Pazzo’s @ 311
311 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60606
Pazzo’s @ 311 Menu
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Popular Items
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Appetizers
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Salads
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Sandwiches
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Entrees
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Pasta
Healthy Meal suggestions for Pazzo’s @ 311
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Popular Items
-
Appetizers
-
Salads
-
Sandwiches
-
Entrees
-
Pasta
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Address :
311 S Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL, 60606 - Phone (312) 913-1600
- Website https://www.pazzoschicago.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 : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Greg D.
Quick & Convenient This tasty treat is a hidden... wait, I work in the building and most of the time I eat here out of necessity and not out of wanting to. It's not a hidden gem, but it is pretty good for having to eat it three days a week... The food is good and during the summer months, they have a live band and feature an outside BBQ... I believe Wed-Fri. My favorite dish is its chicken quesadilla. (Napoleon... hands off.)
(4)Dave P.
My wife and I had our wedding at Pazzo's on May 1st, 2010. It was the perfect venue for our 125 guests. We were so happy with the way everything turned out, it was absolutely beautiful. Fay Sweeney was so easy to work with and the evening went off without a hitch. The food was great and the staff was even better. While it's a very unique venue, what really sold us was the price. You would be hard pressed to find a better deal in Chicago, especially with the drink packages that included top shelf liquor. Our reception was a blast! The escalators turned out to be the hit of the party as the conga line went all they way up both sets of escalators and back down...hilarious!
(5)Nicole S.
So our wedding was this past weekend and we had the most amazing reception at Pazzo's! Let me tell you that I was so worried that Transformers 3 was going to crash our party (considering that they dropped stunt men onto the glass atrium where our reception was to be held earlier in the day)...but Fay and Pazzo's made it all OK. First, Fay sent someone to lead our guests from the church to the reception because of all the street closures due to filming. Then, our guests arrived at Pazzo's to be greeted with hot and tasty food and a beautiful set up. There were even fresh flower arrangements at the bar! Fay placed candles everywhere, even on the staircases and was happy to set up our favors, centerpieces, etc for us! We were so impressed with her hard work and the reception space is so unique! All our guests were left in awe of the space and told us that they had never been to a wedding like this! We couldn't have asked for anything more (well except to be wedding extras in Transformers 3!) Thank you Fay!
(5)Anne S.
I am a wedding officiant and I write this review today to say that if you are looking in the downtown Chicago area for an interesting wedding venue, or for a neat place right near Willis tower for something to eat, considering Pazzo's as an option is a great decision. It is a majestic and regal setting, something out of the ordinary and completely unexpected. I have officiated two weddings here. The first was a planned, lovely affair, and the second happened today. The fact that it happened at Pazzo's was completely unplanned. The wedding couple had planned to hold their small wedding ceremony at the Skydeck, but high winds closed the Skydeck at the last minute. They were in their limo wondering what on Earth to do, and I scrambled to think of a Plan B for the couple. So I walked over to Pazzo's since I had been there before, and asked the manager, Aziz Z.,(whom I had not met before) if it would be possible to hold an impromptu wedding ceremony in his restaurant. He so very graciously and instantly agreed, even though the restaurant was technically closed (so he knew that the group coming in would not/could not even make a purchase!) The wedding ceremony went on and was beautiful, and I am so grateful to Pazzo's for making it so easy for the couple and their party who found themselves in such a bind. I do so appreciate kind hearts, as they are not incredibly easy to find, and I am happy to support a business that would do something simple to be nice. Thank you Pazzo's, and may your business continue to thrive!
(5)David R.
Nice and convenient place for a business lunch in the loop. The menu has a broad selection of salads, sandwich's, pastas and entrees, and the service is efficient. The portions are ample and the food while nothing special, is always good. This place never seems crowded, so it is always a good last minute place to schedule a lunch.
(3)Justin K.
The Tinga wrap special in the express line is about the soggiest things I've ever seen. Taste-wise its fine but you need to make sure you grab a fork and knife because there is no way to hold the wrap and it will fall apart as soon as you touch it.
(2)City G.
Made a res for my boss today at 12:15 pm - he waited at his table for ONE HOUR to be served; all he received was bread and soda. Really? why even take a reservation when you can't accommodate them. This is annoying and embarrassing and now my problem. Thanks Pazzo's; not sure how your even still in business?
(1)K M.
I'm having my wedding here next year. I love this place and the staff are great to work with. They handle all the details for you along with answer questions you wouldn't think to ask. The two women who'll help you plan are Fay and Andrea - and I can't imagine it's in their personalities to sweat or outwardly worry. I look forward to updating this with even more compliments after the big day. But so far, for the price, location, included details, and beauty of the space - I'm truly excited.
(5)Stacy T.
Horrible service. I was here with a group of 3 today and an hour later there was literally no food in sight. Perhaps it was an off afternoon. AVOID - the service is horrible.
(1)Tony G.
I think I watch too much 'Food Network'. About 5 minutes after I walked into this place, I expected to see cameras and be told that we were on 'Kitchen Nightmares'. We were greeted by a clueless hostess. Seated, then served by a series of clueless waiters. Food took a very long time to come out, and didn't all come out at once. When it was time to pay, we had to wait a while to find one of our servers to pay! No need to go back - I'll go to Roti or one of the Sears Tower restaurants before I go back here.
(2)Bruce H.
Enjoyed the fresh pasta with scallops, Good size portions and the food was high quality. The scallops were huge with a nice sear on both sides. Would have preferred a little more spice in the crust of the scallops. The place was virtually empty since it was around 6 pm and apparently the office district disappears from downtown Chicago after office hours. Since I was only passing through on the train I relied on YELP to locate a place to eat located near Union Station. The YELP reviews were favorable and very helpful. Pazzo's is just across the river from Union Station in the atrium of the large building to the right of the former SEARS Tower. It is worth the short walk and quality and value is worth the effort.
(4)Hannah H.
I came here for an event and I was amazing at the high ceilings with the wonderful palm trees within. It's a beautiful venue spot for receptions and for any work functions. I've only had their fried green beans appetizer with a sweet creamy tangy sauce and that was quite marvelous - crispy green beans in a nice crispy batter with a dip that complemented it well - I must have munched on bowls of these! Staff were wonderful and friendly and took well care of all the guests and the attendees. I would love to come back and try out their other appetizers and entrees. +high ceilings +palm trees :D +nice venue space
(4)Brian K.
The calamari here is fantastic. Crisp and seasoned to perfection, accompanied by a very tasty marinara. The setting is incredible -palm trees and waterfalls. The service is terrible. Let me explain. My gf and I sat down for lunch at noon on a Wednesday. Our server was a tall slender gentleman, perhaps late forties, early fifties with kind of a hook nose. Could have been Arabic or some kind of Hispanic, who knows. Anyways, he seemed OK at first, not friendly, but cordial enough. After receiving our food, he did not check on us once. Mind you, their lunch hour was not that busy. When we finished, he brought the check and I gave him my card. Now, I rarely keep more than a couple hundred in checking, as I'd rather just move over what I need from savings as it comes up. This is just a quirky precaution in case I happen to lose my card. I had made a purchase earlier that morning and my balance was lower than the bill total. So hooknose comes back, tosses the card on the table and says "this is no good". Knowing I had more than enough in my account (but forgetting my earlier transaction) my first reaction was to ask what the problem was, to which he responded by throwing up his hands and yelling "there's no money on this card!". Rude. Just plain rude. Psychological assessment: a sense of superiority from working at a semi-upscale restaurant, combined with a sense of inferiority from being a server at his age has adversely affected this gentleman's behavior. If the proprietor of this restaurant is reading this, I strongly recommend a reprimand. Final note: the Caesar salad, while plentiful, was mediocre. Try the Asian.
(3)Mick B.
We attended an office party at Pazzo's at 311. The party space was large and more than adequate for our group. The appetizers were tasty- especially the fruit kabobs. The wandering waiters were helpful and had some different offerings than what were on the buffet. Overall everyone seemed pleased with our experience. A great place to have a party or group gathering.
(4)Hannah G.
Pazzo's is a great spot for lunch in the Loop. I've come here a couple of times and have never had a bad dish. I've dined on both the Pazzo's Express which offers fresh sandwiches and salads to go, as well as at the actual restaurant. Today I ordered from the Lunch Menu for carryout online, I got to the restaurant to pick it up but it wasn't ready. It happens that there are four Pazzo's locations and that I had picked the incorrect one. Instead of turning me away I was offered the food I ordered from the other location at no cost (since I had paid online). The staff was very friendly and helpful during the confusion. Great customer service, along with the food is one of the reasons I will keep coming back here!
(5)Ashley C.
Our wedding this past weekend at Pazzo's 311 was absolutely perfect! Fay Sweeney was amazing in helping us organize everything and setting everything up for us the day of the wedding. We didn't have an aisle runner, but she placed one down for us anyways. All of the centerpieces were beautifully arranged by Fay and her staff while we went into the restaurant for cocktail hour. We got so many compliments on the food and beautiful atrium. It literally couldn't have been any better!! Thank you Pazzo's!!
(5)Jamie S.
We had our ceremony and reception last night and I would not change a single thing. The decor, food, and service were top notch. Fay Sweeney is an angel -- she was so helpful and went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. It was a perfect day!
(5)Julie A.
I had my wedding here on may 22,2015 and i couldnt be more pleased with the amazing service, beautiful venue and fantastic food. not to mention Fay, the event coordinator is absolutely delightful. she made my dream come true. she and this restaurant deserve 7 stars!
(5)Jeannie A.
I never knew this place was there - I've worked across the street for a few years. It is located downstairs, and the area is beautiful. You can sit inside the restaurant or in the indoor the patio section. We opted for the indoor patio area. I came for a sit down lunch with a few coworkers. We all ordered different sandwiches. All were good and came with a pasta salad side. I had an open face chicken parm sandwich - and the chicken was very tender. The portabella mushroom sandwich looked amazing! Service was good. We were seated and served and out of there in about an hour. A friend said it is a good place to stop for a martini after work. I didn't go into the restaurant area, so wasn't able to scope out the bar seating situation, but I'm sure I'll be back for that!
(4)Ellie G.
I cannot say enough great things about Pazzo's! My new husband and I had our ceremony and reception there is June and the day could not have been more perfect. Fay Swenney is absolutely amazing, and doubles as an awesome wedding coordinator. She made sure everything was just perfect the day of, and made the whole planning process so much easier. I would highly recommend Pazzo's to anyone looking to get married in the city, but not wanting to pay the city price tag!
(5)Shruta S.
So this is a hidden gem for folks that work in the loop. Want to go to an exotic lunch place that's also super close? Search no more - Try Pazzo's! (Geez I almost sound like I'm in a commercial but no worries this place was indeed that good). Let me return to my reference of this place as a hidden gen - it truly is obscure and you wouldn't find it unless you're searching for it. But once inside - lo and behold - you almost feel like you've stepped into some place in Europe ;) What with the courtyard seating and center stone marble statue and fountain. Really cool place to have a nice lunch with your colleagues (or friends). And the food wasn't bad either - portion sizes were huge and the service was nice. Do try this out!
(4)Kirsten H.
Fay at Pazzo's is a great party planner/organizer. Being a bride, I was nervous about everything working out, but Fay could probably help with hosting an amazing wedding in her sleep! She was very knowledgeable and helped us through the whole process. Pazzo's was great to work with and provided wonderful food, based on the compliments from our guests both on the quality (that food was delicious!) and quantity (I've never left a wedding so full!) and was reasonably priced. She really helped to coordinate all of the various vendors and made sure everything was in order leading up to the wedding. I would highly recommend Fay and her team at Pazzo's for any special event needs.
(5)Angel S.
We had our wedding reception at Pazzo's on 05/23/15. For starters, this venue is beyond gorgeous. It has an ambiance to it that I have never noticed anywhere else. Planning our reception with Fay was simple. She has worked with so many couples and knows what works and doesn't work for this venue. After meeting this wonderfully sweet planner, we were stress-free. Throughout the planning process and the wedding night itself, she was there to make sure everything was perfect (and it truly was!) We served Mediterranean Chicken/Petite Fillet as our entree and Eggplant Parmesan as our vegetarian option. In addition, we had the pasta starter and house salads. All of the food was delicious and I can't wait to go back for a dinner date soon. I knew I wouldn't have much time to eat and asked for a box for my dinner- they gave me one! We loved our midnight snack when we got back to the hotel! One thing I would recommend is to pay the extra fee to have the staff wait to clear the tables at the end of the reception. This was definitely worth it as we have heard people say they felt like they were getting pushed out at other events because they walked away from their tables and came back to no table. We also asked that they wait to serve food during speeches and it helped so we could hear everything. Honestly, this was the most perfect day! Not only is the venue amazing, but so is the staff. We wouldn't have changed a thing about the day. This venue is fairly priced for what you get and Fay is the best person to work with. Ask her advice and you will not regret it!
(5)Lucas W.
Apparently I'm one of the few that went to Pazzo's for something NOT a wedding. We had a business lunch there and got the small private room which was great, a little tight maybe but we all had a great time. The service was a bit slow but everyone was preoccupied anyway so I don't think we really minded. However our waitress did mention that they had Tiramisu for dessert only for her to come back and say they actually didn't have that, but mistakes happen. The food was good, most of the table either got Penne alla Vodka or the special, risotto with chicken. The risotto looked superb and the chicken smelled fantastic. The Penne alla vodka was good but not great. The downside was the same for every dish - every dish had waaaay too much garlic. It wasn't just too much garlic flavor, but you could see the chunks of garlic and they were far too prevalent. Overall though, good lunch and I would definitely go back (and ask them to take it easy on the garlic).
(4)Adam M.
We were interested in having our wedding here. We met with their wedding planner and found her abrasive and inflexible to even our most basic requests. When we asked if special accommodations could be made for a brother with special needs her response was "we'll seat him at the back" and that was the end of it. When we asked if we could run a bar on consumption she scoffed at us. Needless to say, we didn't bother sticking around to try any food.
(2)Janna Z.
We loved our wedding at Pazzo's. I think this 311 location does mostly weddings. We have tried to eat dinner there before and it closed early due to no guests. We went to the another Pazzo's and had a lovely meal. Summary of my recommendations for a wedding at Pazzo's. Fey: She's great. She'll do what you tell her and fill in the gaps for the things you don't care about (I dropped off the flowers and came back and they were organized beautifully. She pays a lot more attention to you as the date draws near. Acoustics: They're not great. We paid for an extra speaker which should have been okay, but there was a problem with the dj so nobody could hear the speeches. Just make sure your dj knows what he or she is doing and sets up in advance. Food: Amazing. Our tasting left us excited about everything and the food was good even on the day. They "strongly discouraged" more than one meat option, so we went with the petit filet/mediterranean chicken combo and the eggplant parm--both were amazing. I've heard, "Best wedding food I've ever had", several times. Drinks: Good enough. Open bar was included in the package and I've heard no complaints. Parking: We had a problem as the lot filled up (not handled by Pazzo's, but we had been told the lot had never filled up, and it did)... Fey was as mad as we were and helped us to got ALL of our money refunded... which we used to refund our guests for the parking they found across the street or in random lots. Piano: Not in tune, don't use. Venue: Totally beautiful. Husband: The best.
(5)Simon F.
Good place for an after work drink
(3)Brat F.
Great atmosphere, great food! Stopped in while downtown for the day and was very pleased we found this place.
(4)Dee W.
We held our wedding reception in the 311 atrium and Pazzo's restaurant, and WOW! I will mirror others sentiments on here and reiterate how amazing Fay Sweeney and her staff really are. Fay took care of every single detail to ensure that the room looked exactly as we had envisioned it. It was like having a personal wedding coordinator, which I actually did NOT have. Fay allowed us to make deliveries to Pazzo's a day in advance and stored the items for us, and then her staff set up before AND took down and boxed up after just about EVERYTHING for us - outside linens, menu cards, escort cards, decorative candles, bathroom accessories! They had everything boxed and ready for us to pick up on Sunday. We had them going all over the place, and they did not disappoint. Dinner was fantastic, albeit ran a little long (although, we had 275 guests and 5 courses including an antipasto...so I'm sure this was our fault). But to perfectly cook 275 filet mignons? Amazing! The venue is simply beautiful. My mom actually discovered the location...and after living in the city for almost ten years and knowing nothing about this building, I was shocked and elated at what I saw when we entered the atrium. It is certainly a hidden gem in Chicago for a reception venue. My husband and I were adamant about getting married in the city, and Pazzo's price, location, and ambiance fit the bill perfectly. Couldn't be happier.
(5)Eric L.
This is a good place for a good meal. Not really a "quick lunch" kind of place but good for business lunch. Food was well prepared, service was good.
(3)Cheryl O.
My husband and I had my wedding at Pazzo's on May 25, 2013. There are not enough words to write about how wonderful the experience was, from the food to the space to the greatest wedding coordinator on the planet, Fay Sweeney. Here are some of our highlights: Venue - absolutely beautiful. We had both our ceremony and reception in the atrium, with tall palm trees and 80 foot glass ceilings. There is a beautiful fountain in the front as well that served as the backdrop for our ceremony. We had our cocktail hour upstairs in a room that faced the Sears Tower with large, tall glass windows. Food - We had mini pizza's, stuffed mushrooms, chicken skewers, and bruschetta. For dinner we went with the risotto, Caesar salad, steak & chicken dinner, with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Everything was delicious, and we received many compliments on the food (which you don't hear about too much at weddings). We couldn't have been happier with the food service, as well. Quick and organized! Space - One of our favorite things about Pazzo's was how flexible they were with the space. We were able to put a second bar in the atrium part for the reception for those folks who did not want to dance/get a drink at the bar on the dance floor. The main dance floor was in more of the "restaurant" part of the wedding, and was made of hardwood which was perfect for dancing. We had a band as well, which fit great in the space allotted, and the sound traveled well. And the #1 reason we had such a successful wedding at Pazzo's: Fay Sweeney. She is the greatest wedding coordinator on the planet. Every single one of our questions was answered in a timely manner, we had a lot of questions! (we are big planners and thought of every detail). She was always readily available, very friendly and accommodating the entire planning process (October 2011 through May 2013). She went above and beyond our expectations of a wedding coordinator, and by the end, saw her as more of a family friend. We are so absolutely thrilled with everything about Pazzo's for our wedding day.I have already recommended this venue to a newly engaged couple and I will certainly continue to talk highly about Pazzo's at 311. Thank you, Fay!
(5)Travis B.
We had our wedding at Pazzo's and it was fantastic! Fay did such a great job helping us coordinate everything. She was so flexible and helped us get exactly what we wanted while helping us through some of things she had more experience in. Enough cant be said about how great the team there is. The venue was beautiful and everything went perfectly on our wedding day. The venue has a great layout, and all of our guests had such a great time. The food was fantastic and served timely. Fay and her team did a great job of working with all of our vendors to make sure everything was set up and in order and running smoothly. After the event she had all of the things boxed up so we could take care of things. Overall I'd highly recommend Fay and Pazzo's for a wedding!
(5)Shivani S.
This location has atrium seating as well as indoor seating available. We sat in the atrium as it felt like the streets of Rome, with a water sculpture there. As a vegetarian, I preferred creating my own pasta. I asked for rigatoni but got ziti instead. Also, I wanted mine spicy so I asked for cherry peppers in my marinara sauce. Overall, it was OK but overpriced for something I can make at home and to my own taste.
(3)Erin J.
We got married at Pazzo's in December of 2013. Our wedding was awesome and it was because Fay is amazing. Everything was so seamless and effortless, there was nothing for me to worry about. We looked any many venues downtown, but this was the prettiest and the most affordable. Everyone loved the food, they said it was the best wedding food they had ever had. Plus the atrium is just really lovely. We had our ceremony and reception there. I would recommend it to everyone, there was not one thing that wasn't perfect, as far as Fay and Pazzo's was concerned. They are very popular, so unless you want to get married in the winter, you need to book them WAAAY in advance.
(5)Carly T.
I came here for a work lunch. It was: Beautiful. Great menu. BUT... Service was pretty awful. She had a pleasant attitude but was SO forgetful and out of sorts. She repeatedly messed things up and we had to ask her 4 times for someone to get some dressing for a salad that was not dressed and had no dressing on the side. She messed up our drink orders twice, once by forgetting something, and once later by only bringing 4 coffees when 5 of us ordered it. Food was also unimpressive. My salad looked beautiful but totally underwhelmed my taste buds. My coworker got a steak salad and the steak was awfully dried out. On the surface, it's great. Nice location. Nice vibe. Varied menu, with the option to build your own pasta. But when it gets down to the brass tacks of running a good restaurant, they miss the mark.
(2)Justine L.
This was my first time to the original Pazzo's 311, not the new location on Jackson. I had the salmon salad, which was pretty good. The salad was fresh and filling. Unfortunately, the salmon was not a fresh filet, but rather some sort of preserved salmon. It tasted fine but was a little surprising. I like Pazzo's but would not come here unless someone else suggested it. Good, but not great.
(3)Laurice M.
Having my wedding in Pazzo's was a dream come true! It was magical and just beautiful! All my guests were awed and most of them commented that it was the best wedding they ever attended. It has everything I could ever hope for---unique, city-esque, an outdoor feel, elegant but not too stuffy. I am also thankful for Faye and Carmen. They were very helpful in planning our wedding and so accommodating to what we needed & wanted. I was so happy they said yes to having a 1/2 chicken and 1/2 prime rib duo instead of what they initially offered in their packages. My friends and family loved the open bar! The food's really good! The bacon and scallops are divine! So is the prime rib! My only regret is I didn't get to enjoy my wedding food as much as my guests. We were so busy mingling with everybody and being the center of attention. It would be awesome if I could be a guest in someone else's wedding lol! I highly recommend this place!!!
(5)Kristin K.
This place tasted kinda gross at worst and mediocre at best. These were my first thoughts. Then, I found a maggot in my food. Literally. See the picture I uploaded for reference. I still feel like throwing up when I think of it. I couldn't say anything because we had a client out on a work lunch at the time, but I have to do something about it so I'm posting here to warn others! I will NEVER be back.
(1)Kristina R.
My husband and I got married at Pazzo's in November. Overall, it was perfect. Pre-wedding: Fay was very easy to work with. She is very kind and always responds very quickly to all emails. They let us drop everything off before the wedding. We brought a bunch of stuff after the rehearsal when there was no one there, except a guard. They had us place everything in a specific spot so it was on camera the whole night. Everything was there in the morning. It was nice to know that the building guard was watching it. Wedding: Acoustics- Apparently I missed the memo that the DJ needs to come early to set up before the ceremony so everyone could hear what the Reverend was saying. Whoops. That was my fault. Also, make sure the dj understands the venue. The mic cut out during the speeches, so no one could hear. I think that was the biggest downfall of the wedding. :( Food-The tasting was great. The one bite I took at the wedding was great. When we were walking around saying our thank yous, I noticed that everyones plates were empty. We had our cocktail hour upstairs while they transformed the wedding from the ceremony to the reception. The cocktail hour was great. (I recommend having it upstairs) Fay and her team are really pros at flipping this room. I was amazed. It turned out so beautiful. It's so stressful planning a wedding and you have this idea of how your day will turn out and what everything will look like. It took my breath away when I walked into the reception. I am so thankful. Fay was there whenever I needed anything. She is truly a master at what she does. All of our guests kept asking how we found this hidden gem. Overall, if you're thinking about having your wedding here, do it. Don't think twice, just book it.
(5)Kyle H.
If I'm here it's usually because I'm on a business lunch. And I think it's mostly the same for most of Pazzo's lunch patrons. There's a nice mix of seating, inside with nice wood wall touches, or in the atrium, among the palm trees. Service here is always attentive and the food is good, but I'm never super-wowed by Pazzo's. For a lighter "Power Lunch" the Apple and Walnut Salad with spinach, gorgonzola cheese, cranberries and granny smith apples will having you closing the deal without missing a step. I often make the mistake of having pasta here, and end up falling asleep later in my bored (sic) meetings in the afternoon. Still, the lasagna is tasty, and it's worth a little desk snoozin'. The chicken Vesuvio is very good, and seems like a healthier option on the heavy side, with veggies and red potatoes.
(3)Shayna S.
We had our wedding at Pazzo's in March. I have so many great things about it, I had to share. I am going to give you the highlights: To start, the building is beautiful. The atrium in front of the restaurant is one of the most beautiful rooms in the city. There are 80 foot glass ceilings with tall, beautiful palm trees. The food at the restaurant was delicious. We had a hard time choosing what we wanted because everything was so good. (We tried everything at the tasting.) We ended up with a petite filet and salmon. There was so much food and it was all good. But the best part of Pazzo's is Fay Sweeney. Fay runs the show. She is with you every step of the way when planning the wedding. She has great ideas and gives great advice. She is trustworthy, dependable and truly was the wedding planner. Everything that we wanted, she made happen. Fay did not drop the ball on anything. All in all, if you are looking for a modern wedding that is not in your typical hotel, then check out Pazzo's. The space is stunning, the food is delicious and the service is on the mark!
(5)Donny J.
This is my second living room end of discussion, I love this place My friends and co-workers frequent here so much you'd swear we live here. Short of being extremely convenient for me as my house is across the road and I work in the building hanging out here is part of my weekly routine. Lunch is the premier time to come and enjoy their wide variety Italian dishes, simply good food. Additionally they have a fast food spot that caters for on the run burgers, salads and sandwiches you can enjoy your burger inside the atrium where a huge fountain and palm trees is sure to blow your mind away. In summer step outside on the grass and enjoy the view and if your'e lucky there may even be a band playing live music. The bar crowd hangs out from around 4:30 on wards and somedays it gets packed. Only gripe is their kitchen closes at 6:30p.m. since there is very little traffic for dinner so no late night eatery here else they would have gotten a 5 star review :( stop by by maybe one day you'll run into me and my friends......
(4)Steven H.
This place is great, especially their lunch station which gets you in and out fast. Has one of the best buffalo chicken wraps I've ever had. The pasta and salad options are excellent as well. Great staff, great service, great scenery, and great prices. Will continue to visit Pazzo's @ 311 for a long time to come.
(5)Deborah Z.
The venue is beautiful, whether by day or by night. Our photos of wedding party and guests look awesome; ceremony, dinner or dance, every background is attractive. Showing photos later to friends back home, all comment is that it's so classy. The only criticism was sound; the piano should have been tuned, and the acoustics made listening to speakers a little challenging. But overall the music was lovely and our speakers were understood just fine. The food is attractive and beyond-belief delicious. Portion size is generous. One guest said that the steak is in running for the best he's ever had. How do they do it? You don't need to know - just sit back and enjoy. Fay is pleasant, responsive, and helpful. She runs a great crew of workers who serve efficiently and change quickly from ceremony seating to dinner seating. We had a surprise addition of six guests but Fay set another table and we were able to welcome those walk-ins to eat. What a big relief that what could have been awkward became, because of Fay's calm demeanor and accommodating attitude, a happy development. I'm really happy that our wedding was at Pazzo's!
(5)Lizz M.
I've only eaten here twice, but decided to give them a review after the amazing customer service I recieved today. I've eaten here for work lunches, both of the times I ordered the farfale which is AMAZING. I hate having my food drowned in sauce, and I'll be honest, I prefer very little sauce on things, so when I asked for light sauce and got back the perfect amount, I was sold. So fast forward about three months to where I needed a receipt from my last meal here. I called up Pazzo's and spoke with Carmen who was super helpful. She offered to fax it over to me, but I went ahead and picked it up. When I got there I noticed the receipt didn't have any info indicating it was my account, I asked the hostess know and she tried to ask Carmen to print out a copy with my account information. They're not allowed to keep that info, but apologized multiple times to me. Not their problem at all, but they felt very badly about it. Thank you, Pazzo's for really caring about your customers!
(5)Hina Q.
This restaurant is located in the basement of a building - and mostly for business lunches, at least during lunch hour. They have a nice sitting area outside the restaurant - mimicking a patio, with fake palm trees and a water fountain - nice ambiance. They also have an 'inside' sitting area. I got there around 1140am for a business lunch and it was fairly empty - by the time we left nearly an hour later it got packed. Menu - a good menu size, with options for soups, salads, pastas and entrees. I felt there were not many vegetarian or seafood options though.. Food - I ordered the tilapia - it was breaded and grilled tilapia with sundried tomatoes on a bed of spinach with mash potatoes and a light butter cream drizzled over the entrée. I really enjoyed my meal! The meal was fairly inexpensive for the taste and flavor. Service - efficient and friendly, gave refills on soda drinks I would def consider going back to Pazzo's, I just wish it wasn't located in the basement. But if you want an upscale gourmet tasting meal reasonably priced- this is your place!
(4)Lindsey M.
We decided on Pazzo's our wedding venue after attending a wedding there the year before. We knew right away that it was the perfect venue for us! After speaking with Fay Sweeney, their wedding coordinator, we knew we were in good hands. Fay was on top of everything and was so helpful through the entire process. She was great with answering the 1,000 questions I had and also helping me with ideas for what might look best in the space. The venue itself is such a great bargain, as it is one of the only venues in Chicago where you do not have to pay a HUGE venue fee, as long as your meet their very reasonable F&B minimum. Fay planned a great tasting for us and was also great during the final walk-through. When I arrived at the venue, I was totally blown away by the space, everything was done almost exactly as I would have done it myself and was so happy with how everything looked. Fay and her team did everything and assembled all of my items. You don't even need a wedding coordinator with Fay by your side. The only thing I would recommend for future brides is to have your cake table out by the entrance to Pazzo's instead of by your head table/sweetheart table, as not everyone will see it. You really cannot go wrong with this venue, so save your money with some of the other swanky venues in the city, they don't compare!
(5)Joanne L.
I had my wedding at Pazzo's in September of 2009. There were some minor issues, but overall I am pretty satisfied. Firstly, I can't speak any more highly of Faye Sweeney. She was an absolute delight to work with. I forget how many years she's been working there... at least 6... but in all those years, she has never missed a wedding. She was there to help us organize in every step of the way. For a downtown location, our price per person was comparable, if not less than, venues we scouted in the Rosemont area. The venue itself is beautiful. I would find it hard to imagine having more than 150 people there without people feeling too crowded or too far away from the head table. What I LOVE about this place is that your event is the ONLY event booked for the evening. You don't have to share it with any other brides. Also, there is a parking lot adjacent to the building. Keep in mind that this is a prepay lot that is independently owned. If you want to foot the bill for your guests, it's $10 a car. The food was absolutely fantastic! From the starters all the way to the entrees. I didn't drink much, but from what I heard, open bar included a lot of top shelf drinks. Some things that were less than perfect... though the venue is breathtaking, the acoustics proved difficult for speeches. There was a technical issue with trying to turn the fountain off during the first two speeches. It took about 20 minutes to shut it off and even then, it was still difficult to hear. The dancefloor itself seems isolated from the scenery... if you look through the pictures, the bar/dancefloor is just under the "Pazzo's" sign. Overall, I am a happy camper. The value for what you get is outstanding.
(4)Christine S.
We had my daughters wedding at Pazzo's last weekend. I can't say enough about this venue and the event coordinator Faye! First of all Pazzo's is a beautiful space for a wedding, we had about 140 guests and it was just perfect for us. We had many compliments on how beautiful the space was, the food and service of the staff. Faye went above and beyond in helping to make sure everything was perfect! It's also a very affordable option for a downtown wedding. I highly recommend checking out Pazzo's for a wedding reception.
(5)Tim H.
I wish there was a half star. I would say food is 4 stars, but service is only 3 stars to give the place an overall rating of 3.5 stars. Great place for a business lunch. Service is usually mediocre though due to the lunch rush. The fish dishes are always good. My favorite is the spaghetti and meatballs.
(4)John G.
Although I've eaten here for lunch multiple times and enjoyed it, the reason I'm reviewing this place is because of the wedding we had there on 7/6/13 and the amazing experience it was. If you're looking for a downtown location, this is by far your best bet. Fay and her staff are amazing and were helpful the whole way. Fay herself really puts her heart into the wedding and was there all night to make sure things went smoothly. We never had an issued with where our presents were being left or where the cards were. She gave us access to the rooms when needed and did it all with a smile. She was really like a third mom to my wife and I and we can't thank her enough. Finally, the food and service were outstanding. We had a vegetarian wedding and, of 130 people, only one stubborn meat eater complained! It's no wonder this place is usually booked a year out for summer Saturday weddings. John
(5)Jeanette P.
My husband and I recently got married and chose Pazzo's for our wedding locale. We live in the burbs now, but were intent on having the wedding in the city. After spending a day looking at various venues I had found on a Chicago wedding site, we had one that we liked. Unfortunately, by the time we started looking (May 2012), everything between April - September 2013 was booked. The place we liked an opening, but only on a Friday night. Not ideal, especially when asking guests to come down to the city in rush hour. At the end of the day, there was one place we hadn't checked out yet and we decided to stop by. That was Pazzo's. The first thing my husband said when walking in the door was "this is the place". Plus, they had a Saturday opening in March. From there, it was smooth sailing. Fay Sweeney is AMAZING! She does this every weekend so its second nature to her. She answered all my one-off questions I had as we went all-in w/the planning. Most (if not all) my vendors had worked at Pazzo's and knew of Fay. That made things that much easier for us. The venue itself is unique. You're in an office building atrium, yet at no time did I feel like I was anywhere but a unique ballroom (okay, maybe when I had to walk down some escalator steps). The layout was perfect in that the bar and dance floor are in the middle of the reception area. We could put our photo booth in the lounge area and not interfere with the all important DANCING. The food was EXCELLENT! I sampled everything at the tasting because my husband is a picky eater, even though I knew we were going the steak route. Which was fine! We got so many compliments on how wonderful the food was that night. I wish I could've taken the credit! At the rehearsal I gave Fay a big box o' stuff for the ceremony and reception; when i saw everything the day of, it was all placed perfectly. Fay assured both my husband and me that the room where our gift box would be was in a secure room. THere were security cameras in place and Fay had a key to lock it up during the reception (we would just need to ask her to unlock for any reason). I felt so at -ease with Fay at the helm, that when I saw I had ripped the hem of my dress PRIOR to the wedding, I didn't freak out because I thought "Fay can help us". And by goodness - she did! She had a sewing kit, basted that puppy up and no one would notice. Highly, highly recommend!
(5)Kymberly J.
I was a little hesitant about this place because I discovered it wasn't really a dinner place but this was after I bought my Groupon and I don't work in the Loop so I could only use it for dinner. We made the last reservation of the day, 6:30, and they called the day of to ask if we could come early because there were no other reservations and the kitchen staff was staying on just for us. Oh no... resentful employees...Christmas shopping crunch time....it couldn't be a good experience right? Wrong. Our server was so friendly and bubbly and the food came out artfully prepared. It was like the first meal of the meal of the day;decorated plate lip with paprika formed into a giant star, piping hot and very delish. I ordered risotto and it came with a chicken breast which was delightfully surprising. if I ever work in the loop I will certainly return for lunch or to try the sandwiches at the express window which I hear are excellent!
(4)Jack K.
Great spot for Italian dishes. Try the risotto with four cheeses.
(4)Dianne S.
In 8 days, I'll be having my wedding reception at Pazzo's! AH!!! It's been a pleasure working with Fay Sweeney, catering manager. She's more than happy to answer any of my questions and to provide me with a list of recommeded vendors to make planning as easy as possible. I have always admired this space and I can't wait to have our reception in the beautiful open atrium with the four palm trees towering over us! Pazzo's prices are very reasonable for a wedding in the city, but they do have a $2500 fee for using the atrium on a Saturday. I've eaten here on multiple ocassions too. I absolutely love the tilapia that is served over buttery mashed potatoes and a bed of spinach. Wouldn't really recommend the gelato-was freezer burned! Parking is available directly out side the atrium in a lot or there's also ample street parking (get ready to pay 25 cents/5 minutes). Update to come after 04.18.09!!
(4)Tony S.
Stopping in with a group from work. Service was fantastic - quick, friendly, and accurate. Drink refills were lightning fast. (the way it should be) I had the lasagne with meat sauce. The noodles were a tad overdone and hard to cut through, but it did not detract from what was a really good meal all-around. The flavors were great and the amount of meat in the sauce was generous. Worth a repeat, and if I get the chance will probably try a different dish.
(3)Daphne L.
I wish there was a -4 star option, because Pazzo's would definitely be a well deserving recipient. I cannot, in any capacity, understand what anyone likes about this restaurant. I was just talking to a co-worker who said she had had the worst meal of her life..guess where? You got it: Pazzo's. My first experience with Pazzo's was in 2003 when a friend had her wedding reception there. As many people know a wedding, and the accompanying reception, is a big event in most people's lives, and, my friend was robbed..big time. The service was abysmal, there aren't enough words for "bad" to describe the service. And then there was the food..ugh. At least 3 dozen people that attended this reception got food poisoning. I had hoped that this would be the first, last, and only time I would have to eat there, but that was not to be the case. Last year I was forced, and I do mean forced, to eat there again for a work outing, despite having pleaded with my co-workers to dine ANYWHERE else. For reasons unclear to me, everyone in the group was dying to eat there, so off we went. Much to my dismay, the food was still horrendously bad, and the service was inexplicably slow. The servers aren't rude, just clueless. And slow. And confused. I am going on record saying that I will never in my life eat here again. Do yourself a favor and don't eat here. There are a multitude of other places in the Loop that are much better.
(1)Jeanne L.
Came here for a wedding reception a few weeks ago. It's a elegant venue with a HUGE fountain, palm trees, and high ceilings. Overall there is alot of room; you can probably seat 150 to 200 people in the reception. Friends of mine attended an even larger reception here where they had tables on the second floor hallways, so it seems Pazzo's is always willing to accommodate to your size. Service was ok, food was pretty good, except that all of our filets were way overcooked. I guess that's how mass-produced steak always turns out though. Overall a very elegant and pretty choice for a wedding reception, pricey though, but food portions are huge and the venue is very nice.
(4)Katy O.
I had my wedding reception here on 12/18 and had a great experience. We came in to try the food twice before the wedding (once for lunch, once for our wedding tasting) and thought the food was amazing. If you come for lunch you have to try the caesar salad, it is wonderful. The food at our wedding was pretty good. The appetizers were tasty and served warm (important in the middle of December!) and the chicken vesuvio was good. Realistically, the chicken was not GREAT, but when you're pumping out 150 dinners at the same time, I'm totally fine with good. The portions were so generous- nobody was hungry at the end of dinner! The food on the regular lunch menu is stellar- if I still worked in the loop I'd be here often. Fay is the wedding coordinator at Pazzo's and she is wonderful. I had a good feeling about her from the start. She has been doing weddings for a long time (I want to say 15+ years) and she knows her stuff and is very organized. She never pushed us to upgrade anything and helped us figure out the best way to pull together all the choices we made. She was always quick to get back to me with any questions. Fay was at our wedding until the very end and had people pack up our vases and all sorts of other stuff that we had brought in for the night so that it was easy to clear out. The restaurant itself makes a very impressive backdrop for a wedding reception. Everyone raved about it. The dance floor is the perfect size and I loved that the bar is basically on the dance floor- I didn't leave the dance floor after my 1st dance! The ladie's bathroom is very nice and clean, which is important to a bride on her wedding day. My only suggestion would be to coordinate better with the lunch staff who work Fridays. I was given a hard time when I came on Friday to drop off several things for the wedding the next day (doorman wouldn't let me double park out front, nobody in the restaurnt wanted to help me bring stuff down from my car). Overall, I'd recommend Pazzo's to anyone- for lunch or as a wedding reception location.
(5)Dan P.
Work in the Loop, and this is a close restaurant that has good, quick service, and the food is definitely above average. A little on the expensive side, but good location and relatively quiet; it's worth it once in awhile.
(4)Lauren H.
I was taken here to lunch by a vendor today and while I was happy to see so many seafood options on the menu, the reality wasn't as good. I had the seafood mixed grill and the tuna was overcooked (the salmon a bit too). The mixed veggies were heavy on peppers which I thought was a weird combo (and I hate green peppers). The lemon caper sauce and the spinach were good though. Two of my compatriots had the seafood cakes and they said the crab in it tasted cheap. They did like the mashed potatoes however. Service was okay, though we were amused the waitress' questions were rhetorical...she would ask how is everything as she kept walking right by us, never really waiting for an answer...And the initial waiter called me "honey". Uh, not too cool, sweetie. Would not come here on my own dime.
(3)Samuel C.
Better than the other Pazzo's, but same ownership and cruddy service. Skip both of the Pazzo's, if you want a good meal. Even if you work in the building and it's winter and snowing....go out.
(2)Kelly B.
I found Pazzo's (like a lot of my wedding vendors) on Yelp. Even though I have lived in Chicago for 15+ years, I had not heard of it. Well, thank God for this hidden gem! I got married at Pazzo's on September 17, 2010 and it was a fabulous, epic experience! The space is gorgeous and unique. We worked with Fay Sweeney and Carmen. Both women were excellent to work with and Fay (our main contact) was so amazing...professional, accommodating, responsive, and calm! She clearly had a handle on how to "do" a wedding and made it all seem effortless. I had read a lot of reviews on Yelp and elsewhere and my only worry was a previous bride mentioning that some of her gifts went missing. Fay mentioned (without my asking) that they now have cameras in the gift room and they keep it locked, so problem solved. I can honestly say that everything went great! Fay walked us through the rehearsal (our officiant was not there) the night before and was there every step of the way for us on the wedding day as well. She really seems to enjoy her job and she does it flawlessly. From beginning to end, all the details were totally taken care of . We were able to stop by several times before our wedding and see room set-ups and once we stopped by (no, we didn't crash, just watched from the upper level) a wedding in progress just to see how it looked. The guests at that wedding were raving about it so we felt pretty good about our choice. The food was great...all the appetizers and the dinner (filet and chicken Vesuvio) were spectacular. No fewer than 20 people have told me it was the best wedding food they have ever had. Everything went off without a hitch. We were a little curious about how the acoustics would be (we had violinists at our ceremony and a DJ for the reception) but it all seemed fine. Maybe a little echo-ey but since I never left the dance floor it was great for me! As for the speeches, I agree it was a little hard to hear but really not that bad. I also would echo previous reviews in that the prices at Pazzo's were very reasonable, especially for the downtown area. We felt so lucky to find a place that didn't break the bank (such as it is) yet was so incredible. Now, I may be biased, but I felt like my wedding was one of the best ones I've ever attended and I'm so glad it was mine! Thank you so much Fay, Carmen, and Pazzo's for a wonderful day! PS You are the only event booked there so no other brides are around to steal your thunder! :)
(5)Dusty K.
Having stared at this building from my balcony for the last 4 years, I'm happy to have finally ventured inside. It is a rather pretty building both inside and out. Palm trees, waterfalls and loads of marble looking material make this place shine like a new penny. And at the bottom sits a pretty looking restaurant; Pazzo's. Safe to say the best thing about Pazzo's may be the atrium. I can see why pictures are posted by Yelpers for wedding receptions. There's only one problem, I was here for lunch. A nice view can only do so much for a hungry stomach. If food isn't #1, why head back? There's nothing really wrong with the food here. It just isn't great. And for the price of the food combined with waiter service it's just not worth a visit. I ordered the grilled steak sandwich. It was presented nicely on the plate with the steak and arugula situated between two halves of a ciabatta loaf and a heaping portion of pasta salad on the side. I knew I would not be clearing my plate. The portion was huge. I took one bite of the sandwich and couldn't bite through - the steak was too tough. I felt like a lion trying to rip through a zebra on the discovery channel. After a few tries, I was forced to eat my sandwich with a fork and knife. This was disappointing and downright weird. The pasta salad on the side was the best thing about lunch. Filled with red peppers, onions and other fresh ingredients, I would have loved that served in a bruschetta style as an appetizer with thin slices of garlic bread. For dessert we tried the chocolate mousse cake. It was fine but boring. Mousse in general doesn't have the big chocolate flavor I enjoy so I'm glad it was split between the two of us. Flavor-wise, there are better lunch options in the loop that are half the price. Pazzo's fits the bill for coworkers looking for a sit down option to kill 60 minutes over lunch.
(3)Jennifer P.
This is strictly on the wedding side of things (though I've enjoyed many a lunch at Pazzo's)... I had my May 2012 wedding at Pazzo's and couldn't have been happier. From the moment my fiance and I met Fay, we knew that our wedding would go off without a hitch. And it did! Some highlights: the prices are very reasonable for a downtown Chicago venue, the food is pretty darn good (considering they are feeding 200 people), the atrium is a unique and impressive space which you have all to yourself, and the staff was flexible, friendly, and prompt. Pazzo's was a great choice for our wedding. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a venue downtown that isn't a hotel ballroom.
(5)Jen R.
This is an amazing wedding location. My husband is from California and I am a Chicagoan. This combined the best of both locations - palm trees and the Chicago skyline! We had our wedding reception on November 3, 2012. You book the venue and you get a great wedding planner for free! Fay and her team take care of everything! She gives great suggestions about food choices and her calming manner makes the planning go so smoothly. She has a list of vendors who have worked in the space before. There are several packages you can choose from and the prices are reasonable for a Saturday night wedding downtown. Guests commented that it was the best wedding food they have ever had (hint go with the filet and salmon combo). There is a surface lot next to the building and you can prepay for your guests to park ($10). The only down side is the construction going on around Pazzo's but that is an issue with the City and not the restaurant. Thank you so much Fay! We had an amazing time!
(4)Tara H.
If I could give Pazzo's a 3.5 star I would. We had our wedding here 10/13/12 and it is a BEAUTIFUL venue. We received so many compliments! Also, the day of food was amazing. Everyone raved about it. Also, the day of Fay was wonderful. I had a TON of work/an out of state work conference the week before my wedding and a lot of the last minute details were left to my husband...who isn't really detailed oriented (aka the seating chart) Fay and her team added more tables last minute when we realized that the seating chart was a bit wacky. All the last minute details were added with ease! I knocked down stars for the pre/post wedding day situations. At our tasting the food was HORRIBLE! At that point it was too late to back out but it really left my grandma/mother in law/husband/myself worried about what we were going to get on the day of. I also had some major family situations happen and whole groups of people were not able to attend my wedding bringing my guest list down. Also, I had a group of family in AA and I felt like I was constantly being pressured to extend the open bar. I had to mention multiple times that I did not feel comfortable with that at all. Before the wedding, I felt like our wedding was not important because we didn't have the 150+ guest list. I know they were completely booked up most Fri/Sat/Suns for the whole season, but it didn't seem like I had any help 4-5 months out when I knew I would have more time to get everything together than the 2 months before the wedding. It would take a while for emails to be returned and some times it wasn't Fay who responded, but another lady (maybe the manager?) who wasn't very helpful or nice and started leaving a bad taste in my mouth for the venue. Also, post wedding one of my bridesmaids lost her slip and my efficient left his ceremony book at the venue. I have called twice and sent an email asking if those items are in fact there and if so if we could pick them up and have yet to hear any response. I also had some cards missing, however, I am not sure if they were stolen or lost and still there since I am not getting any response from the venue itself. Which is a shame because my photographer took some AMAZING shots of the venue that they could use when pitching it to future brides. Over all the DAY OF was wonderful! Day of food was good! Service was good the day of! I do have to shout to the wonderful bartender/the lady who served my husband and myself dinner. She was a real pleasure and made me feel so special. I am really sad that in the craziness of the day I did not catch her name!! The venue is beautiful and definitely NOT a standard reception hall. I also thought their prices were a good value compared to every where else. I was just disappointed with pre/post wedding communication.
(4)Jacob Y.
Pazzo's is located at 311 South Wacker (the office building just south of the Willis (aka Sears) Tower in the lower section of the lobby opposite the water fountain. And because I work in that building, I have been there a few times for lunch and happy hour due to its convenient location. The ambiance is excellent, mainly due to the decor of the building's lobby, complete with palm trees (yes, palm trees inside a skyscraper in Chicago!). And coupled with that water fountain, I personally feel this is one of the best looking lobbies Downtown Chicago. As far as the food...Pazzo's serves a contemporary Italian menu that's a bit upscale. I have had the mahi mahi, and it was ok. Yup, I can honestly say I have had better. I must say that the risotto that came with it definitely made up for the fish. On the other hand, the hummus sampler we had as appetizer was also excellent. And for happy hour...the bartenders at Pazzo's are quite friendly and attentive. And if you are into martini, they do shake an excellent martini. But as is with any martini...I limit myself at 2 just in case :)
(3)Nikki K.
I had my wedding at Pazzo's on March 28th. The planning was easy; Fay was really on top of things, and the day went smoothly. In fact, I can't think of anything that went wrong. Everyone who came to our wedding was impressed with it; and I am positive they had no idea that Pazzo's is one of the most affordable venues in the city and suburbs. Everything really was beautiful and the day was so much fun. If I were to base my review on just the wedding, tasting, and times I have dined at Pazzo's, I would definitely give them 5 stars. The only thing that is preventing me from giving Pazzo's a 5 star review is that at least 4 of our wedding cards were stolen. I have looked high and low and asked everyone who handled any aspect of moving our stuff out of Pazzo's and the cards are simply gone. I cannot imagine that my own wedding guests would steal gifts from one another, and I don't want to believe that a member of Pazzo's staff would steal from a wedding, yet I have no other explanation. I just have no idea where the cards could have gone, it's been odd asking wedding guests to stop payment on their gifts though. I let Pazzo's know about what has happened and they have been as responsive as they can. I know it has been discussed with all of the staff, and the owner informed me that they will be installing a camera in the room where gifts are placed during weddings. They have also offered to make it up to my husband and I as much as they can with gift certificates, which has been appreciated. All I can say is, if you have your wedding here, ensure your cards are truly under lock and key; ours were in a box that could not be opened easily, but it was not enough to prevent someone from opening it at some point to take the cards. At the end of the day, if I had the chance to do everything over again, I would still use Pazzo's. While I could have done without the theft, Pazzo's did not charge us any hidden fees, which at other venues could easily have amounted to more than we lost. The only thing I would have done differently would be to have really locked the card box. The more I spoke to Pazzo's staff about what happened, the more sure I am that it wasn't an employee there that took the cards. It truly is a mystery where they have gone, but regardless, I encourage every bride/groom to really secure their gifts. Despite the issue with my missing cards, I really recommend Pazzo's as a wedding venue. It's only been a couple weeks, but we have received tons of compliments about how great the wedding was, which has been nice to hear.
(4)Tim Y.
Service was fair, but not stellar. Waiter seemed rushed, talked too fast, and messed up several specials. Followup was courteous and appreciated. Food came to us fast, and it showed. My salmon was not flavorful at all, and if I had to guess at why I'd suggest it'd fallen victim to freezer burn. Pazzo's pasta salad was alright, a bit heavy on the seasonings to the point where you're not sure if you're eating a fork of pasta with seasoning or seasoning with pasta. Fellow diners enjoyed their salads, which looked tasty. Several finished their meals -- I did not. It's rare for me to not join the clean plate club, but I couldn't bring myself to waste any more calories on what amounted to crappy food. I won't be back.
(2)Helen K.
My food tasted great and the food of everyone I was with also looked great. A little pricey for a lunch place but I do think the quality of the food is worth it. Will most likely try their alacarte sometime.
(4)Mary c.
This is in response to Kristen's review. I have gone to Pazzo's many times and the service is great. The staff is very professional and helpful. I know you state that you didn't want to creat a scene because you were on a business lunch. But yet you were able to take a picture of the food?? Didn't your client wonder why you were taking a picture of your food? In my opinion it's not a big deal to have a legitimate complaint. I would have been curious to hear what the management would say if you gave them the chance to respond.
(4)Johnny B.
Never eaten here, but as a happy hour location it is fun, and insanely simple if you already work in 311. The best part of Pazzo's is they have the tastiest bar snack mix, and they aren't stingy with refilling your basket.
(3)Dima M.
This place is a good place for a business lunch in downtown, but I'm not sure I'd go there to just eat there otherwise. I went there recently, and I ordered a salad that came with tuna on it. Usually places will cook tuna, slice it, and place it nicely on top of the salad, especially if it's at a nice place like this. Here, the tuna salad was thrown on top of the salad. Also, the fish didn't taste very fresh, as I have eaten many a tuna, and I know fresh from, I don't know, thawed frozen tuna. I've had other things here, and they were good, for the most part. But, this is a great place for a Friday evening happy hour, drinks, and appetizers. I'd say definitely avoid the lunch rush, and the tuna.
(2)Leang E.
This was an excellent choice that our vendor took us out to for lunch. I love that the indoors feels like your outdoors because of the windows in the building. The service is great. I had a huge salad and the lobster ravioli. The house salad they have there has this really soft white cheese and the dressing is delish! I loved how the sun-dried tomatoes accentuated the lobster ravioli dish. I also tried the mango sherbert and the mixed berries cake. I showed no shame in my business etiquette lunch eating like a pig! I can't believe I ate all that food! It's too bad I don't work downtown, because I'd come here and try more dishes!
(4)Tracey M.
It's been a few months since I've been to Pazzo's, but for awhile I went to this Pazzo's location quiet frequently. My love for this restaurant took a slow, but definite decline over the first year I was working in the city. In my humble option the food, and service, went from great to mediocre. My first disappointment was when they stopped serving the sweet potato chips however it didn't kill my love of the place completely. After having the chicken parmigiana sandwich several times I mixed thing up a bit and got one of their salads which I found outstanding and had renewed my hope in the place. However, when I went back a few months later and ordered the same thing again it wasn't as stellar. As for the actual service it's not bad, just not as good as it had been when I first started going there. Sadly, I have to say my biggest problem involved making reservations. On several occasions they lost our reservation. Thankfully, we always planned to get there before the "first shift" descended upon the place so even if our reservation was lost we had no problem getting a table. All in all, I wouldn't totally disqualify Pazzo's, but I there are many other places I'd go first.
(3)Alison M.
4 stars or 5 stars... 4 stars or 5... Why can't we have half stars?!? Every time I've been here the food has been really good. The salads are gigantic-- last time I was there I had a nicoise salad, which had been recommended by our waiter. It was great! It had a full tuna steak and really flavorful dressing-- I ate everything on the plate, and I don't even like salad! This is a great lunch place since they have several lighter entrees, numerous vegetarian options, and the price of some of the sandwiches and pastas isn't over $10. For dinner, there are certainly other restaurants I'd go to before Pazzo's, but for lunch it's pretty much a 5 star place.
(4)Kristie S.
We had our wedding reception here in December of 2009, and we could not have been more pleased. It is such a unique, breath taking site, and we knew the moment that we walked in that we wanted our reception here. Faye and Carmen helped us with our day, and on the big day, Carmen was present and so attentive to our needs. Faye was excellent at getting back to me throughout the planning process. Carmen was even waiting on us at the head table and making sure we were happy and pleased. We were running late after photos, and she stayed calm and understanding. Also, we brought in our own centerpieces and a lot of decorations the day before, and they worked so hard to set up everything. I never had to worry! When I entered the room that day, I was AMAZED. (And I'm a perfectionist....) Everything looked GORGEOUS, and it was the wedding of our dreams. It was perfect around Christmas time with the decorations too. We have a fabulous photo of my husband spinning me in front of the Christmas tree that they had up. The food was phenomenal. We had the filet and chicken. And, our guests still talk about the dessert bar! Wonderful to work with! I strongly recommend a wedding here with these exceptional people.
(5)Mike I.
I recently attended a wedding here. I was pleasantly surprised. You didn't feel like you were celebrating in the foyer of an office building. Everything was decorated nicely and the huge atrium (where the seating was) is a nice change from the typical banquet hall setting that I'm used to. The food was good, not spectacular, but better than a lot of weddings I've been to. It also was nice to have a bar at a reception offer Sam Adams as one of their beer choices. Parking was dirt cheap for a downtown reception too: $10!
(4)Erin J.
Went here for lunch a few weeks ago and it was okay. The menu seemed to focus more on quantity (selection) than quality. It's really the same type of menu that one would see at Rivers or One North Kitchen; a steak salad, a couple whitefish dishes, some variation on mashed potatoes...nothing really stands out, but everything is edible. I got the apple-walnut salad, which was supposed to come with field greens and was instead served with wilted, yellowing pieces of romaine. Now, it was a BIG salad - lotsa chicken on top and a goodly amount of apples and pears and walnuts, which were supposed to have been candied but which were actually raw and unsalted - but it was completely...incohesive. It was like someone just piled in the ingredients and called it a salad - there was no continuity, no flow. Normally I don't notice if my salads have "flow," but that's exactly what became apparent. I should have guessed something was awry when I arrived and said that I was there for a reservation. They told me there was no reservation under my companion's name, so I just waited up front until my dining companion arrived. However, when he got there, he gave his name for the reservation and they found it in the book, crossed off his name, and seated us. What the hell? Our waiter was really difficult to understand and visibly nervous. I felt bad for the guy, he was sweating and shaking...I couldn't tell if he was just really feeling out of place or if he was sick, and that's just not something I want to be debating when I'm dining out. I have friends who work in the area, so I will probably go here again, but the bar has been set pretty low...
(3)Michelle B.
We were here 2 weeks ago for a wedding and it was amazing! The set up was spectacular, in the lobby area right outside of Pazzos. I can't speak for the bride's planning process, but from what she has told me it sounded painless and she loved her planners. It is a unique space. If you're looking for a city wedding experience Pazzo's is a perfect place. The food was great and I'd be interested in trying it for a regular night out. I think it's a great spot because not only is it stunning, but I think you're the only wedding there.
(4)Jen A.
Pazzo's is located in the lobby of the building I work in. Are we even remotely shocked that most of the food provided in meetings comes from here? I've never actually bought food from Pazzo's directly. I won't lie - I only eat it when it's free. That definitely doesn't make it any less delicious! The desserts! Oh, boy! There was a sampler tray brought in for one of the big important meetings, and my coworker and I got to polish off the leftovers. I'm totally glad that the execs decided not to eat everything, because WOW these desserts are fabo! Mixed berry cake. Chocolate-covered strawberries. Apple coffee cake. Some yummy apricot thing that I can't identify but still ate three of. If you have a sweet tooth, there's something on that sampler tray you'll like.
(4)Veronica C.
I was married this past May and my wedding ceremony and reception were held at Pazzo's on Wacker Dr. Before my husband and I decided to have our wedding at Pazzo's, we researched so many places around the city. Many places did not seem to fit the style of wedding we were looking for. Some places were pretty outdated other places smelled too much like a bar/nightclub or some were just TOO expensive. Some places had a very limited menu and some just had rude staff. So after going down the list of wedding venues in Chicago on a bridal magazine, we got to Pazzo's. Initially I was hesitant about it since it is a restaurant and I was not sure how that would work out for a wedding. We decided to go have lunch there and the food was delicious. The atrium is very pretty and so bright. The fountain adds a nice touch to the place as well. We inquired about private events and apparently Pazzo's closes at 7:00 p.m. from Mon. - Thurs. and it closes Fri. - Sun. for private events. We went back on a Saturday morning to see a set-up for a wedding being held there in the evening and it was amazing. It looked exactly what we were looking for. We decided to book it the following Monday. I also liked their extended selection of menu items. The tasting was astronomical. WOW! Both my husband and I received a dish each of the selections we wanted to taste. So good. We had few vegetarian friends attending the wedding and they were able to accommodate them with a vegetarian dish. We also had a couple of kids attending and they were also able to provide them with a special dish as well. We had the ceremony and reception at the same place so what they do in this case is set-up for the reception immediately after the ceremony. I was a bit nervous about this but being Pazzo's is directly across the street from the Sears Tower; we decided to treat our guests to the Sears Tower Sky Deck. This gave our guests something to do while the Pazzo's staff set up for the reception. Most of our guests were from out of town and they were actually very excited about this. My husband and I were out taking pictures around the city but apparently, according to my mom, it only took about 40 minutes for the staff to turn the place over. After we walked in, I could not believe my eyes. The place looked amazing. I wish I can relive the moment. It was beautiful. A few of our guests (from Chicago) asked how we had found the place. I guess it's a hidden gem. The person I worked with was Fay Sweeney. She was wonderful to work with and she is so knowledgeable. She knew what to do and when to do it. I was so nervous about so many things but in the end everything turned out AMAZING. People still talk about the food and how nice our wedding turned out. It puts a big smile on our faces and we love to hear it time and time again. I hope I'm able to provide Fay a couple of pictures so they can update their website. The pictures currently available do not do my experience any justice.
(5)Marti G.
Now I have no eaten here but I had to review on the venue....it's gorgeous and I would love to try this place out now. I was told they host weddings at this venue and I can see why it's perfect that, the service was excellent, the decor fab! I will update when I try their food.
(3)Tara M.
I recently went to Pazzo's for lunch and while the terrace area is enjoyable (enough to warrant a third star), the food and service were mediocre. Our waiter was nice, but did not refill our drinks (which were empty by mid-meal). I had a salmon special--blackened salmon with poblano pepper sauce, spinach and potatoes. The salmon was extremely greasy--I don't know how they did it, but it was dripping in grease. Not sure what process they used to blacken it, but it was ick. The spinach was fine, and the potatoes were just run of the mill. I looked the menu again just now and there are probably better things on it, so I will definitely give Pazzo's another shot. But for this visit, I can only warrant 3 stars.
(3)Jef B.
This is such an amazing space. The food, not so much. I had the chicken parmigiana based on another Yelper review. It was pretty good but the service was slow and barely present. So, better than cafeteria food, but at $$ prices, and poor service = 3 stars. I wish the food and service had been as good as the ambiance.
(3)Amie C.
I've worked across the street from the building housing Pazzo's for nearly 4 years and today was my first experience. Heck, I even attended a Yelp event in the lobby right outside Pazzo's probably 3 years ago (it was the volunteer event, my first one too!). This joint is super fast for take out. They seem to have their ordering system down to a science. Don't accidentally get into the salad line if you want to order from the grill. That was my mistake, oopsie, ya live and learn. One BBQ chicken wrap and fries coming right up! Tons and tons of chicken in one gigantic wrap, topped with lettuce and tomato and I requested a small dollop of mayo. Nothing amazing stands out but I quite enjoyed it and it was cut in half so I can have the other half later. The fries were standard and tasty. They also have dine in and ample seating in the lobby of the building. Speedy in and out service at about 12:30pm on a Friday? Yes, please!
(3)Deborah T.
I used to like Pazzo's but I am inclined to never go back there again. A friend and I tried to have lunch there. We ordered our food and 45 minutes later it had still not arrived. Our waiter avoided us for 44.5 of those minutes and stopped by about half way through our wait to tell us that the food would be ready in just a few more minutes. Having jobs to get back to, we had to leave without eating. Very, very disappointing.
(1)ER S.
Great place for a girl's lunch on a friday when you want to chat. I love the spinach salad (although I substitute for the dressing... the walnut vinegrette has so much raw garlic you'll be tasting it all afternoon... try the balsamic vinegrette instead). It's also a nice place for a drink after work.
(4)Maria C.
Go to the EXPRESS section...If you're really hungry and want something quick around lunch time this restaurant in the loop is great. Not only is the food great but the employees are very nice and treat you well. My favorite on the menu is the chicken pita, it's good for leftovers.. I usually get breakfast from them, they have breakfast burritos you pick the ingredients and they make it for you in no time. The atmosphere of the building is very tropical with palm trees and a fountain to gaze at. There is also a restaurant, for the people that have enough time for lunch. The bartendar Laura is fabulous.
(5)