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Name: Fiorentino’s
Address: 2901 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60657
Telephone: (773) 244-3026
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.79

Fiorentino’s

2901 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60657

(773) 244-3026
Store is closed

Fiorentino’s Menu

Antipasti

Carpaccio di Manzo

Mixed Grill of Seafood

Bruschetta

Baked Clams

Sicilian Aranci

Calamari Fritti

Polpo alla Griglia

Black Mussels

Insalata Caprese

Nana's "have a bite"
Insalati

Apple Mission Fig & Bleu Cheese Salad

Red & Golden Beet Salad

Insalata di Rucola

Fennel and Orange Salad

Spinach Strawberry and Walnut Salad

Insalata Semplice

Caesar

Entree Size Caesar
Contorni

Side of Spaghetti or Penne

Crusty Garlic Bread

Oven Roasted potatoes

Nana's Classic Meatballs

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Grilled Italian Sausage

Sauteéd Spinach in Olive Oil & Garlic
From the Seaside Villages

linguini with Clam Sauce

Linguini Frutti di Mare

Linguini Mirabella

Linguini Neri Fra Diavola
From The Hilltowns and Countryside

Orrechietti Toscana

Rigatoni alla Boscaiol

Pappardelle Bolognese

Tortellacci alla Panna

Eggplant Parmigiana

Penne Alla Siciliana

Portobello Ravioli

Homemade Lasagna di Antonio

Spaghetti al Vesuvio

Homemade Manicotti di Fina

Ricotta Stuffed Gnocchi
Pesce Pollo e Carne

Lake Superior Whitefish

Salmone Spinaci

Cioppino

Pollo Amalfi

Veal Piccata ai Carciofi

Grilled Lamb Chops alla Romano

Braised Beef Short Ribs

Bistecca Fiorentina

Filetto Americano
Bevande della Casa

Cocktail of the Month - Fiorentino's Italian Sangria

Bellini

Rossini

Pomegranate Martini

Aperol Spritz

Manhattan Siciliano

Limoncello Martini

Margarita Italiano

Tino's Mai Tai
Antipasti Piattini

Sicilian Arancini

Bruschetta

Calamari Fritti

Carpaccio Di Tonno

Carpaccio Di Manzo

Polpo Alla Griglia

Cozze Scoppiate

Vongole Ripiene - Baked Clams

Mission Fig & Blue Cheese Salad
Antipasti

Cozze Scoppiate

Polpo Alla Griglia

Carpaccio Di Tonno

Carpaccio Di Manzo
Insalate

Mission Fig Apple & Bleu Cheese

Red & Golden Beet Salad

Insalata Di Rucola E Lame Di Parmigiano

Insalata Caprese

Insalata Semplice
Gluten-free Pasta

Portobello Mushroom Ravioli

Stuffed Gnocchi

Spaghetti Gamberi E Broccoli

Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare

Penne Alla Boscaiola
From The Grill

Salmone Spinaci

Filetto Americano

Mixed Grilled Seafood
Appetizers

Baked Clams

Calamari

Bruschetta

Sicilian Arancini
Salads

Caesar Salad

Insalata Semplice
Sides

Meatballs

Vesuvio Potatoes

Sauteed Broccoli

Sauteed Spinach
Entrees

Eggplant Parmigianna

Sausage & Peppers
Pasta Specialties

Cappellini With Shrimp & Broccoli

Fettucine Alfredo

Tortellini Alla Panna

Stuffed Gnocchi

Any Pasta Bolognese

Meat Lasagna

Rigatoni Ala Boscaiola

Penne Arrabiata

Penne Puttenesca

Penne Siciliana

Meat Or Chesse Ravioli

Spaghetti Aglio Oglio
Veal Specialties

Veal Scallopni

Veal Limone (breaded)

Veal Milanese

Veal Marsala

Veal Piccante

Veal Parmigianna

Veal Limone & Capers
Beef Specialty

Spiedini Filetto Milanese
Chicken Specialties

Pollo Capri

Pollo Parmigianna

Pollo Marsala

Pollo Vesuvio

Pollo Limone & Capers

Pollo Piccante (spicy)
Seafood Specialties

Tilapia Amalfi

Salmon Vesuvio

Salmon Spinaci

Cioppino

Healthy Meal suggestions for Fiorentino’s

Antipasti

Carpaccio di Manzo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mixed Grill of Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nana's "have a bite" [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Insalati

Apple Mission Fig & Bleu Cheese Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Red & Golden Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Fennel and Orange Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach Strawberry and Walnut Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Entree Size Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Contorni

Side of Spaghetti or Penne [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Oven Roasted potatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Roasted Brussel Sprouts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Sauteéd Spinach in Olive Oil & Garlic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
From the Seaside Villages

linguini with Clam Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Linguini Neri Fra Diavola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
From The Hilltowns and Countryside

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

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

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

Tortellacci alla Panna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ricotta Stuffed Gnocchi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pesce Pollo e Carne

Lake Superior Whitefish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Veal Piccata ai Carciofi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Lamb Chops alla Romano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Filetto Americano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Bevande della Casa

Cocktail of the Month - Fiorentino's Italian Sangria [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tino's Mai Tai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Antipasti Piattini

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vongole Ripiene - Baked Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mission Fig & Blue Cheese Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Antipasti

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

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

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

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

Mission Fig Apple & Bleu Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Red & Golden Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Di Rucola E Lame Di Parmigiano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Insalata Semplice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Gluten-free Pasta

Portobello Mushroom Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Penne Alla Boscaiola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
From The Grill

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

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

Mixed Grilled Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Appetizers

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

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

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

Sicilian Arancini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

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

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

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

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

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

Sauteed Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

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

Sausage & Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta Specialties

Cappellini With Shrimp & Broccoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spaghetti Aglio Oglio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Veal Specialties

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

Veal Limone (breaded) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

Veal Limone & Capers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beef Specialty

Spiedini Filetto Milanese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chicken Specialties

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

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

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

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

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

Pollo Piccante (spicy) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Seafood Specialties

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

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

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

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

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Write An Anonymous Review

Steve H.

So so so so good. I can't rave about this place enough. The food is outstanding. I've been several times and am mostly impressed with their pastas. I've tried several and they have always been perfect. Try the gnocchi with any of the sauce choices. The ambience is great for a date or a Sunday dinner. Not formal but definitely a nice place. I recently brought family in from out of town who had never had authentic Italian food and they were very impressed. A+
(5)
Pranav S.

Nice atmosphere, good service. Food is authentic, and portions are generous.
(4)
J J.

Visited here again for the first time in awhile. I love seafood and the dish I had was my favorite . I am definitely going back here more frequently. Love the atmosphere, food, and dining area. I have been waiting the dish again ever since I had it. Our server was a little awkward and was slow to check in, but I understand that serving can be difficult.
(5)
Amy T.

I was begging my boyfriend to take me here because the cute quaint outside appearance with white Christmas lights intrigued me. Inside decor is very warm, romantic, and offers a higher end dining experience with neighborhood appeal, a perfect place for date night. They have an extensive wine menu. I ordered the shrimp risotto and we both experienced squid ink pasta for the first time which I'm still iffy about. Very attentive wait staff also.
(5)
Hollie A.

The food was good, the service was good, the atmosphere was cute. A nice place but nothing that absolutely wowed me.
(3)
Pinky P.

Really a shame that I couldn't even try the cuisine since the serving staff didn't even come over to take a drink order or greet us. Not sure of why the place wasn't that busy and a HUGE group next to us were served their drinks within 5 minutes of being seated. I waited 20 minutes and let the hostess know, he sent over a very smug and rude server who I would of fired at my business for treating customers like dirt. Even worse the casual attitude of the owner/manager when I tried to complain. Never step foot into this establishment and let all our friends and family who live close by to not give them any business.
(1)
Alex P.

This is a great place, great environment, and great food. I always take friends and family visiting Chicago to Fiorentino's. I actually think I'm not fair to this restaurant, because it's so good and it's never my first option. It should be though! Try that polpo alla griglia. Amazing!
(5)
Douglas B.

Wifey and I have been driving by this place for a while and restaurant week was right around the corner so we decided to make reservations. The place is fantastic. Its cozy and romantic. We had dinner out in the patio area which was covered for the winter. I bet its nice in the spring/summer time. The service was terrific and they even took our 10% coupon from yelp after checking in! The food was delicious! we shared a caprese salad to start. The mozarella was tasty and so was the balsamic dressing. Wife went with the butternut squash soup which looked and smelled great. I enjoyed a delicious salad with Gorgonzola cheese, candied cashews, pear and a nice vinaigrette. I went with the veal shank osso bucco... my goodness. the meat was delectable. It was braised nicely, tender full of flavor. I enjoyed every single bite. Wife went with the filet mignon, sicilian style (pounded out)... so tender and flavorful as well. For dessert we had the mocha gelato, amazing. There is parking next door by the paint store, you walk right over and enjoy a great evening. Can't beat it. As good as it gets, cant wait to go back!
(5)
Lindsey M.

We ordered this for a team dinner and it was delicious! Great change when ordering food in the area, which is typically confined to asian cuisines and pizza.
(5)
Kristy C.

Awesome. I have lived down the street for years and always wanted to try, didn't dissapoint. The space itself is very cute, we sat in the enclosed patio area- looks like it be very cute in summer- was a nice view even during winter and we were right next to heater so it wasn't cold. I ordered the gnocchi (the reviews on here convinced me to) and I couldn't decide between basil and tomato cream so I asked for half of each which they had no problem with. We ordered side of meatballs which were amazing, soft and tender and seriously giant, next time we go back I definately will get spaghetti and meatballs- wasn't on menu but person next to me got it so I know they make it. My fiance had bolognese, he really liked it although I'm not sure I would order knowing the meatballs and gnochi was better. Waiter was attentive but not pushy, nothing but good things to say.
(5)
Amer A.

In a city with a plethora of Italian options this may be one to skip. The friendly staff and warm atmosphere can't make up for the tired food.
(2)
Meghan K.

This is the Italian food I grew up with. Comfort food without weighing you down! We started with some bruschetta, very hearty bread with a delicious, ripe tomato mix. Yum. From there we were torn, I went for the stuffed gnocchi with tomato cream sauce. WOW. It really is light and airy, despite being stuffed with cheese! It still fills you right up though. Our server was fantastic, helpful but not pushy. The patio is amazing, it has a roof and three walls so you won't get rained on, and heaters in case it gets chilly! The greenery is beautiful as well. Fiorentino's has been around for 8 years now, and for good reason! Love seeing a family owned restaurant succeed.
(5)
Heather B.

My first visit was for Valentines Day. We made reservations on opentable.com and lo and behold a real person from the restaurant called to confirm our reservation! The mood and feel of Fiorention's was cozy and romantic with lots of twinkle lights and nice linens and flowers on each table. Here is where it gets better. THE FOOD WAS OUTSTANDING. The service was great and the price was right. What's not to love? Oh and I did I mention that there is FREE PARKING at the Pittsburg Paint (just north of the restaurant)? Awesomesauce!
(4)
Jose V.

I can't thank the manager Steve and Frances enough for being so attentive and accommodating to our large party of 30 people. It was a busy late Saturday night, so it took a bit for the group to get seated, but once it happened, they started service right away! People were pleasantly surprised on how quickly our food and beverage came out! In summary, good food, good prices, excellent service!
(4)
Katie C.

Fiorentino's offers Italian dining at it's finest. The quaint and inviting eatery sits on Ashland Avenue, a bustling city street but you would never know it once inside. The warm interior welcomes you with soft lighting and subtle decor. They also have one of the best patios in the city. Though it stays enclosed year round you feel like you are sitting at an outdoor Italian cafe. Beautiful floral designs and greenery encompass the space which is kept heated in the winter and open and airy in the summer. A welcoming environment and the most gracious service upon my entry had me eager to sit down and enjoy the full dinner experience. We were spoiled with an eclectic offering of some of Fiorentino's most popular menu items including some options from their all new Gluten-Free menu. To kick-off our hearty Italian meal we were served the traditional arancini along with fried calamari. Both dishes were cooked perfectly and rich in flavor. Once the food started to be served it seemed like the neverending meal as we were spoiled with one delicacy after another. Other starters included their Mission Fig, Apple, and Bleu Cheese Salad as well as the Red and Golden Beet Salad. Both were incredibly fresh with unique flavors that married perfectly together. We were then greeted with plates of Carpaccio Di Manzo and Ahi Tuna Carpaccio. Both the beef and tuna were sliced so impressively thin and served with the quintessential accompaniments. The tuna was dressed with a lemon vinagarette that brought out the flavor of the whole dish then topped with capers and shaved fennel all sitting among fresh arugula. The Beef Carpaccio was also served with arugula and capers as well as Parmigiano Reggiano. Next came the entrees and Fiorentino's was not holding back. We were served 4 main dishes, 2 of which are also brought out gluten-free. Their popular Portobello Mushroom Ravioli and Stuffed Gnocchi are offered on both menus and both versions were served at our special dinner. Though you could taste a slight difference between the two versions, both were very enjoyable. And to be perfectly honest, if you were only served the gluten-free option I don't think you'd notice. That's how slight the difference was between the two. And what would an Italian meal be without some hearty meatballs! Niente! And these meatballs were the real deal. They were robust, meaty, and super tasty. But handsdown my favorite entree of the evening was the classic Italian Cippino - grilled seafood platter. The dish looked like a work of art as it came out offering an abundance of shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, and calamari sitting atop a silver platter as it should be! We couldn't possibly end our incredible meal without some dessert even if we were all stuffed to our gills. So we concluded dinner with Fiorentino's Deconstructed Cannoli (aka the Cannoli Dream) as well as their Pistachio Gelato and their Napoleon Gelato which by the way are Gluten-Free and you would NEVER know.... seriouly NEVER! I loved the idea of serving the cannoli inside out if you will. It allows you to taste every part of the sweet treat. And the gelato was delicious. I personally preferred the Napoleon flavor. There is no question I would return to this lovel Italian eatery in Lakeview and recommend it to you. Put it on your list of restaurants you MUST visit! You can view their menus online here: fiorentinoscucina.com .
(5)
Alexandra L.

Have been many times and never disappointed. The outside patio is gorgeous. Great vibe. Super friendly staff. Good vino. Try the calamari, frutti de mare and/or rigatoni boscaiola. Cheers!
(5)
Derek M.

We had an amazing waitress who helped us out a lot. Veal was dry , Apetizers were great, meatballs were solid. Prices were too high considering this place's location and overall quality of food.
(3)
Tara C.

Went here just craving for some Italian food and they had a 10% off special. Turned out to be a really nice date night with the bf.
(4)
Emily Y.

Our meal and server were FANTASTIC. I read a bunch of negative reviews before our visit and thought they were totally overblown. Bread and oil at the table were great. I had the calamari (better than Piccolo Sogno), and the rigatoni (phenomenal). Our waitress was as sweet and attentive as possible (wish I remembered her name to give her credit). The heated patio is adorable, but getting into and out of the restaurant (bathrooms especially) is a risky situtation. DEFINITELY recommend for a date, I can't imagine that there is a more delicious rigatoni on this continent. :)
(5)
Samantha K.

Wow. I was surprised by this place. It was my turn to chose a place to have dinner at with my friend, her boyfriend, and my boyfriend. I turned to yelp for this difficult decision. I saw that Fiorentino's had some pretty good reviews and some not so good. I took a risk anyways and made a reservation. We drove up to this place and started doubting it... But it's always the small, hole in the wall places that has the best food. We walked in and was greeted right away! (Great start) We were seated in the garden-y looking area. It was like we were in Italy! Kind of. We sat down, ordered wine, and took a look at the menu while eating the delicious bread (with olive oil and Parmesan, of course). Everything sounded delicious! I ended up just ordering the Caprese Salad. It's extremely to difficult to mess that dish up. My boyfriend ordered the Penne alla Siciliana and that was delicious!! I loved it. My friend ordered the Manicotti and her boyfriend ordered the Rigatoni alla Boscaiola. I didn't taste either of them, but they looked and smelled really good! The service here was pretty good. Nothing spectacular. I will definitely be back with more friends in the near future!
(4)
Claire S.

Fiorentino's is alright, but I don't see myself ever craving it enough to go back. I got a simple, penne pasta with eggplant, mozzerella, and marinara--pretty hard to mess up. My girlfriend's lobster risotto, which was on special, was absolutely horrible though. Something seemed off with the lobster in it, which was overcooked. The risotto was just an overcooked mushy mess, really. The server seemed a little out of it and wasn't helpful either. The place was pretty busy, so evidently some people like it, but I don't have a reason to return.
(2)
Julie W.

We loved this restaurant. We chose it for the outdoor patio, which is truly lovely, though surprisingly not open air. Plants, Italian lights, very pretty. The food and drinks were excellent.
(4)
Robert W.

The food was kind of flat. Service and ambiance were decent. Had the caesar salad, veal scallopini and tiramisu for restaurant week. The veal was just average, which is unfortunate. Lacked flavor.
(3)
Kyle P.

Sit on deck in summer. Love the pasta and the wine
(5)
Marissa B.

Superb!! I was highly impressed with our visit to Fiorentino's. The inside is cozy, but elegant, with hardwood floors and white linen tablecloths. Our group elected to sit on the patio, which was a fabulous decision on this warm summer night. The server was knowledgeable and friendly, the owner was gracious and charming. Sitting outside was great; ivy climbed the building and the area was surrounded by lush plantings. Portable heaters were stationed... ready for those crisp Fall evenings. (Sob! Don't come too soon, Fall!) The menu offered a nice variety & everyone was happy with their selection. I had the stuffed gnocchi (stuffed w/ricotta) in a tomato cream sauce. Highly recommended! The stuffing made it lighter & not so dense. I went with Heather K. & the fam, so I'll let her dish on the other dishes, as I know she will... seeing as she has a hollow leg & will clear any leftovers within her reach. :) Monday nights featured 1/2 off all bottles of wine regularly priced under $30. There were some nice options as well! BOTTOM LINE: Good service & excellent food make this a great find. Sit on the patio under the twinkling lights for a very enjoyable evening out!
(5)
Bri M.

Very good, not too pricey, easy to sit
(4)
Melissa H.

We walked over to Fiorentino's after finding the wait to be too long across the street. We were able to easily make a reservation on my phone, and we walked over. The staff were friendly and approachable, and were able to seat us 20 minutes before our actual reservation time. Our waitress was very talkative and explained to us that Fiorentino's goes for a simple, rustic flavor with a few local ingredients, as opposed to a lot of complex, exotic flavors. My tortellini was perfectly cooked with nicely salty pancetta and peas. The olive oil at the table is worth noting, with very rich flavors, but the bread is pretty lackluster Italian white loaf. The ambiance is very nice and romantic inside, although a little cramped. A table was close to the main aisle near the front desk and it became a traffic issue when the man at the table decided to stand up for no reason and block everyone's way. I didn't get to check it out too much, but I saw their outdoor patio seating from outside the restaurant, and it looked insanely romantic. I would love to run there on a warmer evening and have my date nose me meatballs Lady and the Tramp-style.
(4)
Lauren S.

I came here awhile ago for dinner with my parents - but it's so good it's definitely worth posting a review now! My parents drove down from Detroit for a weekend and as they were driving along Ashland, noticed this little gem. As it turns out, we ended up eating here not once this weekend but TWICE in one weekend, it was so delicious. We started with the caprese salad which was really excellent - it was really fresh and tasty. Whatever I ate as my entree no longer appears to be listed on the menu, but it was a very tender piece of breaded chicken with a balsamic drizzle and some delicious leafy greens. (If a dish that sounds like that appears on the menu again, I'd definitely recommend it.) The second night I had some risotto dish, which was also really good, though I remember it not being quite as tasty as my previous entree.
(5)
Paulina R.

Absolutely amazing Italian food. I have had my fair share in experiencing Italian restaurants, and definitely felt that this deserved 5 stars! Items you must try on this menu is the crab cake, stuffed gnocchi, and mirabella pasta. I can go on but those are just a few of my favorites here! Anything & everything I tried here were very delish!!!!
(5)
Noelia G.

My husband and I decided to take a couple of our friends there for dinner last night (who had never dined there). Husband and I had been there once previously and had had a good experience, so we thought this would be the perfect place to bring them. I will say our review is not based on the food as the food was Okay (on the bland side) but nonetheless edible. After the appetizers were delivered to our table, the waiter dissapeared for a while (he hadn't taken our dinner entree order). It was a busy time, so its understandable. He comes back, takes our dinner order and a while later we get the food. As we sat there having dinner, the older woman (don't know if she's part owner) comes around each table around us and asks the customers if everything is okay. We must have been flies on the wall because she didn't even bother to look or ask us if everything was okay as she passed inches away from us. How RUDE is that!? By the time we're finished with dinner we have been there close to two hours (which I believe its standard for dinner). We literally have just put our forks down after having dessert, when all of a sudden another waiter comes to our table asking us 'if we are having drinks, can you please go to the bars as there's been a party waiting for an hour to be seated!?". He was very apologetic, but ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING!? You know what, this is not my problem, we came to have dinner and had scheduled a reservation. ITS JUST PLAIN RUDE AND RIDICULOUS! We were not the only table asked to leave. Now I know why our waiter didn't offer the dessert menu and then felt rushed when he brought the examples of dessert. My husband and I were so embarrased and apologized to our friends as we made the decision to bring them here. WE WILL NEVER COME BACK TO THIS PLACE OR RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE.
(1)
Winston S.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this neighborhood gem. Frances and Steven and their whole staff make you feel so welcome and they are true Italians who love and make good food. We have tried about 3/4 of the menu and love it all. Plus, they have one guy who makes the worlds prettiest cappuccino EVERY TIME. He puts high end restaurants to shame!
(5)
Rachel S.

Great place to take your family for a nice, quiet meal when they're in town. Linen table cloths, linen napkins. Quiet, somewhat romantic atmosphere with a family restaurant feel. Service was polite, attentive, informed, and prompt. I had a glass of Chianti, a caprese salad, the crab cake appetizer, and rigatoni with sausage in a tomato cream sauce. GET THE RIGATONI if you like spicy sausage and tomato cream sauce. It was incredible. My sister and Mom had the blue cheese, apple, and fig salad and tortellini. Both were terrific. We'll be back.
(5)
Char Y.

We went there on a saturday and were seated immediately. We were seated at the outdoor/indoor super heated side-house. We ordered crabcake - ok, thought there would be more lump crab meat osso bucco - VERY good, lovely sauce with melt off the bone meat seafood pasta special - gigantic shrimp & scallop mixed in with perfectly al dente pasta. HEAVEN. Bread pudding - by far one of the best I've ever ha. Crusty around the edges with custard like inside. Amazing. The service was excellent, our server is a part of the family who owns restaurant. He was very attentive and considerate. Love the food!
(4)
russ f.

So my partner and I have been coming to the NRA show in Chicago for years. Each year we visit a friend in Lincoln Park and a few years back our buddy took us to Fiorentino's. The first time we went it was slow and we sat on the patio and had a great time. We had great service and excellent food. We have come back year after year and it is one of the highlights of our time in Chicago. Being in the restaurant business we eat out a great deal and I can honestly say that this experience once again was exceptional. The 4 of us shared Veal Marsala, Penne al vodka (off the chart), Manicotti. All we perfect but the highlight was the Meatball app, the sauce was perfect and the flavor of the Meatballs was great as well. Top it off with the inside out, up side down Canoli (actually named "deconstructed" and you need to take a long nap after this meal. Highly suggest Fiorentio's if you love authentic Italian, good service, nice atmosphere and a can't miss Canoli!!
(5)
Chandler H.

Great food and service, price wasn't bad either
(5)
Kapil K.

Food: defintely below average except tilapia which was good but not excellent. Don't go near the pork chop special, it's absolutely useless. Wine list was attrocious. Service: waiter was polite however lacked knowledge of the menu and wine list. I was quite impressed when they brought a free dessert for birthday girl in our party. But wait a minute, few minutes later I saw a charge for it on our check. Who does that... Don't bring me a dessert without asking if u r going to charge me for it; next time select my appetizer and entree for me as well. Overall: I'm not impressed and don't plan to return.
(2)
Grace N.

Ricotta-stuffed gnocci with tomato cream sauce....ahhh....savory pillows of tender goodness in my mouth. I didn't even like gnocci until I tried it here. I've concluded that all gnocci should be stuffed. Atmosphere is charming but crowded, service perfunctory, but I'll go for the gnocci alone.
(4)
Katie W.

This place is adorable, if you get a chance to sit in the outside area, I definitely recommend it. It has pretty white lights throughout and is very romantic :) I've always had great dishes here and the staff is very friendly and helpful. You can also find discounts to this place through Restaurant.com A little pricey but worth it. Great date spot or with a large group of friends.
(4)
Laura O.

Went here for a Birthday dinner for my lady friend. Let's start with the bad (there's only one): service was slow. Lucky for our gentlemen waiter, we were in no rush, and in a chatty mood, but nonetheless... The pasta & salad special on Wednesday nights was too enticing to pass up (18 dolla holla). I chose the Rigatoni with sausage... and let me tell you this, I was depressed that I wouldn't be home the next couple days to eat the leftovers (my roommates lucked out on this one). It was SO tasty!! I wanted every last bite, but I couldn't fit it in my stomach unfortunately. Also, go for the patio in the nice weather. So quaint, and despite busy Ashland traffic, couldn't hear a thing (thank you shrubbery/mother nature).
(4)
Kymberly J.

Helpful tip: You cannot make a reservation for only 2 people on a Friday or Saturday night but if you call ahead 30 minutes before you plan on getting there you can add your party to the wait list. When you arrive you will either get seated right away or wait a short time. The restaurant is divided into 2 spaces with two different atmospheres. When you first wlak in the door the lighting is low and the set up is intimate and romantic. The bar area in the back is kind of awkward because there is no seating and the bar isnt very long so you end up standing around staring at the people eating nearby. The other half is a like a garden with pretty lights and hanging flower baskets. It's a little noisy but still gives you a great family Italian restaurant feel. I had the lemon chicken. A tad dry but still delish! Most Italian restautants load you up with food and past accompanies every dish. My chicken came with a small serving of broccoli and that was it - a bit disappointing but I'd still go back.
(4)
Jennifer A.

When my mother suggested we meet for dinner at a restaurant on Ashland Ave., I was immediately suspicious. My husband and I are foodies, and we did not trust the recommendation. Imagine our surprise when we arrived on a weeknight at Fiorentino's only to find that they were full, and could not accommodate our party of six for dinner. Hmmm. I realized mom may have been onto something. Several weeks later, we decided to return to Fiorentino's and give it a try, and we have been frequent diners ever since. Run by an engaging mother/son duo, the food is wonderful. Although we have never had anything on the menu that was not stellar, we especially enjoy their pasta dishes: Penne alla Siciliana (eggplant with mozzarella) and Rigatoni alla Boscaiola (with sweet Italian sausage) are among our favorites. Be sure to try their crab cakes if they have them, as they are also awesome! The restaurant includes a tented 3-season room that is absolutely delightful; we always request it if available. The icing on the cake is that you can park for free in the Pittsburg Paint lot just north of the restaurant.
(5)
Gina F.

We ordered delivery through GrubHub and found the quality didn't diminish. We had a salad, gnocchi with vodka sauce, tilapia, sauteed spinach, & potatoes vesuvio. The spinach was a little oily, but aside from that, everythinbg arrived piping hot & delicious. It was our early Valentine's, which we celebrated cozy & warm in our home, and the food was perfect.
(5)
Timothy M.

Let me start off by saying that i've been in the food and beverage industry for thirteen years and love going out and experiencing the great places Chicago has to offer. Some are good and some are bad but this is the first time I have actually wrote a review. When someone writes a review it is usually not a positive review and so is the case with this one. I live in the area and pass the place everytime I go to and from Jewel and is a place I have always wanted to try. So my date and I wanted to go out to eat at a place that had a patio so we went here. We walk in; the decor on the inside is nice and inviting and request to be sat on the patio. As soon as we walk out the door we quickly realize that the entire patio is enclosed with plastic and actually has a/c so im assuming they never actually use the patio in the traditional sense. We sit down at the table and review the menu which looks good on paper; thats about it. Our server Daniel? (tall, lanky guy) started off the whole dining experience in a very awkward way. We said we would just need a few minutes to look things over (wine list, menu, etc.) but continued to stand there awkwardly for about ten seconds not saying a word then walked away leaving my date and I looking at each other and wondering if he was on some sort of drugs. We finally decided on a wine selection and waited for a good amount of time before we just told the busser what we wanted, he seemed more attentive with our table than our actual server. We finally got our wine which was not quality at all, figured out what we wanted and then our awkward waiter finally came over and took our order but then again just stood at our table after we were done ordering as if he wanted us to give him more items to order; we did not. My date ordered the Bolognese and I ordered the Chicken fettuccine alfredo. The fettuccine wasnt bad in taste, a little overboard with the oil (take some home and reheat it and youll understand) and nutmeg? Yes, had a strong nutmeg flavor. But its the bolognese that was piss poor, Chef Boyardee could have done better. In fact my date took some home and added a few more ingredients like sugar (key ingredient in a good bolognese sauce) garlic salt, etc. You get the picture. We finished, had the busser box up our food and then cue awkward server. He came over asked if we would care for any desert, we didnt, then stood there again as in disbelief we didnt want anything else. Basically what i'm getting at is that the place looks great from the outside but enter at your own risk at what you'll encounter inside. Very strange experience and I highly recommend staying away, especially for the price. Many other great places around the area for italian (La Gondola, Via Carducci, etc.) Hope this review has helped you all out.
(1)
M G.

This is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city & most def my favorite. It's romantic and quaint & the staff is awesome. The whole staff here treats you like family. I just went here again this past weekend with my husband & I must say that there has never been a thing on the menu that I haven't liked. Thank you Fiorentino's for bringing real Italian food to us in the Chi ! I will go here again and again.
(5)
Kristin K.

I went to this restaurant hoping for greatness, maybe that was where I went wrong. After being seated, watered, and breaded (mediocre bread basket, btw), we sat for 20 minutes without service before I finally decided to take action. I went to the hostess to ask where our server was because I wanted to order an appetizer and a glass of wine-ok, there seemed to be some confusion and somehow they had overlooked us but the waiter was very apologetic and gave me my glass of wine on the house-a nice gesture. The fried calamari: the breading, although light and airy, was bland and flavorless. It was served with a side of watered down cocktail sauce...not tradition marinara like any other italian restaurant I've dined at. Our dishes: Mine was traditional oven baked lasagna. It had meat, spinach, mushrooms, and melted mozzarella. It was ok. I think most of the flavor/it's only redeeming quality was from the ground beef. Boyfriend had eggplant parmigiana, which was soggy and flavorless. It was served with a side of pasta. He thought he could prepare this dish better at home, and he did not finish eating it. Both of our dishes were swimming in a pool of generic, watery red sauce. For the most part, my experience with the staff was good but as far as the food is concerned, it's just "meh". And even if we HAD liked our dishes, there wasn't even enough left over to take home. At $15 a dish, I'd expect more.
(2)
Lauren R.

We found ourselves here on a Saturday night and were seated within about 10 minutes. We chose to wait a little longer to get an actual table away from the bar; when all was said and done, we ended up being seated at an awkwardly placed table.. still in the bar area, but hey, we got over that pretty quickly. The food was great.. we had caprese salad and fettucini alfredo and key lime cheesecake for dessert. Besides the seating, the only not so great thing was the cost... a little pricey for the food. While it was great, it was fettucini alredo... not an incredibly complicated thing. We will definitely go back, but will just be prepared to empty the wallet a little more than usual and will also know next time to ask for a table on the patio... this is apparently the secret. Quite a few people requested this while we were waiting.. and yes it's January but the patio is enclosed and heated. This will prevent getting another awkwardly placed table in a place that doesn't seem like there should be a table. But yes, great place all in all.
(4)
JoVonna M.

Went here on one of my last nights in Chicago... What was I waiting for?? Seating was cozy- the all season room was fabulous. My friend and I paid a cork fee for BYOB, but our waitress told us about it before she opened our wine. Our entrees were spectacular!! All in all, when I go back to visit Chicago, I will enjoy dinner here again.
(5)
Sarah Beth B.

This was the very first place I ate when I moved to Chicago, and loved it. I went back a few weeks ago, and wasn't disappointed. I went on a late friday night date, and we sat on the patio as the restaurant slowly cleared out. We skipped apps and went straight to entrees (after we downed the yummy bread). I had papardelle with ragu, he had the special risotto, and we spent a good part of the night discussing who ordered better. The service was prompt and friendly, and it's totally affordable for how excellent the food is. I'll be back!
(4)
Susan C.

We choose this restaurant because of GrouponNow and a desire to not spend a ton of money at dinner....after being seated in their comfy (if possibly over decorated with fake plants) garden, one glance at the impressively authentic Italian menu and that was right out the window. Our only regret is that we wanted to eat our courses shared, but in the Italian style of Antipasti, Primi and Secondi and our waiter brought both the Primi and the Secondi as Entrees at the same time. As everything looked really good, we went with waiter recommendations for each of our courses: Carpaccio: meh. The arugla was overdressed and completely overshadowed the tenderloin Linguine Fruitti del Mar: Better. Filling and tasty. Ps- "zesty" stands for al diavolo Halibut special: PURE HEAVEN. This waiter earned my undying red wine-toothed love with recommending this dish that almost had me swatting my date's fork away. Luckily, he was occupied getting muscles out of shells and I snuck in a few extra bites and still got to look like a lady! They topped the halibut with a slightly crispy layer of gravlax and capers. My mouth is still watering. After one bite I turned to my date and said, "If they have cannoli here, we're getting it." They did....but it wasn't a traditional cannoli. it was "deconstructed" cannoli. Let me state for the record that a cannoli doesn't need any cosmetic improvements. It doesn't need any boosted up or injected flavors or painted on extras. Just like that Bruno Mars tune- It is perfect and beautiful just the way it is. So, I clung to my skepticism until I tasted it....and it was good. I still think it looked a little silly in the presentation (kinda like guac and chips) but it was still the simple sweet cheesy goodness that makes it one of my favorite desserts.
(4)
Natalie B.

I really like Fiorentino's - for 2 reasons. 1) They do traditional Italian food right - it's consistently good and never boring. 2) Service is fantastic! I love the fact that this is a family-owned restaurant, and that truly comes across in the pride and passion the staff has for their food/service. Plus - how charming is their back room?! On spring/summer nights, it's a lovely tree shaded patio with just the right amount of outside breeze. In the fall/winter they close the open areas and it's a cozy space with white twinkle lights above. Great atmosphere. Perfect for a date night or a fun girls night. Fantastic wine list - fab Italian reds and good whites. Calamari - must get - i think it's the best in the city. Lightly breaded, not to fried and tender, never rubbery. Excellent! Their pastas are homemade and they are fabulous - seriously can't go wrong with any selection. Personally, I love the rigatoni with sweet Italian sausage, mushrooms and tomato cream sauce. The stuffed gnocchi is incredible too. the last time I was here, I had the Osso Buco - perfect. Fell off the bone and the sauce was delicious. OK so i would have given Fiorentino's 5 stars, but my only complaint is their dessert selection. Meh. Not wonderful, not all that inspired. In typical old-school Italian fashion, they cart out the ole dessert tray, filled with about 6 selections, but they don't look that appetizing. The tiramisu was too soggy. But I've been here 3 times and I would absolutely come back. Just skip dessert.
(4)
Scott S.

The food was fantastic, especially the stuffed gnocchi and the chocolate mousse dessert.
(5)
Karen A.

Surprisingly delicious, solid Italian fare, yes, on Ashland Avenue. What's so great about this place? The bread was hot and fresh, served with olive oil and parmesan. House dressing on the salad- Italian with blue cheese (awesome). Menu- all the expected Italian pleasures and more. Specials- from Sea Bass to Osso Bucco- delicious daily selections. Wine list- wow- I was surprised at the GREAT selection and fair prices. Excellent martinis! Service- 5 stars. Attentive, not overbearing. Atmosphere- Romantic, warm and relaxing. Parking- Easy peasy, right on that stretch of Ashland. I have been there several times and Fiorentinos is the best traditional Italian food in Lakeview. Surprise!
(5)
Jackie P.

Great place to take a date! We went on a Monday night so it wasn't very busy, but they still took care in seating us so there was a two table separation between people. It is bigger than I expected (looks small from the outside) with three separate rooms for dining. The outdoor/four-season room was well-heated despite being a cool night in November. The entire place has adorable decor with quite a romantic vibe. Our server was very good, highly attentive. They brought comp birthday desserts to the table next us. Their menu is pretty extensive and that includes seasonal dishes as well (I had the pumpkin ravioli). Be forewarned that the desserts on the display are significantly smaller than the actual desserts. If you're remotely full, you should definitely split one. Drink/wine list is also extensive. All in all, great dinner and ambience. Would be good for groups as well. Check online at restaurant.com as they have $25 certificates for $3 (with promo codes), but make sure to read the fine lines as you have to spend at least $50 to be able to use it. Sorta pricey ~$18pumpkin ravioli - $34 filet), but worth the spend.
(4)
tina m.

I SO wanted to love this place. I had heard some many great things, and drive past it all the time, so it was time for my husband and I to stop in. Meh. A+ on the atmosphere! Super cozy with soft candle lighting on each table. D- on the service, our waitress was super nice at first but she never returned! Or so it felt that way... She took our appetizer and it felt like an hour before she returned just to bring our wine and take our order, then another hour to check to see how we were, then another hour to bring our food. I swear, it was like we went in on Friday but didn't leave until Sunday! The appetizer was hideous. We ordered muscles and they were overwhelmingly fishy, you could smell it a mile away. No good. I ordered the "Netherlands Salmon" special and it was just okay, but not too much flavor...however the fennel salad that came with it was pretty decent (but I mean, it's a salad). My husband did enjoy his pasta so they've got that going for them... It's a really cute place, it's just too bad that we had bad service, and the food wasn't anything to write home about. I say pass on this one.
(2)
Robyn M.

AMAZING! That's all you need to know. The service is always wonderful - polite, attentive and friendly. The house wines are delicious and the mixed drinks are nice and strong haha. The food is alway prepared fabulously and the portions are large enough that I usually have some leftovers to heat up the next day. For such a classy place the prices really aren't too bad either. (It usually is about $50 for 2 of us with a drink and entree each.) Perfect place for a date night or a casual dinner with friends.
(5)
Michelle D.

This place was not very good. The service was incredibly slow and the food lacked flavor. We started with the bruschetta which was presented on slighlty charred bread which overpowered the bland tomato topping. Adding some salt, pepper, parmesean, olive oil and anything else I could find on the table to add flavor could not save it. This is the city, not the suburbs. It is okay to not serve bland food! Next, I had the rigatoni with sausage. The pasta was cooked fine; however, there was a lot of added pepper throughout the dish which overpowered it. The sausage was okay and I think I would have liked the tomato sauce had all the excess pepper not been added. And then it took FOREVER for our check or also a check-in after our meal arrived. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I do not get a new glass of wine when the entree arrives. Our waiter did not come back to check in on us between our appetizers and entrees so I was not able to order a new glass to replace my practically empty one. And I was halfway finished with my entree before he even came by. There are so many other wonderful italian restaurants in the city (Caro Mio, Sabatinos, La Scarola, and even La Gondola in the strip mall across from Fiorentinos). I would not waste my time or money on this place. Very disappointing. On a positive note, they had a nice, reasonable wine list and the bread was served warm.
(1)
Raoul D.

I have been to Fiorentino's a dozen times and the people that own the restaurant could not be any nicer. They truly aim to please. The food has historically been excellent but on my last visit they seem to be getting complacent. The caesar salad was un inspired and the past was mediocre. I will certainly return but I hope this was an aberration and not the new norm
(3)
Jon S.

This was suggested by a college friend and it turned out to be great! They have inside seatIng and an outdoor air conditioned patio. Pretty unique given that it was about 90 degrees outside! Very good staff and menu! Had the spaghetti vongole as a main dish, and the risotto balls as an appetizer. Good wine list and I enjoyed a glass of the Pinot Grigio. I will definitely be back as it feels like a hidden neighborhood "gem" as referenced in other reviews. May not still offer it, but you get 10% off your bill if you "check in" there on Yelp!
(4)
Jennifer B.

Ah...the stars aligned for our dinner at Fiorentino's.... -- The perfect table (outdoors, by the flowers) -- The perfect server (John! He's a hoot) -- The perfect meal (more on that in a moment) -- The perfect wine list (red wine bottles start at $26....holla!) The food here is amazing....as other reviewers have noted Fiorentino's definitely knows what they're doing. We had the brushetta appetizer, which was probably the least thrilling. The caesar salad is huge and the dressing was lighter than some of those caesar dressings that you could cut with a fork. I had the salmon which was incredible, and we also got the gnocchi which is a signature for Fiorentinos. The dessert was fantastic too and I love restaurants where they bring around the dessert tray. Something about "see food" makes me ultimately say, "Sure!" I love when restaurants don't go crazy with their wine prices, and Fiorentino's has many bottles under $30! The selection is great for both red and white. Finally the service was fantastic, and nothing like eating outside on a nice summer's night amongst beautiful flowers that Fiorentino's has planted. Overall, such an A+ experience and we will definitely be back.
(5)
Fred E.

Had dinner here Tuesday night with a group of friends. Atmosphere was nice. Table was cozy. Waitstaff was excellent and attentive, even though we had to wait a bit for all our party to arrive. I had the halibut with Brussels sprouts and mussels and it was FABULOUS! Everyone enjoyed their food. The calamari, cabrese salad, and bruschetta appetizers were good. The desert tray was to die for. We'll be back!
(5)
Elyse P.

I have been to Fiorentino's twice and have really enjoyed it both times! The first was during restaurant week and the second more recently. Solid food, nice service, all in all a very enjoyable night out.
(4)
Eric M.

Went here last Friday with my girlfriend since we were craving come Italian. Will definitely come back, and I think it's the best Italian in the area. Even on a Friday night, it wasn't too busy so we easily got a table outside so we could have a dinner under the stars! OK, there was a tarp and we're in the middle of Chicago so no stars to be seen, but being outside while still warm was nice. We picked out a bottle of white wine. It was one of the featured selections and it was so good I took a picture of the label so we could buy some more later. Great price too. Next up was a Caesar salad. The dressing had a lot of flavor for how light it was. A good balance. Not my favorite Caesar, I like my very creamy, but definitely solid. Also, good bread and olive oil on the side. Parmesan cheese at the table was also a nice addition. My GF had the gnocchi (we did not know everybody on yelp raved about it) and found it incredible. It was light and pillowy but still again with tons of flavor. I had the specialty pasta which was a black fettuccine with sundried tomatoes, and shrimp. It had a really nice creamy taste which balanced a cheesy Alfredo flavor with a seafood seasoning. Not as good as her gnocchi (Nochi? Nocky? Ganochi?) but again, very solid. And then we had some chocolate balls for desert. TL;DR - Gnocchi is great, great ambiance, good prices. Find me a better Italian place in Lakeview that is better.
(4)
Lauren F.

Stopped into Fiorentino's around 7:30 on a Saturday night with no reservation-the wait was about 40 minutes and we were able to put back a couple glasses of wine at the bar so we were fine with waiting. We were seated on their outdoor patio which was really nice, despite looking at the Pier 1 sign across the street-candle lit tables, vines up the walls, and christmas lights across the ceiling made it a perfect setting for date night. We started with the Arancini which are rice balls filled with peas, mozzarella, and meat. This combination of ingredients inside a fried ball was interesting-tasty but we weren't quite sure what to make of them. For our main courses my boyfriend ordered the Lasagna and I ordered their signature pasta-Fettucine Maribella, both were outstanding. The Fettucine Maribella is black fettucini with asaparagus, sun dried tomatoes, sweet peppers, and shrimp and scallops in a light alfredo sauce-absolutely delicious! I've never seen black fettucini-green-yes, red-yes, but not black. It was very interesting-couldn't really taste a differerence but it looked like I was eating strings of spinach or seaweed or something....I digress. The dish was amazing-super fresh ingredients, pasta cooked to a perfect al dente, and again, perfectly cooked shrimp and scallops. My boyfriend got the Lasagna which was also delicious-not your standard lasagna-in addition to the layers of perfect pasta, meat, gooey mozzarella, and a tomato sauce to die for, their version also included mushrooms and spinach-yum. As good as the food was, I really struggled with handing out 4 stars-the service was absolutely awful. The hostess and bartender were very nice and on the ball but our waiter was absolutely awful-we couldn't figure out why he was always MIA-someone else brought our drinks, someone else brought our food-what was he doing? We got our meals and didn't see him until we were ready for a box-somebody else had delivered our plates to the table and he never even came by to ask if everything was ok and if we needed anything else. Had it not been for the food being so fantastic, his service would have merited 2 stars. They were also out of Tiramisu-seriously? an Italian restaurant out of Tiramisu? Luckily we hopped across Ashland and were able to pick up some Tiramisu from La Gondola in the shopping center and it was delish. Overall-great food but way below par service. Will we be back? Maybe....if we can't get a table at La Gondola.
(4)
Sara S.

Went with 3 others on valentines day and glad we did! We made last minute reservations, so we sat at 9:15. The waiter was so friendly and personable even through it was probably the end of a long night. We sat in the "patio" area. Decorations are a little corny (fake plants, etc) but it's dimly lit and pretty and romantic. The 2 guys got the gnocchi with tomato cream sauce which they said was one of the best they've had (I like la gondolas better), I got the linguini del mar, which was really good- huge shrimp and tons of calamari. Another girl got the broccoli and pasta dish with garlic olive oil sauce- probably wouldn't get that again. We also got the fig salad, whuchnwas really good and the calamari- awesome. We are only a few houses down so we'll be back!
(4)
Seeshil P.

Went here for V-day. The food was decent the ambiance was nice. Overall I enjoyed but would not say it was my favorite.
(3)
M W.

Nice atmosphere. Great date place. Food is 3 stars. Service 4 stars. Ambiance 4 stars.
(4)
Lindsay S.

I went here last night with my boyfriend for our Valentine's Day celebration. Our meal was fantastic. Great fish and pasta. Very authentic. Server was wonderful. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Liliana C.

This place is exceptional. The service was uniformly excellent, courteous, and cheerful. Our requests were accommodated flawlessly, the drinks were truly special... and the food is mouth-watering, the stuff of dreams. We ordered the Arugula salad, a veal dish, and the gnocchi with tomato cream sauce... HEAVENLY! This place is a gem.
(5)
Lauren B.

Probably the best meatballs I've ever had. We got them by mistake, actually, and didn't realize it wasn't what we ordered (duh!). The waiter caught the error so we got a free appetizer. They have a nice cocktail list. Delicious apple martini. The entrees were good too. Not the best, not the worst but completely solid. I would definitely go here again. There's a nice patio area that's sealed off and heated for the winter but I imagine is lovely in the summer.
(4)
Ye L.

Location is a bit weird with no other similar restaurants nearby, but at least the sign is pretty visible. Parking is easy as there is a paint store nearby that closes early and doesn't tow after business hours (at least according to their sign) or a big shopping plaza across the street. Was here late on a Friday night. The interior was small but cozy and felt very much like eating at someone's house, just with more tables. Had to wait for a table for 2 minutes too many at the hostess station despite there being open tables. The hostess (who I think was just the manager or owner of the place) just took care of other business for a while until a waiter came and got me himself. Awkward and inexcusable. The menu was a good length with sufficient variation but I have Italian so rarely that I ended up having a hard time picking. The waiter was only useful enough to point to all the boxed and starred items (their house favorites and specials, respectively), which is of course not super useful. The waiter also managed to grate on me by offering service in the weirdest way. He was frequently unavailable, despite the hostess station being within view. The waiters all just hung out there and decided when it was convenient to drop by. When he did, the service was faux friendly. The food was OK. Their olive oil and bread was probably the highlight of it all. Might have just gotten bad options. However, given the service, not worth going back to find out.
(2)
Brian M.

Recently went here with the future in laws to use a restaurant.com gift cert. It wasn't a very good experience. It started out great with the hard crusty Italian bread, but that was where our meal peaked. The calamari app was rubbery and overcooked. My seafood risotto entree was on special and was made with frozen broccoli florets that totally watered down my meal. The seafood in the risotto was ok but the whole thing was ruined without a creamy sauce, it was a mushy and watery mess. I don't think I'll be back here unless I'm forced to go.
(2)
Jerry U.

I haven't written an update to a review before - but I felt compelled to do so after my disappointing group dinner here last night. I hadn't been back since our July 2012 group dinner and I had a bunch of friends coming into the city that wanted Italian and I highly suggested this place based on my first experience here. Unfortunately, most of us left disappointed last night. Did we have some good food - yes. But we all left with the same impression - okay food, mediocre service at best, and simply not worth the money given other great options for neighborhood Italian fare. In my first review, I said I think I just ordered the wrong dish. This trip I ordered the Salmon and it was just okay. They were trying hard to upsell us to the $30 entree specials and when they asked how everything was - I commented that the Salmon was just okay and the response was simply - "told you that you should have gotten the special". Really? Service was an issue last night and they kept commenting that they had a big party in the other room but others seemed to be getting their food before us so it really just felt like an off night for us. Sometimes a second visit to a restaurant confirms the place as a keeper - for me - this second trip confirmed that there are MUCH better neighborhood Italian restaurants for the money.
(2)
Billy B.

I was going to give Fiorentino's three stars but after really thinking about it I deem this four star worthy. First of all, you cannot usually go out in Chicago, order enough food for two, have a decent meal, and consume two glasses of wine for under $60. Well, here you can and the food is good. I will say that I laughed to myself when I entered this quaint Italian restaurant and saw 6 meat head looking men all at the host stand. Not exactly what I was expecting to see. However, one of said meat heads turned out to be a very good waiter and took good care of us. I was especially pleased with the freshness of the mozarella in the caprese salad and the pesto sause was solid on the gnocci. We did not get to sit outside so I cannot speak to that aspect of the restaurant but all in all I was happy.
(4)
Damian C.

Cute little Italian restaurant - it is easy to miss if you're driving too fast down the road. And while I did play it somewhat safe with my spaghetti with garlic and oil, I was not completely sold on any of our dishes. My spaghetti had so much garlic that I not only had to separate most of it out (it actually became the joke of the table) but none of my friends wanted to go near me for a few days! The waitress actually ended up pitching our friends take-out in the trash, and it was nice of them to make some for her to take home.
(2)
Erica C.

My fiance and I ordered Fiorentino's one night when we were craving Italian food. I ordered their house specialty - Fettuccine Mirabella. IT IS SO GOOD!! It's a little creamy, a little spicy and the seafood is cooked perfectly - and we ordered delivery! It came within 30 minutes and I was extremely impressed. I cannot wait to order again!
(4)
Erin T.

About a year ago, my family visited Fiorentino's for dinner. I can't remember anything remarkable about it so I never reviewed it. Recently my husband and I were trying to find someplace different to go for dinner. We live pretty close to Fiorentino's, so we thought we would give it a try. We had a great dining experience. Our server was fantastic. He was very helpful when choosing a wine, very prompt with drinks, orders etc; however, he wasn't obnoxiously all over us. It was a great experience. The food was fantastic as well. I ordered the tortellini in an alfredo sauce. It was seriously SO good that I ordered it for take-out when my husband was out of town. My husband had the chicken picante. He said it was fantastic. We will definitely be coming back to Fiorentino's soon.
(4)
Whitney R.

It was so pricey for mediocre food! I'll never go back and I had been dying to try it every time I drive by and see their beautiful patio. My risotto sucked! I've never disliked a risotto before and I never even ate my leftovers-which were plenty since I didn't even want to eat the crunchy rice the first time I tried to eat it! To top it off the bottle of wine we ordered was terrible. You're better off making italian at home or trying somewhere better for this price.
(2)
tony f.

Took my parents here last weekend for my dad's birthday. Great place that I'd highly recommend. Free parking which is always a plus. Nice ambiance and friendly staff. The food was good but I wasn't really blown away by anything which might be my own fault for ordering something I don't normally eat (pumpkin ravioli). My wife got the duck risotto which i thought was awesome, she thought it was just alright.. Otherwise I'd give 5 stars. My wife and I plan to go back and try something different.
(4)
Stacy Y.

I made a reservation for a bachelorette party of 10 and requested outdoor seating, they could not guarantee a table on the patio but assured me they would try to. We had some time issues and i had to push back our reservation by 1/2 hour and our party shrank to 8 guests. I let Fiorentino's know in advance and they were very accommodating, which I appreciated. We arrived for dinner and I had my fingers crossed the patio table would come through - and it sure did. It's a lovely little space with a fountain in back and all sorts of plants, definitely a respite in the middle of the city. Besides the odd looks we got from other patrons because we were wearing leis (Hey, it's an island wedding and no penis paraphernalia allowed per the bride), the evening was flawless. We skipped out on appetizers, enjoyed what seemed like never-ending bread, an entree, a cocktail each and a few espressos at the end of our meal - our final bill came in at $205 (including tax & tip) for 8 of us! I was pleased to say the least. The food was wonderful: there were generous portions, a dish for everyone (despite how picky their tastes were) and we did a lot of sharing! Some dishes we had included: the lasagna, eggplant parmesan, stuffed gnocchi w/ tomato cream - but the star of the show was definitely the mussel dish. Oh how I envied the bride-to-be!! Not because of the awesome dude she's marrying or the huge rock on her finger, but because I wanted her mussels and angel hair pasta. I did have the stuffed gnocchi with pesto and it did not disappoint (although next time i'm getting the mussels). All in all it was a very nice experience and everyone really enjoyed their dinner. Thanks, Fiorentino's!
(4)
Kimberly R.

Love this place. Truly authentic!! I've had several appetizers & dishes and they were all great. Love the indoor and covered outdoor area. Great Ambiance!! The service is as good as the food. Last time I was there I witnessed a proposal. The ring was brought out in her champagne!! On the flip side really not great for kids. So make it a gathering with friends or your sweetheart. Give them a try, you will love them....
(5)
Danielle S.

So great! My boyfriend and I were trying to find a cute Italian place to go for my birthday, and we decided to check out Fiorentino's. SO glad we did! The ambiance was romantic, while still being fun, the service was friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious-- the gnocchi, especially. And if you get dessert, the deconstructed cannoli is a must. Plus, they give you bread refills without you having to ask--always a plus. Highly recommended!
(4)
Justin W.

My wife and I ate at Fiortentino's tonight. The atmosphere and decor are fantastic. I really liked the look and feel of the (well-heated) outdoor patio area. Service was fair -- the waiter was attentive and nice, but also brought us the check at the same time that he brought dessert, which I found off-putting. We split two appetizers - baked clams and bruschetta. The bruschetta was pretty good. The tomatoes were high quality and tasty, but the dish was too light on the basil. The baked clams were delicious - you could smell the garlic a mile away. We had gnocchi and the halibut special for entrees. The gnocchi was excellent -- light and fluffy like soft little pillows. The marinara sauce, however, was pretty good but not great. The halibut, on the other hand, was fantastic from top to bottom. It was cooked nicely, and it came in a lemon butter caper sauce that was flavorful without being oily. Overall, Fiorentino's is a solid choice for Italian, but it did not blow me out of the water.
(3)
Anne W.

Stuffed gnocchi with tomato cream sauce= worth the calories. Lasagna= worth the calories. Not sure about everything else, but good wine list. Parking available.
(4)
M M.

So comfy and so yummy! I cannot wait to go back again!
(4)
Liz P.

This was a wonderful little Italian place. My rigatoni alla boscaiola was SO very delicious, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The wine was poured generously and they had a decent selection. The atmosphere was so great, not cheesy with silly faux Italian decorations but simple with dim lighting. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great Italian joint. Can't wait to come back.
(4)
jeff c.

Found this via drive by. Had a cool exterior and looked inviting. A bit small inside, esp bar area. But this is definitely one of the better Italian places places I've been to. Eggplant parm is quite good. Service friendly. A good choice.
(4)
Cindy D.

YUMMY!! Went here to celebrate a birthday and shared the following dishes.. Crabcake appetizer - NO fillers at all, it's all delectable crab meat! Great horsey sauce (I think) on the side. Portabella mushroom appetizer - great size, I thought it was going to be small, but two huge caps came with it. Calamari - Nice sizable pieces with a great crunch. 2 orders of the infamous GNOCCI - with tomato cream sauce it literally melts in your mouth! After my first bite, I said "It really is pillowy soft" :) Rigotoni - it was my lest favorite part of the meal. Good, but wasn't the highlight. Finally, side of spinach - we needed some veggies.. Also, we were there at Tuesday, so 2 apps were 1/2 off! So the bill was $100, with tip for all that great food.
(5)
Sam J.

Ranking: 3 and a half stars. It's better than "A-OK" but I'm not necessarily a fan. It'd be 4 stars if the food was better. My wife and I went on a Saturday night. It wasn't too crowded, but I believe that's because we arrived just before 7 without a reservation. We sat outside in the patio area. Food: It was alright. We started with your average calamari. It was ordinary. I ordered the yelpfamous stuffed gnocchi and while it was fairly tasty, it didn't blow my hair back. She ordered a ribbon pasta dish with bolognese and meatballs. It was also lacking something. Dessert was spumoni (always good) and some very good rich coffee. Service: Our waiter was a genuinely nice guy. He was attentive, without being overbearing, and we tipped him well. Also, the folks at the desk and bartender were very nice and welcoming. No issues there. Ambience: We sat outside on the patio and it was great. It could've been a little more romantic (dim the lights, maybe?) and there was this fishy smell wafting thru the area. Maybe it was my upper lip. At any rate, it was good but not great.
(3)
Eric G.

I had high expectations of Fiorentino's but my meal failed to be worthy of a four or five star rating. My girlfriend and I started out with the crab cake. This was a nice start to the meal. It was one large crab cake and it tasted fresh. For my entree, I had the angel hair pasta with broccoli, garlic, and five of the biggest shrimp I have seen in a long time in a white wine sauce. The shrimp were huge but the meal as a whole lacked flavor. I was expecting something with more kick and character. If I ordered the stuffed gnocchi like my girlfriend did, then this would easily be a four star review. The stuffed gnocchi was amazing and the sauce it came with was delicious. Neither of us had any room for dessert, but we both admired all the good looking treats displayed on the dessert tray. Overall, my meal at Fiorentino's fell shy of my expectations. That being said, the service was excellent and the ambiance was unique.
(3)
Ingrid R.

It was fine - but not phenomenal. The service was good but I felt the waiter tried to hard. I know upselling when I see it. No I don't need extra meat on my bolognese! The outside (covered in this frigid weather) is beautiful. It really was lovely. The food was fine but nothing amazing. I wouldn't rule out going again, but I'm sure there are plenty of other Italian places to try first. That back room though....
(3)
Risa P.

Well I think that this place is delicious. It is close to home, the atmosphere is nice, the owners are nice. The service was okay...we waited a little for our food but yum yum. First the bread is yummy and served warm. Pair that with nice olive oil and it is hard not fill up on bread! We each had a cool glass of white wine which was crisp and nice on a summer night. We shared the eggplant pasta and the tilapia with white wine sauce. The fish was super flaky and yummy, and was surrounded by sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms and artichoke hearts. The pasta was also delicious with eggplant. It was cooked well. We took the triple layer ganache cake home. It is still in the fridge. I am thinking about it now. I haven't sat outside here (uh, with this summer, it is freezing) but I think that would be a nice atmosphere. We were kind of close to another table at the beginning but since we were there late, it kind of cleared out, which was nice. Very romantic, good food.
(4)
Alison H.

I adored Fiorentino's the first time I went there, so much so that I ate there five or six times in the four months or so after my first visit. Since then, I've cooled a bit on the restaurant, but still like it. It's a nice family-owned, good Italian restaurant, in an area (Ashland just north of Diversey) that can use a good Italian place. Positives: cute place inside (although better toward the front: sitting toward the back feels a bit like sitting in the kitchen), adorable patio on the side of the restaurant, and a very friendly, involved owner. Most importantly: the stuffed gnocci is HEAVEN. You would think that gnocci stuffed with ricotta might be heavy, but it's not. Light, delicate, delicious! The fried calamari is also good. Negatives: I haven't been impressed with the service. Once I had good service, but the other times have varied from just okay to pretty bad. Food wise, I find the desserts just "okay", and I am not a fan of the marinara sauce...although the vodka sauce is terrific. Overall, Fiorentino's is definitely worth checking out. Get the stuffed gnocci!
(3)
Kristin C.

I went here to carbo load at 5 p.m. the night before a big run. I didn't think it was humanly possible to eat as much as I did that night - whoa, mama. We sat outside in a pleasant little garden that successfully hid the large Jewel across the street. There were fountains and greens back there - just lovely. After I ate my weight in olive oil-soaked bread, our waiter brought out my appetizer (my date had a crab cake, yes we each had our own appetizer) the beef carpaccio over Caesar salad. Loved the salad SO MUCH I ordered another serving (just salad sans bright red beef) The carpaccio was OK, you know, raw. Would I order it again? Not so much. For my entree I had the penne pasta with pancetta, red pepper and some spicy marinara. I am not a huge pasta fanatic but I loved this dish and all the heat it brought. Bring it pasta, bring it! Think I was done eating after that? Nope, I am a camel with an empty hump! As soon as my date swallowed his last bite of lobster risotto (he tried this because he always sees people make risotto on Top Chef and Hell's Kitchen. . did I mention he was drinking since noon?) I was thinking dessert tray, dessert tray. Tirimisu? Why yes, mind reader! It was kind of a measly slice, not the best. Would I order it again? Doubtful. I liked the atmosphere and the service at Fiorentino's. I don't know if one needs to order as much food as we did, but it sure was some solid, upbeat, tasty fun!
(4)
Mark T.

New to the Chicago area, I often trek around in search of new things. I initially came to this area of the city in search of La Gondola ( I was craving Calamari) Unfortunately I had written the address wrong and didn't turn my head to look in a stripmall (Which is where i found la gondola after leaving here) The positive: Very quaint interior esp in the table seating area, the patio looked nice and the prices seemed reasonable. The negative: The bar area is not so quaint as I sat watching the waiters do prep work, the food is plain an unimaginative (the marinara taste like sauce from spaghetti-o's. maybe as an Italian my standards are too high?) It took through the entire duration of my meal for one of the owners to get up from his table where he sat reading, to ask if everything was ok. I felt that this little place had potential but definitely was not impressed. I will be heading the same direction soon, but will be across the street @ La Gondola.
(2)
Julee M.

I went here on a Friday night with a friend. The place is really cute inside. Overall we had a good experience. I had chicken marsala and and my friend had a steak dish (a special I think) and both were good. We also order an appetizer that was on special but the server forgot to bring it to us and we had to remind her. We didn't get it until we had finished our entrees. I felt it should have been comped but it wasn't. It was good though. Martinis were average. Overall the food was really good but I've had better. I'd go back but there are many other places in the city I want to try and it wasn't exceptional enough to make me crave it. A good option though for a tasty Italian meal in a nice atmosphere.
(3)
Ali O.

nom nom nom nom nom nom nom I'ma run a train on this food. Yup. the food is that good. So what is delicious? All of it. Their menu is huge and delicious. If you like octopus, I'd really recommend their grilled octopus appetizer. It's not at all chewy or rubbery. Also, get dessert! Lemon cheesecake and pistachio gelato = heaven. This restaurant is a little slice of heaven right on nasty ashland avenue. They do a phenomenal job of making you forget where you are!
(5)
Karen E.

Go here if you want good atmosphere and good food. The food was not amazing but it was not bad either. I had a good time here.
(3)
maura c.

Great hidden gem in the neighborhood.........tasty baked clams and fettuccine mirabella My husband and I attended yesterday's cooking class, which we would highly recommend The owner, Frances Fiorentino, makes everyone feel welcome and at home Wonderful restaurant!
(5)
Katie C.

You should go here. The outdoor patio is a mini-haven in Chicago, and especially Ashland Ave. The stuffed gnocci were like little pillows of sunshine in my mouth. Wine half off on Mondays (only 2 bottles thought, what's up with that??!) is a great value). Service was good, but a bit obtrusive at times.
(4)
Meghan R.

Stopped in here Saturday night for dinner with my sister. We were seated on the enclosed patio which was nice and warm. It was a bit crowded but the ambiance was lovely and my sister and I had an overall good time. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed with the Fettucini Alfredo - it lacked the creaminess that Alfredo is known for and was instead a bit too oily. My sister's dish, however, was incredible. She had the stuffed gnocchi with a creamy tomato sauce and it was delicious. Service was okay - had to ask FOUR times for more bread. I know it was a busy night, but really, four times? Overall, it was a nice night and nice treat for my sister and I.
(4)
Meg O.

I came here with a party of 5 because of the rave reviews on Check, Please and I really wish we had saved our money. I was really looking forward to a nice dinner out with friends on a Saturday night, and we all had a very mediocre time based on the sub-par service we received and the average food. Half of our party arrived on time, the rest was about ten minutes late based on the lack of parking in the neighborhood and no valet offered. We checked in with the host and met the rest of our party in the bar area. We waiting about 15-20 minutes for our supposedly reserved table, and at this point were taken out of the 'grown up' dining room and to what I would consider the kids table area of the restaurant. While the prices weren't exorbitant by any means it was more than I would like to pay while sitting in a plastic chair in a drafty tent. Our server was awkward from the start and assumed we would not want wine. We are all in our late 20s, early 30s, and at an Italian restaurant - why wouldn't we want wine?? He was ok at first in terms of service, but it got worse and worse as the night went on. It was clear that he assumed probably based on appearance (we were not 'dressed up') that we would not tip well. Well, my salad was delivered with dressing on it when I asked for it on the side and I couldn't return it for about 20 minutes because no one checked on us, what do you expect? That is not the biggest deal, but there was absolutely no apology or admission of error on our server's part. Then, drink orders were forgotten, our entrees took over an hour, and still no apologies. The entrees were all good, but not great, and my penne arrabiata seemed excessively spicy. Finally, when the check came there was an extra bottle of wine charged. We got a half-hearted apology about that, which clearly seemed a last-ditch effort for the waiter to save his tip. Needless to say, I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone, let alone go back.
(1)
Foodie S.

I had the Arancini and Chicken Vesuvio delivered. Everything arrived cold so I had to reheat it. My reheated Arancini were OK, I've definitely had better. The Chicken Vesuvio was OK, I've never seen that much garlic in Chicken Vesuvio in my entire life. It was defiantly not worth the money I paid.
(2)
Tim T.

This is one of the better italian restaurants in the area. We always get good service, the atmosphere is nice yet relaxed, and the food is fantastic. Some of my favorite items on the menu include the stuffed gnocchi, the rigatoni boscaiola, and the eggplant parmesean. Best of all, I think it's great value for the dollar as far as italian in this area goes. I'm not as excited about sitting in the 4 season outdoor covered area, but it's really not that bad and you don't notice it after a while. (Usually they only seem to use this area when it's especially crowded.) Overall, great italian restaurant.
(5)
Leah C.

if you can get over the talkative know-it-all server, you will enjoy your meal at fiorentino's... they are very open to special requests (adding vegetables, swapping pastas and sauces, etc.). the tableside bread was hard and almost stale so go ahead and splurge on the bruschetta - it's pretty delicious! i had a fairly simple meal of the aglio olio (which the server downplayed as a "passed dish which is more of an accompaniment than a meal". ) simple is sometimes delicious; i thoroughly enjoyed my dish, which also made for good fuel for my long run the next morning. my friend enjoyed her gnocchi substituting the regular sauce for a red sauce with italian sausage. the berry marscapone tart was the perfect dessert to share - not too heavy or sweet.
(4)
Camille R.

I loved it! I am a foodie, and the Linguini with clams -"Vongole" was THE BEST I ever tasted! I chose it in white wine sauce--divine. Clams tender, the sauce so flavorful!! My friends tasted it and agreed they would come back for that! Tiramisu was perrrfect too! Beet salad- so so- I like mine a bit more zingy. But tasted the salmon and a pasta dish and they were really good too. Darling patio, enclosed but since it was raining when we went that was perfect. Mondays are half off bottles of wine--can't beat that! I will be back for the clams
(5)
fred k.

Ate there Saturday & the food, service & ambiance were great! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Molly L.

Went here with my mom when she was visiting on a whim, and were pleasantly surprised. Fiorentino's is a little gem in a weird stretch of Ashland, but it shouldn't be overlooked. It is a delicious, mid-priced Italian neighborhoody joint - and if the wait is any indication, people keep coming back for more. In an effort to be carb-conscious at an Italian restaurant (I know...) we went for the fish entrees instead of the pastas. Mistake. As we watched other diners receive their plates piled high with fluffy, mini-pillows of gnocchi, we were jealous. Our fish was just mediocre. Then why do I rate so high? FIrst, because the table bread was yummy (very important to me). Second, Because I know for sure that the pastas were delicious. And, third, our appetizer special - a traditional aranciana (basically a huge ball of fried meaty goodness) - was delicious. I would recommend going for the specials, the traditional Italian foods, and any of the homemade pastas.
(4)
J P.

Great Atmosphere, Great Food, Great Service. Went there on a Saturday night, had absolutely no complaints. Everyone in my group was very happy with their meals and had great service.
(5)
Chris W.

Ate here 1/12/08. Overall, it was a very good experience, but there are so many Italian restaurants in Chicago, this place is not a stand-out destination. If you do go, you will get a solid meal. I tried two apps - arrancini and crab cake. The crab cake stood out because it was mostly actual fresh crab, not filler. The arancini was fine. Then I had the cappellini, simple but good, and I tried the maniccoti, again done well. The menu is varied here - in order for me to give a complete review of this place, I would want to try a chicken, seafood, or veal dish - the pasta was very good here, and so was the sauce, but it's easier to pull that off. Waitstaff was very good here - friendly and knowledgeable, efficient. Atmosphere was nice, but a bit crowded. You will get a good meal here, but it is not a desination by itself, despite being on Checkplease. I might give this place 3.5 stars overall.
(4)
Wayne B.

Get a better meal at Olive Garden... It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. For the prices they charge I thought I would have had a better meal and a better experience. By far there are better Italian restaurants in the area. The staff was very friendly but that's as far as it went for me.
(3)
betsy b.

Solid 3.5 Stars. Very good Italian on a weird stretch of Ashland. The garden patio is very cute and makes you fee like you're outside but you're not. The wine list needs a little help...there's not a ton to choose from. The food was all really good. The crab cake was one of the best I've had. The serving sizes of pasta were just right and not hugely massive. My table had the rigatoni with sausage, ribbon noodles with ragu, special risotto, the tilapia, gnocchi, and a shrimp pasta special.....everyone seemed very happy with their dishes.
(3)
Brian W.

We have been here 3 or 4 times. Somehow we have some amnesia and forget how we felt about it only to try it again and instantly we are reminded of why we don't like it. The good: The ambiance on the covered patio is very nice. In fact, I think it is this factor that over-rides my memory leading us to come back. The mediocre: The food isn't bad, but it isn't good either. It is pretty basic and seems like you could easily replicate it at home. The bad: The price is astounding considering this is a tiny dive on Ashland, with mediocre food ($70 including tax and 15% tip for 3 glasses of wine and 2 average priced entrÃ©es). Every time we walk in we get an awkward feeling... like we aren't welcome. We are asked if we have a reservation though the place is empty (sometimes a standard practice, but it didn't help). Someone mentioned that they felt younger folk aren't welcome and I wonder the same. We are in our mid 30's but look a bit younger. There was sense of disrespect. Also, they seated a younger group in the back next to the kitchen window. If the price was on par with the food and the staff wasn't so unwelcoming it might be worth a stop now and then. However, since this isn't the case I am making a mental note never to return (maybe I need to write it down this time).
(2)
Carina F.

Went to this place for a date tonight. Walked in and thought it was oddly situated though right away that I enjoy the CD playing, which I later identified as Italian Cafe, a disc I quite enjoy. The experience ceased amazement right about there. I ordered chicken fettucini alfredo and my man ordered rigatoni alla basciaoli.The waiter brought my dish and the wrong dish for my date. He then waited about 15 minutes before reappearing with the dinner for my date, which was clearly just cooked. His was tolerable. My fettucini was utterly lackluster. We ordered a bottle of pino noir from the awkward waiter who only visited us again to bring us the check and then disappear for an amount of time that made you wonder what the hell he was doing back there since we were one of three couples in the restaurant. By the end of the meal, my date and I were trying to finish the wine (the only actual good part of the meal) as fast as we could so we could leave. We had barely touched our meals but the waiter reappeared to bring a tray of desserts we quickly denounced and left. This restaurant left much to be desired in taste and on a Friday night, and we will not be repeating our visit. Next time I think I'll opt for the longer walk, and actually enjoy the taste of my meal, esp. when dropping some $70 bucks on it.
(1)
Heather K.

This is a team review w/ Marissa B - so please read both of ours for the complete Fiorentino's experience ;) Food, service, atmosphere = perfect. I can't remember a time when I've gone out to dinner with my entire family and EVERYONE has loved their food as much as we did last night! One thing that I thought was really nice was that our server told us the prices as she explained the evening's specials - that rarely happens and it was definitely appreciated! On to the food - like I said, everything was fantastic so I'll list out the dishes we tried: - Stuffed Gnocchi: light and fluffy, filled with ricotta, I wanted to steal them off Marissa's plate when she wasn't looking, but I was too busy eating my... - Pollo alla Capri: chicken breast in a white wine and mushroom sauce, with roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts. GIGANTIC portion. But still, I had enough room in my tummy to sample the... - Tortellini alla Panna: alfredo sauce, with prosciutto, mushrooms and peas. Alfredo was not heavy at all, so I felt perfectly fine digging into... - Puttanesca: great kick to the sauce, and one of the owner's favorite dishes. - I can't remember the name of the other dish we had but it was a rolled and stuffed pasta with vegetables and ricotta. Yum! Dessert #1...triple layer chocolate mousse cake. Need I say more? Cannoli...I can only describe the presentation as "cannoli nachos!" Instead of the dough being rolled and filled, it was fried in triangles and set on top of the cheese & pistachio mixture. So tasty, very unique. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Mia P.

I love the setting of this place, it's small and quiet and cozy. The service is good and the food is okay. I think it just varies dish to dish. I had the eggplant parmesan and I thought that it was good, nothing too amazing, but definitely nothing less than expected. My boyfriend ordered the manicotti, but the noodle was way too soggy....mush, which is quite unsatisfying. We let the hostess [or owner] know and she offered to replace it, but we didn't feel like waiting. I think I would definitely give it another try, especially in their outside courtyard.
(3)
Daniel A.

really good food good prices and portions great atmosphere for price decent service though
(4)
Sid M.

Not going back here in a hurry. The seafood linguine was mediocre at best- canned tomatoes! Had to send back the whitefish because it was flavorless and came a side of 1 brocolli floret and half a canned roasted bell pepper. The capellini pomodoro that we got as a replacement for that was just eeh... To top it off we saw the bus boy picking his nose and then serving coffee to the next table... No we did not order coffee .. Check please!
(1)
heather d.

you know a place is good when at 6:30pm on a saturday night it is jam packed with a wait. This was my 2nd visit to Fiorentinos and the food was better than my first. The best eggplant parm i have had in the city. Prices are reasonable but a reservation is a must (especially on the weekends).
(4)
Darlene L.

This was our first visit to Fiorentino's after seeing it on Check Please. It is a cute place with an interesting outdoor covered dining room where most diners were seated this Sunday evening. The minestrone soup was excellent just brimming with flavor and fresh vegetables. My husband had a good penne pasta in a marinara sauce. Though not on the menu, they accommodated his request to add fresh vegetables to the sauce which made for a hearty dinner. I had the sea bass special with risotto and broccoli. Fish was delicate and tender but served with too much oil. Bass was swimming in a bed of olive oil. Service was excellent. Might try this again as the menu offers many tempting pasta and chicken entrees.
(3)
Lori M.

I had a dream about this place last night. Fiorentino's is at the top of my italian restaurant list. It has it all ... the atmosphere ... the select wines ... the menu ... and of course the off-beat assessment I use for every Italian restaurant: the OLIVE OIL and BREAD. If both are delicious, and they ARE here, Italian gestures happen. They have everything, but their STUFFED GNOCCHI might just be your new ecstasy. It is delicious. The ricotta is fresh and the gnocchi is light and fluffy like satin pillows in your mouth - try it with the pesto or tomato cream sauce - oh my I do believe you might need to thank the chef in person. Get a side of rapini too, amazingly well prepared. I hear from my comrades that their vitello (veal) al limone and spiedini cotoletti alla griglia (filet mignon) are both fantastic also - being a vegetarian surrounded by meat eaters, I also love this place for having something for everyone. They have a sexy wine list too, including one of my fave Reds, Feudi di San Marzano.... GREAT specials: Monday - Bottled Wine Mondays 1/2 off any bottle of wine $40 and under +Tuesday - Half off Appetizers +Wednesday - Martini Night.... $5 Martini's ---- GREAT date place! Buon Appetito !
(5)
I adored Fiorentino's the first time I went there, so much so that I ate there five or six times in the four months or so after my first visit. Since then, I've cooled a bit on the restaurant, but still like it. It's a nice family-owned, good Italian restaurant, in an area (Ashland just north of Diversey) that can use a good Italian place. Positives: cute place inside (although better toward the front: sitting toward the back feels a bit like sitting in the kitchen), adorable patio on the side of the restaurant (and not right on the street, like so many other outdoor eating spots), and a very friendly, involved owner. Most importantly: the stuffed gnocci is HEAVEN. You would think that gnocci stuffed with ricotta might be heavy, but it's not. Light, delicate, delicious! The fried calamari is also good. Negatives: I haven't been impressed with the service. Once I had good service, but the other times have varied from just okay to pretty bad. Food wise, I find the desserts just okay, and I am not a fan of the marinara saucealthough the vodka sauce is terrific. Overall, Fiorentino's is definitely worth checking out. Get the stuffed gnocci!
(3)
Jessica C.

Calamari appetizer was just OK. Waitress' suggested wine was "best she'd ever had," but it didn't wow me-and it actually didn't match the calamari, making it taste a bit tinny. I's stuffed gnocchi was wonderful-melt-in-your-mouth light and pillowy, coated in a brilliant, just-shy-of-tart tomato cream sauce. My "flash-fried tilapia" (one of the 2 seafood specials) was impressive. Gloriously presented whole fish atop mesculun greens-albeit with an oddly placed, stunted rosemary sprig poking out of its middle-its skin was crackly crisp on the outside, yet so moist, tender, and not a hint of greasy inside, it was hard to believe it hadn't been steamed to a crisp. Flavored with just salt and a squeeze of lemon, the fish was perfect. Dessert was a split portion of "cannoli dream," basically a deconstructed cannoli-sort of like cannoli nachos. The chocolated-chipped cream, spread onto the plate with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, was studded with 5 large slivers of the crisp pastry tube. Despite the mysterious strawberry in the center of it all, the dish looked interesting and tasted wonderful. The crema was smooth and finely textured, and the slightly bitter cannoli "chips" were a perfect foil to the sweet, rich filling. I'd recommend and return on a warm day to enjoy what looks like a charming outside dining area.
(4)
Carl f.

This was the best Italian food I have had. The Manicotti was so good, I came back a week later for the same dish. Very nice staff and noise level pleasant. Carol Hitchie Chicago
(5)
Flo J.

This place is pretty good... the dish with the scallops and black linguine is good but wasn't super head over heels for anything else.
(3)
Mike M.

excellent out door patio perfect for a summer dinner. Not sure why other people were talking about bad service. The wait staff and owner? stopped by our table multiple times asking if we needed anything. Good food and decent prices will make this a frequent spot
(3)
Adriana S.

Service and food were excellent. Great wine list, lovely ambiance. Our server Jose was perfectly attentive and very friendly. Will definitely return!
(4)
Amanda D.

I'm really sad to see bad reviews for this place. I went here for the third time last night and continue to be impressed with the atmosphere and food. I've sat on the patio each time, which has a very relaxing, intimate feel. It's not loud and bustling like some other Italian restaurants I've been to, so you can definitely sit and enjoy your company. Last night was a Monday, with 50% off bottles of wine (ding ding!) This was a pleasant surprise. We ordered the calamari for an appetizer, which is some of the best calamari I've had - big, chunky pieces that are just lightly fried. I had the Caprese pasta for my entree, which was amazing and some of the best (if not the best) pasta I've had in Chicago. So good. I just ate it again for lunch and it was just as good the day after. Two other people at my table got the tortellini with mushrooms and peas in a delicious cream sauce - I had a bite and kept taking more bites. I cannot wait to go back here with my boyfriend - it's definitely a great date spot and I'm so excited to share the food here with more people! Don't listen to the bad reviews - I think the only downside to this restaurant is that it's located on Ashland where not many passerbys are able to find this little gem.
(5)
Onur U.

I've been a couple times but the most recent sticks out as to why I don't go more often. We had a reservation and had to wait 20 minutes to get a table. The waiter came out quickly, got an appetizer order from us then didn't return for 20 minutes. In that time we received our appetizer (the arancini which had good texture and nice flavor, but was cold inside), had the appetizer plates cleared away and even had a new basket of bread delivered. When we finally ordered our food it was delivered a good 45 minutes after we were seated and easily an hour after we arrived at the restaurant. The dishes themselves were pretty good. The gnocchi was soft and served with a rich tomato cream sauce. The eggplant was tender and not greasy, but the chunks were cut thicker than ideal. The bolognese was disappointing. The meat simply didn't have the deep, cooked-all-day flavor the dish is known for. The red sauce served with a couple dishes was a surprising bright red color, but had a nice bright tomato flavor, which is really all you can ask for in a nicer Italian restaurant. The food was good overall, though nothing stood out as worth a special trip. Also as soon as the food arrived I ordered a glass of wine. It arrived 15 minutes later, when we were almost done so I sent it back. The waiter was apologetic and comped us a dessert. But to be honest, the lateness of the wine more underscored the whole experience than detracted from the meal. The waitstaff seems overwhelmed in general. Everything is slow in a noticeable way. At that price point (it's always more than you expect) that's kind of inexcusable. I'd rather take my time with food in front of me, rather than sit around wondering if the waiter is ever going to show up. The outdoor seating area really is beautiful and the food is down-the-middle, solid Italian fare. So I guess if you're in no rush, live in the area, and are jonesing for decent Italian with the requisite markup, this place is a capable option. For me, there are too many great restaurants in the city to bother.
(3)
Stacie K.

Good but not the best. It's close by my house, and they're always able to get me in.. they've also been on restaurant.com before, so I've used a coupon from there. I will definitely be coming back here, but the gnocchi definitely is not the best I've ever had (it's decent though).
(4)
Jasmine J.

We liked this place a lot. The food was good, the ambiance was nice, the service was attentive, overall we had a good experience. We tried the crab cake appetizer, the puttanesca, and the osso buco. The flavors were all great. The only downside was the texture of the risotto that accompanied the osso buco. It was more soupy than creamy, but it tasted good. We can't wait to go back to try more!
(4)
Jonathan J.

Went to Fiorentino's for a Saturday night date night the weekend before Valentines day. We had a 6:30 reservation and we walked right in at 6:30 and were seated right away. We were a little confused and caught off guard because to get to the hostess you actually have to walk through a set of tables that people are eating at. We were seated in the outdoor patio area which had great ambiance and nice and warm. We started with a salad and an appetizer. We went with the fried rice balls which were something very different but very good....I would recommend them(they come in a serving of 2). For the main courses we went to with the gnocci and the Chicken Picante. The gnocci is amazing and the Chicken was great too. Chicken was a little spicy for my date, but I definetly was a fan and the gnocci is a must if you eat here! For desert we had their Valentines Day special, chocolate covered raspberry cheescakee which was the perfect ending to our meal. They have a very extensive wine selection as well. Highly recommend! Only reason Fiorentinos did not get 5 stars was for a restaurant that was not that crowded we probably saw our water 2 times the entire meal.
(4)
Maria H.

This little Italian restaurant is really good! Great menu selection and good wine. Can be a nice place for a date. The service is really good and friendly. They have a little indoor patio as well. Another great thing is that they now deliver too! Definitely visit :)
(5)
Donna C.

Pretty solid Italian food, prepared very well. I got the Minestrone to start which, I thought, had way too much potatoes in it. Way too much. Delicious soup though. My vitello piccata limone was very well prepared though not mind-blowing. I tried my friends' dishes which were all solidly prepared but not mind-blowing either: scallop on mushroom risotto, filet specialty of the house, some chicken dish. One member of our group had the signature pasta dish and I'd have to say it was one of the best fettucine alfredo I've ever tasted. The light alfredo sauce was perfect and the sweetness of the asparagus added a lot of wonderful flavours to the dish. Also, the "black" (squid ink) fettucine was perfectly cooked and tasted delicious. Pastry chef there is either lacking or non-existent... the desserts were sub-par in my opinion. Service was decent for our rather large group though might have been on the slow side (we were a large group after all).
(4)
Matt G.

This is, by far, one of the best Italian places in Chicagoland. I have the fortune of living a couple of blocks away. Everything on the menu is great, it's priced fairly, the service and atmosphere are great, i cannot say enough good things.
(5)
Bernard D.

We were seated in the winter garden; it's not nearly as pleasant at the indoor section. There's just something weird about sitting next to a shuttered window for dinner... The food was just ok. The menu is fairly limited, which I usually like. In this case, it just lacked in diversity, a little. As a group of 8 we ordered a little of everything. I won't speak for everyone; however, my wife and I were rather underwhelmed. My ruccola salad, was just that, ruccola, with a lemon dressing that was too tart and could not be softened by any amount of parmigiano. Dissapointing. As for a tortellini dish, though tasty, it was pretty standard. My wife's veal was not very good, and garnished with the aforementioned ruccola. A squash soup was ok, but again, not inventive. I tasted the arancini appetizer, which was better. All in all, portions are copious, but the dishes very uninventive: definitely not simple in the right way. Our waiter looked out of place and was running around, making us wait, not long, but still. My conclusion, based on a cost of $40+ for two an appetizer, an entree and one glass of wine each, this place is expensive for a very basic meal. I would not go back there, except maybe to eat a big dish of comfort food pasta.
(2)
Debbie H.

Fiorentino's is a great neighorbood place for a casual night out in a small group or couple. I've been twice now and both times have had excellent, helpful waiters/waitresses and delicious, fresh-tasting meals. The food is fairly basic - veal scallopini, eggplant/chicken parm, lasagna, but done very well. I'm a huge sauce fan, and they don't skimp! The fried calamari is a must have - it's lightly battered and fried, so you almost forget how bad it is for you! Definitely a value find - a bottle of wine, app, two entrees and dessert totaled $70! They don't take reservations for fewer than 4 people, so as it gets increasingly popular, prepare to wait. It'll be worth it.
(4)
George J.

I'm surprised at some of the 3 stars or less on here. My wife and I were coming to this place way before "Check Please" and whatever online service came to rate this place. After living in west Lakeview for some time, the turnover at this location was terrible until Fiorentino's came along. Best Italian in the city. We've tried many different one's around a 3-5 mile radius and I honestly can say, the apps and food in general is the best Italian Food I've had. The Mussels for Apps and in the Seafood Pasta was the best, and the Canolli sent me over the edge. I can't imagine not recommending this place. They also have a side room that's great for parties.
(5)
sergio m.

A great true Italian restaurant
(5)
Linda H.

Delicious gnocchi, as promised - stuffed little pillows of scrumptiousness! My BF had the rigatoni special and it was also perfection. Could have used some oomph on my husband's chicken parmesan, but go here for the pasta dishes - that's where this place shines.
(4)
Justin R.

Fiorentino's is a nice Italian spot that I would definitely like to try at least one more time. The food that I had during my previous, and only visit was good. The flavors were there and the menu was impressive. I wouldn't have imagined that it served anything more than basic pastas, steaks, mussels, etc... that normally line the menus of Italian restaurants in this area, but it really had a good menu. I ended up going for the Chilean Sea Bass. My girlfriend ordered scallops with porcini mushroom risotto. My dish also came with risotto and this is where my only real problems came up. Both risottos tasted great, but risotto is not only about flavor. Texture is very, very important. The texture of both risottos was just not creamy enough; not smooth enough. This would have been absolutely fine if each dish were not thirty dollars, but they were. For thirty dollars, I would like the risotto to melt in my mouth. The atmosphere was quite casual. It seemed as if they would like it to be nicer, but the people in the neighborhood prefer to wear Cubs hats and shorts. A shame really. We had a good time. And everything was good with the one exception. I do want to go back and try the black fettuccine, but we shall see.
(3)
Catherine B.

My fiance and I went to this restaurant over the summer (the first weekend it opened), with my mother and my aunt and uncle who all come into the city for dinner. We expected some glitches since it was so new, but were happily surprised. The atmosphere was warm and friendly and boisterous - it got a bit loud, actually. The front dining area is cozy, with probably 15 tables, max. It was BYO (maybe it still is?), and the servers were friendly and helpful. The food was great, and everyone enjoyed their meals. I hear that now that it's been open for a bit it's getting more and more popular, so there may be a wait if you don't plan ahead. A great dining experience, all in all!
(4)
Erica K.

So I'm upping this star count because my illness was probably not their fault. Turns out I may be amine intolerant and amines can exist in cured sausage! (I also have odd reactions to kiwi and sometimes banana which fits the profile for amine intolerance). If I can get confirmation of this from a doctor I'll give this place the full 4 stars I wanted to give before I got sick!
(3)
Ryan W.

Excellent food. Good service. My only complaint is that they offer your soup or salad with dinner and charge you ala carte. ($7) for a salad
(4)
CN D.

When La Gondala is busy this place is perfect. The food is still good and usually the wait is not as long. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. No complaints. :)
(4)
Katie J.

Excellent food, service, and ambiance! Came here on a whim and I sure to make this a regular spot. Family owned and it definatetly shows.
(5)
Iveliss G.

Love Love Love the food! The manicotti is my favorite, you can tell the pasta sauce is home made and so are the noodles. The noodles melt in my mouth needing little to no chewing. The staff is friendly and the location is cozy for a date. Parking is easy to find. I go here at least every other month.
(5)
Mindy V.

I really liked this place! the atmosphere is cute and so comfy and the outdoor patio is lovely. I ordered the manocotti and it was great, clearly freshly made light delicate pasta. We also got the special trout and it was fabulous, light and nicely seasoned and just awesome. I only give it 3 instead of 4 stars because it pales in comparison to La Gondola. But MUCH better atmosphere. Ill go Gondola for delivery and here when we eat out. I went with my 2 year old and as long as you go early I think its just fine for kids.
(3)
Furry P.

Tasty little Italian joint with a family owned feel. Seafood dishes are especially amazing but I cant stop ordering the Chicken Piccata. Patio is kind of not really outside... its all surrounded by walls and covered with corrugated plastic so, not exactly an "al fresco experience". The dining room has a really nice ambiance and as such, I prefer that.
(4)
Laura M.

for good Sicilian cuisine this is a must try. I would give their stuffed gnochi 5 stars as it is WONDERFUL! (add homemade sausage to the dish)!
(4)
Cheryl M.

By far my favorite Italian (authentic) in the city!! The mussels in white wine sauce are beyond amazing! Love the stuffed gnocchi!! Can easily have a 3 hour meal at this place. The service is fabulous and atmosphere relaxed. Love! Loved! Love!
(5)
Mara M.

Hands down, the best italian restaurant in the city!! Amazing flavor, creative dishes, and you leave full. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quaint. excellent night out. Enjoy!!!!
(5)
Terry H.

Been going here for years, great food and great people, Meatballs and gnocchi, the best
(5)
Cassie B.

pretty good Italian food in a cute (i.e. old world) setting. The entrees are great if you know what you'd like to order and you're nice to the waitstaff (which of COURSE yelpers will be). tasty food, good price, cute atmosphere.
(3)
Cameron C.

Really liked this place. Feels very neighborhoody considering its location on obnoxious ashland ave. We sat on the gorgeous patio and were made very comfortable. Food was very good, not the greatest- but definitely exceeded my expectations for the place. Of course, I ordered the gnocchi. They were home made and very spongy, just how i like em. Vodka sauce was what brought the dish down a notch. Either way, had a great experience and it was very close to home. Would definitely recommend
(4)
Joshua M.

The Rigatoni here is just damn good. The stuffed gnocchi was good too, as well as the pumpkin ravioli special. Service was good, decent atmosphere, and the place even had parking. Maybe more a four and a half star than a five, but it seems like it's been awhile since I've been actually impressed with a restaurant. I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Nikki L.

On a rainy night, after watching check, please! I suddenly had a craving for Italian food. Not just any kind of Italian, but Sicilian! Watching the review on Check, Please! only made this decision that much easier when it came time to eat. Fiorentino's it was. Not only is this restaurant around the corner from my house, but it's been a place that I see driving by all the time but never think twice to stop by. Due to it's somewhat odd location, the decor felt warm and welcoming. I was greeted by the owner/host, her smile and hospitality immediately put me in a relaxed mood. I arrived earlier than the rest of my party, so I actually got to read the entire menu! Who ever has time to do that? Normally, I'd just look at one category and pick my favorite from that. But, as I reviewed the menu, I realized everything looked good. How to decide?... I started with the fried calamari, the batter was light and crispy, then the stuffed (Ricotta filled) gnocchi with a tomato cream and also sampled the pollo limone and manicotti! YUMM! The only disappointment was the tiramisu, which I normally love but the one I had at Fiorentino's seemed to be drowned in rum and distracted the other flavors. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal here, I will definitely come back with my special someone and take more pictures of new items we try! Enjoy!
(4)
Tim V.

This makes the list because it's a solid Italian restaurant with good food and good service. I had a stuffed gnocchi that was particularly good (although very heavy on the garlic). Skip the Caprese salad. I would go here again if there weren't options like Bella Notte and RoSal's out there. Not a bad place to eat if you're already in the neighborhood.
(4)
Erica L.

I have 44 perfect words for you: stuffed gnocchi (little pillows of heaven), calamari fritti (zesty cocktail sauce and perfect fry-dom), capellini con meatballs (sheer perfection), eggplant parmigiano (an Italian dream), papardella alla bolognese (fat noodled, meaty goodness), vitello scaloppini (culinary simplicity at its best) and tiramisu (a bowl of xanadu). Need I say more?
(5)
Matthew A.

Had some stuffed gnocchi with the Fiorentino family last night, it had just the right combination of spice and cheese and sauce. It was excellent to say the least. The Fiorentino's are such nice people and the restaurant is a comfortable place to have a meal. I would recommend, worth a trip out of the way.
(4)
City Swank N.

Have gone here twice... First to the very comfortable outdoor cafe. I had a scallop dish that was to die for. Then again this past Saturday..had delicious handmade porcini mushroom pasta purses in a light cream brandy sauce. This chef knows his stuff...he had just the right spices to enhance the mushroom flavor and the sauce was gentle enough as not to overtake the dish. Our waiter may have been new...had to ask for specials..forgot beverages and forgot check. However the food made up for it. Hopefully they will do a bit more training of their staff as the table next to us was not as understanding of his oversights.
(4)
R M.

The word on the gnocchi is true. Good stuff. Prices just a little high. Try to sit outside. Great patio.
(4)
Megan M.

Had a wonderful meal here on Saturday. We had reservations, but arrived early and were seated immediately. Our waiter was friendly and very accomodating. There is parking in a nearby retail lot. We had the rice balls and crab cake to start. I had the veal with lemon sauce as my entree - EXCELLENT! We finished the meal with tiramisu, which was very good. The interior was cute and we had great time.
(4)
Lisa T.

Just your average place, though has a wonderful atmosphere. A great hold in the wall find. Portions are a decent size. Fish was dry, tomatoes in salad were not up to par, though the pasta dishes, meat/seafood and eggplant were worth missing the salad for.
(2)
Michelle H.

I really enjoyed meeting the family and the food behind Fiorentino's. The food was all really good - try the clam appetizer! Very cozy, very welcoming place. I've been there twice - once I ate at the bar (tiny bar) and once with a large group of 20. Both experiences were fantastic.
(4)
kiki m.

the food here is good. the outdoor patio is very pretty and intimate. i have eaten here over 4 times in the past...a while ago. i have eaten here twice this year. the first time this year, everything went well. i loved the talapia dish and my glass of montepuciano so much, i brought a friend here for my second visit. my friend and i sat in the patio. we literally waited an hour to get our entrees. the server was very smiley and did some good pr on us, but ultimately, when my entree came out, i was already past eating (this is rare for me!) and asked him to wrap it up for me. our server wasn't apologetic or empathetic to the fact that we waited so long. my friend did eat his food and enjoyed it. the owner never came by to apologize and they didn't even try to comp anything (we had MULTIPLE drinks and a couple of appetizers). it sucks going home in a sour mood and an empty belly! i guess i would try this place one last time to see if i change my mind. the food (and pricing) is very good.....when you get some brought out!
(2)
Whitney A.

this is my favorite italian restaurant in the city. their gnocchi was amazing and the service was fantastic. we were seated outside on a gorgeous patio with white twinkle lights and a fountain...definitely a must for a delicious, quiet dinner.
(5)
K B.

We went here last Sat night and had to wait only about 15 for a table on the patio, at 7pm (since they only take reservations for larger parties). The space is really cozy and a nice retreat from the dusty and gross Ashland Ave. The food was good, but nothing remarkable. I had a grilled salmon that was ok, my husband had the seafood pasta that was better (I think this is a pasta place for sure). . The prices seem spot on with the area. The service was great,so all in all a good experience and we'll go back again.
(4)
Matthew M.

I can't disagree more with all of the positive reviews posted here, let alone the praise it received on Check Please. Maybe I was there on a bad night, but my party of 5 had a terrible experience at this place. We had an 8pm reservation on a Saturday night, but because a couple people in our party were 5-10 minutes late, we had to wait at least an extra half hour to be seated. (It was clear at that point that there was no table actually reserved for us.) We were seated on the patio at the furthest back table, which we barely could fit into. Our waiter was attentive at first, but quickly his service trailed off to near non-existent: One person's appetizer wasn't served as ordered, and she wasn't able to send it back for a good 15-20 minutes because the waiter never came back to check in. Our entrees took at least an hour to arrive, and while the food was decent, it was nothing to write home about. The waiter offered refills but only brought them after being flagged down and reminded, and we generally relied on our busboy more than our server during the meal for anything else. Finally at the end of our meal, the bill contained a whopping extra $40 bottle of wine we never ordered. Our server only offered a vague apology for the additional charge (not for any other service mishaps). The only conclusion we could draw was that we were given poor service because we were dressed casually, and perhaps our waiter assumed we wouldn't tip well? Regardless, it was possibly the worst service I've had in the entire 7 years I've lived in Chicago. With all the other good Italian restaurants in this city, I would never recommend Fiorentino's to anyone.
(1)
Natasia O.

Let me start by saying I really wanted to like this place- it got a raving review on Check Please and I was very excited when we made it one Friday night for dinner. The calamari- ok- nothing mind blowing. The ceasar salad was very tasty- but let me get to dinner. I order the house specialty- the spiedini alla griglia which sounded tasty- fillet medallions marinated in olive oil and lemon then grilled. The waitress asked how I would like it done- medium rare- just like I order all my steaks. The result was steamed meat that was beyond well done. As gross as it is I have to tell you I actually tried twice to chew and swallow a piece but had to spit it out before choking on it both times. I've only sent something back once before in my life and this had to go back. The waitress was VERY NICE and asked if I would like another but after waiting an hour and a half in the first place I was over it. They took it off the bill but that should be expected so no big thank you there. Overall the staff is very friendly and the prices not bad but all in all a place should be able to make it house specialty edible every time.
(1)
Duyen D.

We live just down the street from Fiorentino's and decided to try it out one night. I am glad we did! The food was good and the place is really cute. My husband and I like family run restaurants and this place definitely has that feel with the owner usually out on the floors greeting and talking to customers. I have tried a fish and veal dish there which was fairly good but nothing to write home about. The stuffed gnocchi though is to die for! The dumplings are soft and the tomato cream sauce is delicious. It's probably not healthy for me but way worth it! 4 stars for the gnocchi, atmosphere and outdoor dining option.
(4)
Carol L.

The food, service & ambiance are awesome!! The atmosphere is charming & romantic, the service is knowledgable & attentive and the food here is some of the best Italian in the city. I had Carpaccio, thinly sliced topped with arugula, capers & shaved parmesan which is probably the best ive had. My hubby had Arancini, a rice ball filled wih ground meat, peas, mozzarella, marinara then breaded & fried, topped with marinara sauce. We both wanted more! For entrees I had the daily special Risotto with diced prosciuttio, leeks and spinach, whole lobster tail optional. It was cooked perfectly al dente but incredibly creamy and the portion huge. Hubby had Pollo Picante, a chicken breast sautÃ©ed with chopped spicy pepperoncinin, roasted red peppers, capers in a butter white wine sauce...so good!! Also on the menu & sounded good was thinly sliced Filet Mignon marinated in lemon, garlic & olive oil, breaded then grilled served with roasted red potatoes & sautÃ©ed spinach. We were full but had to try dessert. Skip the standard desserts made elsewhere & have the memorable house made deconstructed cannoli or house made sorbet such as blood orange . Wine by the bottle are 1/2 price on Monday.
(5)
Joan K.

Went with the girl's last week to try somewhere new. We were all quite impressed after driving by this little secret of a spot many times. Quite charming, the food was very good, ample, reasonable & the service was attentive even during a quite hectic & busy Friday evening. I would go back & recommend this cozy spot.
(4)
rachel c.

Two words. . . stuffed gnocci. . . . Try em with pesto and they will make the trip worthwhile to this quaint slightly out of the way but great Italian find.
(4)
Mrjustice ..

Arrived early (6pm) on a warm night to enjoy the outdoor Patio (told on phone patio is not reserv.). Very pleasant and romantic atomsphere outside. Initially Server was friendly and talkative, but perhaps because it got busier she seemed to grow indifferent (especially after we declined desert?). We did, however, Order 3 appetizers -- Muscles in Wine Sauce: tasty sauce and tons of Garlic, but some of the Mussels tasted less than fresh. Grilled Baby Octupus: Fantastic presentation, very fresh, best I've had. Tomato & Mozzarella Salad w/basil: Light, fresh & delicious as expected. For Entrees - Tortellini w/ proscuito, peas & mushrooms in a cream sauce: filling of course, but loved it. Riggatoni w/ Artichoke, Tomato, Olives & Onions -- not so good, sauce too astringent, too many onions, and only sparse artichokes. House Sicilian White Wine was really nice. All-in-all, a pleasant albeit not spectacular experience.
(3)
Cece C.

This restaurant was fantastic. I'm Sicilian and a chef and I founf the food wonderful! I had the Manicotti (because I felt like being a kid again). The sauce was so fresh and flavorful! I could really taste the tomatoes. I love fresh marinara! I came on a weeknight last week with my parents, my brother and his girlfriend. We had starters, entrees and desserts all around (always support pastry chefs!). And there was a martini special so we had martini's all around as well as a bottle of wine and after dinner drinks. Our server was great. I think his name was Dan. He recomended my dish and chatted with us. We rarely get together anymore because of our shedules and we just planned on having a quick bite. We ended up having such a wonderfully full and enjoyful night. Thanks to the restaurant for having such fantastic food and service to keep us there all night! We'll definitely be back!
(5)
jason s.

A warm, traditional, tasty spot on Ashland Ave. We walked in at 7 o'clock on a saturday evening with no reservation. i had driven by this place a million times, and always been a bit suspicious of the location...what good could reside in such close proximity to Jewel, Pier One, and the 4 lanes of the Ashland Expressway. As soon as you step in the door you are effectively insulated from the outside surroundings. We were greeted warmly, and taken immediately to a table...good timing because 10 minutes later, there was a 20 minute wait. Bread and water were placed immediately. The bread was fresh and basic. Our waiter was prompt in greeting us and bringing nice glasses of moderately priced house chardonnay - tasty if nothing special. Nice extensive menu of traditional Italian fare. We opted for appetizers of the crab cakes, and the Arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with mozzarella and italian sausage). Both were good - the crab cake was large and fresh, although i found the accompanying sauce to be a bit mismatched. The arancini was excellent - paired with a wonderful marinara. I had the Pasta Mirabella - denoted as the house specialty - very nice mix of ingredients - good sized shrimp and scallops, sun-dried tomatoes, and asparagus - in a rich "light" alfredo-style sauce. Half the portion would have left me stuffed. My partner had the veal marsala - thumbs up on the marsala sauce, with the veal preparation a bit inconsistent - half cooked nicely, the other half a bit overcooked. This all left no room for desert. Overall, atmosphere was very warm and comfortable while not stuffy, service was a bit rushed and impersonal (our server at least), but adequate, and the food was better than average. great place for a gathering of friends or family, or a nice understated romantic dinner. Pleasant suprise, will definitely go back!
(4)
Jen C.

Such a cute place! I was just here to have a small birthday celebration for one of my friends. They have nice indoor seating, but the weather was so nice when we went that I think all the patrons were out in the nice, cozy, outdoor seating. In the outdoor area they even have this cute little garden area where they grow all their own herbs! So you know the ingredients are fresh and well-kept. :) We had the crabcake appetizer which is a large crabcake patty. For the entrees, we shared a rigatoni dish - it was good, and I thought this dish would be my fave... but even better were the TWO gnocchi dishes we shared - the tomato cream sauce is deeelicious! I wish I could bring the sauce home with me! The sauce is just seriously so awesome...yum. Our server was really nice and friendly - full of lengthy descriptions of all the dishes. I would go back just for that tomato cream sauce! They should bottle it and sell it...that would make me happy. Also - easy metered street parking available.
(4)
Kat G.

This place has been a favorite of mine and my husband's for about 7 years. We love the outdoor seating area and the ambience. It's a local favorite. Overall, it's good. Some minor tweaks that would make good food, even better food. We started with the calamari. The calamari, is good, but I think they should experiment cooking it a tad longer for a more "golden" calamari. The coloring is a little light which isn't terrible but I think it could have used another minute. I also would strongly recommend they serve the calamari with a warm tomato sauce vs. cold. It just didn't pair properly. Maybe it's supposed to be warm, but ours seemed like it was intended to be cold. Just seemed odd. I enjoyed my entree dish. I had the clams with linguini and chose the white wine sauce. It was quite good - loved the flavor of the sauce and the pasta was perfectly cooked. They could have cleaned the clams a little better - I had tasted sand, which is bound to happen but it was kinda more than anticipated. The other tweak - and it's picky I know - but I would have thought they could have sprinkled some fresh flat leaf parsley on top of the center of the dish. Again, very good - but it was like "oh, there's just a lot of minced clams in the center of the plate. Alright."Some parsley could have brightened up the dish a little. My husband had his staple favorite - gnocchi with tomato cream sauce. This place has the best gnocchi I have ever had in my life - and I have been to Italy. Their gnocchi are just perfect pillows of ricotta. I strongly recommend this dish and it's just under $17. Overall a great experience. There's a reason why we've been coming here for years.
(4)
Michelle L.

Pros: Outside garden is pretty. Gelato is the best thing on the menu The bread was fresh and hot. Cons: The restaurant smells like mildew. The bathroom scent is so strong that I tasted it in my mouth. The food was so mediocre. A step above olive garden.
(2)
Elise K.

My husband and I visited Fiorentino's on a blustery Monday night. We said outside in the heated outdoor garden, despite cool weather, and were comfortable without coats. Mondays there is a special on wine - 50% off. It was a nice surprise. Bread was fresh and rather normal. We started with a grilled octopus -- it was the best part of the meal and we really enjoyed it. We both ordered a special, but the food was mostly ordinary -- neither were "special" in flavor and my risotto (sausage and broccoli) was even bland. We finished off with a tiramisu, which was a large portion and good, but not to die for. Overall it was a nice ambiance and okay food, but I don't see a reason to visit when I can go to one of the other local restaurants that is just plain amazing.
(3)
Ashley I.

The enclosed patio area is cute and romantic. I was excited to find out that they have gluten free ravioli! I would recommend getting a tomato based sauce rather than the mushroom. The food is somewhat authentic. The service was great.
(4)
Meredith K.

The atmosphere is wonderful! We were seated in the indoor patio. Its cute. I was wishing to be outside for real but maybe they don't have that? Also our server was awesome. Very helpful and attentive. He joked along with me and make sure that we had a nice dinner. To start I had a dirty martini which was made perfectly. My boyfriend had a negroni which was also nice. We went right into the mains. I had the risotto special with beets and my boyfriend got the manicotti. We had a side of brussels sprouts with it. I'm not over the trend yet. Everything was delicious and well made. I think for the price point you get good bang-for-the-buck. Its not fancy, and I'm not sure if everything is made in-house, but what we had was pretty good. If I lived in this neighborhood this would be my "I don't feel like cooking tonight" place.
(4)
Christina M.

Pleasantly surprised. I Stopped in Saturday may 2nd at about 7pm. When we walked in it was really warm in the restaurant and no available out for seating. I actually had to take a star away because of how hot it was, and our table was shaky. But our server fixed it. I had the Neroli and it was so good. I forgot it had alcohol in it. She had the fruta de Mar and loved it. One mussel was empty. And the clams were quite small. But good flavor. I had the tortillini also really good and filling. I felt like the drinks were a little over priced for the neighborhood and alcohol level. But I think I'll be back. Bottles of wine are a really decent price.
(4)
Cindy P.

2nd time I've been here and it was a disappointment. I ordered the homemade lasagna and the meat was chewy, the sauce tasted like Ragu. The spinach salad we ordered was tiny and for $9, I expected more because I was sharing with someone else. It wasn't enough to eat for one. There are plenty of other great Italian restaurants-you should go there 1st.
(2)
Ben B.

A very good Italian option. Chicago has no shortage of Italian places. But most are bland or faux-fancy. Fiorentino's gets high marks for food and comfort. We sat in the covered patio on a chilly October night, but the restaurant had heaters going, so you wouldn't know you were outside. It was apporpriately dimly lit, with Christmas lights lining the walls. Your meal begins with warm bread. Fiorentino's passes this most critical Italian restaurant test. The olive oil on the table was fantastic. My girl and I ordered the crusty garlic bread ($4). It wasn't particularly notable, and I actually preferred the complimentary bread provided. I prefer a creamy, soft garlic bread to a hard, crusty version. Skip this. I love my entree - penne alla siciliana ($16.50). Penne pasta with eggplant and fresh mozzerella in marinara. The fresh mozzerella was a revelation... a creamy bite of gold mixed in with the hot marinara. Pretty fantastic. My girlfriend ordered the portobello ravioli ($16.95) and I had a bite. Very smooth and mild. If you like mushrooms, this is your jam. The portions are huge. I could only get through about half of my dish. We finished by sharing a slice of key lime pie ($8). Nothing special about this. I didn't care for my wine - the Highway 101 pinot noir. Then again, what kind of winery names their vino after a long stretch of asphalt? Fiorentino's is an awesome place to bring a date or a small group of friends. Good food and comfortable atmosphere make it a place I'm excited to try again.
(4)
Erica L.

It's nice to discover another great Italian spot closer to home rather than trekking all the way downtown or to Little Italy. Fiorentino's was a pleasant surprise. Hubby and I tried it out on a random rainy weekday for dinner. Our reservations were honored in a timely fashion. We sat in the enclosed side patio that was dimly lit, but enhanced the romantic ambiance. I was concerned it would be a little chilly, but there are heaters spaced out to keep the area warm. Our server was great - gave us enough time to peruse the menu, engaging, and not pushy or hovering. We split a Caesar Salad for starters. I had the Rigatoni Alla Boscaiola which was delicious! Pasta was al dente and the sauce not too creamy or rich. Portions are generous, so I was able to take the rest home for lunch the next day. Hubby had the Linguini Neri Fra Diavola. He made more of a dent in it, but still had some for leftovers. Lots of shrimps and clams included in a spicy tomato broth. Turned out to be a great date night spot on a dreary weekday evening.
(4)
Natalia K.

We came here with a groupon for 2 with selections off a special prix fixe menu. The options are great, with something for everyone, so no need to feel deprived of choice. They also have a good selection of reasonably priced glasses and bottles of wine, so we started off with a couple of reds (glasses). The warm bread, olive oil, and parmesan cheese for the table is always welcome, and I enjoyed my piece while perusing the menu. We decided on the beef carpaccio, which had a nice zest to the dressing on the greens. For my entree, I had the salmon, and my friend had the short ribs. I tried her mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts, and immediately regretted my selection. But then I tried my salmon, which I ordered medium rare, and it was light and flavorful, and well cooked. My garlic spinach was a perfect accompaniment with roasted garlic slices in the spinach. I cleaned my plate and thought no more of the short ribs except that I will order them the next time. Our dessert choice was tiramisu, which came in an odd shape, so I'm not quite sure how it was sliced, but nevermind what it looked like- it was boozy and delicious. I'm definitely a fan of this non-pretentious, cozy restaurant. The atmosphere is a little rough, as we were seated in a heated enclosed outdoor patio and I felt cramped among potted plants and fellow diners. The service is friendly, however, and welcoming.
(4)
Mauricio L.

Did they go out of business? I was trying to go Sunday and they were closed. I went again today and still closed.
(1)
Missy G.

Updating my review as we had a perfect experience the second time around. Our service was on par the moment we walked in. It was a nice day, so we were able to take advantage of sitting in the porch area. Our server was fantastic on every level, was actually the individual we saw serving the table next to ours in my previous review. We ended up ordering the same entrees and those did not disappoint. Probably one of our favorite Italian dishes in Chicago. We ordered a red wine, don't remember the name, but after we explained the kind we liked our server chose a great option. Now that we have given this place a second chance and had a great experience, we will be back. Their management truly cares about customer satisfaction and strive to be the best restaurant out there.
(5)
Luanna A.

Excellent food, great service. Lovely out door patio. We stayed inside as the weather was muggy but stepped out for a peek. Nice quiet ambiance for conversation.
(5)
James P.

2 stars and not 1 because the sausage was 'pretty good'. Waiter was smily but not genuinely friendly. Did not help at all with the menu. I ordered the Rigatoni with sausage, mushrooms, and peas. I had to douse the dish with Parmesan cheese from the table to make it flavorful. But the sausage was ok... Definitely won't be back here. $17 for a small-portioned dish of pasta deserves much more flavor than they give here.
(2)
Andrew M.

Stopped in for another family dinner night. The reservation was for 7, but we ended up with 9. They didn't hesitate to accommodate us. Our waiter was friendly and attentive as well as patient when we took forever to order. We had calamari and bruschetta for appetizers. The bruschetta was great, but at 4 pieces per order a bit on the expensive and small side. The calamari was extremely tasty. The breading was light and buttery and really let you enjoy the taste of the calamari instead of just the fried breading. I had the seafood pasta dish with spicy red sauce. It was a massive order that I couldn't come close to finishing. It was very tasty with just the right amount of spiciness. My wife had spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were absolutely amazing. There was a small hiccup when our orders were brought out, and the plates were given to the wrong people. Not necessarily the waiter's fault, but he offered to buy us dessert to make up for it. We said that it wasn't necessary, but we appreciated the offer anyway.
(4)
Nicole M.

I love this restaurant! It's authentic Italian, intimate, and romantic. My boyfriend and I came here for Valentine's Day and had a great time. Service- fantastic! Our waiter was kind and attentive. Food came out quickly. Food- delish! We both had Gnocchi and ate every bite. Their bread is great too...not to mention the wine. I'm a bit of a wino and their reds are good. Ambiance- again- it's intimate, quaint. Really has the old world Italian feel from what I can tell. My favorite is the covered patio. It's lit up with strung up ceiling lights, lots of candlelight. Prices aren't bad either. For a glass of wine, a beer, two dishes; we paid about $55. Can't wait to go again!
(5)
Tyler M.

Dear owners: we (the customers) can tell if you are making your own pasta or not. You are charging way too much for a pasta dinner. You are not fooling anyone. Either drop the price or increase quality. You might think you are increasing profit by sacrificing quality, but you are losing customers. I could get the same quality meal at Olive Garden.
(2)
Lien B.

Would have given this five stars but my lovely experience is tainted by surprise charges. I don't mind paying extra if I upgrade or change my meal...but I did not. If you have kids that are picky eaters, it is hard to find a nice restaurant with kids options. I was happy to see a kids menu here but maybe the wait staff isn't as familiar with the kids menu?! The kid's penne was ok for $7 but the breaded chicken was a sad looking dish with one piece of flatten breaded chicken for $10!! Menu said it comes with a side of bread & a drink but the waiter said 'no' but was kind enough to bring us another loaf of the free bread for the table...hummm? We were then charged extra for the two kids drinks! My husband & I enjoyed our meals; shrimp risotto & short ribs (a little dry but flavorful..more gravy is all it needed). I'm so bummed that I did not catch the charge on the kids drinks til I got home! I would have like to clarify the drink & the side of bread that should have come with the kids meals to the waiter, who was nice & attentive enough. I'm on the fence if we'll be back. Having our kids with us for dinner is pretty common & we need a restaurant to accommodate them food wise as much as the adults....especially if they offer a kids menu.
(3)
Alex C.

Went with a group of 4 friends. We had found this place through yelp and were convinced we would be impressed with the service and food. We ordered: Aranchini Rice Balls - delicious Bruschetta - Simple, but very fresh Pollo Capri - cooked properly, fresh veggies, awesome! Rigatoni alla Boscaiola - Great sausage! Gnocchi Ricotta with Pesto - Fluffy and fantastic. A must try for pesto fans! Lobster Ravioli - Perfect! Tasty + Fresh lobster, awesome. Will definitely be back! UPDATE 4/8/14: Have been back to Fiorentino's 3 more times since I wrote this review, and we are also planning to have my mother's birthday dinner here very soon. Between my friends and I, we've probably had 80% of the menu, and haven't been let down once. This continues to be one of my favorite Italian spots on the North side!
(5)
Elizabeth M.

I am Italian and I'm telling you right now that I have found authentic Italian food in Chicago! The sauce is homemade, the food comes from their family recipes, this is the real deal people. Last night I had the sausage and kale soup, the caesar salad, and a white fish dish with a side of pasta. I also tried an incredible pomegranate martini... dangerously good. I have come here a few times now and have had a different server each time - all have been so friendly and knowledgable of the menu. I have talked with the owners and they are fabulous. I highly recommend this restaurant. By the way, try the Gnocchi with Tomato Cream!
(5)
Chris H.

We had a Groupon and I am glad we got it! What a fantastic place! It is nice and cozy. We were seated in the "outdoor" garden area that was really quite nice and warm in the middle of winter. Just saying: Our waiter was terrific! We started with the mixed grill of seafood that was terrific! What a delicious start to the meal. I than had the veal piccante which was a somewhat tough and not a flavorful as I wanted it to be and my hubby had the salmon which he loved. We than topped it off with a cannoli that was really very good. Even though the veal was a bust, we would totally come back even without a Groupon. Really good food and great service!!!
(4)
Lee L.

Fiorentino's is a family owned, charming, authentic Italian restaurant. We hadn't been here in years, but one day, as we were driving along Ashland, we made the the spontaneous decision to stop by for dinner. I'm now mad that we hadn't been back in years because we were missing out. We were sat in the covered garden area, and our server was nice and attentive and did his job well. They have a nice selection of Italian wines, and the list is reasonably priced and approachable. For starters, we had the grilled baby octopus and the beef carpaccio. There was a nice char on the tips of the octopus and the marinade was nice and bright. The carpaccio was very traditional and, of course, great. On both dishes there was an ample amount of greens, so if you order either of these starters you don't need a salad. For entrees, we had the portobello mushroom ravioli and the Vitello Milanese. I'm a complete sucker for a good mushroom-pasta dish, and this one hit the mark. The veal was crunchy but not dry. For dessert, of course we had to have the Tiramisu. Overall, it was an extremely solid, authentic, and delicious experience. This is one of those restaurants where I wish there was a rating between 4 and 5. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Matt T.

Loved this place! Randomly showed up on a Monday night to find it was 1/2 price wine, so naturally we obliged. You get some awesome fresh baked bread and my gf and I both got pasta entrees. You can tell this is authentic Italian and all of the food we ate was top notch. A great place for a date might and the prices were reasonable. The portions are enormous so we each had enough for leftovers which we ate for lunch the next day. Will definitely be going back. They have an awesome groupon deal right now which is a nice bonus.
(5)
Serena M.

Cute little spot on a busy corner. As soon as you walk in you forget that you left a busy street behind you.Wish there was slight music in the air rather then hear the table next to me.Was disappointed in theost simplest dish on the menu, the lasagna. When I think of that dish I'm thinking of mounds of meat and gooey cheese coming out of it. There was only a slice of cheese on top and nothing but meat with fat on it.really disappointed that they would screw up on a simple dish. I will go back but I guess avoid the simple dishes
(4)
Corey L.

Delicious food, and went on a Tuesday with half-priced appetizers. The service was excellent. We ordered the Ricotta stuffed gnocchi with tomato cream sauce, as well as the Bolognese. Both were delicious, and better then any other Italian place I've been in Chicago, with a price that is much cheaper.
(5)
Vincent J.

It's a great spot. The food and the service were great. A nice cozy vibe. I'd definitely recommend it to others.
(5)
Arianna J.

If you ever go eat at this place and expect a lot of sea food forget it. Ordered the Linguine Mare they have an option of having both scallops and shrimp for $26 a plate I only had two shrimp and two scallops. So basically paid $26 for a bowl of linguine. Big deal. Left wanting more sea food.
(1)
Jina K.

I went to Fiorentino's with my mother on mothers day. I made a reservation a night before and when I walked in, was stared at strangely by a waitress. Maybe because I was asian? I don't know. I was seated in the patio, which was absolutely beautiful. I ordered bruschetta and some pasta dish that was wonderful. My mother ordered a fettucine Alfredo (which was not on the menu). The bruschetta was crisp, the tomatoes were flavorful, filled with garlic and basil, and tasted just plain fresh. The bread was a bit burnt, but still delish. My mother's alfredo was quite strange. It wasn't anything that I had tasted before. I wasn't really a fan, but my mother was. The waitress was a bit rude and acted like we did not know how to i don't know, I guess be in a restaurant? She treated us a bit like foreigners and made sure to talk extra slow and be extra understanding in explaining things. (Lol I know how to order things??) We were not checked up on and water ran low for quite a bit, until I flagged down a bus boy. Apparently, they were giving out mothers day coupons or something, which I was not offered, but the table next to me was, which I found offending also. The food was lovely but service, not so much. Not sure if i'll be returning. Maybe I need to be white to be liked here.
(2)
Zhanina A.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in town! Very nice atmosphere to go out with friends or on a romantic date! Staff is very friendly and helpful! Tried the seafood appetizer (grilled scallops, calamari, and octopus) which was really tasty! The mussels are great as well! The pastas are all delicious! Definitely a place I will keep going to!
(5)
L M.

I had been looking forward to trying Fiorentino's for some time, and I was kind of disappointed. It's not bad, but it's certainly not any better than most Chicago Italian joints. For example, the rock shrimp risotto had decent flavor, but it wasn't made with arborio rice. It was pretty clearly made with long grain white rice, and the creaminess was faked with the mascaropone cheese they added. Lame. I've made much more authentic and delicious risotto at home. The signature dish of homemade pasta stuffed with crab and artichoke in a vodka sauce was pretty decent, but overly heavy, so not authentic Italian. The Nana's "Have a Bite" was pretty unique, with two meatballs served with a salad in viniagrette. Eating the meatballs together with the salad was pretty good -- on their own, the meatballs were a little bland. My husband had the minestrone soup, and he thought that was also unremarkable. The best thing I ate there was by far the apple, mission fig and blue cheese salad. It was nicely dressed and good proportions. The service was pretty average, not especially attentive, but the person bussing our table stacked someone else's dirty dishes on our table when he was clearing ours, which I think is pretty tacky (and unappetizing). The dining room felt like a flurry of clanging dishes when we first sat down, as several tables at once were cleared at once -- I get it, they have to be cleared, but it was really disruptive. All together, the place was only ok. I won't be rushing back, but if you're satisfied with average, Chicago-style Italian, and you aren't hoping for something more authentic or interesting, you may be just fine with this place. It was easy to get a reservation on a Saturday night last minute. So it has that going for it.
(3)
Steve K.

Fiorentino's offers a more-or-less classic Italian-American menu. When we arrived for dinner on a Saturday, we saw several large groups and families enjoying themselves. The atmosphere was cozy, festive, and child-friendly. The service was good; we were treated quite well by all of the staff. Unfortunately, some of the food was astonishingly bad, especially given the prices (e.g., $26 for seafood linguine fra diavolo). The two dishes that tasted good were the brussels sprouts side and the grilled octopus appetizer. The other dishes were worse than what most adults could cook at home or buy from a greasy pizza-and-pasta takeout restaurant. I know teenagers who cook better than this. Grilled octopus: The octopus was cooked very well. However, it was smothered in vinaigrette that was cloyingly sweet and lacking nuance. Fig and apple "crostini": This appetizer looked like a quick, easy snack that someone would make with whatever they had in the kitchen. I would be content to eat something like this at home; I was surprised that a restaurant would serve it to paying customers. Instead of dainty crostini with a nutty toast flavor, these "crostini" were pieces of bread that had been sliced too thickly and not toasted or grilled until brown. The slice of apple on top was too thickly sliced, so that it didn't balance with the fig. Eggplant parmigiana: This dish had a thin, runny marinara sauce that tasted like sweetened pasta sauce from a can. The sauce was not well melded with the fried eggplant, and it didn't have the flavors or consistency that would be developed by baking in the oven; it looked like it had been poured over the eggplant. A sheet of rubbery cheese was melted on top of the sauce, also not baked in the oven with the rest of the dish. It was served next to overcooked penne in a puddle of undrained water. It was obvious that the ketchup-sweet marinara sauce had not been tossed with the pasta in the pan to evenly coat it, but was simply poured on top of the pasta. A comparison to bad school cafeteria food would not be unfair. Linguine fra diavolo: The linguine was so overcooked that it was mushy and fell apart. The shellfish was also overcooked. Garlic in the dish was chopped in large, lopsided chunks; the sloppiness of the knife work was almost comical. The sauce was also too sweet. Brussels sprouts: This side dish tasted okay. It's not difficult to find other restaurants in Chicago that serve brussels sprouts more inventively or with superior execution, but at least it was not embarrassingly bad. The bad dishes were so inexplicably bad that I puzzled over why the restaurant was crowded with diners. It was awkward to politely eat such bad (and not cheap!) food while receiving friendly and attentive service. Despite the good service and cozy atmosphere, I can not recommend Fiorentino's to anyone.
(1)
Lee P.

Large menu of typical northern Italian entres with some imaginative specials like spaghetti Vesuvio (very good). Generous portions. Service was fine. Good variety on wine list, well priced bottles. No negative comments. This place will go into our regular rotation. Also good for carry out. The "outdoor" patio is actually fully enclosed, like a greenhouse. I think it would be pretty uncomfortable if the temp is over 72. Go for indoor seating.
(4)
KB C.

Very good food- we have not been to the restaurant yet...only delivery and it was a fast delivery at that...ordered thru yelp of course. The pasta dishes are typically right on- flavorful...which is what we want but do not always get...especially with delivered italian foods. Give them a try-
(4)
Brianna K.

Went here tonight for restaurant week. The food was great! The Italian sausage pasta, butternut squash soup, mushroom ravioli, and cannoli dessert were all fantastic. Our waiter was also great. The reason for four and not five stars is the bread they serve is not as good as some other Italian restaurants but even more so the front desk staff were not very nice. We walked in with a reservation and the young boy and girl at the front said "Oh you can like wait at the bar or just over there somewhere" despite it being the time of our reservation and not a packed restaurant. They then acted very annoyed when we asked how long the wait would be and continued their conversation. It was very off putting. However, the food and drinks were wonderful and would definitely recommend!
(4)
Leah G.

This place is amazing and so different from all the big, fancy restaurants you see downtown. This is absolutely one of my favorite places to dine and relax. I have been there numerous times, with my boyfriend, and always feel cozy and romantic, whether we are inside or out. The covered, outdoor patio is romantically decorated, with strung lights and beautiful vines up the brick walls. Also, I have never felt rushed or unwelcome here; you can truly sit back and enjoy your company and your entrees. The food is DELICIOUS, accurately priced and very authentic.
(5)
Meighan F.

This place is a true Sicilian gem! I have lived in Chicago for a year and eaten at many Italian places, and this one is in my top three. The ambiance has old world italian charm. My girlfriend and I loved the mussels with white wine, lemon and garlic. They were huge and full of flavor. The octopus with arugula was also delicious. She ordered the meatballs and loved them. I ha the fig and apple salad which was great for a light meal. To top or off, we had the tiramisu do desert. Wow! I am not a huge tiramisu fan but this was divine. Definitely try this place out.
(5)
Rocco H.

The GF and I were anticipating a trip to Fiorentino's for a long time. After grabbing a deal from gdine.com , we finally had our chance. We came in at 6:30 on Saturday to a packed house, but we were seated right away. Our server started off very attentively and was welcoming. After a couple of visits to take our order, he was no where to be seen for the rest of the night. Overall he was very nice but could have come by the table more often than the bus-boy! The food was very good, and the serving sizes exceptional. The best part was desert, which was the Cannoli. The presentation was totally new and very enjoyable. I would return to Fiorentino's to try something from their regular menu, but maybe on a slower night where we could expect a little more attention.
(3)
J P.

very nice place. the grilled seafood appetizer was excellent. We had the key lime pie for desert, which was the best I've ever tried. the entrÃ©es were just ok, but way overpriced. we had the seafood pasta, which did not include the tail on shrimp. rather were served in cut pieces.... why???? the baby clams were, well, babies.... no meat at all.... and for $25.... again, way overpriced. also tried the beef short ribs... very good but, I would rather stay away from all those Brussel sprouts. service was very good. would only return for appetizer and dessert. Btw, $11 for a champaign cocktail????? really???
(3)
Katie S.

5 stars for atmosphere. The covered outdoor section is very charming. Perfect for dinner with out-of-town parents. Food was solid. Warm bread to start, great beet salad. Gnocchi was particularly good though the eggplant parm was just so-so. I would definitely come back and try a couple other dishes.
(4)
Julia J.

In a land that is riddled with Italian restaurants, this place is as good as it gets. I love that it is a FAMILY business. Fiorentino's staff certainly make you feel as welcome as an authentic Fiorentino when you enter. First off, the atmosphere is warm and very romantic. Our party sat in the garden area outside, but the inside seemed just as nice. Our server, Katy, was AMAZING. She got my OCD order just right and kept checking back on our table to refresh drinks and make sure we were happy. Since our get-together was a reunion, we chatted so long we actually closed the joint! I really appreciated that they didn't hover around our table and pressure us to leave like The Greek Islands is so famous for. The Fiorentino staff was totally chill about it and because of that, we have told all our friends that this little place is a neighborhood gem. In fact, we will be meeting our friends there in two weeks! The food was amazing. My husband ordered their Chicken dinner with roasted red peppers and practically licked his plate. No, seriously...he ALMOST did until I stopped him! I ordered a entree' sized salad with Chicken on it. It was very filling and made exactly as I ordered. We shared a grilled calamari appetizer that was perfectly prepared. The prices were reasonable, (except for the liquor) the service was AMAZING and the food was authentically home-made. Who needs the fancy-shmancy places when you've got a place that treats you like family? We didn't want to go home! Oh--BONUS FOR YOU GLUTEN-FREE FOLK- They just started a gluten-free menu! I will update this review and let you know what my gluten-free foodie friends have to say about it! UPDATE- We went back. I've got to say, wow. Again, we were blown away. Frankly, I think that the owners must train their staff exceptionally well or weed out servers with a chip on their shoulder because our waiter, Mike was just as friendly and adaptable to my OCD-idness as our last server, Katy. Even the bus boys seem to genuinely like their job. They were so friendly and helpful with whatever we needed. Like I promised, we decided to dip our taste buds into the gluten-free frenzy. My husband ordered the Steak from their new gluten-free menu. He said the seasonings were 'strange' and he definitely wouldn't recommend this particular dish. I had the Gluten-free Seafood Linguine and LOVED it. My friend ordered the mixed grilled Seafood (also from the gluten-free menu). So I'm sure that will have to be the next pit stop on our adventure through the Fiorentino menu. Our whole table shared a Cannoli with shaved dark Chocolate and it was just enough sweet to go well with coffee and a heated conversation about Politics and Religion. Let me say ordering the desert was sooooo worth it, even though I had to muddle through obama economics.... BTW-Yasmin, Katy and Mike are all really good servers. I haven't had ONE bad experience at Fiorentino's
(5)
Robert R.

I took a group of twelve to dinner Sunday night, and everybody was so happy I had chosen Fiorentinos Cucina Italiana. My wife and I live in Crystal Lake and often eat at Fiorentinos after attending a matinee show downtown. The dishes are authentic, delicious and reasonably priced. The wait staff is attentive without being overbearing. Parking is close by and free. There are many reasons we keep going back, but the best reasons are the mussels in pesto sauce served on angel hair pasta and the rigatoni alla boscaiola. Soooo good!
(5)
Diana M.

Not great and overly expensive. Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere else for Italian.
(1)
Jenna S.

I had heard good things about this place and finally decided to try it out during Restaurant Week. The prix fixe menu looked appetizing and the reviews speak well of the place. Parking is convenient, which is an immediate plus. This part of Ashland kind of seems like a ghost town in terms of nightlife, so you'll be fine if you need to park on the street. We had a reservation but we had to wait when we arrived. Kind of annoying. Especially since the wait was almost 30 minutes. We had to crowd in the back by the tiny bar and just stand while we waited for people to vacate our table. At least there was wine. The atmosphere of the restaurant is wonderful. Dimly lit (but not dark), romantic, lights strung up on the walls and cozy (but not in a super uncomfortable way). Even with a packed house, the place didn't seem too loud and this would be a great place for a date (or a double date in our case). The food was delicious. The portions are enormous, so plan to take your food home. I had the gnocci, which was fabulous. The alfredo sauce was rich with just the right amount of herb and spice and everything was piping hot when it arrived. Everyone else at the table enjoyed their meals, as well. The prix fixe menu was a nice way to try the meals Fiorentino's wanted to showcase and they cook them well. Lots of wine available for purchase, too, so go nuts. Oh, and the bread pudding. FANTASTIC. Literally amazing. So good. I love bread pudding and this really was some of the best I've had. Get it for dessert when you come. It's excellent. This is the point where I say the service was terrible. Like so many other reviewers, the service was unbelievably slow and by the end of the meal (and that entire bottle of wine) we were tired, a little cranky and just wanted to get out of the restaurant. Our waiter was MIA several times throughout the evening and we couldn't even find him when we just wanted to pay and get out of there. This really put a damper on the entire experience. I like to spend my time eating, drinking and socializing with friends over good food and good wine... but not hours and hours and hours. At some point it gets ridiculous, and that's what happened at Fiorentino's.
(3)
Rachel V.

Order the mushroom ravioli and sit on the patio and you've got the PERFECT evening. The atmosphere is romantic and classic. You don't even feel like you're in Chicago anymore when you're on the patio. The food was outstanding and flavorful. The only reason for giving Fiorentino's four stars rather than five was our disappearing waiter. I'm pretty sure we did not see him for fifteen minutes at the end when we were trying to order dessert and pay. Of course, he took so long that we couldn't order dessert, but I look forward to trying it next time.
(4)
Rosa V.

Amazing, the gnocchi with tomato cream sauce was the best I've had. I asked them to mix it with a bit of pesto and it took it to a whole other level. The patio is gorgeous, wonderful little restaurant!
(5)
Alphonso M.

Good for what they say they do! Great and attentive wait staff, not overbearing but made us feel very comfortable. If I we're in the area I would not hesitate!
(3)
Emily Z.

Atmosphere: 5 stars litterally the cutest place ever... great for a date ! We sat up front right by Ashland and you can barley hear it, though I would suggest sitting on the side closest to the restaurant otherwise you are right by the AC and your feet will be ice cubes by the time you leave. Food: 4 stars I was not that impressed with the house bread, some was a little hard, that being said I ate 3 pieces ! Split the giant crab cake, I was not as impressed as other reviewers, it was good but not worth the $13. We also split the stuffed gnocchi with the ragu sauce which were very good though somehow each was a different texture, and the Penne alla Siciliana (eggplant with mozzarella) which I though was better, the eggplant had great flavor, and was even better for lunch the next day !! Bonus points for Fresh Parmesan on the table, negative points for it being grated and not shredded ! Service: fine, though my water glass was empty more than once, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe I am just excessively thirsty ! So lets see 5 Stars + 4 Stars + fine = Three stars, yep sounds about right. Overall its a great Italian place if you have family in town or want to have a romantic night and don't wanna throw out the $40 for a round trip cab downtown.
(3)
Barbara P.

Casual vibe with tablecloths, friendly bartender and servers. Love the cozy ambiance and the tiny lights all over. We were served family-style and enjoyed the food - calamari, gnocchi, grilled octopus. Was very impressed with the variety and the quality of the available gluten-free options. Delicious gelato dessert.
(3)
Susan P.

Ambiance was nice, service was great (loved our attentive waiter), but food was just ok. Came for restaurant week. Prix fixe menu: 1. butternut squash soup (kind of bland and too sweet) 2. tilapia (good sauce, but almost no veggies - just two giant broccoli pieces) 3. deconstructed cannoli (fried wontons stuck in a york peppermint patty filling without the peppermint part - it was gritty... is this normal?). Half price bottles of wine on Monday's was great.
(3)
Lauren H.

I love this place! My husband and I have been coming here for a few years now and it remains one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. The owners, Frances and Steve, treat all diners as family and the food is consistently delicious! I love the Griglia Mista and the Fig, Apple and Bleu Cheese salad but my favorite dish is definitely the Stuffed Gnocchi. Great addition to the Lakeview neighborhood!
(5)
John M.

I was not the most impressed with this place. I felt we had to wait a while for the food which was not the most exciting Italian food I have had. Even though we went at the suggestion and to celebrate my brother's girlfriend's birthday party there I was not impressed with their offerings. I must say they need to work on consistency and better presentation of food quality.
(3)
johanne a.

very good food especially the gnocchi and calimari -- pasta tasted homemade. good value, will come again
(4)
Luci D.

I've driven by this restaurant so many times wanting to try it, and I finally got the chance to this past Monday. Everyone else was sitting on the patio, but my friend and I elected to eat inside because the sun was setting and it was getting chilly. Server Michael (more on him later) gave us time to peruse the menu, and informed us of the 25% off bottles of wine special they run on Mondays. Score! We asked what his recommendations were since we had never eaten there before, and he mentioned three specific items, one of which we ended up ordering (a rigatoni dish). I got the scallops, and we shared the gnocchi with tomato cream sauce, which are little pillows of joy. The food was all fine, and I don't think you could go wrong with anything. (They gave us free gelato since it was my birthday, which is always a nice touch.) Two minor complaints: 1) You all have got to do something about that front door. It is so noisy to the point of being distracting when you're the only table seated in the room. It not only slams shut, but it has a horrible squeaky belching noise, like metal rubbing metal. 2) The wine service was lacking. Michael properly presented the bottle to me since I chose it, but neglected to leave the cork on the table. Also, NEVER pick up the wine glasses to pour the wine, especially since they were being picked up by the bowl and not the stem. (I would like to point out that, other than this, he was perfectly adequate and we enjoyed his service.) Despite those two minor things, I will be back (for that gnocchi).
(3)
Rita W.

We went here on Saturday with my best friend and her husband. They live down the street from this restaurant and they rave about Fiorentinos but neither my husband nor I had been there before. When we first walked in, we were surprised to see how packed the restaurant was. We had reservations but they had a hiccup with their open table app so we wait for about ten minutes before we were seated. We seated in their garden space (apparently they have it open in the summer). It was super cute, they made it seem super cozy with candles on every table and winter lights up everywhere. My husband ordered the osso bucco and I had the stuffed gnocchi in tomato cream sauce. We ate every bite of our entrees! The osso bucco was a good sized portion, it was so tender and had really good flavor. My gnocchi was soft and fluffy and the tomato cream sauce had a hit of spice to it which was perfect. We loved our entrees! As many of the yelpers have mentioned, the service is not the most attentive (We had to ask several times for more bread) but it wasn't horrible. We would definitely come back here again for the food though!
(4)
Erin J.

Family came into town for the weekend and I made reservations through Open Table. We arrived early and were seated promptly. Could have gone without reservations, but you never know in Chicago. Staff was super friendly! We were seated in the patio section of the restaurant - cozy and super cute with lights and trees. I loved the ambiance, but wish we could have been inside with the quieter crowd. It was soooo loud in there! We ordered Capellini Gamberi E Broccoli, Penne Alla Siciliana, Linguini Frutti Di Mare. Capellini Gamberi E Broccoli was soooo yummy! I highly recommend it. The Penne Alla Siciliana was good, but you can't see or taste the eggplant. The Linguini Frutti Di Mare was average and extra clammy.
(4)
Anthony B.

Great ambiance and a great date place - had a Mom and Pop type feel like youre eating at someone's home, but the food was nothing special. Service was ok, not overly attentive, (the water servers were moreso than our actual service) and the front room was nice had we not asked to switch from the back room which was packed and unbearably loud. May go back again but will likely try other options.
(2)
Tera D.

Oh Fiorentino's, you were so, so close to being a surprising 4-star discovery. We stumbled in here after attempting to use a Groupon across the street at La Gondola without a reservation. We were craving chicken parm, so when La Gondola had zero openings all night, we walked over the Fiorentino's instead. It was nowhere near crowded, and we were seated immediately on the adorable patio. Our server was very friendly, albeit a little overly attentive. We were a little surprised to see the menu was set up a bit differently than the one saw online, and the prices were a few dollars higher, but we let it slide since they still had the chicken parm we wanted. We ordered fried calamari, a Caesar salad, the chicken parm, and a side of pappardella with bolognase sauce, all to split. Everything was generally pretty good, and we were all set to give it a 4-star review. And then the check came. First, we saw we were charged a $6 fee for them to split our chicken parm on two plates. I recalled seeing this charge on the menu, but thought it referred to splitting the bill. Plus we mentioned we were splitting it, but never asked for them to split it for us, and the server never mentioned the charge. Next we saw that the pasta side dish was $5, despite being listed as $3 on the menu. On top of that, our chicken parm came with a side of pasta in the first place, and in my opinion a good server would have mentioned this (the menu did not) when he saw we were ordering a separate side of pasta. All in all, the poor service and misleading pricing was a complete turnoff, and our otherwise lovely dinner ended on a very sour note.
(3)
Steve H.

We've been looking for a good reliable neighborhood Italian restaurant for years and finally went outside our local bubble and found this place based on yelp reviews. We are so glad that we did. The food and service is terrific. We love this place!
(4)
Kaitlin M.

So... I must say I would love to give this place 5 stars but there is only one issue. They do not have anything even relatively vegan on the menu. Normally Italian places will have something that is light without cheese or meat. That being said this place was great! A friend and I ordered in on for Wine Wednesday night at my place and they were happy to make me something with red sauce and veggies. It turned out OK... not a lot of veggies but the sauce was good. My friend ordered the Mixed Seafood pasta which looked amazing. It had plenty of mussels, shrimp and calamari in a great sauce. She loved it! If you feel like true authentic Italian food and are willing to pay for it this is a good place to go.
(3)
Scott G.

This is my go to Italian spot! Can't get enough of the stuffed gnocchi. The lasagna is phenomenal! And the grilled octopus is amazing! The service is great never had a Problem. Will continue to come back!
(5)
Jeff G.

food was decent rice balls ok, not amazing salad nice and fresh papardelle tasty we only went here because chicago's best tv show said they had one of the best patios in the city for al fresco dining. we went there on a perfect 72 degree night in late june and waited 30 min for an "outdoor table" their patio is enclosed on 3 sides. there is nothing outdoor about it except for maybe 2 tables way up front
(3)
Diane M.

You can't go wrong if you want a great Italian dinner -- go to Fiorentino's! Beautiful ambiance, the food is yummy, prices are right. Even have a covered, enclosed outdoor garden that it beautiful. They take reservations. My only complaint (and this goes for all Chicago restaurants) is that they cannot do separate checks. It took us at least a half hour - 40 minutes to get our bills correct. First, we had to try to separate it ourselves and then they finally had to get the manager involved. What is the big deal about doing separate checks in Chicago? From where I am from, the first question you're asked by the server is "how do you want your checks?" Oh well, the experience is still great.
(4)
Kit G.

I discovered this restaurant through gdine, which is a great website for restaurant deals - check it out. For about $70 I purchased a 2 course meal for 2 people, plus 2 glasses of wine. And that $70 included tax and tip! We got to choose if we wanted to have an appetizer and a main course, or dessert and a main course. I had the arancini for my first course. They were perfectly crisp on the outside, and they had just enough cheese, meat, and peas inside to compliment the risotto. The marinara sauce that they were served with was very flavorful. Then I had the stuffed gnocchi. I love anything stuffed with cheese. The menu described the gnocchi was being surprisingly light, which they were. I was given a choice of having the gnocchi with either pesto, tomato cream, or marinara sauce. I chose tomato cream and it was excellent, just enough cream - it wasn't super heavy. It was definitely something I would order again. I am glad that I discovered this little gem. I would love to go back.
(4)
Paul S.

great food, great servers, great date place
(5)
russ f.

So my partner and I have been coming to the NRA show in Chicago for years. Each year we visit a friend in Lincoln Park and a few years back our buddy took us to Fiorentino's. The first time we went it was slow and we sat on the patio and had a great time. We had great service and excellent food. We have come back year after year and it is one of the highlights of our time in Chicago. Being in the restaurant business we eat out a great deal and I can honestly say that this experience once again was exceptional. The 4 of us shared Veal Marsala, Penne al vodka (off the chart), Manicotti. All we perfect but the highlight was the Meatball app, the sauce was perfect and the flavor of the Meatballs was great as well. Top it off with the inside out, up side down Canoli (actually named "deconstructed" and you need to take a long nap after this meal. Highly suggest Fiorentio's if you love authentic Italian, good service, nice atmosphere and a can't miss Canoli!!
(5)
Chandler H.

Great food and service, price wasn't bad either
(5)
Kapil K.

Food: defintely below average except tilapia which was good but not excellent. Don't go near the pork chop special, it's absolutely useless. Wine list was attrocious. Service: waiter was polite however lacked knowledge of the menu and wine list. I was quite impressed when they brought a free dessert for birthday girl in our party. But wait a minute, few minutes later I saw a charge for it on our check. Who does that... Don't bring me a dessert without asking if u r going to charge me for it; next time select my appetizer and entree for me as well. Overall: I'm not impressed and don't plan to return.
(2)
Grace N.

Ricotta-stuffed gnocci with tomato cream sauce....ahhh....savory pillows of tender goodness in my mouth. I didn't even like gnocci until I tried it here. I've concluded that all gnocci should be stuffed. Atmosphere is charming but crowded, service perfunctory, but I'll go for the gnocci alone.
(4)
Laura O.

Went here for a Birthday dinner for my lady friend. Let's start with the bad (there's only one): service was slow. Lucky for our gentlemen waiter, we were in no rush, and in a chatty mood, but nonetheless... The pasta & salad special on Wednesday nights was too enticing to pass up (18 dolla holla). I chose the Rigatoni with sausage... and let me tell you this, I was depressed that I wouldn't be home the next couple days to eat the leftovers (my roommates lucked out on this one). It was SO tasty!! I wanted every last bite, but I couldn't fit it in my stomach unfortunately. Also, go for the patio in the nice weather. So quaint, and despite busy Ashland traffic, couldn't hear a thing (thank you shrubbery/mother nature).
(4)
Kymberly J.

Helpful tip: You cannot make a reservation for only 2 people on a Friday or Saturday night but if you call ahead 30 minutes before you plan on getting there you can add your party to the wait list. When you arrive you will either get seated right away or wait a short time. The restaurant is divided into 2 spaces with two different atmospheres. When you first wlak in the door the lighting is low and the set up is intimate and romantic. The bar area in the back is kind of awkward because there is no seating and the bar isnt very long so you end up standing around staring at the people eating nearby. The other half is a like a garden with pretty lights and hanging flower baskets. It's a little noisy but still gives you a great family Italian restaurant feel. I had the lemon chicken. A tad dry but still delish! Most Italian restautants load you up with food and past accompanies every dish. My chicken came with a small serving of broccoli and that was it - a bit disappointing but I'd still go back.
(4)
Kristin K.

I went to this restaurant hoping for greatness, maybe that was where I went wrong. After being seated, watered, and breaded (mediocre bread basket, btw), we sat for 20 minutes without service before I finally decided to take action. I went to the hostess to ask where our server was because I wanted to order an appetizer and a glass of wine-ok, there seemed to be some confusion and somehow they had overlooked us but the waiter was very apologetic and gave me my glass of wine on the house-a nice gesture. The fried calamari: the breading, although light and airy, was bland and flavorless. It was served with a side of watered down cocktail sauce...not tradition marinara like any other italian restaurant I've dined at. Our dishes: Mine was traditional oven baked lasagna. It had meat, spinach, mushrooms, and melted mozzarella. It was ok. I think most of the flavor/it's only redeeming quality was from the ground beef. Boyfriend had eggplant parmigiana, which was soggy and flavorless. It was served with a side of pasta. He thought he could prepare this dish better at home, and he did not finish eating it. Both of our dishes were swimming in a pool of generic, watery red sauce. For the most part, my experience with the staff was good but as far as the food is concerned, it's just "meh". And even if we HAD liked our dishes, there wasn't even enough left over to take home. At $15 a dish, I'd expect more.
(2)
Lauren R.

We found ourselves here on a Saturday night and were seated within about 10 minutes. We chose to wait a little longer to get an actual table away from the bar; when all was said and done, we ended up being seated at an awkwardly placed table.. still in the bar area, but hey, we got over that pretty quickly. The food was great.. we had caprese salad and fettucini alfredo and key lime cheesecake for dessert. Besides the seating, the only not so great thing was the cost... a little pricey for the food. While it was great, it was fettucini alredo... not an incredibly complicated thing. We will definitely go back, but will just be prepared to empty the wallet a little more than usual and will also know next time to ask for a table on the patio... this is apparently the secret. Quite a few people requested this while we were waiting.. and yes it's January but the patio is enclosed and heated. This will prevent getting another awkwardly placed table in a place that doesn't seem like there should be a table. But yes, great place all in all.
(4)
Timothy M.

Let me start off by saying that i've been in the food and beverage industry for thirteen years and love going out and experiencing the great places Chicago has to offer. Some are good and some are bad but this is the first time I have actually wrote a review. When someone writes a review it is usually not a positive review and so is the case with this one. I live in the area and pass the place everytime I go to and from Jewel and is a place I have always wanted to try. So my date and I wanted to go out to eat at a place that had a patio so we went here. We walk in; the decor on the inside is nice and inviting and request to be sat on the patio. As soon as we walk out the door we quickly realize that the entire patio is enclosed with plastic and actually has a/c so im assuming they never actually use the patio in the traditional sense. We sit down at the table and review the menu which looks good on paper; thats about it. Our server Daniel? (tall, lanky guy) started off the whole dining experience in a very awkward way. We said we would just need a few minutes to look things over (wine list, menu, etc.) but continued to stand there awkwardly for about ten seconds not saying a word then walked away leaving my date and I looking at each other and wondering if he was on some sort of drugs. We finally decided on a wine selection and waited for a good amount of time before we just told the busser what we wanted, he seemed more attentive with our table than our actual server. We finally got our wine which was not quality at all, figured out what we wanted and then our awkward waiter finally came over and took our order but then again just stood at our table after we were done ordering as if he wanted us to give him more items to order; we did not. My date ordered the Bolognese and I ordered the Chicken fettuccine alfredo. The fettuccine wasnt bad in taste, a little overboard with the oil (take some home and reheat it and youll understand) and nutmeg? Yes, had a strong nutmeg flavor. But its the bolognese that was piss poor, Chef Boyardee could have done better. In fact my date took some home and added a few more ingredients like sugar (key ingredient in a good bolognese sauce) garlic salt, etc. You get the picture. We finished, had the busser box up our food and then cue awkward server. He came over asked if we would care for any desert, we didnt, then stood there again as in disbelief we didnt want anything else. Basically what i'm getting at is that the place looks great from the outside but enter at your own risk at what you'll encounter inside. Very strange experience and I highly recommend staying away, especially for the price. Many other great places around the area for italian (La Gondola, Via Carducci, etc.) Hope this review has helped you all out.
(1)
JoVonna M.

Went here on one of my last nights in Chicago... What was I waiting for?? Seating was cozy- the all season room was fabulous. My friend and I paid a cork fee for BYOB, but our waitress told us about it before she opened our wine. Our entrees were spectacular!! All in all, when I go back to visit Chicago, I will enjoy dinner here again.
(5)
Jennifer A.

When my mother suggested we meet for dinner at a restaurant on Ashland Ave., I was immediately suspicious. My husband and I are foodies, and we did not trust the recommendation. Imagine our surprise when we arrived on a weeknight at Fiorentino's only to find that they were full, and could not accommodate our party of six for dinner. Hmmm. I realized mom may have been onto something. Several weeks later, we decided to return to Fiorentino's and give it a try, and we have been frequent diners ever since. Run by an engaging mother/son duo, the food is wonderful. Although we have never had anything on the menu that was not stellar, we especially enjoy their pasta dishes: Penne alla Siciliana (eggplant with mozzarella) and Rigatoni alla Boscaiola (with sweet Italian sausage) are among our favorites. Be sure to try their crab cakes if they have them, as they are also awesome! The restaurant includes a tented 3-season room that is absolutely delightful; we always request it if available. The icing on the cake is that you can park for free in the Pittsburg Paint lot just north of the restaurant.
(5)
Gina F.

We ordered delivery through GrubHub and found the quality didn't diminish. We had a salad, gnocchi with vodka sauce, tilapia, sauteed spinach, & potatoes vesuvio. The spinach was a little oily, but aside from that, everythinbg arrived piping hot & delicious. It was our early Valentine's, which we celebrated cozy & warm in our home, and the food was perfect.
(5)
Susan C.

We choose this restaurant because of GrouponNow and a desire to not spend a ton of money at dinner....after being seated in their comfy (if possibly over decorated with fake plants) garden, one glance at the impressively authentic Italian menu and that was right out the window. Our only regret is that we wanted to eat our courses shared, but in the Italian style of Antipasti, Primi and Secondi and our waiter brought both the Primi and the Secondi as Entrees at the same time. As everything looked really good, we went with waiter recommendations for each of our courses: Carpaccio: meh. The arugla was overdressed and completely overshadowed the tenderloin Linguine Fruitti del Mar: Better. Filling and tasty. Ps- "zesty" stands for al diavolo Halibut special: PURE HEAVEN. This waiter earned my undying red wine-toothed love with recommending this dish that almost had me swatting my date's fork away. Luckily, he was occupied getting muscles out of shells and I snuck in a few extra bites and still got to look like a lady! They topped the halibut with a slightly crispy layer of gravlax and capers. My mouth is still watering. After one bite I turned to my date and said, "If they have cannoli here, we're getting it." They did....but it wasn't a traditional cannoli. it was "deconstructed" cannoli. Let me state for the record that a cannoli doesn't need any cosmetic improvements. It doesn't need any boosted up or injected flavors or painted on extras. Just like that Bruno Mars tune- It is perfect and beautiful just the way it is. So, I clung to my skepticism until I tasted it....and it was good. I still think it looked a little silly in the presentation (kinda like guac and chips) but it was still the simple sweet cheesy goodness that makes it one of my favorite desserts.
(4)
Natalie B.

I really like Fiorentino's - for 2 reasons. 1) They do traditional Italian food right - it's consistently good and never boring. 2) Service is fantastic! I love the fact that this is a family-owned restaurant, and that truly comes across in the pride and passion the staff has for their food/service. Plus - how charming is their back room?! On spring/summer nights, it's a lovely tree shaded patio with just the right amount of outside breeze. In the fall/winter they close the open areas and it's a cozy space with white twinkle lights above. Great atmosphere. Perfect for a date night or a fun girls night. Fantastic wine list - fab Italian reds and good whites. Calamari - must get - i think it's the best in the city. Lightly breaded, not to fried and tender, never rubbery. Excellent! Their pastas are homemade and they are fabulous - seriously can't go wrong with any selection. Personally, I love the rigatoni with sweet Italian sausage, mushrooms and tomato cream sauce. The stuffed gnocchi is incredible too. the last time I was here, I had the Osso Buco - perfect. Fell off the bone and the sauce was delicious. OK so i would have given Fiorentino's 5 stars, but my only complaint is their dessert selection. Meh. Not wonderful, not all that inspired. In typical old-school Italian fashion, they cart out the ole dessert tray, filled with about 6 selections, but they don't look that appetizing. The tiramisu was too soggy. But I've been here 3 times and I would absolutely come back. Just skip dessert.
(4)
Scott S.

The food was fantastic, especially the stuffed gnocchi and the chocolate mousse dessert.
(5)
Karen A.

Surprisingly delicious, solid Italian fare, yes, on Ashland Avenue. What's so great about this place? The bread was hot and fresh, served with olive oil and parmesan. House dressing on the salad- Italian with blue cheese (awesome). Menu- all the expected Italian pleasures and more. Specials- from Sea Bass to Osso Bucco- delicious daily selections. Wine list- wow- I was surprised at the GREAT selection and fair prices. Excellent martinis! Service- 5 stars. Attentive, not overbearing. Atmosphere- Romantic, warm and relaxing. Parking- Easy peasy, right on that stretch of Ashland. I have been there several times and Fiorentinos is the best traditional Italian food in Lakeview. Surprise!
(5)
Jackie P.

Great place to take a date! We went on a Monday night so it wasn't very busy, but they still took care in seating us so there was a two table separation between people. It is bigger than I expected (looks small from the outside) with three separate rooms for dining. The outdoor/four-season room was well-heated despite being a cool night in November. The entire place has adorable decor with quite a romantic vibe. Our server was very good, highly attentive. They brought comp birthday desserts to the table next us. Their menu is pretty extensive and that includes seasonal dishes as well (I had the pumpkin ravioli). Be forewarned that the desserts on the display are significantly smaller than the actual desserts. If you're remotely full, you should definitely split one. Drink/wine list is also extensive. All in all, great dinner and ambience. Would be good for groups as well. Check online at restaurant.com as they have $25 certificates for $3 (with promo codes), but make sure to read the fine lines as you have to spend at least $50 to be able to use it. Sorta pricey ~$18pumpkin ravioli - $34 filet), but worth the spend.
(4)
tina m.

I SO wanted to love this place. I had heard some many great things, and drive past it all the time, so it was time for my husband and I to stop in. Meh. A+ on the atmosphere! Super cozy with soft candle lighting on each table. D- on the service, our waitress was super nice at first but she never returned! Or so it felt that way... She took our appetizer and it felt like an hour before she returned just to bring our wine and take our order, then another hour to check to see how we were, then another hour to bring our food. I swear, it was like we went in on Friday but didn't leave until Sunday! The appetizer was hideous. We ordered muscles and they were overwhelmingly fishy, you could smell it a mile away. No good. I ordered the "Netherlands Salmon" special and it was just okay, but not too much flavor...however the fennel salad that came with it was pretty decent (but I mean, it's a salad). My husband did enjoy his pasta so they've got that going for them... It's a really cute place, it's just too bad that we had bad service, and the food wasn't anything to write home about. I say pass on this one.
(2)
Robyn M.

AMAZING! That's all you need to know. The service is always wonderful - polite, attentive and friendly. The house wines are delicious and the mixed drinks are nice and strong haha. The food is alway prepared fabulously and the portions are large enough that I usually have some leftovers to heat up the next day. For such a classy place the prices really aren't too bad either. (It usually is about $50 for 2 of us with a drink and entree each.) Perfect place for a date night or a casual dinner with friends.
(5)
Katie W.

This place is adorable, if you get a chance to sit in the outside area, I definitely recommend it. It has pretty white lights throughout and is very romantic :) I've always had great dishes here and the staff is very friendly and helpful. You can also find discounts to this place through Restaurant.com A little pricey but worth it. Great date spot or with a large group of friends.
(4)
Michelle D.

This place was not very good. The service was incredibly slow and the food lacked flavor. We started with the bruschetta which was presented on slighlty charred bread which overpowered the bland tomato topping. Adding some salt, pepper, parmesean, olive oil and anything else I could find on the table to add flavor could not save it. This is the city, not the suburbs. It is okay to not serve bland food! Next, I had the rigatoni with sausage. The pasta was cooked fine; however, there was a lot of added pepper throughout the dish which overpowered it. The sausage was okay and I think I would have liked the tomato sauce had all the excess pepper not been added. And then it took FOREVER for our check or also a check-in after our meal arrived. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I do not get a new glass of wine when the entree arrives. Our waiter did not come back to check in on us between our appetizers and entrees so I was not able to order a new glass to replace my practically empty one. And I was halfway finished with my entree before he even came by. There are so many other wonderful italian restaurants in the city (Caro Mio, Sabatinos, La Scarola, and even La Gondola in the strip mall across from Fiorentinos). I would not waste my time or money on this place. Very disappointing. On a positive note, they had a nice, reasonable wine list and the bread was served warm.
(1)
Raoul D.

I have been to Fiorentino's a dozen times and the people that own the restaurant could not be any nicer. They truly aim to please. The food has historically been excellent but on my last visit they seem to be getting complacent. The caesar salad was un inspired and the past was mediocre. I will certainly return but I hope this was an aberration and not the new norm
(3)
Jon S.

This was suggested by a college friend and it turned out to be great! They have inside seatIng and an outdoor air conditioned patio. Pretty unique given that it was about 90 degrees outside! Very good staff and menu! Had the spaghetti vongole as a main dish, and the risotto balls as an appetizer. Good wine list and I enjoyed a glass of the Pinot Grigio. I will definitely be back as it feels like a hidden neighborhood "gem" as referenced in other reviews. May not still offer it, but you get 10% off your bill if you "check in" there on Yelp!
(4)
Jennifer B.

Ah...the stars aligned for our dinner at Fiorentino's.... -- The perfect table (outdoors, by the flowers) -- The perfect server (John! He's a hoot) -- The perfect meal (more on that in a moment) -- The perfect wine list (red wine bottles start at $26....holla!) The food here is amazing....as other reviewers have noted Fiorentino's definitely knows what they're doing. We had the brushetta appetizer, which was probably the least thrilling. The caesar salad is huge and the dressing was lighter than some of those caesar dressings that you could cut with a fork. I had the salmon which was incredible, and we also got the gnocchi which is a signature for Fiorentinos. The dessert was fantastic too and I love restaurants where they bring around the dessert tray. Something about "see food" makes me ultimately say, "Sure!" I love when restaurants don't go crazy with their wine prices, and Fiorentino's has many bottles under $30! The selection is great for both red and white. Finally the service was fantastic, and nothing like eating outside on a nice summer's night amongst beautiful flowers that Fiorentino's has planted. Overall, such an A+ experience and we will definitely be back.
(5)
Fred E.

Had dinner here Tuesday night with a group of friends. Atmosphere was nice. Table was cozy. Waitstaff was excellent and attentive, even though we had to wait a bit for all our party to arrive. I had the halibut with Brussels sprouts and mussels and it was FABULOUS! Everyone enjoyed their food. The calamari, cabrese salad, and bruschetta appetizers were good. The desert tray was to die for. We'll be back!
(5)
Elyse P.

I have been to Fiorentino's twice and have really enjoyed it both times! The first was during restaurant week and the second more recently. Solid food, nice service, all in all a very enjoyable night out.
(4)
Eric M.

Went here last Friday with my girlfriend since we were craving come Italian. Will definitely come back, and I think it's the best Italian in the area. Even on a Friday night, it wasn't too busy so we easily got a table outside so we could have a dinner under the stars! OK, there was a tarp and we're in the middle of Chicago so no stars to be seen, but being outside while still warm was nice. We picked out a bottle of white wine. It was one of the featured selections and it was so good I took a picture of the label so we could buy some more later. Great price too. Next up was a Caesar salad. The dressing had a lot of flavor for how light it was. A good balance. Not my favorite Caesar, I like my very creamy, but definitely solid. Also, good bread and olive oil on the side. Parmesan cheese at the table was also a nice addition. My GF had the gnocchi (we did not know everybody on yelp raved about it) and found it incredible. It was light and pillowy but still again with tons of flavor. I had the specialty pasta which was a black fettuccine with sundried tomatoes, and shrimp. It had a really nice creamy taste which balanced a cheesy Alfredo flavor with a seafood seasoning. Not as good as her gnocchi (Nochi? Nocky? Ganochi?) but again, very solid. And then we had some chocolate balls for desert. TL;DR - Gnocchi is great, great ambiance, good prices. Find me a better Italian place in Lakeview that is better.
(4)
M G.

This is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city & most def my favorite. It's romantic and quaint & the staff is awesome. The whole staff here treats you like family. I just went here again this past weekend with my husband & I must say that there has never been a thing on the menu that I haven't liked. Thank you Fiorentino's for bringing real Italian food to us in the Chi ! I will go here again and again.
(5)
Sarah Beth B.

This was the very first place I ate when I moved to Chicago, and loved it. I went back a few weeks ago, and wasn't disappointed. I went on a late friday night date, and we sat on the patio as the restaurant slowly cleared out. We skipped apps and went straight to entrees (after we downed the yummy bread). I had papardelle with ragu, he had the special risotto, and we spent a good part of the night discussing who ordered better. The service was prompt and friendly, and it's totally affordable for how excellent the food is. I'll be back!
(4)
M W.

Nice atmosphere. Great date place. Food is 3 stars. Service 4 stars. Ambiance 4 stars.
(4)
Lauren F.

Stopped into Fiorentino's around 7:30 on a Saturday night with no reservation-the wait was about 40 minutes and we were able to put back a couple glasses of wine at the bar so we were fine with waiting. We were seated on their outdoor patio which was really nice, despite looking at the Pier 1 sign across the street-candle lit tables, vines up the walls, and christmas lights across the ceiling made it a perfect setting for date night. We started with the Arancini which are rice balls filled with peas, mozzarella, and meat. This combination of ingredients inside a fried ball was interesting-tasty but we weren't quite sure what to make of them. For our main courses my boyfriend ordered the Lasagna and I ordered their signature pasta-Fettucine Maribella, both were outstanding. The Fettucine Maribella is black fettucini with asaparagus, sun dried tomatoes, sweet peppers, and shrimp and scallops in a light alfredo sauce-absolutely delicious! I've never seen black fettucini-green-yes, red-yes, but not black. It was very interesting-couldn't really taste a differerence but it looked like I was eating strings of spinach or seaweed or something....I digress. The dish was amazing-super fresh ingredients, pasta cooked to a perfect al dente, and again, perfectly cooked shrimp and scallops. My boyfriend got the Lasagna which was also delicious-not your standard lasagna-in addition to the layers of perfect pasta, meat, gooey mozzarella, and a tomato sauce to die for, their version also included mushrooms and spinach-yum. As good as the food was, I really struggled with handing out 4 stars-the service was absolutely awful. The hostess and bartender were very nice and on the ball but our waiter was absolutely awful-we couldn't figure out why he was always MIA-someone else brought our drinks, someone else brought our food-what was he doing? We got our meals and didn't see him until we were ready for a box-somebody else had delivered our plates to the table and he never even came by to ask if everything was ok and if we needed anything else. Had it not been for the food being so fantastic, his service would have merited 2 stars. They were also out of Tiramisu-seriously? an Italian restaurant out of Tiramisu? Luckily we hopped across Ashland and were able to pick up some Tiramisu from La Gondola in the shopping center and it was delish. Overall-great food but way below par service. Will we be back? Maybe....if we can't get a table at La Gondola.
(4)
Sara S.

Went with 3 others on valentines day and glad we did! We made last minute reservations, so we sat at 9:15. The waiter was so friendly and personable even through it was probably the end of a long night. We sat in the "patio" area. Decorations are a little corny (fake plants, etc) but it's dimly lit and pretty and romantic. The 2 guys got the gnocchi with tomato cream sauce which they said was one of the best they've had (I like la gondolas better), I got the linguini del mar, which was really good- huge shrimp and tons of calamari. Another girl got the broccoli and pasta dish with garlic olive oil sauce- probably wouldn't get that again. We also got the fig salad, whuchnwas really good and the calamari- awesome. We are only a few houses down so we'll be back!
(4)
Seeshil P.

Went here for V-day. The food was decent the ambiance was nice. Overall I enjoyed but would not say it was my favorite.
(3)
Lindsay S.

I went here last night with my boyfriend for our Valentine's Day celebration. Our meal was fantastic. Great fish and pasta. Very authentic. Server was wonderful. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Liliana C.

This place is exceptional. The service was uniformly excellent, courteous, and cheerful. Our requests were accommodated flawlessly, the drinks were truly special... and the food is mouth-watering, the stuff of dreams. We ordered the Arugula salad, a veal dish, and the gnocchi with tomato cream sauce... HEAVENLY! This place is a gem.
(5)
Lauren B.

Probably the best meatballs I've ever had. We got them by mistake, actually, and didn't realize it wasn't what we ordered (duh!). The waiter caught the error so we got a free appetizer. They have a nice cocktail list. Delicious apple martini. The entrees were good too. Not the best, not the worst but completely solid. I would definitely go here again. There's a nice patio area that's sealed off and heated for the winter but I imagine is lovely in the summer.
(4)
Ye L.

Location is a bit weird with no other similar restaurants nearby, but at least the sign is pretty visible. Parking is easy as there is a paint store nearby that closes early and doesn't tow after business hours (at least according to their sign) or a big shopping plaza across the street. Was here late on a Friday night. The interior was small but cozy and felt very much like eating at someone's house, just with more tables. Had to wait for a table for 2 minutes too many at the hostess station despite there being open tables. The hostess (who I think was just the manager or owner of the place) just took care of other business for a while until a waiter came and got me himself. Awkward and inexcusable. The menu was a good length with sufficient variation but I have Italian so rarely that I ended up having a hard time picking. The waiter was only useful enough to point to all the boxed and starred items (their house favorites and specials, respectively), which is of course not super useful. The waiter also managed to grate on me by offering service in the weirdest way. He was frequently unavailable, despite the hostess station being within view. The waiters all just hung out there and decided when it was convenient to drop by. When he did, the service was faux friendly. The food was OK. Their olive oil and bread was probably the highlight of it all. Might have just gotten bad options. However, given the service, not worth going back to find out.
(2)
Brian M.

Recently went here with the future in laws to use a restaurant.com gift cert. It wasn't a very good experience. It started out great with the hard crusty Italian bread, but that was where our meal peaked. The calamari app was rubbery and overcooked. My seafood risotto entree was on special and was made with frozen broccoli florets that totally watered down my meal. The seafood in the risotto was ok but the whole thing was ruined without a creamy sauce, it was a mushy and watery mess. I don't think I'll be back here unless I'm forced to go.
(2)
Jerry U.

I haven't written an update to a review before - but I felt compelled to do so after my disappointing group dinner here last night. I hadn't been back since our July 2012 group dinner and I had a bunch of friends coming into the city that wanted Italian and I highly suggested this place based on my first experience here. Unfortunately, most of us left disappointed last night. Did we have some good food - yes. But we all left with the same impression - okay food, mediocre service at best, and simply not worth the money given other great options for neighborhood Italian fare. In my first review, I said I think I just ordered the wrong dish. This trip I ordered the Salmon and it was just okay. They were trying hard to upsell us to the $30 entree specials and when they asked how everything was - I commented that the Salmon was just okay and the response was simply - "told you that you should have gotten the special". Really? Service was an issue last night and they kept commenting that they had a big party in the other room but others seemed to be getting their food before us so it really just felt like an off night for us. Sometimes a second visit to a restaurant confirms the place as a keeper - for me - this second trip confirmed that there are MUCH better neighborhood Italian restaurants for the money.
(2)
Billy B.

I was going to give Fiorentino's three stars but after really thinking about it I deem this four star worthy. First of all, you cannot usually go out in Chicago, order enough food for two, have a decent meal, and consume two glasses of wine for under $60. Well, here you can and the food is good. I will say that I laughed to myself when I entered this quaint Italian restaurant and saw 6 meat head looking men all at the host stand. Not exactly what I was expecting to see. However, one of said meat heads turned out to be a very good waiter and took good care of us. I was especially pleased with the freshness of the mozarella in the caprese salad and the pesto sause was solid on the gnocci. We did not get to sit outside so I cannot speak to that aspect of the restaurant but all in all I was happy.
(4)
Damian C.

Cute little Italian restaurant - it is easy to miss if you're driving too fast down the road. And while I did play it somewhat safe with my spaghetti with garlic and oil, I was not completely sold on any of our dishes. My spaghetti had so much garlic that I not only had to separate most of it out (it actually became the joke of the table) but none of my friends wanted to go near me for a few days! The waitress actually ended up pitching our friends take-out in the trash, and it was nice of them to make some for her to take home.
(2)
Erica C.

My fiance and I ordered Fiorentino's one night when we were craving Italian food. I ordered their house specialty - Fettuccine Mirabella. IT IS SO GOOD!! It's a little creamy, a little spicy and the seafood is cooked perfectly - and we ordered delivery! It came within 30 minutes and I was extremely impressed. I cannot wait to order again!
(4)
Erin T.

About a year ago, my family visited Fiorentino's for dinner. I can't remember anything remarkable about it so I never reviewed it. Recently my husband and I were trying to find someplace different to go for dinner. We live pretty close to Fiorentino's, so we thought we would give it a try. We had a great dining experience. Our server was fantastic. He was very helpful when choosing a wine, very prompt with drinks, orders etc; however, he wasn't obnoxiously all over us. It was a great experience. The food was fantastic as well. I ordered the tortellini in an alfredo sauce. It was seriously SO good that I ordered it for take-out when my husband was out of town. My husband had the chicken picante. He said it was fantastic. We will definitely be coming back to Fiorentino's soon.
(4)
Whitney R.

It was so pricey for mediocre food! I'll never go back and I had been dying to try it every time I drive by and see their beautiful patio. My risotto sucked! I've never disliked a risotto before and I never even ate my leftovers-which were plenty since I didn't even want to eat the crunchy rice the first time I tried to eat it! To top it off the bottle of wine we ordered was terrible. You're better off making italian at home or trying somewhere better for this price.
(2)
tony f.

Took my parents here last weekend for my dad's birthday. Great place that I'd highly recommend. Free parking which is always a plus. Nice ambiance and friendly staff. The food was good but I wasn't really blown away by anything which might be my own fault for ordering something I don't normally eat (pumpkin ravioli). My wife got the duck risotto which i thought was awesome, she thought it was just alright.. Otherwise I'd give 5 stars. My wife and I plan to go back and try something different.
(4)
Stacy Y.

I made a reservation for a bachelorette party of 10 and requested outdoor seating, they could not guarantee a table on the patio but assured me they would try to. We had some time issues and i had to push back our reservation by 1/2 hour and our party shrank to 8 guests. I let Fiorentino's know in advance and they were very accommodating, which I appreciated. We arrived for dinner and I had my fingers crossed the patio table would come through - and it sure did. It's a lovely little space with a fountain in back and all sorts of plants, definitely a respite in the middle of the city. Besides the odd looks we got from other patrons because we were wearing leis (Hey, it's an island wedding and no penis paraphernalia allowed per the bride), the evening was flawless. We skipped out on appetizers, enjoyed what seemed like never-ending bread, an entree, a cocktail each and a few espressos at the end of our meal - our final bill came in at $205 (including tax & tip) for 8 of us! I was pleased to say the least. The food was wonderful: there were generous portions, a dish for everyone (despite how picky their tastes were) and we did a lot of sharing! Some dishes we had included: the lasagna, eggplant parmesan, stuffed gnocchi w/ tomato cream - but the star of the show was definitely the mussel dish. Oh how I envied the bride-to-be!! Not because of the awesome dude she's marrying or the huge rock on her finger, but because I wanted her mussels and angel hair pasta. I did have the stuffed gnocchi with pesto and it did not disappoint (although next time i'm getting the mussels). All in all it was a very nice experience and everyone really enjoyed their dinner. Thanks, Fiorentino's!
(4)
Kimberly R.

Love this place. Truly authentic!! I've had several appetizers & dishes and they were all great. Love the indoor and covered outdoor area. Great Ambiance!! The service is as good as the food. Last time I was there I witnessed a proposal. The ring was brought out in her champagne!! On the flip side really not great for kids. So make it a gathering with friends or your sweetheart. Give them a try, you will love them....
(5)
Danielle S.

So great! My boyfriend and I were trying to find a cute Italian place to go for my birthday, and we decided to check out Fiorentino's. SO glad we did! The ambiance was romantic, while still being fun, the service was friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious-- the gnocchi, especially. And if you get dessert, the deconstructed cannoli is a must. Plus, they give you bread refills without you having to ask--always a plus. Highly recommended!
(4)
Justin W.

My wife and I ate at Fiortentino's tonight. The atmosphere and decor are fantastic. I really liked the look and feel of the (well-heated) outdoor patio area. Service was fair -- the waiter was attentive and nice, but also brought us the check at the same time that he brought dessert, which I found off-putting. We split two appetizers - baked clams and bruschetta. The bruschetta was pretty good. The tomatoes were high quality and tasty, but the dish was too light on the basil. The baked clams were delicious - you could smell the garlic a mile away. We had gnocchi and the halibut special for entrees. The gnocchi was excellent -- light and fluffy like soft little pillows. The marinara sauce, however, was pretty good but not great. The halibut, on the other hand, was fantastic from top to bottom. It was cooked nicely, and it came in a lemon butter caper sauce that was flavorful without being oily. Overall, Fiorentino's is a solid choice for Italian, but it did not blow me out of the water.
(3)
Anne W.

Stuffed gnocchi with tomato cream sauce= worth the calories. Lasagna= worth the calories. Not sure about everything else, but good wine list. Parking available.
(4)
M M.

So comfy and so yummy! I cannot wait to go back again!
(4)
Liz P.

This was a wonderful little Italian place. My rigatoni alla boscaiola was SO very delicious, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The wine was poured generously and they had a decent selection. The atmosphere was so great, not cheesy with silly faux Italian decorations but simple with dim lighting. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great Italian joint. Can't wait to come back.
(4)
jeff c.

Found this via drive by. Had a cool exterior and looked inviting. A bit small inside, esp bar area. But this is definitely one of the better Italian places places I've been to. Eggplant parm is quite good. Service friendly. A good choice.
(4)
Cindy D.

YUMMY!! Went here to celebrate a birthday and shared the following dishes.. Crabcake appetizer - NO fillers at all, it's all delectable crab meat! Great horsey sauce (I think) on the side. Portabella mushroom appetizer - great size, I thought it was going to be small, but two huge caps came with it. Calamari - Nice sizable pieces with a great crunch. 2 orders of the infamous GNOCCI - with tomato cream sauce it literally melts in your mouth! After my first bite, I said "It really is pillowy soft" :) Rigotoni - it was my lest favorite part of the meal. Good, but wasn't the highlight. Finally, side of spinach - we needed some veggies.. Also, we were there at Tuesday, so 2 apps were 1/2 off! So the bill was $100, with tip for all that great food.
(5)
Sam J.

Ranking: 3 and a half stars. It's better than "A-OK" but I'm not necessarily a fan. It'd be 4 stars if the food was better. My wife and I went on a Saturday night. It wasn't too crowded, but I believe that's because we arrived just before 7 without a reservation. We sat outside in the patio area. Food: It was alright. We started with your average calamari. It was ordinary. I ordered the yelpfamous stuffed gnocchi and while it was fairly tasty, it didn't blow my hair back. She ordered a ribbon pasta dish with bolognese and meatballs. It was also lacking something. Dessert was spumoni (always good) and some very good rich coffee. Service: Our waiter was a genuinely nice guy. He was attentive, without being overbearing, and we tipped him well. Also, the folks at the desk and bartender were very nice and welcoming. No issues there. Ambience: We sat outside on the patio and it was great. It could've been a little more romantic (dim the lights, maybe?) and there was this fishy smell wafting thru the area. Maybe it was my upper lip. At any rate, it was good but not great.
(3)
Eric G.

I had high expectations of Fiorentino's but my meal failed to be worthy of a four or five star rating. My girlfriend and I started out with the crab cake. This was a nice start to the meal. It was one large crab cake and it tasted fresh. For my entree, I had the angel hair pasta with broccoli, garlic, and five of the biggest shrimp I have seen in a long time in a white wine sauce. The shrimp were huge but the meal as a whole lacked flavor. I was expecting something with more kick and character. If I ordered the stuffed gnocchi like my girlfriend did, then this would easily be a four star review. The stuffed gnocchi was amazing and the sauce it came with was delicious. Neither of us had any room for dessert, but we both admired all the good looking treats displayed on the dessert tray. Overall, my meal at Fiorentino's fell shy of my expectations. That being said, the service was excellent and the ambiance was unique.
(3)
Ingrid R.

It was fine - but not phenomenal. The service was good but I felt the waiter tried to hard. I know upselling when I see it. No I don't need extra meat on my bolognese! The outside (covered in this frigid weather) is beautiful. It really was lovely. The food was fine but nothing amazing. I wouldn't rule out going again, but I'm sure there are plenty of other Italian places to try first. That back room though....
(3)
Risa P.

Well I think that this place is delicious. It is close to home, the atmosphere is nice, the owners are nice. The service was okay...we waited a little for our food but yum yum. First the bread is yummy and served warm. Pair that with nice olive oil and it is hard not fill up on bread! We each had a cool glass of white wine which was crisp and nice on a summer night. We shared the eggplant pasta and the tilapia with white wine sauce. The fish was super flaky and yummy, and was surrounded by sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms and artichoke hearts. The pasta was also delicious with eggplant. It was cooked well. We took the triple layer ganache cake home. It is still in the fridge. I am thinking about it now. I haven't sat outside here (uh, with this summer, it is freezing) but I think that would be a nice atmosphere. We were kind of close to another table at the beginning but since we were there late, it kind of cleared out, which was nice. Very romantic, good food.
(4)
Alison H.

I adored Fiorentino's the first time I went there, so much so that I ate there five or six times in the four months or so after my first visit. Since then, I've cooled a bit on the restaurant, but still like it. It's a nice family-owned, good Italian restaurant, in an area (Ashland just north of Diversey) that can use a good Italian place. Positives: cute place inside (although better toward the front: sitting toward the back feels a bit like sitting in the kitchen), adorable patio on the side of the restaurant, and a very friendly, involved owner. Most importantly: the stuffed gnocci is HEAVEN. You would think that gnocci stuffed with ricotta might be heavy, but it's not. Light, delicate, delicious! The fried calamari is also good. Negatives: I haven't been impressed with the service. Once I had good service, but the other times have varied from just okay to pretty bad. Food wise, I find the desserts just "okay", and I am not a fan of the marinara sauce...although the vodka sauce is terrific. Overall, Fiorentino's is definitely worth checking out. Get the stuffed gnocci!
(3)
Kristin C.

I went here to carbo load at 5 p.m. the night before a big run. I didn't think it was humanly possible to eat as much as I did that night - whoa, mama. We sat outside in a pleasant little garden that successfully hid the large Jewel across the street. There were fountains and greens back there - just lovely. After I ate my weight in olive oil-soaked bread, our waiter brought out my appetizer (my date had a crab cake, yes we each had our own appetizer) the beef carpaccio over Caesar salad. Loved the salad SO MUCH I ordered another serving (just salad sans bright red beef) The carpaccio was OK, you know, raw. Would I order it again? Not so much. For my entree I had the penne pasta with pancetta, red pepper and some spicy marinara. I am not a huge pasta fanatic but I loved this dish and all the heat it brought. Bring it pasta, bring it! Think I was done eating after that? Nope, I am a camel with an empty hump! As soon as my date swallowed his last bite of lobster risotto (he tried this because he always sees people make risotto on Top Chef and Hell's Kitchen. . did I mention he was drinking since noon?) I was thinking dessert tray, dessert tray. Tirimisu? Why yes, mind reader! It was kind of a measly slice, not the best. Would I order it again? Doubtful. I liked the atmosphere and the service at Fiorentino's. I don't know if one needs to order as much food as we did, but it sure was some solid, upbeat, tasty fun!
(4)
Mark T.

New to the Chicago area, I often trek around in search of new things. I initially came to this area of the city in search of La Gondola ( I was craving Calamari) Unfortunately I had written the address wrong and didn't turn my head to look in a stripmall (Which is where i found la gondola after leaving here) The positive: Very quaint interior esp in the table seating area, the patio looked nice and the prices seemed reasonable. The negative: The bar area is not so quaint as I sat watching the waiters do prep work, the food is plain an unimaginative (the marinara taste like sauce from spaghetti-o's. maybe as an Italian my standards are too high?) It took through the entire duration of my meal for one of the owners to get up from his table where he sat reading, to ask if everything was ok. I felt that this little place had potential but definitely was not impressed. I will be heading the same direction soon, but will be across the street @ La Gondola.
(2)
Julee M.

I went here on a Friday night with a friend. The place is really cute inside. Overall we had a good experience. I had chicken marsala and and my friend had a steak dish (a special I think) and both were good. We also order an appetizer that was on special but the server forgot to bring it to us and we had to remind her. We didn't get it until we had finished our entrees. I felt it should have been comped but it wasn't. It was good though. Martinis were average. Overall the food was really good but I've had better. I'd go back but there are many other places in the city I want to try and it wasn't exceptional enough to make me crave it. A good option though for a tasty Italian meal in a nice atmosphere.
(3)
Ali O.

nom nom nom nom nom nom nom I'ma run a train on this food. Yup. the food is that good. So what is delicious? All of it. Their menu is huge and delicious. If you like octopus, I'd really recommend their grilled octopus appetizer. It's not at all chewy or rubbery. Also, get dessert! Lemon cheesecake and pistachio gelato = heaven. This restaurant is a little slice of heaven right on nasty ashland avenue. They do a phenomenal job of making you forget where you are!
(5)
Karen E.

Go here if you want good atmosphere and good food. The food was not amazing but it was not bad either. I had a good time here.
(3)
maura c.

Great hidden gem in the neighborhood.........tasty baked clams and fettuccine mirabella My husband and I attended yesterday's cooking class, which we would highly recommend The owner, Frances Fiorentino, makes everyone feel welcome and at home Wonderful restaurant!
(5)
Katie C.

You should go here. The outdoor patio is a mini-haven in Chicago, and especially Ashland Ave. The stuffed gnocci were like little pillows of sunshine in my mouth. Wine half off on Mondays (only 2 bottles thought, what's up with that??!) is a great value). Service was good, but a bit obtrusive at times.
(4)
Meghan R.

Stopped in here Saturday night for dinner with my sister. We were seated on the enclosed patio which was nice and warm. It was a bit crowded but the ambiance was lovely and my sister and I had an overall good time. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed with the Fettucini Alfredo - it lacked the creaminess that Alfredo is known for and was instead a bit too oily. My sister's dish, however, was incredible. She had the stuffed gnocchi with a creamy tomato sauce and it was delicious. Service was okay - had to ask FOUR times for more bread. I know it was a busy night, but really, four times? Overall, it was a nice night and nice treat for my sister and I.
(4)
Meg O.

I came here with a party of 5 because of the rave reviews on Check, Please and I really wish we had saved our money. I was really looking forward to a nice dinner out with friends on a Saturday night, and we all had a very mediocre time based on the sub-par service we received and the average food. Half of our party arrived on time, the rest was about ten minutes late based on the lack of parking in the neighborhood and no valet offered. We checked in with the host and met the rest of our party in the bar area. We waiting about 15-20 minutes for our supposedly reserved table, and at this point were taken out of the 'grown up' dining room and to what I would consider the kids table area of the restaurant. While the prices weren't exorbitant by any means it was more than I would like to pay while sitting in a plastic chair in a drafty tent. Our server was awkward from the start and assumed we would not want wine. We are all in our late 20s, early 30s, and at an Italian restaurant - why wouldn't we want wine?? He was ok at first in terms of service, but it got worse and worse as the night went on. It was clear that he assumed probably based on appearance (we were not 'dressed up') that we would not tip well. Well, my salad was delivered with dressing on it when I asked for it on the side and I couldn't return it for about 20 minutes because no one checked on us, what do you expect? That is not the biggest deal, but there was absolutely no apology or admission of error on our server's part. Then, drink orders were forgotten, our entrees took over an hour, and still no apologies. The entrees were all good, but not great, and my penne arrabiata seemed excessively spicy. Finally, when the check came there was an extra bottle of wine charged. We got a half-hearted apology about that, which clearly seemed a last-ditch effort for the waiter to save his tip. Needless to say, I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone, let alone go back.
(1)
Foodie S.

I had the Arancini and Chicken Vesuvio delivered. Everything arrived cold so I had to reheat it. My reheated Arancini were OK, I've definitely had better. The Chicken Vesuvio was OK, I've never seen that much garlic in Chicken Vesuvio in my entire life. It was defiantly not worth the money I paid.
(2)
Tim T.

This is one of the better italian restaurants in the area. We always get good service, the atmosphere is nice yet relaxed, and the food is fantastic. Some of my favorite items on the menu include the stuffed gnocchi, the rigatoni boscaiola, and the eggplant parmesean. Best of all, I think it's great value for the dollar as far as italian in this area goes. I'm not as excited about sitting in the 4 season outdoor covered area, but it's really not that bad and you don't notice it after a while. (Usually they only seem to use this area when it's especially crowded.) Overall, great italian restaurant.
(5)
Leah C.

if you can get over the talkative know-it-all server, you will enjoy your meal at fiorentino's... they are very open to special requests (adding vegetables, swapping pastas and sauces, etc.). the tableside bread was hard and almost stale so go ahead and splurge on the bruschetta - it's pretty delicious! i had a fairly simple meal of the aglio olio (which the server downplayed as a "passed dish which is more of an accompaniment than a meal". ) simple is sometimes delicious; i thoroughly enjoyed my dish, which also made for good fuel for my long run the next morning. my friend enjoyed her gnocchi substituting the regular sauce for a red sauce with italian sausage. the berry marscapone tart was the perfect dessert to share - not too heavy or sweet.
(4)
Camille R.

I loved it! I am a foodie, and the Linguini with clams -"Vongole" was THE BEST I ever tasted! I chose it in white wine sauce--divine. Clams tender, the sauce so flavorful!! My friends tasted it and agreed they would come back for that! Tiramisu was perrrfect too! Beet salad- so so- I like mine a bit more zingy. But tasted the salmon and a pasta dish and they were really good too. Darling patio, enclosed but since it was raining when we went that was perfect. Mondays are half off bottles of wine--can't beat that! I will be back for the clams
(5)
fred k.

Ate there Saturday & the food, service & ambiance were great! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Molly L.

Went here with my mom when she was visiting on a whim, and were pleasantly surprised. Fiorentino's is a little gem in a weird stretch of Ashland, but it shouldn't be overlooked. It is a delicious, mid-priced Italian neighborhoody joint - and if the wait is any indication, people keep coming back for more. In an effort to be carb-conscious at an Italian restaurant (I know...) we went for the fish entrees instead of the pastas. Mistake. As we watched other diners receive their plates piled high with fluffy, mini-pillows of gnocchi, we were jealous. Our fish was just mediocre. Then why do I rate so high? FIrst, because the table bread was yummy (very important to me). Second, Because I know for sure that the pastas were delicious. And, third, our appetizer special - a traditional aranciana (basically a huge ball of fried meaty goodness) - was delicious. I would recommend going for the specials, the traditional Italian foods, and any of the homemade pastas.
(4)
J P.

Great Atmosphere, Great Food, Great Service. Went there on a Saturday night, had absolutely no complaints. Everyone in my group was very happy with their meals and had great service.
(5)
Chris W.

Ate here 1/12/08. Overall, it was a very good experience, but there are so many Italian restaurants in Chicago, this place is not a stand-out destination. If you do go, you will get a solid meal. I tried two apps - arrancini and crab cake. The crab cake stood out because it was mostly actual fresh crab, not filler. The arancini was fine. Then I had the cappellini, simple but good, and I tried the maniccoti, again done well. The menu is varied here - in order for me to give a complete review of this place, I would want to try a chicken, seafood, or veal dish - the pasta was very good here, and so was the sauce, but it's easier to pull that off. Waitstaff was very good here - friendly and knowledgeable, efficient. Atmosphere was nice, but a bit crowded. You will get a good meal here, but it is not a desination by itself, despite being on Checkplease. I might give this place 3.5 stars overall.
(4)
Wayne B.

Get a better meal at Olive Garden... It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. For the prices they charge I thought I would have had a better meal and a better experience. By far there are better Italian restaurants in the area. The staff was very friendly but that's as far as it went for me.
(3)
betsy b.

Solid 3.5 Stars. Very good Italian on a weird stretch of Ashland. The garden patio is very cute and makes you fee like you're outside but you're not. The wine list needs a little help...there's not a ton to choose from. The food was all really good. The crab cake was one of the best I've had. The serving sizes of pasta were just right and not hugely massive. My table had the rigatoni with sausage, ribbon noodles with ragu, special risotto, the tilapia, gnocchi, and a shrimp pasta special.....everyone seemed very happy with their dishes.
(3)
Brian W.

We have been here 3 or 4 times. Somehow we have some amnesia and forget how we felt about it only to try it again and instantly we are reminded of why we don't like it. The good: The ambiance on the covered patio is very nice. In fact, I think it is this factor that over-rides my memory leading us to come back. The mediocre: The food isn't bad, but it isn't good either. It is pretty basic and seems like you could easily replicate it at home. The bad: The price is astounding considering this is a tiny dive on Ashland, with mediocre food ($70 including tax and 15% tip for 3 glasses of wine and 2 average priced entrÃ©es). Every time we walk in we get an awkward feeling... like we aren't welcome. We are asked if we have a reservation though the place is empty (sometimes a standard practice, but it didn't help). Someone mentioned that they felt younger folk aren't welcome and I wonder the same. We are in our mid 30's but look a bit younger. There was sense of disrespect. Also, they seated a younger group in the back next to the kitchen window. If the price was on par with the food and the staff wasn't so unwelcoming it might be worth a stop now and then. However, since this isn't the case I am making a mental note never to return (maybe I need to write it down this time).
(2)
Carina F.

Went to this place for a date tonight. Walked in and thought it was oddly situated though right away that I enjoy the CD playing, which I later identified as Italian Cafe, a disc I quite enjoy. The experience ceased amazement right about there. I ordered chicken fettucini alfredo and my man ordered rigatoni alla basciaoli.The waiter brought my dish and the wrong dish for my date. He then waited about 15 minutes before reappearing with the dinner for my date, which was clearly just cooked. His was tolerable. My fettucini was utterly lackluster. We ordered a bottle of pino noir from the awkward waiter who only visited us again to bring us the check and then disappear for an amount of time that made you wonder what the hell he was doing back there since we were one of three couples in the restaurant. By the end of the meal, my date and I were trying to finish the wine (the only actual good part of the meal) as fast as we could so we could leave. We had barely touched our meals but the waiter reappeared to bring a tray of desserts we quickly denounced and left. This restaurant left much to be desired in taste and on a Friday night, and we will not be repeating our visit. Next time I think I'll opt for the longer walk, and actually enjoy the taste of my meal, esp. when dropping some $70 bucks on it.
(1)
Heather K.

This is a team review w/ Marissa B - so please read both of ours for the complete Fiorentino's experience ;) Food, service, atmosphere = perfect. I can't remember a time when I've gone out to dinner with my entire family and EVERYONE has loved their food as much as we did last night! One thing that I thought was really nice was that our server told us the prices as she explained the evening's specials - that rarely happens and it was definitely appreciated! On to the food - like I said, everything was fantastic so I'll list out the dishes we tried: - Stuffed Gnocchi: light and fluffy, filled with ricotta, I wanted to steal them off Marissa's plate when she wasn't looking, but I was too busy eating my... - Pollo alla Capri: chicken breast in a white wine and mushroom sauce, with roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts. GIGANTIC portion. But still, I had enough room in my tummy to sample the... - Tortellini alla Panna: alfredo sauce, with prosciutto, mushrooms and peas. Alfredo was not heavy at all, so I felt perfectly fine digging into... - Puttanesca: great kick to the sauce, and one of the owner's favorite dishes. - I can't remember the name of the other dish we had but it was a rolled and stuffed pasta with vegetables and ricotta. Yum! Dessert #1...triple layer chocolate mousse cake. Need I say more? Cannoli...I can only describe the presentation as "cannoli nachos!" Instead of the dough being rolled and filled, it was fried in triangles and set on top of the cheese & pistachio mixture. So tasty, very unique. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Mia P.

I love the setting of this place, it's small and quiet and cozy. The service is good and the food is okay. I think it just varies dish to dish. I had the eggplant parmesan and I thought that it was good, nothing too amazing, but definitely nothing less than expected. My boyfriend ordered the manicotti, but the noodle was way too soggy....mush, which is quite unsatisfying. We let the hostess [or owner] know and she offered to replace it, but we didn't feel like waiting. I think I would definitely give it another try, especially in their outside courtyard.
(3)
Daniel A.

really good food good prices and portions great atmosphere for price decent service though
(4)
Sid M.

Not going back here in a hurry. The seafood linguine was mediocre at best- canned tomatoes! Had to send back the whitefish because it was flavorless and came a side of 1 brocolli floret and half a canned roasted bell pepper. The capellini pomodoro that we got as a replacement for that was just eeh... To top it off we saw the bus boy picking his nose and then serving coffee to the next table... No we did not order coffee .. Check please!
(1)
heather d.

you know a place is good when at 6:30pm on a saturday night it is jam packed with a wait. This was my 2nd visit to Fiorentinos and the food was better than my first. The best eggplant parm i have had in the city. Prices are reasonable but a reservation is a must (especially on the weekends).
(4)
Darlene L.

This was our first visit to Fiorentino's after seeing it on Check Please. It is a cute place with an interesting outdoor covered dining room where most diners were seated this Sunday evening. The minestrone soup was excellent just brimming with flavor and fresh vegetables. My husband had a good penne pasta in a marinara sauce. Though not on the menu, they accommodated his request to add fresh vegetables to the sauce which made for a hearty dinner. I had the sea bass special with risotto and broccoli. Fish was delicate and tender but served with too much oil. Bass was swimming in a bed of olive oil. Service was excellent. Might try this again as the menu offers many tempting pasta and chicken entrees.
(3)
Lori M.

I had a dream about this place last night. Fiorentino's is at the top of my italian restaurant list. It has it all ... the atmosphere ... the select wines ... the menu ... and of course the off-beat assessment I use for every Italian restaurant: the OLIVE OIL and BREAD. If both are delicious, and they ARE here, Italian gestures happen. They have everything, but their STUFFED GNOCCHI might just be your new ecstasy. It is delicious. The ricotta is fresh and the gnocchi is light and fluffy like satin pillows in your mouth - try it with the pesto or tomato cream sauce - oh my I do believe you might need to thank the chef in person. Get a side of rapini too, amazingly well prepared. I hear from my comrades that their vitello (veal) al limone and spiedini cotoletti alla griglia (filet mignon) are both fantastic also - being a vegetarian surrounded by meat eaters, I also love this place for having something for everyone. They have a sexy wine list too, including one of my fave Reds, Feudi di San Marzano.... GREAT specials: Monday - Bottled Wine Mondays 1/2 off any bottle of wine $40 and under +Tuesday - Half off Appetizers +Wednesday - Martini Night.... $5 Martini's ---- GREAT date place! Buon Appetito !
(5)
I adored Fiorentino's the first time I went there, so much so that I ate there five or six times in the four months or so after my first visit. Since then, I've cooled a bit on the restaurant, but still like it. It's a nice family-owned, good Italian restaurant, in an area (Ashland just north of Diversey) that can use a good Italian place. Positives: cute place inside (although better toward the front: sitting toward the back feels a bit like sitting in the kitchen), adorable patio on the side of the restaurant (and not right on the street, like so many other outdoor eating spots), and a very friendly, involved owner. Most importantly: the stuffed gnocci is HEAVEN. You would think that gnocci stuffed with ricotta might be heavy, but it's not. Light, delicate, delicious! The fried calamari is also good. Negatives: I haven't been impressed with the service. Once I had good service, but the other times have varied from just okay to pretty bad. Food wise, I find the desserts just okay, and I am not a fan of the marinara saucealthough the vodka sauce is terrific. Overall, Fiorentino's is definitely worth checking out. Get the stuffed gnocci!
(3)
Jessica C.

Calamari appetizer was just OK. Waitress' suggested wine was "best she'd ever had," but it didn't wow me-and it actually didn't match the calamari, making it taste a bit tinny. I's stuffed gnocchi was wonderful-melt-in-your-mouth light and pillowy, coated in a brilliant, just-shy-of-tart tomato cream sauce. My "flash-fried tilapia" (one of the 2 seafood specials) was impressive. Gloriously presented whole fish atop mesculun greens-albeit with an oddly placed, stunted rosemary sprig poking out of its middle-its skin was crackly crisp on the outside, yet so moist, tender, and not a hint of greasy inside, it was hard to believe it hadn't been steamed to a crisp. Flavored with just salt and a squeeze of lemon, the fish was perfect. Dessert was a split portion of "cannoli dream," basically a deconstructed cannoli-sort of like cannoli nachos. The chocolated-chipped cream, spread onto the plate with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, was studded with 5 large slivers of the crisp pastry tube. Despite the mysterious strawberry in the center of it all, the dish looked interesting and tasted wonderful. The crema was smooth and finely textured, and the slightly bitter cannoli "chips" were a perfect foil to the sweet, rich filling. I'd recommend and return on a warm day to enjoy what looks like a charming outside dining area.
(4)
Carl f.

This was the best Italian food I have had. The Manicotti was so good, I came back a week later for the same dish. Very nice staff and noise level pleasant. Carol Hitchie Chicago
(5)
Flo J.

This place is pretty good... the dish with the scallops and black linguine is good but wasn't super head over heels for anything else.
(3)
Mike M.

excellent out door patio perfect for a summer dinner. Not sure why other people were talking about bad service. The wait staff and owner? stopped by our table multiple times asking if we needed anything. Good food and decent prices will make this a frequent spot
(3)
Adriana S.

Service and food were excellent. Great wine list, lovely ambiance. Our server Jose was perfectly attentive and very friendly. Will definitely return!
(4)
Amanda D.

I'm really sad to see bad reviews for this place. I went here for the third time last night and continue to be impressed with the atmosphere and food. I've sat on the patio each time, which has a very relaxing, intimate feel. It's not loud and bustling like some other Italian restaurants I've been to, so you can definitely sit and enjoy your company. Last night was a Monday, with 50% off bottles of wine (ding ding!) This was a pleasant surprise. We ordered the calamari for an appetizer, which is some of the best calamari I've had - big, chunky pieces that are just lightly fried. I had the Caprese pasta for my entree, which was amazing and some of the best (if not the best) pasta I've had in Chicago. So good. I just ate it again for lunch and it was just as good the day after. Two other people at my table got the tortellini with mushrooms and peas in a delicious cream sauce - I had a bite and kept taking more bites. I cannot wait to go back here with my boyfriend - it's definitely a great date spot and I'm so excited to share the food here with more people! Don't listen to the bad reviews - I think the only downside to this restaurant is that it's located on Ashland where not many passerbys are able to find this little gem.
(5)
Onur U.

I've been a couple times but the most recent sticks out as to why I don't go more often. We had a reservation and had to wait 20 minutes to get a table. The waiter came out quickly, got an appetizer order from us then didn't return for 20 minutes. In that time we received our appetizer (the arancini which had good texture and nice flavor, but was cold inside), had the appetizer plates cleared away and even had a new basket of bread delivered. When we finally ordered our food it was delivered a good 45 minutes after we were seated and easily an hour after we arrived at the restaurant. The dishes themselves were pretty good. The gnocchi was soft and served with a rich tomato cream sauce. The eggplant was tender and not greasy, but the chunks were cut thicker than ideal. The bolognese was disappointing. The meat simply didn't have the deep, cooked-all-day flavor the dish is known for. The red sauce served with a couple dishes was a surprising bright red color, but had a nice bright tomato flavor, which is really all you can ask for in a nicer Italian restaurant. The food was good overall, though nothing stood out as worth a special trip. Also as soon as the food arrived I ordered a glass of wine. It arrived 15 minutes later, when we were almost done so I sent it back. The waiter was apologetic and comped us a dessert. But to be honest, the lateness of the wine more underscored the whole experience than detracted from the meal. The waitstaff seems overwhelmed in general. Everything is slow in a noticeable way. At that price point (it's always more than you expect) that's kind of inexcusable. I'd rather take my time with food in front of me, rather than sit around wondering if the waiter is ever going to show up. The outdoor seating area really is beautiful and the food is down-the-middle, solid Italian fare. So I guess if you're in no rush, live in the area, and are jonesing for decent Italian with the requisite markup, this place is a capable option. For me, there are too many great restaurants in the city to bother.
(3)
Stacie K.

Good but not the best. It's close by my house, and they're always able to get me in.. they've also been on restaurant.com before, so I've used a coupon from there. I will definitely be coming back here, but the gnocchi definitely is not the best I've ever had (it's decent though).
(4)
Jasmine J.

We liked this place a lot. The food was good, the ambiance was nice, the service was attentive, overall we had a good experience. We tried the crab cake appetizer, the puttanesca, and the osso buco. The flavors were all great. The only downside was the texture of the risotto that accompanied the osso buco. It was more soupy than creamy, but it tasted good. We can't wait to go back to try more!
(4)
Jonathan J.

Went to Fiorentino's for a Saturday night date night the weekend before Valentines day. We had a 6:30 reservation and we walked right in at 6:30 and were seated right away. We were a little confused and caught off guard because to get to the hostess you actually have to walk through a set of tables that people are eating at. We were seated in the outdoor patio area which had great ambiance and nice and warm. We started with a salad and an appetizer. We went with the fried rice balls which were something very different but very good....I would recommend them(they come in a serving of 2). For the main courses we went to with the gnocci and the Chicken Picante. The gnocci is amazing and the Chicken was great too. Chicken was a little spicy for my date, but I definetly was a fan and the gnocci is a must if you eat here! For desert we had their Valentines Day special, chocolate covered raspberry cheescakee which was the perfect ending to our meal. They have a very extensive wine selection as well. Highly recommend! Only reason Fiorentinos did not get 5 stars was for a restaurant that was not that crowded we probably saw our water 2 times the entire meal.
(4)
Maria H.

This little Italian restaurant is really good! Great menu selection and good wine. Can be a nice place for a date. The service is really good and friendly. They have a little indoor patio as well. Another great thing is that they now deliver too! Definitely visit :)
(5)
Donna C.

Pretty solid Italian food, prepared very well. I got the Minestrone to start which, I thought, had way too much potatoes in it. Way too much. Delicious soup though. My vitello piccata limone was very well prepared though not mind-blowing. I tried my friends' dishes which were all solidly prepared but not mind-blowing either: scallop on mushroom risotto, filet specialty of the house, some chicken dish. One member of our group had the signature pasta dish and I'd have to say it was one of the best fettucine alfredo I've ever tasted. The light alfredo sauce was perfect and the sweetness of the asparagus added a lot of wonderful flavours to the dish. Also, the "black" (squid ink) fettucine was perfectly cooked and tasted delicious. Pastry chef there is either lacking or non-existent... the desserts were sub-par in my opinion. Service was decent for our rather large group though might have been on the slow side (we were a large group after all).
(4)
Matt G.

This is, by far, one of the best Italian places in Chicagoland. I have the fortune of living a couple of blocks away. Everything on the menu is great, it's priced fairly, the service and atmosphere are great, i cannot say enough good things.
(5)
Bernard D.

We were seated in the winter garden; it's not nearly as pleasant at the indoor section. There's just something weird about sitting next to a shuttered window for dinner... The food was just ok. The menu is fairly limited, which I usually like. In this case, it just lacked in diversity, a little. As a group of 8 we ordered a little of everything. I won't speak for everyone; however, my wife and I were rather underwhelmed. My ruccola salad, was just that, ruccola, with a lemon dressing that was too tart and could not be softened by any amount of parmigiano. Dissapointing. As for a tortellini dish, though tasty, it was pretty standard. My wife's veal was not very good, and garnished with the aforementioned ruccola. A squash soup was ok, but again, not inventive. I tasted the arancini appetizer, which was better. All in all, portions are copious, but the dishes very uninventive: definitely not simple in the right way. Our waiter looked out of place and was running around, making us wait, not long, but still. My conclusion, based on a cost of $40+ for two an appetizer, an entree and one glass of wine each, this place is expensive for a very basic meal. I would not go back there, except maybe to eat a big dish of comfort food pasta.
(2)
Debbie H.

Fiorentino's is a great neighorbood place for a casual night out in a small group or couple. I've been twice now and both times have had excellent, helpful waiters/waitresses and delicious, fresh-tasting meals. The food is fairly basic - veal scallopini, eggplant/chicken parm, lasagna, but done very well. I'm a huge sauce fan, and they don't skimp! The fried calamari is a must have - it's lightly battered and fried, so you almost forget how bad it is for you! Definitely a value find - a bottle of wine, app, two entrees and dessert totaled $70! They don't take reservations for fewer than 4 people, so as it gets increasingly popular, prepare to wait. It'll be worth it.
(4)
George J.

I'm surprised at some of the 3 stars or less on here. My wife and I were coming to this place way before "Check Please" and whatever online service came to rate this place. After living in west Lakeview for some time, the turnover at this location was terrible until Fiorentino's came along. Best Italian in the city. We've tried many different one's around a 3-5 mile radius and I honestly can say, the apps and food in general is the best Italian Food I've had. The Mussels for Apps and in the Seafood Pasta was the best, and the Canolli sent me over the edge. I can't imagine not recommending this place. They also have a side room that's great for parties.
(5)
sergio m.

A great true Italian restaurant
(5)
Linda H.

Delicious gnocchi, as promised - stuffed little pillows of scrumptiousness! My BF had the rigatoni special and it was also perfection. Could have used some oomph on my husband's chicken parmesan, but go here for the pasta dishes - that's where this place shines.
(4)
Justin R.

Fiorentino's is a nice Italian spot that I would definitely like to try at least one more time. The food that I had during my previous, and only visit was good. The flavors were there and the menu was impressive. I wouldn't have imagined that it served anything more than basic pastas, steaks, mussels, etc... that normally line the menus of Italian restaurants in this area, but it really had a good menu. I ended up going for the Chilean Sea Bass. My girlfriend ordered scallops with porcini mushroom risotto. My dish also came with risotto and this is where my only real problems came up. Both risottos tasted great, but risotto is not only about flavor. Texture is very, very important. The texture of both risottos was just not creamy enough; not smooth enough. This would have been absolutely fine if each dish were not thirty dollars, but they were. For thirty dollars, I would like the risotto to melt in my mouth. The atmosphere was quite casual. It seemed as if they would like it to be nicer, but the people in the neighborhood prefer to wear Cubs hats and shorts. A shame really. We had a good time. And everything was good with the one exception. I do want to go back and try the black fettuccine, but we shall see.
(3)
Catherine B.

My fiance and I went to this restaurant over the summer (the first weekend it opened), with my mother and my aunt and uncle who all come into the city for dinner. We expected some glitches since it was so new, but were happily surprised. The atmosphere was warm and friendly and boisterous - it got a bit loud, actually. The front dining area is cozy, with probably 15 tables, max. It was BYO (maybe it still is?), and the servers were friendly and helpful. The food was great, and everyone enjoyed their meals. I hear that now that it's been open for a bit it's getting more and more popular, so there may be a wait if you don't plan ahead. A great dining experience, all in all!
(4)
Erica K.

So I'm upping this star count because my illness was probably not their fault. Turns out I may be amine intolerant and amines can exist in cured sausage! (I also have odd reactions to kiwi and sometimes banana which fits the profile for amine intolerance). If I can get confirmation of this from a doctor I'll give this place the full 4 stars I wanted to give before I got sick!
(3)
Ryan W.

Excellent food. Good service. My only complaint is that they offer your soup or salad with dinner and charge you ala carte. ($7) for a salad
(4)
CN D.

When La Gondala is busy this place is perfect. The food is still good and usually the wait is not as long. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. No complaints. :)
(4)
Katie J.

Excellent food, service, and ambiance! Came here on a whim and I sure to make this a regular spot. Family owned and it definatetly shows.
(5)
Iveliss G.

Love Love Love the food! The manicotti is my favorite, you can tell the pasta sauce is home made and so are the noodles. The noodles melt in my mouth needing little to no chewing. The staff is friendly and the location is cozy for a date. Parking is easy to find. I go here at least every other month.
(5)
Mindy V.

I really liked this place! the atmosphere is cute and so comfy and the outdoor patio is lovely. I ordered the manocotti and it was great, clearly freshly made light delicate pasta. We also got the special trout and it was fabulous, light and nicely seasoned and just awesome. I only give it 3 instead of 4 stars because it pales in comparison to La Gondola. But MUCH better atmosphere. Ill go Gondola for delivery and here when we eat out. I went with my 2 year old and as long as you go early I think its just fine for kids.
(3)
Furry P.

Tasty little Italian joint with a family owned feel. Seafood dishes are especially amazing but I cant stop ordering the Chicken Piccata. Patio is kind of not really outside... its all surrounded by walls and covered with corrugated plastic so, not exactly an "al fresco experience". The dining room has a really nice ambiance and as such, I prefer that.
(4)
Laura M.

for good Sicilian cuisine this is a must try. I would give their stuffed gnochi 5 stars as it is WONDERFUL! (add homemade sausage to the dish)!
(4)
Cheryl M.

By far my favorite Italian (authentic) in the city!! The mussels in white wine sauce are beyond amazing! Love the stuffed gnocchi!! Can easily have a 3 hour meal at this place. The service is fabulous and atmosphere relaxed. Love! Loved! Love!
(5)
Mara M.

Hands down, the best italian restaurant in the city!! Amazing flavor, creative dishes, and you leave full. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quaint. excellent night out. Enjoy!!!!
(5)
Terry H.

Been going here for years, great food and great people, Meatballs and gnocchi, the best
(5)
Cassie B.

pretty good Italian food in a cute (i.e. old world) setting. The entrees are great if you know what you'd like to order and you're nice to the waitstaff (which of COURSE yelpers will be). tasty food, good price, cute atmosphere.
(3)
Cameron C.

Really liked this place. Feels very neighborhoody considering its location on obnoxious ashland ave. We sat on the gorgeous patio and were made very comfortable. Food was very good, not the greatest- but definitely exceeded my expectations for the place. Of course, I ordered the gnocchi. They were home made and very spongy, just how i like em. Vodka sauce was what brought the dish down a notch. Either way, had a great experience and it was very close to home. Would definitely recommend
(4)
Joshua M.

The Rigatoni here is just damn good. The stuffed gnocchi was good too, as well as the pumpkin ravioli special. Service was good, decent atmosphere, and the place even had parking. Maybe more a four and a half star than a five, but it seems like it's been awhile since I've been actually impressed with a restaurant. I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Nikki L.

On a rainy night, after watching check, please! I suddenly had a craving for Italian food. Not just any kind of Italian, but Sicilian! Watching the review on Check, Please! only made this decision that much easier when it came time to eat. Fiorentino's it was. Not only is this restaurant around the corner from my house, but it's been a place that I see driving by all the time but never think twice to stop by. Due to it's somewhat odd location, the decor felt warm and welcoming. I was greeted by the owner/host, her smile and hospitality immediately put me in a relaxed mood. I arrived earlier than the rest of my party, so I actually got to read the entire menu! Who ever has time to do that? Normally, I'd just look at one category and pick my favorite from that. But, as I reviewed the menu, I realized everything looked good. How to decide?... I started with the fried calamari, the batter was light and crispy, then the stuffed (Ricotta filled) gnocchi with a tomato cream and also sampled the pollo limone and manicotti! YUMM! The only disappointment was the tiramisu, which I normally love but the one I had at Fiorentino's seemed to be drowned in rum and distracted the other flavors. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal here, I will definitely come back with my special someone and take more pictures of new items we try! Enjoy!
(4)
Tim V.

This makes the list because it's a solid Italian restaurant with good food and good service. I had a stuffed gnocchi that was particularly good (although very heavy on the garlic). Skip the Caprese salad. I would go here again if there weren't options like Bella Notte and RoSal's out there. Not a bad place to eat if you're already in the neighborhood.
(4)
Erica L.

I have 44 perfect words for you: stuffed gnocchi (little pillows of heaven), calamari fritti (zesty cocktail sauce and perfect fry-dom), capellini con meatballs (sheer perfection), eggplant parmigiano (an Italian dream), papardella alla bolognese (fat noodled, meaty goodness), vitello scaloppini (culinary simplicity at its best) and tiramisu (a bowl of xanadu). Need I say more?
(5)
Matthew A.

Had some stuffed gnocchi with the Fiorentino family last night, it had just the right combination of spice and cheese and sauce. It was excellent to say the least. The Fiorentino's are such nice people and the restaurant is a comfortable place to have a meal. I would recommend, worth a trip out of the way.
(4)
City Swank N.

Have gone here twice... First to the very comfortable outdoor cafe. I had a scallop dish that was to die for. Then again this past Saturday..had delicious handmade porcini mushroom pasta purses in a light cream brandy sauce. This chef knows his stuff...he had just the right spices to enhance the mushroom flavor and the sauce was gentle enough as not to overtake the dish. Our waiter may have been new...had to ask for specials..forgot beverages and forgot check. However the food made up for it. Hopefully they will do a bit more training of their staff as the table next to us was not as understanding of his oversights.
(4)
R M.

The word on the gnocchi is true. Good stuff. Prices just a little high. Try to sit outside. Great patio.
(4)
Megan M.

Had a wonderful meal here on Saturday. We had reservations, but arrived early and were seated immediately. Our waiter was friendly and very accomodating. There is parking in a nearby retail lot. We had the rice balls and crab cake to start. I had the veal with lemon sauce as my entree - EXCELLENT! We finished the meal with tiramisu, which was very good. The interior was cute and we had great time.
(4)
Lisa T.

Just your average place, though has a wonderful atmosphere. A great hold in the wall find. Portions are a decent size. Fish was dry, tomatoes in salad were not up to par, though the pasta dishes, meat/seafood and eggplant were worth missing the salad for.
(2)
Michelle H.

I really enjoyed meeting the family and the food behind Fiorentino's. The food was all really good - try the clam appetizer! Very cozy, very welcoming place. I've been there twice - once I ate at the bar (tiny bar) and once with a large group of 20. Both experiences were fantastic.
(4)
kiki m.

the food here is good. the outdoor patio is very pretty and intimate. i have eaten here over 4 times in the past...a while ago. i have eaten here twice this year. the first time this year, everything went well. i loved the talapia dish and my glass of montepuciano so much, i brought a friend here for my second visit. my friend and i sat in the patio. we literally waited an hour to get our entrees. the server was very smiley and did some good pr on us, but ultimately, when my entree came out, i was already past eating (this is rare for me!) and asked him to wrap it up for me. our server wasn't apologetic or empathetic to the fact that we waited so long. my friend did eat his food and enjoyed it. the owner never came by to apologize and they didn't even try to comp anything (we had MULTIPLE drinks and a couple of appetizers). it sucks going home in a sour mood and an empty belly! i guess i would try this place one last time to see if i change my mind. the food (and pricing) is very good.....when you get some brought out!
(2)
Whitney A.

this is my favorite italian restaurant in the city. their gnocchi was amazing and the service was fantastic. we were seated outside on a gorgeous patio with white twinkle lights and a fountain...definitely a must for a delicious, quiet dinner.
(5)
K B.

We went here last Sat night and had to wait only about 15 for a table on the patio, at 7pm (since they only take reservations for larger parties). The space is really cozy and a nice retreat from the dusty and gross Ashland Ave. The food was good, but nothing remarkable. I had a grilled salmon that was ok, my husband had the seafood pasta that was better (I think this is a pasta place for sure). . The prices seem spot on with the area. The service was great,so all in all a good experience and we'll go back again.
(4)
Matthew M.

I can't disagree more with all of the positive reviews posted here, let alone the praise it received on Check Please. Maybe I was there on a bad night, but my party of 5 had a terrible experience at this place. We had an 8pm reservation on a Saturday night, but because a couple people in our party were 5-10 minutes late, we had to wait at least an extra half hour to be seated. (It was clear at that point that there was no table actually reserved for us.) We were seated on the patio at the furthest back table, which we barely could fit into. Our waiter was attentive at first, but quickly his service trailed off to near non-existent: One person's appetizer wasn't served as ordered, and she wasn't able to send it back for a good 15-20 minutes because the waiter never came back to check in. Our entrees took at least an hour to arrive, and while the food was decent, it was nothing to write home about. The waiter offered refills but only brought them after being flagged down and reminded, and we generally relied on our busboy more than our server during the meal for anything else. Finally at the end of our meal, the bill contained a whopping extra $40 bottle of wine we never ordered. Our server only offered a vague apology for the additional charge (not for any other service mishaps). The only conclusion we could draw was that we were given poor service because we were dressed casually, and perhaps our waiter assumed we wouldn't tip well? Regardless, it was possibly the worst service I've had in the entire 7 years I've lived in Chicago. With all the other good Italian restaurants in this city, I would never recommend Fiorentino's to anyone.
(1)
Natasia O.

Let me start by saying I really wanted to like this place- it got a raving review on Check Please and I was very excited when we made it one Friday night for dinner. The calamari- ok- nothing mind blowing. The ceasar salad was very tasty- but let me get to dinner. I order the house specialty- the spiedini alla griglia which sounded tasty- fillet medallions marinated in olive oil and lemon then grilled. The waitress asked how I would like it done- medium rare- just like I order all my steaks. The result was steamed meat that was beyond well done. As gross as it is I have to tell you I actually tried twice to chew and swallow a piece but had to spit it out before choking on it both times. I've only sent something back once before in my life and this had to go back. The waitress was VERY NICE and asked if I would like another but after waiting an hour and a half in the first place I was over it. They took it off the bill but that should be expected so no big thank you there. Overall the staff is very friendly and the prices not bad but all in all a place should be able to make it house specialty edible every time.
(1)
Duyen D.

We live just down the street from Fiorentino's and decided to try it out one night. I am glad we did! The food was good and the place is really cute. My husband and I like family run restaurants and this place definitely has that feel with the owner usually out on the floors greeting and talking to customers. I have tried a fish and veal dish there which was fairly good but nothing to write home about. The stuffed gnocchi though is to die for! The dumplings are soft and the tomato cream sauce is delicious. It's probably not healthy for me but way worth it! 4 stars for the gnocchi, atmosphere and outdoor dining option.
(4)
Carol L.

The food, service & ambiance are awesome!! The atmosphere is charming & romantic, the service is knowledgable & attentive and the food here is some of the best Italian in the city. I had Carpaccio, thinly sliced topped with arugula, capers & shaved parmesan which is probably the best ive had. My hubby had Arancini, a rice ball filled wih ground meat, peas, mozzarella, marinara then breaded & fried, topped with marinara sauce. We both wanted more! For entrees I had the daily special Risotto with diced prosciuttio, leeks and spinach, whole lobster tail optional. It was cooked perfectly al dente but incredibly creamy and the portion huge. Hubby had Pollo Picante, a chicken breast sautÃ©ed with chopped spicy pepperoncinin, roasted red peppers, capers in a butter white wine sauce...so good!! Also on the menu & sounded good was thinly sliced Filet Mignon marinated in lemon, garlic & olive oil, breaded then grilled served with roasted red potatoes & sautÃ©ed spinach. We were full but had to try dessert. Skip the standard desserts made elsewhere & have the memorable house made deconstructed cannoli or house made sorbet such as blood orange . Wine by the bottle are 1/2 price on Monday.
(5)
Joan K.

Went with the girl's last week to try somewhere new. We were all quite impressed after driving by this little secret of a spot many times. Quite charming, the food was very good, ample, reasonable & the service was attentive even during a quite hectic & busy Friday evening. I would go back & recommend this cozy spot.
(4)
rachel c.

Two words. . . stuffed gnocci. . . . Try em with pesto and they will make the trip worthwhile to this quaint slightly out of the way but great Italian find.
(4)
Mrjustice ..

Arrived early (6pm) on a warm night to enjoy the outdoor Patio (told on phone patio is not reserv.). Very pleasant and romantic atomsphere outside. Initially Server was friendly and talkative, but perhaps because it got busier she seemed to grow indifferent (especially after we declined desert?). We did, however, Order 3 appetizers -- Muscles in Wine Sauce: tasty sauce and tons of Garlic, but some of the Mussels tasted less than fresh. Grilled Baby Octupus: Fantastic presentation, very fresh, best I've had. Tomato & Mozzarella Salad w/basil: Light, fresh & delicious as expected. For Entrees - Tortellini w/ proscuito, peas & mushrooms in a cream sauce: filling of course, but loved it. Riggatoni w/ Artichoke, Tomato, Olives & Onions -- not so good, sauce too astringent, too many onions, and only sparse artichokes. House Sicilian White Wine was really nice. All-in-all, a pleasant albeit not spectacular experience.
(3)
Cece C.

This restaurant was fantastic. I'm Sicilian and a chef and I founf the food wonderful! I had the Manicotti (because I felt like being a kid again). The sauce was so fresh and flavorful! I could really taste the tomatoes. I love fresh marinara! I came on a weeknight last week with my parents, my brother and his girlfriend. We had starters, entrees and desserts all around (always support pastry chefs!). And there was a martini special so we had martini's all around as well as a bottle of wine and after dinner drinks. Our server was great. I think his name was Dan. He recomended my dish and chatted with us. We rarely get together anymore because of our shedules and we just planned on having a quick bite. We ended up having such a wonderfully full and enjoyful night. Thanks to the restaurant for having such fantastic food and service to keep us there all night! We'll definitely be back!
(5)
jason s.

A warm, traditional, tasty spot on Ashland Ave. We walked in at 7 o'clock on a saturday evening with no reservation. i had driven by this place a million times, and always been a bit suspicious of the location...what good could reside in such close proximity to Jewel, Pier One, and the 4 lanes of the Ashland Expressway. As soon as you step in the door you are effectively insulated from the outside surroundings. We were greeted warmly, and taken immediately to a table...good timing because 10 minutes later, there was a 20 minute wait. Bread and water were placed immediately. The bread was fresh and basic. Our waiter was prompt in greeting us and bringing nice glasses of moderately priced house chardonnay - tasty if nothing special. Nice extensive menu of traditional Italian fare. We opted for appetizers of the crab cakes, and the Arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with mozzarella and italian sausage). Both were good - the crab cake was large and fresh, although i found the accompanying sauce to be a bit mismatched. The arancini was excellent - paired with a wonderful marinara. I had the Pasta Mirabella - denoted as the house specialty - very nice mix of ingredients - good sized shrimp and scallops, sun-dried tomatoes, and asparagus - in a rich "light" alfredo-style sauce. Half the portion would have left me stuffed. My partner had the veal marsala - thumbs up on the marsala sauce, with the veal preparation a bit inconsistent - half cooked nicely, the other half a bit overcooked. This all left no room for desert. Overall, atmosphere was very warm and comfortable while not stuffy, service was a bit rushed and impersonal (our server at least), but adequate, and the food was better than average. great place for a gathering of friends or family, or a nice understated romantic dinner. Pleasant suprise, will definitely go back!
(4)
Jen C.

Such a cute place! I was just here to have a small birthday celebration for one of my friends. They have nice indoor seating, but the weather was so nice when we went that I think all the patrons were out in the nice, cozy, outdoor seating. In the outdoor area they even have this cute little garden area where they grow all their own herbs! So you know the ingredients are fresh and well-kept. :) We had the crabcake appetizer which is a large crabcake patty. For the entrees, we shared a rigatoni dish - it was good, and I thought this dish would be my fave... but even better were the TWO gnocchi dishes we shared - the tomato cream sauce is deeelicious! I wish I could bring the sauce home with me! The sauce is just seriously so awesome...yum. Our server was really nice and friendly - full of lengthy descriptions of all the dishes. I would go back just for that tomato cream sauce! They should bottle it and sell it...that would make me happy. Also - easy metered street parking available.
(4)
Kat G.

This place has been a favorite of mine and my husband's for about 7 years. We love the outdoor seating area and the ambience. It's a local favorite. Overall, it's good. Some minor tweaks that would make good food, even better food. We started with the calamari. The calamari, is good, but I think they should experiment cooking it a tad longer for a more "golden" calamari. The coloring is a little light which isn't terrible but I think it could have used another minute. I also would strongly recommend they serve the calamari with a warm tomato sauce vs. cold. It just didn't pair properly. Maybe it's supposed to be warm, but ours seemed like it was intended to be cold. Just seemed odd. I enjoyed my entree dish. I had the clams with linguini and chose the white wine sauce. It was quite good - loved the flavor of the sauce and the pasta was perfectly cooked. They could have cleaned the clams a little better - I had tasted sand, which is bound to happen but it was kinda more than anticipated. The other tweak - and it's picky I know - but I would have thought they could have sprinkled some fresh flat leaf parsley on top of the center of the dish. Again, very good - but it was like "oh, there's just a lot of minced clams in the center of the plate. Alright."Some parsley could have brightened up the dish a little. My husband had his staple favorite - gnocchi with tomato cream sauce. This place has the best gnocchi I have ever had in my life - and I have been to Italy. Their gnocchi are just perfect pillows of ricotta. I strongly recommend this dish and it's just under $17. Overall a great experience. There's a reason why we've been coming here for years.
(4)
Michelle L.

Pros: Outside garden is pretty. Gelato is the best thing on the menu The bread was fresh and hot. Cons: The restaurant smells like mildew. The bathroom scent is so strong that I tasted it in my mouth. The food was so mediocre. A step above olive garden.
(2)
Elise K.

My husband and I visited Fiorentino's on a blustery Monday night. We said outside in the heated outdoor garden, despite cool weather, and were comfortable without coats. Mondays there is a special on wine - 50% off. It was a nice surprise. Bread was fresh and rather normal. We started with a grilled octopus -- it was the best part of the meal and we really enjoyed it. We both ordered a special, but the food was mostly ordinary -- neither were "special" in flavor and my risotto (sausage and broccoli) was even bland. We finished off with a tiramisu, which was a large portion and good, but not to die for. Overall it was a nice ambiance and okay food, but I don't see a reason to visit when I can go to one of the other local restaurants that is just plain amazing.
(3)
Ashley I.

The enclosed patio area is cute and romantic. I was excited to find out that they have gluten free ravioli! I would recommend getting a tomato based sauce rather than the mushroom. The food is somewhat authentic. The service was great.
(4)
Meredith K.

The atmosphere is wonderful! We were seated in the indoor patio. Its cute. I was wishing to be outside for real but maybe they don't have that? Also our server was awesome. Very helpful and attentive. He joked along with me and make sure that we had a nice dinner. To start I had a dirty martini which was made perfectly. My boyfriend had a negroni which was also nice. We went right into the mains. I had the risotto special with beets and my boyfriend got the manicotti. We had a side of brussels sprouts with it. I'm not over the trend yet. Everything was delicious and well made. I think for the price point you get good bang-for-the-buck. Its not fancy, and I'm not sure if everything is made in-house, but what we had was pretty good. If I lived in this neighborhood this would be my "I don't feel like cooking tonight" place.
(4)
Christina M.

Pleasantly surprised. I Stopped in Saturday may 2nd at about 7pm. When we walked in it was really warm in the restaurant and no available out for seating. I actually had to take a star away because of how hot it was, and our table was shaky. But our server fixed it. I had the Neroli and it was so good. I forgot it had alcohol in it. She had the fruta de Mar and loved it. One mussel was empty. And the clams were quite small. But good flavor. I had the tortillini also really good and filling. I felt like the drinks were a little over priced for the neighborhood and alcohol level. But I think I'll be back. Bottles of wine are a really decent price.
(4)
Cindy P.

2nd time I've been here and it was a disappointment. I ordered the homemade lasagna and the meat was chewy, the sauce tasted like Ragu. The spinach salad we ordered was tiny and for $9, I expected more because I was sharing with someone else. It wasn't enough to eat for one. There are plenty of other great Italian restaurants-you should go there 1st.
(2)
Ben B.

A very good Italian option. Chicago has no shortage of Italian places. But most are bland or faux-fancy. Fiorentino's gets high marks for food and comfort. We sat in the covered patio on a chilly October night, but the restaurant had heaters going, so you wouldn't know you were outside. It was apporpriately dimly lit, with Christmas lights lining the walls. Your meal begins with warm bread. Fiorentino's passes this most critical Italian restaurant test. The olive oil on the table was fantastic. My girl and I ordered the crusty garlic bread ($4). It wasn't particularly notable, and I actually preferred the complimentary bread provided. I prefer a creamy, soft garlic bread to a hard, crusty version. Skip this. I love my entree - penne alla siciliana ($16.50). Penne pasta with eggplant and fresh mozzerella in marinara. The fresh mozzerella was a revelation... a creamy bite of gold mixed in with the hot marinara. Pretty fantastic. My girlfriend ordered the portobello ravioli ($16.95) and I had a bite. Very smooth and mild. If you like mushrooms, this is your jam. The portions are huge. I could only get through about half of my dish. We finished by sharing a slice of key lime pie ($8). Nothing special about this. I didn't care for my wine - the Highway 101 pinot noir. Then again, what kind of winery names their vino after a long stretch of asphalt? Fiorentino's is an awesome place to bring a date or a small group of friends. Good food and comfortable atmosphere make it a place I'm excited to try again.
(4)
Erica L.

It's nice to discover another great Italian spot closer to home rather than trekking all the way downtown or to Little Italy. Fiorentino's was a pleasant surprise. Hubby and I tried it out on a random rainy weekday for dinner. Our reservations were honored in a timely fashion. We sat in the enclosed side patio that was dimly lit, but enhanced the romantic ambiance. I was concerned it would be a little chilly, but there are heaters spaced out to keep the area warm. Our server was great - gave us enough time to peruse the menu, engaging, and not pushy or hovering. We split a Caesar Salad for starters. I had the Rigatoni Alla Boscaiola which was delicious! Pasta was al dente and the sauce not too creamy or rich. Portions are generous, so I was able to take the rest home for lunch the next day. Hubby had the Linguini Neri Fra Diavola. He made more of a dent in it, but still had some for leftovers. Lots of shrimps and clams included in a spicy tomato broth. Turned out to be a great date night spot on a dreary weekday evening.
(4)
Natalia K.

We came here with a groupon for 2 with selections off a special prix fixe menu. The options are great, with something for everyone, so no need to feel deprived of choice. They also have a good selection of reasonably priced glasses and bottles of wine, so we started off with a couple of reds (glasses). The warm bread, olive oil, and parmesan cheese for the table is always welcome, and I enjoyed my piece while perusing the menu. We decided on the beef carpaccio, which had a nice zest to the dressing on the greens. For my entree, I had the salmon, and my friend had the short ribs. I tried her mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts, and immediately regretted my selection. But then I tried my salmon, which I ordered medium rare, and it was light and flavorful, and well cooked. My garlic spinach was a perfect accompaniment with roasted garlic slices in the spinach. I cleaned my plate and thought no more of the short ribs except that I will order them the next time. Our dessert choice was tiramisu, which came in an odd shape, so I'm not quite sure how it was sliced, but nevermind what it looked like- it was boozy and delicious. I'm definitely a fan of this non-pretentious, cozy restaurant. The atmosphere is a little rough, as we were seated in a heated enclosed outdoor patio and I felt cramped among potted plants and fellow diners. The service is friendly, however, and welcoming.
(4)
Mauricio L.

Did they go out of business? I was trying to go Sunday and they were closed. I went again today and still closed.
(1)
Missy G.

Updating my review as we had a perfect experience the second time around. Our service was on par the moment we walked in. It was a nice day, so we were able to take advantage of sitting in the porch area. Our server was fantastic on every level, was actually the individual we saw serving the table next to ours in my previous review. We ended up ordering the same entrees and those did not disappoint. Probably one of our favorite Italian dishes in Chicago. We ordered a red wine, don't remember the name, but after we explained the kind we liked our server chose a great option. Now that we have given this place a second chance and had a great experience, we will be back. Their management truly cares about customer satisfaction and strive to be the best restaurant out there.
(5)
Luanna A.

Excellent food, great service. Lovely out door patio. We stayed inside as the weather was muggy but stepped out for a peek. Nice quiet ambiance for conversation.
(5)
James P.

2 stars and not 1 because the sausage was 'pretty good'. Waiter was smily but not genuinely friendly. Did not help at all with the menu. I ordered the Rigatoni with sausage, mushrooms, and peas. I had to douse the dish with Parmesan cheese from the table to make it flavorful. But the sausage was ok... Definitely won't be back here. $17 for a small-portioned dish of pasta deserves much more flavor than they give here.
(2)
Andrew M.

Stopped in for another family dinner night. The reservation was for 7, but we ended up with 9. They didn't hesitate to accommodate us. Our waiter was friendly and attentive as well as patient when we took forever to order. We had calamari and bruschetta for appetizers. The bruschetta was great, but at 4 pieces per order a bit on the expensive and small side. The calamari was extremely tasty. The breading was light and buttery and really let you enjoy the taste of the calamari instead of just the fried breading. I had the seafood pasta dish with spicy red sauce. It was a massive order that I couldn't come close to finishing. It was very tasty with just the right amount of spiciness. My wife had spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were absolutely amazing. There was a small hiccup when our orders were brought out, and the plates were given to the wrong people. Not necessarily the waiter's fault, but he offered to buy us dessert to make up for it. We said that it wasn't necessary, but we appreciated the offer anyway.
(4)
Nicole M.

I love this restaurant! It's authentic Italian, intimate, and romantic. My boyfriend and I came here for Valentine's Day and had a great time. Service- fantastic! Our waiter was kind and attentive. Food came out quickly. Food- delish! We both had Gnocchi and ate every bite. Their bread is great too...not to mention the wine. I'm a bit of a wino and their reds are good. Ambiance- again- it's intimate, quaint. Really has the old world Italian feel from what I can tell. My favorite is the covered patio. It's lit up with strung up ceiling lights, lots of candlelight. Prices aren't bad either. For a glass of wine, a beer, two dishes; we paid about $55. Can't wait to go again!
(5)
Tyler M.

Dear owners: we (the customers) can tell if you are making your own pasta or not. You are charging way too much for a pasta dinner. You are not fooling anyone. Either drop the price or increase quality. You might think you are increasing profit by sacrificing quality, but you are losing customers. I could get the same quality meal at Olive Garden.
(2)
Lien B.

Would have given this five stars but my lovely experience is tainted by surprise charges. I don't mind paying extra if I upgrade or change my meal...but I did not. If you have kids that are picky eaters, it is hard to find a nice restaurant with kids options. I was happy to see a kids menu here but maybe the wait staff isn't as familiar with the kids menu?! The kid's penne was ok for $7 but the breaded chicken was a sad looking dish with one piece of flatten breaded chicken for $10!! Menu said it comes with a side of bread & a drink but the waiter said 'no' but was kind enough to bring us another loaf of the free bread for the table...hummm? We were then charged extra for the two kids drinks! My husband & I enjoyed our meals; shrimp risotto & short ribs (a little dry but flavorful..more gravy is all it needed). I'm so bummed that I did not catch the charge on the kids drinks til I got home! I would have like to clarify the drink & the side of bread that should have come with the kids meals to the waiter, who was nice & attentive enough. I'm on the fence if we'll be back. Having our kids with us for dinner is pretty common & we need a restaurant to accommodate them food wise as much as the adults....especially if they offer a kids menu.
(3)
Alex C.

Went with a group of 4 friends. We had found this place through yelp and were convinced we would be impressed with the service and food. We ordered: Aranchini Rice Balls - delicious Bruschetta - Simple, but very fresh Pollo Capri - cooked properly, fresh veggies, awesome! Rigatoni alla Boscaiola - Great sausage! Gnocchi Ricotta with Pesto - Fluffy and fantastic. A must try for pesto fans! Lobster Ravioli - Perfect! Tasty + Fresh lobster, awesome. Will definitely be back! UPDATE 4/8/14: Have been back to Fiorentino's 3 more times since I wrote this review, and we are also planning to have my mother's birthday dinner here very soon. Between my friends and I, we've probably had 80% of the menu, and haven't been let down once. This continues to be one of my favorite Italian spots on the North side!
(5)
Elizabeth M.

I am Italian and I'm telling you right now that I have found authentic Italian food in Chicago! The sauce is homemade, the food comes from their family recipes, this is the real deal people. Last night I had the sausage and kale soup, the caesar salad, and a white fish dish with a side of pasta. I also tried an incredible pomegranate martini... dangerously good. I have come here a few times now and have had a different server each time - all have been so friendly and knowledgable of the menu. I have talked with the owners and they are fabulous. I highly recommend this restaurant. By the way, try the Gnocchi with Tomato Cream!
(5)
Lee L.

Fiorentino's is a family owned, charming, authentic Italian restaurant. We hadn't been here in years, but one day, as we were driving along Ashland, we made the the spontaneous decision to stop by for dinner. I'm now mad that we hadn't been back in years because we were missing out. We were sat in the covered garden area, and our server was nice and attentive and did his job well. They have a nice selection of Italian wines, and the list is reasonably priced and approachable. For starters, we had the grilled baby octopus and the beef carpaccio. There was a nice char on the tips of the octopus and the marinade was nice and bright. The carpaccio was very traditional and, of course, great. On both dishes there was an ample amount of greens, so if you order either of these starters you don't need a salad. For entrees, we had the portobello mushroom ravioli and the Vitello Milanese. I'm a complete sucker for a good mushroom-pasta dish, and this one hit the mark. The veal was crunchy but not dry. For dessert, of course we had to have the Tiramisu. Overall, it was an extremely solid, authentic, and delicious experience. This is one of those restaurants where I wish there was a rating between 4 and 5. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Matt T.

Loved this place! Randomly showed up on a Monday night to find it was 1/2 price wine, so naturally we obliged. You get some awesome fresh baked bread and my gf and I both got pasta entrees. You can tell this is authentic Italian and all of the food we ate was top notch. A great place for a date might and the prices were reasonable. The portions are enormous so we each had enough for leftovers which we ate for lunch the next day. Will definitely be going back. They have an awesome groupon deal right now which is a nice bonus.
(5)
Serena M.

Cute little spot on a busy corner. As soon as you walk in you forget that you left a busy street behind you.Wish there was slight music in the air rather then hear the table next to me.Was disappointed in theost simplest dish on the menu, the lasagna. When I think of that dish I'm thinking of mounds of meat and gooey cheese coming out of it. There was only a slice of cheese on top and nothing but meat with fat on it.really disappointed that they would screw up on a simple dish. I will go back but I guess avoid the simple dishes
(4)
Corey L.

Delicious food, and went on a Tuesday with half-priced appetizers. The service was excellent. We ordered the Ricotta stuffed gnocchi with tomato cream sauce, as well as the Bolognese. Both were delicious, and better then any other Italian place I've been in Chicago, with a price that is much cheaper.
(5)
Vincent J.

It's a great spot. The food and the service were great. A nice cozy vibe. I'd definitely recommend it to others.
(5)
Arianna J.

If you ever go eat at this place and expect a lot of sea food forget it. Ordered the Linguine Mare they have an option of having both scallops and shrimp for $26 a plate I only had two shrimp and two scallops. So basically paid $26 for a bowl of linguine. Big deal. Left wanting more sea food.
(1)
Jina K.

I went to Fiorentino's with my mother on mothers day. I made a reservation a night before and when I walked in, was stared at strangely by a waitress. Maybe because I was asian? I don't know. I was seated in the patio, which was absolutely beautiful. I ordered bruschetta and some pasta dish that was wonderful. My mother ordered a fettucine Alfredo (which was not on the menu). The bruschetta was crisp, the tomatoes were flavorful, filled with garlic and basil, and tasted just plain fresh. The bread was a bit burnt, but still delish. My mother's alfredo was quite strange. It wasn't anything that I had tasted before. I wasn't really a fan, but my mother was. The waitress was a bit rude and acted like we did not know how to i don't know, I guess be in a restaurant? She treated us a bit like foreigners and made sure to talk extra slow and be extra understanding in explaining things. (Lol I know how to order things??) We were not checked up on and water ran low for quite a bit, until I flagged down a bus boy. Apparently, they were giving out mothers day coupons or something, which I was not offered, but the table next to me was, which I found offending also. The food was lovely but service, not so much. Not sure if i'll be returning. Maybe I need to be white to be liked here.
(2)
Zhanina A.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in town! Very nice atmosphere to go out with friends or on a romantic date! Staff is very friendly and helpful! Tried the seafood appetizer (grilled scallops, calamari, and octopus) which was really tasty! The mussels are great as well! The pastas are all delicious! Definitely a place I will keep going to!
(5)
L M.

I had been looking forward to trying Fiorentino's for some time, and I was kind of disappointed. It's not bad, but it's certainly not any better than most Chicago Italian joints. For example, the rock shrimp risotto had decent flavor, but it wasn't made with arborio rice. It was pretty clearly made with long grain white rice, and the creaminess was faked with the mascaropone cheese they added. Lame. I've made much more authentic and delicious risotto at home. The signature dish of homemade pasta stuffed with crab and artichoke in a vodka sauce was pretty decent, but overly heavy, so not authentic Italian. The Nana's "Have a Bite" was pretty unique, with two meatballs served with a salad in viniagrette. Eating the meatballs together with the salad was pretty good -- on their own, the meatballs were a little bland. My husband had the minestrone soup, and he thought that was also unremarkable. The best thing I ate there was by far the apple, mission fig and blue cheese salad. It was nicely dressed and good proportions. The service was pretty average, not especially attentive, but the person bussing our table stacked someone else's dirty dishes on our table when he was clearing ours, which I think is pretty tacky (and unappetizing). The dining room felt like a flurry of clanging dishes when we first sat down, as several tables at once were cleared at once -- I get it, they have to be cleared, but it was really disruptive. All together, the place was only ok. I won't be rushing back, but if you're satisfied with average, Chicago-style Italian, and you aren't hoping for something more authentic or interesting, you may be just fine with this place. It was easy to get a reservation on a Saturday night last minute. So it has that going for it.
(3)
Steve K.

Fiorentino's offers a more-or-less classic Italian-American menu. When we arrived for dinner on a Saturday, we saw several large groups and families enjoying themselves. The atmosphere was cozy, festive, and child-friendly. The service was good; we were treated quite well by all of the staff. Unfortunately, some of the food was astonishingly bad, especially given the prices (e.g., $26 for seafood linguine fra diavolo). The two dishes that tasted good were the brussels sprouts side and the grilled octopus appetizer. The other dishes were worse than what most adults could cook at home or buy from a greasy pizza-and-pasta takeout restaurant. I know teenagers who cook better than this. Grilled octopus: The octopus was cooked very well. However, it was smothered in vinaigrette that was cloyingly sweet and lacking nuance. Fig and apple "crostini": This appetizer looked like a quick, easy snack that someone would make with whatever they had in the kitchen. I would be content to eat something like this at home; I was surprised that a restaurant would serve it to paying customers. Instead of dainty crostini with a nutty toast flavor, these "crostini" were pieces of bread that had been sliced too thickly and not toasted or grilled until brown. The slice of apple on top was too thickly sliced, so that it didn't balance with the fig. Eggplant parmigiana: This dish had a thin, runny marinara sauce that tasted like sweetened pasta sauce from a can. The sauce was not well melded with the fried eggplant, and it didn't have the flavors or consistency that would be developed by baking in the oven; it looked like it had been poured over the eggplant. A sheet of rubbery cheese was melted on top of the sauce, also not baked in the oven with the rest of the dish. It was served next to overcooked penne in a puddle of undrained water. It was obvious that the ketchup-sweet marinara sauce had not been tossed with the pasta in the pan to evenly coat it, but was simply poured on top of the pasta. A comparison to bad school cafeteria food would not be unfair. Linguine fra diavolo: The linguine was so overcooked that it was mushy and fell apart. The shellfish was also overcooked. Garlic in the dish was chopped in large, lopsided chunks; the sloppiness of the knife work was almost comical. The sauce was also too sweet. Brussels sprouts: This side dish tasted okay. It's not difficult to find other restaurants in Chicago that serve brussels sprouts more inventively or with superior execution, but at least it was not embarrassingly bad. The bad dishes were so inexplicably bad that I puzzled over why the restaurant was crowded with diners. It was awkward to politely eat such bad (and not cheap!) food while receiving friendly and attentive service. Despite the good service and cozy atmosphere, I can not recommend Fiorentino's to anyone.
(1)
Lee P.

Large menu of typical northern Italian entres with some imaginative specials like spaghetti Vesuvio (very good). Generous portions. Service was fine. Good variety on wine list, well priced bottles. No negative comments. This place will go into our regular rotation. Also good for carry out. The "outdoor" patio is actually fully enclosed, like a greenhouse. I think it would be pretty uncomfortable if the temp is over 72. Go for indoor seating.
(4)
KB C.

Very good food- we have not been to the restaurant yet...only delivery and it was a fast delivery at that...ordered thru yelp of course. The pasta dishes are typically right on- flavorful...which is what we want but do not always get...especially with delivered italian foods. Give them a try-
(4)
Brianna K.

Went here tonight for restaurant week. The food was great! The Italian sausage pasta, butternut squash soup, mushroom ravioli, and cannoli dessert were all fantastic. Our waiter was also great. The reason for four and not five stars is the bread they serve is not as good as some other Italian restaurants but even more so the front desk staff were not very nice. We walked in with a reservation and the young boy and girl at the front said "Oh you can like wait at the bar or just over there somewhere" despite it being the time of our reservation and not a packed restaurant. They then acted very annoyed when we asked how long the wait would be and continued their conversation. It was very off putting. However, the food and drinks were wonderful and would definitely recommend!
(4)
Leah G.

This place is amazing and so different from all the big, fancy restaurants you see downtown. This is absolutely one of my favorite places to dine and relax. I have been there numerous times, with my boyfriend, and always feel cozy and romantic, whether we are inside or out. The covered, outdoor patio is romantically decorated, with strung lights and beautiful vines up the brick walls. Also, I have never felt rushed or unwelcome here; you can truly sit back and enjoy your company and your entrees. The food is DELICIOUS, accurately priced and very authentic.
(5)
Meighan F.

This place is a true Sicilian gem! I have lived in Chicago for a year and eaten at many Italian places, and this one is in my top three. The ambiance has old world italian charm. My girlfriend and I loved the mussels with white wine, lemon and garlic. They were huge and full of flavor. The octopus with arugula was also delicious. She ordered the meatballs and loved them. I ha the fig and apple salad which was great for a light meal. To top or off, we had the tiramisu do desert. Wow! I am not a huge tiramisu fan but this was divine. Definitely try this place out.
(5)
Rocco H.

The GF and I were anticipating a trip to Fiorentino's for a long time. After grabbing a deal from gdine.com , we finally had our chance. We came in at 6:30 on Saturday to a packed house, but we were seated right away. Our server started off very attentively and was welcoming. After a couple of visits to take our order, he was no where to be seen for the rest of the night. Overall he was very nice but could have come by the table more often than the bus-boy! The food was very good, and the serving sizes exceptional. The best part was desert, which was the Cannoli. The presentation was totally new and very enjoyable. I would return to Fiorentino's to try something from their regular menu, but maybe on a slower night where we could expect a little more attention.
(3)
J P.

very nice place. the grilled seafood appetizer was excellent. We had the key lime pie for desert, which was the best I've ever tried. the entrÃ©es were just ok, but way overpriced. we had the seafood pasta, which did not include the tail on shrimp. rather were served in cut pieces.... why???? the baby clams were, well, babies.... no meat at all.... and for $25.... again, way overpriced. also tried the beef short ribs... very good but, I would rather stay away from all those Brussel sprouts. service was very good. would only return for appetizer and dessert. Btw, $11 for a champaign cocktail????? really???
(3)
Chris H.

We had a Groupon and I am glad we got it! What a fantastic place! It is nice and cozy. We were seated in the "outdoor" garden area that was really quite nice and warm in the middle of winter. Just saying: Our waiter was terrific! We started with the mixed grill of seafood that was terrific! What a delicious start to the meal. I than had the veal piccante which was a somewhat tough and not a flavorful as I wanted it to be and my hubby had the salmon which he loved. We than topped it off with a cannoli that was really very good. Even though the veal was a bust, we would totally come back even without a Groupon. Really good food and great service!!!
(4)
Katie S.

5 stars for atmosphere. The covered outdoor section is very charming. Perfect for dinner with out-of-town parents. Food was solid. Warm bread to start, great beet salad. Gnocchi was particularly good though the eggplant parm was just so-so. I would definitely come back and try a couple other dishes.
(4)
Julia J.

In a land that is riddled with Italian restaurants, this place is as good as it gets. I love that it is a FAMILY business. Fiorentino's staff certainly make you feel as welcome as an authentic Fiorentino when you enter. First off, the atmosphere is warm and very romantic. Our party sat in the garden area outside, but the inside seemed just as nice. Our server, Katy, was AMAZING. She got my OCD order just right and kept checking back on our table to refresh drinks and make sure we were happy. Since our get-together was a reunion, we chatted so long we actually closed the joint! I really appreciated that they didn't hover around our table and pressure us to leave like The Greek Islands is so famous for. The Fiorentino staff was totally chill about it and because of that, we have told all our friends that this little place is a neighborhood gem. In fact, we will be meeting our friends there in two weeks! The food was amazing. My husband ordered their Chicken dinner with roasted red peppers and practically licked his plate. No, seriously...he ALMOST did until I stopped him! I ordered a entree' sized salad with Chicken on it. It was very filling and made exactly as I ordered. We shared a grilled calamari appetizer that was perfectly prepared. The prices were reasonable, (except for the liquor) the service was AMAZING and the food was authentically home-made. Who needs the fancy-shmancy places when you've got a place that treats you like family? We didn't want to go home! Oh--BONUS FOR YOU GLUTEN-FREE FOLK- They just started a gluten-free menu! I will update this review and let you know what my gluten-free foodie friends have to say about it! UPDATE- We went back. I've got to say, wow. Again, we were blown away. Frankly, I think that the owners must train their staff exceptionally well or weed out servers with a chip on their shoulder because our waiter, Mike was just as friendly and adaptable to my OCD-idness as our last server, Katy. Even the bus boys seem to genuinely like their job. They were so friendly and helpful with whatever we needed. Like I promised, we decided to dip our taste buds into the gluten-free frenzy. My husband ordered the Steak from their new gluten-free menu. He said the seasonings were 'strange' and he definitely wouldn't recommend this particular dish. I had the Gluten-free Seafood Linguine and LOVED it. My friend ordered the mixed grilled Seafood (also from the gluten-free menu). So I'm sure that will have to be the next pit stop on our adventure through the Fiorentino menu. Our whole table shared a Cannoli with shaved dark Chocolate and it was just enough sweet to go well with coffee and a heated conversation about Politics and Religion. Let me say ordering the desert was sooooo worth it, even though I had to muddle through obama economics.... BTW-Yasmin, Katy and Mike are all really good servers. I haven't had ONE bad experience at Fiorentino's
(5)
J J.

Visited here again for the first time in awhile. I love seafood and the dish I had was my favorite . I am definitely going back here more frequently. Love the atmosphere, food, and dining area. I have been waiting the dish again ever since I had it. Our server was a little awkward and was slow to check in, but I understand that serving can be difficult.
(5)
Pranav S.

Nice atmosphere, good service. Food is authentic, and portions are generous.
(4)
Robert R.

I took a group of twelve to dinner Sunday night, and everybody was so happy I had chosen Fiorentinos Cucina Italiana. My wife and I live in Crystal Lake and often eat at Fiorentinos after attending a matinee show downtown. The dishes are authentic, delicious and reasonably priced. The wait staff is attentive without being overbearing. Parking is close by and free. There are many reasons we keep going back, but the best reasons are the mussels in pesto sauce served on angel hair pasta and the rigatoni alla boscaiola. Soooo good!
(5)
Diana M.

Not great and overly expensive. Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere else for Italian.
(1)
Steve H.

So so so so good. I can't rave about this place enough. The food is outstanding. I've been several times and am mostly impressed with their pastas. I've tried several and they have always been perfect. Try the gnocchi with any of the sauce choices. The ambience is great for a date or a Sunday dinner. Not formal but definitely a nice place. I recently brought family in from out of town who had never had authentic Italian food and they were very impressed. A+
(5)
Amy T.

I was begging my boyfriend to take me here because the cute quaint outside appearance with white Christmas lights intrigued me. Inside decor is very warm, romantic, and offers a higher end dining experience with neighborhood appeal, a perfect place for date night. They have an extensive wine menu. I ordered the shrimp risotto and we both experienced squid ink pasta for the first time which I'm still iffy about. Very attentive wait staff also.
(5)
Hollie A.

The food was good, the service was good, the atmosphere was cute. A nice place but nothing that absolutely wowed me.
(3)
Pinky P.

Really a shame that I couldn't even try the cuisine since the serving staff didn't even come over to take a drink order or greet us. Not sure of why the place wasn't that busy and a HUGE group next to us were served their drinks within 5 minutes of being seated. I waited 20 minutes and let the hostess know, he sent over a very smug and rude server who I would of fired at my business for treating customers like dirt. Even worse the casual attitude of the owner/manager when I tried to complain. Never step foot into this establishment and let all our friends and family who live close by to not give them any business.
(1)
Alex P.

This is a great place, great environment, and great food. I always take friends and family visiting Chicago to Fiorentino's. I actually think I'm not fair to this restaurant, because it's so good and it's never my first option. It should be though! Try that polpo alla griglia. Amazing!
(5)
Douglas B.

Wifey and I have been driving by this place for a while and restaurant week was right around the corner so we decided to make reservations. The place is fantastic. Its cozy and romantic. We had dinner out in the patio area which was covered for the winter. I bet its nice in the spring/summer time. The service was terrific and they even took our 10% coupon from yelp after checking in! The food was delicious! we shared a caprese salad to start. The mozarella was tasty and so was the balsamic dressing. Wife went with the butternut squash soup which looked and smelled great. I enjoyed a delicious salad with Gorgonzola cheese, candied cashews, pear and a nice vinaigrette. I went with the veal shank osso bucco... my goodness. the meat was delectable. It was braised nicely, tender full of flavor. I enjoyed every single bite. Wife went with the filet mignon, sicilian style (pounded out)... so tender and flavorful as well. For dessert we had the mocha gelato, amazing. There is parking next door by the paint store, you walk right over and enjoy a great evening. Can't beat it. As good as it gets, cant wait to go back!
(5)
Lindsey M.

We ordered this for a team dinner and it was delicious! Great change when ordering food in the area, which is typically confined to asian cuisines and pizza.
(5)
Kristy C.

Awesome. I have lived down the street for years and always wanted to try, didn't dissapoint. The space itself is very cute, we sat in the enclosed patio area- looks like it be very cute in summer- was a nice view even during winter and we were right next to heater so it wasn't cold. I ordered the gnocchi (the reviews on here convinced me to) and I couldn't decide between basil and tomato cream so I asked for half of each which they had no problem with. We ordered side of meatballs which were amazing, soft and tender and seriously giant, next time we go back I definately will get spaghetti and meatballs- wasn't on menu but person next to me got it so I know they make it. My fiance had bolognese, he really liked it although I'm not sure I would order knowing the meatballs and gnochi was better. Waiter was attentive but not pushy, nothing but good things to say.
(5)
Amer A.

In a city with a plethora of Italian options this may be one to skip. The friendly staff and warm atmosphere can't make up for the tired food.
(2)
Meghan K.

This is the Italian food I grew up with. Comfort food without weighing you down! We started with some bruschetta, very hearty bread with a delicious, ripe tomato mix. Yum. From there we were torn, I went for the stuffed gnocchi with tomato cream sauce. WOW. It really is light and airy, despite being stuffed with cheese! It still fills you right up though. Our server was fantastic, helpful but not pushy. The patio is amazing, it has a roof and three walls so you won't get rained on, and heaters in case it gets chilly! The greenery is beautiful as well. Fiorentino's has been around for 8 years now, and for good reason! Love seeing a family owned restaurant succeed.
(5)
Heather B.

My first visit was for Valentines Day. We made reservations on opentable.com and lo and behold a real person from the restaurant called to confirm our reservation! The mood and feel of Fiorention's was cozy and romantic with lots of twinkle lights and nice linens and flowers on each table. Here is where it gets better. THE FOOD WAS OUTSTANDING. The service was great and the price was right. What's not to love? Oh and I did I mention that there is FREE PARKING at the Pittsburg Paint (just north of the restaurant)? Awesomesauce!
(4)
Jose V.

I can't thank the manager Steve and Frances enough for being so attentive and accommodating to our large party of 30 people. It was a busy late Saturday night, so it took a bit for the group to get seated, but once it happened, they started service right away! People were pleasantly surprised on how quickly our food and beverage came out! In summary, good food, good prices, excellent service!
(4)
Anthony B.

Great ambiance and a great date place - had a Mom and Pop type feel like youre eating at someone's home, but the food was nothing special. Service was ok, not overly attentive, (the water servers were moreso than our actual service) and the front room was nice had we not asked to switch from the back room which was packed and unbearably loud. May go back again but will likely try other options.
(2)
Katie C.

Fiorentino's offers Italian dining at it's finest. The quaint and inviting eatery sits on Ashland Avenue, a bustling city street but you would never know it once inside. The warm interior welcomes you with soft lighting and subtle decor. They also have one of the best patios in the city. Though it stays enclosed year round you feel like you are sitting at an outdoor Italian cafe. Beautiful floral designs and greenery encompass the space which is kept heated in the winter and open and airy in the summer. A welcoming environment and the most gracious service upon my entry had me eager to sit down and enjoy the full dinner experience. We were spoiled with an eclectic offering of some of Fiorentino's most popular menu items including some options from their all new Gluten-Free menu. To kick-off our hearty Italian meal we were served the traditional arancini along with fried calamari. Both dishes were cooked perfectly and rich in flavor. Once the food started to be served it seemed like the neverending meal as we were spoiled with one delicacy after another. Other starters included their Mission Fig, Apple, and Bleu Cheese Salad as well as the Red and Golden Beet Salad. Both were incredibly fresh with unique flavors that married perfectly together. We were then greeted with plates of Carpaccio Di Manzo and Ahi Tuna Carpaccio. Both the beef and tuna were sliced so impressively thin and served with the quintessential accompaniments. The tuna was dressed with a lemon vinagarette that brought out the flavor of the whole dish then topped with capers and shaved fennel all sitting among fresh arugula. The Beef Carpaccio was also served with arugula and capers as well as Parmigiano Reggiano. Next came the entrees and Fiorentino's was not holding back. We were served 4 main dishes, 2 of which are also brought out gluten-free. Their popular Portobello Mushroom Ravioli and Stuffed Gnocchi are offered on both menus and both versions were served at our special dinner. Though you could taste a slight difference between the two versions, both were very enjoyable. And to be perfectly honest, if you were only served the gluten-free option I don't think you'd notice. That's how slight the difference was between the two. And what would an Italian meal be without some hearty meatballs! Niente! And these meatballs were the real deal. They were robust, meaty, and super tasty. But handsdown my favorite entree of the evening was the classic Italian Cippino - grilled seafood platter. The dish looked like a work of art as it came out offering an abundance of shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, and calamari sitting atop a silver platter as it should be! We couldn't possibly end our incredible meal without some dessert even if we were all stuffed to our gills. So we concluded dinner with Fiorentino's Deconstructed Cannoli (aka the Cannoli Dream) as well as their Pistachio Gelato and their Napoleon Gelato which by the way are Gluten-Free and you would NEVER know.... seriouly NEVER! I loved the idea of serving the cannoli inside out if you will. It allows you to taste every part of the sweet treat. And the gelato was delicious. I personally preferred the Napoleon flavor. There is no question I would return to this lovel Italian eatery in Lakeview and recommend it to you. Put it on your list of restaurants you MUST visit! You can view their menus online here: fiorentinoscucina.com .
(5)
Alexandra L.

Have been many times and never disappointed. The outside patio is gorgeous. Great vibe. Super friendly staff. Good vino. Try the calamari, frutti de mare and/or rigatoni boscaiola. Cheers!
(5)
Jenna S.

I had heard good things about this place and finally decided to try it out during Restaurant Week. The prix fixe menu looked appetizing and the reviews speak well of the place. Parking is convenient, which is an immediate plus. This part of Ashland kind of seems like a ghost town in terms of nightlife, so you'll be fine if you need to park on the street. We had a reservation but we had to wait when we arrived. Kind of annoying. Especially since the wait was almost 30 minutes. We had to crowd in the back by the tiny bar and just stand while we waited for people to vacate our table. At least there was wine. The atmosphere of the restaurant is wonderful. Dimly lit (but not dark), romantic, lights strung up on the walls and cozy (but not in a super uncomfortable way). Even with a packed house, the place didn't seem too loud and this would be a great place for a date (or a double date in our case). The food was delicious. The portions are enormous, so plan to take your food home. I had the gnocci, which was fabulous. The alfredo sauce was rich with just the right amount of herb and spice and everything was piping hot when it arrived. Everyone else at the table enjoyed their meals, as well. The prix fixe menu was a nice way to try the meals Fiorentino's wanted to showcase and they cook them well. Lots of wine available for purchase, too, so go nuts. Oh, and the bread pudding. FANTASTIC. Literally amazing. So good. I love bread pudding and this really was some of the best I've had. Get it for dessert when you come. It's excellent. This is the point where I say the service was terrible. Like so many other reviewers, the service was unbelievably slow and by the end of the meal (and that entire bottle of wine) we were tired, a little cranky and just wanted to get out of the restaurant. Our waiter was MIA several times throughout the evening and we couldn't even find him when we just wanted to pay and get out of there. This really put a damper on the entire experience. I like to spend my time eating, drinking and socializing with friends over good food and good wine... but not hours and hours and hours. At some point it gets ridiculous, and that's what happened at Fiorentino's.
(3)
Rachel V.

Order the mushroom ravioli and sit on the patio and you've got the PERFECT evening. The atmosphere is romantic and classic. You don't even feel like you're in Chicago anymore when you're on the patio. The food was outstanding and flavorful. The only reason for giving Fiorentino's four stars rather than five was our disappearing waiter. I'm pretty sure we did not see him for fifteen minutes at the end when we were trying to order dessert and pay. Of course, he took so long that we couldn't order dessert, but I look forward to trying it next time.
(4)
Rosa V.

Amazing, the gnocchi with tomato cream sauce was the best I've had. I asked them to mix it with a bit of pesto and it took it to a whole other level. The patio is gorgeous, wonderful little restaurant!
(5)
Alphonso M.

Good for what they say they do! Great and attentive wait staff, not overbearing but made us feel very comfortable. If I we're in the area I would not hesitate!
(3)
Emily Z.

Atmosphere: 5 stars litterally the cutest place ever... great for a date ! We sat up front right by Ashland and you can barley hear it, though I would suggest sitting on the side closest to the restaurant otherwise you are right by the AC and your feet will be ice cubes by the time you leave. Food: 4 stars I was not that impressed with the house bread, some was a little hard, that being said I ate 3 pieces ! Split the giant crab cake, I was not as impressed as other reviewers, it was good but not worth the $13. We also split the stuffed gnocchi with the ragu sauce which were very good though somehow each was a different texture, and the Penne alla Siciliana (eggplant with mozzarella) which I though was better, the eggplant had great flavor, and was even better for lunch the next day !! Bonus points for Fresh Parmesan on the table, negative points for it being grated and not shredded ! Service: fine, though my water glass was empty more than once, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe I am just excessively thirsty ! So lets see 5 Stars + 4 Stars + fine = Three stars, yep sounds about right. Overall its a great Italian place if you have family in town or want to have a romantic night and don't wanna throw out the $40 for a round trip cab downtown.
(3)
Barbara P.

Casual vibe with tablecloths, friendly bartender and servers. Love the cozy ambiance and the tiny lights all over. We were served family-style and enjoyed the food - calamari, gnocchi, grilled octopus. Was very impressed with the variety and the quality of the available gluten-free options. Delicious gelato dessert.
(3)
Susan P.

Ambiance was nice, service was great (loved our attentive waiter), but food was just ok. Came for restaurant week. Prix fixe menu: 1. butternut squash soup (kind of bland and too sweet) 2. tilapia (good sauce, but almost no veggies - just two giant broccoli pieces) 3. deconstructed cannoli (fried wontons stuck in a york peppermint patty filling without the peppermint part - it was gritty... is this normal?). Half price bottles of wine on Monday's was great.
(3)
Lauren H.

I love this place! My husband and I have been coming here for a few years now and it remains one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. The owners, Frances and Steve, treat all diners as family and the food is consistently delicious! I love the Griglia Mista and the Fig, Apple and Bleu Cheese salad but my favorite dish is definitely the Stuffed Gnocchi. Great addition to the Lakeview neighborhood!
(5)
John M.

I was not the most impressed with this place. I felt we had to wait a while for the food which was not the most exciting Italian food I have had. Even though we went at the suggestion and to celebrate my brother's girlfriend's birthday party there I was not impressed with their offerings. I must say they need to work on consistency and better presentation of food quality.
(3)
johanne a.

very good food especially the gnocchi and calimari -- pasta tasted homemade. good value, will come again
(4)
Luci D.

I've driven by this restaurant so many times wanting to try it, and I finally got the chance to this past Monday. Everyone else was sitting on the patio, but my friend and I elected to eat inside because the sun was setting and it was getting chilly. Server Michael (more on him later) gave us time to peruse the menu, and informed us of the 25% off bottles of wine special they run on Mondays. Score! We asked what his recommendations were since we had never eaten there before, and he mentioned three specific items, one of which we ended up ordering (a rigatoni dish). I got the scallops, and we shared the gnocchi with tomato cream sauce, which are little pillows of joy. The food was all fine, and I don't think you could go wrong with anything. (They gave us free gelato since it was my birthday, which is always a nice touch.) Two minor complaints: 1) You all have got to do something about that front door. It is so noisy to the point of being distracting when you're the only table seated in the room. It not only slams shut, but it has a horrible squeaky belching noise, like metal rubbing metal. 2) The wine service was lacking. Michael properly presented the bottle to me since I chose it, but neglected to leave the cork on the table. Also, NEVER pick up the wine glasses to pour the wine, especially since they were being picked up by the bowl and not the stem. (I would like to point out that, other than this, he was perfectly adequate and we enjoyed his service.) Despite those two minor things, I will be back (for that gnocchi).
(3)
Rita W.

We went here on Saturday with my best friend and her husband. They live down the street from this restaurant and they rave about Fiorentinos but neither my husband nor I had been there before. When we first walked in, we were surprised to see how packed the restaurant was. We had reservations but they had a hiccup with their open table app so we wait for about ten minutes before we were seated. We seated in their garden space (apparently they have it open in the summer). It was super cute, they made it seem super cozy with candles on every table and winter lights up everywhere. My husband ordered the osso bucco and I had the stuffed gnocchi in tomato cream sauce. We ate every bite of our entrees! The osso bucco was a good sized portion, it was so tender and had really good flavor. My gnocchi was soft and fluffy and the tomato cream sauce had a hit of spice to it which was perfect. We loved our entrees! As many of the yelpers have mentioned, the service is not the most attentive (We had to ask several times for more bread) but it wasn't horrible. We would definitely come back here again for the food though!
(4)
Erin J.

Family came into town for the weekend and I made reservations through Open Table. We arrived early and were seated promptly. Could have gone without reservations, but you never know in Chicago. Staff was super friendly! We were seated in the patio section of the restaurant - cozy and super cute with lights and trees. I loved the ambiance, but wish we could have been inside with the quieter crowd. It was soooo loud in there! We ordered Capellini Gamberi E Broccoli, Penne Alla Siciliana, Linguini Frutti Di Mare. Capellini Gamberi E Broccoli was soooo yummy! I highly recommend it. The Penne Alla Siciliana was good, but you can't see or taste the eggplant. The Linguini Frutti Di Mare was average and extra clammy.
(4)
Tera D.

Oh Fiorentino's, you were so, so close to being a surprising 4-star discovery. We stumbled in here after attempting to use a Groupon across the street at La Gondola without a reservation. We were craving chicken parm, so when La Gondola had zero openings all night, we walked over the Fiorentino's instead. It was nowhere near crowded, and we were seated immediately on the adorable patio. Our server was very friendly, albeit a little overly attentive. We were a little surprised to see the menu was set up a bit differently than the one saw online, and the prices were a few dollars higher, but we let it slide since they still had the chicken parm we wanted. We ordered fried calamari, a Caesar salad, the chicken parm, and a side of pappardella with bolognase sauce, all to split. Everything was generally pretty good, and we were all set to give it a 4-star review. And then the check came. First, we saw we were charged a $6 fee for them to split our chicken parm on two plates. I recalled seeing this charge on the menu, but thought it referred to splitting the bill. Plus we mentioned we were splitting it, but never asked for them to split it for us, and the server never mentioned the charge. Next we saw that the pasta side dish was $5, despite being listed as $3 on the menu. On top of that, our chicken parm came with a side of pasta in the first place, and in my opinion a good server would have mentioned this (the menu did not) when he saw we were ordering a separate side of pasta. All in all, the poor service and misleading pricing was a complete turnoff, and our otherwise lovely dinner ended on a very sour note.
(3)
Steve H.

We've been looking for a good reliable neighborhood Italian restaurant for years and finally went outside our local bubble and found this place based on yelp reviews. We are so glad that we did. The food and service is terrific. We love this place!
(4)
Kaitlin M.

So... I must say I would love to give this place 5 stars but there is only one issue. They do not have anything even relatively vegan on the menu. Normally Italian places will have something that is light without cheese or meat. That being said this place was great! A friend and I ordered in on for Wine Wednesday night at my place and they were happy to make me something with red sauce and veggies. It turned out OK... not a lot of veggies but the sauce was good. My friend ordered the Mixed Seafood pasta which looked amazing. It had plenty of mussels, shrimp and calamari in a great sauce. She loved it! If you feel like true authentic Italian food and are willing to pay for it this is a good place to go.
(3)
Scott G.

This is my go to Italian spot! Can't get enough of the stuffed gnocchi. The lasagna is phenomenal! And the grilled octopus is amazing! The service is great never had a Problem. Will continue to come back!
(5)
Jeff G.

food was decent rice balls ok, not amazing salad nice and fresh papardelle tasty we only went here because chicago's best tv show said they had one of the best patios in the city for al fresco dining. we went there on a perfect 72 degree night in late june and waited 30 min for an "outdoor table" their patio is enclosed on 3 sides. there is nothing outdoor about it except for maybe 2 tables way up front
(3)
Diane M.

You can't go wrong if you want a great Italian dinner -- go to Fiorentino's! Beautiful ambiance, the food is yummy, prices are right. Even have a covered, enclosed outdoor garden that it beautiful. They take reservations. My only complaint (and this goes for all Chicago restaurants) is that they cannot do separate checks. It took us at least a half hour - 40 minutes to get our bills correct. First, we had to try to separate it ourselves and then they finally had to get the manager involved. What is the big deal about doing separate checks in Chicago? From where I am from, the first question you're asked by the server is "how do you want your checks?" Oh well, the experience is still great.
(4)
Kit G.

I discovered this restaurant through gdine, which is a great website for restaurant deals - check it out. For about $70 I purchased a 2 course meal for 2 people, plus 2 glasses of wine. And that $70 included tax and tip! We got to choose if we wanted to have an appetizer and a main course, or dessert and a main course. I had the arancini for my first course. They were perfectly crisp on the outside, and they had just enough cheese, meat, and peas inside to compliment the risotto. The marinara sauce that they were served with was very flavorful. Then I had the stuffed gnocchi. I love anything stuffed with cheese. The menu described the gnocchi was being surprisingly light, which they were. I was given a choice of having the gnocchi with either pesto, tomato cream, or marinara sauce. I chose tomato cream and it was excellent, just enough cream - it wasn't super heavy. It was definitely something I would order again. I am glad that I discovered this little gem. I would love to go back.
(4)
Paul S.

great food, great servers, great date place
(5)
Emily Y.

Our meal and server were FANTASTIC. I read a bunch of negative reviews before our visit and thought they were totally overblown. Bread and oil at the table were great. I had the calamari (better than Piccolo Sogno), and the rigatoni (phenomenal). Our waitress was as sweet and attentive as possible (wish I remembered her name to give her credit). The heated patio is adorable, but getting into and out of the restaurant (bathrooms especially) is a risky situtation. DEFINITELY recommend for a date, I can't imagine that there is a more delicious rigatoni on this continent. :)
(5)
Derek M.

We had an amazing waitress who helped us out a lot. Veal was dry , Apetizers were great, meatballs were solid. Prices were too high considering this place's location and overall quality of food.
(3)
Tara C.

Went here just craving for some Italian food and they had a 10% off special. Turned out to be a really nice date night with the bf.
(4)
Samantha K.

Wow. I was surprised by this place. It was my turn to chose a place to have dinner at with my friend, her boyfriend, and my boyfriend. I turned to yelp for this difficult decision. I saw that Fiorentino's had some pretty good reviews and some not so good. I took a risk anyways and made a reservation. We drove up to this place and started doubting it... But it's always the small, hole in the wall places that has the best food. We walked in and was greeted right away! (Great start) We were seated in the garden-y looking area. It was like we were in Italy! Kind of. We sat down, ordered wine, and took a look at the menu while eating the delicious bread (with olive oil and Parmesan, of course). Everything sounded delicious! I ended up just ordering the Caprese Salad. It's extremely to difficult to mess that dish up. My boyfriend ordered the Penne alla Siciliana and that was delicious!! I loved it. My friend ordered the Manicotti and her boyfriend ordered the Rigatoni alla Boscaiola. I didn't taste either of them, but they looked and smelled really good! The service here was pretty good. Nothing spectacular. I will definitely be back with more friends in the near future!
(4)
Claire S.

Fiorentino's is alright, but I don't see myself ever craving it enough to go back. I got a simple, penne pasta with eggplant, mozzerella, and marinara--pretty hard to mess up. My girlfriend's lobster risotto, which was on special, was absolutely horrible though. Something seemed off with the lobster in it, which was overcooked. The risotto was just an overcooked mushy mess, really. The server seemed a little out of it and wasn't helpful either. The place was pretty busy, so evidently some people like it, but I don't have a reason to return.
(2)
Julie W.

We loved this restaurant. We chose it for the outdoor patio, which is truly lovely, though surprisingly not open air. Plants, Italian lights, very pretty. The food and drinks were excellent.
(4)
Robert W.

The food was kind of flat. Service and ambiance were decent. Had the caesar salad, veal scallopini and tiramisu for restaurant week. The veal was just average, which is unfortunate. Lacked flavor.
(3)
Kyle P.

Sit on deck in summer. Love the pasta and the wine
(5)
Paulina R.

Absolutely amazing Italian food. I have had my fair share in experiencing Italian restaurants, and definitely felt that this deserved 5 stars! Items you must try on this menu is the crab cake, stuffed gnocchi, and mirabella pasta. I can go on but those are just a few of my favorites here! Anything & everything I tried here were very delish!!!!
(5)
Marissa B.

Superb!! I was highly impressed with our visit to Fiorentino's. The inside is cozy, but elegant, with hardwood floors and white linen tablecloths. Our group elected to sit on the patio, which was a fabulous decision on this warm summer night. The server was knowledgeable and friendly, the owner was gracious and charming. Sitting outside was great; ivy climbed the building and the area was surrounded by lush plantings. Portable heaters were stationed... ready for those crisp Fall evenings. (Sob! Don't come too soon, Fall!) The menu offered a nice variety & everyone was happy with their selection. I had the stuffed gnocchi (stuffed w/ricotta) in a tomato cream sauce. Highly recommended! The stuffing made it lighter & not so dense. I went with Heather K. & the fam, so I'll let her dish on the other dishes, as I know she will... seeing as she has a hollow leg & will clear any leftovers within her reach. :) Monday nights featured 1/2 off all bottles of wine regularly priced under $30. There were some nice options as well! BOTTOM LINE: Good service & excellent food make this a great find. Sit on the patio under the twinkling lights for a very enjoyable evening out!
(5)
Bri M.

Very good, not too pricey, easy to sit
(4)
Melissa H.

We walked over to Fiorentino's after finding the wait to be too long across the street. We were able to easily make a reservation on my phone, and we walked over. The staff were friendly and approachable, and were able to seat us 20 minutes before our actual reservation time. Our waitress was very talkative and explained to us that Fiorentino's goes for a simple, rustic flavor with a few local ingredients, as opposed to a lot of complex, exotic flavors. My tortellini was perfectly cooked with nicely salty pancetta and peas. The olive oil at the table is worth noting, with very rich flavors, but the bread is pretty lackluster Italian white loaf. The ambiance is very nice and romantic inside, although a little cramped. A table was close to the main aisle near the front desk and it became a traffic issue when the man at the table decided to stand up for no reason and block everyone's way. I didn't get to check it out too much, but I saw their outdoor patio seating from outside the restaurant, and it looked insanely romantic. I would love to run there on a warmer evening and have my date nose me meatballs Lady and the Tramp-style.
(4)
Lauren S.

I came here awhile ago for dinner with my parents - but it's so good it's definitely worth posting a review now! My parents drove down from Detroit for a weekend and as they were driving along Ashland, noticed this little gem. As it turns out, we ended up eating here not once this weekend but TWICE in one weekend, it was so delicious. We started with the caprese salad which was really excellent - it was really fresh and tasty. Whatever I ate as my entree no longer appears to be listed on the menu, but it was a very tender piece of breaded chicken with a balsamic drizzle and some delicious leafy greens. (If a dish that sounds like that appears on the menu again, I'd definitely recommend it.) The second night I had some risotto dish, which was also really good, though I remember it not being quite as tasty as my previous entree.
(5)
Noelia G.

My husband and I decided to take a couple of our friends there for dinner last night (who had never dined there). Husband and I had been there once previously and had had a good experience, so we thought this would be the perfect place to bring them. I will say our review is not based on the food as the food was Okay (on the bland side) but nonetheless edible. After the appetizers were delivered to our table, the waiter dissapeared for a while (he hadn't taken our dinner entree order). It was a busy time, so its understandable. He comes back, takes our dinner order and a while later we get the food. As we sat there having dinner, the older woman (don't know if she's part owner) comes around each table around us and asks the customers if everything is okay. We must have been flies on the wall because she didn't even bother to look or ask us if everything was okay as she passed inches away from us. How RUDE is that!? By the time we're finished with dinner we have been there close to two hours (which I believe its standard for dinner). We literally have just put our forks down after having dessert, when all of a sudden another waiter comes to our table asking us 'if we are having drinks, can you please go to the bars as there's been a party waiting for an hour to be seated!?". He was very apologetic, but ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING!? You know what, this is not my problem, we came to have dinner and had scheduled a reservation. ITS JUST PLAIN RUDE AND RIDICULOUS! We were not the only table asked to leave. Now I know why our waiter didn't offer the dessert menu and then felt rushed when he brought the examples of dessert. My husband and I were so embarrased and apologized to our friends as we made the decision to bring them here. WE WILL NEVER COME BACK TO THIS PLACE OR RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE.
(1)
Winston S.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this neighborhood gem. Frances and Steven and their whole staff make you feel so welcome and they are true Italians who love and make good food. We have tried about 3/4 of the menu and love it all. Plus, they have one guy who makes the worlds prettiest cappuccino EVERY TIME. He puts high end restaurants to shame!
(5)
Rachel S.

Great place to take your family for a nice, quiet meal when they're in town. Linen table cloths, linen napkins. Quiet, somewhat romantic atmosphere with a family restaurant feel. Service was polite, attentive, informed, and prompt. I had a glass of Chianti, a caprese salad, the crab cake appetizer, and rigatoni with sausage in a tomato cream sauce. GET THE RIGATONI if you like spicy sausage and tomato cream sauce. It was incredible. My sister and Mom had the blue cheese, apple, and fig salad and tortellini. Both were terrific. We'll be back.
(5)
Char Y.

We went there on a saturday and were seated immediately. We were seated at the outdoor/indoor super heated side-house. We ordered crabcake - ok, thought there would be more lump crab meat osso bucco - VERY good, lovely sauce with melt off the bone meat seafood pasta special - gigantic shrimp & scallop mixed in with perfectly al dente pasta. HEAVEN. Bread pudding - by far one of the best I've ever ha. Crusty around the edges with custard like inside. Amazing. The service was excellent, our server is a part of the family who owns restaurant. He was very attentive and considerate. Love the food!
(4)

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Address : 2901 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL, 60657
Phone (773) 244-3026
Website https://www.fiorentinoscucina.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Fiorentino’s

2901 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60657

Fiorentino’s Menu

Antipasti

Insalati

Contorni

From the Seaside Villages

From The Hilltowns and Countryside

Pesce Pollo e Carne

Bevande della Casa

Antipasti Piattini

Antipasti

Insalate

Gluten-free Pasta

From The Grill

Appetizers

Salads

Sides

Entrees

Pasta Specialties

Veal Specialties

Beef Specialty

Chicken Specialties

Seafood Specialties

Healthy Meal suggestions for Fiorentino’s

Antipasti

Insalati

Contorni

From the Seaside Villages

From The Hilltowns and Countryside

Pesce Pollo e Carne

Bevande della Casa

Antipasti Piattini

Antipasti

Insalate

Gluten-free Pasta

From The Grill

Appetizers

Salads

Sides

Entrees

Pasta Specialties

Veal Specialties

Beef Specialty

Chicken Specialties

Seafood Specialties

Steve H.

Pranav S.

J J.

Amy T.

Hollie A.

Pinky P.

Alex P.

Douglas B.

Lindsey M.

Kristy C.

Amer A.

Meghan K.

Heather B.

Jose V.

Katie C.

Alexandra L.

Derek M.

Tara C.

Emily Y.

Samantha K.

Claire S.

Julie W.

Robert W.

Kyle P.

Marissa B.

Bri M.

Melissa H.

Lauren S.

Paulina R.

Noelia G.

Winston S.

Rachel S.

Char Y.