I'm gonna start with the good food, but my experience overall was pretty mixed: The pasta is really good. I had the homemade pasta with rabbit which was really well done. I also had the sette vegetali salad which was good and healthy - just chopped up veggies - which I probably could have made at home for less than $8 but it was not crazy. I think the food is decently priced given the quality. They have some good wines too. BUT I had a reservation with a request for outdoor seating, and I saw the reservations sheet which indeed said "OUT" next to my name. But then they said outdoor is first come first served, so even though we had a res, we were waiting behind walk-ups who put their name ahead of us. I thought that was kind of a stupid policy. Anyways, I asked for an indoor table near the big open windows so we were kind of outside without waiting. Then we had the weird problem of all of our servers (three) really not speaking Engish very well, which I honestly am ashamed to complain about but it really was a bit of a problem. The first guy asked us what kind of water we wanted and we said sparkling and he brought us tap, then the guy who tries to explain the specials was so impossible to understand - both his English and Italian - that I gave up trying to understand him before he finished (and I speak five languages so I don't think its my fault). The guy who brought out the food... god knows what he said. I saw other tables looking bewildered when he talked to them. I know, I know, I should just speak Spanish... but its an Italian restaurant and if they aren't going to make any sense in English maybe at least trying in Italian would have been better. I also noticed another reviewer saying Streeterville is a nice neighborhood, but I personally really don't agree. Its dominated by a hospital and a few mid-range hotels, and its really not a very interesting place to walk around.
(2)
Dawn D.
Cute, quaint but lacking in the menu department. Went for a lunch meeting and ordered Calamari for an app, the salmon with cous cous--which I sprinked with red pepper flakes for the main dish. Food was delish.
(3)
Samuel C.
I love this place. I eat here all the time. The best fish in town! The food is authentic, the service is top notch. It's open all afternoon with one of the sunniest patios in Chicago. A+
(5)
E S.
I wavered b/t 3 and 4 stars, but since they carry Moretti beer, I went with 4. :) My boyfriend and I came here for dinner the other night. We chose the place due to its proximity to the movie theater where we were headed after dinner. I thought the food was very good. The bread came fast, the bus boy was attentive with water refills. We had the carpaccio for an appetizer and it was excellent. Great flavor, fresh lemon and herbs. My bf had the spaghetti with clams, which again had excellent flavor and came out nice and hot. I had the salmon - nothing to rave about, but I enjoyed it and the veggies and sauce had a nice tart, refreshing taste to them. The only thing that was frustrating was the waiter did not tell us the night's special, which we later learned to be scallops and risotto which I definitely would have gotten had I known that was the night's special. Waiter fail, but overall good food and we will return.
(4)
Meg O.
After my pre-op appointment at the Northwestern University Nasal and Sinus Center, my mom and I walked down St. Clair to Coco Pazzo Cafe for lunch. I have previously eaten at the Coco Pazzo over on 300 West Hubbard Street and had a great experience, so I was pretty confident that lunch was going to be good. Our experience started out great, with immediate attention to menus, water, coffee, and delicious rosemary foccacia with olive oil. There are many tempting possibilities on the lunch menu: my mom and I pondered over the paninins ($9 each), handmade tortellini with brown butter and sage (one of my all-time faves), the Nicoise-like salad, the Italian frittata, and many other options. We were impressed by the availability of vegetarian options. My mom finally decided on the polenta with grilled vegetables, and I chose the soup of the day and the seven veggie chopped salad. My soup arrived promptly, but on the not-so-hot side. The potato-based soup had plenty of spinach and mushrooms, and was quite tasty, but a bit too salty for my liking. I lingered over the soup perhaps a bit too much, because then our entrees arrived and they had to be taken back. But 3 minutes later I was finished and our main courses were served. My mom's polenta was amazing! It was not circles or squares, but moons, with the texture of a good pudding: smooth and pliant on the outside with appropriate grill marks, and thick and creamy on the inside. Incredible. She had a lovely assortment of grilled vegetables as well, marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette. I agree with Amy S.--the seven veggie chopped salad is wonderful. Crunchy, fresh, colorful, and seasoned just enough so you can appreciate all the veggie flavors. It had a large, thin sheet of parmesgan over the top too. Dessert menus were brought out soon after the entrees were cleared, and here's where our troubles began: it took 15 minutes to bring out 4 pieces of biscotti to enjoy with our last cup of coffee. It took so long that my mom and I had to each drink ANOTHER cup of coffee so that we had something into which we could dip our biscotti. Overall, I really enjoyed our lunch. It was fresh, well-seasoned, and interesting. And the coffee is delicious! There's just a timing issue that needs to be fixed.
(4)
Veliero M.
We already ate it here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. Both times the restaurant was full. The food is very good, we had the polpo with mini tomotoes and potatoes, the pasta with mushrooms and the pasta with rabbit ragu'. All so very good. Very friendly atmosphere and cozy!
(4)
Jordan T.
Had lunch there today. The food was fantastic and they had us in and out in 45 minutes which is great for someone on their work break. I will definitely go back again and will recommend to friends/co-works. I would recommend the trout. The dish I had was grilled and served with new potatoes and green beans with a pesto sauce. Great portion size for the cost as well. I would normally say if you're in the area to check this place out, but even if you're not in the area it's worth traveling to. It's Cocco Pazzo quality with "cafe" prices.
(4)
Ralph E.
Very nice place. Friendly people, good food and wine. Love the outdoor seating area (except in January :-). I like this location better than it's big brother. More reasonably priced and less pretentious. I have been here many times, and never disappointed. Highly recommended.
(4)
Kris W.
Food was good...lots of clever and creative choices on the menu. Service was cursory and for the price, not attentive enough - people around us were complaining of screwed up orders and not getting resolution. I'd eat here again, but not with anyone I wanted to impress - expected a lot more friendly/interested staff at a place like this. Lots of 50ish business types here on the night I was in.
(3)
Diana C.
I have to admit I was surprised. The food was better than I had expected, and I went home very very full. Some of the previous reviewers said that the portions were small, but I thought the portions were heaping, and some enough for two. I ordered a Caesar salad because I like to try Caesar salads at different restaurants to see which one makes the best dressing. This one was good, with enough salt and acid to give it bite, but not so much that my tongue was tingling. The waiter asked if I wanted the anchovies on it and I said, "yes." I ended up not eating them--I have not acquired the taste for whole anchovies yet. The salad was pretty big, with the lettuce chopped to 1/2 inch strips (I can't stand it when the lettuce is too big to put in your mouth gracefully and you aren't given a separate knife to eat your salad with). Best of all, the salad was served with a large parmesan crisp on top. Yum. For my main course, I ordered the Rigatoni Buterra, which was popular among some of the other reviewers. It was not the best pasta I've ever had, but I was not disappointed. The pasta was a little harder than al-dente, but I prefer that to overcooked. The creamy tomato sauce was the best part. It would have been great slathered on some good bread, but it went well with the pasta, sausage and the green peas. I liked that there were a lot of green peas, because I never get enough vegetables eating out, and this was almost a whole serving of vegetable. Back to portion size--I stuffed myself silly with the pasta, and I think I left a third of the pasta on the plate still. They must have read the reviews and decided to increase portion sizes. The plate was heaping. Desserts were decent. We shared pear sorbet, raspberry sorbet, and the Tartufo. I think we all agreed the Tartufo was the best. I especially liked the crunch of the almonds tucked inside the gelato and the chocolate shell covering the gelato. The sorbets were refreshing, but too sweet for my taste. They also melted too quickly. I prefer when restaurants freeze individual scoops before serving, so the mounds stay intact when you eat them. I had a great time, with good company. People were more dressed up than I had expected, so I'm glad I wore a casual dress. Jeans are perfectly reasonable for this place, but I wouldn't go in shorts and flip flops.
(4)
Geoff A.
Great place!! Awesome service, awesome food. couldn't of asked for better!
(5)
David W.
The wife and I have vowed to stay away from Michigan Ave and all the restaurant establishments around it. Especially after our last experience at Coco Pazzo Cafe. There is nothing wrong with the restaurant or the area. But Chicago is a huge place with great restaurants everywhere, so fighting the tourist crowd to have mediocore Itialian and then to pay Mag Mile prices....... I can cook Itialian at home. So like Chinese food, when I go out for Italian, it has to be really really good. And Coco Pazzo Cafe, though freshly made pastas, are always missing it. Either too salty, not enough flavor, too much sauce, not enough sauce, pasta sticking, or absent service......... never a consistant product.
(2)
A. D.
food is descent, portions good. i knocked off 2 stars for the following reasons-- let me first state that i have ben to coco pazzo numerous times as i often travel to chicago and stay in that part of town. i was very disappointed that despite my frequent patronage, they decided to charge a split fee because my friend, one of 3 at the table, felt unwell and only wanted a bit of my pasta. we ordered appetizers and sides-- still they felt the need to add this charge-- too bad. the sides alone more than added up to an entree in terms of cost. bad business, in my opinion. when i questioned the waiter, he mumbled a response-- it was inaudible and the charge stuck. i took the charge out of his tip and notated it on the bill. also, the servers are less than pleasant. again, i go there often, in upwards of 20 times, i guess-- and bring along small and large groups. i would expect a little friendliness from the too cool gents that serve your food. i doubt i will go again-- unless brought by others. i'd rather go to "osteria via stato" ( osteriaviastato.com ) a few blocks away when i crave italian.
(3)
Todd W.
Dessert only rating - great desert. Very nice wine selection, great location. loved the outside seating
(4)
Rachel M.
Everything about Coco Pazzo Cafe was pretty meh. We had a reservation originally for 5 people at 7pm on a Wednesday. When we got to the restaurant, the hostess outside went to check on our table and then sent us inside to be seated. Inside a different hostess just stared at us for a minute as we tried to figure out where to go. At the beginning of the meal when our server found out that one of our 5 people was unable to make it, he seemed to take it as a personal insult and was kind of rude and absent the rest of the night. He didn't bother to tell us that they were out of half of the appetizers until we tried ordering them, interrupted us in the middle of ordering drinks to tell us about their specials and we had to ask several times for someone to send send him over. I'm not even sure he came back to see how our meal was. The food was ok. The Tagliolini Neri was pretty incredible, but the Tagliatelle with rabbit ragu was really bland and poletto wasn't anything to write home about. They have a really lovely outdoor area, though, which is probably the only really memorable thing about this dining experience.
(3)
Peter H.
Service left something to be desired as our waiter clearly knew nothing about any wines and didn't offer any additional info on the food. To our surprise, the food was much better than the service. I highly recommend the antipasto app and the pappardelle with rabbit ragu.
(4)
Jennifer Y.
Love this place. I use to work here as a hostess and let me tell you about the weight I gained. Wheeeeeeeeeew. The only thing I don't like about it is the mean woman who use to work as a manager here. But hey, everyone's fighting a harder battle, right? Right. Anyway, the paninis are delicious as are most of the fish dishes. God, Italians can cook some fish. Oh, and the squid ink pasta was my absolute favorite. I got it every chance I had. Oh, and the prosciutto with melon balls. Yummmmmmmm. Summer time is nice because there's outdoor seating, but it smells out there sometimes so make sure you check it out first. Coco Pazzo is obviously more upscale than this sister cafe but I think she holds her own. Jennifer Aniston thinks so too. She's been here on several occasions.
(4)
Kim C.
I live in the neighborhood so I pass by the Coco Pazzo Cafe very frequently, and I am always amazed by the number of people sitting outside, eating and drinking happily. My roommate and I finally decided to grab a late lunch there on a Sunday afternoon, but had an overall pretty underwhelming experience. A friend had told me that the rigatoni was the "best rigatoni he's ever had", so I had to give that a shot. And, well, it's rigatoni. It's good, maybe great, but did not knock my socks off. My roommate ordered the Italian omlette, and it came DRENCHED in salt! It was so salty it was literally un-eatable. My roommate's lips became chapped and she was parched after 3 bites. She also claims to have eaten some egg shells. Luckily, our server was very nice about getting her a new dish, which came back moderately salted but still, just an omlette (that I could have probably made at home..) I think I saw Coco Pazzo listed in Zagat's 200 Best Italian Restaurants or something, and I must say I'd have to disagree!
(3)
Misse D.
I've heard of the infamous al fresco dining at Coco Pazzo...but I came in the wrong season to actually experience it. I dined here with my fiance and his family. It was a great meal. We enjoyed a nice bottle of wine. I cleaned my plate when eating the pear and spinach salad-- the pears were cooked-- perhaps poached? I highly recommend. A meal with out of towners is usually a long meal with all of the chatting. We weren't rushed at all and was quite pleased with the service.
(4)
Tony S.
We booked our table for 6:45pm on a Saturday night and arrived about 6:55. Friendly welcome and seated immediately. The restaurant was packed solid so this place is clearly very popular. The waiting staff were relatively attentive, Miguel was friendly and took our order when we were ready and gave us more time as we were talking amongst ourselves. Water was served immediately. I ordered the spinaco salad to start which was basic but pretty tasty. Spinach, goats cheese, pine kernals and something else which I have forgotton, nice n tasty and light as a starter should be. The others in my party had Mozerrella and Tomatoe salad that they were happy with. My main course was a steak and fries affair, Steak was properly cooked and tasty and I enjoyed the fries too. Others had Lasagne which looked nice if a bit generic. The Lasagne came with nothing else at all that I recall so you may want to add a green salad to spruce it up. Deserts were nice enough, the Panacotta wasn't very good so I was told but my chocolate and almond tart was pretty good. I would recommend this place especially as I lost my wallet and they left a message on our answer phone to say they had found it. So excellent service there. No complaints at all.
(4)
D N.
Loved this little place! Walked from the Affinia Hotel and enjoyed a nice glass of house Chardonnay - bartender was very attentive. seated right at our rezzie time and service was great, without being overbearing. Food was terrific! Carpaccio was amazing. Our waiter informed us that half orders of pasta were available, so we tried a rich seafood risotto and lasagna. Both were big portions and outstanding. The shoulder steak we split was a little dry and not as flavorful as some I have had, so one star down. We will certainly return the next time we stay in this part of downtown. A nice cozy little spot in busy downtown Chicago.
(4)
Kelly M.
This place is delicious! Every time I go.. I always get the same thing. The gnocchi with vodka sauce... you actually have to ask for this specific sauce with the gnocchi, but you definitely won't be disappointed. Every time I go to that part of the city to visit my parents, I always try to stop by there! :) Enjoy!
(4)
A S.
I love the atmosphere, especially the outdoor seating. Very breezy and soothing. The food, of course, is delicious. The portion is perfect. I would definitely come back.
(5)
Amy S.
I work right around the corner from this place, so when people want to meet for lunch on a nice day, I always suggest this place. It's just enough off the beaten path where you don't have to wait long for a table (sometimes the tables outside are full, but that's what you get on a nice day). I do feel that the food is pricey for a lunch place, but you are downtown Chicago, so you have to expect that. I will normally just order out the seven chopped veggie salad and it is WONDERFUL. It's so fresh and so tasty. However, in the winter it is $1 cheaper than it is in the summer....they are pretty tricky that way. I like the pastas, but I normally will get the half portion because the full is almost too much. There menu is seasonal and one time I got the gnocchi and it was in a marsala sauce with mushrooms and it was so good, but I haven't seen it on the menu since. If you are out shopping on Michigan Avenue and you need a place to refuel and you are not in the mood for McDonald's or tourists, this is the place to go.
(4)
Brian C.
Marco must be the hardest working man in the restaurant biz. As the host of the cafe he sat my wife and I, assisted with our order and quickly made an entree exchange when I thought my risotto was too onion forward (note: I am very sensitive when it comes to onion). The food here never disappoints and I love the variety of bruschetta.
(4)
Sophie E.
I live about 4 blocks from this restaurant, so I have had the opportunity to eat here often. I love the pastas, which are made fresh. The menu is seasonal and changes from year to year. They once made a fetticcine with lamb ragout which I am dying to have again. I also have enjoyed their lasagna, which is very light yet highly flavorful. The spinach ravioli is also quite good; I especially like the butter sage sauce. Their house chianti is velvety and wonderful. The portions are small by Italian restaurant standards (think Maggiano's), but perhaps that's a good thing as it prevents people from over-eating. We have always experienced friendly, attentive service. We typically are walk-ins, but since we eat fairly early we have never had a problem getting a table. I also like the ambiance of the restaurant. It is decorated like a rustic italian cafe. In pleasant weather, they remove the doors such that the restaurant opens up to the covered patio. It has a casual, but elegant appeal, with white linens and candles.
(4)
Isa B.
You can never go wrong in here, there is always something to suit your dietary needs. They can make it happen and the food is premium. This, as well as the higher-end sister restaurant, Coco Pazzo are musts in Chicago.
(4)
Mike P.
Enjoyed the sidewalk dining on my first night in Chicago. Reasonable prices and decent food. Adequate service. Some interesting items on the menu like octopus with peperonata. Nice wines too.
(3)
Jennifer W.
My family and I went to Coco Pazzo for my mother's birthday dinner and it was great! We had an earlier reservation and were seated right away. The staff was still sort of getting ready for the later rush, but it wasn't obtrusive or anything. I had the GREAT spicy spaghetti and my mom and sister were impressed with their salmon as well. The Diet Coke was a bit flat, but my dad really liked the wine he ordered. We split the tartufo which was excellent and the blood orange sorbet was tasty as well. I'd definitely recommend it either for a family dinner or a date night.
(4)
Mel L.
Went here on a weekday evening at 6pm. Service was really good - waiter was knowledgeable, friendly, and prompt. Food was delicious - 3 of us girls split 2 dishes which was just the perfect portion. We got gnocchi which I would definitely recommend and the sausage rigattoni which was just okay. You get bread & oil to start so we didn't think appetizers were ncessary. I enjoyed the decor, service, and food...just no extra special experience to give it my 5th star. I would go back though!
(4)
John C.
Wow the Cafe is getting beat down from the reviews I just read about this place. Thank goodness I didn't read them before I went! I had the in laws in town who were visiting the newborn girls...and I made a call to my own personal Zagat. He told me to try it since it was right next to the hospital. So on my first experience, I had to give my mother-in-law my meal since she order the special soft shell crab entree. She didn't realize that a soft shell crab was a whole crab! So, she ate the duck I ordered and I ate the crab. Both were very tasty. My father-in-law had the braised rabbit, and he thought it was delicious. So anyway, I really wanted to order the bistecca, which they were out of. On my second visit I got the bistecca, which wasn't that great. But my wife ordered the RIGATONI "BUTTERA". I thought this was one of the better pasta dishes that I've had. It's amazing how a crappy server or some person can ruin your dining experience.
(4)
Emily F.
I've never been to the other Coco Pazzo's, but no need to, as this one is just fine by me. Food is great, portions are fair, prices are reasonable for a white-tablecloth Streeterville italian restaurant, reservations aren't necessary for mid-week dining, service is quick and friendly- my water glass was never less than half full. Has all the makings for a great date spot- but was also enjoyable for a spur of the moment dinner with my Aunt.
(4)
Jennifer B.
This restaurant has, hands down, the best spaghetti in the city. I know that is a bold claim, however the spaghetti marinara here is a spicy marinara and it is quite incredible. The atmosphere is busy, and a bit loud, and also usually crowded. This all adds to the aura of the restaurant...and if you are a fan of true Italian you must try this place! Next time you are on Michigan Ave, skip the cheesecake factory and veer off one block towards the lake and try Coco Pazzo cafe,....you won't be disappointed!
(4)
A. R.
I'm giving this place three stars because the wait staff was excellent--friendly and attentive without being overbearing--but the food was average, not extraordinary or worth going back for. However I would highly recommend the panna cotta--that was excellent. I might go back simply for that.
(3)
Morgan H.
This restaurant would have gotten five stars, were it not for the crappy hostess. The food is fantastic and the price is right. We shared an order of Tuscan Fries with the table, which was perfect - not too much to be overkill but everyone got a good amount. I had the grilled vegetables with polenta, and it was perhaps the best polenta I've ever had. The veggie assortment was great too - squash, eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, tomato...a great, well-balanced variety. But, alas, the service...our group (nine of us) made a reservation for lunch outside, and I was told that while they couldn't guarantee outdoor seating, they would try. When we arrived, the hostess looked at me like I had three heads and came up with several excuses as to why they could never seat a group of nine outside, ranging from "there aren't enough tables" (there were four open tables in a cluster) to "we can't fit more than three plates on a table" (uh, why are your plates so big??). The aforementioned four tables in a cluster were all empty...but she had seated a party of three right smack in the middle of them at a fifth table, thus requiring us to split up our group. I sneaked a peek at the reservations list and sure enough, there was my name, and right next to it a note saying "Seat OUTSIDE". Nice.
(3)
Chicago S.
I agree with the other reviewers who were underwhelmed with this restaurant. My husband and I were on North Michigan for the Lights Festival and got hungry. The restaurant looked charming, there was no wait, and the dress code was casual so we decided to get dinner. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, although the tables are a bit small and close together. We were seated along one of the walls and didn't have much room to maneuver -- my husband's chair kept accidentally bumping the woman seated at the table next to us. But I figured it would be worth it if the food was good. Our salads arrived promptly but were mediocre. My husband got the ceasar salad ($8); the lettuce was limp and chopped into the smallest pieces I have ever seen. But the real problem was the dressing -- no flavor. The dressing and tomatoes in my Mista salad (mixed greens with cherry tomatoes and a whipped vinegrette, $7) also lacked flavor. The entrees were more solid, although we had to wait quite some time for them. My husband ordered the Rigatoni Buttera (sausage, peas, and parmesan in a tomato and cream sauce, $16). It was a generous portion and quite tasty; we both enjoyed it. I am not sure it was worth $16 because it did seem like something you could make at home, but I suppose you are paying for being in a touristy neighborhood. I ordered the Maiale entree (grilled pork chop in a mustard sauce with rapini on the side, $21). The pork chop was a little dry; the sauce had a lot of flavor but was extremely salty. The rapini was good, with small pieces of garlic. Overall, we thought the restaurant was okay but overpriced due to the neighborhood and not worth a return trip. The service was inconsistent -- one of the busboys was extremely attentive, but our waiter seemed like he couldn't care less. Three stars, mostly for the warm atmosphere and the pasta dish.
(3)
James K.
Coco Pazzo Cafe has consistently good appetizers, pastas, and desserts with hit or miss service in a warm atmosphere. Operating out of the side of the Red Roof Inn, this cafe has been a staple in a Streeterville neighborhood bereft of much choice when it comes to dining options. The patio seating is delightful in the summer. Coco Pazzo Cafe has really nice, homemade pastas that are uniformly well-executed. The Lasagna with Bechamel, Gnocchi Parmigiana, Stracchi con Funghi, and Rigatoni alla Buttera are all winners. The pannacotta and gelato (especially cinnamon) are consistently rich and refreshing. The wines by the glass are pretty decent as well. Service is generally good at the maitre'd level, but tends to oscillate from being too pushy in terms of overselling wine and add-ons to inattentive depending on the server.
(4)
Jennifer S.
I visited Coco Pazzo Cafe for a business lunch with four other women. When we arrived at 11:30, the restaurant was nearly empty, but it filled up quickly and got noisier as we dined. Maybe it was because we were a chatty group, but I didn't feel like we were getting enough attention from the wait staff. We were still holding our menus when our appetizers came! Luckily, we were sitting near a spot where the menus are stored and were able to return them ourselves. Although this probably sounds snobby, I promise that I'm not a snob at heart! One of my biggest pet peeves is when a nice restaurant will remove the knife that you used with your appetizer from your plate and place it on the table so that you can use it with your meal. This definitely happened at Coco Pazzo and cost them points in my book. Anyway, on to the food! To start our meal, we shared a selection of bruschetta, mixed vegetables and grains, as well as carpaccio. They were each yummy. For lunch, we all tried something different. I am a sucker for gnocchi (even though I can never quite pronounce it correctly!), so when I saw it on the menu, I couldn't resist. The little potato dumplings were perfectly cooked and were served in a veal ragu and sage sauce. The sage was a little overpowering for my taste, but then again, I am more sensitive to those kinds of spices than your average gal. Everyone else seemed to like their own selections, and the portion sizes were perfect for lunch. I got to try a bite of the meat lasagna with a bechamel sauce, which was quite good. I would definitely order that myself on a return visit. Overall, Coco Pazzo Cafe was good, but it didn't rock-my-world.
(3)
Andy P.
If you are in Chicago, and you in the mood for great food come here. The steak and the pasta's are the best. The location is great. The service is okay. It is great place to be with Friends or family. I would give it a A+. So get of the coach and get some pasta!
(4)
Camille O.
In my days of wine and roses I spent many an evening here at Coco Pazzo's so I can vouch for the delicious food, street-side dining, pleasant staff, and reasonable wine list. Some of my favorite dishes are the fried calamari as an appetizer ($8.50), the baby spinach and endive salad, although I would suggest toasting the walnuts sprinkled on top ($7.00), and the half-orders of pasta ($8.50) which are ample enough so there's still room for some of the desserts such as zabaglione with fresh berries. Other entrees I've enjoyed are the veal scaloppini ($19.00) and pan roasted salmon ($17.50). You won't leave hungry and the atmosphere is a comfortable toned-down trendy.
(3)
Steve F.
Great place for lunch, we were there yesterday, I had the white fish special, very fresh, delicious tasting, awesome service, I'd recommend the place. Can be a little pricey for lunch
(5)
Peter L.
Portions are too small. Been here a few times and have always had to secretly fill up on bread -- which wasn't particularly great either. Sitting outside on a nice day is cool, but it's not enough for the price. Food and service were mediocre. My girlfriend likes this joint, but she's never as hungry as I am.
(3)
Garett N.
Really delicious food. This is not the kind of place I would go to, but my boss was paying so I figured I'd make the most out of it. We went during lunch and while she had a reservation, the place wasn't full at all.
(3)
Ana L.
The nhoque its PERFECT! great service!! I came with my puppy and we stayed at the patio and it was really nice!!! The service its amazing and also the pinot grigio! Hehe Great italian place to have greeeeat food!!!! Ask for the nhoque you wont regret!
I really liked the ambience here as well as the staff. Seems like a small Italian restaurant in a small street in another country with intimate seating. Wasn't too busy on a Friday night either. The noise was a bit loud though. Food-wise it was good but nothing too special. The frites, lasagna, and salads were good. Not too huge of portions on some of the pasta dishes but the fried chicken was quite big. Prices for this area were actually very decent but it definitely wasn't cheap. I would normally give them 4 stars but I hold Chicago restaurants to a higher standard and they weren't anything to write home about but a good option. Especially if visiting someone at the NW hospital next door like we were.
(3)
Katie T.
Fantastic. Very rustic pasta dishes. Nice atmosphere..
(5)
Puki B.
The pasta looks really good but tastes very plain. It was tasteless to a point that we complained to the server but he was rude and just insisted that it was good. Don't come here for the Lasagna. The Spaghetti AOP doesn't taste good too. I know I'm picky but it's just too plain. Don't come here. It's not worth it. Service is not on point too.
(1)
Emily S.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. They were very knowledgeable on the food and area. The patio area was lovely. The food was good, not amazing but it was enjoyable
(4)
Jeff L.
Coco Pazzo Cafe was described by a family friend as their favorite restaurant in all of Chicago, which surprised me slightly because it's a tiny place located right next to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We chose the place based on that recommendation and the fact that it was close to our hotel. After a day of museums and walking through oppressive heat and stifling humidity, the added ability to dine al fresco while enjoying the summer evening seemed like a great idea. Our experience overall was rather mixed. The restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night and it's a very cute place with a great outdoor patio. We watched them efficiently turn over tables and it didn't seem like people were waiting long. The food was slightly disappointing. I'd say that the highlights of the evening were the octopus and the bruschetta that we had as appetizers. Bruschetta is quite reasonably priced, and I most enjoyed the tomato/basil and the mushroom options. The pasta courses that we ordered were squid ink and the tagliatelle. While tasty, both were disappointing because the pasta was way overcooked. It was soft and slimy, a far cry from the al dente that most people would expect for a place that specializes in pasta. For entrees, the monkfish special and the pork tenderloin were good but nothing particularly memorable or innovative. Portions overall were large and we were too full for dessert. They had two barolos on their wine list and we selected one of them. It was good, and opened up nicely after a little time. Service was attentive and efficient, and we enjoyed the recommendations from our server, particularly with wine selection. I didn't love the tables themselves. They were really small, quite uncomfortable for a party of 4, and several times the server or assistants had to reach pretty much through the food or over wine/water glasses to grab plates. Everything is perched precariously when there are more than two entrees on the table, necessitating the removal of candles, bread, salt/pepper shakers, and other miscellaneous items over the course of the meal. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of if your party is more than 3 people. Overall, a decent place, well-located with close proximity to the Mag Mile and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I'd go back again, and hopefully on a future visit they'll execute the pastas a little better.
(3)
Angela R.
Enjoyed a beautiful night dining outside. The highlight of dinner was that Scottie Pippen walked by and said hello. 3 out of 4 of us were disappointed with out for. My lasagna tasted very close to the microwaved chef boyardee. This place was recommended by a couple friends but I don't know what they saw and that I missed. Wouldn't recommend or return, instead would head two blocks south to Volare.
(2)
Karen G.
Excellent and great service the appetizers where delicious. The fries were out of this world!!!
(4)
Douglas L.
This is a destination restaurant! It is so well located, charming and with and ease of elegance that draws you in. The food is consistently on point. The vitello marsala and the pork tenderloin wrapped in pancetta are both first rate. Great food and great service. Edgar is an amazing server!
My business partner and I had lunch at the Cafe and really enjoyed our meal. We shared a calamari fritta and each had a beet salad. Everything was fresh and delicious. The atmosphere was comfortable and we could have sat there all day talking. We liked that the manager and the owner came over to talk to us. One thing I want to point out to all the people who complain about the restrooms is that they are not Coco Pazzo Cafe restrooms, they belong to the HOTEL. So PLEASE direct your anger and negative comments to the The Red Roof Inn ((312) 787-3580) and not the Cafe.
(4)
Debbie F.
Very good lunch, friendly staff, nice sitting outside under the awning on a nice day. I recommend the vegetable salad with added grilled chicken. Simple and yummy.
(5)
Kristy V.
ready for the quickest review ever? great food, exceptional service, incredible atmosphere!! done! :-)
(5)
Rebecca N.
Really enjoyed my meal here! Would round it up to 3.5 stars. It is low key and quaint.The service was attentive, but did not interupt us. A nice intimate date spot--it was very quiet. We got the three brushettas. I like the toppings but the bread tasted a bit burnt. We did the caramelized onions and gorgonzola, truffle and white bean (my fav) and honey and ricotta. Then we shared the gnocchi and mahi. The mahi was absolutely out of this world. We both woke up talking about it in the morning!
(3)
Frank O.
Went for Restaurant week. Despite having a later reservation we were able to be seated 45 min early, and the rest of the service was on that level. We started with the Sette Vegetali (nothing special) and the Polpo (tasty octopus), had the mushroom Risotto (great if you like mushrooms) and Rigatoni alla Buttera (great, flavorful and good portion), and both finished with the Panna Cotta (the real reason we went here). At only $33 for dinner it was a solid meal, and the atmosphere and service would great. I'd come here more often if only the prices were lower, because it's not really a place you can afford on a student budget.
(5)
Craig E.
Visited Coco Pazzo Cafe recently when on vacation with my best friend in Chicago. It got off to a rough start when we tried to order off the menus we were given and told that we had been given the wrong menus (lunch instead of dinner, it was around 3 and 4 p.m.) So we had to look over a new menu before making a selection. We were served bread and olive oil while we waited for our meal. It was okay, but my friend said she didn't like the oil. I ordered the polenta with roasted veggies and my friend got the gnocchi. We felt they were okay, but were our least favorite of our visit. And they were also the smallest portion wise. Worst of all was that we finished our meals and waited what seemed like forever before the waiter came by to check on us. I would have been more understanding had they been busy, but we were the only ones there when we were seated and during our meal, only one other couple was there. Four people in the restaurant and the waiter never checks on you during your meal? Hands down the worst service I've ever received anywhere in the country, let alone Chicago.
(1)
Jane W.
We chose this on the high recommendation from the concierge at the Sheraton on a bitterly cold, snowy night. Upon arriving, we were immediately welcomed by the Maître d'. The ambience was warm and inviting and very much like a comfortable neighborhood cafe. Our server Miguel was terrific as were the other staff who ensured our water glasses were never less than half empty and seamlessly served & cleared plates. From the recitation of the specials to the recommendations of the house specialties, we were enthused at the offerings and only wished we could have tried more dishes. The veal medallions were perfect, and my colleagues raved about their selections as well. It was a delightful and relaxing and delicious experience and I hope to get back there again. I encourage others to try this little gem!
(4)
Filipp G.
Stopped by accidentally as the place we were looking for was closed. Did not regret it one bit. Both the Faroese salmon and the ravioli were fantastic, as was the bruschetta. The bread was a bit stale but that was just one more reason not to fill up on it and leave room for the food. Ambiance was nice and quiet, which was also a major plus, although as two thirtysomethings we felt a bit out of place.
(5)
Divya J.
I've been here twice. The location is great, as is the ambiance. My first time there I was a bit annoyed that the server did not provide a bread basket till my friend also arrived, especially because I was hungry. The second time I visited, however, I received more prompt service. I've eaten the Spaghetti and the Ricotta & Spinach ravioli. The Spaghetti was great because the tomato sauce they used was really flavorful. I did not think the ravioli was anything special.
(4)
Lise S.
I moved to this neighborhood recently and have been wanting to try this quaint Italian cafe. We had a lovely dinner last night sitting outside on a great evening. Our appetizers and pasta dishes were excellent!! Many restaurants with sidewalk sitting areas have the problem of loud traffic noise, but that isn't the case here. The ambiance and service was great and we look forward to going back to try other dishes at this quaint neighborhood cafe!!
(4)
Meghana P.
I don't understand the slightly lower ratings on this place, although if it means I get to keep this place to myself, that's fine. I love the decor and atmosphere as well, and the wine selection is excellent and not overpriced. The Italian food here is genuine and delicious - I would definitely try the Spaghetti AOP (I'm getting hungry even thinking about it), and the patio is wonderful when the Chicago weather cooperates. The tiramisu is a little too sweet (I don't like the chocolate sauce on top either), but the other desserts definitely make up for this. I would recommend making a reservation, and I would also recommend trying this place now.
(5)
David I.
Don't let the 3.5 stars overall fool you. This place is one of my fav Italian restaurants in Chicago.
(5)
Ari P.
Food was good and well priced, but service was terrible. Waiter had difficulty taking our orders because of a language barrier. Bus boy knocked a glass of ice water on to my colleague's lap. Waiter brought us a desert menu after we had already been charged and were signing the credit card receipt.
(2)
Jen S.
Amazing food, big portions and good atmosphere! We tried all the bruschettas, the Goat cheese with honey was my personal fave. Several of us had the special risotto, with sausage and peas, it was to die for. Was actually excited I had leftovers so I could eat it the next day at lunch! The service was a little slow and the waiter poured us all the same wine without asking, which was awkward when we had 6 glasses of wine at the table when only 4 of us were drinking wine.
(4)
Linda D.
Went out for date night with my husband on advice from a friend. Enjoyed the whole experience. Food (squash soup, beet salad, pasta, grilled vegetables) was excellent. Waiters attentive. Bustling atmosphere. Would definitely return if in area again.
(5)
Kristen B.
We stumbled upon this place en route to Navy Pier on a Saturday night. At 7:30 pm we were seated right away and there were several tables available in the restaurant. We had asked for outdoor seating, she asked if we had a reservation (we did not) and said they didn't have availability. This was a little disappointing because we saw an empty table that remained empty for the entire meal (and quite a few more were empty by the time we left). Honestly, the outdoor seating would have added at least a star to my review. We would have even taken a small wait to sit outside, but this was not an option. My husband and I spilt a caprese salad and the ravioli in brown butter sauce. The food was good, but not spectacular. My daughter had a Caesar Salad which was quite good. The bread service at the start of the meal was good and they brought us more when the basket was empty. I had Pinot Grigio that was pretty standard and my husband ordered an iced tea which he said was the best he had ever tasted (and the guy drinks a ton of iced tea!) We all split a Tiramisu and Tartufo. Both were very good. I felt the prices were just a little on the high side for what we got, but with the location I could understand. Had the entrees come with soup or salad it would justify the price a bit more. One thing to note is that while there were quite a few families there with children, they did not have a children's menu. I also felt the staff could be a bit more friendly and helpful. They also didn't have salt and pepper at the tables which I found a little odd. And the bathroom needed a good scrubbing...thankfully I visited at the end of my meal because this would have been a huge turn off if I went beforehand. An employee was leaving the bathroom as I walked in and she hadn't bothered to pick up paper rolls, etc that were on the floor. I get that this isn't her job and it's rude that previous patrons didn't properly throw them away, but that definitely left a bit of a negative impression on me. They also could benefit from an air freshner or two! Would probably come back for an afternoon dessert (especially outside), but not sure I would eat dinner here again with all the other choices around.
(3)
Lisa N.
I had the black squid ink with shrimp. FANTASTIC! My mouth is literally salivating as I write this review. We had the Prosciutto with chees and honey as well as the grilled octopus. The octopus was sooo tender it practically melted in my mouth. My friend ordered "regular" spaghetti which I felt was a waste of a night out...until the dish came. The portion was superb (she def had enough for leftover/lunch the next day). And the flavor had a nice kick to it so not just your typical, boring spaghetti. My meal was great, the pasta was mild but the squid ink flavor was noticeable. The shrimp were succulent and the sauce perfectly complimented the seafood in the dish. Their olive oil is something special as well. very rustic tasting and fruity. The service was impeccable, my glass never fell below the half-way mark. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Lisa P.
This location is right near where I work, so I frequently come here for lunch. I love their food, I have never had a bad dish here, the food is consistent. The spaghetti AOP is my favorite...everything I've tried has been great. I would say that typically the service is a bit off; sometimes slow, sometimes too fast, the waiters can be awkward/not helpful. Essentially the service is inconsistent. That being said, the food is always great and their patio is fabulous;)
(4)
Norm J.
So I was finally able to go to Coco Pazzo Cafe tonight. I was suppose to go last week, but my date sent me the cancelation text the day of (tears of rejection were shed I'm not gonna lie). I convinced my friend to come with me tonight (sad I know) and she said yes because (1) she's a good friend or (2) she has no life. I'll let you the reader decide which option is correct. We started off the meal with Calamari. It was good, but tasted like calamari I've had a million times before. Next we had the Bruschetta (Tomato & Basil, Mushroom & Parmesan, Buffalo Ricotta & Tuscan Honey). The Tomato & Basil was just OK and the Mushroom & Parmesan was LOADED with so many mushrooms I think the parmesan decided to stay in the kitchen. I swear if there was parmesan on those slices of bread than the waiter must have eaten it off before he got to our table. Now the Buffalo Ricotta & Tuscan Honey was pretty amazing. It was so good I wanted to lick the little bit of buffalo ricotta that got on my fingers, but since I was in direct eye site of the maitre d' I decided against doing it. For our entrees we had the Spaghetti AOP and the Vitello Scallopine. The spaghetti was...well spaghetti. The most exciting thing about this dish was that it came with a huge red pepper in the center of it. I dared my friend to take a bite of it, but she elected not to (I think she was trying to be all fancy and highfalutin). The Vitello Scallopine was veal medallions with a tablespoon of mashed potatoes and teaspoon of spinach. I was disappointed by the portion size and by the taste. It was just OK. So after dining at Coco Pazzo Cafe I realize that 1) there's no need for me to go back, 2) paying for refills on soda should be outlawed, 3) my date who canceled on me, while missing out on an AWESOME date, probably made the right call since Coco Pazzo Cafe isn't all that great.
(2)
Chris K.
Had lunch yesterday after a doctor visit. Had the ravioli, my wife had the risotto. We enjoyed the food and ambience the restaurant gave us. Will go back
(3)
Ryan Z.
After strolling Magnificent Mile for a couple hours, we decided to to look for an outdoor lunch patio a bit off the main strip. We stumbled upon Coco Pazzo Cafe and sat down to enjoy a leisurely Italian lunch. The mussel appetizer was a good choice and included more vegetables than I'm used to seeing. The vegetables soaked up the sauce and ended up stealing the show from the mussels. My clam pasta was just okay. The pasta itself was flavorful and cooked well but the sauce seemed like a puddle of butter and was so greasy I couldn't enjoy the bottom half of the bowl. Jessica only ate half of her gnocchi and with good reason. It just tasted like boring unseasoned potatoes. The kicker was the constant traffic that included far too many screaming ambulances. Northwest hospital is just a couple blocks away. We probably should have known better.
(2)
Snow W.
Had lunch today. Could not be worse. I ordered the shrimp risotto which had three small shrimps. Literally three. Very disappointed
(1)
Ashlie G.
We have made dining at Coco Pazzo something of a pre-race tradition when we have running races in Chicago. The food is consistently delicious and something I look forward to when I am in town. This visit to Coco Pazzo was not part of our pre-race tradition, we decided to have dinner here for the simple fact that we were in town and Coco Pazzo is so good! I found the table reservation feature from Yelp to be really convenient especially since we were doing all sorts of running around that day. I made the reservation for 4 people which I later had to call and change to 5 since we had another friend join us. I was disappointed when I called to make the change I didn't get the sense that they verified my reservation and added the person. They simply said okay and hung up. We arrived at Coco Pazzo about 10 minutes early for dinner which seemed okay since they weren't busy. They asked if we wanted to sit at the window seat they had reserved or if we wanted to sit on the patio. We opted to sit on the patio since it was such a beautiful day out. We did not however expect to be put in the far corner of the patio and ignored for the first 10 minutes we were there. We were brought water by the wait staff helper and ultimately had to flag someone down to order our meal. The person we flagged down ended up leaving us for some time to go find someone. Once our server was finally engaged with our table the service was pretty good which slightly made up for the lack of acknowledgement or service we received upon arrival. We will most likely return to Coco Pazzo in the future as the Spaghetti AOP never disappoints! The service however needs to be improved.
(4)
Stephanie S.
We ate here as a recommendation from a coworker, and it was wonderful! Some of the best Lasagna I've ever had, and the lamb was so tender. It's a must on the date night list! Not to mention, the service was phenomenal.
(5)
Paula L.
Whenever I'm in Chicago I meet my girlfriend for dinner downtown. I trust her to pick the restaurant and she did a great job with Coco Pazzo Cafe. I started with the beet, apple, goat cheese and arugula salad. The salad was a perfect combination of sweet & savory. That salad should not only be appetizer size, but entree size. My entree was the grilled vegetables and polenta with balsamic vinegar. That too was delicious. My only issue was not enough polenta for the amount of vegetables, that is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5. Great location. Great service.
(4)
Maureen M.
This is my go-to restaurant for faculty business lunches and from the look of the crowds, I'm not the only one. The service is always excellent and the menu offers a variety of Italian dishes. Half-orders of pasta are available (just ask). The beet salad is beautiful and the mussels are a delicious choice. The panini are hearty and served with chips, olives or other garnishes. I'm not a fan of olive oil on bread but their crusty Italian bread and the focaccia is great by itself. I highly recommend the risotto with mushrooms when it is offered as a special or the frittata which is an excellent choice if you must avoid gluten. I prefer the fritatta when it is prepared with vegetables as the frittata with beans and cheese was too heavy to be enjoyable. The waiters are happy to split the check evenly, just ask. I dream of the Tartufo, a frozen treat incorporating vanilla gelato with dark chocolate an amarena cherry and toasted almond.
(4)
Clinton S.
First let me say if you make an Open Table reservation for Coco Pazzo make sure you are specific - don't make the mistake I did and make the reservation for Coco Pazzo and show up at Coco Pazzo Cafe!! At least they were understanding at the Cafe and had a table for us....too bad that was the highlight of the night. We ordered a glass of white wine (sorry can't remember the exact name) and it was only average (but rather expensive). I had the house salad, which was ok (good fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, nice oil/vinegar dressing), and the special pasta dish. The special was a linguini with shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and onions - only average. My companion had the spaghetti AOP - which he seemed to enjoy, but it was not very appealing visually. This is the second or third time I've been at Coco Pazzo, but I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)
Katie B.
The food at Coco Pazzo Cafe has always been good and the outside patio is quaint. However, I tried to inquire about a private event here - as well as at any of the other family locations - Tre Soldi and Coco Pazzo - and after waiting MONTHS for a simple answer about menus and prices, I was accidentally copied on an email chain that discussed raising the prices just for my event. That was the hold up. Ridiculous. So unprofessional. Be careful when asking about private events. There are a million places to hold events in the city of Chicago. There are actually good places that just want to showcase customer service and good food and aren't out to stick it to a potential client.
(1)
Paul H.
Stopped in for lunch with a party of four...seated immediately. I had a smoked turkey panini and caprese salad. It was really really good. My wife had the salad sampler platter and others had the fish special. Thanks be to YELP because it was the favorable review that led us here, and you reviewers did not let us down. Trying to figure out why I'm not awarding five stars...would like to try for dinner too before getting crazy like that!
(4)
Scott C.
Someone told me the competition of restaurants in the Magnificent Mile is so fierce, that if you aren't selling something spectacular, you won't be around long. Coco Pazzo was a last minute choice, but a totally delicious one. Don't let the decor fool you. This is incredibly fresh and delicious Italian food. Homemade pasta is just the beginning....the sauces, service and simple menu made this a meal to remember. Highly recommend.
(5)
Scott O.
Your Review: A wonderful place for a Saturday lunch. Delicious salad, great gnocchi, excellent wine. Cannot recommend highly enough.
(4)
Andres W.
Who charges for soda refill nowadays??? If the owner if this restaurant is trying to make money,it shouldnt do thru soda refills,should be thru their food,which is not bad,but it kills the entire experience by charging for soda refills,specially becuase: * they dont have coke,only pepsi * they serve the soda in little glasses. Not coming back here.ever
(3)
Jo H.
It's four o'clock on a gorgeous Saturday and if the bathroom is any indication, attention to detail not in residence. Dirty, no TP and trash pile. Should have headed to the head first. My caesar salad uninspiring. Thank goodness I asked for the glob of dressing? on the side. Service? Eh.
(2)
Christine S.
Very good spicy spaghetti dish but the service was slow, especially for the lunch hour, and the salad, with julienned radishes, tomatoes, was all right, except for the wilted greens. Still, for that spaghetti, I will return (and I've been to this cafe 3 or 4 times before now too.)
(3)
Eri K.
Amazingly good food. We ducked in when everywhere else was jam packed and found an oasis from the crowds and cold. Definitely try the duck liver bruschetta...so delicious. We had the little ones with us and they gave us half portions for them which was perfect. Only drawback was a rude bus boy who basically told me to hurry up and finish because the main course was ready...so rude! But the meal, ambience, and other service was very good.
(4)
Chris P.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants outside of Italy. I've been here several times over the years when visiting Chicago and go out of my way to come back here.
(5)
Roy H.
Good restaurant. Slow service. Inattentive waitstaff, although water was constantly refilled. Cramped seating - was constantly bumped by waiters and diners. The Aperativo with meat was a puny portion, however the pork entree I got was literally one of the best things I've eaten in my life. That says a lot.
Maybe I'm spoiled for Tuscan-style food after visiting Italy last year, but I wasn't impressed with this place. We came here because some relatives of mine were in town and wanted to try it. My husband and I ordered the bistecca (grilled beef ribeye) thinking it would be like the memorable steak dinner we had in Florence, but it wasn't even close. In fact, it was about what you used to get at a Ponderosa. Everyone else in our party had pasta and seemed satisfied with it. The bruschetta appetizers and the cappuccino gelato dessert were fine, as was service. Maybe we should give this place one more visit and try a pasta dish instead, or visit the original Coco Pazzo on Hubbard. But unless I'm ever in the area again, I'm thinking there have got to be better Italian restaurants in Chicago than this one.
(2)
Vaidehi T.
Went here for lunch on a beautiful spring Sunday afternoon. The weather was gorgeous and we sat out in the patio - which is pretty cool and awesome. I am surprised at the low rating this place has on yelp. My husband and me absolutely loved our experience here. I admit that the awesome weather and sitting outside had a lot to do with it, but it was still a pretty great meal. The place is quite laid back and cool. We did not feel rushed and ended up having a nice and relaxed lunch. We ordered the tomato and mozzarella for antipasti and some crisp Pinot Grigio to go along with it. We were served a basket of complimentary bread - there was two kinds, one was the usual crostini and the other was a rosemary infused bread. I live for bread and olive oil when I go to Italian restaurants - and this bread was delish. Hubby ordered the spaghetti 'AOP' and I ordered the Mahi. The spaghetti was fabulous... perfectly tangy and savory. The portion was quite generous, it was a big mound of spaghetti with a roasted red pepper sitting on the top. Hubby really enjoyed it. The Mahi dish was fab too. It came along with some braised escarole - one of my favorite bitter greens. The whole dish was awesome. Again, portions were generous and we had leftovers for to go. We were too full to try any dessert, but hubby ordered the cappuccino to end the meal - and it was pretty fab!! The service was friendly and we never had an empty glass of water on our table.
(4)
Hale M.
WHY I WENT THERE: Went to Cocco Pazzo Cafe with my parents the night I moved to Chicago. My mother--who, ironically, happens to have celiac (i.e. legitimate gluten intolerance)--chose it based on a positive experience there a month or so prior. AMBIANCE: This is a typically (and appropriately) moderately lit Italian place. It was appropriately busy, which is to say that it is clearly popular with the locals as well as with visitors, but that it is not so crowded as to be intimidating or inhibitory. FOOD: My dad and I split to the bruschetta as an appetizer--white bean & black truffle, mushroom & parmesan, and carmelized onion & ricotta--all of which were fantastic, particularly the white bean and black truffle. For my entree, I could not resist the special: risotto with my favorite non-traditional meat...rabbit! Tender, flavorful, filling but not sedating. DRINKS: Ample wine selection, which fits the cuisine. If you (like me) fancy craft beer, you've come to the wrong place. SERVICE: Friendly, informative, and timely. Struck the perfect balance of being attentive but not intrusive. SPONTANEITY FACTOR: Reservations recommended. SUMMARY: If you're looking for italian in River North, this is a great option.
(4)
bill s.
Weekend in Chicago. MI Avenue was totally insane. Try to stay off of it as we move S to N or N to S. Son and daughter-in-law, who live downtown, have been to the original Coco Pazzo so my wife an I decided to try the cafe for lunch. 3pm on a Saturday, place is empty except for one table. Some of the staff were having lunch as we came in. Whatever they were eating looked good. We were seated, waiter comes over, handed menus, asked if we wanted water (I forgot that places in Chi tend to do that), specials explained. We decide to order the mussels in a light tomato (not "tomato sauce") broth with tomato bits and pieces. Served with the usual bruschetta-like grilled bread. Plump, juicy PEI mussels. Bread was charred and and has a slightly burned taste in place but it was still quite good. The slighty garlicly, tomato based-broth was quite good. We each had a light entree. Chicken breast filet that had been pounded a bit and then grilled. Topped with fresh spinach, several dollops of goat cheese and seedless red grapes. We both enjoyed it to the point where I'm going to make it at home. Had the eggless panna cotta for dessert and cofffe. All in all a very pleasant experience. Good food, attentive staff, nice prices for downtown Chicago. A lot of hard surfaces so I imagine that it could be rather noisy when full. Don't know if it rates 4 stars. I'm a tough grader. Will definitely go back to the cafe and will no doubt try the original pace on W. Hubbard. So maybe 3.5 to 3.75 stars.
(3)
Tom H.
Close to 20 years and we keep coming back. Food is always great, staff friendly, atmosphere tasteful. Outdoor seating in the summer is a treat. Just one block off Michigan avenue but nice and quiet. This is where people like us who live downtown go.
(5)
Bridget L.
Lovely atmosphere for dinner. I order one of the specials and the portion was perfect, just enough. Fresh pasta, simply delicious. Waitstaff was friendly and not overly obtrusive. Will definitely come back again!!
(4)
Victoria W.
Pretty much a poor experience all around. Overpriced, flavorless food paired with awful service. By the end of it, we were wishing we'd gone to nearby Burrito Beach instead. The vegetali ($16) was a small pile of grilled vegetables and polenta with no seasoning besides a light drizzle of balsamic. My partner's tagliolini neri (squid ink pasta, $17) was of a pitiful portion and bland (he's had squid ink pasta in Italy, and this was like the watered-down version). The service was ridiculous. Our waiter maintained a cold scowl on his face whenever he was dealing with us. And he barely dealt with us at all, despite the fact that there was only one other table occupied at the time (4PM). After getting us our drinks, he took so long to take our food order, we considered leaving. After finally taking our order, he never checked on us.
(1)
Theresa F.
5 stars for food. 1 deducted for poorly maintained atmosphere. Will probably come back for that calamari! Service was also prompt, organized and attentive!
(4)
Brittany L.
Reasonable prices, nice sized portions (not gigantic), good service, and decent decor. Main problem is that you're really packed in, and with the proximity to the hotels, you're likely to get HUGE groups of people who are in town for a convention or something, which may mean a wait for your food. We got there early enough on a Thursday that this wasn't an issue. I had the rigatoni (sausage, peas, tomato cream sauce), my friend had the squash ravioli (sweet butter sauce with brown sugar and nuts). We shared an order of 3 crostini with various toppings. I chose one with salami and brie and another with a hummous-type white bean & black truffle puree. Both were delicious. She had a roasted red pepper & goat cheese one. I tried a little bite and found it rather tasty. They also have the traditional bruschetta of tomatoes, basil, and olive oil, but we passed that one by in favor of something different. Everything was quite good...perhaps not fantastic, but good. Service-wise, our waiter knew his way around the menu and gave suggestions, we were offered cracked pepper with our appetizer and freshly grated cheese with our entrees, our water glasses stayed full, and our dishes were promptly cleared away. My friend was offered a sample of wine before committing which was nice. I would go here again, especially if I'm staying in one of the nearby hotels. Very convenient to walk and not have to worry about valet or parking fees.
(4)
Gino W.
Usually restaurants that are in the vicinity of the Magnificent Mile are tourist traps. The flavours pander to a single palate and the presentation wows you way more than taste. Then there is Coco Pazzo Cafe. I must admit that this restaurant eatery left a lasting first impression on me. Escarole e fagioli. Tagliolini. Spaghetti with mushrooms. Linguini with clams. Calamari. Apple tart. Tortufu. My friends and I had a grand time. And it may have been because of the weather, the restaurant was not teeming with tourists and shoppers. So, we had great service without being rushed and food that certainly was not rushed from the kitchen. After a rather large, late lunch, we were all sated.
(5)
JD F.
Was here last week for a vendor lunch. It is rather small and the atmosphere a little close. The pseudo-Modigliani frescoed walls were well executed. Service was friendly and fast. The tacchino panini (smoked turkey and pancetta) is highly recommended. Just be aware that due to its small size, the place can get loud - or maybe it was just the boisterous office group there that made it so. Overall, an above average dining experience.
(4)
Jessica N.
Sad I had a bad experience because I love the original. Ambience was not quaint cafe but kind of cold and uninviting. Service was spotty and not polished. And my fish was over-charred and bitter. This is a block from my office so I'll probably give it another try with a pasta but if that doesn't live up I won't be back!
(2)
Kari S.
Am a frequent guest at this location and have always received quality meals and service. Enjoy sitting outside weather permitting.
(4)
Jan E.
Lovely atmosphere for a nice Italian dinner. Lasagna & spaghetti, yes, but also octopus ink pasta with shrimp and bruschetta with white beans and truffles.
Conflicted -- 1) my grandmother loves it here, so when we go out with the family N matriarch, this is occasionally where we land; 2) the food is tasty; and 3) there is nothing wrong with the place (service is friendly/efficient/attentive and the atmosphere isn't offensive) -- it's not adventurous fare per se, and certainly not earth shattering in the flavor dept -- but it's a pretty good casual Sunday night meal -- my braised octopus is always solid, and the salmon and trout are reliably cooked well (I've heard the pasta is strong, but it's not my bag -- but it's homemade or something). That said, CPC, clean up your act. Like seriously. The bathrooms are atrocious. Last time I checked, the rest stop on I-94 I went into this summer had less peeling paint and more bountiful toilet paper. This is not a Mc.Donalds. It's a proper place to get a meal. Shame on you. Oh, the antipasto station looks appetizing, but the offerings from it are bland -- it's a skip -- for the starters, do a bruschetta, the 7 veg salad, or a hearty soup -- perfect for fending off the 30F weather. For mains, I'd rec any of the fish options. A meal for four w/ apps, entrees, and dessert/coffee was around $200. Worth a special trip? No. But if you're in the area (on Michigan Ave/at Northwestern Memorial Hospital/staying in one of the hotels close by), it's a nice casual option -- we usually go at an AARP friendly time (both for me and for Grandma Pearl, duh) -- so at 6p it's dead, but 8p it's more popping. Not a scene. Just a meal.
(3)
Angela G.
I love the cozy atmosphere here and they serve all day. In the summer, the patio is charming. The homemade pasta is always a good choice. Can get crowded, best to have a reservation.
(4)
Martin D.
Great food and service.
(5)
KC C.
Reconnected this week at Coco Pazzo Cafe, and again had an exquisite evening. Service was excellent, food variety(menu has been refreshed since our last visit) was interesting, tantalizing, and ambience environment was special enhanced by great weather and open doors. Enjoyed the fried smelt as an appetizer. Risotto special and antipasti was great as expected. Milanese pork was a little overdone and dry-do better next time! By the glass chianti was very nice. Thanks for a nice evening!
(4)
Jeremy N.
Came here for a business meeting recently because the owners of my company love this place and it is right around the corner from my office - also, it's one of only a few nicer places within a few blocks around the area. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect but I was very pleased when we walked in - the place is quiet and it is a GREAT place for a business meeting. The service was top notch, everything was very relaxed but as soon as you wanted them at the table they were there. I was really happy with the portion sizes - it was enough food that I felt satisfied but not stuffed. I had the grilled chicken with spinach, grapes and goat cheese. The seasoning on the chicken was just right - enough to really give it a little extra flavor, but not so much that I felt like I was chewing on grilled oregano with a dash of chicken. I was trying to eat the healthiest thing on the menu and I was really pleased to be able to have something I enjoyed which didn't make me feel guilty at all. The other options on the menu look fantastic and one of these days when I'm a little less concerned with making a healthy choice I'll be excited to head back and try some of their other dishes.
(4)
Bernard M.
Excellent grilled pike!
(5)
Colin E.
Casual but elegant and intimate decor. Homemade, fresh pasta. Consistently outstanding year after year. Great service, good wine list. One of the best places to take an out-of-town visitor for a wonderful meal that isn't very expensive Have always enjoyed the Sette Vegetali salad and the Linguine Vongole. Have tried many of the Burschetta--all of them excellent. Can't go wrong. I really always leave with a smile on my face
(5)
Jack P.
Well, now. Isn't this just a charming little place? Actually, I was pleasantly surprised to see it located in the same space as an equally charming French cafe which may have closed in the 90's? Anyway, a friend had recommended it, and I met a friend I hadn't seen in many years for a mid-week lunch. While we did make a reservation we would not have needed one. It was fairly quiet. I am guessing that is more the exception than the rule in this busy location. But the most impressive thing was the setting, the decor, the wood, the lighting, the artwork, all giving the place an elegant yet rustic feel. We ordered antipasti from the big table in the middle, a wonderful assortment of bean salads, grilled veggies, and olives. For entrees, we ordered pastas: one ribbon pasta with bolognese sauce, and one penne with a sausage and vegetable sauce. And just the half-orders worked fine for sharing. These pastas dishes were perfect. The pasta was al dente, the flavors exciting and pleasing, and the sauce to pasta ratio exact. Ingredients were cut perfectly for an overall great tongue shui. I would highly recommend Coco Pazzo for anyone who wants a nice classy and intimate yet casual Italian dining experience. Probably would make a good "date" place, if you're into that sort of thing,
(4)
Cathy O.
I can't believe all the great comments here. This was the worst Italian Food I have ever had. I ordered the Lasagna. It was as if I was eating Chef Boy R d out of the can, although I have never had that, but can only imagine. The bread basket was nothing to speak of, bread from a bag no doubt. I also ordered a side green salad, nothing special here either, but it was the best thing I ate. I was alone, while on business. I sat on the patio because the weather was perfect, the service was lousy. My entire meal came to $27 + $5 tip that was undeserved. Go to Osteria Via Stato, now they know Italian food!
(1)
Jim B.
Consistently good food and nice service. The beet salad is awesome and the pasta is fresh.
(4)
Mary J.
We had lunch here today. It was gorgeous outside, so we opted to enjoy the rays and get our daily dose of vitamin D while eating. There was some GREAT people watching! Our food was good, our service was not so good. We started with Carpaccio for an appetizer. I've never had shaved beef tenderloin, I'm used to a thicker piece, but this was good. I had a frittata and hubby had some risotto and both were yummy. Our server really didn't pay too much attention to us after our food was brought. There was no check-in to see how we were doing and it took him forever to come by and ask us about dessert. I actually wanted dessert, but he took so long, I had to give it up so we could move on. Waiting for our check was painful, not the way it should be after having some good food!
(3)
Vince S.
We visited here in December (2012) from out of town for a Christmas time visit to Chicago. This restaurant was recommended to us and it delivered. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. My meal was one of the daily specials, and was fantastic. We were a party of four and made reservations for the evening dining time. The four of us had a great dining experience at this establishment and would return again.
(4)
Jessica H.
Fit us in without a reservation. Service was good. The squid ink pasta was good but the shrimp on it were not. They were the tiny ones that are always overcooked and tough because of their size. For the price, I expected more better quality shrimp.
(4)
Catherine A.
The dinner pasta special was homemade ribbon noodles with grilled asparagus and mushrooms, finished with shaved pecorino cheese. Simple, but delicious! Service was very friendly and I would highly recommend this restaurant. Not too big or too loud. Great for a romantic dinner or business dinner.
(4)
Irene G.
I've dined here quite often now with co-workers since it's close to my work. The service is good, but I can't say I love the food. I usually order some kind of pasta dish since it IS an italian restaurant. I leave feeling satisfied, but not wanting to come back anytime soon. The place tends to get crowded since it's within a block from the Mag Mile so I suggest making a reservation. Overall, I'd say Coco Pazzo Cafe is one of the better dining options in the area.
(3)
Tracy N.
I had dinner here with some co-workers at the recommendation of our hotel. I'm really picky with my Italian food and this is definitely a go-again kind of place. The restaurant was clean, the service was knowledgeable, and the food was excellent, not to mention reasonably price and well portioned. We ordered the calamari and the octopus for appetizers, which were flavorful and everything you want from an Italian appetizer. We had a tasting frenzy with the plates, and they were all delicious. The gnocchi is fresh and creamy, although there was a lot of it - I have come to find that this is more of a dish related occurence rather than a restaurant, because who can eat that many potato-pasta balls. The tagliolini with shrimp and the pappardelle with rabbit were my favorite of the night. The shrimp was succulent and the lamb was tender. All of the sauces were delicious and served with the pasta type to bring out their flavors. In addition to the original menu, this place also had some daily specials. I tried the scallop specials and it was unbelievable. Overall this place really knows how to pair pastas and sauces and how to perfectly cook their seafood. Not to mention the dessert! The flourless chocolate cake and tiramisu are a big fast YES! My co-workers and I stayed in different hotels around the area and it was recommended by two of the hotels, so it's most likely that you can expect to see business groups out, which doesn't surprise me since they're very accommodating to large groups. There's a private room in the basement and a patio. We went on a Wednesday and it wasn't busy at all, you can probably expect to be seated immediately on the weekdays. Every course was delicious and I can't wait to go back and have Luigi as my server again.
(4)
Joyce H.
I came here with family and a family friend on a warm Chicago afternoon. We sat inside, but close enough to the outside patio to feel like we were outdoors. My brother frequents Coco Pazzo as a go-to place. I enjoyed myself, liked the food and I agree that it's more of a go-to place. I had the risotto of the day -- leeks, green peas and cheese. It was okay -- I would have preferred to have ordered one of the pastas instead. My dad ordered a penne with tuna and a spicy tomato sauce. It was pretty tasty. Brother ordered the trout and he finished it quickly! The trout was very fresh. We also ordered an appetizer which were freshly grilled veggies, some special meats, cheeses and olives. They were displayed in the center of the restaurant and the waitstaff would basically make up a plate themselves for the party. I think that was one of my favorite parts. Nice place and location for Streeterville too!
(3)
Barbara B.
Very accommodating for a large group. The focaccia bread was delicious, especially dipped in their olive oil. I ate the celery root ravioli with mushrooms in a butter sauce. The ravioli was tasty but the sauce was not my favorite. The portion size was nice for lunch. I had a taste of my friend's gnocchi that I liked much better. Atmosphere was very nice, I recommend this place for an upscale lunch.
(3)
Rachel S.
If white people like being the only white person in an ethnic restaurant, it follows that american people like being the only american in an italian restaurant. That being extrapolated, Italians love Coco Pazzo Cafe. The food is fresh, delicious, a little decadent, but the atmosphere is casual and chic. I will definitely be coming here a again!
(4)
Ashley B.
I went here with my family, boyfriend, and sisters friend the other day just to hang out and my mom recommended this spot since she's been here before and loved it. We had reservations but still had to wait a little bit, it was totally packed, but I didn't mind. My boyfriend went to the other one accidentally so it gave us time to wait for him. We sat down and had a few drinks and salads. Mine was comprised of veggies entirely, it was awesome, and the serving was ginormous. I could probably eat that salad everyday, especially because I'm a huge raw veggie fan. Next up came our entrees. I got the homemate tagliatelle with rabbit. It was awesome. The noodles were on point, and paper thin. The rabbit (which I had never tried before) was also very tender, and not too gamey or greasy. The portion was huge and I ended up taking half of it home. Lastly... dessert. My boyfriend and I split the house made custard and it was amazing. Much like a creme brulee but more gelatinous and without the crunchy sugar topping. Very good. Everyone else also really liked the gelato. Overall, I think this place was definitely good. Mind-blowing? Not quite, but I'd come back for sure.
(4)
Alex S.
Prompt and efficient service. I had no app, my main was a special, a shrimp and mushroom risotto. Pretty good although a tad crunchy. Tiramisu was nice. A solid performance, I was satisfied even if I wasn't blown away.
(3)
Dan K.
Be careful with your salad, mine came with an insect... The manager outrageously blamed that i was sitting outside...
(1)
Linda H.
Not the greatest service. Good solid Italian. Excellent red sauce. Did not care for the Tiramisu. Very sugary with no coffee flavor whatsoever.
(3)
Jamie B.
We came here on a Friday night around 8:30 and sat on the patio. The octopus appetizer was great, the salads were really good, and the entrees were just OK. I opted for the gnocchi and this was a bad choice. The sauce was described as a tomato sauce with ricotta, had a dollop of ricotta over the top, while the sauce tasted "off". After my second bite it dawned on me: I was eating the sauce that's on Chef Boyardee canned ravioli. This was disappointing. For dessert we had panna cotta, and that was a winner. I am sure you will have a great experience here, I would just recommend staying away from the gnocchi.
(3)
Law K.
14 of us had a really good time and the service was great! The food however was below average at best. The highlight was the calamari and it went down hill from there.
(1)
Pat H.
Went here this past weekend when my family was in town and had an excellent experience. The service was very good - the staff was very friendly, timely & knowledgeable. The food here is excellent - all their pasta is home made. If you're a fan of Italian you wont be disappointed. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced. I got lamb which i would recommend to anyone it was that good. Two people at my table got pasta dishes which were excellent & the veal chops were also very good. There wasn't one thing that I didn't like. If you're up in the air because of the million other restaurants in the city...give this place a shot its worth it.
(4)
Jeremy L.
Solid Italian option in the Streeterville neighborhood. Kicked off dinner with the calamari: pretty good and a decent serving size. Entrees: Linguine Vongole: Basically a clam linguine in a white wine and garlic sauce. Tasty and light with plenty of small clams, but the noodles were just meh. Pappardelle: The "housemade" wide noodles were really good, great texture and well cooked. The rabbit ragu was a little salty but delicious. Anatra: The duck was solid with the marsala sauce, but nothing really stood out about the dish. Service was great; lots of tables and staff so we got situated pretty quickly. Water glasses were kept full and orders taken/filled quick enough. 3 stars. Nothing really stood out about the place and being in Streeterville, it's expensive for what you get. But certainly a restaurant I would consider going to again.
(3)
Patrick D.
I actually felt that this was a local Chicagoland version of an Olive Garden. The service seemed reminiscent of an all inclusive resort in Mexico where the primary goal was to provide a facade of luxury service while turning over a table as quickly as possible. The more I say the name, the more that correlation makes sense. Our three course meal including bottle of wine took less than 50 minutes. This included ordering in courses. The bruschetta seemed to be extremely previously toasted bread that was awaiting the arrival of topping for hours. Bruschetta arrived less than three minutes after placing the order. Table next to us received carpaccio in less than 90 seconds. Our dinner seating seemed much more reminiscent of a workday lunch rush as oppose to a Saturday night at 8pm. B
(2)
David H.
I had the aratra, which is duck with lentils. The duck was distinctly flavorful, tender, and definitely some of the better duck I have ever had in my entire life. And they gave me a healthy portion. The lentils, on the other hand, were lentils. I'm not sure why I expected more from lentils. Still, my impression was that I was a lot happier with my order than others were with theirs. However, the place itself was relatively small given how many people were there. I'm not sure I could've gotten up after I sat down without great difficulty, so close I was to the table behind me. Packed in like sardines Meal was a little pricey Duck made it worthwhile
(3)
Trixy D.
EXCELLENT Italian food, soup, great veg salad, fantastic lasagna for Husband and unbelievable homemade pasta w/ butternut squash...tasted like dessert! Shared an amazing mousse, gelato dipped in chocolate for dessert. OMG will be back. $71.27 for two for dinner before tip.
I really wanted to love this place, but it just didn't meet my expectations. First of all, this place was PACKED to the gills. And when I say "to the gills", I mean so close that when one of my tablemates spilled his glass of water, it got all over the people at the next table. I don't know how the waiters could even squeeze around the tables most of the time. I could've dealt with the space issue if it was quieter, but it was so loud I had to shout at the person sitting next to me to be heard. Not the best environment for a leisurely, nice meal. The menu, wine and beer lists are fine and pretty typical for an Italian place in Chicago. The bread was wonderful and seemingly endless, and I absolutely LOVED my beet salad. After that, the meal went somewhat downhill...I ordered the seafood stew, which I expected to be really nice but all of the seafood was pretty rubbery and there wasn't enough sauce. I got a selection of sorbets for dessert and they were pretty tasty, but again nothing remarkable. The prices are what you'd expect near the Mag Mile and with the name Coco Pazzo, although they are cheaper than the original on Hubbard. I have no problem paying high prices for high quality, but this just wasn't it.
(3)
Nelson M.
Restaurant Review Tucked away on a side street along the Mag Mile is this quaint restaurant that carries a wide spread of Tuscan cuisine with a extensive wine list to pair with your meal. The portion sizes are average, but you cannot deny the robust flavors. I would highly recommend the rigattoni. Not too heavy and perfectly balanced dish of meat and pasta leaving you wanting more. This is a attractive dining option for a romantic date or larger group. Pros- quaint atmosphere, good service, relaxed atmosphere compared to the larger sister restaurant, extensive wine list Cons- portion are average size Hidden deals- Unfortunately none...
(3)
Miriam G.
Okay food & service. I sat at the bar (which was really really uncomfortable to eat). Slow service, even though there were only a few people at the bar. Wine by the glass selection was limited and not great (I tried a few). Their tomato sauce pasta was OK at best. I make better at home. Overall verdict... I had better Italian food.
(3)
John M.
The night was definitely hit and miss. Calamari is usually a staple at a good Italian restaurant, but theirs was just not crispy enough. To make me more suspicious it showed up about 2 minutes after we ordered it, which makes me wonder if it was originally for someone else. I always love fresh pasta and for me that's the draw for Italian food. We had the Rigatoni, which they consider to be the specialty and it was forgettable. We also had the Linguine Vongole, which was bland and not as good as what I have made at home or had at Bice. There was a highlight though, it was the special fish pasta of the day. The noodles were homemade, paper thin and took on the flavor of the sauce in a wonderful way. Had they served us three entrees of the same quality instead of the two inferior ones the review would be an easy 4. Last point, I will make is on the service. They did a great job keeping the water filled, but missed on the easy items. When ordering a Caesar salad cracked pepper should always be offerred right away. In order to get the pepper for the salad I had to flag down a waiter, which was a first in an Italian restaurant.
(2)
kg a.
We arrived in jeans and sweatshirts, wanting something delicious. I worried when we were offered a table with the caveat that we be finished in an hour to make room for a reservation. I hate that. It seems so rude. However--Waitstaff was very nice, and didn't rush us. Food was delicious. Among us we had panzanelle, pappardelle with rabbit ragu, linguine vongole, rapini (delicious), trout with the pesto green beans and potatoes (repeatedly talked about deliciousness the rest of the evening). Not too loud, quality service, not outrageous prices or portions, overall pleasant dinner. I would definitely return.
(4)
Cecilia T.
3.5 stars to 4 stars Finally got to try this restaurant after passing by it on my way home so many times! My husband and I sat in their outdoor seating which is so pleasant! We first ordered their Beet salad which is pretty yummy and flavorful and a good portion to share between 2 people. My husband ordered the Rigatoni Butera which was yummy and filling for him. I had ordered one of the Specials of the Day which was a Mushroom Bowtie pasta. - that was ok, kind of ordinary. Lasty, wine selection pretty good. Definitely this is a place to go for a quaint and relaxing atmosphere, but food is just ok.
(3)
Glen W.
A bit noisy, but quite nice Italian. Rigatoni alla Buttera is the best dish. Avoid the fried appetizers.
(4)
Shradha A.
Time to reiterate my review from a while ago - went here after some time on Friday night and think it's still really good, but just not amazing! Didn't really like the bruschetta much, because of soy sauce/vinegar- like thing they added to it, but enjoyed the home made pasta in the spicy marinara sauce! Cute place, a little tight on space, but enjoyable overall.
(4)
Curt L.
So fortunate to get a last minute reservation here for New Year's Eve. Walked in that afternoon and secured a 9:30pm for seven people. Miguel our waiter was courteous, efficient and very knowledgeable. We shared 2 apps: Polpo: Braised octopus w/potato & olives & tomato. Simple recipe that allows the subtle chewy texture come thru. Funghi Arrosta: Wood grilled oyster mushrooms with diced pancetta and radicchio. For dinner I enjoyed the special of the evening Torteloni di Vitello ai Tartufo. Handmade torteloni stuffed with veal with black truffle. Beautiful tasty little packages. Tender and delicate as they politely sat in their "broda" only to later dance joyously in my mouth. Very nice entree special. The rest of the family enjoyed various pastas and meats. Granddaughter (a professed "pasta-tarian) had the Pappardelle-house made wide noodles with a wild boar ragout. Veal Scallopine was on the table as was the Caciucco-a spicy Tuscan seafood stew. Definitely enjoyed. We shared a bottle of red..........as suggested by Miguel. Fairly priced and fairly tasty. As I have a sweet tooth I ordered the Tartufo. Think of an ice cream truffle. Wonderfully decadent. A quaint little place one block of the Miracle Mile. Stop in for a good value dinner.......you will be glad that you did.
(4)
Tim B.
Our family of four ate here while vacationing in Chicago. We were staying at the Embassy Suites, Lakeview, and wanted to walk the magnificent mile after dinner, so this was right on the way. The atmosphere was comfortable and pleasant and the server was friendly. The food was good-to-great depending on the dish. We got the octopus appetizer which was very good. For dinner, my wife ordered a seafood pasta dish and my older son ordered the duck, which were both fine, but not amazing. My younger son and I both ordered the sea bass special and were very impressed. I was disappointed at first because I didn't book reservations in time to go where I had really wanted to that evening, but by the end of the meal here, we were happy and satisfied.
(4)
S L.
Gah! Get over yourself! The food is great, but very limited. Actually, I can only order about one thing for lunch which is the amazing vegetali appetizer salad. It's incredible and very decently priced considering the fresh veggie ingredients. But, the snobbery is palpable. I am not at a business lunch. I am a simple girl who wants to eat lunch and read a book and doesn't mind paying more if the food is good. So, what's the problem? I'm not wearing a suit? My job doesn't require me to wear a suit. I'm super low maintenance and I don't even eat your bread (which smells delicious). Judging me before I sit down is not going to help either of us. I tip better than most, even though you're borderline rude to me. That said, the food could be a little friendlier to the dietarily restricted. Gluten free pasta is not hard to obtain. Also, you're next to the Red Roof Inn for heaven sake! How snobby can you allow yourself to be before you just look silly.
(3)
Elaine M.
Went here last night for a friend's birthday and it was completely average. While the menu was inspired the execution was lacking. We were excited to try some of the different bruschettas that they offered. We tried three: mushroom and arugula, fava and ricotta, & goat cheese and sweet peppers. The fava and ricotta was bitter and the other two were okay but nothing to get really excited about. Also for appetizers we had the calamari and the the barbabietole (a beet salad). The calamari was fine but again just average. The barbabietole was the winner of the appetizers but I do love beets. For our entrees we had the Gnocchi verde, linguine vongole, vitello and a special for the evening of fettuccine with shrimp and mushrooms. The loser for the night was the special, which had no flavor what so ever and the shrimp were way overcooked. The winner was the gnocchi. If had to go back I would definitely go with the gnocchi. But I probably wouldn't go back. The service was strange. The waiter's personality was friendly and he had a great Italian accent. But after pouring our first round of prosecco, he never came back. We had to pour for ourselves. Also, we ordered our appetizers first and they came at a good pace but when we were finally able to order the entree I think they came out in about two minutes. Talk about feeling rushed!
(2)
Aaron P.
Go for lunch, but choose Volare down the street for dinner. The outdoor seating is one of the best spots in the area (on a side-street that isn't too busy, offers a huge awning to relax under during the high-noon sun). I love going for a break during lunch, as the service is attentive (but borderline annoying with the water fill-ups). The gnocchi is superb, as is the rigatoni. The lasagna, however, is a real disappointment. I'm Arabic and can cook up a better lasagna than that. (A friend described it as "Chef Boyardee") I hadn't ventured outside of the gnocchi or rigatoni until I tried the place for dinner. Dinner service is awful. The wait staff was discombobulated, as two different servers attempted to work our table, both trying to take orders and whatnot. While my water glass was refilled every time I took a sip, I had to practically beg for more bread. By the time it came, we had to flag someone down for olive oil. Ugh. The menu is priced quite well for the area, but it's still a lot for what you get. For $26, the salmon itself was good but was only accompanied by crappy grilled veggies, which included some poorly prepared artichokes. A fellow diner ordered a side of pasta with butter and garlic and was charged $16. When we questioned if it was a mistake or not to waiter #1, waiter #2 came to the table and ripped us a new one and stormed off. When waiter #1 returned, I told him about the response we just got and he said "sorry, she's new - next time you're here, I'll take good care of you." While I think it's a great lunchtime option for a quick plate of pasta and/or a salad, the dinnertime service and the entree menu selection will not warrant a return visit from me.
(2)
Jeff F.
Tried Coco Pazzo while I was in Chicago on Friday night and have to say the experience was average. Coco Pazzo does have the advantage of outdoor seating along with indoor seating that was open to the street since the doors/windows were pulled open. Upon arrival, I was impressed with the atmosphere. The service varied from crappy to average while the food ranged from piss poor to good/very good. Here's the rundown: -started with the tomato and basil bruschetta (good) and the sun dried tomato & olive bruschetta (crap) -Got the Vitello as an entree and thought the veal was pretty good, but the accompaniments were disgusting - the mashed potatoes seemed like they were out of box and whatever steamed greens were there were poor -Also got to try the Gnocchi which I thought was very good (but no one agreed so I'm not sure if my palette was starving for something good and imagining things or if the Gnocchi is actually worth trying). Would not recommend.
(3)
Sam M.
Always tough to judge Italian places in Chicago, but Coco Pazzo Cafe was very nice. Service was good and prompt. Would love to check out the outdoor seating when the weather is warmer.
(4)
cherie t.
Excellent!!! Good service, great food !!! Would go back again!!! Wonderful!!!
(4)
Boon K.
When I worked at NMH, this place was our "let's treat ourselves to a nice lunch today". You can never go wrong with their daily rissoto, pasta, and calamari. What I usually like is you can always get a half order of the pasta and it is just perfect for lunch or a light dinner. The sandwiches are ok but I'm not that crazy about them.
(3)
Emily W.
Italian food at it's finest! They make all their food fresh every day. The staff is incredible. If you ever get an opportunity to eat here then jump on it.
(5)
Dan L.
The food was outstanding. The service was great too. The ambiance was candle lit dim, romantic, intimate, and warm. We're coming back!!
(4)
Kimberly Q.
Had dinner here last night @ the recommendation of a very cool barman at C-View. The sidewalk seating was nice, but everything else was average, unfortunately. The cesar salad, while tasty, had too much dressing and was limp. The pasta special entailed overcooked fettuccine and overcooked shrimp (rubbery, big no-no!). The service was pleasant but slow. Very unextraordinary overall. Will not be back, when there are so many gems here in Chitown.
(3)
Kristin R.
Coco Pazzo Cafe is a nice, quaint, and cheap alternative to its sister restaurant, Coco Pazzo. Strangely, I ended up going to both of these restaurants for back to back dinners and there is very little difference. Coco Pazzo Cafe had many of the same dishes as the other restaurant, but is just a tad less fancy. No white linen table clothes, but rather it is quite a small space. This makes it feel very homey and intimate. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and they were pretty good. I feel like they tasted a bit bland, and it is probably not a dish I would order again, but it was good enough for me to finish my entire plate! There is not a huge selection here, similar to the other, but there are a few vegetarian options, as well as steak, poultry and fish. There is no special bread man at the Cafe that comes around and places just one piece of bread on your plate. Instead you get a basket of a variety of breads and some superb olive oil to dip it in; loved the focaccia. Our service was fast and friendly, and the bathrooms were quite nice. Very clean, always a plus.
(4)
Tanya S.
My friends and I had dinner here on a Friday evening, and we were very happy with everything we ordered. The server's wine recommendation was spot on. I really enjoyed the bruschetta--I sampled mushroom and arugula, as well as goat cheese and sweet pepper. And I highly recommend the pappardelle with wild boar ragu. I could totally smell the freshness of the pasta off my plate, and the whole dish was just very well made. I took off one star because one of the busboys was annoyingly overzealous in refilling our water glasses, notwithstanding our assurances that we didn't need more. He even accidentally hit my hand at one point without any apology. Otherwise, it's a super cute and charming spot for quiet and pleasant dinner. I can't wait to visit during patio season!
(4)
Brian P.
i went for a saturday brunch, and the weather was fair--open doors and whatnot. Antipasto vegetables were a nice touch, however, i felt each item wasn't prepared with the same level of quality--some items felt underdressed, others undercooked (if blanched ex. asparagus). The penne with tuna is an absolute gut-bomb: heavy stuff, and probably just only decent. I probably could have made it. Some of the paninis and such were quite nice. We asked about cheese on a particular dish, as one of our guests was allergic--and it arrived with a ton of cheese on it. I suppose there was a miscommunication of epic failure, but the waiter was kind enough to help us out and trade it in. Reasonable price? check. reasonable value? not so much--quality lags because of what must be the second string cooks in training for the big leagues.
(3)
Peter J.
Always a good choice. Great food and service.
(4)
Joshua C.
Pretty affordable, good service, and a decent interior, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Jayce C.
Coco Pazzo is a Streeterville Godsend! I work as a stylist right around the corner and it is absolutely my favorite lunch spot. I constantly send my clients over for lunch or dinner and they are always elated when they thank me for the recommendation! My Streeterville clients often mention it is their go to for a delicious, consistent experience. With all that said, I'm glad I finally wrote this review to make it official.
(5)
Corinna K.
Came here as part of a group event. We were seated at an area in the back that was on a raised landing of sorts which separated it somewhat from the other diners. Nice for small get-togethers. I was surprised that it wasn't as noisy as i would have expected. A bit on the crowded side with the tables close together. But i guess it compliments the cozy atmosphere. Service was very good. Attentive servers who were skilled and knew what they were doing. Food was very good. Salad was fresh and the salmon was cooked nicely though not the best that I've had. But my favorite of the day has to be the panna cotta dessert with the berries. That was so good that we actually asked the waiter if it was possible that we could get the recipe...of course that wasn't possible, but we had to try! the portions were perfect. If only that panna cotta could've been triple its size...=P Overall very enjoyable and highly recommend.
(4)
Sonia P.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants. The food is great and the staff is friendly. I've never had a bad meal there. I like that they will split the dishes so they are easy to share and you can enjoy several courses. Some of my favorite dishes are the trout, the pappardelle con coniglio and the lasagna. The lasagna is made with beciamella instead of ricotta cheese which is the style in Nothern Italy and is the only way my Italian mamma makes hers. The sauce is not your typical meat sauce usually paired with lasagna but a tasty creamy tomato sauce. I'm usually too full for dessert but enjoy finishing off my meal with an espresso. I really don't think you can go wrong dining here.
(5)
Url R.
A great spot for lunch or early dinner in summer. I recommend the lamb or veal chops. You can be packed in tightly.
(4)
Jocelyn L.
"Love the spicy spaghetti and clam linguine...and super affordable!" Right by Draftfcb offices
(3)
Joshua G.
Great service. Pasta served piping hot and the lunch portions are just right very attentive staff.
(5)
Stephen R.
fresh good sized portion delicious pasta ( a little overcooked) ambiance, and atmosphere is good and cozy. Great food and good value. GO EAT MANGIA
(4)
Venkatesh B.
So we frequented Coco Pazzo Cafe when my wife lived in Streeterville and since we were in town again we couldn't wait to go back. We were seated quickly and the staff were very pleasant. With that said, the drinks often were not filled very quickly, and the main entrees weren't very well made. The pasta was overcooked slightly but still tasty according my wife. It is important to note that in the past our food was off the charts so this could just be an off experience for the Pazzo. Based on this I would normally rank this visit a three star...but wait....they have the killer "comeback" dessert known as the Tartufo which totally is out of this world and bumps them to the fourth star. If we continue to have just average meals, we may eat elsewhere and just come here for the Tartufo.
(4)
Rachel W.
I've eaten both lunch and dinner here; this is a good choice for both. It's a more casual choice that its sister restaurant on Hubbard. The foccacia bread is worth drooling over. I am salivating thinking about dipping it in that olive oil... oh wow. For lunch their paninis or small pasta plates are great. They even have a quatro formaggi panini(a four cheese grilled cheese with all the cheeses you could wish for). Clearly, I was in heaven. For dinner they make great fish or larger pasta entrees. I also took a client group here and they nicely put together a prix fixe for us.
(4)
Jaime S.
The food was delicious(i got the italian version of a salad Nicoise entree), the service was IMPECCABLE, but....it smelled straight up FUNKY in this place today. Does it always smell like a whif of dog shit? No joke, I went to the bathroom and checked my shoes to see if I had stepped in something. After sitting for 20 mins, i got used to it, but still. No BUENO. Takes Reservations! Thank You!
(4)
Laura K.
I had lunch here with my department last week. The food here is pretty good. I had the mushroom risotto with creamy cheese sauce; good, however I think I consumed my daily sodium intake in one meal. The portion size was very generous and I had to take half of the bowl to go. Basket of bread was fresh and olive oil for dipping added a nice touch. Dessert was my fav part - gelato! You can definitely taste that they make their gelati fresh. I had the cinnamon - OMG awesome! It tasted like the milk at the bottom of my cereal bowl after I've finished my Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The wall decor is pretty cool - it reminds me of Tuscany. The paintings provide a warm personality to the atmosphere.
(4)
Sandra M.
I'd had a nice dinner at the "big" Coco Pazzo several years ago, so I was glad to find its little sister near my hotel on my latest trip to Chicago. Caesar Salad: the anchovies were lovely, but the salad had way too much thick, almost pasty dressing and was kind of limp. The accompanying parmesan fricco, described as a "crisp", was anything but. Salmon: Grilled, with artichoke bottoms, cherry tomatoes, and a few potatoes and some tasty olives on top. The fish was okay but overall the dish just didn't come together. So maybe I just ordered badly. Probably should have tried a pasta. Service was good, with a nice wine recommendation, but I wasn't so sure that the second glass of wine I ordered was the same kind as the first. Nice atmosphere; I just wish I'd had a better meal here.
(2)
Andrew S.
Had lunch here recently. I ordered two specials and found them both to be tasty. I had the while bean soup which was flavorful and the perfect touch on a snowy day. I followed that with homemade spinach ravioli with red sauce, which was cooked well and well seasoned. The service was attentive and friendly. My only real complaint was the price for the quantity of food, which I found a bit high. Definitely would recommend this place for an upscale lunch downtown.
(4)
Ryan B.
Stiff Glenlivet on the rocks and pasta in my belly puts me in a happy spot. This place was within walking distance to the hotel I was staying in and came highly recommended by the staff. Smaller place and I could see it getting busy and hard to get a seat. I nestled in at the bar and was able to catch up on a little news on the TV and listen into peoples conversations next to me. The bartender was extremely attentive and had a few great recommendations. I love places like this as they provided a much better experience than a chain as they have soul. Next time I am in Chicago for business Coco Pazzo Cafe you are on my list.
(4)
Tim F.
Other reviews seemed hot / cold, and I wondered if part of this may have been due to different meals attended versus restaurant inconsistency. All I can say is, our experience here was amazing, and I'm rather picky about good Italian. We had: 1) Carpaccio appetizer 2) Cauliflower soup appetizer 3) Pork loin entree with rabe and mashed potato 4) Ravioli special of the day Everything was great. Will be back, and I hope the review doesn't change then.
(5)
Priya S.
Good place to enjoy a casual , but intimate Italian food experience. The weather was beautiful and they had outdoor seating which is a plus. We enjoyed the appetizers- funghi (mushrooms) and beet salad. The entrees we ordered were fine-they were specials for the night- a sea bass and pasta dish- we didn't get blown away with them. The dessert was awesome- we ordered tartufo- which I would recommend. The service was great. Overall good experience
(4)
Tanya Z.
Pretty busy here, make sure u reserve yourself a table before deciding to go. The food is great and the wine was decent also.
Made a reservation for dinner here on our hotel's recommendation. Restaurant could not accommodate the time slot we wanted, so we accepted an earlier reservation. When we arrived at the restaurant, two people ahead of us - who did not have a reservation - refused a back corner table and asked for one by the window. They were graciously accommodated. The hostess then sat us at the table they rejected. When we asked to be seated by the window, she said there were too many requests and she could only offer us a table right by the entry door. The food and service were both good, but I could not help but notice that 2 prime window tables were still empty when we left. I was really disappointed by the shabby treatment
(2)
D C.
Went here right at the end of the summer. Great experience with good food. I was a little nervous coming here when its fancier sister restaurant Cocco Pazo was just a few blocks away. I made the right choice. Everything was wonderful from the food to the service, they were on top of their game. Atmosphere: The atmosphere here was really nice. I came during lunch hour and there was a nice mix of business professionals and locals. Everyone seemed to be happily enjoying their meals and immersed in great conversation. I sat outside which was a nice experience. It seems like this is the better option, as inside seemed too stuffy and pretty loud. Service: The service here was really good. They came to check in during my meal and were there constantly to refill my drink and the breadbasket (more on that shortly!). Food: To start, they bring a bread basket of assorted items as well as olive oil to dip in. The focaccia bread was my favorite and was soooo with the nice olive oil. After filling up on a full basket I was ready for the next course lol! I ordered the Paillard Di Pollo which is chicken breast, spinach, goat cheese and grapes. The chicken was pounded thin and was grilled nicely. The accompaniments made it seem like a chicken salad! The portions here are very generous, especially considering it was lunch. Prices are very fair for what you get and for being in such a nice section of the city. I will return no doubt next time I make my way to Chicago.
(4)
Brenda T.
My friend and I decided that we should book a restaurant for dinner Christmas Eve. We both thought Coco Pazzo would be great to try since we hadn't been there in awhile. We made a reservation via Open Table. When we arrived, the host fumbled around checking to see if we indeed had a reservation. We were seated at 6 PM. Our waiter came over to take a drink order. We asked if we could taste some white wine options because we were planning to order a bottle of wine for dinner. The 3 selections were very sweet, and we wanted a dry wine. Our waiter enlisted the assistance of the "expert". The "Wine Expert" came over to offer his advice, and we decided on a red wine instead of a white. A few minutes later he brought us a "glass" of the bottle we ordered. We said we ordered the bottle, and he said "Okay, I will take these glasses and pour them back , and get your bottle..." Pour the glasses back?! Our food came out. The salad was just okay. The lasagna was wonderful! Our lobster ravioli (the special for the evening) was ice cold. Our waiter never came back to check. We asked to see a manager. Our "Wine Expert" was in fact the manager. We professionally told him we were upset about the fact that he was pouring our glasses of wine back in the bottle behind the bar, and that our entree was cold. He defended his bar practices, and reluctantly took the pasta off the check. He also mentioned that the practice of pouring the wine back into the bottle was not unusual since he had worked for Coco Pazzo for 14 years. Appalling Service, and Bar practices. I have no words to describe this Christmas Eve Dinner.
(1)
Robin Z.
This was my second visit, the BF's first, and it was the perfect antidote to an unseasonably cold and bitter Friday (snow in late April? Not cool Chicago). We had a late reservation and got there as most of the 7pm diners were winding down their entrees and desserts but it was pleasantly busy and almost festive. Our server was outstanding, really knew the menu inside and out. One of my favorite things about this place is the gorgeous rustic antipasto table in the center of the right-hand side dining room. Always with an enormous (5-ft high) bouquet of real greenery and flowers and many white platters of roasted vegetables, olives, etc. Our server made us a lovely plate of mixed vegetables, sliced meats and cheese with a simply-dressed arugula salad and it was the perfect starter. We ordered the wild boar pappardelle and the lasagna and both were excellent, especially the pappardelle. Our martinis were perfect, the server's wine recommendations were spot on, and they had my favorite dessert, tartufo, which seems so hard to come by these days. All in all a wonderful meal and the perfect ending to a long week of business travel. My only complaint - the ladies room is freezing!
(4)
#NAME?
Came here for lunch on Sat. If you want a peaceful lunch/dinner and want to sit outside you might want to consider the location, you are next to the hospital, so ambulances do come by- FOOD: I really didn't want a panini from here, nor a pasta or steak for lunch so I settled on Bruschetta, I am glad I did-It was traditional so full of flavor, yet I had massive garlic breath the whole day from it- My husband ordered the fresh greens salad, which was so fresh and delicious and the minestrone soup, I'll take his word on the soup- I would come here again for the bruschetta- Service was a tad slow, I mean we were one of maybe 6 tables in the place-Maybe it's b/c we were there before the Sat. lunch rush-
(4)
Silvia J.
I decided to try the cafe as opposed to the restaurant as part of my tour of the Most Authentic Italian restaurants as voted by the Italian government. Mainly because of financial reasons ;D The pasta was "perfetto"! You know what they say about sensory memory?? Well, the first bite took me back to Italy sitting in an alfresco ristorante in Trastevere neighborhood of Rome eating al dente homeade pasta. Not only was the pasta at Coco Pazzo cafe cooked exactly the way I had it in Italy, I could tell their ingredients in their semifreddo was FRESH (like in Italy - ALL ingredients are fresh from the farmers market to the plate). I will venture to say that so far Coco Pazzo cafe is about as close to the Italian eating experience I had without actually being in Italy. My only quip is the service was not very fast...by American standards. Compared to Italian standards...well Coco Pazzo Cafe maybe slightly faster LOL! And I prefer my white wine (this time Soave) to have been served colder than it was. Hence the 4, but I definately plan to go back to Coco Pazzo Cafe!
(4)
Pamela C.
Great lunch spot. The Quatro Formaggi sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I've had in a while. Fresh mozzarella, brie, fontina, and goat cheese.....nom. Que rico! Next time I'll have to send that evil bread basket back so I can savor every carb-filled bite. I came here after work the other night craving the sandwich alas, the sandwiches are not available after lunch hour. I tried the Gnocchi instead. Meh, not bad. One of those rare dishes that tasted better when reheated the next day. My dad was hooked on the spaghetti with spicy red chili and asked to return here the next time he is in town. A yummy crowd pleaser, better suited for lunch than dinner.
(4)
Tasha A.
I'd agree with Andrea R, if you're looking for reasonably priced Italian food, Coco Pazzo is a good spot to check out. I went for simple bruschetta & minestrone soup; wasn't looking for a heavy lunch that day. The chef's daily selection bruschetta wasn't bad - and hello?! You cannot mess up minestrone! I thought the prices were pretty good for the other options on their lunch menu as well. When I'm in Chicago, I'll be sure to check it out again.
(3)
Caroline A.
Not a fan of this place. We had lunch here the other day and we were disappointed. The restaurant was not busy at all, and we sat on the outdoor patio. First of all, it took the server way too long to take our order. We must have sat for about 10 minutes because he came to our table. He was very polite when he did take our order, and I made sure to note that we were on a time crunch. He said, "we'll do our best." Dude... there was nobody in the restaurant!! Our food took 25 minutes to come out. BF had the chicken panini and I had the mushroom. It doesn't take that long to make a panini... So we basically threw our sandwiches down our throats and waited for the check. Our server was MIA. So we asked another server for our check, and she took forever. In our time crunch, I suggested to BF that he just go in and pay... while we were waiting inside five minutes, she comes out with 4 other checks in her hands... completely disregarding the fact that we told her 10 minutes ago that we were in a time crunch and had to catch a flight. Horrendous! Food was ok. Spices in my portabello panini were a bit off... too much tomato. Fries were cold when they came out. We will not be returning to this restaurant. I hate bad service.
(2)
JT G.
My wife, son and I recently had dinner here and it was a nice "casual" dining establishment. The outdoor seating was nice, and the staff super friendly and attentive. My wife is in a wheelchair and they were extra attentive to make something work for us. The food was much more authentic Italian than most Italian restaurants I've been to recently when their "American style" dishes. Which was most refreshing. The amount of pasta you get with the pasta dishes is substantial and their fish was a generous portion as well. Their wine list was large, however one item of note the majority of wine was not available by the glass. Over all an excellent intimate eating establishment with nice atmosphere and A+++ staff.
(4)
Marie B.
Dined here for lunch with a dear friend who is a bit of a "foodie". We were both impressed. I had a pannini, which was quite good and I adored the homemade potato chips. My friend said his meal was good as well. We also had a yummy bottle of wine...the name escapes me, but... Oh, the service? Was very attentive...without being overly so. Overall, a nice experience.
(3)
Tara M.
Given its close proximity to my place, I've been to Coco Pazzo Cafe for dinner many a time. I've always enjoyed myself and the atmosphere, but it wasn't until this past Thursday evening when I truly realized what a cute little place it is. Sitting outside around 9pm, a friend and I enjoyed a few glasses of wine, a basket of bread and...a few more glasses of wine. Our server, whose name I never caught, was friendly, attentive and generally pleasant. When it came time to order our last round, I asked if the restaurant was closed (it seemed as though everyone was starting to clean up). He indicated that they were, in fact, closed, but that he would be there for a while so we were welcome to have another round. Not like we needed one, but we took him up on his offer and paid the bill so he could at least cash out. Looking from the outside in, Coco Pazzo is cute, quaint and romantic. The meals I've had have always been solid and the service attentive but not overly so. The crowd was a mix of tourists young and old, and locals like myself with friends or even sitting solo on the patio. Everyone seemed to be very relaxed and content. This may just be my new spot for quiet nights of overindulgence.
(4)
Mark S.
What a treat...sat outside in beautiful weather as the sun set...had the gnocchi with friends...it was perfectly done and the red wine suggestion complemented it nicely. Great view and a great experience.
(4)
Juliet G.
I visited with a group of 10 for dinner. Just too noisy for my liking. I also did not like that they would not give us separate checks. One nice thing is that you can order half portions of meals to cut down on the cost and pasta that may be too much after you eat other items which is nice. I ordered linguini with clam sauce that was very good. Just an okay experience.
(3)
Hyung S.
Just a simple Italian restaurant where everything is done just right.
(5)
Gfiddy F.
Great sidewalk cafe for a glass of wine on a summery day.
(5)
Bradley S.
Mom, Partner and I dined here Friday. I met them after work so it was an early dinner. We opted for sidewalk seating as the weather had moderated, and, well, al fresco dining in Chicago is on the wane for the year. This may not be the right choice for all given the proximity to Northwestern Hospital and their ambulance traffic. That said, the tables weren't too crowded and were nicely dressed. Our waiter, Theo, was professional, efficient and accommodating. Mom ordered and thoroughly enjoyed her Lasagna; Partner was very happy with the pasta dish which included the rabbit ragout. I got a taste and would definitely recommend it. I enjoyed the duck breast with polenta and grilled peaches. I had a glass o garnish wine with the entree and while the choices were sufficient, they weren't exceptional. The presentations were all appetizing. The desserts were wonderful. Mom loved her Semifreddo, a semi-frozen raspberry mouse with berries and chocolate. Partner really liked the Crostata with with fresh berries and gelato. I swooned over the zabaiglione. The menu described it simply with berries. I asked Theo if there was a choice of berries. I'm not allergic to strawberries or blueberries and I don't hate them, I just don't love them and relayed to Theo that if there was a choice, I'd prefer just raspberries and/or blackberries. What was delivered was a big bowl of red raspberries with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and mint garnish. As Theo was passing by he glanced at the table, apologized for the confusion, and raced off to retrieve the zabaiglione. It had been several years since I'd partaken in this sweet. It was everything I remembered and more. I will say the alcohol was a tad hot which may not be to everyone's liking.
(4)
Maria C.
This has always been one of my favorite places in Chicago for a good, unpretentious Italian. The place is great, cool and the outdoor seating is one of the best in summertime. The food is consistently great, over and over again. However, now that I have twin daughters and changing diapers during a meal is nothing other than frequent, I was a little disappointed when I saw that they have no changers in the restroom! AND on a Saturday afternoon during lunch time (in a summer day, the city was happening, etc...) their restrooms were extremely dirty. Come on guys, this doesn't match who you guys are.
(2)
John H.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago for its great value, authentic flavors and reliability. I always know that I can go here for either lunch or dinner and the food and service will be great. They're missing some of the "higher end" dishes of the parent restaurant like truffled veal ragu and things of that nature, but the prices are more reasonable and the chef here is still creative and there are always daily specials to keep things interesting. The outdoor seating in the summer is also much appreciated.
(5)
caroline k.
Was lucky to get a table for 4 last minute on a busy Saturday night. At 8pm the place was packed and a buzz. We ordered: - Calamari appetizer: made well with good tomato marinara dipping sauce - Tuscan soup: basically a Minestrone, which was disappointing. - Black ink pasta: made the error of all 4 of us ordering the 1/2 size portions. My dish, which apparently was the last off the pan, had clumps of pasta in what otherwise what have been a beautiful dish. I almost sent it back but was hungry and didn't want the extra wait. - Tartufo dessert: vanilla and chocolate gelato dipped in chocolate with a cherry in the middle. Nothing exciting. - Tiramisu: looked great, but couldn't taste any marsala. Would go back but beware of a busy kitchen pumping out dishes en masse.
(3)
Emily E.
I initially wanted to go to Coco Pazzo because the reviews on yelp look decent to me, and it didn't look very expensive. I made reservations for 8:30 yesterday (Saturday) in the afternoon, I planned on watching a movie with friends and then getting dinner. We arrived about 10 minutes earlier than our reservation and the hosts said that it would be a few minutes. They asked us to wait at the bar, we didn't plan on getting drinks so we didn't head over there, and there wasn't much standing room for waiting. We felt a bit in the way of everyone... After waiting awhile, we were seated around 8:35. Our water was filled, and the bread came. Our waiter ( I wish I knew his name) was very polite and came by every so often, but not enough to disrupt our conversation. My friends ordered a chopped salad, gnocci and rigatoni. I ordered the spaghetti special (with clams!) and Rapini. Unfortunately for me I didn't know Rapini was bitter and only ate a little bit until I couldn't take it any longer, and didn't touch it for the remainder of our meal. I was really sad because I wanted to eat the verdantly green broccoli... All of us were pretty ravenous, so we finished everything on our plates! Plus everything was really tasty. No complaints on the quality of the dishes! Finally, they came for our plates and asked me about my Rapini, I just simply said I had no idea Rapini was bitter and didn't want to take it home. My server had the Rapini taken off my check, (which was a relief to me) and I thought that it was a good gesture because I sincerely did not enjoy the Rapini. But, I wasn't a jerk about it. Last thng is, I'd suggest getting a reservation because it is an intimate/cozier restaurant. (They have sidewalk seating too) Overall, the service was good, our glasses were filled, people came when we needed them, the food was tasty and the prices were reasonable. I'm going to definitely go back, and this time bring my boyfriend!
(5)
Ann K.
Just got back from dinner. It was the best. The service was excellent, the ambiance terrific and our dinners were terrific. The guys had the veal which they raved about. I had the rigatoni which was wonderful & my sister had the lasagna, which was also wonderful. Both the Rigatoni & Lasagna were In a pink cream sauce not the standard red gravy. Very unique & flavorful. We would highly recommend this restaurant, but do make a reservation.
(5)
Erica G.
I was very excited to try this restaurant because I'd heard good things about Coco Pazzo, the original and more expensive sister restaurant. Not wanting to break the bank so soon after the holidays, we opted to try the cafe as an alternative. I was disappointed. The dishes were premade and not fresh. The food came out so fast and it was obvious the appetizers were made in advance and chilled in the kitchen. Mozzarella from the appetizer menu was amazing, but the roasted tomatoes served with the cheese was ice cold. The tomatoes should have been room temperature or warmed. Tomatoes should never be chilled or stored in the fridge. Bruschetta options looked very interesting but were also served with cold, premade toppings. The white bean and black truffle was the best tasting, but the mushroom and others didn't taste as good at the cold temperature they were served at. Ceasar salad was probably one of the worst I've ever had because it was premade and the croutons were soggy and cold. It also stated on the menu it was served with white anchovies, which were missing from the dish. Me and my party tried three pasta dishes. The Pappardelle with wild boar with fresh house made pasta was pretty good. Linguine Vongole came with generous portions of clams. The other was a special with hand shaved lamb. Lamb was great but very little portion of it was included in the dish. Bonus is...the pasta's can be served in appetizer portions. Great idea so you are not overloaded with a huge plate of food. Gelati...ok if you try the banana, but the other flavors lacked "flavor." Wine list is limited. Try this place for a casual lunch and wine, but don't have high expectations if you are looking for an amazing meal. Tables are also very close together and not much privacy. Almost uncomfortable because you feel as if everyone can hear your conversation...and they can.
(2)
Puja S.
My husband and I went to Coco Pazzo Cafe last week. It was a perfect place to sit outside and have a glass of wine. We absolutely loved the spaghetti. It had the absolute right amount of heat. The Rigatoni is good as well (if you are in the mood of eating something heavy). I've tried the linguine on a previous visit and did not like this dish too much - there was nothing special about the dish.
(4)
Sandy R.
Used to eat here a lot when I worked in the area. Had a leisurely Sunday lunch to celebrate my sister's birthday. It was just the 3 generations of girls. Their food is really good and they offer a great selection. We had the special gnocchi, the special fish, linguine with white clam sauce, tortellini and a few starters. I thought everything was really good and the portions while not huge were big enough for leftovers.
(4)
Karen H.
Wow! I haven't had pasta this good in a long time. I ordered the beef carpaccio as an appetizer, which melts in your mouth. I wasn't sure which wine to order (undecided between 2 reds) - and the server brought out a small glass of each one for me to try and see which one I like best...very nice! I decided on a very nice cab/merlot blend - yum. For the main course, I tried their tagliolini which was out of this world. I would definitely order this again. For dessert, I tried their apple crostata and by this point I was in heaven. They serve it with cinnamon gelato, the crostata warmed, with strawberries/blueberries for garnish. Delicious! Excellent service. Dress nicely for dinner. Great place for a date!
(5)
Norm P.
Tonight, great ravioli and tasty lasagna. Salads are fresh and staff is attentive. Would recommend this pleasant Italian restaurant for a very an enjoyable meal.
(4)
Anthony Z.
Excellent value, and one hell of a scene. Went on a Sunday night, sat outside, and greatly enjoyed the wines and watching all of the scensters. The food is classic northern Italian and was spot on. Wine selection was good. Zabaglione dessert was a minor disappointment and could have been better; sauce was too thick and cool.
This place was a terrific little find not far from the hustle of Michigan Ave, but a block over so you need to know how to find it. I had a terrific dinner and great service. I'll definitely return.
(4)
Keiko S.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago. I love it not really for the food, but more for the atmosphere. It's over all very warm and casual with a lively crowd, and of course, plenty of good wine helps. On days that are too cold, the inside dining area is as enjoyable nonetheless. As for the food, the panini sandwiches (served at lunch time) are great, as well as the polenta, squid ink pasta and linguine. For dessert, the creme brulee is a must! Friendly servers, satisfying portions. PS. in case you're wondering why there are so many tourists here, this place is featured in a very popular Japanese tour guide.
(4)
Carri A.
Really cute outdoor seating, delicious gnocchi, good fettucine (with mushrooms and parmesan) and my friend thoroughly enjoyed her quail dish. The entrees seemed expensive for the portion size and the spinaci (spinach side dish) seemed a little bland. And the service was seriously lacking (except for the water guy). It took our waiter at least 10 minutes after he picked up our dishes to get us the check. And he didnt inform my other friend that there are no free refills on drinks - otherwise she would have stuck with her one pepsi in a small but fancy glass. Good meal but I probably wont be coming back again.
(3)
chloe p.
the maitre'd is the biggest asshole on the planet its almost funny. food was good, but he was THAT BIG of an asshole that it was still distracting...especially when halfway thru our meal, he and his culturally ambiguous co-host SAT DOWN for DINNER even though the restaurant was still more than half full and it was only like 9:45pm on a friday night. not, like, at the bar.... at a table right in front!! in front of everybody ....people still coming & going. (huh??!) spaghetti was good. service pretty bad. veal was also pretty good. maitre'd was hideous inside & out. too many better places to go to in the city. have been here probably 5 other times........won't be back.
(2)
Natalie B.
I love this restaurant. Both of my parents spent time at Northwestern hospital (which is across the street from Coco Pazzo) and my family found ourselves here on many occasion throughout those long days eating delicious pasta and warming our hearts. Their spaghetti (extra spicy with fettuccine) is the best pasta I've ever had. The sauce is subtlety spicy and perfect.
(4)
Mandy P.
Don't bother with this place for lunch. That's how I feel after yesterday. The service sucked and the sides changed for the paninis - it used to be a nice little salad. If I really wanted potato chips as a side dish, I would walk the block east to Panera. We received dirty looks and rolling of eyes when we asked for separate checks BEFORE we ordered our food! It's not like we were annoying and asked when the bill came. He basically wouldn't do it for us. Also, I asked to have my sandwich on the piadini instead of bread and that was a whole other issue for him in iteself. Get that man out of customer service! I wish I hadn't been on the clock. That lunch made me need a cocktail.
(2)
Jennifer H.
I had heard from everyone who had ever been that Coco Pazzo was the best Italian restaurant in the city. I know that I went to the casual cafe version, but I am assuming the food quality is the same, correct? If so, I was fairly disappointed. The food was good, and I wouldn't discourage you from going. Unfortunately for the restaurant, it had been built up so much that there was no where to go but down. It's in a fantastic location. Streeterville is SUCH a cute neighborhood. I imagine when it's warm outside, there would be nothing better than sitting at a sidewalk table. The interior is very cute, too. When we were sat, we walked past some sort of appetizer buffet in the middle. Others in the restaurant were walking up and taking plates, but our server never addressed it so I don't know what it was. We ordered four of the bruschetta options and they were excellent. I could go back just for those. I had the gnocchi for my main course, and it was not the best I've ever eaten; it wasn't bad, at all, though. No one at the table raved about their main courses, but no one complained, either. I would come back and bring guests. The location is great, the atmosphere is cute, and the food is just fine.
(3)
Comensal A.
It's been a very long time since I've dined at Coco Pazzo Cafe, and they still seem to be a reliable choice. We had an early pre-theater dinner on a balmy Friday, so the doors were open and a gentle breeze washed over our table. My tagliolini neri was very good, brimming with fresh, succulent rock shrimp. My companion enjoyed her linguini with clams. A side of rapini was nicely done. Service was attentive. Wine list was OK, but not much below $40/bottle. It was pleasant dinner on a lovely evening...
(3)
Carla F.
We made a last minute decision to come here for lunch yesterday before visiting a family member at Northwestern. It was a holiday weekend and we were pleased to find out that there wasn't a wait. It was unpleasantly hot outside so we chose to sit indoors, also, given it's close proximity to the hospital, we didn't want to listen to ambulance sirens while we dined. Surprisingly, they chose not to have their a/c on during a 90 degree day. I know it can get expensive to run, but it made things a little uncomfortable! None of us wanted too heavy of a lunch, so we decided on ordering a few appetizers. We had the Sette Vegetale (seven different kinds of chopped veggies w/ shaved parmesan), Caprese and mussels. We also ordered a salmon panini which consisted of smoked salmon, red onion, caper mayonnaise, tomato and arugula. Everything was excellent. It was the perfect light lunch and we all left feeling satisfied. I would like to come back to Coco Pazzo again and try out their dinner menu.
(4)
Norris A.
Our party of four ate here last week after attending an HD Broadcast at the nearby AMC movie palace. When I found out we were eating here I checked the reviews on Yelp and wasn't 100% excited. When the time came though I was 100% hungry and went with the flow. I was going in prepared to write a review and had all my Yelp review materials with me- meat thermometer, stop watch, calipers to measure meat thickness, a complete set of Mario Batali cookbooks, an Italian phrase book, a camera and tripod and some extra lights- the usual Yelper tackle. We were the last people to arrive (at 9.30) and consequently the last to leave. We were greeted promptly and shown to a small table in the centre of the room by a table which the staff used to slice bread and grate huge chunks of parmesan. It was like being in Mamma's kitchen. The room was about 65% occupied. The waiter, Edgar was not Italian ( I checked his ID) but was at the table in a flash to take our drinks orders and tell us about the specials. I had already checked out the menu on line and knew what I wanted but others deliberated. Glasses of tap water arrived, as did bread-some crusty fresh white and some going-stale Foccacia. Oil was offered for dipping but I asked and received freshly grated parmesan and that really helped. Having not seen our dining partners for some months and having much to talk about I forgot to focus on reviewing and instead got caught up in the banter, aided by the warm cosy surroundings in a very pretty room, adorned with great art around the ceiling, and by a resfreshing glass of Pinot Grigio. Service was prompt, maybe influenced by the fact that we were going to determine how early the staff got to leave or maybe that's just how they roll here. Edgar was on top of his game. I had a beef carpaccio, which although not up to the air-dried version I had a Prosecco recently, was wolfed down in a blur of knife and fork. It augered well for the rest of the meal. A bowl of calamari to my left brought approbation and some plate-licking. A salad was enjoyed and some taken home in a doggy bag. A salad, featuring that most noble ingedient, the freshly chopped beet elicited poetry from it's consumer. Most of my review equipment remained in it's flightcase at my feet as I was too busy enjoying the company and the grub. When I see some kind of seared bovine flesh on a menu I tend to home in on it. Not an adventurous choice in an Italian or French restaurant but I like what I like so I ordered the Bistecca or steak and chips as we would call it back in the UK. Medium rare, thinly sliced rib-eye steak with a good helping of crispy parmesan fries. Edgar suggested a nice glass of smooth red wine which harmonised with this simple dish which disappeared rapidly. Also at the table was a monkfish sharing a plate with mushrooms and leeks. The diner gave it two thumbs up. His wife made short work of a large bowl of spaghetti with mussels and left only the shells behind as evidence for future archaelogists to ponder over. A star though was a fall off the bone, melt in your mouth, savory lamb shank to my right. I got to taste this and would order it next time. The restaurant began to empty out after 45 minutes but we were entering the dessert phase of the operation. I had ogled the panna cotta on the menu but when push came to shove thought it best to round off the evening with my favorite dessert- Sambuca Romana and a double espresso. Oh Joy!! Others shared desserts- I think gelato and biscotti with their coffees. I was in Sambuca heaven, a place I hope to retire to someday, and no longer really paying attention. It was time to pay the bill and leave and we were thanked by all the staff who were waiting to close-up and go home. I look forward to returning, hopefully when it is warmer and I can try out the sidewalk dining. Coco Pazzo Cafe was better than I had imagined, given the reviews on Yelp. No complaints from me. Nothing was particularly outstanding or "amazing" but the food and service were worth the price paid and the plates were licked clean so that has to mean something postiive. Worth a try!
(4)
Michelle K C.
Thanks to a mother born in the Abruzzo region, I'm pretty picky about my Italian restaurants. My friend and I chose Coco Pazzo Cafe as our pre-marathon meal and had a perfect carbo-load. Calamari appetizer was lightly fried with a tasty marinara, and the mains of gnocchi and squash ravioli were presented with sauces of true Northern Italian style: flavorful without being chunky and blood-red. Service was quick and friendly, and atmosphere was pleasant, save for the loud Chicagoans at the table beside us...but hey, it is the Windy City afterall. I highly recommend Coco Pazzo to anyone looking for a tasty Italian meal, whether its date night or stopping in after a football game.
(5)
Bella B.
Need Reservations because this place is popular and busy! Came here in early April when it was still chilly so no outdoor dining but inside it was warm and cozy. Linguine with Clams was good but the Rigatoni with Sausage was amazing! Heard the lasagna was great as well. Service was attentive and fast. Tables a bit tight and I wish it was a bit quieter but the energy was good. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portions
(4)
Hrayr A.
The atmosphere is nice, service is excellent and the risotto is very well made. The frittata and the salmon sandwich are also among the highlights of their lunch menu.
(4)
Koizumi Y.
We were seated quickly and the service was attentive without being intrusive. Drinks arrived promptly. One client ordered risotto and ate it, but mentioned the texture wasn't quite what it should have been. Another ordered a frittata and loved it. Still another practically inhaled his four-cheese panini. My butternut squash ravioli with butter sauce seemed a bit too heavy on the sage, which dominated the flavours of the pasta. I would have preferred a light toss in its essence but it was still rather good. An orange sorbet really hit the spot and calmed my gurgling stomach - or perhaps it was my mind anticipating a butter revolt - whilst a few brave souls indulged in grappa for their finishing touch. My prior overall experiences here have been pleasant. Still, the recent one didn't send me anywhere special.
(3)
Emily V.
The Rigatoni all Buttera was excellent! Melt in your mouth delicious. One of the better pasta dishes I've had. Our waiter was wonderful. He was from Mexico and we talked with him about where he was from and some of his favorite authentic places in the city. I can't find the name of the dessert I had on the online menu but it was very good. It was between a chocolate cake and a chocolate mousse with a raspberry sauce. The tiramisu that I tried was also wonderful. The only thing I tasted that I didn't love (shared 2 dishes with my mom) was the striped bass. I just don't think I'm a fan of striped bass, not necessarily that it was prepared poorly.
(4)
Ali C.
Really outstanding italian food. Superb service. The sea bass was out of this world, as were the grilled vegetables, coffee and biscotti. Definitely will return.
(5)
Maggie Z.
Food: The octopus appetizer was cooked better than any place in the city. Perfect texture and the sauce complimented it very well. The squid ink pasta with shrimp is AMAZING and to finish it off, we enjoyed the tartufo for dessert. Again, delicious. Overall: Compared to many other Italian places on Chi, this place takes the cake. The service is great, outdoor seating is quaint and tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the food can't be topped. What else can you ask for!
(5)
Art V.
I planned on eating at capital grille which is across the street from cpg. Cap grille charges $42 for a single piece of meat. No apps, no sides, no dessert. I looked at cpg's menu and found that I could eat like a horse for nearly the same price. What a solid meal. A great beet salad A half order of pasta with a boar ragu Duck breast served over lentils Apple pie 2 beers Approx $60 Great restaurant. Will def return.
(4)
Brandon S.
Had a great time getting a slightly late lunch by myself, eating outside. The wait staff was very attentive, the food (I got the gnocchi and added a bolognese sauce for just $1), was fabulous, and the atmosphere nice and caj! Definitely good times. It wasn't like OMG BEST EVER, but it was exactly what I wanted.
(4)
Dee W.
I came here for their 11th anniversary which was featuring their $11 three course special. When I called earlier to find out what was on the menu, they told me that it was a salad, entree and dessert. When I tried to press for more details, they declined to comment. When we got there, the waitor finally let us know that the special included their mizzo salad, their rissoto and a couple pieces of biscotti. We were pretty turned off by that and chose to order other stuff instead. We tried their bruchetta which was decent. I had their grilled chicken and our friend tried their gnocchi - the chicken was a bit on the salty side and the gnocchi was pretty basic. Service was decent - they had multiple people coming up to us and trying to get us to order more stuff. They also had multiple people come up to us and repeat the same thing "Are you ready to order?" three times.
(2)
sandra h.
We had a nice lunch on the terrace. The food is not the best Italian food in the city but it is decent and reasonably priced for a casual lunch. I just have to add that I love their spaghetti. For once a restaurant knows how to cook pasta al dente!
(3)
Wilt C.
Have not been to Coco Pazzo Cafe for a while and stopped by for lunch yesterday. It seems to have grown a bit tired over the years. The staff just goes through the paces with a bored demeanor and the food is just average. Too bad as it's a nice setting and good location.
(2)
Anna L.
Nice experience. Got a soft shell crab on mixed greens. Have never had a whole soft shell crab before (only as part of sushi rolls), so it was interesting to see it laying there in all its deep-fried glory atop my greens. Was fun to eat. Looks like it would be a good place for pasta too. Prices look reasonable.
(3)
Patrick M.
Went for dinner tonight, and was reminded what a delightful and solid choice this is. Meeting a friend from NYC, arrived early. Great service at the bar. Attentive and friendly staff. Boar, salmon, and veal were the entree choices: delicious. Special of barley veg soup to start was terrific, based on hearing another diner say: "better than my Italian grandmother's." And, really intelligent wine recommendations from the waiter, immediately picking a low, medium, and high price point based on the entree orders. Cool. The service is smooth, the decor is warm. Great place. Reminder: come back here more often.
(5)
cat c.
All I can say is WOW!! We got the Rigatoni with sausage, peas and cream sauce and Parpadelle with duck ragu. We were in heaven. This place is definitely a step above Italian restaurants. The food is authentic, excellent wait staff and I would love to go again soon!
(4)
Joanna K.
Cozy intimate setting, watchful staff and super food ...we had a great evening! Wish there was a Coco Pazzo in Denver, Colorado!!
(5)
Brad O.
I appreciate how authentically Italian this place is. It's more Italian than it is Italian-American. Also, I love how you can get appetizer-size portions of the pastas - keeping in tradition with the "primi piatti" concept in Italy. I had the appetizer portion of the homemade taglietelle with rabbit ragu followed up by the brick chicken. The taglietelle was near perfect - it had that slight chew that you only get from homemade fresh pasta that is so satisfying. The brick-chicken almost had too much of a "char" flavor, but the broccoli rabe on the side was awesome - bitter, but in a good way. I would say the only real drawbacks of this place is how tight the quarters are (once again, authentically European) and the night I was there the AC was not working so I had to step outside a couple times to cool down. Also, the service was excellent (not authentically European). Once that AC working again, I will be back.
(4)
Maura R.
SOO so so yummy. I would get the vegetali mostly but eveything about this place is five star. Let me begin with the wait staff extremely polite attentive and really know their stuff when it comes to the menu. I have not been there in a few years but I wouldnt be surprised if it hasn't changed. The food is molto eccellente. I have probably tasted every dish there misto terra (table in the center of the room Kind of like a buffet appaetizer) LOVE LOVE. PAsta is delicious and salads a tasty tasty. I just love the feel as well. It is a small rustic italian cafe IF it wasnt for the high rises and hustle and bustle of chicago society you could place this cafe in the a small village of Italy and it would fit right in. As it is cheaper than the more sophisticad and finer dining of Coco Pazzo restaurant on Hubbard it makes or a perfect setting for a lunch with friends or romantic dinner date...especially in the summer because the patio seating is wonderful (great if you are a people watcher like I am) RECOMMEND for sure ...a definate favorite
(5)
Stephanie H.
I've dined here once,sat inside, with girlfriends. Food and wine were good. I found the portions to be a little on the small side. I had the Risotto which was good. Enjoyed the atmosphere. I would go back. Good date place.
(3)
Natalie S.
The outside patio is nice, but the service and food wasn't. There was one waiter assigned to the entire outside area. Took forever to order. Took forever to get our food. When we did get our food, it was the wrong order. Waited 10 minutes for even the water boy to come by to ask him to get our waiter. Waiter quickly apologized and said our correct order will be out shortly. Tick tock. Tick tock. When we get our bill, nothing was taken off or adjusted. No apology. We left never to come back again.
(2)
Lisa B.
I first discovered this restaurant almost three years ago when I first moved back to Chicago. A friend came into town for a girls out weekend and we stayed at a hotel downtown. We discovered this restaurant during that weekend and I have loved it since. I would not say the meals are to die for but they do have a really good ragu and their pasta dishes are just wonderful (especially their butternut squash raviloi). What I love most about this place I know I can get a really good meal at a decent price and they always have a table ready and they do take out. When you want to go out with friends and family and want a good meal but spend time catching up with friends and not be distracred by the restaurant itself this is the place to go. They have a full bar, a good wine menu and for the neighborhood the price is just right. Also they are truly accomodating, the service is good and the meal is served in a decent time frame and you don't feel rushed. In close to three years I have not been disapointed.
(4)
Claire B.
The service was what impressed me the most about this place--everyone was very attentive and polite. I had the spinach salad, which was decent, though I would have preferred pears that weren't cooked. I also had the butternut squash ravioli, which came with an interesting butter sauce. It was quite good. My fiance ordered boar, which looked gross...but I don't think I would ever order boar. We also had cinnamon gelato, which was yummy. The only problem we encountered was an obnoxious lady who took literally 5 phone calls to deal with someone one the other end of the line's wardrobe malfunction. It was so rude!
(5)
Ada L.
Best pasta I've had in a long time (black pasta with squid, shrimp, tomatoes, zucchini, etc.). Great service and nice patio, too. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Maureen W.
We had lunch at Coco Pazzo today and it was delightful. It was very busy but we had excellent service: the drinks were refilled any time they were even halfway empty and our food came out quickly. I had the white bean soup and a Caesar salad, both of which were very good. The salad had white anchovies that were so delicious! My partner had a turkey panini and with fries instead of the homemade chips. She really liked both. I tried the fries and they were so good. They had cheese and salt and there were some veggies spears mixed in. We both had ice tea and liked that quite a bit too. I was impressed that we both had such good food for 10-13 dollars each and the tea was only 2 dollars. The only drawback was that it was sometimes very loud outside but hey, that's to be expected.
(4)
Megan W.
If you are looking for a quiet intimate dinner then this place is not for you. I felt like the whole restaurant was a bit claustrophobic. The tables were packed a bit too close together and the whole restaurant was a bit too small. However, the food was excellent. My boyfriend had trouble deciding what to order so he asked our waiter what he would suggest. Our waiter's suggestion turned out to be spot on as my boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his meal. I had a taste and it was excellent. I had the risotto of the day and it too was excellent. It was incredibly creamy and rich. For dessert we had the tiramisu and it was tasty. Overall it was a very good evening.
(4)
Christel D.
I used to walk by this place. Finally decided to give it a try. Not a fan of the big yellow awning, but the food and service were good. Not stellar, but not pricey. Plan on trying again.
(3)
Angela B.
I've been here a few times for business lunches and it's a great spot. The service is the only downside - it's not bad, but it's not very memorable either. But the food is amazing, I have been happy with every dish and desert I've tried. I especially recommend the lasagna, which is my favorite in the entire city, and the chicken milanese. So, so good. Really good portion size too - you'll leave feeling full but not like you need to take a nap for the rest of the afternoon.
(4)
Yelp L.
I have been here a few times and today's visit sealed the deal. The food quality is good, however, the service on numerous occasions has not been. I just screened the rest of the reviews to see if anybody else had observed the same and it seems the answer is yes. The problem is professionalism. If they are in a rush you get good service because they are trying to scoot you out the door. If you are in a rush, they couldn't care less and it could take forever to get your food. Furthermore they interrupt your party with very stupid things like, "Oh, by the way, we're going to charge you extra for that request." Again food is good, service is highly variable, and restaurant is overall unprofessionally run and you can't make up for that with good food. The owner doesn't care--he never called me back. If I were an owner, I'd at least want to hear about what happened.
(2)
Megan S.
I went to Coco Pazzo with a group of 9 people. It was OK for groups but not great. We were put next to another group of 11. It was so loud with the two groups right by each other, we had to scream at one another. The place is small but very cute. You actually don't feel like you are downtown Chicago. The majority of the group loved their meals. I had a hard time picking something from the menu because I had reviewed the menu on line and it was different. I was looking forward to seafood and they had changes the menu. What Italian place doesn't have a pasta dish with seafood? Overall it was a good experience. I would give it another try.
(3)
Clare K.
i have been here for both lunch and dinner and both times i have received solid service-no matter how crowded it is. i was just there for dinner on friday night and the pasta special was AMAZING-fettuccine, pine nuts, basil, olive oil, etc. the spaghetti with hot peppers was also quite tasty and a happy little departure from a regular tomato/marinara sauce. do yourself a huge favor and make a dinner reservation. while we were at the bar (we had a reservation and did not have to wait-we were just frightfully early!), we heard the hostess tell some people that at 7:15 that they would be able to seat them at about 9:20. yikes. it's so easy people. go to opentable.com and save yourself some time and trouble.
(4)
Elizabeth C.
After hearing only good things about this restaurant, we decided to give it a shot for our girls night, to my surprise, I was very disappointed. For starters, I left the bar to let the hostess know there would be 3 of us dining and she decided to go ahead and seat me before the rest of my party was ready. Then, a couple came in, who had a reservation, and the host tried to seat them at exact table in which she had sat me, 45 seconds before. Once we were settled, our waiter rushed through specials and asked if we were ready to order, before taking our drink order. Right off the bat, I felt rushed. The food was mediocre, 2 different people waited on our table. Perhaps this is a better place for lunch, but I am in no rush to return for dinner.
(2)
Da J.
It was okay. The waitress recommended the risotto special, but it wasn't worth it. I should have gone with the regular menu.
(3)
M. C.
I've only been here for lunch, but it has always been sooo delicious, and lunch is reasonably priced too. Nothing's nicer than sitting outdoors over a leisurely lunch here in the spring. I highly recommend any of their pasta--it's all so fresh, although it can be overly filling.
(5)
Allison B.
Amazing...the italian food is pure and simple melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I loved the outdoor setting, the great service, and the lovely food. I had artichoke ravioli with some pinot and a brushetta for starters. Lovely dinner date spot.
(5)
J V.
A nice little gem off the fast track of Michigan Ave. Good qaulity italian food in a nice setting. Outside seating is great too.
(3)
Eric L.
Ive been here for lunch and dinner. Both times were ok. The environment is nice and the wait staff was good. My pasta was a bit oily. The chicken was prepared well but nothing memorable. I have heard Coco Pazzo is better, which i've yet to try.
(3)
J W.
Love it. Two friends and I went for the 1st time last Saturday. We sat outside for lunch. Appetizers were great - we ordered 3 to share and pasta was good. Our waiter was very nice and recommended a good bottle of wine (and among the cheapest)!
(5)
M S.
One of my favorite restaurants in the Streeterville area. It can be a bit pricey if you get appetizers and drinks, but the quality of the food is impeccable. They may have the best pasta dishes (for a price) in the area. For those on a budget (or diet), they also serve half-plates of entrees. The starter bread is also quite nice. Desserts probably are a miss (I've had a few, they are pretty generic).
(5)
bhavna p.
this place is amazing! the vegetable appetizer plate, fresh breads with olive oil, vinegar, parmesan cheese (yum yum), the spaghetti with spicy marinara sauce with onions...so good!! I love it love it love it! the service is pretty good as well. go if you are in town! make reservations in advance, they book up fairly quick.
(5)
Geoff M.
On a warm summer evening you can't go wrong here - sitting outdoors on the patio or inside with the giant windows pulled up - it's a great way to end the day. On a rainy day, the food is equally as delicious. it's tough to choose what to eat, and the food is fairly priced. I had the garganelle with prosciutto and peas the other day and I am still dreaming about it. Even better, it only set me back $13.50!
(4)
Kelli M.
Atmosphere is pretty good, the outdoor seating ni the summer is great. Food is decent, I'd recommend the veal.
(3)
Nicola C.
I love this place, it is the smaller more quaint version of Coco Pazzo and they don't have quite as much on their menu. It is still awesome though, and is great to sit outside of in the summer. Definitely go there if you are out on Michigan Avenue shopping.
(4)
Cristin M.
Cute little place, and if you go in the spring/summer/early fall you can dine outside. The first time I dined here, I had the chicken paillard. I'm not a huge fan of the chicken, but it was decent. They serve it with a nice side of greens with grapes and gorgonzola. I finished my meal with a beautiful panna cotta that was the high point of the meal. Today, I decided to try something new and went with the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms in a porcini/butter/garlic "broth". The pasta was wonderfully cooked, but as far as I could tell, the only mushrooms that I saw in my bowl were button mushrooms. The sauce was very light, but could have used a little more garlic or a few more fresh herbs. All in all, it was good, but could have used a little bit of a kick to make my tastebuds say "wow!". The portions are a good size, not too much, not too little. I definitely did not leave hungry. Good service too.
(3)
Julia B.
Fairly small place, yet it is comfortable and cute. If it's nice then sit outside on their beautiful patio. The food was pretty good-I had a dish that had pasta with chicken and a spicey sauce which was pretty good. The portions are normal and the prices aren't too bad. It's not the best Italian I have had but it is decent.
(3)
Gfiddy F.
Great sidewalk cafe for a glass of wine on a summery day.
(5)
Jennifer H.
I had heard from everyone who had ever been that Coco Pazzo was the best Italian restaurant in the city. I know that I went to the casual cafe version, but I am assuming the food quality is the same, correct? If so, I was fairly disappointed. The food was good, and I wouldn't discourage you from going. Unfortunately for the restaurant, it had been built up so much that there was no where to go but down. It's in a fantastic location. Streeterville is SUCH a cute neighborhood. I imagine when it's warm outside, there would be nothing better than sitting at a sidewalk table. The interior is very cute, too. When we were sat, we walked past some sort of appetizer buffet in the middle. Others in the restaurant were walking up and taking plates, but our server never addressed it so I don't know what it was. We ordered four of the bruschetta options and they were excellent. I could go back just for those. I had the gnocchi for my main course, and it was not the best I've ever eaten; it wasn't bad, at all, though. No one at the table raved about their main courses, but no one complained, either. I would come back and bring guests. The location is great, the atmosphere is cute, and the food is just fine.
(3)
Comensal A.
It's been a very long time since I've dined at Coco Pazzo Cafe, and they still seem to be a reliable choice. We had an early pre-theater dinner on a balmy Friday, so the doors were open and a gentle breeze washed over our table. My tagliolini neri was very good, brimming with fresh, succulent rock shrimp. My companion enjoyed her linguini with clams. A side of rapini was nicely done. Service was attentive. Wine list was OK, but not much below $40/bottle. It was pleasant dinner on a lovely evening...
(3)
Carla F.
We made a last minute decision to come here for lunch yesterday before visiting a family member at Northwestern. It was a holiday weekend and we were pleased to find out that there wasn't a wait. It was unpleasantly hot outside so we chose to sit indoors, also, given it's close proximity to the hospital, we didn't want to listen to ambulance sirens while we dined. Surprisingly, they chose not to have their a/c on during a 90 degree day. I know it can get expensive to run, but it made things a little uncomfortable! None of us wanted too heavy of a lunch, so we decided on ordering a few appetizers. We had the Sette Vegetale (seven different kinds of chopped veggies w/ shaved parmesan), Caprese and mussels. We also ordered a salmon panini which consisted of smoked salmon, red onion, caper mayonnaise, tomato and arugula. Everything was excellent. It was the perfect light lunch and we all left feeling satisfied. I would like to come back to Coco Pazzo again and try out their dinner menu.
(4)
Norris A.
Our party of four ate here last week after attending an HD Broadcast at the nearby AMC movie palace. When I found out we were eating here I checked the reviews on Yelp and wasn't 100% excited. When the time came though I was 100% hungry and went with the flow. I was going in prepared to write a review and had all my Yelp review materials with me- meat thermometer, stop watch, calipers to measure meat thickness, a complete set of Mario Batali cookbooks, an Italian phrase book, a camera and tripod and some extra lights- the usual Yelper tackle. We were the last people to arrive (at 9.30) and consequently the last to leave. We were greeted promptly and shown to a small table in the centre of the room by a table which the staff used to slice bread and grate huge chunks of parmesan. It was like being in Mamma's kitchen. The room was about 65% occupied. The waiter, Edgar was not Italian ( I checked his ID) but was at the table in a flash to take our drinks orders and tell us about the specials. I had already checked out the menu on line and knew what I wanted but others deliberated. Glasses of tap water arrived, as did bread-some crusty fresh white and some going-stale Foccacia. Oil was offered for dipping but I asked and received freshly grated parmesan and that really helped. Having not seen our dining partners for some months and having much to talk about I forgot to focus on reviewing and instead got caught up in the banter, aided by the warm cosy surroundings in a very pretty room, adorned with great art around the ceiling, and by a resfreshing glass of Pinot Grigio. Service was prompt, maybe influenced by the fact that we were going to determine how early the staff got to leave or maybe that's just how they roll here. Edgar was on top of his game. I had a beef carpaccio, which although not up to the air-dried version I had a Prosecco recently, was wolfed down in a blur of knife and fork. It augered well for the rest of the meal. A bowl of calamari to my left brought approbation and some plate-licking. A salad was enjoyed and some taken home in a doggy bag. A salad, featuring that most noble ingedient, the freshly chopped beet elicited poetry from it's consumer. Most of my review equipment remained in it's flightcase at my feet as I was too busy enjoying the company and the grub. When I see some kind of seared bovine flesh on a menu I tend to home in on it. Not an adventurous choice in an Italian or French restaurant but I like what I like so I ordered the Bistecca or steak and chips as we would call it back in the UK. Medium rare, thinly sliced rib-eye steak with a good helping of crispy parmesan fries. Edgar suggested a nice glass of smooth red wine which harmonised with this simple dish which disappeared rapidly. Also at the table was a monkfish sharing a plate with mushrooms and leeks. The diner gave it two thumbs up. His wife made short work of a large bowl of spaghetti with mussels and left only the shells behind as evidence for future archaelogists to ponder over. A star though was a fall off the bone, melt in your mouth, savory lamb shank to my right. I got to taste this and would order it next time. The restaurant began to empty out after 45 minutes but we were entering the dessert phase of the operation. I had ogled the panna cotta on the menu but when push came to shove thought it best to round off the evening with my favorite dessert- Sambuca Romana and a double espresso. Oh Joy!! Others shared desserts- I think gelato and biscotti with their coffees. I was in Sambuca heaven, a place I hope to retire to someday, and no longer really paying attention. It was time to pay the bill and leave and we were thanked by all the staff who were waiting to close-up and go home. I look forward to returning, hopefully when it is warmer and I can try out the sidewalk dining. Coco Pazzo Cafe was better than I had imagined, given the reviews on Yelp. No complaints from me. Nothing was particularly outstanding or "amazing" but the food and service were worth the price paid and the plates were licked clean so that has to mean something postiive. Worth a try!
(4)
Michelle K C.
Thanks to a mother born in the Abruzzo region, I'm pretty picky about my Italian restaurants. My friend and I chose Coco Pazzo Cafe as our pre-marathon meal and had a perfect carbo-load. Calamari appetizer was lightly fried with a tasty marinara, and the mains of gnocchi and squash ravioli were presented with sauces of true Northern Italian style: flavorful without being chunky and blood-red. Service was quick and friendly, and atmosphere was pleasant, save for the loud Chicagoans at the table beside us...but hey, it is the Windy City afterall. I highly recommend Coco Pazzo to anyone looking for a tasty Italian meal, whether its date night or stopping in after a football game.
(5)
Tu'ens N.
I'm gonna start with the good food, but my experience overall was pretty mixed: The pasta is really good. I had the homemade pasta with rabbit which was really well done. I also had the sette vegetali salad which was good and healthy - just chopped up veggies - which I probably could have made at home for less than $8 but it was not crazy. I think the food is decently priced given the quality. They have some good wines too. BUT I had a reservation with a request for outdoor seating, and I saw the reservations sheet which indeed said "OUT" next to my name. But then they said outdoor is first come first served, so even though we had a res, we were waiting behind walk-ups who put their name ahead of us. I thought that was kind of a stupid policy. Anyways, I asked for an indoor table near the big open windows so we were kind of outside without waiting. Then we had the weird problem of all of our servers (three) really not speaking Engish very well, which I honestly am ashamed to complain about but it really was a bit of a problem. The first guy asked us what kind of water we wanted and we said sparkling and he brought us tap, then the guy who tries to explain the specials was so impossible to understand - both his English and Italian - that I gave up trying to understand him before he finished (and I speak five languages so I don't think its my fault). The guy who brought out the food... god knows what he said. I saw other tables looking bewildered when he talked to them. I know, I know, I should just speak Spanish... but its an Italian restaurant and if they aren't going to make any sense in English maybe at least trying in Italian would have been better. I also noticed another reviewer saying Streeterville is a nice neighborhood, but I personally really don't agree. Its dominated by a hospital and a few mid-range hotels, and its really not a very interesting place to walk around.
(2)
Samuel C.
I love this place. I eat here all the time. The best fish in town! The food is authentic, the service is top notch. It's open all afternoon with one of the sunniest patios in Chicago. A+
(5)
Kelly M.
This place is delicious! Every time I go.. I always get the same thing. The gnocchi with vodka sauce... you actually have to ask for this specific sauce with the gnocchi, but you definitely won't be disappointed. Every time I go to that part of the city to visit my parents, I always try to stop by there! :) Enjoy!
(4)
A S.
I love the atmosphere, especially the outdoor seating. Very breezy and soothing. The food, of course, is delicious. The portion is perfect. I would definitely come back.
(5)
Meg O.
After my pre-op appointment at the Northwestern University Nasal and Sinus Center, my mom and I walked down St. Clair to Coco Pazzo Cafe for lunch. I have previously eaten at the Coco Pazzo over on 300 West Hubbard Street and had a great experience, so I was pretty confident that lunch was going to be good. Our experience started out great, with immediate attention to menus, water, coffee, and delicious rosemary foccacia with olive oil. There are many tempting possibilities on the lunch menu: my mom and I pondered over the paninins ($9 each), handmade tortellini with brown butter and sage (one of my all-time faves), the Nicoise-like salad, the Italian frittata, and many other options. We were impressed by the availability of vegetarian options. My mom finally decided on the polenta with grilled vegetables, and I chose the soup of the day and the seven veggie chopped salad. My soup arrived promptly, but on the not-so-hot side. The potato-based soup had plenty of spinach and mushrooms, and was quite tasty, but a bit too salty for my liking. I lingered over the soup perhaps a bit too much, because then our entrees arrived and they had to be taken back. But 3 minutes later I was finished and our main courses were served. My mom's polenta was amazing! It was not circles or squares, but moons, with the texture of a good pudding: smooth and pliant on the outside with appropriate grill marks, and thick and creamy on the inside. Incredible. She had a lovely assortment of grilled vegetables as well, marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette. I agree with Amy S.--the seven veggie chopped salad is wonderful. Crunchy, fresh, colorful, and seasoned just enough so you can appreciate all the veggie flavors. It had a large, thin sheet of parmesgan over the top too. Dessert menus were brought out soon after the entrees were cleared, and here's where our troubles began: it took 15 minutes to bring out 4 pieces of biscotti to enjoy with our last cup of coffee. It took so long that my mom and I had to each drink ANOTHER cup of coffee so that we had something into which we could dip our biscotti. Overall, I really enjoyed our lunch. It was fresh, well-seasoned, and interesting. And the coffee is delicious! There's just a timing issue that needs to be fixed.
(4)
Veliero M.
We already ate it here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. Both times the restaurant was full. The food is very good, we had the polpo with mini tomotoes and potatoes, the pasta with mushrooms and the pasta with rabbit ragu'. All so very good. Very friendly atmosphere and cozy!
(4)
Jordan T.
Had lunch there today. The food was fantastic and they had us in and out in 45 minutes which is great for someone on their work break. I will definitely go back again and will recommend to friends/co-works. I would recommend the trout. The dish I had was grilled and served with new potatoes and green beans with a pesto sauce. Great portion size for the cost as well. I would normally say if you're in the area to check this place out, but even if you're not in the area it's worth traveling to. It's Cocco Pazzo quality with "cafe" prices.
(4)
Ralph E.
Very nice place. Friendly people, good food and wine. Love the outdoor seating area (except in January :-). I like this location better than it's big brother. More reasonably priced and less pretentious. I have been here many times, and never disappointed. Highly recommended.
(4)
E S.
I wavered b/t 3 and 4 stars, but since they carry Moretti beer, I went with 4. :) My boyfriend and I came here for dinner the other night. We chose the place due to its proximity to the movie theater where we were headed after dinner. I thought the food was very good. The bread came fast, the bus boy was attentive with water refills. We had the carpaccio for an appetizer and it was excellent. Great flavor, fresh lemon and herbs. My bf had the spaghetti with clams, which again had excellent flavor and came out nice and hot. I had the salmon - nothing to rave about, but I enjoyed it and the veggies and sauce had a nice tart, refreshing taste to them. The only thing that was frustrating was the waiter did not tell us the night's special, which we later learned to be scallops and risotto which I definitely would have gotten had I known that was the night's special. Waiter fail, but overall good food and we will return.
(4)
Bella B.
Need Reservations because this place is popular and busy! Came here in early April when it was still chilly so no outdoor dining but inside it was warm and cozy. Linguine with Clams was good but the Rigatoni with Sausage was amazing! Heard the lasagna was great as well. Service was attentive and fast. Tables a bit tight and I wish it was a bit quieter but the energy was good. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portions
(4)
Hrayr A.
The atmosphere is nice, service is excellent and the risotto is very well made. The frittata and the salmon sandwich are also among the highlights of their lunch menu.
(4)
Koizumi Y.
We were seated quickly and the service was attentive without being intrusive. Drinks arrived promptly. One client ordered risotto and ate it, but mentioned the texture wasn't quite what it should have been. Another ordered a frittata and loved it. Still another practically inhaled his four-cheese panini. My butternut squash ravioli with butter sauce seemed a bit too heavy on the sage, which dominated the flavours of the pasta. I would have preferred a light toss in its essence but it was still rather good. An orange sorbet really hit the spot and calmed my gurgling stomach - or perhaps it was my mind anticipating a butter revolt - whilst a few brave souls indulged in grappa for their finishing touch. My prior overall experiences here have been pleasant. Still, the recent one didn't send me anywhere special.
(3)
Kris W.
Food was good...lots of clever and creative choices on the menu. Service was cursory and for the price, not attentive enough - people around us were complaining of screwed up orders and not getting resolution. I'd eat here again, but not with anyone I wanted to impress - expected a lot more friendly/interested staff at a place like this. Lots of 50ish business types here on the night I was in.
(3)
Diana C.
I have to admit I was surprised. The food was better than I had expected, and I went home very very full. Some of the previous reviewers said that the portions were small, but I thought the portions were heaping, and some enough for two. I ordered a Caesar salad because I like to try Caesar salads at different restaurants to see which one makes the best dressing. This one was good, with enough salt and acid to give it bite, but not so much that my tongue was tingling. The waiter asked if I wanted the anchovies on it and I said, "yes." I ended up not eating them--I have not acquired the taste for whole anchovies yet. The salad was pretty big, with the lettuce chopped to 1/2 inch strips (I can't stand it when the lettuce is too big to put in your mouth gracefully and you aren't given a separate knife to eat your salad with). Best of all, the salad was served with a large parmesan crisp on top. Yum. For my main course, I ordered the Rigatoni Buterra, which was popular among some of the other reviewers. It was not the best pasta I've ever had, but I was not disappointed. The pasta was a little harder than al-dente, but I prefer that to overcooked. The creamy tomato sauce was the best part. It would have been great slathered on some good bread, but it went well with the pasta, sausage and the green peas. I liked that there were a lot of green peas, because I never get enough vegetables eating out, and this was almost a whole serving of vegetable. Back to portion size--I stuffed myself silly with the pasta, and I think I left a third of the pasta on the plate still. They must have read the reviews and decided to increase portion sizes. The plate was heaping. Desserts were decent. We shared pear sorbet, raspberry sorbet, and the Tartufo. I think we all agreed the Tartufo was the best. I especially liked the crunch of the almonds tucked inside the gelato and the chocolate shell covering the gelato. The sorbets were refreshing, but too sweet for my taste. They also melted too quickly. I prefer when restaurants freeze individual scoops before serving, so the mounds stay intact when you eat them. I had a great time, with good company. People were more dressed up than I had expected, so I'm glad I wore a casual dress. Jeans are perfectly reasonable for this place, but I wouldn't go in shorts and flip flops.
(4)
Geoff A.
Great place!! Awesome service, awesome food. couldn't of asked for better!
(5)
David W.
The wife and I have vowed to stay away from Michigan Ave and all the restaurant establishments around it. Especially after our last experience at Coco Pazzo Cafe. There is nothing wrong with the restaurant or the area. But Chicago is a huge place with great restaurants everywhere, so fighting the tourist crowd to have mediocore Itialian and then to pay Mag Mile prices....... I can cook Itialian at home. So like Chinese food, when I go out for Italian, it has to be really really good. And Coco Pazzo Cafe, though freshly made pastas, are always missing it. Either too salty, not enough flavor, too much sauce, not enough sauce, pasta sticking, or absent service......... never a consistant product.
(2)
A. D.
food is descent, portions good. i knocked off 2 stars for the following reasons-- let me first state that i have ben to coco pazzo numerous times as i often travel to chicago and stay in that part of town. i was very disappointed that despite my frequent patronage, they decided to charge a split fee because my friend, one of 3 at the table, felt unwell and only wanted a bit of my pasta. we ordered appetizers and sides-- still they felt the need to add this charge-- too bad. the sides alone more than added up to an entree in terms of cost. bad business, in my opinion. when i questioned the waiter, he mumbled a response-- it was inaudible and the charge stuck. i took the charge out of his tip and notated it on the bill. also, the servers are less than pleasant. again, i go there often, in upwards of 20 times, i guess-- and bring along small and large groups. i would expect a little friendliness from the too cool gents that serve your food. i doubt i will go again-- unless brought by others. i'd rather go to "osteria via stato" ( osteriaviastato.com ) a few blocks away when i crave italian.
(3)
Todd W.
Dessert only rating - great desert. Very nice wine selection, great location. loved the outside seating
(4)
Rachel M.
Everything about Coco Pazzo Cafe was pretty meh. We had a reservation originally for 5 people at 7pm on a Wednesday. When we got to the restaurant, the hostess outside went to check on our table and then sent us inside to be seated. Inside a different hostess just stared at us for a minute as we tried to figure out where to go. At the beginning of the meal when our server found out that one of our 5 people was unable to make it, he seemed to take it as a personal insult and was kind of rude and absent the rest of the night. He didn't bother to tell us that they were out of half of the appetizers until we tried ordering them, interrupted us in the middle of ordering drinks to tell us about their specials and we had to ask several times for someone to send send him over. I'm not even sure he came back to see how our meal was. The food was ok. The Tagliolini Neri was pretty incredible, but the Tagliatelle with rabbit ragu was really bland and poletto wasn't anything to write home about. They have a really lovely outdoor area, though, which is probably the only really memorable thing about this dining experience.
(3)
Peter H.
Service left something to be desired as our waiter clearly knew nothing about any wines and didn't offer any additional info on the food. To our surprise, the food was much better than the service. I highly recommend the antipasto app and the pappardelle with rabbit ragu.
(4)
Jennifer Y.
Love this place. I use to work here as a hostess and let me tell you about the weight I gained. Wheeeeeeeeeew. The only thing I don't like about it is the mean woman who use to work as a manager here. But hey, everyone's fighting a harder battle, right? Right. Anyway, the paninis are delicious as are most of the fish dishes. God, Italians can cook some fish. Oh, and the squid ink pasta was my absolute favorite. I got it every chance I had. Oh, and the prosciutto with melon balls. Yummmmmmmm. Summer time is nice because there's outdoor seating, but it smells out there sometimes so make sure you check it out first. Coco Pazzo is obviously more upscale than this sister cafe but I think she holds her own. Jennifer Aniston thinks so too. She's been here on several occasions.
(4)
Kim C.
I live in the neighborhood so I pass by the Coco Pazzo Cafe very frequently, and I am always amazed by the number of people sitting outside, eating and drinking happily. My roommate and I finally decided to grab a late lunch there on a Sunday afternoon, but had an overall pretty underwhelming experience. A friend had told me that the rigatoni was the "best rigatoni he's ever had", so I had to give that a shot. And, well, it's rigatoni. It's good, maybe great, but did not knock my socks off. My roommate ordered the Italian omlette, and it came DRENCHED in salt! It was so salty it was literally un-eatable. My roommate's lips became chapped and she was parched after 3 bites. She also claims to have eaten some egg shells. Luckily, our server was very nice about getting her a new dish, which came back moderately salted but still, just an omlette (that I could have probably made at home..) I think I saw Coco Pazzo listed in Zagat's 200 Best Italian Restaurants or something, and I must say I'd have to disagree!
(3)
Misse D.
I've heard of the infamous al fresco dining at Coco Pazzo...but I came in the wrong season to actually experience it. I dined here with my fiance and his family. It was a great meal. We enjoyed a nice bottle of wine. I cleaned my plate when eating the pear and spinach salad-- the pears were cooked-- perhaps poached? I highly recommend. A meal with out of towners is usually a long meal with all of the chatting. We weren't rushed at all and was quite pleased with the service.
(4)
Tony S.
We booked our table for 6:45pm on a Saturday night and arrived about 6:55. Friendly welcome and seated immediately. The restaurant was packed solid so this place is clearly very popular. The waiting staff were relatively attentive, Miguel was friendly and took our order when we were ready and gave us more time as we were talking amongst ourselves. Water was served immediately. I ordered the spinaco salad to start which was basic but pretty tasty. Spinach, goats cheese, pine kernals and something else which I have forgotton, nice n tasty and light as a starter should be. The others in my party had Mozerrella and Tomatoe salad that they were happy with. My main course was a steak and fries affair, Steak was properly cooked and tasty and I enjoyed the fries too. Others had Lasagne which looked nice if a bit generic. The Lasagne came with nothing else at all that I recall so you may want to add a green salad to spruce it up. Deserts were nice enough, the Panacotta wasn't very good so I was told but my chocolate and almond tart was pretty good. I would recommend this place especially as I lost my wallet and they left a message on our answer phone to say they had found it. So excellent service there. No complaints at all.
(4)
D N.
Loved this little place! Walked from the Affinia Hotel and enjoyed a nice glass of house Chardonnay - bartender was very attentive. seated right at our rezzie time and service was great, without being overbearing. Food was terrific! Carpaccio was amazing. Our waiter informed us that half orders of pasta were available, so we tried a rich seafood risotto and lasagna. Both were big portions and outstanding. The shoulder steak we split was a little dry and not as flavorful as some I have had, so one star down. We will certainly return the next time we stay in this part of downtown. A nice cozy little spot in busy downtown Chicago.
(4)
Amy S.
I work right around the corner from this place, so when people want to meet for lunch on a nice day, I always suggest this place. It's just enough off the beaten path where you don't have to wait long for a table (sometimes the tables outside are full, but that's what you get on a nice day). I do feel that the food is pricey for a lunch place, but you are downtown Chicago, so you have to expect that. I will normally just order out the seven chopped veggie salad and it is WONDERFUL. It's so fresh and so tasty. However, in the winter it is $1 cheaper than it is in the summer....they are pretty tricky that way. I like the pastas, but I normally will get the half portion because the full is almost too much. There menu is seasonal and one time I got the gnocchi and it was in a marsala sauce with mushrooms and it was so good, but I haven't seen it on the menu since. If you are out shopping on Michigan Avenue and you need a place to refuel and you are not in the mood for McDonald's or tourists, this is the place to go.
(4)
Brian C.
Marco must be the hardest working man in the restaurant biz. As the host of the cafe he sat my wife and I, assisted with our order and quickly made an entree exchange when I thought my risotto was too onion forward (note: I am very sensitive when it comes to onion). The food here never disappoints and I love the variety of bruschetta.
(4)
Sophie E.
I live about 4 blocks from this restaurant, so I have had the opportunity to eat here often. I love the pastas, which are made fresh. The menu is seasonal and changes from year to year. They once made a fetticcine with lamb ragout which I am dying to have again. I also have enjoyed their lasagna, which is very light yet highly flavorful. The spinach ravioli is also quite good; I especially like the butter sage sauce. Their house chianti is velvety and wonderful. The portions are small by Italian restaurant standards (think Maggiano's), but perhaps that's a good thing as it prevents people from over-eating. We have always experienced friendly, attentive service. We typically are walk-ins, but since we eat fairly early we have never had a problem getting a table. I also like the ambiance of the restaurant. It is decorated like a rustic italian cafe. In pleasant weather, they remove the doors such that the restaurant opens up to the covered patio. It has a casual, but elegant appeal, with white linens and candles.
(4)
Isa B.
You can never go wrong in here, there is always something to suit your dietary needs. They can make it happen and the food is premium. This, as well as the higher-end sister restaurant, Coco Pazzo are musts in Chicago.
(4)
Mike P.
Enjoyed the sidewalk dining on my first night in Chicago. Reasonable prices and decent food. Adequate service. Some interesting items on the menu like octopus with peperonata. Nice wines too.
(3)
Mel L.
Went here on a weekday evening at 6pm. Service was really good - waiter was knowledgeable, friendly, and prompt. Food was delicious - 3 of us girls split 2 dishes which was just the perfect portion. We got gnocchi which I would definitely recommend and the sausage rigattoni which was just okay. You get bread & oil to start so we didn't think appetizers were ncessary. I enjoyed the decor, service, and food...just no extra special experience to give it my 5th star. I would go back though!
(4)
John C.
Wow the Cafe is getting beat down from the reviews I just read about this place. Thank goodness I didn't read them before I went! I had the in laws in town who were visiting the newborn girls...and I made a call to my own personal Zagat. He told me to try it since it was right next to the hospital. So on my first experience, I had to give my mother-in-law my meal since she order the special soft shell crab entree. She didn't realize that a soft shell crab was a whole crab! So, she ate the duck I ordered and I ate the crab. Both were very tasty. My father-in-law had the braised rabbit, and he thought it was delicious. So anyway, I really wanted to order the bistecca, which they were out of. On my second visit I got the bistecca, which wasn't that great. But my wife ordered the RIGATONI "BUTTERA". I thought this was one of the better pasta dishes that I've had. It's amazing how a crappy server or some person can ruin your dining experience.
(4)
Emily F.
I've never been to the other Coco Pazzo's, but no need to, as this one is just fine by me. Food is great, portions are fair, prices are reasonable for a white-tablecloth Streeterville italian restaurant, reservations aren't necessary for mid-week dining, service is quick and friendly- my water glass was never less than half full. Has all the makings for a great date spot- but was also enjoyable for a spur of the moment dinner with my Aunt.
(4)
Jennifer B.
This restaurant has, hands down, the best spaghetti in the city. I know that is a bold claim, however the spaghetti marinara here is a spicy marinara and it is quite incredible. The atmosphere is busy, and a bit loud, and also usually crowded. This all adds to the aura of the restaurant...and if you are a fan of true Italian you must try this place! Next time you are on Michigan Ave, skip the cheesecake factory and veer off one block towards the lake and try Coco Pazzo cafe,....you won't be disappointed!
(4)
A. R.
I'm giving this place three stars because the wait staff was excellent--friendly and attentive without being overbearing--but the food was average, not extraordinary or worth going back for. However I would highly recommend the panna cotta--that was excellent. I might go back simply for that.
(3)
Morgan H.
This restaurant would have gotten five stars, were it not for the crappy hostess. The food is fantastic and the price is right. We shared an order of Tuscan Fries with the table, which was perfect - not too much to be overkill but everyone got a good amount. I had the grilled vegetables with polenta, and it was perhaps the best polenta I've ever had. The veggie assortment was great too - squash, eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, tomato...a great, well-balanced variety. But, alas, the service...our group (nine of us) made a reservation for lunch outside, and I was told that while they couldn't guarantee outdoor seating, they would try. When we arrived, the hostess looked at me like I had three heads and came up with several excuses as to why they could never seat a group of nine outside, ranging from "there aren't enough tables" (there were four open tables in a cluster) to "we can't fit more than three plates on a table" (uh, why are your plates so big??). The aforementioned four tables in a cluster were all empty...but she had seated a party of three right smack in the middle of them at a fifth table, thus requiring us to split up our group. I sneaked a peek at the reservations list and sure enough, there was my name, and right next to it a note saying "Seat OUTSIDE". Nice.
(3)
Chicago S.
I agree with the other reviewers who were underwhelmed with this restaurant. My husband and I were on North Michigan for the Lights Festival and got hungry. The restaurant looked charming, there was no wait, and the dress code was casual so we decided to get dinner. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, although the tables are a bit small and close together. We were seated along one of the walls and didn't have much room to maneuver -- my husband's chair kept accidentally bumping the woman seated at the table next to us. But I figured it would be worth it if the food was good. Our salads arrived promptly but were mediocre. My husband got the ceasar salad ($8); the lettuce was limp and chopped into the smallest pieces I have ever seen. But the real problem was the dressing -- no flavor. The dressing and tomatoes in my Mista salad (mixed greens with cherry tomatoes and a whipped vinegrette, $7) also lacked flavor. The entrees were more solid, although we had to wait quite some time for them. My husband ordered the Rigatoni Buttera (sausage, peas, and parmesan in a tomato and cream sauce, $16). It was a generous portion and quite tasty; we both enjoyed it. I am not sure it was worth $16 because it did seem like something you could make at home, but I suppose you are paying for being in a touristy neighborhood. I ordered the Maiale entree (grilled pork chop in a mustard sauce with rapini on the side, $21). The pork chop was a little dry; the sauce had a lot of flavor but was extremely salty. The rapini was good, with small pieces of garlic. Overall, we thought the restaurant was okay but overpriced due to the neighborhood and not worth a return trip. The service was inconsistent -- one of the busboys was extremely attentive, but our waiter seemed like he couldn't care less. Three stars, mostly for the warm atmosphere and the pasta dish.
(3)
James K.
Coco Pazzo Cafe has consistently good appetizers, pastas, and desserts with hit or miss service in a warm atmosphere. Operating out of the side of the Red Roof Inn, this cafe has been a staple in a Streeterville neighborhood bereft of much choice when it comes to dining options. The patio seating is delightful in the summer. Coco Pazzo Cafe has really nice, homemade pastas that are uniformly well-executed. The Lasagna with Bechamel, Gnocchi Parmigiana, Stracchi con Funghi, and Rigatoni alla Buttera are all winners. The pannacotta and gelato (especially cinnamon) are consistently rich and refreshing. The wines by the glass are pretty decent as well. Service is generally good at the maitre'd level, but tends to oscillate from being too pushy in terms of overselling wine and add-ons to inattentive depending on the server.
(4)
Jennifer S.
I visited Coco Pazzo Cafe for a business lunch with four other women. When we arrived at 11:30, the restaurant was nearly empty, but it filled up quickly and got noisier as we dined. Maybe it was because we were a chatty group, but I didn't feel like we were getting enough attention from the wait staff. We were still holding our menus when our appetizers came! Luckily, we were sitting near a spot where the menus are stored and were able to return them ourselves. Although this probably sounds snobby, I promise that I'm not a snob at heart! One of my biggest pet peeves is when a nice restaurant will remove the knife that you used with your appetizer from your plate and place it on the table so that you can use it with your meal. This definitely happened at Coco Pazzo and cost them points in my book. Anyway, on to the food! To start our meal, we shared a selection of bruschetta, mixed vegetables and grains, as well as carpaccio. They were each yummy. For lunch, we all tried something different. I am a sucker for gnocchi (even though I can never quite pronounce it correctly!), so when I saw it on the menu, I couldn't resist. The little potato dumplings were perfectly cooked and were served in a veal ragu and sage sauce. The sage was a little overpowering for my taste, but then again, I am more sensitive to those kinds of spices than your average gal. Everyone else seemed to like their own selections, and the portion sizes were perfect for lunch. I got to try a bite of the meat lasagna with a bechamel sauce, which was quite good. I would definitely order that myself on a return visit. Overall, Coco Pazzo Cafe was good, but it didn't rock-my-world.
(3)
Andy P.
If you are in Chicago, and you in the mood for great food come here. The steak and the pasta's are the best. The location is great. The service is okay. It is great place to be with Friends or family. I would give it a A+. So get of the coach and get some pasta!
(4)
Camille O.
In my days of wine and roses I spent many an evening here at Coco Pazzo's so I can vouch for the delicious food, street-side dining, pleasant staff, and reasonable wine list. Some of my favorite dishes are the fried calamari as an appetizer ($8.50), the baby spinach and endive salad, although I would suggest toasting the walnuts sprinkled on top ($7.00), and the half-orders of pasta ($8.50) which are ample enough so there's still room for some of the desserts such as zabaglione with fresh berries. Other entrees I've enjoyed are the veal scaloppini ($19.00) and pan roasted salmon ($17.50). You won't leave hungry and the atmosphere is a comfortable toned-down trendy.
(3)
Steve F.
Great place for lunch, we were there yesterday, I had the white fish special, very fresh, delicious tasting, awesome service, I'd recommend the place. Can be a little pricey for lunch
(5)
Peter L.
Portions are too small. Been here a few times and have always had to secretly fill up on bread -- which wasn't particularly great either. Sitting outside on a nice day is cool, but it's not enough for the price. Food and service were mediocre. My girlfriend likes this joint, but she's never as hungry as I am.
(3)
Garett N.
Really delicious food. This is not the kind of place I would go to, but my boss was paying so I figured I'd make the most out of it. We went during lunch and while she had a reservation, the place wasn't full at all.
(3)
Brandon S.
Had a great time getting a slightly late lunch by myself, eating outside. The wait staff was very attentive, the food (I got the gnocchi and added a bolognese sauce for just $1), was fabulous, and the atmosphere nice and caj! Definitely good times. It wasn't like OMG BEST EVER, but it was exactly what I wanted.
(4)
Dee W.
I came here for their 11th anniversary which was featuring their $11 three course special. When I called earlier to find out what was on the menu, they told me that it was a salad, entree and dessert. When I tried to press for more details, they declined to comment. When we got there, the waitor finally let us know that the special included their mizzo salad, their rissoto and a couple pieces of biscotti. We were pretty turned off by that and chose to order other stuff instead. We tried their bruchetta which was decent. I had their grilled chicken and our friend tried their gnocchi - the chicken was a bit on the salty side and the gnocchi was pretty basic. Service was decent - they had multiple people coming up to us and trying to get us to order more stuff. They also had multiple people come up to us and repeat the same thing "Are you ready to order?" three times.
(2)
sandra h.
We had a nice lunch on the terrace. The food is not the best Italian food in the city but it is decent and reasonably priced for a casual lunch. I just have to add that I love their spaghetti. For once a restaurant knows how to cook pasta al dente!
(3)
Wilt C.
Have not been to Coco Pazzo Cafe for a while and stopped by for lunch yesterday. It seems to have grown a bit tired over the years. The staff just goes through the paces with a bored demeanor and the food is just average. Too bad as it's a nice setting and good location.
(2)
Anna L.
Nice experience. Got a soft shell crab on mixed greens. Have never had a whole soft shell crab before (only as part of sushi rolls), so it was interesting to see it laying there in all its deep-fried glory atop my greens. Was fun to eat. Looks like it would be a good place for pasta too. Prices look reasonable.
(3)
Patrick M.
Went for dinner tonight, and was reminded what a delightful and solid choice this is. Meeting a friend from NYC, arrived early. Great service at the bar. Attentive and friendly staff. Boar, salmon, and veal were the entree choices: delicious. Special of barley veg soup to start was terrific, based on hearing another diner say: "better than my Italian grandmother's." And, really intelligent wine recommendations from the waiter, immediately picking a low, medium, and high price point based on the entree orders. Cool. The service is smooth, the decor is warm. Great place. Reminder: come back here more often.
(5)
cat c.
All I can say is WOW!! We got the Rigatoni with sausage, peas and cream sauce and Parpadelle with duck ragu. We were in heaven. This place is definitely a step above Italian restaurants. The food is authentic, excellent wait staff and I would love to go again soon!
(4)
Joanna K.
Cozy intimate setting, watchful staff and super food ...we had a great evening! Wish there was a Coco Pazzo in Denver, Colorado!!
(5)
Brad O.
I appreciate how authentically Italian this place is. It's more Italian than it is Italian-American. Also, I love how you can get appetizer-size portions of the pastas - keeping in tradition with the "primi piatti" concept in Italy. I had the appetizer portion of the homemade taglietelle with rabbit ragu followed up by the brick chicken. The taglietelle was near perfect - it had that slight chew that you only get from homemade fresh pasta that is so satisfying. The brick-chicken almost had too much of a "char" flavor, but the broccoli rabe on the side was awesome - bitter, but in a good way. I would say the only real drawbacks of this place is how tight the quarters are (once again, authentically European) and the night I was there the AC was not working so I had to step outside a couple times to cool down. Also, the service was excellent (not authentically European). Once that AC working again, I will be back.
(4)
Maura R.
SOO so so yummy. I would get the vegetali mostly but eveything about this place is five star. Let me begin with the wait staff extremely polite attentive and really know their stuff when it comes to the menu. I have not been there in a few years but I wouldnt be surprised if it hasn't changed. The food is molto eccellente. I have probably tasted every dish there misto terra (table in the center of the room Kind of like a buffet appaetizer) LOVE LOVE. PAsta is delicious and salads a tasty tasty. I just love the feel as well. It is a small rustic italian cafe IF it wasnt for the high rises and hustle and bustle of chicago society you could place this cafe in the a small village of Italy and it would fit right in. As it is cheaper than the more sophisticad and finer dining of Coco Pazzo restaurant on Hubbard it makes or a perfect setting for a lunch with friends or romantic dinner date...especially in the summer because the patio seating is wonderful (great if you are a people watcher like I am) RECOMMEND for sure ...a definate favorite
(5)
Stephanie H.
I've dined here once,sat inside, with girlfriends. Food and wine were good. I found the portions to be a little on the small side. I had the Risotto which was good. Enjoyed the atmosphere. I would go back. Good date place.
(3)
Natalie S.
The outside patio is nice, but the service and food wasn't. There was one waiter assigned to the entire outside area. Took forever to order. Took forever to get our food. When we did get our food, it was the wrong order. Waited 10 minutes for even the water boy to come by to ask him to get our waiter. Waiter quickly apologized and said our correct order will be out shortly. Tick tock. Tick tock. When we get our bill, nothing was taken off or adjusted. No apology. We left never to come back again.
(2)
Lisa B.
I first discovered this restaurant almost three years ago when I first moved back to Chicago. A friend came into town for a girls out weekend and we stayed at a hotel downtown. We discovered this restaurant during that weekend and I have loved it since. I would not say the meals are to die for but they do have a really good ragu and their pasta dishes are just wonderful (especially their butternut squash raviloi). What I love most about this place I know I can get a really good meal at a decent price and they always have a table ready and they do take out. When you want to go out with friends and family and want a good meal but spend time catching up with friends and not be distracred by the restaurant itself this is the place to go. They have a full bar, a good wine menu and for the neighborhood the price is just right. Also they are truly accomodating, the service is good and the meal is served in a decent time frame and you don't feel rushed. In close to three years I have not been disapointed.
(4)
Claire B.
The service was what impressed me the most about this place--everyone was very attentive and polite. I had the spinach salad, which was decent, though I would have preferred pears that weren't cooked. I also had the butternut squash ravioli, which came with an interesting butter sauce. It was quite good. My fiance ordered boar, which looked gross...but I don't think I would ever order boar. We also had cinnamon gelato, which was yummy. The only problem we encountered was an obnoxious lady who took literally 5 phone calls to deal with someone one the other end of the line's wardrobe malfunction. It was so rude!
(5)
Ada L.
Best pasta I've had in a long time (black pasta with squid, shrimp, tomatoes, zucchini, etc.). Great service and nice patio, too. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Maureen W.
We had lunch at Coco Pazzo today and it was delightful. It was very busy but we had excellent service: the drinks were refilled any time they were even halfway empty and our food came out quickly. I had the white bean soup and a Caesar salad, both of which were very good. The salad had white anchovies that were so delicious! My partner had a turkey panini and with fries instead of the homemade chips. She really liked both. I tried the fries and they were so good. They had cheese and salt and there were some veggies spears mixed in. We both had ice tea and liked that quite a bit too. I was impressed that we both had such good food for 10-13 dollars each and the tea was only 2 dollars. The only drawback was that it was sometimes very loud outside but hey, that's to be expected.
(4)
Megan W.
If you are looking for a quiet intimate dinner then this place is not for you. I felt like the whole restaurant was a bit claustrophobic. The tables were packed a bit too close together and the whole restaurant was a bit too small. However, the food was excellent. My boyfriend had trouble deciding what to order so he asked our waiter what he would suggest. Our waiter's suggestion turned out to be spot on as my boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his meal. I had a taste and it was excellent. I had the risotto of the day and it too was excellent. It was incredibly creamy and rich. For dessert we had the tiramisu and it was tasty. Overall it was a very good evening.
(4)
Christel D.
I used to walk by this place. Finally decided to give it a try. Not a fan of the big yellow awning, but the food and service were good. Not stellar, but not pricey. Plan on trying again.
(3)
Angela B.
I've been here a few times for business lunches and it's a great spot. The service is the only downside - it's not bad, but it's not very memorable either. But the food is amazing, I have been happy with every dish and desert I've tried. I especially recommend the lasagna, which is my favorite in the entire city, and the chicken milanese. So, so good. Really good portion size too - you'll leave feeling full but not like you need to take a nap for the rest of the afternoon.
(4)
Yelp L.
I have been here a few times and today's visit sealed the deal. The food quality is good, however, the service on numerous occasions has not been. I just screened the rest of the reviews to see if anybody else had observed the same and it seems the answer is yes. The problem is professionalism. If they are in a rush you get good service because they are trying to scoot you out the door. If you are in a rush, they couldn't care less and it could take forever to get your food. Furthermore they interrupt your party with very stupid things like, "Oh, by the way, we're going to charge you extra for that request." Again food is good, service is highly variable, and restaurant is overall unprofessionally run and you can't make up for that with good food. The owner doesn't care--he never called me back. If I were an owner, I'd at least want to hear about what happened.
(2)
Megan S.
I went to Coco Pazzo with a group of 9 people. It was OK for groups but not great. We were put next to another group of 11. It was so loud with the two groups right by each other, we had to scream at one another. The place is small but very cute. You actually don't feel like you are downtown Chicago. The majority of the group loved their meals. I had a hard time picking something from the menu because I had reviewed the menu on line and it was different. I was looking forward to seafood and they had changes the menu. What Italian place doesn't have a pasta dish with seafood? Overall it was a good experience. I would give it another try.
(3)
Clare K.
i have been here for both lunch and dinner and both times i have received solid service-no matter how crowded it is. i was just there for dinner on friday night and the pasta special was AMAZING-fettuccine, pine nuts, basil, olive oil, etc. the spaghetti with hot peppers was also quite tasty and a happy little departure from a regular tomato/marinara sauce. do yourself a huge favor and make a dinner reservation. while we were at the bar (we had a reservation and did not have to wait-we were just frightfully early!), we heard the hostess tell some people that at 7:15 that they would be able to seat them at about 9:20. yikes. it's so easy people. go to opentable.com and save yourself some time and trouble.
(4)
Elizabeth C.
After hearing only good things about this restaurant, we decided to give it a shot for our girls night, to my surprise, I was very disappointed. For starters, I left the bar to let the hostess know there would be 3 of us dining and she decided to go ahead and seat me before the rest of my party was ready. Then, a couple came in, who had a reservation, and the host tried to seat them at exact table in which she had sat me, 45 seconds before. Once we were settled, our waiter rushed through specials and asked if we were ready to order, before taking our drink order. Right off the bat, I felt rushed. The food was mediocre, 2 different people waited on our table. Perhaps this is a better place for lunch, but I am in no rush to return for dinner.
(2)
Da J.
It was okay. The waitress recommended the risotto special, but it wasn't worth it. I should have gone with the regular menu.
(3)
M. C.
I've only been here for lunch, but it has always been sooo delicious, and lunch is reasonably priced too. Nothing's nicer than sitting outdoors over a leisurely lunch here in the spring. I highly recommend any of their pasta--it's all so fresh, although it can be overly filling.
(5)
Allison B.
Amazing...the italian food is pure and simple melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I loved the outdoor setting, the great service, and the lovely food. I had artichoke ravioli with some pinot and a brushetta for starters. Lovely dinner date spot.
(5)
J V.
A nice little gem off the fast track of Michigan Ave. Good qaulity italian food in a nice setting. Outside seating is great too.
(3)
Eric L.
Ive been here for lunch and dinner. Both times were ok. The environment is nice and the wait staff was good. My pasta was a bit oily. The chicken was prepared well but nothing memorable. I have heard Coco Pazzo is better, which i've yet to try.
(3)
Karen M.
Maybe I'm spoiled for Tuscan-style food after visiting Italy last year, but I wasn't impressed with this place. We came here because some relatives of mine were in town and wanted to try it. My husband and I ordered the bistecca (grilled beef ribeye) thinking it would be like the memorable steak dinner we had in Florence, but it wasn't even close. In fact, it was about what you used to get at a Ponderosa. Everyone else in our party had pasta and seemed satisfied with it. The bruschetta appetizers and the cappuccino gelato dessert were fine, as was service. Maybe we should give this place one more visit and try a pasta dish instead, or visit the original Coco Pazzo on Hubbard. But unless I'm ever in the area again, I'm thinking there have got to be better Italian restaurants in Chicago than this one.
(2)
Eri K.
Amazingly good food. We ducked in when everywhere else was jam packed and found an oasis from the crowds and cold. Definitely try the duck liver bruschetta...so delicious. We had the little ones with us and they gave us half portions for them which was perfect. Only drawback was a rude bus boy who basically told me to hurry up and finish because the main course was ready...so rude! But the meal, ambience, and other service was very good.
(4)
Chris P.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants outside of Italy. I've been here several times over the years when visiting Chicago and go out of my way to come back here.
(5)
Vaidehi T.
Went here for lunch on a beautiful spring Sunday afternoon. The weather was gorgeous and we sat out in the patio - which is pretty cool and awesome. I am surprised at the low rating this place has on yelp. My husband and me absolutely loved our experience here. I admit that the awesome weather and sitting outside had a lot to do with it, but it was still a pretty great meal. The place is quite laid back and cool. We did not feel rushed and ended up having a nice and relaxed lunch. We ordered the tomato and mozzarella for antipasti and some crisp Pinot Grigio to go along with it. We were served a basket of complimentary bread - there was two kinds, one was the usual crostini and the other was a rosemary infused bread. I live for bread and olive oil when I go to Italian restaurants - and this bread was delish. Hubby ordered the spaghetti 'AOP' and I ordered the Mahi. The spaghetti was fabulous... perfectly tangy and savory. The portion was quite generous, it was a big mound of spaghetti with a roasted red pepper sitting on the top. Hubby really enjoyed it. The Mahi dish was fab too. It came along with some braised escarole - one of my favorite bitter greens. The whole dish was awesome. Again, portions were generous and we had leftovers for to go. We were too full to try any dessert, but hubby ordered the cappuccino to end the meal - and it was pretty fab!! The service was friendly and we never had an empty glass of water on our table.
(4)
Hale M.
WHY I WENT THERE: Went to Cocco Pazzo Cafe with my parents the night I moved to Chicago. My mother--who, ironically, happens to have celiac (i.e. legitimate gluten intolerance)--chose it based on a positive experience there a month or so prior. AMBIANCE: This is a typically (and appropriately) moderately lit Italian place. It was appropriately busy, which is to say that it is clearly popular with the locals as well as with visitors, but that it is not so crowded as to be intimidating or inhibitory. FOOD: My dad and I split to the bruschetta as an appetizer--white bean & black truffle, mushroom & parmesan, and carmelized onion & ricotta--all of which were fantastic, particularly the white bean and black truffle. For my entree, I could not resist the special: risotto with my favorite non-traditional meat...rabbit! Tender, flavorful, filling but not sedating. DRINKS: Ample wine selection, which fits the cuisine. If you (like me) fancy craft beer, you've come to the wrong place. SERVICE: Friendly, informative, and timely. Struck the perfect balance of being attentive but not intrusive. SPONTANEITY FACTOR: Reservations recommended. SUMMARY: If you're looking for italian in River North, this is a great option.
(4)
bill s.
Weekend in Chicago. MI Avenue was totally insane. Try to stay off of it as we move S to N or N to S. Son and daughter-in-law, who live downtown, have been to the original Coco Pazzo so my wife an I decided to try the cafe for lunch. 3pm on a Saturday, place is empty except for one table. Some of the staff were having lunch as we came in. Whatever they were eating looked good. We were seated, waiter comes over, handed menus, asked if we wanted water (I forgot that places in Chi tend to do that), specials explained. We decide to order the mussels in a light tomato (not "tomato sauce") broth with tomato bits and pieces. Served with the usual bruschetta-like grilled bread. Plump, juicy PEI mussels. Bread was charred and and has a slightly burned taste in place but it was still quite good. The slighty garlicly, tomato based-broth was quite good. We each had a light entree. Chicken breast filet that had been pounded a bit and then grilled. Topped with fresh spinach, several dollops of goat cheese and seedless red grapes. We both enjoyed it to the point where I'm going to make it at home. Had the eggless panna cotta for dessert and cofffe. All in all a very pleasant experience. Good food, attentive staff, nice prices for downtown Chicago. A lot of hard surfaces so I imagine that it could be rather noisy when full. Don't know if it rates 4 stars. I'm a tough grader. Will definitely go back to the cafe and will no doubt try the original pace on W. Hubbard. So maybe 3.5 to 3.75 stars.
(3)
Tom H.
Close to 20 years and we keep coming back. Food is always great, staff friendly, atmosphere tasteful. Outdoor seating in the summer is a treat. Just one block off Michigan avenue but nice and quiet. This is where people like us who live downtown go.
(5)
Bridget L.
Lovely atmosphere for dinner. I order one of the specials and the portion was perfect, just enough. Fresh pasta, simply delicious. Waitstaff was friendly and not overly obtrusive. Will definitely come back again!!
(4)
Victoria W.
Pretty much a poor experience all around. Overpriced, flavorless food paired with awful service. By the end of it, we were wishing we'd gone to nearby Burrito Beach instead. The vegetali ($16) was a small pile of grilled vegetables and polenta with no seasoning besides a light drizzle of balsamic. My partner's tagliolini neri (squid ink pasta, $17) was of a pitiful portion and bland (he's had squid ink pasta in Italy, and this was like the watered-down version). The service was ridiculous. Our waiter maintained a cold scowl on his face whenever he was dealing with us. And he barely dealt with us at all, despite the fact that there was only one other table occupied at the time (4PM). After getting us our drinks, he took so long to take our food order, we considered leaving. After finally taking our order, he never checked on us.
(1)
Theresa F.
5 stars for food. 1 deducted for poorly maintained atmosphere. Will probably come back for that calamari! Service was also prompt, organized and attentive!
(4)
Brittany L.
Reasonable prices, nice sized portions (not gigantic), good service, and decent decor. Main problem is that you're really packed in, and with the proximity to the hotels, you're likely to get HUGE groups of people who are in town for a convention or something, which may mean a wait for your food. We got there early enough on a Thursday that this wasn't an issue. I had the rigatoni (sausage, peas, tomato cream sauce), my friend had the squash ravioli (sweet butter sauce with brown sugar and nuts). We shared an order of 3 crostini with various toppings. I chose one with salami and brie and another with a hummous-type white bean & black truffle puree. Both were delicious. She had a roasted red pepper & goat cheese one. I tried a little bite and found it rather tasty. They also have the traditional bruschetta of tomatoes, basil, and olive oil, but we passed that one by in favor of something different. Everything was quite good...perhaps not fantastic, but good. Service-wise, our waiter knew his way around the menu and gave suggestions, we were offered cracked pepper with our appetizer and freshly grated cheese with our entrees, our water glasses stayed full, and our dishes were promptly cleared away. My friend was offered a sample of wine before committing which was nice. I would go here again, especially if I'm staying in one of the nearby hotels. Very convenient to walk and not have to worry about valet or parking fees.
(4)
Gino W.
Usually restaurants that are in the vicinity of the Magnificent Mile are tourist traps. The flavours pander to a single palate and the presentation wows you way more than taste. Then there is Coco Pazzo Cafe. I must admit that this restaurant eatery left a lasting first impression on me. Escarole e fagioli. Tagliolini. Spaghetti with mushrooms. Linguini with clams. Calamari. Apple tart. Tortufu. My friends and I had a grand time. And it may have been because of the weather, the restaurant was not teeming with tourists and shoppers. So, we had great service without being rushed and food that certainly was not rushed from the kitchen. After a rather large, late lunch, we were all sated.
(5)
JD F.
Was here last week for a vendor lunch. It is rather small and the atmosphere a little close. The pseudo-Modigliani frescoed walls were well executed. Service was friendly and fast. The tacchino panini (smoked turkey and pancetta) is highly recommended. Just be aware that due to its small size, the place can get loud - or maybe it was just the boisterous office group there that made it so. Overall, an above average dining experience.
(4)
Jessica N.
Sad I had a bad experience because I love the original. Ambience was not quaint cafe but kind of cold and uninviting. Service was spotty and not polished. And my fish was over-charred and bitter. This is a block from my office so I'll probably give it another try with a pasta but if that doesn't live up I won't be back!
(2)
Kari S.
Am a frequent guest at this location and have always received quality meals and service. Enjoy sitting outside weather permitting.
(4)
Jan E.
Lovely atmosphere for a nice Italian dinner. Lasagna & spaghetti, yes, but also octopus ink pasta with shrimp and bruschetta with white beans and truffles.
Food: The octopus appetizer was cooked better than any place in the city. Perfect texture and the sauce complimented it very well. The squid ink pasta with shrimp is AMAZING and to finish it off, we enjoyed the tartufo for dessert. Again, delicious. Overall: Compared to many other Italian places on Chi, this place takes the cake. The service is great, outdoor seating is quaint and tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the food can't be topped. What else can you ask for!
(5)
Art V.
I planned on eating at capital grille which is across the street from cpg. Cap grille charges $42 for a single piece of meat. No apps, no sides, no dessert. I looked at cpg's menu and found that I could eat like a horse for nearly the same price. What a solid meal. A great beet salad A half order of pasta with a boar ragu Duck breast served over lentils Apple pie 2 beers Approx $60 Great restaurant. Will def return.
(4)
Rachel N.
Conflicted -- 1) my grandmother loves it here, so when we go out with the family N matriarch, this is occasionally where we land; 2) the food is tasty; and 3) there is nothing wrong with the place (service is friendly/efficient/attentive and the atmosphere isn't offensive) -- it's not adventurous fare per se, and certainly not earth shattering in the flavor dept -- but it's a pretty good casual Sunday night meal -- my braised octopus is always solid, and the salmon and trout are reliably cooked well (I've heard the pasta is strong, but it's not my bag -- but it's homemade or something). That said, CPC, clean up your act. Like seriously. The bathrooms are atrocious. Last time I checked, the rest stop on I-94 I went into this summer had less peeling paint and more bountiful toilet paper. This is not a Mc.Donalds. It's a proper place to get a meal. Shame on you. Oh, the antipasto station looks appetizing, but the offerings from it are bland -- it's a skip -- for the starters, do a bruschetta, the 7 veg salad, or a hearty soup -- perfect for fending off the 30F weather. For mains, I'd rec any of the fish options. A meal for four w/ apps, entrees, and dessert/coffee was around $200. Worth a special trip? No. But if you're in the area (on Michigan Ave/at Northwestern Memorial Hospital/staying in one of the hotels close by), it's a nice casual option -- we usually go at an AARP friendly time (both for me and for Grandma Pearl, duh) -- so at 6p it's dead, but 8p it's more popping. Not a scene. Just a meal.
(3)
Angela G.
I love the cozy atmosphere here and they serve all day. In the summer, the patio is charming. The homemade pasta is always a good choice. Can get crowded, best to have a reservation.
(4)
Martin D.
Great food and service.
(5)
KC C.
Reconnected this week at Coco Pazzo Cafe, and again had an exquisite evening. Service was excellent, food variety(menu has been refreshed since our last visit) was interesting, tantalizing, and ambience environment was special enhanced by great weather and open doors. Enjoyed the fried smelt as an appetizer. Risotto special and antipasti was great as expected. Milanese pork was a little overdone and dry-do better next time! By the glass chianti was very nice. Thanks for a nice evening!
(4)
Emily V.
The Rigatoni all Buttera was excellent! Melt in your mouth delicious. One of the better pasta dishes I've had. Our waiter was wonderful. He was from Mexico and we talked with him about where he was from and some of his favorite authentic places in the city. I can't find the name of the dessert I had on the online menu but it was very good. It was between a chocolate cake and a chocolate mousse with a raspberry sauce. The tiramisu that I tried was also wonderful. The only thing I tasted that I didn't love (shared 2 dishes with my mom) was the striped bass. I just don't think I'm a fan of striped bass, not necessarily that it was prepared poorly.
(4)
Ali C.
Really outstanding italian food. Superb service. The sea bass was out of this world, as were the grilled vegetables, coffee and biscotti. Definitely will return.
(5)
Jo H.
It's four o'clock on a gorgeous Saturday and if the bathroom is any indication, attention to detail not in residence. Dirty, no TP and trash pile. Should have headed to the head first. My caesar salad uninspiring. Thank goodness I asked for the glob of dressing? on the side. Service? Eh.
(2)
Christine S.
Very good spicy spaghetti dish but the service was slow, especially for the lunch hour, and the salad, with julienned radishes, tomatoes, was all right, except for the wilted greens. Still, for that spaghetti, I will return (and I've been to this cafe 3 or 4 times before now too.)
(3)
Scott C.
Someone told me the competition of restaurants in the Magnificent Mile is so fierce, that if you aren't selling something spectacular, you won't be around long. Coco Pazzo was a last minute choice, but a totally delicious one. Don't let the decor fool you. This is incredibly fresh and delicious Italian food. Homemade pasta is just the beginning....the sauces, service and simple menu made this a meal to remember. Highly recommend.
(5)
Scott O.
Your Review: A wonderful place for a Saturday lunch. Delicious salad, great gnocchi, excellent wine. Cannot recommend highly enough.
(4)
Andres W.
Who charges for soda refill nowadays??? If the owner if this restaurant is trying to make money,it shouldnt do thru soda refills,should be thru their food,which is not bad,but it kills the entire experience by charging for soda refills,specially becuase: * they dont have coke,only pepsi * they serve the soda in little glasses. Not coming back here.ever
(3)
Roy H.
Good restaurant. Slow service. Inattentive waitstaff, although water was constantly refilled. Cramped seating - was constantly bumped by waiters and diners. The Aperativo with meat was a puny portion, however the pork entree I got was literally one of the best things I've eaten in my life. That says a lot.
Came here for a business meeting recently because the owners of my company love this place and it is right around the corner from my office - also, it's one of only a few nicer places within a few blocks around the area. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect but I was very pleased when we walked in - the place is quiet and it is a GREAT place for a business meeting. The service was top notch, everything was very relaxed but as soon as you wanted them at the table they were there. I was really happy with the portion sizes - it was enough food that I felt satisfied but not stuffed. I had the grilled chicken with spinach, grapes and goat cheese. The seasoning on the chicken was just right - enough to really give it a little extra flavor, but not so much that I felt like I was chewing on grilled oregano with a dash of chicken. I was trying to eat the healthiest thing on the menu and I was really pleased to be able to have something I enjoyed which didn't make me feel guilty at all. The other options on the menu look fantastic and one of these days when I'm a little less concerned with making a healthy choice I'll be excited to head back and try some of their other dishes.
(4)
Bernard M.
Excellent grilled pike!
(5)
Colin E.
Casual but elegant and intimate decor. Homemade, fresh pasta. Consistently outstanding year after year. Great service, good wine list. One of the best places to take an out-of-town visitor for a wonderful meal that isn't very expensive Have always enjoyed the Sette Vegetali salad and the Linguine Vongole. Have tried many of the Burschetta--all of them excellent. Can't go wrong. I really always leave with a smile on my face
(5)
Jack P.
Well, now. Isn't this just a charming little place? Actually, I was pleasantly surprised to see it located in the same space as an equally charming French cafe which may have closed in the 90's? Anyway, a friend had recommended it, and I met a friend I hadn't seen in many years for a mid-week lunch. While we did make a reservation we would not have needed one. It was fairly quiet. I am guessing that is more the exception than the rule in this busy location. But the most impressive thing was the setting, the decor, the wood, the lighting, the artwork, all giving the place an elegant yet rustic feel. We ordered antipasti from the big table in the middle, a wonderful assortment of bean salads, grilled veggies, and olives. For entrees, we ordered pastas: one ribbon pasta with bolognese sauce, and one penne with a sausage and vegetable sauce. And just the half-orders worked fine for sharing. These pastas dishes were perfect. The pasta was al dente, the flavors exciting and pleasing, and the sauce to pasta ratio exact. Ingredients were cut perfectly for an overall great tongue shui. I would highly recommend Coco Pazzo for anyone who wants a nice classy and intimate yet casual Italian dining experience. Probably would make a good "date" place, if you're into that sort of thing,
(4)
Cathy O.
I can't believe all the great comments here. This was the worst Italian Food I have ever had. I ordered the Lasagna. It was as if I was eating Chef Boy R d out of the can, although I have never had that, but can only imagine. The bread basket was nothing to speak of, bread from a bag no doubt. I also ordered a side green salad, nothing special here either, but it was the best thing I ate. I was alone, while on business. I sat on the patio because the weather was perfect, the service was lousy. My entire meal came to $27 + $5 tip that was undeserved. Go to Osteria Via Stato, now they know Italian food!
(1)
Jim B.
Consistently good food and nice service. The beet salad is awesome and the pasta is fresh.
(4)
Mary J.
We had lunch here today. It was gorgeous outside, so we opted to enjoy the rays and get our daily dose of vitamin D while eating. There was some GREAT people watching! Our food was good, our service was not so good. We started with Carpaccio for an appetizer. I've never had shaved beef tenderloin, I'm used to a thicker piece, but this was good. I had a frittata and hubby had some risotto and both were yummy. Our server really didn't pay too much attention to us after our food was brought. There was no check-in to see how we were doing and it took him forever to come by and ask us about dessert. I actually wanted dessert, but he took so long, I had to give it up so we could move on. Waiting for our check was painful, not the way it should be after having some good food!
(3)
Vince S.
We visited here in December (2012) from out of town for a Christmas time visit to Chicago. This restaurant was recommended to us and it delivered. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. My meal was one of the daily specials, and was fantastic. We were a party of four and made reservations for the evening dining time. The four of us had a great dining experience at this establishment and would return again.
(4)
Jessica H.
Fit us in without a reservation. Service was good. The squid ink pasta was good but the shrimp on it were not. They were the tiny ones that are always overcooked and tough because of their size. For the price, I expected more better quality shrimp.
(4)
Catherine A.
The dinner pasta special was homemade ribbon noodles with grilled asparagus and mushrooms, finished with shaved pecorino cheese. Simple, but delicious! Service was very friendly and I would highly recommend this restaurant. Not too big or too loud. Great for a romantic dinner or business dinner.
(4)
Barbara B.
Very accommodating for a large group. The focaccia bread was delicious, especially dipped in their olive oil. I ate the celery root ravioli with mushrooms in a butter sauce. The ravioli was tasty but the sauce was not my favorite. The portion size was nice for lunch. I had a taste of my friend's gnocchi that I liked much better. Atmosphere was very nice, I recommend this place for an upscale lunch.
(3)
Tracy N.
I had dinner here with some co-workers at the recommendation of our hotel. I'm really picky with my Italian food and this is definitely a go-again kind of place. The restaurant was clean, the service was knowledgeable, and the food was excellent, not to mention reasonably price and well portioned. We ordered the calamari and the octopus for appetizers, which were flavorful and everything you want from an Italian appetizer. We had a tasting frenzy with the plates, and they were all delicious. The gnocchi is fresh and creamy, although there was a lot of it - I have come to find that this is more of a dish related occurence rather than a restaurant, because who can eat that many potato-pasta balls. The tagliolini with shrimp and the pappardelle with rabbit were my favorite of the night. The shrimp was succulent and the lamb was tender. All of the sauces were delicious and served with the pasta type to bring out their flavors. In addition to the original menu, this place also had some daily specials. I tried the scallop specials and it was unbelievable. Overall this place really knows how to pair pastas and sauces and how to perfectly cook their seafood. Not to mention the dessert! The flourless chocolate cake and tiramisu are a big fast YES! My co-workers and I stayed in different hotels around the area and it was recommended by two of the hotels, so it's most likely that you can expect to see business groups out, which doesn't surprise me since they're very accommodating to large groups. There's a private room in the basement and a patio. We went on a Wednesday and it wasn't busy at all, you can probably expect to be seated immediately on the weekdays. Every course was delicious and I can't wait to go back and have Luigi as my server again.
(4)
Joyce H.
I came here with family and a family friend on a warm Chicago afternoon. We sat inside, but close enough to the outside patio to feel like we were outdoors. My brother frequents Coco Pazzo as a go-to place. I enjoyed myself, liked the food and I agree that it's more of a go-to place. I had the risotto of the day -- leeks, green peas and cheese. It was okay -- I would have preferred to have ordered one of the pastas instead. My dad ordered a penne with tuna and a spicy tomato sauce. It was pretty tasty. Brother ordered the trout and he finished it quickly! The trout was very fresh. We also ordered an appetizer which were freshly grilled veggies, some special meats, cheeses and olives. They were displayed in the center of the restaurant and the waitstaff would basically make up a plate themselves for the party. I think that was one of my favorite parts. Nice place and location for Streeterville too!
(3)
Rachel S.
If white people like being the only white person in an ethnic restaurant, it follows that american people like being the only american in an italian restaurant. That being extrapolated, Italians love Coco Pazzo Cafe. The food is fresh, delicious, a little decadent, but the atmosphere is casual and chic. I will definitely be coming here a again!
(4)
Ashley B.
I went here with my family, boyfriend, and sisters friend the other day just to hang out and my mom recommended this spot since she's been here before and loved it. We had reservations but still had to wait a little bit, it was totally packed, but I didn't mind. My boyfriend went to the other one accidentally so it gave us time to wait for him. We sat down and had a few drinks and salads. Mine was comprised of veggies entirely, it was awesome, and the serving was ginormous. I could probably eat that salad everyday, especially because I'm a huge raw veggie fan. Next up came our entrees. I got the homemate tagliatelle with rabbit. It was awesome. The noodles were on point, and paper thin. The rabbit (which I had never tried before) was also very tender, and not too gamey or greasy. The portion was huge and I ended up taking half of it home. Lastly... dessert. My boyfriend and I split the house made custard and it was amazing. Much like a creme brulee but more gelatinous and without the crunchy sugar topping. Very good. Everyone else also really liked the gelato. Overall, I think this place was definitely good. Mind-blowing? Not quite, but I'd come back for sure.
(4)
Alex S.
Prompt and efficient service. I had no app, my main was a special, a shrimp and mushroom risotto. Pretty good although a tad crunchy. Tiramisu was nice. A solid performance, I was satisfied even if I wasn't blown away.
(3)
Dan K.
Be careful with your salad, mine came with an insect... The manager outrageously blamed that i was sitting outside...
(1)
Linda H.
Not the greatest service. Good solid Italian. Excellent red sauce. Did not care for the Tiramisu. Very sugary with no coffee flavor whatsoever.
(3)
Jamie B.
We came here on a Friday night around 8:30 and sat on the patio. The octopus appetizer was great, the salads were really good, and the entrees were just OK. I opted for the gnocchi and this was a bad choice. The sauce was described as a tomato sauce with ricotta, had a dollop of ricotta over the top, while the sauce tasted "off". After my second bite it dawned on me: I was eating the sauce that's on Chef Boyardee canned ravioli. This was disappointing. For dessert we had panna cotta, and that was a winner. I am sure you will have a great experience here, I would just recommend staying away from the gnocchi.
(3)
Law K.
14 of us had a really good time and the service was great! The food however was below average at best. The highlight was the calamari and it went down hill from there.
(1)
Pat H.
Went here this past weekend when my family was in town and had an excellent experience. The service was very good - the staff was very friendly, timely & knowledgeable. The food here is excellent - all their pasta is home made. If you're a fan of Italian you wont be disappointed. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced. I got lamb which i would recommend to anyone it was that good. Two people at my table got pasta dishes which were excellent & the veal chops were also very good. There wasn't one thing that I didn't like. If you're up in the air because of the million other restaurants in the city...give this place a shot its worth it.
(4)
Jeremy L.
Solid Italian option in the Streeterville neighborhood. Kicked off dinner with the calamari: pretty good and a decent serving size. Entrees: Linguine Vongole: Basically a clam linguine in a white wine and garlic sauce. Tasty and light with plenty of small clams, but the noodles were just meh. Pappardelle: The "housemade" wide noodles were really good, great texture and well cooked. The rabbit ragu was a little salty but delicious. Anatra: The duck was solid with the marsala sauce, but nothing really stood out about the dish. Service was great; lots of tables and staff so we got situated pretty quickly. Water glasses were kept full and orders taken/filled quick enough. 3 stars. Nothing really stood out about the place and being in Streeterville, it's expensive for what you get. But certainly a restaurant I would consider going to again.
(3)
Patrick D.
I actually felt that this was a local Chicagoland version of an Olive Garden. The service seemed reminiscent of an all inclusive resort in Mexico where the primary goal was to provide a facade of luxury service while turning over a table as quickly as possible. The more I say the name, the more that correlation makes sense. Our three course meal including bottle of wine took less than 50 minutes. This included ordering in courses. The bruschetta seemed to be extremely previously toasted bread that was awaiting the arrival of topping for hours. Bruschetta arrived less than three minutes after placing the order. Table next to us received carpaccio in less than 90 seconds. Our dinner seating seemed much more reminiscent of a workday lunch rush as oppose to a Saturday night at 8pm. B
(2)
David H.
I had the aratra, which is duck with lentils. The duck was distinctly flavorful, tender, and definitely some of the better duck I have ever had in my entire life. And they gave me a healthy portion. The lentils, on the other hand, were lentils. I'm not sure why I expected more from lentils. Still, my impression was that I was a lot happier with my order than others were with theirs. However, the place itself was relatively small given how many people were there. I'm not sure I could've gotten up after I sat down without great difficulty, so close I was to the table behind me. Packed in like sardines Meal was a little pricey Duck made it worthwhile
(3)
Trixy D.
EXCELLENT Italian food, soup, great veg salad, fantastic lasagna for Husband and unbelievable homemade pasta w/ butternut squash...tasted like dessert! Shared an amazing mousse, gelato dipped in chocolate for dessert. OMG will be back. $71.27 for two for dinner before tip.
I really wanted to love this place, but it just didn't meet my expectations. First of all, this place was PACKED to the gills. And when I say "to the gills", I mean so close that when one of my tablemates spilled his glass of water, it got all over the people at the next table. I don't know how the waiters could even squeeze around the tables most of the time. I could've dealt with the space issue if it was quieter, but it was so loud I had to shout at the person sitting next to me to be heard. Not the best environment for a leisurely, nice meal. The menu, wine and beer lists are fine and pretty typical for an Italian place in Chicago. The bread was wonderful and seemingly endless, and I absolutely LOVED my beet salad. After that, the meal went somewhat downhill...I ordered the seafood stew, which I expected to be really nice but all of the seafood was pretty rubbery and there wasn't enough sauce. I got a selection of sorbets for dessert and they were pretty tasty, but again nothing remarkable. The prices are what you'd expect near the Mag Mile and with the name Coco Pazzo, although they are cheaper than the original on Hubbard. I have no problem paying high prices for high quality, but this just wasn't it.
(3)
Nelson M.
Restaurant Review Tucked away on a side street along the Mag Mile is this quaint restaurant that carries a wide spread of Tuscan cuisine with a extensive wine list to pair with your meal. The portion sizes are average, but you cannot deny the robust flavors. I would highly recommend the rigattoni. Not too heavy and perfectly balanced dish of meat and pasta leaving you wanting more. This is a attractive dining option for a romantic date or larger group. Pros- quaint atmosphere, good service, relaxed atmosphere compared to the larger sister restaurant, extensive wine list Cons- portion are average size Hidden deals- Unfortunately none...
(3)
Miriam G.
Okay food & service. I sat at the bar (which was really really uncomfortable to eat). Slow service, even though there were only a few people at the bar. Wine by the glass selection was limited and not great (I tried a few). Their tomato sauce pasta was OK at best. I make better at home. Overall verdict... I had better Italian food.
(3)
John M.
The night was definitely hit and miss. Calamari is usually a staple at a good Italian restaurant, but theirs was just not crispy enough. To make me more suspicious it showed up about 2 minutes after we ordered it, which makes me wonder if it was originally for someone else. I always love fresh pasta and for me that's the draw for Italian food. We had the Rigatoni, which they consider to be the specialty and it was forgettable. We also had the Linguine Vongole, which was bland and not as good as what I have made at home or had at Bice. There was a highlight though, it was the special fish pasta of the day. The noodles were homemade, paper thin and took on the flavor of the sauce in a wonderful way. Had they served us three entrees of the same quality instead of the two inferior ones the review would be an easy 4. Last point, I will make is on the service. They did a great job keeping the water filled, but missed on the easy items. When ordering a Caesar salad cracked pepper should always be offerred right away. In order to get the pepper for the salad I had to flag down a waiter, which was a first in an Italian restaurant.
(2)
Irene G.
I've dined here quite often now with co-workers since it's close to my work. The service is good, but I can't say I love the food. I usually order some kind of pasta dish since it IS an italian restaurant. I leave feeling satisfied, but not wanting to come back anytime soon. The place tends to get crowded since it's within a block from the Mag Mile so I suggest making a reservation. Overall, I'd say Coco Pazzo Cafe is one of the better dining options in the area.
(3)
kg a.
We arrived in jeans and sweatshirts, wanting something delicious. I worried when we were offered a table with the caveat that we be finished in an hour to make room for a reservation. I hate that. It seems so rude. However--Waitstaff was very nice, and didn't rush us. Food was delicious. Among us we had panzanelle, pappardelle with rabbit ragu, linguine vongole, rapini (delicious), trout with the pesto green beans and potatoes (repeatedly talked about deliciousness the rest of the evening). Not too loud, quality service, not outrageous prices or portions, overall pleasant dinner. I would definitely return.
(4)
Cecilia T.
3.5 stars to 4 stars Finally got to try this restaurant after passing by it on my way home so many times! My husband and I sat in their outdoor seating which is so pleasant! We first ordered their Beet salad which is pretty yummy and flavorful and a good portion to share between 2 people. My husband ordered the Rigatoni Butera which was yummy and filling for him. I had ordered one of the Specials of the Day which was a Mushroom Bowtie pasta. - that was ok, kind of ordinary. Lasty, wine selection pretty good. Definitely this is a place to go for a quaint and relaxing atmosphere, but food is just ok.
(3)
Glen W.
A bit noisy, but quite nice Italian. Rigatoni alla Buttera is the best dish. Avoid the fried appetizers.
(4)
Shradha A.
Time to reiterate my review from a while ago - went here after some time on Friday night and think it's still really good, but just not amazing! Didn't really like the bruschetta much, because of soy sauce/vinegar- like thing they added to it, but enjoyed the home made pasta in the spicy marinara sauce! Cute place, a little tight on space, but enjoyable overall.
(4)
Jennifer W.
My family and I went to Coco Pazzo for my mother's birthday dinner and it was great! We had an earlier reservation and were seated right away. The staff was still sort of getting ready for the later rush, but it wasn't obtrusive or anything. I had the GREAT spicy spaghetti and my mom and sister were impressed with their salmon as well. The Diet Coke was a bit flat, but my dad really liked the wine he ordered. We split the tartufo which was excellent and the blood orange sorbet was tasty as well. I'd definitely recommend it either for a family dinner or a date night.
(4)
Curt L.
So fortunate to get a last minute reservation here for New Year's Eve. Walked in that afternoon and secured a 9:30pm for seven people. Miguel our waiter was courteous, efficient and very knowledgeable. We shared 2 apps: Polpo: Braised octopus w/potato & olives & tomato. Simple recipe that allows the subtle chewy texture come thru. Funghi Arrosta: Wood grilled oyster mushrooms with diced pancetta and radicchio. For dinner I enjoyed the special of the evening Torteloni di Vitello ai Tartufo. Handmade torteloni stuffed with veal with black truffle. Beautiful tasty little packages. Tender and delicate as they politely sat in their "broda" only to later dance joyously in my mouth. Very nice entree special. The rest of the family enjoyed various pastas and meats. Granddaughter (a professed "pasta-tarian) had the Pappardelle-house made wide noodles with a wild boar ragout. Veal Scallopine was on the table as was the Caciucco-a spicy Tuscan seafood stew. Definitely enjoyed. We shared a bottle of red..........as suggested by Miguel. Fairly priced and fairly tasty. As I have a sweet tooth I ordered the Tartufo. Think of an ice cream truffle. Wonderfully decadent. A quaint little place one block of the Miracle Mile. Stop in for a good value dinner.......you will be glad that you did.
(4)
Tim B.
Our family of four ate here while vacationing in Chicago. We were staying at the Embassy Suites, Lakeview, and wanted to walk the magnificent mile after dinner, so this was right on the way. The atmosphere was comfortable and pleasant and the server was friendly. The food was good-to-great depending on the dish. We got the octopus appetizer which was very good. For dinner, my wife ordered a seafood pasta dish and my older son ordered the duck, which were both fine, but not amazing. My younger son and I both ordered the sea bass special and were very impressed. I was disappointed at first because I didn't book reservations in time to go where I had really wanted to that evening, but by the end of the meal here, we were happy and satisfied.
(4)
S L.
Gah! Get over yourself! The food is great, but very limited. Actually, I can only order about one thing for lunch which is the amazing vegetali appetizer salad. It's incredible and very decently priced considering the fresh veggie ingredients. But, the snobbery is palpable. I am not at a business lunch. I am a simple girl who wants to eat lunch and read a book and doesn't mind paying more if the food is good. So, what's the problem? I'm not wearing a suit? My job doesn't require me to wear a suit. I'm super low maintenance and I don't even eat your bread (which smells delicious). Judging me before I sit down is not going to help either of us. I tip better than most, even though you're borderline rude to me. That said, the food could be a little friendlier to the dietarily restricted. Gluten free pasta is not hard to obtain. Also, you're next to the Red Roof Inn for heaven sake! How snobby can you allow yourself to be before you just look silly.
(3)
Elaine M.
Went here last night for a friend's birthday and it was completely average. While the menu was inspired the execution was lacking. We were excited to try some of the different bruschettas that they offered. We tried three: mushroom and arugula, fava and ricotta, & goat cheese and sweet peppers. The fava and ricotta was bitter and the other two were okay but nothing to get really excited about. Also for appetizers we had the calamari and the the barbabietole (a beet salad). The calamari was fine but again just average. The barbabietole was the winner of the appetizers but I do love beets. For our entrees we had the Gnocchi verde, linguine vongole, vitello and a special for the evening of fettuccine with shrimp and mushrooms. The loser for the night was the special, which had no flavor what so ever and the shrimp were way overcooked. The winner was the gnocchi. If had to go back I would definitely go with the gnocchi. But I probably wouldn't go back. The service was strange. The waiter's personality was friendly and he had a great Italian accent. But after pouring our first round of prosecco, he never came back. We had to pour for ourselves. Also, we ordered our appetizers first and they came at a good pace but when we were finally able to order the entree I think they came out in about two minutes. Talk about feeling rushed!
(2)
Aaron P.
Go for lunch, but choose Volare down the street for dinner. The outdoor seating is one of the best spots in the area (on a side-street that isn't too busy, offers a huge awning to relax under during the high-noon sun). I love going for a break during lunch, as the service is attentive (but borderline annoying with the water fill-ups). The gnocchi is superb, as is the rigatoni. The lasagna, however, is a real disappointment. I'm Arabic and can cook up a better lasagna than that. (A friend described it as "Chef Boyardee") I hadn't ventured outside of the gnocchi or rigatoni until I tried the place for dinner. Dinner service is awful. The wait staff was discombobulated, as two different servers attempted to work our table, both trying to take orders and whatnot. While my water glass was refilled every time I took a sip, I had to practically beg for more bread. By the time it came, we had to flag someone down for olive oil. Ugh. The menu is priced quite well for the area, but it's still a lot for what you get. For $26, the salmon itself was good but was only accompanied by crappy grilled veggies, which included some poorly prepared artichokes. A fellow diner ordered a side of pasta with butter and garlic and was charged $16. When we questioned if it was a mistake or not to waiter #1, waiter #2 came to the table and ripped us a new one and stormed off. When waiter #1 returned, I told him about the response we just got and he said "sorry, she's new - next time you're here, I'll take good care of you." While I think it's a great lunchtime option for a quick plate of pasta and/or a salad, the dinnertime service and the entree menu selection will not warrant a return visit from me.
(2)
Jeff F.
Tried Coco Pazzo while I was in Chicago on Friday night and have to say the experience was average. Coco Pazzo does have the advantage of outdoor seating along with indoor seating that was open to the street since the doors/windows were pulled open. Upon arrival, I was impressed with the atmosphere. The service varied from crappy to average while the food ranged from piss poor to good/very good. Here's the rundown: -started with the tomato and basil bruschetta (good) and the sun dried tomato & olive bruschetta (crap) -Got the Vitello as an entree and thought the veal was pretty good, but the accompaniments were disgusting - the mashed potatoes seemed like they were out of box and whatever steamed greens were there were poor -Also got to try the Gnocchi which I thought was very good (but no one agreed so I'm not sure if my palette was starving for something good and imagining things or if the Gnocchi is actually worth trying). Would not recommend.
(3)
Sam M.
Always tough to judge Italian places in Chicago, but Coco Pazzo Cafe was very nice. Service was good and prompt. Would love to check out the outdoor seating when the weather is warmer.
(4)
cherie t.
Excellent!!! Good service, great food !!! Would go back again!!! Wonderful!!!
(4)
Boon K.
When I worked at NMH, this place was our "let's treat ourselves to a nice lunch today". You can never go wrong with their daily rissoto, pasta, and calamari. What I usually like is you can always get a half order of the pasta and it is just perfect for lunch or a light dinner. The sandwiches are ok but I'm not that crazy about them.
(3)
Emily W.
Italian food at it's finest! They make all their food fresh every day. The staff is incredible. If you ever get an opportunity to eat here then jump on it.
(5)
Dan L.
The food was outstanding. The service was great too. The ambiance was candle lit dim, romantic, intimate, and warm. We're coming back!!
(4)
Kimberly Q.
Had dinner here last night @ the recommendation of a very cool barman at C-View. The sidewalk seating was nice, but everything else was average, unfortunately. The cesar salad, while tasty, had too much dressing and was limp. The pasta special entailed overcooked fettuccine and overcooked shrimp (rubbery, big no-no!). The service was pleasant but slow. Very unextraordinary overall. Will not be back, when there are so many gems here in Chitown.
(3)
Hyung S.
Just a simple Italian restaurant where everything is done just right.
(5)
Dawn D.
Cute, quaint but lacking in the menu department. Went for a lunch meeting and ordered Calamari for an app, the salmon with cous cous--which I sprinked with red pepper flakes for the main dish. Food was delish.
(3)
J W.
Love it. Two friends and I went for the 1st time last Saturday. We sat outside for lunch. Appetizers were great - we ordered 3 to share and pasta was good. Our waiter was very nice and recommended a good bottle of wine (and among the cheapest)!
(5)
M S.
One of my favorite restaurants in the Streeterville area. It can be a bit pricey if you get appetizers and drinks, but the quality of the food is impeccable. They may have the best pasta dishes (for a price) in the area. For those on a budget (or diet), they also serve half-plates of entrees. The starter bread is also quite nice. Desserts probably are a miss (I've had a few, they are pretty generic).
(5)
bhavna p.
this place is amazing! the vegetable appetizer plate, fresh breads with olive oil, vinegar, parmesan cheese (yum yum), the spaghetti with spicy marinara sauce with onions...so good!! I love it love it love it! the service is pretty good as well. go if you are in town! make reservations in advance, they book up fairly quick.
(5)
Geoff M.
On a warm summer evening you can't go wrong here - sitting outdoors on the patio or inside with the giant windows pulled up - it's a great way to end the day. On a rainy day, the food is equally as delicious. it's tough to choose what to eat, and the food is fairly priced. I had the garganelle with prosciutto and peas the other day and I am still dreaming about it. Even better, it only set me back $13.50!
(4)
Kelli M.
Atmosphere is pretty good, the outdoor seating ni the summer is great. Food is decent, I'd recommend the veal.
(3)
Nicola C.
I love this place, it is the smaller more quaint version of Coco Pazzo and they don't have quite as much on their menu. It is still awesome though, and is great to sit outside of in the summer. Definitely go there if you are out on Michigan Avenue shopping.
(4)
Cristin M.
Cute little place, and if you go in the spring/summer/early fall you can dine outside. The first time I dined here, I had the chicken paillard. I'm not a huge fan of the chicken, but it was decent. They serve it with a nice side of greens with grapes and gorgonzola. I finished my meal with a beautiful panna cotta that was the high point of the meal. Today, I decided to try something new and went with the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms in a porcini/butter/garlic "broth". The pasta was wonderfully cooked, but as far as I could tell, the only mushrooms that I saw in my bowl were button mushrooms. The sauce was very light, but could have used a little more garlic or a few more fresh herbs. All in all, it was good, but could have used a little bit of a kick to make my tastebuds say "wow!". The portions are a good size, not too much, not too little. I definitely did not leave hungry. Good service too.
(3)
Julia B.
Fairly small place, yet it is comfortable and cute. If it's nice then sit outside on their beautiful patio. The food was pretty good-I had a dish that had pasta with chicken and a spicey sauce which was pretty good. The portions are normal and the prices aren't too bad. It's not the best Italian I have had but it is decent.
(3)
Kristin R.
Coco Pazzo Cafe is a nice, quaint, and cheap alternative to its sister restaurant, Coco Pazzo. Strangely, I ended up going to both of these restaurants for back to back dinners and there is very little difference. Coco Pazzo Cafe had many of the same dishes as the other restaurant, but is just a tad less fancy. No white linen table clothes, but rather it is quite a small space. This makes it feel very homey and intimate. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and they were pretty good. I feel like they tasted a bit bland, and it is probably not a dish I would order again, but it was good enough for me to finish my entire plate! There is not a huge selection here, similar to the other, but there are a few vegetarian options, as well as steak, poultry and fish. There is no special bread man at the Cafe that comes around and places just one piece of bread on your plate. Instead you get a basket of a variety of breads and some superb olive oil to dip it in; loved the focaccia. Our service was fast and friendly, and the bathrooms were quite nice. Very clean, always a plus.
(4)
Tanya S.
My friends and I had dinner here on a Friday evening, and we were very happy with everything we ordered. The server's wine recommendation was spot on. I really enjoyed the bruschetta--I sampled mushroom and arugula, as well as goat cheese and sweet pepper. And I highly recommend the pappardelle with wild boar ragu. I could totally smell the freshness of the pasta off my plate, and the whole dish was just very well made. I took off one star because one of the busboys was annoyingly overzealous in refilling our water glasses, notwithstanding our assurances that we didn't need more. He even accidentally hit my hand at one point without any apology. Otherwise, it's a super cute and charming spot for quiet and pleasant dinner. I can't wait to visit during patio season!
(4)
Brian P.
i went for a saturday brunch, and the weather was fair--open doors and whatnot. Antipasto vegetables were a nice touch, however, i felt each item wasn't prepared with the same level of quality--some items felt underdressed, others undercooked (if blanched ex. asparagus). The penne with tuna is an absolute gut-bomb: heavy stuff, and probably just only decent. I probably could have made it. Some of the paninis and such were quite nice. We asked about cheese on a particular dish, as one of our guests was allergic--and it arrived with a ton of cheese on it. I suppose there was a miscommunication of epic failure, but the waiter was kind enough to help us out and trade it in. Reasonable price? check. reasonable value? not so much--quality lags because of what must be the second string cooks in training for the big leagues.
(3)
Peter J.
Always a good choice. Great food and service.
(4)
Joshua C.
Pretty affordable, good service, and a decent interior, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Jayce C.
Coco Pazzo is a Streeterville Godsend! I work as a stylist right around the corner and it is absolutely my favorite lunch spot. I constantly send my clients over for lunch or dinner and they are always elated when they thank me for the recommendation! My Streeterville clients often mention it is their go to for a delicious, consistent experience. With all that said, I'm glad I finally wrote this review to make it official.
(5)
Corinna K.
Came here as part of a group event. We were seated at an area in the back that was on a raised landing of sorts which separated it somewhat from the other diners. Nice for small get-togethers. I was surprised that it wasn't as noisy as i would have expected. A bit on the crowded side with the tables close together. But i guess it compliments the cozy atmosphere. Service was very good. Attentive servers who were skilled and knew what they were doing. Food was very good. Salad was fresh and the salmon was cooked nicely though not the best that I've had. But my favorite of the day has to be the panna cotta dessert with the berries. That was so good that we actually asked the waiter if it was possible that we could get the recipe...of course that wasn't possible, but we had to try! the portions were perfect. If only that panna cotta could've been triple its size...=P Overall very enjoyable and highly recommend.
(4)
Sonia P.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants. The food is great and the staff is friendly. I've never had a bad meal there. I like that they will split the dishes so they are easy to share and you can enjoy several courses. Some of my favorite dishes are the trout, the pappardelle con coniglio and the lasagna. The lasagna is made with beciamella instead of ricotta cheese which is the style in Nothern Italy and is the only way my Italian mamma makes hers. The sauce is not your typical meat sauce usually paired with lasagna but a tasty creamy tomato sauce. I'm usually too full for dessert but enjoy finishing off my meal with an espresso. I really don't think you can go wrong dining here.
(5)
Url R.
A great spot for lunch or early dinner in summer. I recommend the lamb or veal chops. You can be packed in tightly.
(4)
Jocelyn L.
"Love the spicy spaghetti and clam linguine...and super affordable!" Right by Draftfcb offices
(3)
Joshua G.
Great service. Pasta served piping hot and the lunch portions are just right very attentive staff.
(5)
Stephen R.
fresh good sized portion delicious pasta ( a little overcooked) ambiance, and atmosphere is good and cozy. Great food and good value. GO EAT MANGIA
(4)
Venkatesh B.
So we frequented Coco Pazzo Cafe when my wife lived in Streeterville and since we were in town again we couldn't wait to go back. We were seated quickly and the staff were very pleasant. With that said, the drinks often were not filled very quickly, and the main entrees weren't very well made. The pasta was overcooked slightly but still tasty according my wife. It is important to note that in the past our food was off the charts so this could just be an off experience for the Pazzo. Based on this I would normally rank this visit a three star...but wait....they have the killer "comeback" dessert known as the Tartufo which totally is out of this world and bumps them to the fourth star. If we continue to have just average meals, we may eat elsewhere and just come here for the Tartufo.
(4)
Rachel W.
I've eaten both lunch and dinner here; this is a good choice for both. It's a more casual choice that its sister restaurant on Hubbard. The foccacia bread is worth drooling over. I am salivating thinking about dipping it in that olive oil... oh wow. For lunch their paninis or small pasta plates are great. They even have a quatro formaggi panini(a four cheese grilled cheese with all the cheeses you could wish for). Clearly, I was in heaven. For dinner they make great fish or larger pasta entrees. I also took a client group here and they nicely put together a prix fixe for us.
(4)
Jaime S.
The food was delicious(i got the italian version of a salad Nicoise entree), the service was IMPECCABLE, but....it smelled straight up FUNKY in this place today. Does it always smell like a whif of dog shit? No joke, I went to the bathroom and checked my shoes to see if I had stepped in something. After sitting for 20 mins, i got used to it, but still. No BUENO. Takes Reservations! Thank You!
(4)
Laura K.
I had lunch here with my department last week. The food here is pretty good. I had the mushroom risotto with creamy cheese sauce; good, however I think I consumed my daily sodium intake in one meal. The portion size was very generous and I had to take half of the bowl to go. Basket of bread was fresh and olive oil for dipping added a nice touch. Dessert was my fav part - gelato! You can definitely taste that they make their gelati fresh. I had the cinnamon - OMG awesome! It tasted like the milk at the bottom of my cereal bowl after I've finished my Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The wall decor is pretty cool - it reminds me of Tuscany. The paintings provide a warm personality to the atmosphere.
(4)
Sandra M.
I'd had a nice dinner at the "big" Coco Pazzo several years ago, so I was glad to find its little sister near my hotel on my latest trip to Chicago. Caesar Salad: the anchovies were lovely, but the salad had way too much thick, almost pasty dressing and was kind of limp. The accompanying parmesan fricco, described as a "crisp", was anything but. Salmon: Grilled, with artichoke bottoms, cherry tomatoes, and a few potatoes and some tasty olives on top. The fish was okay but overall the dish just didn't come together. So maybe I just ordered badly. Probably should have tried a pasta. Service was good, with a nice wine recommendation, but I wasn't so sure that the second glass of wine I ordered was the same kind as the first. Nice atmosphere; I just wish I'd had a better meal here.
(2)
Andrew S.
Had lunch here recently. I ordered two specials and found them both to be tasty. I had the while bean soup which was flavorful and the perfect touch on a snowy day. I followed that with homemade spinach ravioli with red sauce, which was cooked well and well seasoned. The service was attentive and friendly. My only real complaint was the price for the quantity of food, which I found a bit high. Definitely would recommend this place for an upscale lunch downtown.
(4)
Ryan B.
Stiff Glenlivet on the rocks and pasta in my belly puts me in a happy spot. This place was within walking distance to the hotel I was staying in and came highly recommended by the staff. Smaller place and I could see it getting busy and hard to get a seat. I nestled in at the bar and was able to catch up on a little news on the TV and listen into peoples conversations next to me. The bartender was extremely attentive and had a few great recommendations. I love places like this as they provided a much better experience than a chain as they have soul. Next time I am in Chicago for business Coco Pazzo Cafe you are on my list.
(4)
Tim F.
Other reviews seemed hot / cold, and I wondered if part of this may have been due to different meals attended versus restaurant inconsistency. All I can say is, our experience here was amazing, and I'm rather picky about good Italian. We had: 1) Carpaccio appetizer 2) Cauliflower soup appetizer 3) Pork loin entree with rabe and mashed potato 4) Ravioli special of the day Everything was great. Will be back, and I hope the review doesn't change then.
Made a reservation for dinner here on our hotel's recommendation. Restaurant could not accommodate the time slot we wanted, so we accepted an earlier reservation. When we arrived at the restaurant, two people ahead of us - who did not have a reservation - refused a back corner table and asked for one by the window. They were graciously accommodated. The hostess then sat us at the table they rejected. When we asked to be seated by the window, she said there were too many requests and she could only offer us a table right by the entry door. The food and service were both good, but I could not help but notice that 2 prime window tables were still empty when we left. I was really disappointed by the shabby treatment
(2)
D C.
Went here right at the end of the summer. Great experience with good food. I was a little nervous coming here when its fancier sister restaurant Cocco Pazo was just a few blocks away. I made the right choice. Everything was wonderful from the food to the service, they were on top of their game. Atmosphere: The atmosphere here was really nice. I came during lunch hour and there was a nice mix of business professionals and locals. Everyone seemed to be happily enjoying their meals and immersed in great conversation. I sat outside which was a nice experience. It seems like this is the better option, as inside seemed too stuffy and pretty loud. Service: The service here was really good. They came to check in during my meal and were there constantly to refill my drink and the breadbasket (more on that shortly!). Food: To start, they bring a bread basket of assorted items as well as olive oil to dip in. The focaccia bread was my favorite and was soooo with the nice olive oil. After filling up on a full basket I was ready for the next course lol! I ordered the Paillard Di Pollo which is chicken breast, spinach, goat cheese and grapes. The chicken was pounded thin and was grilled nicely. The accompaniments made it seem like a chicken salad! The portions here are very generous, especially considering it was lunch. Prices are very fair for what you get and for being in such a nice section of the city. I will return no doubt next time I make my way to Chicago.
(4)
Brenda T.
My friend and I decided that we should book a restaurant for dinner Christmas Eve. We both thought Coco Pazzo would be great to try since we hadn't been there in awhile. We made a reservation via Open Table. When we arrived, the host fumbled around checking to see if we indeed had a reservation. We were seated at 6 PM. Our waiter came over to take a drink order. We asked if we could taste some white wine options because we were planning to order a bottle of wine for dinner. The 3 selections were very sweet, and we wanted a dry wine. Our waiter enlisted the assistance of the "expert". The "Wine Expert" came over to offer his advice, and we decided on a red wine instead of a white. A few minutes later he brought us a "glass" of the bottle we ordered. We said we ordered the bottle, and he said "Okay, I will take these glasses and pour them back , and get your bottle..." Pour the glasses back?! Our food came out. The salad was just okay. The lasagna was wonderful! Our lobster ravioli (the special for the evening) was ice cold. Our waiter never came back to check. We asked to see a manager. Our "Wine Expert" was in fact the manager. We professionally told him we were upset about the fact that he was pouring our glasses of wine back in the bottle behind the bar, and that our entree was cold. He defended his bar practices, and reluctantly took the pasta off the check. He also mentioned that the practice of pouring the wine back into the bottle was not unusual since he had worked for Coco Pazzo for 14 years. Appalling Service, and Bar practices. I have no words to describe this Christmas Eve Dinner.
(1)
Robin Z.
This was my second visit, the BF's first, and it was the perfect antidote to an unseasonably cold and bitter Friday (snow in late April? Not cool Chicago). We had a late reservation and got there as most of the 7pm diners were winding down their entrees and desserts but it was pleasantly busy and almost festive. Our server was outstanding, really knew the menu inside and out. One of my favorite things about this place is the gorgeous rustic antipasto table in the center of the right-hand side dining room. Always with an enormous (5-ft high) bouquet of real greenery and flowers and many white platters of roasted vegetables, olives, etc. Our server made us a lovely plate of mixed vegetables, sliced meats and cheese with a simply-dressed arugula salad and it was the perfect starter. We ordered the wild boar pappardelle and the lasagna and both were excellent, especially the pappardelle. Our martinis were perfect, the server's wine recommendations were spot on, and they had my favorite dessert, tartufo, which seems so hard to come by these days. All in all a wonderful meal and the perfect ending to a long week of business travel. My only complaint - the ladies room is freezing!
(4)
#NAME?
Came here for lunch on Sat. If you want a peaceful lunch/dinner and want to sit outside you might want to consider the location, you are next to the hospital, so ambulances do come by- FOOD: I really didn't want a panini from here, nor a pasta or steak for lunch so I settled on Bruschetta, I am glad I did-It was traditional so full of flavor, yet I had massive garlic breath the whole day from it- My husband ordered the fresh greens salad, which was so fresh and delicious and the minestrone soup, I'll take his word on the soup- I would come here again for the bruschetta- Service was a tad slow, I mean we were one of maybe 6 tables in the place-Maybe it's b/c we were there before the Sat. lunch rush-
(4)
Silvia J.
I decided to try the cafe as opposed to the restaurant as part of my tour of the Most Authentic Italian restaurants as voted by the Italian government. Mainly because of financial reasons ;D The pasta was "perfetto"! You know what they say about sensory memory?? Well, the first bite took me back to Italy sitting in an alfresco ristorante in Trastevere neighborhood of Rome eating al dente homeade pasta. Not only was the pasta at Coco Pazzo cafe cooked exactly the way I had it in Italy, I could tell their ingredients in their semifreddo was FRESH (like in Italy - ALL ingredients are fresh from the farmers market to the plate). I will venture to say that so far Coco Pazzo cafe is about as close to the Italian eating experience I had without actually being in Italy. My only quip is the service was not very fast...by American standards. Compared to Italian standards...well Coco Pazzo Cafe maybe slightly faster LOL! And I prefer my white wine (this time Soave) to have been served colder than it was. Hence the 4, but I definately plan to go back to Coco Pazzo Cafe!
(4)
Pamela C.
Great lunch spot. The Quatro Formaggi sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I've had in a while. Fresh mozzarella, brie, fontina, and goat cheese.....nom. Que rico! Next time I'll have to send that evil bread basket back so I can savor every carb-filled bite. I came here after work the other night craving the sandwich alas, the sandwiches are not available after lunch hour. I tried the Gnocchi instead. Meh, not bad. One of those rare dishes that tasted better when reheated the next day. My dad was hooked on the spaghetti with spicy red chili and asked to return here the next time he is in town. A yummy crowd pleaser, better suited for lunch than dinner.
(4)
Tasha A.
I'd agree with Andrea R, if you're looking for reasonably priced Italian food, Coco Pazzo is a good spot to check out. I went for simple bruschetta & minestrone soup; wasn't looking for a heavy lunch that day. The chef's daily selection bruschetta wasn't bad - and hello?! You cannot mess up minestrone! I thought the prices were pretty good for the other options on their lunch menu as well. When I'm in Chicago, I'll be sure to check it out again.
(3)
Caroline A.
Not a fan of this place. We had lunch here the other day and we were disappointed. The restaurant was not busy at all, and we sat on the outdoor patio. First of all, it took the server way too long to take our order. We must have sat for about 10 minutes because he came to our table. He was very polite when he did take our order, and I made sure to note that we were on a time crunch. He said, "we'll do our best." Dude... there was nobody in the restaurant!! Our food took 25 minutes to come out. BF had the chicken panini and I had the mushroom. It doesn't take that long to make a panini... So we basically threw our sandwiches down our throats and waited for the check. Our server was MIA. So we asked another server for our check, and she took forever. In our time crunch, I suggested to BF that he just go in and pay... while we were waiting inside five minutes, she comes out with 4 other checks in her hands... completely disregarding the fact that we told her 10 minutes ago that we were in a time crunch and had to catch a flight. Horrendous! Food was ok. Spices in my portabello panini were a bit off... too much tomato. Fries were cold when they came out. We will not be returning to this restaurant. I hate bad service.
(2)
JT G.
My wife, son and I recently had dinner here and it was a nice "casual" dining establishment. The outdoor seating was nice, and the staff super friendly and attentive. My wife is in a wheelchair and they were extra attentive to make something work for us. The food was much more authentic Italian than most Italian restaurants I've been to recently when their "American style" dishes. Which was most refreshing. The amount of pasta you get with the pasta dishes is substantial and their fish was a generous portion as well. Their wine list was large, however one item of note the majority of wine was not available by the glass. Over all an excellent intimate eating establishment with nice atmosphere and A+++ staff.
(4)
Marie B.
Dined here for lunch with a dear friend who is a bit of a "foodie". We were both impressed. I had a pannini, which was quite good and I adored the homemade potato chips. My friend said his meal was good as well. We also had a yummy bottle of wine...the name escapes me, but... Oh, the service? Was very attentive...without being overly so. Overall, a nice experience.
(3)
Tara M.
Given its close proximity to my place, I've been to Coco Pazzo Cafe for dinner many a time. I've always enjoyed myself and the atmosphere, but it wasn't until this past Thursday evening when I truly realized what a cute little place it is. Sitting outside around 9pm, a friend and I enjoyed a few glasses of wine, a basket of bread and...a few more glasses of wine. Our server, whose name I never caught, was friendly, attentive and generally pleasant. When it came time to order our last round, I asked if the restaurant was closed (it seemed as though everyone was starting to clean up). He indicated that they were, in fact, closed, but that he would be there for a while so we were welcome to have another round. Not like we needed one, but we took him up on his offer and paid the bill so he could at least cash out. Looking from the outside in, Coco Pazzo is cute, quaint and romantic. The meals I've had have always been solid and the service attentive but not overly so. The crowd was a mix of tourists young and old, and locals like myself with friends or even sitting solo on the patio. Everyone seemed to be very relaxed and content. This may just be my new spot for quiet nights of overindulgence.
(4)
Mark S.
What a treat...sat outside in beautiful weather as the sun set...had the gnocchi with friends...it was perfectly done and the red wine suggestion complemented it nicely. Great view and a great experience.
(4)
Juliet G.
I visited with a group of 10 for dinner. Just too noisy for my liking. I also did not like that they would not give us separate checks. One nice thing is that you can order half portions of meals to cut down on the cost and pasta that may be too much after you eat other items which is nice. I ordered linguini with clam sauce that was very good. Just an okay experience.
(3)
Priya S.
Good place to enjoy a casual , but intimate Italian food experience. The weather was beautiful and they had outdoor seating which is a plus. We enjoyed the appetizers- funghi (mushrooms) and beet salad. The entrees we ordered were fine-they were specials for the night- a sea bass and pasta dish- we didn't get blown away with them. The dessert was awesome- we ordered tartufo- which I would recommend. The service was great. Overall good experience
(4)
Tanya Z.
Pretty busy here, make sure u reserve yourself a table before deciding to go. The food is great and the wine was decent also.
(4)
Bradley S.
Mom, Partner and I dined here Friday. I met them after work so it was an early dinner. We opted for sidewalk seating as the weather had moderated, and, well, al fresco dining in Chicago is on the wane for the year. This may not be the right choice for all given the proximity to Northwestern Hospital and their ambulance traffic. That said, the tables weren't too crowded and were nicely dressed. Our waiter, Theo, was professional, efficient and accommodating. Mom ordered and thoroughly enjoyed her Lasagna; Partner was very happy with the pasta dish which included the rabbit ragout. I got a taste and would definitely recommend it. I enjoyed the duck breast with polenta and grilled peaches. I had a glass o garnish wine with the entree and while the choices were sufficient, they weren't exceptional. The presentations were all appetizing. The desserts were wonderful. Mom loved her Semifreddo, a semi-frozen raspberry mouse with berries and chocolate. Partner really liked the Crostata with with fresh berries and gelato. I swooned over the zabaiglione. The menu described it simply with berries. I asked Theo if there was a choice of berries. I'm not allergic to strawberries or blueberries and I don't hate them, I just don't love them and relayed to Theo that if there was a choice, I'd prefer just raspberries and/or blackberries. What was delivered was a big bowl of red raspberries with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and mint garnish. As Theo was passing by he glanced at the table, apologized for the confusion, and raced off to retrieve the zabaiglione. It had been several years since I'd partaken in this sweet. It was everything I remembered and more. I will say the alcohol was a tad hot which may not be to everyone's liking.
(4)
Maria C.
This has always been one of my favorite places in Chicago for a good, unpretentious Italian. The place is great, cool and the outdoor seating is one of the best in summertime. The food is consistently great, over and over again. However, now that I have twin daughters and changing diapers during a meal is nothing other than frequent, I was a little disappointed when I saw that they have no changers in the restroom! AND on a Saturday afternoon during lunch time (in a summer day, the city was happening, etc...) their restrooms were extremely dirty. Come on guys, this doesn't match who you guys are.
(2)
John H.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago for its great value, authentic flavors and reliability. I always know that I can go here for either lunch or dinner and the food and service will be great. They're missing some of the "higher end" dishes of the parent restaurant like truffled veal ragu and things of that nature, but the prices are more reasonable and the chef here is still creative and there are always daily specials to keep things interesting. The outdoor seating in the summer is also much appreciated.
(5)
caroline k.
Was lucky to get a table for 4 last minute on a busy Saturday night. At 8pm the place was packed and a buzz. We ordered: - Calamari appetizer: made well with good tomato marinara dipping sauce - Tuscan soup: basically a Minestrone, which was disappointing. - Black ink pasta: made the error of all 4 of us ordering the 1/2 size portions. My dish, which apparently was the last off the pan, had clumps of pasta in what otherwise what have been a beautiful dish. I almost sent it back but was hungry and didn't want the extra wait. - Tartufo dessert: vanilla and chocolate gelato dipped in chocolate with a cherry in the middle. Nothing exciting. - Tiramisu: looked great, but couldn't taste any marsala. Would go back but beware of a busy kitchen pumping out dishes en masse.
(3)
Emily E.
I initially wanted to go to Coco Pazzo because the reviews on yelp look decent to me, and it didn't look very expensive. I made reservations for 8:30 yesterday (Saturday) in the afternoon, I planned on watching a movie with friends and then getting dinner. We arrived about 10 minutes earlier than our reservation and the hosts said that it would be a few minutes. They asked us to wait at the bar, we didn't plan on getting drinks so we didn't head over there, and there wasn't much standing room for waiting. We felt a bit in the way of everyone... After waiting awhile, we were seated around 8:35. Our water was filled, and the bread came. Our waiter ( I wish I knew his name) was very polite and came by every so often, but not enough to disrupt our conversation. My friends ordered a chopped salad, gnocci and rigatoni. I ordered the spaghetti special (with clams!) and Rapini. Unfortunately for me I didn't know Rapini was bitter and only ate a little bit until I couldn't take it any longer, and didn't touch it for the remainder of our meal. I was really sad because I wanted to eat the verdantly green broccoli... All of us were pretty ravenous, so we finished everything on our plates! Plus everything was really tasty. No complaints on the quality of the dishes! Finally, they came for our plates and asked me about my Rapini, I just simply said I had no idea Rapini was bitter and didn't want to take it home. My server had the Rapini taken off my check, (which was a relief to me) and I thought that it was a good gesture because I sincerely did not enjoy the Rapini. But, I wasn't a jerk about it. Last thng is, I'd suggest getting a reservation because it is an intimate/cozier restaurant. (They have sidewalk seating too) Overall, the service was good, our glasses were filled, people came when we needed them, the food was tasty and the prices were reasonable. I'm going to definitely go back, and this time bring my boyfriend!
(5)
Ann K.
Just got back from dinner. It was the best. The service was excellent, the ambiance terrific and our dinners were terrific. The guys had the veal which they raved about. I had the rigatoni which was wonderful & my sister had the lasagna, which was also wonderful. Both the Rigatoni & Lasagna were In a pink cream sauce not the standard red gravy. Very unique & flavorful. We would highly recommend this restaurant, but do make a reservation.
(5)
Erica G.
I was very excited to try this restaurant because I'd heard good things about Coco Pazzo, the original and more expensive sister restaurant. Not wanting to break the bank so soon after the holidays, we opted to try the cafe as an alternative. I was disappointed. The dishes were premade and not fresh. The food came out so fast and it was obvious the appetizers were made in advance and chilled in the kitchen. Mozzarella from the appetizer menu was amazing, but the roasted tomatoes served with the cheese was ice cold. The tomatoes should have been room temperature or warmed. Tomatoes should never be chilled or stored in the fridge. Bruschetta options looked very interesting but were also served with cold, premade toppings. The white bean and black truffle was the best tasting, but the mushroom and others didn't taste as good at the cold temperature they were served at. Ceasar salad was probably one of the worst I've ever had because it was premade and the croutons were soggy and cold. It also stated on the menu it was served with white anchovies, which were missing from the dish. Me and my party tried three pasta dishes. The Pappardelle with wild boar with fresh house made pasta was pretty good. Linguine Vongole came with generous portions of clams. The other was a special with hand shaved lamb. Lamb was great but very little portion of it was included in the dish. Bonus is...the pasta's can be served in appetizer portions. Great idea so you are not overloaded with a huge plate of food. Gelati...ok if you try the banana, but the other flavors lacked "flavor." Wine list is limited. Try this place for a casual lunch and wine, but don't have high expectations if you are looking for an amazing meal. Tables are also very close together and not much privacy. Almost uncomfortable because you feel as if everyone can hear your conversation...and they can.
(2)
Puja S.
My husband and I went to Coco Pazzo Cafe last week. It was a perfect place to sit outside and have a glass of wine. We absolutely loved the spaghetti. It had the absolute right amount of heat. The Rigatoni is good as well (if you are in the mood of eating something heavy). I've tried the linguine on a previous visit and did not like this dish too much - there was nothing special about the dish.
(4)
Sandy R.
Used to eat here a lot when I worked in the area. Had a leisurely Sunday lunch to celebrate my sister's birthday. It was just the 3 generations of girls. Their food is really good and they offer a great selection. We had the special gnocchi, the special fish, linguine with white clam sauce, tortellini and a few starters. I thought everything was really good and the portions while not huge were big enough for leftovers.
(4)
Karen H.
Wow! I haven't had pasta this good in a long time. I ordered the beef carpaccio as an appetizer, which melts in your mouth. I wasn't sure which wine to order (undecided between 2 reds) - and the server brought out a small glass of each one for me to try and see which one I like best...very nice! I decided on a very nice cab/merlot blend - yum. For the main course, I tried their tagliolini which was out of this world. I would definitely order this again. For dessert, I tried their apple crostata and by this point I was in heaven. They serve it with cinnamon gelato, the crostata warmed, with strawberries/blueberries for garnish. Delicious! Excellent service. Dress nicely for dinner. Great place for a date!
(5)
Norm P.
Tonight, great ravioli and tasty lasagna. Salads are fresh and staff is attentive. Would recommend this pleasant Italian restaurant for a very an enjoyable meal.
(4)
Anthony Z.
Excellent value, and one hell of a scene. Went on a Sunday night, sat outside, and greatly enjoyed the wines and watching all of the scensters. The food is classic northern Italian and was spot on. Wine selection was good. Zabaglione dessert was a minor disappointment and could have been better; sauce was too thick and cool.
This place was a terrific little find not far from the hustle of Michigan Ave, but a block over so you need to know how to find it. I had a terrific dinner and great service. I'll definitely return.
(4)
Keiko S.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago. I love it not really for the food, but more for the atmosphere. It's over all very warm and casual with a lively crowd, and of course, plenty of good wine helps. On days that are too cold, the inside dining area is as enjoyable nonetheless. As for the food, the panini sandwiches (served at lunch time) are great, as well as the polenta, squid ink pasta and linguine. For dessert, the creme brulee is a must! Friendly servers, satisfying portions. PS. in case you're wondering why there are so many tourists here, this place is featured in a very popular Japanese tour guide.
(4)
Carri A.
Really cute outdoor seating, delicious gnocchi, good fettucine (with mushrooms and parmesan) and my friend thoroughly enjoyed her quail dish. The entrees seemed expensive for the portion size and the spinaci (spinach side dish) seemed a little bland. And the service was seriously lacking (except for the water guy). It took our waiter at least 10 minutes after he picked up our dishes to get us the check. And he didnt inform my other friend that there are no free refills on drinks - otherwise she would have stuck with her one pepsi in a small but fancy glass. Good meal but I probably wont be coming back again.
(3)
chloe p.
the maitre'd is the biggest asshole on the planet its almost funny. food was good, but he was THAT BIG of an asshole that it was still distracting...especially when halfway thru our meal, he and his culturally ambiguous co-host SAT DOWN for DINNER even though the restaurant was still more than half full and it was only like 9:45pm on a friday night. not, like, at the bar.... at a table right in front!! in front of everybody ....people still coming & going. (huh??!) spaghetti was good. service pretty bad. veal was also pretty good. maitre'd was hideous inside & out. too many better places to go to in the city. have been here probably 5 other times........won't be back.
(2)
Natalie B.
I love this restaurant. Both of my parents spent time at Northwestern hospital (which is across the street from Coco Pazzo) and my family found ourselves here on many occasion throughout those long days eating delicious pasta and warming our hearts. Their spaghetti (extra spicy with fettuccine) is the best pasta I've ever had. The sauce is subtlety spicy and perfect.
(4)
Mandy P.
Don't bother with this place for lunch. That's how I feel after yesterday. The service sucked and the sides changed for the paninis - it used to be a nice little salad. If I really wanted potato chips as a side dish, I would walk the block east to Panera. We received dirty looks and rolling of eyes when we asked for separate checks BEFORE we ordered our food! It's not like we were annoying and asked when the bill came. He basically wouldn't do it for us. Also, I asked to have my sandwich on the piadini instead of bread and that was a whole other issue for him in iteself. Get that man out of customer service! I wish I hadn't been on the clock. That lunch made me need a cocktail.
(2)
Ana L.
The nhoque its PERFECT! great service!! I came with my puppy and we stayed at the patio and it was really nice!!! The service its amazing and also the pinot grigio! Hehe Great italian place to have greeeeat food!!!! Ask for the nhoque you wont regret!
Coco Pazzo Cafe was described by a family friend as their favorite restaurant in all of Chicago, which surprised me slightly because it's a tiny place located right next to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We chose the place based on that recommendation and the fact that it was close to our hotel. After a day of museums and walking through oppressive heat and stifling humidity, the added ability to dine al fresco while enjoying the summer evening seemed like a great idea. Our experience overall was rather mixed. The restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night and it's a very cute place with a great outdoor patio. We watched them efficiently turn over tables and it didn't seem like people were waiting long. The food was slightly disappointing. I'd say that the highlights of the evening were the octopus and the bruschetta that we had as appetizers. Bruschetta is quite reasonably priced, and I most enjoyed the tomato/basil and the mushroom options. The pasta courses that we ordered were squid ink and the tagliatelle. While tasty, both were disappointing because the pasta was way overcooked. It was soft and slimy, a far cry from the al dente that most people would expect for a place that specializes in pasta. For entrees, the monkfish special and the pork tenderloin were good but nothing particularly memorable or innovative. Portions overall were large and we were too full for dessert. They had two barolos on their wine list and we selected one of them. It was good, and opened up nicely after a little time. Service was attentive and efficient, and we enjoyed the recommendations from our server, particularly with wine selection. I didn't love the tables themselves. They were really small, quite uncomfortable for a party of 4, and several times the server or assistants had to reach pretty much through the food or over wine/water glasses to grab plates. Everything is perched precariously when there are more than two entrees on the table, necessitating the removal of candles, bread, salt/pepper shakers, and other miscellaneous items over the course of the meal. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of if your party is more than 3 people. Overall, a decent place, well-located with close proximity to the Mag Mile and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I'd go back again, and hopefully on a future visit they'll execute the pastas a little better.
(3)
Angela R.
Enjoyed a beautiful night dining outside. The highlight of dinner was that Scottie Pippen walked by and said hello. 3 out of 4 of us were disappointed with out for. My lasagna tasted very close to the microwaved chef boyardee. This place was recommended by a couple friends but I don't know what they saw and that I missed. Wouldn't recommend or return, instead would head two blocks south to Volare.
(2)
Karen G.
Excellent and great service the appetizers where delicious. The fries were out of this world!!!
(4)
Colin C.
I really liked the ambience here as well as the staff. Seems like a small Italian restaurant in a small street in another country with intimate seating. Wasn't too busy on a Friday night either. The noise was a bit loud though. Food-wise it was good but nothing too special. The frites, lasagna, and salads were good. Not too huge of portions on some of the pasta dishes but the fried chicken was quite big. Prices for this area were actually very decent but it definitely wasn't cheap. I would normally give them 4 stars but I hold Chicago restaurants to a higher standard and they weren't anything to write home about but a good option. Especially if visiting someone at the NW hospital next door like we were.
(3)
Katie T.
Fantastic. Very rustic pasta dishes. Nice atmosphere..
(5)
Puki B.
The pasta looks really good but tastes very plain. It was tasteless to a point that we complained to the server but he was rude and just insisted that it was good. Don't come here for the Lasagna. The Spaghetti AOP doesn't taste good too. I know I'm picky but it's just too plain. Don't come here. It's not worth it. Service is not on point too.
(1)
Emily S.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. They were very knowledgeable on the food and area. The patio area was lovely. The food was good, not amazing but it was enjoyable
(4)
Douglas L.
This is a destination restaurant! It is so well located, charming and with and ease of elegance that draws you in. The food is consistently on point. The vitello marsala and the pork tenderloin wrapped in pancetta are both first rate. Great food and great service. Edgar is an amazing server!
(4)
Meghana P.
I don't understand the slightly lower ratings on this place, although if it means I get to keep this place to myself, that's fine. I love the decor and atmosphere as well, and the wine selection is excellent and not overpriced. The Italian food here is genuine and delicious - I would definitely try the Spaghetti AOP (I'm getting hungry even thinking about it), and the patio is wonderful when the Chicago weather cooperates. The tiramisu is a little too sweet (I don't like the chocolate sauce on top either), but the other desserts definitely make up for this. I would recommend making a reservation, and I would also recommend trying this place now.
My business partner and I had lunch at the Cafe and really enjoyed our meal. We shared a calamari fritta and each had a beet salad. Everything was fresh and delicious. The atmosphere was comfortable and we could have sat there all day talking. We liked that the manager and the owner came over to talk to us. One thing I want to point out to all the people who complain about the restrooms is that they are not Coco Pazzo Cafe restrooms, they belong to the HOTEL. So PLEASE direct your anger and negative comments to the The Red Roof Inn ((312) 787-3580) and not the Cafe.
(4)
Debbie F.
Very good lunch, friendly staff, nice sitting outside under the awning on a nice day. I recommend the vegetable salad with added grilled chicken. Simple and yummy.
(5)
Kristy V.
ready for the quickest review ever? great food, exceptional service, incredible atmosphere!! done! :-)
(5)
Rebecca N.
Really enjoyed my meal here! Would round it up to 3.5 stars. It is low key and quaint.The service was attentive, but did not interupt us. A nice intimate date spot--it was very quiet. We got the three brushettas. I like the toppings but the bread tasted a bit burnt. We did the caramelized onions and gorgonzola, truffle and white bean (my fav) and honey and ricotta. Then we shared the gnocchi and mahi. The mahi was absolutely out of this world. We both woke up talking about it in the morning!
(3)
Frank O.
Went for Restaurant week. Despite having a later reservation we were able to be seated 45 min early, and the rest of the service was on that level. We started with the Sette Vegetali (nothing special) and the Polpo (tasty octopus), had the mushroom Risotto (great if you like mushrooms) and Rigatoni alla Buttera (great, flavorful and good portion), and both finished with the Panna Cotta (the real reason we went here). At only $33 for dinner it was a solid meal, and the atmosphere and service would great. I'd come here more often if only the prices were lower, because it's not really a place you can afford on a student budget.
(5)
Craig E.
Visited Coco Pazzo Cafe recently when on vacation with my best friend in Chicago. It got off to a rough start when we tried to order off the menus we were given and told that we had been given the wrong menus (lunch instead of dinner, it was around 3 and 4 p.m.) So we had to look over a new menu before making a selection. We were served bread and olive oil while we waited for our meal. It was okay, but my friend said she didn't like the oil. I ordered the polenta with roasted veggies and my friend got the gnocchi. We felt they were okay, but were our least favorite of our visit. And they were also the smallest portion wise. Worst of all was that we finished our meals and waited what seemed like forever before the waiter came by to check on us. I would have been more understanding had they been busy, but we were the only ones there when we were seated and during our meal, only one other couple was there. Four people in the restaurant and the waiter never checks on you during your meal? Hands down the worst service I've ever received anywhere in the country, let alone Chicago.
(1)
Jane W.
We chose this on the high recommendation from the concierge at the Sheraton on a bitterly cold, snowy night. Upon arriving, we were immediately welcomed by the Maître d'. The ambience was warm and inviting and very much like a comfortable neighborhood cafe. Our server Miguel was terrific as were the other staff who ensured our water glasses were never less than half empty and seamlessly served & cleared plates. From the recitation of the specials to the recommendations of the house specialties, we were enthused at the offerings and only wished we could have tried more dishes. The veal medallions were perfect, and my colleagues raved about their selections as well. It was a delightful and relaxing and delicious experience and I hope to get back there again. I encourage others to try this little gem!
(4)
Filipp G.
Stopped by accidentally as the place we were looking for was closed. Did not regret it one bit. Both the Faroese salmon and the ravioli were fantastic, as was the bruschetta. The bread was a bit stale but that was just one more reason not to fill up on it and leave room for the food. Ambiance was nice and quiet, which was also a major plus, although as two thirtysomethings we felt a bit out of place.
(5)
Divya J.
I've been here twice. The location is great, as is the ambiance. My first time there I was a bit annoyed that the server did not provide a bread basket till my friend also arrived, especially because I was hungry. The second time I visited, however, I received more prompt service. I've eaten the Spaghetti and the Ricotta & Spinach ravioli. The Spaghetti was great because the tomato sauce they used was really flavorful. I did not think the ravioli was anything special.
(4)
Lise S.
I moved to this neighborhood recently and have been wanting to try this quaint Italian cafe. We had a lovely dinner last night sitting outside on a great evening. Our appetizers and pasta dishes were excellent!! Many restaurants with sidewalk sitting areas have the problem of loud traffic noise, but that isn't the case here. The ambiance and service was great and we look forward to going back to try other dishes at this quaint neighborhood cafe!!
(4)
Kristen B.
We stumbled upon this place en route to Navy Pier on a Saturday night. At 7:30 pm we were seated right away and there were several tables available in the restaurant. We had asked for outdoor seating, she asked if we had a reservation (we did not) and said they didn't have availability. This was a little disappointing because we saw an empty table that remained empty for the entire meal (and quite a few more were empty by the time we left). Honestly, the outdoor seating would have added at least a star to my review. We would have even taken a small wait to sit outside, but this was not an option. My husband and I spilt a caprese salad and the ravioli in brown butter sauce. The food was good, but not spectacular. My daughter had a Caesar Salad which was quite good. The bread service at the start of the meal was good and they brought us more when the basket was empty. I had Pinot Grigio that was pretty standard and my husband ordered an iced tea which he said was the best he had ever tasted (and the guy drinks a ton of iced tea!) We all split a Tiramisu and Tartufo. Both were very good. I felt the prices were just a little on the high side for what we got, but with the location I could understand. Had the entrees come with soup or salad it would justify the price a bit more. One thing to note is that while there were quite a few families there with children, they did not have a children's menu. I also felt the staff could be a bit more friendly and helpful. They also didn't have salt and pepper at the tables which I found a little odd. And the bathroom needed a good scrubbing...thankfully I visited at the end of my meal because this would have been a huge turn off if I went beforehand. An employee was leaving the bathroom as I walked in and she hadn't bothered to pick up paper rolls, etc that were on the floor. I get that this isn't her job and it's rude that previous patrons didn't properly throw them away, but that definitely left a bit of a negative impression on me. They also could benefit from an air freshner or two! Would probably come back for an afternoon dessert (especially outside), but not sure I would eat dinner here again with all the other choices around.
(3)
Lisa N.
I had the black squid ink with shrimp. FANTASTIC! My mouth is literally salivating as I write this review. We had the Prosciutto with chees and honey as well as the grilled octopus. The octopus was sooo tender it practically melted in my mouth. My friend ordered "regular" spaghetti which I felt was a waste of a night out...until the dish came. The portion was superb (she def had enough for leftover/lunch the next day). And the flavor had a nice kick to it so not just your typical, boring spaghetti. My meal was great, the pasta was mild but the squid ink flavor was noticeable. The shrimp were succulent and the sauce perfectly complimented the seafood in the dish. Their olive oil is something special as well. very rustic tasting and fruity. The service was impeccable, my glass never fell below the half-way mark. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Lisa P.
This location is right near where I work, so I frequently come here for lunch. I love their food, I have never had a bad dish here, the food is consistent. The spaghetti AOP is my favorite...everything I've tried has been great. I would say that typically the service is a bit off; sometimes slow, sometimes too fast, the waiters can be awkward/not helpful. Essentially the service is inconsistent. That being said, the food is always great and their patio is fabulous;)
(4)
David I.
Don't let the 3.5 stars overall fool you. This place is one of my fav Italian restaurants in Chicago.
(5)
Norm J.
So I was finally able to go to Coco Pazzo Cafe tonight. I was suppose to go last week, but my date sent me the cancelation text the day of (tears of rejection were shed I'm not gonna lie). I convinced my friend to come with me tonight (sad I know) and she said yes because (1) she's a good friend or (2) she has no life. I'll let you the reader decide which option is correct. We started off the meal with Calamari. It was good, but tasted like calamari I've had a million times before. Next we had the Bruschetta (Tomato & Basil, Mushroom & Parmesan, Buffalo Ricotta & Tuscan Honey). The Tomato & Basil was just OK and the Mushroom & Parmesan was LOADED with so many mushrooms I think the parmesan decided to stay in the kitchen. I swear if there was parmesan on those slices of bread than the waiter must have eaten it off before he got to our table. Now the Buffalo Ricotta & Tuscan Honey was pretty amazing. It was so good I wanted to lick the little bit of buffalo ricotta that got on my fingers, but since I was in direct eye site of the maitre d' I decided against doing it. For our entrees we had the Spaghetti AOP and the Vitello Scallopine. The spaghetti was...well spaghetti. The most exciting thing about this dish was that it came with a huge red pepper in the center of it. I dared my friend to take a bite of it, but she elected not to (I think she was trying to be all fancy and highfalutin). The Vitello Scallopine was veal medallions with a tablespoon of mashed potatoes and teaspoon of spinach. I was disappointed by the portion size and by the taste. It was just OK. So after dining at Coco Pazzo Cafe I realize that 1) there's no need for me to go back, 2) paying for refills on soda should be outlawed, 3) my date who canceled on me, while missing out on an AWESOME date, probably made the right call since Coco Pazzo Cafe isn't all that great.
(2)
Chris K.
Had lunch yesterday after a doctor visit. Had the ravioli, my wife had the risotto. We enjoyed the food and ambience the restaurant gave us. Will go back
(3)
Ryan Z.
After strolling Magnificent Mile for a couple hours, we decided to to look for an outdoor lunch patio a bit off the main strip. We stumbled upon Coco Pazzo Cafe and sat down to enjoy a leisurely Italian lunch. The mussel appetizer was a good choice and included more vegetables than I'm used to seeing. The vegetables soaked up the sauce and ended up stealing the show from the mussels. My clam pasta was just okay. The pasta itself was flavorful and cooked well but the sauce seemed like a puddle of butter and was so greasy I couldn't enjoy the bottom half of the bowl. Jessica only ate half of her gnocchi and with good reason. It just tasted like boring unseasoned potatoes. The kicker was the constant traffic that included far too many screaming ambulances. Northwest hospital is just a couple blocks away. We probably should have known better.
(2)
Snow W.
Had lunch today. Could not be worse. I ordered the shrimp risotto which had three small shrimps. Literally three. Very disappointed
(1)
Ashlie G.
We have made dining at Coco Pazzo something of a pre-race tradition when we have running races in Chicago. The food is consistently delicious and something I look forward to when I am in town. This visit to Coco Pazzo was not part of our pre-race tradition, we decided to have dinner here for the simple fact that we were in town and Coco Pazzo is so good! I found the table reservation feature from Yelp to be really convenient especially since we were doing all sorts of running around that day. I made the reservation for 4 people which I later had to call and change to 5 since we had another friend join us. I was disappointed when I called to make the change I didn't get the sense that they verified my reservation and added the person. They simply said okay and hung up. We arrived at Coco Pazzo about 10 minutes early for dinner which seemed okay since they weren't busy. They asked if we wanted to sit at the window seat they had reserved or if we wanted to sit on the patio. We opted to sit on the patio since it was such a beautiful day out. We did not however expect to be put in the far corner of the patio and ignored for the first 10 minutes we were there. We were brought water by the wait staff helper and ultimately had to flag someone down to order our meal. The person we flagged down ended up leaving us for some time to go find someone. Once our server was finally engaged with our table the service was pretty good which slightly made up for the lack of acknowledgement or service we received upon arrival. We will most likely return to Coco Pazzo in the future as the Spaghetti AOP never disappoints! The service however needs to be improved.
(4)
Stephanie S.
We ate here as a recommendation from a coworker, and it was wonderful! Some of the best Lasagna I've ever had, and the lamb was so tender. It's a must on the date night list! Not to mention, the service was phenomenal.
(5)
Paula L.
Whenever I'm in Chicago I meet my girlfriend for dinner downtown. I trust her to pick the restaurant and she did a great job with Coco Pazzo Cafe. I started with the beet, apple, goat cheese and arugula salad. The salad was a perfect combination of sweet & savory. That salad should not only be appetizer size, but entree size. My entree was the grilled vegetables and polenta with balsamic vinegar. That too was delicious. My only issue was not enough polenta for the amount of vegetables, that is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5. Great location. Great service.
(4)
Maureen M.
This is my go-to restaurant for faculty business lunches and from the look of the crowds, I'm not the only one. The service is always excellent and the menu offers a variety of Italian dishes. Half-orders of pasta are available (just ask). The beet salad is beautiful and the mussels are a delicious choice. The panini are hearty and served with chips, olives or other garnishes. I'm not a fan of olive oil on bread but their crusty Italian bread and the focaccia is great by itself. I highly recommend the risotto with mushrooms when it is offered as a special or the frittata which is an excellent choice if you must avoid gluten. I prefer the fritatta when it is prepared with vegetables as the frittata with beans and cheese was too heavy to be enjoyable. The waiters are happy to split the check evenly, just ask. I dream of the Tartufo, a frozen treat incorporating vanilla gelato with dark chocolate an amarena cherry and toasted almond.
(4)
Ari P.
Food was good and well priced, but service was terrible. Waiter had difficulty taking our orders because of a language barrier. Bus boy knocked a glass of ice water on to my colleague's lap. Waiter brought us a desert menu after we had already been charged and were signing the credit card receipt.
(2)
Jen S.
Amazing food, big portions and good atmosphere! We tried all the bruschettas, the Goat cheese with honey was my personal fave. Several of us had the special risotto, with sausage and peas, it was to die for. Was actually excited I had leftovers so I could eat it the next day at lunch! The service was a little slow and the waiter poured us all the same wine without asking, which was awkward when we had 6 glasses of wine at the table when only 4 of us were drinking wine.
(4)
Linda D.
Went out for date night with my husband on advice from a friend. Enjoyed the whole experience. Food (squash soup, beet salad, pasta, grilled vegetables) was excellent. Waiters attentive. Bustling atmosphere. Would definitely return if in area again.
(5)
Clinton S.
First let me say if you make an Open Table reservation for Coco Pazzo make sure you are specific - don't make the mistake I did and make the reservation for Coco Pazzo and show up at Coco Pazzo Cafe!! At least they were understanding at the Cafe and had a table for us....too bad that was the highlight of the night. We ordered a glass of white wine (sorry can't remember the exact name) and it was only average (but rather expensive). I had the house salad, which was ok (good fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, nice oil/vinegar dressing), and the special pasta dish. The special was a linguini with shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and onions - only average. My companion had the spaghetti AOP - which he seemed to enjoy, but it was not very appealing visually. This is the second or third time I've been at Coco Pazzo, but I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)
Katie B.
The food at Coco Pazzo Cafe has always been good and the outside patio is quaint. However, I tried to inquire about a private event here - as well as at any of the other family locations - Tre Soldi and Coco Pazzo - and after waiting MONTHS for a simple answer about menus and prices, I was accidentally copied on an email chain that discussed raising the prices just for my event. That was the hold up. Ridiculous. So unprofessional. Be careful when asking about private events. There are a million places to hold events in the city of Chicago. There are actually good places that just want to showcase customer service and good food and aren't out to stick it to a potential client.
(1)
Paul H.
Stopped in for lunch with a party of four...seated immediately. I had a smoked turkey panini and caprese salad. It was really really good. My wife had the salad sampler platter and others had the fish special. Thanks be to YELP because it was the favorable review that led us here, and you reviewers did not let us down. Trying to figure out why I'm not awarding five stars...would like to try for dinner too before getting crazy like that!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Tu'ens N.
I'm gonna start with the good food, but my experience overall was pretty mixed: The pasta is really good. I had the homemade pasta with rabbit which was really well done. I also had the sette vegetali salad which was good and healthy - just chopped up veggies - which I probably could have made at home for less than $8 but it was not crazy. I think the food is decently priced given the quality. They have some good wines too. BUT I had a reservation with a request for outdoor seating, and I saw the reservations sheet which indeed said "OUT" next to my name. But then they said outdoor is first come first served, so even though we had a res, we were waiting behind walk-ups who put their name ahead of us. I thought that was kind of a stupid policy. Anyways, I asked for an indoor table near the big open windows so we were kind of outside without waiting. Then we had the weird problem of all of our servers (three) really not speaking Engish very well, which I honestly am ashamed to complain about but it really was a bit of a problem. The first guy asked us what kind of water we wanted and we said sparkling and he brought us tap, then the guy who tries to explain the specials was so impossible to understand - both his English and Italian - that I gave up trying to understand him before he finished (and I speak five languages so I don't think its my fault). The guy who brought out the food... god knows what he said. I saw other tables looking bewildered when he talked to them. I know, I know, I should just speak Spanish... but its an Italian restaurant and if they aren't going to make any sense in English maybe at least trying in Italian would have been better. I also noticed another reviewer saying Streeterville is a nice neighborhood, but I personally really don't agree. Its dominated by a hospital and a few mid-range hotels, and its really not a very interesting place to walk around.
(2)Dawn D.
Cute, quaint but lacking in the menu department. Went for a lunch meeting and ordered Calamari for an app, the salmon with cous cous--which I sprinked with red pepper flakes for the main dish. Food was delish.
(3)Samuel C.
I love this place. I eat here all the time. The best fish in town! The food is authentic, the service is top notch. It's open all afternoon with one of the sunniest patios in Chicago. A+
(5)E S.
I wavered b/t 3 and 4 stars, but since they carry Moretti beer, I went with 4. :) My boyfriend and I came here for dinner the other night. We chose the place due to its proximity to the movie theater where we were headed after dinner. I thought the food was very good. The bread came fast, the bus boy was attentive with water refills. We had the carpaccio for an appetizer and it was excellent. Great flavor, fresh lemon and herbs. My bf had the spaghetti with clams, which again had excellent flavor and came out nice and hot. I had the salmon - nothing to rave about, but I enjoyed it and the veggies and sauce had a nice tart, refreshing taste to them. The only thing that was frustrating was the waiter did not tell us the night's special, which we later learned to be scallops and risotto which I definitely would have gotten had I known that was the night's special. Waiter fail, but overall good food and we will return.
(4)Meg O.
After my pre-op appointment at the Northwestern University Nasal and Sinus Center, my mom and I walked down St. Clair to Coco Pazzo Cafe for lunch. I have previously eaten at the Coco Pazzo over on 300 West Hubbard Street and had a great experience, so I was pretty confident that lunch was going to be good. Our experience started out great, with immediate attention to menus, water, coffee, and delicious rosemary foccacia with olive oil. There are many tempting possibilities on the lunch menu: my mom and I pondered over the paninins ($9 each), handmade tortellini with brown butter and sage (one of my all-time faves), the Nicoise-like salad, the Italian frittata, and many other options. We were impressed by the availability of vegetarian options. My mom finally decided on the polenta with grilled vegetables, and I chose the soup of the day and the seven veggie chopped salad. My soup arrived promptly, but on the not-so-hot side. The potato-based soup had plenty of spinach and mushrooms, and was quite tasty, but a bit too salty for my liking. I lingered over the soup perhaps a bit too much, because then our entrees arrived and they had to be taken back. But 3 minutes later I was finished and our main courses were served. My mom's polenta was amazing! It was not circles or squares, but moons, with the texture of a good pudding: smooth and pliant on the outside with appropriate grill marks, and thick and creamy on the inside. Incredible. She had a lovely assortment of grilled vegetables as well, marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette. I agree with Amy S.--the seven veggie chopped salad is wonderful. Crunchy, fresh, colorful, and seasoned just enough so you can appreciate all the veggie flavors. It had a large, thin sheet of parmesgan over the top too. Dessert menus were brought out soon after the entrees were cleared, and here's where our troubles began: it took 15 minutes to bring out 4 pieces of biscotti to enjoy with our last cup of coffee. It took so long that my mom and I had to each drink ANOTHER cup of coffee so that we had something into which we could dip our biscotti. Overall, I really enjoyed our lunch. It was fresh, well-seasoned, and interesting. And the coffee is delicious! There's just a timing issue that needs to be fixed.
(4)Veliero M.
We already ate it here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. Both times the restaurant was full. The food is very good, we had the polpo with mini tomotoes and potatoes, the pasta with mushrooms and the pasta with rabbit ragu'. All so very good. Very friendly atmosphere and cozy!
(4)Jordan T.
Had lunch there today. The food was fantastic and they had us in and out in 45 minutes which is great for someone on their work break. I will definitely go back again and will recommend to friends/co-works. I would recommend the trout. The dish I had was grilled and served with new potatoes and green beans with a pesto sauce. Great portion size for the cost as well. I would normally say if you're in the area to check this place out, but even if you're not in the area it's worth traveling to. It's Cocco Pazzo quality with "cafe" prices.
(4)Ralph E.
Very nice place. Friendly people, good food and wine. Love the outdoor seating area (except in January :-). I like this location better than it's big brother. More reasonably priced and less pretentious. I have been here many times, and never disappointed. Highly recommended.
(4)Kris W.
Food was good...lots of clever and creative choices on the menu. Service was cursory and for the price, not attentive enough - people around us were complaining of screwed up orders and not getting resolution. I'd eat here again, but not with anyone I wanted to impress - expected a lot more friendly/interested staff at a place like this. Lots of 50ish business types here on the night I was in.
(3)Diana C.
I have to admit I was surprised. The food was better than I had expected, and I went home very very full. Some of the previous reviewers said that the portions were small, but I thought the portions were heaping, and some enough for two. I ordered a Caesar salad because I like to try Caesar salads at different restaurants to see which one makes the best dressing. This one was good, with enough salt and acid to give it bite, but not so much that my tongue was tingling. The waiter asked if I wanted the anchovies on it and I said, "yes." I ended up not eating them--I have not acquired the taste for whole anchovies yet. The salad was pretty big, with the lettuce chopped to 1/2 inch strips (I can't stand it when the lettuce is too big to put in your mouth gracefully and you aren't given a separate knife to eat your salad with). Best of all, the salad was served with a large parmesan crisp on top. Yum. For my main course, I ordered the Rigatoni Buterra, which was popular among some of the other reviewers. It was not the best pasta I've ever had, but I was not disappointed. The pasta was a little harder than al-dente, but I prefer that to overcooked. The creamy tomato sauce was the best part. It would have been great slathered on some good bread, but it went well with the pasta, sausage and the green peas. I liked that there were a lot of green peas, because I never get enough vegetables eating out, and this was almost a whole serving of vegetable. Back to portion size--I stuffed myself silly with the pasta, and I think I left a third of the pasta on the plate still. They must have read the reviews and decided to increase portion sizes. The plate was heaping. Desserts were decent. We shared pear sorbet, raspberry sorbet, and the Tartufo. I think we all agreed the Tartufo was the best. I especially liked the crunch of the almonds tucked inside the gelato and the chocolate shell covering the gelato. The sorbets were refreshing, but too sweet for my taste. They also melted too quickly. I prefer when restaurants freeze individual scoops before serving, so the mounds stay intact when you eat them. I had a great time, with good company. People were more dressed up than I had expected, so I'm glad I wore a casual dress. Jeans are perfectly reasonable for this place, but I wouldn't go in shorts and flip flops.
(4)Geoff A.
Great place!! Awesome service, awesome food. couldn't of asked for better!
(5)David W.
The wife and I have vowed to stay away from Michigan Ave and all the restaurant establishments around it. Especially after our last experience at Coco Pazzo Cafe. There is nothing wrong with the restaurant or the area. But Chicago is a huge place with great restaurants everywhere, so fighting the tourist crowd to have mediocore Itialian and then to pay Mag Mile prices....... I can cook Itialian at home. So like Chinese food, when I go out for Italian, it has to be really really good. And Coco Pazzo Cafe, though freshly made pastas, are always missing it. Either too salty, not enough flavor, too much sauce, not enough sauce, pasta sticking, or absent service......... never a consistant product.
(2)A. D.
food is descent, portions good. i knocked off 2 stars for the following reasons-- let me first state that i have ben to coco pazzo numerous times as i often travel to chicago and stay in that part of town. i was very disappointed that despite my frequent patronage, they decided to charge a split fee because my friend, one of 3 at the table, felt unwell and only wanted a bit of my pasta. we ordered appetizers and sides-- still they felt the need to add this charge-- too bad. the sides alone more than added up to an entree in terms of cost. bad business, in my opinion. when i questioned the waiter, he mumbled a response-- it was inaudible and the charge stuck. i took the charge out of his tip and notated it on the bill. also, the servers are less than pleasant. again, i go there often, in upwards of 20 times, i guess-- and bring along small and large groups. i would expect a little friendliness from the too cool gents that serve your food. i doubt i will go again-- unless brought by others. i'd rather go to "osteria via stato" ( osteriaviastato.com ) a few blocks away when i crave italian.
(3)Todd W.
Dessert only rating - great desert. Very nice wine selection, great location. loved the outside seating
(4)Rachel M.
Everything about Coco Pazzo Cafe was pretty meh. We had a reservation originally for 5 people at 7pm on a Wednesday. When we got to the restaurant, the hostess outside went to check on our table and then sent us inside to be seated. Inside a different hostess just stared at us for a minute as we tried to figure out where to go. At the beginning of the meal when our server found out that one of our 5 people was unable to make it, he seemed to take it as a personal insult and was kind of rude and absent the rest of the night. He didn't bother to tell us that they were out of half of the appetizers until we tried ordering them, interrupted us in the middle of ordering drinks to tell us about their specials and we had to ask several times for someone to send send him over. I'm not even sure he came back to see how our meal was. The food was ok. The Tagliolini Neri was pretty incredible, but the Tagliatelle with rabbit ragu was really bland and poletto wasn't anything to write home about. They have a really lovely outdoor area, though, which is probably the only really memorable thing about this dining experience.
(3)Peter H.
Service left something to be desired as our waiter clearly knew nothing about any wines and didn't offer any additional info on the food. To our surprise, the food was much better than the service. I highly recommend the antipasto app and the pappardelle with rabbit ragu.
(4)Jennifer Y.
Love this place. I use to work here as a hostess and let me tell you about the weight I gained. Wheeeeeeeeeew. The only thing I don't like about it is the mean woman who use to work as a manager here. But hey, everyone's fighting a harder battle, right? Right. Anyway, the paninis are delicious as are most of the fish dishes. God, Italians can cook some fish. Oh, and the squid ink pasta was my absolute favorite. I got it every chance I had. Oh, and the prosciutto with melon balls. Yummmmmmmm. Summer time is nice because there's outdoor seating, but it smells out there sometimes so make sure you check it out first. Coco Pazzo is obviously more upscale than this sister cafe but I think she holds her own. Jennifer Aniston thinks so too. She's been here on several occasions.
(4)Kim C.
I live in the neighborhood so I pass by the Coco Pazzo Cafe very frequently, and I am always amazed by the number of people sitting outside, eating and drinking happily. My roommate and I finally decided to grab a late lunch there on a Sunday afternoon, but had an overall pretty underwhelming experience. A friend had told me that the rigatoni was the "best rigatoni he's ever had", so I had to give that a shot. And, well, it's rigatoni. It's good, maybe great, but did not knock my socks off. My roommate ordered the Italian omlette, and it came DRENCHED in salt! It was so salty it was literally un-eatable. My roommate's lips became chapped and she was parched after 3 bites. She also claims to have eaten some egg shells. Luckily, our server was very nice about getting her a new dish, which came back moderately salted but still, just an omlette (that I could have probably made at home..) I think I saw Coco Pazzo listed in Zagat's 200 Best Italian Restaurants or something, and I must say I'd have to disagree!
(3)Misse D.
I've heard of the infamous al fresco dining at Coco Pazzo...but I came in the wrong season to actually experience it. I dined here with my fiance and his family. It was a great meal. We enjoyed a nice bottle of wine. I cleaned my plate when eating the pear and spinach salad-- the pears were cooked-- perhaps poached? I highly recommend. A meal with out of towners is usually a long meal with all of the chatting. We weren't rushed at all and was quite pleased with the service.
(4)Tony S.
We booked our table for 6:45pm on a Saturday night and arrived about 6:55. Friendly welcome and seated immediately. The restaurant was packed solid so this place is clearly very popular. The waiting staff were relatively attentive, Miguel was friendly and took our order when we were ready and gave us more time as we were talking amongst ourselves. Water was served immediately. I ordered the spinaco salad to start which was basic but pretty tasty. Spinach, goats cheese, pine kernals and something else which I have forgotton, nice n tasty and light as a starter should be. The others in my party had Mozerrella and Tomatoe salad that they were happy with. My main course was a steak and fries affair, Steak was properly cooked and tasty and I enjoyed the fries too. Others had Lasagne which looked nice if a bit generic. The Lasagne came with nothing else at all that I recall so you may want to add a green salad to spruce it up. Deserts were nice enough, the Panacotta wasn't very good so I was told but my chocolate and almond tart was pretty good. I would recommend this place especially as I lost my wallet and they left a message on our answer phone to say they had found it. So excellent service there. No complaints at all.
(4)D N.
Loved this little place! Walked from the Affinia Hotel and enjoyed a nice glass of house Chardonnay - bartender was very attentive. seated right at our rezzie time and service was great, without being overbearing. Food was terrific! Carpaccio was amazing. Our waiter informed us that half orders of pasta were available, so we tried a rich seafood risotto and lasagna. Both were big portions and outstanding. The shoulder steak we split was a little dry and not as flavorful as some I have had, so one star down. We will certainly return the next time we stay in this part of downtown. A nice cozy little spot in busy downtown Chicago.
(4)Kelly M.
This place is delicious! Every time I go.. I always get the same thing. The gnocchi with vodka sauce... you actually have to ask for this specific sauce with the gnocchi, but you definitely won't be disappointed. Every time I go to that part of the city to visit my parents, I always try to stop by there! :) Enjoy!
(4)A S.
I love the atmosphere, especially the outdoor seating. Very breezy and soothing. The food, of course, is delicious. The portion is perfect. I would definitely come back.
(5)Amy S.
I work right around the corner from this place, so when people want to meet for lunch on a nice day, I always suggest this place. It's just enough off the beaten path where you don't have to wait long for a table (sometimes the tables outside are full, but that's what you get on a nice day). I do feel that the food is pricey for a lunch place, but you are downtown Chicago, so you have to expect that. I will normally just order out the seven chopped veggie salad and it is WONDERFUL. It's so fresh and so tasty. However, in the winter it is $1 cheaper than it is in the summer....they are pretty tricky that way. I like the pastas, but I normally will get the half portion because the full is almost too much. There menu is seasonal and one time I got the gnocchi and it was in a marsala sauce with mushrooms and it was so good, but I haven't seen it on the menu since. If you are out shopping on Michigan Avenue and you need a place to refuel and you are not in the mood for McDonald's or tourists, this is the place to go.
(4)Brian C.
Marco must be the hardest working man in the restaurant biz. As the host of the cafe he sat my wife and I, assisted with our order and quickly made an entree exchange when I thought my risotto was too onion forward (note: I am very sensitive when it comes to onion). The food here never disappoints and I love the variety of bruschetta.
(4)Sophie E.
I live about 4 blocks from this restaurant, so I have had the opportunity to eat here often. I love the pastas, which are made fresh. The menu is seasonal and changes from year to year. They once made a fetticcine with lamb ragout which I am dying to have again. I also have enjoyed their lasagna, which is very light yet highly flavorful. The spinach ravioli is also quite good; I especially like the butter sage sauce. Their house chianti is velvety and wonderful. The portions are small by Italian restaurant standards (think Maggiano's), but perhaps that's a good thing as it prevents people from over-eating. We have always experienced friendly, attentive service. We typically are walk-ins, but since we eat fairly early we have never had a problem getting a table. I also like the ambiance of the restaurant. It is decorated like a rustic italian cafe. In pleasant weather, they remove the doors such that the restaurant opens up to the covered patio. It has a casual, but elegant appeal, with white linens and candles.
(4)Isa B.
You can never go wrong in here, there is always something to suit your dietary needs. They can make it happen and the food is premium. This, as well as the higher-end sister restaurant, Coco Pazzo are musts in Chicago.
(4)Mike P.
Enjoyed the sidewalk dining on my first night in Chicago. Reasonable prices and decent food. Adequate service. Some interesting items on the menu like octopus with peperonata. Nice wines too.
(3)Jennifer W.
My family and I went to Coco Pazzo for my mother's birthday dinner and it was great! We had an earlier reservation and were seated right away. The staff was still sort of getting ready for the later rush, but it wasn't obtrusive or anything. I had the GREAT spicy spaghetti and my mom and sister were impressed with their salmon as well. The Diet Coke was a bit flat, but my dad really liked the wine he ordered. We split the tartufo which was excellent and the blood orange sorbet was tasty as well. I'd definitely recommend it either for a family dinner or a date night.
(4)Mel L.
Went here on a weekday evening at 6pm. Service was really good - waiter was knowledgeable, friendly, and prompt. Food was delicious - 3 of us girls split 2 dishes which was just the perfect portion. We got gnocchi which I would definitely recommend and the sausage rigattoni which was just okay. You get bread & oil to start so we didn't think appetizers were ncessary. I enjoyed the decor, service, and food...just no extra special experience to give it my 5th star. I would go back though!
(4)John C.
Wow the Cafe is getting beat down from the reviews I just read about this place. Thank goodness I didn't read them before I went! I had the in laws in town who were visiting the newborn girls...and I made a call to my own personal Zagat. He told me to try it since it was right next to the hospital. So on my first experience, I had to give my mother-in-law my meal since she order the special soft shell crab entree. She didn't realize that a soft shell crab was a whole crab! So, she ate the duck I ordered and I ate the crab. Both were very tasty. My father-in-law had the braised rabbit, and he thought it was delicious. So anyway, I really wanted to order the bistecca, which they were out of. On my second visit I got the bistecca, which wasn't that great. But my wife ordered the RIGATONI "BUTTERA". I thought this was one of the better pasta dishes that I've had. It's amazing how a crappy server or some person can ruin your dining experience.
(4)Emily F.
I've never been to the other Coco Pazzo's, but no need to, as this one is just fine by me. Food is great, portions are fair, prices are reasonable for a white-tablecloth Streeterville italian restaurant, reservations aren't necessary for mid-week dining, service is quick and friendly- my water glass was never less than half full. Has all the makings for a great date spot- but was also enjoyable for a spur of the moment dinner with my Aunt.
(4)Jennifer B.
This restaurant has, hands down, the best spaghetti in the city. I know that is a bold claim, however the spaghetti marinara here is a spicy marinara and it is quite incredible. The atmosphere is busy, and a bit loud, and also usually crowded. This all adds to the aura of the restaurant...and if you are a fan of true Italian you must try this place! Next time you are on Michigan Ave, skip the cheesecake factory and veer off one block towards the lake and try Coco Pazzo cafe,....you won't be disappointed!
(4)A. R.
I'm giving this place three stars because the wait staff was excellent--friendly and attentive without being overbearing--but the food was average, not extraordinary or worth going back for. However I would highly recommend the panna cotta--that was excellent. I might go back simply for that.
(3)Morgan H.
This restaurant would have gotten five stars, were it not for the crappy hostess. The food is fantastic and the price is right. We shared an order of Tuscan Fries with the table, which was perfect - not too much to be overkill but everyone got a good amount. I had the grilled vegetables with polenta, and it was perhaps the best polenta I've ever had. The veggie assortment was great too - squash, eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, tomato...a great, well-balanced variety. But, alas, the service...our group (nine of us) made a reservation for lunch outside, and I was told that while they couldn't guarantee outdoor seating, they would try. When we arrived, the hostess looked at me like I had three heads and came up with several excuses as to why they could never seat a group of nine outside, ranging from "there aren't enough tables" (there were four open tables in a cluster) to "we can't fit more than three plates on a table" (uh, why are your plates so big??). The aforementioned four tables in a cluster were all empty...but she had seated a party of three right smack in the middle of them at a fifth table, thus requiring us to split up our group. I sneaked a peek at the reservations list and sure enough, there was my name, and right next to it a note saying "Seat OUTSIDE". Nice.
(3)Chicago S.
I agree with the other reviewers who were underwhelmed with this restaurant. My husband and I were on North Michigan for the Lights Festival and got hungry. The restaurant looked charming, there was no wait, and the dress code was casual so we decided to get dinner. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, although the tables are a bit small and close together. We were seated along one of the walls and didn't have much room to maneuver -- my husband's chair kept accidentally bumping the woman seated at the table next to us. But I figured it would be worth it if the food was good. Our salads arrived promptly but were mediocre. My husband got the ceasar salad ($8); the lettuce was limp and chopped into the smallest pieces I have ever seen. But the real problem was the dressing -- no flavor. The dressing and tomatoes in my Mista salad (mixed greens with cherry tomatoes and a whipped vinegrette, $7) also lacked flavor. The entrees were more solid, although we had to wait quite some time for them. My husband ordered the Rigatoni Buttera (sausage, peas, and parmesan in a tomato and cream sauce, $16). It was a generous portion and quite tasty; we both enjoyed it. I am not sure it was worth $16 because it did seem like something you could make at home, but I suppose you are paying for being in a touristy neighborhood. I ordered the Maiale entree (grilled pork chop in a mustard sauce with rapini on the side, $21). The pork chop was a little dry; the sauce had a lot of flavor but was extremely salty. The rapini was good, with small pieces of garlic. Overall, we thought the restaurant was okay but overpriced due to the neighborhood and not worth a return trip. The service was inconsistent -- one of the busboys was extremely attentive, but our waiter seemed like he couldn't care less. Three stars, mostly for the warm atmosphere and the pasta dish.
(3)James K.
Coco Pazzo Cafe has consistently good appetizers, pastas, and desserts with hit or miss service in a warm atmosphere. Operating out of the side of the Red Roof Inn, this cafe has been a staple in a Streeterville neighborhood bereft of much choice when it comes to dining options. The patio seating is delightful in the summer. Coco Pazzo Cafe has really nice, homemade pastas that are uniformly well-executed. The Lasagna with Bechamel, Gnocchi Parmigiana, Stracchi con Funghi, and Rigatoni alla Buttera are all winners. The pannacotta and gelato (especially cinnamon) are consistently rich and refreshing. The wines by the glass are pretty decent as well. Service is generally good at the maitre'd level, but tends to oscillate from being too pushy in terms of overselling wine and add-ons to inattentive depending on the server.
(4)Jennifer S.
I visited Coco Pazzo Cafe for a business lunch with four other women. When we arrived at 11:30, the restaurant was nearly empty, but it filled up quickly and got noisier as we dined. Maybe it was because we were a chatty group, but I didn't feel like we were getting enough attention from the wait staff. We were still holding our menus when our appetizers came! Luckily, we were sitting near a spot where the menus are stored and were able to return them ourselves. Although this probably sounds snobby, I promise that I'm not a snob at heart! One of my biggest pet peeves is when a nice restaurant will remove the knife that you used with your appetizer from your plate and place it on the table so that you can use it with your meal. This definitely happened at Coco Pazzo and cost them points in my book. Anyway, on to the food! To start our meal, we shared a selection of bruschetta, mixed vegetables and grains, as well as carpaccio. They were each yummy. For lunch, we all tried something different. I am a sucker for gnocchi (even though I can never quite pronounce it correctly!), so when I saw it on the menu, I couldn't resist. The little potato dumplings were perfectly cooked and were served in a veal ragu and sage sauce. The sage was a little overpowering for my taste, but then again, I am more sensitive to those kinds of spices than your average gal. Everyone else seemed to like their own selections, and the portion sizes were perfect for lunch. I got to try a bite of the meat lasagna with a bechamel sauce, which was quite good. I would definitely order that myself on a return visit. Overall, Coco Pazzo Cafe was good, but it didn't rock-my-world.
(3)Andy P.
If you are in Chicago, and you in the mood for great food come here. The steak and the pasta's are the best. The location is great. The service is okay. It is great place to be with Friends or family. I would give it a A+. So get of the coach and get some pasta!
(4)Camille O.
In my days of wine and roses I spent many an evening here at Coco Pazzo's so I can vouch for the delicious food, street-side dining, pleasant staff, and reasonable wine list. Some of my favorite dishes are the fried calamari as an appetizer ($8.50), the baby spinach and endive salad, although I would suggest toasting the walnuts sprinkled on top ($7.00), and the half-orders of pasta ($8.50) which are ample enough so there's still room for some of the desserts such as zabaglione with fresh berries. Other entrees I've enjoyed are the veal scaloppini ($19.00) and pan roasted salmon ($17.50). You won't leave hungry and the atmosphere is a comfortable toned-down trendy.
(3)Steve F.
Great place for lunch, we were there yesterday, I had the white fish special, very fresh, delicious tasting, awesome service, I'd recommend the place. Can be a little pricey for lunch
(5)Peter L.
Portions are too small. Been here a few times and have always had to secretly fill up on bread -- which wasn't particularly great either. Sitting outside on a nice day is cool, but it's not enough for the price. Food and service were mediocre. My girlfriend likes this joint, but she's never as hungry as I am.
(3)Garett N.
Really delicious food. This is not the kind of place I would go to, but my boss was paying so I figured I'd make the most out of it. We went during lunch and while she had a reservation, the place wasn't full at all.
(3)Ana L.
The nhoque its PERFECT! great service!! I came with my puppy and we stayed at the patio and it was really nice!!! The service its amazing and also the pinot grigio! Hehe Great italian place to have greeeeat food!!!! Ask for the nhoque you wont regret!
(5)Amanda M.
Our group of six came at all different times roughly around 9pm Friday. It was nice that we didn't have to wait to be seated regardless if our whole party arrived at the same time. We got a couple orders of the caprese to start and I got the spaghetti AOP for my entrée. Everything came out at appropriate times. The caprese was fine. I've had fresher mozzarella though. The spaghetti was cooked perfectly. It tasted fine, but the clams were non-existent. The portion was larger than expected. Overall, the dish was pretty good but really not memorable, indicated by this rather short review (I went here this past weekend btw). Everyone else at the table thought their meals were just decent as well. Our server was friendly and accommodating and checked on us pretty regularly. Overall, probably not coming back as there are definitely better Italian places to go to in Chi-city.
(3)Colin C.
I really liked the ambience here as well as the staff. Seems like a small Italian restaurant in a small street in another country with intimate seating. Wasn't too busy on a Friday night either. The noise was a bit loud though. Food-wise it was good but nothing too special. The frites, lasagna, and salads were good. Not too huge of portions on some of the pasta dishes but the fried chicken was quite big. Prices for this area were actually very decent but it definitely wasn't cheap. I would normally give them 4 stars but I hold Chicago restaurants to a higher standard and they weren't anything to write home about but a good option. Especially if visiting someone at the NW hospital next door like we were.
(3)Katie T.
Fantastic. Very rustic pasta dishes. Nice atmosphere..
(5)Puki B.
The pasta looks really good but tastes very plain. It was tasteless to a point that we complained to the server but he was rude and just insisted that it was good. Don't come here for the Lasagna. The Spaghetti AOP doesn't taste good too. I know I'm picky but it's just too plain. Don't come here. It's not worth it. Service is not on point too.
(1)Emily S.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. They were very knowledgeable on the food and area. The patio area was lovely. The food was good, not amazing but it was enjoyable
(4)Jeff L.
Coco Pazzo Cafe was described by a family friend as their favorite restaurant in all of Chicago, which surprised me slightly because it's a tiny place located right next to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We chose the place based on that recommendation and the fact that it was close to our hotel. After a day of museums and walking through oppressive heat and stifling humidity, the added ability to dine al fresco while enjoying the summer evening seemed like a great idea. Our experience overall was rather mixed. The restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night and it's a very cute place with a great outdoor patio. We watched them efficiently turn over tables and it didn't seem like people were waiting long. The food was slightly disappointing. I'd say that the highlights of the evening were the octopus and the bruschetta that we had as appetizers. Bruschetta is quite reasonably priced, and I most enjoyed the tomato/basil and the mushroom options. The pasta courses that we ordered were squid ink and the tagliatelle. While tasty, both were disappointing because the pasta was way overcooked. It was soft and slimy, a far cry from the al dente that most people would expect for a place that specializes in pasta. For entrees, the monkfish special and the pork tenderloin were good but nothing particularly memorable or innovative. Portions overall were large and we were too full for dessert. They had two barolos on their wine list and we selected one of them. It was good, and opened up nicely after a little time. Service was attentive and efficient, and we enjoyed the recommendations from our server, particularly with wine selection. I didn't love the tables themselves. They were really small, quite uncomfortable for a party of 4, and several times the server or assistants had to reach pretty much through the food or over wine/water glasses to grab plates. Everything is perched precariously when there are more than two entrees on the table, necessitating the removal of candles, bread, salt/pepper shakers, and other miscellaneous items over the course of the meal. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of if your party is more than 3 people. Overall, a decent place, well-located with close proximity to the Mag Mile and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I'd go back again, and hopefully on a future visit they'll execute the pastas a little better.
(3)Angela R.
Enjoyed a beautiful night dining outside. The highlight of dinner was that Scottie Pippen walked by and said hello. 3 out of 4 of us were disappointed with out for. My lasagna tasted very close to the microwaved chef boyardee. This place was recommended by a couple friends but I don't know what they saw and that I missed. Wouldn't recommend or return, instead would head two blocks south to Volare.
(2)Karen G.
Excellent and great service the appetizers where delicious. The fries were out of this world!!!
(4)Douglas L.
This is a destination restaurant! It is so well located, charming and with and ease of elegance that draws you in. The food is consistently on point. The vitello marsala and the pork tenderloin wrapped in pancetta are both first rate. Great food and great service. Edgar is an amazing server!
(4)Julie S.
I had dinner at Coco Pazzo Café last week and felt an overwhelming need to share my experience. The food was delicious, service polite and the restrooms an EPA hazard zone. WOW! I did not expect that at a lovely restaurant. I had the vegetali plate and my guest had the veal. The food was expertly prepared and looked beautiful on the plate. We were thrilled with the choice until I stumbled back from the restroom with a shocked look on my face. PLEASE clean your restrooms! We dined at 6PM so this was not late in the evening. The floor was sticky (EWWW), the whole place smelled terrible, the toilet seat looked like something from an old highway gas station bathroom and I couldn't use the hand dryer because it was coated in what appeared to be toxic waste. I can't believe I'm saying this because the food and service were wonderful but I'm not going back to Coco Pazzo Café until I've fully recovered from the horrifying experience of the restroom.
(3)J M.
My business partner and I had lunch at the Cafe and really enjoyed our meal. We shared a calamari fritta and each had a beet salad. Everything was fresh and delicious. The atmosphere was comfortable and we could have sat there all day talking. We liked that the manager and the owner came over to talk to us. One thing I want to point out to all the people who complain about the restrooms is that they are not Coco Pazzo Cafe restrooms, they belong to the HOTEL. So PLEASE direct your anger and negative comments to the The Red Roof Inn ((312) 787-3580) and not the Cafe.
(4)Debbie F.
Very good lunch, friendly staff, nice sitting outside under the awning on a nice day. I recommend the vegetable salad with added grilled chicken. Simple and yummy.
(5)Kristy V.
ready for the quickest review ever? great food, exceptional service, incredible atmosphere!! done! :-)
(5)Rebecca N.
Really enjoyed my meal here! Would round it up to 3.5 stars. It is low key and quaint.The service was attentive, but did not interupt us. A nice intimate date spot--it was very quiet. We got the three brushettas. I like the toppings but the bread tasted a bit burnt. We did the caramelized onions and gorgonzola, truffle and white bean (my fav) and honey and ricotta. Then we shared the gnocchi and mahi. The mahi was absolutely out of this world. We both woke up talking about it in the morning!
(3)Frank O.
Went for Restaurant week. Despite having a later reservation we were able to be seated 45 min early, and the rest of the service was on that level. We started with the Sette Vegetali (nothing special) and the Polpo (tasty octopus), had the mushroom Risotto (great if you like mushrooms) and Rigatoni alla Buttera (great, flavorful and good portion), and both finished with the Panna Cotta (the real reason we went here). At only $33 for dinner it was a solid meal, and the atmosphere and service would great. I'd come here more often if only the prices were lower, because it's not really a place you can afford on a student budget.
(5)Craig E.
Visited Coco Pazzo Cafe recently when on vacation with my best friend in Chicago. It got off to a rough start when we tried to order off the menus we were given and told that we had been given the wrong menus (lunch instead of dinner, it was around 3 and 4 p.m.) So we had to look over a new menu before making a selection. We were served bread and olive oil while we waited for our meal. It was okay, but my friend said she didn't like the oil. I ordered the polenta with roasted veggies and my friend got the gnocchi. We felt they were okay, but were our least favorite of our visit. And they were also the smallest portion wise. Worst of all was that we finished our meals and waited what seemed like forever before the waiter came by to check on us. I would have been more understanding had they been busy, but we were the only ones there when we were seated and during our meal, only one other couple was there. Four people in the restaurant and the waiter never checks on you during your meal? Hands down the worst service I've ever received anywhere in the country, let alone Chicago.
(1)Jane W.
We chose this on the high recommendation from the concierge at the Sheraton on a bitterly cold, snowy night. Upon arriving, we were immediately welcomed by the Maître d'. The ambience was warm and inviting and very much like a comfortable neighborhood cafe. Our server Miguel was terrific as were the other staff who ensured our water glasses were never less than half empty and seamlessly served & cleared plates. From the recitation of the specials to the recommendations of the house specialties, we were enthused at the offerings and only wished we could have tried more dishes. The veal medallions were perfect, and my colleagues raved about their selections as well. It was a delightful and relaxing and delicious experience and I hope to get back there again. I encourage others to try this little gem!
(4)Filipp G.
Stopped by accidentally as the place we were looking for was closed. Did not regret it one bit. Both the Faroese salmon and the ravioli were fantastic, as was the bruschetta. The bread was a bit stale but that was just one more reason not to fill up on it and leave room for the food. Ambiance was nice and quiet, which was also a major plus, although as two thirtysomethings we felt a bit out of place.
(5)Divya J.
I've been here twice. The location is great, as is the ambiance. My first time there I was a bit annoyed that the server did not provide a bread basket till my friend also arrived, especially because I was hungry. The second time I visited, however, I received more prompt service. I've eaten the Spaghetti and the Ricotta & Spinach ravioli. The Spaghetti was great because the tomato sauce they used was really flavorful. I did not think the ravioli was anything special.
(4)Lise S.
I moved to this neighborhood recently and have been wanting to try this quaint Italian cafe. We had a lovely dinner last night sitting outside on a great evening. Our appetizers and pasta dishes were excellent!! Many restaurants with sidewalk sitting areas have the problem of loud traffic noise, but that isn't the case here. The ambiance and service was great and we look forward to going back to try other dishes at this quaint neighborhood cafe!!
(4)Meghana P.
I don't understand the slightly lower ratings on this place, although if it means I get to keep this place to myself, that's fine. I love the decor and atmosphere as well, and the wine selection is excellent and not overpriced. The Italian food here is genuine and delicious - I would definitely try the Spaghetti AOP (I'm getting hungry even thinking about it), and the patio is wonderful when the Chicago weather cooperates. The tiramisu is a little too sweet (I don't like the chocolate sauce on top either), but the other desserts definitely make up for this. I would recommend making a reservation, and I would also recommend trying this place now.
(5)David I.
Don't let the 3.5 stars overall fool you. This place is one of my fav Italian restaurants in Chicago.
(5)Ari P.
Food was good and well priced, but service was terrible. Waiter had difficulty taking our orders because of a language barrier. Bus boy knocked a glass of ice water on to my colleague's lap. Waiter brought us a desert menu after we had already been charged and were signing the credit card receipt.
(2)Jen S.
Amazing food, big portions and good atmosphere! We tried all the bruschettas, the Goat cheese with honey was my personal fave. Several of us had the special risotto, with sausage and peas, it was to die for. Was actually excited I had leftovers so I could eat it the next day at lunch! The service was a little slow and the waiter poured us all the same wine without asking, which was awkward when we had 6 glasses of wine at the table when only 4 of us were drinking wine.
(4)Linda D.
Went out for date night with my husband on advice from a friend. Enjoyed the whole experience. Food (squash soup, beet salad, pasta, grilled vegetables) was excellent. Waiters attentive. Bustling atmosphere. Would definitely return if in area again.
(5)Kristen B.
We stumbled upon this place en route to Navy Pier on a Saturday night. At 7:30 pm we were seated right away and there were several tables available in the restaurant. We had asked for outdoor seating, she asked if we had a reservation (we did not) and said they didn't have availability. This was a little disappointing because we saw an empty table that remained empty for the entire meal (and quite a few more were empty by the time we left). Honestly, the outdoor seating would have added at least a star to my review. We would have even taken a small wait to sit outside, but this was not an option. My husband and I spilt a caprese salad and the ravioli in brown butter sauce. The food was good, but not spectacular. My daughter had a Caesar Salad which was quite good. The bread service at the start of the meal was good and they brought us more when the basket was empty. I had Pinot Grigio that was pretty standard and my husband ordered an iced tea which he said was the best he had ever tasted (and the guy drinks a ton of iced tea!) We all split a Tiramisu and Tartufo. Both were very good. I felt the prices were just a little on the high side for what we got, but with the location I could understand. Had the entrees come with soup or salad it would justify the price a bit more. One thing to note is that while there were quite a few families there with children, they did not have a children's menu. I also felt the staff could be a bit more friendly and helpful. They also didn't have salt and pepper at the tables which I found a little odd. And the bathroom needed a good scrubbing...thankfully I visited at the end of my meal because this would have been a huge turn off if I went beforehand. An employee was leaving the bathroom as I walked in and she hadn't bothered to pick up paper rolls, etc that were on the floor. I get that this isn't her job and it's rude that previous patrons didn't properly throw them away, but that definitely left a bit of a negative impression on me. They also could benefit from an air freshner or two! Would probably come back for an afternoon dessert (especially outside), but not sure I would eat dinner here again with all the other choices around.
(3)Lisa N.
I had the black squid ink with shrimp. FANTASTIC! My mouth is literally salivating as I write this review. We had the Prosciutto with chees and honey as well as the grilled octopus. The octopus was sooo tender it practically melted in my mouth. My friend ordered "regular" spaghetti which I felt was a waste of a night out...until the dish came. The portion was superb (she def had enough for leftover/lunch the next day). And the flavor had a nice kick to it so not just your typical, boring spaghetti. My meal was great, the pasta was mild but the squid ink flavor was noticeable. The shrimp were succulent and the sauce perfectly complimented the seafood in the dish. Their olive oil is something special as well. very rustic tasting and fruity. The service was impeccable, my glass never fell below the half-way mark. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Lisa P.
This location is right near where I work, so I frequently come here for lunch. I love their food, I have never had a bad dish here, the food is consistent. The spaghetti AOP is my favorite...everything I've tried has been great. I would say that typically the service is a bit off; sometimes slow, sometimes too fast, the waiters can be awkward/not helpful. Essentially the service is inconsistent. That being said, the food is always great and their patio is fabulous;)
(4)Norm J.
So I was finally able to go to Coco Pazzo Cafe tonight. I was suppose to go last week, but my date sent me the cancelation text the day of (tears of rejection were shed I'm not gonna lie). I convinced my friend to come with me tonight (sad I know) and she said yes because (1) she's a good friend or (2) she has no life. I'll let you the reader decide which option is correct. We started off the meal with Calamari. It was good, but tasted like calamari I've had a million times before. Next we had the Bruschetta (Tomato & Basil, Mushroom & Parmesan, Buffalo Ricotta & Tuscan Honey). The Tomato & Basil was just OK and the Mushroom & Parmesan was LOADED with so many mushrooms I think the parmesan decided to stay in the kitchen. I swear if there was parmesan on those slices of bread than the waiter must have eaten it off before he got to our table. Now the Buffalo Ricotta & Tuscan Honey was pretty amazing. It was so good I wanted to lick the little bit of buffalo ricotta that got on my fingers, but since I was in direct eye site of the maitre d' I decided against doing it. For our entrees we had the Spaghetti AOP and the Vitello Scallopine. The spaghetti was...well spaghetti. The most exciting thing about this dish was that it came with a huge red pepper in the center of it. I dared my friend to take a bite of it, but she elected not to (I think she was trying to be all fancy and highfalutin). The Vitello Scallopine was veal medallions with a tablespoon of mashed potatoes and teaspoon of spinach. I was disappointed by the portion size and by the taste. It was just OK. So after dining at Coco Pazzo Cafe I realize that 1) there's no need for me to go back, 2) paying for refills on soda should be outlawed, 3) my date who canceled on me, while missing out on an AWESOME date, probably made the right call since Coco Pazzo Cafe isn't all that great.
(2)Chris K.
Had lunch yesterday after a doctor visit. Had the ravioli, my wife had the risotto. We enjoyed the food and ambience the restaurant gave us. Will go back
(3)Ryan Z.
After strolling Magnificent Mile for a couple hours, we decided to to look for an outdoor lunch patio a bit off the main strip. We stumbled upon Coco Pazzo Cafe and sat down to enjoy a leisurely Italian lunch. The mussel appetizer was a good choice and included more vegetables than I'm used to seeing. The vegetables soaked up the sauce and ended up stealing the show from the mussels. My clam pasta was just okay. The pasta itself was flavorful and cooked well but the sauce seemed like a puddle of butter and was so greasy I couldn't enjoy the bottom half of the bowl. Jessica only ate half of her gnocchi and with good reason. It just tasted like boring unseasoned potatoes. The kicker was the constant traffic that included far too many screaming ambulances. Northwest hospital is just a couple blocks away. We probably should have known better.
(2)Snow W.
Had lunch today. Could not be worse. I ordered the shrimp risotto which had three small shrimps. Literally three. Very disappointed
(1)Ashlie G.
We have made dining at Coco Pazzo something of a pre-race tradition when we have running races in Chicago. The food is consistently delicious and something I look forward to when I am in town. This visit to Coco Pazzo was not part of our pre-race tradition, we decided to have dinner here for the simple fact that we were in town and Coco Pazzo is so good! I found the table reservation feature from Yelp to be really convenient especially since we were doing all sorts of running around that day. I made the reservation for 4 people which I later had to call and change to 5 since we had another friend join us. I was disappointed when I called to make the change I didn't get the sense that they verified my reservation and added the person. They simply said okay and hung up. We arrived at Coco Pazzo about 10 minutes early for dinner which seemed okay since they weren't busy. They asked if we wanted to sit at the window seat they had reserved or if we wanted to sit on the patio. We opted to sit on the patio since it was such a beautiful day out. We did not however expect to be put in the far corner of the patio and ignored for the first 10 minutes we were there. We were brought water by the wait staff helper and ultimately had to flag someone down to order our meal. The person we flagged down ended up leaving us for some time to go find someone. Once our server was finally engaged with our table the service was pretty good which slightly made up for the lack of acknowledgement or service we received upon arrival. We will most likely return to Coco Pazzo in the future as the Spaghetti AOP never disappoints! The service however needs to be improved.
(4)Stephanie S.
We ate here as a recommendation from a coworker, and it was wonderful! Some of the best Lasagna I've ever had, and the lamb was so tender. It's a must on the date night list! Not to mention, the service was phenomenal.
(5)Paula L.
Whenever I'm in Chicago I meet my girlfriend for dinner downtown. I trust her to pick the restaurant and she did a great job with Coco Pazzo Cafe. I started with the beet, apple, goat cheese and arugula salad. The salad was a perfect combination of sweet & savory. That salad should not only be appetizer size, but entree size. My entree was the grilled vegetables and polenta with balsamic vinegar. That too was delicious. My only issue was not enough polenta for the amount of vegetables, that is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5. Great location. Great service.
(4)Maureen M.
This is my go-to restaurant for faculty business lunches and from the look of the crowds, I'm not the only one. The service is always excellent and the menu offers a variety of Italian dishes. Half-orders of pasta are available (just ask). The beet salad is beautiful and the mussels are a delicious choice. The panini are hearty and served with chips, olives or other garnishes. I'm not a fan of olive oil on bread but their crusty Italian bread and the focaccia is great by itself. I highly recommend the risotto with mushrooms when it is offered as a special or the frittata which is an excellent choice if you must avoid gluten. I prefer the fritatta when it is prepared with vegetables as the frittata with beans and cheese was too heavy to be enjoyable. The waiters are happy to split the check evenly, just ask. I dream of the Tartufo, a frozen treat incorporating vanilla gelato with dark chocolate an amarena cherry and toasted almond.
(4)Clinton S.
First let me say if you make an Open Table reservation for Coco Pazzo make sure you are specific - don't make the mistake I did and make the reservation for Coco Pazzo and show up at Coco Pazzo Cafe!! At least they were understanding at the Cafe and had a table for us....too bad that was the highlight of the night. We ordered a glass of white wine (sorry can't remember the exact name) and it was only average (but rather expensive). I had the house salad, which was ok (good fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, nice oil/vinegar dressing), and the special pasta dish. The special was a linguini with shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and onions - only average. My companion had the spaghetti AOP - which he seemed to enjoy, but it was not very appealing visually. This is the second or third time I've been at Coco Pazzo, but I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)Katie B.
The food at Coco Pazzo Cafe has always been good and the outside patio is quaint. However, I tried to inquire about a private event here - as well as at any of the other family locations - Tre Soldi and Coco Pazzo - and after waiting MONTHS for a simple answer about menus and prices, I was accidentally copied on an email chain that discussed raising the prices just for my event. That was the hold up. Ridiculous. So unprofessional. Be careful when asking about private events. There are a million places to hold events in the city of Chicago. There are actually good places that just want to showcase customer service and good food and aren't out to stick it to a potential client.
(1)Paul H.
Stopped in for lunch with a party of four...seated immediately. I had a smoked turkey panini and caprese salad. It was really really good. My wife had the salad sampler platter and others had the fish special. Thanks be to YELP because it was the favorable review that led us here, and you reviewers did not let us down. Trying to figure out why I'm not awarding five stars...would like to try for dinner too before getting crazy like that!
(4)Scott C.
Someone told me the competition of restaurants in the Magnificent Mile is so fierce, that if you aren't selling something spectacular, you won't be around long. Coco Pazzo was a last minute choice, but a totally delicious one. Don't let the decor fool you. This is incredibly fresh and delicious Italian food. Homemade pasta is just the beginning....the sauces, service and simple menu made this a meal to remember. Highly recommend.
(5)Scott O.
Your Review: A wonderful place for a Saturday lunch. Delicious salad, great gnocchi, excellent wine. Cannot recommend highly enough.
(4)Andres W.
Who charges for soda refill nowadays??? If the owner if this restaurant is trying to make money,it shouldnt do thru soda refills,should be thru their food,which is not bad,but it kills the entire experience by charging for soda refills,specially becuase: * they dont have coke,only pepsi * they serve the soda in little glasses. Not coming back here.ever
(3)Jo H.
It's four o'clock on a gorgeous Saturday and if the bathroom is any indication, attention to detail not in residence. Dirty, no TP and trash pile. Should have headed to the head first. My caesar salad uninspiring. Thank goodness I asked for the glob of dressing? on the side. Service? Eh.
(2)Christine S.
Very good spicy spaghetti dish but the service was slow, especially for the lunch hour, and the salad, with julienned radishes, tomatoes, was all right, except for the wilted greens. Still, for that spaghetti, I will return (and I've been to this cafe 3 or 4 times before now too.)
(3)Eri K.
Amazingly good food. We ducked in when everywhere else was jam packed and found an oasis from the crowds and cold. Definitely try the duck liver bruschetta...so delicious. We had the little ones with us and they gave us half portions for them which was perfect. Only drawback was a rude bus boy who basically told me to hurry up and finish because the main course was ready...so rude! But the meal, ambience, and other service was very good.
(4)Chris P.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants outside of Italy. I've been here several times over the years when visiting Chicago and go out of my way to come back here.
(5)Roy H.
Good restaurant. Slow service. Inattentive waitstaff, although water was constantly refilled. Cramped seating - was constantly bumped by waiters and diners. The Aperativo with meat was a puny portion, however the pork entree I got was literally one of the best things I've eaten in my life. That says a lot.
(3)Thiago B.
Small dishes, but all delicious ...
(4)Christina M.
Coco Pazzo Café was accommodating to my diet, which was very nice. They made the Spaghetti 'AOP' vegan for me - I believe there's butter in the tomatoes - and overall I found it pretty average. The dish was supposed to be spicy, but I didn't really taste the spice. Plus, the dish was rather flavorless too. My dining partner ordered a meat dish and thought his food was pretty bland too. For the amount of money they charge, I'd rather go elsewhere so I'll likely not return.
(3)Karen M.
Maybe I'm spoiled for Tuscan-style food after visiting Italy last year, but I wasn't impressed with this place. We came here because some relatives of mine were in town and wanted to try it. My husband and I ordered the bistecca (grilled beef ribeye) thinking it would be like the memorable steak dinner we had in Florence, but it wasn't even close. In fact, it was about what you used to get at a Ponderosa. Everyone else in our party had pasta and seemed satisfied with it. The bruschetta appetizers and the cappuccino gelato dessert were fine, as was service. Maybe we should give this place one more visit and try a pasta dish instead, or visit the original Coco Pazzo on Hubbard. But unless I'm ever in the area again, I'm thinking there have got to be better Italian restaurants in Chicago than this one.
(2)Vaidehi T.
Went here for lunch on a beautiful spring Sunday afternoon. The weather was gorgeous and we sat out in the patio - which is pretty cool and awesome. I am surprised at the low rating this place has on yelp. My husband and me absolutely loved our experience here. I admit that the awesome weather and sitting outside had a lot to do with it, but it was still a pretty great meal. The place is quite laid back and cool. We did not feel rushed and ended up having a nice and relaxed lunch. We ordered the tomato and mozzarella for antipasti and some crisp Pinot Grigio to go along with it. We were served a basket of complimentary bread - there was two kinds, one was the usual crostini and the other was a rosemary infused bread. I live for bread and olive oil when I go to Italian restaurants - and this bread was delish. Hubby ordered the spaghetti 'AOP' and I ordered the Mahi. The spaghetti was fabulous... perfectly tangy and savory. The portion was quite generous, it was a big mound of spaghetti with a roasted red pepper sitting on the top. Hubby really enjoyed it. The Mahi dish was fab too. It came along with some braised escarole - one of my favorite bitter greens. The whole dish was awesome. Again, portions were generous and we had leftovers for to go. We were too full to try any dessert, but hubby ordered the cappuccino to end the meal - and it was pretty fab!! The service was friendly and we never had an empty glass of water on our table.
(4)Hale M.
WHY I WENT THERE: Went to Cocco Pazzo Cafe with my parents the night I moved to Chicago. My mother--who, ironically, happens to have celiac (i.e. legitimate gluten intolerance)--chose it based on a positive experience there a month or so prior. AMBIANCE: This is a typically (and appropriately) moderately lit Italian place. It was appropriately busy, which is to say that it is clearly popular with the locals as well as with visitors, but that it is not so crowded as to be intimidating or inhibitory. FOOD: My dad and I split to the bruschetta as an appetizer--white bean & black truffle, mushroom & parmesan, and carmelized onion & ricotta--all of which were fantastic, particularly the white bean and black truffle. For my entree, I could not resist the special: risotto with my favorite non-traditional meat...rabbit! Tender, flavorful, filling but not sedating. DRINKS: Ample wine selection, which fits the cuisine. If you (like me) fancy craft beer, you've come to the wrong place. SERVICE: Friendly, informative, and timely. Struck the perfect balance of being attentive but not intrusive. SPONTANEITY FACTOR: Reservations recommended. SUMMARY: If you're looking for italian in River North, this is a great option.
(4)bill s.
Weekend in Chicago. MI Avenue was totally insane. Try to stay off of it as we move S to N or N to S. Son and daughter-in-law, who live downtown, have been to the original Coco Pazzo so my wife an I decided to try the cafe for lunch. 3pm on a Saturday, place is empty except for one table. Some of the staff were having lunch as we came in. Whatever they were eating looked good. We were seated, waiter comes over, handed menus, asked if we wanted water (I forgot that places in Chi tend to do that), specials explained. We decide to order the mussels in a light tomato (not "tomato sauce") broth with tomato bits and pieces. Served with the usual bruschetta-like grilled bread. Plump, juicy PEI mussels. Bread was charred and and has a slightly burned taste in place but it was still quite good. The slighty garlicly, tomato based-broth was quite good. We each had a light entree. Chicken breast filet that had been pounded a bit and then grilled. Topped with fresh spinach, several dollops of goat cheese and seedless red grapes. We both enjoyed it to the point where I'm going to make it at home. Had the eggless panna cotta for dessert and cofffe. All in all a very pleasant experience. Good food, attentive staff, nice prices for downtown Chicago. A lot of hard surfaces so I imagine that it could be rather noisy when full. Don't know if it rates 4 stars. I'm a tough grader. Will definitely go back to the cafe and will no doubt try the original pace on W. Hubbard. So maybe 3.5 to 3.75 stars.
(3)Tom H.
Close to 20 years and we keep coming back. Food is always great, staff friendly, atmosphere tasteful. Outdoor seating in the summer is a treat. Just one block off Michigan avenue but nice and quiet. This is where people like us who live downtown go.
(5)Bridget L.
Lovely atmosphere for dinner. I order one of the specials and the portion was perfect, just enough. Fresh pasta, simply delicious. Waitstaff was friendly and not overly obtrusive. Will definitely come back again!!
(4)Victoria W.
Pretty much a poor experience all around. Overpriced, flavorless food paired with awful service. By the end of it, we were wishing we'd gone to nearby Burrito Beach instead. The vegetali ($16) was a small pile of grilled vegetables and polenta with no seasoning besides a light drizzle of balsamic. My partner's tagliolini neri (squid ink pasta, $17) was of a pitiful portion and bland (he's had squid ink pasta in Italy, and this was like the watered-down version). The service was ridiculous. Our waiter maintained a cold scowl on his face whenever he was dealing with us. And he barely dealt with us at all, despite the fact that there was only one other table occupied at the time (4PM). After getting us our drinks, he took so long to take our food order, we considered leaving. After finally taking our order, he never checked on us.
(1)Theresa F.
5 stars for food. 1 deducted for poorly maintained atmosphere. Will probably come back for that calamari! Service was also prompt, organized and attentive!
(4)Brittany L.
Reasonable prices, nice sized portions (not gigantic), good service, and decent decor. Main problem is that you're really packed in, and with the proximity to the hotels, you're likely to get HUGE groups of people who are in town for a convention or something, which may mean a wait for your food. We got there early enough on a Thursday that this wasn't an issue. I had the rigatoni (sausage, peas, tomato cream sauce), my friend had the squash ravioli (sweet butter sauce with brown sugar and nuts). We shared an order of 3 crostini with various toppings. I chose one with salami and brie and another with a hummous-type white bean & black truffle puree. Both were delicious. She had a roasted red pepper & goat cheese one. I tried a little bite and found it rather tasty. They also have the traditional bruschetta of tomatoes, basil, and olive oil, but we passed that one by in favor of something different. Everything was quite good...perhaps not fantastic, but good. Service-wise, our waiter knew his way around the menu and gave suggestions, we were offered cracked pepper with our appetizer and freshly grated cheese with our entrees, our water glasses stayed full, and our dishes were promptly cleared away. My friend was offered a sample of wine before committing which was nice. I would go here again, especially if I'm staying in one of the nearby hotels. Very convenient to walk and not have to worry about valet or parking fees.
(4)Gino W.
Usually restaurants that are in the vicinity of the Magnificent Mile are tourist traps. The flavours pander to a single palate and the presentation wows you way more than taste. Then there is Coco Pazzo Cafe. I must admit that this restaurant eatery left a lasting first impression on me. Escarole e fagioli. Tagliolini. Spaghetti with mushrooms. Linguini with clams. Calamari. Apple tart. Tortufu. My friends and I had a grand time. And it may have been because of the weather, the restaurant was not teeming with tourists and shoppers. So, we had great service without being rushed and food that certainly was not rushed from the kitchen. After a rather large, late lunch, we were all sated.
(5)JD F.
Was here last week for a vendor lunch. It is rather small and the atmosphere a little close. The pseudo-Modigliani frescoed walls were well executed. Service was friendly and fast. The tacchino panini (smoked turkey and pancetta) is highly recommended. Just be aware that due to its small size, the place can get loud - or maybe it was just the boisterous office group there that made it so. Overall, an above average dining experience.
(4)Jessica N.
Sad I had a bad experience because I love the original. Ambience was not quaint cafe but kind of cold and uninviting. Service was spotty and not polished. And my fish was over-charred and bitter. This is a block from my office so I'll probably give it another try with a pasta but if that doesn't live up I won't be back!
(2)Kari S.
Am a frequent guest at this location and have always received quality meals and service. Enjoy sitting outside weather permitting.
(4)Jan E.
Lovely atmosphere for a nice Italian dinner. Lasagna & spaghetti, yes, but also octopus ink pasta with shrimp and bruschetta with white beans and truffles.
(4)Pari P.
I'm a fan of Cocco Pazzo's Hubbard location but sometimes I am not in suit for work and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing jeans there. After a stroll down the Magnificent Mile, we decided on Cocco Pazzo Café by Michigan Ave. The menus are similar but the environment is much more casual. For my attire, I was wearing jeans and a hoodie and I fit in just fine. No jacket no service wasn't an issue here. We ordered the bruschetta, pappardelle, and tagiolini. The bruschetta was a little disappointing since the bread lacked crunch and was a bit on the soft side. For the entrees, I am a huge fan of homemade pasta and both were done well. The parpardelle came with a wild boar ragu that had an unexpected sweetness. The tagiolini was full of mushrooms and finished with parmesan reggiano. Like LMFAO, no shirt, no shoes, and I still get service at Coco Pazzo Cafe.
(4)Rachel N.
Conflicted -- 1) my grandmother loves it here, so when we go out with the family N matriarch, this is occasionally where we land; 2) the food is tasty; and 3) there is nothing wrong with the place (service is friendly/efficient/attentive and the atmosphere isn't offensive) -- it's not adventurous fare per se, and certainly not earth shattering in the flavor dept -- but it's a pretty good casual Sunday night meal -- my braised octopus is always solid, and the salmon and trout are reliably cooked well (I've heard the pasta is strong, but it's not my bag -- but it's homemade or something). That said, CPC, clean up your act. Like seriously. The bathrooms are atrocious. Last time I checked, the rest stop on I-94 I went into this summer had less peeling paint and more bountiful toilet paper. This is not a Mc.Donalds. It's a proper place to get a meal. Shame on you. Oh, the antipasto station looks appetizing, but the offerings from it are bland -- it's a skip -- for the starters, do a bruschetta, the 7 veg salad, or a hearty soup -- perfect for fending off the 30F weather. For mains, I'd rec any of the fish options. A meal for four w/ apps, entrees, and dessert/coffee was around $200. Worth a special trip? No. But if you're in the area (on Michigan Ave/at Northwestern Memorial Hospital/staying in one of the hotels close by), it's a nice casual option -- we usually go at an AARP friendly time (both for me and for Grandma Pearl, duh) -- so at 6p it's dead, but 8p it's more popping. Not a scene. Just a meal.
(3)Angela G.
I love the cozy atmosphere here and they serve all day. In the summer, the patio is charming. The homemade pasta is always a good choice. Can get crowded, best to have a reservation.
(4)Martin D.
Great food and service.
(5)KC C.
Reconnected this week at Coco Pazzo Cafe, and again had an exquisite evening. Service was excellent, food variety(menu has been refreshed since our last visit) was interesting, tantalizing, and ambience environment was special enhanced by great weather and open doors. Enjoyed the fried smelt as an appetizer. Risotto special and antipasti was great as expected. Milanese pork was a little overdone and dry-do better next time! By the glass chianti was very nice. Thanks for a nice evening!
(4)Jeremy N.
Came here for a business meeting recently because the owners of my company love this place and it is right around the corner from my office - also, it's one of only a few nicer places within a few blocks around the area. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect but I was very pleased when we walked in - the place is quiet and it is a GREAT place for a business meeting. The service was top notch, everything was very relaxed but as soon as you wanted them at the table they were there. I was really happy with the portion sizes - it was enough food that I felt satisfied but not stuffed. I had the grilled chicken with spinach, grapes and goat cheese. The seasoning on the chicken was just right - enough to really give it a little extra flavor, but not so much that I felt like I was chewing on grilled oregano with a dash of chicken. I was trying to eat the healthiest thing on the menu and I was really pleased to be able to have something I enjoyed which didn't make me feel guilty at all. The other options on the menu look fantastic and one of these days when I'm a little less concerned with making a healthy choice I'll be excited to head back and try some of their other dishes.
(4)Bernard M.
Excellent grilled pike!
(5)Colin E.
Casual but elegant and intimate decor. Homemade, fresh pasta. Consistently outstanding year after year. Great service, good wine list. One of the best places to take an out-of-town visitor for a wonderful meal that isn't very expensive Have always enjoyed the Sette Vegetali salad and the Linguine Vongole. Have tried many of the Burschetta--all of them excellent. Can't go wrong. I really always leave with a smile on my face
(5)Jack P.
Well, now. Isn't this just a charming little place? Actually, I was pleasantly surprised to see it located in the same space as an equally charming French cafe which may have closed in the 90's? Anyway, a friend had recommended it, and I met a friend I hadn't seen in many years for a mid-week lunch. While we did make a reservation we would not have needed one. It was fairly quiet. I am guessing that is more the exception than the rule in this busy location. But the most impressive thing was the setting, the decor, the wood, the lighting, the artwork, all giving the place an elegant yet rustic feel. We ordered antipasti from the big table in the middle, a wonderful assortment of bean salads, grilled veggies, and olives. For entrees, we ordered pastas: one ribbon pasta with bolognese sauce, and one penne with a sausage and vegetable sauce. And just the half-orders worked fine for sharing. These pastas dishes were perfect. The pasta was al dente, the flavors exciting and pleasing, and the sauce to pasta ratio exact. Ingredients were cut perfectly for an overall great tongue shui. I would highly recommend Coco Pazzo for anyone who wants a nice classy and intimate yet casual Italian dining experience. Probably would make a good "date" place, if you're into that sort of thing,
(4)Cathy O.
I can't believe all the great comments here. This was the worst Italian Food I have ever had. I ordered the Lasagna. It was as if I was eating Chef Boy R d out of the can, although I have never had that, but can only imagine. The bread basket was nothing to speak of, bread from a bag no doubt. I also ordered a side green salad, nothing special here either, but it was the best thing I ate. I was alone, while on business. I sat on the patio because the weather was perfect, the service was lousy. My entire meal came to $27 + $5 tip that was undeserved. Go to Osteria Via Stato, now they know Italian food!
(1)Jim B.
Consistently good food and nice service. The beet salad is awesome and the pasta is fresh.
(4)Mary J.
We had lunch here today. It was gorgeous outside, so we opted to enjoy the rays and get our daily dose of vitamin D while eating. There was some GREAT people watching! Our food was good, our service was not so good. We started with Carpaccio for an appetizer. I've never had shaved beef tenderloin, I'm used to a thicker piece, but this was good. I had a frittata and hubby had some risotto and both were yummy. Our server really didn't pay too much attention to us after our food was brought. There was no check-in to see how we were doing and it took him forever to come by and ask us about dessert. I actually wanted dessert, but he took so long, I had to give it up so we could move on. Waiting for our check was painful, not the way it should be after having some good food!
(3)Vince S.
We visited here in December (2012) from out of town for a Christmas time visit to Chicago. This restaurant was recommended to us and it delivered. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. My meal was one of the daily specials, and was fantastic. We were a party of four and made reservations for the evening dining time. The four of us had a great dining experience at this establishment and would return again.
(4)Jessica H.
Fit us in without a reservation. Service was good. The squid ink pasta was good but the shrimp on it were not. They were the tiny ones that are always overcooked and tough because of their size. For the price, I expected more better quality shrimp.
(4)Catherine A.
The dinner pasta special was homemade ribbon noodles with grilled asparagus and mushrooms, finished with shaved pecorino cheese. Simple, but delicious! Service was very friendly and I would highly recommend this restaurant. Not too big or too loud. Great for a romantic dinner or business dinner.
(4)Irene G.
I've dined here quite often now with co-workers since it's close to my work. The service is good, but I can't say I love the food. I usually order some kind of pasta dish since it IS an italian restaurant. I leave feeling satisfied, but not wanting to come back anytime soon. The place tends to get crowded since it's within a block from the Mag Mile so I suggest making a reservation. Overall, I'd say Coco Pazzo Cafe is one of the better dining options in the area.
(3)Tracy N.
I had dinner here with some co-workers at the recommendation of our hotel. I'm really picky with my Italian food and this is definitely a go-again kind of place. The restaurant was clean, the service was knowledgeable, and the food was excellent, not to mention reasonably price and well portioned. We ordered the calamari and the octopus for appetizers, which were flavorful and everything you want from an Italian appetizer. We had a tasting frenzy with the plates, and they were all delicious. The gnocchi is fresh and creamy, although there was a lot of it - I have come to find that this is more of a dish related occurence rather than a restaurant, because who can eat that many potato-pasta balls. The tagliolini with shrimp and the pappardelle with rabbit were my favorite of the night. The shrimp was succulent and the lamb was tender. All of the sauces were delicious and served with the pasta type to bring out their flavors. In addition to the original menu, this place also had some daily specials. I tried the scallop specials and it was unbelievable. Overall this place really knows how to pair pastas and sauces and how to perfectly cook their seafood. Not to mention the dessert! The flourless chocolate cake and tiramisu are a big fast YES! My co-workers and I stayed in different hotels around the area and it was recommended by two of the hotels, so it's most likely that you can expect to see business groups out, which doesn't surprise me since they're very accommodating to large groups. There's a private room in the basement and a patio. We went on a Wednesday and it wasn't busy at all, you can probably expect to be seated immediately on the weekdays. Every course was delicious and I can't wait to go back and have Luigi as my server again.
(4)Joyce H.
I came here with family and a family friend on a warm Chicago afternoon. We sat inside, but close enough to the outside patio to feel like we were outdoors. My brother frequents Coco Pazzo as a go-to place. I enjoyed myself, liked the food and I agree that it's more of a go-to place. I had the risotto of the day -- leeks, green peas and cheese. It was okay -- I would have preferred to have ordered one of the pastas instead. My dad ordered a penne with tuna and a spicy tomato sauce. It was pretty tasty. Brother ordered the trout and he finished it quickly! The trout was very fresh. We also ordered an appetizer which were freshly grilled veggies, some special meats, cheeses and olives. They were displayed in the center of the restaurant and the waitstaff would basically make up a plate themselves for the party. I think that was one of my favorite parts. Nice place and location for Streeterville too!
(3)Barbara B.
Very accommodating for a large group. The focaccia bread was delicious, especially dipped in their olive oil. I ate the celery root ravioli with mushrooms in a butter sauce. The ravioli was tasty but the sauce was not my favorite. The portion size was nice for lunch. I had a taste of my friend's gnocchi that I liked much better. Atmosphere was very nice, I recommend this place for an upscale lunch.
(3)Rachel S.
If white people like being the only white person in an ethnic restaurant, it follows that american people like being the only american in an italian restaurant. That being extrapolated, Italians love Coco Pazzo Cafe. The food is fresh, delicious, a little decadent, but the atmosphere is casual and chic. I will definitely be coming here a again!
(4)Ashley B.
I went here with my family, boyfriend, and sisters friend the other day just to hang out and my mom recommended this spot since she's been here before and loved it. We had reservations but still had to wait a little bit, it was totally packed, but I didn't mind. My boyfriend went to the other one accidentally so it gave us time to wait for him. We sat down and had a few drinks and salads. Mine was comprised of veggies entirely, it was awesome, and the serving was ginormous. I could probably eat that salad everyday, especially because I'm a huge raw veggie fan. Next up came our entrees. I got the homemate tagliatelle with rabbit. It was awesome. The noodles were on point, and paper thin. The rabbit (which I had never tried before) was also very tender, and not too gamey or greasy. The portion was huge and I ended up taking half of it home. Lastly... dessert. My boyfriend and I split the house made custard and it was amazing. Much like a creme brulee but more gelatinous and without the crunchy sugar topping. Very good. Everyone else also really liked the gelato. Overall, I think this place was definitely good. Mind-blowing? Not quite, but I'd come back for sure.
(4)Alex S.
Prompt and efficient service. I had no app, my main was a special, a shrimp and mushroom risotto. Pretty good although a tad crunchy. Tiramisu was nice. A solid performance, I was satisfied even if I wasn't blown away.
(3)Dan K.
Be careful with your salad, mine came with an insect... The manager outrageously blamed that i was sitting outside...
(1)Linda H.
Not the greatest service. Good solid Italian. Excellent red sauce. Did not care for the Tiramisu. Very sugary with no coffee flavor whatsoever.
(3)Jamie B.
We came here on a Friday night around 8:30 and sat on the patio. The octopus appetizer was great, the salads were really good, and the entrees were just OK. I opted for the gnocchi and this was a bad choice. The sauce was described as a tomato sauce with ricotta, had a dollop of ricotta over the top, while the sauce tasted "off". After my second bite it dawned on me: I was eating the sauce that's on Chef Boyardee canned ravioli. This was disappointing. For dessert we had panna cotta, and that was a winner. I am sure you will have a great experience here, I would just recommend staying away from the gnocchi.
(3)Law K.
14 of us had a really good time and the service was great! The food however was below average at best. The highlight was the calamari and it went down hill from there.
(1)Pat H.
Went here this past weekend when my family was in town and had an excellent experience. The service was very good - the staff was very friendly, timely & knowledgeable. The food here is excellent - all their pasta is home made. If you're a fan of Italian you wont be disappointed. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced. I got lamb which i would recommend to anyone it was that good. Two people at my table got pasta dishes which were excellent & the veal chops were also very good. There wasn't one thing that I didn't like. If you're up in the air because of the million other restaurants in the city...give this place a shot its worth it.
(4)Jeremy L.
Solid Italian option in the Streeterville neighborhood. Kicked off dinner with the calamari: pretty good and a decent serving size. Entrees: Linguine Vongole: Basically a clam linguine in a white wine and garlic sauce. Tasty and light with plenty of small clams, but the noodles were just meh. Pappardelle: The "housemade" wide noodles were really good, great texture and well cooked. The rabbit ragu was a little salty but delicious. Anatra: The duck was solid with the marsala sauce, but nothing really stood out about the dish. Service was great; lots of tables and staff so we got situated pretty quickly. Water glasses were kept full and orders taken/filled quick enough. 3 stars. Nothing really stood out about the place and being in Streeterville, it's expensive for what you get. But certainly a restaurant I would consider going to again.
(3)Patrick D.
I actually felt that this was a local Chicagoland version of an Olive Garden. The service seemed reminiscent of an all inclusive resort in Mexico where the primary goal was to provide a facade of luxury service while turning over a table as quickly as possible. The more I say the name, the more that correlation makes sense. Our three course meal including bottle of wine took less than 50 minutes. This included ordering in courses. The bruschetta seemed to be extremely previously toasted bread that was awaiting the arrival of topping for hours. Bruschetta arrived less than three minutes after placing the order. Table next to us received carpaccio in less than 90 seconds. Our dinner seating seemed much more reminiscent of a workday lunch rush as oppose to a Saturday night at 8pm. B
(2)David H.
I had the aratra, which is duck with lentils. The duck was distinctly flavorful, tender, and definitely some of the better duck I have ever had in my entire life. And they gave me a healthy portion. The lentils, on the other hand, were lentils. I'm not sure why I expected more from lentils. Still, my impression was that I was a lot happier with my order than others were with theirs. However, the place itself was relatively small given how many people were there. I'm not sure I could've gotten up after I sat down without great difficulty, so close I was to the table behind me. Packed in like sardines Meal was a little pricey Duck made it worthwhile
(3)Trixy D.
EXCELLENT Italian food, soup, great veg salad, fantastic lasagna for Husband and unbelievable homemade pasta w/ butternut squash...tasted like dessert! Shared an amazing mousse, gelato dipped in chocolate for dessert. OMG will be back. $71.27 for two for dinner before tip.
(4)Andrea R.
If you're looking for reasonably priced Italian food check out Coco Pazzo Café. During my most recent visit there my friend mentioned that you could get half orders of their pasta dishes. This isn't on the menu, but she had seen it on their website. Being a carbaholic I could probably finish off a regular order of pasta, but my half order of Tagliolini Neri was just perfect. And tasty too! I even had room for some dessert and decided on their berries topped with custard. The custard itself was just OK so next time I'd probably go for something else. Their low-key yet quaint atmosphere is lovely. And if you're looking for something more upscale Coco Pazzo is quite good too. See review here: yelp.com/biz/coco-pazzo-…
(4)Anna P.
I really wanted to love this place, but it just didn't meet my expectations. First of all, this place was PACKED to the gills. And when I say "to the gills", I mean so close that when one of my tablemates spilled his glass of water, it got all over the people at the next table. I don't know how the waiters could even squeeze around the tables most of the time. I could've dealt with the space issue if it was quieter, but it was so loud I had to shout at the person sitting next to me to be heard. Not the best environment for a leisurely, nice meal. The menu, wine and beer lists are fine and pretty typical for an Italian place in Chicago. The bread was wonderful and seemingly endless, and I absolutely LOVED my beet salad. After that, the meal went somewhat downhill...I ordered the seafood stew, which I expected to be really nice but all of the seafood was pretty rubbery and there wasn't enough sauce. I got a selection of sorbets for dessert and they were pretty tasty, but again nothing remarkable. The prices are what you'd expect near the Mag Mile and with the name Coco Pazzo, although they are cheaper than the original on Hubbard. I have no problem paying high prices for high quality, but this just wasn't it.
(3)Nelson M.
Restaurant Review Tucked away on a side street along the Mag Mile is this quaint restaurant that carries a wide spread of Tuscan cuisine with a extensive wine list to pair with your meal. The portion sizes are average, but you cannot deny the robust flavors. I would highly recommend the rigattoni. Not too heavy and perfectly balanced dish of meat and pasta leaving you wanting more. This is a attractive dining option for a romantic date or larger group. Pros- quaint atmosphere, good service, relaxed atmosphere compared to the larger sister restaurant, extensive wine list Cons- portion are average size Hidden deals- Unfortunately none...
(3)Miriam G.
Okay food & service. I sat at the bar (which was really really uncomfortable to eat). Slow service, even though there were only a few people at the bar. Wine by the glass selection was limited and not great (I tried a few). Their tomato sauce pasta was OK at best. I make better at home. Overall verdict... I had better Italian food.
(3)John M.
The night was definitely hit and miss. Calamari is usually a staple at a good Italian restaurant, but theirs was just not crispy enough. To make me more suspicious it showed up about 2 minutes after we ordered it, which makes me wonder if it was originally for someone else. I always love fresh pasta and for me that's the draw for Italian food. We had the Rigatoni, which they consider to be the specialty and it was forgettable. We also had the Linguine Vongole, which was bland and not as good as what I have made at home or had at Bice. There was a highlight though, it was the special fish pasta of the day. The noodles were homemade, paper thin and took on the flavor of the sauce in a wonderful way. Had they served us three entrees of the same quality instead of the two inferior ones the review would be an easy 4. Last point, I will make is on the service. They did a great job keeping the water filled, but missed on the easy items. When ordering a Caesar salad cracked pepper should always be offerred right away. In order to get the pepper for the salad I had to flag down a waiter, which was a first in an Italian restaurant.
(2)kg a.
We arrived in jeans and sweatshirts, wanting something delicious. I worried when we were offered a table with the caveat that we be finished in an hour to make room for a reservation. I hate that. It seems so rude. However--Waitstaff was very nice, and didn't rush us. Food was delicious. Among us we had panzanelle, pappardelle with rabbit ragu, linguine vongole, rapini (delicious), trout with the pesto green beans and potatoes (repeatedly talked about deliciousness the rest of the evening). Not too loud, quality service, not outrageous prices or portions, overall pleasant dinner. I would definitely return.
(4)Cecilia T.
3.5 stars to 4 stars Finally got to try this restaurant after passing by it on my way home so many times! My husband and I sat in their outdoor seating which is so pleasant! We first ordered their Beet salad which is pretty yummy and flavorful and a good portion to share between 2 people. My husband ordered the Rigatoni Butera which was yummy and filling for him. I had ordered one of the Specials of the Day which was a Mushroom Bowtie pasta. - that was ok, kind of ordinary. Lasty, wine selection pretty good. Definitely this is a place to go for a quaint and relaxing atmosphere, but food is just ok.
(3)Glen W.
A bit noisy, but quite nice Italian. Rigatoni alla Buttera is the best dish. Avoid the fried appetizers.
(4)Shradha A.
Time to reiterate my review from a while ago - went here after some time on Friday night and think it's still really good, but just not amazing! Didn't really like the bruschetta much, because of soy sauce/vinegar- like thing they added to it, but enjoyed the home made pasta in the spicy marinara sauce! Cute place, a little tight on space, but enjoyable overall.
(4)Curt L.
So fortunate to get a last minute reservation here for New Year's Eve. Walked in that afternoon and secured a 9:30pm for seven people. Miguel our waiter was courteous, efficient and very knowledgeable. We shared 2 apps: Polpo: Braised octopus w/potato & olives & tomato. Simple recipe that allows the subtle chewy texture come thru. Funghi Arrosta: Wood grilled oyster mushrooms with diced pancetta and radicchio. For dinner I enjoyed the special of the evening Torteloni di Vitello ai Tartufo. Handmade torteloni stuffed with veal with black truffle. Beautiful tasty little packages. Tender and delicate as they politely sat in their "broda" only to later dance joyously in my mouth. Very nice entree special. The rest of the family enjoyed various pastas and meats. Granddaughter (a professed "pasta-tarian) had the Pappardelle-house made wide noodles with a wild boar ragout. Veal Scallopine was on the table as was the Caciucco-a spicy Tuscan seafood stew. Definitely enjoyed. We shared a bottle of red..........as suggested by Miguel. Fairly priced and fairly tasty. As I have a sweet tooth I ordered the Tartufo. Think of an ice cream truffle. Wonderfully decadent. A quaint little place one block of the Miracle Mile. Stop in for a good value dinner.......you will be glad that you did.
(4)Tim B.
Our family of four ate here while vacationing in Chicago. We were staying at the Embassy Suites, Lakeview, and wanted to walk the magnificent mile after dinner, so this was right on the way. The atmosphere was comfortable and pleasant and the server was friendly. The food was good-to-great depending on the dish. We got the octopus appetizer which was very good. For dinner, my wife ordered a seafood pasta dish and my older son ordered the duck, which were both fine, but not amazing. My younger son and I both ordered the sea bass special and were very impressed. I was disappointed at first because I didn't book reservations in time to go where I had really wanted to that evening, but by the end of the meal here, we were happy and satisfied.
(4)S L.
Gah! Get over yourself! The food is great, but very limited. Actually, I can only order about one thing for lunch which is the amazing vegetali appetizer salad. It's incredible and very decently priced considering the fresh veggie ingredients. But, the snobbery is palpable. I am not at a business lunch. I am a simple girl who wants to eat lunch and read a book and doesn't mind paying more if the food is good. So, what's the problem? I'm not wearing a suit? My job doesn't require me to wear a suit. I'm super low maintenance and I don't even eat your bread (which smells delicious). Judging me before I sit down is not going to help either of us. I tip better than most, even though you're borderline rude to me. That said, the food could be a little friendlier to the dietarily restricted. Gluten free pasta is not hard to obtain. Also, you're next to the Red Roof Inn for heaven sake! How snobby can you allow yourself to be before you just look silly.
(3)Elaine M.
Went here last night for a friend's birthday and it was completely average. While the menu was inspired the execution was lacking. We were excited to try some of the different bruschettas that they offered. We tried three: mushroom and arugula, fava and ricotta, & goat cheese and sweet peppers. The fava and ricotta was bitter and the other two were okay but nothing to get really excited about. Also for appetizers we had the calamari and the the barbabietole (a beet salad). The calamari was fine but again just average. The barbabietole was the winner of the appetizers but I do love beets. For our entrees we had the Gnocchi verde, linguine vongole, vitello and a special for the evening of fettuccine with shrimp and mushrooms. The loser for the night was the special, which had no flavor what so ever and the shrimp were way overcooked. The winner was the gnocchi. If had to go back I would definitely go with the gnocchi. But I probably wouldn't go back. The service was strange. The waiter's personality was friendly and he had a great Italian accent. But after pouring our first round of prosecco, he never came back. We had to pour for ourselves. Also, we ordered our appetizers first and they came at a good pace but when we were finally able to order the entree I think they came out in about two minutes. Talk about feeling rushed!
(2)Aaron P.
Go for lunch, but choose Volare down the street for dinner. The outdoor seating is one of the best spots in the area (on a side-street that isn't too busy, offers a huge awning to relax under during the high-noon sun). I love going for a break during lunch, as the service is attentive (but borderline annoying with the water fill-ups). The gnocchi is superb, as is the rigatoni. The lasagna, however, is a real disappointment. I'm Arabic and can cook up a better lasagna than that. (A friend described it as "Chef Boyardee") I hadn't ventured outside of the gnocchi or rigatoni until I tried the place for dinner. Dinner service is awful. The wait staff was discombobulated, as two different servers attempted to work our table, both trying to take orders and whatnot. While my water glass was refilled every time I took a sip, I had to practically beg for more bread. By the time it came, we had to flag someone down for olive oil. Ugh. The menu is priced quite well for the area, but it's still a lot for what you get. For $26, the salmon itself was good but was only accompanied by crappy grilled veggies, which included some poorly prepared artichokes. A fellow diner ordered a side of pasta with butter and garlic and was charged $16. When we questioned if it was a mistake or not to waiter #1, waiter #2 came to the table and ripped us a new one and stormed off. When waiter #1 returned, I told him about the response we just got and he said "sorry, she's new - next time you're here, I'll take good care of you." While I think it's a great lunchtime option for a quick plate of pasta and/or a salad, the dinnertime service and the entree menu selection will not warrant a return visit from me.
(2)Jeff F.
Tried Coco Pazzo while I was in Chicago on Friday night and have to say the experience was average. Coco Pazzo does have the advantage of outdoor seating along with indoor seating that was open to the street since the doors/windows were pulled open. Upon arrival, I was impressed with the atmosphere. The service varied from crappy to average while the food ranged from piss poor to good/very good. Here's the rundown: -started with the tomato and basil bruschetta (good) and the sun dried tomato & olive bruschetta (crap) -Got the Vitello as an entree and thought the veal was pretty good, but the accompaniments were disgusting - the mashed potatoes seemed like they were out of box and whatever steamed greens were there were poor -Also got to try the Gnocchi which I thought was very good (but no one agreed so I'm not sure if my palette was starving for something good and imagining things or if the Gnocchi is actually worth trying). Would not recommend.
(3)Sam M.
Always tough to judge Italian places in Chicago, but Coco Pazzo Cafe was very nice. Service was good and prompt. Would love to check out the outdoor seating when the weather is warmer.
(4)cherie t.
Excellent!!! Good service, great food !!! Would go back again!!! Wonderful!!!
(4)Boon K.
When I worked at NMH, this place was our "let's treat ourselves to a nice lunch today". You can never go wrong with their daily rissoto, pasta, and calamari. What I usually like is you can always get a half order of the pasta and it is just perfect for lunch or a light dinner. The sandwiches are ok but I'm not that crazy about them.
(3)Emily W.
Italian food at it's finest! They make all their food fresh every day. The staff is incredible. If you ever get an opportunity to eat here then jump on it.
(5)Dan L.
The food was outstanding. The service was great too. The ambiance was candle lit dim, romantic, intimate, and warm. We're coming back!!
(4)Kimberly Q.
Had dinner here last night @ the recommendation of a very cool barman at C-View. The sidewalk seating was nice, but everything else was average, unfortunately. The cesar salad, while tasty, had too much dressing and was limp. The pasta special entailed overcooked fettuccine and overcooked shrimp (rubbery, big no-no!). The service was pleasant but slow. Very unextraordinary overall. Will not be back, when there are so many gems here in Chitown.
(3)Kristin R.
Coco Pazzo Cafe is a nice, quaint, and cheap alternative to its sister restaurant, Coco Pazzo. Strangely, I ended up going to both of these restaurants for back to back dinners and there is very little difference. Coco Pazzo Cafe had many of the same dishes as the other restaurant, but is just a tad less fancy. No white linen table clothes, but rather it is quite a small space. This makes it feel very homey and intimate. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and they were pretty good. I feel like they tasted a bit bland, and it is probably not a dish I would order again, but it was good enough for me to finish my entire plate! There is not a huge selection here, similar to the other, but there are a few vegetarian options, as well as steak, poultry and fish. There is no special bread man at the Cafe that comes around and places just one piece of bread on your plate. Instead you get a basket of a variety of breads and some superb olive oil to dip it in; loved the focaccia. Our service was fast and friendly, and the bathrooms were quite nice. Very clean, always a plus.
(4)Tanya S.
My friends and I had dinner here on a Friday evening, and we were very happy with everything we ordered. The server's wine recommendation was spot on. I really enjoyed the bruschetta--I sampled mushroom and arugula, as well as goat cheese and sweet pepper. And I highly recommend the pappardelle with wild boar ragu. I could totally smell the freshness of the pasta off my plate, and the whole dish was just very well made. I took off one star because one of the busboys was annoyingly overzealous in refilling our water glasses, notwithstanding our assurances that we didn't need more. He even accidentally hit my hand at one point without any apology. Otherwise, it's a super cute and charming spot for quiet and pleasant dinner. I can't wait to visit during patio season!
(4)Brian P.
i went for a saturday brunch, and the weather was fair--open doors and whatnot. Antipasto vegetables were a nice touch, however, i felt each item wasn't prepared with the same level of quality--some items felt underdressed, others undercooked (if blanched ex. asparagus). The penne with tuna is an absolute gut-bomb: heavy stuff, and probably just only decent. I probably could have made it. Some of the paninis and such were quite nice. We asked about cheese on a particular dish, as one of our guests was allergic--and it arrived with a ton of cheese on it. I suppose there was a miscommunication of epic failure, but the waiter was kind enough to help us out and trade it in. Reasonable price? check. reasonable value? not so much--quality lags because of what must be the second string cooks in training for the big leagues.
(3)Peter J.
Always a good choice. Great food and service.
(4)Joshua C.
Pretty affordable, good service, and a decent interior, but nothing to write home about.
(3)Jayce C.
Coco Pazzo is a Streeterville Godsend! I work as a stylist right around the corner and it is absolutely my favorite lunch spot. I constantly send my clients over for lunch or dinner and they are always elated when they thank me for the recommendation! My Streeterville clients often mention it is their go to for a delicious, consistent experience. With all that said, I'm glad I finally wrote this review to make it official.
(5)Corinna K.
Came here as part of a group event. We were seated at an area in the back that was on a raised landing of sorts which separated it somewhat from the other diners. Nice for small get-togethers. I was surprised that it wasn't as noisy as i would have expected. A bit on the crowded side with the tables close together. But i guess it compliments the cozy atmosphere. Service was very good. Attentive servers who were skilled and knew what they were doing. Food was very good. Salad was fresh and the salmon was cooked nicely though not the best that I've had. But my favorite of the day has to be the panna cotta dessert with the berries. That was so good that we actually asked the waiter if it was possible that we could get the recipe...of course that wasn't possible, but we had to try! the portions were perfect. If only that panna cotta could've been triple its size...=P Overall very enjoyable and highly recommend.
(4)Sonia P.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants. The food is great and the staff is friendly. I've never had a bad meal there. I like that they will split the dishes so they are easy to share and you can enjoy several courses. Some of my favorite dishes are the trout, the pappardelle con coniglio and the lasagna. The lasagna is made with beciamella instead of ricotta cheese which is the style in Nothern Italy and is the only way my Italian mamma makes hers. The sauce is not your typical meat sauce usually paired with lasagna but a tasty creamy tomato sauce. I'm usually too full for dessert but enjoy finishing off my meal with an espresso. I really don't think you can go wrong dining here.
(5)Url R.
A great spot for lunch or early dinner in summer. I recommend the lamb or veal chops. You can be packed in tightly.
(4)Jocelyn L.
"Love the spicy spaghetti and clam linguine...and super affordable!" Right by Draftfcb offices
(3)Joshua G.
Great service. Pasta served piping hot and the lunch portions are just right very attentive staff.
(5)Stephen R.
fresh good sized portion delicious pasta ( a little overcooked) ambiance, and atmosphere is good and cozy. Great food and good value. GO EAT MANGIA
(4)Venkatesh B.
So we frequented Coco Pazzo Cafe when my wife lived in Streeterville and since we were in town again we couldn't wait to go back. We were seated quickly and the staff were very pleasant. With that said, the drinks often were not filled very quickly, and the main entrees weren't very well made. The pasta was overcooked slightly but still tasty according my wife. It is important to note that in the past our food was off the charts so this could just be an off experience for the Pazzo. Based on this I would normally rank this visit a three star...but wait....they have the killer "comeback" dessert known as the Tartufo which totally is out of this world and bumps them to the fourth star. If we continue to have just average meals, we may eat elsewhere and just come here for the Tartufo.
(4)Rachel W.
I've eaten both lunch and dinner here; this is a good choice for both. It's a more casual choice that its sister restaurant on Hubbard. The foccacia bread is worth drooling over. I am salivating thinking about dipping it in that olive oil... oh wow. For lunch their paninis or small pasta plates are great. They even have a quatro formaggi panini(a four cheese grilled cheese with all the cheeses you could wish for). Clearly, I was in heaven. For dinner they make great fish or larger pasta entrees. I also took a client group here and they nicely put together a prix fixe for us.
(4)Jaime S.
The food was delicious(i got the italian version of a salad Nicoise entree), the service was IMPECCABLE, but....it smelled straight up FUNKY in this place today. Does it always smell like a whif of dog shit? No joke, I went to the bathroom and checked my shoes to see if I had stepped in something. After sitting for 20 mins, i got used to it, but still. No BUENO. Takes Reservations! Thank You!
(4)Laura K.
I had lunch here with my department last week. The food here is pretty good. I had the mushroom risotto with creamy cheese sauce; good, however I think I consumed my daily sodium intake in one meal. The portion size was very generous and I had to take half of the bowl to go. Basket of bread was fresh and olive oil for dipping added a nice touch. Dessert was my fav part - gelato! You can definitely taste that they make their gelati fresh. I had the cinnamon - OMG awesome! It tasted like the milk at the bottom of my cereal bowl after I've finished my Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The wall decor is pretty cool - it reminds me of Tuscany. The paintings provide a warm personality to the atmosphere.
(4)Sandra M.
I'd had a nice dinner at the "big" Coco Pazzo several years ago, so I was glad to find its little sister near my hotel on my latest trip to Chicago. Caesar Salad: the anchovies were lovely, but the salad had way too much thick, almost pasty dressing and was kind of limp. The accompanying parmesan fricco, described as a "crisp", was anything but. Salmon: Grilled, with artichoke bottoms, cherry tomatoes, and a few potatoes and some tasty olives on top. The fish was okay but overall the dish just didn't come together. So maybe I just ordered badly. Probably should have tried a pasta. Service was good, with a nice wine recommendation, but I wasn't so sure that the second glass of wine I ordered was the same kind as the first. Nice atmosphere; I just wish I'd had a better meal here.
(2)Andrew S.
Had lunch here recently. I ordered two specials and found them both to be tasty. I had the while bean soup which was flavorful and the perfect touch on a snowy day. I followed that with homemade spinach ravioli with red sauce, which was cooked well and well seasoned. The service was attentive and friendly. My only real complaint was the price for the quantity of food, which I found a bit high. Definitely would recommend this place for an upscale lunch downtown.
(4)Ryan B.
Stiff Glenlivet on the rocks and pasta in my belly puts me in a happy spot. This place was within walking distance to the hotel I was staying in and came highly recommended by the staff. Smaller place and I could see it getting busy and hard to get a seat. I nestled in at the bar and was able to catch up on a little news on the TV and listen into peoples conversations next to me. The bartender was extremely attentive and had a few great recommendations. I love places like this as they provided a much better experience than a chain as they have soul. Next time I am in Chicago for business Coco Pazzo Cafe you are on my list.
(4)Tim F.
Other reviews seemed hot / cold, and I wondered if part of this may have been due to different meals attended versus restaurant inconsistency. All I can say is, our experience here was amazing, and I'm rather picky about good Italian. We had: 1) Carpaccio appetizer 2) Cauliflower soup appetizer 3) Pork loin entree with rabe and mashed potato 4) Ravioli special of the day Everything was great. Will be back, and I hope the review doesn't change then.
(5)Priya S.
Good place to enjoy a casual , but intimate Italian food experience. The weather was beautiful and they had outdoor seating which is a plus. We enjoyed the appetizers- funghi (mushrooms) and beet salad. The entrees we ordered were fine-they were specials for the night- a sea bass and pasta dish- we didn't get blown away with them. The dessert was awesome- we ordered tartufo- which I would recommend. The service was great. Overall good experience
(4)Tanya Z.
Pretty busy here, make sure u reserve yourself a table before deciding to go. The food is great and the wine was decent also.
(4)Nancy H.
It's the perfect scenario. You've got a show to catch in an hour and you're looking around for something (anything) to eat. Then you stumble upon this restaurant FULL of people on a WEDNESDAY. It's gotta mean something more than just location (I don't see that many people outside the Jimmy John's 1 block away!). 15 minutes later you're seated and tucked away in a nice little corner of the restaurant. The waiter has an authentic Italian accent (maybe?). We ask him his recommendations and then pass on all of them and pick what we think is unique. TAGLIATELLE AL CONIGLIO (homemade wide pasta with rabbit). This was the best pasta I have ever eaten in my entire life and it wasn't even one of the place's most popular dishes! Maybe it was the noodles (that they apparently make in the basement) or maybe it was the rabbit, but I was thinking about the pasta hours after eating it. TAGLIOLINI NERI (black pasta with seafood) also very good and with a very special taste (squid ink in the noodles) INTERESTING FACTS obtained from the waiter: They can make any pasta/entrée dish into an appetizer for you to try. Also, all the pasta is handmade EXCEPT for the spaghetti so make sure to pass on that one and definitely go for the RABBIT PASTA!
(5)Rose D.
Made a reservation for dinner here on our hotel's recommendation. Restaurant could not accommodate the time slot we wanted, so we accepted an earlier reservation. When we arrived at the restaurant, two people ahead of us - who did not have a reservation - refused a back corner table and asked for one by the window. They were graciously accommodated. The hostess then sat us at the table they rejected. When we asked to be seated by the window, she said there were too many requests and she could only offer us a table right by the entry door. The food and service were both good, but I could not help but notice that 2 prime window tables were still empty when we left. I was really disappointed by the shabby treatment
(2)D C.
Went here right at the end of the summer. Great experience with good food. I was a little nervous coming here when its fancier sister restaurant Cocco Pazo was just a few blocks away. I made the right choice. Everything was wonderful from the food to the service, they were on top of their game. Atmosphere: The atmosphere here was really nice. I came during lunch hour and there was a nice mix of business professionals and locals. Everyone seemed to be happily enjoying their meals and immersed in great conversation. I sat outside which was a nice experience. It seems like this is the better option, as inside seemed too stuffy and pretty loud. Service: The service here was really good. They came to check in during my meal and were there constantly to refill my drink and the breadbasket (more on that shortly!). Food: To start, they bring a bread basket of assorted items as well as olive oil to dip in. The focaccia bread was my favorite and was soooo with the nice olive oil. After filling up on a full basket I was ready for the next course lol! I ordered the Paillard Di Pollo which is chicken breast, spinach, goat cheese and grapes. The chicken was pounded thin and was grilled nicely. The accompaniments made it seem like a chicken salad! The portions here are very generous, especially considering it was lunch. Prices are very fair for what you get and for being in such a nice section of the city. I will return no doubt next time I make my way to Chicago.
(4)Brenda T.
My friend and I decided that we should book a restaurant for dinner Christmas Eve. We both thought Coco Pazzo would be great to try since we hadn't been there in awhile. We made a reservation via Open Table. When we arrived, the host fumbled around checking to see if we indeed had a reservation. We were seated at 6 PM. Our waiter came over to take a drink order. We asked if we could taste some white wine options because we were planning to order a bottle of wine for dinner. The 3 selections were very sweet, and we wanted a dry wine. Our waiter enlisted the assistance of the "expert". The "Wine Expert" came over to offer his advice, and we decided on a red wine instead of a white. A few minutes later he brought us a "glass" of the bottle we ordered. We said we ordered the bottle, and he said "Okay, I will take these glasses and pour them back , and get your bottle..." Pour the glasses back?! Our food came out. The salad was just okay. The lasagna was wonderful! Our lobster ravioli (the special for the evening) was ice cold. Our waiter never came back to check. We asked to see a manager. Our "Wine Expert" was in fact the manager. We professionally told him we were upset about the fact that he was pouring our glasses of wine back in the bottle behind the bar, and that our entree was cold. He defended his bar practices, and reluctantly took the pasta off the check. He also mentioned that the practice of pouring the wine back into the bottle was not unusual since he had worked for Coco Pazzo for 14 years. Appalling Service, and Bar practices. I have no words to describe this Christmas Eve Dinner.
(1)Robin Z.
This was my second visit, the BF's first, and it was the perfect antidote to an unseasonably cold and bitter Friday (snow in late April? Not cool Chicago). We had a late reservation and got there as most of the 7pm diners were winding down their entrees and desserts but it was pleasantly busy and almost festive. Our server was outstanding, really knew the menu inside and out. One of my favorite things about this place is the gorgeous rustic antipasto table in the center of the right-hand side dining room. Always with an enormous (5-ft high) bouquet of real greenery and flowers and many white platters of roasted vegetables, olives, etc. Our server made us a lovely plate of mixed vegetables, sliced meats and cheese with a simply-dressed arugula salad and it was the perfect starter. We ordered the wild boar pappardelle and the lasagna and both were excellent, especially the pappardelle. Our martinis were perfect, the server's wine recommendations were spot on, and they had my favorite dessert, tartufo, which seems so hard to come by these days. All in all a wonderful meal and the perfect ending to a long week of business travel. My only complaint - the ladies room is freezing!
(4)#NAME?
Came here for lunch on Sat. If you want a peaceful lunch/dinner and want to sit outside you might want to consider the location, you are next to the hospital, so ambulances do come by- FOOD: I really didn't want a panini from here, nor a pasta or steak for lunch so I settled on Bruschetta, I am glad I did-It was traditional so full of flavor, yet I had massive garlic breath the whole day from it- My husband ordered the fresh greens salad, which was so fresh and delicious and the minestrone soup, I'll take his word on the soup- I would come here again for the bruschetta- Service was a tad slow, I mean we were one of maybe 6 tables in the place-Maybe it's b/c we were there before the Sat. lunch rush-
(4)Silvia J.
I decided to try the cafe as opposed to the restaurant as part of my tour of the Most Authentic Italian restaurants as voted by the Italian government. Mainly because of financial reasons ;D The pasta was "perfetto"! You know what they say about sensory memory?? Well, the first bite took me back to Italy sitting in an alfresco ristorante in Trastevere neighborhood of Rome eating al dente homeade pasta. Not only was the pasta at Coco Pazzo cafe cooked exactly the way I had it in Italy, I could tell their ingredients in their semifreddo was FRESH (like in Italy - ALL ingredients are fresh from the farmers market to the plate). I will venture to say that so far Coco Pazzo cafe is about as close to the Italian eating experience I had without actually being in Italy. My only quip is the service was not very fast...by American standards. Compared to Italian standards...well Coco Pazzo Cafe maybe slightly faster LOL! And I prefer my white wine (this time Soave) to have been served colder than it was. Hence the 4, but I definately plan to go back to Coco Pazzo Cafe!
(4)Pamela C.
Great lunch spot. The Quatro Formaggi sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I've had in a while. Fresh mozzarella, brie, fontina, and goat cheese.....nom. Que rico! Next time I'll have to send that evil bread basket back so I can savor every carb-filled bite. I came here after work the other night craving the sandwich alas, the sandwiches are not available after lunch hour. I tried the Gnocchi instead. Meh, not bad. One of those rare dishes that tasted better when reheated the next day. My dad was hooked on the spaghetti with spicy red chili and asked to return here the next time he is in town. A yummy crowd pleaser, better suited for lunch than dinner.
(4)Tasha A.
I'd agree with Andrea R, if you're looking for reasonably priced Italian food, Coco Pazzo is a good spot to check out. I went for simple bruschetta & minestrone soup; wasn't looking for a heavy lunch that day. The chef's daily selection bruschetta wasn't bad - and hello?! You cannot mess up minestrone! I thought the prices were pretty good for the other options on their lunch menu as well. When I'm in Chicago, I'll be sure to check it out again.
(3)Caroline A.
Not a fan of this place. We had lunch here the other day and we were disappointed. The restaurant was not busy at all, and we sat on the outdoor patio. First of all, it took the server way too long to take our order. We must have sat for about 10 minutes because he came to our table. He was very polite when he did take our order, and I made sure to note that we were on a time crunch. He said, "we'll do our best." Dude... there was nobody in the restaurant!! Our food took 25 minutes to come out. BF had the chicken panini and I had the mushroom. It doesn't take that long to make a panini... So we basically threw our sandwiches down our throats and waited for the check. Our server was MIA. So we asked another server for our check, and she took forever. In our time crunch, I suggested to BF that he just go in and pay... while we were waiting inside five minutes, she comes out with 4 other checks in her hands... completely disregarding the fact that we told her 10 minutes ago that we were in a time crunch and had to catch a flight. Horrendous! Food was ok. Spices in my portabello panini were a bit off... too much tomato. Fries were cold when they came out. We will not be returning to this restaurant. I hate bad service.
(2)JT G.
My wife, son and I recently had dinner here and it was a nice "casual" dining establishment. The outdoor seating was nice, and the staff super friendly and attentive. My wife is in a wheelchair and they were extra attentive to make something work for us. The food was much more authentic Italian than most Italian restaurants I've been to recently when their "American style" dishes. Which was most refreshing. The amount of pasta you get with the pasta dishes is substantial and their fish was a generous portion as well. Their wine list was large, however one item of note the majority of wine was not available by the glass. Over all an excellent intimate eating establishment with nice atmosphere and A+++ staff.
(4)Marie B.
Dined here for lunch with a dear friend who is a bit of a "foodie". We were both impressed. I had a pannini, which was quite good and I adored the homemade potato chips. My friend said his meal was good as well. We also had a yummy bottle of wine...the name escapes me, but... Oh, the service? Was very attentive...without being overly so. Overall, a nice experience.
(3)Tara M.
Given its close proximity to my place, I've been to Coco Pazzo Cafe for dinner many a time. I've always enjoyed myself and the atmosphere, but it wasn't until this past Thursday evening when I truly realized what a cute little place it is. Sitting outside around 9pm, a friend and I enjoyed a few glasses of wine, a basket of bread and...a few more glasses of wine. Our server, whose name I never caught, was friendly, attentive and generally pleasant. When it came time to order our last round, I asked if the restaurant was closed (it seemed as though everyone was starting to clean up). He indicated that they were, in fact, closed, but that he would be there for a while so we were welcome to have another round. Not like we needed one, but we took him up on his offer and paid the bill so he could at least cash out. Looking from the outside in, Coco Pazzo is cute, quaint and romantic. The meals I've had have always been solid and the service attentive but not overly so. The crowd was a mix of tourists young and old, and locals like myself with friends or even sitting solo on the patio. Everyone seemed to be very relaxed and content. This may just be my new spot for quiet nights of overindulgence.
(4)Mark S.
What a treat...sat outside in beautiful weather as the sun set...had the gnocchi with friends...it was perfectly done and the red wine suggestion complemented it nicely. Great view and a great experience.
(4)Juliet G.
I visited with a group of 10 for dinner. Just too noisy for my liking. I also did not like that they would not give us separate checks. One nice thing is that you can order half portions of meals to cut down on the cost and pasta that may be too much after you eat other items which is nice. I ordered linguini with clam sauce that was very good. Just an okay experience.
(3)Hyung S.
Just a simple Italian restaurant where everything is done just right.
(5)Gfiddy F.
Great sidewalk cafe for a glass of wine on a summery day.
(5)Bradley S.
Mom, Partner and I dined here Friday. I met them after work so it was an early dinner. We opted for sidewalk seating as the weather had moderated, and, well, al fresco dining in Chicago is on the wane for the year. This may not be the right choice for all given the proximity to Northwestern Hospital and their ambulance traffic. That said, the tables weren't too crowded and were nicely dressed. Our waiter, Theo, was professional, efficient and accommodating. Mom ordered and thoroughly enjoyed her Lasagna; Partner was very happy with the pasta dish which included the rabbit ragout. I got a taste and would definitely recommend it. I enjoyed the duck breast with polenta and grilled peaches. I had a glass o garnish wine with the entree and while the choices were sufficient, they weren't exceptional. The presentations were all appetizing. The desserts were wonderful. Mom loved her Semifreddo, a semi-frozen raspberry mouse with berries and chocolate. Partner really liked the Crostata with with fresh berries and gelato. I swooned over the zabaiglione. The menu described it simply with berries. I asked Theo if there was a choice of berries. I'm not allergic to strawberries or blueberries and I don't hate them, I just don't love them and relayed to Theo that if there was a choice, I'd prefer just raspberries and/or blackberries. What was delivered was a big bowl of red raspberries with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and mint garnish. As Theo was passing by he glanced at the table, apologized for the confusion, and raced off to retrieve the zabaiglione. It had been several years since I'd partaken in this sweet. It was everything I remembered and more. I will say the alcohol was a tad hot which may not be to everyone's liking.
(4)Maria C.
This has always been one of my favorite places in Chicago for a good, unpretentious Italian. The place is great, cool and the outdoor seating is one of the best in summertime. The food is consistently great, over and over again. However, now that I have twin daughters and changing diapers during a meal is nothing other than frequent, I was a little disappointed when I saw that they have no changers in the restroom! AND on a Saturday afternoon during lunch time (in a summer day, the city was happening, etc...) their restrooms were extremely dirty. Come on guys, this doesn't match who you guys are.
(2)John H.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago for its great value, authentic flavors and reliability. I always know that I can go here for either lunch or dinner and the food and service will be great. They're missing some of the "higher end" dishes of the parent restaurant like truffled veal ragu and things of that nature, but the prices are more reasonable and the chef here is still creative and there are always daily specials to keep things interesting. The outdoor seating in the summer is also much appreciated.
(5)caroline k.
Was lucky to get a table for 4 last minute on a busy Saturday night. At 8pm the place was packed and a buzz. We ordered: - Calamari appetizer: made well with good tomato marinara dipping sauce - Tuscan soup: basically a Minestrone, which was disappointing. - Black ink pasta: made the error of all 4 of us ordering the 1/2 size portions. My dish, which apparently was the last off the pan, had clumps of pasta in what otherwise what have been a beautiful dish. I almost sent it back but was hungry and didn't want the extra wait. - Tartufo dessert: vanilla and chocolate gelato dipped in chocolate with a cherry in the middle. Nothing exciting. - Tiramisu: looked great, but couldn't taste any marsala. Would go back but beware of a busy kitchen pumping out dishes en masse.
(3)Emily E.
I initially wanted to go to Coco Pazzo because the reviews on yelp look decent to me, and it didn't look very expensive. I made reservations for 8:30 yesterday (Saturday) in the afternoon, I planned on watching a movie with friends and then getting dinner. We arrived about 10 minutes earlier than our reservation and the hosts said that it would be a few minutes. They asked us to wait at the bar, we didn't plan on getting drinks so we didn't head over there, and there wasn't much standing room for waiting. We felt a bit in the way of everyone... After waiting awhile, we were seated around 8:35. Our water was filled, and the bread came. Our waiter ( I wish I knew his name) was very polite and came by every so often, but not enough to disrupt our conversation. My friends ordered a chopped salad, gnocci and rigatoni. I ordered the spaghetti special (with clams!) and Rapini. Unfortunately for me I didn't know Rapini was bitter and only ate a little bit until I couldn't take it any longer, and didn't touch it for the remainder of our meal. I was really sad because I wanted to eat the verdantly green broccoli... All of us were pretty ravenous, so we finished everything on our plates! Plus everything was really tasty. No complaints on the quality of the dishes! Finally, they came for our plates and asked me about my Rapini, I just simply said I had no idea Rapini was bitter and didn't want to take it home. My server had the Rapini taken off my check, (which was a relief to me) and I thought that it was a good gesture because I sincerely did not enjoy the Rapini. But, I wasn't a jerk about it. Last thng is, I'd suggest getting a reservation because it is an intimate/cozier restaurant. (They have sidewalk seating too) Overall, the service was good, our glasses were filled, people came when we needed them, the food was tasty and the prices were reasonable. I'm going to definitely go back, and this time bring my boyfriend!
(5)Ann K.
Just got back from dinner. It was the best. The service was excellent, the ambiance terrific and our dinners were terrific. The guys had the veal which they raved about. I had the rigatoni which was wonderful & my sister had the lasagna, which was also wonderful. Both the Rigatoni & Lasagna were In a pink cream sauce not the standard red gravy. Very unique & flavorful. We would highly recommend this restaurant, but do make a reservation.
(5)Erica G.
I was very excited to try this restaurant because I'd heard good things about Coco Pazzo, the original and more expensive sister restaurant. Not wanting to break the bank so soon after the holidays, we opted to try the cafe as an alternative. I was disappointed. The dishes were premade and not fresh. The food came out so fast and it was obvious the appetizers were made in advance and chilled in the kitchen. Mozzarella from the appetizer menu was amazing, but the roasted tomatoes served with the cheese was ice cold. The tomatoes should have been room temperature or warmed. Tomatoes should never be chilled or stored in the fridge. Bruschetta options looked very interesting but were also served with cold, premade toppings. The white bean and black truffle was the best tasting, but the mushroom and others didn't taste as good at the cold temperature they were served at. Ceasar salad was probably one of the worst I've ever had because it was premade and the croutons were soggy and cold. It also stated on the menu it was served with white anchovies, which were missing from the dish. Me and my party tried three pasta dishes. The Pappardelle with wild boar with fresh house made pasta was pretty good. Linguine Vongole came with generous portions of clams. The other was a special with hand shaved lamb. Lamb was great but very little portion of it was included in the dish. Bonus is...the pasta's can be served in appetizer portions. Great idea so you are not overloaded with a huge plate of food. Gelati...ok if you try the banana, but the other flavors lacked "flavor." Wine list is limited. Try this place for a casual lunch and wine, but don't have high expectations if you are looking for an amazing meal. Tables are also very close together and not much privacy. Almost uncomfortable because you feel as if everyone can hear your conversation...and they can.
(2)Puja S.
My husband and I went to Coco Pazzo Cafe last week. It was a perfect place to sit outside and have a glass of wine. We absolutely loved the spaghetti. It had the absolute right amount of heat. The Rigatoni is good as well (if you are in the mood of eating something heavy). I've tried the linguine on a previous visit and did not like this dish too much - there was nothing special about the dish.
(4)Sandy R.
Used to eat here a lot when I worked in the area. Had a leisurely Sunday lunch to celebrate my sister's birthday. It was just the 3 generations of girls. Their food is really good and they offer a great selection. We had the special gnocchi, the special fish, linguine with white clam sauce, tortellini and a few starters. I thought everything was really good and the portions while not huge were big enough for leftovers.
(4)Karen H.
Wow! I haven't had pasta this good in a long time. I ordered the beef carpaccio as an appetizer, which melts in your mouth. I wasn't sure which wine to order (undecided between 2 reds) - and the server brought out a small glass of each one for me to try and see which one I like best...very nice! I decided on a very nice cab/merlot blend - yum. For the main course, I tried their tagliolini which was out of this world. I would definitely order this again. For dessert, I tried their apple crostata and by this point I was in heaven. They serve it with cinnamon gelato, the crostata warmed, with strawberries/blueberries for garnish. Delicious! Excellent service. Dress nicely for dinner. Great place for a date!
(5)Norm P.
Tonight, great ravioli and tasty lasagna. Salads are fresh and staff is attentive. Would recommend this pleasant Italian restaurant for a very an enjoyable meal.
(4)Anthony Z.
Excellent value, and one hell of a scene. Went on a Sunday night, sat outside, and greatly enjoyed the wines and watching all of the scensters. The food is classic northern Italian and was spot on. Wine selection was good. Zabaglione dessert was a minor disappointment and could have been better; sauce was too thick and cool.
(4)Nic D.
Just walked in off the street for the BEST lunch special I've ever had. It was a white fish sautéed with spinach, white beans and tomatoes in a very light broth sauce. Absolute amazement! Wish I could come back again tomorrow. And the staff is lovely: from the valet to the bus staff. Don't miss this place!
(5)Paula D.
Delicious! with great service, enough Said!
(5)Mark E.
This place was a terrific little find not far from the hustle of Michigan Ave, but a block over so you need to know how to find it. I had a terrific dinner and great service. I'll definitely return.
(4)Keiko S.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago. I love it not really for the food, but more for the atmosphere. It's over all very warm and casual with a lively crowd, and of course, plenty of good wine helps. On days that are too cold, the inside dining area is as enjoyable nonetheless. As for the food, the panini sandwiches (served at lunch time) are great, as well as the polenta, squid ink pasta and linguine. For dessert, the creme brulee is a must! Friendly servers, satisfying portions. PS. in case you're wondering why there are so many tourists here, this place is featured in a very popular Japanese tour guide.
(4)Carri A.
Really cute outdoor seating, delicious gnocchi, good fettucine (with mushrooms and parmesan) and my friend thoroughly enjoyed her quail dish. The entrees seemed expensive for the portion size and the spinaci (spinach side dish) seemed a little bland. And the service was seriously lacking (except for the water guy). It took our waiter at least 10 minutes after he picked up our dishes to get us the check. And he didnt inform my other friend that there are no free refills on drinks - otherwise she would have stuck with her one pepsi in a small but fancy glass. Good meal but I probably wont be coming back again.
(3)chloe p.
the maitre'd is the biggest asshole on the planet its almost funny. food was good, but he was THAT BIG of an asshole that it was still distracting...especially when halfway thru our meal, he and his culturally ambiguous co-host SAT DOWN for DINNER even though the restaurant was still more than half full and it was only like 9:45pm on a friday night. not, like, at the bar.... at a table right in front!! in front of everybody ....people still coming & going. (huh??!) spaghetti was good. service pretty bad. veal was also pretty good. maitre'd was hideous inside & out. too many better places to go to in the city. have been here probably 5 other times........won't be back.
(2)Natalie B.
I love this restaurant. Both of my parents spent time at Northwestern hospital (which is across the street from Coco Pazzo) and my family found ourselves here on many occasion throughout those long days eating delicious pasta and warming our hearts. Their spaghetti (extra spicy with fettuccine) is the best pasta I've ever had. The sauce is subtlety spicy and perfect.
(4)Mandy P.
Don't bother with this place for lunch. That's how I feel after yesterday. The service sucked and the sides changed for the paninis - it used to be a nice little salad. If I really wanted potato chips as a side dish, I would walk the block east to Panera. We received dirty looks and rolling of eyes when we asked for separate checks BEFORE we ordered our food! It's not like we were annoying and asked when the bill came. He basically wouldn't do it for us. Also, I asked to have my sandwich on the piadini instead of bread and that was a whole other issue for him in iteself. Get that man out of customer service! I wish I hadn't been on the clock. That lunch made me need a cocktail.
(2)Jennifer H.
I had heard from everyone who had ever been that Coco Pazzo was the best Italian restaurant in the city. I know that I went to the casual cafe version, but I am assuming the food quality is the same, correct? If so, I was fairly disappointed. The food was good, and I wouldn't discourage you from going. Unfortunately for the restaurant, it had been built up so much that there was no where to go but down. It's in a fantastic location. Streeterville is SUCH a cute neighborhood. I imagine when it's warm outside, there would be nothing better than sitting at a sidewalk table. The interior is very cute, too. When we were sat, we walked past some sort of appetizer buffet in the middle. Others in the restaurant were walking up and taking plates, but our server never addressed it so I don't know what it was. We ordered four of the bruschetta options and they were excellent. I could go back just for those. I had the gnocchi for my main course, and it was not the best I've ever eaten; it wasn't bad, at all, though. No one at the table raved about their main courses, but no one complained, either. I would come back and bring guests. The location is great, the atmosphere is cute, and the food is just fine.
(3)Comensal A.
It's been a very long time since I've dined at Coco Pazzo Cafe, and they still seem to be a reliable choice. We had an early pre-theater dinner on a balmy Friday, so the doors were open and a gentle breeze washed over our table. My tagliolini neri was very good, brimming with fresh, succulent rock shrimp. My companion enjoyed her linguini with clams. A side of rapini was nicely done. Service was attentive. Wine list was OK, but not much below $40/bottle. It was pleasant dinner on a lovely evening...
(3)Carla F.
We made a last minute decision to come here for lunch yesterday before visiting a family member at Northwestern. It was a holiday weekend and we were pleased to find out that there wasn't a wait. It was unpleasantly hot outside so we chose to sit indoors, also, given it's close proximity to the hospital, we didn't want to listen to ambulance sirens while we dined. Surprisingly, they chose not to have their a/c on during a 90 degree day. I know it can get expensive to run, but it made things a little uncomfortable! None of us wanted too heavy of a lunch, so we decided on ordering a few appetizers. We had the Sette Vegetale (seven different kinds of chopped veggies w/ shaved parmesan), Caprese and mussels. We also ordered a salmon panini which consisted of smoked salmon, red onion, caper mayonnaise, tomato and arugula. Everything was excellent. It was the perfect light lunch and we all left feeling satisfied. I would like to come back to Coco Pazzo again and try out their dinner menu.
(4)Norris A.
Our party of four ate here last week after attending an HD Broadcast at the nearby AMC movie palace. When I found out we were eating here I checked the reviews on Yelp and wasn't 100% excited. When the time came though I was 100% hungry and went with the flow. I was going in prepared to write a review and had all my Yelp review materials with me- meat thermometer, stop watch, calipers to measure meat thickness, a complete set of Mario Batali cookbooks, an Italian phrase book, a camera and tripod and some extra lights- the usual Yelper tackle. We were the last people to arrive (at 9.30) and consequently the last to leave. We were greeted promptly and shown to a small table in the centre of the room by a table which the staff used to slice bread and grate huge chunks of parmesan. It was like being in Mamma's kitchen. The room was about 65% occupied. The waiter, Edgar was not Italian ( I checked his ID) but was at the table in a flash to take our drinks orders and tell us about the specials. I had already checked out the menu on line and knew what I wanted but others deliberated. Glasses of tap water arrived, as did bread-some crusty fresh white and some going-stale Foccacia. Oil was offered for dipping but I asked and received freshly grated parmesan and that really helped. Having not seen our dining partners for some months and having much to talk about I forgot to focus on reviewing and instead got caught up in the banter, aided by the warm cosy surroundings in a very pretty room, adorned with great art around the ceiling, and by a resfreshing glass of Pinot Grigio. Service was prompt, maybe influenced by the fact that we were going to determine how early the staff got to leave or maybe that's just how they roll here. Edgar was on top of his game. I had a beef carpaccio, which although not up to the air-dried version I had a Prosecco recently, was wolfed down in a blur of knife and fork. It augered well for the rest of the meal. A bowl of calamari to my left brought approbation and some plate-licking. A salad was enjoyed and some taken home in a doggy bag. A salad, featuring that most noble ingedient, the freshly chopped beet elicited poetry from it's consumer. Most of my review equipment remained in it's flightcase at my feet as I was too busy enjoying the company and the grub. When I see some kind of seared bovine flesh on a menu I tend to home in on it. Not an adventurous choice in an Italian or French restaurant but I like what I like so I ordered the Bistecca or steak and chips as we would call it back in the UK. Medium rare, thinly sliced rib-eye steak with a good helping of crispy parmesan fries. Edgar suggested a nice glass of smooth red wine which harmonised with this simple dish which disappeared rapidly. Also at the table was a monkfish sharing a plate with mushrooms and leeks. The diner gave it two thumbs up. His wife made short work of a large bowl of spaghetti with mussels and left only the shells behind as evidence for future archaelogists to ponder over. A star though was a fall off the bone, melt in your mouth, savory lamb shank to my right. I got to taste this and would order it next time. The restaurant began to empty out after 45 minutes but we were entering the dessert phase of the operation. I had ogled the panna cotta on the menu but when push came to shove thought it best to round off the evening with my favorite dessert- Sambuca Romana and a double espresso. Oh Joy!! Others shared desserts- I think gelato and biscotti with their coffees. I was in Sambuca heaven, a place I hope to retire to someday, and no longer really paying attention. It was time to pay the bill and leave and we were thanked by all the staff who were waiting to close-up and go home. I look forward to returning, hopefully when it is warmer and I can try out the sidewalk dining. Coco Pazzo Cafe was better than I had imagined, given the reviews on Yelp. No complaints from me. Nothing was particularly outstanding or "amazing" but the food and service were worth the price paid and the plates were licked clean so that has to mean something postiive. Worth a try!
(4)Michelle K C.
Thanks to a mother born in the Abruzzo region, I'm pretty picky about my Italian restaurants. My friend and I chose Coco Pazzo Cafe as our pre-marathon meal and had a perfect carbo-load. Calamari appetizer was lightly fried with a tasty marinara, and the mains of gnocchi and squash ravioli were presented with sauces of true Northern Italian style: flavorful without being chunky and blood-red. Service was quick and friendly, and atmosphere was pleasant, save for the loud Chicagoans at the table beside us...but hey, it is the Windy City afterall. I highly recommend Coco Pazzo to anyone looking for a tasty Italian meal, whether its date night or stopping in after a football game.
(5)Bella B.
Need Reservations because this place is popular and busy! Came here in early April when it was still chilly so no outdoor dining but inside it was warm and cozy. Linguine with Clams was good but the Rigatoni with Sausage was amazing! Heard the lasagna was great as well. Service was attentive and fast. Tables a bit tight and I wish it was a bit quieter but the energy was good. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portions
(4)Hrayr A.
The atmosphere is nice, service is excellent and the risotto is very well made. The frittata and the salmon sandwich are also among the highlights of their lunch menu.
(4)Koizumi Y.
We were seated quickly and the service was attentive without being intrusive. Drinks arrived promptly. One client ordered risotto and ate it, but mentioned the texture wasn't quite what it should have been. Another ordered a frittata and loved it. Still another practically inhaled his four-cheese panini. My butternut squash ravioli with butter sauce seemed a bit too heavy on the sage, which dominated the flavours of the pasta. I would have preferred a light toss in its essence but it was still rather good. An orange sorbet really hit the spot and calmed my gurgling stomach - or perhaps it was my mind anticipating a butter revolt - whilst a few brave souls indulged in grappa for their finishing touch. My prior overall experiences here have been pleasant. Still, the recent one didn't send me anywhere special.
(3)Emily V.
The Rigatoni all Buttera was excellent! Melt in your mouth delicious. One of the better pasta dishes I've had. Our waiter was wonderful. He was from Mexico and we talked with him about where he was from and some of his favorite authentic places in the city. I can't find the name of the dessert I had on the online menu but it was very good. It was between a chocolate cake and a chocolate mousse with a raspberry sauce. The tiramisu that I tried was also wonderful. The only thing I tasted that I didn't love (shared 2 dishes with my mom) was the striped bass. I just don't think I'm a fan of striped bass, not necessarily that it was prepared poorly.
(4)Ali C.
Really outstanding italian food. Superb service. The sea bass was out of this world, as were the grilled vegetables, coffee and biscotti. Definitely will return.
(5)Maggie Z.
Food: The octopus appetizer was cooked better than any place in the city. Perfect texture and the sauce complimented it very well. The squid ink pasta with shrimp is AMAZING and to finish it off, we enjoyed the tartufo for dessert. Again, delicious. Overall: Compared to many other Italian places on Chi, this place takes the cake. The service is great, outdoor seating is quaint and tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the food can't be topped. What else can you ask for!
(5)Art V.
I planned on eating at capital grille which is across the street from cpg. Cap grille charges $42 for a single piece of meat. No apps, no sides, no dessert. I looked at cpg's menu and found that I could eat like a horse for nearly the same price. What a solid meal. A great beet salad A half order of pasta with a boar ragu Duck breast served over lentils Apple pie 2 beers Approx $60 Great restaurant. Will def return.
(4)Brandon S.
Had a great time getting a slightly late lunch by myself, eating outside. The wait staff was very attentive, the food (I got the gnocchi and added a bolognese sauce for just $1), was fabulous, and the atmosphere nice and caj! Definitely good times. It wasn't like OMG BEST EVER, but it was exactly what I wanted.
(4)Dee W.
I came here for their 11th anniversary which was featuring their $11 three course special. When I called earlier to find out what was on the menu, they told me that it was a salad, entree and dessert. When I tried to press for more details, they declined to comment. When we got there, the waitor finally let us know that the special included their mizzo salad, their rissoto and a couple pieces of biscotti. We were pretty turned off by that and chose to order other stuff instead. We tried their bruchetta which was decent. I had their grilled chicken and our friend tried their gnocchi - the chicken was a bit on the salty side and the gnocchi was pretty basic. Service was decent - they had multiple people coming up to us and trying to get us to order more stuff. They also had multiple people come up to us and repeat the same thing "Are you ready to order?" three times.
(2)sandra h.
We had a nice lunch on the terrace. The food is not the best Italian food in the city but it is decent and reasonably priced for a casual lunch. I just have to add that I love their spaghetti. For once a restaurant knows how to cook pasta al dente!
(3)Wilt C.
Have not been to Coco Pazzo Cafe for a while and stopped by for lunch yesterday. It seems to have grown a bit tired over the years. The staff just goes through the paces with a bored demeanor and the food is just average. Too bad as it's a nice setting and good location.
(2)Anna L.
Nice experience. Got a soft shell crab on mixed greens. Have never had a whole soft shell crab before (only as part of sushi rolls), so it was interesting to see it laying there in all its deep-fried glory atop my greens. Was fun to eat. Looks like it would be a good place for pasta too. Prices look reasonable.
(3)Patrick M.
Went for dinner tonight, and was reminded what a delightful and solid choice this is. Meeting a friend from NYC, arrived early. Great service at the bar. Attentive and friendly staff. Boar, salmon, and veal were the entree choices: delicious. Special of barley veg soup to start was terrific, based on hearing another diner say: "better than my Italian grandmother's." And, really intelligent wine recommendations from the waiter, immediately picking a low, medium, and high price point based on the entree orders. Cool. The service is smooth, the decor is warm. Great place. Reminder: come back here more often.
(5)cat c.
All I can say is WOW!! We got the Rigatoni with sausage, peas and cream sauce and Parpadelle with duck ragu. We were in heaven. This place is definitely a step above Italian restaurants. The food is authentic, excellent wait staff and I would love to go again soon!
(4)Joanna K.
Cozy intimate setting, watchful staff and super food ...we had a great evening! Wish there was a Coco Pazzo in Denver, Colorado!!
(5)Brad O.
I appreciate how authentically Italian this place is. It's more Italian than it is Italian-American. Also, I love how you can get appetizer-size portions of the pastas - keeping in tradition with the "primi piatti" concept in Italy. I had the appetizer portion of the homemade taglietelle with rabbit ragu followed up by the brick chicken. The taglietelle was near perfect - it had that slight chew that you only get from homemade fresh pasta that is so satisfying. The brick-chicken almost had too much of a "char" flavor, but the broccoli rabe on the side was awesome - bitter, but in a good way. I would say the only real drawbacks of this place is how tight the quarters are (once again, authentically European) and the night I was there the AC was not working so I had to step outside a couple times to cool down. Also, the service was excellent (not authentically European). Once that AC working again, I will be back.
(4)Maura R.
SOO so so yummy. I would get the vegetali mostly but eveything about this place is five star. Let me begin with the wait staff extremely polite attentive and really know their stuff when it comes to the menu. I have not been there in a few years but I wouldnt be surprised if it hasn't changed. The food is molto eccellente. I have probably tasted every dish there misto terra (table in the center of the room Kind of like a buffet appaetizer) LOVE LOVE. PAsta is delicious and salads a tasty tasty. I just love the feel as well. It is a small rustic italian cafe IF it wasnt for the high rises and hustle and bustle of chicago society you could place this cafe in the a small village of Italy and it would fit right in. As it is cheaper than the more sophisticad and finer dining of Coco Pazzo restaurant on Hubbard it makes or a perfect setting for a lunch with friends or romantic dinner date...especially in the summer because the patio seating is wonderful (great if you are a people watcher like I am) RECOMMEND for sure ...a definate favorite
(5)Stephanie H.
I've dined here once,sat inside, with girlfriends. Food and wine were good. I found the portions to be a little on the small side. I had the Risotto which was good. Enjoyed the atmosphere. I would go back. Good date place.
(3)Natalie S.
The outside patio is nice, but the service and food wasn't. There was one waiter assigned to the entire outside area. Took forever to order. Took forever to get our food. When we did get our food, it was the wrong order. Waited 10 minutes for even the water boy to come by to ask him to get our waiter. Waiter quickly apologized and said our correct order will be out shortly. Tick tock. Tick tock. When we get our bill, nothing was taken off or adjusted. No apology. We left never to come back again.
(2)Lisa B.
I first discovered this restaurant almost three years ago when I first moved back to Chicago. A friend came into town for a girls out weekend and we stayed at a hotel downtown. We discovered this restaurant during that weekend and I have loved it since. I would not say the meals are to die for but they do have a really good ragu and their pasta dishes are just wonderful (especially their butternut squash raviloi). What I love most about this place I know I can get a really good meal at a decent price and they always have a table ready and they do take out. When you want to go out with friends and family and want a good meal but spend time catching up with friends and not be distracred by the restaurant itself this is the place to go. They have a full bar, a good wine menu and for the neighborhood the price is just right. Also they are truly accomodating, the service is good and the meal is served in a decent time frame and you don't feel rushed. In close to three years I have not been disapointed.
(4)Claire B.
The service was what impressed me the most about this place--everyone was very attentive and polite. I had the spinach salad, which was decent, though I would have preferred pears that weren't cooked. I also had the butternut squash ravioli, which came with an interesting butter sauce. It was quite good. My fiance ordered boar, which looked gross...but I don't think I would ever order boar. We also had cinnamon gelato, which was yummy. The only problem we encountered was an obnoxious lady who took literally 5 phone calls to deal with someone one the other end of the line's wardrobe malfunction. It was so rude!
(5)Ada L.
Best pasta I've had in a long time (black pasta with squid, shrimp, tomatoes, zucchini, etc.). Great service and nice patio, too. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Maureen W.
We had lunch at Coco Pazzo today and it was delightful. It was very busy but we had excellent service: the drinks were refilled any time they were even halfway empty and our food came out quickly. I had the white bean soup and a Caesar salad, both of which were very good. The salad had white anchovies that were so delicious! My partner had a turkey panini and with fries instead of the homemade chips. She really liked both. I tried the fries and they were so good. They had cheese and salt and there were some veggies spears mixed in. We both had ice tea and liked that quite a bit too. I was impressed that we both had such good food for 10-13 dollars each and the tea was only 2 dollars. The only drawback was that it was sometimes very loud outside but hey, that's to be expected.
(4)Megan W.
If you are looking for a quiet intimate dinner then this place is not for you. I felt like the whole restaurant was a bit claustrophobic. The tables were packed a bit too close together and the whole restaurant was a bit too small. However, the food was excellent. My boyfriend had trouble deciding what to order so he asked our waiter what he would suggest. Our waiter's suggestion turned out to be spot on as my boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his meal. I had a taste and it was excellent. I had the risotto of the day and it too was excellent. It was incredibly creamy and rich. For dessert we had the tiramisu and it was tasty. Overall it was a very good evening.
(4)Christel D.
I used to walk by this place. Finally decided to give it a try. Not a fan of the big yellow awning, but the food and service were good. Not stellar, but not pricey. Plan on trying again.
(3)Angela B.
I've been here a few times for business lunches and it's a great spot. The service is the only downside - it's not bad, but it's not very memorable either. But the food is amazing, I have been happy with every dish and desert I've tried. I especially recommend the lasagna, which is my favorite in the entire city, and the chicken milanese. So, so good. Really good portion size too - you'll leave feeling full but not like you need to take a nap for the rest of the afternoon.
(4)Yelp L.
I have been here a few times and today's visit sealed the deal. The food quality is good, however, the service on numerous occasions has not been. I just screened the rest of the reviews to see if anybody else had observed the same and it seems the answer is yes. The problem is professionalism. If they are in a rush you get good service because they are trying to scoot you out the door. If you are in a rush, they couldn't care less and it could take forever to get your food. Furthermore they interrupt your party with very stupid things like, "Oh, by the way, we're going to charge you extra for that request." Again food is good, service is highly variable, and restaurant is overall unprofessionally run and you can't make up for that with good food. The owner doesn't care--he never called me back. If I were an owner, I'd at least want to hear about what happened.
(2)Megan S.
I went to Coco Pazzo with a group of 9 people. It was OK for groups but not great. We were put next to another group of 11. It was so loud with the two groups right by each other, we had to scream at one another. The place is small but very cute. You actually don't feel like you are downtown Chicago. The majority of the group loved their meals. I had a hard time picking something from the menu because I had reviewed the menu on line and it was different. I was looking forward to seafood and they had changes the menu. What Italian place doesn't have a pasta dish with seafood? Overall it was a good experience. I would give it another try.
(3)Clare K.
i have been here for both lunch and dinner and both times i have received solid service-no matter how crowded it is. i was just there for dinner on friday night and the pasta special was AMAZING-fettuccine, pine nuts, basil, olive oil, etc. the spaghetti with hot peppers was also quite tasty and a happy little departure from a regular tomato/marinara sauce. do yourself a huge favor and make a dinner reservation. while we were at the bar (we had a reservation and did not have to wait-we were just frightfully early!), we heard the hostess tell some people that at 7:15 that they would be able to seat them at about 9:20. yikes. it's so easy people. go to opentable.com and save yourself some time and trouble.
(4)Elizabeth C.
After hearing only good things about this restaurant, we decided to give it a shot for our girls night, to my surprise, I was very disappointed. For starters, I left the bar to let the hostess know there would be 3 of us dining and she decided to go ahead and seat me before the rest of my party was ready. Then, a couple came in, who had a reservation, and the host tried to seat them at exact table in which she had sat me, 45 seconds before. Once we were settled, our waiter rushed through specials and asked if we were ready to order, before taking our drink order. Right off the bat, I felt rushed. The food was mediocre, 2 different people waited on our table. Perhaps this is a better place for lunch, but I am in no rush to return for dinner.
(2)Da J.
It was okay. The waitress recommended the risotto special, but it wasn't worth it. I should have gone with the regular menu.
(3)M. C.
I've only been here for lunch, but it has always been sooo delicious, and lunch is reasonably priced too. Nothing's nicer than sitting outdoors over a leisurely lunch here in the spring. I highly recommend any of their pasta--it's all so fresh, although it can be overly filling.
(5)Allison B.
Amazing...the italian food is pure and simple melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I loved the outdoor setting, the great service, and the lovely food. I had artichoke ravioli with some pinot and a brushetta for starters. Lovely dinner date spot.
(5)J V.
A nice little gem off the fast track of Michigan Ave. Good qaulity italian food in a nice setting. Outside seating is great too.
(3)Eric L.
Ive been here for lunch and dinner. Both times were ok. The environment is nice and the wait staff was good. My pasta was a bit oily. The chicken was prepared well but nothing memorable. I have heard Coco Pazzo is better, which i've yet to try.
(3)J W.
Love it. Two friends and I went for the 1st time last Saturday. We sat outside for lunch. Appetizers were great - we ordered 3 to share and pasta was good. Our waiter was very nice and recommended a good bottle of wine (and among the cheapest)!
(5)M S.
One of my favorite restaurants in the Streeterville area. It can be a bit pricey if you get appetizers and drinks, but the quality of the food is impeccable. They may have the best pasta dishes (for a price) in the area. For those on a budget (or diet), they also serve half-plates of entrees. The starter bread is also quite nice. Desserts probably are a miss (I've had a few, they are pretty generic).
(5)bhavna p.
this place is amazing! the vegetable appetizer plate, fresh breads with olive oil, vinegar, parmesan cheese (yum yum), the spaghetti with spicy marinara sauce with onions...so good!! I love it love it love it! the service is pretty good as well. go if you are in town! make reservations in advance, they book up fairly quick.
(5)Geoff M.
On a warm summer evening you can't go wrong here - sitting outdoors on the patio or inside with the giant windows pulled up - it's a great way to end the day. On a rainy day, the food is equally as delicious. it's tough to choose what to eat, and the food is fairly priced. I had the garganelle with prosciutto and peas the other day and I am still dreaming about it. Even better, it only set me back $13.50!
(4)Kelli M.
Atmosphere is pretty good, the outdoor seating ni the summer is great. Food is decent, I'd recommend the veal.
(3)Nicola C.
I love this place, it is the smaller more quaint version of Coco Pazzo and they don't have quite as much on their menu. It is still awesome though, and is great to sit outside of in the summer. Definitely go there if you are out on Michigan Avenue shopping.
(4)Cristin M.
Cute little place, and if you go in the spring/summer/early fall you can dine outside. The first time I dined here, I had the chicken paillard. I'm not a huge fan of the chicken, but it was decent. They serve it with a nice side of greens with grapes and gorgonzola. I finished my meal with a beautiful panna cotta that was the high point of the meal. Today, I decided to try something new and went with the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms in a porcini/butter/garlic "broth". The pasta was wonderfully cooked, but as far as I could tell, the only mushrooms that I saw in my bowl were button mushrooms. The sauce was very light, but could have used a little more garlic or a few more fresh herbs. All in all, it was good, but could have used a little bit of a kick to make my tastebuds say "wow!". The portions are a good size, not too much, not too little. I definitely did not leave hungry. Good service too.
(3)Julia B.
Fairly small place, yet it is comfortable and cute. If it's nice then sit outside on their beautiful patio. The food was pretty good-I had a dish that had pasta with chicken and a spicey sauce which was pretty good. The portions are normal and the prices aren't too bad. It's not the best Italian I have had but it is decent.
(3)Gfiddy F.
Great sidewalk cafe for a glass of wine on a summery day.
(5)Jennifer H.
I had heard from everyone who had ever been that Coco Pazzo was the best Italian restaurant in the city. I know that I went to the casual cafe version, but I am assuming the food quality is the same, correct? If so, I was fairly disappointed. The food was good, and I wouldn't discourage you from going. Unfortunately for the restaurant, it had been built up so much that there was no where to go but down. It's in a fantastic location. Streeterville is SUCH a cute neighborhood. I imagine when it's warm outside, there would be nothing better than sitting at a sidewalk table. The interior is very cute, too. When we were sat, we walked past some sort of appetizer buffet in the middle. Others in the restaurant were walking up and taking plates, but our server never addressed it so I don't know what it was. We ordered four of the bruschetta options and they were excellent. I could go back just for those. I had the gnocchi for my main course, and it was not the best I've ever eaten; it wasn't bad, at all, though. No one at the table raved about their main courses, but no one complained, either. I would come back and bring guests. The location is great, the atmosphere is cute, and the food is just fine.
(3)Comensal A.
It's been a very long time since I've dined at Coco Pazzo Cafe, and they still seem to be a reliable choice. We had an early pre-theater dinner on a balmy Friday, so the doors were open and a gentle breeze washed over our table. My tagliolini neri was very good, brimming with fresh, succulent rock shrimp. My companion enjoyed her linguini with clams. A side of rapini was nicely done. Service was attentive. Wine list was OK, but not much below $40/bottle. It was pleasant dinner on a lovely evening...
(3)Carla F.
We made a last minute decision to come here for lunch yesterday before visiting a family member at Northwestern. It was a holiday weekend and we were pleased to find out that there wasn't a wait. It was unpleasantly hot outside so we chose to sit indoors, also, given it's close proximity to the hospital, we didn't want to listen to ambulance sirens while we dined. Surprisingly, they chose not to have their a/c on during a 90 degree day. I know it can get expensive to run, but it made things a little uncomfortable! None of us wanted too heavy of a lunch, so we decided on ordering a few appetizers. We had the Sette Vegetale (seven different kinds of chopped veggies w/ shaved parmesan), Caprese and mussels. We also ordered a salmon panini which consisted of smoked salmon, red onion, caper mayonnaise, tomato and arugula. Everything was excellent. It was the perfect light lunch and we all left feeling satisfied. I would like to come back to Coco Pazzo again and try out their dinner menu.
(4)Norris A.
Our party of four ate here last week after attending an HD Broadcast at the nearby AMC movie palace. When I found out we were eating here I checked the reviews on Yelp and wasn't 100% excited. When the time came though I was 100% hungry and went with the flow. I was going in prepared to write a review and had all my Yelp review materials with me- meat thermometer, stop watch, calipers to measure meat thickness, a complete set of Mario Batali cookbooks, an Italian phrase book, a camera and tripod and some extra lights- the usual Yelper tackle. We were the last people to arrive (at 9.30) and consequently the last to leave. We were greeted promptly and shown to a small table in the centre of the room by a table which the staff used to slice bread and grate huge chunks of parmesan. It was like being in Mamma's kitchen. The room was about 65% occupied. The waiter, Edgar was not Italian ( I checked his ID) but was at the table in a flash to take our drinks orders and tell us about the specials. I had already checked out the menu on line and knew what I wanted but others deliberated. Glasses of tap water arrived, as did bread-some crusty fresh white and some going-stale Foccacia. Oil was offered for dipping but I asked and received freshly grated parmesan and that really helped. Having not seen our dining partners for some months and having much to talk about I forgot to focus on reviewing and instead got caught up in the banter, aided by the warm cosy surroundings in a very pretty room, adorned with great art around the ceiling, and by a resfreshing glass of Pinot Grigio. Service was prompt, maybe influenced by the fact that we were going to determine how early the staff got to leave or maybe that's just how they roll here. Edgar was on top of his game. I had a beef carpaccio, which although not up to the air-dried version I had a Prosecco recently, was wolfed down in a blur of knife and fork. It augered well for the rest of the meal. A bowl of calamari to my left brought approbation and some plate-licking. A salad was enjoyed and some taken home in a doggy bag. A salad, featuring that most noble ingedient, the freshly chopped beet elicited poetry from it's consumer. Most of my review equipment remained in it's flightcase at my feet as I was too busy enjoying the company and the grub. When I see some kind of seared bovine flesh on a menu I tend to home in on it. Not an adventurous choice in an Italian or French restaurant but I like what I like so I ordered the Bistecca or steak and chips as we would call it back in the UK. Medium rare, thinly sliced rib-eye steak with a good helping of crispy parmesan fries. Edgar suggested a nice glass of smooth red wine which harmonised with this simple dish which disappeared rapidly. Also at the table was a monkfish sharing a plate with mushrooms and leeks. The diner gave it two thumbs up. His wife made short work of a large bowl of spaghetti with mussels and left only the shells behind as evidence for future archaelogists to ponder over. A star though was a fall off the bone, melt in your mouth, savory lamb shank to my right. I got to taste this and would order it next time. The restaurant began to empty out after 45 minutes but we were entering the dessert phase of the operation. I had ogled the panna cotta on the menu but when push came to shove thought it best to round off the evening with my favorite dessert- Sambuca Romana and a double espresso. Oh Joy!! Others shared desserts- I think gelato and biscotti with their coffees. I was in Sambuca heaven, a place I hope to retire to someday, and no longer really paying attention. It was time to pay the bill and leave and we were thanked by all the staff who were waiting to close-up and go home. I look forward to returning, hopefully when it is warmer and I can try out the sidewalk dining. Coco Pazzo Cafe was better than I had imagined, given the reviews on Yelp. No complaints from me. Nothing was particularly outstanding or "amazing" but the food and service were worth the price paid and the plates were licked clean so that has to mean something postiive. Worth a try!
(4)Michelle K C.
Thanks to a mother born in the Abruzzo region, I'm pretty picky about my Italian restaurants. My friend and I chose Coco Pazzo Cafe as our pre-marathon meal and had a perfect carbo-load. Calamari appetizer was lightly fried with a tasty marinara, and the mains of gnocchi and squash ravioli were presented with sauces of true Northern Italian style: flavorful without being chunky and blood-red. Service was quick and friendly, and atmosphere was pleasant, save for the loud Chicagoans at the table beside us...but hey, it is the Windy City afterall. I highly recommend Coco Pazzo to anyone looking for a tasty Italian meal, whether its date night or stopping in after a football game.
(5)Tu'ens N.
I'm gonna start with the good food, but my experience overall was pretty mixed: The pasta is really good. I had the homemade pasta with rabbit which was really well done. I also had the sette vegetali salad which was good and healthy - just chopped up veggies - which I probably could have made at home for less than $8 but it was not crazy. I think the food is decently priced given the quality. They have some good wines too. BUT I had a reservation with a request for outdoor seating, and I saw the reservations sheet which indeed said "OUT" next to my name. But then they said outdoor is first come first served, so even though we had a res, we were waiting behind walk-ups who put their name ahead of us. I thought that was kind of a stupid policy. Anyways, I asked for an indoor table near the big open windows so we were kind of outside without waiting. Then we had the weird problem of all of our servers (three) really not speaking Engish very well, which I honestly am ashamed to complain about but it really was a bit of a problem. The first guy asked us what kind of water we wanted and we said sparkling and he brought us tap, then the guy who tries to explain the specials was so impossible to understand - both his English and Italian - that I gave up trying to understand him before he finished (and I speak five languages so I don't think its my fault). The guy who brought out the food... god knows what he said. I saw other tables looking bewildered when he talked to them. I know, I know, I should just speak Spanish... but its an Italian restaurant and if they aren't going to make any sense in English maybe at least trying in Italian would have been better. I also noticed another reviewer saying Streeterville is a nice neighborhood, but I personally really don't agree. Its dominated by a hospital and a few mid-range hotels, and its really not a very interesting place to walk around.
(2)Samuel C.
I love this place. I eat here all the time. The best fish in town! The food is authentic, the service is top notch. It's open all afternoon with one of the sunniest patios in Chicago. A+
(5)Kelly M.
This place is delicious! Every time I go.. I always get the same thing. The gnocchi with vodka sauce... you actually have to ask for this specific sauce with the gnocchi, but you definitely won't be disappointed. Every time I go to that part of the city to visit my parents, I always try to stop by there! :) Enjoy!
(4)A S.
I love the atmosphere, especially the outdoor seating. Very breezy and soothing. The food, of course, is delicious. The portion is perfect. I would definitely come back.
(5)Meg O.
After my pre-op appointment at the Northwestern University Nasal and Sinus Center, my mom and I walked down St. Clair to Coco Pazzo Cafe for lunch. I have previously eaten at the Coco Pazzo over on 300 West Hubbard Street and had a great experience, so I was pretty confident that lunch was going to be good. Our experience started out great, with immediate attention to menus, water, coffee, and delicious rosemary foccacia with olive oil. There are many tempting possibilities on the lunch menu: my mom and I pondered over the paninins ($9 each), handmade tortellini with brown butter and sage (one of my all-time faves), the Nicoise-like salad, the Italian frittata, and many other options. We were impressed by the availability of vegetarian options. My mom finally decided on the polenta with grilled vegetables, and I chose the soup of the day and the seven veggie chopped salad. My soup arrived promptly, but on the not-so-hot side. The potato-based soup had plenty of spinach and mushrooms, and was quite tasty, but a bit too salty for my liking. I lingered over the soup perhaps a bit too much, because then our entrees arrived and they had to be taken back. But 3 minutes later I was finished and our main courses were served. My mom's polenta was amazing! It was not circles or squares, but moons, with the texture of a good pudding: smooth and pliant on the outside with appropriate grill marks, and thick and creamy on the inside. Incredible. She had a lovely assortment of grilled vegetables as well, marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette. I agree with Amy S.--the seven veggie chopped salad is wonderful. Crunchy, fresh, colorful, and seasoned just enough so you can appreciate all the veggie flavors. It had a large, thin sheet of parmesgan over the top too. Dessert menus were brought out soon after the entrees were cleared, and here's where our troubles began: it took 15 minutes to bring out 4 pieces of biscotti to enjoy with our last cup of coffee. It took so long that my mom and I had to each drink ANOTHER cup of coffee so that we had something into which we could dip our biscotti. Overall, I really enjoyed our lunch. It was fresh, well-seasoned, and interesting. And the coffee is delicious! There's just a timing issue that needs to be fixed.
(4)Veliero M.
We already ate it here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. Both times the restaurant was full. The food is very good, we had the polpo with mini tomotoes and potatoes, the pasta with mushrooms and the pasta with rabbit ragu'. All so very good. Very friendly atmosphere and cozy!
(4)Jordan T.
Had lunch there today. The food was fantastic and they had us in and out in 45 minutes which is great for someone on their work break. I will definitely go back again and will recommend to friends/co-works. I would recommend the trout. The dish I had was grilled and served with new potatoes and green beans with a pesto sauce. Great portion size for the cost as well. I would normally say if you're in the area to check this place out, but even if you're not in the area it's worth traveling to. It's Cocco Pazzo quality with "cafe" prices.
(4)Ralph E.
Very nice place. Friendly people, good food and wine. Love the outdoor seating area (except in January :-). I like this location better than it's big brother. More reasonably priced and less pretentious. I have been here many times, and never disappointed. Highly recommended.
(4)E S.
I wavered b/t 3 and 4 stars, but since they carry Moretti beer, I went with 4. :) My boyfriend and I came here for dinner the other night. We chose the place due to its proximity to the movie theater where we were headed after dinner. I thought the food was very good. The bread came fast, the bus boy was attentive with water refills. We had the carpaccio for an appetizer and it was excellent. Great flavor, fresh lemon and herbs. My bf had the spaghetti with clams, which again had excellent flavor and came out nice and hot. I had the salmon - nothing to rave about, but I enjoyed it and the veggies and sauce had a nice tart, refreshing taste to them. The only thing that was frustrating was the waiter did not tell us the night's special, which we later learned to be scallops and risotto which I definitely would have gotten had I known that was the night's special. Waiter fail, but overall good food and we will return.
(4)Bella B.
Need Reservations because this place is popular and busy! Came here in early April when it was still chilly so no outdoor dining but inside it was warm and cozy. Linguine with Clams was good but the Rigatoni with Sausage was amazing! Heard the lasagna was great as well. Service was attentive and fast. Tables a bit tight and I wish it was a bit quieter but the energy was good. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portions
(4)Hrayr A.
The atmosphere is nice, service is excellent and the risotto is very well made. The frittata and the salmon sandwich are also among the highlights of their lunch menu.
(4)Koizumi Y.
We were seated quickly and the service was attentive without being intrusive. Drinks arrived promptly. One client ordered risotto and ate it, but mentioned the texture wasn't quite what it should have been. Another ordered a frittata and loved it. Still another practically inhaled his four-cheese panini. My butternut squash ravioli with butter sauce seemed a bit too heavy on the sage, which dominated the flavours of the pasta. I would have preferred a light toss in its essence but it was still rather good. An orange sorbet really hit the spot and calmed my gurgling stomach - or perhaps it was my mind anticipating a butter revolt - whilst a few brave souls indulged in grappa for their finishing touch. My prior overall experiences here have been pleasant. Still, the recent one didn't send me anywhere special.
(3)Kris W.
Food was good...lots of clever and creative choices on the menu. Service was cursory and for the price, not attentive enough - people around us were complaining of screwed up orders and not getting resolution. I'd eat here again, but not with anyone I wanted to impress - expected a lot more friendly/interested staff at a place like this. Lots of 50ish business types here on the night I was in.
(3)Diana C.
I have to admit I was surprised. The food was better than I had expected, and I went home very very full. Some of the previous reviewers said that the portions were small, but I thought the portions were heaping, and some enough for two. I ordered a Caesar salad because I like to try Caesar salads at different restaurants to see which one makes the best dressing. This one was good, with enough salt and acid to give it bite, but not so much that my tongue was tingling. The waiter asked if I wanted the anchovies on it and I said, "yes." I ended up not eating them--I have not acquired the taste for whole anchovies yet. The salad was pretty big, with the lettuce chopped to 1/2 inch strips (I can't stand it when the lettuce is too big to put in your mouth gracefully and you aren't given a separate knife to eat your salad with). Best of all, the salad was served with a large parmesan crisp on top. Yum. For my main course, I ordered the Rigatoni Buterra, which was popular among some of the other reviewers. It was not the best pasta I've ever had, but I was not disappointed. The pasta was a little harder than al-dente, but I prefer that to overcooked. The creamy tomato sauce was the best part. It would have been great slathered on some good bread, but it went well with the pasta, sausage and the green peas. I liked that there were a lot of green peas, because I never get enough vegetables eating out, and this was almost a whole serving of vegetable. Back to portion size--I stuffed myself silly with the pasta, and I think I left a third of the pasta on the plate still. They must have read the reviews and decided to increase portion sizes. The plate was heaping. Desserts were decent. We shared pear sorbet, raspberry sorbet, and the Tartufo. I think we all agreed the Tartufo was the best. I especially liked the crunch of the almonds tucked inside the gelato and the chocolate shell covering the gelato. The sorbets were refreshing, but too sweet for my taste. They also melted too quickly. I prefer when restaurants freeze individual scoops before serving, so the mounds stay intact when you eat them. I had a great time, with good company. People were more dressed up than I had expected, so I'm glad I wore a casual dress. Jeans are perfectly reasonable for this place, but I wouldn't go in shorts and flip flops.
(4)Geoff A.
Great place!! Awesome service, awesome food. couldn't of asked for better!
(5)David W.
The wife and I have vowed to stay away from Michigan Ave and all the restaurant establishments around it. Especially after our last experience at Coco Pazzo Cafe. There is nothing wrong with the restaurant or the area. But Chicago is a huge place with great restaurants everywhere, so fighting the tourist crowd to have mediocore Itialian and then to pay Mag Mile prices....... I can cook Itialian at home. So like Chinese food, when I go out for Italian, it has to be really really good. And Coco Pazzo Cafe, though freshly made pastas, are always missing it. Either too salty, not enough flavor, too much sauce, not enough sauce, pasta sticking, or absent service......... never a consistant product.
(2)A. D.
food is descent, portions good. i knocked off 2 stars for the following reasons-- let me first state that i have ben to coco pazzo numerous times as i often travel to chicago and stay in that part of town. i was very disappointed that despite my frequent patronage, they decided to charge a split fee because my friend, one of 3 at the table, felt unwell and only wanted a bit of my pasta. we ordered appetizers and sides-- still they felt the need to add this charge-- too bad. the sides alone more than added up to an entree in terms of cost. bad business, in my opinion. when i questioned the waiter, he mumbled a response-- it was inaudible and the charge stuck. i took the charge out of his tip and notated it on the bill. also, the servers are less than pleasant. again, i go there often, in upwards of 20 times, i guess-- and bring along small and large groups. i would expect a little friendliness from the too cool gents that serve your food. i doubt i will go again-- unless brought by others. i'd rather go to "osteria via stato" ( osteriaviastato.com ) a few blocks away when i crave italian.
(3)Todd W.
Dessert only rating - great desert. Very nice wine selection, great location. loved the outside seating
(4)Rachel M.
Everything about Coco Pazzo Cafe was pretty meh. We had a reservation originally for 5 people at 7pm on a Wednesday. When we got to the restaurant, the hostess outside went to check on our table and then sent us inside to be seated. Inside a different hostess just stared at us for a minute as we tried to figure out where to go. At the beginning of the meal when our server found out that one of our 5 people was unable to make it, he seemed to take it as a personal insult and was kind of rude and absent the rest of the night. He didn't bother to tell us that they were out of half of the appetizers until we tried ordering them, interrupted us in the middle of ordering drinks to tell us about their specials and we had to ask several times for someone to send send him over. I'm not even sure he came back to see how our meal was. The food was ok. The Tagliolini Neri was pretty incredible, but the Tagliatelle with rabbit ragu was really bland and poletto wasn't anything to write home about. They have a really lovely outdoor area, though, which is probably the only really memorable thing about this dining experience.
(3)Peter H.
Service left something to be desired as our waiter clearly knew nothing about any wines and didn't offer any additional info on the food. To our surprise, the food was much better than the service. I highly recommend the antipasto app and the pappardelle with rabbit ragu.
(4)Jennifer Y.
Love this place. I use to work here as a hostess and let me tell you about the weight I gained. Wheeeeeeeeeew. The only thing I don't like about it is the mean woman who use to work as a manager here. But hey, everyone's fighting a harder battle, right? Right. Anyway, the paninis are delicious as are most of the fish dishes. God, Italians can cook some fish. Oh, and the squid ink pasta was my absolute favorite. I got it every chance I had. Oh, and the prosciutto with melon balls. Yummmmmmmm. Summer time is nice because there's outdoor seating, but it smells out there sometimes so make sure you check it out first. Coco Pazzo is obviously more upscale than this sister cafe but I think she holds her own. Jennifer Aniston thinks so too. She's been here on several occasions.
(4)Kim C.
I live in the neighborhood so I pass by the Coco Pazzo Cafe very frequently, and I am always amazed by the number of people sitting outside, eating and drinking happily. My roommate and I finally decided to grab a late lunch there on a Sunday afternoon, but had an overall pretty underwhelming experience. A friend had told me that the rigatoni was the "best rigatoni he's ever had", so I had to give that a shot. And, well, it's rigatoni. It's good, maybe great, but did not knock my socks off. My roommate ordered the Italian omlette, and it came DRENCHED in salt! It was so salty it was literally un-eatable. My roommate's lips became chapped and she was parched after 3 bites. She also claims to have eaten some egg shells. Luckily, our server was very nice about getting her a new dish, which came back moderately salted but still, just an omlette (that I could have probably made at home..) I think I saw Coco Pazzo listed in Zagat's 200 Best Italian Restaurants or something, and I must say I'd have to disagree!
(3)Misse D.
I've heard of the infamous al fresco dining at Coco Pazzo...but I came in the wrong season to actually experience it. I dined here with my fiance and his family. It was a great meal. We enjoyed a nice bottle of wine. I cleaned my plate when eating the pear and spinach salad-- the pears were cooked-- perhaps poached? I highly recommend. A meal with out of towners is usually a long meal with all of the chatting. We weren't rushed at all and was quite pleased with the service.
(4)Tony S.
We booked our table for 6:45pm on a Saturday night and arrived about 6:55. Friendly welcome and seated immediately. The restaurant was packed solid so this place is clearly very popular. The waiting staff were relatively attentive, Miguel was friendly and took our order when we were ready and gave us more time as we were talking amongst ourselves. Water was served immediately. I ordered the spinaco salad to start which was basic but pretty tasty. Spinach, goats cheese, pine kernals and something else which I have forgotton, nice n tasty and light as a starter should be. The others in my party had Mozerrella and Tomatoe salad that they were happy with. My main course was a steak and fries affair, Steak was properly cooked and tasty and I enjoyed the fries too. Others had Lasagne which looked nice if a bit generic. The Lasagne came with nothing else at all that I recall so you may want to add a green salad to spruce it up. Deserts were nice enough, the Panacotta wasn't very good so I was told but my chocolate and almond tart was pretty good. I would recommend this place especially as I lost my wallet and they left a message on our answer phone to say they had found it. So excellent service there. No complaints at all.
(4)D N.
Loved this little place! Walked from the Affinia Hotel and enjoyed a nice glass of house Chardonnay - bartender was very attentive. seated right at our rezzie time and service was great, without being overbearing. Food was terrific! Carpaccio was amazing. Our waiter informed us that half orders of pasta were available, so we tried a rich seafood risotto and lasagna. Both were big portions and outstanding. The shoulder steak we split was a little dry and not as flavorful as some I have had, so one star down. We will certainly return the next time we stay in this part of downtown. A nice cozy little spot in busy downtown Chicago.
(4)Amy S.
I work right around the corner from this place, so when people want to meet for lunch on a nice day, I always suggest this place. It's just enough off the beaten path where you don't have to wait long for a table (sometimes the tables outside are full, but that's what you get on a nice day). I do feel that the food is pricey for a lunch place, but you are downtown Chicago, so you have to expect that. I will normally just order out the seven chopped veggie salad and it is WONDERFUL. It's so fresh and so tasty. However, in the winter it is $1 cheaper than it is in the summer....they are pretty tricky that way. I like the pastas, but I normally will get the half portion because the full is almost too much. There menu is seasonal and one time I got the gnocchi and it was in a marsala sauce with mushrooms and it was so good, but I haven't seen it on the menu since. If you are out shopping on Michigan Avenue and you need a place to refuel and you are not in the mood for McDonald's or tourists, this is the place to go.
(4)Brian C.
Marco must be the hardest working man in the restaurant biz. As the host of the cafe he sat my wife and I, assisted with our order and quickly made an entree exchange when I thought my risotto was too onion forward (note: I am very sensitive when it comes to onion). The food here never disappoints and I love the variety of bruschetta.
(4)Sophie E.
I live about 4 blocks from this restaurant, so I have had the opportunity to eat here often. I love the pastas, which are made fresh. The menu is seasonal and changes from year to year. They once made a fetticcine with lamb ragout which I am dying to have again. I also have enjoyed their lasagna, which is very light yet highly flavorful. The spinach ravioli is also quite good; I especially like the butter sage sauce. Their house chianti is velvety and wonderful. The portions are small by Italian restaurant standards (think Maggiano's), but perhaps that's a good thing as it prevents people from over-eating. We have always experienced friendly, attentive service. We typically are walk-ins, but since we eat fairly early we have never had a problem getting a table. I also like the ambiance of the restaurant. It is decorated like a rustic italian cafe. In pleasant weather, they remove the doors such that the restaurant opens up to the covered patio. It has a casual, but elegant appeal, with white linens and candles.
(4)Isa B.
You can never go wrong in here, there is always something to suit your dietary needs. They can make it happen and the food is premium. This, as well as the higher-end sister restaurant, Coco Pazzo are musts in Chicago.
(4)Mike P.
Enjoyed the sidewalk dining on my first night in Chicago. Reasonable prices and decent food. Adequate service. Some interesting items on the menu like octopus with peperonata. Nice wines too.
(3)Mel L.
Went here on a weekday evening at 6pm. Service was really good - waiter was knowledgeable, friendly, and prompt. Food was delicious - 3 of us girls split 2 dishes which was just the perfect portion. We got gnocchi which I would definitely recommend and the sausage rigattoni which was just okay. You get bread & oil to start so we didn't think appetizers were ncessary. I enjoyed the decor, service, and food...just no extra special experience to give it my 5th star. I would go back though!
(4)John C.
Wow the Cafe is getting beat down from the reviews I just read about this place. Thank goodness I didn't read them before I went! I had the in laws in town who were visiting the newborn girls...and I made a call to my own personal Zagat. He told me to try it since it was right next to the hospital. So on my first experience, I had to give my mother-in-law my meal since she order the special soft shell crab entree. She didn't realize that a soft shell crab was a whole crab! So, she ate the duck I ordered and I ate the crab. Both were very tasty. My father-in-law had the braised rabbit, and he thought it was delicious. So anyway, I really wanted to order the bistecca, which they were out of. On my second visit I got the bistecca, which wasn't that great. But my wife ordered the RIGATONI "BUTTERA". I thought this was one of the better pasta dishes that I've had. It's amazing how a crappy server or some person can ruin your dining experience.
(4)Emily F.
I've never been to the other Coco Pazzo's, but no need to, as this one is just fine by me. Food is great, portions are fair, prices are reasonable for a white-tablecloth Streeterville italian restaurant, reservations aren't necessary for mid-week dining, service is quick and friendly- my water glass was never less than half full. Has all the makings for a great date spot- but was also enjoyable for a spur of the moment dinner with my Aunt.
(4)Jennifer B.
This restaurant has, hands down, the best spaghetti in the city. I know that is a bold claim, however the spaghetti marinara here is a spicy marinara and it is quite incredible. The atmosphere is busy, and a bit loud, and also usually crowded. This all adds to the aura of the restaurant...and if you are a fan of true Italian you must try this place! Next time you are on Michigan Ave, skip the cheesecake factory and veer off one block towards the lake and try Coco Pazzo cafe,....you won't be disappointed!
(4)A. R.
I'm giving this place three stars because the wait staff was excellent--friendly and attentive without being overbearing--but the food was average, not extraordinary or worth going back for. However I would highly recommend the panna cotta--that was excellent. I might go back simply for that.
(3)Morgan H.
This restaurant would have gotten five stars, were it not for the crappy hostess. The food is fantastic and the price is right. We shared an order of Tuscan Fries with the table, which was perfect - not too much to be overkill but everyone got a good amount. I had the grilled vegetables with polenta, and it was perhaps the best polenta I've ever had. The veggie assortment was great too - squash, eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, tomato...a great, well-balanced variety. But, alas, the service...our group (nine of us) made a reservation for lunch outside, and I was told that while they couldn't guarantee outdoor seating, they would try. When we arrived, the hostess looked at me like I had three heads and came up with several excuses as to why they could never seat a group of nine outside, ranging from "there aren't enough tables" (there were four open tables in a cluster) to "we can't fit more than three plates on a table" (uh, why are your plates so big??). The aforementioned four tables in a cluster were all empty...but she had seated a party of three right smack in the middle of them at a fifth table, thus requiring us to split up our group. I sneaked a peek at the reservations list and sure enough, there was my name, and right next to it a note saying "Seat OUTSIDE". Nice.
(3)Chicago S.
I agree with the other reviewers who were underwhelmed with this restaurant. My husband and I were on North Michigan for the Lights Festival and got hungry. The restaurant looked charming, there was no wait, and the dress code was casual so we decided to get dinner. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, although the tables are a bit small and close together. We were seated along one of the walls and didn't have much room to maneuver -- my husband's chair kept accidentally bumping the woman seated at the table next to us. But I figured it would be worth it if the food was good. Our salads arrived promptly but were mediocre. My husband got the ceasar salad ($8); the lettuce was limp and chopped into the smallest pieces I have ever seen. But the real problem was the dressing -- no flavor. The dressing and tomatoes in my Mista salad (mixed greens with cherry tomatoes and a whipped vinegrette, $7) also lacked flavor. The entrees were more solid, although we had to wait quite some time for them. My husband ordered the Rigatoni Buttera (sausage, peas, and parmesan in a tomato and cream sauce, $16). It was a generous portion and quite tasty; we both enjoyed it. I am not sure it was worth $16 because it did seem like something you could make at home, but I suppose you are paying for being in a touristy neighborhood. I ordered the Maiale entree (grilled pork chop in a mustard sauce with rapini on the side, $21). The pork chop was a little dry; the sauce had a lot of flavor but was extremely salty. The rapini was good, with small pieces of garlic. Overall, we thought the restaurant was okay but overpriced due to the neighborhood and not worth a return trip. The service was inconsistent -- one of the busboys was extremely attentive, but our waiter seemed like he couldn't care less. Three stars, mostly for the warm atmosphere and the pasta dish.
(3)James K.
Coco Pazzo Cafe has consistently good appetizers, pastas, and desserts with hit or miss service in a warm atmosphere. Operating out of the side of the Red Roof Inn, this cafe has been a staple in a Streeterville neighborhood bereft of much choice when it comes to dining options. The patio seating is delightful in the summer. Coco Pazzo Cafe has really nice, homemade pastas that are uniformly well-executed. The Lasagna with Bechamel, Gnocchi Parmigiana, Stracchi con Funghi, and Rigatoni alla Buttera are all winners. The pannacotta and gelato (especially cinnamon) are consistently rich and refreshing. The wines by the glass are pretty decent as well. Service is generally good at the maitre'd level, but tends to oscillate from being too pushy in terms of overselling wine and add-ons to inattentive depending on the server.
(4)Jennifer S.
I visited Coco Pazzo Cafe for a business lunch with four other women. When we arrived at 11:30, the restaurant was nearly empty, but it filled up quickly and got noisier as we dined. Maybe it was because we were a chatty group, but I didn't feel like we were getting enough attention from the wait staff. We were still holding our menus when our appetizers came! Luckily, we were sitting near a spot where the menus are stored and were able to return them ourselves. Although this probably sounds snobby, I promise that I'm not a snob at heart! One of my biggest pet peeves is when a nice restaurant will remove the knife that you used with your appetizer from your plate and place it on the table so that you can use it with your meal. This definitely happened at Coco Pazzo and cost them points in my book. Anyway, on to the food! To start our meal, we shared a selection of bruschetta, mixed vegetables and grains, as well as carpaccio. They were each yummy. For lunch, we all tried something different. I am a sucker for gnocchi (even though I can never quite pronounce it correctly!), so when I saw it on the menu, I couldn't resist. The little potato dumplings were perfectly cooked and were served in a veal ragu and sage sauce. The sage was a little overpowering for my taste, but then again, I am more sensitive to those kinds of spices than your average gal. Everyone else seemed to like their own selections, and the portion sizes were perfect for lunch. I got to try a bite of the meat lasagna with a bechamel sauce, which was quite good. I would definitely order that myself on a return visit. Overall, Coco Pazzo Cafe was good, but it didn't rock-my-world.
(3)Andy P.
If you are in Chicago, and you in the mood for great food come here. The steak and the pasta's are the best. The location is great. The service is okay. It is great place to be with Friends or family. I would give it a A+. So get of the coach and get some pasta!
(4)Camille O.
In my days of wine and roses I spent many an evening here at Coco Pazzo's so I can vouch for the delicious food, street-side dining, pleasant staff, and reasonable wine list. Some of my favorite dishes are the fried calamari as an appetizer ($8.50), the baby spinach and endive salad, although I would suggest toasting the walnuts sprinkled on top ($7.00), and the half-orders of pasta ($8.50) which are ample enough so there's still room for some of the desserts such as zabaglione with fresh berries. Other entrees I've enjoyed are the veal scaloppini ($19.00) and pan roasted salmon ($17.50). You won't leave hungry and the atmosphere is a comfortable toned-down trendy.
(3)Steve F.
Great place for lunch, we were there yesterday, I had the white fish special, very fresh, delicious tasting, awesome service, I'd recommend the place. Can be a little pricey for lunch
(5)Peter L.
Portions are too small. Been here a few times and have always had to secretly fill up on bread -- which wasn't particularly great either. Sitting outside on a nice day is cool, but it's not enough for the price. Food and service were mediocre. My girlfriend likes this joint, but she's never as hungry as I am.
(3)Garett N.
Really delicious food. This is not the kind of place I would go to, but my boss was paying so I figured I'd make the most out of it. We went during lunch and while she had a reservation, the place wasn't full at all.
(3)Brandon S.
Had a great time getting a slightly late lunch by myself, eating outside. The wait staff was very attentive, the food (I got the gnocchi and added a bolognese sauce for just $1), was fabulous, and the atmosphere nice and caj! Definitely good times. It wasn't like OMG BEST EVER, but it was exactly what I wanted.
(4)Dee W.
I came here for their 11th anniversary which was featuring their $11 three course special. When I called earlier to find out what was on the menu, they told me that it was a salad, entree and dessert. When I tried to press for more details, they declined to comment. When we got there, the waitor finally let us know that the special included their mizzo salad, their rissoto and a couple pieces of biscotti. We were pretty turned off by that and chose to order other stuff instead. We tried their bruchetta which was decent. I had their grilled chicken and our friend tried their gnocchi - the chicken was a bit on the salty side and the gnocchi was pretty basic. Service was decent - they had multiple people coming up to us and trying to get us to order more stuff. They also had multiple people come up to us and repeat the same thing "Are you ready to order?" three times.
(2)sandra h.
We had a nice lunch on the terrace. The food is not the best Italian food in the city but it is decent and reasonably priced for a casual lunch. I just have to add that I love their spaghetti. For once a restaurant knows how to cook pasta al dente!
(3)Wilt C.
Have not been to Coco Pazzo Cafe for a while and stopped by for lunch yesterday. It seems to have grown a bit tired over the years. The staff just goes through the paces with a bored demeanor and the food is just average. Too bad as it's a nice setting and good location.
(2)Anna L.
Nice experience. Got a soft shell crab on mixed greens. Have never had a whole soft shell crab before (only as part of sushi rolls), so it was interesting to see it laying there in all its deep-fried glory atop my greens. Was fun to eat. Looks like it would be a good place for pasta too. Prices look reasonable.
(3)Patrick M.
Went for dinner tonight, and was reminded what a delightful and solid choice this is. Meeting a friend from NYC, arrived early. Great service at the bar. Attentive and friendly staff. Boar, salmon, and veal were the entree choices: delicious. Special of barley veg soup to start was terrific, based on hearing another diner say: "better than my Italian grandmother's." And, really intelligent wine recommendations from the waiter, immediately picking a low, medium, and high price point based on the entree orders. Cool. The service is smooth, the decor is warm. Great place. Reminder: come back here more often.
(5)cat c.
All I can say is WOW!! We got the Rigatoni with sausage, peas and cream sauce and Parpadelle with duck ragu. We were in heaven. This place is definitely a step above Italian restaurants. The food is authentic, excellent wait staff and I would love to go again soon!
(4)Joanna K.
Cozy intimate setting, watchful staff and super food ...we had a great evening! Wish there was a Coco Pazzo in Denver, Colorado!!
(5)Brad O.
I appreciate how authentically Italian this place is. It's more Italian than it is Italian-American. Also, I love how you can get appetizer-size portions of the pastas - keeping in tradition with the "primi piatti" concept in Italy. I had the appetizer portion of the homemade taglietelle with rabbit ragu followed up by the brick chicken. The taglietelle was near perfect - it had that slight chew that you only get from homemade fresh pasta that is so satisfying. The brick-chicken almost had too much of a "char" flavor, but the broccoli rabe on the side was awesome - bitter, but in a good way. I would say the only real drawbacks of this place is how tight the quarters are (once again, authentically European) and the night I was there the AC was not working so I had to step outside a couple times to cool down. Also, the service was excellent (not authentically European). Once that AC working again, I will be back.
(4)Maura R.
SOO so so yummy. I would get the vegetali mostly but eveything about this place is five star. Let me begin with the wait staff extremely polite attentive and really know their stuff when it comes to the menu. I have not been there in a few years but I wouldnt be surprised if it hasn't changed. The food is molto eccellente. I have probably tasted every dish there misto terra (table in the center of the room Kind of like a buffet appaetizer) LOVE LOVE. PAsta is delicious and salads a tasty tasty. I just love the feel as well. It is a small rustic italian cafe IF it wasnt for the high rises and hustle and bustle of chicago society you could place this cafe in the a small village of Italy and it would fit right in. As it is cheaper than the more sophisticad and finer dining of Coco Pazzo restaurant on Hubbard it makes or a perfect setting for a lunch with friends or romantic dinner date...especially in the summer because the patio seating is wonderful (great if you are a people watcher like I am) RECOMMEND for sure ...a definate favorite
(5)Stephanie H.
I've dined here once,sat inside, with girlfriends. Food and wine were good. I found the portions to be a little on the small side. I had the Risotto which was good. Enjoyed the atmosphere. I would go back. Good date place.
(3)Natalie S.
The outside patio is nice, but the service and food wasn't. There was one waiter assigned to the entire outside area. Took forever to order. Took forever to get our food. When we did get our food, it was the wrong order. Waited 10 minutes for even the water boy to come by to ask him to get our waiter. Waiter quickly apologized and said our correct order will be out shortly. Tick tock. Tick tock. When we get our bill, nothing was taken off or adjusted. No apology. We left never to come back again.
(2)Lisa B.
I first discovered this restaurant almost three years ago when I first moved back to Chicago. A friend came into town for a girls out weekend and we stayed at a hotel downtown. We discovered this restaurant during that weekend and I have loved it since. I would not say the meals are to die for but they do have a really good ragu and their pasta dishes are just wonderful (especially their butternut squash raviloi). What I love most about this place I know I can get a really good meal at a decent price and they always have a table ready and they do take out. When you want to go out with friends and family and want a good meal but spend time catching up with friends and not be distracred by the restaurant itself this is the place to go. They have a full bar, a good wine menu and for the neighborhood the price is just right. Also they are truly accomodating, the service is good and the meal is served in a decent time frame and you don't feel rushed. In close to three years I have not been disapointed.
(4)Claire B.
The service was what impressed me the most about this place--everyone was very attentive and polite. I had the spinach salad, which was decent, though I would have preferred pears that weren't cooked. I also had the butternut squash ravioli, which came with an interesting butter sauce. It was quite good. My fiance ordered boar, which looked gross...but I don't think I would ever order boar. We also had cinnamon gelato, which was yummy. The only problem we encountered was an obnoxious lady who took literally 5 phone calls to deal with someone one the other end of the line's wardrobe malfunction. It was so rude!
(5)Ada L.
Best pasta I've had in a long time (black pasta with squid, shrimp, tomatoes, zucchini, etc.). Great service and nice patio, too. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Maureen W.
We had lunch at Coco Pazzo today and it was delightful. It was very busy but we had excellent service: the drinks were refilled any time they were even halfway empty and our food came out quickly. I had the white bean soup and a Caesar salad, both of which were very good. The salad had white anchovies that were so delicious! My partner had a turkey panini and with fries instead of the homemade chips. She really liked both. I tried the fries and they were so good. They had cheese and salt and there were some veggies spears mixed in. We both had ice tea and liked that quite a bit too. I was impressed that we both had such good food for 10-13 dollars each and the tea was only 2 dollars. The only drawback was that it was sometimes very loud outside but hey, that's to be expected.
(4)Megan W.
If you are looking for a quiet intimate dinner then this place is not for you. I felt like the whole restaurant was a bit claustrophobic. The tables were packed a bit too close together and the whole restaurant was a bit too small. However, the food was excellent. My boyfriend had trouble deciding what to order so he asked our waiter what he would suggest. Our waiter's suggestion turned out to be spot on as my boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed his meal. I had a taste and it was excellent. I had the risotto of the day and it too was excellent. It was incredibly creamy and rich. For dessert we had the tiramisu and it was tasty. Overall it was a very good evening.
(4)Christel D.
I used to walk by this place. Finally decided to give it a try. Not a fan of the big yellow awning, but the food and service were good. Not stellar, but not pricey. Plan on trying again.
(3)Angela B.
I've been here a few times for business lunches and it's a great spot. The service is the only downside - it's not bad, but it's not very memorable either. But the food is amazing, I have been happy with every dish and desert I've tried. I especially recommend the lasagna, which is my favorite in the entire city, and the chicken milanese. So, so good. Really good portion size too - you'll leave feeling full but not like you need to take a nap for the rest of the afternoon.
(4)Yelp L.
I have been here a few times and today's visit sealed the deal. The food quality is good, however, the service on numerous occasions has not been. I just screened the rest of the reviews to see if anybody else had observed the same and it seems the answer is yes. The problem is professionalism. If they are in a rush you get good service because they are trying to scoot you out the door. If you are in a rush, they couldn't care less and it could take forever to get your food. Furthermore they interrupt your party with very stupid things like, "Oh, by the way, we're going to charge you extra for that request." Again food is good, service is highly variable, and restaurant is overall unprofessionally run and you can't make up for that with good food. The owner doesn't care--he never called me back. If I were an owner, I'd at least want to hear about what happened.
(2)Megan S.
I went to Coco Pazzo with a group of 9 people. It was OK for groups but not great. We were put next to another group of 11. It was so loud with the two groups right by each other, we had to scream at one another. The place is small but very cute. You actually don't feel like you are downtown Chicago. The majority of the group loved their meals. I had a hard time picking something from the menu because I had reviewed the menu on line and it was different. I was looking forward to seafood and they had changes the menu. What Italian place doesn't have a pasta dish with seafood? Overall it was a good experience. I would give it another try.
(3)Clare K.
i have been here for both lunch and dinner and both times i have received solid service-no matter how crowded it is. i was just there for dinner on friday night and the pasta special was AMAZING-fettuccine, pine nuts, basil, olive oil, etc. the spaghetti with hot peppers was also quite tasty and a happy little departure from a regular tomato/marinara sauce. do yourself a huge favor and make a dinner reservation. while we were at the bar (we had a reservation and did not have to wait-we were just frightfully early!), we heard the hostess tell some people that at 7:15 that they would be able to seat them at about 9:20. yikes. it's so easy people. go to opentable.com and save yourself some time and trouble.
(4)Elizabeth C.
After hearing only good things about this restaurant, we decided to give it a shot for our girls night, to my surprise, I was very disappointed. For starters, I left the bar to let the hostess know there would be 3 of us dining and she decided to go ahead and seat me before the rest of my party was ready. Then, a couple came in, who had a reservation, and the host tried to seat them at exact table in which she had sat me, 45 seconds before. Once we were settled, our waiter rushed through specials and asked if we were ready to order, before taking our drink order. Right off the bat, I felt rushed. The food was mediocre, 2 different people waited on our table. Perhaps this is a better place for lunch, but I am in no rush to return for dinner.
(2)Da J.
It was okay. The waitress recommended the risotto special, but it wasn't worth it. I should have gone with the regular menu.
(3)M. C.
I've only been here for lunch, but it has always been sooo delicious, and lunch is reasonably priced too. Nothing's nicer than sitting outdoors over a leisurely lunch here in the spring. I highly recommend any of their pasta--it's all so fresh, although it can be overly filling.
(5)Allison B.
Amazing...the italian food is pure and simple melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I loved the outdoor setting, the great service, and the lovely food. I had artichoke ravioli with some pinot and a brushetta for starters. Lovely dinner date spot.
(5)J V.
A nice little gem off the fast track of Michigan Ave. Good qaulity italian food in a nice setting. Outside seating is great too.
(3)Eric L.
Ive been here for lunch and dinner. Both times were ok. The environment is nice and the wait staff was good. My pasta was a bit oily. The chicken was prepared well but nothing memorable. I have heard Coco Pazzo is better, which i've yet to try.
(3)Karen M.
Maybe I'm spoiled for Tuscan-style food after visiting Italy last year, but I wasn't impressed with this place. We came here because some relatives of mine were in town and wanted to try it. My husband and I ordered the bistecca (grilled beef ribeye) thinking it would be like the memorable steak dinner we had in Florence, but it wasn't even close. In fact, it was about what you used to get at a Ponderosa. Everyone else in our party had pasta and seemed satisfied with it. The bruschetta appetizers and the cappuccino gelato dessert were fine, as was service. Maybe we should give this place one more visit and try a pasta dish instead, or visit the original Coco Pazzo on Hubbard. But unless I'm ever in the area again, I'm thinking there have got to be better Italian restaurants in Chicago than this one.
(2)Eri K.
Amazingly good food. We ducked in when everywhere else was jam packed and found an oasis from the crowds and cold. Definitely try the duck liver bruschetta...so delicious. We had the little ones with us and they gave us half portions for them which was perfect. Only drawback was a rude bus boy who basically told me to hurry up and finish because the main course was ready...so rude! But the meal, ambience, and other service was very good.
(4)Chris P.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants outside of Italy. I've been here several times over the years when visiting Chicago and go out of my way to come back here.
(5)Vaidehi T.
Went here for lunch on a beautiful spring Sunday afternoon. The weather was gorgeous and we sat out in the patio - which is pretty cool and awesome. I am surprised at the low rating this place has on yelp. My husband and me absolutely loved our experience here. I admit that the awesome weather and sitting outside had a lot to do with it, but it was still a pretty great meal. The place is quite laid back and cool. We did not feel rushed and ended up having a nice and relaxed lunch. We ordered the tomato and mozzarella for antipasti and some crisp Pinot Grigio to go along with it. We were served a basket of complimentary bread - there was two kinds, one was the usual crostini and the other was a rosemary infused bread. I live for bread and olive oil when I go to Italian restaurants - and this bread was delish. Hubby ordered the spaghetti 'AOP' and I ordered the Mahi. The spaghetti was fabulous... perfectly tangy and savory. The portion was quite generous, it was a big mound of spaghetti with a roasted red pepper sitting on the top. Hubby really enjoyed it. The Mahi dish was fab too. It came along with some braised escarole - one of my favorite bitter greens. The whole dish was awesome. Again, portions were generous and we had leftovers for to go. We were too full to try any dessert, but hubby ordered the cappuccino to end the meal - and it was pretty fab!! The service was friendly and we never had an empty glass of water on our table.
(4)Hale M.
WHY I WENT THERE: Went to Cocco Pazzo Cafe with my parents the night I moved to Chicago. My mother--who, ironically, happens to have celiac (i.e. legitimate gluten intolerance)--chose it based on a positive experience there a month or so prior. AMBIANCE: This is a typically (and appropriately) moderately lit Italian place. It was appropriately busy, which is to say that it is clearly popular with the locals as well as with visitors, but that it is not so crowded as to be intimidating or inhibitory. FOOD: My dad and I split to the bruschetta as an appetizer--white bean & black truffle, mushroom & parmesan, and carmelized onion & ricotta--all of which were fantastic, particularly the white bean and black truffle. For my entree, I could not resist the special: risotto with my favorite non-traditional meat...rabbit! Tender, flavorful, filling but not sedating. DRINKS: Ample wine selection, which fits the cuisine. If you (like me) fancy craft beer, you've come to the wrong place. SERVICE: Friendly, informative, and timely. Struck the perfect balance of being attentive but not intrusive. SPONTANEITY FACTOR: Reservations recommended. SUMMARY: If you're looking for italian in River North, this is a great option.
(4)bill s.
Weekend in Chicago. MI Avenue was totally insane. Try to stay off of it as we move S to N or N to S. Son and daughter-in-law, who live downtown, have been to the original Coco Pazzo so my wife an I decided to try the cafe for lunch. 3pm on a Saturday, place is empty except for one table. Some of the staff were having lunch as we came in. Whatever they were eating looked good. We were seated, waiter comes over, handed menus, asked if we wanted water (I forgot that places in Chi tend to do that), specials explained. We decide to order the mussels in a light tomato (not "tomato sauce") broth with tomato bits and pieces. Served with the usual bruschetta-like grilled bread. Plump, juicy PEI mussels. Bread was charred and and has a slightly burned taste in place but it was still quite good. The slighty garlicly, tomato based-broth was quite good. We each had a light entree. Chicken breast filet that had been pounded a bit and then grilled. Topped with fresh spinach, several dollops of goat cheese and seedless red grapes. We both enjoyed it to the point where I'm going to make it at home. Had the eggless panna cotta for dessert and cofffe. All in all a very pleasant experience. Good food, attentive staff, nice prices for downtown Chicago. A lot of hard surfaces so I imagine that it could be rather noisy when full. Don't know if it rates 4 stars. I'm a tough grader. Will definitely go back to the cafe and will no doubt try the original pace on W. Hubbard. So maybe 3.5 to 3.75 stars.
(3)Tom H.
Close to 20 years and we keep coming back. Food is always great, staff friendly, atmosphere tasteful. Outdoor seating in the summer is a treat. Just one block off Michigan avenue but nice and quiet. This is where people like us who live downtown go.
(5)Bridget L.
Lovely atmosphere for dinner. I order one of the specials and the portion was perfect, just enough. Fresh pasta, simply delicious. Waitstaff was friendly and not overly obtrusive. Will definitely come back again!!
(4)Victoria W.
Pretty much a poor experience all around. Overpriced, flavorless food paired with awful service. By the end of it, we were wishing we'd gone to nearby Burrito Beach instead. The vegetali ($16) was a small pile of grilled vegetables and polenta with no seasoning besides a light drizzle of balsamic. My partner's tagliolini neri (squid ink pasta, $17) was of a pitiful portion and bland (he's had squid ink pasta in Italy, and this was like the watered-down version). The service was ridiculous. Our waiter maintained a cold scowl on his face whenever he was dealing with us. And he barely dealt with us at all, despite the fact that there was only one other table occupied at the time (4PM). After getting us our drinks, he took so long to take our food order, we considered leaving. After finally taking our order, he never checked on us.
(1)Theresa F.
5 stars for food. 1 deducted for poorly maintained atmosphere. Will probably come back for that calamari! Service was also prompt, organized and attentive!
(4)Brittany L.
Reasonable prices, nice sized portions (not gigantic), good service, and decent decor. Main problem is that you're really packed in, and with the proximity to the hotels, you're likely to get HUGE groups of people who are in town for a convention or something, which may mean a wait for your food. We got there early enough on a Thursday that this wasn't an issue. I had the rigatoni (sausage, peas, tomato cream sauce), my friend had the squash ravioli (sweet butter sauce with brown sugar and nuts). We shared an order of 3 crostini with various toppings. I chose one with salami and brie and another with a hummous-type white bean & black truffle puree. Both were delicious. She had a roasted red pepper & goat cheese one. I tried a little bite and found it rather tasty. They also have the traditional bruschetta of tomatoes, basil, and olive oil, but we passed that one by in favor of something different. Everything was quite good...perhaps not fantastic, but good. Service-wise, our waiter knew his way around the menu and gave suggestions, we were offered cracked pepper with our appetizer and freshly grated cheese with our entrees, our water glasses stayed full, and our dishes were promptly cleared away. My friend was offered a sample of wine before committing which was nice. I would go here again, especially if I'm staying in one of the nearby hotels. Very convenient to walk and not have to worry about valet or parking fees.
(4)Gino W.
Usually restaurants that are in the vicinity of the Magnificent Mile are tourist traps. The flavours pander to a single palate and the presentation wows you way more than taste. Then there is Coco Pazzo Cafe. I must admit that this restaurant eatery left a lasting first impression on me. Escarole e fagioli. Tagliolini. Spaghetti with mushrooms. Linguini with clams. Calamari. Apple tart. Tortufu. My friends and I had a grand time. And it may have been because of the weather, the restaurant was not teeming with tourists and shoppers. So, we had great service without being rushed and food that certainly was not rushed from the kitchen. After a rather large, late lunch, we were all sated.
(5)JD F.
Was here last week for a vendor lunch. It is rather small and the atmosphere a little close. The pseudo-Modigliani frescoed walls were well executed. Service was friendly and fast. The tacchino panini (smoked turkey and pancetta) is highly recommended. Just be aware that due to its small size, the place can get loud - or maybe it was just the boisterous office group there that made it so. Overall, an above average dining experience.
(4)Jessica N.
Sad I had a bad experience because I love the original. Ambience was not quaint cafe but kind of cold and uninviting. Service was spotty and not polished. And my fish was over-charred and bitter. This is a block from my office so I'll probably give it another try with a pasta but if that doesn't live up I won't be back!
(2)Kari S.
Am a frequent guest at this location and have always received quality meals and service. Enjoy sitting outside weather permitting.
(4)Jan E.
Lovely atmosphere for a nice Italian dinner. Lasagna & spaghetti, yes, but also octopus ink pasta with shrimp and bruschetta with white beans and truffles.
(4)Pari P.
I'm a fan of Cocco Pazzo's Hubbard location but sometimes I am not in suit for work and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing jeans there. After a stroll down the Magnificent Mile, we decided on Cocco Pazzo Café by Michigan Ave. The menus are similar but the environment is much more casual. For my attire, I was wearing jeans and a hoodie and I fit in just fine. No jacket no service wasn't an issue here. We ordered the bruschetta, pappardelle, and tagiolini. The bruschetta was a little disappointing since the bread lacked crunch and was a bit on the soft side. For the entrees, I am a huge fan of homemade pasta and both were done well. The parpardelle came with a wild boar ragu that had an unexpected sweetness. The tagiolini was full of mushrooms and finished with parmesan reggiano. Like LMFAO, no shirt, no shoes, and I still get service at Coco Pazzo Cafe.
(4)Maggie Z.
Food: The octopus appetizer was cooked better than any place in the city. Perfect texture and the sauce complimented it very well. The squid ink pasta with shrimp is AMAZING and to finish it off, we enjoyed the tartufo for dessert. Again, delicious. Overall: Compared to many other Italian places on Chi, this place takes the cake. The service is great, outdoor seating is quaint and tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the food can't be topped. What else can you ask for!
(5)Art V.
I planned on eating at capital grille which is across the street from cpg. Cap grille charges $42 for a single piece of meat. No apps, no sides, no dessert. I looked at cpg's menu and found that I could eat like a horse for nearly the same price. What a solid meal. A great beet salad A half order of pasta with a boar ragu Duck breast served over lentils Apple pie 2 beers Approx $60 Great restaurant. Will def return.
(4)Rachel N.
Conflicted -- 1) my grandmother loves it here, so when we go out with the family N matriarch, this is occasionally where we land; 2) the food is tasty; and 3) there is nothing wrong with the place (service is friendly/efficient/attentive and the atmosphere isn't offensive) -- it's not adventurous fare per se, and certainly not earth shattering in the flavor dept -- but it's a pretty good casual Sunday night meal -- my braised octopus is always solid, and the salmon and trout are reliably cooked well (I've heard the pasta is strong, but it's not my bag -- but it's homemade or something). That said, CPC, clean up your act. Like seriously. The bathrooms are atrocious. Last time I checked, the rest stop on I-94 I went into this summer had less peeling paint and more bountiful toilet paper. This is not a Mc.Donalds. It's a proper place to get a meal. Shame on you. Oh, the antipasto station looks appetizing, but the offerings from it are bland -- it's a skip -- for the starters, do a bruschetta, the 7 veg salad, or a hearty soup -- perfect for fending off the 30F weather. For mains, I'd rec any of the fish options. A meal for four w/ apps, entrees, and dessert/coffee was around $200. Worth a special trip? No. But if you're in the area (on Michigan Ave/at Northwestern Memorial Hospital/staying in one of the hotels close by), it's a nice casual option -- we usually go at an AARP friendly time (both for me and for Grandma Pearl, duh) -- so at 6p it's dead, but 8p it's more popping. Not a scene. Just a meal.
(3)Angela G.
I love the cozy atmosphere here and they serve all day. In the summer, the patio is charming. The homemade pasta is always a good choice. Can get crowded, best to have a reservation.
(4)Martin D.
Great food and service.
(5)KC C.
Reconnected this week at Coco Pazzo Cafe, and again had an exquisite evening. Service was excellent, food variety(menu has been refreshed since our last visit) was interesting, tantalizing, and ambience environment was special enhanced by great weather and open doors. Enjoyed the fried smelt as an appetizer. Risotto special and antipasti was great as expected. Milanese pork was a little overdone and dry-do better next time! By the glass chianti was very nice. Thanks for a nice evening!
(4)Emily V.
The Rigatoni all Buttera was excellent! Melt in your mouth delicious. One of the better pasta dishes I've had. Our waiter was wonderful. He was from Mexico and we talked with him about where he was from and some of his favorite authentic places in the city. I can't find the name of the dessert I had on the online menu but it was very good. It was between a chocolate cake and a chocolate mousse with a raspberry sauce. The tiramisu that I tried was also wonderful. The only thing I tasted that I didn't love (shared 2 dishes with my mom) was the striped bass. I just don't think I'm a fan of striped bass, not necessarily that it was prepared poorly.
(4)Ali C.
Really outstanding italian food. Superb service. The sea bass was out of this world, as were the grilled vegetables, coffee and biscotti. Definitely will return.
(5)Jo H.
It's four o'clock on a gorgeous Saturday and if the bathroom is any indication, attention to detail not in residence. Dirty, no TP and trash pile. Should have headed to the head first. My caesar salad uninspiring. Thank goodness I asked for the glob of dressing? on the side. Service? Eh.
(2)Christine S.
Very good spicy spaghetti dish but the service was slow, especially for the lunch hour, and the salad, with julienned radishes, tomatoes, was all right, except for the wilted greens. Still, for that spaghetti, I will return (and I've been to this cafe 3 or 4 times before now too.)
(3)Scott C.
Someone told me the competition of restaurants in the Magnificent Mile is so fierce, that if you aren't selling something spectacular, you won't be around long. Coco Pazzo was a last minute choice, but a totally delicious one. Don't let the decor fool you. This is incredibly fresh and delicious Italian food. Homemade pasta is just the beginning....the sauces, service and simple menu made this a meal to remember. Highly recommend.
(5)Scott O.
Your Review: A wonderful place for a Saturday lunch. Delicious salad, great gnocchi, excellent wine. Cannot recommend highly enough.
(4)Andres W.
Who charges for soda refill nowadays??? If the owner if this restaurant is trying to make money,it shouldnt do thru soda refills,should be thru their food,which is not bad,but it kills the entire experience by charging for soda refills,specially becuase: * they dont have coke,only pepsi * they serve the soda in little glasses. Not coming back here.ever
(3)Roy H.
Good restaurant. Slow service. Inattentive waitstaff, although water was constantly refilled. Cramped seating - was constantly bumped by waiters and diners. The Aperativo with meat was a puny portion, however the pork entree I got was literally one of the best things I've eaten in my life. That says a lot.
(3)Thiago B.
Small dishes, but all delicious ...
(4)Christina M.
Coco Pazzo Café was accommodating to my diet, which was very nice. They made the Spaghetti 'AOP' vegan for me - I believe there's butter in the tomatoes - and overall I found it pretty average. The dish was supposed to be spicy, but I didn't really taste the spice. Plus, the dish was rather flavorless too. My dining partner ordered a meat dish and thought his food was pretty bland too. For the amount of money they charge, I'd rather go elsewhere so I'll likely not return.
(3)Jeremy N.
Came here for a business meeting recently because the owners of my company love this place and it is right around the corner from my office - also, it's one of only a few nicer places within a few blocks around the area. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect but I was very pleased when we walked in - the place is quiet and it is a GREAT place for a business meeting. The service was top notch, everything was very relaxed but as soon as you wanted them at the table they were there. I was really happy with the portion sizes - it was enough food that I felt satisfied but not stuffed. I had the grilled chicken with spinach, grapes and goat cheese. The seasoning on the chicken was just right - enough to really give it a little extra flavor, but not so much that I felt like I was chewing on grilled oregano with a dash of chicken. I was trying to eat the healthiest thing on the menu and I was really pleased to be able to have something I enjoyed which didn't make me feel guilty at all. The other options on the menu look fantastic and one of these days when I'm a little less concerned with making a healthy choice I'll be excited to head back and try some of their other dishes.
(4)Bernard M.
Excellent grilled pike!
(5)Colin E.
Casual but elegant and intimate decor. Homemade, fresh pasta. Consistently outstanding year after year. Great service, good wine list. One of the best places to take an out-of-town visitor for a wonderful meal that isn't very expensive Have always enjoyed the Sette Vegetali salad and the Linguine Vongole. Have tried many of the Burschetta--all of them excellent. Can't go wrong. I really always leave with a smile on my face
(5)Jack P.
Well, now. Isn't this just a charming little place? Actually, I was pleasantly surprised to see it located in the same space as an equally charming French cafe which may have closed in the 90's? Anyway, a friend had recommended it, and I met a friend I hadn't seen in many years for a mid-week lunch. While we did make a reservation we would not have needed one. It was fairly quiet. I am guessing that is more the exception than the rule in this busy location. But the most impressive thing was the setting, the decor, the wood, the lighting, the artwork, all giving the place an elegant yet rustic feel. We ordered antipasti from the big table in the middle, a wonderful assortment of bean salads, grilled veggies, and olives. For entrees, we ordered pastas: one ribbon pasta with bolognese sauce, and one penne with a sausage and vegetable sauce. And just the half-orders worked fine for sharing. These pastas dishes were perfect. The pasta was al dente, the flavors exciting and pleasing, and the sauce to pasta ratio exact. Ingredients were cut perfectly for an overall great tongue shui. I would highly recommend Coco Pazzo for anyone who wants a nice classy and intimate yet casual Italian dining experience. Probably would make a good "date" place, if you're into that sort of thing,
(4)Cathy O.
I can't believe all the great comments here. This was the worst Italian Food I have ever had. I ordered the Lasagna. It was as if I was eating Chef Boy R d out of the can, although I have never had that, but can only imagine. The bread basket was nothing to speak of, bread from a bag no doubt. I also ordered a side green salad, nothing special here either, but it was the best thing I ate. I was alone, while on business. I sat on the patio because the weather was perfect, the service was lousy. My entire meal came to $27 + $5 tip that was undeserved. Go to Osteria Via Stato, now they know Italian food!
(1)Jim B.
Consistently good food and nice service. The beet salad is awesome and the pasta is fresh.
(4)Mary J.
We had lunch here today. It was gorgeous outside, so we opted to enjoy the rays and get our daily dose of vitamin D while eating. There was some GREAT people watching! Our food was good, our service was not so good. We started with Carpaccio for an appetizer. I've never had shaved beef tenderloin, I'm used to a thicker piece, but this was good. I had a frittata and hubby had some risotto and both were yummy. Our server really didn't pay too much attention to us after our food was brought. There was no check-in to see how we were doing and it took him forever to come by and ask us about dessert. I actually wanted dessert, but he took so long, I had to give it up so we could move on. Waiting for our check was painful, not the way it should be after having some good food!
(3)Vince S.
We visited here in December (2012) from out of town for a Christmas time visit to Chicago. This restaurant was recommended to us and it delivered. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. My meal was one of the daily specials, and was fantastic. We were a party of four and made reservations for the evening dining time. The four of us had a great dining experience at this establishment and would return again.
(4)Jessica H.
Fit us in without a reservation. Service was good. The squid ink pasta was good but the shrimp on it were not. They were the tiny ones that are always overcooked and tough because of their size. For the price, I expected more better quality shrimp.
(4)Catherine A.
The dinner pasta special was homemade ribbon noodles with grilled asparagus and mushrooms, finished with shaved pecorino cheese. Simple, but delicious! Service was very friendly and I would highly recommend this restaurant. Not too big or too loud. Great for a romantic dinner or business dinner.
(4)Barbara B.
Very accommodating for a large group. The focaccia bread was delicious, especially dipped in their olive oil. I ate the celery root ravioli with mushrooms in a butter sauce. The ravioli was tasty but the sauce was not my favorite. The portion size was nice for lunch. I had a taste of my friend's gnocchi that I liked much better. Atmosphere was very nice, I recommend this place for an upscale lunch.
(3)Tracy N.
I had dinner here with some co-workers at the recommendation of our hotel. I'm really picky with my Italian food and this is definitely a go-again kind of place. The restaurant was clean, the service was knowledgeable, and the food was excellent, not to mention reasonably price and well portioned. We ordered the calamari and the octopus for appetizers, which were flavorful and everything you want from an Italian appetizer. We had a tasting frenzy with the plates, and they were all delicious. The gnocchi is fresh and creamy, although there was a lot of it - I have come to find that this is more of a dish related occurence rather than a restaurant, because who can eat that many potato-pasta balls. The tagliolini with shrimp and the pappardelle with rabbit were my favorite of the night. The shrimp was succulent and the lamb was tender. All of the sauces were delicious and served with the pasta type to bring out their flavors. In addition to the original menu, this place also had some daily specials. I tried the scallop specials and it was unbelievable. Overall this place really knows how to pair pastas and sauces and how to perfectly cook their seafood. Not to mention the dessert! The flourless chocolate cake and tiramisu are a big fast YES! My co-workers and I stayed in different hotels around the area and it was recommended by two of the hotels, so it's most likely that you can expect to see business groups out, which doesn't surprise me since they're very accommodating to large groups. There's a private room in the basement and a patio. We went on a Wednesday and it wasn't busy at all, you can probably expect to be seated immediately on the weekdays. Every course was delicious and I can't wait to go back and have Luigi as my server again.
(4)Joyce H.
I came here with family and a family friend on a warm Chicago afternoon. We sat inside, but close enough to the outside patio to feel like we were outdoors. My brother frequents Coco Pazzo as a go-to place. I enjoyed myself, liked the food and I agree that it's more of a go-to place. I had the risotto of the day -- leeks, green peas and cheese. It was okay -- I would have preferred to have ordered one of the pastas instead. My dad ordered a penne with tuna and a spicy tomato sauce. It was pretty tasty. Brother ordered the trout and he finished it quickly! The trout was very fresh. We also ordered an appetizer which were freshly grilled veggies, some special meats, cheeses and olives. They were displayed in the center of the restaurant and the waitstaff would basically make up a plate themselves for the party. I think that was one of my favorite parts. Nice place and location for Streeterville too!
(3)Rachel S.
If white people like being the only white person in an ethnic restaurant, it follows that american people like being the only american in an italian restaurant. That being extrapolated, Italians love Coco Pazzo Cafe. The food is fresh, delicious, a little decadent, but the atmosphere is casual and chic. I will definitely be coming here a again!
(4)Ashley B.
I went here with my family, boyfriend, and sisters friend the other day just to hang out and my mom recommended this spot since she's been here before and loved it. We had reservations but still had to wait a little bit, it was totally packed, but I didn't mind. My boyfriend went to the other one accidentally so it gave us time to wait for him. We sat down and had a few drinks and salads. Mine was comprised of veggies entirely, it was awesome, and the serving was ginormous. I could probably eat that salad everyday, especially because I'm a huge raw veggie fan. Next up came our entrees. I got the homemate tagliatelle with rabbit. It was awesome. The noodles were on point, and paper thin. The rabbit (which I had never tried before) was also very tender, and not too gamey or greasy. The portion was huge and I ended up taking half of it home. Lastly... dessert. My boyfriend and I split the house made custard and it was amazing. Much like a creme brulee but more gelatinous and without the crunchy sugar topping. Very good. Everyone else also really liked the gelato. Overall, I think this place was definitely good. Mind-blowing? Not quite, but I'd come back for sure.
(4)Alex S.
Prompt and efficient service. I had no app, my main was a special, a shrimp and mushroom risotto. Pretty good although a tad crunchy. Tiramisu was nice. A solid performance, I was satisfied even if I wasn't blown away.
(3)Dan K.
Be careful with your salad, mine came with an insect... The manager outrageously blamed that i was sitting outside...
(1)Linda H.
Not the greatest service. Good solid Italian. Excellent red sauce. Did not care for the Tiramisu. Very sugary with no coffee flavor whatsoever.
(3)Jamie B.
We came here on a Friday night around 8:30 and sat on the patio. The octopus appetizer was great, the salads were really good, and the entrees were just OK. I opted for the gnocchi and this was a bad choice. The sauce was described as a tomato sauce with ricotta, had a dollop of ricotta over the top, while the sauce tasted "off". After my second bite it dawned on me: I was eating the sauce that's on Chef Boyardee canned ravioli. This was disappointing. For dessert we had panna cotta, and that was a winner. I am sure you will have a great experience here, I would just recommend staying away from the gnocchi.
(3)Law K.
14 of us had a really good time and the service was great! The food however was below average at best. The highlight was the calamari and it went down hill from there.
(1)Pat H.
Went here this past weekend when my family was in town and had an excellent experience. The service was very good - the staff was very friendly, timely & knowledgeable. The food here is excellent - all their pasta is home made. If you're a fan of Italian you wont be disappointed. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced. I got lamb which i would recommend to anyone it was that good. Two people at my table got pasta dishes which were excellent & the veal chops were also very good. There wasn't one thing that I didn't like. If you're up in the air because of the million other restaurants in the city...give this place a shot its worth it.
(4)Jeremy L.
Solid Italian option in the Streeterville neighborhood. Kicked off dinner with the calamari: pretty good and a decent serving size. Entrees: Linguine Vongole: Basically a clam linguine in a white wine and garlic sauce. Tasty and light with plenty of small clams, but the noodles were just meh. Pappardelle: The "housemade" wide noodles were really good, great texture and well cooked. The rabbit ragu was a little salty but delicious. Anatra: The duck was solid with the marsala sauce, but nothing really stood out about the dish. Service was great; lots of tables and staff so we got situated pretty quickly. Water glasses were kept full and orders taken/filled quick enough. 3 stars. Nothing really stood out about the place and being in Streeterville, it's expensive for what you get. But certainly a restaurant I would consider going to again.
(3)Patrick D.
I actually felt that this was a local Chicagoland version of an Olive Garden. The service seemed reminiscent of an all inclusive resort in Mexico where the primary goal was to provide a facade of luxury service while turning over a table as quickly as possible. The more I say the name, the more that correlation makes sense. Our three course meal including bottle of wine took less than 50 minutes. This included ordering in courses. The bruschetta seemed to be extremely previously toasted bread that was awaiting the arrival of topping for hours. Bruschetta arrived less than three minutes after placing the order. Table next to us received carpaccio in less than 90 seconds. Our dinner seating seemed much more reminiscent of a workday lunch rush as oppose to a Saturday night at 8pm. B
(2)David H.
I had the aratra, which is duck with lentils. The duck was distinctly flavorful, tender, and definitely some of the better duck I have ever had in my entire life. And they gave me a healthy portion. The lentils, on the other hand, were lentils. I'm not sure why I expected more from lentils. Still, my impression was that I was a lot happier with my order than others were with theirs. However, the place itself was relatively small given how many people were there. I'm not sure I could've gotten up after I sat down without great difficulty, so close I was to the table behind me. Packed in like sardines Meal was a little pricey Duck made it worthwhile
(3)Trixy D.
EXCELLENT Italian food, soup, great veg salad, fantastic lasagna for Husband and unbelievable homemade pasta w/ butternut squash...tasted like dessert! Shared an amazing mousse, gelato dipped in chocolate for dessert. OMG will be back. $71.27 for two for dinner before tip.
(4)Andrea R.
If you're looking for reasonably priced Italian food check out Coco Pazzo Café. During my most recent visit there my friend mentioned that you could get half orders of their pasta dishes. This isn't on the menu, but she had seen it on their website. Being a carbaholic I could probably finish off a regular order of pasta, but my half order of Tagliolini Neri was just perfect. And tasty too! I even had room for some dessert and decided on their berries topped with custard. The custard itself was just OK so next time I'd probably go for something else. Their low-key yet quaint atmosphere is lovely. And if you're looking for something more upscale Coco Pazzo is quite good too. See review here: yelp.com/biz/coco-pazzo-…
(4)Anna P.
I really wanted to love this place, but it just didn't meet my expectations. First of all, this place was PACKED to the gills. And when I say "to the gills", I mean so close that when one of my tablemates spilled his glass of water, it got all over the people at the next table. I don't know how the waiters could even squeeze around the tables most of the time. I could've dealt with the space issue if it was quieter, but it was so loud I had to shout at the person sitting next to me to be heard. Not the best environment for a leisurely, nice meal. The menu, wine and beer lists are fine and pretty typical for an Italian place in Chicago. The bread was wonderful and seemingly endless, and I absolutely LOVED my beet salad. After that, the meal went somewhat downhill...I ordered the seafood stew, which I expected to be really nice but all of the seafood was pretty rubbery and there wasn't enough sauce. I got a selection of sorbets for dessert and they were pretty tasty, but again nothing remarkable. The prices are what you'd expect near the Mag Mile and with the name Coco Pazzo, although they are cheaper than the original on Hubbard. I have no problem paying high prices for high quality, but this just wasn't it.
(3)Nelson M.
Restaurant Review Tucked away on a side street along the Mag Mile is this quaint restaurant that carries a wide spread of Tuscan cuisine with a extensive wine list to pair with your meal. The portion sizes are average, but you cannot deny the robust flavors. I would highly recommend the rigattoni. Not too heavy and perfectly balanced dish of meat and pasta leaving you wanting more. This is a attractive dining option for a romantic date or larger group. Pros- quaint atmosphere, good service, relaxed atmosphere compared to the larger sister restaurant, extensive wine list Cons- portion are average size Hidden deals- Unfortunately none...
(3)Miriam G.
Okay food & service. I sat at the bar (which was really really uncomfortable to eat). Slow service, even though there were only a few people at the bar. Wine by the glass selection was limited and not great (I tried a few). Their tomato sauce pasta was OK at best. I make better at home. Overall verdict... I had better Italian food.
(3)John M.
The night was definitely hit and miss. Calamari is usually a staple at a good Italian restaurant, but theirs was just not crispy enough. To make me more suspicious it showed up about 2 minutes after we ordered it, which makes me wonder if it was originally for someone else. I always love fresh pasta and for me that's the draw for Italian food. We had the Rigatoni, which they consider to be the specialty and it was forgettable. We also had the Linguine Vongole, which was bland and not as good as what I have made at home or had at Bice. There was a highlight though, it was the special fish pasta of the day. The noodles were homemade, paper thin and took on the flavor of the sauce in a wonderful way. Had they served us three entrees of the same quality instead of the two inferior ones the review would be an easy 4. Last point, I will make is on the service. They did a great job keeping the water filled, but missed on the easy items. When ordering a Caesar salad cracked pepper should always be offerred right away. In order to get the pepper for the salad I had to flag down a waiter, which was a first in an Italian restaurant.
(2)Irene G.
I've dined here quite often now with co-workers since it's close to my work. The service is good, but I can't say I love the food. I usually order some kind of pasta dish since it IS an italian restaurant. I leave feeling satisfied, but not wanting to come back anytime soon. The place tends to get crowded since it's within a block from the Mag Mile so I suggest making a reservation. Overall, I'd say Coco Pazzo Cafe is one of the better dining options in the area.
(3)kg a.
We arrived in jeans and sweatshirts, wanting something delicious. I worried when we were offered a table with the caveat that we be finished in an hour to make room for a reservation. I hate that. It seems so rude. However--Waitstaff was very nice, and didn't rush us. Food was delicious. Among us we had panzanelle, pappardelle with rabbit ragu, linguine vongole, rapini (delicious), trout with the pesto green beans and potatoes (repeatedly talked about deliciousness the rest of the evening). Not too loud, quality service, not outrageous prices or portions, overall pleasant dinner. I would definitely return.
(4)Cecilia T.
3.5 stars to 4 stars Finally got to try this restaurant after passing by it on my way home so many times! My husband and I sat in their outdoor seating which is so pleasant! We first ordered their Beet salad which is pretty yummy and flavorful and a good portion to share between 2 people. My husband ordered the Rigatoni Butera which was yummy and filling for him. I had ordered one of the Specials of the Day which was a Mushroom Bowtie pasta. - that was ok, kind of ordinary. Lasty, wine selection pretty good. Definitely this is a place to go for a quaint and relaxing atmosphere, but food is just ok.
(3)Glen W.
A bit noisy, but quite nice Italian. Rigatoni alla Buttera is the best dish. Avoid the fried appetizers.
(4)Shradha A.
Time to reiterate my review from a while ago - went here after some time on Friday night and think it's still really good, but just not amazing! Didn't really like the bruschetta much, because of soy sauce/vinegar- like thing they added to it, but enjoyed the home made pasta in the spicy marinara sauce! Cute place, a little tight on space, but enjoyable overall.
(4)Jennifer W.
My family and I went to Coco Pazzo for my mother's birthday dinner and it was great! We had an earlier reservation and were seated right away. The staff was still sort of getting ready for the later rush, but it wasn't obtrusive or anything. I had the GREAT spicy spaghetti and my mom and sister were impressed with their salmon as well. The Diet Coke was a bit flat, but my dad really liked the wine he ordered. We split the tartufo which was excellent and the blood orange sorbet was tasty as well. I'd definitely recommend it either for a family dinner or a date night.
(4)Curt L.
So fortunate to get a last minute reservation here for New Year's Eve. Walked in that afternoon and secured a 9:30pm for seven people. Miguel our waiter was courteous, efficient and very knowledgeable. We shared 2 apps: Polpo: Braised octopus w/potato & olives & tomato. Simple recipe that allows the subtle chewy texture come thru. Funghi Arrosta: Wood grilled oyster mushrooms with diced pancetta and radicchio. For dinner I enjoyed the special of the evening Torteloni di Vitello ai Tartufo. Handmade torteloni stuffed with veal with black truffle. Beautiful tasty little packages. Tender and delicate as they politely sat in their "broda" only to later dance joyously in my mouth. Very nice entree special. The rest of the family enjoyed various pastas and meats. Granddaughter (a professed "pasta-tarian) had the Pappardelle-house made wide noodles with a wild boar ragout. Veal Scallopine was on the table as was the Caciucco-a spicy Tuscan seafood stew. Definitely enjoyed. We shared a bottle of red..........as suggested by Miguel. Fairly priced and fairly tasty. As I have a sweet tooth I ordered the Tartufo. Think of an ice cream truffle. Wonderfully decadent. A quaint little place one block of the Miracle Mile. Stop in for a good value dinner.......you will be glad that you did.
(4)Tim B.
Our family of four ate here while vacationing in Chicago. We were staying at the Embassy Suites, Lakeview, and wanted to walk the magnificent mile after dinner, so this was right on the way. The atmosphere was comfortable and pleasant and the server was friendly. The food was good-to-great depending on the dish. We got the octopus appetizer which was very good. For dinner, my wife ordered a seafood pasta dish and my older son ordered the duck, which were both fine, but not amazing. My younger son and I both ordered the sea bass special and were very impressed. I was disappointed at first because I didn't book reservations in time to go where I had really wanted to that evening, but by the end of the meal here, we were happy and satisfied.
(4)S L.
Gah! Get over yourself! The food is great, but very limited. Actually, I can only order about one thing for lunch which is the amazing vegetali appetizer salad. It's incredible and very decently priced considering the fresh veggie ingredients. But, the snobbery is palpable. I am not at a business lunch. I am a simple girl who wants to eat lunch and read a book and doesn't mind paying more if the food is good. So, what's the problem? I'm not wearing a suit? My job doesn't require me to wear a suit. I'm super low maintenance and I don't even eat your bread (which smells delicious). Judging me before I sit down is not going to help either of us. I tip better than most, even though you're borderline rude to me. That said, the food could be a little friendlier to the dietarily restricted. Gluten free pasta is not hard to obtain. Also, you're next to the Red Roof Inn for heaven sake! How snobby can you allow yourself to be before you just look silly.
(3)Elaine M.
Went here last night for a friend's birthday and it was completely average. While the menu was inspired the execution was lacking. We were excited to try some of the different bruschettas that they offered. We tried three: mushroom and arugula, fava and ricotta, & goat cheese and sweet peppers. The fava and ricotta was bitter and the other two were okay but nothing to get really excited about. Also for appetizers we had the calamari and the the barbabietole (a beet salad). The calamari was fine but again just average. The barbabietole was the winner of the appetizers but I do love beets. For our entrees we had the Gnocchi verde, linguine vongole, vitello and a special for the evening of fettuccine with shrimp and mushrooms. The loser for the night was the special, which had no flavor what so ever and the shrimp were way overcooked. The winner was the gnocchi. If had to go back I would definitely go with the gnocchi. But I probably wouldn't go back. The service was strange. The waiter's personality was friendly and he had a great Italian accent. But after pouring our first round of prosecco, he never came back. We had to pour for ourselves. Also, we ordered our appetizers first and they came at a good pace but when we were finally able to order the entree I think they came out in about two minutes. Talk about feeling rushed!
(2)Aaron P.
Go for lunch, but choose Volare down the street for dinner. The outdoor seating is one of the best spots in the area (on a side-street that isn't too busy, offers a huge awning to relax under during the high-noon sun). I love going for a break during lunch, as the service is attentive (but borderline annoying with the water fill-ups). The gnocchi is superb, as is the rigatoni. The lasagna, however, is a real disappointment. I'm Arabic and can cook up a better lasagna than that. (A friend described it as "Chef Boyardee") I hadn't ventured outside of the gnocchi or rigatoni until I tried the place for dinner. Dinner service is awful. The wait staff was discombobulated, as two different servers attempted to work our table, both trying to take orders and whatnot. While my water glass was refilled every time I took a sip, I had to practically beg for more bread. By the time it came, we had to flag someone down for olive oil. Ugh. The menu is priced quite well for the area, but it's still a lot for what you get. For $26, the salmon itself was good but was only accompanied by crappy grilled veggies, which included some poorly prepared artichokes. A fellow diner ordered a side of pasta with butter and garlic and was charged $16. When we questioned if it was a mistake or not to waiter #1, waiter #2 came to the table and ripped us a new one and stormed off. When waiter #1 returned, I told him about the response we just got and he said "sorry, she's new - next time you're here, I'll take good care of you." While I think it's a great lunchtime option for a quick plate of pasta and/or a salad, the dinnertime service and the entree menu selection will not warrant a return visit from me.
(2)Jeff F.
Tried Coco Pazzo while I was in Chicago on Friday night and have to say the experience was average. Coco Pazzo does have the advantage of outdoor seating along with indoor seating that was open to the street since the doors/windows were pulled open. Upon arrival, I was impressed with the atmosphere. The service varied from crappy to average while the food ranged from piss poor to good/very good. Here's the rundown: -started with the tomato and basil bruschetta (good) and the sun dried tomato & olive bruschetta (crap) -Got the Vitello as an entree and thought the veal was pretty good, but the accompaniments were disgusting - the mashed potatoes seemed like they were out of box and whatever steamed greens were there were poor -Also got to try the Gnocchi which I thought was very good (but no one agreed so I'm not sure if my palette was starving for something good and imagining things or if the Gnocchi is actually worth trying). Would not recommend.
(3)Sam M.
Always tough to judge Italian places in Chicago, but Coco Pazzo Cafe was very nice. Service was good and prompt. Would love to check out the outdoor seating when the weather is warmer.
(4)cherie t.
Excellent!!! Good service, great food !!! Would go back again!!! Wonderful!!!
(4)Boon K.
When I worked at NMH, this place was our "let's treat ourselves to a nice lunch today". You can never go wrong with their daily rissoto, pasta, and calamari. What I usually like is you can always get a half order of the pasta and it is just perfect for lunch or a light dinner. The sandwiches are ok but I'm not that crazy about them.
(3)Emily W.
Italian food at it's finest! They make all their food fresh every day. The staff is incredible. If you ever get an opportunity to eat here then jump on it.
(5)Dan L.
The food was outstanding. The service was great too. The ambiance was candle lit dim, romantic, intimate, and warm. We're coming back!!
(4)Kimberly Q.
Had dinner here last night @ the recommendation of a very cool barman at C-View. The sidewalk seating was nice, but everything else was average, unfortunately. The cesar salad, while tasty, had too much dressing and was limp. The pasta special entailed overcooked fettuccine and overcooked shrimp (rubbery, big no-no!). The service was pleasant but slow. Very unextraordinary overall. Will not be back, when there are so many gems here in Chitown.
(3)Hyung S.
Just a simple Italian restaurant where everything is done just right.
(5)Dawn D.
Cute, quaint but lacking in the menu department. Went for a lunch meeting and ordered Calamari for an app, the salmon with cous cous--which I sprinked with red pepper flakes for the main dish. Food was delish.
(3)J W.
Love it. Two friends and I went for the 1st time last Saturday. We sat outside for lunch. Appetizers were great - we ordered 3 to share and pasta was good. Our waiter was very nice and recommended a good bottle of wine (and among the cheapest)!
(5)M S.
One of my favorite restaurants in the Streeterville area. It can be a bit pricey if you get appetizers and drinks, but the quality of the food is impeccable. They may have the best pasta dishes (for a price) in the area. For those on a budget (or diet), they also serve half-plates of entrees. The starter bread is also quite nice. Desserts probably are a miss (I've had a few, they are pretty generic).
(5)bhavna p.
this place is amazing! the vegetable appetizer plate, fresh breads with olive oil, vinegar, parmesan cheese (yum yum), the spaghetti with spicy marinara sauce with onions...so good!! I love it love it love it! the service is pretty good as well. go if you are in town! make reservations in advance, they book up fairly quick.
(5)Geoff M.
On a warm summer evening you can't go wrong here - sitting outdoors on the patio or inside with the giant windows pulled up - it's a great way to end the day. On a rainy day, the food is equally as delicious. it's tough to choose what to eat, and the food is fairly priced. I had the garganelle with prosciutto and peas the other day and I am still dreaming about it. Even better, it only set me back $13.50!
(4)Kelli M.
Atmosphere is pretty good, the outdoor seating ni the summer is great. Food is decent, I'd recommend the veal.
(3)Nicola C.
I love this place, it is the smaller more quaint version of Coco Pazzo and they don't have quite as much on their menu. It is still awesome though, and is great to sit outside of in the summer. Definitely go there if you are out on Michigan Avenue shopping.
(4)Cristin M.
Cute little place, and if you go in the spring/summer/early fall you can dine outside. The first time I dined here, I had the chicken paillard. I'm not a huge fan of the chicken, but it was decent. They serve it with a nice side of greens with grapes and gorgonzola. I finished my meal with a beautiful panna cotta that was the high point of the meal. Today, I decided to try something new and went with the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms in a porcini/butter/garlic "broth". The pasta was wonderfully cooked, but as far as I could tell, the only mushrooms that I saw in my bowl were button mushrooms. The sauce was very light, but could have used a little more garlic or a few more fresh herbs. All in all, it was good, but could have used a little bit of a kick to make my tastebuds say "wow!". The portions are a good size, not too much, not too little. I definitely did not leave hungry. Good service too.
(3)Julia B.
Fairly small place, yet it is comfortable and cute. If it's nice then sit outside on their beautiful patio. The food was pretty good-I had a dish that had pasta with chicken and a spicey sauce which was pretty good. The portions are normal and the prices aren't too bad. It's not the best Italian I have had but it is decent.
(3)Kristin R.
Coco Pazzo Cafe is a nice, quaint, and cheap alternative to its sister restaurant, Coco Pazzo. Strangely, I ended up going to both of these restaurants for back to back dinners and there is very little difference. Coco Pazzo Cafe had many of the same dishes as the other restaurant, but is just a tad less fancy. No white linen table clothes, but rather it is quite a small space. This makes it feel very homey and intimate. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and they were pretty good. I feel like they tasted a bit bland, and it is probably not a dish I would order again, but it was good enough for me to finish my entire plate! There is not a huge selection here, similar to the other, but there are a few vegetarian options, as well as steak, poultry and fish. There is no special bread man at the Cafe that comes around and places just one piece of bread on your plate. Instead you get a basket of a variety of breads and some superb olive oil to dip it in; loved the focaccia. Our service was fast and friendly, and the bathrooms were quite nice. Very clean, always a plus.
(4)Tanya S.
My friends and I had dinner here on a Friday evening, and we were very happy with everything we ordered. The server's wine recommendation was spot on. I really enjoyed the bruschetta--I sampled mushroom and arugula, as well as goat cheese and sweet pepper. And I highly recommend the pappardelle with wild boar ragu. I could totally smell the freshness of the pasta off my plate, and the whole dish was just very well made. I took off one star because one of the busboys was annoyingly overzealous in refilling our water glasses, notwithstanding our assurances that we didn't need more. He even accidentally hit my hand at one point without any apology. Otherwise, it's a super cute and charming spot for quiet and pleasant dinner. I can't wait to visit during patio season!
(4)Brian P.
i went for a saturday brunch, and the weather was fair--open doors and whatnot. Antipasto vegetables were a nice touch, however, i felt each item wasn't prepared with the same level of quality--some items felt underdressed, others undercooked (if blanched ex. asparagus). The penne with tuna is an absolute gut-bomb: heavy stuff, and probably just only decent. I probably could have made it. Some of the paninis and such were quite nice. We asked about cheese on a particular dish, as one of our guests was allergic--and it arrived with a ton of cheese on it. I suppose there was a miscommunication of epic failure, but the waiter was kind enough to help us out and trade it in. Reasonable price? check. reasonable value? not so much--quality lags because of what must be the second string cooks in training for the big leagues.
(3)Peter J.
Always a good choice. Great food and service.
(4)Joshua C.
Pretty affordable, good service, and a decent interior, but nothing to write home about.
(3)Jayce C.
Coco Pazzo is a Streeterville Godsend! I work as a stylist right around the corner and it is absolutely my favorite lunch spot. I constantly send my clients over for lunch or dinner and they are always elated when they thank me for the recommendation! My Streeterville clients often mention it is their go to for a delicious, consistent experience. With all that said, I'm glad I finally wrote this review to make it official.
(5)Corinna K.
Came here as part of a group event. We were seated at an area in the back that was on a raised landing of sorts which separated it somewhat from the other diners. Nice for small get-togethers. I was surprised that it wasn't as noisy as i would have expected. A bit on the crowded side with the tables close together. But i guess it compliments the cozy atmosphere. Service was very good. Attentive servers who were skilled and knew what they were doing. Food was very good. Salad was fresh and the salmon was cooked nicely though not the best that I've had. But my favorite of the day has to be the panna cotta dessert with the berries. That was so good that we actually asked the waiter if it was possible that we could get the recipe...of course that wasn't possible, but we had to try! the portions were perfect. If only that panna cotta could've been triple its size...=P Overall very enjoyable and highly recommend.
(4)Sonia P.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants. The food is great and the staff is friendly. I've never had a bad meal there. I like that they will split the dishes so they are easy to share and you can enjoy several courses. Some of my favorite dishes are the trout, the pappardelle con coniglio and the lasagna. The lasagna is made with beciamella instead of ricotta cheese which is the style in Nothern Italy and is the only way my Italian mamma makes hers. The sauce is not your typical meat sauce usually paired with lasagna but a tasty creamy tomato sauce. I'm usually too full for dessert but enjoy finishing off my meal with an espresso. I really don't think you can go wrong dining here.
(5)Url R.
A great spot for lunch or early dinner in summer. I recommend the lamb or veal chops. You can be packed in tightly.
(4)Jocelyn L.
"Love the spicy spaghetti and clam linguine...and super affordable!" Right by Draftfcb offices
(3)Joshua G.
Great service. Pasta served piping hot and the lunch portions are just right very attentive staff.
(5)Stephen R.
fresh good sized portion delicious pasta ( a little overcooked) ambiance, and atmosphere is good and cozy. Great food and good value. GO EAT MANGIA
(4)Venkatesh B.
So we frequented Coco Pazzo Cafe when my wife lived in Streeterville and since we were in town again we couldn't wait to go back. We were seated quickly and the staff were very pleasant. With that said, the drinks often were not filled very quickly, and the main entrees weren't very well made. The pasta was overcooked slightly but still tasty according my wife. It is important to note that in the past our food was off the charts so this could just be an off experience for the Pazzo. Based on this I would normally rank this visit a three star...but wait....they have the killer "comeback" dessert known as the Tartufo which totally is out of this world and bumps them to the fourth star. If we continue to have just average meals, we may eat elsewhere and just come here for the Tartufo.
(4)Rachel W.
I've eaten both lunch and dinner here; this is a good choice for both. It's a more casual choice that its sister restaurant on Hubbard. The foccacia bread is worth drooling over. I am salivating thinking about dipping it in that olive oil... oh wow. For lunch their paninis or small pasta plates are great. They even have a quatro formaggi panini(a four cheese grilled cheese with all the cheeses you could wish for). Clearly, I was in heaven. For dinner they make great fish or larger pasta entrees. I also took a client group here and they nicely put together a prix fixe for us.
(4)Jaime S.
The food was delicious(i got the italian version of a salad Nicoise entree), the service was IMPECCABLE, but....it smelled straight up FUNKY in this place today. Does it always smell like a whif of dog shit? No joke, I went to the bathroom and checked my shoes to see if I had stepped in something. After sitting for 20 mins, i got used to it, but still. No BUENO. Takes Reservations! Thank You!
(4)Laura K.
I had lunch here with my department last week. The food here is pretty good. I had the mushroom risotto with creamy cheese sauce; good, however I think I consumed my daily sodium intake in one meal. The portion size was very generous and I had to take half of the bowl to go. Basket of bread was fresh and olive oil for dipping added a nice touch. Dessert was my fav part - gelato! You can definitely taste that they make their gelati fresh. I had the cinnamon - OMG awesome! It tasted like the milk at the bottom of my cereal bowl after I've finished my Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The wall decor is pretty cool - it reminds me of Tuscany. The paintings provide a warm personality to the atmosphere.
(4)Sandra M.
I'd had a nice dinner at the "big" Coco Pazzo several years ago, so I was glad to find its little sister near my hotel on my latest trip to Chicago. Caesar Salad: the anchovies were lovely, but the salad had way too much thick, almost pasty dressing and was kind of limp. The accompanying parmesan fricco, described as a "crisp", was anything but. Salmon: Grilled, with artichoke bottoms, cherry tomatoes, and a few potatoes and some tasty olives on top. The fish was okay but overall the dish just didn't come together. So maybe I just ordered badly. Probably should have tried a pasta. Service was good, with a nice wine recommendation, but I wasn't so sure that the second glass of wine I ordered was the same kind as the first. Nice atmosphere; I just wish I'd had a better meal here.
(2)Andrew S.
Had lunch here recently. I ordered two specials and found them both to be tasty. I had the while bean soup which was flavorful and the perfect touch on a snowy day. I followed that with homemade spinach ravioli with red sauce, which was cooked well and well seasoned. The service was attentive and friendly. My only real complaint was the price for the quantity of food, which I found a bit high. Definitely would recommend this place for an upscale lunch downtown.
(4)Ryan B.
Stiff Glenlivet on the rocks and pasta in my belly puts me in a happy spot. This place was within walking distance to the hotel I was staying in and came highly recommended by the staff. Smaller place and I could see it getting busy and hard to get a seat. I nestled in at the bar and was able to catch up on a little news on the TV and listen into peoples conversations next to me. The bartender was extremely attentive and had a few great recommendations. I love places like this as they provided a much better experience than a chain as they have soul. Next time I am in Chicago for business Coco Pazzo Cafe you are on my list.
(4)Tim F.
Other reviews seemed hot / cold, and I wondered if part of this may have been due to different meals attended versus restaurant inconsistency. All I can say is, our experience here was amazing, and I'm rather picky about good Italian. We had: 1) Carpaccio appetizer 2) Cauliflower soup appetizer 3) Pork loin entree with rabe and mashed potato 4) Ravioli special of the day Everything was great. Will be back, and I hope the review doesn't change then.
(5)Nancy H.
It's the perfect scenario. You've got a show to catch in an hour and you're looking around for something (anything) to eat. Then you stumble upon this restaurant FULL of people on a WEDNESDAY. It's gotta mean something more than just location (I don't see that many people outside the Jimmy John's 1 block away!). 15 minutes later you're seated and tucked away in a nice little corner of the restaurant. The waiter has an authentic Italian accent (maybe?). We ask him his recommendations and then pass on all of them and pick what we think is unique. TAGLIATELLE AL CONIGLIO (homemade wide pasta with rabbit). This was the best pasta I have ever eaten in my entire life and it wasn't even one of the place's most popular dishes! Maybe it was the noodles (that they apparently make in the basement) or maybe it was the rabbit, but I was thinking about the pasta hours after eating it. TAGLIOLINI NERI (black pasta with seafood) also very good and with a very special taste (squid ink in the noodles) INTERESTING FACTS obtained from the waiter: They can make any pasta/entrée dish into an appetizer for you to try. Also, all the pasta is handmade EXCEPT for the spaghetti so make sure to pass on that one and definitely go for the RABBIT PASTA!
(5)Rose D.
Made a reservation for dinner here on our hotel's recommendation. Restaurant could not accommodate the time slot we wanted, so we accepted an earlier reservation. When we arrived at the restaurant, two people ahead of us - who did not have a reservation - refused a back corner table and asked for one by the window. They were graciously accommodated. The hostess then sat us at the table they rejected. When we asked to be seated by the window, she said there were too many requests and she could only offer us a table right by the entry door. The food and service were both good, but I could not help but notice that 2 prime window tables were still empty when we left. I was really disappointed by the shabby treatment
(2)D C.
Went here right at the end of the summer. Great experience with good food. I was a little nervous coming here when its fancier sister restaurant Cocco Pazo was just a few blocks away. I made the right choice. Everything was wonderful from the food to the service, they were on top of their game. Atmosphere: The atmosphere here was really nice. I came during lunch hour and there was a nice mix of business professionals and locals. Everyone seemed to be happily enjoying their meals and immersed in great conversation. I sat outside which was a nice experience. It seems like this is the better option, as inside seemed too stuffy and pretty loud. Service: The service here was really good. They came to check in during my meal and were there constantly to refill my drink and the breadbasket (more on that shortly!). Food: To start, they bring a bread basket of assorted items as well as olive oil to dip in. The focaccia bread was my favorite and was soooo with the nice olive oil. After filling up on a full basket I was ready for the next course lol! I ordered the Paillard Di Pollo which is chicken breast, spinach, goat cheese and grapes. The chicken was pounded thin and was grilled nicely. The accompaniments made it seem like a chicken salad! The portions here are very generous, especially considering it was lunch. Prices are very fair for what you get and for being in such a nice section of the city. I will return no doubt next time I make my way to Chicago.
(4)Brenda T.
My friend and I decided that we should book a restaurant for dinner Christmas Eve. We both thought Coco Pazzo would be great to try since we hadn't been there in awhile. We made a reservation via Open Table. When we arrived, the host fumbled around checking to see if we indeed had a reservation. We were seated at 6 PM. Our waiter came over to take a drink order. We asked if we could taste some white wine options because we were planning to order a bottle of wine for dinner. The 3 selections were very sweet, and we wanted a dry wine. Our waiter enlisted the assistance of the "expert". The "Wine Expert" came over to offer his advice, and we decided on a red wine instead of a white. A few minutes later he brought us a "glass" of the bottle we ordered. We said we ordered the bottle, and he said "Okay, I will take these glasses and pour them back , and get your bottle..." Pour the glasses back?! Our food came out. The salad was just okay. The lasagna was wonderful! Our lobster ravioli (the special for the evening) was ice cold. Our waiter never came back to check. We asked to see a manager. Our "Wine Expert" was in fact the manager. We professionally told him we were upset about the fact that he was pouring our glasses of wine back in the bottle behind the bar, and that our entree was cold. He defended his bar practices, and reluctantly took the pasta off the check. He also mentioned that the practice of pouring the wine back into the bottle was not unusual since he had worked for Coco Pazzo for 14 years. Appalling Service, and Bar practices. I have no words to describe this Christmas Eve Dinner.
(1)Robin Z.
This was my second visit, the BF's first, and it was the perfect antidote to an unseasonably cold and bitter Friday (snow in late April? Not cool Chicago). We had a late reservation and got there as most of the 7pm diners were winding down their entrees and desserts but it was pleasantly busy and almost festive. Our server was outstanding, really knew the menu inside and out. One of my favorite things about this place is the gorgeous rustic antipasto table in the center of the right-hand side dining room. Always with an enormous (5-ft high) bouquet of real greenery and flowers and many white platters of roasted vegetables, olives, etc. Our server made us a lovely plate of mixed vegetables, sliced meats and cheese with a simply-dressed arugula salad and it was the perfect starter. We ordered the wild boar pappardelle and the lasagna and both were excellent, especially the pappardelle. Our martinis were perfect, the server's wine recommendations were spot on, and they had my favorite dessert, tartufo, which seems so hard to come by these days. All in all a wonderful meal and the perfect ending to a long week of business travel. My only complaint - the ladies room is freezing!
(4)#NAME?
Came here for lunch on Sat. If you want a peaceful lunch/dinner and want to sit outside you might want to consider the location, you are next to the hospital, so ambulances do come by- FOOD: I really didn't want a panini from here, nor a pasta or steak for lunch so I settled on Bruschetta, I am glad I did-It was traditional so full of flavor, yet I had massive garlic breath the whole day from it- My husband ordered the fresh greens salad, which was so fresh and delicious and the minestrone soup, I'll take his word on the soup- I would come here again for the bruschetta- Service was a tad slow, I mean we were one of maybe 6 tables in the place-Maybe it's b/c we were there before the Sat. lunch rush-
(4)Silvia J.
I decided to try the cafe as opposed to the restaurant as part of my tour of the Most Authentic Italian restaurants as voted by the Italian government. Mainly because of financial reasons ;D The pasta was "perfetto"! You know what they say about sensory memory?? Well, the first bite took me back to Italy sitting in an alfresco ristorante in Trastevere neighborhood of Rome eating al dente homeade pasta. Not only was the pasta at Coco Pazzo cafe cooked exactly the way I had it in Italy, I could tell their ingredients in their semifreddo was FRESH (like in Italy - ALL ingredients are fresh from the farmers market to the plate). I will venture to say that so far Coco Pazzo cafe is about as close to the Italian eating experience I had without actually being in Italy. My only quip is the service was not very fast...by American standards. Compared to Italian standards...well Coco Pazzo Cafe maybe slightly faster LOL! And I prefer my white wine (this time Soave) to have been served colder than it was. Hence the 4, but I definately plan to go back to Coco Pazzo Cafe!
(4)Pamela C.
Great lunch spot. The Quatro Formaggi sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I've had in a while. Fresh mozzarella, brie, fontina, and goat cheese.....nom. Que rico! Next time I'll have to send that evil bread basket back so I can savor every carb-filled bite. I came here after work the other night craving the sandwich alas, the sandwiches are not available after lunch hour. I tried the Gnocchi instead. Meh, not bad. One of those rare dishes that tasted better when reheated the next day. My dad was hooked on the spaghetti with spicy red chili and asked to return here the next time he is in town. A yummy crowd pleaser, better suited for lunch than dinner.
(4)Tasha A.
I'd agree with Andrea R, if you're looking for reasonably priced Italian food, Coco Pazzo is a good spot to check out. I went for simple bruschetta & minestrone soup; wasn't looking for a heavy lunch that day. The chef's daily selection bruschetta wasn't bad - and hello?! You cannot mess up minestrone! I thought the prices were pretty good for the other options on their lunch menu as well. When I'm in Chicago, I'll be sure to check it out again.
(3)Caroline A.
Not a fan of this place. We had lunch here the other day and we were disappointed. The restaurant was not busy at all, and we sat on the outdoor patio. First of all, it took the server way too long to take our order. We must have sat for about 10 minutes because he came to our table. He was very polite when he did take our order, and I made sure to note that we were on a time crunch. He said, "we'll do our best." Dude... there was nobody in the restaurant!! Our food took 25 minutes to come out. BF had the chicken panini and I had the mushroom. It doesn't take that long to make a panini... So we basically threw our sandwiches down our throats and waited for the check. Our server was MIA. So we asked another server for our check, and she took forever. In our time crunch, I suggested to BF that he just go in and pay... while we were waiting inside five minutes, she comes out with 4 other checks in her hands... completely disregarding the fact that we told her 10 minutes ago that we were in a time crunch and had to catch a flight. Horrendous! Food was ok. Spices in my portabello panini were a bit off... too much tomato. Fries were cold when they came out. We will not be returning to this restaurant. I hate bad service.
(2)JT G.
My wife, son and I recently had dinner here and it was a nice "casual" dining establishment. The outdoor seating was nice, and the staff super friendly and attentive. My wife is in a wheelchair and they were extra attentive to make something work for us. The food was much more authentic Italian than most Italian restaurants I've been to recently when their "American style" dishes. Which was most refreshing. The amount of pasta you get with the pasta dishes is substantial and their fish was a generous portion as well. Their wine list was large, however one item of note the majority of wine was not available by the glass. Over all an excellent intimate eating establishment with nice atmosphere and A+++ staff.
(4)Marie B.
Dined here for lunch with a dear friend who is a bit of a "foodie". We were both impressed. I had a pannini, which was quite good and I adored the homemade potato chips. My friend said his meal was good as well. We also had a yummy bottle of wine...the name escapes me, but... Oh, the service? Was very attentive...without being overly so. Overall, a nice experience.
(3)Tara M.
Given its close proximity to my place, I've been to Coco Pazzo Cafe for dinner many a time. I've always enjoyed myself and the atmosphere, but it wasn't until this past Thursday evening when I truly realized what a cute little place it is. Sitting outside around 9pm, a friend and I enjoyed a few glasses of wine, a basket of bread and...a few more glasses of wine. Our server, whose name I never caught, was friendly, attentive and generally pleasant. When it came time to order our last round, I asked if the restaurant was closed (it seemed as though everyone was starting to clean up). He indicated that they were, in fact, closed, but that he would be there for a while so we were welcome to have another round. Not like we needed one, but we took him up on his offer and paid the bill so he could at least cash out. Looking from the outside in, Coco Pazzo is cute, quaint and romantic. The meals I've had have always been solid and the service attentive but not overly so. The crowd was a mix of tourists young and old, and locals like myself with friends or even sitting solo on the patio. Everyone seemed to be very relaxed and content. This may just be my new spot for quiet nights of overindulgence.
(4)Mark S.
What a treat...sat outside in beautiful weather as the sun set...had the gnocchi with friends...it was perfectly done and the red wine suggestion complemented it nicely. Great view and a great experience.
(4)Juliet G.
I visited with a group of 10 for dinner. Just too noisy for my liking. I also did not like that they would not give us separate checks. One nice thing is that you can order half portions of meals to cut down on the cost and pasta that may be too much after you eat other items which is nice. I ordered linguini with clam sauce that was very good. Just an okay experience.
(3)Priya S.
Good place to enjoy a casual , but intimate Italian food experience. The weather was beautiful and they had outdoor seating which is a plus. We enjoyed the appetizers- funghi (mushrooms) and beet salad. The entrees we ordered were fine-they were specials for the night- a sea bass and pasta dish- we didn't get blown away with them. The dessert was awesome- we ordered tartufo- which I would recommend. The service was great. Overall good experience
(4)Tanya Z.
Pretty busy here, make sure u reserve yourself a table before deciding to go. The food is great and the wine was decent also.
(4)Bradley S.
Mom, Partner and I dined here Friday. I met them after work so it was an early dinner. We opted for sidewalk seating as the weather had moderated, and, well, al fresco dining in Chicago is on the wane for the year. This may not be the right choice for all given the proximity to Northwestern Hospital and their ambulance traffic. That said, the tables weren't too crowded and were nicely dressed. Our waiter, Theo, was professional, efficient and accommodating. Mom ordered and thoroughly enjoyed her Lasagna; Partner was very happy with the pasta dish which included the rabbit ragout. I got a taste and would definitely recommend it. I enjoyed the duck breast with polenta and grilled peaches. I had a glass o garnish wine with the entree and while the choices were sufficient, they weren't exceptional. The presentations were all appetizing. The desserts were wonderful. Mom loved her Semifreddo, a semi-frozen raspberry mouse with berries and chocolate. Partner really liked the Crostata with with fresh berries and gelato. I swooned over the zabaiglione. The menu described it simply with berries. I asked Theo if there was a choice of berries. I'm not allergic to strawberries or blueberries and I don't hate them, I just don't love them and relayed to Theo that if there was a choice, I'd prefer just raspberries and/or blackberries. What was delivered was a big bowl of red raspberries with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and mint garnish. As Theo was passing by he glanced at the table, apologized for the confusion, and raced off to retrieve the zabaiglione. It had been several years since I'd partaken in this sweet. It was everything I remembered and more. I will say the alcohol was a tad hot which may not be to everyone's liking.
(4)Maria C.
This has always been one of my favorite places in Chicago for a good, unpretentious Italian. The place is great, cool and the outdoor seating is one of the best in summertime. The food is consistently great, over and over again. However, now that I have twin daughters and changing diapers during a meal is nothing other than frequent, I was a little disappointed when I saw that they have no changers in the restroom! AND on a Saturday afternoon during lunch time (in a summer day, the city was happening, etc...) their restrooms were extremely dirty. Come on guys, this doesn't match who you guys are.
(2)John H.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago for its great value, authentic flavors and reliability. I always know that I can go here for either lunch or dinner and the food and service will be great. They're missing some of the "higher end" dishes of the parent restaurant like truffled veal ragu and things of that nature, but the prices are more reasonable and the chef here is still creative and there are always daily specials to keep things interesting. The outdoor seating in the summer is also much appreciated.
(5)caroline k.
Was lucky to get a table for 4 last minute on a busy Saturday night. At 8pm the place was packed and a buzz. We ordered: - Calamari appetizer: made well with good tomato marinara dipping sauce - Tuscan soup: basically a Minestrone, which was disappointing. - Black ink pasta: made the error of all 4 of us ordering the 1/2 size portions. My dish, which apparently was the last off the pan, had clumps of pasta in what otherwise what have been a beautiful dish. I almost sent it back but was hungry and didn't want the extra wait. - Tartufo dessert: vanilla and chocolate gelato dipped in chocolate with a cherry in the middle. Nothing exciting. - Tiramisu: looked great, but couldn't taste any marsala. Would go back but beware of a busy kitchen pumping out dishes en masse.
(3)Emily E.
I initially wanted to go to Coco Pazzo because the reviews on yelp look decent to me, and it didn't look very expensive. I made reservations for 8:30 yesterday (Saturday) in the afternoon, I planned on watching a movie with friends and then getting dinner. We arrived about 10 minutes earlier than our reservation and the hosts said that it would be a few minutes. They asked us to wait at the bar, we didn't plan on getting drinks so we didn't head over there, and there wasn't much standing room for waiting. We felt a bit in the way of everyone... After waiting awhile, we were seated around 8:35. Our water was filled, and the bread came. Our waiter ( I wish I knew his name) was very polite and came by every so often, but not enough to disrupt our conversation. My friends ordered a chopped salad, gnocci and rigatoni. I ordered the spaghetti special (with clams!) and Rapini. Unfortunately for me I didn't know Rapini was bitter and only ate a little bit until I couldn't take it any longer, and didn't touch it for the remainder of our meal. I was really sad because I wanted to eat the verdantly green broccoli... All of us were pretty ravenous, so we finished everything on our plates! Plus everything was really tasty. No complaints on the quality of the dishes! Finally, they came for our plates and asked me about my Rapini, I just simply said I had no idea Rapini was bitter and didn't want to take it home. My server had the Rapini taken off my check, (which was a relief to me) and I thought that it was a good gesture because I sincerely did not enjoy the Rapini. But, I wasn't a jerk about it. Last thng is, I'd suggest getting a reservation because it is an intimate/cozier restaurant. (They have sidewalk seating too) Overall, the service was good, our glasses were filled, people came when we needed them, the food was tasty and the prices were reasonable. I'm going to definitely go back, and this time bring my boyfriend!
(5)Ann K.
Just got back from dinner. It was the best. The service was excellent, the ambiance terrific and our dinners were terrific. The guys had the veal which they raved about. I had the rigatoni which was wonderful & my sister had the lasagna, which was also wonderful. Both the Rigatoni & Lasagna were In a pink cream sauce not the standard red gravy. Very unique & flavorful. We would highly recommend this restaurant, but do make a reservation.
(5)Erica G.
I was very excited to try this restaurant because I'd heard good things about Coco Pazzo, the original and more expensive sister restaurant. Not wanting to break the bank so soon after the holidays, we opted to try the cafe as an alternative. I was disappointed. The dishes were premade and not fresh. The food came out so fast and it was obvious the appetizers were made in advance and chilled in the kitchen. Mozzarella from the appetizer menu was amazing, but the roasted tomatoes served with the cheese was ice cold. The tomatoes should have been room temperature or warmed. Tomatoes should never be chilled or stored in the fridge. Bruschetta options looked very interesting but were also served with cold, premade toppings. The white bean and black truffle was the best tasting, but the mushroom and others didn't taste as good at the cold temperature they were served at. Ceasar salad was probably one of the worst I've ever had because it was premade and the croutons were soggy and cold. It also stated on the menu it was served with white anchovies, which were missing from the dish. Me and my party tried three pasta dishes. The Pappardelle with wild boar with fresh house made pasta was pretty good. Linguine Vongole came with generous portions of clams. The other was a special with hand shaved lamb. Lamb was great but very little portion of it was included in the dish. Bonus is...the pasta's can be served in appetizer portions. Great idea so you are not overloaded with a huge plate of food. Gelati...ok if you try the banana, but the other flavors lacked "flavor." Wine list is limited. Try this place for a casual lunch and wine, but don't have high expectations if you are looking for an amazing meal. Tables are also very close together and not much privacy. Almost uncomfortable because you feel as if everyone can hear your conversation...and they can.
(2)Puja S.
My husband and I went to Coco Pazzo Cafe last week. It was a perfect place to sit outside and have a glass of wine. We absolutely loved the spaghetti. It had the absolute right amount of heat. The Rigatoni is good as well (if you are in the mood of eating something heavy). I've tried the linguine on a previous visit and did not like this dish too much - there was nothing special about the dish.
(4)Sandy R.
Used to eat here a lot when I worked in the area. Had a leisurely Sunday lunch to celebrate my sister's birthday. It was just the 3 generations of girls. Their food is really good and they offer a great selection. We had the special gnocchi, the special fish, linguine with white clam sauce, tortellini and a few starters. I thought everything was really good and the portions while not huge were big enough for leftovers.
(4)Karen H.
Wow! I haven't had pasta this good in a long time. I ordered the beef carpaccio as an appetizer, which melts in your mouth. I wasn't sure which wine to order (undecided between 2 reds) - and the server brought out a small glass of each one for me to try and see which one I like best...very nice! I decided on a very nice cab/merlot blend - yum. For the main course, I tried their tagliolini which was out of this world. I would definitely order this again. For dessert, I tried their apple crostata and by this point I was in heaven. They serve it with cinnamon gelato, the crostata warmed, with strawberries/blueberries for garnish. Delicious! Excellent service. Dress nicely for dinner. Great place for a date!
(5)Norm P.
Tonight, great ravioli and tasty lasagna. Salads are fresh and staff is attentive. Would recommend this pleasant Italian restaurant for a very an enjoyable meal.
(4)Anthony Z.
Excellent value, and one hell of a scene. Went on a Sunday night, sat outside, and greatly enjoyed the wines and watching all of the scensters. The food is classic northern Italian and was spot on. Wine selection was good. Zabaglione dessert was a minor disappointment and could have been better; sauce was too thick and cool.
(4)Nic D.
Just walked in off the street for the BEST lunch special I've ever had. It was a white fish sautéed with spinach, white beans and tomatoes in a very light broth sauce. Absolute amazement! Wish I could come back again tomorrow. And the staff is lovely: from the valet to the bus staff. Don't miss this place!
(5)Paula D.
Delicious! with great service, enough Said!
(5)Mark E.
This place was a terrific little find not far from the hustle of Michigan Ave, but a block over so you need to know how to find it. I had a terrific dinner and great service. I'll definitely return.
(4)Keiko S.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago. I love it not really for the food, but more for the atmosphere. It's over all very warm and casual with a lively crowd, and of course, plenty of good wine helps. On days that are too cold, the inside dining area is as enjoyable nonetheless. As for the food, the panini sandwiches (served at lunch time) are great, as well as the polenta, squid ink pasta and linguine. For dessert, the creme brulee is a must! Friendly servers, satisfying portions. PS. in case you're wondering why there are so many tourists here, this place is featured in a very popular Japanese tour guide.
(4)Carri A.
Really cute outdoor seating, delicious gnocchi, good fettucine (with mushrooms and parmesan) and my friend thoroughly enjoyed her quail dish. The entrees seemed expensive for the portion size and the spinaci (spinach side dish) seemed a little bland. And the service was seriously lacking (except for the water guy). It took our waiter at least 10 minutes after he picked up our dishes to get us the check. And he didnt inform my other friend that there are no free refills on drinks - otherwise she would have stuck with her one pepsi in a small but fancy glass. Good meal but I probably wont be coming back again.
(3)chloe p.
the maitre'd is the biggest asshole on the planet its almost funny. food was good, but he was THAT BIG of an asshole that it was still distracting...especially when halfway thru our meal, he and his culturally ambiguous co-host SAT DOWN for DINNER even though the restaurant was still more than half full and it was only like 9:45pm on a friday night. not, like, at the bar.... at a table right in front!! in front of everybody ....people still coming & going. (huh??!) spaghetti was good. service pretty bad. veal was also pretty good. maitre'd was hideous inside & out. too many better places to go to in the city. have been here probably 5 other times........won't be back.
(2)Natalie B.
I love this restaurant. Both of my parents spent time at Northwestern hospital (which is across the street from Coco Pazzo) and my family found ourselves here on many occasion throughout those long days eating delicious pasta and warming our hearts. Their spaghetti (extra spicy with fettuccine) is the best pasta I've ever had. The sauce is subtlety spicy and perfect.
(4)Mandy P.
Don't bother with this place for lunch. That's how I feel after yesterday. The service sucked and the sides changed for the paninis - it used to be a nice little salad. If I really wanted potato chips as a side dish, I would walk the block east to Panera. We received dirty looks and rolling of eyes when we asked for separate checks BEFORE we ordered our food! It's not like we were annoying and asked when the bill came. He basically wouldn't do it for us. Also, I asked to have my sandwich on the piadini instead of bread and that was a whole other issue for him in iteself. Get that man out of customer service! I wish I hadn't been on the clock. That lunch made me need a cocktail.
(2)Ana L.
The nhoque its PERFECT! great service!! I came with my puppy and we stayed at the patio and it was really nice!!! The service its amazing and also the pinot grigio! Hehe Great italian place to have greeeeat food!!!! Ask for the nhoque you wont regret!
(5)Amanda M.
Our group of six came at all different times roughly around 9pm Friday. It was nice that we didn't have to wait to be seated regardless if our whole party arrived at the same time. We got a couple orders of the caprese to start and I got the spaghetti AOP for my entrée. Everything came out at appropriate times. The caprese was fine. I've had fresher mozzarella though. The spaghetti was cooked perfectly. It tasted fine, but the clams were non-existent. The portion was larger than expected. Overall, the dish was pretty good but really not memorable, indicated by this rather short review (I went here this past weekend btw). Everyone else at the table thought their meals were just decent as well. Our server was friendly and accommodating and checked on us pretty regularly. Overall, probably not coming back as there are definitely better Italian places to go to in Chi-city.
(3)Jeff L.
Coco Pazzo Cafe was described by a family friend as their favorite restaurant in all of Chicago, which surprised me slightly because it's a tiny place located right next to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We chose the place based on that recommendation and the fact that it was close to our hotel. After a day of museums and walking through oppressive heat and stifling humidity, the added ability to dine al fresco while enjoying the summer evening seemed like a great idea. Our experience overall was rather mixed. The restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night and it's a very cute place with a great outdoor patio. We watched them efficiently turn over tables and it didn't seem like people were waiting long. The food was slightly disappointing. I'd say that the highlights of the evening were the octopus and the bruschetta that we had as appetizers. Bruschetta is quite reasonably priced, and I most enjoyed the tomato/basil and the mushroom options. The pasta courses that we ordered were squid ink and the tagliatelle. While tasty, both were disappointing because the pasta was way overcooked. It was soft and slimy, a far cry from the al dente that most people would expect for a place that specializes in pasta. For entrees, the monkfish special and the pork tenderloin were good but nothing particularly memorable or innovative. Portions overall were large and we were too full for dessert. They had two barolos on their wine list and we selected one of them. It was good, and opened up nicely after a little time. Service was attentive and efficient, and we enjoyed the recommendations from our server, particularly with wine selection. I didn't love the tables themselves. They were really small, quite uncomfortable for a party of 4, and several times the server or assistants had to reach pretty much through the food or over wine/water glasses to grab plates. Everything is perched precariously when there are more than two entrees on the table, necessitating the removal of candles, bread, salt/pepper shakers, and other miscellaneous items over the course of the meal. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of if your party is more than 3 people. Overall, a decent place, well-located with close proximity to the Mag Mile and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. I'd go back again, and hopefully on a future visit they'll execute the pastas a little better.
(3)Angela R.
Enjoyed a beautiful night dining outside. The highlight of dinner was that Scottie Pippen walked by and said hello. 3 out of 4 of us were disappointed with out for. My lasagna tasted very close to the microwaved chef boyardee. This place was recommended by a couple friends but I don't know what they saw and that I missed. Wouldn't recommend or return, instead would head two blocks south to Volare.
(2)Karen G.
Excellent and great service the appetizers where delicious. The fries were out of this world!!!
(4)Colin C.
I really liked the ambience here as well as the staff. Seems like a small Italian restaurant in a small street in another country with intimate seating. Wasn't too busy on a Friday night either. The noise was a bit loud though. Food-wise it was good but nothing too special. The frites, lasagna, and salads were good. Not too huge of portions on some of the pasta dishes but the fried chicken was quite big. Prices for this area were actually very decent but it definitely wasn't cheap. I would normally give them 4 stars but I hold Chicago restaurants to a higher standard and they weren't anything to write home about but a good option. Especially if visiting someone at the NW hospital next door like we were.
(3)Katie T.
Fantastic. Very rustic pasta dishes. Nice atmosphere..
(5)Puki B.
The pasta looks really good but tastes very plain. It was tasteless to a point that we complained to the server but he was rude and just insisted that it was good. Don't come here for the Lasagna. The Spaghetti AOP doesn't taste good too. I know I'm picky but it's just too plain. Don't come here. It's not worth it. Service is not on point too.
(1)Emily S.
The staff were very friendly and helpful. They were very knowledgeable on the food and area. The patio area was lovely. The food was good, not amazing but it was enjoyable
(4)Douglas L.
This is a destination restaurant! It is so well located, charming and with and ease of elegance that draws you in. The food is consistently on point. The vitello marsala and the pork tenderloin wrapped in pancetta are both first rate. Great food and great service. Edgar is an amazing server!
(4)Meghana P.
I don't understand the slightly lower ratings on this place, although if it means I get to keep this place to myself, that's fine. I love the decor and atmosphere as well, and the wine selection is excellent and not overpriced. The Italian food here is genuine and delicious - I would definitely try the Spaghetti AOP (I'm getting hungry even thinking about it), and the patio is wonderful when the Chicago weather cooperates. The tiramisu is a little too sweet (I don't like the chocolate sauce on top either), but the other desserts definitely make up for this. I would recommend making a reservation, and I would also recommend trying this place now.
(5)Julie S.
I had dinner at Coco Pazzo Café last week and felt an overwhelming need to share my experience. The food was delicious, service polite and the restrooms an EPA hazard zone. WOW! I did not expect that at a lovely restaurant. I had the vegetali plate and my guest had the veal. The food was expertly prepared and looked beautiful on the plate. We were thrilled with the choice until I stumbled back from the restroom with a shocked look on my face. PLEASE clean your restrooms! We dined at 6PM so this was not late in the evening. The floor was sticky (EWWW), the whole place smelled terrible, the toilet seat looked like something from an old highway gas station bathroom and I couldn't use the hand dryer because it was coated in what appeared to be toxic waste. I can't believe I'm saying this because the food and service were wonderful but I'm not going back to Coco Pazzo Café until I've fully recovered from the horrifying experience of the restroom.
(3)J M.
My business partner and I had lunch at the Cafe and really enjoyed our meal. We shared a calamari fritta and each had a beet salad. Everything was fresh and delicious. The atmosphere was comfortable and we could have sat there all day talking. We liked that the manager and the owner came over to talk to us. One thing I want to point out to all the people who complain about the restrooms is that they are not Coco Pazzo Cafe restrooms, they belong to the HOTEL. So PLEASE direct your anger and negative comments to the The Red Roof Inn ((312) 787-3580) and not the Cafe.
(4)Debbie F.
Very good lunch, friendly staff, nice sitting outside under the awning on a nice day. I recommend the vegetable salad with added grilled chicken. Simple and yummy.
(5)Kristy V.
ready for the quickest review ever? great food, exceptional service, incredible atmosphere!! done! :-)
(5)Rebecca N.
Really enjoyed my meal here! Would round it up to 3.5 stars. It is low key and quaint.The service was attentive, but did not interupt us. A nice intimate date spot--it was very quiet. We got the three brushettas. I like the toppings but the bread tasted a bit burnt. We did the caramelized onions and gorgonzola, truffle and white bean (my fav) and honey and ricotta. Then we shared the gnocchi and mahi. The mahi was absolutely out of this world. We both woke up talking about it in the morning!
(3)Frank O.
Went for Restaurant week. Despite having a later reservation we were able to be seated 45 min early, and the rest of the service was on that level. We started with the Sette Vegetali (nothing special) and the Polpo (tasty octopus), had the mushroom Risotto (great if you like mushrooms) and Rigatoni alla Buttera (great, flavorful and good portion), and both finished with the Panna Cotta (the real reason we went here). At only $33 for dinner it was a solid meal, and the atmosphere and service would great. I'd come here more often if only the prices were lower, because it's not really a place you can afford on a student budget.
(5)Craig E.
Visited Coco Pazzo Cafe recently when on vacation with my best friend in Chicago. It got off to a rough start when we tried to order off the menus we were given and told that we had been given the wrong menus (lunch instead of dinner, it was around 3 and 4 p.m.) So we had to look over a new menu before making a selection. We were served bread and olive oil while we waited for our meal. It was okay, but my friend said she didn't like the oil. I ordered the polenta with roasted veggies and my friend got the gnocchi. We felt they were okay, but were our least favorite of our visit. And they were also the smallest portion wise. Worst of all was that we finished our meals and waited what seemed like forever before the waiter came by to check on us. I would have been more understanding had they been busy, but we were the only ones there when we were seated and during our meal, only one other couple was there. Four people in the restaurant and the waiter never checks on you during your meal? Hands down the worst service I've ever received anywhere in the country, let alone Chicago.
(1)Jane W.
We chose this on the high recommendation from the concierge at the Sheraton on a bitterly cold, snowy night. Upon arriving, we were immediately welcomed by the Maître d'. The ambience was warm and inviting and very much like a comfortable neighborhood cafe. Our server Miguel was terrific as were the other staff who ensured our water glasses were never less than half empty and seamlessly served & cleared plates. From the recitation of the specials to the recommendations of the house specialties, we were enthused at the offerings and only wished we could have tried more dishes. The veal medallions were perfect, and my colleagues raved about their selections as well. It was a delightful and relaxing and delicious experience and I hope to get back there again. I encourage others to try this little gem!
(4)Filipp G.
Stopped by accidentally as the place we were looking for was closed. Did not regret it one bit. Both the Faroese salmon and the ravioli were fantastic, as was the bruschetta. The bread was a bit stale but that was just one more reason not to fill up on it and leave room for the food. Ambiance was nice and quiet, which was also a major plus, although as two thirtysomethings we felt a bit out of place.
(5)Divya J.
I've been here twice. The location is great, as is the ambiance. My first time there I was a bit annoyed that the server did not provide a bread basket till my friend also arrived, especially because I was hungry. The second time I visited, however, I received more prompt service. I've eaten the Spaghetti and the Ricotta & Spinach ravioli. The Spaghetti was great because the tomato sauce they used was really flavorful. I did not think the ravioli was anything special.
(4)Lise S.
I moved to this neighborhood recently and have been wanting to try this quaint Italian cafe. We had a lovely dinner last night sitting outside on a great evening. Our appetizers and pasta dishes were excellent!! Many restaurants with sidewalk sitting areas have the problem of loud traffic noise, but that isn't the case here. The ambiance and service was great and we look forward to going back to try other dishes at this quaint neighborhood cafe!!
(4)Kristen B.
We stumbled upon this place en route to Navy Pier on a Saturday night. At 7:30 pm we were seated right away and there were several tables available in the restaurant. We had asked for outdoor seating, she asked if we had a reservation (we did not) and said they didn't have availability. This was a little disappointing because we saw an empty table that remained empty for the entire meal (and quite a few more were empty by the time we left). Honestly, the outdoor seating would have added at least a star to my review. We would have even taken a small wait to sit outside, but this was not an option. My husband and I spilt a caprese salad and the ravioli in brown butter sauce. The food was good, but not spectacular. My daughter had a Caesar Salad which was quite good. The bread service at the start of the meal was good and they brought us more when the basket was empty. I had Pinot Grigio that was pretty standard and my husband ordered an iced tea which he said was the best he had ever tasted (and the guy drinks a ton of iced tea!) We all split a Tiramisu and Tartufo. Both were very good. I felt the prices were just a little on the high side for what we got, but with the location I could understand. Had the entrees come with soup or salad it would justify the price a bit more. One thing to note is that while there were quite a few families there with children, they did not have a children's menu. I also felt the staff could be a bit more friendly and helpful. They also didn't have salt and pepper at the tables which I found a little odd. And the bathroom needed a good scrubbing...thankfully I visited at the end of my meal because this would have been a huge turn off if I went beforehand. An employee was leaving the bathroom as I walked in and she hadn't bothered to pick up paper rolls, etc that were on the floor. I get that this isn't her job and it's rude that previous patrons didn't properly throw them away, but that definitely left a bit of a negative impression on me. They also could benefit from an air freshner or two! Would probably come back for an afternoon dessert (especially outside), but not sure I would eat dinner here again with all the other choices around.
(3)Lisa N.
I had the black squid ink with shrimp. FANTASTIC! My mouth is literally salivating as I write this review. We had the Prosciutto with chees and honey as well as the grilled octopus. The octopus was sooo tender it practically melted in my mouth. My friend ordered "regular" spaghetti which I felt was a waste of a night out...until the dish came. The portion was superb (she def had enough for leftover/lunch the next day). And the flavor had a nice kick to it so not just your typical, boring spaghetti. My meal was great, the pasta was mild but the squid ink flavor was noticeable. The shrimp were succulent and the sauce perfectly complimented the seafood in the dish. Their olive oil is something special as well. very rustic tasting and fruity. The service was impeccable, my glass never fell below the half-way mark. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Lisa P.
This location is right near where I work, so I frequently come here for lunch. I love their food, I have never had a bad dish here, the food is consistent. The spaghetti AOP is my favorite...everything I've tried has been great. I would say that typically the service is a bit off; sometimes slow, sometimes too fast, the waiters can be awkward/not helpful. Essentially the service is inconsistent. That being said, the food is always great and their patio is fabulous;)
(4)David I.
Don't let the 3.5 stars overall fool you. This place is one of my fav Italian restaurants in Chicago.
(5)Norm J.
So I was finally able to go to Coco Pazzo Cafe tonight. I was suppose to go last week, but my date sent me the cancelation text the day of (tears of rejection were shed I'm not gonna lie). I convinced my friend to come with me tonight (sad I know) and she said yes because (1) she's a good friend or (2) she has no life. I'll let you the reader decide which option is correct. We started off the meal with Calamari. It was good, but tasted like calamari I've had a million times before. Next we had the Bruschetta (Tomato & Basil, Mushroom & Parmesan, Buffalo Ricotta & Tuscan Honey). The Tomato & Basil was just OK and the Mushroom & Parmesan was LOADED with so many mushrooms I think the parmesan decided to stay in the kitchen. I swear if there was parmesan on those slices of bread than the waiter must have eaten it off before he got to our table. Now the Buffalo Ricotta & Tuscan Honey was pretty amazing. It was so good I wanted to lick the little bit of buffalo ricotta that got on my fingers, but since I was in direct eye site of the maitre d' I decided against doing it. For our entrees we had the Spaghetti AOP and the Vitello Scallopine. The spaghetti was...well spaghetti. The most exciting thing about this dish was that it came with a huge red pepper in the center of it. I dared my friend to take a bite of it, but she elected not to (I think she was trying to be all fancy and highfalutin). The Vitello Scallopine was veal medallions with a tablespoon of mashed potatoes and teaspoon of spinach. I was disappointed by the portion size and by the taste. It was just OK. So after dining at Coco Pazzo Cafe I realize that 1) there's no need for me to go back, 2) paying for refills on soda should be outlawed, 3) my date who canceled on me, while missing out on an AWESOME date, probably made the right call since Coco Pazzo Cafe isn't all that great.
(2)Chris K.
Had lunch yesterday after a doctor visit. Had the ravioli, my wife had the risotto. We enjoyed the food and ambience the restaurant gave us. Will go back
(3)Ryan Z.
After strolling Magnificent Mile for a couple hours, we decided to to look for an outdoor lunch patio a bit off the main strip. We stumbled upon Coco Pazzo Cafe and sat down to enjoy a leisurely Italian lunch. The mussel appetizer was a good choice and included more vegetables than I'm used to seeing. The vegetables soaked up the sauce and ended up stealing the show from the mussels. My clam pasta was just okay. The pasta itself was flavorful and cooked well but the sauce seemed like a puddle of butter and was so greasy I couldn't enjoy the bottom half of the bowl. Jessica only ate half of her gnocchi and with good reason. It just tasted like boring unseasoned potatoes. The kicker was the constant traffic that included far too many screaming ambulances. Northwest hospital is just a couple blocks away. We probably should have known better.
(2)Snow W.
Had lunch today. Could not be worse. I ordered the shrimp risotto which had three small shrimps. Literally three. Very disappointed
(1)Ashlie G.
We have made dining at Coco Pazzo something of a pre-race tradition when we have running races in Chicago. The food is consistently delicious and something I look forward to when I am in town. This visit to Coco Pazzo was not part of our pre-race tradition, we decided to have dinner here for the simple fact that we were in town and Coco Pazzo is so good! I found the table reservation feature from Yelp to be really convenient especially since we were doing all sorts of running around that day. I made the reservation for 4 people which I later had to call and change to 5 since we had another friend join us. I was disappointed when I called to make the change I didn't get the sense that they verified my reservation and added the person. They simply said okay and hung up. We arrived at Coco Pazzo about 10 minutes early for dinner which seemed okay since they weren't busy. They asked if we wanted to sit at the window seat they had reserved or if we wanted to sit on the patio. We opted to sit on the patio since it was such a beautiful day out. We did not however expect to be put in the far corner of the patio and ignored for the first 10 minutes we were there. We were brought water by the wait staff helper and ultimately had to flag someone down to order our meal. The person we flagged down ended up leaving us for some time to go find someone. Once our server was finally engaged with our table the service was pretty good which slightly made up for the lack of acknowledgement or service we received upon arrival. We will most likely return to Coco Pazzo in the future as the Spaghetti AOP never disappoints! The service however needs to be improved.
(4)Stephanie S.
We ate here as a recommendation from a coworker, and it was wonderful! Some of the best Lasagna I've ever had, and the lamb was so tender. It's a must on the date night list! Not to mention, the service was phenomenal.
(5)Paula L.
Whenever I'm in Chicago I meet my girlfriend for dinner downtown. I trust her to pick the restaurant and she did a great job with Coco Pazzo Cafe. I started with the beet, apple, goat cheese and arugula salad. The salad was a perfect combination of sweet & savory. That salad should not only be appetizer size, but entree size. My entree was the grilled vegetables and polenta with balsamic vinegar. That too was delicious. My only issue was not enough polenta for the amount of vegetables, that is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5. Great location. Great service.
(4)Maureen M.
This is my go-to restaurant for faculty business lunches and from the look of the crowds, I'm not the only one. The service is always excellent and the menu offers a variety of Italian dishes. Half-orders of pasta are available (just ask). The beet salad is beautiful and the mussels are a delicious choice. The panini are hearty and served with chips, olives or other garnishes. I'm not a fan of olive oil on bread but their crusty Italian bread and the focaccia is great by itself. I highly recommend the risotto with mushrooms when it is offered as a special or the frittata which is an excellent choice if you must avoid gluten. I prefer the fritatta when it is prepared with vegetables as the frittata with beans and cheese was too heavy to be enjoyable. The waiters are happy to split the check evenly, just ask. I dream of the Tartufo, a frozen treat incorporating vanilla gelato with dark chocolate an amarena cherry and toasted almond.
(4)Ari P.
Food was good and well priced, but service was terrible. Waiter had difficulty taking our orders because of a language barrier. Bus boy knocked a glass of ice water on to my colleague's lap. Waiter brought us a desert menu after we had already been charged and were signing the credit card receipt.
(2)Jen S.
Amazing food, big portions and good atmosphere! We tried all the bruschettas, the Goat cheese with honey was my personal fave. Several of us had the special risotto, with sausage and peas, it was to die for. Was actually excited I had leftovers so I could eat it the next day at lunch! The service was a little slow and the waiter poured us all the same wine without asking, which was awkward when we had 6 glasses of wine at the table when only 4 of us were drinking wine.
(4)Linda D.
Went out for date night with my husband on advice from a friend. Enjoyed the whole experience. Food (squash soup, beet salad, pasta, grilled vegetables) was excellent. Waiters attentive. Bustling atmosphere. Would definitely return if in area again.
(5)Clinton S.
First let me say if you make an Open Table reservation for Coco Pazzo make sure you are specific - don't make the mistake I did and make the reservation for Coco Pazzo and show up at Coco Pazzo Cafe!! At least they were understanding at the Cafe and had a table for us....too bad that was the highlight of the night. We ordered a glass of white wine (sorry can't remember the exact name) and it was only average (but rather expensive). I had the house salad, which was ok (good fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, nice oil/vinegar dressing), and the special pasta dish. The special was a linguini with shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and onions - only average. My companion had the spaghetti AOP - which he seemed to enjoy, but it was not very appealing visually. This is the second or third time I've been at Coco Pazzo, but I don't think I'll be coming back.
(3)Katie B.
The food at Coco Pazzo Cafe has always been good and the outside patio is quaint. However, I tried to inquire about a private event here - as well as at any of the other family locations - Tre Soldi and Coco Pazzo - and after waiting MONTHS for a simple answer about menus and prices, I was accidentally copied on an email chain that discussed raising the prices just for my event. That was the hold up. Ridiculous. So unprofessional. Be careful when asking about private events. There are a million places to hold events in the city of Chicago. There are actually good places that just want to showcase customer service and good food and aren't out to stick it to a potential client.
(1)Paul H.
Stopped in for lunch with a party of four...seated immediately. I had a smoked turkey panini and caprese salad. It was really really good. My wife had the salad sampler platter and others had the fish special. Thanks be to YELP because it was the favorable review that led us here, and you reviewers did not let us down. Trying to figure out why I'm not awarding five stars...would like to try for dinner too before getting crazy like that!
(4)