awesome and they make you feel right at home. Food is soo delicious. The mac and cheese appetizer is just purely addictive. You just can't put the fork down. I have also tried their signature rigatoni with sausage. Wow. Just wow. Finally, last night they had a Hawaiian bread pudding that left you speechless. All I could think was why have I never thought of that?! Will definitely be back.
(5)D F.
Walked in expecting this wine bar to have some great selections. Wow, was I wrong. Whole wine list can be bought at Mariano's for $20 and under. So much for this being a wine bar. Calling it a wine bar is a complete joke. Servers smoking outside all the time has to stop too.
(1)Angie R.
My girlfriend and I stumbled upon this hidden gem, little did we know it's been around for 10 years. Such an adorable cafe with an amazing wine list. The food was great too, we had the caprese salad, rigatoni with sausage in a creamy tomato sauce, and beef empanadas. Very good food and nice size portions. The night we came by there were two young men, brothers who performed playing guitar and singing which was an added bonus. The best part of the meal was the rhubarb tart made to perfection. Can't wait to return and bring my hubby he will love this place.
(5)Andre W.
This is a very intimate and cozy place with delicious food in the West Loop/West Town area. I came here a couple of years ago and loved it. Fast forward to last night as I made my long awaited return. Not a very big place but it has character with the lighting and intimate setup. There are regular dining tables, couch seating, hi-tops and a fireplace along with the bar. The menu itself isn't very big as its just a few appetizers, maybe 4 pasta dishes and some flatbreads and empanadas. I decided on their signature dish, the Rigatoni that comes with a delicious cream sauce and sliced spicy italian sausage. Comes in a really nice sized portion and difficult to stop eating as it is so damn good. I even starting sticking my fork in my girl's plate lol. We got the tiramisu for dessert and I have to say that it was something special. They also have a pretty good wine list that mainly consist of dry wines. I was told they have live jazzy style music on Fridays and Saturdays so I def plan on returning for that. They also have pretty cool board/card games to play while you wait on your meal.
(4)Janice J.
Most miserable stealing staff. Wouldn't sell me a cranberry juice. Charged $16.00 for a proseco split gave them $20.00 and they acted insulted when I asked for my change. I can't believe I had to even ask for my change. (They just threw my change into a tip charge without even telling me.) The idiot guy behind bar managed to insult all 20 people individually in my party. Worst business I'm sure I've ever been to. Absolutely would NOT recommend.
(1)Vrati D.
Great food, great wine, great ambiance! I can't believe we waited so long to come to this West Loop gem! We tried the Aquinas red after reading some reviews as well as the Fire Road white and both were delicious! All the plates are fairly small, perfect for a date night to share! We ordered the baked white cheddar Mac n cheese small plate, which was by far one of the best we've had! The top thin layer of breading was light and added a great crunchy texture. We also ordered the spinach empanadas (not my fave but my husband liked it and the chutney... Typical Indian) and the spicy chèvre (goat cheese and tomato with bread) which was soooo good. The angel hair pasta had a great balance if garlic and basil! And they even have board games and karaoke for private events!
(5)Matt D.
Had a lovely dinner date with my lady here on a Thursday in March. We enjoyed the Aquinas Red paired with a flat bread, the mac & cheese, and an appetizer that I cant (for the life of me) remember but it was a spicy cheese with a jam-like substance on bread. All were very satisfying and we dined by the fire for a good couple hours. Love to see the west loop building traction. We will be back in the summer for the live music and wine/beer tasting sessions they host.
(5)Keir H.
I've only pop in here for wine and small plates while seated at the bar (Mac and cheese is a must). Good selection & friendly staff. This place is small & intimate and has live music some nights.
(3)Christine H.
Intimate, quiet, lovely small neighborhood restaurant with great classic italian food!
(4)Waller A.
Moved down the block from this place four months ago and have only been putting off trying it out because although we eat out a lot, we normally have our two young children with us, and the restaurant/bar has an undeniably small dining area. ..I almost ordered carryout from Cafe Ciao three weeks ago, but after logging into Yelp, and reading a negative review, we decided to go with another safe option. Tonight, I didn't feel like walking more than two blocks for some carryout, so we went ahead and ordered the following: 1.Angel Hair Alla Fresca with Meatballs. 2.Italian Sausage Red Pepper Flatbread. 3.Argentine Chicken Empanadas. All three dishes were absolutely delicious. Now, I feel guilty for not trying this place earlier and stupid for accepting the one negative review as a gauge for consistency. The food was great! I would recommend all three plates that we ordered. I look forward to returning and trying out the rest of the menu. We will be back for more soon!
(5)Michael J.
Good food, big portions, reasonable prices - why don't more people go here?? The Rigatoni Alla Rigo is excellent.
(4)Claudia M.
Cute place to rent for an intimate celebration. They do rent it out for parties but it is a small place. Might seat about 30 people. The bartenders and owner were very welcoming when I was there for a private party. Great food. Good wine selection. My husband fell in love with their St. Thomas Aquinas red wine and has even ordered 3 bottles online. We had never had that wine before. Fun , quiet place.
(5)Mark G.
Café Ciao is my quiet little nook in the West Loop to relax and escape the daily chaos of life. I'm a regular, so I'm a little biased, but if you come in here expecting to compare this place to some of the other more commercial, investor financed places, you've missed the boat. Ciao is cozy little place, owned and run by "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer", Julie. The staff is friendly and attentive. This place has a small menu, but everything they make is fresh and quality. I've never had a bad meal. They prep their meals in a small "galley style" kitchen beside the bar. Try the bacon wrapped dates for little nosh before dinner with one of their boutique wines. The pasta dishes and salads are all fresh and they pay attention to small details in the preparation. All the dishes come with choices of sausage, meatballs, chicken, or shrimp. All good. The bar is also unique. Bartenders pay particular attention to their mixed cocketails, made with fresh ingredients. They don't just dump a bunch booze and juices in a shaker. They pay attention to details and craft a really well made cocktail. Try the Old Fashioned or in the winter, the Hot Toddy. They also change up the wine and beer selection often with boutique wines and microbrews. Finally, a really enjoy the jazzy musicians who perform on weekends. Take a date to this place. It's really charming and laid back.
(5)Maria S.
I would give this place 3.5. I really enjoyed the food. The Chevre was delicious. The salads a perfect blend and the flatbread tasty. I would say things were a bit salty but VERY good. The service was REALLY awkward, the server had the strangest interactions with us. He even took my soda before I was quite finished.
(3)Sunny B.
Yelp led me to Cafe Ciao on a recent trip to Chicago. The restaurant is a quaint little gem seating around 20. I went with my sister, but this would be a perfect date spot too. The ambiance is romantic and it looks as though they have music on certain nights too. We started off with a delicious sangria full of fruit and brandy. For the apps we went with the bacon wrapped dates and they were the perfect combination of sweet and salty. We split the Rigatoni Alla Rigo rigatoni with spicy italian sausage in a tomato cream sauce) and the Empanadas with both spinach and beef. The portions were huge and the prices were on point. Everything we had was great and the server was awesome. If I lived close to the west loop this would be in my regular rotation.
(4)Stephen C.
This little storefront restaurant is a gem in the West Loop neighborhood. It's cool, casual, intimate, and the plates are exceptional. A live jazz dou plays on the weekends which makes the atmosphere perfect to enjoy Italian fare and a cocktail; especially in the summer when they place a few tables outside at street side. Everything is superb on the select menu. I suggest visiting several times to indulge in the unique, yet comforting flavors each dish has to offer.
(5)Ben R.
As West Loopers my gf and I always walked by this place and wondered how the food was and why nobody ever seemed to be inside. It always looked so quaint and cozy that it reminded me of the tiny italian resturants that line the streets of the West Village in NY. My gf, from NY, thinks the comparison is abstract and makes me promise never to bring it up. So we decided tonight was the night, googled the name, found some coupons on Resturant.com and started strolling over. Upon walking in and presenting the coupon to the owner/manager. I'm such a rookie. What appeared to be a good deal, wasn't. Burned by the terms and conditions, again. No more than 20 seats in total, only two tables of two were seated when we walked in. Bored games (pun intended) and what looks to be a karaoke system makes the place look like it could be fun however the ambiance makes you feel confused as to its identity. They had half price wine night, usually a win but couldn't take advantage of it due to the choice of using the coupon or getting the wine deal. We both ordered the angel hair pasta, substitute wheat pasta, with meatballs and shrimp and shared a caprese salad to start. We were annoyed and went No vino. Maybe our hopes for this cute little cuddly Italian Sinatra wine bar were too high? The food was so underwhelming. The marinara sauce had little taste and the staff couldn't care less that we were there. We played the game "would you ever" as the food took a little too long for the lack of patrons. So disappointed, there was so much potential. I would've loved a local spot like this if the food were good.
(2)Carrie H.
Whenever I go I ask them to recommend a wine and they always do a great job. Their menu is small but everything on it is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Shera L.
My husband and I absolutely adore this quaint cozy spot. The decor is this adorable vintage drab sort and absolutely works. It's a very intimate spot and we enjoyed coming and sitting outside when it was warmer. They also have love music that is very very intimate. When we went there were maybe five tables a guitarist, and a singer. Very very beautiful night that was. *smile* We've had the angel hair pasta with shrimp and Italian sausage added and it was a hit both times. We've had the bruschetta (bomb), the mixed marinated olives (amazing if you like olives), the salad, empanadas, and flat-bread, all were wonderful. Oh, we've also had the rhubarb pie (made by Jeremy's Dad), the tiramisu (pretty good), and my husband had a cookie made by Julie's (the owner) niece, and it was awesome! What really makes this place special is Julie and her staff. Jeremy is a very nice guy and always makes sure we are good to go and aren't needing anything. Darius is a really great kid and it's always great to see and speak to him when we come in. When Julie can, she comes out and says hello, and that's always nice. They've recently got a new cook whose name I haven't picked up yet, but is a Marine going through culinary school, which is awesome. This is definitely one of our "homes away from home". Great Italian food at a reasonable price, full bar, cozy setting, love jazz on the weekends, and great staff. What more can you ask for!? I love it here!
(5)Jeremy L.
Size doesn't matter. Really small space, but great eats. Cafe Ciao is another reason why I want to move to the West Loop. My friend brought me to Cafe Ciao and I was a little skeptical at first. Location is small, seating for about 15 - 20, but quickly became impressed. Chef greeted us in the dining area. It is Cafe Ciao's anniversary -- Happy Anniversary Cafe Ciao! Friend and I got caprese salad and bruchetta to start -- both were great. For main course, we split the delicious rigatoni. It is a large helping and can definitely serve two. Happy eating. Ciao.
(4)Susie C.
Very cute place! My friends and I came here for dinner Saturday night. The place is very cozy. It has a bar and a stock of board games...along with a karaoke machine! How neat! Definitely a place to go to lounge around, since they close at 1am on weekends. There were about 8 of us dining here. We started out with 3 orders of bruschetta, which was very good! I love the taste of the tomato and the bread. It is delish! The menu is quite limited, so most of us ordered similar items on the list. I had the italian sausage and red pepper flatbread. It was tasty, except the bottom was burnt. The salad was a bit too salty. My husband had the rigatoni which was really tasty, but heavy in sauce so it was quite heavy. Two of my friends ordered the mac and cheese. They thought it was okay, but a bit too salty and creamy. Overall it was a decent place. Enjoyed our time there!
(3)K P.
I recently held a private dinner party at Cafe Ciao with roughly 20 guests. I'm really glad I chose Cafe Ciao over other places that I had been checking out. Julie, the owner, was very flexible and accommodating regarding the menu. I asked her if she could make a shrimp and mussel fra diavolo dish for the dinner, and she did, with no problems even though it is not on their regular menu. She did a great job arranging the tables for the dinner. The space is small, but very intimate, warm and cozy. The food was great. And the beer selection was also fantastic. I'd definitely recommend this place to others. I think it is a hidden gem.
(5)Nicole M.
I wanted to love this place...I live down the block and have passed it hundreds of times. It looked cute and cozy...exactly what every neighborhood needs. I was willing to overlook the slow service. The place was full with only one waitress and a cook working that night. The menu was small, so my friend and I decided to share a bunch of appetizers. That's always a good way to get a feel for the restaurant. I'm only going to comment on one dish. The meatballs. One bite and it was immediately obvious that they were frozen. Shameful. With a menu that small, I expect everything to be made in-house!! How difficult is it to make meatballs??? The other dishes (mac & cheese, Italian sausage and flatbread) were fine. Nothing exciting. Overall, I'd suggest this place if you live down the street and your freezer is empty.
(2)Ramya P.
Cute lil' neighborhood restaurant that actually serves better Italian food than Viaggio that's nearby! Came here for dinner recently with mom n the hubs. The cafe is pretty tiny and has a decent wine list. But I really loved the food here. Though the name misleads one into believing that its an Italian joint, they do feature items like mac n cheese (yum!!) and empanadas (yum!). As many others have mentioned, the rigatoni drenched in the creamy tomato sauce is delectable. The Margherita flatbread was a let down, but that's because my expectations from the simple Italian delicacy is very high. Nominal prices and its proximity to where I live will make me a frequent customer here.
(4)Ann Marie Z.
Really cozy, warm place! I live in the neighborhood and will definitely be back. Went there at 7:30 PM on a sat night. We had a reservation but didn't need it, as there was only one other couple in the plane (that sits about 20 total). More people came in as we stayed, so it was mostly full by the time we left. I don't know why people would complain about the service here. Everyone was super friendly and attentive, talked over the menu & wines, and gave recs, etc. If it got busy, I can see that service would be slower. But, this seems like a casual, comfy place you would want to go, hang out, and chat anyway. We ordered: - Spicy goat cheese: Very good! Though, I wish the cheese were served slightly warm and soft. It would make this dish even better. - Bacon dates: Also good, but standard. Nothing "distinct", but you do get a fair amount (around 8-10), which is a larger serving than the 3-4 you get from most places. - Olives: nice marinated olives. Good variety - Tortellini with Gorgonzola: Very rich, salty, cheesy, and tasty. I am glad we split this, as the flavor is very intense and rich (also sprinkled with blue cheese). I wanted something sour/astringent after this, so it would have been nice with some bitter greens/vinaigrette. It did go nicely with wine. Very nice experience. Good place for casual date night, good conversations.
(4)Uri P.
Great wine selection and Italian small plates, what not to love!! This is small intimate neighborhoody spot. My go-to spot for relaxing low-key dinner and drinks :)
(4)Christine M.
Atmosphere, food, cocktails, and live guitarist playing in front of the fire place was all phenomenal. Cafe ciao's ambience for a date night and an overall great experience is a must. The only reason for 4 stars is because the service wasn't the most inviting. Our server seemed a little off and unwelcoming which is not fitting for this cute quaint place. Needless to say everything else outweighed the oddness from the server and we will definitely be going back!
(4)Brandon M.
We've lived in WL for about a year and we've wanted to stop by on multiple occasions. We finally had the opportunity and Ciao did not disappoint. We were seated quickly, waitstaff was super-attentive. We were brought water immediately and our wine order was quickly filled. Although the menu is small, there are plenty of tapas available so you can just about try everything...which we did. Bacon-wrapped dates were cooked perfectly and tasty. We enjoyed the mini-mac and meatballs. Spicy chevre and italian sausage were also great. Finally, we finished off a delicious prosciutto and fig flatbread. It was extremely appealing that the owner came to our table to see how we were doing. Definitely a plus to see an engaged owner walking the floor and talking to customers. We will definitely be back to try the pastas as they looked awesome.
(5)Carmen G.
OK.. this is really like 3.5 stars.. so yes.. round up to 4. I'm an accountant, what can i say.. numbers matter. So my bf lives near this place and I see it all the time every time I come over. Been wanting to come here but for whatever reason never made it in until this past Friday. We came here with a Bloomspot offer that included 2 glasses of wine, an app and one entree per person. The place is super cute, tiny, intimate and romantic. As soon as you walk in it smelled delicious... great for the senses, not so great for the Au d'Cuccina Italiana smell on your clothes and hair afterward. ;-) Restaurant was pretty crowded when we walked in (8pm on a Friday night).. only two small tables were empty. Our waiter, the only waiter, seemed very busy. Took a while to get him to come to our table. The menu is indeed, very limited. We put in our full order since we were trying to catch a movie after wards and had read the service was pretty slow. We got our wines but no water. ... time passes... Dishes keep coming out. Me (wishfully thinking): Is that ours?! ... Waiter zooms by ... ... more time passes by... Again wishfully thinking: is THAT ours?!! ... water zooms by ... UGH! Finally after what seemed like an eternity, we got our apps. We ordered an extra one just for kicks. I ordered the spicy chevre and the boy ordered the bruschetta. Mmmm yu-mmy! Both were full of flavor, the bread perfectly toasted. Good job! But still.. why did this take so long to come out? Its just bread, cheese, tomatoes, and balsamic.. GOOD GRIEF!! Another eternity passes by and finally our entrees arrive. I got the Rigatoni and the bf the Angel Hair w meatballs. OMG.. my Rigatoni was delish!! I'm a sucker for a creamy tomato sauce and this did not disappoint. Full of flavor, nice and creamy, the sausage was tasty (and I'm not much of a meat eater). The Angel hair was good as well, although not as good as mine. :-) All in all the food was fantastic. I could've licked my plate. I'd definitely come back for the rigatoni or order it to go. The service, definitely slow. It seems like the chef makes each entree one at a time and from what i could see, the kitchen is tiny. The chef needs to find a way to cook more efficiently. We left right as the band arrived.
(4)Pat A.
My wife and I went there for dinner on a Friday night, and there wasn't much of a rush. Really liked the cozy atmosphere, and the food was great.
(4)Allison R.
Such a quaint little spot! My boyfriend and I came here on Saturday after walking by numerous times. It's perfect for date night, we had a wonderful experience. Instead of going the main course route we filled up on numerous appetizers. The Spicy Chevre was by far my favorite. To my surprise I also enjoyed the mesculin that accompanied this dish. Just a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper added to the leaves, simple but so good! We also had the Meatballs and Margherita Flatbread and both were very tasty. The bottle of wine that was recommended by the waiter paired perfectly with everything we had. Unlike some of the other reviews, we had no issues with speed of service in fact, our food arrived rather quickly. I can't wait to come back!
(4)Elizabeth W.
I'm not a big wine person, but one night I was out with a friend who wanted a good glass of red and a snack. We were pleased to find a small but comprehensive wine list, daily specials, and a small plate menu. I enjoyed the balanced flavors of my sauvignon blanc, my friend ordered a second glass of her red, and we thought the papas bravas had just the right amount of kick. Not bad, considering that we chose this place at random and had no idea what to expect. The real surprise was the personal service from the friendly, attentive staff. We were never left with a near-empty glass of water, the server remembered what we were both drinking and didn't have to ask my friend what she wanted a second glass of, and there was not even the suggestion of impatience while we waffled back and forth over what to eat. This is exactly what a small, intimate cafe should be! I was not as impressed with the bathroom, which had a line, a flickering light, and a sticky spot on the floor. It isn't a really gross bathroom or anything, but I had pretty high expectations by the time I had to use it since everything else had been so excellent. Our table was also wobbly, and there were some customers whose voices were far too loud for such an intimate space. In short, I would come back here again in a heartbeat. I didn't expect to like a wine-centric place so much, but I found it very pleasant and charming. I'd recommend this place to anybody who wants to dip a toe into the wine scene or the tapas scene or looking for a low-key, nonthreatening place to enjoy a glass with some friends without the server being snobby and snorty about your pairings. The price points are also not the ridiculous ones you might see at a snootier wine bar, though of course, being wine, you shouldn't expect fast-food prices.
(4)Tina M.
"A" for effort and taste of food, "F" in speed and attentiveness. Thank goodness we weren't starving when we came to this place. It took about an hour and a half to get 3 tapas and two drinks! And just imagine... it wasn't even busy! Can you imagine if it was? Once the food came it was delicious, however NOTHING is worth waiting 1 1/2 hours for 3 appetizers. In fact, we worked up an appetite at this point and wanted more however we done sitting around waiting... So we went down the street (to one of our favorite staples) and had Round 2:-) Would NEVER return. Sorry.
(1)Melissa B.
Cutest little place! If you blink you could miss it! I have been wanting to try this place for a few weeks now and finally had the chance last night! I ordered the caprese salad which was fresh and perfect. The antipasti platter I had was great considering it was only somewhere around $8. I also tried the chicken pesto flatbread. It was good, but completely my fault that I let it sit for almost 2 hours before I dug into it. I will absolutely order it again though. Street parking couldn't be easier! The service....Wow, I don't even know where to begin on the service. This was honestly the best service I have had in the last 5 years, and I eat out at least 4 times a week! They have live music (possibly just on weekends- I can't remember) and fun things like wine tastings from time to time. It's a great spot for a dinner date, or just a glass of wine and quick bite after work. This spot is totally worth checking out! I can't wait to get back and try more!!
(5)Julia K.
This place has been a great little find! The ambiance is romantic, social, friendly, and cozy all in one. On the weekends, Ciao offers live music that is entertaining without being obtrusive. The owners are incredibly forthcoming and run the entire show, which is great to see. The food is full of flavor and the wine prices are umatched by any other restaurant I've seen in the West Loop. I highly recommend this place as an experience in itself, but it's a great place to stop for a drink before moving on to the next place. Again--the wine is very reasonably priced! I'm not sure what the others are saying about service, since the service has always been outstanding in my experience, but I can bet you that this little neighborhood spot will not disappoint!
(5)Heather S.
After a tough day of moving, nothing sounded better than leaving the boxes behind and sitting down for a nice glass of wine. Unfortunately, that is not something this wine bar can handle. I walked in and waited for a host while the bartender gave me an odd look. I finally walked over to the bar and said I was just looking to sit and enjoy some wine. Immediately, the bartender exclaimed "Alone?!? Will your boyfriend be joining you?". Odd.... "Yes, it will be just me tonight.". "Then you have to sit at the bar." I look around at the 2 couples in the restaurant and the 1 table of 7 filled outside, and asked to dine al fresco. The bartender thought about how to serve an actual paying customer for several seconds before rolling his eyes and saying "FINE! I will bring you a wine list." I told him that I didn't think he could be of any service and proceeded to enjoy a relaxing beer at the much more accommodating Beer Bistro down the street. I can tell you one place in my new neighborhood I will not be patronizing!
(1)Samantha J.
We went to Cafe Ciao a few weeks ago. The atmosphere was nice and cozy, perfect for a rainy night. It's a small space with less than 8 tables. The place is small which gives it charm and you feel like you get to know the owners and the staff, but if you are not looking for that type of atmosphere this isn't the place for you. The food was well priced, it was very reasonable which was nice to see for a change. Everything that we ordered was delicious! The menu isn't too big, which I prefer and find unusual for an Italian spot. We enjoyed the food and wine and will be back!
(4)Kale Z.
The service at Cafe Ciao was abysmal enough for us to walk out the door before even considering the menu. Our waiter was extremely unwelcoming to us when we happened to walk in in the middle of a very low-key jazz set. We quietly took our seats, as one of three parties tops present at the height of a Saturday night. He was appparently very agitated by the fact that we took an extra (very unclaimed) chair to pile up our coats, asking "do you mind if I take that seat back?!?". We felt very uncomfortable, and within five minutes notified our waiter that we no longer wanted to stay. He responded with an obnoxiously sassy "OH. Are you looking for some place more bro-ey?", to which we ran out the door. Pretentious and condescending at best.
(1)Amanda S.
I'm catching up on writing a bunch of reviews, so this is a few weeks old, but at the top of my "must-review" list. I'd almost feel like I was doing a disservice to the public by letting this place continue to fool people with a 4 star average on Yelp. The only thing I can guess is that people are reviewing this place only on the food. Is the food good? Yes, I'd say the pasta and chevre appetizer that we had was above average. The service? Hands down the worst I have had in the past few years. We walked into the small, quaint space on a Friday night around 8:30PM. The place was 3/4 full but there was only 1 server/bartender, and 1 chef that kept running through the front to throw out garbage, get more food, and we were completely ignored for about 5 minutes. We had reservations, and the server told us we could wait at the bar until he cleared off our table. Ok, you're busy, we get it. We waited at the bar, unable to get drinks, or even water since there was only one server and he was clearing off our table. No problem, but would have been nice to been offer a drink list or the menu while we waited. We get to the table and mention to our waiter that we purchased a "Bloomspot" deal. Immediately he seemed disappointed and I guess determined we wouldn't be spending any more money. (The deal cost $25 for a $45 value dinner for 2, which I agree is an amazing deal, but you came out with it, not us! So don't blame us!). Our server proceeded to tell us that the Bloomspot dinner only came with the choice of the two house wines, two appetizers, and two pastas. He disappeared for 20 minutes when we couldn't make up our minds on the spot. So after 20 minutes, we flagged the server down and at least were able to put in our order for 1 glass of the house red and 1 of the white- both which turned out to be awful. While we were waiting, we overheard a couple sitting at the bar ask the chef for a glass of water. They had purchased a nice bottle of wine and had been trying to flag down the server for about 10 minutes. The chef simply held up both her hands full of stuff and said, "Sorry I'm really busy". They waited 10 more minutes, got not attention from the server, and finally just asked if they could get the bill, corked their wine, and went home. I guess those people don't yelp... I also realized that we didn't get any water during our full dinner either. Meanwhile, the server still hadn't stopped back at our table. My boyfriend was getting really upset, but I rationalized that he was the only server and the restaurant was pretty full for 1 person to be handling almost 10 tables. But by the time he got back to our table, we literally had been at the restaurant for 45 minutes and only had our awful wine. Somehow it got worse. The waiter came back and we finally tried to put in all 4 of our items to order- the meatballs and mac and cheese appetizers, the rigatoni and the angel hair pasta. They were actually out of the meatballs, mac and cheese, and house specialty rigatoni! 3 items off an already limited menu! So I asked if I could just have a flatbread instead of a pasta since it was cheaper anyhow. No substitutions he said. My boyfriend asked what they DID have, which i thought was a reasonable question since 3 out of the 4 things we just ordered were not available. I guess that pissed him off, because he snapped back at us by reciting everything else on the menu, then disappearing. 10 minutes later he felt like he should get it over with and get our orders. We decided on a few more things and it came after about 25 more minutes. At this point, the food was an afterthought, but like I said, it was above average. We ate quickly since we were coming up on 90 minutes there and couldn't wait to get out. We asked for the check, and to our shock, our waiter had already added his tip into the bill at 20%. Really? I have never used a Bloomspot or Groupon where the vendor added the tip in automatically. Even at Charlie Trotter's they only add 18% if they are going to force it upon you. The final straw was when we asked for change for a $20 and the waiter brought back 20 singles. Needless to say we will never be back, great deal or not.
(1)Lauren G.
I'm really sad that I have to write a bad review for this place. Cafe Ciao has everything that the cafe of my dreams could have: unforgettable food, delicious wine and classy music. After two hours of wait, it didn't seem that dreamy any more. I understand that it gets hard when it gets busy, but I don't think that waiting for more than an hour for a food order (at a cafe that only seats 30 people MAX) is ever really acceptable. Even further, I was sad to find that when I finally got my food order, it was cold. Like, ridiculously cold. Like.. Cold enough for a shy girl to speak up and send it back. It was that cold. This review is really heart-wrenching to write. I can honestly say that I love the food and overall ambiance... But is it worth waiting two hours for your order? Is it really?
(2)Anne C.
Since I live in the neighborhood and this place is so cute I really wanted to love it. I didn't hate it, but it definitely wasn't love. The menu is limited, but after seeing how tiny the place is and that there were only 2 people staffing the whole place I certainly understand why. We went with a Bloomspot deal and as some other folks have commented, they seemed a bit disappointed that we came with a coupon. The server also didn't seem to know that there were limited wine options with the deal and gave us full reign of the wine list, but then came back and said there were only 2 wines to choose from. The bacon-wrapped dates were good and both my husband and I really enjoyed our pasta entrees. A few odd things about the experience: the cook often has to run through the dining area to bring in more food and to take out garbage. Also, as we were getting ready to leave, a homeless-looking gentleman walked into the restaurant and just lingered in the doorway for a few minutes before the server brought him a glass of water. He came in and sit down at the bar and nobody really seemed to pay attention, which was sort of an awkward way to handle the situation. It wasn't so great that we will be rushing back any time soon, but if we're in the neighborhood or need a casual place to grab wine and a bite with girlfriends I would stop in again.
(3)Don H.
For two years (or maybe even more), my company has hosted its holiday party at this location. What you have to love is the ability to take over a space with a bunch of super-friendly ad types who are drinking a little too much, eating a little too little and screaming country songs with a country theme about them. That's what you can expect here. Well, not every day. Though I have only been here for buffet eats and takeovers, I must say the bartender on both occasions was friendly and capable within the limits of what was offered to us. And the food was heavenly. They started out with many hors d'oeveurs followed by a parade of delicious Italian foods, many of which were new to me. They have a variety of what you'd expect (pastas, spaghettis) as well as some you wouldn't, like stuffed shells. I've not been disappointed and have always intended to go here for a proper meal. And I will then update my review accordingly. For now, it's definitely a thumbs up!
(3)Mike D.
Enjoyed an intimate evening. Wonderful food and near Merit School of Music. Great after a concert. We'll be coming back!
(4)Meredith K.
Another weird experience. If I lived nearby I'd stop in for wine. Its cute. But the service is like someone who's never worked in the industry before and the food seems to be an afterthought. Since my Bloomspot deal was expiring soon I called over for a rez. I love it when they act like going there for dinner is a big deal. They "squeezed me in" at 6 on a Thursday. This is funny because when I got there it had 1 woman on the love seat and 1 woman at the bar. The entire time we were there only 1 other table of 4 arrived. When I walked in since I had a reservation I wasn't sure if they seat your or what. I stood there for a bit unnoticed so I picked my own table. The guy comes over and goes over the options of my deal and brings me the wine while I wait for my boyfriend. The wine was good! We shared the chevre which was like a triangle of Laughing Cow cheese, unseasoned greens and some bread. Fine. I had the angel hair which was very saucy and garlicky. My boyfriend got the baked pasta w/ vodka creme sauce and sausage. He liked it. But there was no offering of cheese, or pepper, or bread. When he took away our starter plates he moved our knives and forks to the table. I don't know. After I use a utensil I don't want to put it on the table. It freaks me out.
(2)Elena C.
A cozy cafe with tasteful decor that felt warm and inviting. It's in Greektown which has since cleaned up from the last time I was in Chicago. I hade several tapas plates and they were all very tasty. It is also a wine bar but I did not sample them. And the gentleman on staff was courteous. If you are in the neighborhood, you should stop in!
(5)Erika C.
this place was perfect! very intimate and romantic. My boyfriend and I went here after getting a restaurant.com certificate. This is my second time in the city and this place had by far the best mac and cheese i've ever tasted! cooked perfectly and a big portion for the price. Our waiter was very friendly and this place has a warm cozy feel. Candle lit dinner, and live music. Wide selections of wine. Will be back next time i'm in town :)
(5)Kristin H.
So I'll start out with the positives. The food was very good and the ambiance was inviting. We ordered several things on the menu, I had the rigatoni, it was delicious. We were also surprised when we found out they had live music coming in later in the evening and the restaurant owner personally came out and invited us to stay to listen to the music. Up until the end, I would have given this place 4.5 stars, perhaps even 5.... The reason for only 2 stars... the service wasn't great. In fact, at points, our server was downright rude. I purchased a Travelzoo voucher for Cafe Ciao. My party of 4 had never been there before and the voucher sounded like quite the deal and reason enough to venture out of our neighborhood during a cold Chicago winter... the voucher read as follows: - For $20 (reg. $40) sample anything on the menu. - We recommend a starter such as the "eclectic" small plates and two entrees such as the house specialty rigatoni all rigo - Or pair two entrees with two glasses of wine from the cafe's "respectable" list. - For $30 (reg. $60), dine with a party of four and save even more. Now, the fine print reads that anything additional that exceeds the vouchers value is the guests responsibility.... totally fair. Now, if you read that description, doesn't it sound like you get two entrees and two glasses of wine for $20 (regularly $40)? That was how I read it... So we get to the restaurant on Friday night, and I tell our server that we had the travelzoo voucher and I asked him if I understood the voucher correctly, that we each pick one glass of wine and one entree (we purchased the voucher for 4 people). He said yes, that was the deal, and then as we all ordered the same kind of wine, he suggested a bottle and we asked if that was included in the deal and he said yes. So, under the impression that we could each order an entree and a glass of wine for $30 (which yes, does seem too good to be true, but that is what the voucher said, no?) we ordered an appetizer and a second bottle of wine, assuming that would be the only cost on our bill after the voucher was redeemed. We were surprised when our bill came to $150, after the voucher... so we asked for clarification on the bill as we were under the impression that 4 entrees and 4 glasses of wine would be covered under the terms of the voucher. Our ever so professional and kind server (note sarcasm) redeemed the voucher, I asked him to read it and tell me if I was in fact reading it wrong.... his response, "I didnt' write the voucher"... and that was that. Excuse me, I don't care who wrote the voucher, Cafe Ciao approved the voucher.... Cafe Ciao is the host of the voucher.... therefore, Cafe Ciao is responsible for the voucher... all of which I said to him. So after our server essentially tried to make me feel like and idiot, he took our money, did not offer any sort of apology for the misleading voucher, and stood behind the bar and talked about us (it is a very small place, you can hear, not to mention see him and his friend looking at us). Then as we finished our wine, he never came back to see if we needed anything else, which I did. At first I was also surprised that they added gratuity for a party of four... but now I can see why.... with service that poor, they are probably worried they would get no tip at all. I will not be back, which is unfortunate, because I did like the food.
(2)Andrew W.
Very quaint little place on the way from Ogilvie to the United Center. Much happier to go here, speak directly to the owner, see them eating their own food, get personalized attention, etc., than go to one of the nameless faceless places along the Madison strip. Will go again on the way to a Hawks game for sure.
(4)Ben B.
We stopped in for an afternoon lunch today. The staff was attentive and friendly, although we were alone in the cafe given an odd lunchtime, which allows for more attention. A fun but classy cartoon, something about Bellville, was playing on their flatscreen. My wife and I shared the bacon-wrapped date and spicy tomato chevre appetizers, as well as the prosciutto and fig flatbread and tiramisu. It was the perfect amount of food for us. The tomato sauce with the chevre was surprisingly spicy. The flatbread is about the right size for a single lunch without an appetizer. The figs are more intact than at most other places and it was plated with grapes, a nice touch. We'll be back.
(5)Cicele B.
Total gem! The food and service were amazing, it was like hanging out at the home a close family friend. I will definitely be back! Amazing!
(4)Kristen J.
I love this intimate dining spot. The staff is very welcoming, they have live music, and the food is fresh and creative. They have an extensive wine list and offer frequent tastings. I really like their meatballs and the rigatoni. The owner is a constant presence in this restaurant which really makes it feel like home.
(5)David M.
Rigatoni is to die for!!! Desert is good. Great wine selection. A hidden jewel in the west loop. Highly recommend!
(5)John R.
We came in with a restaurant.com gift certificate, so we spared no expense on the menu. There really wasn't a bad item we tasted; and we tasted most of the small plates and a healthy serving of the large plates. I would definitely recommend this establishment to a friend, and I would come here again because the food was incredibly tasty, and decently priced.
(5)Christina G.
This place is kind of weird. It's a cafe that we came to late one evening for a drink. Good wine. Sat on a comfy couch. It's very well-lit, which takes away from the ambiance. The crowd is eclectic. There was also a guy playing covers on his guitar--he was actually really good although the place is so small that it's almost a little too intimate. Especially with in all that bright light.
(3)Barri S.
Went to Cafe Ciao with a travelzoo coupon which was a great deal. However, the service was very slow and their flatbreads are nothing to "wow" you. Their meatballs are fantastic and I could sit and eat them all day. It's a cute little place and I love that they have board games to play with.
(3)Sara B.
The food was good but truly the atmosphere was so much more appealing. It is such a small and cozy place. Entertaining and really fun. WOuld be a great place to have a little dinner party or something for close intimate friends.
(4)Shelita C.
I ended up here with a girflriend after work with a travelzoo voucher since we were already in the neighborhood. When I walked in I was taken back by how small the place was but quickly got comfortable in the small dining area. The travelzoo was for $60 woth of food, including 2 glasses of wine. To be honest, I was nervous when I saw how limited the menu was but after tasting the food I am definitely okay with the small selection. The food was absolutely devine. My friend ordered all small plates; the meatballs, the italian sausage, and the macaroni and cheese. I myself oredered the tortellini in gorgonzola sauce and a small plate of macaroni and cheese (yes I know way overboard with the carbs). However, it was well worth it. The macaroni and cheese was absolute devine and I couldn't get enough of the tortellini, seriously, I asked for bread so I could sop up the remaining gorgonzola sauce. It was delish! My girlfriend said that she loved both the meatballs and the italian sausage, I don't eat beef or pork so I just had to take her word for it. I could definitely see how this would be a lovely hideaway spot for an intimate couple but for some girlfriends who were just catching up, it was the perfect spot as well. I recommend it, our server Courtney was courteous and kind and on top of her job. She told us about the live music on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as other promotions they have here. I will definitely be back soon.
(4)Kena H.
Perfect place for a date or a ladies night. It's very intimate...the size, lighting, music, décor even the smell says relax and enjoy. My boyfriend and I found this place thanks to the Groupon Now deals. We enjoyed appetizers, dinner, dessert and wine all while watching an old Italian film. When the film ended, we were serenaded with live music. It was great! Try the Mini Mac and Italian Sausage for sure! LOTs of flavor and good quality food.
(5)Philip P.
A small crew running this cozy place in the west loop. We were starving and grabbed dinner here on a whim. Apart from the place being completely dead (which had more to do with our eating schedule than the restaurant), the service and food were fantastic. My wife had the angel hair all fresco and I had spicy rigatoni - we kept stealing from each others plate and polished off everything! Prices were very reasonable as well. My only complaint is that we didn't hit this place at a better time with more atmosphere.
(4)Sonali K.
I became a regular at Cafe Ciao the first month I moved to the West Loop. I can say that I have had everything on the menu (that's vegetarian at least) and it's ALL good. Except for maybe the empanadas. They were always sold out of them and by the time I finally got to try one I was disappointed, but Julie doesn't make them anyway so I don't feel bad for saying they were only so-so. Everything else on her menu is amazing. My favorites are the spicy chevre, tortellini gorgonzola, rigatoni alla rigo (no sausage), and the angel hair alla fresco. Ok, so basically everything off the entree section except for the meatloaf (and that's because I am a vegetarian). And speaking of Julie - she is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She always takes the time to stop by and say hello and ask how everything is going. When friends and family would come down to see the new place, I would always bring them here for dinner. Cafe Ciao won them over as well. It's a small, intimate place that is the perfect ambience for a date or for a quiet dinner with a couple of friends.
(5)Mandy A.
I can't honestly believe there are any bad reviews on here for Cafe Ciao... I'm thinking it's one Food Network special away from being the next tiny place you can't get into. Look, it's a tiny, intimate place with awesome decor and great food. The way the place is laid out, the kitchen looks about as big as my closet but somehow they find a way to make amazing rigatoni alla rigo back in that closet. Holy cow, I think I want to come back once a week just for that. We just went tonight and I am still full, all for $35 + tax/tip. Wednesday night specials for $25 gets you bruschetta (with balsamic vinegar, interesting twist), two entrees (we got chicken pesto flatbread and the rigatoni) and dessert (a toasted blueberry muffin with ice cream and caramel...yum). Also on special was white wine sangria and there you go... cheap, fun, romantic evening. To the people who complain about the service, give me a break. The minute you walk into the door, any reasonable person would realize this is one of those places you linger and enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and it's really informal and they're not rushing you out of there. There's no hostess and it's usually just the owner and a server, you sit where you want and hang out and people watch. If you want "perfect", fast service, go be one of those yuppies waiting in line at Chili's on State Street.
(5)Julie R.
Trust me on this one - just go ahead and have the Gorgonzola pasta. Unbelievable! Small menu but good choices. Nice wine selection and a warm, cozy (yes, small) place to catch up with friends or for an intimate date night. We had terrific service on a Thursday night after work. Did I mention the Gorgonzola pasta?? We made a reservation but didn't need it. Why wait, they accept them :).
(4)S S.
We live in the neighborhood and drop by Ciao on occasion. It is a small place but very warm and friendly. The waiters and bartenders are always welcoming and funny. It's a good spot for a causal dinner and wine.
(4)shannon w.
I went to Cafe Ciao for dinner last night after finding it via Yelp. It was practically empty at 830 when we walked in - just one table of 2 - but immediately the bartender/waiter let us know we could sit anywhere and we of course chose a table where we could watch the ending of the Bulls/Cavs game on their giant flat screen. Don't get confused though - this is definitely not a sports bar - just a cozy, intimate spot where you feel like you're dining in someone's living room (complete with roaring fireplace, sofa and ottoman). The menu is small and simple, and at first I was worried that I was going to pay a premium for something that I could have just made at home. I mean, the whole point of going out is to do something out of the ordinary, right? Well, after the first bite of my angel hair pasta, that thought went out the window. It was beyond delicious - as was the caprese, as was the boy's rigatoni, and our sinful fried cookie dough/blueberry in a wonton sundae. We cleaned our plates - and they weren't small! In other words, the short menu is just Cafe Ciao's way of saying "Rather than do 50 mediocre things, we're going to do 15 AWESOME things." Also - can't believe the reviews I read on the bad service. Ours was fantastic - from the moment we stepped in the door, between the decor and the service, we really did feel like we were someone's honored house guests. The casual atmosphere, knowledgable/friendly bartender/server, and the (owner? chef?) woman who came around to speak to the customers at the end of the evening were all top-notch. We will definitely be putting this place in our roundhouse and going back.
(5)Sarah W.
Disclaimer: It pains me to write this review because I REALLY wanted to love Cafe Caio because I've lived in the West Loop for 5 years and have wanted to try this cute place. However, I did not love Cafe Ciao. Very disheartened. My fiance and I went on a Friday evening at 7pm. We made a reservation but when we arrived no one was there to take the reservation or seat us at our table. We were told by 1 of the 2 people working to find a seat anywhere...so we did. We sat at a tiny 2-person table near the fireplace. The waiter arrived and we told him that we would be using a Ruelala Chicago deal. He explained that the deal was incorrect and that we would only receive 1 glass of wine each (the deal said 2 glasses each in addition to 1 appetizer and 2 entrees). We were disappointed but to compensate for the misprint he gave us 1 additional glass for free. That was nice. What we didn't receive, however, was any water. So strange. The waiter acted as if he didn't want to be there either. His hand was on his hip the entire time he took our order and also when we checked up on us once. The wine was sub-par. The bruschetta was average...however it was drowning in balsamic. I had the margarita pizza and it was below average. Not cooked enough and it was wet in the middle (crust). My finace had the Rigatoni Alla Rigo (their specialty) and it was good. We will not be back to Cafe Ciao and I hate writing that because I am a huge proponent of locally owned and operated businesses....just not this one.
(2)Donna P.
Live in the neighborhood and went here for dinner for the first time yesterday. The rigatoni was awesome. Julie was our server and was very accommodating. Great neighborhood place. Cozy. Will be back.
(5)Daniel M.
My Fiancee and I ate here, recently (her 1st time). We enjoyed the bruchetta and chicken epanadas and pasta with sausage. The service was so so. The kicker was that our iced teas were $3...and, to our surprise, so were the refills! The tea wasn't on the menu, mind you...and it tasted old. We're both in the service industry, and would've thought the server would have comped at least the first refill when I mentioned it upon receiving the check.
(2)Carl H.
One week night when I wasn't feeling like cooking, I thought I would try out Ciao since I had driven by so much. It also happened to be a Wednesday when I noticed they have 25% off. I'm glad I did. The sauces on their pasta were AMAZING. Neither my fiance or I could tell which one of our dishes we liked better, so we just shared it all. Its also refreshing to go to an Italian restaurant with a simple, straight forward menu.
(4)Konfushus K.
Cafe Ciao is a great place to come in, relax, drink very nice wine, eat fresh, well-prepared small plates, and just enjoy life; not to mention that the prices are more than reasonable. The space itself is small but very cozy. Julie and Jeremy, the two that run the place, are very nice. They also have great live music a few nights a week. Overall, I'm thrilled the West Loop has a place like this.
(5)Emily M.
Cozy, comfy, and a neighborhood fav. We hosted my hubs 30th bday here and live a stones throw away. The owner is super nice and treats us like friends when we come in. We make it a few times a year and rave about the rigatoni. I even made a reservation to bring my parents there around Christmas and know they will love it even though my dad tends to be a restaurant snob. The service is super, the food is delicious, and the scene is just right. It is nice to know of a super fun place off the radar. I have gone there all dressed up before a night on the town or in my yoga pants for an early Saturday dinner. Highly recommend you try it!
(5)Ryan N.
Dear West Loop, I know you don't like going to any place that isn't the beer bistro or Market, but take a chance every once in a while. Do you like good italian food for a good price? Do you like to try new wines? Do you like nice indie restaurants? Apparently not, West Loop. This place is a total hidden gem. If you're in the area its worth your time to check it out- it won't even cost you that much to take the risk. BTW, ask Julie, the owner, for the fried cookie dough dessert. It's not on the menu yet, but its AMAZING.
(4)April P.
post spa day, the girls day continued. We went to Cafe Ciao to celebrate the guest of honors upcoming nuptials. Our group of 10, grew to 12, but we were easily accomodated in this quaint, cozy, romantic cafe. Upon entering, there is a plush couch positioned in front of a fireplace. Multiple game boards are spread on the coffee table, as well as a side table, inviting for a group game with your group or even strangers. The food her is divine!!!! Started off with bruchetta and the spinach artichoke dip. Bruchetta was nice, had an nice generous amount of tomatoes. Spinach artichoke was creamy, and chock full of spinach. For main course, I got the goat cheese filled ravioli with shrimp. Nice serving of shrimp, but wow...the ravioli was heavenly. The girls who chose them very pleased with this dish. Not to say, the others weren't. Some chose the rigatoni pasta with sausage which was a bit spicier. Tasted good first few bites, but I don't see myself devoring a whole plate of that. I'll stick with my ravs Dessert, again, was multiple choices. We all split the tiramisu, an ice cream dessert, and a third which i can't quite remember, but i remember being really good. All were good, in fact For drinks, we ordered several bottles of pinot nior, and all of us commented on how great it tasted, as well as how reasonably priced the multiple bottles we guzzled were. Thanks Mary! Have gone back two other times, both times still pleased with the place. On my last visit however, I was a little disappointed that the owner changed the decor. The tables seemed smaller, it was a little more stuff with the new table clothes. Maybe she was trying to go for more of a grown up vibe, but I preferred the chill, cozy vibe from initial visit I'd still go back for the food. Parking pretty easy on the adjacent side street, but just remember, you're in Chicago. Bring your quarters!
(5)