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Name: Caro Mio
Address: 1825 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL, 60640
Telephone: (773) 275-5000
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.96

Caro Mio

1825 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL, 60640

(773) 275-5000
Store is closed

Caro Mio Menu

Antipasti

Polenta Al Sugo

Portabella Al Gratin

Funghi Provinciale

Italian Pizza Bread

Garlic Bread

Melanzana Alla Griglia

Calamari Fritti

Bruschetta Con Basilico
Zuppe E Insalate

Minestrone Della Casa

Tortellini Alla Fiorentina

Pasta E Patate

Insalata Di Calamari

Insalata Di Casa

Insalate Caprese

Vegetales Mixta Alla Grilla

Cipollino Pomodoro

Insalata Di Fagioli
Pasta Fatta In Casa/homemade Pasta

Tortelloni Di Pollo

Cavatelli Con Salisiccia

Meat Or Cheese Ravioli

Gnocchi Gratinati Gnocchi

Imboltini Di Melenzana

Tri-colored Rotolo

Pappardelle Con Porcini

Pappardelle Con Pomodoro Secco

Fettucine Alfredo

Fettucine Con Broccoli

Agnelotti Rossini
Pasta E Risotto

Rigatoni Alla Putanesca

Linguini Con Calamari

Pasta Aglio E Olio Pasta

Pasta Marinara Con Basilico

Pasta Bolognese

Linguini All' Arrabbiata

Pasta Carbonara

Linguini Frutta Di Mare

Melenzana Parmigiana

Farfalle Alla Primavera

Risotto Gamberi

Risotto Gorgonzola

Risotto Con Funghi Porcini

Risotto Gorgonzola
Pollo (chicken)

Pollo Vesuvio

Pollo All' Arrabbiata

Pollo All' Cacciatora

Pollo All' Parmigiana

Suprema Di Pollo

Pollo Oregano
Vitello Pranzo (veal And Beef)

Vitello Vesuvio

Vitello All' Arrabbiata

Vitello Piemontese

Ossobuco Milanese

Beef Brasciole

Vitello All' Parmigiana

Italian Giambotta
Pesce (seafood)

Salmone Portofino

Salmone Alla Grilla

Salmone Vesuvio

Linguine All Pescatore Putanesca Linguini And Shrimp Sauteed

Zuppa Di Pesce

Frittura Di Pesce

Salmone Cartoccio
Extras

Homemade Italian Sausage

Homemade Meatballs

Add Broccoli To A Dish

Add Chicken To A Dish

Add Shrimp To A Dish

Extra Bread

Split Plate Fee
Dessert

Tiramisu

Strawberry Cheesecake

Chocolate Souffle

Chocolate Tartufo

Lemon Tartufo

Peach Sorbet

Lemon Sorbet

Espresso Sorbet

Coffee

Hot Tea

Espresso

Cappuccino

Healthy Meal suggestions for Caro Mio

Antipasti

Polenta Al Sugo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portabella Al Gratin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Funghi Provinciale [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Pizza Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Melanzana Alla Griglia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Fritti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruschetta Con Basilico [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Zuppe E Insalate

Minestrone Della Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortellini Alla Fiorentina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta E Patate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Di Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Di Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalate Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetales Mixta Alla Grilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cipollino Pomodoro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Di Fagioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta Fatta In Casa/homemade Pasta

Tortelloni Di Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cavatelli Con Salisiccia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Or Cheese Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gnocchi Gratinati Gnocchi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Imboltini Di Melenzana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tri-colored Rotolo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pappardelle Con Porcini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pappardelle Con Pomodoro Secco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettucine Alfredo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettucine Con Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Agnelotti Rossini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta E Risotto

Rigatoni Alla Putanesca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguini Con Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Aglio E Olio Pasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Marinara Con Basilico [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Bolognese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguini All' Arrabbiata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Carbonara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguini Frutta Di Mare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Melenzana Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Farfalle Alla Primavera [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Risotto Gamberi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Risotto Gorgonzola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Risotto Con Funghi Porcini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Risotto Gorgonzola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pollo (chicken)

Pollo Vesuvio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo All' Arrabbiata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo All' Cacciatora [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo All' Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Suprema Di Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Oregano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vitello Pranzo (veal And Beef)

Vitello Vesuvio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vitello All' Arrabbiata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vitello Piemontese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ossobuco Milanese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Brasciole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vitello All' Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Giambotta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pesce (seafood)

Salmone Portofino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmone Alla Grilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmone Vesuvio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguine All Pescatore Putanesca Linguini And Shrimp Sauteed [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zuppa Di Pesce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Frittura Di Pesce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmone Cartoccio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Extras

Homemade Italian Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Homemade Meatballs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Add Broccoli To A Dish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Add Chicken To A Dish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Add Shrimp To A Dish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Extra Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Split Plate Fee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strawberry Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Souffle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Tartufo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon Tartufo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peach Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemon Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Espresso Sorbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Tea [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Espresso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Randy G.

I walked by this place on accident once and wanted to give it a try. I'm so glad that I did! It's BYOB, the pasta is handmade, and the portions are HUGE (split something with others or plan for leftovers). We tried a few different appetizers and entrees and all were delicious. A hidden gem in the neighborhood. The atmosphere was cute and wait staff was very attentive.
(5)
Karen S.

We went on a Thursday night around 7:30 and it was not crowded. The dining room was about 1/3 full and it had a nice atmosphere. The host (owner?) was very friendly and we were seated right away. We brought a bottle of wine (it's BYOB) and there is no corking fee. We started with the bruschetta special, which was fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. It was good, but I didn't care for the dried oregano which was sprinkled on top just before serving. Fresh oregano would have been much nicer. I had the a special, homemade rigatoni with Bolognese sauce and topped with chicken parmesan. The pasta and sauce were amazing! The rigatoni was the best I have ever had, thicker than what you get in the store and cooked to perfection. The sauce was was total comfort food. The chicken parmesan was just OK for me. It was pounded very thin and was a little dry, but had good flavor. My daughter had the pappardelle con porcini, which was italian porcini mushrooms sautÃ©ed with borolo red wine, parmesan cheese and cream. We all loved it! The sauce was very flavorful, but not heavy. My sister got the pappardelle all arrabiatta con gamberi, which was a topped with shrimp and a spicy red sauce made with eggplant, onion, green and red peppers. It was tasty, but not as good as the other entrees. We split the bill and it was around $30 each, including tip. Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend Caro Mio. I can't wait to return and try something else from the menu.
(5)
Zack R.

The food was amazing. I tried the agnelotti rossini and it was fantastic. Perfect serving size too. Love any pasta with peas and prosciutto. I was eyeballing the cavatelli dish so that may be next up. The people I was dining with both had the pappardelle con porcini, which I tried and it was amazing as well. BYOB with no corkage fee is awesome too. Only knock I had on this place was that we sat for about 20 minutes waiting for our third person and they mostly ignored us and we never even got bread. But I have nothing but great things to say about our main server. He was great and friendly to us and even brought us a free dessert on him. One of my favorite Italian places in the city. Good portions. Fair prices. Amazing food. Good service. BYOB.
(5)
Priya S.

Food was mediocre. Polenta was bland. Bruschetta was decent. Gnocchi was mushy. Sauce was flavorless. Service was rude. Waiter gave us major attitude. The lights over our table kept dimming and brightening repeatedly. When I told the waiter about it he said "Umm ok, I'm not sure what I can do about it." Really?! So incredibly rude & inconsiderate. We were all feeing really warm so I asked the manager to turn the AC up. He said he would but it never cooled down. Chicago has far better Italian restaurants.
(1)
Jaimie P.

This is some of the best Italian food I've ever had. It's BYOB, and the environment is amazing. Delicious food and the best experience! I've gone back three times now in one month!
(5)
Michael L.

Chicken parm was really good.
(5)
Patrick D.

Absolutely LOVE Caro Mio. Service is usually excellent, but you don't go to a restaurant strictly for service... you go for the FOOD. And trust me, Caro Mio has DELICIOUS food. Some of the best Italian coupled with BYOB (no corking fee!) make this a staple in my favorite restaurant list. The Bruschetta is a huge winner. Some of the best I've ever had. The Chicken Parm is also absolutely amazing. An absolute massive piece of chicken (clearly, it's so big, the chicken must have been some Godzilla beast) smothered in mozzarella and marinara. Absolutely delicious. The side penne pasta they give on the side is mediocre, but its a side. It's not listed that it comes with it in the menu, so I won't complain about it. Desserts are amazing too, but I'm usually too stuffed to order them. The one time I did, the Tiramisu was excellent. Did I mention there's no corking fee? Hellz yes. One of my favs.
(5)
Bobbie A.

The prices are high but the portions are huge. I'd rather have a smaller portion of pasta that wasn't so gloppy and over sauced. I sincerely doubt it's homemade pasta that they drown. The fish soup was a bowl of tomato sauce, not enough fish or broth to call it a fish soup. The bread was spongy store bought. The place was packed a surprise to me given the mediocre food and the high prices. Glad I checked that one off the list.
(2)
Chad H.

So upon entering there was attitude from the person who sat us down. Puts a bitter taste in your mouth from the beginning. The caprese salad was ok...let's hope the rest of the meal makes a better impression. Well....we walked out. After ordering and waiting....and waiting...we left $20....and walked out. Never will I even bother to go here again. There are plenty of other wonderful pasta places in Chicago for the same price(s)....Rosebud, Calo Ristorante...just to name a couple. Never to be recommended...never to be visited. Ever.
(1)
Laura M.

This is for sure one of the top Italian restaurants in Chicago. Friendly family vibe, generous portions, fresh ingredients and BYOB!! Perfect date spot :)
(5)
Mary R.

I ordered a salmon entree, which arrived on a bed of pasta. I asked to see the menu, to confirm that no pasta was indicated; the server also didn't mention pasta on the dish. I explained to the server that I couldn't eat pasta. He came back from the kitchen, letting me know that I could order another entree, but that I was being charged for the salmon. I asked that all our meals be wrapped to go, but that I would not pay for the salmon. As I was helping my elderly mother to her feet, the manager came over "Get out of my restaurant or I will call the police." With all the wonderful BYO neighborhood spots, & all the reviews about spotty & rude service at this place, I recommend not taking a chance on this restaurant.
(1)
Alessandra F.

Yet again another highly rated neighborhood place with very mediocre food. Extremely overpriced for the location, the unoriginal and dated dÃ©cor and the fact that's also BYOB!!!! In the pollo picata dish the chicken smelled and tasted of fish and the spaghetti were ridiculously salty and greasy. On top of the salt they added more salt with the addition of capers so the dish turned almost inedible. My friend had a plate of sloppy "lobster" ravioli which were completely drowned in a globby white sauce and tasted nothing like lobster, more like a dry paste inside. Very disappointing experience especially when it comes at that price.
(1)
Ian H.

This was one of the most delicious Italian meals I have ever had. Not only was the food on point (bruschetta and chicken parm), the atmosphere was adorable and so old school. I'll definitely be back to the awesome BYOB spot.
(5)
Kathleen C.

We stumbled upon Caro Mio after trying to visit two other restaurants (one was closed, one was hopelessly crowded). It was raining and it was nearby, so we stopped in. And I'm very glad we did! First of all, the spot is very cute, darkly lit with tables that are close, but not too close together. it's BYO, which is also nice. We tried some pasta dishes and bruscetta - everything was wonderfully delicious. The menu was pretty large, but I finally decided on the special of the day. It was fresh and delicious and also the largest portion ever! I think we took half of each meal home. I thought it was pretty reasonably priced. Service was friendly and quite accommodating - especially considering we were late arrivals to the restaurant.
(4)
Dani M.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago. I used to live in Bowmanville so this was just a hop, skip, and a jump from me. My ex and I used to go here quite often. On the first visit I ordered the porcini parpardelle and he ordered some sort of Bolognese. The portions are quite generous as with most Italian restaurants so be prepared for an onslaught of delicious food. As we were unprepared for the enormity of our main courses we started with the calamari - nicely fried with a zesty dipping sauce. On our subsequent visits we decided we had two options: forego an appetizer and get two entrees or get an app and split one entrÃ©e. We never chose option two because it would have meant I had to share my pasta which was never gonna happen. The porcini cream sauce is so so so so so tasty that even my mushroom-hating ex loved it. I'd always have about half of it and then heat the rest up on the stove the next night. Service is good, its BYOB, and the food is delicious. Definitely a must try if you are in the area.
(4)
Megan M.

I have been coming to Caro Mio for years and I hesitate to write a review only because I don't want this gem to become overrun! It is a BYOB restaurant and the food is amazing. They never try and run you out of the restaurant like other BYOBs they let you chill and enjoy your meal. I would normally go into specifics about what dishes I liked, ect but I have honestly never had a bad dish at Caro Mio. Everything is simply amazing. This place is great for date night, large groups or a hearty meal in the winter. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Wayne H.

One of my go-to BYOB spots. Love that I can go here and bring one of my own, pricier, bottles of Italian red wine without having to spend a fortune at a restaurant. My all time favorite item off the menu is the gnocchi gratino. It's gnocchi with a Bolognese sauce baked with mozzarella cheese. I also like one of the specials that consist of penne pasta, meatballs, and Italian sausage. I've tried other dishes here as well and not one has disappointed.
(4)
Sarah V.

I feel betrayed by the current rating. I came here for a friend's BYOB work dinner and there were about 40 of us so we ordered practically everything on the menu. The bruschetta was probably the best thing we had. The mozzarella was fresh and the tomatoes were seasoned perfectly. Garlic bread- Almost charred. Polenta- Tasted like nothing. Pizza bread- Totino's pizza rolls are better. Free bread- Sour tasting. I had the chicken parmigiana for dinner. It was one gigantic piece of flattened, dry, under seasoned chicken with a blanket of cheese on top. It came with a small side of pasta. Since the chicken triggered a gag reflex, I ate the 20 pieces of pasta and the cheese off the top of the chicken. I would never ever go back. I feel like Caro Mio is still in business simply because BYOB Italian restaurants are rare. Believe me, you are better off paying for a bottle of wine.
(1)
Collin C.

This place was definitely worth the wait, and the portions are huge! We had a party of 4 and waited over an hour on a Saturday night, but I'm definitely glad we hung in there to enjoy their home made pasta. I ordered the Gnocchi, which was some of the best I've had. They baked cheese on top of the dish, but it was never too much to take away the flavor of the pasta. I tried the veal which was tender and simply delicious. I enjoyed the left overs the next day just as much. This is definitely a great date spot or a place to go with a small group. You can bring your own bottle of wine... Fine dining and BYOB, try it!
(4)
Brighid M.

Tasty food and good service. And who doesn't love a BYOB? A great place for a date night.
(4)
Justin B.

Giant portions of delicious food. Very nice staff. BYOB is great for a couple or larger group of people. Gnochhi is the best I have had in the city.
(5)
Derek M.

Great place in the area. They are very accommodating and can do large parties with a heads up. Food portions are huge. I would give it 5 but the music was the odd and loud. Service was great. Food was great. Portions are very very generous.
(4)
Charlie B.

Great BYOB Italian place. I would list this as a perfect spot for a birthday dinner (cheapish BYOB and they take group reservations). They do a great job with a group as I have seen a few times. Also a good parents in town spot. Large portions of pasta, but also quality stuff. Always try to pick one of the homemade pastas, which is surprisingly hard to find it seems. Pasta made in house and super fresh! I haven't had it but a friend of mine goes back about once a month for their risotto and swears by it. I love the pappardelle pasta.
(5)
Matthew F.

As with any restaurant it's not Italian without Veal on menu, luckily the evil Vegan Lobby lost because it is excellent here both the Parmesan & Piccata. Good food is worth the wait, so uncork the bottles of wine you bring with to pass the time. Awful acoustics, owner should consider window treatments: heavy velvet drapes would help muffle noise and block out the glaring streetlights, not to mention the rich feel the give a small space...and it IS small.
(4)
kris k.

I will never understand why some restaurants pay no attention to their bathrooms. I am just over the cheap bright pink gas station soap. To top it off, this place watered it down so it shoots across the sink and lands on your shirt. Thanks. Oh, and you have a mold problem in the bathroom as well. The food off the regular menu is solid, but the party package pastas are quite lacking. This used to be a favorite place, but this latest experience has left me wanting no more.
(2)
Becki P.

This is my favorite go-to dinner spot in Chicago. Great for date nights, visiting parents, and girls night out. It is a small restaurant but have only waited once for a table very shortly. And the fact that it is BYOB makes it that much better. It is darkly lit and feels cozy and intimate. The staff are all so kind and helpful. The minestrone soup is delicious, and they often have a bruschetta special that we always get. The menu has many options, but my boyfriend's favorite dish is the chicken parmesan. It is a huge chicken breast on top of homemade pasta with the most amazing marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Leftovers from the dish is usually one more full dinner. My favorite is the chicken piccata for a slightly lighter option. Never go without having the fruit sorbets, 4 pieces served on a plate for 2 and chocolate sauce drizzled on top.
(5)
Steven R.

I have been to Caro Mio about 6 times and loved it every time. Until tonight. My girlfriend and I enjoyed 2 appetizers and an entree. The entrees are huge, so we figured this would be enough. Little did we know, they now have a 'sharing fee.' We found a $5 charge for this on the bill. I asked the waiter why they are doing that and he said it is because they are byob. Now, it is not the waiter's fault at all, and I bet this is what the owner is telling him to say. So, because your restaurant is byob, we have to pay a $5 fee to share a $25 dish? It was the difference in our bill being $53 or $58. How desparate are you to squeeze a little more money out of your customers? If you are that desparate to make money, run a promotion or something. Its not the $5 that bothers me, it the principle of it. Well, there are hundreds of Italian restaurants in Chicago. Will be going elsewhere
(1)
Cynthia R.

Though this restaurant doesn't take reservations for tables under 6, it was no problem for my two friends and I to get a table around 7:00 PM on a Saturday night. Recommended by one of my friends, this place is a nice hidden gem. Food was phenomenal. I ordered linguini and clams and it came in a spicy red sauce which had just enough heat for me (the spicier, the better in my book). My friends and I shared two desserts: tiramisu and the lemon tartufo. Both excellent. Run, don't walk to this place if you want good italian for a reasonable price.
(5)
Tolga T.

Think about eating SALT as your main entree and putting some pasta and meat on it. This is your typical meal at this joint. One of the worst Italian dishes I have ever had. You may bicker like "you should have asked or complain". Believe me; I did.! The waiter provided every legit excuse to claim that food wasn't salty. Finally I told him that I didn't want it. It was just not edible. Here I am , sitting with my wife, waiting for her to finish her meal. I am upset but not livid. There is the other waiter with "I know what I am talking about, you don't know sh*t" attitude shows up. His exact words were " I tasted your dish, it wasn't salty. What are you talking about?" I am not kidding, it was the perfect case for a physical fight. Yet, I have been cool, polite and courteous to the waiters all night long. I have no idea where this other dou**e-bag came from but it made me LIVID. I will never ever go to this place again. In a beautiful city like Chicago, there are hundreds of Italian restaurants with amazing food and service. This place should be out of business. STAY AWAY.!
(1)
Rachel Z.

The first time I was here was for a birthday and I thought maybe we just got lucky because the food was the best Italian food I've ever had. I decided to come back with my parents the other weekend and I'm so glad I did because the food was just as good as I remembered. Honestly, this place puts all high end Italian restaurants to shame! The best, most pillowy gnocchi, the FRESHEST bruschetta I've ever had and I don't even like bruschetta. Everything is home made and you can taste it. The food and service are a no-brainer 5 star for me, my only critique is the female waitress who hovers over you to collect your plates even when you're clearly still fighting the pain to devour every bite (portion size is humongous). Price is very reasonable and BYOB with no corkage fee!! Honestly, you're doing a disservice by not going here if you're a foodie and love Italian food.
(5)
Kelly C.

Love Caro Mio! Huge portions, great food, fair prices, good service, quaint atmosphere, and BYOB.. what more can you ask for?
(5)
Jamie B.

Cozy BYO in Ravenswood. Tables are close together and food takes a little while to come out so bring more than one bottle of wine. Service was good, there wasn't anything we really needed and never had to wait on anything like water. More bread would have been nice but we weren't offered any during the long wait for our entrees. We were in behind a couple of larger parties and thus waited a horribly long time for our entrees, I'd guess it was around an hour. Entrees were great when they arrived, just a little heavy on the salt. The gnocchi here is heavenly- portions are large and you will most definitely take some home. I've never seen such a large serving of gnocchi! Overall a solid joint, I'd go back. Hopefully next time I don't have to wait so long for dinner.
(3)
Julie R.

This place is really good. I actually have been meaning to review for quite some time. It's been a while since I've dined here and look forward to my next experience! Bonus points doe BYOB!
(4)
Keith A.

Every time I go to Caro Mio, I question why I'm not here more often. Caro Mio comes through in many ways. For starters, one has to love that they are $0 corkage. Add in that the food is good and plentiful, and we have a constant winner. The first thing to remember about Caro Mio is that the portions are very big. This always has to be kept in mind when ordering as there've been times when my eyes are much bigger than my stomach. Now, the benefit of the portions being so big, is that if you have a group with you, you can sample basically everything. My wine groups try to do this all the time, so Caro Mio is a great fit for that. I wouldn't be giving this love to Caro Mio just because of the corkage and portion sizing. You have to have some good food to follow through, and that is case as well. This is excellent food at excellent prices. It's hard to pick out specific dishes as very rarely do I have something I don't enjoy. It's also well worth checking out one of the specials as I've always been impressed with them. Caro Mio is a major win. It should be in every BYO lover's rotation as the food is excellent, the service is great, and the prices are very reasonable. I have been back to Caro Mio, and I will keep going back.
(4)
Katie S.

So the food was really good, but i'm giving a lower rating because of the service. The servers acted indifferent and took a while to attend to the table even though it wasn't that busy. What really horrified me was that they gave my table the wrong appetizer - I had already touched it (didn't realize it was wrong right away), and they just plopped what I had touched back on the plate and then handed it to the table next to us! I felt so bad for them, they had no idea!
(3)
Jeffrey Z.

My wife and I came here on a weekday evening. We were only the second table when we arrived around 7pm, but the place slowly filled up during our meal. The bread they brought to the table was very plain and nothing special, and the olive oil on the table was extra "olivey," which some people may like, but it's not for me. We started with the polenta appetizer, which was very good and creamy, and the included sauce was awesome. My wife had the Rotolo, which was very good, but not earth-shattering. I went with the special of Chicken Parmesan with homemade rigatoni, and it was absolutely amazing. The rigatoni was off the charts fresh and delicious. The sauce was just how I like it: flavorful with a touch of sweetness. We didn't have room for dessert, and the portions are big, so expect to have some leftovers (that are even better the next day). The staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was quaint and inviting. Oh, and it's BYOB with no corkage fee. You can't beat that.
(4)
Marcela R.

The place it's cute... I think the best thing it's their lighting. The service it's ok, not really friendly thou....and the food is good, if you like over salted good. I give it 3 stars because the food was tasty, but I had to drink a gallon of water with my meal because it was so salty, for the record, I m not someone who eats unsalted food.
(3)
Jenny S.

Delicious house made pastas and huge portions! Plus it's BYOB! What more can you ask for in a restaurant?
(5)
Scott T.

Best Italian food in Ravenswood. Tight quarters. A bit hectic at the door. Can be loud. Sometimes the service is slow.
(4)
Roseann M.

My Caro Mio habit fell away over the last couple of years, thanks to financial issues, family issues, cat issues, whatever . . . I've been wanting to revisit and see how Caro Mio changed, if it has changed, since it expanded next door into the old Cuban restaurant, and since I don't know the dining room staff anymore. While the setting is still beautiful, the food has declined. Caro Mio is still BYOB without any corkage fee, and that is a wonderful thing. Caro Mio is open on the "off" nights of Monday and Tuesday, and that is good, too. What's declined is the food. In the past, as soon as you sat down, you were given a basket of fresh, hot, crusty bread, two small plates, a bottle of olive oil, and served choices of Parmesan, garlic in olive oil, or hot pepper, so you had a wonderful little selection to start with. It really was heavenly. That's gone. We got some common bread with no side of anything after we ordered. I could get that bread at Jewel. Big disappointment. My friend ordered the gnocchi of the day, and she liked it. A huge serving, of course - she took half of it home. I ordered capellini noodles with carbonara sauce. It was dry, dry, dry. We had a small bottle of olive oil on the table, and I liberally doused my entree with it, trying to infuse it with some kind of moisture. It didn't help. Somebody eventually came by to check on our food. When asked how my entree was, I said, "It's very dry, and adding olive oil isn't helping." I think the server nodded. Certainly there was no verbal reply. We shared a tiramisu for dessert. It was very good. There are specials every night. The basic menu has not changed at all, in all the years I've come here. That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending how attached you are to certain menu selections. For my part, I'm wondering if the kitchen staff has just gotten bored. I've ordered the carbonara in the past, and it was wonderful. I won't do it again. It's very sad to see a beloved neighborhood institution going downhill. I hope the people who run Caro Mio will pay more attention to the food and add some life to it. I've got several people who want to take me out to dinner for my birthday over the next few weeks, anywhere I want to go. Caro Mio is no longer at the top of my list.
(3)
Mister F.

Just okay Italian food with a nice location.
(3)
Heather R.

Cara Mio never fails to delight us! The food is simple but luscious and the staff is so friendly and accommodating. We often fine with our two young kids and although we go early they are always wonderful to us. By far our favorite dish is the veal with porcini sauce. So delicious and oh, that mushroom sauce is amazing. If they have a gnocchi on special, do yourself a favor and get it with the porcini sauce. You can thank me later. Did I mention it's BYOB? Such a jewel in the neighborhood.
(5)
Don S.

On my first visit I almost got up and left because I was one of 2 tables and had to wait almost 15 min for someone to even come over and wait on me. Then I was unhappy when I was told I could not have butter with the bread. I'm a warm crusty bread and butter kinda guy and it makes my dinner more enjoyable. So right when I had convinced myself never to return, they put the Chicken Parm/Rigatoni special in front of me and after the first bite they had me!! The food here as well as the portion size are excellent. Its melts in your mouth and you will be taking some home for sure. I do think its a bit pricy for Italian, but since its BYOB it sort of balances it out. So Food gets a 5 Service a 3 No butter upon request a negative 10!!
(4)
Matthew S.

I will give up my secret. This is my "go to" date restaurant. I am glad that the waiters don't say "You again?" when I walk in with a new guy. At this point, I think they should issue me a punch card. I like this joint for lots of reasons. 1. It is always busy - dates think I picked a great spot. 2. It's BYOB. So I can drink lots of wine while I eat the yummy food. 3. The portions are HUGE. For the price you pay, it is lunch or dinner for two days. 4. It is dimly lit. I really really hate commercial lighting while I eat. Plus, in that light I pass as attractive. 5. It's "tucked away". If you've never been here, you'd probably never even knew it existed. Again, dates think I picked a great spot. 6. The tables are close together. It feels very European. European restaurant choice = I'm cultured. Dates love that. 7. There is bread, oil, and spices to eat while you wait for the food. 8. Service is super fast. Even the most eloquent of dishes come out of the kitchen rapidly. 9. Amazingly friendly wait staff. 10. Great prices, great atmosphere, romantic if on a date - intimate if with friends. I could go on and on about this place. I like to order the pasta based dishes, because the pasta is so delicious. At this point, I've tried pretty much everything on the menu - can say that the chicken parm is definitely my favourite. The other thing I like is that my date always kisses me after we leave this place. That is kinda hot. If you too would liked to get kissed after a date - make a reservation at Caro Mio. OR take me. I usually put out.
(5)
Rachel S.

I finally went here recently after having walked by it a million times always smelling the delicious food. The ambiance is great: dimly lit, warm and inviting, and the tables are kinda cozy. It's BYOB, which is awesome. I ordered the pollo picatta and it was delicious. It was enough for two meals. If you order a plate to share, there is a $4 sharing fee. I will definitely be back to try more of the awesome food.
(4)
Hondo S.

Have never had a bad experience here. BYOB is a nice feature but the food & service must back it up. Caro Mio does just that. The food is top of the like & they offer the best bruschetta in town hands down. Service is on top of things, the entrÃ©es are really good & there's always a good selection of specials.
(5)
Jon G.

I ate here a couple years ago and just recently (Oct 18, 2014). The first time was a 5 star experience. It was a weeknight, and we were the only ones there. The service was exceptional and the food was excellent. Unfortunately my more recent experience with a large group of friends was not as good. The service was lousy, but it was a Saturday night, and they were slammed. It still has a great atmosphere, and some of the pasta dishes, especially the lobster filled ravioli were excellent. The fried calamari was not so great. It tasted like it was the frozen kind (not the fresh).
(3)
Alexandra P.

Amazing gem in my neighborhood. My boyfriend and I decided to go to dinner here, and it was cozy and authentic.
(5)
Casey F.

I've been wanting to go to Caro Mio for some time and finally made it there last weekend. It's homemade Italian, BYO with no corkage. What else could you want?? They don't accept reso's but seating seemed ample. We started with calamari, which was really crisp and tasty. They also provide the staple of bread with olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Hands down this was the BEST olive oil I've ever tasted. OMG. I wanted to put the bottle in my purse. With self control and restraint, I managed not to. For my main dish I ordered the chicken tortellini with fresh tomato sauce. This dish knocked my socks off. The freshness of the homemade pasta is virtually unmatched. The winning dish at my table of 4 though was one of the specials- homemade rigatoni with bolognese sauce topped with chicken parm. The dish was huge. The best part was definitely the noodles. They were thick and perfectly cooked. I've never had anything like it and I'm still dreaming about it. (My husband was sorry he ever shared because I couldn't keep my fork off his plate). Everything sounded perfect, so why the 4 stars? The ambiance was a bit lacking for me. Had we been seated in the main dining area, this might have been a 5 star review. However we were taken back outside to enter their private dining room, which I guess was open to the public that night. It did not have nearly the charm of the main dining area and I thought it smelled odd. It was chilly out too so the lack of a winter door left us shivering every now and again. But make no mistake, this does not detract from the meal. In fact, I'd eat in the bathroom if it meant I could shove my face with those rigatoni again.
(4)
Grace B.

This place seemed okay, but the food was so disappointing and terrible. I would have had better tasting food cooking at home for myself. Gigantic portion sizes, but there's a $5 fee for sharing. With regards to quality and taste, the cuisine is on par with bagel bites. Not even pizza roll level...very slightly below.
(1)
Steve T.

Small BYOB place. The food was delicious and was huge portions. The service was excellent.
(4)
Igor L.

Great italian food with a great atmosphere, if you live lasagna this place won't disappoint Very clean place not a long wait on a Thursday night
(5)
Vicky S.

Hosted a 12 person baby shower here. The only thing better than the food was the service! We brought our own cake which they brought out with candles then toke and sliced and served, adding chocolate swirls and whipped cream! Everyone LOVED the food and that's saying something as we had Italians there! I can't wait to eat here again sometime soon!!!
(5)
Russell K.

Best Italian in Chicago. My girlfriend and I live a couple blocks from Caro Mio and we've tried Italian all over Chicago and this is hands down the BEST. Highly recommend it for great authentic Italian. It's BYOB so bring your wine and prepare for an amazing experience. Wonderful service. Great for a date night or family dinner!
(5)
Lauren C.

Love this place. Byob, no corkage fee, and excellent food. Get the bruschetta... Seriously. Otherwise the lobster ravioli is to die for and we haven't tried anything we didn't like. Enjoy!
(5)
Courtney C.

Food was out of this world. Love that it is BYOB. I had the salmon with veggies, the veggies were just as good as the fish, and the fish was fantastic. Only complaint I have is about the service. Im not exactly sure how it works here, but someone greeted us, someone else uncorked our wine and then we never saw anyone for 20 minutes. We had to literally wave at a random server to come take our order, because several employees made eye contact, but no one actually came up to us. The other tables around us seemed to be getting good service, because the people that sat after us got their appetizers before anyone even took our order at all. We also had to finally grab ANOTHER server because no one came up to our table after we finished our meal and we were ready for the check. Maybe it's like a team effort here? I'm not sure, but thank goodness the food was great or I would not be a happy camper right now.
(3)
Damian C.

Remember the best sex you ever had? Pillow-clutchingly, lip-bitingly, sweat-pouringly amazing passion that leaves you breathless and satisfied but always wanting more? Caro Mio is your real-life food-so-good-it's-like-sex restaurant. It's like a gang of pasta-and-sauce prostitutes that lures me back to the corner of Wilson and Wolcott for more and more and more. Although they have plenty of non-pasta options, I cannot helped but dive into carb overload here. My first true love was the agnelotti rossini covered in chunks of prosciutto in a cream sauce deliciousness. I was then tempted by the fruit of the gnocchi stuffed with asiago and pesto (a.k.a. gnocchi stuffed with ecstasy). Most recently I have found a new love with their "special" - breaded chicken parmesan baked in mozzrella topped with a meaty bolognese sauce set upon bed of house-made rigatoni! OMG. Seriously. Party in your mouth... party in your tummy... crazy party in your pants! Meat bonanza! If I could trade sex for this chicken parmesan every day, I would*. (Totally kidding. I could never do that to myself. Plus, that would severely piss the S/O off. And me, too.). I wouldn't be surprised if E.L. James's next novel was "50 Shades of Italian" and based it on Caro Mio. The food here is to die for. No wait ... dying sucks. This food is TO LIVE FOR! Don't be turned off by the prices - the quality and portion sizes are WELL worth it. The plates range anywhere from $15-$22 (with a few specialty plates higher) but it will easily be 2, maybe even 3, foodgasms. Unless you're hungry like Chris Farley in "Gap Girls"; in that case, 1 1/2. This is literally one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in all of Chicago, so if you've never had any Italian in you, swipe your v-card and head up to Caro Mio. It'll blow your mind... and... other things.
(5)
Marie B.

I haven't been here for awhile, but it's still a dependable place to go. The best part is that's it's BYOB! The portions are large, but the taste is spot on. It's better than Maggianos, but not as good as Due Lire or Piccolo Sogno. It's a neighborhood restaurant & it's not pretending to be something else. I will definitely go back for the reliable Italian meal.
(3)
Nina B.

Excellent authentic Italian served fresh and piping hot! Remember to bring your own vino - it's BYOB.
(4)
Lindsay D.

Homemade pasta and BYOB. Amazing food and friendly service. Absolutely some of the best gnocchi I have ever had and I've traveled Italy quite a bit so I know how it should taste. Intimate atmosphere - all around highly recommended!!
(5)
Bee J.

"It was a Dark & Stormy Night...", no...REALLY...it was a pitch black night with epic rains that flooded the curbs!!! And of course, THAT was the night that my best friend and I chose to try this Italian restaurant that I found on *bing*. (NOTE: I can NOT stand Italian Food!!! I hate pizza, pasta and red sauce, so when I asked my best friend "What kind of place do you want to celebrate your birthday?", I was hoping and praying that he'd say "Thai! Indian! American!" (groan, ANYTHING BUT ITALIAN!) Since this type of food is not in my knowledge base, I reached out to several Italian friends who kindly recommended Italian restaurants in the Loop and Lincoln Park. I looked at their menus and their prices and said, "WTF!!! A meal for two is a car payment!!!" That's when I turned to *bing* and found this place. Aside from the great reviews that Caro Mio received, I chose this place for 3 important reasons: 1) FREE on-street parking!!!; 2) The interior shots! GORGEOUS!; and 3) They served FISH, which is neither pizza, pasta or red sauce so I knew that I could enjoy 'something'. Because of the storm, we were the only people in the place for the first 1.5 hours; after the storm let up, people began to flow in, turning the place from Private to Jolly. The hosts, (a husband and wife?), were warm and gracious; I told them that not only was this our first visit to their place but it was my friend's 50th birthday. Service was impeccable, fast and not over-bearing. And, kudos to the man who served us when he did NOT chastise me for spilling my entire glass of hard cider when I knocked it over while handing my friend his birthday gift bag. ~sorry, Caro Mio!~ I had the Salmon Vesuvio, which hand's down, was the BEST salmon dish I've ever tasted in my life!!! Portions are LARGE, so this one dish fed me for three meals: at the restaurant and two meals at home. My friend had Veal and he was in Heaven: he is crazy for Italian food and exclaimed, "OMG! I haven't had veal taste this good since my childhood!" We both ordered dessert: I had the limoncello ice and he had the mango cheesecake, which was delightfully served with a birthday candle and "Happy Birthday" written in CHOCOLATE SAUCE along the border of the plate. What a charming and personal touch! The prices are fantastic, there's no corking fee, the hosts were magnificent and both empty and partially filled, this charming bistro was a delight. I have told every single one of my friends about this hidden gem of an Italian restaurant and they've excitedly tried it out on their own...even my wealthy friends who can afford 4 times the price. Tonight, I am taking my other best friend HERE, to celebrate HER birthday: we are so very excited to enjoy their ambiance and great food. Eating here, this place allowed me to change my mind about Italian food and realize that it can be so much more than what I had known. GREAT restaurant! :D
(5)
Jenny H.

I went here for a bday party and I loved that we had our own room! The food was delicious, the service was great and it is BYOB so our bill was very reasonable. I have a gluten allergy and they were very accommodating and I was able to enjoy their chicken vesuvio with gluten free pasta. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Kimothee Z.

Amazing. Byob. Huge portions. The chicken parmigiana with homemade rigatoni is the best thing ever. Also the green bean and mozzarella salad is delicious.
(5)
Pat m.

Been there many times, always enjoyed our meal. Tonight, ordered chicken parm, and waiter asked special, or off the menu. Oh how I wish I had asked what was the difference.(4.00) I could Live without the fresh pasta, barely, but I have no idea where they got the chicken. Toughest stringiest chicken I have ever had. So disappointing
(3)
Frank D.

Four of us went to Caro Mio last night. First off, the service was very poor, that is slow for a not too busy Saturday eventing. Our waiter said that bread would be arriving shortly after explaining the specials. It never came. I asked again for bread when the good but overpriced bruschetta($15) arrived. The bread never came. I ordered Linguine al Arrabiatta. In the description it said julienned eggplant, onions, and green and red peppers in marinara sauce. When it arrived I was surprised that I didn't see any eggplant. I dug through a large dish of pasta and only found 5 small pieces. No red pepper. Lots of green pepper and onions. The cheapest ingredients were abundant. Not what I would expect in a $19 dollar past dish. I ordered this dish for the eggplant and arrabiatta marinara sauce. Hardly any eggplant and the sauce was too tomatoey. I left most of the dish unfinished and I complained to the waiter who was arrogant and unapologetic. I am from an italian background and have been to Italy many times and I don't need a waiter to condescend to me. I know far more about italian cooking than he will know in his whole life. The other's dishes were Ok. I would sum up this place as mediocre and overpriced. You are better off going to a restaurant with a liquor license. Chances are the bill would be the same and you would have better food.
(2)
Travis P.

I was blown away with how delicious the food was here! We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer and it was fantastic. The mozzerrella tasted like they had their own deli in house, the tomatoes were diced up with some delicious basil and a little bit of salt. I went with my in-laws, they both ordered the lasagna, and they were impressed as well. The portions here are huge, you could easily split the plate and still be full but be aware there is a "plate splitting" cost of $4. I definitely plan on going back and checking out what other delectable items they have on their extensive menu.
(4)
Philip B.

Hands down, best Italian food in Chicago. It may even be the best I've ever had. Byob helps keep the cost down. Staff is super informative and friendly. I'm incredibly grateful this restaurant is in my neighborhood.
(5)
Blake W.

So, so, so good. Warning: do not eat here if you aren't starving. I came here with my sugz for dinner. She had seafood linguini and I had the gnocchi, and somehow we also made it through an incredible chocolate soufflÃ©. The price is fair, the portions are huge, the service is impeccable, the environment is homey, it's BYOB with no corkage fee... And oh, the food. When you're so full you can barely move, you can waddle out and stop at Tom's across the street for a movie, then head home and veg, as we did. What's not to love?
(5)
Shawn O.

I had a birthday party here the other night and could not have picked a better location. I had 50 people and everyone was so happy with space, service, and food. This restaurant has great food, terrific service and great value for large parties. The staff was helpful as everyone else has talked about you can't beat the place with it's BYOB policy. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Drew K.

Had the dish with meatballs, sausage, penne, garlic, the point is that is was such a big portion of food and it was incredible. I went for a walk afterwards to help settle my stomach, I felt my forehead and it was soaked, thought it was the meat sweats but hadn't noticed it started raining. Love this place, BYOB too which is nice when you want pasta and a 40.
(5)
Stephanie M.

Had a wonderful time as part of two couples. They had gluten free pasta that, if I am not mistaken said it was home made and that delighted me. In my company, we had a vegan. Our waiter didn't understand what that meant. And after making a point that meant,no animal products, including eggs, and butter another waiter came by and instead of explaining that we were in good hands he was dismissive. And one of my guests thought that he had been disrespectful. When the waiter brought the food he explained that the bag that the gluten free pasta came in was corn and didn't have egg as an ingredient. I started to say that the menu said that the gluten free pasta was supposed to be home made, why did it come in a bag? And my partner kicked me, so I didn't press. Instead of Italian bread, they served white bread with a delicious garlic, red pepper and olive oil dipping sauce that was wasted on this pasty bread. The green bean salad was wonderful and they served it with the cheese on the side as we requested so our vegan could enjoy it, as well.When the bill came our vegan noticed that his dinner was ten dollars more than the other three even though we all had shrimp and meat dishes. I said it was 'because you were a pain in the ass.' And the cook had to prepare a gluten free pasta dinner with fresh veggies and olive oil that was overly salted. I don't believe I would recommend this place to my friends. Someone with special requirements should be catered to, as a guest, and not made to feel like a hardship.
(2)
Dallas F.

I'd read the reviews and heard first hand from friends of the amazingness that is Caro Mio. Still, however, I don't get that excited about going out for Italian food. Not that I am a culinary superstar or anything, but I've always prepared pretty fantastic Italian food at home. I saw no need to go out for it. Caro Mio changed that for me. Caro Mio was a backup choice after my original dinner plans fell through. From the outside, you wouldn't really expect much. It looks like a small mom and pop type of restaurant. The interior is nice, but not over the top . Caro Mio is dimly lit and romantic in the evenings. I like it. On my initial visit to Caro Mio I ordered the zuppa di pesce. It is amazing. It was filled with seafood deliciousness. At first I thought $25 was a bit pricey for the dish, but there was enough food that it fed me for two days! Well worth the price. On my most recent visit to Caro Mio I had the linguine alla pescatore puttanesca*. Another seafood dish, this time it was shrimp and calamari. It was fantastic. One of the best things I have eaten all year. Once again, there was enough leftover that I had the remainder for lunch the next day. It was just as enjoyable on day 2. Caro Mio manages to produce Italian food that I know I can't replicate at home. The service has been steller with each visit. The dishes I have had have been Italian culinary perfection. They also are BYOB with no corking fee. This is great because the food isn't cheap, but your booze can be! *Food trivia: Puttanesca means "whore style". Supposedly,the name is derived from the quick, cheap style of pasta ladies of the night prepared between "visitors". The more you know.
(4)
Stephen P.

Amazing food! Authentic Italian cuisine that tantalizes all the senses. It is a BYOB, no one rushes you to finish your meal, and the service is impeccable! My wife and I split an appetizer and an entree and STILL had leftovers! Would recommend to any foodie!!
(4)
Gary R.

Sure, its Italian food and you already have an opinion about it what it must be like. It's all the same, right? WRONG! This isn't your generic Olive Garden Italian (I had a little throw up in my mouth just then). Nope. This is legit homemade noodle, homemade sauce, delightful chef specials that will knock your socks off with flavors. Wow. Do you want to experience the difference that homemade noodles makes? Go to Caro Mio. You won't believe it. Noodles you won't see elsewhere too - thick, long, rigatoni style that were superb. Never had anything like those. Amazing. The portion sizes are huge. All 4 of us took leftovers home. We started with the calamari appetizer which was quite good. Not the best I ever had (Hello Club Lucky!) but very good. I had the rigatoni putanesca which was rich with terrific marinara sauce, black and green olives, and wonderful capers. Yum. My wife had the papperdelle arrabiatta which was a spicier sauce with amazing noodles. Wish I had ordered that! My daughter had a fabulous tortellini dish that still makes my mouth water thinking about it and my son-in-law had the best of all - a special with a huge chicken breast over the tastiest rigatoni-like noodles I ever saw. To die for. Wow. BYOB and no corkage fee. Ice bucket for the white wine too. Fabulous. Although the place is a bit disconcerting - we entered the restaurant and were greeted with "how many in your party" and were told "follow me". We proceeded to go back outside, down the sidewalk two doors to another entrance that initially said "private parties". While I didn't mind too much, it was brutally cold out that night and when they kept bringing other diners down, the constant opening of the door put a bit of a chill on things. But the food was worth it. SO worth it. I want to go back. Second best Italian food I've had in Chicago next to La Scarola.
(4)
DJ F.

2.5 stars...if I could. We used to frequent Caro Mio often, but the last few visits have been mediocre at best. And the automatic 20% gratuity added to our party of 6 Saturday night was the kicker. We were seated promptly for our 7:30 reservation. However our table, clearly suitable for 5 guests - not 6, was a tight squeeze. We were also crammed in a back corner, very claustrophobic and HOT. Overall it made for a fairly uncomfortable evening. The food was average. The chicken parmesan special with homemade rigatoni was excellent, but my chicken piccata special was bland. I ate half and left the rest. One person ordered the lobster ravioli special - all we tasted was cheese filling, couldn't detect any lobster flavor. Like my dish, very pricey for what you got. Another reviewer commented on the size of the menu, and I agree. It felt like we were looking at a Cheesecake Factory menu it was so long! Maybe pairing that down would help improve quality and service. We too had to hunt-down our server EVERY step of the way resulting in a hot, uncomfortable, 3-hour dinner. So imagine our amusement when we finally hunted him down for the bill - and saw that he gave himself a hefty 20% tip! Honestly - he should have been embarrassed. The service was that poor. I miss Caro Mio. I'm sure we will try again down the road in hopes that they clean things up a bit, but it is no longer our go-to BYOB.
(3)
Joan S.

Delicious. That is a word to describe my meal here. I had the lasagna and it was amazing. My boyfriend and his mother had gluten free dishes which they were ga ga over as well. The atmosphere is very cute and quaint. It is near the brown line, which made my life a whole lot easier. Being a BYOB place made the journey worth it as well. They home make their Italian sausage, which was scrumptious as well. I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for good authentic Italian food. I do have to agree with other yelpers when they say the bread that comes out could be better. Definitely going to come here again and try more dishes!
(5)
Louis B.

Went here for the first time. Service: Good, waiters were friendly, pretty helpful. Ambiance: Decent/Good. It's dim, tables are fine kind of close together. Appetizers: Decent/Good. Nothing special here but the garlic bread and pizza bread were both good. Calamari was also good, nothing exceptional Food: Meh/OK. I had the beef ravioli, the marinara sauce was very meh and the ravioli it self wasn't stuffed full or anything, but not bad. BYOB: No corking fee so that's pretty awesome. Overall: Meh, if I lived close by I might stop by every now and then, but as someone from Wicker Park I wouldn't make the hike out there. However, pretty easy parking in the area.
(2)
Jo R.

(Giving it two stars because Yelp removes it when it is just 1) The owner dared me to write this...so I am (I also assume he will respond-- if he does-- I am a woman and I think your restaurant is terrible. And no you cannot speak to my husband). I am that bad review. And you may be asking yourself-- oh is this an isolated incident-- maybe she is sensitive, maybe she is harsh. Well I will tell you. I don't cook. My husband and I rely on eating out. And this must be our punishment. Calling Gordon Ramsey-- I really just got yelled at for telling a waiter I didn't like the food because it wasn't as described. The waiter replied- oh that isn't good, because the chef is in a bad mood and you don't want me to tell him." I said-- ' yes I do.' Now I wasn't looking for a free meal, but I am someone who openly avoids carbs and if I knew the salmon I paid $22 would be on a bed of only pasta-- I would have said-- oh wait is there a side salad? But i wasn't given the choice. Now the humor-- the waiter got the chef. I don't know why I didn't expect the reality tv show ending. Maybe because I'm in my 30s and assumed we are all adults. But the chef came out angry-- and told me that I was wrong and that no one has ever complained about the food ever. Now I'm not a dumb person-- if you own a restaurant someone has complained about the food at some point. He said "You will pay" and I laughed and said "I will pay-- but you must know your food sucked." To which he quickly and cutely said-- I don't listen to people with that vocabulary. That made me giggle. I wasn't at my most eloquent-- but pay $70 for a meal you didn't eat and the eloquent flies right out the window. I will say that at one point after he looked at my husband and told him to 'stop me.' I looked at him and said 'from speaking?" and he said 'yes'. So all and all-- if you don't believe this-- go there. After you complain-- think about this review and all the feminist courses you took in college. It is that bad.
(2)
Matt L.

The food is typical Italian, but in very large portions. Great atmosphere and you can't beat BYOB. I usually get the simple dishes and they are always seasoned well (not too much garlic). Better to show up early with a large group as the place fills up fast.
(4)
Jillian S.

What a gem!! My husband and I come here often. It is a quaint neighborhood spot that has an amazing ambiance. The food is always sensational and we find this to be consistent on every visit. I even had my bridal shower here! The staff was fantastic and made the event wonderful! BYOB is just icing on the cake! Do yourself a favor and check out this delicious restaurant, you won't be sorry!
(5)
N H.

Totally decadent. SO GOOD. I had been wanting to try this place for so long, and was PLEASANTLY surprised by this BYOB gem. The only reason i took a star away is because, while the portions are super generous, a plate of pasta should never cost $20 plus. We started with the calamari (just meh, salty and chewy) and a salad on the specials menu, which was basically bruschetta on top of green beans instead of bread. SO good! Perfect light fare before a carb-heavy dinner. My husband and I decided to split a plate, the papparadelle with a creamy porcini mushroom sauce, plus chicken. If it wasn't ladylike, I would've licked that plate clean right then and there. Hands down one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had (and my mother-in-law is straight from Bari....best cook ever....sorry Nonna). Our friends had the half-moon pasta in a vodka sauce (just a little spice to add a unique flavor to the dish) and one of the specials - the fattest, homemade rigatoni you've ever seen in THE BEST bolognese sauce you'll ever have (plus a grilled chicken parmesan on top, but who cares! That sauce was PHENOMENAL!!) And then, to cap off the bestest meal (yes, BESTEST!), I had the most perfect latte ever. LOVE this place, and am disappointed it took me this long to make it there. You must go. NOW.
(4)
Linda K.

We have loved Caro Mio for years and the best part is that it has remained wonderful. Everything is so good we aren't sure what to order. Last week we had Salmon Vesuvio which marvelous. The salmon was perfect and roasted potatoes would make a meal on their own. A wonderful white wine and garlic sauce made the dish just soooo good. . Also had the pasta and clam sauce, also great. The service is terrific. And BYOB which makes it even better. Caro Mio is that kind of terrific little neighborhood place that a visitor to Chicago would never find on his own but would be well advised to take a taxi from a downtown hotel. It's that good.
(5)
Elisabeth B.

The marinara sauce was delicious and the pasta was cooked perfectly, but this place is much more pricey than a two-dollar sign implies. For one meal of spaghetti marinara with broccoli and two meatballs, the price was $30. The meatball was good, not great...and though they did give a generous portion of broccoli in the pasta, it was overcooked.
(3)
A M.

Absolutely my favorite Italian place in the city! Its BYOB and the food is incredible. I have never been disappointed. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
KC M.

Since I've moved to Chicago, Caro Mio has become my favorite 'special occasion' spot. Tonight we went for my birthday dinner with my boyfriend's parents and again, no disappointment. The food is great, the staff is incredibly friendly and there is always lots of parking. BYOB with no corkage fee. The portions are huge too, so even big eaters will have leftovers. The pasta is made in house and the ingredients are all very fresh. My boyfriend is a fan of the rigatoni and I love the porcini mushroom sauce. It's all kinds of amazing.
(5)
Amanda P.

This is my favorite restaurant in all of Chicago. The food is fantastic (Bruschetta you dream of) huge portions and BYOB, it's everything you could ever ask for. Did I mention NO corking fee??? BYOB and good food alone is enough to get me to a place but when there is zero corking fee and amazing food, SOLD forever. Be warned for first timers, when you walk up to it...it's in a little odd shopping center and at first glance you might go errr a strip mall restaurant..really??Trust me go inside.
(5)
patty H.

Wow!! First time here & planning on many return trips! Went on a snowy Sunday evening with 9 friends (Ladies Club) & was extremely impressed. We choose it because it was a B.Y.O.B but will return for the food! The waiter was not at all bothered about the variety of drinks we consumed bringing glasses to accommodate each beverage choice be it wine, beer or Jack & coke...he even provided a few buckets with ice to keep the beers chilled! Oh I forgot to mention no corking fee...extra bonus!! Now about the food...where to begin...calamari was really good ... almost perfect, the bruschetta had big thick slices of salty yummy mozzarella & the bread was toasted to perfection, the homemade rigatoni that was served with the chicken parm was about as good as fresh pasta gets & the sauce was amazing, the Risotto Gorgonzola was creamy & delicious just like risotto is supposed to be but the big hit of the evening was the gnocchi....little pillows of heaven...I am not even kidding when I say they were magical!! We were able to talk the chef into making us an order that included the asiago & pesto stuffed (yes I said stuffed) pillows of heaven with 2 different sauces...the creamy dreamy bolognese sauce was excellent but better still was the velvety smooth perfectly seasoned & absolutely amazing creamy mushroom sauce...hands down best dish of the night!! If you are ever in the area you will not be disappointed at this place & don't forget to order the gnocchi!!
(5)
Cassie S.

After a failed attempt at dining next door, my friend and I were lucky enough to snag a table for 2 at 6:30 on a Friday night. From the moment we were seated until we got out the door, the experience was top notch. Impeccable service. Food that makes me hungry just to think about. And BYOB to boot. It was especially nice that we were not rushed out after finishing our food, but left to linger over our (already poured) glasses of wine. The only thing keeping this from being a five-star review is $$. Yikes. $20+ for a plate of pasta (or gnocchi in my case) (that doesn't have any meat in it) is pretty steep. But it was delicious and I had plenty to take home for another full meal the next day. While it's a bit pricey to become a regular haunt, I have definitely found a place to return to!
(4)
Kyle D.

One of the best Italian places you'll ever go. Everything on the menu is perfect and make sure to get the passion fruit sorbet at the end.
(5)
Lorie M.

The food was delicious (great portions, too) and the service was good, however, I would not return. On a recent Thursday my husband and I went with another couple at 6pm and at that time, there was one other couple there and they had already ordered their food. When we asked for 2 separate checks, our server told us, "We don't do that". I can understand if the place was busy (it got busier as we were leaving), but come on, 2 tables and we asked? We normally also order appetizers, salad, dessert and coffee but we only ordered entrees because of this (I got it, IF is was busy, a large party or a weekend, I would understand). We went down the street for coffee and dessert and were given 2 separate checks, no problem.
(2)
Dave L.

Caro Mio is a great Neighborhood BYOB that has been recommended to me by several people from around the city. They don't take reservations for parties under 6 and will fill up on the weekend by 7:30. Park on Wilson for free-no permit required. My parents and I went after an afternoon concert in Lincoln Square. Come hungry because their portions are ample. The tomato salad and minestrone soup were standard for Italian restaurants and satisfying. I ordered the Gnocchi special which was gnocchi stuffed with pesto and ricotta cheese in a tomato sauce. The gnocchi was incredibly light and flavorful which sets this apart from a lot of places. The tomato sauce was clearly fresh and creamy. My mom ordered the chicken Parmesan with homemade rigatoni. Not only was it at least two meals but the rigatoni was incredible. I would recommend this place for any occasion- they also have a lot of group space available.
(4)
Russell F.

Nice BYOB spot. Food is good, not great. Chicken dishes are fair. The chicken they use is clearly lower quality and the sauce is mediocre. The piccata dishes and the other pasta dishes are good. Appetizers and salads were also very good. Service is also pretty good. Will give it another try, but won't order any chicken!
(4)
Sara V.

I enjoyed the experience. It was cute inside (if a little cheesy but it's an Italian restaurant which is the one place I will allow cheese to occur). Definitely crowded. And not just because it was a Saturday night. They just packed tables into this place. Which meant that it was still romantic, but also slightly distracting. The food was good. Very tasty and I enjoyed it all, but I did feel that we were paying perhaps more for portion size (the Biggest Ever) than taste. To be honest I've never had amazing italian food in Chicago. I've had bad, decent, and in cases like this one, pretty darn good, but never great. This was more on the level of really good food that your friend's Italian mother makes. Like I would eat it and love it but I would rather pay for it in bottles of wine and compliments than in $20.00 bills. I'd come here again but it wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)
Stephanie C.

I live nearby and have been here twice now, and the food was really fantastic both times. The garlic bread especially was a highlight for me--they put so much fresh garlic on top that it was almost spicy, so if you love garlic I would highly recommend it. Everything was very flavorful. Atmosphere was a little cramped, but they were very busy both times so I didn't mind. I also appreciate that it is BYOB--while I sometimes love trying new wines or suggested pairings, that can get very expensive, so bringing my own is welcome. Because yes, I am in my 20s and like saving money, which brings me to my only complaint, and the reason I am deducting 2 stars. Being young doesn't make me cheap. The first time I went here, I was with my aunt and uncle, who are older, and service was fantastic even though they were quite busy. The second time, it was just my boyfriend and I, and the service was really bad--even when compared to the table right next to us that had with the same waiter! He would come check on them and not even glance at us, it took forever to order our entrees, and later dessert (we were there for more than 2 hours), I had to ask for more water. And the whole time we were watching someone else get better service from the same person for no good reason. Was it because they were older? Are they regulars? Were they better dressed? When calculating a tip, I always start at 18%, and go up to 20% if service is great, or down to 15% if it's bad. Perhaps our waiter assumed we weren't worth the effort, and is now thinking he was right, since after being treated so poorly there was no way were would leave more than 15%. So now the next young couple will get the same treatment. I find this extremely frustrating. Due to the location and the flavor, I really want to love this place, but I'm struggling with the way I was treated last time and not sure I want to rush back.
(3)
Cody H.

I took a date here because of the reviews and BYOB. I was not disappointed. I almost always judge an italian joint on its veal, but was steered away from it based on the server's recommendation of the lobster ravioli. The service was wonderful and the food was delicious. I am not giving this place five stars ONLY because it is not the BEST lobster ravioli I've ever had, but it was close. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jeannie A.

Went there for a birthday dinner with a group of 15. We had 8:30 reservations, and probably got seated around 9:00. That wouldn't have been bad, except there is nowhere to wait, so we all stood outside. They do not have a bar area. This is a BYOB restaurant with no corkage fee - huge bonus! The portions are huge and prices reasonable. I think everyone in the group enjoyed the food. I had the special rigatoni of the night and the sauce was amazing. They do have gluten free options. Menu is huge. The place is small-ish and very loud. They do not have any music playing at all, which was strange. I would absolutely go back.
(4)
Beth P.

My boyfriend and I went here for dinner on a Saturday night. Everything was amazing! The staff was very friendly and we were seated right away. We started off with some yummy bruschetta topped with fresh mozzarella. For entrees, my boyfriend had a salmon dish and i had some pasta, both were delicious! We also loved that it was BYOB. To finish off a nice evening we split the chocolate souffle. Overall, we enjoyed our entire experience at Caro Mio and will definitely be back again!
(5)
Sandra C.

I just had my 40th birthday in their Private Party Room and it was a smashing success. I was able to decorate to my liking and bring my own beer and wine. It was perfect for my group of 40. They also allowed me to customize the menu with some my favorite dishes. Special thanks to Jean Pierre the Maitre'D who waited on my guests with finesse and great care. He helped my party go off without a hitch. I plan a lot of parties and it was nice to be able to rest at ease and enjoy my special evening for a change. Additionally, the food is AMAZING. My guests are still raving about how delicious it was and how they felt like royalty with the way they were being catered to. It's a homey place with lots of character and is sure to make an impression with your friends and family. You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Angie M.

Don't go expecting cost effective dining. Tis a bit on the pricey side. Or excellent decor. The dining room setup looked a little cheesy. What is UP with all the plants in the window? GO FOR THE FOOD. It's divine. The gnocchi with bolognese smothered in melted cheese is insanely good. The portion is ginormous with plenty of food for dinner and about two meals after that. What I didn't like was the pricing. $20+ for a plate of pasta? For serious? We're in a little out-of-the-way nook in Ravenswood, not River North. BYOB, though. That's cool.
(3)
Anastasia N.

Omg. Luv this place! Lobster ravioli was amazing! We brought our own wine and there was no corkage fee. The ambiance was beautifully lit and romantic. I went with girlfriends but this place would be perfect for a date. The bread was fresh and the service was fantastic. I will be back for sure!
(5)
R C.

Best BYOB Italian in the city.
(5)
Michael N.

Move over, Viaggio? Ummm....uhhh...it's close...very close. Like everyone has already mentioned, its BYOB, the portions are huge, and the food is delicious. It was Saturday night, and they don't take reservations for parties under 6. I was worried the wait would be hours. Luckily, they found a little table for my date and I, wait time = 0 mins. After eating 2 loaves of bread with olive oil and parmesan, I was ready for the appetizer. I went with the crowd and ordered bruschetta, which was mouth watering. They just take a slab of fresh mozzarella and thump it on top of garlic tomatoes and put it on a little piece of bread. Very simple, very awesome. She had the salmon picatta, I had the chicken parmesan. The chicken breast they used must've been from Foghorn Leghorn, because it was damn near the size of the table. Each bite was better than the last. I say this a lot but rarely mean it....I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Dan L.

Love this place. have been here 5-7 times in the last two year and have never been disappointed. BYOB is always a good thing, but they go out of their way to encourage it and make you feel good about bringing your own bottles in. Service has always been great. Food is amazing, Food Portions are large, and the owner always takes time to say hello and ask how things are. Have taken family members from out of town here and will continue to head here once every few months....
(5)
Courtney M.

I have been to many Italian restaurants throughout my lifetime and there have been many that have been on my "Look at that, they have great Italian food" list. However, this one topped the charts. This little restaurant exudes Italian culture and there is something about it that sets it apart from the rest. One of the best attributes is that they make their own pasta in house. It is also BYOB with ZERO corking fee which is utterly fantastic (especially when you come with a large group that loves wine). Upon entering Caro Mio, you will notice an intimate setting filled with calm lighting, amazing smells and beautiful music that extends way beyond the typical Frank Sinatra. The hosts and servers are on top of their game here, immediately providing cork service for our many wine bottles. Our orders were taken within the first five minutes of arriving and our food arrived very shortly thereafter. Let me remind you that I love authentic Italian food- I adore it. However, I had never had gnocchi quite like the way Caro Mio created it and I fell in love all over again. It was so delicious, practically melting in my mouth and you really can't put a price on something that makes you feel as though you have died and gone to heaven. The portion size was so large that I probably repeated the death and heaven travel process nearly a hundred times and it still did not feel like enough. If you love the Olive Garden and chain restaurants that are similar, you will be shocked when you head to Caro Mio. It is definitely different which is a great thing. I don't need to be a part of the "family", I just want great food and so I have decided to remove myself from the typical chain and keep Caro Mio as my go-to Italian place. I could probably go on and on about the amazing experience that took place that night, but really, what is the point? The best way to figure it out for yourself is to go there (AND YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD).
(5)
Coll P.

The positive here is that they don't rush you out-we had to hunt down our waiter from the moment we sat. It took 10 minutes to get water..then another for bread...then another to order...when we asked for the check, our waiter brought us the dessert menu instead. If I were on a date, I don't think I would have noticed the service as much, but after sitting in a dark corner, below the freezing air conditioner, with my mother, I just couldn't take it. Food was good and an Italian BYO is certainly a change, but it would have been nice if we were actually treated like paying customers.
(3)
Jules H.

First...the bad. And it's not even too bad. This place is small, you will be elbow to elbow with other diners on a crowded Friday or Saturday night. But the service, ambience, decor, abundant kindness and attentiveness from the servers will eclipse any claustrophia FAST! And then when your food appears...OH YAAAAAAAAA! Exquisite and flavorful dishes, BYOB!, fresh ingredients, lots to pick from, but not so much you feel dizzy. Great eats, great service! Can't wait to dine here again!!!
(4)
Chad V.

PASTA HEAVEN! I have been here a handful of times. Sometimes it is great and sometimes it is AMAZING. Great place for a date or for a group. BYOB which keeps the cost at bay. Haven't found a better place for handmade pasta and savory italian sauces. I've never had a bad experience. GO you won't regret it. To finish get the tiramisu.
(5)
Alicia M.

My favorite cuisine is Italian. I also love BYOB's. I figured at some point, I would be able to combine these two awesome styles of restaurants. But in my own NEIGHBORHOOD? Right under my nose? I love the decor and the lighting. I also love the fact that it was 8:00 on a Friday night and hubby and I didn't have to wait. Hubby is a sucker for service, as am I. Our waiter was phenomenal. He also had a side-of-his-mouth grin that made me want to order anything he told me to. When he said "garlic bread appetizer special with fresh mozzarella on top," I said "YES YES YES" Speaking of bread, they give you a lot, and offer you fresh minced garlic to go with it. MMM. Hubby loves Chicken Vesuvio, so he ordered that, which is just like any other place's Chicken Vesuvio. That might reassure some people. I could care less because I go for pasta! I decided to take a chance and go with a dish on the specials list. It was chicken breasts with portabella mushroom ravioli in a mushroom sauce. It ended up not being the best choice for ME personally because the sauce was soooooo rich. It made for great leftovers the next day though when I wasn't stuffed from eating so much bread :) Next time, when we're back (and yes we will be) I will be ordering some kind of pasta dish with red sauce to cut down on the richness! We were too stuffed for dessert so I can't really comment but I'm sure it's just as amazing as the rest of the food! Lastly, the only negative comment I have is that the portions are huge, and it's pricey. Entrees run from $17-$23 and they charge you an extra $8 to split an entree. Ouchies. Still worth checking out!
(4)
Steve N.

Solid Italian restaurant that is BYOB with no corking fee. Do you even need to hear more? The entrees may be a teeny tiny overpriced, but considering how much you save on bringing your own bottle of wine, who cares? I've gone many times, ordered many things, and never been disappointed. I also love the cozy feeling and interesting artwork. They've mastered the concept of an intimate neighborhood restaurant that feels classy and casual at the same time.
(5)
Heather P.

I have found my Italian -go-to finally! Homemade pasta is outstanding. Never realized how much of a difference it makes, but holy canolli, I don't ever want boxed pasta again! To me, it's the pasta that made the experience but there were other rewarding aspects as well. *bruscetta made with the freshest most mouthwatering mozzarella ever *extensive menu with so many specials that sounded delightful and made decision-making challenging *BYOB with no corkage fee *friendly, informative (cute with Italian accent) servers that gave us lots of recommendations (he also was nice enough to explain that the portabello appetizer might not be the best option to split between 3 people) *the bread and olive oil that began the meal was also accompanied by crushed garlic and red pepper *the portions were large enough for all of us to take home leftovers The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was merely because they did not have BYOB advertised outside therefore we had no idea and also I don't think the prices are outrageous by any means, but I personally can't afford a $24 plate of pasta every time I crave Italian. Although, saving money on wine probably evens it out in the end. So let's call this 4.5 stars!
(4)
Kristy N.

We stopped in on a busy Saturday night around 8:30 and the place was jammed. It seems that everyone in the vicinity was having a b-day party here with 10 of their closest friends. I don't mind waiting for a table but we weren't even greeted. Everyone was hovering around the front door, wondering if there was some order to the chaos. We finally were acknowledged but the host didn't take our name, he just said that he'd be with us soon. Once we scored a table, our waiter came to uncork our bottle of win. Not pour, uncork. To his credit, he did tell us that he was supposed to still be in training but they had to put him on the floor. The menu is very extensive but very pasta-heavy. I know, it's an italian place, but usually there are at least a few options that have veggies or potatoes. I ordered the Suprema de Pollo which was very good but heavy on the cream sauce. I would come back here but maybe not on a Saturday night.
(3)
Kinsey S.

The short of it: heavily garlic and salted tomato based sauces I would say are American Italian...not authentic to the least. Service was horrendous...which makes it worse since italian restaurants cater to not only the food, but the hospitality. Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen in the city, do not make the BYOB be the only reason you go there. Can't believe this place gets 4 stars. The long of it: My hubby and I were craving italian food and our usual spot was booked solid. So, we looked on yelp and saw that Caro Mio was well rated and that they make their own pasta...figured if they take the time to do that, it has to be good. We got there early-ish on a Saturday night at 6pm and walked int the door. We stood there for over 5 mins while the head of the house stood on against the bar in the back staring at us and talking occasionally to someone else. We were the only ones at the door, everyone else was sitting. This should have been an indication of the service we were about to receive. We sat, had a lovely waitress who was attentive with drinks, took our order of one app and two entrees all the while, the restaurant started to fill in. We were ignored for the next 30 mins, had to flag our waitress down who informed us our dinner was almost ready... I reminded her that we still had not had our appetizer. At which point she said "oh my god" and ran off to the kitchen. She returned promptly saying the kitchen is almost finished with our dinners but could hold them back a little if we wanted the app. I said fine, two mins later, we received our mildly warm app. Expecting our dinner to be out soon after since the waitress said it was almost up...we made eye contact with her every time she left the kitchen. Stopped by 2x to say they were almost done. then they finally came out 45 MIN LATER after the app. Pasta should never take 2 hours unless you are making everything from scratch to order...I guarantee they are not. Not once did the manager stop by to apologize or did we receive any type of apology after the initial thing from the apps. Ridiculous. The food was mediocre at best. It was definitely on the American side with heavy tomato based. Service, terrible.
(1)
Ross R.

Huge servings, but not great. I don't really have an issue with the prices, as others have, because it is BYOB. Certainly not authentic, but still alright. I think there are better Italian places nearby, albeit with smaller servings, which is an acceptable trade off. Probably wont be back.
(3)
John Z.

Went on a Friday night for a birthday party, fortunately we had a reservation as the place was packed. FYI, they do not sit you until your entire party is there, not a big deal. First of all, BYOB!!! The food itself was really good. We started with bruschetta, calamari and green beans with mozzarella. The bruschetta was good, the calamari was OK and the green beans were awesome. I'm not typically a green beans fan, but I will definitely order them next time. I had the chicken parmesan dinner with homemade rigatoni and bolognese sauce. The portions are HUGE, but they have a $8 split fee, so it's better to just take leftovers. The chicken parm dinner was amazing! The bolognese was fantastic and the noodles were perfect. Definitely one of the best Italian meals I have had since living in the NYC area. The other dinners looked good, but I think mine was the winner. For dessert we had chocolate gelato and tiramisu. I was a big fan of the tiramisu as the ladyfingers dominated the custard in their version. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Donovan H.

I love this place and the waitstaff is AMAZING. My friend heckled a couple of staff members and I did a fair amount of staring at our waiter in tight jeans. With all of that said AND being a large group, everyone at Caro Mio treated all of us as valued guests. It's difficult to describe the food without my mouth watering... We started off with calamari that was cooked to perfection. I had the spinach gnocchi as an entree and it was hands down, the BEST GNOCCHI I have EVER eaten. I had bites of the lobster ravioli and it was delicious but I didn't eat too much of anything else because I didn't want to (and didn't) stop eating the gnocchi. The portions are sharing sizes (for most humans but not me that night) which makes the food prices very reasonable. Caro Mio is one of the going on my list of best BYOB resturants in the city. I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Mike S.

Showed up on a Saturday night with a party of six. We called ahead and the host said it would be no problem to seat us. When we got there, his story was that parties of 6 should call a couple weeks in advanced. For a 'storefront' restaurant in a quiet neighborhood, it was packed at 8pm on a Saturday. They must be doing something right. The crowd was mostly older, save for the huge table in the center of the restaurant (there were easily 15 people at the table) that were in their late 20's and early 30's. There were only a handful of tables that were couples. The rest were mostly parties of four or more. The tables didn't turn very fast, if at all. As our party started arrive the host sat us first as a table of four, then as a full party of six. He encouraged us to crack open a bottle of wine we brought before we were complete. That helped enormously. Between the six of us we split two entrees and ordered another two entrees. The gnocchi my girlfriend had was good. I ordered the lobster ravioli which was good except... you couldn't tell there was lobster in it. The cream sauce it came with was excellent. It was a good thing we had plenty of wine because sober I would have been extremely irritated to pay $23 for a plate of lobster ravioli that didn't taste like it had any lobster in it. Including 18% gratuity for a party of six, the total bill turned out to be $152. Not bad. We also guzzled about four bottles of wine. The staff were attentive enough to recognize when a bottle was finished but too busy to anticipate and open bottles. A minor nit. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The host was gracious and accommodating. The plates were huge. I'm not sure the food was worth the price. But we all had a good time.
(3)
Aurore L.

PASTA LOVE. It doesn't look like much from the outside, it's a bit out of the way - sure - but goddamn the strands of dough they craft inside are tasty.... A cold and snowy night in January, a girlie date, a lost walk in the 'hood, a bottle of red wine, and the most amazing pasta dishes I have had in a long while. The paperdelle made in house are just perfection. You can substitute them (instead of dry pasta) to any dish your heart desires for an additional $2 and believe me, it's waaayyyyyy worth it. Get them with porcini, borolo red wine, parmesan and cream and you will sing R&B with angels for eternity. Yes, really. To top it off: the bread is lovely, the service adorably shy (our waiter was so quiet and timid that it was hilarious) and the beverages 'bring-able' by you directly from your favorite liquor store. Oh - no corkage fee either. It's very darling indeed.
(4)
Jen T.

Our favorite BYOB on the North Side! Caro Mio has excellent, friendly, and fast service every time! We go there all the time and the service and food never disappoint. Prices are a bit high, but that's to be expected at any BYOB joint, and the portions are huge! You'll be eating leftovers for days. Highly recommended little jewel.
(5)
Lucy M.

We went to Caro Mio last night. The atmosphere is really sweet. Great that it's BYOB. Service was really good. We ordered bruschetta con basilico as an appetizer and melenzana parmigiana and tri-colored rotolo for our main courses. The bruschetta was great. The main dishes were okay. Both had a lot of cheese. In fact the amount of cheese was pretty overwhelming and the melenzana was a huge serving. Overall, I think the restaurant has a nice feel but the the dishes were a little pricey and not that great. One other thing - when I first go there, two N'sync songs played. Pretty funny. They were so out of place. But after those two, the music got better.
(3)
Carly S.

The no corkage fee BYOB is great, but the food and waitstaff are superb either way! The prices are slightly high but most portions are huge. Really enjoyed the atmosphere as well. A little bit of a hike to get to from downtown but totally worth the L ride!
(5)
Jessica B.

A friend took me here last night (when it was freezing cold in Chicago and we needed something hearty) and holy cow it is amazing. I mean, wow. And it's BYOB. Win/win. The interior is really cozy but the tables are pretty close together, so hopefully you don't mind being close to your neighbors and hearing them be a little loud when they drink too much. BUT that's not a huge deterrent because the food is awesome. We had the bruschetta with fresh mozzarella and holy cow it was amazing. I could have eaten just an entire plate of that. And after staring down the menu for about 10 minutes because I literally could not decide what i wanted, I went with the half moon shells with ricotta, prosciutto and peas. I wasn't looked as much for a ravioli-like dish but it was really tasty and the tomato cream sauce that went with it was great, without being heavy. Oh and they have an entire section of the menu with dishes that include the fresh made pasta. I highly recommend ordering off that list, but seriously everything looks awesome. And our waiter was beyond adorable in his recommendations, even saying that if my friend didn't like her dish, he would quit that night. Fortunately, he is still employed :) I cannot wait to go back here.
(4)
Jennie T.

My friends and I came here upon a Binny's worker's recommendation. We had purchased wine and he suggested Caro Mio. The restaurant is BYOB and has some delicious pastas. We ordered the calamari and the bruschetta. I wasn't very fond of the calamari though. I don't know why I keep forgetting to read that it's breaded -- I prefer non-breaded calamari. But I have to say that it is at least decent. The bruschetta was good. Loved the fresh tomatoes. We also some cheese ravioli and gnocchi gratinati. I thought the ravioli were decent. I liked the gnocchi more. We ordered two more pastas but I don't quite remember what they were. One had chicken in it. My friends loved it, and I only thought it was mediocre. Granted, I wasn't feeling all that well the day we went so I'm not sure if that had any influence over my taste buds. I gave an extra star for the service. I thought our waiter was excellent. He gave us plenty of suggestions and recommendations and ultimately I think most of us were pleased with our orders (some more than others, of course). Plus we had a great dinner experience despite my personal opinion of the food.
(4)
brad p.

I don't understand some of the bad reviews of this place. Slow service? It's an ambiance-filled, slightly upscale Italian restaurant. Why can't you sit and enjoy your meal? Because let me tell you, you will enjoy your meal here. I've never had a bad meal, no matter if I'm there with two or six; on Valentine's Day or a random Tuesday. The portions are huge, but they don't skimp on anything. You do sometimes have to ask about the specials, but what's not to like about a place that's BYOB, gives you garlic and red pepper flakes to go with your olive oil for the bread and has such a fantastic assortment of dishes that you can't choose a wrong thing? The place is not noisy, even when it's crowded. On my birthday a couple of years ago, they let us bring in a cake. And sliced it for us. They'll make special orders happily. Just go. No wait, don't, I want to know I can get a table.
(5)
Mandy A.

Our fancy pants supper club came here a week or so ago based on a recommendation from one of our friends. The front is not much of a looker but inside the walls are plastered with bright, colorful art and paintings and it's a welcoming space. The tables are super close together but when we were there at 6:30pm on a Monday night it was comfortably crowded and luckily no one was sitting at the almost adjacent table. The best part is that it's BYOB with no corkage fee...woot. We downed two bottles of red like it was no thang and devoured some serious plates of carbs. I read here on Yelp that the Spinach Gnocchi was pretty fabulous so that's what I ordered and yay for cream sauce. That is why I work out. Husband wanted to be a copier but he chose the gnocchi special, stuffed with asiago cheese in a creamy tomato sauce. I tried mine and thought it was heavenly. Then I tried his and thought mine sucked, that's how good his was. I stole three more pieces before he gave me a look that told me he was going to stab me in the wrist with his fork if I took any more. And then I proceeded to eat all but four pieces of my gnocchi so it definitely wasn't bad but I was staring longingly at his plate for awhile. Overall, definite thumbs up. The homemade pasta dishes hover right around $18-$23 a plate, but if you're not a hoss like me, you can eat half and be comfortably full and eat the other half for lunch the next day. That was the plan that flew out the window after a few bites. Skip the side salad though, nothing fancy for $8.
(5)
Lucy G.

I've had good Italian food my entire life. Of course I would, my grandfather was from Sicily and all the good family recipes have been passed down to my mom, who is my favorite chef in the world. Also, I grew up in St. Louis, and have eaten meals on The Hill (the Italian community), so yes, I know good Italian food. However... Nothing could possibly top the food we had at Caro Mio off Wilson Ave. This BYOB place is small, fitting maybe 30 people maximum in the restaurant. Due to it's small size, it was pretty loud, a little cramped, and our waiter sometimes seemed to forget we were sitting in the corner. HOWEVER, after a long wait for our food, it was completely and utterly worth it. It is hands down the best Italian food I've had ever. The dish I ordered, the pappardelle with mushrooms and wine based cream sauce, was the winner of the table. (We all shared, family style) So flavorful and rich that I could only manage a quarter of the huge portion before I was full, and even after everyone at the table had their fill of mine, there was enough left over for another meal.The second place winner was the evening's special, gnocchi stuffed with cheese and topped with a mild creamy tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. Third place was the Eggplant Parmigiano, which was good, but very garlicky. Last place was the spicy veal, which I obviously cannot attest to how it tasted- I would never eat veal. As a closer, we all shared the house-made tiramisu. Which was topped with scoops of vanilla bean gelato. It disappeared in seconds. At which point we all lapsed into food comas, holding our full stomachs, groaning at the deliciousness and richness of the meal we just gorged on. This place is more pricey, about $20 a plate, but they do serve complimentary bread with olive oil and chopped garlic, and it's BYOB, so bring as much wine/beer/alcohol as you want, and they give you a tub filled with ice to keep it cold. Despite the somewhat slow service, I would definitely recommend this place to anyone. I also like the local art displayed on the walls for sale. Best meal I've had in a long time.
(5)
Anna P.

What a lovely little Italian gem. Went here for a romantic evening with my boyfriend and it was everything we were looking for - intimate, family-owned, delicious food, relaxing, and they do a great job with the BYOB: we brought a six-pack of beer, a bottle of wine AND a bottle of champagne and they accommodated all of it. The food was absolutely delicious and reasonably priced (although skip the bruschetta - it was soggy and gross). My only problem with this place is that it's really far from my house and sort of in the middle of nowhere - but it was worth the trip.
(4)
Erin G.

I have been meaning to right a review for Caro Mio because everyone needs to know that this place is awesome! Seriously, we go here at least every 6-8 weeks and every experience is tasty! First, BYOB, can't go wrong. Second, homemade pasta, can't go wrong! This is a neighborhood gem with great food and atmosphere. Great for a small or large party. I love, love the lasagna and my husband loves anything with seafood in it. You will not go wrong with anything you order here, you will enjoy it and have leftovers to bring home with you.
(5)
Graham D.

I know a number of people have reviewed this neighborhood gem, but it never hurts to keep the light shining on a really excellent establishment. You have to know they're good if they can survive for 11 years BYOB in a neighborhood that isn't exactly on the beaten path. But you come for the food, and it doesn't disappoint. Approaching the table with water, wine glasses, bread, fresh garlic and red pepper flakes, your server is ready with the cork screw and a great attitude. Others have commented on the homemade pasta- it does really make a huge difference in Italian dishes- and fear not for the portions are more than generous. Yes there are specials as well as a fairly extensive menu, all worth perusing. So in a word: go! You'll be dazzled. (Note: address on their card is 1827 W. Wilson, not 1825...)
(4)
Danielle K.

I went here with an out of town friend for dinner. Great service and friendly waitress. I ordered the spinach gnocchi (and learned the proper way to pronounce it!) which was rich but not too rich. Very flavorful and enough for lunch the next day. My friend ordered the lobster ravioli special which she said was excellent. Not too lobstery and just the right amount of richness. She also had enough for another meal the next day. My only complaint is that the soda came in a can and was $3. I wasn't aware this was a Chinese restaurant. Haha. I am definitely going back. Everything looked great! No soda next time though!
(4)
Paul H.

Caro Mio is a nice, independently owned Italian restaurant off the beaten walking paths in Ravenswood. With the company of two, we had several better than average pasta dishes. You can get boring old spaghetti if that's your thing, or something more unusual like clam linguine. The garlic bread was piled high with garlic, and the marinara was homemade fresh. The prices are a bit more than I expected (and probably keeping this establishment from a 5 star review), but we weren't disappointed.
(4)
Ted K.

For my 50th review, i thought i should review something from the past that i liked...and Caro Mio came to mind!!!! Defintely a nice little gem that i never would have found if it werent for some friends. the place is simple and discreet, but has some really good food!!! first off, it's BYOB, so grab a couple bottles of wine. i dont believe we were charged a corking fee either. We went a while back. I know i had some pasta with sausage/meatballs for dinner and not only was it a BIG serving, it was very good. The calamari app was reallllly good tho the place was very low key early in the evening when we got there but by the time we left(7:30ish), it was packed. definitely will go back...
(4)
Eric X.

[ Visited March, 2011 ] Maybe I'm living in an alternate universe, but Caro Mio was about as interesting eating Chef Boyardee by candlelight. I ordered the fettuccine with bolognese sauce and $4.50 extra for two meatballs. I actually received the parapadelle....strike one. The food was quite bland with hardly a hint of Italian flavor. Strike two. The meatballs were equally as bland. Strike three. The service was slow (4 pasta dishes take 25 minutes to cook when the restaurant is less than 25-percent full?) and the waiter accidentally mixed up the to-go leftovers with (not mine) with the to-trash leftovers. This was probably once a nice restaurant when the area was a dump, but next time I get invited I'll kindly pass.
(1)
mimi h.

Well, rude to begin with, rude to the end. Empty room, tried to seat us by kitchen door. Asked for most popular entrees and told today's specials. Asked for butter with bread, told chef won't have in house/doesn't cook with. Tried to push appetizers and desserts. Charged 10 bucks extra for pasta with chicken parm without telling us it would be extra. Chickem parm was dry and stringy, lacking crispy, fried crust. Prices quite high for such below average food. Portions big due to quantity of pasta under the parm. Need better chef to deliver better taste. Gelato in half a lemon was mere spoonful., at dessert prices. Room was very noisy. Decor was garish, left over from previous Cuban place. Instead of a relaxing, tasty dinner we left angry , out of sorts-left as soon as could. BYOB doesn't compensate for this low level of food/service. Chicago has dozens of Italian restaurants with better food and no more expensive and often less expensive menus. Wanted to support neighborhood place, but sorrily cannot.
(1)
Caroline M.

Caro Mio is pretty much named after me, so naturally I am a fan. The place really speaks for itself though. What I love most about Caro Mio is the dimly lit, quaint dining area. The dining area is always abuzz with friendly chatter from neighborhood locals and it seems to embrace me like a hug everytime I'm here. Dining here with special friends totally gives me that happy, fuzzy feeling so it was the perfect destination for an intimate and sentimental sendoff dinner for a special friend who is moving overseas. It's BYOB, which I am a fan of. The food is exceptionally tasty but pricey. I paid $21.95 for a huge portion of Spinach Gnocchi. It was pillowy, creamy, delicious and I had plenty leftover to take home-but I can get something equivalent to this for about half the price downtown at Quartino's. The only downfall of this place. Regardless of the price factor and me being a baller-on-a-budget, I will no doubt come back. Caro Mio is a great place for a date or gathering of close friends and family.
(4)
Michelle L.

This place is absolutely amazing! By far the best italian food in Chicago and the staff is always very nice as well! You have to get the Gnocchi it is so delicious!
(5)
Adele n.

I love Caro Mio. I just plain love it. It's romantic and special, warm and cozy, friendly and inviting, and the food is delicious. I love the homemade pasta and I love the slightly salty marinara sauce. The specials are always intriguing and the chef has even created a veggie alternative to a listed dish for me. And BYO always rules. Even if the food were just so-so, this would still be a 5-star experience for me. I just feel a rush of good vibes when I walk in here -- it's a combination of the pretty red walls and nice golden lighting, the local art on the walls, the sweet waiters, the charmingly mismatched place settings, and all the smiling happy customers. This is a good place to celebrate and be happy.
(5)
Jackie O.

This is a cute place in a nice location, and I always do love a BYOB. However, there was something lacking when I tried this place out. On a slow weeknight, our server kept disappearing into the kitchen, and wouldn't come and check on us except for the obligatory moments: to take our food order, to check that we received our food, to ask if we wanted dessert, and to bring the bill. We saw our busser quite often, and was very attentive - although didn't seem to speak much English. The person I was with had a delicious lobster ravioli in marscapone cream sauce, which was quite good, but I was disappointed by my braciole. Overall, it's a nice little weekday spot, but I can't see myself making a trip here without being in the neighborhood.
(2)
Simone T.

Was here just last night: I had the tortellini alla fiorentina soup, followed by the Ossoobuco alla Milanese. Huge portions - I had enough leftovers for dinner tonight & lunch tomorrow. It's my third time; a bit pricey, but again, the portions are huge and delicious. But such tiny tables for such huge plates!
(4)
Jeff V.

Went last Saturday with a group of friends and I was very impressed. The only reason I did not put 5 stars is because the lack of space. You are right on top of each other. As for the food I ordered the bruchesseta for an appetizer and it tasted tremendously fresh, the gnocchi special which had a pesto and cheese filling smothered in an orange marinara sauce. Sooo good. I will go back.
(4)
molly w.

Quoted 1.5 hour wait turned into 2 hours until we were sat.... and another 45 minutes until eating. So, initially entering the restaurant at 7:30pm on a Saturday (table for 2) equated to eating dinner closer to 11pm. Awesome. Aside from the long wait, the service was terrible. Host with an attitude, not given utensils or napkins (half way through our appetizer I got sick of wiping my hands on the tablecloth and got up to get my own). Food was fine, nothing special, especially for the prices! $22 for box pasta with meatballs?!?! Fortunately the wine we brought was excellent - but of course had to wait too long for the waiter to open it. Won't return.
(2)
Jeff G.

probably a 3.75 for food but a 2.5ish for menu options and service. the food was indeed above average in quality and portion size was huge, though it was also expensive, but i liked the BYO aspect. however, they really only had one salad on the menu which was tucked away in the corner like "don't order me, i am just a house salad" i thought my entree of meatball and sausage w pasta was well balanced, but da wife had the pollo arrabiatta which consisted of 4 huge pieces of chicken and a tiny side of pasta. i understand italian menus with the different courses and that, but to me, why give some 4 times the protein they need and 1/4 of the pasta they would need. why not make the dish half pasta and half protein? and the service was slow
(3)
Lyn L.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. And BYOB without a corkage fee! I wouldn't put it up there with Spiaggia, but... You can't beat the homemade pasta. Never had a bad meal. Unpretentious, accommodates large groups. Prices are totally reasonable. If it were closer to the el, I would be there every week. In fact, I haven't been in like two years, and really feel the need to go... tonight.
(5)
Hugh S.

I had a great time here! We got to the restaurant around 8pm on a Saturday night. GF had been here several times and she warned me that we probably would be waiting 45 mins for a table since they do not accept reservations. Luckily we were seated inside of 10 minutes. The place is bustling with conversation and wonderful aromas. The bright red walls are decorated with many little whimsical framed pictures. We were seated in the main dining room and right behind us was a picture window opening to a small banquet space. As close as the tables were to one another you didn't feel like you were crammed in next to your fellow diners. At the start they bring you fresh italian bread and offer you garlic and red pepper as a topping. We started off with the insalate caprese and the portobella al gratin. The juicy tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balanced well with the oven-baked giant mushroom smothered with homemade sauce and melted cheese. She ordered the Lobster Ravioli entree in a yummy cream sauce and I had the Lasagna Caro Mio, piping hot with meat sauce. BYOB so we brought a bottle of Sangiovese and a bottle of Grappa (we went all in). For dessert I had the tiramisu and GF had a Chocolate Tartufo (sp?) something or other. Service was very prompt and courteous. We were never waiting long for the next dish. A very pleasant dining experience.
(5)
Brent W.

Oh lawdy, you talk about missing out on something good, and it's only a few blocks from my friends place. Of late, i've been more and more impressed with the italian dining scene in Chicago and Caro is ridiculously good on sooo many levels. Let's break it down...from the very start (which was a phone call to determine what sort of fish they were featuring that eve)....the owners son answers all my questions in an extraordinarily detailed and congenial way, and then says at the end of the phone conversation 1. don't forget to bring a bottle or some beer and 2. oh and my sister just made up some great homemade ravioli today, you should defo check it out. Every bit of that convo told me everything I love about a true local neighborhood family run biz...passion and personalization personified, or the Triple P if you will. Ok, so we walk to the place and step into a very tight quartered, medium sized space with incredible color, lighting and great decor. The space is fantastic and I sat in a spot where upon looking further at this large opening in the wall that separated the two rooms that Caro is comprised of, it had a "mirror" effect, in that it actually looked like a giant mirror reflecting the main room we were sat in, but in actuality was just, well, the opening in the wall. Food: Bread service was insanely fresh and (of course) homemade....it included a trio of fresh crushed garlic in olive oil, red pepper flakes and fresh parm cheese. So simple yet a great way to separate yourself from the endless Italian spots Chicago offers. Main: Salmon Vesuvio. Holy. Bananas!! (to coin a Caroline A.ism) In short, one of the best tasting dishes I've had the pleasure of eating. The flavors were so spot on and I cannot say anything else to justify its greatness other than superfrajalisticexpealidocious. Service: Excellent and our server accommodated one of the most fastidious and diet restricted people on the planet. That's it, passed on dessert and ate some Fannie Mae's back home. This place will be in heavy rotation for the foreseeable.
(5)
Becky S.

I came here with two girlfriends last weekend for dinner, and I was really impressed with the food. I had the special of gnocchi in arrabiata sauce, and it was really delicious. The gnocchi were filled with ricotta and were such light perfect little pillows. The service was very good and my friends enjoyed the BYOB policy. We got there at 6:30 on a Saturday and got a table without much of a wait but by the time we left there was quite a crowd at the door. The only thing that I did not care for was that when the host sat us, he let us know that they needed the table for a large party at 8:1 5 PM. We felt a little rushed at the end knowing that and wished we could have stayed a little longer. Despite that awkward encounter, the food was so good, I am really looking forward to returning. I would give 4.5 stars but I am thinking about those gnocchi again and will bump it to 5 stars.
(5)
Phil F.

As a food product developer, I know what certain things taste like....including MSG and other flavor enhancers (like disodium inosonate and disodium guanylate). This place uses either MSG as an ingredient or commercial sauce mixes or bases which include these ingredients. I think that is cheating. I will say that the calamari salad was super good though! After that I just tasted that familiar taste that one finds in cheetos, doritos or boxed mac and cheese mix......which really does make everything taste better, but its just not right for a restaurant to rely on something so easy. Just think of that pleasant salivation and mild buffered saltiness you are left with. And an $8 fee to split an entree?! Stupid, especially when the portions are monstrous. Won't go back.
(2)
M B.

I went here on a Sunday evening with my parents and while I expected it to be good, nothing could prepare me for how good. First off, its BYOB with no corking fee! Awesome. Secondly our waiter was really friendly and attentive and gave great advice as to what to pick on the menu. I had a pumpkin risotto that was out of this world, it clearly was fresh pumpkin, none of that canned garbage. My parents split the homemade rigatoni with a huge piece of chicken parm on top, it could honestly feed an army and it was so reasonably priced! This is a definite romantic date spot or a warm family outing. I also love that they support local artists and have their art on sale on the walls. This place definitely deserves every star!
(5)
Beth W.

I think Caro Mio is a good byob option. Some dishes are awesome and some are just okay. The dishes are very hearty- you can tell they use a lot of cream and butter. The porcini pappardelle is outstanding! Large portions hit or miss entres. The decor is interesting. I will continue to go back but its not my favorite in the world.
(3)
Bev h.

i would first like to apologize to caro mio for lessening their cozy, romantic atmosphere with our bachelorette party the other week. a big thanks to the staff for ignoring the "blow job bib" our lucky bride-to-be was wearing, and a special thanks to our sexy waiter for entertaining (if not accomodating) my request for body shots off of him. all that aside (hey, it's byob- don't judge), the food here is Amazing. i will go so far as to say that this might be as good or better than la gondola! from the lobster ravioli to the ricotta-stuffed spinach gnocchi in gorgonzola cream sauce, the pasta here is drool on yourself good. all that, and close to my hood? hell yes. i'll be back soon!
(5)
Catherine S.

We wanted to try this place for a long time since it's just around the corner, so we dropped in on a weeknight. The service here on a Wednesday night was attentive and I love the fact gthat it's BYOB. However, it is heavy, heavy, heavy on the parts of American Italian cuisine that I really don't like--i.e. lots of raw garlic in everything and heavy red sauce on most items that gave me serious indigestion for the rest of the night. We started with the brushetta, sans mozzarella as we were both hoping for a lighter meal. It was okay, but lacking fresh basil and the overabundance of raw garlic wasn't doing it for me. I wanted something with lots of veggies, so I selected two apps: the sauteed mushrooms with wine and the eggplant with mozz. Unfortunately, both were smothered in a red sauce that had lots of raw garlic (not sauteed at all--clearly just stirred into the sauce) and both were oversalted and heavy. The house bread was soft, bland, and not crusty at all--clearly store bought, so it wasn't great to sop up the veggies as I'd hoped. My husband had homemade papardelle with an eggplant sauce. The eggplant were nice, but the sauce was again, full of that raw garlic. Maybe if we would've gotten a non-red sauce dish (i.e. one of the cream sauces), this would've been remedied, as their homemade pasta had a nice texture and flavor. But we aren't huge fans of heavy on the cheese and cream sauces. BTW--the portions here are HUGE, but pricey ($22 for a simple vegetarian pasta dish?), and they charge you $8 to split an entree. So, we left here having had an app and the equivalent of two veg entrees with no alcohol or dessert for over $60. Pretty pricey, if you ask me. Which all leads me to: who said that raw garlic = Italian? I don't know, unless you're lightly seasoning with raw garlic in an app or dressing. Raw garlic has no place in a cooked sauce! Or as a topping for bread (though rubbing a slice of toasted bread lightly with a garlic clove is a good idea)! No one does that in Italy--just ask Marcella Hazan ( bit.ly/gKo14W ): Q. What is the biggest mistake we still make in cooking Italian food? A. Too much garlic! Too much ruins everything. We say in Italy that what you keep out is as important as what you put in. Carol Mio--remember that: what you keep out is as important as what you put in. I'll be going elsewhere for Italian, or cooking my own at home.
(2)
Julie Z.

Go Italia! This food reminds me of traveling in Italy. I've always been impressed and so have the many friends I have recommended this place to. Besides the awesome food, the staff is beyond nice...always smiling and accommodating. Great ambiance as well.
(4)
natalie v.

BYOB Italian. Come with an appetite...a large one. The portions are giant, so you'll eat for a couple of days. My dad said that they have the best lasagna he's ever eaten. I loved the chicken picatta. The homemade pasta is delightful and perfectly al dente. Just don't go here when you need to watch your carb or caloric itake. The ambiance is quaint and intimate, so I imagine it'd make for a great date. I have nothing but glowing things to say about Caro Mio.
(5)
Sarah K.

Caro Mio was recommended to me by pretty much everyone I knew who lived in the Ravenswood area. I moved just down the street from it a few months ago, and finally went to check it out when my parents were in town this weekend. Yes, it is a little on the pricey side, but it's nothing crazy. Plus, when you take into account the fact that you're not paying for drinks it pretty much equals out. There is no corking fee, which is a nice touch. We arrived around 6:15, and it was filling up by 6:30. It's a small place, but I never felt overly crowded - even when a party of 8 was seated right behind me. It wasn't too loud, and the tables weren't sitting on top of each other which is usually the case when you go to a small restaurant and have less than 4 people. The food was really good. We had bruschetta for an appetizer; it was simple but really fresh with great flavors. My dad and I both had the gnocchi that was on special - spinach stuffed gnocchi with a creamy tomato sauce. My dad opted to substitute marinara, but the sauce wasn't overly creamy or heavy for me. My mom got the chicken tortolloni, which she said was really good as I couldn't taste it. Service was good. He was knowledgeable about the menu and specials, and didn't make us feel rushed even though there was a line by the time we were leaving. I wanted to try the tiramisu to compare it to the larger, more chain-ier Italian restaurant that I work at but I was too full to. The portions are generous - so if you're worried about price it should be able to last you two meals!
(4)
Nikkie H.

You know it's a good sign when you stare at the menu for 10 minutes and can't decide because everything looks good. Just when you think you have something picked out the server throws you for a loop by telling you the day's specials. Awesomeness. Went recently with a large group of people (there had to have been 14 of us) and it was great. I ended up going with my standard spaghetti carbonara and it was quite good. Like some other reviews said it was quite salty (I blame is on the prosciutto), but I heard all my friends saying the same thing. Pretty much every dish was really salty. Most people didn't mind though. I do have to say I drank about a carafe and a half of water myself and still woke up dehydrated in the middle of the night. Maybe too much salt... Overall it was a fun time, the food was good and the service was excellent. Chances are high I will be back to try some of the either dishes I was eyeballing.
(4)
Lauren D.

This is my family's go-to place for out-of-town guests or nicer family dinners, and everyone we take here falls in love. I can't say enough good things about this place. The service is wonderful. It is BYOB. The food is fantastic. Portions are huge. We always get a couple orders of bruchetta and calamari for the table, and they are fabulous every time. I'm always hesitant about calamari because so many places overcook it and then it's chewy, but not here. Every time I've had it, it's been perfectly done. For main course, we usually order a few to share for the table. two people could easily split one dish because the portions are so large. That's why we love coming here in big groups, it keeps the cost down and you get to try some of all the delicious dishes they have on the menu. Even when we share dishes, there is too much food. I have never left this place without a doggie-bag. This is a great neighborhood spot. Small, quaint and phenomenally delicious. Everyone should try it... more than once.
(5)
Colleen C.

It just happened to be the perfect night, at a perfect place... Well ok, so it was 14 below zero, snowing, and the night BEFORE Valentine's Day, but I have grown a bit more "amenable" in my old age. :) It was still pretty damn close to perfect. I should preface this review with the fact that I generally do not like to "go out" for Italian, unless it is pizza, which I think should actually be a different genre. I feel it is usually too filling, and that we could cook it at home (which we wouldn't do, in reality, but...whatever). But my boy is Italian, and no one does romantastic dinners like Italians, so off we trudged to Caro Mio, highly recommended on Yelp. I can see why. Cute, cozy little restaurant with neighborhood locals chatting over wine (that they brought themselves, AMEN!). Animated Italian staff/family bustling around. The only thing I didn't like was all the plant life in the windows...I just don't get that choice for decor, but it was a minor flaw... OMG. And the food...so. GOOD. We both had the specials, I indulged in the chicken and ravioli in mushroom porcini sauce. (Thank you Chris M.) It was earthy, rich and downright sinful. My date had the gnocchi special, heavenly in tomato cream sauce. We split the cappuccino tarfuto for dessert....divine. Seriously (Julia W gets the cred on that one...holy amazing, but they were outta chocolate.) Service was excellent even though the place was busy for a Wednesday night. Food arrived promptly, we got an ice bucket for our wine, and all was well with the world. 5 stars: Quaint locale, BYOB, excellent food, great service...and Lord, the food again. Great place for a date. :) Suggest reservations for dinner if you have a larger group near the weekends. Street parking is pretty good...definitely a place you could go casual OR dressy, depending on your mood! Run, go! Indulge. Many, many kudos to Julia W and Chris M for this fantastic recommendation!
(5)
Cynthia E.

The food was great, but took almost an hour for a party of 7. The menu is quite expensive, but this place is BYOB, so perhaps they're compensating. There is a plate sharing charge of $8.00, and if you don't order an entree (appetizer, etc.) they will charge you an $8.00 surcharge. Beautiful room. Service was friendly and accommodating.
(3)
Zach J.

This is hands-down my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago. It's probably under the radar for most people, but it's a very popular spot in the neighborhood, with good reason. First, and most importantly, the food is fantastic. I've been here a handful of times, and every pasta dish I've enjoyed has been outstanding, most recently their spinach gnocchi quattro formaggi dish, in which the ghocchi's are stuffed with pesto in a delicious creamy cheese sauce. Throw in some chicken, and, ummhmm, I was good to go. You can't go wrong with their pasta selections, they are phenomial and a real treat for this guy. Another thing that puts Caro Mio over the top for me is the ambiance of the place. It's got an intimate setting, with cool artwork on the walls, and a lively atmosphere. Lots of good conversation, good people, a good date spot. Oh, and it's BYOB too, which is always an added bonus. Their waitstaff is also very efficient, knowledgeable/helpful, friendly, and overall on top of it. So the food is the main selling point, it never dissappoints. Throw in the atmosphere, great service, BYOB, and you've got my personal favorite Italian restaurant in the Chi.
(5)
Annabelle S.

If you are looking for authentic Italian cuisine at a reasonable price, this is the place for you. While this delicious restaurant is in an unexpected area (perhaps just for me since I don't usually frequent Wilson Ave.), the food gets two enthusiastic thumbs up. We started with the bruschetta special, which had slices of freshly cut mozzarella cheese drizzled with olive oil and garlic. It was by far the most delicious and perfected bruschetta I've had in my life. Most places, the bread is either too crisp or too soggy. This bread was perfect with a great garlic flavor, the fresh tomatoes were seasoned well and all together with the slightly melted mozzarella, well, let's just say I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I then moved on to my main course. I again chose one of the specials which is pretty standard for me when trying a new restaurant. I had the asiago and pesto stuffed gnocchi with a hearty meat sauce. It was amazing, almost like little pillows of fluffy deliciousness. The meat sauce had a robust flavor and didn't overdo the meat to sauce ratio that so many other Italian restaurants fail. The only real downside to this restaurant is that it is so small. If you are trying to have a large group meal, I wouldn't recommend doing it here. My only other small critique of this restaurant is that the olive oil they serve on the table is quite salty for my personal taste (and shame on me for not trying it before I added salt and pepper)! When I used it the second time without adding salt/pepper, it still seemed quite salty but is definitely something I can overlook in comparison to the rest of the quality cuisine.
(4)
Frank A.

Definitely a great little Italian restaurant in the Ravenswood area. Pros: Intimate for a nice date, BYOB (Always a huge plus, especially if you have a consumption problem like muah.), huge portions and great service. Cons: (Only can think of one.) The restaurant is small and they try to jam as many tables as possible, so it feels like your also dining with the people next to you. My conversations usually end up being inappropriate which is kind of AWKWARD when grandma and grandpa are next to you. Definitely add it to your list of great BYOB restaurants in Chicago. P.S. Make reservations ahead of time.
(4)
carolyn h.

I went to Caro Mio on Friday with a group of 16 people and it was AMAZING. I tried multiple dishes so I don't know where to start. First, every main dish is HUGE. I love this. Our group didn't do family style but everyone would put some of their dish on a small plate and pass so people could try em. Lots of us got the specials. There was a gnochhi infused with asiago cheese. That was my favorite. It was incredible. The gnochhi was so soft and pillow-esque. Combined with the Asiago cheese in the middle is was incredible. It came in a red sauce. I loved it. I ordered the lobster ravioli. It had a rich cream sauce. I've tried lobster ravioli at many places and this was by far the best. It was fresh and it didn't have the fishy flavor that can come with lobster ravioli. I tried some of the salmon portofino. The balsamic reduction was just to die for. Part of me wished I had ordered it (even though I was dying for pasta). I thought they did a great job managing our large group. The one down side is that we were a half hour late sitting down at our table. It was annoying with that many people as the restaurant is very small. It was well worth the wait though. This place just knows pasta! It is now on my favorite places list!
(5)
Justin M.

Caro Mio was recommended to us and we have had this place on the list for a while. So we went early on a Saturday and the place is quite welcoming with attentive service. I wish Yelp would let me rank here 2.5 stars. We wanted very much to like this place but the pastas really disappointed us. Perhaps our expectations were too high. If you like American-Italian with LOADS of sauce, then this is for you. The servings are indeed generous and each pasta would cater for two people. I commend the generosity of the servings. However this is not really our thing - we are after flavor. We had the polenta in tomato sauce which was ok, not really grilled enough for my tastes to bring the flavor out in the polenta and it was masked by the red sauce a fair bit. The bruschetta with mozz was fairly good - very generous servings, with the tomato finely cut and nicely marinated with oil and herbs. This was the nicest thing we ate. For entrees we got the lobster ravioli in cream sauce w/ sundried tomatoes and the cavatelli con salisiccia, with homemade sausage. Overall the pastas were very one note with tons of sauce and not much variety. The lobster ravioli overall was quite salty and the sauce just overpowered it to the point where it was like eating a bowl of cream. The cavatelli didn't really have much sausage to it, and was also super creamy. We'll probably give this place another go in a while as a lot of people like it very much and maybe we got a bit unlucky.
(2)
Kim J.

This quaint Italian eatery is still among my favorites in Chicago, and this was confirmed on a recent visit. A group of 14 of us descended upon there for a friend's birthday dinner, and they were pretty awesome to us. Everybody really enjoyed their food. From the homemade gnocchi to the salmon drizzled with honey soy sauce, everything was delightful. The BYOB aspect is always a crowd pleaser. And they were very accomodating to our humongous, loud group.
(5)
Scott B.

SERVICE: Excellent BYOB: Yes, and no corkage fee:) FOOD: Average. Seriously, it's merely average, and not as authentic as...let's say I Monelli or Pizza Art Cafe. PRICES: Insanely expensive. Seriously, the lasagna was good, but $20? Good (not great) food, excellent service & high prices = 3 Stars. I may return...
(3)
Amanda Z.

On a chilly June night, double date, my friend insisted that we meet up for some Italian at Caro Mio. I love Italian food, but these days, I'm realizing that my jeans are a bit snug and I should, well, ya know, start watching what I eat. After a quick glance at the online menu, I decided, eff it, I'm going all out with carbs and the like. My date and I split the calamari fritto, which was good, but a smidge too big for my liking, and a touch chewy. I like 'em little and dainty. (That is NOT what she said.) But it was perfectly crispy and served with a lovely tangy marinara sauce. I had one of the specials for the evening: lobster ravioli in the marscapone cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes which was decadent and fabulous. (Not as good as La Gondola, but if you've had it there, you know what I'm saying.) I had half leftover for my lunch today...ya know, spread the fatty out. BYOB with no corkage (love that) and very friendly service, albeit a bit slow. Too full for dessert, I have no comments there. I know, I said I was gonna go out fatty style. Turns out I failed at that. Besides, there's always control top pantyhose for that extra tightening on those "days after" eating massive amounts of carbs and cream sauce. And to allow you to finish your leftovers the next day. I'm just sayin...
(4)
Megan G.

My friends really love Caro Mio, but I've always found the food to be just passable. What WAS exceptional was the service - the last time we had a large party at Caro Mio they treated us like royalty (they even let one of my friends leave her bicycle in their store room overnight!) So when my friends chose to have my early birthday dinner here I figured we were in for a fun night. We had reservations for 16 for 7:30 pm on a Friday night. Caro Mio repeated called my friend who had organized the party to remind her our entire party HAD to be there at 7:30. This was a little annoying, but understandable - our party represented a good chunk of the restaurant that night. It was befuddling, then, that the when we showed up promptly at 7:30 the restaurant staff did not seem ready for us. We had to wait to have our wine opened and then wait for our bread. When the bread did finally arrive we discovered the table didn't have enough bread plates, so we had to wait for more. Then we had to wait to order appetizers. Then we had to wait to order main dishes. By the time the food finally arrived at the table, it was 8:30. I ordered what was essentially an eggplant parmesan roll. It was, again, passable but nothing special. Once we finished eating and the plates were cleared Caro Mio brought out cupcakes my friend had made for my birthday. She was really upset because she'd put a lot of time into organizing them on a platter (with Happy Birthday letter candles) and Caro Mio split them up and put them randomly on two plates. It totally ruined the presentation she'd worked on and just looked sloppy and thoughtless. At this point it was 9:30 and Caro Mio staff began repeatedly telling one of the members of my party that we needed to leave because they had a group of 12 to seat and had given them 9 pm reservations. Our party wasn't offered coffee or the opportunity to order additional dessert. We hadn't finished our bottles of wine and would have liked to linger, but we were made to feel so uncomfortable that we paid up and left. Giving a party of 16 a one and a half hour reservation window is ridiculous, especially when the restaurant themselves couldn't get the entrees on the table until an hour after we were seated. The whole experience put a slightly negative tinge on my birthday celebration and left us all annoyed. I won't be returning to Caro Mio and would encourage others NOT to plan large parties there, especially on weekends.
(2)
Phil S.

Finally got a chance to go to this place. With not many great Italian options in the Lincoln Square area, this one is truly an oasis in Ravenswood (and its BYOB!). Food is fantastic but a bit pricey; however there is a ton of it per serving. Only complaint is the awful bathrooms. And now they have TWO high chairs so they are becoming more family friendly than previously thought; just go on a weeknight with the kids instead of a weekend.
(4)
Chris M.

Amazing!! My sister took my whole family (including my grandparents) here last week and we loved it!!! Great place for dates too, although it can be a bit pricey even though it's BYOB. My suggestions: -Share entrees if your with a special someone, or bistro style if your with a large group. -Order ANYTHING with the gravy looking Porcinni Mushroom Sauce. -Take suggestions from the wait staff (Caesar is awesome!!!) -Bring Chianti, a nice red, or Pinot Grigio if you like whites. Red wine will totally enhance your meal here, especially if you're trying multiple dishes. Go soon, while you still can. Weekdays are best. This place has just been recently reviewed in the Red Eye, and they also turned down Check, Please! b/c they don't want to have outrageous wait times....Good for you, Caro Mio!!!
(5)
Heather N.

I always have a great time at this place, and I am in love with their arrabiata sauce. In. Love. I've tried to reproduce it at home and just can't. Warm, cheery atmosphere. Friendly, attentive service. BYOB. Always food left over to take home. It's loud and a little cramped inside, but in happy, cozy way. Feels like a boisterous family party. Also be aware: there can be a long wait on the weekends. However, when I went there last weekend, they took my phone number so that they could call when a table was available. We went to the pub down the street and 30 min later, ring ring, your table is ready! Awesome. I would give Caro Mio 5 stars, the the prices have gone WAY UP in the last year or so. My beloved pasta arrabiata has gone from about $15 to $20. Overpriced for a tomato sauce despite its perfection. Thank god the place is BYOB.
(4)
Brad H.

Extensive selection of tasty homemade pastas, and BYOB is always a plus. Service was friendly but not very efficient (conspicuously slow to bring out bread and to open our bottle of wine). Even so, I would like to return to try some of the other menu selections. Good stuff. Prices seem a couple of dollars too high per entree, but I suppose you pay a little extra for the handmade pasta. As an aside, I'm not sure if the AC was off and/or broken during our visit, but the place was hotter than Hades.
(3)
Katherine R.

Here I had eggplant parmesian. My parents and I like this little spot to dine at in the evening. It is intriguing inside and has a majestic feel of romance. It is a intimate atmosphere for two mostly. The food is pastas and alfredo sauces or marinara to highlight. I'm pretty sure its candle lit but not to sure. Very tiny place to eat in a quiet area near the damen brown line. It literally is right in the middle of a nice neighborhood so you will have to walk some distance or drive to get out of the very residential spot to Montrose St. or Damen St.
(5)
Chuck K.

Amazing BYOB Italian restaurant in Ravenshood! Setting is very comfortable and warm. Service is great. Had Fettuccini Camberi and friends had Fettuccini Alfredo both were awesome. Portions are ridiculously large. Calamari appetizer was great and desert was delicious. I've been searching for an Italian BYOB and this place is totally worth it. Check it out!
(4)
Michelle S.

YUM! I think that I've been here about 6 times now. Loved it each and every time. The atmosphere is very relaxing. The lighting is the perfect shade of dim and the random decor just adds to the ambiance. Caro Mio is also BYOB! Hurrah! and the food is AMaZinG!!! The service is great because it comes with humor and attitude, as well as, extensive knowledge in the menu. LOVE IT! This is a perfect place for a small group of friends or a quiet date. Reservations are only for 6 or more, so if you are a small party I would recommend going early or early in the week.
(5)
Arielle N.

I love this place. The food is very good and the price is fine given that the portions are so big you can get two meals out of your order. The service is pretty good - I like that they are attentive at filling water glasses and such, but they don't hover. The BYOB is also a nice feature. The chicken parmesan with bolognese sauce is out of this world. This is one of my favorite restaurants!
(5)
Amanda C.

Went here with a group of 6 for a friend's birthday party. It's really cute and quaint with dim lighting and Italian waiters dressed in jeans and tight black tops. I called ahead for a reservation, not thinking I would need one on a Wednesday, but was glad I made one since it got pretty crowded and is fairly small. It's BYOB with no corking fee, so that's a plus. However, their menu was fairly pricey so they may compensate for not selling booze that with higher prices. We all got different things and agreed that the best were the baked eggplant and the special, which was a stuffed gnocchi with pesto and cheese, topped with a tomato cream sauce. My friend got that and it was seriously cute fluffy little pillows on a plate and tasted sooo good! The sauce can make or break your dinner so ask about the sauce. One of my friend's dinners was ruined because her dinner was drowning in cream, while my pasta carbonara had no sauce at all. The portions were huge though, and everyone had leftovers for the next day. They brought out some chocolate cake for my friend's birthday (after we had ordered it) and can't remember if we were charged for that. If you have a group of 6 or more, 18% gratuity is automatically added. Service was fair. Would go back if it were closer to where I live!
(4)
Lauren R.

Caro Mio is an unexpected gem in the heart of Ravenswood. It's extremely easy to access off the Montrose Brown Line stop, or by car since there is ample parking on the street. The Italian food is so good, I am embarrassed to say I ever went to an Olive Garden for Italian cuisine. I suggest the gnocchi because of how light and pillow-like the little dumplings are. The spinach gnocchi with gorgonzola and red cream sauce is out of this world. And it being BYOB without a corkage fee is awesome! Caro Mio is a restaurant that runs at the pace of old world Italy. You go there to enjoy your company, wine and food. No need to rush, because you can't - the servers are very laid back. Enjoy the food! I wrote up more on my blog, check it out: chicagofoodfan.wordpressâ€¦
(5)
Sara P.

I had to give this place 5 stars, if only because they were AWESOME for New Years. We had a table of 7, and a reservation around 9p. When making the reservation, we were told we could have the table as long as we wanted, and that it was a fixed menu for $65, and BYOB. Uh, OKAY! My experience with fixed menus is that there have been many courses, but small dishes. This was many courses, and HUGE portions. Can you tell I mean it by all the caps in my review??? The bread we got to wait was great, and then out came the bruschetta...this was like bruschetta on 'roids. Huge pieces of bread with mozzarella and tomatoes. Two huge slices per person. If I could see into the future and knew how much food was coming, I would have stopped at one. Oh well...it was New Years. Second dish was lobster ravioli. Now, as the waiter was bringing out the plates, we thought they would put a few down for the table to share. Nope, 4 huge raviolis for EACH of us. Honestly, this was one of the best raviolis I've ever had. So good. Seriously. There's more you ask? Yes...before we know out, out come steaks in some delicious sauce and a side of gnochi. Heaven. So full, can't breath. But alas...canolli. Who says no to cannolli? Not me. I'm full, a little tipsy (lots of wine and champagne, yes please!)... and in heaven. What a way to start the new year. I'm looking forward to coming here again.
(5)
Melissa D.

Ti amo Caro Mio. (English Translation: I love Caro Mio) Caro Mio actually means my beloved, or my darling or dear in Italian. Just a little interpretation for you little yelpies... (plus your date might be quite impressed with your knowledge of the Italian language!) Hands down the best Italian food experience I've had in Chicago! I'm being for real here. First off, BYOB, (these restaurants are becoming my favorite), and no corkage fee. I am a huge fan for the no charging a dude to open my wine for me because their business doesn't offer alcohol. Thank you for that. My boyfriend took me here on one of our first dates. He couldn't have picked a better place. We were one of the 2 tables in there, but we did venture in close to the time the restaurant closed. I imagine a time closer to dinner time, the place would be packed. I loved the decor, the ambiance and the romantic feeling I had the moment I walked in. Bonus Points for the boyfriend. I knew exactly what I had a taste for and Caro Mio served me exactly what I wanted. I ordered the linguini frutta di mare (seafood with linguini in a spicy, red sauce) and it was unbelievable. My boyfriend ordered the veal parmesan. Fantastic. Nothing was over-priced and it was very reasonable. Our waiter was awesome. Wasn't there every two seconds to check on every bite. Was there just enough to not be over-bearing. Thumbs up! I loved this place and am hoping my boyfriend decides to take me back there soon! hint, hint! :)
(5)
Rick C.

Thanks to my lovely wife who recommended this place as an after-work meeting place. I had the lasagna cara mio and it was delicious. Creamy tomato sauce with tons of tasty meat. Highly recommended. It was also huge like everything I saw coming out of the kitchen. I really enjoyed this dish. My wife had the baked gnocchi in a tomato sauce. It was also quite good and large portioned. We also had the chocolate souffle which was ok. It's a little pricier than some places. About $20 per pasta entree, but I was all good. There are a lot of pluses to this place, it's by the train stop, it's byob, and the food is really good. We'll come back for sure.
(4)
Tracy F.

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in all of Chicago, perhaps the world (outside of Italy, but it's close). I've been coming here for years and the owners are family friends by now. The food is SO FRESH and homemade. You can't go wrong with any dish. They don't take reservations, so expect a wait Thurs-Sat. It's BYOB as well, so the price is great. I strongly recommend the homemade pasta or the salmon with balsamic glaze, but you really can't go wrong. Note: There is very little waiting room and no bar, so be prepared to either wait outside or be cramped inside. Still doesn't detract from everything else.
(5)
Michael D.

Took my lady here for her birthday after reading these reviews and seeing a bit on WGN TV about this place. Must say, this place has the best gnocchi I have ever had. My girlfriend ordered the gnocchi special and asked to have it fixed with oil and garlic only, no sauce. The staff was more than accomodating with her request. I ordered the penne with meatballs and sausage and it was excellent. Like mentioned in other reviews, we brought home plenty of left overs for another meal. You also can never go wrong with a BYO place that doesn't charge for a corking fee. I am bringing out of towners, family, and friends back to this place with me!
(4)
Maureen O.

Love this place. Great food, nice atmosphere, and BYOB!! This is the kind of italian place that makes you think authentic. The waitor speaks just enough english to take your order, talks italian to the table next to you, and you swear you saw his grandma making pasta in the kitchen window. Great!! The service is friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The ambiance is romantic and simple....No loud music or tacky decor. A perfect date place, or good for a night out with the girls. Now on to the food...delicious!! Bruschetta with mozzarella is fresh and aromatic, the pappardelle is homemade and cooked perfectly. The menu had a good sized selection of items and none of the portions are so huge that you leave there wondering why you just got served 2 pounds of pasta. Oh, and the best part....its BYOB! I love this place and will go back. All the dishes I got- appetizer to dessert were wonderful.
(5)
Dusty K.

It's been 3 days since I ate at Caro Mio and I'm still drooling over the cipollino pomodoro salad. It's a sinus clearing, taste bud bursting plate of delciousness. BEST. SALAD. EVER! I know what you're thinking...a salad, right?. Men shouldn't eat salads and besides it's "just a salad"...Caro Mio doesn't just do salads. Tomatoes, onions, gorgonzola cheese, extra virgin olive oil, oregano and basil have never been paired together so perfectly in a way that makes my mouth explode. One bite is all it takes to realize that you no longer want to share this salad. Welcome to flavor country. If you are dining at Caro Mio, make sure to get the cipollino pomodoro salad. Okay, I think I've made my point. The rest of our dinner was very enjoyable. The service was friendly, the owner very accomodating, and I really had a nice time at this lovely BYOB. I also ordered the gnocchi gratinati with a meatball on the side for dinner. The gnocchi were like soft pillows so the texture was amazing. The bolognese sauce it came with was hit or miss and the meatball could have been done better. As far as Italian food goes, I've had better but definitely enjoyed my time here. I will be back for the cipollino pomodoro and to try something else on the menu. Until then, I will keep that salad in my dreams.
(4)
Santiago A.

Mama mia! Molto bene! Squisito! ...all Italian for: this place is damn good!! They give Taylor St. a run for their money when it comes to fantastic Italian cuisine. I had the tri-colored rotolo pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach. They top it with marinara and mozzarella cheese then bake it to perfection. My date had the cheese ravioli with bolognese sauce... which meant I, too, had the cheese ravioli. Our situation is still new so she does the whole "I'm a girl and don't want you to think I eat too much" thing. Usually, I like it when women can house their enitre plate clean and then still fork-fight me for the last roll while waiting for dessert to arrive... but this was completely fine, since both dishes were extremely amazing. I know it's been said, but it bears repeating. This is BYOB w/ no corkage fee. As if this place needed to get any better... So, go there and enjoy a great meal. It is perfect for a romantic date or a special event with friends/family. The staff was excellent and parking is pretty easy to find. If you use CTA, then the Damen Brown line is very close.
(5)
Jennifer P.

If I have learned anything in my years of trying new places, it's to ask the staff what the best thing they make is and order that. If you go here. Do that. Or waiter says the gnocchi was tops here. He was right. I got the gnocchi special. Like little pillows of awesomeness filled with asiago and something else. Very good. Why then am I only giving it 3 stars? Well to start, my the rest of my friends' pasta was just mediocre. I woulda been irritated if mine was too - considering it was over the $20 mark. And the service wasnt that great either. But the topper was the 20%+ tip that was automatically applied to our check. 18% - okay, and we'll usually tip over that but to have 20+ added automatically when service was just okay put me over the edge.
(3)
Beth Anne C.

Once you walk in to this cozy restaurant, the smell of garlicky goodness is overwhelming. Vampires, first daters and garlic haters stay away! Caro Mio has never sent me home disappointed. The menu selection is fantastic, but I have to say, I keep coming back for the Gorgonzola risotto. It is rich & creamy and excellent with chicken added. The portion is large enough for 3 meals. A server once energetically suggested a pumpkin risotto that wasn't on the menu and it was just as tasty. The kitchen is adaptable to any taste buds. The fried calamari is some of the best I've had, but the fresh calamari salad is outstanding. It is enormous, so share with your friends. The balsamic dressing is very flavorful and complements the ingredients well. The service isn't especially quick, but they make up for it in personality. Bring more wine than you expect to drink as you might have to wait for your meal. If you are empty handed, there is a deli across the street that sells bottles of wine and a liquor store about 3 blocks away. No corkage fee! The prices can be a little higher than comparable restaurants, but keep in mind that the potions are very generous. Enjoy your time at Caro Mio and bring some breath mints!
(5)
Marisa F.

I live across the street. Star! My first time at Caro Mio, I didn't know what to order. Well, I knew I wanted something with chicken. The server (who I know realize was one of the owners) grabs my menu and brings out the best lemon chicken dish I've ever tasted. STAR! BYOB! Chicago, I love you a little more each day for introducing me to the joys of BYOB. STAR! If you get there at the right time (just before 630p), there's no wait. Even for a starving, fun loving party of six. By the end of our first bottle- err, course, the place was packed to the gills. There was a nice man observing my entree over my shoulder. Funny, the food was so good that I wasn't annoyed by this in the slightest. Wait, no that was because said boy was adorable. Moving along... The remaining stars are for the great atmosphere. The design of the place is inviting and warm. Even the artwork on the walls is fantastic. I could (and have!) easily make this my spot. You know, the place you always go for major events like Tuesday.
(5)
Lou A.

MY FAVORITE ITALIAN in the city! This place is stellar! The food is amazing and it's BYOB. The prices are very resonable for the portions that you get. I had leftovers for days. I have been recommending this place to all of my friends and they have had nothing but great experiences here as well. The only SMALL downfall is the service is a little slow... but nothing compares to the amazing food!:)
(5)
Dan P.

I grew up in an italian neighborhood where the moms like to feed "The American kids" with homemade cooking, so when I go to italian restaurants, I use that as a comparison. This place compares. I had the linguine putanesca which was outstanding. My girlfriend had the tortellini with marinara, & her friend the gnocchi stuffed with asiago in a creamy tomato sauce. All 3 sauces were excellent & the pasta cooked to perfection. We also had the bruschetta which came on over toasted bread which was a bit dry, but a big slice of mootsadell on top made up for it. Its a cute, cozy little place, but Cozy+crowded = noisy - not the fault of the restaurant of course. Service was ok, but very friendly. Not the greatest location, but worth the trip. Bottom Line: Its a charming little byob with no corkage fee & outstanding food. Probably a 4.5/5, but now one of my favorite byobs in the city. I would get here by 7 to get a table right away. Later in the evening there is a wait.
(5)
Master P.

Delicious! One of the best italian food restaurants in Chicago.
(5)
Jimmie M.

This small BYO Italian spot is ok. The pastas tend to be a bit heavy and overloaded with sauce and cheese. However, the appetizers are great! They serve a traditional Italian soup that I cannot remember the name of but it has noodles and eggs in it and it is out of this world!!! If you in the area and are looking for some basic Italian food and aren't too fussy, perhaps this is the place for you.
(3)
Kelly S.

I loved Caro Mio. It was a small, intimate little place in the middle of nowhere that served up some of the best food I have ever eaten. It may have helped that it was drenched in a cream sauce. I had stuffed gnocchi and a chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and proscuitto. I ate everything on my plate. My husband and I sat at our little table and enjoyed each other's company, our BYO Chianti, a delicious dinner, and the good tunes playing in the background. It was a fantastic night.
(5)
Sarah E.

I was vacillating between four stars and five stars. It's wonderfully quaint in a relatively quiet neighborhood. The prices are very reasonable. The portions are HUGE. I generally stray from cliche and carby Italian food, but I gladly indulged in a huge plate of mushroom risotto and the best bruschetta (w/ fresh mozz) I've ever had. I didn't look closely, but I'm assuming the varied art on the wall is from local artists, and I'm a huge supporter of the local arts and any establishment that is equally supportive. I was going to go four stars because of a run-in we had w/ someone upon arriving 15 minutes late for our reservation. We're late. We get it. But, telling us that we're late and they'll get busy and waiting even longer to seat us won't help the situation any. We ended up at the same table that stayed empty while we were waiting anyway. Then I remembered that the manager (or perhaps owner) was very apologetic, stopped twice to ask how our meal was, and that we were toting six bottles of wine between five of us. Five stars it is. I'll definitely be back, and I'll arrive for my reservation on time.
(5)
Stacy C.

I've driven by this place for years and always thought about going - but never got there till my birthday a few weeks ago. So glad I did. And I've made it a point to go back since...and will go back again. First of all - how can you not love BYOB. It's the best concept of the restaurant world. And...no corkage fee. Even better. If you're going to go on a Friday or Sat - I'd recommend early (like 6:30) or late (like 9). Between then - packed. If you're a party of 5 or more - call and make a reservation. I highly recommend the homemade pasta. Anything in this section of the menu is delish! I went basic the first time and had their cheese ravioli - just awesome. Second time added some chicken tortellini. Again - just wonderful to eat. For dessert we had the lemon...something. Can't remember the name. You'll know it on the menu. Very good. A nice refreshing way to end the meal. I've never had a problem with the service. Waiters and bussers are attentive and we never waited long for anything.
(4)
Ali O.

Once again, Yelp has pointed me in the right direction. I wanted to find a restaurant near my friend's house that we could easily walk to . . . not always an easy task around those parts. So, of course, I went to Yelp and found Caro Mio. I'm pretty sure everyone that night was glad we decided to give Caro Mio a try despite its unassuming location :) I'm not sure if I can add anything to the reviews that hasn't already been said . . . +Big delicious portions (the food definitely isn't cheap, but you get a lot for the price!) +BYOB and no corkage fee +really cute, small, independent restaurant We went on a Wednesday night and it was pretty busy. Apparently it was only *us* who had never heard of it! I'm definitely going to suggest hitting this place up again. And when we do, I'm ordering the creamy pesto sauce . . . with some pasta. YUMMO.
(4)
otilia p.

Fabulosity. Italian food is one of my favs and this place definitely satisfied the palate. Happened to go here after a horrible waiting experience from another restaurant (*cough* tango sur!!) through a recommendation of a good friend of mine. My friend called and even though it was very late in the evening they were very accomodating and the staff was friendly. The food was delicious! I had the gnocci with shrimp drizzled with a tomato cream sauce. Yummmm! My boyfriend ordered the same but with italian sausage. Said he forced himself not to eat the whole plate so he can take home left overs. The fried calamari was crispy and fresh ....great flavor too. Another great aspect about this spot is that it's BYOB! If you bring white wine they place iced buckets on your table. No cork fees. The last 5th star for making what could have been a disaster into an awesome one. They also played fun music per our request since it was past closing time...and they never once rushed us out. They closed at 10....we left just past 11:30!
(5)
Chcogal C.

This review is for the newly opened lunch buffet. The dinners are fantastic- so I was very excited to see they opened up next door (expanded) to have private parties and buffet lunch. I guess buffets are hard- but this felt like it was a different chef/kitchen. The pastas were flavorless, the desserts felt like hotel boring options, the chicken was over done- and the entire offering was just not up to Caro mio standards. The service was very friendly- and faster than the usual food since everything was already made- but I wouldn't go back for lunch unless the quality dramatically improved.
(2)
Viki N.

Amazing! The food here is so delicious, it makes me want to have sex. Immediately. Add in the soft mood lighting, the friendly wait staff, the mellow vibe and BYOB, and there is no way you can't score when you take a girl to this place. Or maybe that's just me.
(5)
Kamila T.

Delicious Italian food. I had a salad and their spinach soup with three cheese tortellini - it was super tasty.
(5)
Kevin A.

WHERE'S THE BEEF? And the sausage for that matter? Went to Caro Mio with very high expectations, but left a little underwhelmed. The meal started well with an excellent bruschetta topped with a generous slice of fresh mozzarella. From there, however, things started to go down hill. Our next dish was a pumpkin risotto with chicken which tasted more like mac n' cheese than risotto. Any pumpkin flavor was eclipsed by the cheese and the dish was very 'one note'. Another miss was the Italian giambotta. This dish was supposed to consist of meatballs and sausage cooked with peppers, onions, and potatoes in a marinara sauce. What we got was a giant plate of potatoes, onions, 1 tiny sausage, and 2 meatballs. After we ordered a side of meatballs, which they comped, they admitted that they had just run out of sausage. All in all it was a sub-par meal and I left without an understanding what so many people love about this place aside from the fact it's BYOB.
(2)
Heather C.

Upon a friend's recommendation, we went to Caro Mio the other night. Just walking into the restaurant and being hit by a wave of delicious smells, you know you're in for a treat. We showed up on a Friday night around 8 and was told it would be a 30" wait, he suggested we go to the bar down the street, and he'd call us. Dinner was really tasty. Portobello appetizer to start was buried in this fantastic simple tomato sauce. I had the stuffed gnocchi special with tomato cream sauce, which was to die for -- possibly the best gnocchi I've ever had in my life. My fiance had a ziti special with peppers, sausage and meatballs which wasn't actually that good. Loved that it's BYOB and friendly service.
(4)
Jane W.

Very lovely little Italian restaurant. Not exactly authentic... the dishes are enormous and rely a bit much on the American love of butter and grease. The flavors are good! Fennel infused Italian sausage was amazing. A bit pricey. As I mentioned, you receive more of a platter than a dish. Three meals in one. BYOB and go on weekday evening. Enjoy!!! ps. the waiters aren't hard on they eyes. :)
(4)
Nate G.

Typical Italian dishes but not quite worth the price. BYOB was a plus and we were able to get reservations last min on a Fri night.
(3)
Blake W.

We finally got here after multiple recommendations by friends. It was great! Big portions (lunch tomorrow!!) and great homemade noodles. The Bruschetta was the best I've ever had. The Bean/Mozzarella was another big winner. My wife had stuffed gnocchi which was fantastic and I had the zuppa di pesce (not to bad). One of our friends also had the Chicken Parm over rigatoni which was great (I'm getting that next time) and could have fed a family of 4....
(4)
Kristen Z.

Caro Mio is in my 'hood and BYO so I desperately wanted to love it. Two stars for attentive, friendly service and a cozy atmosphere. We started with the bruschetta. The flavors were fine, but the tomatoes were so watery that it soaked the bread, making it impossible to pick-up. It was also a bit pricey at $11. I ordered one of the specials: tortellini with peas/shrimp in a spicy marinara. As soon as the plate was set down, there was an overwhelming citrus smell. Instead of the sweet tomatoe-y flavor I was hoping for, the sauce was actually sour. I later found slices of lemon cooked into the sauce. I wish the menu would have listed that. The pasta was delicious and the shrimp were fresh and cooked perfectly. My bf had the lobster ravioli with cream sauce. Again, the pasta was awesome and the lobster filling was great - the sauce was the problem. It was so sweet it almost tasted as though it belonged on a dessert. We did our best to salvage the dishes by periodically taking bites off each other's plates to counteract the acidity/sweetness of our own dishes. Our bill with tip for an app and two pasta dishes was $72. Too much to not be "wowed".
(2)
Kate D.

Amazing. I haven't been to a restaurant in a while where I proceeded to tell everyone I knew about it afterward. Maybe I should keep my mouth shut so it doesn't get too popular! We dined here on a Saturday night. We had 5 people, so we did not have a reservation. We were seated within 15 minutes (I think we came at just the right time). The service was great - waitress was attentive but not overbearing and made great recommendations. Our water glasses always full and we were promptly served their complimentary bread with accompaniments. The atmosphere is very cute and cozy. You can't go wrong with any of their specials. Two of us ordered the linguini frutta di mare. It was fabulous - so much seafood for only $19. Everyone loved their meal. With BYOB, we were out the door at $25 a person. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Flo J.

Really delic food here, laidback atmosphere. We were the last table one night and they didn't show any signs of forcing us out. Talk about a great staff!! I love that it is a byob and they don't hesitate to limit you by bottle. Your food is so delicious, I could even eat the dishes Caro Mio!
(4)
Uyen D.

We showed up at 9:55 hoping just MAYBE they will let us in before they closed at 10:00. Luckily they had extended hours till 11:00. Even then they were so busy that we still had to wait 10 minutes for a table for 2. Though we were seated in a very tight corner table with little to no room to sit, the experience was delightful. The food is delicious and the service staff was charming and helpful. I've never had stuffed gnocchi before, but they were wonderful! Soft and pillowy, and yummy!! The imboltini di melenzala was a tasty twist on the classic eggplant parmigiana. Yum! BYOB and easy to find street parking.
(4)
Val B.

I was very disappointed with Caro Mio's food and service. We went on the coldest night of the year so far, about -15 with the windchill at the time. Upon entering, we noticed there were about 5 of the maybe 12 tables seated with people, and we waited a good 5 minutes before anyone popped their head out of the back to see if anyone came in. I know 5 mins isn't super long, but the way the restaurant is laid out, it's just awkward to stand there. A real head-case walked out and sat us by the front emergency glass door, where there was a draft of -15 degree air. Nice. We gestured from across the room for another table, and he pointed to another table, not saying a word, but his eyebrows almost touched his receding hairline. Unprofessional. Oh, our server...he was such a sweet young Italian man, but we really didn't understand more than 3 words when he was telling us the specials. He meant well, though, and tried hard. His accent was just very thick. We ordered the eggplant appetizer which I thought was very good, but the other person in my party insisted was not cooked completely. Also the table bread was stale. I had the chicken tortellini. The pasta was overcooked and almost mushy, and the chicken was just gross and dryyyyyyy. I will say, however, that their sauce is really good and fresh. For dessert, I had the tiramisu which was probably the worst I've had with way too much espresso soaked into the lady fingers. So much, that I requested a spoon to scoop it up before giving up halfway though. It was a mushy mess. But props to the lemon sorbet dessert -- it tasted amazing, actually. So, I'm torn about this place. I suppose it's possible I ordered the wrong thing, and given the other great reviews, I'm willing to try this place again sometime. But leaving the place with an $80 bill just made me feel like a fool.
(2)
Kristine L.

Wow! I really don't know why I will ever go to another Italian restaurant! This place is so cute and comfortable. It smells amazing once you open the door. The staff is so friendly and great at suggestions. We enjoyed some of the best calamari, eggplant and brushetta... and that was just the beginning. It was the best gnocchi I've ever had - absolutely amazing. Its BYOB and our bill was only $30 each in the end and we all left beyond stuffed. I cannot wait to go back! ***** I just went again on Friday and have to add that the salmon is ahhhhhmazing and I do not like salmon. I couldn't get enough of this delicious fish. And again, the gnocchi was shockingly delicious yet again. I would recommend doing what we continue to do and order a few appetizers and main dishes to share with one another! Fantastic restaurant!
(5)
Steve M.

Mmmmm Italian food. I thought I could always use another italian restaurant just in case my favorite italian place (see other reviews) closes down or burns down. Unfortunately this isn't the place for me. It is BYOB which is nice but I think I could have cooked better gnocci at home. My girlfriend had the cheese ravioli which was good, but the bolognese sauce missed the target. We were there with a group of 10 and I don't think I heard one person rave about what they ate. The other good points to mention were easy street parking and it was a nicely decorated restaurant. I would definitely choose other Italian before I went back.
(3)
Unity O.

Happy 100th review to me! Maybe I am a yelp dork, but I wanted my 100th to be something special. So, I decided on Caro Mio since it is where my hubby & I went to celebrate the anniversary of us getting engaged (3 years ago Oct 12)--yes we are those kind of people who like to celebrate those milestones others find annoying--to you haters out there--suck it! Okay, now that we have that out of the system--let the review begin. In all honesty, I try ever so hard to rate a place by the quality of their food, not the service. With that I feel compelled to mention, that I think we got the shaft when it came to service. Unfortunately for us, there was a HUGE group (I swear like 20 people) who arrived at the same time we did. I assume they knew about this group since they had almost all their tables in the main eating area arranged for them. Now, you would think they would have arranged for more than 2 servers to be working at that time--nope! So, my hubby & I had to deal with sub-par service, good thing for them the food was good or else I would never return. plus, our server was a bit on the snarky side, normally not something that bothers me, but when combined with an almost non-existence at our table--it is a bad combo. Now the food, was in actuality very good. Our entrees were very tasty & bountiful--I mean you probably would want to grow an extra stomach just to fit it all in. That would be awesome if you could do that, but also not gain weight in the process--one can dream can't they. My singular complaint with the food, is that it took over 40 minutes to come out. 40 MINUTES is absolutely insane for Italian food, again the flavor of the food made it worth it. I ordered the special which was homemade rigatoni, chicken parm, covered in a tomato cream sauce--very delicious, although very heavy at the same time. My hubby ordered a sausage pasta dish (the name escapes me at this moment), which I actually preferred to my dish. Since the portions were huge, we skipped dessert. I must say that at some point I will give this place another chance as the food is really good, but I hope the service will have improved by then. If you are looking for romance, I do highly recommend this place. The ambiance is UBER romantic & very intimate. That was also another saving grace of this establishment.
(3)
Terri A.

The food (and service) here are dreck. (look up meaning if you don't know what I mean!) The zuppe de peche was almost inedible sitting in a thick goopy tasteless tomato sauce. And the skin was left on the clumps of fish--gross. And the sauce on the pasta side was tasteless too. The appetizerss we ordered were ok--green beans, bruschetta, calamari so at least I got some dinner. And the bread is very ordinary--dry, bland, cold, obviously not homemade, plain white bread tasting like they got it at the grocery store. My entree, friend's salmon and another's risotto--all dreck. Save your money and eat elsewhere!
(1)
Sotto V.

Too much grease, butter, fat in gnocchi. I could only eat a third of my plate. When I nukes left overs, a pool of oil appeared and each gnocchi I picked up was dripping in oil/butter. The plate was easily 5,000 calories. Fresh garlic served with bread. Yes, tastes nice as long as you are going straight home alone. The dessert was nice....a mango gelatin that was surprisingly light. The only thing that stood out. Nice servers but completely un-impressive.
(1)
Kate C.

So, we literally live on the same street as Caro Mio. We can always smell their food when our bedroom windows are open... and it always smells SO GOOD. Typically I do not prefer Italian, I can make pasta at home. I had heard rave reviews, though, of Caro Mio. Suggesting a date night on Friday night to my boyfriend we decided to just walk a few feet and try this place out. I had popped in earlier to ask whether or not we needed to make reservations (we were walking our dog at the time) and he told me no, they had "plenty of tables" (it's VERY small in there!)... We came back after walking the pup, and there were 2 parties of 10 in front of us. As I look around there are no longer ANY tables available. My boyfriend speaks to the manager, he tells him we live 1 minute away and would like to become regulars. We had stopped in and they told us not to worry about waiting/making a reservation. The man tells us that they do not take reservations (word to the wise, folks) and then pulls out a note pad with tons of 2 party "reservations" and claims they are "waiting for tables to open"... Isn't that a reservation? Whatever. SO, my BF being the persistent savior that he is talks him into letting us sit before the people on that list...(who were not physically there, they were on a call list). So - kudos to Caro Mio for listening to us, and letting us be seated ASAP... We brought wine, and ordered the bruschetta. (REALLY REALLY GOOD! fresh mozz! Loved it.) and then I got some kind of... tri colored shells with marinara and cheese. It was amazing. SO good, and a large enough portion that I ate it for lunch the next day (it was even better as a left over!)... Pricey, But I highly recommend - avoid the busy times though if you don't want to wait (there is no waiting area what so ever, so you will most likely wait outside) - friday nights, saturday nights... and parking is free along Wilson so that is a plus too.
(4)
Todd K.

This is probably my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago not named Rose Angelis. The food and staff are phenomenal! A must visit.
(5)
Jennifer K.

I really love almost everything I have had to eat here, but do not plan to come on a Friday or Saturday between 7-9 and just waltz right in and find a table, it just won't happen. The wait will seem a bit daunting, but believe me it is well worth the wait, and they will call you when your table is up so head down the block to the bar on the corner and have a drink (or two) while you wait, the time will fly by. As others have said the gnocchi is to die for. Recently we went here for a girls night out and the waiter suggested trying it with a creamy mushroom sauce, it was delish, but I still love the original. Lasagna is great, as is the creamy carbonara, actually I can only think of one dish I have not enjoyed (porcini pappardelle) the entire time I have been coming here. If you're patient (waiting for a table) and like to enjoy a good meal where you won't be rushed that's BYOB try Caro Mio and when the menu is too much for you trust the waiters, they always have a helpful suggestion.
(4)
Celine T.

Have eaten here twice now. Here's my take... Atmosphere: Cozy and quaint with softly dimmed lighting. Nice romantic spot for a date or dinner with a few close friends. I wouldn't recommend for large groups due to the overall size of the restaurant and speed of service. Size: Small and Cozy (e.g., you can share your food with the table next to you) Service: Relaxed. (Okay, it's slow. But why are your rushing? Bring two bottles of wine. I think the waiters are also cooking sometimes, but that is unconfirmed.) Food: It's very good. If the waiter offers you homemade noodles, TAKE THEM! They are delicious. Menu offers variety and the restaurant is accommodating, so it's a good choice for veggie/carni couples/groups. Drinks: BYOB. Hooray! When to go: We went during the week both times and have never had to wait. Price: It's on target. Plus, since you're bringing your own wine, you get a great meal and a great bottle of wine for the right price.
(5)
Jess M.

This place makes me jump for joy. I can't get it out of my head. I had some sort of Chicken Parm special and I kept eating and eating.... I don't like Italian places so much b/c most the time I feel like I could make the same thing at home. My partner had the gnocci. I have never been a fan of gnocci.... until now. Go here. For your own good. BYOB
(5)
Ryan K.

My wife and I love this place! The bread is so-so, but the bruschetta is outstanding, and the gnocchi is a slice of heaven. The seafood pasta is also outstanding. The service is excellent, and if you adjust for the quantity, the food is cheaper than Olive Garden for 10x the quality! Hard to imagine eating anywhere else for our Italian cravings.
(5)
Angelique B.

Delicious italian fare in quaint, intimate setting. The food is fantastic and the service, outstanding. Great BYOB in Ravenswood/North Center area!
(4)
Krista D.

In short, the food is awful. The service was very friendly and accommodating, but the food is down right terrible. We had high hopes and ordered the calamari salad (tasted OLD and fishy), the bruschetta (very salty and not at all fresh tasting), the polenta (again not fresh and salty) and finally the zuppo di pesce...again, just bad. I ate about one bite of the main course and was done. We didn't finish anything because it was that terrible and we were starving!!! This place is one of the closest restaurants to our condo. We really wanted to like it, but no luck. Our first visit was about a year and a half ago and it didn't go well. We read the Yelp reviews last night and were shocked to see how highly it was rated. Thinking it was a fluke that our first visit was a bust, we gave it another whirl. MISTAKE!
(1)
Culinary P.

This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants. The food is delicious and the wait staff is super friendly. I've had several items on the menu and haven't been disappointed by any of them. We generally get one of three different servers when we eat there and even the waiters not helping us for the evening stop by and say hi. It feels a bit like I'm going home to visit my family. The restaurant is also BYOB.
(4)
Stacey P.

If only the host was nicer, this place (probably) would have gotten 4 stars. I went to caro mio with a group of friend's for my buddy's birthday. They told us beforehand that all 7 of us had to be there at 6:15 or our table would be given away. Well... if you've heard of a thing called "asian time" you can see how this might be a problem. Surprisingly, everyone got there by 6:20 (possibly due to threatening emails sent out in days past). Nonetheless, the host gave us a hard time and didn't enjoy our sense(s) of humor. He made us feel horrible for changing it to 5 people and then back to 6. Someone made a joke like, "We're full of surprises" and he stuck his nose up in a french way and said something snotty, although I forgot what. Anyhow, as the night progressed my star count got higher. The waitress was nice, the ambiance was fun, and the food was pretty good. I don't think there was one thing I tried that I absolutely DIDN'T like, but I definitely think their strong suit is noodles, not meats and fishies.
(3)
Minna A.

a WONDERFUL italian BYOB. The atmosphere was great, my friend and I didn't have to wait in line, and no corkage fee BYOB! They have some of the best italian I've ever had! hint: their lobster ravioli is available by special request. definitely a don't miss!
(5)
Andrea G.

I brought 4 girlfriends here last Friday night and we all LOVED it. I will come here again and again. It was a nice break from eating downtown where it's crowded and long waits. They let you make reservations for 6 or more. We each ordered a pasta dish and they were each almost family sized! Such a great surprise, not to mention the bruschetta appetizer came with 5 huge pieces, perfect for our group. It's BYOB and no corkage fee which is hard to find in a GOOD restaurant in Chicago. The service was unexpectedly amazing too. One of us spilled a glass of wine and the glass broke near someone's meal and one of the servers insisted on bringing a new plate for her meal and a side of sauce. They add 20% gratuity for groups of 5+ but we tipped on top of that. Best $35 spent at a group dinner.
(5)
Sara O.

Talk about the cutest little Italian place! And BYOB!!! I used to live a few block from this place and I feel so lucky! This place is perfect (though the amount of plants they have in the window is a little strange). I love the atmosphere here--it's just so cozy. As long as you don't mind overhearing the conversations of other tables, since you will be sitting relatively close to table next to you. Ask your waiter about the special or recommendations--they love to tell you about their favorites, and they're always right because it's ALWAYS good. When in doubt, get the gnocci.
(5)
Shanna B.

My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner on a Tuesday night. It was practically empty when we got there which was fine with us. We shared a BYO bottle of wine and ordered amazingly decadent food and had a lovely night overall. I ordered the asiago-filled gnocchi and hubs got the pumpkin ravioli in mascarpone cheese sauce. We shared both meals, of course, and they were both awesome. Rich, filling, perfect for a splurge. We finished off the evening with the lemon sorbet dessert (the one with a limoncello center) and it was delicious as well. Next time we want to sabotage our diets and go all out, we know where to go.
(5)
Kelly C.

I recently dined at Caro Mio for the first time and fell in love with everything about this restaurant. The restaurant is very small but in a warm, cozy kind of way. I didn't feel over crowded even though there were a lot of people sitting closely together. In fact, that was part of the charm. The service was amazing from the moment we stepped in....everyone from the waiter, to the bus boy to the owner were all excellent. We never had an empty glass; we never had a dirty plate in front of us and even though there was a wait to be seated we never felt rushed. The waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu as well. We ordered bruschetta and it was amazing - it was the best I've ever had. Our entrees were very rich and warm and delicious as well. The owner takes pride in walking around the restaurant and talking with the guests which enhanced the experience as well. We chatted with him for about 15 minutes and he was so thoughtful and genuine. We also saw him bringing around trays of bruschetta to all the guests that were waiting for a table - you can't beat that. Fantastic service, amazing food, good atmosphere - great restaurant!
(5)
Billy K.

A fantastic north-side secret... or is it? I used to work a few blocks from this place and would pass it up for the Cuban sandwiches next door for lunch. I always wondered what the dark little Italian place was like for a dinner service. The answer - fantastic. It's a small place, so reservations are recommended. The food is hearty and authentic in taste (but not so much in portion size - they're HUGE). The menu is quite extensive, and doesn't seem to be seasonal but that didn't matter to me - it does feature a pretty fair range of all Italian regional styles and plenty of homemade pasta. A great bonus is that it's BYOB, so feel free to try out your own wine pairings. The server was attentive and knowledgeable, but admittedly slammed by the full house. Definitely worth another visit, if only for the kickass osso buco.
(4)
Susan L.

Hot diggity dawg!!! Fresh fresh fresh pasta? CHECK! A huge delicious menu? CHECK! Garlic, Parmesan, & red pepper flakes to mix with your olive oil? CHECK CHECK and CHECK! BYOB? HELLA CHECK! I can't wait to take my parents here. It's a bit more expensive (most entrees around $19) but big enough portions to take home for lunch the next day.
(5)
Sarah L.

This is a very cute and romantic Italian restaurant. The staff is very friendly and it's nice and dark with candlelight. I came here for my anniversary and we had a lovely dinner. This is a BYOB establishment so that will save you a few dollars. Their portions are massive and you will leave full and happy. I had the cheese ravioli with Bolognese sauce. It was delicious but a tad bit salty. My man had the seafood pasta and that was really good too. It had anchovies in it, not a fan of those little guys. We also shared a Cannoli. I don't know how I ate dessert that night but I couldn't resist. Check out this cute little gem on Wilson you will fall in love!
(4)
Martin W.

Warm & cozy (perhaps a little crowded) atmosphere, but the food's the draw. Terrific food. BYOB is great, and big enough servings to have a doggie bag for lunch the next day. Yelp says they take reservations, but the gentleman on the phone just told me that they don't. So: hmmm. It also gets real busy, and I have always had a pretty good-sized wait, so reservations would help... Anyway, there are some downsides to Caro Mio but they are logistical; the food is absolutely excellent.
(4)
Abby K.

Great Food, Service was slow, which surprised me as other reviews commented on the amazing waitstaff. Called ahead to ask if there was a wait for a party of 2 on Saturday night. Was told to come right in. We were seated in about 10 minutes. The menu was enticing, and we decided what we wanted, but sat for 10 minutes without even the water glasses being filled. Once we finally ordered, the waiter recommended the Breschetta special, which was to die for. Could have eaten 2 more orders, it was soft toasted bread, excellent tomato mixture and fresh mozzarella. We ordered the lasagna special and another pasta dish. Both were beyond expectations and we decided we would definitely go back to try more items on the menu. I am hoping the poor slow inattentive service was a one time thing. I do recommend though to anyone who enjoys a hearty homemade Italian dinner with no frills, just a super cute atmosphere with fantastic food.
(4)
Patty S.

We had decided to go to Glenn's Diner on a whim and even though we got there at 8:20PM on a Friday night, with no reservations, it was an 80 mins wait!!! So, we looked up Yelp to see what else was in the area and decided to go to Caro Mio. Since we hadn't plan on going to a BYOB, we didn't bring any wine with us. Although there is a liquor store about 2 blocks away, we really didn't want to go back out into the rain. We didn't know what to expect but the place is quite small and very dark. We were seated right away and from what I heard from the table next to ours was that usually you would have to wait if you don't have a reservation. We started off with the bruschetta with fresh mozz and that was delicious. What a great way to start the meal! The table next to us recommended that we try their green bean salad and share an entree as their portions are HUGE! The green bean salad was very refreshing, light, and crisp. Most places tend to over cook green beans, but this was prepared perfectly. For entree we decided to split the shrimp in a spicy red sauce with linguini. WOW, it was probably one of the best spicy red sauce with shrimp I've had anywhere! The only downside is that we waited forever between each course. We had spent over an hour there and had to flag someone down to get our check. The couple of waiters that were there would just walk by our table and not ask if we needed anything else and it took them a long time to clear off our plates. I think the food is good and a place that I would frequent if I lived in that neighborhood. Since I don't, I don't think I will be going there again unless there was a special request.
(3)
Allen M.

Update - I've spoken with a couple of other folks who have been there with a kid, and they confirmed the cold shoulder treatment and general rudeness from the host of this place, so reiterating that this place is definitely *not* family-friendly. On the flip side, if you hate kids, then you've got a friend at Caro
(1)
Jessica W.

I give the food here a solid 5 stars. The location and splitting fees are the only reason I knocked my review down to 4 stars. Food: The menu here is fantastic. The menu is very diverse, making it great for a meat-eater or for a pescetarian like myself. Their pasta dishes are very inventive and combine a wide variety of flavors, which I am a huge fan of. We started with the bruschetta topped with fresh mozzarella. Best bruschetta I've ever had, hands down. The bread was perfectly toasted and the tomatoes were ripe and fresh. We then split the pappardelle con pomodoro seco - homemade pappardelle pasta topped with sun-dried tomatoes and a mascarpone cheese sauce. It was out of this world. The homemade pasta was a noticeable difference from dried pasta, and the tartness of the sundried tomatoes with the rich, creaminess of the cheese sauce was perfectly balanced. We were, however, charged an $8 splitting fee to split this dish - I thought was a big over the top. And the best part of it all - it's BYOB so you don't have to deal with being charged 3x shelf price for a bottle of wine! Atmosphere: Besides the obscure location of the restaurant, the atmosphere within is eclectic and interesting. It has a romantic feel, as most tables consisted of couples on dates. It gets very crowded, so be sure to make a reservation in advance.
(4)
Kristin S.

The food is fantastic, the service attentive and adorable, and what's that? Oh, yeah, it's a BYOB! If I lived a little closer, my boyfriend and I would be heading here every couple weeks! After bookmarking Caro Mio over 3 months ago, I finally made it in. That is the one downside to this place: no reservations, so get there early or be prepared to wait a LONG time. Prices were extremely reasonable for the quality of food and the ambiance is great. It's small, but I love the funky, bright art on the walls and the plants by the window to shield the restaurant from the sidewalk without losing the natural light. My group of 3 decided to all share our meals. We started with the polenta which was good, but didn't realy blow my mind. You could tell the tomato sauce was homemade, though. We also ordered two of the special entrees: Gnocchi stuffed with pesto ricotta in a tomato cream sauce (definitely my absolute favorite-incredibly light if you can believe it from that description. yummy pillows of hand made gnocchi with and intense, basily, cheesy center.) Lobster Ravioli: Lots of lobster stuffed in each ravioli with an incredibly rich cream sauce. I'm really glad we shared because I'm not sure I could've eaten an entire plate of this. It was almost too decadent for me. Our third entree was an eggplant rolled with cheese, rice noodles and baked with more cheese on top. It was yummy and a great, lighter dish to break up the heaviness of the other two. Um, yeah, even with all that cheese, I consider it "light" since it contained a vegetable. Ha! They were out of the tiramisu which seemed like a tragedy, but our super sweet server took the blame as it seems he's the one who usually makes it and he was out of town. Oh well, guess I"ll just have to come back!
(4)
Meredith C.

Yet another wonderful BYOB spot in the Ravenswood area! I went there with my special lady. We were originally told that it was going to be a half hour wait, but it was only ten minutes. I can handle that. They seated us in the back room, which was dark (good dark, not can't see my food dark) and quiet. We started off with some fried calamari. Granted, I fried calamari is a fairly easy dish and most of the time, even when I have it at not so good Italian places, it's always at the very least decent. And Caro Mio's calamari mas definitely better than decent. The breading was light and crispy and the calamaris were not too oily. Then, on to their delicious, in house made pastas! There is a huge difference between boxed pasta and homemade (or restaurant made, if you will). The lady ordered the special: gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce. It was a (fairly) basic that had just enough of those homemade, authentic touches that made it a beyond basic dish. I, on the other hand, had the pappardelle con porcini, which was beyond outstanding. It was just enough cream and oil (you know, the good stuff) in the sauce and it had the perfect mushroom flavor to it. Plus the sauce and the porcini mushrooms was paired perfectly with the the pappardelle (which is almost like a wide linguini noodle). Altogether, it was a little over $50, which isn't bad for a nice, romantic dinner at all. And BYOB with no corkage fee! Bellisimo!
(4)
Mark W.

My dinner pal and good buddy, Jeff Borden met me here one night. We like to meet once a month and dine somewhere neither of us have been. He's a great guy to have dinner with. Great conversation and he likes to eat at nice places that aren't mainstream. It was a bit romantic for a couple of guys, I'll admit. Nevertheless, Caro Mio? - Outstanding. Step through the front doors and begin your journey to the heart of Italy. From the paintings on the wall to the quiet candlelight table settings to the delectable aromas wafting from the kitchen, just steps away from the tables. I love to hear a Chef "clanking away" in the kitchen just under the music. Wonderful. Be prepared because Caro Mio restaurant is a trip to Italy for your senses. In every bite of their fine Italian cuisine, you can taste the essence of a cozy Italian villa, over looking a rolling countryside with winding roads and a gentle sea breeze. (That was a bit sappy, I admit but I always wanted to write like that...yuk) Service - European, slow, authentic, but very personal, no rush, relax, take your time and drink some wine and enjoy a good conversation. I would never take a large crowd to Caro, no more than 4 people, tops. It's not that kind of place. Decor - is small, dark and romantic. You'll feel lost or in hiding. Food - "Bella." Music - Euro lounge, very nice... different. Bottom-line: Bring your best bottle (or two) of Red, your best girl (or wife) and huddle and cuddle in this cozy Chicago hideaway. I'm going back but on a really snowy night, mid week, sometime in late January. This time, I will take my wife or daughter, as shes my best girl. I have the best of both worlds. "Finisci di mangiare"! (eat up)
(4)
Bri L.

This place was fantastic! I had the pesto cavatelli, which was incredible. Pasta is homemade, no corking fee, great service.... Only complaint was the bread sucks, but the entrees are so incredible it's seriously a negligible part of the meal. You MUST go here if you live in Chicago.
(5)
Yasmeen A.

I can't believe it's taken me this long to write a review for Caro Mio. Seriously!? It's no Spiaggia, but I love this place. First of all, it smells good. Really good. Second of all, it's BYOB. Third, if you have to wait (fairly common), you can just walk to the liquor store a few blocks up and grab said YOB in a snap. I have really enjoyed every pasta dish I have tried there, especially anything in their seemingly signature mascarpone cream sauce. Highlights on the menu include the polenta al sugo appetizer ( fresh polenta grilled on a flat grill then topped with a rich ragu sauce and finished with parmesan cheese), the lobster ravioli in cream sauce, osso buco and pappardelle con porcini (Italian porcini mushrooms sauteed with borolo red wine, parmesan cheese and cream). Caro Mio may not be for you if "cozy" (a.k.a. a fork's reach away from the table next to you on a busy night) isn't your thing. It can also get fairly loud and sometimes the waiters are a bit scatterbrained. But when your steaming, ginormo portion of homemade pasta comes out, none of it will matter because the foodgasm will drown everything else out.
(4)
Rebecca Z.

This place really impressed me. We started off with brushcetta topped with fresh buffalo mozzarella. This was the best bruschetta I have ever had in my life!! They made this simple dish so well I can give them five stars just for that, but the rest of our meal was amazing also. The gnocchi were like soft pillows, the risotto was cooked perfectly, and everyone loved the chicken parmigiana. And I just love that they are byob with no corckage fee.
(5)
M D.

The 1st time we tried to eat here, we were completely ignored at the door, and just left. The second time, we felt like we were interupting something and felt unwelcome, mostly by the unfriendly attitude of the staff, like 'what do you want?'. There is not host station, so you just stand there and hope someone wants to seat you. They sat us at a table that was really close to another table, and when I tried to move our table a few inches so I could sit in the chair, I was told I couldn't do that because the waitstaff needed room. WTF. My salmon filet was good, but it was DROWNING in a plate of overpowering, sweet, thick balsamic vinegar sauce, when it should have been drizzled delicately on top. Also no vegetable came with the dish, only a crappy side of pasta. The waiter didn't even know what the dish came with and had to ask the chef. My boyfriend got the spicy whole what pasta with sausage, which we both thought was mediocre. He was ok throwing out the leftovers. The bread they give you sucks, real bland and small pieces. The polenta was decent. At least it was BYOB, as this was the only saving grace because we loved the beer we brought ourselves. How others give this place 4 or 5 stars is beyond me!
(2)
Rachel Y.

I went here one night for dinner with two other friends and we had such an amazing time! First off, it's an Italian restaurant that's BYOB - how great is that?! Second, the food is absolutely amazing. One of my friends had the farfalle pasta with vegetables and I never thought veggies could taste so good but they somehow excelled on the plate. I had the cheese-stuffed gnocchi (yes, drool now) and it was amazing. My other friend had the mushroom risotto - she absolutely loved it however I thought it was a bit salty for my taste. If you are more of a salt fan though, I definitely suggest it! The service was fantastic and the atmosphere very cozy - I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Heather D.

Who doesn't love a great BYOB Italian spot? If you are looking for one, Cara Mio is it! I went on a Saturday night and the place was hopping. Thankfully I was meeting a friend a little early so we didn't have a problem getting a table. The food was delicious. You can always judge an Italian restaurant by how good the marinara sauce, since it tends to be the base of so many dishes. As an appetizer, I started with the polenta with marinara sauce and the flavors were wonderful. The marinara tasted like it was from fresh tomatoes. For my entree, I had the gnocci stuffed with asigo cheese and pesto. The portions were huge so I was very, very happy to have leftovers for the following night. Also, kudos to Cara Mio for having so many homemade pastas on the menu! I'm a sucker for homemade pasta and can usually only find one or two dishes on a menu with homemade pasta. The only bummer about this place is that they only accept reservations for parties of six or more. Otherwise, you can't go wrong here.
(5)
Bill M.

This quaint little Italian restaurant on Wilson welcomes you with a warmly decorated interior enhanced by artworks by a featured young artist. My dilemma was what to choose --- the brasciole or the osso buco (two of my all-time favorite Italian dishes). I went with the latter and while it was a good solid dish of veal slathered with tomato sauce and sided with polenta, I have had better versions of osso buco elsewhere. The entrees come with either a house salad or a soup. The delicious soup I had included pasta, potato and a cheesy broth. The desserts looked good (lemon tartufo caught my eye on the card) but the otherwise vigilant service during the early dinner hour trickled to a slow grind once the restaurant filled up.
(4)
Dee W.

I just can't figure this place out. I must admit, being raised on my mom's first generation southern Italian cooking, I'm very picky when it comes to Italian restaurants. The first time we went a couple years ago, the waiter claimed to be the son of the owner who just so happened to be from the Italian town of my mom and her cousins who were all at dinner with us. He scooped up our menus and decided we were definitely doing family style, to which we graciously obliged. The food was just OK. Large portions. Anything in marinara wasn't bad, but mushroom sauce tasted like reduced campbell's cream of mushroom soup. Now, we just went back over the weekend and asked about the owner or his son. This waiter (who claimed to have been working there for 8 years) said that the restaurant is/always has been owned by a Venezuelan with no children. Not that I really care (except that now I know a Venezuelan is behind the menu and that makes a little more sense), but what's going on with all the waiters having a different story!? Food was exactly how I remembered it. Average. I got some chicken dish stuffed with prociutto, served with 3 cheese ravioli and drowning a creamy alfredo-type sauce...not good. Entirely too rich and overdone with the cheese. Picked off my ma's plate, which was baked eggplant...and fantastic. Next time I guess I'll order that. I like the byob. Hate that there's nowhere to stand while waiting, except outside.
(3)
Irena A.

Loved this place! I went with a friend.. She had the salad (fagoli and mozzarella cheese) sooo yummy!!! I had the mushroom risotto! omg.. so delicious! portions are huge. I loved the atmosphere.. so romantic and laid back.. need to bring my hubby here!! def check this place out
(5)
Kerry S.

Caro Mio has a special place in our heart because we were engaged here. Years later, it is still amazing. We had Christmas dinner last night with my parents, and naturally will be enjoying the leftovers for days to come. Being the kind of people that make homemade pasta in our own kitchen, the only acceptable way for us to carb out away from home is...well, homemade pasta. They've done away with all the greenery in the front window, which is kind of a shame because it was so pretty, but the place is always packed. More seating just naturally won out. Entrees take a bit of time to come out, but I would not want it any other way. This is beautiful made-to-order pasta. My father had the monster of all dishes, the special chicken parmigiana with homemade rigatoni. (Incidentally, this was also the dish I chose on the magical engagement night. My husband must really love me considering he still proposed after watching me scarf down half a plate of a not-so-ladylike dish.) Hubby went with the linguine and clams Diablo - a classic, nice and spicy and garlicky. I had the angelotti with peas and prosciutto, one of my standby favorites. The perfect mix of sweet and salty. But my mom won for the night. The special pappardelle with sun dried tomatoes, chicken, spinach, and gratineed to perfection. Damn. Go early for a little romance, the later it gets, the more crowded (and noisy.) But walking home from Caro Mio, a little boozy, smelling of garlic, hand and hand with your sweetie, the other hand holding tomorrow's lunch, it doesn't really get better than that.
(5)
Lauren H.

This place is cozy, inviting and quite tasty...all the good qualities of a favorite neighborhood Italian place. I'd highly recommend the eggplant parmesan and whatever gnocchi they're offering that day. I read somewhere once that gnocchi means tiny pillows in Italian, and if that's true, then that's exactly what they look like! Plus, you get lots of food...enough for lunch the next day. Also, it's a BYOB...what's not to love!?
(4)
Angie T.

after a movie with a heavy emphasis on piles of pasta and indulgence, we had italian on the brain. a google search later, we were on our way to caro mio for a rather unreasonably early dinner. from the fresh garlic served with the table bread, to the melt in your mouth pasta/potato-ish soup to the main course, a simple homemade pasta with meat sauce (that we thankfully shared)...it was simply perfection on a platter. i thought i knew my favorite italian in the city, but i think we may have a contender for that first place honor. bonus: its BYOB. fantastic place for a birthday party or general celebration. but please order moderately. portions are massive. will be back. ciao bella!
(5)
Jeff J.

The service was great the Osso bucco was awful! I will not dine their again.
(2)
Nick C.

I got the stuff gnocchi with mushroom and sausage and it was amazing. Fireworks in my mouth! And it's BYOB. $20 per plate, but the food was really good.
(5)
Kelly H.

My brother came from California for a visit, and wanted Italian food and some good wine. Now in his little Bay Area town, Olive Garden is the most appealing and authentic option, so I figured I could pretty much pick something at random and it would be a hit. I was really surprised when my husband and I loved it as well - I'm jaded when it comes to Italian, having had too much that was just blah and bad. Our meal began with fresh Italian bread, along with a garnish of garlic, cheese, and hot pepper, to be mixed with olive oil and spread on the bread. Me being me, I was spooning hunks of garlic directly onto my bread (bet you all wish you got to kiss me every night, huh?) but my dining companions preferred the daintier dipping option. When our server told us the specials, we couldn't resist the bruschetta as a starter - pretty fail-safe generally, and good here - and the cheese-stuffed gnocchi for me, lobster ravioli for my brother, and the gorgonzola risotto for my husband. Now, like I said, I am a cynic when it comes to Italian. Too often I hear raves for places that are serving dried reconstituted pastas and watery canned-tomato sauces, held together with a stick of butter per plate. Not here. The pasta was fresh-made, the sauces were rich and full over flavor, and there was probably a stick of butter per plate but I gave up on caring about that after the first bite. The gnocchi was perfectly al dente - ever had overcooked gnocchi? I think they call that "mashed potato" - as was the ravioli. The risotto had the ideal creamy texture that I can never achieve at home no matter how much I stir (not enough butter?). None of us could finish our meals, so we lingered to finish off our wine and digest a bit. We didn't try the desserts, but they seemed pretty standard Italian fare, tartuffo and all of that. All in all, a great experience, and we will be back!
(5)
Mike M.

My wife and I went there on a recent Saturday night without a reservation. We were greeted and told it would be about a15 minute wait. After 10 minutes our table was ready. We brought our own wine, (no corkage fee), and had an appetizer. We then placed our dinner order. It arrived in a reasonable time and was delicious. We had a dessert also. The overall experience was excellent. We met the chef / owner and told him we would definitely be back. I recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Johnny B.

How do you know you have a Yelp problem? When you already know what you are going to order before you get to the restaurant, but you've never been. Thanks to the wonderful reviewers out there, I was already sold on the gnocchi special (if they had it, which they did) and the pasta with mushroom sauce. My better half and I each ordered one, and both were fantastic. You could tell both noodles were homemade - so good. We each had enough leftovers for a second meal. We also had the bruschetta at the server's recomendation (I would venture to guess the same flamboyant individual from others' reviews). Now, we didn't realize when we ordered that this appetizer was $11. $11 for bruschetta? That's pretty steep. Well, I will say it was unequivocally the best damn bruschetta I have ever eaten. It is a little pricey, but well worth it. They were unfortunately out of the chocolate tartuffo so we had to suffer through the lemon version. Oh the humanity. I'm not a big lemon fan, but I wouldn't hesitate to order this plate of refreshing deliciousness again. I'm on quite a roll with Italian places impressing the hell out of me. Add Caro Mio to that list.
(5)
Jasmine P.

I came here on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty crowded. There was a private party going on so we were seated in the back room. It was a little crowded in the restaurant, but we didn't mind the intimate atmosphere. The waiters were very nice and smiled a lot. They seemed sincere about their recommendations and the service was great. Food: They have very large portions, but the food is pretty tasty. The meatballs were the size of my fist! You can go here and end up splitting with how large the portions are. I had the caprese salad and even had a tough time finishing that. The calamari appetizer was large enough to split among four people without filling us up. A problem was that the large plates did not go well with the small tables they have. There was limited room to move around. Oh well. It was still a delicious time. Caro Mio is also a BYOB (yay!) and they have not corking fee (double yay!). Funny that they carded me and my boyfriend though as we are way beyond our 21st birthdays. LOL!
(4)
Tom L.

Great tucked away option for any night. Caro Mio always has great service, pretty quick seating and always wonderful service. No corkage fee is always a plus and the price range is pretty decent when you know you're getting fresh food and very large portions. We had the grilled polenta for the first time and were blowing away how fresh and good the polenta and the sauce were.
(4)
Tara L.

Yummy Yummy pasta in my tummy. And bruschetta. and some bread dosed in garlic and oil and cheese. In reverse order. I was here on Friday with a large group and have frequently heard rave reviews from my sister about this pace. I had the paperdelle con porchini, and i totally agree with everyone else here. So very tasty. Mushroom goodness. Amazing. Our waiter was a funny guy too. Don't remember what his name was, but funny. Fun atmosphere, great food, fun times.
(4)
Sarah D.

It's not like Caro Mio needs another rave review, but I'm going to give it one anyway. I was here recently with a large group, so I got to try a few different meals and appetizers, and everything was fantastic! I was torn between two dishes, because I wanted homemade pasta, but all of the goodies that came on one of the non-homemade dishes, and they subbed homemade pasta without batting an eyelash. The waiter was incredibly accommodating, and very attentive. And what's not to like about a BYOB with no corkage? Caro Mio is high on my list of places to repeat at, and soon.
(5)
Angela B.

2 days later and I am still salivating. Swoon worthy lobster ravioli in marscapone cream sauce nearly put me in a coma, which is the highest compliment that a restaurant can recieve from me. The staff was friendly and didn't push us to order a bunch of apps or desert - hate it when they do that at BYOBs. The dishes were HUGE; I think everyone at our table had leftovers, and everything tasted incredible fresh and homemade. Will be returning for sure. My waistline is not happy about this unexpected discovery.
(5)
Brian B.

All right, so I went back, and the seating went okay. They asked if I had a reservation; I reminded them that their web site says no reservations for parties smaller than six (we had five), and they were completely friendly after that. The food was so good I nearly wept. Just ... just ... wow. God. Man. So effing good. Just go. Really, just go.
(4)
Matt L.

Took my lady here on a date last night and wow were we very pleased with our night out! As you walk in the restaurant is small with nicely set tables lining the room. The lighting was nice and dim, but not too dark as you can clearly see the people at your table. We were seated immediately as we arrived around 6:00 on a Saturday night. Thanks Yelpers for the advice of arriving early! (As the night went on the line was very long to get a table, we had to squeeze through the doorway lined with people. BYOB as everyone has stated with no corkage fee. We brought 2 bottles of wine and our first was opened in a very timely fashion. We started off with the calamari as an appetizer, it was very delicious and tasty. They also give you bread with your choice of spices with oil. I ordered the Spinach Gnocchi Gorgonzola special. Amazing, I thought the gorgonzola flavor might be a bit overwhelming, but it wasn't and my dish was pretty much perfectly made. The gnocchi was top notch. My date had the tri-colored rotolo which she liked very much. I tried it myself and really liked the spinach and ricotta cheese combo. Ended the night with Tiramisu for dessert, boy did that do the trick, very light and delicious. Prices weren't too bad, I was pleased with our bill at the end of the night perfect for the quality of the food and service! Waiter was very informative and attentive for the most part. They dim the lights even more as the night goes on, which we thought was appropriate, gave us at least a nice intimate dinner feel. Wasn't too loud, although when we left the BYOB was taking full effect haha. Good times, will be back again!
(5)
Steve B.

My wife and another couple went here for a celebration dinner a week ago. We did not have reservations (not sure if they even take them) since we just walked in, but they were able to seat us within 10 minutes on a Saturday night. The place was packed and the atmosphere, though pretty dim, was cozy like any good Italian restaurant should be. Everyone felt that their meals were fantastic, though I don't recall specific dishes. The place mellowed out pretty quickly after 10 - I believe they close at 11. Don't expect it to be a late night here, that's what the bar is for. Bring your favorite bottle of red, a few friends, and an appetite for Italian food and you'll have a hell of a night.
(5)
E M.

This is NOT Bucca di Beppo, people. The portions are huge and fresh, which is both why the food costs so much and why it takes so long. It's real Italian food in a relaxed atmosphere. Bring your own bottle of wine and you can bide your time. Bring two or six and some good company to help you down it, and you won't even notice time passing! This neighborhood is about quality, so learn to enjoy it. Because Ravenswood's so isolated, it's a great find for anyone in the city looking for a quietly romantic meal with weird art surrounding you. But yeah -- don't go on a Friday or Saturday night. Then it's packed. Caro Mio is run by authentic Italians who make the pasta by hand. So when things take awhile, you'll know why. Still, I agree that things do tend to drag on. You will get seated right away, but after the water comes out, the bread takes awhile. Then you dump on the olive oil and fresh garlic and grated parmesan and wait to be waited upon. It kinda sucks. But I drink my wine like it's going out of style, so I don't really notice. They bring you a bucket to chill it in and uncork it for free. These touches eventually even out the cost of your and wait for your meal. I do think Caro Mio could benefit from use of some spices, but whatever they're doing now is definitely yummy enough to bring me back. And OH MY LORD are their desserts good. TIRAMISU!!!!!!!!!
(4)
Paige W.

On this foggy, chilly night in February, my cousin and I strolled into Caro Mio for a quiet meal together. The walls of the restaurant are a vibrant red-pepper color, with lovely local art hanging by the light of candle-powered chandeliers. Lovely and cozy, very Chicago, and just the right atmosphere to melt away the drabness of the day. The crowd was small when we arrived, though we got the last 2-top in the dining room. Around 7 p.m., the tables really started filling up, and by the time we got our food the place was packed. That's always nice to see on a Monday! Based on the heavy traffic, I thought our food would be stellar. Our server, who was flamboyant, wildly gesticulatory and SLOOOOOOOOW as molasses in January, had plenty of good things to say about the food. We ordered... And waited. And waited some more. Half an HOUR later, our meals finally arrived. They must have gone to buy the cheap, flavorless chicken for our dishes in Italy. I'm sad about it. I had pollo alla parmigiana, sort of my Italian litmus test: rubbery, heavy on the breading and DROWNED in cheese and sauce. My cousin's chicken piccata was much prettier and tasted better (than mine), but she still wasn't terribly happy with it. We finished our food, and 15 minutes later, our very gay and adorable server came over and asked us if we wanted dessert. By that time, we'd been there more than an hour and needed to get my cousin's Zipcar back to its home, so we just wanted to leave. Another 15 minutes later, we'd signed our credit card receipts and headed back into the fog. Le sigh. Just looking for that really special restaurant experience in Chicago... The search continues.
(2)
Josselyn W.

Pretty sure this is new but they now charge an $8 fee if you split plates. Their dishes are HUGE so we always split. The waiter is usually accommodating and will waive it if you order some appetizers. We had a table of 4 girls, and ordered 3 dishes and he didn't charge us. But there's no way that one person could finish a plate - they are almost meant to be split amongst groups.
(5)
Mathew C.

If you like enormous portions of great food, this place is for you. The sun-dried tomato ravioli alla panna (a special) is the candy version of pasta. Homemade, yummy goodness. The risotto gamberi was perfectly made. The linguini all' arrabbiata showed up in what would more accurately be called a cauldron than a bowl. I got the gnocchi gratinati and I'm still thinking about it. I can eat a lot, and I only got halfway through this thing. The service was great and it's BYOB with no corkage fee. If you haven't been here, go. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Linda C.

Yep, I still love this place.
(5)
Amy D.

Well if an incident didn't happen that the person I went with wasn't about to faint, I think I would have given them three stars, but their service was GREAT. My friend didn't faint b/c of the food or anything, it's a condition they have. Anyways back to the review. Bread, garlic, parmigiana, AWESOME! The calamari was solid. The entrees, just ok and kinda pricey. The veal was not very good in my personal opinion. The pasta I got was very tasty, but on the high side. Italian restaurants should make half orders instead of charging a ton for huge portions. The tiramisu which I was really excited for, was sub-par. I would go again, but maybe try a different dessert or just stick with the pasta.
(4)
Anna T.

Thank you fellow Yelpers! My friend, Sean and I tried Caro Mio based on the reviews! We were heading to the Green Mill Sunday Night and had a taste for Italian! As I always do, I look to yelp for help for somewhere in the area! Caro Mio is a great little place! I ordered the tortellini pastichatta. It was very rich in favor! Sean ordered the Spicy Shimp and pasta, he was very happy also. Caro Mio is a great place to share a bottle of wine and relax. (especially after the holidays). It was so relaxing we were late for the show at the Green Mill. Leave it to two Italians to lose track of time gossiping over wine! Caro Mio is BYOB.. so if you are looking for a place to help enjoy all the wine gifts from the holidays.. Caro Mio is the place! Parking was easy, the service was nice, I was very happy!
(4)
Robot A.

Here is how to order at a great place like Caro Mio: Step 1-Thank hostess for the menu. Step 2-Place unopened menu on your lap. Step 3-Say hello to the waiter and address him with a smile by his first name. Step 4-When its your turn to order, smile and tell him to bring whatever he suggests. Step 5-Enjoy the satisfation of having a fantastic dish Went here for my wife's graduation with both our parents. Really great place!!! It didn't seem like you could go wrong with anything on the menu. The veal in the porchini mushroom sauce was amazing!!! I'd recommend reservations cause it is on the cozy side. The best part...BYOB!
(5)
Juanita G.

I joined some friends here for a Groundhog Day dinner. The 5 of us met up with a few bottles of red wine. It had been years since I've been here and we were all anxious to try it again. The meal didn't disappoint. It was an amazing meal. It was a longer wait than I had anticipated to get a table. But I suppose it was 7 on a Saturday. Even with reservations some groups had to wait along with us. We waited so long that a member of our group drove to get some beer on Western & Lincoln and made it back before we were seated. Still it was worth the wait. The service was spotty because it was so busy but when you had the staff's attention you had their complete attention. We never felt rushed to leave the table. There were several groups there celebrating birthdays that gave it a very festive atmosphere. There were people waiting for tables throughout the meal. I had a very lovely risotto. It was the perfect texture. Everyone else at the table had one of their lovely specials. It was such a great time. It was all going well until we got our check. We were offended that they had added a gratuity to the bill. We were surprised that there wasn't a corkage fee. Was it supposed to make up for that? We would have tipped at least 20% for the service especially since it is a BYOB. I had to knock off a star for that. I think their service speaks for itself and if they don't have enough faith in that I don't know if I should. Are people usually bad tippers?
(4)
Jen M.

My girlfriends took me here to kick off my bachelorette party weekend. For starters, it is an adorable restaurant. Small and you definitely need reservations, but its so charming. The menu is very impressive. Be warned: the portions are huge! You really get your money's worth. Everyone in my group was very pleased with their food. And to top it all off, it is BYOB with no corking fee.
(5)
Alice S.

Dining here for the first time on a blustery and wet November evening, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. The calamari appetizer was well prepared but was pushed to a new level with a good dose of chopped garlic (garlic makes everything better). I had the lobster ravioli in a cream sauce, which was nicely done, except for the few strips of sun dried tomatoes. The tomatoes were out of place texturally, and I felt their intensity clashed with the subtle taste of the lobster filling. I just avoided eating them (although I do love sun dried tomatoes). For dessert, I had their lemon tartufo. This was a very light lemon gelato ball with limoncello. Very delicious, even if it was served without the meringue crumbles. I have mixed feelings about the service. Let me explain: when I arrived, a few minutes early, I was greeted immediately and when seated, asked if I would like something to drink. Good thing, because I wanted coffee, which I received promptly. My friend arrived a few minutes after me, and not seeing me sat on the other side of the (very dark) restaurant. No one greeted her initially -- she said she stood at the entrance for at least a minute -- nor was she asked if she wanted anything after sitting. The difference in the level of service was confounding. (We found each other when she called me, wondering where I was, since I'm rarely late.) It's possible that she seated herself in a section that wasn't being utilized, but even so she should have been greeted. I moved myself over to her table, and after that things went smoothly. Another little problem: I just discovered that they wrapped up my friend's leftovers instead of mine. Great, I'll get to try the stuffed gnocchi! Good thing she's a CLOSE friend of mine, otherwise, ewww. Still, overall, it was a fine experience, with good food. I'll be back to try their other dishes, for sure!
(4)
James C.

AMAZING! One of my favorite BYOB's. They have a homemade menu that is to die for! Great Stuff. Get the homemade gnocchi!!! Bring a ton of wine (personally I go cheap and get two bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Yellow Tale). The menu is expensive but one of my favorite for special occasions. One time I had some beef because they sat us by the door and it was cold so people were standing all around our table, did i mention it was cold...but it was once and this place is one of those rare hole in the walls you get excited about finding.
(5)
Missy F.

Schaawing. Gorgonzola Rissotto with Italian sausage. Life couldn't get any better.
(5)
Charlie P.

A good friend took us to Caro Mio for dinner when we visited Chicago and we were blown away. The calamari was perfectly cooked, the osso buco milanese was incredible (easily some of the most tender beef I've ever eaten), and the freshly made pastas were top notch. If I lived in Chicago I would totally be a regular.
(5)
Levi W.

Caro Mio is an excellent treat! This little BYOB (with no corkage fee) has a little of something for everyone. I would highly recommend the brushetta and I was a very big fan of the lobster ravioli. The were very accomodating for a group of six.
(4)
Claudia F.

Went there for my husbands birthday with our 3 girls that are 7-11 yrs old. Sat us quickly but then never came back! It was a Monday night and there seemed to be 2 parties or large gatherings going on so it was really loud! I mean these people were whooping it up loud. Any how... my husband went to the bar to ask for menus and they told him to sit down that they would bring them. Ok then... Ordered our food from the not so friendly waiter who seemed like he was a part owner pr part family. They wanted to charge us $12 to split a dish for 2 little girls...kind of crazy. The dishes were $16 each so it wasn't worth splitting it. Bill on a Monday night for a family of 5 with no drinks (only water an no apptz!) was $165. It tasted good and the portions were really large so we took home a meal for another night. For what its worth...
(3)
Nicholas W.

Service/food/environment/location: pretty mediocre. I wouldn't go back.
(1)
Carri C.

I have to stay, Caro Mio is back in my good graces. The staff is no longer rushing dinner as I had previously complained about in my first review. The food here is outstanding. I have never had a bad (or even average) meal at Caro Mio. The BYOB is a big help. The pasta prices are a little high, but with the BYOB the prices are fine. This is a great date place.
(5)
Eric J.

Truly amazing! I won't rehash what's been said more eloquently by others, but: - the calamari is on the short list for the best i've ever had; perfectly cooked, not over breaded (so often the case), and incredibly fresh and flavorful - the gnocchi special is indeed a thing of beauty, catch the fever! - my stepmother's lobster mascarpone ravioli were amazing; she saved the sauce separate from her leftovers to use on some pasta at home - both the lemon and chocolate tartufo desserts were simply stellar; if they weren't out of the tiramisu I would have loved to have tried that, but I do not feel like I settled by any stretch BYOB, etc., all great, can't recommend it enough, esp. for a great date. Try it for lunch, they have all the same specials but they drop the price.
(5)
Leah J.

Oh, Caro Mio! Mi amore!!!! Not only did I love the food, but I couldn't get enough of our fantastic waiter, Cesear, calling me "mi amore." I felt so special. :) This place is intimate and warm. So much, I almost wished there were drape covered booths to snuggle with my date and feed him gnocchi. Caro Mio can ooze with romance, especially with the right trance music playing in the background. We went on a weekday as soon as it opened (the best time to go). We were completely catered to; the company of our waiter was a delight. I didn't even look at the menu! You basically tell your waiter what you like and poof he brings back this delictable meal that is exactly what your tastebuds were craving. The gnocchi porticcino mushroom dish is my favorite. I honestly wanted to lick the plate. The pumpkin risotto was a girl's creamy dream. I am a creamy girl, what can I say. The green bean ensalda was also delcisiouso. The portions are generous, I have lunch for today!! Truly a great first date, second and for life-r date spot. If you feel like partying up a bit, there is a backroom that can accomodate larger groups, but book ahead. I hear that Caro Mio gets crazy packed on weekends. People must know where the great food and ambiance is at!!
(5)
jenny m.

It's simple, this place is great! I discovered it after an article in the Red Eye and have been going back ever since. I've never had a thing there that hasn't been excellent....and I've tasted probably half the menu if not more by now. The green bean salad is very tasty and a good app if you want something light. The pizza bread is well, just that, pizza bread. But good if you are starving and need something more filling. My fav app though is the bruschetta, and make sure to get it with the whole mozzarella on top. It's some of the best I've had. As for entrees, I think the two I've enjoyed most are the gnocchi with asiago & pesto in a creamy tomato sauce and then the porcini mushroom pasta dish. If you like mushrooms that dish is amazing. The service is above par by my standards. The servers are very familiar with the menu and always willing to offer suggestions or help you figure out a dish that will suite what you are in the mood for. And really, the cherry on top is that it's a BYOB. So bring an extra bottle because chances are, you'll end up sitting there longer then planned! It's just an overall enjoyable experience.
(5)
Kevin C.

This place is my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago. You're greeted by a warm server every time, the appetizers are wonderful, and the half-moon ravioli is to die for! (Seriously, it's got a tomato-cream sauce, with sweet peas, and minced Italian sausages.) I would recommend the desert, but I've never been able to discipline myself enough to save room!
(5)
Rosie S.

I have now been here twice in the last month. I have been looking for a great Italian BYOB place. And this is it!! The first time I went was with a large group of 10 people. They sat us within 5 minutes of our reservation (and the place was packed)! We were expecting to wait but did not have to. It was great. I would recommend making a later reservation for a large group so you don't have to worry about being rushed. (We were never rushed, but we did have an 8:30 reservation--so there was no reservations after us). I also went last night with 2 other people...completely different scene. The place was not that crowded. On both occasions the service was excellent and the food was delicious. I am lucky to go with people who like to share. I have tired the alfredo, gnocchi with spinach and gnocchi stuffed with asiago cheese, lobster ravoli (super yum), calamari (melts in your mouth), brushetti with fresh mozzarella, and the list goes on. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on this menu.
(4)
Amy L.

Calamari fritti was awesome! I loved it here. Only other good one I had was at Lou Malnati's and Bucca di Beppo. I got it on a carry-out order and they even said they wanted to fry it just before I come to pick it up so that it'll be fresh. And it was good. I also had their grilled eggplant appetizer which was really just a large slice of eggplant with cheese on top...soaked in marinara sauce. I wasn't too impressed by it though it did taste good. The eggplant wasn't too soggy or anything like that so it was pretty good. I've always gotten friendly service and prompt service here each time I went. And parking is easy to find too during weekday lunch time ..there's like free 2 hour street parking in front I believe. I love their mix of parmesan, garlic, olive oil, and crushed red pepper that they give for your bread. It is genius. *Sad, they don't open during lunch on weekdays anymore. I used to go during my lunch break. Looks like only dinner now... 4pm-10 or 11pm.
(3)
Mill V.

I am always sold on freshly made pasta. I hate restaurants that boast to be Italian, but use box. The pasta here is damn good. Cute little hole in a wall, very small and tight corners. I love the decor, the sweet Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe jacky paintings, which are for sale. My ma ordered lasagna, which was probably one of the best I tasted in a long fricking time. It's just drowning in a creamy rich tomato covering. I had papp noodles(which I love BIG slurpy noodles) with a creamy marscapone cheese sauce. I wish there was alittle more to the sauce then it's creamy-ness, but still good. The sizes were huge, so you will have some for another meal MOS DEF. Don't plan on rushing, this place likes to take it slow, so relax, crack open a bottle of wine and be selfish.
(4)
Amy S.

It's been a while, but I do recall enjoying this place. Our appetizers were good, our entrees were good, the prices were good, the byob is always good, the meatballs were gross. It's a great place for a date and every has got to love byob!
(3)
Jason S.

Just went for lunch. Turned out to be a really big lunch. They do have a lunch menu, but the portions were so big that only one out of five finished it all. The food was great, excellent if you factor in that we did not wait long for our food at all. The place was not crowded (noon on a Wednesday), so that probably helped speed things up a bit. I had the gnocchi special - stuffed with asiago cheese and a little spinach with a creamy tomato sauce. Awesome. Others had the veal parm and said it was good but nothing special. The bread seemed homemade and came with the triumvirate of red pepper flakes, minced garlic, and parmesan. Mixed with olive oil, it was a treat, but probably added to the still-full feeling I have now. $14 for the lunch is not bad, especially when you factor in the service and quality. Did not take advantage of the BYOB as I was at lunch with co-workers. But good to know it is there if it is an especially stressful week. I give it 4 stars with room to grow.
(4)
Dan D.

I also have to agree with Beth L. and her not so flattering review. We waited about 20 min for a "oh it will be 5 min" table, then waited another 15 min before we even got bread. Then we had to ask when we wanted more bread. And the bread was cool both times. Temperature, not chic. If I'm paying $20/entree is it too much to ask for warm bread? Then my veal was so-so, and at the end of the meal the server put dessert menus in front of us, assuming that we would want to order. After a less than mediocre meal, this was assuming a lot. Too many other good italian places in the area to waste my time with this place again.
(2)
Magglio M.

We were very pleasantly surprised by Caro Mio. They started by giving us fresh bread with fresh garlic and oil. We ordered the polenta as a starter as we never had polenta before and it was good. The sauce was excellent. I order a special gnocchi stuffed with asiago cheese and it was excellent. My wife order the chicken parmesan, which was also excellent. The service was great. It is a little pricey but that is how it is at good BYOB places. I guess the additional price may not be worth it if you don't drink. Our bill was under $60 because we brought a bottle of wine.
(5)
Deirdre L.

I am officially upgrading to 5 stars. This Place Does NOT Disappoint The servers, while not the most amazing service ever, are funny, pleasant and accommodating. They really create a great atmosphere and seem to be having fun, while still taking care good care of their guests. And the food. The food is amazing, plus its BYO with No Corkage.... Fiction, you say? I swear it is not. I was here a couple of weeks ago for a friend's birthday and ate some kickin stuffed gnocci. Then, last Friday, had lobster & sun dried tomato raviolis in a marscipone cream sauce. If I ate like this on even a weekly basis, I would have a heart attack in a month. Its certainly not healthy, but DAMN its so good! Great appetizers, homemade pasta, amazzzzing cream sauces & mushroom sauces, decadent desserts, great coffee. I think this may be my favorite place. Ever. Literally. Yum. What else can I say... trying to use words to describe the cream sauce is absolutely futile. Just go.
(5)
Jed E.

Great find for northsiders. The number of menu options and specials are a little overwhelming. My wife had a special homemade gnocchi stuffed with asiago pesto, and in a creamy red sauce. This might have been the single best item of food I've ever placed in my mouth. My entree was a large elbow pasta (also homemade) with creamy meat sauce, and chicken Parmesan on top. I think we'll probably have 3 more meals with the leftovers, because we also had garlic bread and salad, but that's fine by mee! Oh yea- service was good, and there was no wait at 7:30 on Thursday night. This will be a neighborhood favorite for a long time.
(4)
David N.

My first experience at this place was for a friends birthday dinner. I have to say honestly I was not impressed with the food. There was a group of 25 of us and it cost us each 55 dollars a piece, which seemed a bit much, considering entrees range from 15 to 18 dollars. It probably did not help that most of the dishes that was served to our group were meat based and I'm a vegetarian. So for a salad, a couple slices of bread and a couple spoons of pasta, it was a little pricey for me. But talking to another friend of mine, he did say the food is normally excellent here. That is why I'm giving this place 4 stars. I looked at the menu and there are some awesome sounding dishes on the menu. I would love to come back here and try out some dishes without being in a birthday party dinner setting where the meal was already picked out for you. So I will definitely give this place a second change, and looking at the reviews others have left, I'm sure I would not be disappointed the second time around.
(4)
Amy C.

This is our Italian place now. The best parts are BYOB and fresh homemade pasta. We tried this place because I love homemade pasta. It really makes such a big difference! We had the gnocchi (tomato cream sauce filled with basil and gongozola) and the pasta with creamy carbonara. They were so delicious that I want to go back now! I also really really like the bread where they give you garlic, red pepper and grated parmasan cheese. What a great idea and it was so good.
(5)
Missy M.

Probably the best Italian I've had in the city! Every part of the night was delicious! My homemade pasta came with hunks of pancetta. Be ready to experience a food coma after dining here...but so worth it!
(5)
Ann M.

Another favorite BYOB spot for me. The food is divine, interesting and fresh. The prices are fair and no corkage fee - fantastic!
(4)
Yujin A.

I am not sure if I'd be back here if it weren't BYOB. It's a nice little family-owned Italian restaurant next to the Metra track on Wilson. It's always decently crowded, but never too crowded. Basically, the food is way too salty, and the service is extremely slow. The waiter was very knowledgeable and all, but he couldn't have been any less attentive -but it wasn't his fault. They desperately need more WAIT STAFF!!! I couldn't believe only one guy was taking care over at least a dozen tables by himself. Not surprisingly, service is really really slow although the bus boy did a great job filling up my water glass. I had been here about 9 months ago on a date, and I went back there recently with my brother. Both times, service was consistently slow since they were short on waiters. Food was good, but consistently too saucy and salty. I usually prefer independent restaurants over chain restaurants, but I'd rather eat at Francesca's or Tuscany's before eating here. I do like their menu. Many regional specialties. It is a great addition to the neighborhood though.
(3)
Christine M.

Why is it that I've lived in this neighborhood for a year and have never been here before? This place is on Wilson, just west of Ravenswood. If you weren't looking for it, you would probably miss it. We only knew it was here because we took a walk one day while waiting for Spacca Napoli to have room for us. We brought our bottle of wine with, because it is BYOB. At 7pm on a Friday, it was not yet totally packed. We were seated and given menus, and then told the specials. My husband ended up with lobster ravioli and I got chicken with mushroom ravoli. My husband said that his was good and mine was excellent. Both were more food than we could finish there. We did look at a dessert menu, and everything there looked good, but we were both very full and couldn't manage to eat another bite. This would be a great place to take a date. We will also probably bring our parents here when they come in from out-of-town.
(5)
Aaron S.

Either this place has gotten better in the year since I've been or I finally just ordered the right thing. Previously I found dishes were too salty or, in the case of the cream sauces, a bit bland. I felt like Goldilocks ordering the Vitello Arrabiata--just right, with the light tomato sauce allowing the flavors of the white wine, jalapenos (with no seeds) and eggplant to shine through. My coworkers probably hate me now (*belch*) but i was completely satisfied. Ravenswood folks are lucky to have a BYO restaurant this reliable to walk to.
(3)
Holly L.

This past weekend disaster. Arrived and the suggested wait was 45-1 hour. Host suggested leaving cell number and he will call when a table opens. We venture out about 1/2 mile away and return in 40 mins. When we return the host now says another 45-1 hour wait! Packed area only to stand and no bar. The host could not care less. We walked out a bit shocked. Not the way you treat paying customers.
(1)
Tim O.

This is my favorite Italian BYOB in Chicago. The food is consistently great and the service is very friendly and attentive. Be patient if you are going on a weekend because you will probably wait for a while, but if will be well worth the wait. They have a great selection of appetizers. My favorite is probably the green bean and tomato salad with buffalo mozzarella and a balsamic and olive oil sauce. This is always a nice and light way to start a meal. They also offer a few mushroom appetizers that I really enjoy. As for main courses. They offer a wonderful array of home made pastas and their tomato sauces are really rich and wonderfully flavored. My favorite dish has to be the "pappardelle con porcini." This may be the best mushroom sauce I have ever tasted. The chef brilliantly combines the earthiness of the mushrooms with a creamy richness that warms the soul. I think the porcini mushroom sauce may be my favorite sauce of all time. I highly recommend this dish. If you still have room, they offer some nice deserts. the staff is great and although there is always a line out the door, they never rush you out of the restaurant. This is a cozy and casual place that serves up top notch food with good service. Also great for groups. Enjoy!
(5)
Edward P.

Definitely a great atmosphere. Once inside, you forget you are in a generic storefront. The service is usually great, with few exceptions. The food is definitely good, too. It's not the best Italian food in Chicago, but with this place, it is the whole package. Very low-key and somewhat romantic. You will really enjoy this place if you go and don't have ridiculous expectations. Think about it, 2 people can have a great dinner and a bottle of wine for less than $50(of course, it's BYOB). I suggest the homemade pasta dishes.....Don't forget to bring a good bottle of wine.
(4)
Matthew B.

I would have sworn that I reviewed this before, but anyways, we went a few months ago and had a nice dinner. Everything was pretty good, but honestly, it was all just a bit crowded; a bit much for the effort. I think I'll keep Anna Maria Pasteria as my neighborhood Italian joint.
(3)
melissa a.

My best girl friend and I wanted a great byob spot for dinner, I found this little ditty on yelp. We walked in on a Tuesday night, sat down right away, and was greeted right away. Our server was enthusiastic and charming. Very charming! We had the calamari salad, it was a bit salty but every bit deelish. We had a special gnocchi that wasnt on the menu, and it was a great large portion. This is a great date spot. I will definatly return here over and over. The only downfall of the night was the horrible music in the background.
(5)
theresa w.

PLUS: . we were seated before the one and a half hour estimate, . available street parking . the bread/cheese/GARLIC/oil on table was really good . pitcher h2O on table, .BYOB without a corking fee . they didn't charge the splitting fee charge for shared plates . tortellini soup was really good - just enough noodles, spinach and not too salty . bus staff was friendly . my dinner was hot, topped with fresh ground pepper, and full of cheesy goodness! MINUS: . dinners do not come with salads or soup . waitress wasn't the friendliest
(4)
Cristine K.

My second time there, both with large groups. The prix fixe were very good, especially the calamari and the gnocchi. BYOB and a friendly atmosphere. This is definitely a good place for groups and family. I wouldn't want to bring date here though, the tables are so close, you wouldnt be able to have any privacy!
(3)
Sam C.

Sure it was loud and the tables were packed together like sardines in the small tin can of a restaurant, but I really liked this place. The food was outstanding. Service was excellent. And BYOB!!
(4)
Ross F.

Just had a great meal at this great littie BYOB on Wilson near the El tracks. I am a sucker for great home made pasta and Caro Mio does not dissapoint. The special lasagna was tasty and the portion size was just right for an Italian place (big but not massive and scary). The zuppe di pesci had some enourmous mussels and tasted great. Some people might not like the no-nonsense service but I prefer that to your overly attentive and cheesy Dennys waitress. The place in not huge and it gets slammed on a nice weekend evening but on the night I was there there were a few couples and a large B-Day group of about 20 people. Eat, BYOB, and be Happy.
(5)
jaki c.

These guys are wonderful. I go here as much as I can! Everyone is super friendly, the food is always excellent, and the atmosphere is always warm and inviting. I really appreciate this place tucked away as it is. Don't try to get reservations unless you are ready to book months in advance. I have been here with very small parties and with dinners of up to 14 people and they have been incredibly accomodating and delightful. Thank you Caro Mio- see you soon!
(5)
Stephanie L.

3.5 actually....Caro Mio where to start. So I have actually been here quite a bit. And progressively they have lost stars. So lets start by this, the last two times I have went here with a group and they have "lost the reservation" or "I didnt call to confirm" so they assumed we werent coming....WTF! Not to mention, they were super rude when we got there. And I had talked to them one of the times earlier that same day....seriously?!?! Weird. Anyway, they ended up cramming us in both times. I dont know if thats a good thing or not. Its definitely a tight space but I like it. Anyway, food...well there really is no rhyme or reason to their menu...for example, the last three times I went there, the specials are exactly the same...remember each was about 6months-1 year apart. Also, they have a whole wheat pasta that is veggie for like $21...the same one that is not whole wheat pasta is $17....really?! The service is so so. If you go on a weeknight, its great...if you go on a weekend....hit or miss. Also, most of the dishes are super cheesy and salty so if you like this bad for you italian, this is the place for you...sometimes I feel like that but sometimes I dont. Anyway, I actually found a very good dish the last time I went....salmon alla grille. So good! Lots of veggies, which most of their other dishes dont have. The portions here are HUGE so I guess that is how they can get away with just mediocre pasta at pretty expensive prices....plus BYOB. Its worth a try, I do like it and most likely I will go back and say...why the hell am I back here but oh well!
(3)
Abby M.

I absolutely love this place! I've been to a few Italian restaurants in the city but this one is my favorite...not to mention BYOB with no corkage fee! I always bring visiting friends and family here for dinner. the portions are huge so if you can find someone to share...you should. Unless of course, you want leftovers! I always order the half-moon pasta with tomato cream sauce, the calamari, or the linguine with lots-o-seafood and a garlic/olive oil sauce...not necessarily in that order! :) The wait can be long on the weekends but is 100% worth it. I love the waitstaff, too! Trying this restaurant is a must!
(5)
Brian P.

What a great little restaurant in our neighborhood up here. Even when Italian food is good, it's rare to call it special. There's something about Caro Mio that's special - maybe the fresh ingredients, but whatever it is the food is exceptional. And it's a lovely, cozy place to dine. Service is good and atmosphere has a nice little buzz about it.
(4)
Kim M.

This restaurant gets an extra star for being BYOB without the corkage fee. The other three stars are for the amazing homemade pasta dishes and sauces they have! I have tried 4 different types now (both pastas and sauces) and they are all awesome! It's a casual place with good service. They check on you at appropriate intervals, get the food to you in good time and keep your water glass full, which is all I ask. It is a smaller restaurant with plenty of tables, so come prepared to be pretty close to your neighboring tables. In general (I haven't tried everything), I recommend sticking to the pastas, which seem to be the real strength. The chicken I had was underwhelming and the fried calamari are no better than what you would get at a bar. The veal parmigiana was a very pleasant exception to that rule, but my fiance got it with a side of pasta in amazing bolognese sauce, which didn't hurt.
(4)
Julia F.

Another hidden gem! Now that the season calls for some warm to your heart savory meals, you can't get any better than Caro Mio. With their BYOB policy, you can have a great family style meal or an amazing night out of gourmet Italian. I'm not even a fan of Italian food, but their pasta is home made and the Porcini Mushroom dishes are amazing. Make sure to bring a great bottle of Chianti or Pinot Grigio and have a toast over some great tasting food.
(5)
Betty L.

My friend and I have to disagree with many of the reviews; perhaps we were there on an "off" day. Ambiance: 5 stars. The place is dimly lit with candles and has awesome art work on the wall. It has a very "warm" feel. Service: 2.5 stars. We waited about 10 minutes for water and then at the end of our meal, we felt rushed out. Our waiter gave us the check and kept checking back every few minutes even though it was clear we weren't done (still had a half bottle of wine and the bill was off to the side of the table, untouched). Food/Price: 0 stars. The price was indeed far too high (spaghetti is $18.00 for instance). Most items were at least $20. Honestly, I wouldn't have even paid $8 for this meal- I had spaghetti and my friend had salmon. Both of our meals were extremely bland and greasy. We felt sick later that night. I felt like I was drinking vegetable oil, not eating spaghetti. Location: 5 stars. Easy to park on the street. Free parking on the side streets. I wish our food had had some taste, because the place is so cute... but I won't be back.
(2)
Tracy R.

I'm going with three stars because it really seems to depend on what kind of day Caro Mio is having when you are there... The first time I went I would say it was a solid FIVE star experience. Best. Gnocchi. Ever. The second time was with a large group that I brought there and everyone seemed to enjoy their meal, plus being BYOB is always wonderful... the wine flows freely! However, the last time my husband and I went, it was a pretty "meh" experience. The Olive Garden is better than this last experience.... I'm VERY sad - I thought I had found my new go-to spot for homemade pasta and was really looking forward to frequenting this adorable little neighborhood spot with the exotic staff. I'll be back to try again because everyone has an "off" night... but this is Chicago and there is far too much wonderful Italian comfort food competition for an inconsistent restaurant to survive.
(3)
Jennifer E.

Caro Mio was my favorite restaurant. I love the atmosphere, the food, the byob... Carlos is the greatest. BUT I had a terrible experience there a few months back and it ruined the place for me. It was a Friday night - always busy - and we were told it was going to be a 30 minute wait. Totally bearable. After 1.5 hours, we were fed up waiting and asking when we were up... always to be told the next table. Even more frustrating when you see a 2 top open. The other main server (not Carlos) proceeded to b a complete jerk to us for asking when we were going to get to be seated (we had a show to get to). So, we left. I was totally embarrassed because my friend had never been there - and it left a very bad impression. I hope to go back because I love the food, but its going to take quit awhile for these wounds to heal.
(2)
Shawn J.

This is a great little Italian Restaurant that gets busy early. The place was packed and we got nestled in a two top. The place is dark and candle lit, and extremely cozy. Perfect for a date night or with friends. While I didn't have a superb dinner ( i ordered wild mushroom risotto and it was burnt ) everything else was extremely good. ( I am willing to give them a second chance based on my over all experience there ) It is BYOB... who could ask for anything better, and the staff was extremely nice and super fast. While my entree wasn't up to par, my friends was excellent and the apps and desert we had were above par too. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Amber N.

We had a great birthday dinner at Caro Mio last night for 8 people. Once again the host, waiters, bus people were all so sweet and wonderful. We had originally planned to go to Tango Sur, but they once again had no room for us there since they just decided to start taking reservations and were booked solid. Caro gladly took our reservation, honored it and everyone had a fantastic time. The food is good, not the best Italian we've ever had, but its like Maggianos, a classic that you can depend on. Always a nice time with an unpretentious atmosphere that is warm and inviting.
(4)
Shaun T.

Ravenswood seems ripe with hole-in-the-wall restaurants that mask the hidden jewel within, and this is no different. Forget the rest of their filthy food, walk in right now, and demand Tiramisu. To be a little more serious, the food is nothing less than succulent, as long as you order the right thing. It seems like every day they have a different special or five, and each one of them sounds like some obscure delicacy. I was never let down by their handmade portobello mushroom ravioli in bolognese, or any of their chicken dishes, but I was sadly disappointed by the shrimp risotto. Sadly enough, they are also located next to an obnoxiously stinky and rarely emptied dumpster half a block down next to the L track, and sometimes you can actually smell it in the establishment. Considering the quality of the food here, this is a great disservice that can detract from an otherwise exquisite meal. Take my advice here: if you can smell it outside, it may be a problem inside as well. This only happened one of the times I went, so my warning may be unnecessary. But the real shining jewel here is the Tiramisu. They are family owned and operated, and the person waiting your table may have contributed somehow to your meal, so keep that in mind. More than once, our waiter was the resident Tiramisu chef, and he's so modest about that fact, it's hard to believe how shockingly divine it tastes. This is something you'll want to eat slowly, and enjoy every second. The rest of the food, no matter how delectable, doesn't exist so far as I'm concerned so long as I can order plates of this dessert. If you do nothing else, treat yourself to this. It's really a shame they're between the Damen and Montrose brown-line stops. It's a really out of the way location for a surprisingly good bite to eat.
(4)
Kimberly W.

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I love the fish! I've had several fish dishes. I also love the homemade pasta. You can't go wrong with anything here. Service is great. Food is wonderful. I've even gotten several of my friends and family into this place and they all love it too. You won't be disappointed. Check it out!
(5)
Kathryn M.

I came here with a friend on a Thursday around 5:30. We were the only customers until about 6:30. I must say...I'm a HUGE fan of the BYOB with no corkage fee...holla! I went with one of the specials, gnocci stuffed with cheese and pesto in a vodka cream sauce...seriously it was a party in my mouth, but for $20 was a little pricey. My friend had spaghetti with alfredo sauce, which she loved. The portions are huge, but I still think it's a little over priced. The restaurant itself is adorable and cozy. I love the artwork. I'm sure I'll be back because it's close to work and BYOB...can't go wrong with that.
(4)
Sandy D.

Just went to Caro Mio again last night...I have NEVER been disappointed...Their brushetta special with fresh mozzeralla was scrumptious!...I only can review one main dish though, because seriously it's all I ever get...It's just that good.. It's Caro Mio's homemade Gnocchi special...The one with the creamy tomato sauce and asiago stuffed...I can't wait to eat my leftovers for lunch. Caro Mio is the best...You will be thrilled you tried their wonderful dishes!
(5)
Sierra I.

I've been to and tasted much better... The restaurant is sooo small and cramped. The bread was kinda hard and not Italian at all. The food was really just o.k. unfortunately. I would rather go to Sapori Trattoria any day of the week than this place.
(3)
Matt L.

Decent Italian, but I think it's suffering from a slight case of the overrateds. In this no-mans-land that's kind of North Centery, close to Lincoln Square, almost Andersonville, and yet known as Ravenswood, you have two really good options for a nice dinner: Mixteco and Spacca Napoli. Caro Mio isn't a bad third choice, but doesn't really stand up to the other two in terms of food quality. As is customary at many Italian restaurants, they bring you some bread and parmesan. What's different is they also offer you crushed red pepper and fresh garlic. Throw some olive oil on top of all that, spread it on your bread, and shit, you're all set. Fucking delish. But then we got our calamari. BIG THUMBS DOWN. Almost embarrassingly poor. Flavorless with a super thin marinara dipping sauce. For my entree, I got "pappardelle con pomodoro secco imported sun dried tomatoes in a creamy marscapone cheese sauce $17.95". Now I'm not going to lie, I like stuff like this, and I ate it, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I thought it would be a well seasoned, tomato-y dish with some marscapone on top. What it amounted to was basically a very heavy fettucine alfredo with a hint of marscapone and a very slight dusting of little sun-dried tomato pieces. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Because I already had one that morning after eating like 8 pieces of bacon. Anyway, I put some more red pepper on top to cut the heaviness. Then, with the encouragement of my bromos, I beer bonged 3 bottle of red wine. Coronary averted. I also tried "imboltini di melenzana lightly breaded and pan fried eggplant rolled with vermicelli noodles, boconcini mozzarella, basil and parmesan cheese - then topped with more mozzarella cheese and baked $15.95" which was much better. It was seasoned well and each element was balanced. It didn't make me feel like I was going to die quite as much as my dish. Now I have good news and bad news for you. I'll give you the bad first, you pessimistic son of a bitch: Like almost every review has said, they were out of the chocolate tartufello. Does this even exist, or do they just put it on the menu to make you feel bad about yourself? How can they possibly be out of the same dessert every day? Now the good news... we got iiterally, THE last tiramisu. You could tell it was homemade and each plate made individually. Unlike most places where they just cut you a big piece off a huge whipped beast on a sheet pan, this was individual lady fingers with the marscapone and maybe some sabayon and coffee and cocoa powder. Not a huge portion, but impressive. So yeah, if you want to be a total dick, go to Caro Mio really early in the evening and order a bunch of desserts. They'll quickly run out, and you can lol at everyone's disappointment as they find out there is no dessert left. Or you could just sit there with a bunch of desserts on your table and offer to resell them to other customers... at a handsome profit. Shalom mofuckas. P.S. The one penis mensroom was kind of gross and the door wouldn't lock. I thought I was going to have to free up some space mid-meal. Fortunately the immodium I took that morning kept me from having to get naked.
(3)
Courtney F.

LOVE this place. I am a huge fan of Italian food and this is great, It's BYOB, which I love as well!. Definitely plan to come on an empty stomach. The portions are huge. I almost always get the Chicken parm special and it is AMAZING. It's homemade and full of those tasty but not so good for you ingredients. :)
(4)
Stephanie L.

I was kinda bummed with this place. I was so looking forward to trying some great Italian, it was good, but not great. I did have very high hopes because of all the positive reviews. I had some tortellini and my boyfriend had lasagna. Although my bf loved the tortellini, I didn't. I thought it was decent but I've had better. He really didn't like his lasagna, but I did. It is kinda pricey but they serve huge portions. Overall, ok place. I proably won't return.
(3)
Mike D.

We love having this great neighborhood spot just down the block from us. Since we don't get out to dinner as much as we once did we started ordering carryout too. Of course we miss the comfortable atmosphere and the friendly servers, but at least I still get my ricotta stuffed gnocchi fix. I could seriously eat these 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. The last time we dined in the server suggested these for our 2-year old. I must admit I doubted he would like them (plus then I felt like I was ordering from the kid's menu), but he LOVED them. Add the bruschetta with fresh mozzarella and I'm a happy camper.
(5)
Shannon D.

I'm pretty picky about my Italian food, because I can make some pretty good stuff at home. Caro Mio did not disappoint in the slightest. I got a salmon dish with a spicy pasta sauce. The sauce was perfectly spicy for me, and like many others have said, the portions were ridiculously large. I did not partake in the BYOB part this time, but I'm sure I will in my many future visits. I ordered iced tea, and the waiter brought a full carafe of iced tea to the table. I thought that was great. He even noticed that our table seemed a bit wobbly, and fixed it for us. I didn't think it was that bad, so I wasn't even going to say anything. It's a bit on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for, and you're saving a ton of money by being able to bring your own alcohol anyway. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
C. Yuri A.

One of the best BYOB places I've been to. Great food and decently priced! Place was very small and tight, and busy.. but the servers were great. I had some Tri- Color Rotolo dish..it was one of the best pasta dishes I've had in Chicago... not to mention someone else at my table had the Gorgonzola stuffed Gnocchis.. which was amazing. I believe all of their pastas are handmade.
(5)
Eugene V.

The atmosphere is pleasant and the food was delicious. Try the veal with wild mushrooms. While the spinach and gorgonzola gnocchi are tasty, they are a bit monotonous to eat by themselves (you can't get them as a side-dish). The chocolate "souffle," while delicious, wasn't really a souffle.
(4)
Dave O.

This would be an easy 5 stars if you didn't have to sit on top of each other when the place was busy. The staff is fantastic as long as you don't mind a slight language barrier-- but it adds to the charm & authenticity. We've only had this be an issue once and it was easily fixed. The art on the walls is a bit strange and eccentric. It's local artistry, so once again, it adds to the charm. The food has always been great. It's a place where everything on the menu becomes something you order all the time-- everything's good!
(4)
Emily S.

This place was insanely delicious. It was very authentic tasting and BYOB. The tables are little close, but it didn't really bother me. Very cozy atmosphere. I would recommend to a friend and go again!
(5)
Kirsty M.

DO NOT WASTE MONEY AT THIS RESTAURANT!!! I forgot where I was for a moment at this small neighbourhood restaurant. THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!!!! We had heard great things about the food at this restaurant. My friend made a reservation a week before, and she also called to confirm our reservation before we arrived. It was for a party of seven people for my birthday dinner at 6:30pm on Saturday night. Myself and a friend arrived at 6:30pm (our reservation time) to get our table but they do not seat incomplete parties.The short man who was "helping us" needed an ETA, which we gave of 10-15 minutes. The cubs were getting out, traffic was really bad, and life happens. He told us this was not good enough and asked us, "You would'nt be late for a job interview would you?" WHAT!!!!???? I told him that this was a nice dinner out and for entertainment purposes, in which case he responded, "Your table is cancelled!" Where am I? The WORST customer service EVER!!!! I felt like crying - it was a Saturday night and we had made plans to eat and put a considerable amount of money down for my birthday. I will use all my verbal power to make sure everyone knows what a terrible place this is. I have never felt so unwelcome at a place where I'M PAYING TO VISIT.
(1)
Jo H.

I slacked a bit for Vday and didn't make reservations anywhere, but decided it would be a good time to try the hidden gem down the street, Caro Mio. Of course it was crowded and there was a wait, but it seemed like they were able to get us in quickly. Again, despite the craziness of the evening, our waiter was pleasant and attentive. My boyfriend and I both ordered the specials which were AMAZING. Mine was a pesto gnocchi .....something fantastic. Every bite of each course was to die for.
(5)
Color B.

Hmmmm.... what can I say, I just don't get the hype. We came here to celebrate my birthday, with a brilliant bottle of wine that outshone the food 100x - the atmosphere is okay, considering it's a storefront, and the wait staff was friendly... but lobster ravioli was "understated"... nothing special. I would love to gloat over this place, I've had tons of recs and maybe it was just an off night, but considering they boast fresh pasta, ours was of the pastey sort. I hope I get a chance to change this review, but for now, I'm not throwing my arms up for joy, but for "why" on the way to Caro Mio.....
(3)
Phil T.

Loooooove this cute lil italian restaurant....Also its BYOB w/ no corking fees! There dinner specials are always PHENOM! Wait staff are sooooo friendly and cool. If you dont know always ask for recommendations. They have never steered me wrong! If I do believe right a lil history about the place, at our table on the 3rd bottle of wine the owners came by and chatted w/ us they are actually from South America (Argentina) who's family originated from the Italian decent. Well anyways really nice people here and the food is great. Its just not your normal spaghetti and meatballs type place. They throw a good twist on the italian cuisine.
(5)
Val G.

Good Italian Food, pretty pricey BUT The Portions are HUGE!! I mean you have to take some home with you. It is a family run business which is great and the staff is always friendly and helpful when choosing what to order. I really like this place, it is a great atmosphere and its never crazy busy which I enjoy! The BYOB is great as well! I definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Kendrah R.

Very average. I don't see what all the fuss is about. And I thought $20 was a lot for a plate of rig with marinara. Don't really have a burning desire to go back.
(3)
James P.

This is a great little out of the way authentic Italian restaurant that just makes my mouth water to think about. My wife and I dinned here on the Saturday night before Valentine's Day. We arrived at 6pm and took that last two-top. Four couples came in behind us and had to wait; the place was packed. She had the Salmon on Linguini and I had the Chicken Parmesan on pasta. The pasta was super fresh and obviously home made, the meal was fabulous and the service was impeccable. Cara Mia is one of our top five restaurants in Lincoln Square.
(4)
Nicole V.

This is truly a hidden gem in the city. I am very particular about where I'll eat Italian, and this place is on the top of my list. The restaurant is family owned, and guess what...they are all from Italy! Would you believe they make all their own pasta and sauces from scratch...and it really shows in the flavor and quality of the food. The setting is very warm but relatively formal. This is a great place to go for a date or out with an intimate group of friends. Usually there are 1-2 waiters working...but they are very attentive. I highly recommend the daily specials, they usually are very delicious combinations of their freshest ingredients.
(5)
Ann Y.

I am going to knock Caro down by a star for a few reasons. First, there is really very little room to wait and on Friday and Saturday, you will have to wait, so it gets cramped and just uncomfortable. In the summer that is one thing, but in winter, when you can't just go outside, it is annoying. Second the past two times I have gone the service has been slow. It isn't just me either. I have seen other people looking annoyed that they haven't brought a menu or water. Lastly, I need to tell them less sauce. While I love the sauce my food was drowning in it last time to the point it was just not very good. I will be back more than likely, but they aren't high on my list like they used to.
(3)
Jennifer P.

I love this place at lunchtime in the summer, when you can sit outside. The salad and bread are excellent and fresh, and you can split any one of the pasta dishes with someone and walk away full, happy, and not broke. I almost always get the chicken & eggplant tortellini with a fresh, simple marinara sauce. Lately I've been loving on the gnocchi in porcini mushroom sauce. Imagine pillowy gnocchi melting in your mouth in a rich dark mushroom sauce. Dinner time can be quite crowded - I wouldn't recommend it as a date place on the weekends, since they pack you in. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable.
(4)
Jim S.

Great little BYOB Italian joint. The food was amazing - the bruschetta had the biggest piece of wet mozz on it that just melted in your mouth. The server was knowledgable and personable. It's a quaint little place, and it wasn't too crowded for a Thursday night. I would definitely go back again. I just wish it was closer to my hood! :)
(4)
Tracy K.

I really wanted to like this place more than I actually did. I had driven/walked by this place for months and always wanted to go there because its so cute. A few weeks ago, I finally got around to trying it out and was a little disappointed by it. We went on a Saturday night around 8pm and the place was packed. I thought that made it fun because it was kind of loud (there was a huge party of 15+ right next to us) and we got to see everyone's food being paraded around. Because it was so crowded, service was a little slow, but I think that's understandable. The pasta itself was very good, homemade and fresh! But the sauce that bathed my portabello raviolis was so!so!so! salty. The portion size was enough for me to be satisfied with my dinner (bread,a small salad and about half the ravioli) and have a little leftover for breakfast. However, I didn't feel that my entree was worth the $19 or $20 I paid. I was hoping that dessert would make up for the overly salty entree.. but.. denied! They were out of the tira misu. And that made me sad. I'll probably try this place again.. maybe for lunch when its a little cheaper.
(3)
Jaz P.

I ordered the bolegnese but the sauce is a little too tangy for my tastes. My friend enjoyed her Osso Buco. There's not that much room between you and your neighbors.
(3)
Katie T.

A really cool thing about this place is the art work. I spent the majority of the time looking at the paintings and wishing I could buy one (they are for sale). The food was gamazing and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. The bruschetta was packed with flavor and I had a sea food pasta dish that was delish.
(4)
Rebecca K.

I love the atmosphere and have always had really good service (been there around five times now). BYOB is a bonus. They are crowded and noisy on the weekends but we usually get a table pretty fast. The portions are very large and on the pricey side agreed. BUT the problem I have with Caro Mio is the last two times I have been there my dishes were way, way too salty. Now, I am a huge salt freak. I salt everything, liberally. But Caro Mio has managed to insult my desensitized taste buds, not an easy feat. This is also not a place for a light meal. There is a lot of oil and cheese in everything and not very many veggies to be found. Overall the food is very familiar to what my sicilian grandfather cooked us all the time growing up so I disagree with people who say the food is not "authentic". It is a place you go to for large, heavy, hearty, meaty, cheesy dishes and BYOB which is sometimes just what the doctor ordered :).
(3)
Jen M.

Omigod!!! I LOVE this place. More specifically, I LURVE the pappardelle con porcini (when I was eight, my friends convinced me that "lurve" is a higher form of love...true or not, I like the sound of it). Anyhoo, back to the pappardelle, SO AMAZING!!!! It's rich and not for anyone watching calories or fat. I can't say enough about this dish. I would simply lie down and die if they ever discontinued it from their menu. On a side note, Caro Mio has a great atmosphere to just hang out with a group of friends for a leisurely dinner or for an aphrodisiactic (probably another made-up word) experience.
(5)
David S.

I have been to Caro Mio twice now, but I can not believe the two experiences took place at the same restaurant. Our first time to Caro Mio, my fiance and I both had pasta dishes. We had calamari as an appetizer and shared the lobster ravioli and the gnocchi for the main dishes. For dessert we made on the fly lemon dish which featured limoncello and sweet lemon meringue crumbles. I am not a huge fan of calamari, but the dinner was a celebration dinner in her honor. The dish was cooked perfectly, tender, breaded perfectly and seasoned well. Both pasta dishes we delicious. The sauces were great, a little rich but great. The dessert, especially for an improvised dish, was nice and refreshing. Last night we had a completely different experience. We ordered the green bean salad for an appetizer, and it was by far the best part of the meal. The beans were served with tomatoes, a hint of garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar and fresh mozzarella. Our main dishes were the linguini all' arrabbiata with a side of meat balls and beef tips in a white wine and marinara sauce. The linguini was pretty good, but the meatballs were a disappointment. They lacked flavor and were slightly over cooked. The presentation of the beef tips was the first turn off to this part of the meal. The dish looked a bit like slop. There was way too much sauce on the plate. The beef was a bit stringy, but not horrible. The sauce was lackluster. Overall, the dish would have benefited from the addition of onions and peppers. I am on the quest for the perfect Tiramisu, so we order it for dessert. The presentation was nice, but the lady fingers were soaked too long. This caused the dish to be soupy and grainy. This was definitely on the lower end of the scale for Tiramisu. We love the atmosphere and the BYOB aspect. We will definitely give the place another shot, but I think we will stick to the pasta dishes.
(3)
April M.

Really good small italian joint in the middle of ravenswood! I went to celebrate a new job with my boyfriend and a friend of ours, as it was highly recommended. It is a bit pricey yet the food is good and you get a lot of it! There menu has a lot of good options and they have good specials as well. My boyfriend had the chicken parm and I had a dish with linguine and shrimp with some veggies. I will be stopping by again sometime!
(5)
Kari H.

I went based on the wonderful yelps and my love for BYOB and was a little disappointed. I was there at 8pm on a Saturday night with a party of four and was seated fairly quickly which was a nice surprise. I was thinking we might have a long wait. The service was decent but nothing special. The food was average I had the pollo arrabiata and was disappointed. The chicken wasn't good, it had way too much sauce and wasn't spicy. We had the eggplant ap which wasn't anything special. Because it's BYOB and conveniently located with lots of parking I may check it out again to see if the foods better but I don't have high hopes.
(3)
Mickey M.

Let me start off by saying the bolognese sauce was very good paired with their home made rigotoni made it just short of an A rating. The pasta was a bit too al dente. The camprese was also very good. However, the bread was obviously sitting uncovered for awhile and it was not soft as in, sat out. The big problem I had was a lack of personal touch here. Their was not a connection to the ownership or a manager welcome at all. The staff was (it appeared) all Mexican which is fine. And even if the owner is Mexican, I'm fine with that but no one from management or owner visited our table. If it's Italian and it's cozy as this restaurant was, make me feel connected to the food, chef/owner or region it comes from. The music wasn't themed to the restaurant which again is fine but it was too loud. When I requested a reduction of the volume "just slightly", he could not honor that. Huh? "We have no way to adjust it. but let me check with the manager". Nothing changed, nor did a manager visit us. It's a byob but when we were looking for our cork, they threw it out. We felt rushed at the end especially when they asked to take our plates 3 times. NO ALREADY. If I was giving you a look, then yes but NO. Overall, it was nice but nice doesn't cut it in Chicago. This city is a culinary mecca with endless choices. You need to do a little bit better and make me fell welcomed and connected with more of a personal touch.
(2)
Dave A.

I really like this place for some reason. The layout of the place is a bit disorganized but the food and service is excellent. Ive had a few meals here and the food is always top notch. I highly recommend the calamari salad and the lobster stuffed ravioli. You can taste that the pasta is really fresh. This is a hidden gem in chicago, but with over 150 reviews, I guess it's not that hidden. BYOB is a huge plus.
(5)
Moe f.

Got there at 6 on Sat and just missed having to wait. Our waiter was awesome and gave us great reccomendations. We started with Caprese. For entrees we had the gnochi special which was some of the finest I have ever eaten. I decided to try something new, the Osso Buca and am glad I did. The meat was delicious and fell apart. And we tried Fettuchini Alfredo which was prety solid. We got so much food, dessert was out of the question and have leftovers for tomorrow. BYO, great food and service. Will definately be back. I reccomend going with a group so you can make a reservation to avoid a wait.
(4)
L. B.

I have been going here for years. They continually win me over with the food and excellent service. I typically don't order pasta out - it's usually not good enough for me to justify all of those carbs, but here I happily make an exception. One time, there were a bunch of us for a birthday dinner and we were the last table in an otherwise empty restaurant. The staff did not rush us and we felt comfortable staying and enjoyed a great dinner experience. Last time I had the gnocchi special that was out of this world! Finally, it's a BYOB with no corkage fee!!
(5)
Neal K.

Great little BYOB Italian joint for anyone near Lincoln Square on Wilson. Try any of their pastas with the porcini mushroom sauce and make sure to ask for Caesar - really nice dude. Lots of love in this restaurant, great for a Friday early dinner to unwind from a rough week at work.
(4)
Jessica G.

this place.... is really good! It's a good spot to take out of town guests, it's cozy and the staff is super friendly! It is a little pricey but I would say worth it for sure. Both times i stuck with my staple fettucine alfredo, b/c i like my fat to be creamy and glorious.. They didn't disappoint!
(4)
rachel p.

i've had two really good meals at caro mio; one with the rents and one with the boy. the atmosphere was really nice for both. the tables are pretty jammed in (the space is pretty tiny) but somehow the volume seems to stay somewhat low. i think people are generally using their inside voices in this place. i've never been disappointed with the food, though last time i went the service was a little lacking. the wait for our table was short but i felt like our server might have forgotten about us a few times. all i wanted was some bread. too much to ask?
(4)
Jendy B.

DELICIOUS! I rarely go out for Italian because both of my parents are amazing cooks and they both love to cook Italian food. So, i kind of got my fill growing up. But, I never pass up the chance to go out with the girls for a BYOB dinner. Our meals were delicious! The portions are on the large side, so be sure to get a doggy bag (and remember to take it home.) Try the daily special, I don't think you can go wrong.
(4)
Karen L.

Decent Italian food in a cozy atmosphere. It is a BYOB place, which is super nice! I have been here twice and the food is fresh and decent! The last time I had the mushroom risotto, which was just a tad too mushroomy and a tad too salty. I would go a different route next time. It wasn't the best Italian I have had, but you can't beat the proximity! And, you don't find many Italian places that are BYOB.
(3)
Carolyn G.

I joined some friends here for a birthday dinner and had a great time. We all brought wine because of the BYOB factor. The food was, for the most part, great! We had stuffed mushrooms and bruchetta to start. I had the chicken parm, which was an awesome amount of food, but only tasted okay, not great. Thankfully, my husband was willing to share his gnocchi, which was freaking amazing.
(4)
Dan S.

Took the lovely wife here on a busy Saturday night. Wait was 1.5 hours, but very worth it. The food was nothing you haven't had before, but it was tremendously fresh, simple, and delicious. If it's busy, just put your name in and go get a beer at O'Shaughnessy's one block east.
(4)
Edward R.

This place is just OK. I wanted to like it, I really did. I think the biggest problem was the attitude of the owner. He is very rude and is more interested in the drama between the wait staff then the experience of the guests. At least that is the way it was when we were there last week. The food was average not good enough to make me deal with the DRAMA.
(2)
S.B. K.

Caro Mio....My favorite Italian outside of Italy. The gnocchi special is the most beautiful taste my tongue has had in a very long time! The smells alone will create such a wonderful experience!! But, once you taste their insanely fantastic dishes-you will not be able to think of anything else for days. The wait staff is very friendly and energetic...My husband and I love BYOB places b/c then you're not spending an arm and a leg on wine....The bruschetta with fresh mozzarella is also a must...Yum Yum Yum.
(5)
Steve L.

I used Yelp to find this restaurant and the reviews told the story. This is a quaint little BYOB restaurant with a great atmosphere inside. My wife and I had a great meal here and received incredible service. I would come back here again for good food and good service. Just remember to bring a bottle with you -- I had to walk two blocks away to get some wine......
(4)
Christopher B.

I'd put this place up against Spiagga any day of the week. Some of the best italian around, awesome BYOB, and the staff... my god I love all of them. Have had everything from intimate dinners to private parties at this place and they have always made it top notch!
(5)
Mary S.

What a charming place! We brought a bottle of "The Prisoner" along and sat at a table for 2 against the wall in front. Very quaint and romantic. The servers were friendly and attentive. I ordered the gnocchi special and it was delicious! As was the bruschetta appetizer. My husband had spaghetti with the meat sauce and both of us were impressed with the quantity and the quality of our entrees. We would definitely go back there again! (And having street parking over on Ravenswood was a huge plus, too.)
(4)
marisa s.

cute & cozy lil italian BYOB. portions were huge and it was fairly good italian food. not my fav italian place, but def it was worth a try to head somewhere WAY north out of my neighborhood. looking for an inexpensive girl's night out with bottles and bottles of everyone's wine...? then this is a great alternative to quartino, tapas and BYOB tapas spots that ladies frequent...
(3)
Bonnie L.

I have been wanting to try this place for a while. My last attempt was a no go because they had a two hour wait. So last night, on our way to another place, we passed by and I said to my friend "pull over!". Let's finally go to Caro Mio. I was happy that there was no wait. I ordered Farfalle Primavera and my friend ordered the Sundried tomato Ravioli in a cream sauce. We also shared a Caprese Salad before the entrees. Everything was delicious. I thought the pasta was perfectly al-dente chewy. Unfortunately because we had not planned ahead, we did not have any spirits to go with our dinner but in retrospect, not such a bad thing since it was a school night and I always tend to overindulge. Anyway, all in all, my experience was very good. I thought that price wise it might have been a bit high. Our bill came out to almost $60.00 for the two of us and mind you, no drinks, no seafood, no chops, steaks or anything extravagant. Just two pasta orders and a salad. But the food was good. I would rather pay more for a decent meal than less for a crappy one. I will go back for sure.
(4)
Tess K.

I used to go to this restaurant fairly often a number of years ago and my favorite dish was zuppa di pesce (seafood stew). I hadn't gone for about three years (no real reason why) and I just went again a few weeks ago. Things have changed, unfortunately. They are now packing in the tables so you are almost sitting in your neighbors' lap. Give up any hope for privacy. Service was still pretty good although we had to keep asking for water-I guess the salty food was making us drink like fish. I again ordered my favorite fish stew but, alas, it was no longer the stellar dish I remembered. You used to get this huge bowl of seafood with a salmon fillet in the middle. The broth used to be flaverful enough to have on its own. Now, it's about half the size, had only a paltry serving of salmon, and very little broth. It was more like a seafood linguine and they expected me to put the side of linguine into the stew. If I wanted to do that, I could have ordered the linguine frutta di mare and saved myself some money! I took some home and they packed it with the linguine mixed into the stew - just proves the point that this was not a true soup. Too bad, it used to be one of the best seafood stews in the city. No more. The other dishes that my dining partners got were good but not great. They are on the high end of pricing and you can do better with other Italian restaurants - try Agostino's Ristorante on Harlem.
(2)
Michelle D.

Some of the best italian food in the city! Very authentic and lots to choose from. I highly recommend the cheese stuffed gnocchi with chicken and spinach. The best gnocci I have ever had. And the saffron risotto is like my fiance remembers having at his Nona's. Remember it is BYOB. A very small place, so be sure to call ahead and make sure there is not a long wait. The place delivers too.
(4)
Mrjustice ..

Can't believe I haven't been here sooner; since I moved into the Ravenswood neighborhood in May. Ambiance is small, quaint, romantically decorated and lit. Italian food served is wonderfully diverse and interesting; and, all seemed excellent. What more could ask for -- how about BYOB for an Italian Restaurant?? Believe it or not, it is (and, even harder to believe, with NO corkage fee). But, you doubters say, don't they just raise their prices to make up for it. Nope -- prices seemed average for fine Italian dining. ($15-17 for pasta dishes; and, 18-22 for chicken/meat/seafood dishes). How wonderful.
(5)
Joe O.

Been to this place a number of times now and I've never been let down. The food is really quite good and the service is great even when it's busy. They aren't afraid to use garlic, and I love that. The only couple drawbacks with the place is that the seating is cramped, and it can be a long wait during prime hours. If you do end up having to wait a bit, PLEASE do not go next door for Cuban. That place is so bad, but I'll save the explanation for another time. Prices for Caro Mio aren't wacky either...pretty reasonable. Bring a bottle of something and have a great time.
(4)
Chris C.

Caro Mio is a cozy, yummy Italian restaurant. I'm taking off a 1/2 star because it's teeny tiny and there is no waiting room/bar. And another 1/2 star bc it's BYOB. But this is actually a good thing bc of the $$ you save. It just sort of sucks when you get there and have fogotten about it! Anyway, the food is fabulous. Cesar is a great waiter. Makes you feel comfortable and is full of good suggestions. There is some mushroom sauce that is great.
(4)
Maria W.

This place has a great happy, neighborhood vibe. The service is pretty friendly and the food is pretty good. Everything is swimming in garlic - just a warning. By the end of the night, I was eating spoonfuls of it from my chicken vesuvio sauce. My husband and I like going for a nice night out that isn't going to set us back a lot. The BYOB with no corkage fee helps!
(4)
Vivian B.

Man, what a bummer. I saw all of these great reviews and I thought "this is perfect for my sister's birthday dinner of 10!" However, I'm no dummy that is just going to plan a whole group dinner based on strangers reviews, so I went there tonight Friday at 6pm. We were both starving-would have thought anything was great. (let me also preface this by saying we do have good taste in food and I cook very well myself.) The bruchette which the mgr recommended was extremely full of garlic. I could pick large chunks out. Next we chose the grilled vegetables which my boyfriend believed must have been from a frozen bag since he works for a restaurant and knows the difference-however these were not bad. After that I got frutta del mar which is clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari with lunguini. Very OK-I really didn't like it much. My boyfriend (who loves pasta got spagetti-how can you mess that up. He said it was over cooked and filled with garlic. The name of the restaurant should really be garlic. No itialian music, definitely not owned by italians. I think the only reason people go there is because its BYOB. I'd rather pay for over priced wine than over priced and over hyped food. Worst part is that I had to cancel a 10 top for Sunday and have to find a new restaurant for my family(
(2)
William K.

Just unbelievably great! I don't know what their secret is but it is the TASTIEST italian food I've ever had. Get the gnocchi or lasagna.
(5)
Robin C.

I've only ordered delivery from this place. I don't even know how I stumbled upon this or what made me decide to try this place for delivery (probably some powers from the dear sweet lord in heaven), but what ever delicious italian god made me do it... this place is amazing. I legitimately have a love affair with the chicken tortellini... be careful because it will put you into a food coma... but everything I've sampled from Caro Mio has been fresh fresh fresh as the dickens and really flavorful. The bread is always freshly baked, just dont' order the calamari unless you really REALLY love garlic because it's garlic with a side of squid.
(4)
Ellen B.

This place is a true gem...and I don't use that language often. The ambiance, waiters, cooks, food, everything is top notch. Plus it's BYOB how can you get any better than that. I went for my birthday and it was wonderful. Our waiter was super nice and recommend different things to try, if you go do not order insalata caprese (which is shocking from me because that's my favorite thing in the world) instead order the green bean insalata it's so amazing. Order anything with porcini mushrooms. Everything, is freshly made and so delicious I don't think you could order something bad. They only take reservations for parties of 6 or more but usually the wait isn't too bad.
(5)
Joy E.

A coworker recommended Caro Mio as a quiet, romantic neighborhood spot, and I've been back several times under many different circumstances. I've never been impressed with any of the chicken or fish dishes, but the pasta here is phenomenal: homemade and perfect, filled with amazing, covered in unbelievable. Get any pasta with mushrooms: you won't regret it. I can't account for their desserts because I don't usually have room after their massive entrees, and I don't like tiramisu at all. I don't think they take reservations, and they won't seat you until your entire party is there--sometimes you luck out with the wait, and other times you're stuck in the tiny waiting area drooling over the nearest table's gnocchi (which I've heard is great, although I can't personally testify). Service otherwise is pretty good. You might wait a bit for your food (especially for big groups), but this has been one of those places where, thanks to the food, I'm willing to forgive slow service. Price is okay: entrees are a bit on the expensive side, but since it's BYOB, it balances out.
(4)
J B.

I have never gotten a bad dish from Caro Mio. It is quaint, and nothing fancy on the inside, but the food is really delicious. And the byob is great! One warning, it is insanely busy on Friday and Saturday nights and they do not take reservations. Weeknights are best.
(5)
Og B.

dark and cozy and byob. love it. ive been here many times. there seems to be one or two dishes that are just not worth it. but have no fear! the waiter has always made great suggestions. i personally find it hard to go out for italian food, because, lets face it... even my kitchen handicap roomate can make spaghetti. the gnocchi is flawless. i love it. worth every penny. especially the stuffed with asiago... and the sauces are real REAL good. the appetizers and seafood. awesome my only complaint seems to be chicken. i dont order chicken too often, but twice the person i was with ordered a chicken dish and had some complaints about it. definately recommended
(4)
Vanessa K.

i LOVE this place! my boyfriend lives in wrigleyville and last night we were craving italian (me to carb load before my 18 mile marathon training run this morning). My bestfriend met us as well and over 2 bottles of our own fav wine, we started with an amazing crapese salad paired with bread and this little plate of garlic and red pepper that they give you to mix with olive oil. then, we each had GIGANTIC pasta dishes. athletes, this is seriously your place to carb load! my pasta was incredibly rich and savory (prochini mushroom sauce!!); my boyfriends was super meaty (had both italian sausage and meatballs - he was in heaven!) and my best-friend's was super cheesey and rich (ravioli with creamy tomato sauce!). The atmosphere is fantastic - artsy and low lit- especially the little background. We will all definitly be going back!
(5)
Alanna O.

Hands down...my FAVORITE Italian place in the city!!! From the quaint decor to the delicious aromas coming from the kitchen, as soon as you walk in the door, you will not be disappointed!! The food is delicious and the service is knowledgeable and attentive, without being intrusive. Not to mention that it's BYOB. It really doesn't get any better than this kids.
(5)
benjamin m.

Tiny place, Gianormous portions! My first review! This restaurant has got some really great things going for it and some underachievements. First, a little about the place...it's all of fifty seats in a space the size of an average living room. Also its byob so bring a nice barolo. The place almost deserves four stars just for the hand made pastas but the reason I decided to give this place three instead of four was because the sauces on the pastas were uninspired and at times even a bit off. It's hard to mess up a pomodoro but this place seems content to serve sweet tomato soup-esque pomodoro. For those looking for TRUE authentic italian this is not quite there but that being said it is very satisfying. I really enjoyed the house made cheese stuffed gnocci with chicken. They were little pillows of heaven. My mom had the chicken parmesean which was a dish on steroids...i mean not only was it like ten ounces of chicken but it was over massive house made rigatoni in a bolognese. The dish would have been a huge success if it weren't for that saccharin sweet tomato sauce. My sister had simple meat ravioli in alfredo which was like paste it was sooo creamy...again, insane portion. The calamari was brilliant. My suggestion. Go with a date, order two apps, split an entree and bring a nice bottle or two. All in all a really nice affordable meal...just wish those sauces were a little less sweet and creamy.
(3)
Dave W.

Great authentic Italian food, little pricey. Nice that it's a BYOB. Service is always great. Great date place. Cons-may have to wait to get into, the place isn't very big. Overall I've been going here for three years and still like it.
(4)
Jason M.

Hard to say anything here that hasnt already been said... Its a great litte (tiny) italian spot, only been there once, but the food, service, timing and ambience all worked. I had tried to come here with my wife on a saturday and couldn't find anywhere to park and it looked crowded from the outside so we gave up. Incidentally, we passed our ex-gov as he walked into the cuban place next door. I need to check that one out sometime. Anyway, this time around we made reservations and went on a wednesday. We brought a bottle of wine and it was promptly opened for us and glassed provided. They brought out bread with parmesan, oil, and crushed red pepper to go with. I had the linguini all' arrabbiata. Green and red peppers, onion, eggplant. It was spicy, and I could hardly finish it all (entirely a good thing). My wife had risotto gamberi which is shrimp and garlic. Highly recommend that one. The pace of ordering, getting appetizers, then the meal, seemed measured but natural. I like that extra touch -don't feel rushed nor abandoned. We were stuffed by the end and declined desserts. Its not cheap but I'm going back when the next special occasion comes around.
(5)
Hm C.

This opened up right as I was moving out of the neighborhood about 7 years ago. Too bad, b/c I may have come here every week (if I had the money). As it stands, my wife and I come here a few times per year for celebrations or for a date. We were there not too long ago to celebrate friends getting engaged. The atmoshere is romantic, the food is delicious (gnocchi is right up there!), and it's BYOB, which is always a plus. We even bought some of their artwork. The waitstaff is always very helpful. Parking is usually easy in front or along the tracks. Also in front of that ugly apt building at 1907 W Wilson. Great date place in a neighborhood that looks like it's been up-and-coming for some time.
(4)
Keri H.

My friend just moved to the area and we were looking for something new and different. She read the reviews on Caro Mio so we decided to check it out. We were already looking forward to going...given that it was a BYOB. So we grabbed a few bottles of red and were on our way. It was a Monday night and not crowded at all. It was clear that our waiter was in training because the manager came over to oversee him as he was asking us what we would like and to tell us the specials. My friend and I actually had to resist laughing because the poor kid was trying to read us the specials but the manager wouldn't let him get a sentence in without interupting him. So we went ahead and ordered. My friend had the chicken tortorlinni and I had the tri colored rolotto. My friend liked her's and I thought mine was pretty good as well. Her portion was huge..mine was a decent size. The service was good and I liked the intimate atmosphere...even if I was here with a friend. It was a great place to catch up over a bottle of wine and good food. My only complaint is that it was slightly overpriced...at least for what I got. I would love to go back another night and have this porcini mushroom sauce that everyone raves about. All and all...good BYOB!
(4)
Julia W.

Yeah, fine, so it's a little pricey--it's not like you have to eat here every day or something... I mean, I know MY first instinct is to eat at Caro Mio every day, but it probably makes more sense to save it for a special date with friends or when your family comes to town or when you've had a rough week and need some delicious, comforting Italian food. Alright, I'll be honest--I've only actually been to Caro Mio once... but I LOVED it. Maria C. and Dustin B. were kind enough to share this little neighborhood gem with Justin and me and I am so looking forward to our next trip there (hint hint, nudge nudge). Caro Mio is BYOB, which is all sorts of stars on its own, but it's the combination of super friendly service and excellent food that pushes Caro Mio to the top. Our server was awesome and happy to make suggestions--and we were very happy to take his advice. We skipped all the appetizers and salads (sort of unusual for us, but really--the handmade pasta is where it's at). My husband left me for a dish of risotto, I cheated on him with a plate of agnelotti rossini (half moon pasta filled with ricotta in a creamy tomato sauce with peas and prosciutto - DIVINE), Maria enjoyed her old standby of cavatelli con ricotta and Dustin had something with pumpkin, I believe (maybe more risotto?). For dessert, our server gave us The Bombe - three kinds of sorbet in a white chocolate shell--and I am looking forward to trying the chocolate tartufo (chocolate gelato with a zabaglione center, dusted with cocoa powder and hazelnuts - yum!). Everything at Caro Mio was fantastic and now, having written about my agnelotti, I will be completely unproductive at work due to pasta daydreams and much drooling... *Edit 8/31/07: Ohhh, I've been back to Caro Mio a few times and let me tell you--that chocolate tartufo? Get it. GET IT. And if you like lasagna, get that, too. And some gnocchi. Hell, get whatever they tell you to--it's gonna be damn good!!
(5)
R P.

I absolutely love this place. We are big fans of BYOB anyhow, but pair it with terrific food, and I'm in! I especially love the garlicky green bean salad (special) and the food is incredibly rich and flavorful.
(5)
Mark T.

Has to be my favorite place in the city to eat. Food is amazing and the staff is great. I have had them make me stuff that wasn't on the menu since I didn't know what I wanted. 10 stars in my book.
(5)
Mindy S.

Even though this place is a little far north, the food is good enough to draw me back. You have to order the special with chicken and porcini mushrooms. It's the best thing ever. The chicken parm special was also very good. Some of their pastas are homemade and in fact everything I tried I really enjoyed. It has a cute atmosphere and a nice outdoor patio for the summer. Just don't ask for butter for your bread, because they have none in the whole restaurant! My friend learned the hard way. ha!
(4)
Kerry M.

My friend and I ventured in for dinner this past Friday, and we were both totally impressed. We arrived at around seven, and were seated immediately. We brought our own wine, and they opened it immediately and chilled the bottle of white we brought with us in a fridge in the back. We ordered calamari for an appetizer, and it was delicious. They also dropped off a ton of chewy bread with olive oil and garlic. We each ordered our own entree, and when the food came, we realized we could have easily split one. The portions are HUGE. He did the chicken parm, I did gnocchi stuffed with pesto and asiago. It was phenomenal. We did the tiramisu for dessert, and that too was awesome. The staff was extremely attentive and quick with everything. We were both stuffed and satisfied by the time we left, and shocked at how reasonable our bill was. I'll be back. Great experience. Oh, and by the time we walked out, around 9, the place was packed... just an fyi.
(5)
shivi d.

Very good and they are so nice! The owners let us sit and talk way past the time they closed!
(4)
Amy O.

Update: been there a few more times since my initial review...I never get tired of this place...I have dreams about their homemade stuffed gnocchi it's sooooooo good! Haven't even been to another Italian place in the city...no reason to!
(5)
Jan B.

This place best asset is the BYOB. The prices make up for loss of alcohol revenue so when it comes down to it, the food has to be awesome and it does fall short. I used to love this place, but with the prices for pasta going for $20 you certainly might consider paying for your wine and going somewhere else. I guess if you are in the mood for seafood, this can still be a decent option. I only wish that the owners were Italians so they can taste what's lacking.
(2)
michael b.

Really good food. Huge portions. Every main is about $20 which is a little high for the location. But then we get the bill. They charge for splitting plates. $4. Where are we? Skokie? Who still charges for splitting plates? My girlfriend and i split a portabello appetizer and a special gnocchi that was stuffed with pesto and cheese. Both were good but the gnocchi was so big that we still took some home. They don't charge a corkage fee but charge for splitting food, who is running this place? The opening bread was also a touch stale.
(3)
Laura R.

Great BYOB Italian food! Warm environment that is nice for a date or small group of friends. The service is a little speedy and they do not go out of their way to be overly attentive or friendly. Be prepared for a big plate of yummy pasta with lots of sauce that is just as good the next day for lunch at home.
(4)
Catielyn B.

This place is so darling that I often do not even notice how sub-par my pasta selection is. The staff is warm and helpful, the decor bright and uplifting but tame and intimate. I have been here a few times and must admit that I have some bad luck choosing a dish. The first time I went with the Risotto con Porcini, quite literally, it tasted like a salt lick. The manager was very apologetic and tried the dish himself and assured me it was very off that night. After the ptsd has subsided, I may give it another shot. The last time I went I tried a beef tenderloin dish and though it was good I was not totally wowed by it, if you are looking for something more home-style this will be a good bet, but I like to take risks myself. Here is what I discovered, my boyfriend always, without fail, orders the Paperdelle con Porcini and it really, truly is heaven on earth. Their anti pastas are wonderful (the mozzarella is fresh and delicious) and their ravioli specials look very interesting. Though I have not had the best of luck, I would highly recommend this place for the following reasons; A) The Paperdelle B) Its A-freaking-dorable C) BYOB and D) In Ravenswood (which speaks for itself). Just don't be afraid to protest if you aren't finding your meal to meet your expectations, they are very eager to please and willing to accommodate.
(4)
Maritza S.

Ok, so I had visited this place a while back and cant understand why I forgot to review it , given it was awesome. Well, I was back in town and visited Caro Mio again on a Friday with a group of friends and once again it rocked! The service was impressive and the food was delicious. We ordered the appetizer special of bruchetta with fresh mozzarella, which was very fresh and tasty. I ordered the asiago gnocchi special in a tomato cream sauce which was out of this world! I think I dreamt about my leftovers that night. Friends ordered the tortellini fra diavalo with shrimp and another the chicken parm, which were both pretty amazing. One friend did order a seafood pasta dish with garlic, wine and olive oil which was just okay, lacked some flavor. Dessert options were limited but proved to be a nice a chocolate fix, ordering the tartuffo and chocolate souffle. Overall, I had an excellent experience and have added Caro Mio onto my list of favorites! You should definitely check them out, excellent food, quality service, healthy portions and of course given this recession, definitely affordable. Plus, its BYOB!
(4)
Tera L.

This is my all time favorite restaurant. It has a quaint atmosphere, amazing food, and great service. It's like a hidden gem in the midst of Ravenswood. Great portions which are fantastic for lunch the next day. I recommend highly!
(5)
Katie M.

I don't usually give out fives, but I think this place deserves one. First off, it's BYOB which always helps cut costs while dining out. Also, I'm a big fan of having bread with cheese and oil while I wait so I greatly appreciated the bread to munch on (however, it could have been a little tastier.) When I ordered, the waiter was very helpful and he seemed to enjoy his job and the food at Caro Mio. The portions were big allowing me to to have it again for lunch and dinner the next day! Lastly and most importantly, the meal was very good. All in all, I had a good time there, enjoyed the food, and didn't spend an arm and a leg!
(5)
Mary F.

This is a great date restaurant. It has a cozy, warm environment. Everything I've ever eaten has been delicious, the portions are large, and it's BYOB. Great restaurant all around.
(4)
David P.

I'll keep this simple: if you are impressed by fake Italian food that you could easily make at home yourself, a cramped loud space with no waiting area, and a ridiculously rude manager with a Napolean complex who likes to inform people that unless their entire party is exactly, to the minute, on time, you will lose your reservation, then Caro Mio is for you. I actually saw this happen to two groups of people, and the sad thing is the restaurant was less than half full. Oh, and byob? Big deal, your own home is byob too, and you don't have to listen to some jerk up on his reservation high horse.
(1)
Jen G.

I love this place! The food is unbelievable. Well, I should say the gnocci is unbelievable because I order it every time. And the bread that they bring out while you're waiting with garlic and oil and parmesan cheese is so good! Be careful not to fill up on bread though because the portions are pretty big. This place is also BYOB and there is no corkage fee. The only drawback is that this place gets busy fast, and the wait during their peak hours is about an hour. I usually try to get there before 7, to avoid the wait.
(4)
A M.

This place is AMAZING. It's so cozy, you feel like you're at your grandma's house! There were 5 of us and we just got a few things to share since the portions are pretty big. We had the bruschetta that was on the specials menu for the first appetizer. It's got tomatos, basil, a hint of garlic, and a slice of fresh mozzarella on top. Then we got the fried calamari. It's in a light crisp batter that is excellent as well. For entrees, we got the gnocchi. That was made with asiago cheese and it was in a creamy tomato sauce. We had the the chicken breast with portobella mushroom ravioli. That was delish as well. The last dish we got was the saffron risotto. That was the only thing that was ok. Kinda tasted like paella to me. Other then that, everything was fantastic. And don't forget it's a BYOB! We polished off 4 bottles of wine as well.
(5)
J R.

I went to Caro Mio based on the favorable reviews from Yelp. My impression is that the reviewers must have been joking! The staff was wonderful and friendly, but the food was mediocre at best. The pizza bread appetizer resembled the quick concoction I make my two year old for a snack. The pasta was just okay for the hefty price tag. Don't even get me started on the overwhelming chemical smell of the bathroom...
(2)
J w.

I've fallen in love. Quaint restaurant, lively docor, abundant fresh flowers, the menu is amazing. I ordered the Linguini Arribiata and it put my own to shame, seriously! The service was great. You feel like part of the family. My boyfriend and I are so excited to have this near by. Our dessert was crazy! Some type of Papaya, passion fruit granta with a white chocolate shell. It was to die for. Every course of our meal was wonderful. I would highly suggest this place. BYOB super Bonus!
(4)
Ducky R.

This place is truly a hidden gem. From outside looking in it seems to be a jungle of houseplants, but the crowds on Friday nights should tip you off to the deliciousness of the cuisine inside. I once had a seafood pasta dish with a pesto sauce which was a "special" for the day. It was the best Italian food I have ever had. When we returned a few months later, it was (understandably) not on the menu, but when I requested it they made it for me anyway! In my opinion, Italian food doesn't get better than this - except maybe in Italy itself.
(5)
Lauren C.

I had dinner here this past Saturday with my husband and friends. We arrived @ 7:30 and were quoted 1 hr for a wait. We went down the block and had a drink and 58 minutes later we were called for our table. I truly appreciate an honest time quote! The food was good. According to the table, my spinach gnocchi w/ gorganzola cream sauce was the big winner. Huge portions. I had enough for 2 more servings at home. All in all a nice experience. Then something happened. Check arrived, our friends had a $25 gift certificate which they generously applied to the bill and then we split the difference. What I can't believe is that the waiter had the audacity to come back with our signed credit card slips and "remind" us that our tips did not reflect the gift certificate or the wine service he had given us! Yes, we had a bottle of champagne and 3 bottles of wine between us (don't judge!) and we forgot to tip pre-gift certificate price. The difference was $4 from each couple, which in our wine haze we added back out of sheer embarrassment. Especially since 2 of us have worked extensively in the service industry. After, though, I am annoyed and a little angry at the server for being so rude. Unless you work at Dick's Last Resort, renegotiating your gratuity is unheard of! Especially since the wine service he mentioned was minimal. He opened 3 of the 4 bottles. Did not pour and did not change glasses! That does not count as wine service. Sorry, but I had to make this known.
(2)
K T.

I want to like this place, like wanting to like a new hire with a good resume. On paper, great potential: in my hood, BYOB, a bit out of the way, homey interior, etc. But the food is just, well, not showing up for work. For starters, it's a bit on the pricey side for what is basically standard, old-school Italian. I can understand this to a point given that they need to compensate for being BYOB, but, again, to take the whole co-worker analogy and beat it like a dead horse, it's like realizing that you shouldn't have given them that lucrative package. When it comes to Italian, it all starts and ends with a red sauce. Even if I only get a taste by dipping my bread, this most simple of elements has to be right since it goes into pizzas, dipping for calamari, pastas, pizza, etc. So you know where I'm going...red sauce is bland and just off, to my tongue. In fact, everything seems to be missing that 'tastiness' factor to me that makes me crave the food. Sometimes good service can cover me sins, but even here, it's somehow not either the nice restaurant you don't even know they're there, or the friendly 'neighborhood' vibe thing. So, when the contract renewal comes up for this gig, I'm going to have to pass.
(2)
Keith L.

so i've been to cara mio three times. based on the first time i would maybe give it 5 stars. but i have to base it off all of the times and that brings it down to a 3 star type-of-deal. the first time i really enjoyed the special gnocci...delightful. i love the waitstaff, decor and the fact that is a no charge byob. however....the food has taken a turn for the worse in my opinion. everything is over creamed now...meaning they just add heavy cream and cheese to everything. maybe i just need to branch out and get something else. i crave homemade pasta but the flavors are just not doing anything for me there anymore. go to buona terra for amazing italian.
(3)
Khris G.

Great food in huge portions. BYOB establishment as well which is an added plus. Kind of tucked away so do pay attention when driving down the street. Can be easily overlooked! Definitely a very romantic atmosphere so great for dates and intimate outings.
(4)
Christina K.

BYOB, no corking fee, generous (understatement) portions. Also they make the pasta in house, which is a huge plus and really comes through. The food is good. If you like cheese (which I'm assuming you do since you're reading reviews of Italian restaurants), you're in luck. Only complaint: the bread leaves a lot to be desired, though. Save room for your entree; you'll need it. All in all, a great date spot.
(4)
Megan S.

Just incredible. Seriously the greatest Italian. Come hungry, the portions are HUGE
(5)
Mike G.

Quick summary-Over 75 item(did not really count) along with 10 specials, huge portions, reasonable prices and unfortunately, less than average preparation along with overtaxed service staff. Had to reach out to our waiter through every step of the evening from the order to the check. Simple suggestions that would make the restaurant better: Review the menu and determine what you are able to offer and prepare consistently that would cause most customers to say "what an excellent dish". No restaurant can ably offer as many items as Caro Mio. Your wait staff and cooks will prepare and serve more smoothly and avoid the problem we experienced where food was delivered to 1 person and the the rest of our 6 person group had to wait another 10 minutes and 3 trips from our waiter for the other 5 main selections. Think about offering valet parking at night-2 of us ended up parking illegally because there was no parking within 4 blocks.
(2)
jenn r.

i've been to caro mio a few times and every time the food and service has been amazing. it's a little crowded but i haven't been since they expanded. four stars only due to the tiny table and large portions. there just didn't seem to be enough room for everything and to have a relaxing meal. the ambiance is great and definitely would be great for date night or girls night or just a random tuesday. byob is always spot on and no corking fee. (whoo!) can't go wrong, i'd say. and it's just off the beaten path so you're away from all the foot traffic but close to public transit.
(4)
nancy r.

The first night I arrived in Chicago I had the pleasure of being invited to come and eat here. It was clearly packed and I was part of a large table. A bit cramped but I didn't complain due to the enormous aroma that was in this establishment. I was literally drooling from the aroma of the fresh food. This place is BYOB so my friends and I bought several bottles of wine to eat along with our food. We asked for the specials which varied from lobster ravioli, spinach gnocchi in a Gorgonzola cream sauce, another regular white gnocchi in a fresh tomato sauce. We started off with the Bruschetta which had a different approach to it. It didn't have the traditional fresh basil leaf on top. It had actual small pieces of dry oregano on top of the mozzarella cheese cheese with a crostini that was crispy but not too dry. The tomato was also minced, not chopped that was nice because in one bite my tomato wouldn't fall off, haha. After the appetizer, I ordered the spinach gnocchi and it was super rich by means that the sauce stuck to the plate. The portions here are not too bad. The flavors are so stick to your rib, you have to have a to-go box. The creamy gorganzola cheese sauce was good but lacked just a bit of flavor, I prefered the one with the tomato sauce which was Super flavorful. The gnocchi was super good though, it was airy and fluffy. Tried a bit of my friends lasagna portion which was more than plenty and pretty delicious. The one I wasn't too fond of was the Lobster ravioli, which could have been the sauce that it was paired with, it almost clashed. However, my friend enjoyed it. If you must visit, please RSVP the place is super small. The staff is super accommodating and nice. Would definitely come back again.
(4)
shermi p.

Wow! Great food, huge portions, BYOB, and reasonably priced. My new favorite neighborhood Italian place!
(5)
Michael L.

Cozy BYOB spot, good menu, decent food, but nothing special. SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE!!! Granted it was a busy Sat night but I saw our server like 3x times in 2 hours. I even had to chase someone down after our meals were delivered to get forks! Ordered: portobello app - one big mushroom covered in marinara and cheese. Wasn't good. Calamari - plain Jane fried Calamari. Bread - plain white bread that tasted right off the grocery store shelf Beef Bracieolle - rigatoni pasts was good, beef was slightly cold and just ok Tiramusu - way too sweet and mushy
(2)
T H.

My favorite italian place in the city... The prices are great for the portion sizes, and I've never tried anything here that I didn't love! The service can sometimes be a little lacking, as some of the previous posts mention, but if you're wanting some amazing italian food, definitely hit this place up!
(5)
Kyle P.

Nice byo.....agree with everything below it is a little salty (but I like that) and the pasta is really good but not the best by any stretch....huge portions and price may seem expensive to dumb asses but if you spend zero on drinks and get at least two full dinners out of the portion for 30 bucks a person.....then shut it up.....' I did like the service and I don't know why everyone thinks yelp is for kitchen nightmares and they are paying $150 per person for a meal....If you want that take your ass to alinea or trotters or something and then complain about the price.....tired of idiots
(4)
Melanie V.

Caro Mio is cramped, super loud and crowded - just like the restaurants in Italy. (Ahhhhh, the memories.) That's part of what adds to the charm of the place! And, let's talk service, shall we? Our waiter was the cutest, most adorable man EVER. He kept attempting to sing 'Happy Birthday' to our friend and repeatedly questioned why our group of 9 was so quiet. I wanted to hug him and I don't like hugging people. Anyway, there were so many options that we were staring at the menu intently for a good 15 minutes. After much deliberation, I settled on the (homemade) wheat pasta w/ broccoli, cauliflower and carrots in a pesto sauce ($18). It was magnificent! The veggies were so fresh and the sauce was the best I've tasted! The gnochi and the risotto were also popular dishes. The portions are HUGE and yummy. Everyone left pretty satisifed and full, I think! My only regret is leaving my leftovers in my friend's car...Sadness. BYOB, but with NO corkage fees! If you'd like to bring in your own cake, they charge a $2/per person fee. And, here's a word of advice - if you have a big group, make your reservations waaaaaay ahead of time! We were only able to get a reseravation because a group canceled last minute! This place is popular....and with good reason! Bellissima!
(4)
Lora D.

This place is definitely solid. I have a continuous love affair for trying new BYOB restaurants. We went here for my hubby's birthday and it was perfect. Candle lit, romantic, not crowded, and no weird BYOB "rules" I've seen at other places. All in all, a really nice dinner. We started with the polenta and some calamari. The calamari was light, crispy and huge pieces compared to the tiny crumbs you get at most places. The polenta itself was good, but I didn't love the sauce it came in. A little chef Boyardee flavored. Oh well, trying new things... Our main dishes were where it's at. HUGE portions, I got the pesto stuffed gnocchi in vodka sauce with added italian sausage. Omg I wanted to order a glass of that sauce and drink it. Ok, maybe not. But it was gooood. Hub got a seafood pasta thing with a big variety and lots of seafood, really good too. All the pasta was homemade. Oh yeah,I also got a caprese salad with giant mozz and giant basil leaves and he got a tortellini soup that was fantastic also. Our server was so cute and nice. We did have one little issue at the end of our meal that I will refrain from getting into in order to let the place save face, because its an honest mistake. Lets just say they handled it! Loved this place, definitely worth a try.
(4)
Tom S.

On Friday, September 13th, I met some friends for dinner. We dine out frequently around the city. Our food was over cooked and mediocre in quality. For the size and quality portions, the high prices we The quality has been much better in the past. When we complained to the manager, he was completely indifferent. I would not recommend this restaurant. Sorry, this is not my typical response, but out of fairness to the greater Chicago dinning community,
(2)
Laura K.

AMAZING place! Delicious food and BYOB italian (no corkage fee) which isn't always easy to find. If only I lived closer... Portions are HUGE and everything we ordered was super tasty. The food isn't cheap ($20+) but worth it!
(5)
Nichole H.

The food is magnificent. We had a party of 7 just around 7 pm on a Saturday night and although I could tell the guy wasn't happy he found us a table in seconds. It was very dark but nice inside, very very warm but eventually they turned the air on and it cooled down some. Everything on the menu sounded amazing and everything we ordered was perfect. I had the risotto Gorgonzola which was WAY more food than anyone needs to eat but was outstanding. I also thought the meatballs and sausage were fantastic. In fact the bruschetta was probably the best I've ever had! BYOB is always fun, as long as you remember to bring enough to drink as I didn't see anything nearby and no cork fee is a bonus. Food prices seemed a tad high, but the amount of food you get *shrugs* maybe worth it. The only reason I'm not giving Caro Mio 5 stars is because service was a bit slow. I get that it's BYOB so maybe the waitstaff doesn't need to stop by every few minutes but at one point it had been about 10 minutes of waiting before he came back over and we could ask for our wine to be opened. This was before our food arrived. Now the place gets busy and I get that, but a quick stop by to see if anything is needed is always a good idea and if our waiter had been just a little more attentive not only would we have added even more to his tip but I'd be giving the place 5 stars. I would say don't let my opinion of the service stop you, as the food is SO worth it. If you enjoy Italian food, get over there right away.
(4)
Plant Strong D.

Very cozy Italian spot that has dishes up large portions of fresh Italian Fare at reasonable prices. it's BYOB so you can bring your favorite Barolo to pair :) I love that I can eat a great vegan meal at Caro Mio while my guests can get whatever they want. This place is also good for parties! Full review below: plantstrongdiva.com/eatwâ€¦
(4)
Hilary M.

Really nice little spot (or not so little... they expanded!) for homemade pasta in giant portions. Pesto stuffed gnocchi is unbelievable and there was enough leftover for lunch the next day. Solid service. Food took a bit, but our water stayed full and we got glasses for our BYOB wine immediately. Decent ambiance. The art is bad, but the lighting is low, so it's not too noticeable. I will certainly be back here often!
(5)
Rich P.

In a word... Amazing. The atmosphere was really cool, and the service was great too. Food? UNREAL! And the portions were plentiful. BYOBOW (Bring Your Own Beer Or Wine). Try the chicken parmesan - yum!
(5)
Amir L.

This place is pretty good, the chicken Vesuvio was damn good the first time I tried it and a little burnt the second time. They have good pasta there too
(4)
Hannah P.

Went here with 2 of my gf's and I can't even remember what we ordered but it was very good. I wish I wrote my friends dish because I would order it weekly. It's BYOB, can't beat that. Maybe it was because we had a bottle at home prior to coming here that made the place 4 stars, I don't know but all I can remember is this place was awesome. Waiters were very attentive, friendly and offered great suggestions. Will def be back.
(4)
Richie D.

After living basically across the street from Caro Mio for 2 years, I had finally stepped in their door rather than it's neighbor Sabor A Cuba. I had heard from several trustworthy [Yelper and non-Yelper] sources that this place is a hit--and I must agree. For my Spanish-speaking mind, 'Caro Mio' makes me think "Expensive, Oh My!" Entrees are ~18+ each, however, once you bite in to your "pasta fatta in casa' (pasta made in-house), you'll see why. This family-owned establishment makes everything to order. While I'll admit that gnocchi is almost always the dish I get when out for an Italian meal, I'd be crazy not to venture in trying other dishes here. My favorite dishes are: Lasagna Caro Mio (I claim their specialty because it's baked in an individual casserole dish smothered with fresh cheese and a tomato meat sauce), Pappardelle Gratinato (my favorite noodle shape [pappardelle] mixed in with sun-dried tomatoes, chicken and spinach with the perfected marscapone cheese sauce) and Spinach Gnocchi Gorgonzola (sorry I had to throw this one in here, even though it's a gnocchi, because it's perfection without the gorgonzola being too overpowering and is just as delicious as the Italian food I've had in Italia-influenced Argentina.) To help you plan your visit, so you don't wait as long as I did: -I recommend making a reservation ahead of time, but they're only accepted if you party is of 6+ guests. Otherwise get here early since the wait often travels out the door. -Thank goodness it's BYOB without a corkage fee because it gets you through the wait. The corkage fee is possibly already included in the food prices, hence them being a bit steep. -Be sure to start off with the Bruschetta con Basilico----Delish! -If you use the website, becareful you don't click on the wrong link or you'll become Eliodoro's date in Italia. -The Latino staff is extremely accommodating, diligent and very attractive.
(5)
Anita L.

I called to find out what the special were for the evening and the man who answer asked me if i had a computer to look them up. If i did i would have but was on my commute home from work so i politely told him that i didn't. He gave an annoyed and exasperated sigh and then said well we have like ten specials tonight. This is the hospitality industry, try and show some caro mio. I live a block away and will be avoiding this place for a long while.
(1)
Cassie C.

My husband and I loved to the area a few months ago from Rosco Village and we're looking for a fun date restaurant on Saturday night. I yelped BYOB's in the neighborhood and Caro Mio popped up. The reviews were fantastic, so we thought to give it a try. OMFG...can I please say it again OMFG. Hands down best pasta I've ever eaten. I love Italian food and am constantly let down by boxed dried pasta at resturants and this place is 100% the real deal. The texture of this pasta is insane. It's perfect....literally perfect. I had the pesto and asiago stuffed, yes STUFFED gnocchi in creamy tomato sauce and my husband had the clam linguini. They were both fantastic and the portions are crazy huge. It's a bit on the pricey side, but well worth it, b/c it's more than enough food for two meals and it's a BYOB with no cork fee...can't beat that. If you haven't been go RIGHT NOT. :)
(5)
Sherie P.

A friend had been telling me for years that Caro Mio was their go-to Italian spot. Why didn't I believe him? Why did it talk me so long to go?? On a nice Wednesday night, we decided we needed some Italian food. Just off the brown line, Caro Mio is in a perfect little spot. BYOB you say? Well, I've got my bottle ready. The restaurant was half full which is nice on a weekday. We sat right away and were given water and wine glasses. There were lots of specials that the waiter told us about, but we settled on the portabella al gratin as an appetizer and gnocchi gratinati and pappardelle arrabiatta don gamberi for dinner off the regular menu. The waiter was happy to take our appetizer order and then come back to get our dinner order. I love that. I really hate it when a restaurant sort of rushes you through everything. While waiting for the appetizer, they brought out this wonderful soft fresh bread and garlic in olive oil. YUM. It was so tasty! The chunks of raw garlic are a bit spicy so we added a little cheese and some more olive oil and it was perfect. The appetizer came pretty quick. Perfectly cooked portabello mushrooms layered with cheese and surrounded by marinara sauce. I can't even begin to describe it. The only thing I could think was "I have to bring my mother here!" I only say that when I've come a cross a truly amazing vegetarian dish because we've dragged her to so many BBQ places and steak houses over the years. She really is a good sport for being the only vegetarian in the family! Plates cleared, a little wine sipped. It was so nice and relaxing. Dinner came and Oh my goodness!! The gnocchi gratinati was baked in a dish with some meaty bolognese sauce and tons of cheese on top. I hate it when baked things are way to saucy. This was the perfect amount of sauce and cheese to compliment the fluffy gnocchi. I will admit it... I'm a sucker for those little potato dumplings... I could eat gnocchi every day! The pappardelli arrabiatta don gamberiwas amazing. You could tell that the pasta noodles were freshly made. And the spicy arrabiatta sauce was the perfect compliment. The shrimp were cooked just right and the veggies gave it a little texture. I loved this dish. There was so much food that I had to take it all home! I was eyeing the dessert menu but settled on just an espresso to sober me up a bit... Did I mention it was right by the brown line? Next time I need to remember that! Frendly staff... check. Byob... check. Close to transportation... check. Delicious food... check. I think we have a winner!
(4)
Alana W.

I will never ever go back to Caro Mio. The food was mediocre and extremely over salted. We waited an hour to sit down then waited for another hour once we ordered. Our waiter was the absolute most abrassive and unattentive server I have met. He made our whole party feel uncomfortable. Thank god it was BYOB and my friends were patient! Go to any other BYOB you will have a much better experience!
(1)
mark l.

No pretention here!! This is a neighborhood gem and the secret must be out! This small storefront Italian kitchen has some of the best Italian food I have EVER had. ALWAYS quality food and service each time I have been there. No corkage fee on the BYOB--- FANTASTIC! Highlights of the menu-- Brasciole is melt in your mouth, the Gorgonzola cream sauce you will want to lick the plate, the Lobster Ravioli with Marscapone Cream sauce is the best italian dish ever!! The peach sorbet is freshly made and served inside a frozen peach. YUM! From it's plain exterior, you would never guess the food is this good. Will be back again and again!
(5)
Quin C.

I was told this was THE place to go for Italian in the area and I was not let down. I am glad it was BYOB with no corkage, def made getting an appetizer easier. The Bruschetta was spot on and huge, a great way to start the meal! My girlfriend got thw Zuppa di Mare (her fav) and was enjoying every bite to a point she stopped talking. I was eyeing the Stuffed Gnocchi in vodka sauce. The waiter reccomended I add sausage, I thought eh...ok. I was then thinking about the great mark up he just did and how this won't end well. Little did I know they would proceed to cut the sausage into pieces the size of quarters! There were so many pieces I was able to have a little bit of sausage in every bite and thus making this one of the greatest Gnocchi dishes I have ever had! The place was small with not much of an ambiance but what does that matter when the food is so amazing?! I highly recommend this place and don't judge a book by it's cover when you see it from the street, this place is it and it's worth it!
(5)
Jill R.

BYOB and great homemade pastas!
(5)
Marcela R.

They do not take reservations, they refuse to give you a table unless everyone is at the restaurant standing by the door. And I'm not talking about a big party ( I understand if we were asking for a table of 6 or more) lots of big tables for like 6 or more people, I felt like I was eating at a college cafeteria, the food took for ever, its OK I know I'm not at McDonald's still was a very long time for the food to be ready, and honestly was not that good, was regular Italian food. So this will probably be my first and last time at Caro Mio...
(2)
Mary H.

Holy crap this place is good! I have been longing for a BYOB on my side of town that offered the same quality and options as the many restaurants have available in other areas of the city. Not only does Caro Mio have a huge menu with tons of traditional and contemporary items, it also offers obscenely large portion sizes for a reasonable price. At first, I was a bit put off by the seemingly inflated prices, but am so glad I came here anyway to see what all of the fuss was about. It is priced a bit higher because each entree can easily serve at least two people with big appetites. My leftovers alone have resulted in two separate meals. Heyo! To top it off, the food is unbelievably good -- it was hands down the best meal I've had in a very long time. You really can't beat this place.
(5)
Capt M.

BYBO=Best Part! Went on Saturday night about 9:30PM, seated quickly. mah Mah dey, Mediocre at best. Bread was not very fresh, so the fact it was never refilled was ok. Garlic infused oil was a hit with me. We ordered Veal Parm, which came buried in sauce. Didn't expect much else after looking at dishes on other tables while being seated. Veal was tough. Huge portion which came with small side of pasta. That part was good. Unsure if it was the cheese or the chef, but veal was very salty. Waiter recommended seafood pasta and that was just ok . We did enjoy the Chocolate Souffle. Not the best but still tasted good. With all the places you can get Italian in Chicago, probably won't be back to this place.
(2)
Brandon B.

Very good BYOB Italian restaurant. The food is a little expensive, but the portions are massive. However, there are two things that I dont think many people have commented on: First the negative: The bread. This is why this place loses a star. It is the absolute worst. It never seems fresh. It toasts very well, as I assume they use it for their bruschetta, but it's always stale when they bring it out in loaf form. Next the positive(?): The wait staff. The vast majority of them are Latino men, and most are what I'd like refer as to "muy guapos." They certainly provide a visual dessert, even before the appetizers come out. There's nothing wrong with this, but this seems very different for an Italian restaurant. So all you straight women/gay men out there, there's your incentive.
(4)
Natasha L.

We were really dissapointed in Caro Mio. Having read such great reviews, and living locally, we were eager to try it out and we don't get to eat out as often as we would like. I had a Salmon pimento, which was salmon, balsamic, pine nuts and spring onions. I expected balsamic drizzled over the salmon. I got my salmon engulfed in a lake of the most sickly sweet and sticky balsamic vinegar. There must have been about a quarter of a inch of balsamic on the bottom of the bowl. The pine nuts and spring onions floated on the top. I had to struggle to eat the dish. My husband ordered an aubergine parmegano which had chewy aubergine, and to our taste was too salty. If the meal had been inexpensive I don't think I would be as gutted, but the salmon dish was well over 20 USD. The staff were nice enough but I'm not sure we want to risk coming back. Maybe the pasta dishes are more reliable. We also ordered off the menu, rather than the specials, and it was a Monday night so I'm wondering whether the regular chef had had the night off. Real shame.
(2)
Maureen S.

Wow. Did we eat at the same restaurant as those who gave it a good rating? We went during the week. Our Minestrone Soup was over-boiled, way too hot to serve but served anyways, with little flavor and too much pasta. The green bean salad was swimming, and I mean swimming in balsamic vinegar. All I could taste was vinegar, rather than what was told to us by the waiter. The mushroom risotto was heavy on the salt and light on the mushrooms. For $80, we got the calamari, 2 soups, 1 bean salad, and 1 risotto. We also got the pleasure of the wait staff of dropping glasses that hit us and glass shards in the purse, no apology, a stomach ache, and swollen fingers and ankles. There are many dining options. We were looking for a replacement for Ceres Table, and this place ain't it. I was really hoping this was a hit. It was a giant, and I mean giant miss. Go to Glenn's Diner. Go across the street to the Fresh Farm deli. Walk past this place, unless you want your wallet empty and your stomach not feeling good.
(1)
Garrett G.

This is a great spot. I went for my first time the other night and both the seafood pasta and gnocchi special were amazing. The wine was also amazing, but I knew that going into it, because it was mine (BYOB, no corkage fee)! Prices range from about $15-25 for a main dish but when you consider you aren't paying for drinks and the portions are huge it isn't a bad deal. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Edwin W.

The only reason this place gets 3 stars from me is because I did not have very high expectations walking in. Food can be hit or miss. We started off with the bruschetta. Arguably the best bruschetta I've had in Chicago. For our "hit" entrees we went with the specials for the night which were Stuffed Gnocchi and the Lobster Ravioli. I am drooling as I am writing this which reflects how good I thought these dishes were. Absolutely phenomenol. But then there were the "miss" dishes that were EH at most. One of them being the Frittura Di Mare and the other being a Beef Shank dish. The Frittura was a seafood pasta dish. I am not an expert with this dish or Italian Cuisine, but the dish just did not work. The tomato pasta sauce did not work well with the seafood. The beef shank dish could have been good, but the problem was the bone for the shank became the highlight of the dish rather than the meat. I'm talking a bone that took up half the plate. It became somewhat comical towards the completion of that dish as almost everyone at the table requested to have more beef but was surprised to learn that was a bone sitting on the plate. Dessert was fierce. We had the tiramisu and some lemon ice cream. Probably the best Tiramisu I've tasted. The biggest disappointment was the service, or lack there of. Our server was very nice and spiced up the evening for me and my family as he spoke in a very thick Italian accent making the dinner more authentic. However, regardless of him being nice, we never saw him more than twice during the length of our dinner. We waited 15 minutes between when the last dish was cleared off our table until we were approached with dessert menus. Then another 15 minutes between when the dessert was finished to a follow up. A lot of the service issues can be a result of us dining in with such a big group. Places usually calculate gratuity for groups of 6 or more, which most of the time, can result in the server to avoid giving the extra attention to your table as compared to the attention they would give to a table where his service would affect the amount of gratuity he will receive. A LOT of places in Chicago fall in this category and it is quite unfortunate. Overall, mediocre Italian Cuisine (for Chicago) with a serious need for their service to be addressed.
(3)
Amy H.

I came in with a large party of almost 16 people for a birthday dinner. We were there about 10 mintues before our 7:30 reservations and were seated right away, but after being seated we played the waiting game. Waiting for menus...waiting for our bottles to be uncorked...waiting for bread...waiting for our orders to be taken....waiting, waiting, waiting. It took almost an hour before we recieved our entrees. Now granted, we had a large party so no one minded the wait. Besides, we were busy drinking wine, chatting, and enjoying ourselves. What bothered me is that they rushed us out after our meal was finished. They told a member of our party three times that we needed to leave because they had made a 9pm reservation for another large party and it was now 9:30. Well, sorry Caro Mio. Perhaps you shouldn't give only an hour and a half for a 16 person party to eat dinner. Perhaps you shouldn't have taken so long in the beginning and we would have already been gone. The food? Eh. I ordered the spinach gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce. It was ok. Nothing spectacular. The lasagna was good and so was my friend's sausage and meatballs, but the service was so horrible that the food and everything about Caro Mio just left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)
Reg W.

Ever since terragusto closed, I've been in search for an italian restaurant that makes their own pasta. We finally decided to try this place and it blew my socks off! They have daily specials which all sounded very good. There were so many dishes I wanted to try, but I opted for the pappardelle con porcini. It was absolutely amazing, the pasta was al dente with the sauce that melts in your mouth goodness. My husby had the vitello vesuvio and he was pleased with his dish as well. The interior of the restaurant was very romantic, great place to bring a date. And it's BYOB with no corkage fee. Buon appetito!
(5)
Brett F.

Holy Sweet Rigatoni... BYOB! No Corkage Fee! Now this is a place for Me! How have I never stumbled upon the super sweet, quaint Ravenswood digs of the adorable side street sittin' Caro Mio? Considering it has all the ingredients to make for a delectable and flawless Italiano feasting you'd think I'd have been a bit more in the linguine loop. Eh, better late than never say I... that spectacularly superb gnocchi bolognese is on my radar now and it ain't never leaving my side!! Fluffy, sinful, meaty, decadent gnocchi aside, there are a multitude of dishes at Caro Mio worthy of a crave attack. All of your favorites are here; fresh, tender calamari, creamy gorgonzola risotto, lavish and rich ossobuco milanese, plump frutta di mare and all the 'pasta fatta' aka homemade pasta items that yes, are fabulous pasta dishes that will indeed make you fatta. Wear your favorite Soprano Italia flag-bearing stretchy track pants. Viva New Jersey! Now combine those fan-flippin-tabulous homemade creations with the authentic down home service to match and our beloved BYO, natch, for a wonderful extravaganza with some hearty chow. My lust-inducing, dream-provoking, smile-generating, drool-stimulating Caro Mio mishmash? Combine 2 bottles '04 Antinori Tignanello Toscana + 1 polenta al sugo appetizer + 1 gnocchi gratinati + 1 vitello all' arrabbiata = Complete & Utter Italian Overloaded Bliss. And with that, I bid you a Mangia! Mangia! Buon Appetito.
(4)
Anthony J.

As has been mentioned, and as you may have noticed, they are BYOB. Great selling point. All they had to do to impress me was be halfway decent, food-wise. As it turns out, they were fullway decent. Went on Mother's Day with my whole nuclear family, 6 in total. All of us enjoyed the heck out of our food. I recommend getting the specials that aren't on the menu. The waiter gave us the rundown, and the females in the family made him repeat the list of special specials (so special, they aren't on the menu!) to hear his Italian accent again. Anyways, I had a chicken breast in porcini mushroom sauce with housemade portobello mushroom ravioli. Delicate, tender pasta, perfectly cooked chicken, and super flavorful sauce. The only criticism was it was a bit salty, but I like salt. For someone more sensitive to it, could be overwhelming. Everyone had one of the "special specials," except my sister, who had a normal special, the salmon picatta. She, and all of my family, raved about their food. $24-ish per entree. Not cheap, but worth it, in my opinion. BYOB makes it all the more affordable. Oh, and we had the bruschetta, and calamari appetizers. Nice bruschetta, very fresh tasting. Calamari was exactly as it should be. If you order calamari and it comes out rubbery, immediately flip over the table in fury and storm out, even if you already ordered your entrees, because a poor calamari portends poor entrees. Anywho, our calamari was tender and delicious, so, luckily, we didn't have to do that. To be fair, I went there a couple years ago for Valentine's Day with the wife as well, but never got around to rating it. Had the lasagna that day. I remember it being nicely browned around the edges so the cheese hardens up into a sexy, chewy crust. I like that. Its what I'd call a neighborhood gem. Parking is easy to find, and service is decent. Oh, did I mention you should bring some vino? Every restaurant should be BYOB...
(5)
Cathy B.

I took 3 out of town guests here for a Sunday night dinner. No reservations -- no problem. We arrived 30 minutes before closing -- also no problem. No one pressured us to hurry up, which is a good thing, because we ordered a lot, and would have stayed for more had our bellies been able to accommodate it. One of my guests said it was the best meal of her life. That's a strong statement, but I would say it was one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. The four of us had separate plates, and each plate provided a different taste experience, which is nice; so many restaurants "recycle" their sauces so that they can have a huge menu, but just a few stock ingredients in the kitchen. Not so here. Each plate was different from the next. Desserts were absolutely top-notch as well. Part of the reason my experience was so good was the atmosphere of the place. I loved that certain customers would come in and be whisked to special tables in darkened corners. It felt very mafia, only in a safe way.
(5)
Stefanie P.

Since I am Italian and have experienced authentic food in Italy, I am really hard on Italian food. I almost never eat it at restaurants because it's typically the usual lame, boring pasta. I have to say I was impressed by Caro Mio. Its main detraction is the price (~$20 for a pasta dish is a bit ridic, IMO), but the dishes my friends and I had were full of flavor. The portions are HUGE, so the fact that you get another meal out of the leftovers almost makes up for the cost. I ate some ziti with tomato-based sauce with pancetta, onion, homemade meatballs and Italian sausage. It was absolutely delicious. I am pretty sad that the bussers mixed up my leftovers with my friend's...I got stuck eating her pappardelle with bolognese the next day (it was okay, but not as good as mine). A friend had the gorgonzola gnocchi. Too rich for me to order, but it tasted excellent just the same. Anyway, the place is small, so make reservations if you can. We were fortunate to be seated without one, but the folks behind us weren't so lucky.
(4)
Helen H.

This place is pretty good. Gotthe chicken tortellini and the seafood linguini. Both very hot and good. You can really taste that the food is very fresh. Atmosphere is nice and so is service. Great little place. Very heavy food though if you like that kind of thing.
(4)
Joram C.

This place is always packed. Theres usually one of two reasons for that. 1.) the food is excellent 2.) its Byob, you're cheap and you have a party of 8. Caro Mio is #2. My food was ample, but it wasnt good. The caccitore was butchered in a way that made it seem the chicken had fought for its life. The arrabiata dish i ordered had jalapenos in it......italian food doesnt have jalapenos. (red pepper flakes, sure). Its a kitschy place, but i wouldnt say its romantic. Or maybe it is if your date just wants to get hammered on 3-4 bottles of wine for less than it would cost on a wine list. Also, there is no main course less than 15$ in the menu......this aint Alinea. Sountrack wise on the particular night i was there, elliott smith gave way to what sounded like 105.9 "La Ley" as the bumpersticker says.
(2)
Lindsee R.

I want to give this place 4 stars, I really do, but I didn't have anything that stood out. SO, I guess I found it a little boring. And good Lord! There's like 3 items on the menu that don't involve heavy cream or oil sauce. Please. Pretty please, vary the menu, chef. I know there are Italian dishes out there not intended to hasten my death due to clogged arteries. Otherwise, the atmosphere was great. It's very home-y feeling. A little on the pricey side for such a lack of variety (I kid you not the menu mostly read cheese, cheese with cream, cream, cream with tomato, cheese) though the portions are pretty large. I can't say I'll be back anytime soon without being dragged, but the experience here was overall, A-ok.
(3)
Lena L.

This place is AMAZING! It's so hard to find real authentic Italian food, but Caro Mio really does an amazing job. I love their gnocci that is stuffed with riggota cheese, and a creamy vodka-like sauce, it's amazing. The restaurant is really small, so on busy nights sometimes there is a wait but it's always worth it. It's also BYOB which is fun, and they don't charge you to open bottles which is cool. Overall, this place is awesome, great food, good prices and just a cool atmosphere.
(5)
Janice M.

BEST authentic Italian food in town!
(5)
Natalie S.

I don't like Italian food. Go through my reviews. MAYBE I have been to two or three Italian restaurants in the last five years but that's it. Suddenly, Italian has become one of my pregnancy cravings. Who knew? Well, I told the Mr. what I was craving and he jumped at the chance to check out Caro Mio. It's just a few blocks away and it was a lovely night for a stroll. We started out with the fried calamari. While it was a little tough, it was still quite delicious. The bread that came around the same time was definitely not warmed but it is not something I care much about... especially when they serve it with a big helping of crushed garlic in oil and red pepper flakes. Mmmmmm. My dude had the lasagne and I had the tri-colored rotolo (pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese and baked). Both were HEAVEN. I preferred my dish but the lasagne was delicious as well. We didn't go for dessert or the BYOB (obviously) but... there's always next time. The service was friendly and efficient. We walked in and were sat, had menus right away, order was taken promptly, etc. Zero complaints. The restaurant itself is super cute and cozy. My husband's hoping my new Italian cravings will stay and we'll be regulars.
(4)
Victor V.

it all starts at the door. When you see a few available tables for two, you want an usher to say, "Which table would you prefer?" Nothing of the kind: we were shown to the worst table: your typical "dump the worst first" tactics. The waiter was okay, but it took forever for our dishes to arrive. Obviously, the priority here is to stuff as many tables (and paying customers) as possible in the small area, and the kitchen is probably as tiny and understaffed. My gnocci (not a sure spelling) was okay, although I wish there was some other stuff on the big plate to kind of spruce it up. her frutti de mare (again the spelling) was pedestrian at best: pasta was ordinary and the seafood was sparce. All in all, a very average experience. The kicker and the hook is the BYO status without corkage fee, but our check with just two items came to $52.00, which more than offsets the BYOness of the place. The best feature? the customers. Most were nicely dressed, not stuffy, young middle aged and sophisticated, speaking in properly hushed voices, no kids or rowdy big parties. But "a secret gem" it is not. Just a decent Italian eatery in the area that could use some competition in "Italian BYO" department.
(2)
Erin K.

A gem of a place in walking distance of where I live. BYOB, with no corkage fee is reason enough to go. Pasta is amazing. Gnocchi are cooked to perfection and melt in your mouth. I always get the pasta special with the meatballs and the sauce with onions and garlic. Penne cooked al dente and with just enough spice. Food served hot and they give you enormous portions! Waitstaff are amazingly friendly! We had so much fun with our waiter last night that we asked him to join us for a glass of champagne. The only downside was that although the dipping sauces for the bread are great, the bread is like the basic stuff you find at Jewel. I wish they would get better authentic Italian style bread. Espresso wasn't strong enough and desserts are good but not amazing. This place is very accommodating for big groups and is well worth the wait! I wish they had outdoor seating!!!
(4)
Sarah H.

Unfortunately I recommended this place to a girlfriend for her birthday dinner, solely based on the location and great Yelp reviews. We and her other guest were less than impressed and don't plan to return to Caro Mio. I can tell the owner/manager and wait staff are trying to deliver good service, but overall I did not get what I paid for and there were a few simple expectations that I just think failed to be met. It's an Italian place....I was expecting a decent lasagna and perhaps some variety of pizza. They didn't have the latter at all, and the lasagna was mediocre at best...unless you like 80% meat and the rest "meh" pasta and cheese. We also got the eggplant appetizer and based on the price (and just common sense) we were expecting a bit more than a single serving of eggplant....it was like ordering bruschetta and getting a single piece of toasted bread with the toppings. My meal was good...pretty much what I would expect from any decent Italian place, but at $23 (food/tax) for a pasta dish it lacked quite a bit in value. The food is good and staff are friendly, but you can do MUCH better most anywhere in Chicago for Italian dining.
(2)
Andrew H.

Solid Italian fare, but nothing mind blowing or on the same level as Volare or Riccardo Trattoria. First impression is of the awkward separated dining rooms -- was led outside by the host to the other dining room. The only connection is seemingly through the kitchen... Service is decent, on par with what you'd expect from the pricing (~$20/entree). Good bang for your buck, pastas are quite large. Furnishing and decor is average, some of the tables are a little too close for my liking. The calamari was very good -- not overly breaded or seasoned, allowing the squid to be the highlight of the dish. For entrees, I only had their homemade pastas and was very pleased. My only critique was for the lobster ravioli which I wish used chunks instead of an almost lobster paste. If in the area and Spacca Napoli (best pizza) is not open, Caro Mio is a good alternative.
(3)
Rob P.

Really people...? 4 Stars? 5?!?!?!?! Noooooo, this place is just alright. I have no complaints with the service or ambiance, but the food just didn't do it for me. I was out there this weekend with a party of five. Two off the boat Italians, and 3 who were born here (myself included in the three). Admittedly, I'm more critical than most reviewers, particularly of Italian restaurants. But hey, you're not reading this for a yes-man. You're on yelp to find out what the place is really like before plunking down your hard-earned cash. Despite what the website says about reservations only for six or more, they accommodated us. We were informed of the oft-noted "2 hour limit", which I don't really have a problem with. They're running a business, we were there on a Saturday night, and being a BYOB, (no corkage fee) they lack the significant margin alcohol typically carries at a restaurant. They have to make it up on turnover. Get over it people. So onto the food: For me, first impressions at Italian restaurants come down to be bread on the table. Good bread excites me. And this place has bread that was average. Not a good start, and very surprising since they have the more traditional olive oil/chopped garlic/red pepper plate instead of the more American olive oil/Parmesan. In general, the dishes were large portions that only the heartiest eater could finish. On the downside, they were heavy on the salt and VERY heavy on the oil. Not at all how Italians cook. We use simple, flavorful ingredients that don't need much doctoring. Here's the part where you can stop if you want. From here on out, I'm just going into more detail about our particular dishes. Appetizers were grilled eggplant and polenta. The eggplant was terrible - very seedy, and therefore, bitter. The chef compensated by using a lot of salt, but it just made it inedible. The polenta was OK - lacking some flavor, but the sauce was very flavorful and made up for it. Going around the table: Gnocchi in marina - The gnocchi were surprisingly light, but had no flavor whatsoever. Sauce was good, but again, salty. Chicken in some kind of reduction with mushroom-stuffed ravioli (one of the evening's specials) - the chicken was pretty typical, but the ravioli were tasty. Both the pasta and the stuffing. Unfortunately, the person who ordered this spent half his meal scraping off the sauce. WAY too much. Seriously, it was like soup. Veal arrabiata - Veal was tender, but not cut-it-with-a-fork-tender like the good stuff should be. For the price though, it represented a decent value. The gravy had just the right amount of spice, (present but not overpowering) but again, way too much on the plate. Veal in some kind of a wine sauce with potatoes - Same issues with the veal, sauce, salt, etc. A little bland, even with all the salt. Linguine frutta di mare - tons of calamari. Good calamari at that. Actually, all of the seafood was good. This was my plate, and I found it to be oversalted to the lowest degree of the plates we ordered. The pasta was of good quality and cooked al dente. The biggest problem I had was the amount of oil in this plate. EASILY 1/3 of a cup, maybe a half a cup remained after I had finished. I was actually eating the linguine the old-school Italian way - twirling it in a spoon - out of necessity to wring as much oil out of it as I could. Slightly disappointed, we skipped dessert and took our business elsewhere.
(3)
Marisol M.

Wow! I LOVED it! Everything we ordered was very well prepared and so flavorful! My friend ordered something that he had before but was not on the menu and with out hesitation it was made for him. After, a nibble of his chicken mushroom dish I understood why he had been so anticipating this dish. I loved that it is b.y.o.b. very charming. Great first date, Anniversary or just want a good meal restaurant.
(5)
Jendy B.

DELICIOUS! I rarely go out for Italian because both of my parents are amazing cooks and they both love to cook Italian food. So, i kind of got my fill growing up. But, I never pass up the chance to go out with the girls for a BYOB dinner. Our meals were delicious! The portions are on the large side, so be sure to get a doggy bag (and remember to take it home.) Try the daily special, I don't think you can go wrong.
(4)
Karen L.

Decent Italian food in a cozy atmosphere. It is a BYOB place, which is super nice! I have been here twice and the food is fresh and decent! The last time I had the mushroom risotto, which was just a tad too mushroomy and a tad too salty. I would go a different route next time. It wasn't the best Italian I have had, but you can't beat the proximity! And, you don't find many Italian places that are BYOB.
(3)
Carolyn G.

I joined some friends here for a birthday dinner and had a great time. We all brought wine because of the BYOB factor. The food was, for the most part, great! We had stuffed mushrooms and bruchetta to start. I had the chicken parm, which was an awesome amount of food, but only tasted okay, not great. Thankfully, my husband was willing to share his gnocchi, which was freaking amazing.
(4)
Dan S.

Took the lovely wife here on a busy Saturday night. Wait was 1.5 hours, but very worth it. The food was nothing you haven't had before, but it was tremendously fresh, simple, and delicious. If it's busy, just put your name in and go get a beer at O'Shaughnessy's one block east.
(4)
Edward R.

This place is just OK. I wanted to like it, I really did. I think the biggest problem was the attitude of the owner. He is very rude and is more interested in the drama between the wait staff then the experience of the guests. At least that is the way it was when we were there last week. The food was average not good enough to make me deal with the DRAMA.
(2)
S.B. K.

Caro Mio....My favorite Italian outside of Italy. The gnocchi special is the most beautiful taste my tongue has had in a very long time! The smells alone will create such a wonderful experience!! But, once you taste their insanely fantastic dishes-you will not be able to think of anything else for days. The wait staff is very friendly and energetic...My husband and I love BYOB places b/c then you're not spending an arm and a leg on wine....The bruschetta with fresh mozzarella is also a must...Yum Yum Yum.
(5)
Steve L.

I used Yelp to find this restaurant and the reviews told the story. This is a quaint little BYOB restaurant with a great atmosphere inside. My wife and I had a great meal here and received incredible service. I would come back here again for good food and good service. Just remember to bring a bottle with you -- I had to walk two blocks away to get some wine......
(4)
Christopher B.

I'd put this place up against Spiagga any day of the week. Some of the best italian around, awesome BYOB, and the staff... my god I love all of them. Have had everything from intimate dinners to private parties at this place and they have always made it top notch!
(5)
Mary S.

What a charming place! We brought a bottle of "The Prisoner" along and sat at a table for 2 against the wall in front. Very quaint and romantic. The servers were friendly and attentive. I ordered the gnocchi special and it was delicious! As was the bruschetta appetizer. My husband had spaghetti with the meat sauce and both of us were impressed with the quantity and the quality of our entrees. We would definitely go back there again! (And having street parking over on Ravenswood was a huge plus, too.)
(4)
marisa s.

cute & cozy lil italian BYOB. portions were huge and it was fairly good italian food. not my fav italian place, but def it was worth a try to head somewhere WAY north out of my neighborhood. looking for an inexpensive girl's night out with bottles and bottles of everyone's wine...? then this is a great alternative to quartino, tapas and BYOB tapas spots that ladies frequent...
(3)
Joe O.

Been to this place a number of times now and I've never been let down. The food is really quite good and the service is great even when it's busy. They aren't afraid to use garlic, and I love that. The only couple drawbacks with the place is that the seating is cramped, and it can be a long wait during prime hours. If you do end up having to wait a bit, PLEASE do not go next door for Cuban. That place is so bad, but I'll save the explanation for another time. Prices for Caro Mio aren't wacky either...pretty reasonable. Bring a bottle of something and have a great time.
(4)
Bonnie L.

I have been wanting to try this place for a while. My last attempt was a no go because they had a two hour wait. So last night, on our way to another place, we passed by and I said to my friend "pull over!". Let's finally go to Caro Mio. I was happy that there was no wait. I ordered Farfalle Primavera and my friend ordered the Sundried tomato Ravioli in a cream sauce. We also shared a Caprese Salad before the entrees. Everything was delicious. I thought the pasta was perfectly al-dente chewy. Unfortunately because we had not planned ahead, we did not have any spirits to go with our dinner but in retrospect, not such a bad thing since it was a school night and I always tend to overindulge. Anyway, all in all, my experience was very good. I thought that price wise it might have been a bit high. Our bill came out to almost $60.00 for the two of us and mind you, no drinks, no seafood, no chops, steaks or anything extravagant. Just two pasta orders and a salad. But the food was good. I would rather pay more for a decent meal than less for a crappy one. I will go back for sure.
(4)
Tess K.

I used to go to this restaurant fairly often a number of years ago and my favorite dish was zuppa di pesce (seafood stew). I hadn't gone for about three years (no real reason why) and I just went again a few weeks ago. Things have changed, unfortunately. They are now packing in the tables so you are almost sitting in your neighbors' lap. Give up any hope for privacy. Service was still pretty good although we had to keep asking for water-I guess the salty food was making us drink like fish. I again ordered my favorite fish stew but, alas, it was no longer the stellar dish I remembered. You used to get this huge bowl of seafood with a salmon fillet in the middle. The broth used to be flaverful enough to have on its own. Now, it's about half the size, had only a paltry serving of salmon, and very little broth. It was more like a seafood linguine and they expected me to put the side of linguine into the stew. If I wanted to do that, I could have ordered the linguine frutta di mare and saved myself some money! I took some home and they packed it with the linguine mixed into the stew - just proves the point that this was not a true soup. Too bad, it used to be one of the best seafood stews in the city. No more. The other dishes that my dining partners got were good but not great. They are on the high end of pricing and you can do better with other Italian restaurants - try Agostino's Ristorante on Harlem.
(2)
Michelle D.

Some of the best italian food in the city! Very authentic and lots to choose from. I highly recommend the cheese stuffed gnocchi with chicken and spinach. The best gnocci I have ever had. And the saffron risotto is like my fiance remembers having at his Nona's. Remember it is BYOB. A very small place, so be sure to call ahead and make sure there is not a long wait. The place delivers too.
(4)
Mrjustice ..

Can't believe I haven't been here sooner; since I moved into the Ravenswood neighborhood in May. Ambiance is small, quaint, romantically decorated and lit. Italian food served is wonderfully diverse and interesting; and, all seemed excellent. What more could ask for -- how about BYOB for an Italian Restaurant?? Believe it or not, it is (and, even harder to believe, with NO corkage fee). But, you doubters say, don't they just raise their prices to make up for it. Nope -- prices seemed average for fine Italian dining. ($15-17 for pasta dishes; and, 18-22 for chicken/meat/seafood dishes). How wonderful.
(5)
Chris C.

Caro Mio is a cozy, yummy Italian restaurant. I'm taking off a 1/2 star because it's teeny tiny and there is no waiting room/bar. And another 1/2 star bc it's BYOB. But this is actually a good thing bc of the $$ you save. It just sort of sucks when you get there and have fogotten about it! Anyway, the food is fabulous. Cesar is a great waiter. Makes you feel comfortable and is full of good suggestions. There is some mushroom sauce that is great.
(4)
Maria W.

This place has a great happy, neighborhood vibe. The service is pretty friendly and the food is pretty good. Everything is swimming in garlic - just a warning. By the end of the night, I was eating spoonfuls of it from my chicken vesuvio sauce. My husband and I like going for a nice night out that isn't going to set us back a lot. The BYOB with no corkage fee helps!
(4)
Vivian B.

Man, what a bummer. I saw all of these great reviews and I thought "this is perfect for my sister's birthday dinner of 10!" However, I'm no dummy that is just going to plan a whole group dinner based on strangers reviews, so I went there tonight Friday at 6pm. We were both starving-would have thought anything was great. (let me also preface this by saying we do have good taste in food and I cook very well myself.) The bruchette which the mgr recommended was extremely full of garlic. I could pick large chunks out. Next we chose the grilled vegetables which my boyfriend believed must have been from a frozen bag since he works for a restaurant and knows the difference-however these were not bad. After that I got frutta del mar which is clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari with lunguini. Very OK-I really didn't like it much. My boyfriend (who loves pasta got spagetti-how can you mess that up. He said it was over cooked and filled with garlic. The name of the restaurant should really be garlic. No itialian music, definitely not owned by italians. I think the only reason people go there is because its BYOB. I'd rather pay for over priced wine than over priced and over hyped food. Worst part is that I had to cancel a 10 top for Sunday and have to find a new restaurant for my family(
(2)
William K.

Just unbelievably great! I don't know what their secret is but it is the TASTIEST italian food I've ever had. Get the gnocchi or lasagna.
(5)
Robin C.

I've only ordered delivery from this place. I don't even know how I stumbled upon this or what made me decide to try this place for delivery (probably some powers from the dear sweet lord in heaven), but what ever delicious italian god made me do it... this place is amazing. I legitimately have a love affair with the chicken tortellini... be careful because it will put you into a food coma... but everything I've sampled from Caro Mio has been fresh fresh fresh as the dickens and really flavorful. The bread is always freshly baked, just dont' order the calamari unless you really REALLY love garlic because it's garlic with a side of squid.
(4)
Joy E.

A coworker recommended Caro Mio as a quiet, romantic neighborhood spot, and I've been back several times under many different circumstances. I've never been impressed with any of the chicken or fish dishes, but the pasta here is phenomenal: homemade and perfect, filled with amazing, covered in unbelievable. Get any pasta with mushrooms: you won't regret it. I can't account for their desserts because I don't usually have room after their massive entrees, and I don't like tiramisu at all. I don't think they take reservations, and they won't seat you until your entire party is there--sometimes you luck out with the wait, and other times you're stuck in the tiny waiting area drooling over the nearest table's gnocchi (which I've heard is great, although I can't personally testify). Service otherwise is pretty good. You might wait a bit for your food (especially for big groups), but this has been one of those places where, thanks to the food, I'm willing to forgive slow service. Price is okay: entrees are a bit on the expensive side, but since it's BYOB, it balances out.
(4)
J B.

I have never gotten a bad dish from Caro Mio. It is quaint, and nothing fancy on the inside, but the food is really delicious. And the byob is great! One warning, it is insanely busy on Friday and Saturday nights and they do not take reservations. Weeknights are best.
(5)
Og B.

dark and cozy and byob. love it. ive been here many times. there seems to be one or two dishes that are just not worth it. but have no fear! the waiter has always made great suggestions. i personally find it hard to go out for italian food, because, lets face it... even my kitchen handicap roomate can make spaghetti. the gnocchi is flawless. i love it. worth every penny. especially the stuffed with asiago... and the sauces are real REAL good. the appetizers and seafood. awesome my only complaint seems to be chicken. i dont order chicken too often, but twice the person i was with ordered a chicken dish and had some complaints about it. definately recommended
(4)
Stephanie L.

I was kinda bummed with this place. I was so looking forward to trying some great Italian, it was good, but not great. I did have very high hopes because of all the positive reviews. I had some tortellini and my boyfriend had lasagna. Although my bf loved the tortellini, I didn't. I thought it was decent but I've had better. He really didn't like his lasagna, but I did. It is kinda pricey but they serve huge portions. Overall, ok place. I proably won't return.
(3)
Mike D.

We love having this great neighborhood spot just down the block from us. Since we don't get out to dinner as much as we once did we started ordering carryout too. Of course we miss the comfortable atmosphere and the friendly servers, but at least I still get my ricotta stuffed gnocchi fix. I could seriously eat these 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. The last time we dined in the server suggested these for our 2-year old. I must admit I doubted he would like them (plus then I felt like I was ordering from the kid's menu), but he LOVED them. Add the bruschetta with fresh mozzarella and I'm a happy camper.
(5)
Matt L.

Decent Italian, but I think it's suffering from a slight case of the overrateds. In this no-mans-land that's kind of North Centery, close to Lincoln Square, almost Andersonville, and yet known as Ravenswood, you have two really good options for a nice dinner: Mixteco and Spacca Napoli. Caro Mio isn't a bad third choice, but doesn't really stand up to the other two in terms of food quality. As is customary at many Italian restaurants, they bring you some bread and parmesan. What's different is they also offer you crushed red pepper and fresh garlic. Throw some olive oil on top of all that, spread it on your bread, and shit, you're all set. Fucking delish. But then we got our calamari. BIG THUMBS DOWN. Almost embarrassingly poor. Flavorless with a super thin marinara dipping sauce. For my entree, I got "pappardelle con pomodoro secco imported sun dried tomatoes in a creamy marscapone cheese sauce $17.95". Now I'm not going to lie, I like stuff like this, and I ate it, but it wasn't what I was expecting. I thought it would be a well seasoned, tomato-y dish with some marscapone on top. What it amounted to was basically a very heavy fettucine alfredo with a hint of marscapone and a very slight dusting of little sun-dried tomato pieces. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Because I already had one that morning after eating like 8 pieces of bacon. Anyway, I put some more red pepper on top to cut the heaviness. Then, with the encouragement of my bromos, I beer bonged 3 bottle of red wine. Coronary averted. I also tried "imboltini di melenzana lightly breaded and pan fried eggplant rolled with vermicelli noodles, boconcini mozzarella, basil and parmesan cheese - then topped with more mozzarella cheese and baked $15.95" which was much better. It was seasoned well and each element was balanced. It didn't make me feel like I was going to die quite as much as my dish. Now I have good news and bad news for you. I'll give you the bad first, you pessimistic son of a bitch: Like almost every review has said, they were out of the chocolate tartufello. Does this even exist, or do they just put it on the menu to make you feel bad about yourself? How can they possibly be out of the same dessert every day? Now the good news... we got iiterally, THE last tiramisu. You could tell it was homemade and each plate made individually. Unlike most places where they just cut you a big piece off a huge whipped beast on a sheet pan, this was individual lady fingers with the marscapone and maybe some sabayon and coffee and cocoa powder. Not a huge portion, but impressive. So yeah, if you want to be a total dick, go to Caro Mio really early in the evening and order a bunch of desserts. They'll quickly run out, and you can lol at everyone's disappointment as they find out there is no dessert left. Or you could just sit there with a bunch of desserts on your table and offer to resell them to other customers... at a handsome profit. Shalom mofuckas. P.S. The one penis mensroom was kind of gross and the door wouldn't lock. I thought I was going to have to free up some space mid-meal. Fortunately the immodium I took that morning kept me from having to get naked.
(3)
Courtney F.

LOVE this place. I am a huge fan of Italian food and this is great, It's BYOB, which I love as well!. Definitely plan to come on an empty stomach. The portions are huge. I almost always get the Chicken parm special and it is AMAZING. It's homemade and full of those tasty but not so good for you ingredients. :)
(4)
Shannon D.

I'm pretty picky about my Italian food, because I can make some pretty good stuff at home. Caro Mio did not disappoint in the slightest. I got a salmon dish with a spicy pasta sauce. The sauce was perfectly spicy for me, and like many others have said, the portions were ridiculously large. I did not partake in the BYOB part this time, but I'm sure I will in my many future visits. I ordered iced tea, and the waiter brought a full carafe of iced tea to the table. I thought that was great. He even noticed that our table seemed a bit wobbly, and fixed it for us. I didn't think it was that bad, so I wasn't even going to say anything. It's a bit on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for, and you're saving a ton of money by being able to bring your own alcohol anyway. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
C. Yuri A.

One of the best BYOB places I've been to. Great food and decently priced! Place was very small and tight, and busy.. but the servers were great. I had some Tri- Color Rotolo dish..it was one of the best pasta dishes I've had in Chicago... not to mention someone else at my table had the Gorgonzola stuffed Gnocchis.. which was amazing. I believe all of their pastas are handmade.
(5)
Eugene V.

The atmosphere is pleasant and the food was delicious. Try the veal with wild mushrooms. While the spinach and gorgonzola gnocchi are tasty, they are a bit monotonous to eat by themselves (you can't get them as a side-dish). The chocolate "souffle," while delicious, wasn't really a souffle.
(4)
Dave O.

This would be an easy 5 stars if you didn't have to sit on top of each other when the place was busy. The staff is fantastic as long as you don't mind a slight language barrier-- but it adds to the charm & authenticity. We've only had this be an issue once and it was easily fixed. The art on the walls is a bit strange and eccentric. It's local artistry, so once again, it adds to the charm. The food has always been great. It's a place where everything on the menu becomes something you order all the time-- everything's good!
(4)
Emily S.

This place was insanely delicious. It was very authentic tasting and BYOB. The tables are little close, but it didn't really bother me. Very cozy atmosphere. I would recommend to a friend and go again!
(5)
Ellen B.

This place is a true gem...and I don't use that language often. The ambiance, waiters, cooks, food, everything is top notch. Plus it's BYOB how can you get any better than that. I went for my birthday and it was wonderful. Our waiter was super nice and recommend different things to try, if you go do not order insalata caprese (which is shocking from me because that's my favorite thing in the world) instead order the green bean insalata it's so amazing. Order anything with porcini mushrooms. Everything, is freshly made and so delicious I don't think you could order something bad. They only take reservations for parties of 6 or more but usually the wait isn't too bad.
(5)
Kirsty M.

DO NOT WASTE MONEY AT THIS RESTAURANT!!! I forgot where I was for a moment at this small neighbourhood restaurant. THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!!!! We had heard great things about the food at this restaurant. My friend made a reservation a week before, and she also called to confirm our reservation before we arrived. It was for a party of seven people for my birthday dinner at 6:30pm on Saturday night. Myself and a friend arrived at 6:30pm (our reservation time) to get our table but they do not seat incomplete parties.The short man who was "helping us" needed an ETA, which we gave of 10-15 minutes. The cubs were getting out, traffic was really bad, and life happens. He told us this was not good enough and asked us, "You would'nt be late for a job interview would you?" WHAT!!!!???? I told him that this was a nice dinner out and for entertainment purposes, in which case he responded, "Your table is cancelled!" Where am I? The WORST customer service EVER!!!! I felt like crying - it was a Saturday night and we had made plans to eat and put a considerable amount of money down for my birthday. I will use all my verbal power to make sure everyone knows what a terrible place this is. I have never felt so unwelcome at a place where I'M PAYING TO VISIT.
(1)
Vanessa K.

i LOVE this place! my boyfriend lives in wrigleyville and last night we were craving italian (me to carb load before my 18 mile marathon training run this morning). My bestfriend met us as well and over 2 bottles of our own fav wine, we started with an amazing crapese salad paired with bread and this little plate of garlic and red pepper that they give you to mix with olive oil. then, we each had GIGANTIC pasta dishes. athletes, this is seriously your place to carb load! my pasta was incredibly rich and savory (prochini mushroom sauce!!); my boyfriends was super meaty (had both italian sausage and meatballs - he was in heaven!) and my best-friend's was super cheesey and rich (ravioli with creamy tomato sauce!). The atmosphere is fantastic - artsy and low lit- especially the little background. We will all definitly be going back!
(5)
Alanna O.

Hands down...my FAVORITE Italian place in the city!!! From the quaint decor to the delicious aromas coming from the kitchen, as soon as you walk in the door, you will not be disappointed!! The food is delicious and the service is knowledgeable and attentive, without being intrusive. Not to mention that it's BYOB. It really doesn't get any better than this kids.
(5)
Mindy S.

Even though this place is a little far north, the food is good enough to draw me back. You have to order the special with chicken and porcini mushrooms. It's the best thing ever. The chicken parm special was also very good. Some of their pastas are homemade and in fact everything I tried I really enjoyed. It has a cute atmosphere and a nice outdoor patio for the summer. Just don't ask for butter for your bread, because they have none in the whole restaurant! My friend learned the hard way. ha!
(4)
benjamin m.

Tiny place, Gianormous portions! My first review! This restaurant has got some really great things going for it and some underachievements. First, a little about the place...it's all of fifty seats in a space the size of an average living room. Also its byob so bring a nice barolo. The place almost deserves four stars just for the hand made pastas but the reason I decided to give this place three instead of four was because the sauces on the pastas were uninspired and at times even a bit off. It's hard to mess up a pomodoro but this place seems content to serve sweet tomato soup-esque pomodoro. For those looking for TRUE authentic italian this is not quite there but that being said it is very satisfying. I really enjoyed the house made cheese stuffed gnocci with chicken. They were little pillows of heaven. My mom had the chicken parmesean which was a dish on steroids...i mean not only was it like ten ounces of chicken but it was over massive house made rigatoni in a bolognese. The dish would have been a huge success if it weren't for that saccharin sweet tomato sauce. My sister had simple meat ravioli in alfredo which was like paste it was sooo creamy...again, insane portion. The calamari was brilliant. My suggestion. Go with a date, order two apps, split an entree and bring a nice bottle or two. All in all a really nice affordable meal...just wish those sauces were a little less sweet and creamy.
(3)
Dave W.

Great authentic Italian food, little pricey. Nice that it's a BYOB. Service is always great. Great date place. Cons-may have to wait to get into, the place isn't very big. Overall I've been going here for three years and still like it.
(4)
Jason M.

Hard to say anything here that hasnt already been said... Its a great litte (tiny) italian spot, only been there once, but the food, service, timing and ambience all worked. I had tried to come here with my wife on a saturday and couldn't find anywhere to park and it looked crowded from the outside so we gave up. Incidentally, we passed our ex-gov as he walked into the cuban place next door. I need to check that one out sometime. Anyway, this time around we made reservations and went on a wednesday. We brought a bottle of wine and it was promptly opened for us and glassed provided. They brought out bread with parmesan, oil, and crushed red pepper to go with. I had the linguini all' arrabbiata. Green and red peppers, onion, eggplant. It was spicy, and I could hardly finish it all (entirely a good thing). My wife had risotto gamberi which is shrimp and garlic. Highly recommend that one. The pace of ordering, getting appetizers, then the meal, seemed measured but natural. I like that extra touch -don't feel rushed nor abandoned. We were stuffed by the end and declined desserts. Its not cheap but I'm going back when the next special occasion comes around.
(5)
Hm C.

This opened up right as I was moving out of the neighborhood about 7 years ago. Too bad, b/c I may have come here every week (if I had the money). As it stands, my wife and I come here a few times per year for celebrations or for a date. We were there not too long ago to celebrate friends getting engaged. The atmoshere is romantic, the food is delicious (gnocchi is right up there!), and it's BYOB, which is always a plus. We even bought some of their artwork. The waitstaff is always very helpful. Parking is usually easy in front or along the tracks. Also in front of that ugly apt building at 1907 W Wilson. Great date place in a neighborhood that looks like it's been up-and-coming for some time.
(4)
Keri H.

My friend just moved to the area and we were looking for something new and different. She read the reviews on Caro Mio so we decided to check it out. We were already looking forward to going...given that it was a BYOB. So we grabbed a few bottles of red and were on our way. It was a Monday night and not crowded at all. It was clear that our waiter was in training because the manager came over to oversee him as he was asking us what we would like and to tell us the specials. My friend and I actually had to resist laughing because the poor kid was trying to read us the specials but the manager wouldn't let him get a sentence in without interupting him. So we went ahead and ordered. My friend had the chicken tortorlinni and I had the tri colored rolotto. My friend liked her's and I thought mine was pretty good as well. Her portion was huge..mine was a decent size. The service was good and I liked the intimate atmosphere...even if I was here with a friend. It was a great place to catch up over a bottle of wine and good food. My only complaint is that it was slightly overpriced...at least for what I got. I would love to go back another night and have this porcini mushroom sauce that everyone raves about. All and all...good BYOB!
(4)
Julia W.

Yeah, fine, so it's a little pricey--it's not like you have to eat here every day or something... I mean, I know MY first instinct is to eat at Caro Mio every day, but it probably makes more sense to save it for a special date with friends or when your family comes to town or when you've had a rough week and need some delicious, comforting Italian food. Alright, I'll be honest--I've only actually been to Caro Mio once... but I LOVED it. Maria C. and Dustin B. were kind enough to share this little neighborhood gem with Justin and me and I am so looking forward to our next trip there (hint hint, nudge nudge). Caro Mio is BYOB, which is all sorts of stars on its own, but it's the combination of super friendly service and excellent food that pushes Caro Mio to the top. Our server was awesome and happy to make suggestions--and we were very happy to take his advice. We skipped all the appetizers and salads (sort of unusual for us, but really--the handmade pasta is where it's at). My husband left me for a dish of risotto, I cheated on him with a plate of agnelotti rossini (half moon pasta filled with ricotta in a creamy tomato sauce with peas and prosciutto - DIVINE), Maria enjoyed her old standby of cavatelli con ricotta and Dustin had something with pumpkin, I believe (maybe more risotto?). For dessert, our server gave us The Bombe - three kinds of sorbet in a white chocolate shell--and I am looking forward to trying the chocolate tartufo (chocolate gelato with a zabaglione center, dusted with cocoa powder and hazelnuts - yum!). Everything at Caro Mio was fantastic and now, having written about my agnelotti, I will be completely unproductive at work due to pasta daydreams and much drooling... *Edit 8/31/07: Ohhh, I've been back to Caro Mio a few times and let me tell you--that chocolate tartufo? Get it. GET IT. And if you like lasagna, get that, too. And some gnocchi. Hell, get whatever they tell you to--it's gonna be damn good!!
(5)
R P.

I absolutely love this place. We are big fans of BYOB anyhow, but pair it with terrific food, and I'm in! I especially love the garlicky green bean salad (special) and the food is incredibly rich and flavorful.
(5)
Mark T.

Has to be my favorite place in the city to eat. Food is amazing and the staff is great. I have had them make me stuff that wasn't on the menu since I didn't know what I wanted. 10 stars in my book.
(5)
Kerry M.

My friend and I ventured in for dinner this past Friday, and we were both totally impressed. We arrived at around seven, and were seated immediately. We brought our own wine, and they opened it immediately and chilled the bottle of white we brought with us in a fridge in the back. We ordered calamari for an appetizer, and it was delicious. They also dropped off a ton of chewy bread with olive oil and garlic. We each ordered our own entree, and when the food came, we realized we could have easily split one. The portions are HUGE. He did the chicken parm, I did gnocchi stuffed with pesto and asiago. It was phenomenal. We did the tiramisu for dessert, and that too was awesome. The staff was extremely attentive and quick with everything. We were both stuffed and satisfied by the time we left, and shocked at how reasonable our bill was. I'll be back. Great experience. Oh, and by the time we walked out, around 9, the place was packed... just an fyi.
(5)
shivi d.

Very good and they are so nice! The owners let us sit and talk way past the time they closed!
(4)
Amy O.

Update: been there a few more times since my initial review...I never get tired of this place...I have dreams about their homemade stuffed gnocchi it's sooooooo good! Haven't even been to another Italian place in the city...no reason to!
(5)
Jan B.

This place best asset is the BYOB. The prices make up for loss of alcohol revenue so when it comes down to it, the food has to be awesome and it does fall short. I used to love this place, but with the prices for pasta going for $20 you certainly might consider paying for your wine and going somewhere else. I guess if you are in the mood for seafood, this can still be a decent option. I only wish that the owners were Italians so they can taste what's lacking.
(2)
michael b.

Really good food. Huge portions. Every main is about $20 which is a little high for the location. But then we get the bill. They charge for splitting plates. $4. Where are we? Skokie? Who still charges for splitting plates? My girlfriend and i split a portabello appetizer and a special gnocchi that was stuffed with pesto and cheese. Both were good but the gnocchi was so big that we still took some home. They don't charge a corkage fee but charge for splitting food, who is running this place? The opening bread was also a touch stale.
(3)
Laura R.

Great BYOB Italian food! Warm environment that is nice for a date or small group of friends. The service is a little speedy and they do not go out of their way to be overly attentive or friendly. Be prepared for a big plate of yummy pasta with lots of sauce that is just as good the next day for lunch at home.
(4)
Mary F.

This is a great date restaurant. It has a cozy, warm environment. Everything I've ever eaten has been delicious, the portions are large, and it's BYOB. Great restaurant all around.
(4)
Catielyn B.

This place is so darling that I often do not even notice how sub-par my pasta selection is. The staff is warm and helpful, the decor bright and uplifting but tame and intimate. I have been here a few times and must admit that I have some bad luck choosing a dish. The first time I went with the Risotto con Porcini, quite literally, it tasted like a salt lick. The manager was very apologetic and tried the dish himself and assured me it was very off that night. After the ptsd has subsided, I may give it another shot. The last time I went I tried a beef tenderloin dish and though it was good I was not totally wowed by it, if you are looking for something more home-style this will be a good bet, but I like to take risks myself. Here is what I discovered, my boyfriend always, without fail, orders the Paperdelle con Porcini and it really, truly is heaven on earth. Their anti pastas are wonderful (the mozzarella is fresh and delicious) and their ravioli specials look very interesting. Though I have not had the best of luck, I would highly recommend this place for the following reasons; A) The Paperdelle B) Its A-freaking-dorable C) BYOB and D) In Ravenswood (which speaks for itself). Just don't be afraid to protest if you aren't finding your meal to meet your expectations, they are very eager to please and willing to accommodate.
(4)
Maritza S.

Ok, so I had visited this place a while back and cant understand why I forgot to review it , given it was awesome. Well, I was back in town and visited Caro Mio again on a Friday with a group of friends and once again it rocked! The service was impressive and the food was delicious. We ordered the appetizer special of bruchetta with fresh mozzarella, which was very fresh and tasty. I ordered the asiago gnocchi special in a tomato cream sauce which was out of this world! I think I dreamt about my leftovers that night. Friends ordered the tortellini fra diavalo with shrimp and another the chicken parm, which were both pretty amazing. One friend did order a seafood pasta dish with garlic, wine and olive oil which was just okay, lacked some flavor. Dessert options were limited but proved to be a nice a chocolate fix, ordering the tartuffo and chocolate souffle. Overall, I had an excellent experience and have added Caro Mio onto my list of favorites! You should definitely check them out, excellent food, quality service, healthy portions and of course given this recession, definitely affordable. Plus, its BYOB!
(4)
Tera L.

This is my all time favorite restaurant. It has a quaint atmosphere, amazing food, and great service. It's like a hidden gem in the midst of Ravenswood. Great portions which are fantastic for lunch the next day. I recommend highly!
(5)
Katie M.

I don't usually give out fives, but I think this place deserves one. First off, it's BYOB which always helps cut costs while dining out. Also, I'm a big fan of having bread with cheese and oil while I wait so I greatly appreciated the bread to munch on (however, it could have been a little tastier.) When I ordered, the waiter was very helpful and he seemed to enjoy his job and the food at Caro Mio. The portions were big allowing me to to have it again for lunch and dinner the next day! Lastly and most importantly, the meal was very good. All in all, I had a good time there, enjoyed the food, and didn't spend an arm and a leg!
(5)
David P.

I'll keep this simple: if you are impressed by fake Italian food that you could easily make at home yourself, a cramped loud space with no waiting area, and a ridiculously rude manager with a Napolean complex who likes to inform people that unless their entire party is exactly, to the minute, on time, you will lose your reservation, then Caro Mio is for you. I actually saw this happen to two groups of people, and the sad thing is the restaurant was less than half full. Oh, and byob? Big deal, your own home is byob too, and you don't have to listen to some jerk up on his reservation high horse.
(1)
Jen G.

I love this place! The food is unbelievable. Well, I should say the gnocci is unbelievable because I order it every time. And the bread that they bring out while you're waiting with garlic and oil and parmesan cheese is so good! Be careful not to fill up on bread though because the portions are pretty big. This place is also BYOB and there is no corkage fee. The only drawback is that this place gets busy fast, and the wait during their peak hours is about an hour. I usually try to get there before 7, to avoid the wait.
(4)
A M.

This place is AMAZING. It's so cozy, you feel like you're at your grandma's house! There were 5 of us and we just got a few things to share since the portions are pretty big. We had the bruschetta that was on the specials menu for the first appetizer. It's got tomatos, basil, a hint of garlic, and a slice of fresh mozzarella on top. Then we got the fried calamari. It's in a light crisp batter that is excellent as well. For entrees, we got the gnocchi. That was made with asiago cheese and it was in a creamy tomato sauce. We had the the chicken breast with portobella mushroom ravioli. That was delish as well. The last dish we got was the saffron risotto. That was the only thing that was ok. Kinda tasted like paella to me. Other then that, everything was fantastic. And don't forget it's a BYOB! We polished off 4 bottles of wine as well.
(5)
J R.

I went to Caro Mio based on the favorable reviews from Yelp. My impression is that the reviewers must have been joking! The staff was wonderful and friendly, but the food was mediocre at best. The pizza bread appetizer resembled the quick concoction I make my two year old for a snack. The pasta was just okay for the hefty price tag. Don't even get me started on the overwhelming chemical smell of the bathroom...
(2)
J w.

I've fallen in love. Quaint restaurant, lively docor, abundant fresh flowers, the menu is amazing. I ordered the Linguini Arribiata and it put my own to shame, seriously! The service was great. You feel like part of the family. My boyfriend and I are so excited to have this near by. Our dessert was crazy! Some type of Papaya, passion fruit granta with a white chocolate shell. It was to die for. Every course of our meal was wonderful. I would highly suggest this place. BYOB super Bonus!
(4)
Ducky R.

This place is truly a hidden gem. From outside looking in it seems to be a jungle of houseplants, but the crowds on Friday nights should tip you off to the deliciousness of the cuisine inside. I once had a seafood pasta dish with a pesto sauce which was a "special" for the day. It was the best Italian food I have ever had. When we returned a few months later, it was (understandably) not on the menu, but when I requested it they made it for me anyway! In my opinion, Italian food doesn't get better than this - except maybe in Italy itself.
(5)
Lauren C.

I had dinner here this past Saturday with my husband and friends. We arrived @ 7:30 and were quoted 1 hr for a wait. We went down the block and had a drink and 58 minutes later we were called for our table. I truly appreciate an honest time quote! The food was good. According to the table, my spinach gnocchi w/ gorganzola cream sauce was the big winner. Huge portions. I had enough for 2 more servings at home. All in all a nice experience. Then something happened. Check arrived, our friends had a $25 gift certificate which they generously applied to the bill and then we split the difference. What I can't believe is that the waiter had the audacity to come back with our signed credit card slips and "remind" us that our tips did not reflect the gift certificate or the wine service he had given us! Yes, we had a bottle of champagne and 3 bottles of wine between us (don't judge!) and we forgot to tip pre-gift certificate price. The difference was $4 from each couple, which in our wine haze we added back out of sheer embarrassment. Especially since 2 of us have worked extensively in the service industry. After, though, I am annoyed and a little angry at the server for being so rude. Unless you work at Dick's Last Resort, renegotiating your gratuity is unheard of! Especially since the wine service he mentioned was minimal. He opened 3 of the 4 bottles. Did not pour and did not change glasses! That does not count as wine service. Sorry, but I had to make this known.
(2)
K T.

I want to like this place, like wanting to like a new hire with a good resume. On paper, great potential: in my hood, BYOB, a bit out of the way, homey interior, etc. But the food is just, well, not showing up for work. For starters, it's a bit on the pricey side for what is basically standard, old-school Italian. I can understand this to a point given that they need to compensate for being BYOB, but, again, to take the whole co-worker analogy and beat it like a dead horse, it's like realizing that you shouldn't have given them that lucrative package. When it comes to Italian, it all starts and ends with a red sauce. Even if I only get a taste by dipping my bread, this most simple of elements has to be right since it goes into pizzas, dipping for calamari, pastas, pizza, etc. So you know where I'm going...red sauce is bland and just off, to my tongue. In fact, everything seems to be missing that 'tastiness' factor to me that makes me crave the food. Sometimes good service can cover me sins, but even here, it's somehow not either the nice restaurant you don't even know they're there, or the friendly 'neighborhood' vibe thing. So, when the contract renewal comes up for this gig, I'm going to have to pass.
(2)
Keith L.

so i've been to cara mio three times. based on the first time i would maybe give it 5 stars. but i have to base it off all of the times and that brings it down to a 3 star type-of-deal. the first time i really enjoyed the special gnocci...delightful. i love the waitstaff, decor and the fact that is a no charge byob. however....the food has taken a turn for the worse in my opinion. everything is over creamed now...meaning they just add heavy cream and cheese to everything. maybe i just need to branch out and get something else. i crave homemade pasta but the flavors are just not doing anything for me there anymore. go to buona terra for amazing italian.
(3)
Unity O.

Happy 100th review to me! Maybe I am a yelp dork, but I wanted my 100th to be something special. So, I decided on Caro Mio since it is where my hubby & I went to celebrate the anniversary of us getting engaged (3 years ago Oct 12)--yes we are those kind of people who like to celebrate those milestones others find annoying--to you haters out there--suck it! Okay, now that we have that out of the system--let the review begin. In all honesty, I try ever so hard to rate a place by the quality of their food, not the service. With that I feel compelled to mention, that I think we got the shaft when it came to service. Unfortunately for us, there was a HUGE group (I swear like 20 people) who arrived at the same time we did. I assume they knew about this group since they had almost all their tables in the main eating area arranged for them. Now, you would think they would have arranged for more than 2 servers to be working at that time--nope! So, my hubby & I had to deal with sub-par service, good thing for them the food was good or else I would never return. plus, our server was a bit on the snarky side, normally not something that bothers me, but when combined with an almost non-existence at our table--it is a bad combo. Now the food, was in actuality very good. Our entrees were very tasty & bountiful--I mean you probably would want to grow an extra stomach just to fit it all in. That would be awesome if you could do that, but also not gain weight in the process--one can dream can't they. My singular complaint with the food, is that it took over 40 minutes to come out. 40 MINUTES is absolutely insane for Italian food, again the flavor of the food made it worth it. I ordered the special which was homemade rigatoni, chicken parm, covered in a tomato cream sauce--very delicious, although very heavy at the same time. My hubby ordered a sausage pasta dish (the name escapes me at this moment), which I actually preferred to my dish. Since the portions were huge, we skipped dessert. I must say that at some point I will give this place another chance as the food is really good, but I hope the service will have improved by then. If you are looking for romance, I do highly recommend this place. The ambiance is UBER romantic & very intimate. That was also another saving grace of this establishment.
(3)
Kate C.

So, we literally live on the same street as Caro Mio. We can always smell their food when our bedroom windows are open... and it always smells SO GOOD. Typically I do not prefer Italian, I can make pasta at home. I had heard rave reviews, though, of Caro Mio. Suggesting a date night on Friday night to my boyfriend we decided to just walk a few feet and try this place out. I had popped in earlier to ask whether or not we needed to make reservations (we were walking our dog at the time) and he told me no, they had "plenty of tables" (it's VERY small in there!)... We came back after walking the pup, and there were 2 parties of 10 in front of us. As I look around there are no longer ANY tables available. My boyfriend speaks to the manager, he tells him we live 1 minute away and would like to become regulars. We had stopped in and they told us not to worry about waiting/making a reservation. The man tells us that they do not take reservations (word to the wise, folks) and then pulls out a note pad with tons of 2 party "reservations" and claims they are "waiting for tables to open"... Isn't that a reservation? Whatever. SO, my BF being the persistent savior that he is talks him into letting us sit before the people on that list...(who were not physically there, they were on a call list). So - kudos to Caro Mio for listening to us, and letting us be seated ASAP... We brought wine, and ordered the bruschetta. (REALLY REALLY GOOD! fresh mozz! Loved it.) and then I got some kind of... tri colored shells with marinara and cheese. It was amazing. SO good, and a large enough portion that I ate it for lunch the next day (it was even better as a left over!)... Pricey, But I highly recommend - avoid the busy times though if you don't want to wait (there is no waiting area what so ever, so you will most likely wait outside) - friday nights, saturday nights... and parking is free along Wilson so that is a plus too.
(4)
Todd K.

This is probably my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago not named Rose Angelis. The food and staff are phenomenal! A must visit.
(5)
Jennifer K.

I really love almost everything I have had to eat here, but do not plan to come on a Friday or Saturday between 7-9 and just waltz right in and find a table, it just won't happen. The wait will seem a bit daunting, but believe me it is well worth the wait, and they will call you when your table is up so head down the block to the bar on the corner and have a drink (or two) while you wait, the time will fly by. As others have said the gnocchi is to die for. Recently we went here for a girls night out and the waiter suggested trying it with a creamy mushroom sauce, it was delish, but I still love the original. Lasagna is great, as is the creamy carbonara, actually I can only think of one dish I have not enjoyed (porcini pappardelle) the entire time I have been coming here. If you're patient (waiting for a table) and like to enjoy a good meal where you won't be rushed that's BYOB try Caro Mio and when the menu is too much for you trust the waiters, they always have a helpful suggestion.
(4)
Celine T.

Have eaten here twice now. Here's my take... Atmosphere: Cozy and quaint with softly dimmed lighting. Nice romantic spot for a date or dinner with a few close friends. I wouldn't recommend for large groups due to the overall size of the restaurant and speed of service. Size: Small and Cozy (e.g., you can share your food with the table next to you) Service: Relaxed. (Okay, it's slow. But why are your rushing? Bring two bottles of wine. I think the waiters are also cooking sometimes, but that is unconfirmed.) Food: It's very good. If the waiter offers you homemade noodles, TAKE THEM! They are delicious. Menu offers variety and the restaurant is accommodating, so it's a good choice for veggie/carni couples/groups. Drinks: BYOB. Hooray! When to go: We went during the week both times and have never had to wait. Price: It's on target. Plus, since you're bringing your own wine, you get a great meal and a great bottle of wine for the right price.
(5)
Jess M.

This place makes me jump for joy. I can't get it out of my head. I had some sort of Chicken Parm special and I kept eating and eating.... I don't like Italian places so much b/c most the time I feel like I could make the same thing at home. My partner had the gnocci. I have never been a fan of gnocci.... until now. Go here. For your own good. BYOB
(5)
Ryan K.

My wife and I love this place! The bread is so-so, but the bruschetta is outstanding, and the gnocchi is a slice of heaven. The seafood pasta is also outstanding. The service is excellent, and if you adjust for the quantity, the food is cheaper than Olive Garden for 10x the quality! Hard to imagine eating anywhere else for our Italian cravings.
(5)
Angelique B.

Delicious italian fare in quaint, intimate setting. The food is fantastic and the service, outstanding. Great BYOB in Ravenswood/North Center area!
(4)
Krista D.

In short, the food is awful. The service was very friendly and accommodating, but the food is down right terrible. We had high hopes and ordered the calamari salad (tasted OLD and fishy), the bruschetta (very salty and not at all fresh tasting), the polenta (again not fresh and salty) and finally the zuppo di pesce...again, just bad. I ate about one bite of the main course and was done. We didn't finish anything because it was that terrible and we were starving!!! This place is one of the closest restaurants to our condo. We really wanted to like it, but no luck. Our first visit was about a year and a half ago and it didn't go well. We read the Yelp reviews last night and were shocked to see how highly it was rated. Thinking it was a fluke that our first visit was a bust, we gave it another whirl. MISTAKE!
(1)
Stacey P.

If only the host was nicer, this place (probably) would have gotten 4 stars. I went to caro mio with a group of friend's for my buddy's birthday. They told us beforehand that all 7 of us had to be there at 6:15 or our table would be given away. Well... if you've heard of a thing called "asian time" you can see how this might be a problem. Surprisingly, everyone got there by 6:20 (possibly due to threatening emails sent out in days past). Nonetheless, the host gave us a hard time and didn't enjoy our sense(s) of humor. He made us feel horrible for changing it to 5 people and then back to 6. Someone made a joke like, "We're full of surprises" and he stuck his nose up in a french way and said something snotty, although I forgot what. Anyhow, as the night progressed my star count got higher. The waitress was nice, the ambiance was fun, and the food was pretty good. I don't think there was one thing I tried that I absolutely DIDN'T like, but I definitely think their strong suit is noodles, not meats and fishies.
(3)
Courtney C.

Food was out of this world. Love that it is BYOB. I had the salmon with veggies, the veggies were just as good as the fish, and the fish was fantastic. Only complaint I have is about the service. Im not exactly sure how it works here, but someone greeted us, someone else uncorked our wine and then we never saw anyone for 20 minutes. We had to literally wave at a random server to come take our order, because several employees made eye contact, but no one actually came up to us. The other tables around us seemed to be getting good service, because the people that sat after us got their appetizers before anyone even took our order at all. We also had to finally grab ANOTHER server because no one came up to our table after we finished our meal and we were ready for the check. Maybe it's like a team effort here? I'm not sure, but thank goodness the food was great or I would not be a happy camper right now.
(3)
Damian C.

Remember the best sex you ever had? Pillow-clutchingly, lip-bitingly, sweat-pouringly amazing passion that leaves you breathless and satisfied but always wanting more? Caro Mio is your real-life food-so-good-it's-like-sex restaurant. It's like a gang of pasta-and-sauce prostitutes that lures me back to the corner of Wilson and Wolcott for more and more and more. Although they have plenty of non-pasta options, I cannot helped but dive into carb overload here. My first true love was the agnelotti rossini covered in chunks of prosciutto in a cream sauce deliciousness. I was then tempted by the fruit of the gnocchi stuffed with asiago and pesto (a.k.a. gnocchi stuffed with ecstasy). Most recently I have found a new love with their "special" - breaded chicken parmesan baked in mozzrella topped with a meaty bolognese sauce set upon bed of house-made rigatoni! OMG. Seriously. Party in your mouth... party in your tummy... crazy party in your pants! Meat bonanza! If I could trade sex for this chicken parmesan every day, I would*. (Totally kidding. I could never do that to myself. Plus, that would severely piss the S/O off. And me, too.). I wouldn't be surprised if E.L. James's next novel was "50 Shades of Italian" and based it on Caro Mio. The food here is to die for. No wait ... dying sucks. This food is TO LIVE FOR! Don't be turned off by the prices - the quality and portion sizes are WELL worth it. The plates range anywhere from $15-$22 (with a few specialty plates higher) but it will easily be 2, maybe even 3, foodgasms. Unless you're hungry like Chris Farley in "Gap Girls"; in that case, 1 1/2. This is literally one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in all of Chicago, so if you've never had any Italian in you, swipe your v-card and head up to Caro Mio. It'll blow your mind... and... other things.
(5)
Marie B.

I haven't been here for awhile, but it's still a dependable place to go. The best part is that's it's BYOB! The portions are large, but the taste is spot on. It's better than Maggianos, but not as good as Due Lire or Piccolo Sogno. It's a neighborhood restaurant & it's not pretending to be something else. I will definitely go back for the reliable Italian meal.
(3)
Nina B.

Excellent authentic Italian served fresh and piping hot! Remember to bring your own vino - it's BYOB.
(4)
Lindsay D.

Homemade pasta and BYOB. Amazing food and friendly service. Absolutely some of the best gnocchi I have ever had and I've traveled Italy quite a bit so I know how it should taste. Intimate atmosphere - all around highly recommended!!
(5)
Bee J.

"It was a Dark & Stormy Night...", no...REALLY...it was a pitch black night with epic rains that flooded the curbs!!! And of course, THAT was the night that my best friend and I chose to try this Italian restaurant that I found on *bing*. (NOTE: I can NOT stand Italian Food!!! I hate pizza, pasta and red sauce, so when I asked my best friend "What kind of place do you want to celebrate your birthday?", I was hoping and praying that he'd say "Thai! Indian! American!" (groan, ANYTHING BUT ITALIAN!) Since this type of food is not in my knowledge base, I reached out to several Italian friends who kindly recommended Italian restaurants in the Loop and Lincoln Park. I looked at their menus and their prices and said, "WTF!!! A meal for two is a car payment!!!" That's when I turned to *bing* and found this place. Aside from the great reviews that Caro Mio received, I chose this place for 3 important reasons: 1) FREE on-street parking!!!; 2) The interior shots! GORGEOUS!; and 3) They served FISH, which is neither pizza, pasta or red sauce so I knew that I could enjoy 'something'. Because of the storm, we were the only people in the place for the first 1.5 hours; after the storm let up, people began to flow in, turning the place from Private to Jolly. The hosts, (a husband and wife?), were warm and gracious; I told them that not only was this our first visit to their place but it was my friend's 50th birthday. Service was impeccable, fast and not over-bearing. And, kudos to the man who served us when he did NOT chastise me for spilling my entire glass of hard cider when I knocked it over while handing my friend his birthday gift bag. ~sorry, Caro Mio!~ I had the Salmon Vesuvio, which hand's down, was the BEST salmon dish I've ever tasted in my life!!! Portions are LARGE, so this one dish fed me for three meals: at the restaurant and two meals at home. My friend had Veal and he was in Heaven: he is crazy for Italian food and exclaimed, "OMG! I haven't had veal taste this good since my childhood!" We both ordered dessert: I had the limoncello ice and he had the mango cheesecake, which was delightfully served with a birthday candle and "Happy Birthday" written in CHOCOLATE SAUCE along the border of the plate. What a charming and personal touch! The prices are fantastic, there's no corking fee, the hosts were magnificent and both empty and partially filled, this charming bistro was a delight. I have told every single one of my friends about this hidden gem of an Italian restaurant and they've excitedly tried it out on their own...even my wealthy friends who can afford 4 times the price. Tonight, I am taking my other best friend HERE, to celebrate HER birthday: we are so very excited to enjoy their ambiance and great food. Eating here, this place allowed me to change my mind about Italian food and realize that it can be so much more than what I had known. GREAT restaurant! :D
(5)
Jenny H.

I went here for a bday party and I loved that we had our own room! The food was delicious, the service was great and it is BYOB so our bill was very reasonable. I have a gluten allergy and they were very accommodating and I was able to enjoy their chicken vesuvio with gluten free pasta. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Kimothee Z.

Amazing. Byob. Huge portions. The chicken parmigiana with homemade rigatoni is the best thing ever. Also the green bean and mozzarella salad is delicious.
(5)
Frank D.

Four of us went to Caro Mio last night. First off, the service was very poor, that is slow for a not too busy Saturday eventing. Our waiter said that bread would be arriving shortly after explaining the specials. It never came. I asked again for bread when the good but overpriced bruschetta($15) arrived. The bread never came. I ordered Linguine al Arrabiatta. In the description it said julienned eggplant, onions, and green and red peppers in marinara sauce. When it arrived I was surprised that I didn't see any eggplant. I dug through a large dish of pasta and only found 5 small pieces. No red pepper. Lots of green pepper and onions. The cheapest ingredients were abundant. Not what I would expect in a $19 dollar past dish. I ordered this dish for the eggplant and arrabiatta marinara sauce. Hardly any eggplant and the sauce was too tomatoey. I left most of the dish unfinished and I complained to the waiter who was arrogant and unapologetic. I am from an italian background and have been to Italy many times and I don't need a waiter to condescend to me. I know far more about italian cooking than he will know in his whole life. The other's dishes were Ok. I would sum up this place as mediocre and overpriced. You are better off going to a restaurant with a liquor license. Chances are the bill would be the same and you would have better food.
(2)
Travis P.

I was blown away with how delicious the food was here! We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer and it was fantastic. The mozzerrella tasted like they had their own deli in house, the tomatoes were diced up with some delicious basil and a little bit of salt. I went with my in-laws, they both ordered the lasagna, and they were impressed as well. The portions here are huge, you could easily split the plate and still be full but be aware there is a "plate splitting" cost of $4. I definitely plan on going back and checking out what other delectable items they have on their extensive menu.
(4)
Philip B.

Hands down, best Italian food in Chicago. It may even be the best I've ever had. Byob helps keep the cost down. Staff is super informative and friendly. I'm incredibly grateful this restaurant is in my neighborhood.
(5)
Blake W.

So, so, so good. Warning: do not eat here if you aren't starving. I came here with my sugz for dinner. She had seafood linguini and I had the gnocchi, and somehow we also made it through an incredible chocolate soufflÃ©. The price is fair, the portions are huge, the service is impeccable, the environment is homey, it's BYOB with no corkage fee... And oh, the food. When you're so full you can barely move, you can waddle out and stop at Tom's across the street for a movie, then head home and veg, as we did. What's not to love?
(5)
Shawn O.

I had a birthday party here the other night and could not have picked a better location. I had 50 people and everyone was so happy with space, service, and food. This restaurant has great food, terrific service and great value for large parties. The staff was helpful as everyone else has talked about you can't beat the place with it's BYOB policy. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Stephanie M.

Had a wonderful time as part of two couples. They had gluten free pasta that, if I am not mistaken said it was home made and that delighted me. In my company, we had a vegan. Our waiter didn't understand what that meant. And after making a point that meant,no animal products, including eggs, and butter another waiter came by and instead of explaining that we were in good hands he was dismissive. And one of my guests thought that he had been disrespectful. When the waiter brought the food he explained that the bag that the gluten free pasta came in was corn and didn't have egg as an ingredient. I started to say that the menu said that the gluten free pasta was supposed to be home made, why did it come in a bag? And my partner kicked me, so I didn't press. Instead of Italian bread, they served white bread with a delicious garlic, red pepper and olive oil dipping sauce that was wasted on this pasty bread. The green bean salad was wonderful and they served it with the cheese on the side as we requested so our vegan could enjoy it, as well.When the bill came our vegan noticed that his dinner was ten dollars more than the other three even though we all had shrimp and meat dishes. I said it was 'because you were a pain in the ass.' And the cook had to prepare a gluten free pasta dinner with fresh veggies and olive oil that was overly salted. I don't believe I would recommend this place to my friends. Someone with special requirements should be catered to, as a guest, and not made to feel like a hardship.
(2)
Dallas F.

I'd read the reviews and heard first hand from friends of the amazingness that is Caro Mio. Still, however, I don't get that excited about going out for Italian food. Not that I am a culinary superstar or anything, but I've always prepared pretty fantastic Italian food at home. I saw no need to go out for it. Caro Mio changed that for me. Caro Mio was a backup choice after my original dinner plans fell through. From the outside, you wouldn't really expect much. It looks like a small mom and pop type of restaurant. The interior is nice, but not over the top . Caro Mio is dimly lit and romantic in the evenings. I like it. On my initial visit to Caro Mio I ordered the zuppa di pesce. It is amazing. It was filled with seafood deliciousness. At first I thought $25 was a bit pricey for the dish, but there was enough food that it fed me for two days! Well worth the price. On my most recent visit to Caro Mio I had the linguine alla pescatore puttanesca*. Another seafood dish, this time it was shrimp and calamari. It was fantastic. One of the best things I have eaten all year. Once again, there was enough leftover that I had the remainder for lunch the next day. It was just as enjoyable on day 2. Caro Mio manages to produce Italian food that I know I can't replicate at home. The service has been steller with each visit. The dishes I have had have been Italian culinary perfection. They also are BYOB with no corking fee. This is great because the food isn't cheap, but your booze can be! *Food trivia: Puttanesca means "whore style". Supposedly,the name is derived from the quick, cheap style of pasta ladies of the night prepared between "visitors". The more you know.
(4)
Stephen P.

Amazing food! Authentic Italian cuisine that tantalizes all the senses. It is a BYOB, no one rushes you to finish your meal, and the service is impeccable! My wife and I split an appetizer and an entree and STILL had leftovers! Would recommend to any foodie!!
(4)
Gary R.

Sure, its Italian food and you already have an opinion about it what it must be like. It's all the same, right? WRONG! This isn't your generic Olive Garden Italian (I had a little throw up in my mouth just then). Nope. This is legit homemade noodle, homemade sauce, delightful chef specials that will knock your socks off with flavors. Wow. Do you want to experience the difference that homemade noodles makes? Go to Caro Mio. You won't believe it. Noodles you won't see elsewhere too - thick, long, rigatoni style that were superb. Never had anything like those. Amazing. The portion sizes are huge. All 4 of us took leftovers home. We started with the calamari appetizer which was quite good. Not the best I ever had (Hello Club Lucky!) but very good. I had the rigatoni putanesca which was rich with terrific marinara sauce, black and green olives, and wonderful capers. Yum. My wife had the papperdelle arrabiatta which was a spicier sauce with amazing noodles. Wish I had ordered that! My daughter had a fabulous tortellini dish that still makes my mouth water thinking about it and my son-in-law had the best of all - a special with a huge chicken breast over the tastiest rigatoni-like noodles I ever saw. To die for. Wow. BYOB and no corkage fee. Ice bucket for the white wine too. Fabulous. Although the place is a bit disconcerting - we entered the restaurant and were greeted with "how many in your party" and were told "follow me". We proceeded to go back outside, down the sidewalk two doors to another entrance that initially said "private parties". While I didn't mind too much, it was brutally cold out that night and when they kept bringing other diners down, the constant opening of the door put a bit of a chill on things. But the food was worth it. SO worth it. I want to go back. Second best Italian food I've had in Chicago next to La Scarola.
(4)
DJ F.

2.5 stars...if I could. We used to frequent Caro Mio often, but the last few visits have been mediocre at best. And the automatic 20% gratuity added to our party of 6 Saturday night was the kicker. We were seated promptly for our 7:30 reservation. However our table, clearly suitable for 5 guests - not 6, was a tight squeeze. We were also crammed in a back corner, very claustrophobic and HOT. Overall it made for a fairly uncomfortable evening. The food was average. The chicken parmesan special with homemade rigatoni was excellent, but my chicken piccata special was bland. I ate half and left the rest. One person ordered the lobster ravioli special - all we tasted was cheese filling, couldn't detect any lobster flavor. Like my dish, very pricey for what you got. Another reviewer commented on the size of the menu, and I agree. It felt like we were looking at a Cheesecake Factory menu it was so long! Maybe pairing that down would help improve quality and service. We too had to hunt-down our server EVERY step of the way resulting in a hot, uncomfortable, 3-hour dinner. So imagine our amusement when we finally hunted him down for the bill - and saw that he gave himself a hefty 20% tip! Honestly - he should have been embarrassed. The service was that poor. I miss Caro Mio. I'm sure we will try again down the road in hopes that they clean things up a bit, but it is no longer our go-to BYOB.
(3)
Joan S.

Delicious. That is a word to describe my meal here. I had the lasagna and it was amazing. My boyfriend and his mother had gluten free dishes which they were ga ga over as well. The atmosphere is very cute and quaint. It is near the brown line, which made my life a whole lot easier. Being a BYOB place made the journey worth it as well. They home make their Italian sausage, which was scrumptious as well. I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for good authentic Italian food. I do have to agree with other yelpers when they say the bread that comes out could be better. Definitely going to come here again and try more dishes!
(5)
Louis B.

Went here for the first time. Service: Good, waiters were friendly, pretty helpful. Ambiance: Decent/Good. It's dim, tables are fine kind of close together. Appetizers: Decent/Good. Nothing special here but the garlic bread and pizza bread were both good. Calamari was also good, nothing exceptional Food: Meh/OK. I had the beef ravioli, the marinara sauce was very meh and the ravioli it self wasn't stuffed full or anything, but not bad. BYOB: No corking fee so that's pretty awesome. Overall: Meh, if I lived close by I might stop by every now and then, but as someone from Wicker Park I wouldn't make the hike out there. However, pretty easy parking in the area.
(2)
Jo R.

(Giving it two stars because Yelp removes it when it is just 1) The owner dared me to write this...so I am (I also assume he will respond-- if he does-- I am a woman and I think your restaurant is terrible. And no you cannot speak to my husband). I am that bad review. And you may be asking yourself-- oh is this an isolated incident-- maybe she is sensitive, maybe she is harsh. Well I will tell you. I don't cook. My husband and I rely on eating out. And this must be our punishment. Calling Gordon Ramsey-- I really just got yelled at for telling a waiter I didn't like the food because it wasn't as described. The waiter replied- oh that isn't good, because the chef is in a bad mood and you don't want me to tell him." I said-- ' yes I do.' Now I wasn't looking for a free meal, but I am someone who openly avoids carbs and if I knew the salmon I paid $22 would be on a bed of only pasta-- I would have said-- oh wait is there a side salad? But i wasn't given the choice. Now the humor-- the waiter got the chef. I don't know why I didn't expect the reality tv show ending. Maybe because I'm in my 30s and assumed we are all adults. But the chef came out angry-- and told me that I was wrong and that no one has ever complained about the food ever. Now I'm not a dumb person-- if you own a restaurant someone has complained about the food at some point. He said "You will pay" and I laughed and said "I will pay-- but you must know your food sucked." To which he quickly and cutely said-- I don't listen to people with that vocabulary. That made me giggle. I wasn't at my most eloquent-- but pay $70 for a meal you didn't eat and the eloquent flies right out the window. I will say that at one point after he looked at my husband and told him to 'stop me.' I looked at him and said 'from speaking?" and he said 'yes'. So all and all-- if you don't believe this-- go there. After you complain-- think about this review and all the feminist courses you took in college. It is that bad.
(2)
Matt L.

The food is typical Italian, but in very large portions. Great atmosphere and you can't beat BYOB. I usually get the simple dishes and they are always seasoned well (not too much garlic). Better to show up early with a large group as the place fills up fast.
(4)
Jillian S.

What a gem!! My husband and I come here often. It is a quaint neighborhood spot that has an amazing ambiance. The food is always sensational and we find this to be consistent on every visit. I even had my bridal shower here! The staff was fantastic and made the event wonderful! BYOB is just icing on the cake! Do yourself a favor and check out this delicious restaurant, you won't be sorry!
(5)
N H.

Totally decadent. SO GOOD. I had been wanting to try this place for so long, and was PLEASANTLY surprised by this BYOB gem. The only reason i took a star away is because, while the portions are super generous, a plate of pasta should never cost $20 plus. We started with the calamari (just meh, salty and chewy) and a salad on the specials menu, which was basically bruschetta on top of green beans instead of bread. SO good! Perfect light fare before a carb-heavy dinner. My husband and I decided to split a plate, the papparadelle with a creamy porcini mushroom sauce, plus chicken. If it wasn't ladylike, I would've licked that plate clean right then and there. Hands down one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had (and my mother-in-law is straight from Bari....best cook ever....sorry Nonna). Our friends had the half-moon pasta in a vodka sauce (just a little spice to add a unique flavor to the dish) and one of the specials - the fattest, homemade rigatoni you've ever seen in THE BEST bolognese sauce you'll ever have (plus a grilled chicken parmesan on top, but who cares! That sauce was PHENOMENAL!!) And then, to cap off the bestest meal (yes, BESTEST!), I had the most perfect latte ever. LOVE this place, and am disappointed it took me this long to make it there. You must go. NOW.
(4)
Linda K.

We have loved Caro Mio for years and the best part is that it has remained wonderful. Everything is so good we aren't sure what to order. Last week we had Salmon Vesuvio which marvelous. The salmon was perfect and roasted potatoes would make a meal on their own. A wonderful white wine and garlic sauce made the dish just soooo good. . Also had the pasta and clam sauce, also great. The service is terrific. And BYOB which makes it even better. Caro Mio is that kind of terrific little neighborhood place that a visitor to Chicago would never find on his own but would be well advised to take a taxi from a downtown hotel. It's that good.
(5)
Elisabeth B.

The marinara sauce was delicious and the pasta was cooked perfectly, but this place is much more pricey than a two-dollar sign implies. For one meal of spaghetti marinara with broccoli and two meatballs, the price was $30. The meatball was good, not great...and though they did give a generous portion of broccoli in the pasta, it was overcooked.
(3)
A M.

Absolutely my favorite Italian place in the city! Its BYOB and the food is incredible. I have never been disappointed. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
KC M.

Since I've moved to Chicago, Caro Mio has become my favorite 'special occasion' spot. Tonight we went for my birthday dinner with my boyfriend's parents and again, no disappointment. The food is great, the staff is incredibly friendly and there is always lots of parking. BYOB with no corkage fee. The portions are huge too, so even big eaters will have leftovers. The pasta is made in house and the ingredients are all very fresh. My boyfriend is a fan of the rigatoni and I love the porcini mushroom sauce. It's all kinds of amazing.
(5)
Amanda P.

This is my favorite restaurant in all of Chicago. The food is fantastic (Bruschetta you dream of) huge portions and BYOB, it's everything you could ever ask for. Did I mention NO corking fee??? BYOB and good food alone is enough to get me to a place but when there is zero corking fee and amazing food, SOLD forever. Be warned for first timers, when you walk up to it...it's in a little odd shopping center and at first glance you might go errr a strip mall restaurant..really??Trust me go inside.
(5)
patty H.

Wow!! First time here & planning on many return trips! Went on a snowy Sunday evening with 9 friends (Ladies Club) & was extremely impressed. We choose it because it was a B.Y.O.B but will return for the food! The waiter was not at all bothered about the variety of drinks we consumed bringing glasses to accommodate each beverage choice be it wine, beer or Jack & coke...he even provided a few buckets with ice to keep the beers chilled! Oh I forgot to mention no corking fee...extra bonus!! Now about the food...where to begin...calamari was really good ... almost perfect, the bruschetta had big thick slices of salty yummy mozzarella & the bread was toasted to perfection, the homemade rigatoni that was served with the chicken parm was about as good as fresh pasta gets & the sauce was amazing, the Risotto Gorgonzola was creamy & delicious just like risotto is supposed to be but the big hit of the evening was the gnocchi....little pillows of heaven...I am not even kidding when I say they were magical!! We were able to talk the chef into making us an order that included the asiago & pesto stuffed (yes I said stuffed) pillows of heaven with 2 different sauces...the creamy dreamy bolognese sauce was excellent but better still was the velvety smooth perfectly seasoned & absolutely amazing creamy mushroom sauce...hands down best dish of the night!! If you are ever in the area you will not be disappointed at this place & don't forget to order the gnocchi!!
(5)
Cassie S.

After a failed attempt at dining next door, my friend and I were lucky enough to snag a table for 2 at 6:30 on a Friday night. From the moment we were seated until we got out the door, the experience was top notch. Impeccable service. Food that makes me hungry just to think about. And BYOB to boot. It was especially nice that we were not rushed out after finishing our food, but left to linger over our (already poured) glasses of wine. The only thing keeping this from being a five-star review is $$. Yikes. $20+ for a plate of pasta (or gnocchi in my case) (that doesn't have any meat in it) is pretty steep. But it was delicious and I had plenty to take home for another full meal the next day. While it's a bit pricey to become a regular haunt, I have definitely found a place to return to!
(4)
Kyle D.

One of the best Italian places you'll ever go. Everything on the menu is perfect and make sure to get the passion fruit sorbet at the end.
(5)
Randy G.

I walked by this place on accident once and wanted to give it a try. I'm so glad that I did! It's BYOB, the pasta is handmade, and the portions are HUGE (split something with others or plan for leftovers). We tried a few different appetizers and entrees and all were delicious. A hidden gem in the neighborhood. The atmosphere was cute and wait staff was very attentive.
(5)
Karen S.

We went on a Thursday night around 7:30 and it was not crowded. The dining room was about 1/3 full and it had a nice atmosphere. The host (owner?) was very friendly and we were seated right away. We brought a bottle of wine (it's BYOB) and there is no corking fee. We started with the bruschetta special, which was fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. It was good, but I didn't care for the dried oregano which was sprinkled on top just before serving. Fresh oregano would have been much nicer. I had the a special, homemade rigatoni with Bolognese sauce and topped with chicken parmesan. The pasta and sauce were amazing! The rigatoni was the best I have ever had, thicker than what you get in the store and cooked to perfection. The sauce was was total comfort food. The chicken parmesan was just OK for me. It was pounded very thin and was a little dry, but had good flavor. My daughter had the pappardelle con porcini, which was italian porcini mushrooms sautÃ©ed with borolo red wine, parmesan cheese and cream. We all loved it! The sauce was very flavorful, but not heavy. My sister got the pappardelle all arrabiatta con gamberi, which was a topped with shrimp and a spicy red sauce made with eggplant, onion, green and red peppers. It was tasty, but not as good as the other entrees. We split the bill and it was around $30 each, including tip. Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend Caro Mio. I can't wait to return and try something else from the menu.
(5)
Zack R.

The food was amazing. I tried the agnelotti rossini and it was fantastic. Perfect serving size too. Love any pasta with peas and prosciutto. I was eyeballing the cavatelli dish so that may be next up. The people I was dining with both had the pappardelle con porcini, which I tried and it was amazing as well. BYOB with no corkage fee is awesome too. Only knock I had on this place was that we sat for about 20 minutes waiting for our third person and they mostly ignored us and we never even got bread. But I have nothing but great things to say about our main server. He was great and friendly to us and even brought us a free dessert on him. One of my favorite Italian places in the city. Good portions. Fair prices. Amazing food. Good service. BYOB.
(5)
Priya S.

Food was mediocre. Polenta was bland. Bruschetta was decent. Gnocchi was mushy. Sauce was flavorless. Service was rude. Waiter gave us major attitude. The lights over our table kept dimming and brightening repeatedly. When I told the waiter about it he said "Umm ok, I'm not sure what I can do about it." Really?! So incredibly rude & inconsiderate. We were all feeing really warm so I asked the manager to turn the AC up. He said he would but it never cooled down. Chicago has far better Italian restaurants.
(1)
Jaimie P.

This is some of the best Italian food I've ever had. It's BYOB, and the environment is amazing. Delicious food and the best experience! I've gone back three times now in one month!
(5)
Patrick D.

Absolutely LOVE Caro Mio. Service is usually excellent, but you don't go to a restaurant strictly for service... you go for the FOOD. And trust me, Caro Mio has DELICIOUS food. Some of the best Italian coupled with BYOB (no corking fee!) make this a staple in my favorite restaurant list. The Bruschetta is a huge winner. Some of the best I've ever had. The Chicken Parm is also absolutely amazing. An absolute massive piece of chicken (clearly, it's so big, the chicken must have been some Godzilla beast) smothered in mozzarella and marinara. Absolutely delicious. The side penne pasta they give on the side is mediocre, but its a side. It's not listed that it comes with it in the menu, so I won't complain about it. Desserts are amazing too, but I'm usually too stuffed to order them. The one time I did, the Tiramisu was excellent. Did I mention there's no corking fee? Hellz yes. One of my favs.
(5)
Bobbie A.

The prices are high but the portions are huge. I'd rather have a smaller portion of pasta that wasn't so gloppy and over sauced. I sincerely doubt it's homemade pasta that they drown. The fish soup was a bowl of tomato sauce, not enough fish or broth to call it a fish soup. The bread was spongy store bought. The place was packed a surprise to me given the mediocre food and the high prices. Glad I checked that one off the list.
(2)
Chad H.

So upon entering there was attitude from the person who sat us down. Puts a bitter taste in your mouth from the beginning. The caprese salad was ok...let's hope the rest of the meal makes a better impression. Well....we walked out. After ordering and waiting....and waiting...we left $20....and walked out. Never will I even bother to go here again. There are plenty of other wonderful pasta places in Chicago for the same price(s)....Rosebud, Calo Ristorante...just to name a couple. Never to be recommended...never to be visited. Ever.
(1)
Laura M.

This is for sure one of the top Italian restaurants in Chicago. Friendly family vibe, generous portions, fresh ingredients and BYOB!! Perfect date spot :)
(5)
Mary R.

I ordered a salmon entree, which arrived on a bed of pasta. I asked to see the menu, to confirm that no pasta was indicated; the server also didn't mention pasta on the dish. I explained to the server that I couldn't eat pasta. He came back from the kitchen, letting me know that I could order another entree, but that I was being charged for the salmon. I asked that all our meals be wrapped to go, but that I would not pay for the salmon. As I was helping my elderly mother to her feet, the manager came over "Get out of my restaurant or I will call the police." With all the wonderful BYO neighborhood spots, & all the reviews about spotty & rude service at this place, I recommend not taking a chance on this restaurant.
(1)
Alessandra F.

Yet again another highly rated neighborhood place with very mediocre food. Extremely overpriced for the location, the unoriginal and dated dÃ©cor and the fact that's also BYOB!!!! In the pollo picata dish the chicken smelled and tasted of fish and the spaghetti were ridiculously salty and greasy. On top of the salt they added more salt with the addition of capers so the dish turned almost inedible. My friend had a plate of sloppy "lobster" ravioli which were completely drowned in a globby white sauce and tasted nothing like lobster, more like a dry paste inside. Very disappointing experience especially when it comes at that price.
(1)
Ian H.

This was one of the most delicious Italian meals I have ever had. Not only was the food on point (bruschetta and chicken parm), the atmosphere was adorable and so old school. I'll definitely be back to the awesome BYOB spot.
(5)
Kathleen C.

We stumbled upon Caro Mio after trying to visit two other restaurants (one was closed, one was hopelessly crowded). It was raining and it was nearby, so we stopped in. And I'm very glad we did! First of all, the spot is very cute, darkly lit with tables that are close, but not too close together. it's BYO, which is also nice. We tried some pasta dishes and bruscetta - everything was wonderfully delicious. The menu was pretty large, but I finally decided on the special of the day. It was fresh and delicious and also the largest portion ever! I think we took half of each meal home. I thought it was pretty reasonably priced. Service was friendly and quite accommodating - especially considering we were late arrivals to the restaurant.
(4)
Collin C.

This place was definitely worth the wait, and the portions are huge! We had a party of 4 and waited over an hour on a Saturday night, but I'm definitely glad we hung in there to enjoy their home made pasta. I ordered the Gnocchi, which was some of the best I've had. They baked cheese on top of the dish, but it was never too much to take away the flavor of the pasta. I tried the veal which was tender and simply delicious. I enjoyed the left overs the next day just as much. This is definitely a great date spot or a place to go with a small group. You can bring your own bottle of wine... Fine dining and BYOB, try it!
(4)
Brighid M.

Tasty food and good service. And who doesn't love a BYOB? A great place for a date night.
(4)
Dani M.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago. I used to live in Bowmanville so this was just a hop, skip, and a jump from me. My ex and I used to go here quite often. On the first visit I ordered the porcini parpardelle and he ordered some sort of Bolognese. The portions are quite generous as with most Italian restaurants so be prepared for an onslaught of delicious food. As we were unprepared for the enormity of our main courses we started with the calamari - nicely fried with a zesty dipping sauce. On our subsequent visits we decided we had two options: forego an appetizer and get two entrees or get an app and split one entrÃ©e. We never chose option two because it would have meant I had to share my pasta which was never gonna happen. The porcini cream sauce is so so so so so tasty that even my mushroom-hating ex loved it. I'd always have about half of it and then heat the rest up on the stove the next night. Service is good, its BYOB, and the food is delicious. Definitely a must try if you are in the area.
(4)
Megan M.

I have been coming to Caro Mio for years and I hesitate to write a review only because I don't want this gem to become overrun! It is a BYOB restaurant and the food is amazing. They never try and run you out of the restaurant like other BYOBs they let you chill and enjoy your meal. I would normally go into specifics about what dishes I liked, ect but I have honestly never had a bad dish at Caro Mio. Everything is simply amazing. This place is great for date night, large groups or a hearty meal in the winter. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Wayne H.

One of my go-to BYOB spots. Love that I can go here and bring one of my own, pricier, bottles of Italian red wine without having to spend a fortune at a restaurant. My all time favorite item off the menu is the gnocchi gratino. It's gnocchi with a Bolognese sauce baked with mozzarella cheese. I also like one of the specials that consist of penne pasta, meatballs, and Italian sausage. I've tried other dishes here as well and not one has disappointed.
(4)
Sarah V.

I feel betrayed by the current rating. I came here for a friend's BYOB work dinner and there were about 40 of us so we ordered practically everything on the menu. The bruschetta was probably the best thing we had. The mozzarella was fresh and the tomatoes were seasoned perfectly. Garlic bread- Almost charred. Polenta- Tasted like nothing. Pizza bread- Totino's pizza rolls are better. Free bread- Sour tasting. I had the chicken parmigiana for dinner. It was one gigantic piece of flattened, dry, under seasoned chicken with a blanket of cheese on top. It came with a small side of pasta. Since the chicken triggered a gag reflex, I ate the 20 pieces of pasta and the cheese off the top of the chicken. I would never ever go back. I feel like Caro Mio is still in business simply because BYOB Italian restaurants are rare. Believe me, you are better off paying for a bottle of wine.
(1)
Justin B.

Giant portions of delicious food. Very nice staff. BYOB is great for a couple or larger group of people. Gnochhi is the best I have had in the city.
(5)
Derek M.

Great place in the area. They are very accommodating and can do large parties with a heads up. Food portions are huge. I would give it 5 but the music was the odd and loud. Service was great. Food was great. Portions are very very generous.
(4)
Charlie B.

Great BYOB Italian place. I would list this as a perfect spot for a birthday dinner (cheapish BYOB and they take group reservations). They do a great job with a group as I have seen a few times. Also a good parents in town spot. Large portions of pasta, but also quality stuff. Always try to pick one of the homemade pastas, which is surprisingly hard to find it seems. Pasta made in house and super fresh! I haven't had it but a friend of mine goes back about once a month for their risotto and swears by it. I love the pappardelle pasta.
(5)
Matthew F.

As with any restaurant it's not Italian without Veal on menu, luckily the evil Vegan Lobby lost because it is excellent here both the Parmesan & Piccata. Good food is worth the wait, so uncork the bottles of wine you bring with to pass the time. Awful acoustics, owner should consider window treatments: heavy velvet drapes would help muffle noise and block out the glaring streetlights, not to mention the rich feel the give a small space...and it IS small.
(4)
kris k.

I will never understand why some restaurants pay no attention to their bathrooms. I am just over the cheap bright pink gas station soap. To top it off, this place watered it down so it shoots across the sink and lands on your shirt. Thanks. Oh, and you have a mold problem in the bathroom as well. The food off the regular menu is solid, but the party package pastas are quite lacking. This used to be a favorite place, but this latest experience has left me wanting no more.
(2)
Becki P.

This is my favorite go-to dinner spot in Chicago. Great for date nights, visiting parents, and girls night out. It is a small restaurant but have only waited once for a table very shortly. And the fact that it is BYOB makes it that much better. It is darkly lit and feels cozy and intimate. The staff are all so kind and helpful. The minestrone soup is delicious, and they often have a bruschetta special that we always get. The menu has many options, but my boyfriend's favorite dish is the chicken parmesan. It is a huge chicken breast on top of homemade pasta with the most amazing marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Leftovers from the dish is usually one more full dinner. My favorite is the chicken piccata for a slightly lighter option. Never go without having the fruit sorbets, 4 pieces served on a plate for 2 and chocolate sauce drizzled on top.
(5)
Steven R.

I have been to Caro Mio about 6 times and loved it every time. Until tonight. My girlfriend and I enjoyed 2 appetizers and an entree. The entrees are huge, so we figured this would be enough. Little did we know, they now have a 'sharing fee.' We found a $5 charge for this on the bill. I asked the waiter why they are doing that and he said it is because they are byob. Now, it is not the waiter's fault at all, and I bet this is what the owner is telling him to say. So, because your restaurant is byob, we have to pay a $5 fee to share a $25 dish? It was the difference in our bill being $53 or $58. How desparate are you to squeeze a little more money out of your customers? If you are that desparate to make money, run a promotion or something. Its not the $5 that bothers me, it the principle of it. Well, there are hundreds of Italian restaurants in Chicago. Will be going elsewhere
(1)
Tolga T.

Think about eating SALT as your main entree and putting some pasta and meat on it. This is your typical meal at this joint. One of the worst Italian dishes I have ever had. You may bicker like "you should have asked or complain". Believe me; I did.! The waiter provided every legit excuse to claim that food wasn't salty. Finally I told him that I didn't want it. It was just not edible. Here I am , sitting with my wife, waiting for her to finish her meal. I am upset but not livid. There is the other waiter with "I know what I am talking about, you don't know sh*t" attitude shows up. His exact words were " I tasted your dish, it wasn't salty. What are you talking about?" I am not kidding, it was the perfect case for a physical fight. Yet, I have been cool, polite and courteous to the waiters all night long. I have no idea where this other dou**e-bag came from but it made me LIVID. I will never ever go to this place again. In a beautiful city like Chicago, there are hundreds of Italian restaurants with amazing food and service. This place should be out of business. STAY AWAY.!
(1)
Rachel Z.

The first time I was here was for a birthday and I thought maybe we just got lucky because the food was the best Italian food I've ever had. I decided to come back with my parents the other weekend and I'm so glad I did because the food was just as good as I remembered. Honestly, this place puts all high end Italian restaurants to shame! The best, most pillowy gnocchi, the FRESHEST bruschetta I've ever had and I don't even like bruschetta. Everything is home made and you can taste it. The food and service are a no-brainer 5 star for me, my only critique is the female waitress who hovers over you to collect your plates even when you're clearly still fighting the pain to devour every bite (portion size is humongous). Price is very reasonable and BYOB with no corkage fee!! Honestly, you're doing a disservice by not going here if you're a foodie and love Italian food.
(5)
Kelly C.

Love Caro Mio! Huge portions, great food, fair prices, good service, quaint atmosphere, and BYOB.. what more can you ask for?
(5)
Jamie B.

Cozy BYO in Ravenswood. Tables are close together and food takes a little while to come out so bring more than one bottle of wine. Service was good, there wasn't anything we really needed and never had to wait on anything like water. More bread would have been nice but we weren't offered any during the long wait for our entrees. We were in behind a couple of larger parties and thus waited a horribly long time for our entrees, I'd guess it was around an hour. Entrees were great when they arrived, just a little heavy on the salt. The gnocchi here is heavenly- portions are large and you will most definitely take some home. I've never seen such a large serving of gnocchi! Overall a solid joint, I'd go back. Hopefully next time I don't have to wait so long for dinner.
(3)
Julie R.

This place is really good. I actually have been meaning to review for quite some time. It's been a while since I've dined here and look forward to my next experience! Bonus points doe BYOB!
(4)
Cynthia R.

Though this restaurant doesn't take reservations for tables under 6, it was no problem for my two friends and I to get a table around 7:00 PM on a Saturday night. Recommended by one of my friends, this place is a nice hidden gem. Food was phenomenal. I ordered linguini and clams and it came in a spicy red sauce which had just enough heat for me (the spicier, the better in my book). My friends and I shared two desserts: tiramisu and the lemon tartufo. Both excellent. Run, don't walk to this place if you want good italian for a reasonable price.
(5)
Keith A.

Every time I go to Caro Mio, I question why I'm not here more often. Caro Mio comes through in many ways. For starters, one has to love that they are $0 corkage. Add in that the food is good and plentiful, and we have a constant winner. The first thing to remember about Caro Mio is that the portions are very big. This always has to be kept in mind when ordering as there've been times when my eyes are much bigger than my stomach. Now, the benefit of the portions being so big, is that if you have a group with you, you can sample basically everything. My wine groups try to do this all the time, so Caro Mio is a great fit for that. I wouldn't be giving this love to Caro Mio just because of the corkage and portion sizing. You have to have some good food to follow through, and that is case as well. This is excellent food at excellent prices. It's hard to pick out specific dishes as very rarely do I have something I don't enjoy. It's also well worth checking out one of the specials as I've always been impressed with them. Caro Mio is a major win. It should be in every BYO lover's rotation as the food is excellent, the service is great, and the prices are very reasonable. I have been back to Caro Mio, and I will keep going back.
(4)
Katie S.

So the food was really good, but i'm giving a lower rating because of the service. The servers acted indifferent and took a while to attend to the table even though it wasn't that busy. What really horrified me was that they gave my table the wrong appetizer - I had already touched it (didn't realize it was wrong right away), and they just plopped what I had touched back on the plate and then handed it to the table next to us! I felt so bad for them, they had no idea!
(3)
Jeffrey Z.

My wife and I came here on a weekday evening. We were only the second table when we arrived around 7pm, but the place slowly filled up during our meal. The bread they brought to the table was very plain and nothing special, and the olive oil on the table was extra "olivey," which some people may like, but it's not for me. We started with the polenta appetizer, which was very good and creamy, and the included sauce was awesome. My wife had the Rotolo, which was very good, but not earth-shattering. I went with the special of Chicken Parmesan with homemade rigatoni, and it was absolutely amazing. The rigatoni was off the charts fresh and delicious. The sauce was just how I like it: flavorful with a touch of sweetness. We didn't have room for dessert, and the portions are big, so expect to have some leftovers (that are even better the next day). The staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was quaint and inviting. Oh, and it's BYOB with no corkage fee. You can't beat that.
(4)
Marcela R.

The place it's cute... I think the best thing it's their lighting. The service it's ok, not really friendly thou....and the food is good, if you like over salted good. I give it 3 stars because the food was tasty, but I had to drink a gallon of water with my meal because it was so salty, for the record, I m not someone who eats unsalted food.
(3)
Jenny S.

Delicious house made pastas and huge portions! Plus it's BYOB! What more can you ask for in a restaurant?
(5)
Scott T.

Best Italian food in Ravenswood. Tight quarters. A bit hectic at the door. Can be loud. Sometimes the service is slow.
(4)
Matthew S.

I will give up my secret. This is my "go to" date restaurant. I am glad that the waiters don't say "You again?" when I walk in with a new guy. At this point, I think they should issue me a punch card. I like this joint for lots of reasons. 1. It is always busy - dates think I picked a great spot. 2. It's BYOB. So I can drink lots of wine while I eat the yummy food. 3. The portions are HUGE. For the price you pay, it is lunch or dinner for two days. 4. It is dimly lit. I really really hate commercial lighting while I eat. Plus, in that light I pass as attractive. 5. It's "tucked away". If you've never been here, you'd probably never even knew it existed. Again, dates think I picked a great spot. 6. The tables are close together. It feels very European. European restaurant choice = I'm cultured. Dates love that. 7. There is bread, oil, and spices to eat while you wait for the food. 8. Service is super fast. Even the most eloquent of dishes come out of the kitchen rapidly. 9. Amazingly friendly wait staff. 10. Great prices, great atmosphere, romantic if on a date - intimate if with friends. I could go on and on about this place. I like to order the pasta based dishes, because the pasta is so delicious. At this point, I've tried pretty much everything on the menu - can say that the chicken parm is definitely my favourite. The other thing I like is that my date always kisses me after we leave this place. That is kinda hot. If you too would liked to get kissed after a date - make a reservation at Caro Mio. OR take me. I usually put out.
(5)
Roseann M.

My Caro Mio habit fell away over the last couple of years, thanks to financial issues, family issues, cat issues, whatever . . . I've been wanting to revisit and see how Caro Mio changed, if it has changed, since it expanded next door into the old Cuban restaurant, and since I don't know the dining room staff anymore. While the setting is still beautiful, the food has declined. Caro Mio is still BYOB without any corkage fee, and that is a wonderful thing. Caro Mio is open on the "off" nights of Monday and Tuesday, and that is good, too. What's declined is the food. In the past, as soon as you sat down, you were given a basket of fresh, hot, crusty bread, two small plates, a bottle of olive oil, and served choices of Parmesan, garlic in olive oil, or hot pepper, so you had a wonderful little selection to start with. It really was heavenly. That's gone. We got some common bread with no side of anything after we ordered. I could get that bread at Jewel. Big disappointment. My friend ordered the gnocchi of the day, and she liked it. A huge serving, of course - she took half of it home. I ordered capellini noodles with carbonara sauce. It was dry, dry, dry. We had a small bottle of olive oil on the table, and I liberally doused my entree with it, trying to infuse it with some kind of moisture. It didn't help. Somebody eventually came by to check on our food. When asked how my entree was, I said, "It's very dry, and adding olive oil isn't helping." I think the server nodded. Certainly there was no verbal reply. We shared a tiramisu for dessert. It was very good. There are specials every night. The basic menu has not changed at all, in all the years I've come here. That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending how attached you are to certain menu selections. For my part, I'm wondering if the kitchen staff has just gotten bored. I've ordered the carbonara in the past, and it was wonderful. I won't do it again. It's very sad to see a beloved neighborhood institution going downhill. I hope the people who run Caro Mio will pay more attention to the food and add some life to it. I've got several people who want to take me out to dinner for my birthday over the next few weeks, anywhere I want to go. Caro Mio is no longer at the top of my list.
(3)
Mister F.

Just okay Italian food with a nice location.
(3)
Rachel S.

I finally went here recently after having walked by it a million times always smelling the delicious food. The ambiance is great: dimly lit, warm and inviting, and the tables are kinda cozy. It's BYOB, which is awesome. I ordered the pollo picatta and it was delicious. It was enough for two meals. If you order a plate to share, there is a $4 sharing fee. I will definitely be back to try more of the awesome food.
(4)
Hondo S.

Have never had a bad experience here. BYOB is a nice feature but the food & service must back it up. Caro Mio does just that. The food is top of the like & they offer the best bruschetta in town hands down. Service is on top of things, the entrÃ©es are really good & there's always a good selection of specials.
(5)
Jon G.

I ate here a couple years ago and just recently (Oct 18, 2014). The first time was a 5 star experience. It was a weeknight, and we were the only ones there. The service was exceptional and the food was excellent. Unfortunately my more recent experience with a large group of friends was not as good. The service was lousy, but it was a Saturday night, and they were slammed. It still has a great atmosphere, and some of the pasta dishes, especially the lobster filled ravioli were excellent. The fried calamari was not so great. It tasted like it was the frozen kind (not the fresh).
(3)
Alexandra P.

Amazing gem in my neighborhood. My boyfriend and I decided to go to dinner here, and it was cozy and authentic.
(5)
Heather R.

Cara Mio never fails to delight us! The food is simple but luscious and the staff is so friendly and accommodating. We often fine with our two young kids and although we go early they are always wonderful to us. By far our favorite dish is the veal with porcini sauce. So delicious and oh, that mushroom sauce is amazing. If they have a gnocchi on special, do yourself a favor and get it with the porcini sauce. You can thank me later. Did I mention it's BYOB? Such a jewel in the neighborhood.
(5)
Don S.

On my first visit I almost got up and left because I was one of 2 tables and had to wait almost 15 min for someone to even come over and wait on me. Then I was unhappy when I was told I could not have butter with the bread. I'm a warm crusty bread and butter kinda guy and it makes my dinner more enjoyable. So right when I had convinced myself never to return, they put the Chicken Parm/Rigatoni special in front of me and after the first bite they had me!! The food here as well as the portion size are excellent. Its melts in your mouth and you will be taking some home for sure. I do think its a bit pricy for Italian, but since its BYOB it sort of balances it out. So Food gets a 5 Service a 3 No butter upon request a negative 10!!
(4)
Michael L.

Chicken parm was really good.
(5)
Pat m.

Been there many times, always enjoyed our meal. Tonight, ordered chicken parm, and waiter asked special, or off the menu. Oh how I wish I had asked what was the difference.(4.00) I could Live without the fresh pasta, barely, but I have no idea where they got the chicken. Toughest stringiest chicken I have ever had. So disappointing
(3)
Drew K.

Had the dish with meatballs, sausage, penne, garlic, the point is that is was such a big portion of food and it was incredible. I went for a walk afterwards to help settle my stomach, I felt my forehead and it was soaked, thought it was the meat sweats but hadn't noticed it started raining. Love this place, BYOB too which is nice when you want pasta and a 40.
(5)
Casey F.

I've been wanting to go to Caro Mio for some time and finally made it there last weekend. It's homemade Italian, BYO with no corkage. What else could you want?? They don't accept reso's but seating seemed ample. We started with calamari, which was really crisp and tasty. They also provide the staple of bread with olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Hands down this was the BEST olive oil I've ever tasted. OMG. I wanted to put the bottle in my purse. With self control and restraint, I managed not to. For my main dish I ordered the chicken tortellini with fresh tomato sauce. This dish knocked my socks off. The freshness of the homemade pasta is virtually unmatched. The winning dish at my table of 4 though was one of the specials- homemade rigatoni with bolognese sauce topped with chicken parm. The dish was huge. The best part was definitely the noodles. They were thick and perfectly cooked. I've never had anything like it and I'm still dreaming about it. (My husband was sorry he ever shared because I couldn't keep my fork off his plate). Everything sounded perfect, so why the 4 stars? The ambiance was a bit lacking for me. Had we been seated in the main dining area, this might have been a 5 star review. However we were taken back outside to enter their private dining room, which I guess was open to the public that night. It did not have nearly the charm of the main dining area and I thought it smelled odd. It was chilly out too so the lack of a winter door left us shivering every now and again. But make no mistake, this does not detract from the meal. In fact, I'd eat in the bathroom if it meant I could shove my face with those rigatoni again.
(4)
Grace B.

This place seemed okay, but the food was so disappointing and terrible. I would have had better tasting food cooking at home for myself. Gigantic portion sizes, but there's a $5 fee for sharing. With regards to quality and taste, the cuisine is on par with bagel bites. Not even pizza roll level...very slightly below.
(1)
Steve T.

Small BYOB place. The food was delicious and was huge portions. The service was excellent.
(4)
Igor L.

Great italian food with a great atmosphere, if you live lasagna this place won't disappoint Very clean place not a long wait on a Thursday night
(5)
Vicky S.

Hosted a 12 person baby shower here. The only thing better than the food was the service! We brought our own cake which they brought out with candles then toke and sliced and served, adding chocolate swirls and whipped cream! Everyone LOVED the food and that's saying something as we had Italians there! I can't wait to eat here again sometime soon!!!
(5)
Russell K.

Best Italian in Chicago. My girlfriend and I live a couple blocks from Caro Mio and we've tried Italian all over Chicago and this is hands down the BEST. Highly recommend it for great authentic Italian. It's BYOB so bring your wine and prepare for an amazing experience. Wonderful service. Great for a date night or family dinner!
(5)
Lauren C.

Love this place. Byob, no corkage fee, and excellent food. Get the bruschetta... Seriously. Otherwise the lobster ravioli is to die for and we haven't tried anything we didn't like. Enjoy!
(5)
Lorie M.

The food was delicious (great portions, too) and the service was good, however, I would not return. On a recent Thursday my husband and I went with another couple at 6pm and at that time, there was one other couple there and they had already ordered their food. When we asked for 2 separate checks, our server told us, "We don't do that". I can understand if the place was busy (it got busier as we were leaving), but come on, 2 tables and we asked? We normally also order appetizers, salad, dessert and coffee but we only ordered entrees because of this (I got it, IF is was busy, a large party or a weekend, I would understand). We went down the street for coffee and dessert and were given 2 separate checks, no problem.
(2)
Dave L.

Caro Mio is a great Neighborhood BYOB that has been recommended to me by several people from around the city. They don't take reservations for parties under 6 and will fill up on the weekend by 7:30. Park on Wilson for free-no permit required. My parents and I went after an afternoon concert in Lincoln Square. Come hungry because their portions are ample. The tomato salad and minestrone soup were standard for Italian restaurants and satisfying. I ordered the Gnocchi special which was gnocchi stuffed with pesto and ricotta cheese in a tomato sauce. The gnocchi was incredibly light and flavorful which sets this apart from a lot of places. The tomato sauce was clearly fresh and creamy. My mom ordered the chicken Parmesan with homemade rigatoni. Not only was it at least two meals but the rigatoni was incredible. I would recommend this place for any occasion- they also have a lot of group space available.
(4)
Russell F.

Nice BYOB spot. Food is good, not great. Chicken dishes are fair. The chicken they use is clearly lower quality and the sauce is mediocre. The piccata dishes and the other pasta dishes are good. Appetizers and salads were also very good. Service is also pretty good. Will give it another try, but won't order any chicken!
(4)
Sara V.

I enjoyed the experience. It was cute inside (if a little cheesy but it's an Italian restaurant which is the one place I will allow cheese to occur). Definitely crowded. And not just because it was a Saturday night. They just packed tables into this place. Which meant that it was still romantic, but also slightly distracting. The food was good. Very tasty and I enjoyed it all, but I did feel that we were paying perhaps more for portion size (the Biggest Ever) than taste. To be honest I've never had amazing italian food in Chicago. I've had bad, decent, and in cases like this one, pretty darn good, but never great. This was more on the level of really good food that your friend's Italian mother makes. Like I would eat it and love it but I would rather pay for it in bottles of wine and compliments than in $20.00 bills. I'd come here again but it wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)
Stephanie C.

I live nearby and have been here twice now, and the food was really fantastic both times. The garlic bread especially was a highlight for me--they put so much fresh garlic on top that it was almost spicy, so if you love garlic I would highly recommend it. Everything was very flavorful. Atmosphere was a little cramped, but they were very busy both times so I didn't mind. I also appreciate that it is BYOB--while I sometimes love trying new wines or suggested pairings, that can get very expensive, so bringing my own is welcome. Because yes, I am in my 20s and like saving money, which brings me to my only complaint, and the reason I am deducting 2 stars. Being young doesn't make me cheap. The first time I went here, I was with my aunt and uncle, who are older, and service was fantastic even though they were quite busy. The second time, it was just my boyfriend and I, and the service was really bad--even when compared to the table right next to us that had with the same waiter! He would come check on them and not even glance at us, it took forever to order our entrees, and later dessert (we were there for more than 2 hours), I had to ask for more water. And the whole time we were watching someone else get better service from the same person for no good reason. Was it because they were older? Are they regulars? Were they better dressed? When calculating a tip, I always start at 18%, and go up to 20% if service is great, or down to 15% if it's bad. Perhaps our waiter assumed we weren't worth the effort, and is now thinking he was right, since after being treated so poorly there was no way were would leave more than 15%. So now the next young couple will get the same treatment. I find this extremely frustrating. Due to the location and the flavor, I really want to love this place, but I'm struggling with the way I was treated last time and not sure I want to rush back.
(3)
Cody H.

I took a date here because of the reviews and BYOB. I was not disappointed. I almost always judge an italian joint on its veal, but was steered away from it based on the server's recommendation of the lobster ravioli. The service was wonderful and the food was delicious. I am not giving this place five stars ONLY because it is not the BEST lobster ravioli I've ever had, but it was close. Highly recommended.
(4)
Jeannie A.

Went there for a birthday dinner with a group of 15. We had 8:30 reservations, and probably got seated around 9:00. That wouldn't have been bad, except there is nowhere to wait, so we all stood outside. They do not have a bar area. This is a BYOB restaurant with no corkage fee - huge bonus! The portions are huge and prices reasonable. I think everyone in the group enjoyed the food. I had the special rigatoni of the night and the sauce was amazing. They do have gluten free options. Menu is huge. The place is small-ish and very loud. They do not have any music playing at all, which was strange. I would absolutely go back.
(4)
Christina K.

BYOB, no corking fee, generous (understatement) portions. Also they make the pasta in house, which is a huge plus and really comes through. The food is good. If you like cheese (which I'm assuming you do since you're reading reviews of Italian restaurants), you're in luck. Only complaint: the bread leaves a lot to be desired, though. Save room for your entree; you'll need it. All in all, a great date spot.
(4)
Megan S.

Just incredible. Seriously the greatest Italian. Come hungry, the portions are HUGE
(5)
Sandra C.

I just had my 40th birthday in their Private Party Room and it was a smashing success. I was able to decorate to my liking and bring my own beer and wine. It was perfect for my group of 40. They also allowed me to customize the menu with some my favorite dishes. Special thanks to Jean Pierre the Maitre'D who waited on my guests with finesse and great care. He helped my party go off without a hitch. I plan a lot of parties and it was nice to be able to rest at ease and enjoy my special evening for a change. Additionally, the food is AMAZING. My guests are still raving about how delicious it was and how they felt like royalty with the way they were being catered to. It's a homey place with lots of character and is sure to make an impression with your friends and family. You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Angie M.

Don't go expecting cost effective dining. Tis a bit on the pricey side. Or excellent decor. The dining room setup looked a little cheesy. What is UP with all the plants in the window? GO FOR THE FOOD. It's divine. The gnocchi with bolognese smothered in melted cheese is insanely good. The portion is ginormous with plenty of food for dinner and about two meals after that. What I didn't like was the pricing. $20+ for a plate of pasta? For serious? We're in a little out-of-the-way nook in Ravenswood, not River North. BYOB, though. That's cool.
(3)
Anastasia N.

Omg. Luv this place! Lobster ravioli was amazing! We brought our own wine and there was no corkage fee. The ambiance was beautifully lit and romantic. I went with girlfriends but this place would be perfect for a date. The bread was fresh and the service was fantastic. I will be back for sure!
(5)
R C.

Best BYOB Italian in the city.
(5)
Michael N.

Move over, Viaggio? Ummm....uhhh...it's close...very close. Like everyone has already mentioned, its BYOB, the portions are huge, and the food is delicious. It was Saturday night, and they don't take reservations for parties under 6. I was worried the wait would be hours. Luckily, they found a little table for my date and I, wait time = 0 mins. After eating 2 loaves of bread with olive oil and parmesan, I was ready for the appetizer. I went with the crowd and ordered bruschetta, which was mouth watering. They just take a slab of fresh mozzarella and thump it on top of garlic tomatoes and put it on a little piece of bread. Very simple, very awesome. She had the salmon picatta, I had the chicken parmesan. The chicken breast they used must've been from Foghorn Leghorn, because it was damn near the size of the table. Each bite was better than the last. I say this a lot but rarely mean it....I can't wait to go back.
(5)
jenn r.

i've been to caro mio a few times and every time the food and service has been amazing. it's a little crowded but i haven't been since they expanded. four stars only due to the tiny table and large portions. there just didn't seem to be enough room for everything and to have a relaxing meal. the ambiance is great and definitely would be great for date night or girls night or just a random tuesday. byob is always spot on and no corking fee. (whoo!) can't go wrong, i'd say. and it's just off the beaten path so you're away from all the foot traffic but close to public transit.
(4)
Courtney M.

I have been to many Italian restaurants throughout my lifetime and there have been many that have been on my "Look at that, they have great Italian food" list. However, this one topped the charts. This little restaurant exudes Italian culture and there is something about it that sets it apart from the rest. One of the best attributes is that they make their own pasta in house. It is also BYOB with ZERO corking fee which is utterly fantastic (especially when you come with a large group that loves wine). Upon entering Caro Mio, you will notice an intimate setting filled with calm lighting, amazing smells and beautiful music that extends way beyond the typical Frank Sinatra. The hosts and servers are on top of their game here, immediately providing cork service for our many wine bottles. Our orders were taken within the first five minutes of arriving and our food arrived very shortly thereafter. Let me remind you that I love authentic Italian food- I adore it. However, I had never had gnocchi quite like the way Caro Mio created it and I fell in love all over again. It was so delicious, practically melting in my mouth and you really can't put a price on something that makes you feel as though you have died and gone to heaven. The portion size was so large that I probably repeated the death and heaven travel process nearly a hundred times and it still did not feel like enough. If you love the Olive Garden and chain restaurants that are similar, you will be shocked when you head to Caro Mio. It is definitely different which is a great thing. I don't need to be a part of the "family", I just want great food and so I have decided to remove myself from the typical chain and keep Caro Mio as my go-to Italian place. I could probably go on and on about the amazing experience that took place that night, but really, what is the point? The best way to figure it out for yourself is to go there (AND YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD).
(5)
Coll P.

The positive here is that they don't rush you out-we had to hunt down our waiter from the moment we sat. It took 10 minutes to get water..then another for bread...then another to order...when we asked for the check, our waiter brought us the dessert menu instead. If I were on a date, I don't think I would have noticed the service as much, but after sitting in a dark corner, below the freezing air conditioner, with my mother, I just couldn't take it. Food was good and an Italian BYO is certainly a change, but it would have been nice if we were actually treated like paying customers.
(3)
T H.

My favorite italian place in the city... The prices are great for the portion sizes, and I've never tried anything here that I didn't love! The service can sometimes be a little lacking, as some of the previous posts mention, but if you're wanting some amazing italian food, definitely hit this place up!
(5)
Kyle P.

Nice byo.....agree with everything below it is a little salty (but I like that) and the pasta is really good but not the best by any stretch....huge portions and price may seem expensive to dumb asses but if you spend zero on drinks and get at least two full dinners out of the portion for 30 bucks a person.....then shut it up.....' I did like the service and I don't know why everyone thinks yelp is for kitchen nightmares and they are paying $150 per person for a meal....If you want that take your ass to alinea or trotters or something and then complain about the price.....tired of idiots
(4)
Alicia M.

My favorite cuisine is Italian. I also love BYOB's. I figured at some point, I would be able to combine these two awesome styles of restaurants. But in my own NEIGHBORHOOD? Right under my nose? I love the decor and the lighting. I also love the fact that it was 8:00 on a Friday night and hubby and I didn't have to wait. Hubby is a sucker for service, as am I. Our waiter was phenomenal. He also had a side-of-his-mouth grin that made me want to order anything he told me to. When he said "garlic bread appetizer special with fresh mozzarella on top," I said "YES YES YES" Speaking of bread, they give you a lot, and offer you fresh minced garlic to go with it. MMM. Hubby loves Chicken Vesuvio, so he ordered that, which is just like any other place's Chicken Vesuvio. That might reassure some people. I could care less because I go for pasta! I decided to take a chance and go with a dish on the specials list. It was chicken breasts with portabella mushroom ravioli in a mushroom sauce. It ended up not being the best choice for ME personally because the sauce was soooooo rich. It made for great leftovers the next day though when I wasn't stuffed from eating so much bread :) Next time, when we're back (and yes we will be) I will be ordering some kind of pasta dish with red sauce to cut down on the richness! We were too stuffed for dessert so I can't really comment but I'm sure it's just as amazing as the rest of the food! Lastly, the only negative comment I have is that the portions are huge, and it's pricey. Entrees run from $17-$23 and they charge you an extra $8 to split an entree. Ouchies. Still worth checking out!
(4)
Steve N.

Solid Italian restaurant that is BYOB with no corking fee. Do you even need to hear more? The entrees may be a teeny tiny overpriced, but considering how much you save on bringing your own bottle of wine, who cares? I've gone many times, ordered many things, and never been disappointed. I also love the cozy feeling and interesting artwork. They've mastered the concept of an intimate neighborhood restaurant that feels classy and casual at the same time.
(5)
Heather P.

I have found my Italian -go-to finally! Homemade pasta is outstanding. Never realized how much of a difference it makes, but holy canolli, I don't ever want boxed pasta again! To me, it's the pasta that made the experience but there were other rewarding aspects as well. *bruscetta made with the freshest most mouthwatering mozzarella ever *extensive menu with so many specials that sounded delightful and made decision-making challenging *BYOB with no corkage fee *friendly, informative (cute with Italian accent) servers that gave us lots of recommendations (he also was nice enough to explain that the portabello appetizer might not be the best option to split between 3 people) *the bread and olive oil that began the meal was also accompanied by crushed garlic and red pepper *the portions were large enough for all of us to take home leftovers The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was merely because they did not have BYOB advertised outside therefore we had no idea and also I don't think the prices are outrageous by any means, but I personally can't afford a $24 plate of pasta every time I crave Italian. Although, saving money on wine probably evens it out in the end. So let's call this 4.5 stars!
(4)
Khris G.

Great food in huge portions. BYOB establishment as well which is an added plus. Kind of tucked away so do pay attention when driving down the street. Can be easily overlooked! Definitely a very romantic atmosphere so great for dates and intimate outings.
(4)
Mike G.

Quick summary-Over 75 item(did not really count) along with 10 specials, huge portions, reasonable prices and unfortunately, less than average preparation along with overtaxed service staff. Had to reach out to our waiter through every step of the evening from the order to the check. Simple suggestions that would make the restaurant better: Review the menu and determine what you are able to offer and prepare consistently that would cause most customers to say "what an excellent dish". No restaurant can ably offer as many items as Caro Mio. Your wait staff and cooks will prepare and serve more smoothly and avoid the problem we experienced where food was delivered to 1 person and the the rest of our 6 person group had to wait another 10 minutes and 3 trips from our waiter for the other 5 main selections. Think about offering valet parking at night-2 of us ended up parking illegally because there was no parking within 4 blocks.
(2)
nancy r.

The first night I arrived in Chicago I had the pleasure of being invited to come and eat here. It was clearly packed and I was part of a large table. A bit cramped but I didn't complain due to the enormous aroma that was in this establishment. I was literally drooling from the aroma of the fresh food. This place is BYOB so my friends and I bought several bottles of wine to eat along with our food. We asked for the specials which varied from lobster ravioli, spinach gnocchi in a Gorgonzola cream sauce, another regular white gnocchi in a fresh tomato sauce. We started off with the Bruschetta which had a different approach to it. It didn't have the traditional fresh basil leaf on top. It had actual small pieces of dry oregano on top of the mozzarella cheese cheese with a crostini that was crispy but not too dry. The tomato was also minced, not chopped that was nice because in one bite my tomato wouldn't fall off, haha. After the appetizer, I ordered the spinach gnocchi and it was super rich by means that the sauce stuck to the plate. The portions here are not too bad. The flavors are so stick to your rib, you have to have a to-go box. The creamy gorganzola cheese sauce was good but lacked just a bit of flavor, I prefered the one with the tomato sauce which was Super flavorful. The gnocchi was super good though, it was airy and fluffy. Tried a bit of my friends lasagna portion which was more than plenty and pretty delicious. The one I wasn't too fond of was the Lobster ravioli, which could have been the sauce that it was paired with, it almost clashed. However, my friend enjoyed it. If you must visit, please RSVP the place is super small. The staff is super accommodating and nice. Would definitely come back again.
(4)
shermi p.

Wow! Great food, huge portions, BYOB, and reasonably priced. My new favorite neighborhood Italian place!
(5)
Michael L.

Cozy BYOB spot, good menu, decent food, but nothing special. SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE!!! Granted it was a busy Sat night but I saw our server like 3x times in 2 hours. I even had to chase someone down after our meals were delivered to get forks! Ordered: portobello app - one big mushroom covered in marinara and cheese. Wasn't good. Calamari - plain Jane fried Calamari. Bread - plain white bread that tasted right off the grocery store shelf Beef Bracieolle - rigatoni pasts was good, beef was slightly cold and just ok Tiramusu - way too sweet and mushy
(2)
Melanie V.

Caro Mio is cramped, super loud and crowded - just like the restaurants in Italy. (Ahhhhh, the memories.) That's part of what adds to the charm of the place! And, let's talk service, shall we? Our waiter was the cutest, most adorable man EVER. He kept attempting to sing 'Happy Birthday' to our friend and repeatedly questioned why our group of 9 was so quiet. I wanted to hug him and I don't like hugging people. Anyway, there were so many options that we were staring at the menu intently for a good 15 minutes. After much deliberation, I settled on the (homemade) wheat pasta w/ broccoli, cauliflower and carrots in a pesto sauce ($18). It was magnificent! The veggies were so fresh and the sauce was the best I've tasted! The gnochi and the risotto were also popular dishes. The portions are HUGE and yummy. Everyone left pretty satisifed and full, I think! My only regret is leaving my leftovers in my friend's car...Sadness. BYOB, but with NO corkage fees! If you'd like to bring in your own cake, they charge a $2/per person fee. And, here's a word of advice - if you have a big group, make your reservations waaaaaay ahead of time! We were only able to get a reseravation because a group canceled last minute! This place is popular....and with good reason! Bellissima!
(4)
Lora D.

This place is definitely solid. I have a continuous love affair for trying new BYOB restaurants. We went here for my hubby's birthday and it was perfect. Candle lit, romantic, not crowded, and no weird BYOB "rules" I've seen at other places. All in all, a really nice dinner. We started with the polenta and some calamari. The calamari was light, crispy and huge pieces compared to the tiny crumbs you get at most places. The polenta itself was good, but I didn't love the sauce it came in. A little chef Boyardee flavored. Oh well, trying new things... Our main dishes were where it's at. HUGE portions, I got the pesto stuffed gnocchi in vodka sauce with added italian sausage. Omg I wanted to order a glass of that sauce and drink it. Ok, maybe not. But it was gooood. Hub got a seafood pasta thing with a big variety and lots of seafood, really good too. All the pasta was homemade. Oh yeah,I also got a caprese salad with giant mozz and giant basil leaves and he got a tortellini soup that was fantastic also. Our server was so cute and nice. We did have one little issue at the end of our meal that I will refrain from getting into in order to let the place save face, because its an honest mistake. Lets just say they handled it! Loved this place, definitely worth a try.
(4)
Tom S.

On Friday, September 13th, I met some friends for dinner. We dine out frequently around the city. Our food was over cooked and mediocre in quality. For the size and quality portions, the high prices we The quality has been much better in the past. When we complained to the manager, he was completely indifferent. I would not recommend this restaurant. Sorry, this is not my typical response, but out of fairness to the greater Chicago dinning community,
(2)
Laura K.

AMAZING place! Delicious food and BYOB italian (no corkage fee) which isn't always easy to find. If only I lived closer... Portions are HUGE and everything we ordered was super tasty. The food isn't cheap ($20+) but worth it!
(5)
Nichole H.

The food is magnificent. We had a party of 7 just around 7 pm on a Saturday night and although I could tell the guy wasn't happy he found us a table in seconds. It was very dark but nice inside, very very warm but eventually they turned the air on and it cooled down some. Everything on the menu sounded amazing and everything we ordered was perfect. I had the risotto Gorgonzola which was WAY more food than anyone needs to eat but was outstanding. I also thought the meatballs and sausage were fantastic. In fact the bruschetta was probably the best I've ever had! BYOB is always fun, as long as you remember to bring enough to drink as I didn't see anything nearby and no cork fee is a bonus. Food prices seemed a tad high, but the amount of food you get *shrugs* maybe worth it. The only reason I'm not giving Caro Mio 5 stars is because service was a bit slow. I get that it's BYOB so maybe the waitstaff doesn't need to stop by every few minutes but at one point it had been about 10 minutes of waiting before he came back over and we could ask for our wine to be opened. This was before our food arrived. Now the place gets busy and I get that, but a quick stop by to see if anything is needed is always a good idea and if our waiter had been just a little more attentive not only would we have added even more to his tip but I'd be giving the place 5 stars. I would say don't let my opinion of the service stop you, as the food is SO worth it. If you enjoy Italian food, get over there right away.
(4)
Plant Strong D.

Very cozy Italian spot that has dishes up large portions of fresh Italian Fare at reasonable prices. it's BYOB so you can bring your favorite Barolo to pair :) I love that I can eat a great vegan meal at Caro Mio while my guests can get whatever they want. This place is also good for parties! Full review below: plantstrongdiva.com/eatwâ€¦
(4)
Hilary M.

Really nice little spot (or not so little... they expanded!) for homemade pasta in giant portions. Pesto stuffed gnocchi is unbelievable and there was enough leftover for lunch the next day. Solid service. Food took a bit, but our water stayed full and we got glasses for our BYOB wine immediately. Decent ambiance. The art is bad, but the lighting is low, so it's not too noticeable. I will certainly be back here often!
(5)
Rich P.

In a word... Amazing. The atmosphere was really cool, and the service was great too. Food? UNREAL! And the portions were plentiful. BYOBOW (Bring Your Own Beer Or Wine). Try the chicken parmesan - yum!
(5)
Amir L.

This place is pretty good, the chicken Vesuvio was damn good the first time I tried it and a little burnt the second time. They have good pasta there too
(4)
Hannah P.

Went here with 2 of my gf's and I can't even remember what we ordered but it was very good. I wish I wrote my friends dish because I would order it weekly. It's BYOB, can't beat that. Maybe it was because we had a bottle at home prior to coming here that made the place 4 stars, I don't know but all I can remember is this place was awesome. Waiters were very attentive, friendly and offered great suggestions. Will def be back.
(4)
Richie D.

After living basically across the street from Caro Mio for 2 years, I had finally stepped in their door rather than it's neighbor Sabor A Cuba. I had heard from several trustworthy [Yelper and non-Yelper] sources that this place is a hit--and I must agree. For my Spanish-speaking mind, 'Caro Mio' makes me think "Expensive, Oh My!" Entrees are ~18+ each, however, once you bite in to your "pasta fatta in casa' (pasta made in-house), you'll see why. This family-owned establishment makes everything to order. While I'll admit that gnocchi is almost always the dish I get when out for an Italian meal, I'd be crazy not to venture in trying other dishes here. My favorite dishes are: Lasagna Caro Mio (I claim their specialty because it's baked in an individual casserole dish smothered with fresh cheese and a tomato meat sauce), Pappardelle Gratinato (my favorite noodle shape [pappardelle] mixed in with sun-dried tomatoes, chicken and spinach with the perfected marscapone cheese sauce) and Spinach Gnocchi Gorgonzola (sorry I had to throw this one in here, even though it's a gnocchi, because it's perfection without the gorgonzola being too overpowering and is just as delicious as the Italian food I've had in Italia-influenced Argentina.) To help you plan your visit, so you don't wait as long as I did: -I recommend making a reservation ahead of time, but they're only accepted if you party is of 6+ guests. Otherwise get here early since the wait often travels out the door. -Thank goodness it's BYOB without a corkage fee because it gets you through the wait. The corkage fee is possibly already included in the food prices, hence them being a bit steep. -Be sure to start off with the Bruschetta con Basilico----Delish! -If you use the website, becareful you don't click on the wrong link or you'll become Eliodoro's date in Italia. -The Latino staff is extremely accommodating, diligent and very attractive.
(5)
Anita L.

I called to find out what the special were for the evening and the man who answer asked me if i had a computer to look them up. If i did i would have but was on my commute home from work so i politely told him that i didn't. He gave an annoyed and exasperated sigh and then said well we have like ten specials tonight. This is the hospitality industry, try and show some caro mio. I live a block away and will be avoiding this place for a long while.
(1)
Cassie C.

My husband and I loved to the area a few months ago from Rosco Village and we're looking for a fun date restaurant on Saturday night. I yelped BYOB's in the neighborhood and Caro Mio popped up. The reviews were fantastic, so we thought to give it a try. OMFG...can I please say it again OMFG. Hands down best pasta I've ever eaten. I love Italian food and am constantly let down by boxed dried pasta at resturants and this place is 100% the real deal. The texture of this pasta is insane. It's perfect....literally perfect. I had the pesto and asiago stuffed, yes STUFFED gnocchi in creamy tomato sauce and my husband had the clam linguini. They were both fantastic and the portions are crazy huge. It's a bit on the pricey side, but well worth it, b/c it's more than enough food for two meals and it's a BYOB with no cork fee...can't beat that. If you haven't been go RIGHT NOT. :)
(5)
Sherie P.

A friend had been telling me for years that Caro Mio was their go-to Italian spot. Why didn't I believe him? Why did it talk me so long to go?? On a nice Wednesday night, we decided we needed some Italian food. Just off the brown line, Caro Mio is in a perfect little spot. BYOB you say? Well, I've got my bottle ready. The restaurant was half full which is nice on a weekday. We sat right away and were given water and wine glasses. There were lots of specials that the waiter told us about, but we settled on the portabella al gratin as an appetizer and gnocchi gratinati and pappardelle arrabiatta don gamberi for dinner off the regular menu. The waiter was happy to take our appetizer order and then come back to get our dinner order. I love that. I really hate it when a restaurant sort of rushes you through everything. While waiting for the appetizer, they brought out this wonderful soft fresh bread and garlic in olive oil. YUM. It was so tasty! The chunks of raw garlic are a bit spicy so we added a little cheese and some more olive oil and it was perfect. The appetizer came pretty quick. Perfectly cooked portabello mushrooms layered with cheese and surrounded by marinara sauce. I can't even begin to describe it. The only thing I could think was "I have to bring my mother here!" I only say that when I've come a cross a truly amazing vegetarian dish because we've dragged her to so many BBQ places and steak houses over the years. She really is a good sport for being the only vegetarian in the family! Plates cleared, a little wine sipped. It was so nice and relaxing. Dinner came and Oh my goodness!! The gnocchi gratinati was baked in a dish with some meaty bolognese sauce and tons of cheese on top. I hate it when baked things are way to saucy. This was the perfect amount of sauce and cheese to compliment the fluffy gnocchi. I will admit it... I'm a sucker for those little potato dumplings... I could eat gnocchi every day! The pappardelli arrabiatta don gamberiwas amazing. You could tell that the pasta noodles were freshly made. And the spicy arrabiatta sauce was the perfect compliment. The shrimp were cooked just right and the veggies gave it a little texture. I loved this dish. There was so much food that I had to take it all home! I was eyeing the dessert menu but settled on just an espresso to sober me up a bit... Did I mention it was right by the brown line? Next time I need to remember that! Frendly staff... check. Byob... check. Close to transportation... check. Delicious food... check. I think we have a winner!
(4)
Alana W.

I will never ever go back to Caro Mio. The food was mediocre and extremely over salted. We waited an hour to sit down then waited for another hour once we ordered. Our waiter was the absolute most abrassive and unattentive server I have met. He made our whole party feel uncomfortable. Thank god it was BYOB and my friends were patient! Go to any other BYOB you will have a much better experience!
(1)
mark l.

No pretention here!! This is a neighborhood gem and the secret must be out! This small storefront Italian kitchen has some of the best Italian food I have EVER had. ALWAYS quality food and service each time I have been there. No corkage fee on the BYOB--- FANTASTIC! Highlights of the menu-- Brasciole is melt in your mouth, the Gorgonzola cream sauce you will want to lick the plate, the Lobster Ravioli with Marscapone Cream sauce is the best italian dish ever!! The peach sorbet is freshly made and served inside a frozen peach. YUM! From it's plain exterior, you would never guess the food is this good. Will be back again and again!
(5)
Quin C.

I was told this was THE place to go for Italian in the area and I was not let down. I am glad it was BYOB with no corkage, def made getting an appetizer easier. The Bruschetta was spot on and huge, a great way to start the meal! My girlfriend got thw Zuppa di Mare (her fav) and was enjoying every bite to a point she stopped talking. I was eyeing the Stuffed Gnocchi in vodka sauce. The waiter reccomended I add sausage, I thought eh...ok. I was then thinking about the great mark up he just did and how this won't end well. Little did I know they would proceed to cut the sausage into pieces the size of quarters! There were so many pieces I was able to have a little bit of sausage in every bite and thus making this one of the greatest Gnocchi dishes I have ever had! The place was small with not much of an ambiance but what does that matter when the food is so amazing?! I highly recommend this place and don't judge a book by it's cover when you see it from the street, this place is it and it's worth it!
(5)
Jill R.

BYOB and great homemade pastas!
(5)
Marcela R.

They do not take reservations, they refuse to give you a table unless everyone is at the restaurant standing by the door. And I'm not talking about a big party ( I understand if we were asking for a table of 6 or more) lots of big tables for like 6 or more people, I felt like I was eating at a college cafeteria, the food took for ever, its OK I know I'm not at McDonald's still was a very long time for the food to be ready, and honestly was not that good, was regular Italian food. So this will probably be my first and last time at Caro Mio...
(2)
Mary H.

Holy crap this place is good! I have been longing for a BYOB on my side of town that offered the same quality and options as the many restaurants have available in other areas of the city. Not only does Caro Mio have a huge menu with tons of traditional and contemporary items, it also offers obscenely large portion sizes for a reasonable price. At first, I was a bit put off by the seemingly inflated prices, but am so glad I came here anyway to see what all of the fuss was about. It is priced a bit higher because each entree can easily serve at least two people with big appetites. My leftovers alone have resulted in two separate meals. Heyo! To top it off, the food is unbelievably good -- it was hands down the best meal I've had in a very long time. You really can't beat this place.
(5)
Capt M.

BYBO=Best Part! Went on Saturday night about 9:30PM, seated quickly. mah Mah dey, Mediocre at best. Bread was not very fresh, so the fact it was never refilled was ok. Garlic infused oil was a hit with me. We ordered Veal Parm, which came buried in sauce. Didn't expect much else after looking at dishes on other tables while being seated. Veal was tough. Huge portion which came with small side of pasta. That part was good. Unsure if it was the cheese or the chef, but veal was very salty. Waiter recommended seafood pasta and that was just ok . We did enjoy the Chocolate Souffle. Not the best but still tasted good. With all the places you can get Italian in Chicago, probably won't be back to this place.
(2)
Brandon B.

Very good BYOB Italian restaurant. The food is a little expensive, but the portions are massive. However, there are two things that I dont think many people have commented on: First the negative: The bread. This is why this place loses a star. It is the absolute worst. It never seems fresh. It toasts very well, as I assume they use it for their bruschetta, but it's always stale when they bring it out in loaf form. Next the positive(?): The wait staff. The vast majority of them are Latino men, and most are what I'd like refer as to "muy guapos." They certainly provide a visual dessert, even before the appetizers come out. There's nothing wrong with this, but this seems very different for an Italian restaurant. So all you straight women/gay men out there, there's your incentive.
(4)
Natasha L.

We were really dissapointed in Caro Mio. Having read such great reviews, and living locally, we were eager to try it out and we don't get to eat out as often as we would like. I had a Salmon pimento, which was salmon, balsamic, pine nuts and spring onions. I expected balsamic drizzled over the salmon. I got my salmon engulfed in a lake of the most sickly sweet and sticky balsamic vinegar. There must have been about a quarter of a inch of balsamic on the bottom of the bowl. The pine nuts and spring onions floated on the top. I had to struggle to eat the dish. My husband ordered an aubergine parmegano which had chewy aubergine, and to our taste was too salty. If the meal had been inexpensive I don't think I would be as gutted, but the salmon dish was well over 20 USD. The staff were nice enough but I'm not sure we want to risk coming back. Maybe the pasta dishes are more reliable. We also ordered off the menu, rather than the specials, and it was a Monday night so I'm wondering whether the regular chef had had the night off. Real shame.
(2)
Maureen S.

Wow. Did we eat at the same restaurant as those who gave it a good rating? We went during the week. Our Minestrone Soup was over-boiled, way too hot to serve but served anyways, with little flavor and too much pasta. The green bean salad was swimming, and I mean swimming in balsamic vinegar. All I could taste was vinegar, rather than what was told to us by the waiter. The mushroom risotto was heavy on the salt and light on the mushrooms. For $80, we got the calamari, 2 soups, 1 bean salad, and 1 risotto. We also got the pleasure of the wait staff of dropping glasses that hit us and glass shards in the purse, no apology, a stomach ache, and swollen fingers and ankles. There are many dining options. We were looking for a replacement for Ceres Table, and this place ain't it. I was really hoping this was a hit. It was a giant, and I mean giant miss. Go to Glenn's Diner. Go across the street to the Fresh Farm deli. Walk past this place, unless you want your wallet empty and your stomach not feeling good.
(1)
Garrett G.

This is a great spot. I went for my first time the other night and both the seafood pasta and gnocchi special were amazing. The wine was also amazing, but I knew that going into it, because it was mine (BYOB, no corkage fee)! Prices range from about $15-25 for a main dish but when you consider you aren't paying for drinks and the portions are huge it isn't a bad deal. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Janice M.

BEST authentic Italian food in town!
(5)
Edwin W.

The only reason this place gets 3 stars from me is because I did not have very high expectations walking in. Food can be hit or miss. We started off with the bruschetta. Arguably the best bruschetta I've had in Chicago. For our "hit" entrees we went with the specials for the night which were Stuffed Gnocchi and the Lobster Ravioli. I am drooling as I am writing this which reflects how good I thought these dishes were. Absolutely phenomenol. But then there were the "miss" dishes that were EH at most. One of them being the Frittura Di Mare and the other being a Beef Shank dish. The Frittura was a seafood pasta dish. I am not an expert with this dish or Italian Cuisine, but the dish just did not work. The tomato pasta sauce did not work well with the seafood. The beef shank dish could have been good, but the problem was the bone for the shank became the highlight of the dish rather than the meat. I'm talking a bone that took up half the plate. It became somewhat comical towards the completion of that dish as almost everyone at the table requested to have more beef but was surprised to learn that was a bone sitting on the plate. Dessert was fierce. We had the tiramisu and some lemon ice cream. Probably the best Tiramisu I've tasted. The biggest disappointment was the service, or lack there of. Our server was very nice and spiced up the evening for me and my family as he spoke in a very thick Italian accent making the dinner more authentic. However, regardless of him being nice, we never saw him more than twice during the length of our dinner. We waited 15 minutes between when the last dish was cleared off our table until we were approached with dessert menus. Then another 15 minutes between when the dessert was finished to a follow up. A lot of the service issues can be a result of us dining in with such a big group. Places usually calculate gratuity for groups of 6 or more, which most of the time, can result in the server to avoid giving the extra attention to your table as compared to the attention they would give to a table where his service would affect the amount of gratuity he will receive. A LOT of places in Chicago fall in this category and it is quite unfortunate. Overall, mediocre Italian Cuisine (for Chicago) with a serious need for their service to be addressed.
(3)
Amy H.

I came in with a large party of almost 16 people for a birthday dinner. We were there about 10 mintues before our 7:30 reservations and were seated right away, but after being seated we played the waiting game. Waiting for menus...waiting for our bottles to be uncorked...waiting for bread...waiting for our orders to be taken....waiting, waiting, waiting. It took almost an hour before we recieved our entrees. Now granted, we had a large party so no one minded the wait. Besides, we were busy drinking wine, chatting, and enjoying ourselves. What bothered me is that they rushed us out after our meal was finished. They told a member of our party three times that we needed to leave because they had made a 9pm reservation for another large party and it was now 9:30. Well, sorry Caro Mio. Perhaps you shouldn't give only an hour and a half for a 16 person party to eat dinner. Perhaps you shouldn't have taken so long in the beginning and we would have already been gone. The food? Eh. I ordered the spinach gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce. It was ok. Nothing spectacular. The lasagna was good and so was my friend's sausage and meatballs, but the service was so horrible that the food and everything about Caro Mio just left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)
Reg W.

Ever since terragusto closed, I've been in search for an italian restaurant that makes their own pasta. We finally decided to try this place and it blew my socks off! They have daily specials which all sounded very good. There were so many dishes I wanted to try, but I opted for the pappardelle con porcini. It was absolutely amazing, the pasta was al dente with the sauce that melts in your mouth goodness. My husby had the vitello vesuvio and he was pleased with his dish as well. The interior of the restaurant was very romantic, great place to bring a date. And it's BYOB with no corkage fee. Buon appetito!
(5)
Brett F.

Holy Sweet Rigatoni... BYOB! No Corkage Fee! Now this is a place for Me! How have I never stumbled upon the super sweet, quaint Ravenswood digs of the adorable side street sittin' Caro Mio? Considering it has all the ingredients to make for a delectable and flawless Italiano feasting you'd think I'd have been a bit more in the linguine loop. Eh, better late than never say I... that spectacularly superb gnocchi bolognese is on my radar now and it ain't never leaving my side!! Fluffy, sinful, meaty, decadent gnocchi aside, there are a multitude of dishes at Caro Mio worthy of a crave attack. All of your favorites are here; fresh, tender calamari, creamy gorgonzola risotto, lavish and rich ossobuco milanese, plump frutta di mare and all the 'pasta fatta' aka homemade pasta items that yes, are fabulous pasta dishes that will indeed make you fatta. Wear your favorite Soprano Italia flag-bearing stretchy track pants. Viva New Jersey! Now combine those fan-flippin-tabulous homemade creations with the authentic down home service to match and our beloved BYO, natch, for a wonderful extravaganza with some hearty chow. My lust-inducing, dream-provoking, smile-generating, drool-stimulating Caro Mio mishmash? Combine 2 bottles '04 Antinori Tignanello Toscana + 1 polenta al sugo appetizer + 1 gnocchi gratinati + 1 vitello all' arrabbiata = Complete & Utter Italian Overloaded Bliss. And with that, I bid you a Mangia! Mangia! Buon Appetito.
(4)
Jen T.

Our favorite BYOB on the North Side! Caro Mio has excellent, friendly, and fast service every time! We go there all the time and the service and food never disappoint. Prices are a bit high, but that's to be expected at any BYOB joint, and the portions are huge! You'll be eating leftovers for days. Highly recommended little jewel.
(5)
Lucy M.

We went to Caro Mio last night. The atmosphere is really sweet. Great that it's BYOB. Service was really good. We ordered bruschetta con basilico as an appetizer and melenzana parmigiana and tri-colored rotolo for our main courses. The bruschetta was great. The main dishes were okay. Both had a lot of cheese. In fact the amount of cheese was pretty overwhelming and the melenzana was a huge serving. Overall, I think the restaurant has a nice feel but the the dishes were a little pricey and not that great. One other thing - when I first go there, two N'sync songs played. Pretty funny. They were so out of place. But after those two, the music got better.
(3)
Carly S.

The no corkage fee BYOB is great, but the food and waitstaff are superb either way! The prices are slightly high but most portions are huge. Really enjoyed the atmosphere as well. A little bit of a hike to get to from downtown but totally worth the L ride!
(5)
Anthony J.

As has been mentioned, and as you may have noticed, they are BYOB. Great selling point. All they had to do to impress me was be halfway decent, food-wise. As it turns out, they were fullway decent. Went on Mother's Day with my whole nuclear family, 6 in total. All of us enjoyed the heck out of our food. I recommend getting the specials that aren't on the menu. The waiter gave us the rundown, and the females in the family made him repeat the list of special specials (so special, they aren't on the menu!) to hear his Italian accent again. Anyways, I had a chicken breast in porcini mushroom sauce with housemade portobello mushroom ravioli. Delicate, tender pasta, perfectly cooked chicken, and super flavorful sauce. The only criticism was it was a bit salty, but I like salt. For someone more sensitive to it, could be overwhelming. Everyone had one of the "special specials," except my sister, who had a normal special, the salmon picatta. She, and all of my family, raved about their food. $24-ish per entree. Not cheap, but worth it, in my opinion. BYOB makes it all the more affordable. Oh, and we had the bruschetta, and calamari appetizers. Nice bruschetta, very fresh tasting. Calamari was exactly as it should be. If you order calamari and it comes out rubbery, immediately flip over the table in fury and storm out, even if you already ordered your entrees, because a poor calamari portends poor entrees. Anywho, our calamari was tender and delicious, so, luckily, we didn't have to do that. To be fair, I went there a couple years ago for Valentine's Day with the wife as well, but never got around to rating it. Had the lasagna that day. I remember it being nicely browned around the edges so the cheese hardens up into a sexy, chewy crust. I like that. Its what I'd call a neighborhood gem. Parking is easy to find, and service is decent. Oh, did I mention you should bring some vino? Every restaurant should be BYOB...
(5)
Cathy B.

I took 3 out of town guests here for a Sunday night dinner. No reservations -- no problem. We arrived 30 minutes before closing -- also no problem. No one pressured us to hurry up, which is a good thing, because we ordered a lot, and would have stayed for more had our bellies been able to accommodate it. One of my guests said it was the best meal of her life. That's a strong statement, but I would say it was one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. The four of us had separate plates, and each plate provided a different taste experience, which is nice; so many restaurants "recycle" their sauces so that they can have a huge menu, but just a few stock ingredients in the kitchen. Not so here. Each plate was different from the next. Desserts were absolutely top-notch as well. Part of the reason my experience was so good was the atmosphere of the place. I loved that certain customers would come in and be whisked to special tables in darkened corners. It felt very mafia, only in a safe way.
(5)
Anna P.

What a lovely little Italian gem. Went here for a romantic evening with my boyfriend and it was everything we were looking for - intimate, family-owned, delicious food, relaxing, and they do a great job with the BYOB: we brought a six-pack of beer, a bottle of wine AND a bottle of champagne and they accommodated all of it. The food was absolutely delicious and reasonably priced (although skip the bruschetta - it was soggy and gross). My only problem with this place is that it's really far from my house and sort of in the middle of nowhere - but it was worth the trip.
(4)
Stefanie P.

Since I am Italian and have experienced authentic food in Italy, I am really hard on Italian food. I almost never eat it at restaurants because it's typically the usual lame, boring pasta. I have to say I was impressed by Caro Mio. Its main detraction is the price (~$20 for a pasta dish is a bit ridic, IMO), but the dishes my friends and I had were full of flavor. The portions are HUGE, so the fact that you get another meal out of the leftovers almost makes up for the cost. I ate some ziti with tomato-based sauce with pancetta, onion, homemade meatballs and Italian sausage. It was absolutely delicious. I am pretty sad that the bussers mixed up my leftovers with my friend's...I got stuck eating her pappardelle with bolognese the next day (it was okay, but not as good as mine). A friend had the gorgonzola gnocchi. Too rich for me to order, but it tasted excellent just the same. Anyway, the place is small, so make reservations if you can. We were fortunate to be seated without one, but the folks behind us weren't so lucky.
(4)
Helen H.

This place is pretty good. Gotthe chicken tortellini and the seafood linguini. Both very hot and good. You can really taste that the food is very fresh. Atmosphere is nice and so is service. Great little place. Very heavy food though if you like that kind of thing.
(4)
Joram C.

This place is always packed. Theres usually one of two reasons for that. 1.) the food is excellent 2.) its Byob, you're cheap and you have a party of 8. Caro Mio is #2. My food was ample, but it wasnt good. The caccitore was butchered in a way that made it seem the chicken had fought for its life. The arrabiata dish i ordered had jalapenos in it......italian food doesnt have jalapenos. (red pepper flakes, sure). Its a kitschy place, but i wouldnt say its romantic. Or maybe it is if your date just wants to get hammered on 3-4 bottles of wine for less than it would cost on a wine list. Also, there is no main course less than 15$ in the menu......this aint Alinea. Sountrack wise on the particular night i was there, elliott smith gave way to what sounded like 105.9 "La Ley" as the bumpersticker says.
(2)
Lindsee R.

I want to give this place 4 stars, I really do, but I didn't have anything that stood out. SO, I guess I found it a little boring. And good Lord! There's like 3 items on the menu that don't involve heavy cream or oil sauce. Please. Pretty please, vary the menu, chef. I know there are Italian dishes out there not intended to hasten my death due to clogged arteries. Otherwise, the atmosphere was great. It's very home-y feeling. A little on the pricey side for such a lack of variety (I kid you not the menu mostly read cheese, cheese with cream, cream, cream with tomato, cheese) though the portions are pretty large. I can't say I'll be back anytime soon without being dragged, but the experience here was overall, A-ok.
(3)
Lena L.

This place is AMAZING! It's so hard to find real authentic Italian food, but Caro Mio really does an amazing job. I love their gnocci that is stuffed with riggota cheese, and a creamy vodka-like sauce, it's amazing. The restaurant is really small, so on busy nights sometimes there is a wait but it's always worth it. It's also BYOB which is fun, and they don't charge you to open bottles which is cool. Overall, this place is awesome, great food, good prices and just a cool atmosphere.
(5)
Natalie S.

I don't like Italian food. Go through my reviews. MAYBE I have been to two or three Italian restaurants in the last five years but that's it. Suddenly, Italian has become one of my pregnancy cravings. Who knew? Well, I told the Mr. what I was craving and he jumped at the chance to check out Caro Mio. It's just a few blocks away and it was a lovely night for a stroll. We started out with the fried calamari. While it was a little tough, it was still quite delicious. The bread that came around the same time was definitely not warmed but it is not something I care much about... especially when they serve it with a big helping of crushed garlic in oil and red pepper flakes. Mmmmmm. My dude had the lasagne and I had the tri-colored rotolo (pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese and baked). Both were HEAVEN. I preferred my dish but the lasagne was delicious as well. We didn't go for dessert or the BYOB (obviously) but... there's always next time. The service was friendly and efficient. We walked in and were sat, had menus right away, order was taken promptly, etc. Zero complaints. The restaurant itself is super cute and cozy. My husband's hoping my new Italian cravings will stay and we'll be regulars.
(4)
Victor V.

it all starts at the door. When you see a few available tables for two, you want an usher to say, "Which table would you prefer?" Nothing of the kind: we were shown to the worst table: your typical "dump the worst first" tactics. The waiter was okay, but it took forever for our dishes to arrive. Obviously, the priority here is to stuff as many tables (and paying customers) as possible in the small area, and the kitchen is probably as tiny and understaffed. My gnocci (not a sure spelling) was okay, although I wish there was some other stuff on the big plate to kind of spruce it up. her frutti de mare (again the spelling) was pedestrian at best: pasta was ordinary and the seafood was sparce. All in all, a very average experience. The kicker and the hook is the BYO status without corkage fee, but our check with just two items came to $52.00, which more than offsets the BYOness of the place. The best feature? the customers. Most were nicely dressed, not stuffy, young middle aged and sophisticated, speaking in properly hushed voices, no kids or rowdy big parties. But "a secret gem" it is not. Just a decent Italian eatery in the area that could use some competition in "Italian BYO" department.
(2)
Erin K.

A gem of a place in walking distance of where I live. BYOB, with no corkage fee is reason enough to go. Pasta is amazing. Gnocchi are cooked to perfection and melt in your mouth. I always get the pasta special with the meatballs and the sauce with onions and garlic. Penne cooked al dente and with just enough spice. Food served hot and they give you enormous portions! Waitstaff are amazingly friendly! We had so much fun with our waiter last night that we asked him to join us for a glass of champagne. The only downside was that although the dipping sauces for the bread are great, the bread is like the basic stuff you find at Jewel. I wish they would get better authentic Italian style bread. Espresso wasn't strong enough and desserts are good but not amazing. This place is very accommodating for big groups and is well worth the wait! I wish they had outdoor seating!!!
(4)
Sarah H.

Unfortunately I recommended this place to a girlfriend for her birthday dinner, solely based on the location and great Yelp reviews. We and her other guest were less than impressed and don't plan to return to Caro Mio. I can tell the owner/manager and wait staff are trying to deliver good service, but overall I did not get what I paid for and there were a few simple expectations that I just think failed to be met. It's an Italian place....I was expecting a decent lasagna and perhaps some variety of pizza. They didn't have the latter at all, and the lasagna was mediocre at best...unless you like 80% meat and the rest "meh" pasta and cheese. We also got the eggplant appetizer and based on the price (and just common sense) we were expecting a bit more than a single serving of eggplant....it was like ordering bruschetta and getting a single piece of toasted bread with the toppings. My meal was good...pretty much what I would expect from any decent Italian place, but at $23 (food/tax) for a pasta dish it lacked quite a bit in value. The food is good and staff are friendly, but you can do MUCH better most anywhere in Chicago for Italian dining.
(2)
Andrew H.

Solid Italian fare, but nothing mind blowing or on the same level as Volare or Riccardo Trattoria. First impression is of the awkward separated dining rooms -- was led outside by the host to the other dining room. The only connection is seemingly through the kitchen... Service is decent, on par with what you'd expect from the pricing (~$20/entree). Good bang for your buck, pastas are quite large. Furnishing and decor is average, some of the tables are a little too close for my liking. The calamari was very good -- not overly breaded or seasoned, allowing the squid to be the highlight of the dish. For entrees, I only had their homemade pastas and was very pleased. My only critique was for the lobster ravioli which I wish used chunks instead of an almost lobster paste. If in the area and Spacca Napoli (best pizza) is not open, Caro Mio is a good alternative.
(3)
Kristy N.

We stopped in on a busy Saturday night around 8:30 and the place was jammed. It seems that everyone in the vicinity was having a b-day party here with 10 of their closest friends. I don't mind waiting for a table but we weren't even greeted. Everyone was hovering around the front door, wondering if there was some order to the chaos. We finally were acknowledged but the host didn't take our name, he just said that he'd be with us soon. Once we scored a table, our waiter came to uncork our bottle of win. Not pour, uncork. To his credit, he did tell us that he was supposed to still be in training but they had to put him on the floor. The menu is very extensive but very pasta-heavy. I know, it's an italian place, but usually there are at least a few options that have veggies or potatoes. I ordered the Suprema de Pollo which was very good but heavy on the cream sauce. I would come back here but maybe not on a Saturday night.
(3)
Rob P.

Really people...? 4 Stars? 5?!?!?!?! Noooooo, this place is just alright. I have no complaints with the service or ambiance, but the food just didn't do it for me. I was out there this weekend with a party of five. Two off the boat Italians, and 3 who were born here (myself included in the three). Admittedly, I'm more critical than most reviewers, particularly of Italian restaurants. But hey, you're not reading this for a yes-man. You're on yelp to find out what the place is really like before plunking down your hard-earned cash. Despite what the website says about reservations only for six or more, they accommodated us. We were informed of the oft-noted "2 hour limit", which I don't really have a problem with. They're running a business, we were there on a Saturday night, and being a BYOB, (no corkage fee) they lack the significant margin alcohol typically carries at a restaurant. They have to make it up on turnover. Get over it people. So onto the food: For me, first impressions at Italian restaurants come down to be bread on the table. Good bread excites me. And this place has bread that was average. Not a good start, and very surprising since they have the more traditional olive oil/chopped garlic/red pepper plate instead of the more American olive oil/Parmesan. In general, the dishes were large portions that only the heartiest eater could finish. On the downside, they were heavy on the salt and VERY heavy on the oil. Not at all how Italians cook. We use simple, flavorful ingredients that don't need much doctoring. Here's the part where you can stop if you want. From here on out, I'm just going into more detail about our particular dishes. Appetizers were grilled eggplant and polenta. The eggplant was terrible - very seedy, and therefore, bitter. The chef compensated by using a lot of salt, but it just made it inedible. The polenta was OK - lacking some flavor, but the sauce was very flavorful and made up for it. Going around the table: Gnocchi in marina - The gnocchi were surprisingly light, but had no flavor whatsoever. Sauce was good, but again, salty. Chicken in some kind of reduction with mushroom-stuffed ravioli (one of the evening's specials) - the chicken was pretty typical, but the ravioli were tasty. Both the pasta and the stuffing. Unfortunately, the person who ordered this spent half his meal scraping off the sauce. WAY too much. Seriously, it was like soup. Veal arrabiata - Veal was tender, but not cut-it-with-a-fork-tender like the good stuff should be. For the price though, it represented a decent value. The gravy had just the right amount of spice, (present but not overpowering) but again, way too much on the plate. Veal in some kind of a wine sauce with potatoes - Same issues with the veal, sauce, salt, etc. A little bland, even with all the salt. Linguine frutta di mare - tons of calamari. Good calamari at that. Actually, all of the seafood was good. This was my plate, and I found it to be oversalted to the lowest degree of the plates we ordered. The pasta was of good quality and cooked al dente. The biggest problem I had was the amount of oil in this plate. EASILY 1/3 of a cup, maybe a half a cup remained after I had finished. I was actually eating the linguine the old-school Italian way - twirling it in a spoon - out of necessity to wring as much oil out of it as I could. Slightly disappointed, we skipped dessert and took our business elsewhere.
(3)
Marisol M.

Wow! I LOVED it! Everything we ordered was very well prepared and so flavorful! My friend ordered something that he had before but was not on the menu and with out hesitation it was made for him. After, a nibble of his chicken mushroom dish I understood why he had been so anticipating this dish. I loved that it is b.y.o.b. very charming. Great first date, Anniversary or just want a good meal restaurant.
(5)
Kinsey S.

The short of it: heavily garlic and salted tomato based sauces I would say are American Italian...not authentic to the least. Service was horrendous...which makes it worse since italian restaurants cater to not only the food, but the hospitality. Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen in the city, do not make the BYOB be the only reason you go there. Can't believe this place gets 4 stars. The long of it: My hubby and I were craving italian food and our usual spot was booked solid. So, we looked on yelp and saw that Caro Mio was well rated and that they make their own pasta...figured if they take the time to do that, it has to be good. We got there early-ish on a Saturday night at 6pm and walked int the door. We stood there for over 5 mins while the head of the house stood on against the bar in the back staring at us and talking occasionally to someone else. We were the only ones at the door, everyone else was sitting. This should have been an indication of the service we were about to receive. We sat, had a lovely waitress who was attentive with drinks, took our order of one app and two entrees all the while, the restaurant started to fill in. We were ignored for the next 30 mins, had to flag our waitress down who informed us our dinner was almost ready... I reminded her that we still had not had our appetizer. At which point she said "oh my god" and ran off to the kitchen. She returned promptly saying the kitchen is almost finished with our dinners but could hold them back a little if we wanted the app. I said fine, two mins later, we received our mildly warm app. Expecting our dinner to be out soon after since the waitress said it was almost up...we made eye contact with her every time she left the kitchen. Stopped by 2x to say they were almost done. then they finally came out 45 MIN LATER after the app. Pasta should never take 2 hours unless you are making everything from scratch to order...I guarantee they are not. Not once did the manager stop by to apologize or did we receive any type of apology after the initial thing from the apps. Ridiculous. The food was mediocre at best. It was definitely on the American side with heavy tomato based. Service, terrible.
(1)
Ross R.

Huge servings, but not great. I don't really have an issue with the prices, as others have, because it is BYOB. Certainly not authentic, but still alright. I think there are better Italian places nearby, albeit with smaller servings, which is an acceptable trade off. Probably wont be back.
(3)
John Z.

Went on a Friday night for a birthday party, fortunately we had a reservation as the place was packed. FYI, they do not sit you until your entire party is there, not a big deal. First of all, BYOB!!! The food itself was really good. We started with bruschetta, calamari and green beans with mozzarella. The bruschetta was good, the calamari was OK and the green beans were awesome. I'm not typically a green beans fan, but I will definitely order them next time. I had the chicken parmesan dinner with homemade rigatoni and bolognese sauce. The portions are HUGE, but they have a $8 split fee, so it's better to just take leftovers. The chicken parm dinner was amazing! The bolognese was fantastic and the noodles were perfect. Definitely one of the best Italian meals I have had since living in the NYC area. The other dinners looked good, but I think mine was the winner. For dessert we had chocolate gelato and tiramisu. I was a big fan of the tiramisu as the ladyfingers dominated the custard in their version. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Donovan H.

I love this place and the waitstaff is AMAZING. My friend heckled a couple of staff members and I did a fair amount of staring at our waiter in tight jeans. With all of that said AND being a large group, everyone at Caro Mio treated all of us as valued guests. It's difficult to describe the food without my mouth watering... We started off with calamari that was cooked to perfection. I had the spinach gnocchi as an entree and it was hands down, the BEST GNOCCHI I have EVER eaten. I had bites of the lobster ravioli and it was delicious but I didn't eat too much of anything else because I didn't want to (and didn't) stop eating the gnocchi. The portions are sharing sizes (for most humans but not me that night) which makes the food prices very reasonable. Caro Mio is one of the going on my list of best BYOB resturants in the city. I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Mike S.

Showed up on a Saturday night with a party of six. We called ahead and the host said it would be no problem to seat us. When we got there, his story was that parties of 6 should call a couple weeks in advanced. For a 'storefront' restaurant in a quiet neighborhood, it was packed at 8pm on a Saturday. They must be doing something right. The crowd was mostly older, save for the huge table in the center of the restaurant (there were easily 15 people at the table) that were in their late 20's and early 30's. There were only a handful of tables that were couples. The rest were mostly parties of four or more. The tables didn't turn very fast, if at all. As our party started arrive the host sat us first as a table of four, then as a full party of six. He encouraged us to crack open a bottle of wine we brought before we were complete. That helped enormously. Between the six of us we split two entrees and ordered another two entrees. The gnocchi my girlfriend had was good. I ordered the lobster ravioli which was good except... you couldn't tell there was lobster in it. The cream sauce it came with was excellent. It was a good thing we had plenty of wine because sober I would have been extremely irritated to pay $23 for a plate of lobster ravioli that didn't taste like it had any lobster in it. Including 18% gratuity for a party of six, the total bill turned out to be $152. Not bad. We also guzzled about four bottles of wine. The staff were attentive enough to recognize when a bottle was finished but too busy to anticipate and open bottles. A minor nit. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The host was gracious and accommodating. The plates were huge. I'm not sure the food was worth the price. But we all had a good time.
(3)
Aurore L.

PASTA LOVE. It doesn't look like much from the outside, it's a bit out of the way - sure - but goddamn the strands of dough they craft inside are tasty.... A cold and snowy night in January, a girlie date, a lost walk in the 'hood, a bottle of red wine, and the most amazing pasta dishes I have had in a long while. The paperdelle made in house are just perfection. You can substitute them (instead of dry pasta) to any dish your heart desires for an additional $2 and believe me, it's waaayyyyyy worth it. Get them with porcini, borolo red wine, parmesan and cream and you will sing R&B with angels for eternity. Yes, really. To top it off: the bread is lovely, the service adorably shy (our waiter was so quiet and timid that it was hilarious) and the beverages 'bring-able' by you directly from your favorite liquor store. Oh - no corkage fee either. It's very darling indeed.
(4)
Jessica B.

A friend took me here last night (when it was freezing cold in Chicago and we needed something hearty) and holy cow it is amazing. I mean, wow. And it's BYOB. Win/win. The interior is really cozy but the tables are pretty close together, so hopefully you don't mind being close to your neighbors and hearing them be a little loud when they drink too much. BUT that's not a huge deterrent because the food is awesome. We had the bruschetta with fresh mozzarella and holy cow it was amazing. I could have eaten just an entire plate of that. And after staring down the menu for about 10 minutes because I literally could not decide what i wanted, I went with the half moon shells with ricotta, prosciutto and peas. I wasn't looked as much for a ravioli-like dish but it was really tasty and the tomato cream sauce that went with it was great, without being heavy. Oh and they have an entire section of the menu with dishes that include the fresh made pasta. I highly recommend ordering off that list, but seriously everything looks awesome. And our waiter was beyond adorable in his recommendations, even saying that if my friend didn't like her dish, he would quit that night. Fortunately, he is still employed :) I cannot wait to go back here.
(4)
Jennie T.

My friends and I came here upon a Binny's worker's recommendation. We had purchased wine and he suggested Caro Mio. The restaurant is BYOB and has some delicious pastas. We ordered the calamari and the bruschetta. I wasn't very fond of the calamari though. I don't know why I keep forgetting to read that it's breaded -- I prefer non-breaded calamari. But I have to say that it is at least decent. The bruschetta was good. Loved the fresh tomatoes. We also some cheese ravioli and gnocchi gratinati. I thought the ravioli were decent. I liked the gnocchi more. We ordered two more pastas but I don't quite remember what they were. One had chicken in it. My friends loved it, and I only thought it was mediocre. Granted, I wasn't feeling all that well the day we went so I'm not sure if that had any influence over my taste buds. I gave an extra star for the service. I thought our waiter was excellent. He gave us plenty of suggestions and recommendations and ultimately I think most of us were pleased with our orders (some more than others, of course). Plus we had a great dinner experience despite my personal opinion of the food.
(4)
brad p.

I don't understand some of the bad reviews of this place. Slow service? It's an ambiance-filled, slightly upscale Italian restaurant. Why can't you sit and enjoy your meal? Because let me tell you, you will enjoy your meal here. I've never had a bad meal, no matter if I'm there with two or six; on Valentine's Day or a random Tuesday. The portions are huge, but they don't skimp on anything. You do sometimes have to ask about the specials, but what's not to like about a place that's BYOB, gives you garlic and red pepper flakes to go with your olive oil for the bread and has such a fantastic assortment of dishes that you can't choose a wrong thing? The place is not noisy, even when it's crowded. On my birthday a couple of years ago, they let us bring in a cake. And sliced it for us. They'll make special orders happily. Just go. No wait, don't, I want to know I can get a table.
(5)
Mandy A.

Our fancy pants supper club came here a week or so ago based on a recommendation from one of our friends. The front is not much of a looker but inside the walls are plastered with bright, colorful art and paintings and it's a welcoming space. The tables are super close together but when we were there at 6:30pm on a Monday night it was comfortably crowded and luckily no one was sitting at the almost adjacent table. The best part is that it's BYOB with no corkage fee...woot. We downed two bottles of red like it was no thang and devoured some serious plates of carbs. I read here on Yelp that the Spinach Gnocchi was pretty fabulous so that's what I ordered and yay for cream sauce. That is why I work out. Husband wanted to be a copier but he chose the gnocchi special, stuffed with asiago cheese in a creamy tomato sauce. I tried mine and thought it was heavenly. Then I tried his and thought mine sucked, that's how good his was. I stole three more pieces before he gave me a look that told me he was going to stab me in the wrist with his fork if I took any more. And then I proceeded to eat all but four pieces of my gnocchi so it definitely wasn't bad but I was staring longingly at his plate for awhile. Overall, definite thumbs up. The homemade pasta dishes hover right around $18-$23 a plate, but if you're not a hoss like me, you can eat half and be comfortably full and eat the other half for lunch the next day. That was the plan that flew out the window after a few bites. Skip the side salad though, nothing fancy for $8.
(5)
Lucy G.

I've had good Italian food my entire life. Of course I would, my grandfather was from Sicily and all the good family recipes have been passed down to my mom, who is my favorite chef in the world. Also, I grew up in St. Louis, and have eaten meals on The Hill (the Italian community), so yes, I know good Italian food. However... Nothing could possibly top the food we had at Caro Mio off Wilson Ave. This BYOB place is small, fitting maybe 30 people maximum in the restaurant. Due to it's small size, it was pretty loud, a little cramped, and our waiter sometimes seemed to forget we were sitting in the corner. HOWEVER, after a long wait for our food, it was completely and utterly worth it. It is hands down the best Italian food I've had ever. The dish I ordered, the pappardelle with mushrooms and wine based cream sauce, was the winner of the table. (We all shared, family style) So flavorful and rich that I could only manage a quarter of the huge portion before I was full, and even after everyone at the table had their fill of mine, there was enough left over for another meal.The second place winner was the evening's special, gnocchi stuffed with cheese and topped with a mild creamy tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. Third place was the Eggplant Parmigiano, which was good, but very garlicky. Last place was the spicy veal, which I obviously cannot attest to how it tasted- I would never eat veal. As a closer, we all shared the house-made tiramisu. Which was topped with scoops of vanilla bean gelato. It disappeared in seconds. At which point we all lapsed into food comas, holding our full stomachs, groaning at the deliciousness and richness of the meal we just gorged on. This place is more pricey, about $20 a plate, but they do serve complimentary bread with olive oil and chopped garlic, and it's BYOB, so bring as much wine/beer/alcohol as you want, and they give you a tub filled with ice to keep it cold. Despite the somewhat slow service, I would definitely recommend this place to anyone. I also like the local art displayed on the walls for sale. Best meal I've had in a long time.
(5)
Erin G.

I have been meaning to right a review for Caro Mio because everyone needs to know that this place is awesome! Seriously, we go here at least every 6-8 weeks and every experience is tasty! First, BYOB, can't go wrong. Second, homemade pasta, can't go wrong! This is a neighborhood gem with great food and atmosphere. Great for a small or large party. I love, love the lasagna and my husband loves anything with seafood in it. You will not go wrong with anything you order here, you will enjoy it and have leftovers to bring home with you.
(5)
Graham D.

I know a number of people have reviewed this neighborhood gem, but it never hurts to keep the light shining on a really excellent establishment. You have to know they're good if they can survive for 11 years BYOB in a neighborhood that isn't exactly on the beaten path. But you come for the food, and it doesn't disappoint. Approaching the table with water, wine glasses, bread, fresh garlic and red pepper flakes, your server is ready with the cork screw and a great attitude. Others have commented on the homemade pasta- it does really make a huge difference in Italian dishes- and fear not for the portions are more than generous. Yes there are specials as well as a fairly extensive menu, all worth perusing. So in a word: go! You'll be dazzled. (Note: address on their card is 1827 W. Wilson, not 1825...)
(4)
Danielle K.

I went here with an out of town friend for dinner. Great service and friendly waitress. I ordered the spinach gnocchi (and learned the proper way to pronounce it!) which was rich but not too rich. Very flavorful and enough for lunch the next day. My friend ordered the lobster ravioli special which she said was excellent. Not too lobstery and just the right amount of richness. She also had enough for another meal the next day. My only complaint is that the soda came in a can and was $3. I wasn't aware this was a Chinese restaurant. Haha. I am definitely going back. Everything looked great! No soda next time though!
(4)
Paul H.

Caro Mio is a nice, independently owned Italian restaurant off the beaten walking paths in Ravenswood. With the company of two, we had several better than average pasta dishes. You can get boring old spaghetti if that's your thing, or something more unusual like clam linguine. The garlic bread was piled high with garlic, and the marinara was homemade fresh. The prices are a bit more than I expected (and probably keeping this establishment from a 5 star review), but we weren't disappointed.
(4)
Ted K.

For my 50th review, i thought i should review something from the past that i liked...and Caro Mio came to mind!!!! Defintely a nice little gem that i never would have found if it werent for some friends. the place is simple and discreet, but has some really good food!!! first off, it's BYOB, so grab a couple bottles of wine. i dont believe we were charged a corking fee either. We went a while back. I know i had some pasta with sausage/meatballs for dinner and not only was it a BIG serving, it was very good. The calamari app was reallllly good tho the place was very low key early in the evening when we got there but by the time we left(7:30ish), it was packed. definitely will go back...
(4)
Eric X.

[ Visited March, 2011 ] Maybe I'm living in an alternate universe, but Caro Mio was about as interesting eating Chef Boyardee by candlelight. I ordered the fettuccine with bolognese sauce and $4.50 extra for two meatballs. I actually received the parapadelle....strike one. The food was quite bland with hardly a hint of Italian flavor. Strike two. The meatballs were equally as bland. Strike three. The service was slow (4 pasta dishes take 25 minutes to cook when the restaurant is less than 25-percent full?) and the waiter accidentally mixed up the to-go leftovers with (not mine) with the to-trash leftovers. This was probably once a nice restaurant when the area was a dump, but next time I get invited I'll kindly pass.
(1)
Dan L.

Love this place. have been here 5-7 times in the last two year and have never been disappointed. BYOB is always a good thing, but they go out of their way to encourage it and make you feel good about bringing your own bottles in. Service has always been great. Food is amazing, Food Portions are large, and the owner always takes time to say hello and ask how things are. Have taken family members from out of town here and will continue to head here once every few months....
(5)
Jules H.

First...the bad. And it's not even too bad. This place is small, you will be elbow to elbow with other diners on a crowded Friday or Saturday night. But the service, ambience, decor, abundant kindness and attentiveness from the servers will eclipse any claustrophia FAST! And then when your food appears...OH YAAAAAAAAA! Exquisite and flavorful dishes, BYOB!, fresh ingredients, lots to pick from, but not so much you feel dizzy. Great eats, great service! Can't wait to dine here again!!!
(4)
Chad V.

PASTA HEAVEN! I have been here a handful of times. Sometimes it is great and sometimes it is AMAZING. Great place for a date or for a group. BYOB which keeps the cost at bay. Haven't found a better place for handmade pasta and savory italian sauces. I've never had a bad experience. GO you won't regret it. To finish get the tiramisu.
(5)
mimi h.

Well, rude to begin with, rude to the end. Empty room, tried to seat us by kitchen door. Asked for most popular entrees and told today's specials. Asked for butter with bread, told chef won't have in house/doesn't cook with. Tried to push appetizers and desserts. Charged 10 bucks extra for pasta with chicken parm without telling us it would be extra. Chickem parm was dry and stringy, lacking crispy, fried crust. Prices quite high for such below average food. Portions big due to quantity of pasta under the parm. Need better chef to deliver better taste. Gelato in half a lemon was mere spoonful., at dessert prices. Room was very noisy. Decor was garish, left over from previous Cuban place. Instead of a relaxing, tasty dinner we left angry , out of sorts-left as soon as could. BYOB doesn't compensate for this low level of food/service. Chicago has dozens of Italian restaurants with better food and no more expensive and often less expensive menus. Wanted to support neighborhood place, but sorrily cannot.
(1)
Caroline M.

Caro Mio is pretty much named after me, so naturally I am a fan. The place really speaks for itself though. What I love most about Caro Mio is the dimly lit, quaint dining area. The dining area is always abuzz with friendly chatter from neighborhood locals and it seems to embrace me like a hug everytime I'm here. Dining here with special friends totally gives me that happy, fuzzy feeling so it was the perfect destination for an intimate and sentimental sendoff dinner for a special friend who is moving overseas. It's BYOB, which I am a fan of. The food is exceptionally tasty but pricey. I paid $21.95 for a huge portion of Spinach Gnocchi. It was pillowy, creamy, delicious and I had plenty leftover to take home-but I can get something equivalent to this for about half the price downtown at Quartino's. The only downfall of this place. Regardless of the price factor and me being a baller-on-a-budget, I will no doubt come back. Caro Mio is a great place for a date or gathering of close friends and family.
(4)
Michelle L.

This place is absolutely amazing! By far the best italian food in Chicago and the staff is always very nice as well! You have to get the Gnocchi it is so delicious!
(5)
Adele n.

I love Caro Mio. I just plain love it. It's romantic and special, warm and cozy, friendly and inviting, and the food is delicious. I love the homemade pasta and I love the slightly salty marinara sauce. The specials are always intriguing and the chef has even created a veggie alternative to a listed dish for me. And BYO always rules. Even if the food were just so-so, this would still be a 5-star experience for me. I just feel a rush of good vibes when I walk in here -- it's a combination of the pretty red walls and nice golden lighting, the local art on the walls, the sweet waiters, the charmingly mismatched place settings, and all the smiling happy customers. This is a good place to celebrate and be happy.
(5)
Jackie O.

This is a cute place in a nice location, and I always do love a BYOB. However, there was something lacking when I tried this place out. On a slow weeknight, our server kept disappearing into the kitchen, and wouldn't come and check on us except for the obligatory moments: to take our food order, to check that we received our food, to ask if we wanted dessert, and to bring the bill. We saw our busser quite often, and was very attentive - although didn't seem to speak much English. The person I was with had a delicious lobster ravioli in marscapone cream sauce, which was quite good, but I was disappointed by my braciole. Overall, it's a nice little weekday spot, but I can't see myself making a trip here without being in the neighborhood.
(2)
Simone T.

Was here just last night: I had the tortellini alla fiorentina soup, followed by the Ossoobuco alla Milanese. Huge portions - I had enough leftovers for dinner tonight & lunch tomorrow. It's my third time; a bit pricey, but again, the portions are huge and delicious. But such tiny tables for such huge plates!
(4)
Jeff V.

Went last Saturday with a group of friends and I was very impressed. The only reason I did not put 5 stars is because the lack of space. You are right on top of each other. As for the food I ordered the bruchesseta for an appetizer and it tasted tremendously fresh, the gnocchi special which had a pesto and cheese filling smothered in an orange marinara sauce. Sooo good. I will go back.
(4)
molly w.

Quoted 1.5 hour wait turned into 2 hours until we were sat.... and another 45 minutes until eating. So, initially entering the restaurant at 7:30pm on a Saturday (table for 2) equated to eating dinner closer to 11pm. Awesome. Aside from the long wait, the service was terrible. Host with an attitude, not given utensils or napkins (half way through our appetizer I got sick of wiping my hands on the tablecloth and got up to get my own). Food was fine, nothing special, especially for the prices! $22 for box pasta with meatballs?!?! Fortunately the wine we brought was excellent - but of course had to wait too long for the waiter to open it. Won't return.
(2)
Jeff G.

probably a 3.75 for food but a 2.5ish for menu options and service. the food was indeed above average in quality and portion size was huge, though it was also expensive, but i liked the BYO aspect. however, they really only had one salad on the menu which was tucked away in the corner like "don't order me, i am just a house salad" i thought my entree of meatball and sausage w pasta was well balanced, but da wife had the pollo arrabiatta which consisted of 4 huge pieces of chicken and a tiny side of pasta. i understand italian menus with the different courses and that, but to me, why give some 4 times the protein they need and 1/4 of the pasta they would need. why not make the dish half pasta and half protein? and the service was slow
(3)
Lyn L.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. And BYOB without a corkage fee! I wouldn't put it up there with Spiaggia, but... You can't beat the homemade pasta. Never had a bad meal. Unpretentious, accommodates large groups. Prices are totally reasonable. If it were closer to the el, I would be there every week. In fact, I haven't been in like two years, and really feel the need to go... tonight.
(5)
Hugh S.

I had a great time here! We got to the restaurant around 8pm on a Saturday night. GF had been here several times and she warned me that we probably would be waiting 45 mins for a table since they do not accept reservations. Luckily we were seated inside of 10 minutes. The place is bustling with conversation and wonderful aromas. The bright red walls are decorated with many little whimsical framed pictures. We were seated in the main dining room and right behind us was a picture window opening to a small banquet space. As close as the tables were to one another you didn't feel like you were crammed in next to your fellow diners. At the start they bring you fresh italian bread and offer you garlic and red pepper as a topping. We started off with the insalate caprese and the portobella al gratin. The juicy tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balanced well with the oven-baked giant mushroom smothered with homemade sauce and melted cheese. She ordered the Lobster Ravioli entree in a yummy cream sauce and I had the Lasagna Caro Mio, piping hot with meat sauce. BYOB so we brought a bottle of Sangiovese and a bottle of Grappa (we went all in). For dessert I had the tiramisu and GF had a Chocolate Tartufo (sp?) something or other. Service was very prompt and courteous. We were never waiting long for the next dish. A very pleasant dining experience.
(5)
Brent W.

Oh lawdy, you talk about missing out on something good, and it's only a few blocks from my friends place. Of late, i've been more and more impressed with the italian dining scene in Chicago and Caro is ridiculously good on sooo many levels. Let's break it down...from the very start (which was a phone call to determine what sort of fish they were featuring that eve)....the owners son answers all my questions in an extraordinarily detailed and congenial way, and then says at the end of the phone conversation 1. don't forget to bring a bottle or some beer and 2. oh and my sister just made up some great homemade ravioli today, you should defo check it out. Every bit of that convo told me everything I love about a true local neighborhood family run biz...passion and personalization personified, or the Triple P if you will. Ok, so we walk to the place and step into a very tight quartered, medium sized space with incredible color, lighting and great decor. The space is fantastic and I sat in a spot where upon looking further at this large opening in the wall that separated the two rooms that Caro is comprised of, it had a "mirror" effect, in that it actually looked like a giant mirror reflecting the main room we were sat in, but in actuality was just, well, the opening in the wall. Food: Bread service was insanely fresh and (of course) homemade....it included a trio of fresh crushed garlic in olive oil, red pepper flakes and fresh parm cheese. So simple yet a great way to separate yourself from the endless Italian spots Chicago offers. Main: Salmon Vesuvio. Holy. Bananas!! (to coin a Caroline A.ism) In short, one of the best tasting dishes I've had the pleasure of eating. The flavors were so spot on and I cannot say anything else to justify its greatness other than superfrajalisticexpealidocious. Service: Excellent and our server accommodated one of the most fastidious and diet restricted people on the planet. That's it, passed on dessert and ate some Fannie Mae's back home. This place will be in heavy rotation for the foreseeable.
(5)
Becky S.

I came here with two girlfriends last weekend for dinner, and I was really impressed with the food. I had the special of gnocchi in arrabiata sauce, and it was really delicious. The gnocchi were filled with ricotta and were such light perfect little pillows. The service was very good and my friends enjoyed the BYOB policy. We got there at 6:30 on a Saturday and got a table without much of a wait but by the time we left there was quite a crowd at the door. The only thing that I did not care for was that when the host sat us, he let us know that they needed the table for a large party at 8:1 5 PM. We felt a little rushed at the end knowing that and wished we could have stayed a little longer. Despite that awkward encounter, the food was so good, I am really looking forward to returning. I would give 4.5 stars but I am thinking about those gnocchi again and will bump it to 5 stars.
(5)
Phil F.

As a food product developer, I know what certain things taste like....including MSG and other flavor enhancers (like disodium inosonate and disodium guanylate). This place uses either MSG as an ingredient or commercial sauce mixes or bases which include these ingredients. I think that is cheating. I will say that the calamari salad was super good though! After that I just tasted that familiar taste that one finds in cheetos, doritos or boxed mac and cheese mix......which really does make everything taste better, but its just not right for a restaurant to rely on something so easy. Just think of that pleasant salivation and mild buffered saltiness you are left with. And an $8 fee to split an entree?! Stupid, especially when the portions are monstrous. Won't go back.
(2)
Catherine S.

We wanted to try this place for a long time since it's just around the corner, so we dropped in on a weeknight. The service here on a Wednesday night was attentive and I love the fact gthat it's BYOB. However, it is heavy, heavy, heavy on the parts of American Italian cuisine that I really don't like--i.e. lots of raw garlic in everything and heavy red sauce on most items that gave me serious indigestion for the rest of the night. We started with the brushetta, sans mozzarella as we were both hoping for a lighter meal. It was okay, but lacking fresh basil and the overabundance of raw garlic wasn't doing it for me. I wanted something with lots of veggies, so I selected two apps: the sauteed mushrooms with wine and the eggplant with mozz. Unfortunately, both were smothered in a red sauce that had lots of raw garlic (not sauteed at all--clearly just stirred into the sauce) and both were oversalted and heavy. The house bread was soft, bland, and not crusty at all--clearly store bought, so it wasn't great to sop up the veggies as I'd hoped. My husband had homemade papardelle with an eggplant sauce. The eggplant were nice, but the sauce was again, full of that raw garlic. Maybe if we would've gotten a non-red sauce dish (i.e. one of the cream sauces), this would've been remedied, as their homemade pasta had a nice texture and flavor. But we aren't huge fans of heavy on the cheese and cream sauces. BTW--the portions here are HUGE, but pricey ($22 for a simple vegetarian pasta dish?), and they charge you $8 to split an entree. So, we left here having had an app and the equivalent of two veg entrees with no alcohol or dessert for over $60. Pretty pricey, if you ask me. Which all leads me to: who said that raw garlic = Italian? I don't know, unless you're lightly seasoning with raw garlic in an app or dressing. Raw garlic has no place in a cooked sauce! Or as a topping for bread (though rubbing a slice of toasted bread lightly with a garlic clove is a good idea)! No one does that in Italy--just ask Marcella Hazan ( bit.ly/gKo14W ): Q. What is the biggest mistake we still make in cooking Italian food? A. Too much garlic! Too much ruins everything. We say in Italy that what you keep out is as important as what you put in. Carol Mio--remember that: what you keep out is as important as what you put in. I'll be going elsewhere for Italian, or cooking my own at home.
(2)
Julie Z.

Go Italia! This food reminds me of traveling in Italy. I've always been impressed and so have the many friends I have recommended this place to. Besides the awesome food, the staff is beyond nice...always smiling and accommodating. Great ambiance as well.
(4)
natalie v.

BYOB Italian. Come with an appetite...a large one. The portions are giant, so you'll eat for a couple of days. My dad said that they have the best lasagna he's ever eaten. I loved the chicken picatta. The homemade pasta is delightful and perfectly al dente. Just don't go here when you need to watch your carb or caloric itake. The ambiance is quaint and intimate, so I imagine it'd make for a great date. I have nothing but glowing things to say about Caro Mio.
(5)
carolyn h.

I went to Caro Mio on Friday with a group of 16 people and it was AMAZING. I tried multiple dishes so I don't know where to start. First, every main dish is HUGE. I love this. Our group didn't do family style but everyone would put some of their dish on a small plate and pass so people could try em. Lots of us got the specials. There was a gnochhi infused with asiago cheese. That was my favorite. It was incredible. The gnochhi was so soft and pillow-esque. Combined with the Asiago cheese in the middle is was incredible. It came in a red sauce. I loved it. I ordered the lobster ravioli. It had a rich cream sauce. I've tried lobster ravioli at many places and this was by far the best. It was fresh and it didn't have the fishy flavor that can come with lobster ravioli. I tried some of the salmon portofino. The balsamic reduction was just to die for. Part of me wished I had ordered it (even though I was dying for pasta). I thought they did a great job managing our large group. The one down side is that we were a half hour late sitting down at our table. It was annoying with that many people as the restaurant is very small. It was well worth the wait though. This place just knows pasta! It is now on my favorite places list!
(5)
Justin M.

Caro Mio was recommended to us and we have had this place on the list for a while. So we went early on a Saturday and the place is quite welcoming with attentive service. I wish Yelp would let me rank here 2.5 stars. We wanted very much to like this place but the pastas really disappointed us. Perhaps our expectations were too high. If you like American-Italian with LOADS of sauce, then this is for you. The servings are indeed generous and each pasta would cater for two people. I commend the generosity of the servings. However this is not really our thing - we are after flavor. We had the polenta in tomato sauce which was ok, not really grilled enough for my tastes to bring the flavor out in the polenta and it was masked by the red sauce a fair bit. The bruschetta with mozz was fairly good - very generous servings, with the tomato finely cut and nicely marinated with oil and herbs. This was the nicest thing we ate. For entrees we got the lobster ravioli in cream sauce w/ sundried tomatoes and the cavatelli con salisiccia, with homemade sausage. Overall the pastas were very one note with tons of sauce and not much variety. The lobster ravioli overall was quite salty and the sauce just overpowered it to the point where it was like eating a bowl of cream. The cavatelli didn't really have much sausage to it, and was also super creamy. We'll probably give this place another go in a while as a lot of people like it very much and maybe we got a bit unlucky.
(2)
Kim J.

This quaint Italian eatery is still among my favorites in Chicago, and this was confirmed on a recent visit. A group of 14 of us descended upon there for a friend's birthday dinner, and they were pretty awesome to us. Everybody really enjoyed their food. From the homemade gnocchi to the salmon drizzled with honey soy sauce, everything was delightful. The BYOB aspect is always a crowd pleaser. And they were very accomodating to our humongous, loud group.
(5)
Megan G.

My friends really love Caro Mio, but I've always found the food to be just passable. What WAS exceptional was the service - the last time we had a large party at Caro Mio they treated us like royalty (they even let one of my friends leave her bicycle in their store room overnight!) So when my friends chose to have my early birthday dinner here I figured we were in for a fun night. We had reservations for 16 for 7:30 pm on a Friday night. Caro Mio repeated called my friend who had organized the party to remind her our entire party HAD to be there at 7:30. This was a little annoying, but understandable - our party represented a good chunk of the restaurant that night. It was befuddling, then, that the when we showed up promptly at 7:30 the restaurant staff did not seem ready for us. We had to wait to have our wine opened and then wait for our bread. When the bread did finally arrive we discovered the table didn't have enough bread plates, so we had to wait for more. Then we had to wait to order appetizers. Then we had to wait to order main dishes. By the time the food finally arrived at the table, it was 8:30. I ordered what was essentially an eggplant parmesan roll. It was, again, passable but nothing special. Once we finished eating and the plates were cleared Caro Mio brought out cupcakes my friend had made for my birthday. She was really upset because she'd put a lot of time into organizing them on a platter (with Happy Birthday letter candles) and Caro Mio split them up and put them randomly on two plates. It totally ruined the presentation she'd worked on and just looked sloppy and thoughtless. At this point it was 9:30 and Caro Mio staff began repeatedly telling one of the members of my party that we needed to leave because they had a group of 12 to seat and had given them 9 pm reservations. Our party wasn't offered coffee or the opportunity to order additional dessert. We hadn't finished our bottles of wine and would have liked to linger, but we were made to feel so uncomfortable that we paid up and left. Giving a party of 16 a one and a half hour reservation window is ridiculous, especially when the restaurant themselves couldn't get the entrees on the table until an hour after we were seated. The whole experience put a slightly negative tinge on my birthday celebration and left us all annoyed. I won't be returning to Caro Mio and would encourage others NOT to plan large parties there, especially on weekends.
(2)
Phil S.

Finally got a chance to go to this place. With not many great Italian options in the Lincoln Square area, this one is truly an oasis in Ravenswood (and its BYOB!). Food is fantastic but a bit pricey; however there is a ton of it per serving. Only complaint is the awful bathrooms. And now they have TWO high chairs so they are becoming more family friendly than previously thought; just go on a weeknight with the kids instead of a weekend.
(4)
Chris M.

Amazing!! My sister took my whole family (including my grandparents) here last week and we loved it!!! Great place for dates too, although it can be a bit pricey even though it's BYOB. My suggestions: -Share entrees if your with a special someone, or bistro style if your with a large group. -Order ANYTHING with the gravy looking Porcinni Mushroom Sauce. -Take suggestions from the wait staff (Caesar is awesome!!!) -Bring Chianti, a nice red, or Pinot Grigio if you like whites. Red wine will totally enhance your meal here, especially if you're trying multiple dishes. Go soon, while you still can. Weekdays are best. This place has just been recently reviewed in the Red Eye, and they also turned down Check, Please! b/c they don't want to have outrageous wait times....Good for you, Caro Mio!!!
(5)
Heather N.

I always have a great time at this place, and I am in love with their arrabiata sauce. In. Love. I've tried to reproduce it at home and just can't. Warm, cheery atmosphere. Friendly, attentive service. BYOB. Always food left over to take home. It's loud and a little cramped inside, but in happy, cozy way. Feels like a boisterous family party. Also be aware: there can be a long wait on the weekends. However, when I went there last weekend, they took my phone number so that they could call when a table was available. We went to the pub down the street and 30 min later, ring ring, your table is ready! Awesome. I would give Caro Mio 5 stars, the the prices have gone WAY UP in the last year or so. My beloved pasta arrabiata has gone from about $15 to $20. Overpriced for a tomato sauce despite its perfection. Thank god the place is BYOB.
(4)
Brad H.

Extensive selection of tasty homemade pastas, and BYOB is always a plus. Service was friendly but not very efficient (conspicuously slow to bring out bread and to open our bottle of wine). Even so, I would like to return to try some of the other menu selections. Good stuff. Prices seem a couple of dollars too high per entree, but I suppose you pay a little extra for the handmade pasta. As an aside, I'm not sure if the AC was off and/or broken during our visit, but the place was hotter than Hades.
(3)
Katherine R.

Here I had eggplant parmesian. My parents and I like this little spot to dine at in the evening. It is intriguing inside and has a majestic feel of romance. It is a intimate atmosphere for two mostly. The food is pastas and alfredo sauces or marinara to highlight. I'm pretty sure its candle lit but not to sure. Very tiny place to eat in a quiet area near the damen brown line. It literally is right in the middle of a nice neighborhood so you will have to walk some distance or drive to get out of the very residential spot to Montrose St. or Damen St.
(5)
Chuck K.

Amazing BYOB Italian restaurant in Ravenshood! Setting is very comfortable and warm. Service is great. Had Fettuccini Camberi and friends had Fettuccini Alfredo both were awesome. Portions are ridiculously large. Calamari appetizer was great and desert was delicious. I've been searching for an Italian BYOB and this place is totally worth it. Check it out!
(4)
Scott B.

SERVICE: Excellent BYOB: Yes, and no corkage fee:) FOOD: Average. Seriously, it's merely average, and not as authentic as...let's say I Monelli or Pizza Art Cafe. PRICES: Insanely expensive. Seriously, the lasagna was good, but $20? Good (not great) food, excellent service & high prices = 3 Stars. I may return...
(3)
Viki N.

Amazing! The food here is so delicious, it makes me want to have sex. Immediately. Add in the soft mood lighting, the friendly wait staff, the mellow vibe and BYOB, and there is no way you can't score when you take a girl to this place. Or maybe that's just me.
(5)
Kamila T.

Delicious Italian food. I had a salad and their spinach soup with three cheese tortellini - it was super tasty.
(5)
Amanda C.

Went here with a group of 6 for a friend's birthday party. It's really cute and quaint with dim lighting and Italian waiters dressed in jeans and tight black tops. I called ahead for a reservation, not thinking I would need one on a Wednesday, but was glad I made one since it got pretty crowded and is fairly small. It's BYOB with no corking fee, so that's a plus. However, their menu was fairly pricey so they may compensate for not selling booze that with higher prices. We all got different things and agreed that the best were the baked eggplant and the special, which was a stuffed gnocchi with pesto and cheese, topped with a tomato cream sauce. My friend got that and it was seriously cute fluffy little pillows on a plate and tasted sooo good! The sauce can make or break your dinner so ask about the sauce. One of my friend's dinners was ruined because her dinner was drowning in cream, while my pasta carbonara had no sauce at all. The portions were huge though, and everyone had leftovers for the next day. They brought out some chocolate cake for my friend's birthday (after we had ordered it) and can't remember if we were charged for that. If you have a group of 6 or more, 18% gratuity is automatically added. Service was fair. Would go back if it were closer to where I live!
(4)
Lauren R.

Caro Mio is an unexpected gem in the heart of Ravenswood. It's extremely easy to access off the Montrose Brown Line stop, or by car since there is ample parking on the street. The Italian food is so good, I am embarrassed to say I ever went to an Olive Garden for Italian cuisine. I suggest the gnocchi because of how light and pillow-like the little dumplings are. The spinach gnocchi with gorgonzola and red cream sauce is out of this world. And it being BYOB without a corkage fee is awesome! Caro Mio is a restaurant that runs at the pace of old world Italy. You go there to enjoy your company, wine and food. No need to rush, because you can't - the servers are very laid back. Enjoy the food! I wrote up more on my blog, check it out: chicagofoodfan.wordpressâ€¦
(5)
Sara P.

I had to give this place 5 stars, if only because they were AWESOME for New Years. We had a table of 7, and a reservation around 9p. When making the reservation, we were told we could have the table as long as we wanted, and that it was a fixed menu for $65, and BYOB. Uh, OKAY! My experience with fixed menus is that there have been many courses, but small dishes. This was many courses, and HUGE portions. Can you tell I mean it by all the caps in my review??? The bread we got to wait was great, and then out came the bruschetta...this was like bruschetta on 'roids. Huge pieces of bread with mozzarella and tomatoes. Two huge slices per person. If I could see into the future and knew how much food was coming, I would have stopped at one. Oh well...it was New Years. Second dish was lobster ravioli. Now, as the waiter was bringing out the plates, we thought they would put a few down for the table to share. Nope, 4 huge raviolis for EACH of us. Honestly, this was one of the best raviolis I've ever had. So good. Seriously. There's more you ask? Yes...before we know out, out come steaks in some delicious sauce and a side of gnochi. Heaven. So full, can't breath. But alas...canolli. Who says no to cannolli? Not me. I'm full, a little tipsy (lots of wine and champagne, yes please!)... and in heaven. What a way to start the new year. I'm looking forward to coming here again.
(5)
Melissa D.

Ti amo Caro Mio. (English Translation: I love Caro Mio) Caro Mio actually means my beloved, or my darling or dear in Italian. Just a little interpretation for you little yelpies... (plus your date might be quite impressed with your knowledge of the Italian language!) Hands down the best Italian food experience I've had in Chicago! I'm being for real here. First off, BYOB, (these restaurants are becoming my favorite), and no corkage fee. I am a huge fan for the no charging a dude to open my wine for me because their business doesn't offer alcohol. Thank you for that. My boyfriend took me here on one of our first dates. He couldn't have picked a better place. We were one of the 2 tables in there, but we did venture in close to the time the restaurant closed. I imagine a time closer to dinner time, the place would be packed. I loved the decor, the ambiance and the romantic feeling I had the moment I walked in. Bonus Points for the boyfriend. I knew exactly what I had a taste for and Caro Mio served me exactly what I wanted. I ordered the linguini frutta di mare (seafood with linguini in a spicy, red sauce) and it was unbelievable. My boyfriend ordered the veal parmesan. Fantastic. Nothing was over-priced and it was very reasonable. Our waiter was awesome. Wasn't there every two seconds to check on every bite. Was there just enough to not be over-bearing. Thumbs up! I loved this place and am hoping my boyfriend decides to take me back there soon! hint, hint! :)
(5)
Rick C.

Thanks to my lovely wife who recommended this place as an after-work meeting place. I had the lasagna cara mio and it was delicious. Creamy tomato sauce with tons of tasty meat. Highly recommended. It was also huge like everything I saw coming out of the kitchen. I really enjoyed this dish. My wife had the baked gnocchi in a tomato sauce. It was also quite good and large portioned. We also had the chocolate souffle which was ok. It's a little pricier than some places. About $20 per pasta entree, but I was all good. There are a lot of pluses to this place, it's by the train stop, it's byob, and the food is really good. We'll come back for sure.
(4)
Tracy F.

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in all of Chicago, perhaps the world (outside of Italy, but it's close). I've been coming here for years and the owners are family friends by now. The food is SO FRESH and homemade. You can't go wrong with any dish. They don't take reservations, so expect a wait Thurs-Sat. It's BYOB as well, so the price is great. I strongly recommend the homemade pasta or the salmon with balsamic glaze, but you really can't go wrong. Note: There is very little waiting room and no bar, so be prepared to either wait outside or be cramped inside. Still doesn't detract from everything else.
(5)
Michael D.

Took my lady here for her birthday after reading these reviews and seeing a bit on WGN TV about this place. Must say, this place has the best gnocchi I have ever had. My girlfriend ordered the gnocchi special and asked to have it fixed with oil and garlic only, no sauce. The staff was more than accomodating with her request. I ordered the penne with meatballs and sausage and it was excellent. Like mentioned in other reviews, we brought home plenty of left overs for another meal. You also can never go wrong with a BYO place that doesn't charge for a corking fee. I am bringing out of towners, family, and friends back to this place with me!
(4)
Amanda Z.

On a chilly June night, double date, my friend insisted that we meet up for some Italian at Caro Mio. I love Italian food, but these days, I'm realizing that my jeans are a bit snug and I should, well, ya know, start watching what I eat. After a quick glance at the online menu, I decided, eff it, I'm going all out with carbs and the like. My date and I split the calamari fritto, which was good, but a smidge too big for my liking, and a touch chewy. I like 'em little and dainty. (That is NOT what she said.) But it was perfectly crispy and served with a lovely tangy marinara sauce. I had one of the specials for the evening: lobster ravioli in the marscapone cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes which was decadent and fabulous. (Not as good as La Gondola, but if you've had it there, you know what I'm saying.) I had half leftover for my lunch today...ya know, spread the fatty out. BYOB with no corkage (love that) and very friendly service, albeit a bit slow. Too full for dessert, I have no comments there. I know, I said I was gonna go out fatty style. Turns out I failed at that. Besides, there's always control top pantyhose for that extra tightening on those "days after" eating massive amounts of carbs and cream sauce. And to allow you to finish your leftovers the next day. I'm just sayin...
(4)
Michelle S.

YUM! I think that I've been here about 6 times now. Loved it each and every time. The atmosphere is very relaxing. The lighting is the perfect shade of dim and the random decor just adds to the ambiance. Caro Mio is also BYOB! Hurrah! and the food is AMaZinG!!! The service is great because it comes with humor and attitude, as well as, extensive knowledge in the menu. LOVE IT! This is a perfect place for a small group of friends or a quiet date. Reservations are only for 6 or more, so if you are a small party I would recommend going early or early in the week.
(5)
Arielle N.

I love this place. The food is very good and the price is fine given that the portions are so big you can get two meals out of your order. The service is pretty good - I like that they are attentive at filling water glasses and such, but they don't hover. The BYOB is also a nice feature. The chicken parmesan with bolognese sauce is out of this world. This is one of my favorite restaurants!
(5)
Beth W.

I think Caro Mio is a good byob option. Some dishes are awesome and some are just okay. The dishes are very hearty- you can tell they use a lot of cream and butter. The porcini pappardelle is outstanding! Large portions hit or miss entres. The decor is interesting. I will continue to go back but its not my favorite in the world.
(3)
Bev h.

i would first like to apologize to caro mio for lessening their cozy, romantic atmosphere with our bachelorette party the other week. a big thanks to the staff for ignoring the "blow job bib" our lucky bride-to-be was wearing, and a special thanks to our sexy waiter for entertaining (if not accomodating) my request for body shots off of him. all that aside (hey, it's byob- don't judge), the food here is Amazing. i will go so far as to say that this might be as good or better than la gondola! from the lobster ravioli to the ricotta-stuffed spinach gnocchi in gorgonzola cream sauce, the pasta here is drool on yourself good. all that, and close to my hood? hell yes. i'll be back soon!
(5)
Maureen O.

Love this place. Great food, nice atmosphere, and BYOB!! This is the kind of italian place that makes you think authentic. The waitor speaks just enough english to take your order, talks italian to the table next to you, and you swear you saw his grandma making pasta in the kitchen window. Great!! The service is friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The ambiance is romantic and simple....No loud music or tacky decor. A perfect date place, or good for a night out with the girls. Now on to the food...delicious!! Bruschetta with mozzarella is fresh and aromatic, the pappardelle is homemade and cooked perfectly. The menu had a good sized selection of items and none of the portions are so huge that you leave there wondering why you just got served 2 pounds of pasta. Oh, and the best part....its BYOB! I love this place and will go back. All the dishes I got- appetizer to dessert were wonderful.
(5)
Dusty K.

It's been 3 days since I ate at Caro Mio and I'm still drooling over the cipollino pomodoro salad. It's a sinus clearing, taste bud bursting plate of delciousness. BEST. SALAD. EVER! I know what you're thinking...a salad, right?. Men shouldn't eat salads and besides it's "just a salad"...Caro Mio doesn't just do salads. Tomatoes, onions, gorgonzola cheese, extra virgin olive oil, oregano and basil have never been paired together so perfectly in a way that makes my mouth explode. One bite is all it takes to realize that you no longer want to share this salad. Welcome to flavor country. If you are dining at Caro Mio, make sure to get the cipollino pomodoro salad. Okay, I think I've made my point. The rest of our dinner was very enjoyable. The service was friendly, the owner very accomodating, and I really had a nice time at this lovely BYOB. I also ordered the gnocchi gratinati with a meatball on the side for dinner. The gnocchi were like soft pillows so the texture was amazing. The bolognese sauce it came with was hit or miss and the meatball could have been done better. As far as Italian food goes, I've had better but definitely enjoyed my time here. I will be back for the cipollino pomodoro and to try something else on the menu. Until then, I will keep that salad in my dreams.
(4)
Santiago A.

Mama mia! Molto bene! Squisito! ...all Italian for: this place is damn good!! They give Taylor St. a run for their money when it comes to fantastic Italian cuisine. I had the tri-colored rotolo pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach. They top it with marinara and mozzarella cheese then bake it to perfection. My date had the cheese ravioli with bolognese sauce... which meant I, too, had the cheese ravioli. Our situation is still new so she does the whole "I'm a girl and don't want you to think I eat too much" thing. Usually, I like it when women can house their enitre plate clean and then still fork-fight me for the last roll while waiting for dessert to arrive... but this was completely fine, since both dishes were extremely amazing. I know it's been said, but it bears repeating. This is BYOB w/ no corkage fee. As if this place needed to get any better... So, go there and enjoy a great meal. It is perfect for a romantic date or a special event with friends/family. The staff was excellent and parking is pretty easy to find. If you use CTA, then the Damen Brown line is very close.
(5)
Jennifer P.

If I have learned anything in my years of trying new places, it's to ask the staff what the best thing they make is and order that. If you go here. Do that. Or waiter says the gnocchi was tops here. He was right. I got the gnocchi special. Like little pillows of awesomeness filled with asiago and something else. Very good. Why then am I only giving it 3 stars? Well to start, my the rest of my friends' pasta was just mediocre. I woulda been irritated if mine was too - considering it was over the $20 mark. And the service wasnt that great either. But the topper was the 20%+ tip that was automatically applied to our check. 18% - okay, and we'll usually tip over that but to have 20+ added automatically when service was just okay put me over the edge.
(3)
Beth Anne C.

Once you walk in to this cozy restaurant, the smell of garlicky goodness is overwhelming. Vampires, first daters and garlic haters stay away! Caro Mio has never sent me home disappointed. The menu selection is fantastic, but I have to say, I keep coming back for the Gorgonzola risotto. It is rich & creamy and excellent with chicken added. The portion is large enough for 3 meals. A server once energetically suggested a pumpkin risotto that wasn't on the menu and it was just as tasty. The kitchen is adaptable to any taste buds. The fried calamari is some of the best I've had, but the fresh calamari salad is outstanding. It is enormous, so share with your friends. The balsamic dressing is very flavorful and complements the ingredients well. The service isn't especially quick, but they make up for it in personality. Bring more wine than you expect to drink as you might have to wait for your meal. If you are empty handed, there is a deli across the street that sells bottles of wine and a liquor store about 3 blocks away. No corkage fee! The prices can be a little higher than comparable restaurants, but keep in mind that the potions are very generous. Enjoy your time at Caro Mio and bring some breath mints!
(5)
Marisa F.

I live across the street. Star! My first time at Caro Mio, I didn't know what to order. Well, I knew I wanted something with chicken. The server (who I know realize was one of the owners) grabs my menu and brings out the best lemon chicken dish I've ever tasted. STAR! BYOB! Chicago, I love you a little more each day for introducing me to the joys of BYOB. STAR! If you get there at the right time (just before 630p), there's no wait. Even for a starving, fun loving party of six. By the end of our first bottle- err, course, the place was packed to the gills. There was a nice man observing my entree over my shoulder. Funny, the food was so good that I wasn't annoyed by this in the slightest. Wait, no that was because said boy was adorable. Moving along... The remaining stars are for the great atmosphere. The design of the place is inviting and warm. Even the artwork on the walls is fantastic. I could (and have!) easily make this my spot. You know, the place you always go for major events like Tuesday.
(5)
Lou A.

MY FAVORITE ITALIAN in the city! This place is stellar! The food is amazing and it's BYOB. The prices are very resonable for the portions that you get. I had leftovers for days. I have been recommending this place to all of my friends and they have had nothing but great experiences here as well. The only SMALL downfall is the service is a little slow... but nothing compares to the amazing food!:)
(5)
Dan P.

I grew up in an italian neighborhood where the moms like to feed "The American kids" with homemade cooking, so when I go to italian restaurants, I use that as a comparison. This place compares. I had the linguine putanesca which was outstanding. My girlfriend had the tortellini with marinara, & her friend the gnocchi stuffed with asiago in a creamy tomato sauce. All 3 sauces were excellent & the pasta cooked to perfection. We also had the bruschetta which came on over toasted bread which was a bit dry, but a big slice of mootsadell on top made up for it. Its a cute, cozy little place, but Cozy+crowded = noisy - not the fault of the restaurant of course. Service was ok, but very friendly. Not the greatest location, but worth the trip. Bottom Line: Its a charming little byob with no corkage fee & outstanding food. Probably a 4.5/5, but now one of my favorite byobs in the city. I would get here by 7 to get a table right away. Later in the evening there is a wait.
(5)
Master P.

Delicious! One of the best italian food restaurants in Chicago.
(5)
Jimmie M.

This small BYO Italian spot is ok. The pastas tend to be a bit heavy and overloaded with sauce and cheese. However, the appetizers are great! They serve a traditional Italian soup that I cannot remember the name of but it has noodles and eggs in it and it is out of this world!!! If you in the area and are looking for some basic Italian food and aren't too fussy, perhaps this is the place for you.
(3)
Kelly S.

I loved Caro Mio. It was a small, intimate little place in the middle of nowhere that served up some of the best food I have ever eaten. It may have helped that it was drenched in a cream sauce. I had stuffed gnocchi and a chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and proscuitto. I ate everything on my plate. My husband and I sat at our little table and enjoyed each other's company, our BYO Chianti, a delicious dinner, and the good tunes playing in the background. It was a fantastic night.
(5)
Sarah E.

I was vacillating between four stars and five stars. It's wonderfully quaint in a relatively quiet neighborhood. The prices are very reasonable. The portions are HUGE. I generally stray from cliche and carby Italian food, but I gladly indulged in a huge plate of mushroom risotto and the best bruschetta (w/ fresh mozz) I've ever had. I didn't look closely, but I'm assuming the varied art on the wall is from local artists, and I'm a huge supporter of the local arts and any establishment that is equally supportive. I was going to go four stars because of a run-in we had w/ someone upon arriving 15 minutes late for our reservation. We're late. We get it. But, telling us that we're late and they'll get busy and waiting even longer to seat us won't help the situation any. We ended up at the same table that stayed empty while we were waiting anyway. Then I remembered that the manager (or perhaps owner) was very apologetic, stopped twice to ask how our meal was, and that we were toting six bottles of wine between five of us. Five stars it is. I'll definitely be back, and I'll arrive for my reservation on time.
(5)
Stacy C.

I've driven by this place for years and always thought about going - but never got there till my birthday a few weeks ago. So glad I did. And I've made it a point to go back since...and will go back again. First of all - how can you not love BYOB. It's the best concept of the restaurant world. And...no corkage fee. Even better. If you're going to go on a Friday or Sat - I'd recommend early (like 6:30) or late (like 9). Between then - packed. If you're a party of 5 or more - call and make a reservation. I highly recommend the homemade pasta. Anything in this section of the menu is delish! I went basic the first time and had their cheese ravioli - just awesome. Second time added some chicken tortellini. Again - just wonderful to eat. For dessert we had the lemon...something. Can't remember the name. You'll know it on the menu. Very good. A nice refreshing way to end the meal. I've never had a problem with the service. Waiters and bussers are attentive and we never waited long for anything.
(4)
Ali O.

Once again, Yelp has pointed me in the right direction. I wanted to find a restaurant near my friend's house that we could easily walk to . . . not always an easy task around those parts. So, of course, I went to Yelp and found Caro Mio. I'm pretty sure everyone that night was glad we decided to give Caro Mio a try despite its unassuming location :) I'm not sure if I can add anything to the reviews that hasn't already been said . . . +Big delicious portions (the food definitely isn't cheap, but you get a lot for the price!) +BYOB and no corkage fee +really cute, small, independent restaurant We went on a Wednesday night and it was pretty busy. Apparently it was only *us* who had never heard of it! I'm definitely going to suggest hitting this place up again. And when we do, I'm ordering the creamy pesto sauce . . . with some pasta. YUMMO.
(4)
otilia p.

Fabulosity. Italian food is one of my favs and this place definitely satisfied the palate. Happened to go here after a horrible waiting experience from another restaurant (*cough* tango sur!!) through a recommendation of a good friend of mine. My friend called and even though it was very late in the evening they were very accomodating and the staff was friendly. The food was delicious! I had the gnocci with shrimp drizzled with a tomato cream sauce. Yummmm! My boyfriend ordered the same but with italian sausage. Said he forced himself not to eat the whole plate so he can take home left overs. The fried calamari was crispy and fresh ....great flavor too. Another great aspect about this spot is that it's BYOB! If you bring white wine they place iced buckets on your table. No cork fees. The last 5th star for making what could have been a disaster into an awesome one. They also played fun music per our request since it was past closing time...and they never once rushed us out. They closed at 10....we left just past 11:30!
(5)
Chcogal C.

This review is for the newly opened lunch buffet. The dinners are fantastic- so I was very excited to see they opened up next door (expanded) to have private parties and buffet lunch. I guess buffets are hard- but this felt like it was a different chef/kitchen. The pastas were flavorless, the desserts felt like hotel boring options, the chicken was over done- and the entire offering was just not up to Caro mio standards. The service was very friendly- and faster than the usual food since everything was already made- but I wouldn't go back for lunch unless the quality dramatically improved.
(2)
Kevin A.

WHERE'S THE BEEF? And the sausage for that matter? Went to Caro Mio with very high expectations, but left a little underwhelmed. The meal started well with an excellent bruschetta topped with a generous slice of fresh mozzarella. From there, however, things started to go down hill. Our next dish was a pumpkin risotto with chicken which tasted more like mac n' cheese than risotto. Any pumpkin flavor was eclipsed by the cheese and the dish was very 'one note'. Another miss was the Italian giambotta. This dish was supposed to consist of meatballs and sausage cooked with peppers, onions, and potatoes in a marinara sauce. What we got was a giant plate of potatoes, onions, 1 tiny sausage, and 2 meatballs. After we ordered a side of meatballs, which they comped, they admitted that they had just run out of sausage. All in all it was a sub-par meal and I left without an understanding what so many people love about this place aside from the fact it's BYOB.
(2)
Heather C.

Upon a friend's recommendation, we went to Caro Mio the other night. Just walking into the restaurant and being hit by a wave of delicious smells, you know you're in for a treat. We showed up on a Friday night around 8 and was told it would be a 30" wait, he suggested we go to the bar down the street, and he'd call us. Dinner was really tasty. Portobello appetizer to start was buried in this fantastic simple tomato sauce. I had the stuffed gnocchi special with tomato cream sauce, which was to die for -- possibly the best gnocchi I've ever had in my life. My fiance had a ziti special with peppers, sausage and meatballs which wasn't actually that good. Loved that it's BYOB and friendly service.
(4)
Jane W.

Very lovely little Italian restaurant. Not exactly authentic... the dishes are enormous and rely a bit much on the American love of butter and grease. The flavors are good! Fennel infused Italian sausage was amazing. A bit pricey. As I mentioned, you receive more of a platter than a dish. Three meals in one. BYOB and go on weekday evening. Enjoy!!! ps. the waiters aren't hard on they eyes. :)
(4)
Kristen Z.

Caro Mio is in my 'hood and BYO so I desperately wanted to love it. Two stars for attentive, friendly service and a cozy atmosphere. We started with the bruschetta. The flavors were fine, but the tomatoes were so watery that it soaked the bread, making it impossible to pick-up. It was also a bit pricey at $11. I ordered one of the specials: tortellini with peas/shrimp in a spicy marinara. As soon as the plate was set down, there was an overwhelming citrus smell. Instead of the sweet tomatoe-y flavor I was hoping for, the sauce was actually sour. I later found slices of lemon cooked into the sauce. I wish the menu would have listed that. The pasta was delicious and the shrimp were fresh and cooked perfectly. My bf had the lobster ravioli with cream sauce. Again, the pasta was awesome and the lobster filling was great - the sauce was the problem. It was so sweet it almost tasted as though it belonged on a dessert. We did our best to salvage the dishes by periodically taking bites off each other's plates to counteract the acidity/sweetness of our own dishes. Our bill with tip for an app and two pasta dishes was $72. Too much to not be "wowed".
(2)
Kate D.

Amazing. I haven't been to a restaurant in a while where I proceeded to tell everyone I knew about it afterward. Maybe I should keep my mouth shut so it doesn't get too popular! We dined here on a Saturday night. We had 5 people, so we did not have a reservation. We were seated within 15 minutes (I think we came at just the right time). The service was great - waitress was attentive but not overbearing and made great recommendations. Our water glasses always full and we were promptly served their complimentary bread with accompaniments. The atmosphere is very cute and cozy. You can't go wrong with any of their specials. Two of us ordered the linguini frutta di mare. It was fabulous - so much seafood for only $19. Everyone loved their meal. With BYOB, we were out the door at $25 a person. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Flo J.

Really delic food here, laidback atmosphere. We were the last table one night and they didn't show any signs of forcing us out. Talk about a great staff!! I love that it is a byob and they don't hesitate to limit you by bottle. Your food is so delicious, I could even eat the dishes Caro Mio!
(4)
Val B.

I was very disappointed with Caro Mio's food and service. We went on the coldest night of the year so far, about -15 with the windchill at the time. Upon entering, we noticed there were about 5 of the maybe 12 tables seated with people, and we waited a good 5 minutes before anyone popped their head out of the back to see if anyone came in. I know 5 mins isn't super long, but the way the restaurant is laid out, it's just awkward to stand there. A real head-case walked out and sat us by the front emergency glass door, where there was a draft of -15 degree air. Nice. We gestured from across the room for another table, and he pointed to another table, not saying a word, but his eyebrows almost touched his receding hairline. Unprofessional. Oh, our server...he was such a sweet young Italian man, but we really didn't understand more than 3 words when he was telling us the specials. He meant well, though, and tried hard. His accent was just very thick. We ordered the eggplant appetizer which I thought was very good, but the other person in my party insisted was not cooked completely. Also the table bread was stale. I had the chicken tortellini. The pasta was overcooked and almost mushy, and the chicken was just gross and dryyyyyyy. I will say, however, that their sauce is really good and fresh. For dessert, I had the tiramisu which was probably the worst I've had with way too much espresso soaked into the lady fingers. So much, that I requested a spoon to scoop it up before giving up halfway though. It was a mushy mess. But props to the lemon sorbet dessert -- it tasted amazing, actually. So, I'm torn about this place. I suppose it's possible I ordered the wrong thing, and given the other great reviews, I'm willing to try this place again sometime. But leaving the place with an $80 bill just made me feel like a fool.
(2)
Kristine L.

Wow! I really don't know why I will ever go to another Italian restaurant! This place is so cute and comfortable. It smells amazing once you open the door. The staff is so friendly and great at suggestions. We enjoyed some of the best calamari, eggplant and brushetta... and that was just the beginning. It was the best gnocchi I've ever had - absolutely amazing. Its BYOB and our bill was only $30 each in the end and we all left beyond stuffed. I cannot wait to go back! ***** I just went again on Friday and have to add that the salmon is ahhhhhmazing and I do not like salmon. I couldn't get enough of this delicious fish. And again, the gnocchi was shockingly delicious yet again. I would recommend doing what we continue to do and order a few appetizers and main dishes to share with one another! Fantastic restaurant!
(5)
Steve M.

Mmmmm Italian food. I thought I could always use another italian restaurant just in case my favorite italian place (see other reviews) closes down or burns down. Unfortunately this isn't the place for me. It is BYOB which is nice but I think I could have cooked better gnocci at home. My girlfriend had the cheese ravioli which was good, but the bolognese sauce missed the target. We were there with a group of 10 and I don't think I heard one person rave about what they ate. The other good points to mention were easy street parking and it was a nicely decorated restaurant. I would definitely choose other Italian before I went back.
(3)
M B.

I went here on a Sunday evening with my parents and while I expected it to be good, nothing could prepare me for how good. First off, its BYOB with no corking fee! Awesome. Secondly our waiter was really friendly and attentive and gave great advice as to what to pick on the menu. I had a pumpkin risotto that was out of this world, it clearly was fresh pumpkin, none of that canned garbage. My parents split the homemade rigatoni with a huge piece of chicken parm on top, it could honestly feed an army and it was so reasonably priced! This is a definite romantic date spot or a warm family outing. I also love that they support local artists and have their art on sale on the walls. This place definitely deserves every star!
(5)
Beth P.

My boyfriend and I went here for dinner on a Saturday night. Everything was amazing! The staff was very friendly and we were seated right away. We started off with some yummy bruschetta topped with fresh mozzarella. For entrees, my boyfriend had a salmon dish and i had some pasta, both were delicious! We also loved that it was BYOB. To finish off a nice evening we split the chocolate souffle. Overall, we enjoyed our entire experience at Caro Mio and will definitely be back again!
(5)
Sara O.

Talk about the cutest little Italian place! And BYOB!!! I used to live a few block from this place and I feel so lucky! This place is perfect (though the amount of plants they have in the window is a little strange). I love the atmosphere here--it's just so cozy. As long as you don't mind overhearing the conversations of other tables, since you will be sitting relatively close to table next to you. Ask your waiter about the special or recommendations--they love to tell you about their favorites, and they're always right because it's ALWAYS good. When in doubt, get the gnocci.
(5)
Sarah K.

Caro Mio was recommended to me by pretty much everyone I knew who lived in the Ravenswood area. I moved just down the street from it a few months ago, and finally went to check it out when my parents were in town this weekend. Yes, it is a little on the pricey side, but it's nothing crazy. Plus, when you take into account the fact that you're not paying for drinks it pretty much equals out. There is no corking fee, which is a nice touch. We arrived around 6:15, and it was filling up by 6:30. It's a small place, but I never felt overly crowded - even when a party of 8 was seated right behind me. It wasn't too loud, and the tables weren't sitting on top of each other which is usually the case when you go to a small restaurant and have less than 4 people. The food was really good. We had bruschetta for an appetizer; it was simple but really fresh with great flavors. My dad and I both had the gnocchi that was on special - spinach stuffed gnocchi with a creamy tomato sauce. My dad opted to substitute marinara, but the sauce wasn't overly creamy or heavy for me. My mom got the chicken tortolloni, which she said was really good as I couldn't taste it. Service was good. He was knowledgeable about the menu and specials, and didn't make us feel rushed even though there was a line by the time we were leaving. I wanted to try the tiramisu to compare it to the larger, more chain-ier Italian restaurant that I work at but I was too full to. The portions are generous - so if you're worried about price it should be able to last you two meals!
(4)
Nikkie H.

You know it's a good sign when you stare at the menu for 10 minutes and can't decide because everything looks good. Just when you think you have something picked out the server throws you for a loop by telling you the day's specials. Awesomeness. Went recently with a large group of people (there had to have been 14 of us) and it was great. I ended up going with my standard spaghetti carbonara and it was quite good. Like some other reviews said it was quite salty (I blame is on the prosciutto), but I heard all my friends saying the same thing. Pretty much every dish was really salty. Most people didn't mind though. I do have to say I drank about a carafe and a half of water myself and still woke up dehydrated in the middle of the night. Maybe too much salt... Overall it was a fun time, the food was good and the service was excellent. Chances are high I will be back to try some of the either dishes I was eyeballing.
(4)
Lauren D.

This is my family's go-to place for out-of-town guests or nicer family dinners, and everyone we take here falls in love. I can't say enough good things about this place. The service is wonderful. It is BYOB. The food is fantastic. Portions are huge. We always get a couple orders of bruchetta and calamari for the table, and they are fabulous every time. I'm always hesitant about calamari because so many places overcook it and then it's chewy, but not here. Every time I've had it, it's been perfectly done. For main course, we usually order a few to share for the table. two people could easily split one dish because the portions are so large. That's why we love coming here in big groups, it keeps the cost down and you get to try some of all the delicious dishes they have on the menu. Even when we share dishes, there is too much food. I have never left this place without a doggie-bag. This is a great neighborhood spot. Small, quaint and phenomenally delicious. Everyone should try it... more than once.
(5)
Colleen C.

It just happened to be the perfect night, at a perfect place... Well ok, so it was 14 below zero, snowing, and the night BEFORE Valentine's Day, but I have grown a bit more "amenable" in my old age. :) It was still pretty damn close to perfect. I should preface this review with the fact that I generally do not like to "go out" for Italian, unless it is pizza, which I think should actually be a different genre. I feel it is usually too filling, and that we could cook it at home (which we wouldn't do, in reality, but...whatever). But my boy is Italian, and no one does romantastic dinners like Italians, so off we trudged to Caro Mio, highly recommended on Yelp. I can see why. Cute, cozy little restaurant with neighborhood locals chatting over wine (that they brought themselves, AMEN!). Animated Italian staff/family bustling around. The only thing I didn't like was all the plant life in the windows...I just don't get that choice for decor, but it was a minor flaw... OMG. And the food...so. GOOD. We both had the specials, I indulged in the chicken and ravioli in mushroom porcini sauce. (Thank you Chris M.) It was earthy, rich and downright sinful. My date had the gnocchi special, heavenly in tomato cream sauce. We split the cappuccino tarfuto for dessert....divine. Seriously (Julia W gets the cred on that one...holy amazing, but they were outta chocolate.) Service was excellent even though the place was busy for a Wednesday night. Food arrived promptly, we got an ice bucket for our wine, and all was well with the world. 5 stars: Quaint locale, BYOB, excellent food, great service...and Lord, the food again. Great place for a date. :) Suggest reservations for dinner if you have a larger group near the weekends. Street parking is pretty good...definitely a place you could go casual OR dressy, depending on your mood! Run, go! Indulge. Many, many kudos to Julia W and Chris M for this fantastic recommendation!
(5)
Cynthia E.

The food was great, but took almost an hour for a party of 7. The menu is quite expensive, but this place is BYOB, so perhaps they're compensating. There is a plate sharing charge of $8.00, and if you don't order an entree (appetizer, etc.) they will charge you an $8.00 surcharge. Beautiful room. Service was friendly and accommodating.
(3)
Zach J.

This is hands-down my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago. It's probably under the radar for most people, but it's a very popular spot in the neighborhood, with good reason. First, and most importantly, the food is fantastic. I've been here a handful of times, and every pasta dish I've enjoyed has been outstanding, most recently their spinach gnocchi quattro formaggi dish, in which the ghocchi's are stuffed with pesto in a delicious creamy cheese sauce. Throw in some chicken, and, ummhmm, I was good to go. You can't go wrong with their pasta selections, they are phenomial and a real treat for this guy. Another thing that puts Caro Mio over the top for me is the ambiance of the place. It's got an intimate setting, with cool artwork on the walls, and a lively atmosphere. Lots of good conversation, good people, a good date spot. Oh, and it's BYOB too, which is always an added bonus. Their waitstaff is also very efficient, knowledgeable/helpful, friendly, and overall on top of it. So the food is the main selling point, it never dissappoints. Throw in the atmosphere, great service, BYOB, and you've got my personal favorite Italian restaurant in the Chi.
(5)
Annabelle S.

If you are looking for authentic Italian cuisine at a reasonable price, this is the place for you. While this delicious restaurant is in an unexpected area (perhaps just for me since I don't usually frequent Wilson Ave.), the food gets two enthusiastic thumbs up. We started with the bruschetta special, which had slices of freshly cut mozzarella cheese drizzled with olive oil and garlic. It was by far the most delicious and perfected bruschetta I've had in my life. Most places, the bread is either too crisp or too soggy. This bread was perfect with a great garlic flavor, the fresh tomatoes were seasoned well and all together with the slightly melted mozzarella, well, let's just say I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I then moved on to my main course. I again chose one of the specials which is pretty standard for me when trying a new restaurant. I had the asiago and pesto stuffed gnocchi with a hearty meat sauce. It was amazing, almost like little pillows of fluffy deliciousness. The meat sauce had a robust flavor and didn't overdo the meat to sauce ratio that so many other Italian restaurants fail. The only real downside to this restaurant is that it is so small. If you are trying to have a large group meal, I wouldn't recommend doing it here. My only other small critique of this restaurant is that the olive oil they serve on the table is quite salty for my personal taste (and shame on me for not trying it before I added salt and pepper)! When I used it the second time without adding salt/pepper, it still seemed quite salty but is definitely something I can overlook in comparison to the rest of the quality cuisine.
(4)
Frank A.

Definitely a great little Italian restaurant in the Ravenswood area. Pros: Intimate for a nice date, BYOB (Always a huge plus, especially if you have a consumption problem like muah.), huge portions and great service. Cons: (Only can think of one.) The restaurant is small and they try to jam as many tables as possible, so it feels like your also dining with the people next to you. My conversations usually end up being inappropriate which is kind of AWKWARD when grandma and grandpa are next to you. Definitely add it to your list of great BYOB restaurants in Chicago. P.S. Make reservations ahead of time.
(4)
Minna A.

a WONDERFUL italian BYOB. The atmosphere was great, my friend and I didn't have to wait in line, and no corkage fee BYOB! They have some of the best italian I've ever had! hint: their lobster ravioli is available by special request. definitely a don't miss!
(5)
Andrea G.

I brought 4 girlfriends here last Friday night and we all LOVED it. I will come here again and again. It was a nice break from eating downtown where it's crowded and long waits. They let you make reservations for 6 or more. We each ordered a pasta dish and they were each almost family sized! Such a great surprise, not to mention the bruschetta appetizer came with 5 huge pieces, perfect for our group. It's BYOB and no corkage fee which is hard to find in a GOOD restaurant in Chicago. The service was unexpectedly amazing too. One of us spilled a glass of wine and the glass broke near someone's meal and one of the servers insisted on bringing a new plate for her meal and a side of sauce. They add 20% gratuity for groups of 5+ but we tipped on top of that. Best $35 spent at a group dinner.
(5)
Kelly C.

I recently dined at Caro Mio for the first time and fell in love with everything about this restaurant. The restaurant is very small but in a warm, cozy kind of way. I didn't feel over crowded even though there were a lot of people sitting closely together. In fact, that was part of the charm. The service was amazing from the moment we stepped in....everyone from the waiter, to the bus boy to the owner were all excellent. We never had an empty glass; we never had a dirty plate in front of us and even though there was a wait to be seated we never felt rushed. The waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu as well. We ordered bruschetta and it was amazing - it was the best I've ever had. Our entrees were very rich and warm and delicious as well. The owner takes pride in walking around the restaurant and talking with the guests which enhanced the experience as well. We chatted with him for about 15 minutes and he was so thoughtful and genuine. We also saw him bringing around trays of bruschetta to all the guests that were waiting for a table - you can't beat that. Fantastic service, amazing food, good atmosphere - great restaurant!
(5)
Billy K.

A fantastic north-side secret... or is it? I used to work a few blocks from this place and would pass it up for the Cuban sandwiches next door for lunch. I always wondered what the dark little Italian place was like for a dinner service. The answer - fantastic. It's a small place, so reservations are recommended. The food is hearty and authentic in taste (but not so much in portion size - they're HUGE). The menu is quite extensive, and doesn't seem to be seasonal but that didn't matter to me - it does feature a pretty fair range of all Italian regional styles and plenty of homemade pasta. A great bonus is that it's BYOB, so feel free to try out your own wine pairings. The server was attentive and knowledgeable, but admittedly slammed by the full house. Definitely worth another visit, if only for the kickass osso buco.
(4)
Susan L.

Hot diggity dawg!!! Fresh fresh fresh pasta? CHECK! A huge delicious menu? CHECK! Garlic, Parmesan, & red pepper flakes to mix with your olive oil? CHECK CHECK and CHECK! BYOB? HELLA CHECK! I can't wait to take my parents here. It's a bit more expensive (most entrees around $19) but big enough portions to take home for lunch the next day.
(5)
Sarah L.

This is a very cute and romantic Italian restaurant. The staff is very friendly and it's nice and dark with candlelight. I came here for my anniversary and we had a lovely dinner. This is a BYOB establishment so that will save you a few dollars. Their portions are massive and you will leave full and happy. I had the cheese ravioli with Bolognese sauce. It was delicious but a tad bit salty. My man had the seafood pasta and that was really good too. It had anchovies in it, not a fan of those little guys. We also shared a Cannoli. I don't know how I ate dessert that night but I couldn't resist. Check out this cute little gem on Wilson you will fall in love!
(4)
Martin W.

Warm & cozy (perhaps a little crowded) atmosphere, but the food's the draw. Terrific food. BYOB is great, and big enough servings to have a doggie bag for lunch the next day. Yelp says they take reservations, but the gentleman on the phone just told me that they don't. So: hmmm. It also gets real busy, and I have always had a pretty good-sized wait, so reservations would help... Anyway, there are some downsides to Caro Mio but they are logistical; the food is absolutely excellent.
(4)
Culinary P.

This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants. The food is delicious and the wait staff is super friendly. I've had several items on the menu and haven't been disappointed by any of them. We generally get one of three different servers when we eat there and even the waiters not helping us for the evening stop by and say hi. It feels a bit like I'm going home to visit my family. The restaurant is also BYOB.
(4)
Shanna B.

My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner on a Tuesday night. It was practically empty when we got there which was fine with us. We shared a BYO bottle of wine and ordered amazingly decadent food and had a lovely night overall. I ordered the asiago-filled gnocchi and hubs got the pumpkin ravioli in mascarpone cheese sauce. We shared both meals, of course, and they were both awesome. Rich, filling, perfect for a splurge. We finished off the evening with the lemon sorbet dessert (the one with a limoncello center) and it was delicious as well. Next time we want to sabotage our diets and go all out, we know where to go.
(5)
Terri A.

The food (and service) here are dreck. (look up meaning if you don't know what I mean!) The zuppe de peche was almost inedible sitting in a thick goopy tasteless tomato sauce. And the skin was left on the clumps of fish--gross. And the sauce on the pasta side was tasteless too. The appetizerss we ordered were ok--green beans, bruschetta, calamari so at least I got some dinner. And the bread is very ordinary--dry, bland, cold, obviously not homemade, plain white bread tasting like they got it at the grocery store. My entree, friend's salmon and another's risotto--all dreck. Save your money and eat elsewhere!
(1)
Abby K.

Great Food, Service was slow, which surprised me as other reviews commented on the amazing waitstaff. Called ahead to ask if there was a wait for a party of 2 on Saturday night. Was told to come right in. We were seated in about 10 minutes. The menu was enticing, and we decided what we wanted, but sat for 10 minutes without even the water glasses being filled. Once we finally ordered, the waiter recommended the Breschetta special, which was to die for. Could have eaten 2 more orders, it was soft toasted bread, excellent tomato mixture and fresh mozzarella. We ordered the lasagna special and another pasta dish. Both were beyond expectations and we decided we would definitely go back to try more items on the menu. I am hoping the poor slow inattentive service was a one time thing. I do recommend though to anyone who enjoys a hearty homemade Italian dinner with no frills, just a super cute atmosphere with fantastic food.
(4)
Lauren H.

This place is cozy, inviting and quite tasty...all the good qualities of a favorite neighborhood Italian place. I'd highly recommend the eggplant parmesan and whatever gnocchi they're offering that day. I read somewhere once that gnocchi means tiny pillows in Italian, and if that's true, then that's exactly what they look like! Plus, you get lots of food...enough for lunch the next day. Also, it's a BYOB...what's not to love!?
(4)
Patty S.

We had decided to go to Glenn's Diner on a whim and even though we got there at 8:20PM on a Friday night, with no reservations, it was an 80 mins wait!!! So, we looked up Yelp to see what else was in the area and decided to go to Caro Mio. Since we hadn't plan on going to a BYOB, we didn't bring any wine with us. Although there is a liquor store about 2 blocks away, we really didn't want to go back out into the rain. We didn't know what to expect but the place is quite small and very dark. We were seated right away and from what I heard from the table next to ours was that usually you would have to wait if you don't have a reservation. We started off with the bruschetta with fresh mozz and that was delicious. What a great way to start the meal! The table next to us recommended that we try their green bean salad and share an entree as their portions are HUGE! The green bean salad was very refreshing, light, and crisp. Most places tend to over cook green beans, but this was prepared perfectly. For entree we decided to split the shrimp in a spicy red sauce with linguini. WOW, it was probably one of the best spicy red sauce with shrimp I've had anywhere! The only downside is that we waited forever between each course. We had spent over an hour there and had to flag someone down to get our check. The couple of waiters that were there would just walk by our table and not ask if we needed anything else and it took them a long time to clear off our plates. I think the food is good and a place that I would frequent if I lived in that neighborhood. Since I don't, I don't think I will be going there again unless there was a special request.
(3)
Jessica W.

I give the food here a solid 5 stars. The location and splitting fees are the only reason I knocked my review down to 4 stars. Food: The menu here is fantastic. The menu is very diverse, making it great for a meat-eater or for a pescetarian like myself. Their pasta dishes are very inventive and combine a wide variety of flavors, which I am a huge fan of. We started with the bruschetta topped with fresh mozzarella. Best bruschetta I've ever had, hands down. The bread was perfectly toasted and the tomatoes were ripe and fresh. We then split the pappardelle con pomodoro seco - homemade pappardelle pasta topped with sun-dried tomatoes and a mascarpone cheese sauce. It was out of this world. The homemade pasta was a noticeable difference from dried pasta, and the tartness of the sundried tomatoes with the rich, creaminess of the cheese sauce was perfectly balanced. We were, however, charged an $8 splitting fee to split this dish - I thought was a big over the top. And the best part of it all - it's BYOB so you don't have to deal with being charged 3x shelf price for a bottle of wine! Atmosphere: Besides the obscure location of the restaurant, the atmosphere within is eclectic and interesting. It has a romantic feel, as most tables consisted of couples on dates. It gets very crowded, so be sure to make a reservation in advance.
(4)
Kristin S.

The food is fantastic, the service attentive and adorable, and what's that? Oh, yeah, it's a BYOB! If I lived a little closer, my boyfriend and I would be heading here every couple weeks! After bookmarking Caro Mio over 3 months ago, I finally made it in. That is the one downside to this place: no reservations, so get there early or be prepared to wait a LONG time. Prices were extremely reasonable for the quality of food and the ambiance is great. It's small, but I love the funky, bright art on the walls and the plants by the window to shield the restaurant from the sidewalk without losing the natural light. My group of 3 decided to all share our meals. We started with the polenta which was good, but didn't realy blow my mind. You could tell the tomato sauce was homemade, though. We also ordered two of the special entrees: Gnocchi stuffed with pesto ricotta in a tomato cream sauce (definitely my absolute favorite-incredibly light if you can believe it from that description. yummy pillows of hand made gnocchi with and intense, basily, cheesy center.) Lobster Ravioli: Lots of lobster stuffed in each ravioli with an incredibly rich cream sauce. I'm really glad we shared because I'm not sure I could've eaten an entire plate of this. It was almost too decadent for me. Our third entree was an eggplant rolled with cheese, rice noodles and baked with more cheese on top. It was yummy and a great, lighter dish to break up the heaviness of the other two. Um, yeah, even with all that cheese, I consider it "light" since it contained a vegetable. Ha! They were out of the tiramisu which seemed like a tragedy, but our super sweet server took the blame as it seems he's the one who usually makes it and he was out of town. Oh well, guess I"ll just have to come back!
(4)
Meredith C.

Yet another wonderful BYOB spot in the Ravenswood area! I went there with my special lady. We were originally told that it was going to be a half hour wait, but it was only ten minutes. I can handle that. They seated us in the back room, which was dark (good dark, not can't see my food dark) and quiet. We started off with some fried calamari. Granted, I fried calamari is a fairly easy dish and most of the time, even when I have it at not so good Italian places, it's always at the very least decent. And Caro Mio's calamari mas definitely better than decent. The breading was light and crispy and the calamaris were not too oily. Then, on to their delicious, in house made pastas! There is a huge difference between boxed pasta and homemade (or restaurant made, if you will). The lady ordered the special: gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce. It was a (fairly) basic that had just enough of those homemade, authentic touches that made it a beyond basic dish. I, on the other hand, had the pappardelle con porcini, which was beyond outstanding. It was just enough cream and oil (you know, the good stuff) in the sauce and it had the perfect mushroom flavor to it. Plus the sauce and the porcini mushrooms was paired perfectly with the the pappardelle (which is almost like a wide linguini noodle). Altogether, it was a little over $50, which isn't bad for a nice, romantic dinner at all. And BYOB with no corkage fee! Bellisimo!
(4)
Mark W.

My dinner pal and good buddy, Jeff Borden met me here one night. We like to meet once a month and dine somewhere neither of us have been. He's a great guy to have dinner with. Great conversation and he likes to eat at nice places that aren't mainstream. It was a bit romantic for a couple of guys, I'll admit. Nevertheless, Caro Mio? - Outstanding. Step through the front doors and begin your journey to the heart of Italy. From the paintings on the wall to the quiet candlelight table settings to the delectable aromas wafting from the kitchen, just steps away from the tables. I love to hear a Chef "clanking away" in the kitchen just under the music. Wonderful. Be prepared because Caro Mio restaurant is a trip to Italy for your senses. In every bite of their fine Italian cuisine, you can taste the essence of a cozy Italian villa, over looking a rolling countryside with winding roads and a gentle sea breeze. (That was a bit sappy, I admit but I always wanted to write like that...yuk) Service - European, slow, authentic, but very personal, no rush, relax, take your time and drink some wine and enjoy a good conversation. I would never take a large crowd to Caro, no more than 4 people, tops. It's not that kind of place. Decor - is small, dark and romantic. You'll feel lost or in hiding. Food - "Bella." Music - Euro lounge, very nice... different. Bottom-line: Bring your best bottle (or two) of Red, your best girl (or wife) and huddle and cuddle in this cozy Chicago hideaway. I'm going back but on a really snowy night, mid week, sometime in late January. This time, I will take my wife or daughter, as shes my best girl. I have the best of both worlds. "Finisci di mangiare"! (eat up)
(4)
Bri L.

This place was fantastic! I had the pesto cavatelli, which was incredible. Pasta is homemade, no corking fee, great service.... Only complaint was the bread sucks, but the entrees are so incredible it's seriously a negligible part of the meal. You MUST go here if you live in Chicago.
(5)
Yasmeen A.

I can't believe it's taken me this long to write a review for Caro Mio. Seriously!? It's no Spiaggia, but I love this place. First of all, it smells good. Really good. Second of all, it's BYOB. Third, if you have to wait (fairly common), you can just walk to the liquor store a few blocks up and grab said YOB in a snap. I have really enjoyed every pasta dish I have tried there, especially anything in their seemingly signature mascarpone cream sauce. Highlights on the menu include the polenta al sugo appetizer ( fresh polenta grilled on a flat grill then topped with a rich ragu sauce and finished with parmesan cheese), the lobster ravioli in cream sauce, osso buco and pappardelle con porcini (Italian porcini mushrooms sauteed with borolo red wine, parmesan cheese and cream). Caro Mio may not be for you if "cozy" (a.k.a. a fork's reach away from the table next to you on a busy night) isn't your thing. It can also get fairly loud and sometimes the waiters are a bit scatterbrained. But when your steaming, ginormo portion of homemade pasta comes out, none of it will matter because the foodgasm will drown everything else out.
(4)
Rebecca Z.

This place really impressed me. We started off with brushcetta topped with fresh buffalo mozzarella. This was the best bruschetta I have ever had in my life!! They made this simple dish so well I can give them five stars just for that, but the rest of our meal was amazing also. The gnocchi were like soft pillows, the risotto was cooked perfectly, and everyone loved the chicken parmigiana. And I just love that they are byob with no corckage fee.
(5)
M D.

The 1st time we tried to eat here, we were completely ignored at the door, and just left. The second time, we felt like we were interupting something and felt unwelcome, mostly by the unfriendly attitude of the staff, like 'what do you want?'. There is not host station, so you just stand there and hope someone wants to seat you. They sat us at a table that was really close to another table, and when I tried to move our table a few inches so I could sit in the chair, I was told I couldn't do that because the waitstaff needed room. WTF. My salmon filet was good, but it was DROWNING in a plate of overpowering, sweet, thick balsamic vinegar sauce, when it should have been drizzled delicately on top. Also no vegetable came with the dish, only a crappy side of pasta. The waiter didn't even know what the dish came with and had to ask the chef. My boyfriend got the spicy whole what pasta with sausage, which we both thought was mediocre. He was ok throwing out the leftovers. The bread they give you sucks, real bland and small pieces. The polenta was decent. At least it was BYOB, as this was the only saving grace because we loved the beer we brought ourselves. How others give this place 4 or 5 stars is beyond me!
(2)
Rachel Y.

I went here one night for dinner with two other friends and we had such an amazing time! First off, it's an Italian restaurant that's BYOB - how great is that?! Second, the food is absolutely amazing. One of my friends had the farfalle pasta with vegetables and I never thought veggies could taste so good but they somehow excelled on the plate. I had the cheese-stuffed gnocchi (yes, drool now) and it was amazing. My other friend had the mushroom risotto - she absolutely loved it however I thought it was a bit salty for my taste. If you are more of a salt fan though, I definitely suggest it! The service was fantastic and the atmosphere very cozy - I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Heather D.

Who doesn't love a great BYOB Italian spot? If you are looking for one, Cara Mio is it! I went on a Saturday night and the place was hopping. Thankfully I was meeting a friend a little early so we didn't have a problem getting a table. The food was delicious. You can always judge an Italian restaurant by how good the marinara sauce, since it tends to be the base of so many dishes. As an appetizer, I started with the polenta with marinara sauce and the flavors were wonderful. The marinara tasted like it was from fresh tomatoes. For my entree, I had the gnocci stuffed with asigo cheese and pesto. The portions were huge so I was very, very happy to have leftovers for the following night. Also, kudos to Cara Mio for having so many homemade pastas on the menu! I'm a sucker for homemade pasta and can usually only find one or two dishes on a menu with homemade pasta. The only bummer about this place is that they only accept reservations for parties of six or more. Otherwise, you can't go wrong here.
(5)
Bill M.

This quaint little Italian restaurant on Wilson welcomes you with a warmly decorated interior enhanced by artworks by a featured young artist. My dilemma was what to choose --- the brasciole or the osso buco (two of my all-time favorite Italian dishes). I went with the latter and while it was a good solid dish of veal slathered with tomato sauce and sided with polenta, I have had better versions of osso buco elsewhere. The entrees come with either a house salad or a soup. The delicious soup I had included pasta, potato and a cheesy broth. The desserts looked good (lemon tartufo caught my eye on the card) but the otherwise vigilant service during the early dinner hour trickled to a slow grind once the restaurant filled up.
(4)
Dee W.

I just can't figure this place out. I must admit, being raised on my mom's first generation southern Italian cooking, I'm very picky when it comes to Italian restaurants. The first time we went a couple years ago, the waiter claimed to be the son of the owner who just so happened to be from the Italian town of my mom and her cousins who were all at dinner with us. He scooped up our menus and decided we were definitely doing family style, to which we graciously obliged. The food was just OK. Large portions. Anything in marinara wasn't bad, but mushroom sauce tasted like reduced campbell's cream of mushroom soup. Now, we just went back over the weekend and asked about the owner or his son. This waiter (who claimed to have been working there for 8 years) said that the restaurant is/always has been owned by a Venezuelan with no children. Not that I really care (except that now I know a Venezuelan is behind the menu and that makes a little more sense), but what's going on with all the waiters having a different story!? Food was exactly how I remembered it. Average. I got some chicken dish stuffed with prociutto, served with 3 cheese ravioli and drowning a creamy alfredo-type sauce...not good. Entirely too rich and overdone with the cheese. Picked off my ma's plate, which was baked eggplant...and fantastic. Next time I guess I'll order that. I like the byob. Hate that there's nowhere to stand while waiting, except outside.
(3)
Irena A.

Loved this place! I went with a friend.. She had the salad (fagoli and mozzarella cheese) sooo yummy!!! I had the mushroom risotto! omg.. so delicious! portions are huge. I loved the atmosphere.. so romantic and laid back.. need to bring my hubby here!! def check this place out
(5)
Allen M.

Update - I've spoken with a couple of other folks who have been there with a kid, and they confirmed the cold shoulder treatment and general rudeness from the host of this place, so reiterating that this place is definitely *not* family-friendly. On the flip side, if you hate kids, then you've got a friend at Caro
(1)
Kerry S.

Caro Mio has a special place in our heart because we were engaged here. Years later, it is still amazing. We had Christmas dinner last night with my parents, and naturally will be enjoying the leftovers for days to come. Being the kind of people that make homemade pasta in our own kitchen, the only acceptable way for us to carb out away from home is...well, homemade pasta. They've done away with all the greenery in the front window, which is kind of a shame because it was so pretty, but the place is always packed. More seating just naturally won out. Entrees take a bit of time to come out, but I would not want it any other way. This is beautiful made-to-order pasta. My father had the monster of all dishes, the special chicken parmigiana with homemade rigatoni. (Incidentally, this was also the dish I chose on the magical engagement night. My husband must really love me considering he still proposed after watching me scarf down half a plate of a not-so-ladylike dish.) Hubby went with the linguine and clams Diablo - a classic, nice and spicy and garlicky. I had the angelotti with peas and prosciutto, one of my standby favorites. The perfect mix of sweet and salty. But my mom won for the night. The special pappardelle with sun dried tomatoes, chicken, spinach, and gratineed to perfection. Damn. Go early for a little romance, the later it gets, the more crowded (and noisy.) But walking home from Caro Mio, a little boozy, smelling of garlic, hand and hand with your sweetie, the other hand holding tomorrow's lunch, it doesn't really get better than that.
(5)
Angie T.

after a movie with a heavy emphasis on piles of pasta and indulgence, we had italian on the brain. a google search later, we were on our way to caro mio for a rather unreasonably early dinner. from the fresh garlic served with the table bread, to the melt in your mouth pasta/potato-ish soup to the main course, a simple homemade pasta with meat sauce (that we thankfully shared)...it was simply perfection on a platter. i thought i knew my favorite italian in the city, but i think we may have a contender for that first place honor. bonus: its BYOB. fantastic place for a birthday party or general celebration. but please order moderately. portions are massive. will be back. ciao bella!
(5)
Kelly H.

My brother came from California for a visit, and wanted Italian food and some good wine. Now in his little Bay Area town, Olive Garden is the most appealing and authentic option, so I figured I could pretty much pick something at random and it would be a hit. I was really surprised when my husband and I loved it as well - I'm jaded when it comes to Italian, having had too much that was just blah and bad. Our meal began with fresh Italian bread, along with a garnish of garlic, cheese, and hot pepper, to be mixed with olive oil and spread on the bread. Me being me, I was spooning hunks of garlic directly onto my bread (bet you all wish you got to kiss me every night, huh?) but my dining companions preferred the daintier dipping option. When our server told us the specials, we couldn't resist the bruschetta as a starter - pretty fail-safe generally, and good here - and the cheese-stuffed gnocchi for me, lobster ravioli for my brother, and the gorgonzola risotto for my husband. Now, like I said, I am a cynic when it comes to Italian. Too often I hear raves for places that are serving dried reconstituted pastas and watery canned-tomato sauces, held together with a stick of butter per plate. Not here. The pasta was fresh-made, the sauces were rich and full over flavor, and there was probably a stick of butter per plate but I gave up on caring about that after the first bite. The gnocchi was perfectly al dente - ever had overcooked gnocchi? I think they call that "mashed potato" - as was the ravioli. The risotto had the ideal creamy texture that I can never achieve at home no matter how much I stir (not enough butter?). None of us could finish our meals, so we lingered to finish off our wine and digest a bit. We didn't try the desserts, but they seemed pretty standard Italian fare, tartuffo and all of that. All in all, a great experience, and we will be back!
(5)
Mike M.

My wife and I went there on a recent Saturday night without a reservation. We were greeted and told it would be about a15 minute wait. After 10 minutes our table was ready. We brought our own wine, (no corkage fee), and had an appetizer. We then placed our dinner order. It arrived in a reasonable time and was delicious. We had a dessert also. The overall experience was excellent. We met the chef / owner and told him we would definitely be back. I recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Johnny B.

How do you know you have a Yelp problem? When you already know what you are going to order before you get to the restaurant, but you've never been. Thanks to the wonderful reviewers out there, I was already sold on the gnocchi special (if they had it, which they did) and the pasta with mushroom sauce. My better half and I each ordered one, and both were fantastic. You could tell both noodles were homemade - so good. We each had enough leftovers for a second meal. We also had the bruschetta at the server's recomendation (I would venture to guess the same flamboyant individual from others' reviews). Now, we didn't realize when we ordered that this appetizer was $11. $11 for bruschetta? That's pretty steep. Well, I will say it was unequivocally the best damn bruschetta I have ever eaten. It is a little pricey, but well worth it. They were unfortunately out of the chocolate tartuffo so we had to suffer through the lemon version. Oh the humanity. I'm not a big lemon fan, but I wouldn't hesitate to order this plate of refreshing deliciousness again. I'm on quite a roll with Italian places impressing the hell out of me. Add Caro Mio to that list.
(5)
Jasmine P.

I came here on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty crowded. There was a private party going on so we were seated in the back room. It was a little crowded in the restaurant, but we didn't mind the intimate atmosphere. The waiters were very nice and smiled a lot. They seemed sincere about their recommendations and the service was great. Food: They have very large portions, but the food is pretty tasty. The meatballs were the size of my fist! You can go here and end up splitting with how large the portions are. I had the caprese salad and even had a tough time finishing that. The calamari appetizer was large enough to split among four people without filling us up. A problem was that the large plates did not go well with the small tables they have. There was limited room to move around. Oh well. It was still a delicious time. Caro Mio is also a BYOB (yay!) and they have not corking fee (double yay!). Funny that they carded me and my boyfriend though as we are way beyond our 21st birthdays. LOL!
(4)
Tom L.

Great tucked away option for any night. Caro Mio always has great service, pretty quick seating and always wonderful service. No corkage fee is always a plus and the price range is pretty decent when you know you're getting fresh food and very large portions. We had the grilled polenta for the first time and were blowing away how fresh and good the polenta and the sauce were.
(4)
Tara L.

Yummy Yummy pasta in my tummy. And bruschetta. and some bread dosed in garlic and oil and cheese. In reverse order. I was here on Friday with a large group and have frequently heard rave reviews from my sister about this pace. I had the paperdelle con porchini, and i totally agree with everyone else here. So very tasty. Mushroom goodness. Amazing. Our waiter was a funny guy too. Don't remember what his name was, but funny. Fun atmosphere, great food, fun times.
(4)
Sarah D.

It's not like Caro Mio needs another rave review, but I'm going to give it one anyway. I was here recently with a large group, so I got to try a few different meals and appetizers, and everything was fantastic! I was torn between two dishes, because I wanted homemade pasta, but all of the goodies that came on one of the non-homemade dishes, and they subbed homemade pasta without batting an eyelash. The waiter was incredibly accommodating, and very attentive. And what's not to like about a BYOB with no corkage? Caro Mio is high on my list of places to repeat at, and soon.
(5)
Matt L.

Took my lady here on a date last night and wow were we very pleased with our night out! As you walk in the restaurant is small with nicely set tables lining the room. The lighting was nice and dim, but not too dark as you can clearly see the people at your table. We were seated immediately as we arrived around 6:00 on a Saturday night. Thanks Yelpers for the advice of arriving early! (As the night went on the line was very long to get a table, we had to squeeze through the doorway lined with people. BYOB as everyone has stated with no corkage fee. We brought 2 bottles of wine and our first was opened in a very timely fashion. We started off with the calamari as an appetizer, it was very delicious and tasty. They also give you bread with your choice of spices with oil. I ordered the Spinach Gnocchi Gorgonzola special. Amazing, I thought the gorgonzola flavor might be a bit overwhelming, but it wasn't and my dish was pretty much perfectly made. The gnocchi was top notch. My date had the tri-colored rotolo which she liked very much. I tried it myself and really liked the spinach and ricotta cheese combo. Ended the night with Tiramisu for dessert, boy did that do the trick, very light and delicious. Prices weren't too bad, I was pleased with our bill at the end of the night perfect for the quality of the food and service! Waiter was very informative and attentive for the most part. They dim the lights even more as the night goes on, which we thought was appropriate, gave us at least a nice intimate dinner feel. Wasn't too loud, although when we left the BYOB was taking full effect haha. Good times, will be back again!
(5)
Steve B.

My wife and another couple went here for a celebration dinner a week ago. We did not have reservations (not sure if they even take them) since we just walked in, but they were able to seat us within 10 minutes on a Saturday night. The place was packed and the atmosphere, though pretty dim, was cozy like any good Italian restaurant should be. Everyone felt that their meals were fantastic, though I don't recall specific dishes. The place mellowed out pretty quickly after 10 - I believe they close at 11. Don't expect it to be a late night here, that's what the bar is for. Bring your favorite bottle of red, a few friends, and an appetite for Italian food and you'll have a hell of a night.
(5)
E M.

This is NOT Bucca di Beppo, people. The portions are huge and fresh, which is both why the food costs so much and why it takes so long. It's real Italian food in a relaxed atmosphere. Bring your own bottle of wine and you can bide your time. Bring two or six and some good company to help you down it, and you won't even notice time passing! This neighborhood is about quality, so learn to enjoy it. Because Ravenswood's so isolated, it's a great find for anyone in the city looking for a quietly romantic meal with weird art surrounding you. But yeah -- don't go on a Friday or Saturday night. Then it's packed. Caro Mio is run by authentic Italians who make the pasta by hand. So when things take awhile, you'll know why. Still, I agree that things do tend to drag on. You will get seated right away, but after the water comes out, the bread takes awhile. Then you dump on the olive oil and fresh garlic and grated parmesan and wait to be waited upon. It kinda sucks. But I drink my wine like it's going out of style, so I don't really notice. They bring you a bucket to chill it in and uncork it for free. These touches eventually even out the cost of your and wait for your meal. I do think Caro Mio could benefit from use of some spices, but whatever they're doing now is definitely yummy enough to bring me back. And OH MY LORD are their desserts good. TIRAMISU!!!!!!!!!
(4)
Jeff J.

The service was great the Osso bucco was awful! I will not dine their again.
(2)
Nick C.

I got the stuff gnocchi with mushroom and sausage and it was amazing. Fireworks in my mouth! And it's BYOB. $20 per plate, but the food was really good.
(5)
Angela B.

2 days later and I am still salivating. Swoon worthy lobster ravioli in marscapone cream sauce nearly put me in a coma, which is the highest compliment that a restaurant can recieve from me. The staff was friendly and didn't push us to order a bunch of apps or desert - hate it when they do that at BYOBs. The dishes were HUGE; I think everyone at our table had leftovers, and everything tasted incredible fresh and homemade. Will be returning for sure. My waistline is not happy about this unexpected discovery.
(5)
Brian B.

All right, so I went back, and the seating went okay. They asked if I had a reservation; I reminded them that their web site says no reservations for parties smaller than six (we had five), and they were completely friendly after that. The food was so good I nearly wept. Just ... just ... wow. God. Man. So effing good. Just go. Really, just go.
(4)
Sotto V.

Too much grease, butter, fat in gnocchi. I could only eat a third of my plate. When I nukes left overs, a pool of oil appeared and each gnocchi I picked up was dripping in oil/butter. The plate was easily 5,000 calories. Fresh garlic served with bread. Yes, tastes nice as long as you are going straight home alone. The dessert was nice....a mango gelatin that was surprisingly light. The only thing that stood out. Nice servers but completely un-impressive.
(1)
Uyen D.

We showed up at 9:55 hoping just MAYBE they will let us in before they closed at 10:00. Luckily they had extended hours till 11:00. Even then they were so busy that we still had to wait 10 minutes for a table for 2. Though we were seated in a very tight corner table with little to no room to sit, the experience was delightful. The food is delicious and the service staff was charming and helpful. I've never had stuffed gnocchi before, but they were wonderful! Soft and pillowy, and yummy!! The imboltini di melenzala was a tasty twist on the classic eggplant parmigiana. Yum! BYOB and easy to find street parking.
(4)
Paige W.

On this foggy, chilly night in February, my cousin and I strolled into Caro Mio for a quiet meal together. The walls of the restaurant are a vibrant red-pepper color, with lovely local art hanging by the light of candle-powered chandeliers. Lovely and cozy, very Chicago, and just the right atmosphere to melt away the drabness of the day. The crowd was small when we arrived, though we got the last 2-top in the dining room. Around 7 p.m., the tables really started filling up, and by the time we got our food the place was packed. That's always nice to see on a Monday! Based on the heavy traffic, I thought our food would be stellar. Our server, who was flamboyant, wildly gesticulatory and SLOOOOOOOOW as molasses in January, had plenty of good things to say about the food. We ordered... And waited. And waited some more. Half an HOUR later, our meals finally arrived. They must have gone to buy the cheap, flavorless chicken for our dishes in Italy. I'm sad about it. I had pollo alla parmigiana, sort of my Italian litmus test: rubbery, heavy on the breading and DROWNED in cheese and sauce. My cousin's chicken piccata was much prettier and tasted better (than mine), but she still wasn't terribly happy with it. We finished our food, and 15 minutes later, our very gay and adorable server came over and asked us if we wanted dessert. By that time, we'd been there more than an hour and needed to get my cousin's Zipcar back to its home, so we just wanted to leave. Another 15 minutes later, we'd signed our credit card receipts and headed back into the fog. Le sigh. Just looking for that really special restaurant experience in Chicago... The search continues.
(2)
Josselyn W.

Pretty sure this is new but they now charge an $8 fee if you split plates. Their dishes are HUGE so we always split. The waiter is usually accommodating and will waive it if you order some appetizers. We had a table of 4 girls, and ordered 3 dishes and he didn't charge us. But there's no way that one person could finish a plate - they are almost meant to be split amongst groups.
(5)
Mathew C.

If you like enormous portions of great food, this place is for you. The sun-dried tomato ravioli alla panna (a special) is the candy version of pasta. Homemade, yummy goodness. The risotto gamberi was perfectly made. The linguini all' arrabbiata showed up in what would more accurately be called a cauldron than a bowl. I got the gnocchi gratinati and I'm still thinking about it. I can eat a lot, and I only got halfway through this thing. The service was great and it's BYOB with no corkage fee. If you haven't been here, go. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Linda C.

Yep, I still love this place.
(5)
Claudia F.

Went there for my husbands birthday with our 3 girls that are 7-11 yrs old. Sat us quickly but then never came back! It was a Monday night and there seemed to be 2 parties or large gatherings going on so it was really loud! I mean these people were whooping it up loud. Any how... my husband went to the bar to ask for menus and they told him to sit down that they would bring them. Ok then... Ordered our food from the not so friendly waiter who seemed like he was a part owner pr part family. They wanted to charge us $12 to split a dish for 2 little girls...kind of crazy. The dishes were $16 each so it wasn't worth splitting it. Bill on a Monday night for a family of 5 with no drinks (only water an no apptz!) was $165. It tasted good and the portions were really large so we took home a meal for another night. For what its worth...
(3)
Nicholas W.

Service/food/environment/location: pretty mediocre. I wouldn't go back.
(1)
Carri C.

I have to stay, Caro Mio is back in my good graces. The staff is no longer rushing dinner as I had previously complained about in my first review. The food here is outstanding. I have never had a bad (or even average) meal at Caro Mio. The BYOB is a big help. The pasta prices are a little high, but with the BYOB the prices are fine. This is a great date place.
(5)
Eric J.

Truly amazing! I won't rehash what's been said more eloquently by others, but: - the calamari is on the short list for the best i've ever had; perfectly cooked, not over breaded (so often the case), and incredibly fresh and flavorful - the gnocchi special is indeed a thing of beauty, catch the fever! - my stepmother's lobster mascarpone ravioli were amazing; she saved the sauce separate from her leftovers to use on some pasta at home - both the lemon and chocolate tartufo desserts were simply stellar; if they weren't out of the tiramisu I would have loved to have tried that, but I do not feel like I settled by any stretch BYOB, etc., all great, can't recommend it enough, esp. for a great date. Try it for lunch, they have all the same specials but they drop the price.
(5)
Leah J.

Oh, Caro Mio! Mi amore!!!! Not only did I love the food, but I couldn't get enough of our fantastic waiter, Cesear, calling me "mi amore." I felt so special. :) This place is intimate and warm. So much, I almost wished there were drape covered booths to snuggle with my date and feed him gnocchi. Caro Mio can ooze with romance, especially with the right trance music playing in the background. We went on a weekday as soon as it opened (the best time to go). We were completely catered to; the company of our waiter was a delight. I didn't even look at the menu! You basically tell your waiter what you like and poof he brings back this delictable meal that is exactly what your tastebuds were craving. The gnocchi porticcino mushroom dish is my favorite. I honestly wanted to lick the plate. The pumpkin risotto was a girl's creamy dream. I am a creamy girl, what can I say. The green bean ensalda was also delcisiouso. The portions are generous, I have lunch for today!! Truly a great first date, second and for life-r date spot. If you feel like partying up a bit, there is a backroom that can accomodate larger groups, but book ahead. I hear that Caro Mio gets crazy packed on weekends. People must know where the great food and ambiance is at!!
(5)
Nate G.

Typical Italian dishes but not quite worth the price. BYOB was a plus and we were able to get reservations last min on a Fri night.
(3)
jenny m.

It's simple, this place is great! I discovered it after an article in the Red Eye and have been going back ever since. I've never had a thing there that hasn't been excellent....and I've tasted probably half the menu if not more by now. The green bean salad is very tasty and a good app if you want something light. The pizza bread is well, just that, pizza bread. But good if you are starving and need something more filling. My fav app though is the bruschetta, and make sure to get it with the whole mozzarella on top. It's some of the best I've had. As for entrees, I think the two I've enjoyed most are the gnocchi with asiago & pesto in a creamy tomato sauce and then the porcini mushroom pasta dish. If you like mushrooms that dish is amazing. The service is above par by my standards. The servers are very familiar with the menu and always willing to offer suggestions or help you figure out a dish that will suite what you are in the mood for. And really, the cherry on top is that it's a BYOB. So bring an extra bottle because chances are, you'll end up sitting there longer then planned! It's just an overall enjoyable experience.
(5)
Kevin C.

This place is my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago. You're greeted by a warm server every time, the appetizers are wonderful, and the half-moon ravioli is to die for! (Seriously, it's got a tomato-cream sauce, with sweet peas, and minced Italian sausages.) I would recommend the desert, but I've never been able to discipline myself enough to save room!
(5)
Rosie S.

I have now been here twice in the last month. I have been looking for a great Italian BYOB place. And this is it!! The first time I went was with a large group of 10 people. They sat us within 5 minutes of our reservation (and the place was packed)! We were expecting to wait but did not have to. It was great. I would recommend making a later reservation for a large group so you don't have to worry about being rushed. (We were never rushed, but we did have an 8:30 reservation--so there was no reservations after us). I also went last night with 2 other people...completely different scene. The place was not that crowded. On both occasions the service was excellent and the food was delicious. I am lucky to go with people who like to share. I have tired the alfredo, gnocchi with spinach and gnocchi stuffed with asiago cheese, lobster ravoli (super yum), calamari (melts in your mouth), brushetti with fresh mozzarella, and the list goes on. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on this menu.
(4)
Dan D.

I also have to agree with Beth L. and her not so flattering review. We waited about 20 min for a "oh it will be 5 min" table, then waited another 15 min before we even got bread. Then we had to ask when we wanted more bread. And the bread was cool both times. Temperature, not chic. If I'm paying $20/entree is it too much to ask for warm bread? Then my veal was so-so, and at the end of the meal the server put dessert menus in front of us, assuming that we would want to order. After a less than mediocre meal, this was assuming a lot. Too many other good italian places in the area to waste my time with this place again.
(2)
Amy L.

Calamari fritti was awesome! I loved it here. Only other good one I had was at Lou Malnati's and Bucca di Beppo. I got it on a carry-out order and they even said they wanted to fry it just before I come to pick it up so that it'll be fresh. And it was good. I also had their grilled eggplant appetizer which was really just a large slice of eggplant with cheese on top...soaked in marinara sauce. I wasn't too impressed by it though it did taste good. The eggplant wasn't too soggy or anything like that so it was pretty good. I've always gotten friendly service and prompt service here each time I went. And parking is easy to find too during weekday lunch time ..there's like free 2 hour street parking in front I believe. I love their mix of parmesan, garlic, olive oil, and crushed red pepper that they give for your bread. It is genius. *Sad, they don't open during lunch on weekdays anymore. I used to go during my lunch break. Looks like only dinner now... 4pm-10 or 11pm.
(3)
Blake W.

We finally got here after multiple recommendations by friends. It was great! Big portions (lunch tomorrow!!) and great homemade noodles. The Bruschetta was the best I've ever had. The Bean/Mozzarella was another big winner. My wife had stuffed gnocchi which was fantastic and I had the zuppa di pesce (not to bad). One of our friends also had the Chicken Parm over rigatoni which was great (I'm getting that next time) and could have fed a family of 4....
(4)
Mill V.

I am always sold on freshly made pasta. I hate restaurants that boast to be Italian, but use box. The pasta here is damn good. Cute little hole in a wall, very small and tight corners. I love the decor, the sweet Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe jacky paintings, which are for sale. My ma ordered lasagna, which was probably one of the best I tasted in a long fricking time. It's just drowning in a creamy rich tomato covering. I had papp noodles(which I love BIG slurpy noodles) with a creamy marscapone cheese sauce. I wish there was alittle more to the sauce then it's creamy-ness, but still good. The sizes were huge, so you will have some for another meal MOS DEF. Don't plan on rushing, this place likes to take it slow, so relax, crack open a bottle of wine and be selfish.
(4)
Amy S.

It's been a while, but I do recall enjoying this place. Our appetizers were good, our entrees were good, the prices were good, the byob is always good, the meatballs were gross. It's a great place for a date and every has got to love byob!
(3)
Jason S.

Just went for lunch. Turned out to be a really big lunch. They do have a lunch menu, but the portions were so big that only one out of five finished it all. The food was great, excellent if you factor in that we did not wait long for our food at all. The place was not crowded (noon on a Wednesday), so that probably helped speed things up a bit. I had the gnocchi special - stuffed with asiago cheese and a little spinach with a creamy tomato sauce. Awesome. Others had the veal parm and said it was good but nothing special. The bread seemed homemade and came with the triumvirate of red pepper flakes, minced garlic, and parmesan. Mixed with olive oil, it was a treat, but probably added to the still-full feeling I have now. $14 for the lunch is not bad, especially when you factor in the service and quality. Did not take advantage of the BYOB as I was at lunch with co-workers. But good to know it is there if it is an especially stressful week. I give it 4 stars with room to grow.
(4)
Deirdre L.

I am officially upgrading to 5 stars. This Place Does NOT Disappoint The servers, while not the most amazing service ever, are funny, pleasant and accommodating. They really create a great atmosphere and seem to be having fun, while still taking care good care of their guests. And the food. The food is amazing, plus its BYO with No Corkage.... Fiction, you say? I swear it is not. I was here a couple of weeks ago for a friend's birthday and ate some kickin stuffed gnocci. Then, last Friday, had lobster & sun dried tomato raviolis in a marscipone cream sauce. If I ate like this on even a weekly basis, I would have a heart attack in a month. Its certainly not healthy, but DAMN its so good! Great appetizers, homemade pasta, amazzzzing cream sauces & mushroom sauces, decadent desserts, great coffee. I think this may be my favorite place. Ever. Literally. Yum. What else can I say... trying to use words to describe the cream sauce is absolutely futile. Just go.
(5)
Jed E.

Great find for northsiders. The number of menu options and specials are a little overwhelming. My wife had a special homemade gnocchi stuffed with asiago pesto, and in a creamy red sauce. This might have been the single best item of food I've ever placed in my mouth. My entree was a large elbow pasta (also homemade) with creamy meat sauce, and chicken Parmesan on top. I think we'll probably have 3 more meals with the leftovers, because we also had garlic bread and salad, but that's fine by mee! Oh yea- service was good, and there was no wait at 7:30 on Thursday night. This will be a neighborhood favorite for a long time.
(4)
David N.

My first experience at this place was for a friends birthday dinner. I have to say honestly I was not impressed with the food. There was a group of 25 of us and it cost us each 55 dollars a piece, which seemed a bit much, considering entrees range from 15 to 18 dollars. It probably did not help that most of the dishes that was served to our group were meat based and I'm a vegetarian. So for a salad, a couple slices of bread and a couple spoons of pasta, it was a little pricey for me. But talking to another friend of mine, he did say the food is normally excellent here. That is why I'm giving this place 4 stars. I looked at the menu and there are some awesome sounding dishes on the menu. I would love to come back here and try out some dishes without being in a birthday party dinner setting where the meal was already picked out for you. So I will definitely give this place a second change, and looking at the reviews others have left, I'm sure I would not be disappointed the second time around.
(4)
Amy C.

This is our Italian place now. The best parts are BYOB and fresh homemade pasta. We tried this place because I love homemade pasta. It really makes such a big difference! We had the gnocchi (tomato cream sauce filled with basil and gongozola) and the pasta with creamy carbonara. They were so delicious that I want to go back now! I also really really like the bread where they give you garlic, red pepper and grated parmasan cheese. What a great idea and it was so good.
(5)
Magglio M.

We were very pleasantly surprised by Caro Mio. They started by giving us fresh bread with fresh garlic and oil. We ordered the polenta as a starter as we never had polenta before and it was good. The sauce was excellent. I order a special gnocchi stuffed with asiago cheese and it was excellent. My wife order the chicken parmesan, which was also excellent. The service was great. It is a little pricey but that is how it is at good BYOB places. I guess the additional price may not be worth it if you don't drink. Our bill was under $60 because we brought a bottle of wine.
(5)
Missy M.

Probably the best Italian I've had in the city! Every part of the night was delicious! My homemade pasta came with hunks of pancetta. Be ready to experience a food coma after dining here...but so worth it!
(5)
Ann M.

Another favorite BYOB spot for me. The food is divine, interesting and fresh. The prices are fair and no corkage fee - fantastic!
(4)
Yujin A.

I am not sure if I'd be back here if it weren't BYOB. It's a nice little family-owned Italian restaurant next to the Metra track on Wilson. It's always decently crowded, but never too crowded. Basically, the food is way too salty, and the service is extremely slow. The waiter was very knowledgeable and all, but he couldn't have been any less attentive -but it wasn't his fault. They desperately need more WAIT STAFF!!! I couldn't believe only one guy was taking care over at least a dozen tables by himself. Not surprisingly, service is really really slow although the bus boy did a great job filling up my water glass. I had been here about 9 months ago on a date, and I went back there recently with my brother. Both times, service was consistently slow since they were short on waiters. Food was good, but consistently too saucy and salty. I usually prefer independent restaurants over chain restaurants, but I'd rather eat at Francesca's or Tuscany's before eating here. I do like their menu. Many regional specialties. It is a great addition to the neighborhood though.
(3)
Christine M.

Why is it that I've lived in this neighborhood for a year and have never been here before? This place is on Wilson, just west of Ravenswood. If you weren't looking for it, you would probably miss it. We only knew it was here because we took a walk one day while waiting for Spacca Napoli to have room for us. We brought our bottle of wine with, because it is BYOB. At 7pm on a Friday, it was not yet totally packed. We were seated and given menus, and then told the specials. My husband ended up with lobster ravioli and I got chicken with mushroom ravoli. My husband said that his was good and mine was excellent. Both were more food than we could finish there. We did look at a dessert menu, and everything there looked good, but we were both very full and couldn't manage to eat another bite. This would be a great place to take a date. We will also probably bring our parents here when they come in from out-of-town.
(5)
Tim O.

This is my favorite Italian BYOB in Chicago. The food is consistently great and the service is very friendly and attentive. Be patient if you are going on a weekend because you will probably wait for a while, but if will be well worth the wait. They have a great selection of appetizers. My favorite is probably the green bean and tomato salad with buffalo mozzarella and a balsamic and olive oil sauce. This is always a nice and light way to start a meal. They also offer a few mushroom appetizers that I really enjoy. As for main courses. They offer a wonderful array of home made pastas and their tomato sauces are really rich and wonderfully flavored. My favorite dish has to be the "pappardelle con porcini." This may be the best mushroom sauce I have ever tasted. The chef brilliantly combines the earthiness of the mushrooms with a creamy richness that warms the soul. I think the porcini mushroom sauce may be my favorite sauce of all time. I highly recommend this dish. If you still have room, they offer some nice deserts. the staff is great and although there is always a line out the door, they never rush you out of the restaurant. This is a cozy and casual place that serves up top notch food with good service. Also great for groups. Enjoy!
(5)
Edward P.

Definitely a great atmosphere. Once inside, you forget you are in a generic storefront. The service is usually great, with few exceptions. The food is definitely good, too. It's not the best Italian food in Chicago, but with this place, it is the whole package. Very low-key and somewhat romantic. You will really enjoy this place if you go and don't have ridiculous expectations. Think about it, 2 people can have a great dinner and a bottle of wine for less than $50(of course, it's BYOB). I suggest the homemade pasta dishes.....Don't forget to bring a good bottle of wine.
(4)
Matthew B.

I would have sworn that I reviewed this before, but anyways, we went a few months ago and had a nice dinner. Everything was pretty good, but honestly, it was all just a bit crowded; a bit much for the effort. I think I'll keep Anna Maria Pasteria as my neighborhood Italian joint.
(3)
melissa a.

My best girl friend and I wanted a great byob spot for dinner, I found this little ditty on yelp. We walked in on a Tuesday night, sat down right away, and was greeted right away. Our server was enthusiastic and charming. Very charming! We had the calamari salad, it was a bit salty but every bit deelish. We had a special gnocchi that wasnt on the menu, and it was a great large portion. This is a great date spot. I will definatly return here over and over. The only downfall of the night was the horrible music in the background.
(5)
theresa w.

PLUS: . we were seated before the one and a half hour estimate, . available street parking . the bread/cheese/GARLIC/oil on table was really good . pitcher h2O on table, .BYOB without a corking fee . they didn't charge the splitting fee charge for shared plates . tortellini soup was really good - just enough noodles, spinach and not too salty . bus staff was friendly . my dinner was hot, topped with fresh ground pepper, and full of cheesy goodness! MINUS: . dinners do not come with salads or soup . waitress wasn't the friendliest
(4)
Aaron S.

Either this place has gotten better in the year since I've been or I finally just ordered the right thing. Previously I found dishes were too salty or, in the case of the cream sauces, a bit bland. I felt like Goldilocks ordering the Vitello Arrabiata--just right, with the light tomato sauce allowing the flavors of the white wine, jalapenos (with no seeds) and eggplant to shine through. My coworkers probably hate me now (*belch*) but i was completely satisfied. Ravenswood folks are lucky to have a BYO restaurant this reliable to walk to.
(3)
Holly L.

This past weekend disaster. Arrived and the suggested wait was 45-1 hour. Host suggested leaving cell number and he will call when a table opens. We venture out about 1/2 mile away and return in 40 mins. When we return the host now says another 45-1 hour wait! Packed area only to stand and no bar. The host could not care less. We walked out a bit shocked. Not the way you treat paying customers.
(1)
Cristine K.

My second time there, both with large groups. The prix fixe were very good, especially the calamari and the gnocchi. BYOB and a friendly atmosphere. This is definitely a good place for groups and family. I wouldn't want to bring date here though, the tables are so close, you wouldnt be able to have any privacy!
(3)
Sam C.

Sure it was loud and the tables were packed together like sardines in the small tin can of a restaurant, but I really liked this place. The food was outstanding. Service was excellent. And BYOB!!
(4)
Ross F.

Just had a great meal at this great littie BYOB on Wilson near the El tracks. I am a sucker for great home made pasta and Caro Mio does not dissapoint. The special lasagna was tasty and the portion size was just right for an Italian place (big but not massive and scary). The zuppe di pesci had some enourmous mussels and tasted great. Some people might not like the no-nonsense service but I prefer that to your overly attentive and cheesy Dennys waitress. The place in not huge and it gets slammed on a nice weekend evening but on the night I was there there were a few couples and a large B-Day group of about 20 people. Eat, BYOB, and be Happy.
(5)
jaki c.

These guys are wonderful. I go here as much as I can! Everyone is super friendly, the food is always excellent, and the atmosphere is always warm and inviting. I really appreciate this place tucked away as it is. Don't try to get reservations unless you are ready to book months in advance. I have been here with very small parties and with dinners of up to 14 people and they have been incredibly accomodating and delightful. Thank you Caro Mio- see you soon!
(5)
Julia F.

Another hidden gem! Now that the season calls for some warm to your heart savory meals, you can't get any better than Caro Mio. With their BYOB policy, you can have a great family style meal or an amazing night out of gourmet Italian. I'm not even a fan of Italian food, but their pasta is home made and the Porcini Mushroom dishes are amazing. Make sure to bring a great bottle of Chianti or Pinot Grigio and have a toast over some great tasting food.
(5)
Stephanie L.

3.5 actually....Caro Mio where to start. So I have actually been here quite a bit. And progressively they have lost stars. So lets start by this, the last two times I have went here with a group and they have "lost the reservation" or "I didnt call to confirm" so they assumed we werent coming....WTF! Not to mention, they were super rude when we got there. And I had talked to them one of the times earlier that same day....seriously?!?! Weird. Anyway, they ended up cramming us in both times. I dont know if thats a good thing or not. Its definitely a tight space but I like it. Anyway, food...well there really is no rhyme or reason to their menu...for example, the last three times I went there, the specials are exactly the same...remember each was about 6months-1 year apart. Also, they have a whole wheat pasta that is veggie for like $21...the same one that is not whole wheat pasta is $17....really?! The service is so so. If you go on a weeknight, its great...if you go on a weekend....hit or miss. Also, most of the dishes are super cheesy and salty so if you like this bad for you italian, this is the place for you...sometimes I feel like that but sometimes I dont. Anyway, I actually found a very good dish the last time I went....salmon alla grille. So good! Lots of veggies, which most of their other dishes dont have. The portions here are HUGE so I guess that is how they can get away with just mediocre pasta at pretty expensive prices....plus BYOB. Its worth a try, I do like it and most likely I will go back and say...why the hell am I back here but oh well!
(3)
Abby M.

I absolutely love this place! I've been to a few Italian restaurants in the city but this one is my favorite...not to mention BYOB with no corkage fee! I always bring visiting friends and family here for dinner. the portions are huge so if you can find someone to share...you should. Unless of course, you want leftovers! I always order the half-moon pasta with tomato cream sauce, the calamari, or the linguine with lots-o-seafood and a garlic/olive oil sauce...not necessarily in that order! :) The wait can be long on the weekends but is 100% worth it. I love the waitstaff, too! Trying this restaurant is a must!
(5)
Brian P.

What a great little restaurant in our neighborhood up here. Even when Italian food is good, it's rare to call it special. There's something about Caro Mio that's special - maybe the fresh ingredients, but whatever it is the food is exceptional. And it's a lovely, cozy place to dine. Service is good and atmosphere has a nice little buzz about it.
(4)
Kim M.

This restaurant gets an extra star for being BYOB without the corkage fee. The other three stars are for the amazing homemade pasta dishes and sauces they have! I have tried 4 different types now (both pastas and sauces) and they are all awesome! It's a casual place with good service. They check on you at appropriate intervals, get the food to you in good time and keep your water glass full, which is all I ask. It is a smaller restaurant with plenty of tables, so come prepared to be pretty close to your neighboring tables. In general (I haven't tried everything), I recommend sticking to the pastas, which seem to be the real strength. The chicken I had was underwhelming and the fried calamari are no better than what you would get at a bar. The veal parmigiana was a very pleasant exception to that rule, but my fiance got it with a side of pasta in amazing bolognese sauce, which didn't hurt.
(4)
Betty L.

My friend and I have to disagree with many of the reviews; perhaps we were there on an "off" day. Ambiance: 5 stars. The place is dimly lit with candles and has awesome art work on the wall. It has a very "warm" feel. Service: 2.5 stars. We waited about 10 minutes for water and then at the end of our meal, we felt rushed out. Our waiter gave us the check and kept checking back every few minutes even though it was clear we weren't done (still had a half bottle of wine and the bill was off to the side of the table, untouched). Food/Price: 0 stars. The price was indeed far too high (spaghetti is $18.00 for instance). Most items were at least $20. Honestly, I wouldn't have even paid $8 for this meal- I had spaghetti and my friend had salmon. Both of our meals were extremely bland and greasy. We felt sick later that night. I felt like I was drinking vegetable oil, not eating spaghetti. Location: 5 stars. Easy to park on the street. Free parking on the side streets. I wish our food had had some taste, because the place is so cute... but I won't be back.
(2)
Tracy R.

I'm going with three stars because it really seems to depend on what kind of day Caro Mio is having when you are there... The first time I went I would say it was a solid FIVE star experience. Best. Gnocchi. Ever. The second time was with a large group that I brought there and everyone seemed to enjoy their meal, plus being BYOB is always wonderful... the wine flows freely! However, the last time my husband and I went, it was a pretty "meh" experience. The Olive Garden is better than this last experience.... I'm VERY sad - I thought I had found my new go-to spot for homemade pasta and was really looking forward to frequenting this adorable little neighborhood spot with the exotic staff. I'll be back to try again because everyone has an "off" night... but this is Chicago and there is far too much wonderful Italian comfort food competition for an inconsistent restaurant to survive.
(3)
Jennifer E.

Caro Mio was my favorite restaurant. I love the atmosphere, the food, the byob... Carlos is the greatest. BUT I had a terrible experience there a few months back and it ruined the place for me. It was a Friday night - always busy - and we were told it was going to be a 30 minute wait. Totally bearable. After 1.5 hours, we were fed up waiting and asking when we were up... always to be told the next table. Even more frustrating when you see a 2 top open. The other main server (not Carlos) proceeded to b a complete jerk to us for asking when we were going to get to be seated (we had a show to get to). So, we left. I was totally embarrassed because my friend had never been there - and it left a very bad impression. I hope to go back because I love the food, but its going to take quit awhile for these wounds to heal.
(2)
Shawn J.

This is a great little Italian Restaurant that gets busy early. The place was packed and we got nestled in a two top. The place is dark and candle lit, and extremely cozy. Perfect for a date night or with friends. While I didn't have a superb dinner ( i ordered wild mushroom risotto and it was burnt ) everything else was extremely good. ( I am willing to give them a second chance based on my over all experience there ) It is BYOB... who could ask for anything better, and the staff was extremely nice and super fast. While my entree wasn't up to par, my friends was excellent and the apps and desert we had were above par too. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Shaun T.

Ravenswood seems ripe with hole-in-the-wall restaurants that mask the hidden jewel within, and this is no different. Forget the rest of their filthy food, walk in right now, and demand Tiramisu. To be a little more serious, the food is nothing less than succulent, as long as you order the right thing. It seems like every day they have a different special or five, and each one of them sounds like some obscure delicacy. I was never let down by their handmade portobello mushroom ravioli in bolognese, or any of their chicken dishes, but I was sadly disappointed by the shrimp risotto. Sadly enough, they are also located next to an obnoxiously stinky and rarely emptied dumpster half a block down next to the L track, and sometimes you can actually smell it in the establishment. Considering the quality of the food here, this is a great disservice that can detract from an otherwise exquisite meal. Take my advice here: if you can smell it outside, it may be a problem inside as well. This only happened one of the times I went, so my warning may be unnecessary. But the real shining jewel here is the Tiramisu. They are family owned and operated, and the person waiting your table may have contributed somehow to your meal, so keep that in mind. More than once, our waiter was the resident Tiramisu chef, and he's so modest about that fact, it's hard to believe how shockingly divine it tastes. This is something you'll want to eat slowly, and enjoy every second. The rest of the food, no matter how delectable, doesn't exist so far as I'm concerned so long as I can order plates of this dessert. If you do nothing else, treat yourself to this. It's really a shame they're between the Damen and Montrose brown-line stops. It's a really out of the way location for a surprisingly good bite to eat.
(4)
Kimberly W.

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I love the fish! I've had several fish dishes. I also love the homemade pasta. You can't go wrong with anything here. Service is great. Food is wonderful. I've even gotten several of my friends and family into this place and they all love it too. You won't be disappointed. Check it out!
(5)
Kathryn M.

I came here with a friend on a Thursday around 5:30. We were the only customers until about 6:30. I must say...I'm a HUGE fan of the BYOB with no corkage fee...holla! I went with one of the specials, gnocci stuffed with cheese and pesto in a vodka cream sauce...seriously it was a party in my mouth, but for $20 was a little pricey. My friend had spaghetti with alfredo sauce, which she loved. The portions are huge, but I still think it's a little over priced. The restaurant itself is adorable and cozy. I love the artwork. I'm sure I'll be back because it's close to work and BYOB...can't go wrong with that.
(4)
Sandy D.

Just went to Caro Mio again last night...I have NEVER been disappointed...Their brushetta special with fresh mozzeralla was scrumptious!...I only can review one main dish though, because seriously it's all I ever get...It's just that good.. It's Caro Mio's homemade Gnocchi special...The one with the creamy tomato sauce and asiago stuffed...I can't wait to eat my leftovers for lunch. Caro Mio is the best...You will be thrilled you tried their wonderful dishes!
(5)
Sierra I.

I've been to and tasted much better... The restaurant is sooo small and cramped. The bread was kinda hard and not Italian at all. The food was really just o.k. unfortunately. I would rather go to Sapori Trattoria any day of the week than this place.
(3)
Amber N.

We had a great birthday dinner at Caro Mio last night for 8 people. Once again the host, waiters, bus people were all so sweet and wonderful. We had originally planned to go to Tango Sur, but they once again had no room for us there since they just decided to start taking reservations and were booked solid. Caro gladly took our reservation, honored it and everyone had a fantastic time. The food is good, not the best Italian we've ever had, but its like Maggianos, a classic that you can depend on. Always a nice time with an unpretentious atmosphere that is warm and inviting.
(4)
Amy D.

Well if an incident didn't happen that the person I went with wasn't about to faint, I think I would have given them three stars, but their service was GREAT. My friend didn't faint b/c of the food or anything, it's a condition they have. Anyways back to the review. Bread, garlic, parmigiana, AWESOME! The calamari was solid. The entrees, just ok and kinda pricey. The veal was not very good in my personal opinion. The pasta I got was very tasty, but on the high side. Italian restaurants should make half orders instead of charging a ton for huge portions. The tiramisu which I was really excited for, was sub-par. I would go again, but maybe try a different dessert or just stick with the pasta.
(4)
Anna T.

Thank you fellow Yelpers! My friend, Sean and I tried Caro Mio based on the reviews! We were heading to the Green Mill Sunday Night and had a taste for Italian! As I always do, I look to yelp for help for somewhere in the area! Caro Mio is a great little place! I ordered the tortellini pastichatta. It was very rich in favor! Sean ordered the Spicy Shimp and pasta, he was very happy also. Caro Mio is a great place to share a bottle of wine and relax. (especially after the holidays). It was so relaxing we were late for the show at the Green Mill. Leave it to two Italians to lose track of time gossiping over wine! Caro Mio is BYOB.. so if you are looking for a place to help enjoy all the wine gifts from the holidays.. Caro Mio is the place! Parking was easy, the service was nice, I was very happy!
(4)
Robot A.

Here is how to order at a great place like Caro Mio: Step 1-Thank hostess for the menu. Step 2-Place unopened menu on your lap. Step 3-Say hello to the waiter and address him with a smile by his first name. Step 4-When its your turn to order, smile and tell him to bring whatever he suggests. Step 5-Enjoy the satisfation of having a fantastic dish Went here for my wife's graduation with both our parents. Really great place!!! It didn't seem like you could go wrong with anything on the menu. The veal in the porchini mushroom sauce was amazing!!! I'd recommend reservations cause it is on the cozy side. The best part...BYOB!
(5)
Phil T.

Loooooove this cute lil italian restaurant....Also its BYOB w/ no corking fees! There dinner specials are always PHENOM! Wait staff are sooooo friendly and cool. If you dont know always ask for recommendations. They have never steered me wrong! If I do believe right a lil history about the place, at our table on the 3rd bottle of wine the owners came by and chatted w/ us they are actually from South America (Argentina) who's family originated from the Italian decent. Well anyways really nice people here and the food is great. Its just not your normal spaghetti and meatballs type place. They throw a good twist on the italian cuisine.
(5)
Juanita G.

I joined some friends here for a Groundhog Day dinner. The 5 of us met up with a few bottles of red wine. It had been years since I've been here and we were all anxious to try it again. The meal didn't disappoint. It was an amazing meal. It was a longer wait than I had anticipated to get a table. But I suppose it was 7 on a Saturday. Even with reservations some groups had to wait along with us. We waited so long that a member of our group drove to get some beer on Western & Lincoln and made it back before we were seated. Still it was worth the wait. The service was spotty because it was so busy but when you had the staff's attention you had their complete attention. We never felt rushed to leave the table. There were several groups there celebrating birthdays that gave it a very festive atmosphere. There were people waiting for tables throughout the meal. I had a very lovely risotto. It was the perfect texture. Everyone else at the table had one of their lovely specials. It was such a great time. It was all going well until we got our check. We were offended that they had added a gratuity to the bill. We were surprised that there wasn't a corkage fee. Was it supposed to make up for that? We would have tipped at least 20% for the service especially since it is a BYOB. I had to knock off a star for that. I think their service speaks for itself and if they don't have enough faith in that I don't know if I should. Are people usually bad tippers?
(4)
Jen M.

My girlfriends took me here to kick off my bachelorette party weekend. For starters, it is an adorable restaurant. Small and you definitely need reservations, but its so charming. The menu is very impressive. Be warned: the portions are huge! You really get your money's worth. Everyone in my group was very pleased with their food. And to top it all off, it is BYOB with no corking fee.
(5)
Jo H.

I slacked a bit for Vday and didn't make reservations anywhere, but decided it would be a good time to try the hidden gem down the street, Caro Mio. Of course it was crowded and there was a wait, but it seemed like they were able to get us in quickly. Again, despite the craziness of the evening, our waiter was pleasant and attentive. My boyfriend and I both ordered the specials which were AMAZING. Mine was a pesto gnocchi .....something fantastic. Every bite of each course was to die for.
(5)
Color B.

Hmmmm.... what can I say, I just don't get the hype. We came here to celebrate my birthday, with a brilliant bottle of wine that outshone the food 100x - the atmosphere is okay, considering it's a storefront, and the wait staff was friendly... but lobster ravioli was "understated"... nothing special. I would love to gloat over this place, I've had tons of recs and maybe it was just an off night, but considering they boast fresh pasta, ours was of the pastey sort. I hope I get a chance to change this review, but for now, I'm not throwing my arms up for joy, but for "why" on the way to Caro Mio.....
(3)
Alice S.

Dining here for the first time on a blustery and wet November evening, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. The calamari appetizer was well prepared but was pushed to a new level with a good dose of chopped garlic (garlic makes everything better). I had the lobster ravioli in a cream sauce, which was nicely done, except for the few strips of sun dried tomatoes. The tomatoes were out of place texturally, and I felt their intensity clashed with the subtle taste of the lobster filling. I just avoided eating them (although I do love sun dried tomatoes). For dessert, I had their lemon tartufo. This was a very light lemon gelato ball with limoncello. Very delicious, even if it was served without the meringue crumbles. I have mixed feelings about the service. Let me explain: when I arrived, a few minutes early, I was greeted immediately and when seated, asked if I would like something to drink. Good thing, because I wanted coffee, which I received promptly. My friend arrived a few minutes after me, and not seeing me sat on the other side of the (very dark) restaurant. No one greeted her initially -- she said she stood at the entrance for at least a minute -- nor was she asked if she wanted anything after sitting. The difference in the level of service was confounding. (We found each other when she called me, wondering where I was, since I'm rarely late.) It's possible that she seated herself in a section that wasn't being utilized, but even so she should have been greeted. I moved myself over to her table, and after that things went smoothly. Another little problem: I just discovered that they wrapped up my friend's leftovers instead of mine. Great, I'll get to try the stuffed gnocchi! Good thing she's a CLOSE friend of mine, otherwise, ewww. Still, overall, it was a fine experience, with good food. I'll be back to try their other dishes, for sure!
(4)
James C.

AMAZING! One of my favorite BYOB's. They have a homemade menu that is to die for! Great Stuff. Get the homemade gnocchi!!! Bring a ton of wine (personally I go cheap and get two bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Yellow Tale). The menu is expensive but one of my favorite for special occasions. One time I had some beef because they sat us by the door and it was cold so people were standing all around our table, did i mention it was cold...but it was once and this place is one of those rare hole in the walls you get excited about finding.
(5)
Missy F.

Schaawing. Gorgonzola Rissotto with Italian sausage. Life couldn't get any better.
(5)
Charlie P.

A good friend took us to Caro Mio for dinner when we visited Chicago and we were blown away. The calamari was perfectly cooked, the osso buco milanese was incredible (easily some of the most tender beef I've ever eaten), and the freshly made pastas were top notch. If I lived in Chicago I would totally be a regular.
(5)
Levi W.

Caro Mio is an excellent treat! This little BYOB (with no corkage fee) has a little of something for everyone. I would highly recommend the brushetta and I was a very big fan of the lobster ravioli. The were very accomodating for a group of six.
(4)
Val G.

Good Italian Food, pretty pricey BUT The Portions are HUGE!! I mean you have to take some home with you. It is a family run business which is great and the staff is always friendly and helpful when choosing what to order. I really like this place, it is a great atmosphere and its never crazy busy which I enjoy! The BYOB is great as well! I definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Kendrah R.

Very average. I don't see what all the fuss is about. And I thought $20 was a lot for a plate of rig with marinara. Don't really have a burning desire to go back.
(3)
James P.

This is a great little out of the way authentic Italian restaurant that just makes my mouth water to think about. My wife and I dinned here on the Saturday night before Valentine's Day. We arrived at 6pm and took that last two-top. Four couples came in behind us and had to wait; the place was packed. She had the Salmon on Linguini and I had the Chicken Parmesan on pasta. The pasta was super fresh and obviously home made, the meal was fabulous and the service was impeccable. Cara Mia is one of our top five restaurants in Lincoln Square.
(4)
Nicole V.

This is truly a hidden gem in the city. I am very particular about where I'll eat Italian, and this place is on the top of my list. The restaurant is family owned, and guess what...they are all from Italy! Would you believe they make all their own pasta and sauces from scratch...and it really shows in the flavor and quality of the food. The setting is very warm but relatively formal. This is a great place to go for a date or out with an intimate group of friends. Usually there are 1-2 waiters working...but they are very attentive. I highly recommend the daily specials, they usually are very delicious combinations of their freshest ingredients.
(5)
Ann Y.

I am going to knock Caro down by a star for a few reasons. First, there is really very little room to wait and on Friday and Saturday, you will have to wait, so it gets cramped and just uncomfortable. In the summer that is one thing, but in winter, when you can't just go outside, it is annoying. Second the past two times I have gone the service has been slow. It isn't just me either. I have seen other people looking annoyed that they haven't brought a menu or water. Lastly, I need to tell them less sauce. While I love the sauce my food was drowning in it last time to the point it was just not very good. I will be back more than likely, but they aren't high on my list like they used to.
(3)
Jennifer P.

I love this place at lunchtime in the summer, when you can sit outside. The salad and bread are excellent and fresh, and you can split any one of the pasta dishes with someone and walk away full, happy, and not broke. I almost always get the chicken & eggplant tortellini with a fresh, simple marinara sauce. Lately I've been loving on the gnocchi in porcini mushroom sauce. Imagine pillowy gnocchi melting in your mouth in a rich dark mushroom sauce. Dinner time can be quite crowded - I wouldn't recommend it as a date place on the weekends, since they pack you in. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable.
(4)
Tracy K.

I really wanted to like this place more than I actually did. I had driven/walked by this place for months and always wanted to go there because its so cute. A few weeks ago, I finally got around to trying it out and was a little disappointed by it. We went on a Saturday night around 8pm and the place was packed. I thought that made it fun because it was kind of loud (there was a huge party of 15+ right next to us) and we got to see everyone's food being paraded around. Because it was so crowded, service was a little slow, but I think that's understandable. The pasta itself was very good, homemade and fresh! But the sauce that bathed my portabello raviolis was so!so!so! salty. The portion size was enough for me to be satisfied with my dinner (bread,a small salad and about half the ravioli) and have a little leftover for breakfast. However, I didn't feel that my entree was worth the $19 or $20 I paid. I was hoping that dessert would make up for the overly salty entree.. but.. denied! They were out of the tira misu. And that made me sad. I'll probably try this place again.. maybe for lunch when its a little cheaper.
(3)
Jaz P.

I ordered the bolegnese but the sauce is a little too tangy for my tastes. My friend enjoyed her Osso Buco. There's not that much room between you and your neighbors.
(3)
Katie T.

A really cool thing about this place is the art work. I spent the majority of the time looking at the paintings and wishing I could buy one (they are for sale). The food was gamazing and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. The bruschetta was packed with flavor and I had a sea food pasta dish that was delish.
(4)
Rebecca K.

I love the atmosphere and have always had really good service (been there around five times now). BYOB is a bonus. They are crowded and noisy on the weekends but we usually get a table pretty fast. The portions are very large and on the pricey side agreed. BUT the problem I have with Caro Mio is the last two times I have been there my dishes were way, way too salty. Now, I am a huge salt freak. I salt everything, liberally. But Caro Mio has managed to insult my desensitized taste buds, not an easy feat. This is also not a place for a light meal. There is a lot of oil and cheese in everything and not very many veggies to be found. Overall the food is very familiar to what my sicilian grandfather cooked us all the time growing up so I disagree with people who say the food is not "authentic". It is a place you go to for large, heavy, hearty, meaty, cheesy dishes and BYOB which is sometimes just what the doctor ordered :).
(3)
Jim S.

Great little BYOB Italian joint. The food was amazing - the bruschetta had the biggest piece of wet mozz on it that just melted in your mouth. The server was knowledgable and personable. It's a quaint little place, and it wasn't too crowded for a Thursday night. I would definitely go back again. I just wish it was closer to my hood! :)
(4)
David S.

I have been to Caro Mio twice now, but I can not believe the two experiences took place at the same restaurant. Our first time to Caro Mio, my fiance and I both had pasta dishes. We had calamari as an appetizer and shared the lobster ravioli and the gnocchi for the main dishes. For dessert we made on the fly lemon dish which featured limoncello and sweet lemon meringue crumbles. I am not a huge fan of calamari, but the dinner was a celebration dinner in her honor. The dish was cooked perfectly, tender, breaded perfectly and seasoned well. Both pasta dishes we delicious. The sauces were great, a little rich but great. The dessert, especially for an improvised dish, was nice and refreshing. Last night we had a completely different experience. We ordered the green bean salad for an appetizer, and it was by far the best part of the meal. The beans were served with tomatoes, a hint of garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar and fresh mozzarella. Our main dishes were the linguini all' arrabbiata with a side of meat balls and beef tips in a white wine and marinara sauce. The linguini was pretty good, but the meatballs were a disappointment. They lacked flavor and were slightly over cooked. The presentation of the beef tips was the first turn off to this part of the meal. The dish looked a bit like slop. There was way too much sauce on the plate. The beef was a bit stringy, but not horrible. The sauce was lackluster. Overall, the dish would have benefited from the addition of onions and peppers. I am on the quest for the perfect Tiramisu, so we order it for dessert. The presentation was nice, but the lady fingers were soaked too long. This caused the dish to be soupy and grainy. This was definitely on the lower end of the scale for Tiramisu. We love the atmosphere and the BYOB aspect. We will definitely give the place another shot, but I think we will stick to the pasta dishes.
(3)
April M.

Really good small italian joint in the middle of ravenswood! I went to celebrate a new job with my boyfriend and a friend of ours, as it was highly recommended. It is a bit pricey yet the food is good and you get a lot of it! There menu has a lot of good options and they have good specials as well. My boyfriend had the chicken parm and I had a dish with linguine and shrimp with some veggies. I will be stopping by again sometime!
(5)
Kari H.

I went based on the wonderful yelps and my love for BYOB and was a little disappointed. I was there at 8pm on a Saturday night with a party of four and was seated fairly quickly which was a nice surprise. I was thinking we might have a long wait. The service was decent but nothing special. The food was average I had the pollo arrabiata and was disappointed. The chicken wasn't good, it had way too much sauce and wasn't spicy. We had the eggplant ap which wasn't anything special. Because it's BYOB and conveniently located with lots of parking I may check it out again to see if the foods better but I don't have high hopes.
(3)
Mickey M.

Let me start off by saying the bolognese sauce was very good paired with their home made rigotoni made it just short of an A rating. The pasta was a bit too al dente. The camprese was also very good. However, the bread was obviously sitting uncovered for awhile and it was not soft as in, sat out. The big problem I had was a lack of personal touch here. Their was not a connection to the ownership or a manager welcome at all. The staff was (it appeared) all Mexican which is fine. And even if the owner is Mexican, I'm fine with that but no one from management or owner visited our table. If it's Italian and it's cozy as this restaurant was, make me feel connected to the food, chef/owner or region it comes from. The music wasn't themed to the restaurant which again is fine but it was too loud. When I requested a reduction of the volume "just slightly", he could not honor that. Huh? "We have no way to adjust it. but let me check with the manager". Nothing changed, nor did a manager visit us. It's a byob but when we were looking for our cork, they threw it out. We felt rushed at the end especially when they asked to take our plates 3 times. NO ALREADY. If I was giving you a look, then yes but NO. Overall, it was nice but nice doesn't cut it in Chicago. This city is a culinary mecca with endless choices. You need to do a little bit better and make me fell welcomed and connected with more of a personal touch.
(2)
Dave A.

I really like this place for some reason. The layout of the place is a bit disorganized but the food and service is excellent. Ive had a few meals here and the food is always top notch. I highly recommend the calamari salad and the lobster stuffed ravioli. You can taste that the pasta is really fresh. This is a hidden gem in chicago, but with over 150 reviews, I guess it's not that hidden. BYOB is a huge plus.
(5)
Moe f.

Got there at 6 on Sat and just missed having to wait. Our waiter was awesome and gave us great reccomendations. We started with Caprese. For entrees we had the gnochi special which was some of the finest I have ever eaten. I decided to try something new, the Osso Buca and am glad I did. The meat was delicious and fell apart. And we tried Fettuchini Alfredo which was prety solid. We got so much food, dessert was out of the question and have leftovers for tomorrow. BYO, great food and service. Will definately be back. I reccomend going with a group so you can make a reservation to avoid a wait.
(4)
L. B.

I have been going here for years. They continually win me over with the food and excellent service. I typically don't order pasta out - it's usually not good enough for me to justify all of those carbs, but here I happily make an exception. One time, there were a bunch of us for a birthday dinner and we were the last table in an otherwise empty restaurant. The staff did not rush us and we felt comfortable staying and enjoyed a great dinner experience. Last time I had the gnocchi special that was out of this world! Finally, it's a BYOB with no corkage fee!!
(5)
Neal K.

Great little BYOB Italian joint for anyone near Lincoln Square on Wilson. Try any of their pastas with the porcini mushroom sauce and make sure to ask for Caesar - really nice dude. Lots of love in this restaurant, great for a Friday early dinner to unwind from a rough week at work.
(4)
Jen M.

Omigod!!! I LOVE this place. More specifically, I LURVE the pappardelle con porcini (when I was eight, my friends convinced me that "lurve" is a higher form of love...true or not, I like the sound of it). Anyhoo, back to the pappardelle, SO AMAZING!!!! It's rich and not for anyone watching calories or fat. I can't say enough about this dish. I would simply lie down and die if they ever discontinued it from their menu. On a side note, Caro Mio has a great atmosphere to just hang out with a group of friends for a leisurely dinner or for an aphrodisiactic (probably another made-up word) experience.
(5)
Jessica G.

this place.... is really good! It's a good spot to take out of town guests, it's cozy and the staff is super friendly! It is a little pricey but I would say worth it for sure. Both times i stuck with my staple fettucine alfredo, b/c i like my fat to be creamy and glorious.. They didn't disappoint!
(4)
rachel p.

i've had two really good meals at caro mio; one with the rents and one with the boy. the atmosphere was really nice for both. the tables are pretty jammed in (the space is pretty tiny) but somehow the volume seems to stay somewhat low. i think people are generally using their inside voices in this place. i've never been disappointed with the food, though last time i went the service was a little lacking. the wait for our table was short but i felt like our server might have forgotten about us a few times. all i wanted was some bread. too much to ask?
(4)

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Address : 1825 W Wilson Ave
Chicago, IL, 60640
Phone (773) 275-5000
Website https://caromioitalianristorante.squarespace.com/#about
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm

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 : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

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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Caro Mio

1825 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL, 60640

Caro Mio Menu

Antipasti

Zuppe E Insalate

Pasta Fatta In Casa/homemade Pasta

Pasta E Risotto

Pollo (chicken)

Vitello Pranzo (veal And Beef)

Pesce (seafood)

Extras

Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Caro Mio

Antipasti

Zuppe E Insalate

Pasta Fatta In Casa/homemade Pasta

Pasta E Risotto

Pollo (chicken)

Vitello Pranzo (veal And Beef)

Pesce (seafood)

Extras

Dessert

Randy G.

Karen S.

Zack R.

Priya S.

Jaimie P.

Michael L.

Patrick D.

Bobbie A.

Chad H.

Laura M.

Mary R.

Alessandra F.

Ian H.

Kathleen C.

Dani M.

Megan M.

Wayne H.

Sarah V.

Collin C.

Brighid M.

Justin B.

Derek M.

Charlie B.

Matthew F.

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Steven R.

Cynthia R.

Tolga T.

Rachel Z.

Kelly C.

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Keith A.

Katie S.

Jeffrey Z.

Marcela R.

Jenny S.

Scott T.

Roseann M.

Mister F.

Heather R.

Don S.

Matthew S.

Rachel S.

Hondo S.

Jon G.

Alexandra P.

Casey F.

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Igor L.

Vicky S.

Russell K.

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Damian C.