Dr. Ashish S.

great place to eat. Great service. try the wine inexpensive yet very good.

Jody B.

The antipasto was to die for!!!!! The service was first rate.

Irvin A.

Delicious food, vibrant environment. Please get rid of the TVs, though.

Krystyna C.

Damn you Chicago! Why do you have such amazing food! I seriously wanted to continue ordering until I have tried everything on the menu. I love the way Quartino works! It's a small plates (tapas) style restaurant that serves Italian food. In the group of 4 of us who went for dinner, we order an anti-pasto platter, 6 small plates, lots of wine, and a few desserts. I feel like I needed to be wheeled out of here after our meal was done. The food was incredible and if they had something like this in Cincinnati, I would be BROKE from going so often!! I can't wait to go back to Chicago to eat there again!

britta c.

Good food, reasonable prices, easy to get reservations, large portions.

Suzanne D.

Really delicous tapas style Italian dishes. We tried the white bean and garlic spread, escarole, veal meatball sliders, and plenty of red sangria. Everything was delicious and we finished our meal with some zeppole (little Italian doughnuts) with honey. I look forward to returning. The highlight was being seated on the upper balcony overlooking the street and the activity of Chicago. Loved it!

Jessica G.

Love love love. Small portions, fresh ingredients, food comes out fast. We were able to order a few things to share to start and just kept ordering as we pleased. Went here twice within 24 hours.

Ashley H.

Nice place for Italian tapas and SEAFOOD! Love the scallop and the clams, the rib is also yum!

Joanna C.

As we hungrily wandered around Chicago, my brother and I finally decided that we wanted something Italian for dinner. We pulled out our phones, checked the Yelp app, and decided to go to Quartino. Although it was getting late by Chicago standards and it was a weeknight, there were still a ton of people at Quartino. Luckily for us, we were still quickly seated. Our server was friendly and did a good job explaining the different types of cheeses to us. We decided to order the Taleggio Cheese with Apricot Puree, Wild Arugula Salad, and Gnocchi. I enjoyed the cheese and my brother liked the apricot puree. The arugula salad was delicious and my favorite part of the meal. It was flavorful and fresh, and I loved the liberal use of oranges and hazelnuts. My brother loved the gnocchi. I'm usually a big pesto eater, but I didn't love the pasta. The gnocchi was soft and well-filled and I think most people would have liked it, I just tend to prefer something chewier and with a bit more texture that I can gnash my teeth into. After eating our fill, we decide to peruse the dessert menu just to see what they are. Our eyes ended up being bigger than our stomachs and we ordered the Profiteroles, which were delicious! I loved the gelato and the toasted almonds flavor. The dessert was so richly decadent and afterwards, I was torn between wanting to pass out from a food coma and jumping around from a sugar high. The service was wonderful and all in all, we had a ton of fun getting Italian tapas.

R D.

This was my first experience with Italian tapas. It's very similar to Spanish tapas. Don't bother going to Quartino on the weekend if you don't have a reservation...you will wait forever. It's a big restaurant that can get very loud and it's difficult to talk. The food is great and priced similar to spanish-style tapas restaurants. They also have a Gluten Free tapas menu which is very helpful! They have good Italian sodas as well.

Sonya A.

I adore tapas-style dinners. Small plates are perfect to be able to taste a variety of dishes and to share, because sharing is caring! (ha!) And you will most definitely want to share here. We had a caprese salad, the duck prosciutto, the clams and risotto and wine. Fabulous. I highly recommend it. The staff was friendly and the food was delicious. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Location: 5/5 - We originally sat inside but it was so loud, luckily a table freed up outside and we were able to move out there.

Shiv G.

Came here on a busy Chicago night, had a lovely seat on the terrace. We ate: - Dates stuffed with gorgonzola wrapped in proscitto (4/5): yummmyyyyy - Polenta sticks (2/5): Kind of bland - Lamb shank (3/5): Moist but couldve used a bit more pizzaz - Pizza (4/5): Yummy I would go back because I loved the overall concept of tapas, allows you to try a whole bunch of goodies. Until next time!

Cindy W.

I really liked their gnocchi. The interior was also very nice ... dimly lit but crowded, a good place to go with a group of people. The crowd is busy and fun, and the service was pretty good.

Vanessa P.

I loved this place!! The food is incrible!

Hannah L.

Fantastic. Everything was delicious, the service was great, and the price actually decent.

Jenn L.

Quartino was the spot for our last meal in Chicago before we left for home. We stopped by for some lunch after doing some shopping nearby. The restaurant is quite nice inside.. I could see it being a good place for a first date, or to even catch a soccer game (I noticed jerseys hanging on the walls, and the servers were also wearing jersey shirts). I liked the atmosphere a lot, it definitely reminded me of Italy. There was an old Sophia Loren movie from the 70s playing on the televisions, perhaps to bring customers back to old Italy? We opted for the Lunch special for 2, where you got to select 1 item from the wine bar plates or soup and salad section, 1 item from the pasta/risotto section, and 1 item from the meats/seafood section. All for $25. Fiancé and I got to pick different soups (minestrone and sundried tomato), and we also picked the calamari and the housemade Tagliatelle Bolognese pasta. The food was good; my sundried tomato soup came with fresh parmesan shavings and a small sprig of basil. The calamari was well portioned and despite its deep fry coating, was relatively light and not overly salted. The tagliatelle pasta did indeed taste house made and I loved the chewy texture. I've been contemplating purchasing a pasta maker and this only makes me want to buy one even more, which probably conflicts with my goal of eating less wheat/carbs. Perhaps after the wedding? heh. Our server was friendly and attentive. The washrooms and bar located upstairs are also very nice and well decorated. For $25 we were stuffed and had to pack some food to go. All in all, a solid meal for our last day in Chicago.

Michaela N.

this city has overrate italian food...quartino is the exception. i've been here at least five times since moving to chicago and have never been disappointed. inexpensive food, great wine selection, homemade limoncello. need i say more? great date spot. order a tasting platter and a bottle of white wine on the patio. you won't regret it.

sabrinna s.

We really enjoyed this place. We made reservations and got in right away. I enjoyed the family style how the plates come out as they are ready. We were six and we all enjoyed taste a bit of each different selection.

irina t.

I'd come back here any day just for one thing - Polenta fries!

Chris W.

I'm a big fan of Quartino's....you can't go wrong taking a group or a date or a friend here. It literally has something great for everyone. They really make the tapa concept work great here. I've had very few dishes that I haven't loved. Some of my favorites are as follows: -The short ribs are great...juicy and tender and the salsa verde sauce works well with it. -The mushroom risotto is simple yet nice. I love risotto but don't always like to order it as my main entree so it really works for me as a tapa to share. -Polenta fries - Probably one of my favorite things on the menu BUT please bring me more of the sauce! -We ordered an olive plate and one of the olives was stemmed and salty...kind of like okra with no pits. I can't remember the name but I loved them. Overall a great place to go and I love the subway tile and millwork throughout the restaurant.

Maria K.

Amazing food, amazing service, great management. This place has never disappointed.

Jordan P.

I'm utterly clueless as to why people love this place. Am I living on a different planet?! Everything I've had here has been meh. I recently went back just to make sure I wasn't crazy and tried totally different things with the same result. The pizza (prosciutto) was meh, the mushroom risotto was meh, the veal meatballs were meh. The only half way decent thing was the spaghetti with clams. Once I added a little salt to it, the spaghetti was pretty tasty. But overall the food was sooooo underwhelming. All I have to say is this is not good Italian food. I definitely won't be back unless someone forces me to go again. On the plus side, this place has a great ambiance and good servers.

Saba A.

Very crowded, a reservation must, a great crowd, type of place. VERY BUSY. We made reservations for 5 a week ahead for a Saturday night 7:00 P.M. and got seated at 7:30 P.M. Bar was too crowded to catch a drink and I'm sure they serve full service on first come first serve seating there, but there was hardly any moving space. I love how we could share everything. We started with two bottles of wine at the table that were listed as specials for 20 dollars each. We were offered to taste and we all drank out of regular style drink ware sets (they did not provide wine glasses). Food, however, did come quickly! Which is always a plus and bread was served fresh and they brought in more complimentary. Here is what we had and everything was delicious: -Veal Meatball Slider (one per person) for 2.25. Veal was excellent, no sauce was on it so that's why it was not my favorite. It did come in a huge roll (which most of us didn't eat) because that's too filling. -Romaine Hearts Salad, for 6.75, fresh, delicious, a great way to start the meal -We ordered many pasta dishes and they were all graciously served but my favorite was Cavatelli. That is what I would order If I went back. We were too full for dessert but the menu for it looked good. My girl friend is having 20 girls here for her birthday in April. I know they take large group reservations which is perfect because this would be a great way to save money on food with small dishes and for everyone's food tastes. I like RPM better. I know reservations can be a pain to get there but everything from the appetizers to pasta to the drinks are amazing.

Kari C.

My friends and I used to frequent this place all the time! Every time I'm in the city, I always want to go. The wine is delicious, the food delicious, and the atmosphere is great, although it can sometimes get a little loud inside, but when the weather is right, the patio is amazing! My favorite item so far is the cheese fondue!

Jenna U.

Such a cute little wine bar in Chicago. I stopped here to meet friends in Chicago while traveling on the business. The amount of wines to chose from is HUGE and the appetizers were delicious too. In addition, the staff was welcoming and funny which made our happy hour!

Rick F.

This is a tough review! We were in and out in one hour. The food was good not great, the bread and olive oil were good not great! I feel like I've seen this type of restaurant, decor and style way to many times to still find a high level of appreciation. Great location! I'll try it again because it was good and convenient.

Marisol D.

The Steamed Clams were amazing!

Doug ..

it was okay. duck prosciutto wasnt that great but i wish i would had tried more tapas. next time chicago!

Edward P.

Top restaurant. Fresh food, great wine selection and good service. And who couldn't give 5 stars to a restaurant with old Italian cycling jerseys on the walls? We had Friday brunch here and got suitably drunk on strong cocktails and Prosecco at a good price.

John S.

Went to Quartino with my sister before a hockey game. I was extremely happy with the service here. While the restaurant was packed they were still able to seat us right away. Our waiter knew the menu well and was also really nice. The atmosphere is very tight. If you come here be prepaired to be right on top the table next to you. The Itialian Tapas idea worked out great here. The Cheeses and salami were very tasty. We also had the 4 cheese pizza and it was very good as well. Can tell everything here is made fresh and isn't frozen. The pizza was served piping hot and had a great crust. Overall a great meal with great service.

Elizabeth M.

Lovely atmosphere, great wines that come by the carafe. I wanted to like this place and could tell that for many it is a neighborhood staple, but frankly was not impressed by the food. In my opinion, the food was a bland, and the concept of Italian tapas didn't work for me. If you go, go for the atmosphere!

Pete B.

I guess Quartino is now my go-to Italian place (because I like the idea of sharing food more than getting a giant entree for yourself). Everything's good here, but the sad thing is that I can't think of anything that really stood out. Nothing was to die for, although they were all very good. I liked the Arrabbiata, but that is one of the simplier dishes, and I somehow end up getting the cookie with gelato dessert. Seatings are tight, but that's part of the charm.

Curtis T.

Officially my most favorite Italian restaurant. On the contrary to other reviews, my friend and I showed up around 12:00 am on weekend and got our table right away. After going to a concert, we were starving. I absolutely love tapas as small dishes allowed us to try many different things. The young artichoke dish was pleasant, and the red pepper with capers was delicious. Their homemade gnocchi and ravioli were OUT OF THIS WORLD. Definitely come back next time I'm in Chicago, now that I can buy their cheap wine :P

Seth G.

My 2 stars is solely for the service and I mean that in a good way. The servers were very friendly, informed, and attentive. If they weren't, this place was getting 1 star. The restaurant has no ambiance, which seems to be the theme of the River North restaurants. It all feels fake and touristy - which it is. We got the Veal Meatball sliders, which were pretty good - 3 stars. We had the mushroom risotto, which was terrible. It had no flavor. I actually had to salt it - 0 stars. The last thing we had was the pappardelle, which was fine - 2.5-3 stars. I will not be coming back and will not be recommending it to anyone.

Cory K.

Arrived at 12:45 and was still able to order from the full menu. I had a shaved Spring vegetable salad that was beautifully fresh and very gently seasoned so that the vegetables can shine. Also had a bowl of linguine with clams in white sauce, which came out very hot, with pasta still firm and an abundance of small fresh clams. Paired it with a quarter-liter of 2008 Rosso di Montalcino. Fantastic late night meal for $37.

Dave L.

I went for lunch this weekend and had a great time. The food came out quickly and I thought it was great for the price. I loved my pizza. I can definitely see myself adding this place into the post-work rotation for food and drinks.

Rebecca H.

Had quite a few different dishes. Good for big groups.

Madeline O.

We saw all of the reviews for this place and thought it would be great for our trip out to Chicago from LA, but we're kind of disappointed. The pizza was pretty generic, the salad was really boring. Overall, we were a little confused what all the rage was about. Seemed like a chain old school Italian place.

Dave C.

The only thing better than great food is an efficient and effective staff. Quartino has both. We started with soup .... I really enjoyed the minestrone. We couldn't decide on a pizza between the Campania or Rustica. So they did a half-half. Pizza was served fresh from the oven and both sides were excellent. Dessert was the Zeppole. Again, everything was very enjoyable. Highly recommended.

P R.

Stopped in for drinks only. Good selection of wine. Nice and friendly wait staff. Good atmosphere.

Ryan M.

Quartinos is as good as it gets considering the price. Great atmosphere, great food. If you are thinking about it, dont.. just go

Sarah C.

My go-to place for after work dinner downtown. Great service! I have eaten most things on the menu. Veal meatballs, orichetti pasta and their cheese plates and pizza. Don't skip dessert here!

Jake B.

The one great thing about the tapas menu is that it's not so crazy that you will get confused. There are enough options for variety, but not too many so as to cause a seizure. The portion sizes for the tapas were slightly smaller than normal, but still high quality. A choice of wine pairings would be helpful for new foodies or the general customers. There are numerous options for wine and the sampling is great. We didn't have a wine we didn't like. The restaurant itself it busy and vibrant, but still comfortable enough to have a good dinner coversation. With the decor and seating being comfortable and inviting. Tables are a tiny bit small for tapas service but can be managed.

Nancy K.

I'm really surprised to see that this restaurant has so many positive reviews. My friend and I were very disappointed with everything we got except for the wine. Since its tapas style we ordered several plates from the olives, Gorgonzola Dolce cheese, and artichokes to the octopus and Cavatelli. Unfortunately everything was so bland. It was such a let down especially since I had been wanting to check this place out for a while. Our server was nice but not very attentive towards the end of our meal when we were looking to get our check and then when we were looking to pay. The atmosphere has a cool vintage italian flare but that's not enough to draw me back.

Miss M.

Quartino's has a really good pizzas but it can get loud. I was with a group trying to have working dinner and it was hard to hear because it can be very very loud. Otherwise, everything was great. The food and service is very good and the location can't be beat. I would totally go back, but under the pretenses that what the other person is saying doesn't matter :)

Brooke L.

love tapas style meals and love italian food - so i had a feeling this place would be a winner. it was crowded but cozy. The best dish we had by far was the mushroom risotto - phenomenal. the sea scallops were delicious as well. for dessert the nutella panino is great if you're a nutella fan. definitely looking forward to dining there again soon!

Dana A.

If you like a restaurant that's so loud you can't hear the person next to you, like overpaying for fairly generic Italian. Then try this place out!

Angela Z.

Beet salad is not on the menu but worth having! First time I went I had a homemade fettucine - pasta was good, but the marinara was real salty. Polenta fries are good; asparagus gnocchi is even better. My favorite was the arugula orange and cheese salad with pine nuts. So incredible! Fun atmosphere. Good amount of vegetarian options. Open late and still lively at 1:00am.

Lindsey O.

This is a small dish Italian place. The food was tasty, but nothing really stood out. With all the great Italian places in Chicago, I would say Quartino fits the bill if you are hungry, but not necessarily a stand out like Balena or Piccolo Sogno. Be aware - this place has very tight seating. Probably not the best for large groups, or parents who don't believe their children should have their butts planted in a chair for a meal. We sat next to two couple with 3 children, and as they let their little beasts run wild, many a server tripped over them or attempted to heard the screaming brats back to the table.Very distracting, and we preferred Balena's intimate seating to avoid bs like that.

Wen T.

Decent experience. This place is huge and really loud so I wouldn't come here for a romantic quiet evening. It would be good for large birthday dinners, etc. We saw a couple bachelorette parties when we went on Saturday night. They cram the tables pretty tightly. Food was pretty good. Everything is designed to share so it comes out when it's ready. This is good because the food is piping hot when it arrives. As soon as we were seated, a plate of sliced bread was dropped on the table. It was cold and a bit dry. It had clearly been sliced awhile ago and was sitting around waiting for the next table. Disappointing first impression. If you read any of my reviews, you know that I like my bread to be warmed and I think poorly of restaurants that don't make that effort, since it is so easy to do. We started with the fried calamari. It was hot and crispy. I liked that it wasn't greasy and the breading didn't come off. My only complaint was how stingy they were with the marinara dipping sauce. It was a tiny amount compared to the amount of calamari. At least it was warm. Second course was linguine with white wine clam sauce. The noodles were perfectly al dente. The clams were plentiful. The sauce was well seasoned. This was our favorite dish of the night. Our last course was the braised pork shank. Our server told us it was braised for nine hours. It fell off the bone and was super tender. It came on a bed of mashed potatoes. This dish would've been better if it was better seasoned, and if there were more potatoes and sauce on the plate. I'm always surprised when restaurants are skimpy on cheap ingredients such as potatoes and grits and rice. Our server was friendly. He was training a newbie and we got the impression he was showing off for her. He kept saying how jealous he was of our meal, something he probably says to all of his tables. Given how many Italian options there are, I probably wouldn't return here.

M B.

Love Love Love Quartino! The food is always consistently good here. I love getting a bunch of things and sharing. And the best part - it's cheap! I feel like I leave having eaten everything on the menu and get wine and its only 15 dollars! Only downside to this place is that it is beyond loud, do not come here if you are looking for a quiet romantic date or need to talk to your parents or something.

Jennifer S.

Great for a group. We had a wonderful time with our group of 7. Food was very good especially the tortellini with prosciutto. Wine was good and reasonable. They had a great lunch special. I wish I worked in the area so I could take advantage. I will be back very soon!

Lochin S.

had a great time with friends and price on the wine list totally reasonable. Trying to catch up, in the loft upstairs, was impossible. The noise level was deafening. We tried to eat and flew out of there. The pizza was OK, nothing to write home about. Calamari was great.

Helen L.

I went here with a large group (over 20+ girls) and we had a really nice 5-course meal. The appetizers were amazing - especially the calamari - holy cow I've never liked seafood and this was positively great! I thought the pasta needed to be cooked longer, but others liked the "al dente" quality of it - so okay, to each their own. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for some tasty Italian food - whether on a date or with a big party. They will absolutely cater to your needs.

Patty T.

I ordered Salumeria tasting every time I went there. It is a fun plate and you get to taste a little bit of everything! While the food was amazing, I really like this place for its ambience. Family-styled unpretentious Italian food for sharing with loved ones. I just like the place really :)

Matt S.

Seems like we are the first customers that were not fully satisfied. Quartino is a nice restaurant, our waitress was very attentive and helpful. The food however lacked taste so that I can rate this place max as average. Hopefully they just had a bad day?

Max C.

We've been to Quartino dozens of times and the food has always been amazing (shout out to the short rib). And while this review won't make or break your decision to come here, let me add to the chorus of great reviews and tell you a quick story. We made a reservation for 15 people for our birthdays (my wife and I are two days apart -- Peter you are the man thank you!!) and when we came in, we found out that the Brussels sprouts are not in season and not on the menu. I asked our waiter if it would be at all possible to have them, you know, maybe you have in the fridge, etc. he got the manager, Alysia, who came over and said she would get us some. And she did. By WALKING OVER TO TRADER JOES AND BUYING TWO BAGS which they then proceeded to cook and serve us. And it was excellent. And that is why we will continue to come back here. We love Quartino. Forever.

Tavi J.

This is one of those places I don't frequent often, but when I do I wonder why I don't come here more. We were striking out left and right on Cinco De Mayo and decided to come here. Glad we did! We were able to seat ourselves right a way in the bar area. Service was great. We decided to go for a half and half pizza. Haft with meatballs and the other half veggie. Crust is thin and crispy and the toppings were fresh and delicious!

Gina M.

This place was not at all what I was expecting. Italian tapas, what an idea! Every single dish we tried was amazing, my personal favorites were the goat's milk ricotta and the veal meatball sliders. The only downfall with this place is I felt really crammed into our table with a party of 8; not sure it's the best place for large groups. I felt like I was continually in the way of servers trying to get through our area and out to the patio, and I spent my entire meal worried that I was going to cause a disaster of falling plates of food. Other than that though, this place has the perfect location close to all of the hotels in River North, the perfect patio and open air seating for the summer, and some great fresh Italian cuisine. It would also be a great date spot! Not too fancy, but not too casual, and you can share a bunch of different dishes. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Chicago

Lylian D.

I was in Chicago for a work trip and was told by a coworker and locals that I had to eat here. I met up with 7 other of my friends who are Chicago locals, and had no problem getting a table around 6:30. We ordered the featured wines, arugula pizza, margarita pizza, veal meatballs, calamari, linguine with clams, osso bucco, seafood risotto, prosciutto wrapped dates, raviolis, and polenta fries. Everything was great! I especially loved the linguine with clams and meatballs. I will definitely come back here next time I am in Chicago!!

Darlene L.

Started with the meatballs and the Nero D'Avola. Then the Beef Short Ribs. Everything was fabulous and the service is excellent!

Heather W.

Place effing rocks. Based on street front would not have went, on the initial entry, would not have expected what amazing dinner was to come!! Con: skip the polenta fries... Too fried and soggy-ish... Ok here we go: mushroom risotto: awesome Baby spinach: rocked Beets: awesome White bean garlic spread: awesome Duck prosciutto: great Caprese: good, not awesome, but good Tiramisu: awesome Zappole: super duper awesome - honey and chocolate Wait staff rocks, bus boys rock... Environment: little on the noisy side... But cool, table against the wall a must... Coming back for sure!!!!

Colleen S.

I have ONLY good things to say about Quartino. Let me sum it up by saying that I bring almost every out of town guest here and they love it too. Cheap wine, yummy food, good atmosphere, and great location, what's not to love? They have $10 bottles that they rotate, and while they do go with a shared plates style, the plates are not mini by any means, and if you are eating with 2 friends, each select a plate, and add on if necessary. As for the food, my go-tos are the pappardelle, any of the pizzas, and the arugula salad. I even took some vegan friends here and they have a number of dishes that are vegan friendly without lacking on taste and quality. For dessert, get the donuts and ask for both the chocolate and the honey sauces. Just do it. And the WINE. 1/4 liter, 1/2 liter, bottle, there are a ton of options and all reasonably priced to share or drink yourself. Go here in the summer and sit out on the patio, it's wonderful. Just beware of the crowds on big tourist weekends.

Teri S.

This was a solid choice for dinner in Chicago. It was very loud and crowded which is not unusual, but maybe more than some. Had the appy platter of olives, salamis, cheeses, salads. It was very good and a great way to try a variety if things st this small plate Italian bistro. We also had pizza which was so blah it was sad. Wish we had gone with gnocchi, risotto or another pasta and a side to share. Pizza was so blah and filling enough to stop our ordering. Good point was that we had a pretty low bill for a Chicago dinner.

Ellen D.

Always very busy! Make sure to place a reservation. Food was average at best. Service was very fast, they bring out food as its prepared. We ordered several items to share. The pizza was actually pretty good (4.5 / 5 rating)! Also had veal (2 / 5 ), pear & spinach salad (2 / 5 ), calamari (3 / 5 ) and bruschetta (2.5 / 5). Atmosphere is fun and casual. I would go back for a Happy Hour --to grab drinks and a snack, but probably not for a full meal.

Trinity O.

Can't go wrong. Good food, lively atmosphere at a reasonable price. Our service was over the top. Extremely attentive even on a busy Friday night.

Connie Q.

Came here with a friend for dinner on a busy Friday night. You feel like you are in someone's kitchen it's cute. Everything is really good we tried the pizza, pasta and it was delicious. Space is very cramped, you are very close to your neighbor. I didn't mind though. Will be back again, food was amazing.

Michelle B.

Went for a late Lunch at about 330, patio was crowded but inside was nice. Ordered shrimp, beef carpaccio, short rib, arrabiata and tiramisu. Short rib had a lot of excess fat but was yummy. I soaked up the sauce with my bread after we ate it all. Everything else was bland. I actually had to add salt and pepper :/ not a good thing. The arrabiata had absolutely no spice to it, maybe they just gave us marinara instead. Tiramisu was average, not a lot of coffee flavor. Service was attentive and polite. May try it again but doubtful.

Ashley R.

Giving this place two stars only because of my most recent experience. Otherwise, it would have been three. We had a reservation for 12 guest at around 930 pm. I have been here multiple times, always packed and have never been disappointed with the food. We arrived at 925 and did not get sat at our table until 955. They had us standing in a small cramped greeting area while other patrons where trying to get a table between us. It was a mess. Once finally sat it took 20 minutes for drinks. I understand we had a large party, but they should of asked for help. Food came out unorganized and I was more than starved by the time we got to order. I asked for bread twice while waiting for my meal. I hope they work on this better. My party and I where very disappointed. We had a table reserved at vertigo at around midnight and we where not done eating till around 1215 if that gives you an idea of how long everything took.

Sean G.

Coming to Chicago for only a few days, and with so many great restaurants to choose from, my wife and I were a little overwhelmed trying to pick the right spot... Throw in the fact that she's gluten free and you're really searching. But wandering the streets of Old Town and Lincoln Park searching Yelp for a good spot for that night's dinner, we happened upon Quartino. Now we're already suckers for small plates, but throw in the Italian flare and were even more excited. We easily got a reservation on a Monday night, despite finding the restaurant packed when we arrived. We got some great people watching in sitting on the patio, with perfect Chicago fall evening weather. Now the food was fantastic, starting off with some olives and an amazing caprese salad. My wife fell in love with the egg plant salad, and they even got her some GF crackers to dip into it. They also have gluten free pasta, which you can pair with any of the pasta dishes. The GF pasta is a corn pasta, which tastes as good as any we've tried, and mixed into the sausage ragu it was phenomenal. But while the food was some of the best we'd had on our trip, we definitely have to say that the service was by far the best. Our waiter Scott was personable, communicative, very sensitive to my wife's food allergy, and incredibly accommodating. We found ourselves hanging around just chatting away with him after dinner, enjoying some good old fashioned Midwest hospitality at what we found out was one of the top restaurants in town! Bravo to Scott and the Quartino team for giving us such a great experience!

Billy B.

Loved it! We sat outside. There is a street side patio and also a second floor balcony patio. Both have overhead heaters and some free standing ones. They made it the perfect temperature for a little cooler early fall evening. Nice setting! There is a huge menu with lots of variety. Plates are ideal for sharing. We tried the olive assortment - nothing too special/unique about them. Then had the dates wrapped in prosciutto - they were fantastic, could've eaten 2 orders! They are basically an Italian version of the Spanish tapas dates, if you ever had those kind. We then split the rigatoni with vodka sauce. SO good!!! Loved the sauce. Seemed a little creamier/cheesier than other vodka sauces we've had. I even used the bread (which was good too - olive oil, etc served at each table) to soak up the last bits of sauce!! Next we moved on to the Soprano pizza. It had veal meatballs and giardiniera (which is just hot, pickled peppers & veggies - sounds odd but SO good!) the meatballs were smaller & sliced so they seemed like eating chunks of sausage on a pizza vs. an actual meatball. They were moist & flavorful! Great combo of flavors on the pizza, definitely recommend. The only thing I would not recommend is the white wine sangria. Ordered a carafe of it and it basically just tasted like juice. Don't bother trying it. We will definitely go back again!

Louise Z.

Food is really good from the salads to the desserts. Atmosphere is a little loud and a little too dark, in my opinion, but over all a great place for a casual dinner. Love the huge wine menu and being able to order different sizes. Great service.

Allison G.

I came here last night in a group of 8 girls and we had a great time! Good wine and delicious food :) I loved the brodetta ai frutti de mare which was a generous size and full of seafood- clams, shrimp, octopus, and white fish. Although I think I ate enough bread for 10 people trying to get at all of the goodness in the bowl. I can't wait to go back and try more dishes!

Chris D.

My friend and I had lunch here today, 09/27/13, and the meal was good. We tried the $25 prix fix lunch for two which consisted of soup or salad, and two different entrees. She chose the minestrone soup and it was 4 stars good. My salad was fresh and delicious. The second course is pasta and I rated it OK; I've had better. It was definitely served hot so watch your tongue. For the third course sheI chose salmon. It was a bit to rare for my liking but it was served in a sauce that was delicious. Again, a bit undercooked for me, but OK. Finally, the dessert. A banana gelato creation that was fabulous. Overall, I recommend this restaurant. It's located on a busy street and has an outdoor cafe if you prefer seating in appropriate weather.

Maggie S.

Went here Saturday night with girlfriends, made a reservation but wasn't sat until 30 minutes after stated reservation time which was kind of a bummer and the hostess girls were less than accommodating and truthful about "your table's almost ready" and "just a few minutes." Was given free bottle of wine for the long wait - that was nice. Once we were sat, our waiter Lanny was the man! Very friendly and knowledgable. Quick to take orders and make suggestions. Food was delish and filling for small plates Italian. Overall affordable and yummy spot to eat with group of people. I'd go back for sure.

Tiana D.

My husband and I were in Chicago and this was my favorite place we ate the entire trip. Here is what we ate and what i thought. Tapas: Meatball sandwich. We each had one, very good. Fondue - so yummy, we ate all of it. Main course: I had the Cavatelli: This is why wanted to give the review. If I only had this, I would have given a 5 star rating. It was to die for. My favorite thing that I can remember having in forever. I went home and bought cavatelli pasta trying to recreate it but couldn't. I HIGHLY recommend. Amazing. My husband had the Prosciutto D'anitra: This was my least favorite. It has arugula on it and a lot of it. It wasn't bad but the arugula was very strong. So if you really like arugula you will probably love this. Over all it was amazing. I will come back next time I am in Chicago. Honestly, Chicago is known for their pizza and I had great deep dish but that Cavatelli was still by far my favorite.

Michael A.

What a great place for some great eats and people watching. Sat outside facing State Street and enjoyed the view. Oh yeah, there was great food and service as well. What I loved was the European style seating for the patio. Everything out front, cozy and simple. Service was prompt without being rushed. The small plates were just the right size of small. Enough to share, but not so much you felt stuffed. For something simple easy and great flavor and service, stop by and you will definitely enjoy yourselves.

Maryanna S.

This was the best Italian food I have ever had. We got the olive, cheese and salami to start with some chianti, wow! We could have stopped there and been 100% satisfied. Our main course was the margarita pizza, I have had many in my life and this was the best one ever. For the price, this place is amazing. We will be back!

Channing W.

Went here last night and the place was packed. When I say packed I mean, peopls stepping on you feet while waiting for a table and a serious fire hazard type of packed. I had very high expectations for this place after reading the yelp reviews and I was disappointed. It is rare that yelp lets me down, but every once in a while it happens. for starters this restaurant is rated at a $$ which I feel is not correct. everything on the menu cost between 8-15 each, which sounds pretty inexpensive. trust me it adds up. my boyfriend and I ordered 4 things off the menu and dessert. the 4 dishes which were small plates came out as two-raviolis-on -a-plate-size. so after are 4 dishes were we both hungry, and let me say that I am a light eater. For two people to make a meal you would probably need to order 6 or 7 dishes. The food was good, but honestly nothing sticks out as being good enough to be specifically mentioned. Even though the food was good we couldn't justify ordering another 2 bites of food for $15. We ended up ordering dessert which was normal size and let me tell you, it was great. We had the warm chocolate cake with vanilla gelato. It was warm, chocolaty, gooey, sweet, magnificence. If I could I would give the cake alone 5 stars, everything else about a 2. The service was fine, it was a rather busy night so I understand the want to get people fed and out as fast as can be, but the staff seemed very impersonal and like you were just another tab. For a "nicer" place I expect a waitress who takes a min or 2 to go over the menu or check up on you. The bill came out to be $70! I felt like we were being stolen from. I don't think one should ever spend $70 and leave a restaurant hungry. Trust me, there are MUCH better places to eat in Chicago then Quartino, not really sure what people like about it so much.

Mary P.

Casual, reasonable and great for big groups. I love their wine service and the fact that you have more size options... not just a glass or bottle. The small plates are great because you have the option to try so much more. For 4 people we usually order 6 or 7 things and pass them around. I like getting the Salumeria Tasting, great for picking and having a glassof wine.

Patrick O.

If you love Spanish Tapas - Quartino's is the Italian version. The staff is always attentive - helpful with the menu to explain it if you have not been there before. There is always a line to get a table - best thing is to call ahead for a table, but you can sit at the wine bar for a drink before your table is ready. When the weather is warm get a table outside great for people watching. But if inside they run old Italian B Movies. When I go this is what we eat Get the assortment of olives easier than trying to pick a certain plate. Roasted Peppers Hand Charred it comes with Capers, Garlic, & E.V.O.O Duck Prosciutto Pizza - Margherita Mozzarella, Tomato Sauce, & Sweet Basil But if you sit in the wine bar - OMG even better small plates. Dates Wrapped in Pancetta Veal Meatball Slider Pomodoro Sauce & Giardiniera This is just a few of our favs.

Lauren S.

2 people = 2 tapas = more than enough food, so that was a bummer because I would have had smaller portions to try more. The wait staff will tell you that their meatballs are to die for, but honestly they were only okay. If you go here, you MUST get the gnocchi. Best dish by far.

Dream T.

Food is okay, in downtown, what you can expect. But the waiter is a little racist, since he don't understand my accent, he shows his hate and inpatient face to me. What I can say, feel a little disapointed

Brandon B.

Finally got here via a reservation: don't even try to just walk in without being given a 90 minute wait time at least. Extremely crowded and very noisy, this is not for the romantic date or quiet evening. Italian carb and oil heavy items, most were great, some just tasted like dough and oil. Waiters are amazingly positive and quick given the chaos and the very little negotiating space between tables. Best of all you aren't paying a huge amount for it all: most places with this type of popular atmosphere would make you pay for it but here it is reasonable. I found the Cabernet Savignon, cheap version, horrible: splurge for the better wine or get something different. Very easy to overeat after you order several small dishes for a group. Great sorbet and fruit dessert served in a martini glass!

Jk M.

Definitely a unique restaurant. Not your average Italian joint. Staff were consistently friendly. The menu had plenty of good choices, even for a picky eater like myself. Be ready to have multiple people helping you though (that threw me off in the beginning). I guess they have kind of a "team" approach to serving tables? Overall, I really enjoyed the atmosphere; it was a nice cross between casual and "nice". We went around 10:30pm, and the full menu was still available. Would definitely recommend this place to others.

José K.

This place is pretty decent. Stopped in here for a quick brunch before catching a long, international flight from O'hare. I had the tortellini. It was pretty good, probably an 8/10. Nothing too exciting or groundbreaking. It was kind of similar to a Toyota Camry. But one with leather seats and a sunroof - nothing too exciting, but still pretty good. The one issue with this place is that all of their food comes to the table just as it is ready. That's fine if you're sharing everything. But if you are getting individual dishes get ready for unequal and often awkward timing. I finish about half of my plate of Toyota Camry pasta (see above) before my buddy got his scallops. Heaven forbid anybody in your party order order the salad and your date orders the veal parmigiana. They'll probably have to drive out to a little farm out by Rockford and slaughter the calf while the salad sits and wilts. Summary: eat here if you like Toyota Camrys, have no concept of time.

Sylvia C.

Food quality super fresh but portions are small (as they noted all meant for sharing - small plates style)...which means it ended up being a pricier lunch than we expected...but the experience was worth it. Our server was attentive and informative of the menu. Hosts were friendly. Ordered the following: Duck Prosciutto Mushroom pizza Shaved vegetables Grilled Salmon Mushroom Risotto Grilled Steak Baked Eggplant Pesto Gnocchi

Brett S.

I had high expectations due to the high marks on yelp. My wife and I split the 4 course meal offering for $35 at the waiter's recommendation, which made for a really inexpensive meal. Our first dish was the veal meatballs, which were ok, but really rather bland. We added some cheese and ground pepper, but they were still kind of flavorless. The mushroom risotto was also bland--a large portion, but no flavor. The best thing we had was the mixed seafood dish entrée--fresh and actually had some flavor to it. The gelato desert was more like Neapolitan ice cream--nothing special. We were right by the kitchen and the noise level was a bit high, but not worth complaining over, as others have. It's an Italian restaurant, not a library.

Greg P.

The noisiest restaurant i have ever been in. decent food, relatively quick for a very busy and large place

Simon K.

Taleggio cheese. That is all. (Can I really write a review that short? I feel like I would be cheating my audience. But if you do go and get the Salumeria tasting, make sure you get the proscuitto di parma, the taleggio cheese, and the giardiniera. The combination will blow your brain up. And the soprano pizza is one of the best pizzas ever (although my dough was a little undercooked) for those who like some heat. The veal meatball/sausage has great flavor and the giardiniera and peppers that accompany it pack a punch. As for the cheese, I'm pretty sure I'm just uncultured but that was the best cheese I've ever had. It's a little nutty but it's soft and milky at the same time. Thus ends my first review done almost entirely inside a parenthesis.)

Andrea K.

Always a great experience!

Elise T.

The meal started out with delicious fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We asked for seconds of this. I'm a bit embarrassed to say this was my favorite part of the meal. Ordered the gnocchi and the Popeye pizza. The gnocchi was covered in a bright (both in color and flavor), fresh sauce. Actually, it was so fresh that it rather reminded me of grass. Surprisingly, it was the first gnocchi I've ever met that I actively did not like. The Popeye pizza, which is a thin crust pizza topped with a huge pile of fresh spinach tossed in lemon juice. There was too much lemon juice in my opinion. Again, the flavor could be described as overly bright. The restaurant is huge, dimly lit, and very noisy. It's pretty boisterous--this I liked. But other than that (and the bread I suppose), there's not much to recommend this place on. With all of the great Italian places in the city, I'd pass on Quartino.

Jenny Y.

This place did not live up to the hype AT ALL! In fact, it was one of the most uncomfortable experiences I've had at a restaurant in a long time - mostly due to the atmosphere. However, the food is decent/pretty good, and probably deserves 3 stars. I would never recommend this restaurant for dinner, but it may be a nice option for dessert. The cons: - It's extremely LOUD inside the restaurant, probably because they try to squeeze in as many tables as possible in a small area. If you're sitting next to a loud party, don't even try having a conversation with your table because you won't be able to hear a word anyone is saying, even when they're right next to you. - The tables are extremely small and cramped. My party of 4 was at a table that was better suited for 2. Add on the dishes and pizza once they started to come out, and you can imagine that no one had any room to move at all. - The food was not as amazing as I expected. In addition, the portions of the pasta & risotto dishes were really small! I was shocked to see how small they were, given their price. We ordered the following: - Funghi Pizza - Roasted Portobellos & Crushed Tomatoes - $11 - Tortellini - Alfredo Sauce, Peas, & Prosciutto - $11.75 - Mushroom Risotto - Fresh Mushrooms, Mushroom Puree, & Pork Stock - $11.50 - Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo - Tuscan Pasta Ribbons with Braised Beef Tomato Sauce - $11.75 The pros: - We made a reservation beforehand for a Saturday night. When we arrived, we were seated right away. - Perhaps if you're seated outside (which we were not), you'll have a nice view of downtown. - My favorite dish was the Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo. I'd recommend this dish, even though the portions are small. - We were impressed by their desserts (they were delicious!) and thought they had a large variety. We ordered the following: - Zeppole - $5.50 Hot Italian Doughnuts with Honey or Dark Chocolate - Profiteroles - $6.50 Vanilla Gelato, Chocolate Sauce, & Toasted Almonds Overall, if you only have a couple of meals to eat in downtown Chicago, don't waste one of your meals at Quartino. There are better priced, more delicious restaurants out there that will lend to a much more comfortable dining experience.

Mika L.

Seating was fast in the wine bar, and the food came out pretty quickly but it left something to be desired. We ordered several plates, salads and pizza, including: caprese, baby spinach, minestrone soup, eggplant parmesan, ravioli and a spinach, pepper and mushroom pizza. The pizza sauce was fresh tasting but a little bland. Overall it was just okay. The eggplant parmesan was overly mushy, salty and greasy for my taste. I would also pass on the baby spinach salad in the future. It's dry, with a few thin slices of raw pears (typically they are carmelized in my experience but I'm no chef), what seemed like just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar on it, and sprinkled with walnuts and grated ricotta. The plates also stacked up quickly on our table and several people came and went without taking them. We found ourselves staking them strategically under the pizza stand. Would we recommend to a friend? Probably not, unless you are going for the pizza based on our experience tonight. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great.

David B.

We went with a group of eight on a very busy Friday night. We had an 8pm reservation and arrived on time. While waiting, after only about 15 minutes the manager brought out glasses and two bottles of wine to keep us occupied. We were seated just a few minutes later. I will let other reviewers comment on the food,I will simply say that the managers gesture was a rarity of exceptional customer service.

Joe I.

Rock solid Italian. Beef short Rib... Wow! Another great experience in Chicago. Italian food in a bistro type atmosphere, great energy, food is a nice departure from what I call 'Red Sauce Italian'. There's enough of that in Chicago. Quartino takes you to some other tastes of Italy and does it all very well. Almost a tapas type service of smaller plates, which I happen to prefer, so to enjoy many different dishes. The worst thing I can say about Quartino: The washrooms are on the second floor, but they are well decorated.

Supriya D.

Went here last night with a group of 8 friends for a birthday party and this was such a great experience! The food had options for everyone and all of the entrees were able to be customized for dietary and allergy restrictions- or just for picky eaters like me. I ordered the linguine with white clam sauce and it was so good! Definitely enough for 2 portions. We also got the liter of the red sangria and it was the best sangria I have ever gotten. Prices were actually relatively low for the quality and location and service was great! Highly recommend for a date night or a group event!

Sara B.

I love this restaurant I can just say foods and dessert are outstanding................

Rajan L.

I love this place! Awesome ambiance, great food and great wine. I go here at least once in two weeks. If you go here do try the "LAMBRUSCO" - red sparking wine!

Z Z.

Subpar italian with subpar service. The red sangria was good though!

Theresa H.

The thing that I really liked about this place was the fact that I could get smaller portions of various things on the menu. In this case, I got a small order of penne in vodka sauce. It was tasty and fixed my pasta craving. It wasn't the best I'd ever had but it did the trick. I also had a salad with oranges, house made ricotta cheese and a very peppery arugula. The cheese portion was pretty skimpy. In fact, I thought they had left it off on accident since I had requested they leave off hazelnuts as well due to a food allergy. But under some of the arugula, were little blobs of delicious ricotta. The wine list was decent. I got a quartino to wash down my dinner and walked out satisfied without breaking the bank. The bar did have a funky mildewy smell that I got accustomed to after a bit and it was kind of dingy. I'm not sure if that was an old world ambiance or grime. Sometimes it's hard to tell.

Kristina W.

I really wanted to like Quartino after everything I'd heard about it, but I was just really underwhelmed. I made a reservation for a Saturday lunch, and they seated us in a cramped corner near the bathroom. Starting with the ambiance - it was too loud, tables were packed too closely together, and service was just ok. Usually, if the food at a restaurant is amazing, I won't care that much about the mediocre ambiance and service. Sadly, it was not. We ordered the Bruschetta (came with 3 - 1 topped with Arugula, 1 Sicilian Eggplant, & 1 Portobello Mushroom), Fried Calamari, Mushroom Risotto, and Linguini with Clams. Of the 4 dishes, the only one that stood out was the risotto; the bruschetta and linguini were average, and the calamari was almost soggy, not crispy enough at all. Maybe my experience was average because I didn't order their "signature" dishes, but for a restaurant that has a consistent 4+ Yelp rating, I'd expect nothing on their menu to be less than satisfactory.

Sarah S.

Quartino is so loud! If I go back, I'm going to heed all the advice and sit outside on the patio. My friends and I couldn't hear each other unless we screamed. Our waiter misheard our orders it was so loud. Pandemonium! Most of the food we got here was really good. Be careful because it's small portions you may find yourself ordering WAY more than you can eat. That's what happened when I went with my girlfriends and we ended up with a lot left over. Service was a bit disappointing. My friend had to ask 4 times for butter, the runner brought us the shrimp risotto when we ordered the mushroom. Sadly I'm allergic to shellfish so we were left waiting about 10 minutes to get someone's attention and then another 15 for the new dish. Eek gads! Once we got the mushroom risotto it was delicious. The gnocchi was to die for. With our sangria (they have white, yay) and food, we ended up spending about $40 each, eek. Honestly, Quartino has some good food but it's not amazing enough to have me come back & not be able to hear anyone I'm with, pay a million dollars for parking and have mediocre service. There are too many amazing places in the city to keep me coming back here.

Katie P.

Came here with a group on my first night in Chicago. Awesome vibe. Casual, but very lively atmosphere. Everything is ordered in small plates for the table, and come out in no particular order. Our waiter was great (wish I caught his name!) and gave great tips on where to go out in downtown afterward. Food and drinks were both delish and prices were very reasonable. Glad we found this place!

Di L.

One of the best things about visiting Chicago! The night we dined here, all the stars were in line. We got a beautiful window seat and somehow didn't have to deal with the usual long wait. Some of the best Italian food I've had. Favorites: The Gnocchi, Beignets, meatball sliders and sampler dish of cured meats/olives and more.

Angela L.

I've been to Quartino multiple times so it's clearly good enough to try but it's certainly not the best Italian in town. It feels and tastes like your run of the mill chain restaurant Italian food. But if you're downtown and need a descent place to eat, Quartino's will likely do the trick.

Elaine K.

Actual quote: Hubster: Is this the best meal you've had all year? Me: .....yes. Yes it is. We came here because of the rave reviews and also its proximity to our hotel. Learning our lesson from the night before, we got reservations. At 8pm, it was PACKED. Hell, at 10pm, it was still pretty packed. Despite this, service was amiable, quick and super enthusiastic (but not annoyingly so) and helpful. We ordered the duck prosciutto, fried calimari, beef ragu pappardelle and sausage pizza. Duck prosciutto may be the best combination of words in the combo of English and Italian languages. After decimating the first order, I ordered another and ended up taking it to go. The fried calimari was perfectly cooked, just a bit of chewiness and fantastic. The pasta was probably the best I've ever had. I could have eaten a vat of it myself. I'm pretty sure the noodles were fresh, not dry, as they were just unbelievably tasty and perfectly cooked. The sauce was meaty, flavourfu and just the right amount. I'm still dreaming about this dish. The pizza was pretty good. I don't love pizza in general, because I can't have cheese. Pizza without cheese is sad. They were very careful about topping only half of the pizza with cheese, and did their best to cut carefully to avoid cross-contamination. The Hubster really enjoyed his cheese-laden side. After this, the Hubster and I were full to the gills and exited with leftovers, which ended up being the fanciest breakfast anyone has ever had at a picnic table by an outlet mall. The atmosphere is crowded, loud, casual and cozy. It feels more bustly than busy, like you're at a super fun dinner party. For Toronto readers, this will blow you away: All this, plus a couple of beers and a 1/2L of red wine (a good one) came to less than $100 after tax and tip. For non-Toronto readers, this quality and quantity will easily run close to $150. EASILY. Consider yourselves lucky on this front, Americans. I'm counting this as a must-go when visiting. I can't wait to go back!

Melissa H.

Excellent spot, excellent service. Servings are made to share. I had the salamette with parmesan to start, then roasted chicken & tortellini. All delicious, but the Zeppole for desert made my night. Very reasonably priced for the area.

Helen N.

The service was good. We had reservation beforehand and arrived with a full house. Waited almost 20 minutes past our reservation time, which raises a red flag. Food was ver mediocre. I can see how it can be a good experience for a family with children. The portion was very good but the flavors were far from thoughtful and satisfaction. The shrimp risotto was decent but slightly over-salted. The pork ravioli had rich shredded pork in there topped by greasy prosciutto type of bacon. great/salty on grease salty, not a good combo. Scallops were overcooked and rubbery. Pizza crust was fine but toppings were again flavorless. Our last dish didn't make it, which was good much to our relief. The server was very nice to offer a tiramisu for us to share. The dessert turned out to be the relatively best dish out of all. Overall, disappointing. More of a tourist spot than anything.

Kelsey P.

My sister just turned 16 and I thought she would love a shopping day downtown Chicago so with parents in tow off we went. She requested tapas and Italian so when I found this place, I thought I nailed it. Unfortunately, it was overall a 'meh' experience. The food was decent. We ordered a variety of dishes (I think 5 overall?) and none of them really stood out. The pizza crust was good but the toppings were all kind of blah. The asparagus risotto was cooked well but in desperate need of seasoning. The gnocchi were dense instead of pillowy. The pasta dishes were ok. The bread that they gave us at the beginning of the meal was great! The service was great but not great enough to make me want to come back.

Mark C.

Best place to go for large groups. We ate everything on the menu. (OK, not really, but a lot.. ) And we had a few carafes of wine which our server let us sample first.... all for only $40 a piece. Such a deal and the start of a great night for all!

Julie T.

We love Quartino's!!! It is always our first stop when we come to Chicago. Everything is great, GLUTEN FREE pasta!!!! Yeah!!! Keep up the great job. The atmosphere is also great. Get a carafe of the house wine

Justin O.

The manager went out of his way, more so than the hostess, to find us a seat on a busy Saturday night. This was a plus. However, the food left me feeling a little disappointed as I was expecting something more from this popular establishment. I likely won't be revisiting.

Larry S.

Dined there twice last week with two groups of colleagues from Europe, one of whom is a hard core vegetarian and fussy about food in general. We ate there the first night because a colleague who would miss the scheduled night was so intrigued by the menu. Well decorated, big noisy, busting place serving "Italian Tappas". All dishes are modest to small and the tables come with stacks of small plates for sharing. I can honestly say that everything we tried was fantastic. Pizza was amazing. Veal, Chicken, Octopus, Gnocchi, Vegetable dishes, Antipasti, Osso Bucco, salads all great. Nice bar and solid selection of wine and beer. My colleagues were all raving about the place. So will you.

Perla C.

Good food I love the carpaccio, fresh ingredients, service is usually pretty good. I love that they offer their restaurant for fundraising events. The house red wine is always a good choice

Jackie K.

We went here and it was a great meal. We came with 3 people in the early afternoon. The gnocchi, pesto canelli(sp) and brocolli rabe tapas which were all really good. The pizza was also great. There are a lot of options for vegetarians which is really nice. We were seated right away and the service was excellent. I would have come back if I had more time.

Neha M.

We LOVED this restaurant! We ordered the quattro stagioni pizza, the gnocchi, and the Torta al Cioccolato for dessert. Everythingggg was cooked to perfection and could not have been better. Also if you're looking for a great red wine, order the Lazio! It was a surprising treat! :) Great restaurant, great service, great vibe.

Rosalie C.

I have never written a review but I feel the need to after experiencing Quartino's. I booked a private, special event there last Saturday night for 50 people, upstairs. I requested a buffet appetizer type party. Not as expensive as some other venues. My guests were so happy with all of it. Food was delicious, especially the veal meatballs. The staff was extremely helpful and so nice. It was a perfect night. Roberto was the best! Thank you Quartino's!

Katie T.

I had been eager to go to Quartino after taking a cooking class by the chef at Treasure Island. He was a great guy, and we enjoyed the class and the delicious, simple Italian food with a focus on fresh ingredients. I kind of found the same at the restaurant but I admit I was a little disappointed. We went on a Thursday night and it was packed. It felt a little chaotic. Our server was super attentive and nice, though I did feel like he tried to get us to really upgrade our wine, which is a pet peeve. I said I like one type of wine, ask him to tell me about two reasonably priced selections, and he points me to a third, much more expensive selection. Grrr. I stayed with one of the moderately priced choices, and the wine glasses arrived warm, fresh from the dishwasher. Yuck. We ordered a few dishes and none really stood out. The broccoli rabe in particular was disappointing--full of tomatoes even though that was not a listed ingredient on the menu. The pizza was decent--the crust was actually quite good. We might give Quartino another shot but we won't be rushing back.

Eric M.

Good service, great price but most foods are terrible. 0/2 in 2 times I have been here. Nothing tastes better than average or delicious. Just seems like a nice setting place for get together, share a bottle and small dishes, at cheaper than city prices. Their tomato soup tastes like a jar of tomato sauce, linguini with white clam sauce tastes like watery garlic with no other taste, fried calimari doesn't taste special at all... usually I can tell if food is good at a certain place by their fried calimari... no bueno

Dan B.

Service was great, dining room extremely loud. Ordered a Margerita Pizza. Crust was good but the tomato sauce on the pizza was extremely lacking in seasoning. Very bland. My wife had the minestrone soup which she really liked. Also ordered a small plate of veal meatballs with sun dried tomatoes and raisins. Wasn't sure about that combo but worked, however the meatballs were under seasoned. Wanted to order a desert of Zeppole and our server was nice enough to let us know that an order had 8 and she could get us a half order of 4. Very nice. They were good, and since we couldn't decide on the dipping sauce (chocolate or honey) they brought them both. Extensive wine list with several sizes available on most everything. Would go back and give them another chance, maybe we just caught them on a bad seasoning night.

Andy N.

Did I arrive on a bad night? This place was terrible. The service to the food.. bleh.. I don't think so. I think I came on the wrong night cause I've seen good reviews for this spot. Italian tapas. I came here late in the evening when we could only be seated at the bar. They had the menu and no one there with service being slow like a sloth. We ordered about 3 dishes just to try it out and everything came out tasting BAD! Beef tartare - Flavorless.. Why did I eat this?! Possibly the worst I've ever had. Tortellini - This was no good as well. Same with the no flavor. It had a lot of white sauce but tasted like nothing. It was disgusting. No one at the table would eat it. Beignets or donuts - Whatever this was it was cripsy on the inside.. dry as the dessert on the inside. Yuck... get me out of here.. Maybe it was a bad chef that night.. who knows.. I just know it wasn't good for me.

Jason T.

My first day in Chicago, and I've already hit up my SECOND tapas restaurant. I'm glad the windy city appreciates the act of sharing food! I checked out Quartino with two friends around 6pm and we were seated very promptly. It started getting more packed around 7pm. The interior is lovely and has a very different ambiance than what you would expect from a typical sit down restaurant. The staff are all wearing soccer jerseys and the decorations enhance the Italian atmosphere - you can even read different Italian newspapers while you wait! We started off with a complimentary serving of bread. The bread was not appetizing at all. It was cold and seemed somewhat stale, and it actually reduced my appetite. Not the best start to a meal. Our first dish was the baby spinach salad with pears, walnuts, and ricotta. The salad was nothing impressive at all. Super easy to replicate, and here you are spending $8 on it. Get another salad instead. Next was the duck prosciutto pizza. It's fairly well sized for the price, but you could hardly taste the duck that I eventually forgot I was eating duck pizza. What was more prominent was the generous topping of fresh arugula on top that added a unique peppery twist to each bite. The inside of the pizza was great, but the crust was way too hard. The last item to come out was the pappardelle (broad flat pasta) with braised beef tomato sauce. The pasta was tougher than what I'm used to, but apparently this is intentional. The beef and tomato sauce was excellent though. This is a sweet and savory dish that's easily enjoyable. On a humorous note, the bathroom utterly surprised me. I saw a gentleman who obviously worked there chatting it up with a customer while music was jamming in the background through a stereo set. He never once looked me in the eyes, but turned on the tap for me and offered me soap. Also available for use is mouthwash, lotion, and other bathroom essentials.

Erika C.

Always a wonderful experience when I come here. Wonderful selection of wines, so far I've tried their Riesling, Cab & Malbec. all exquisite. We started off with Melanzane as an appetizer along with Sun dried tomato soup (yum!) For entree I had the the tortellini with peas & prosciutto. Everything was delish. The service was also excellent. I'm definitely a fan of this place!

Justin B.

Have been to Chicago 10 times and dozens of restaurants. Absolutely my favorite. Environment was awesome. Food great and tremendous service. Thanks!

chris s.

Good solid choice - seating was fast everything tasted great. It wasn't top shelf though but it was a cool take on italian mixed with tapas. The service was quick and there was no wait. I would come here again.

Heidi G.

If you are looking to host a larger event in the city, Quartino is the place to do it. We recently hosted 100 of our family and friends at Quartino for our wedding rehearsal dinner. Although we were at the capacity for the private upstairs rooms, Julie and her team made it work. The food was delicious, warm, and prompt, and the service was delightful. Roberto did an excellent job of coordinating toasts during each course and he was constantly checking in with my family to ensure that they were happy. It was a little loud upstairs, but the Quartino staff did everything in their power to make it a private experience. Plus, they kindly met all of our quirky audio/visual needs and meal substitutions. Thanks, Quartino!

Bri A.

I've only been here for the Sunday brunch buffet they have during the summer. $20 for the buffet plus various bottomless cocktails is the perfect way to spend the afternoon with girlfriends! I want to have dinner here some time so I will give it another star after that. :)

M M.

We went to Quartino on a busy Saturday night recently. We were a party of 5 plus baby and all had a great time. Food was excellent, loud vibrant vibe, friendly and helpful staff. Couldn't believe our check wasn't much higher when we got it. That was a pleasant surprise! Highly recommended!

Paola C.

It's a very popular restaurant because of its exclusive location, but as an Italian, to be totally sincere and I am sorry to say that, this is not the restaurant where you will find authentic Italian food. Not happy about it. Pizza is too dry and...well, not pizza. Prosciutto is served in a poor portion, not cheap at all, together with pickled-fruits you may def not want to eat together with prosciutto. I don't know. Hmmm. Ugh. Oh and: Alfredo sauce doesn't exist at all in Italy! We have something similar that we call "besciamella", so if you want to look authentic Italian, I'd recommend to change the name at least.

Kojo Y.

Going off the reviews on yelp - this was deceiving. I don't know how this place is high rated?!? I tried the veal meatballs and it's was OK. Definitely nothing special. It's pretty much a bar that serves Italian food. Wine list wasn't impressive either. JUST OK. No reason to go back

Lisa C.

Went to Quartino twice for Lunch this trip! We had the menu for 2 .....it was great both times! Service was good overall. Second time around we had a fabulous waiter! Will definitely go back when in Chicago.

Nikita A.

This is my second time at Quartinos and it was fantastic. As always, the food is affordable and delicious. Our server was pretty prompt and we didn't have to wait too long. The sangria (rose) was super yummy. I got a tortellini in alfredo sauce and prosciutto, which was very yummy, but got cold quickly. The sausage thin crust pizza was very good. This food was more than enough for 2 people to share along with the bread and oil. Overall, a very affordable and yummy restaurant!

Jenn C.

The place is definitely popular. We came here at 9 on a Saturday night and there was still a line! At that point, common sense should've kicked in and we should've went elsewhere. Instead, we just waited since we were under the impression that the place was too good to pass up. The wait itself wasn't too bad and we were seated soon enough. We had a good variety of dishes going on but honestly, it was all very mediocre Italian food. Everything we ordered was passable, just not as amazing as people had made it out to be. Also, definitely stay away from the tiramisu. Out of everything we tried, I can only recommend the eggplant parm and their peach bellinis. If you're a native Chicagoan, I'm sure you'll make your rounds here every now and then. However, if you're only in town for a visit, go elsewhere and don't be fooled by the high ratings. Yes, it's not everyday you see Italian food served tapas-style at this price point, but keep in mind that these are much smaller portions (which means you'll be ordering more dishes so it all adds up in the end anyway).

Bea S.

If possible, I would give this place a 4.5, because the 0.5 star taken away was not in the control of the restaurant. I went there with a friend for a early dinner, and thankfully we had a reservation because it was very busy; I couldn't imagine what the wait time would be. I also used the valet parking ($13.99) and that was extremely convenient. We were seated right away, greeted by our waiter (Jourdan), and he explained the menu for us. For those who don't know, Quartino is a small plates restaurant dealing in Italian cuisine - they are meant to be shared. My friend and I shared the caprese salad, the sun dried tomato soup, the penne alla vodka, and the shrimp risotto. Caprese: pretty simple, nothing special. Soup: same. Both the penne and risotto were suuuuuper hot (I just love fresh hot food), and was delivered without much of a wait. I enjoyed the penne more so than the risotto, but both were really good. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because it was INCREDIBLY loud - I could barely hear what my friend was saying. There was one particularly loud party of about 10 people next to us, and I definitely threw some dirty looks their direction for being so rude and loud. But like I mentioned, it was out of the restaurant control, but it took away from the ambiance. I would recommend this place to anyone, just don't expect a quiet place on a Saturday night.

Natasha P.

Silly us! We didn't make a reservation for a restaurant in downtown Chicago on a Saturday night, on a long weekend. So obviously, we were going to have to wait. On the recommendations of a friend (and a quick check on Yelp) we decided to try Quartino. We got in line to put our names down for a table, while our friend tried to scope out the bar area, where they do serve dinner and seating is first come first serve. The host said there would be a 45 minute wait. We put our names down and a couple of minutes later, scratched our name off because of a call we got from our friend, who had found a table in the bar area. We settled in and ordered a pitcher of Sangria, which was very nice. After a lot of too and fro, we managed to decide on dinner. We ordered the Dates wrapped in Pancetta, the Braised Pork Shank, Duck Prosciutto, and the Spaghetti All' Arrabbiata ( spaghetti in spicy tomato sauce). I think the dates wrapped in pancetta and the braised pork shank, tied for Best Dish of the Evening; however, my husband says the braised pork shank was the out-and-out winner. The Pork shank was fall-of-the-bone tender and beautifully flavored, an absolute piece of perfection. The Dates were stuffed with Gorgonzola Dolce, wrapped in a nice salty pancetta and then drizzled with honey. They tasted like little bites of heaven. The Duck Prosciutto was accompanied by some Giardiniera (pickled vegetables) which were very tasty on their own, but completely over powered the prosciutto, in my opinion. The prosciutto was also, extremely tiny pieces, and definitely my least favorite dish of them all. The Spaghetti was the last to come out, and a pretty big portion. It was flavored very nicely, with the perfect amount of zing to it, and the Parmesan they had on the table, complimented it well. For dessert we ordered the Zeppole, described on the menu as 'Hot Italian Doughnuts with Honey or Dark Chocolate'. When we ordered, I asked our waitress which would be better, the honey or the Dark chocolate, and she told us that she'd just bring out both. Boy! Am I glad she did. The dark chocolate was without doubt the table favorite, and got over before the last doughnut did, however, I really liked the hot doughnut with the honey as well. That said, if I had to choose, I'd go with the dark chocolate. My only complaint about Quartino was the announcements over the speakers. The hostess was using a mic to call out the names of people waiting for a table, but the announcements were so loud, that we could not hear anything else, and had to pause in our conversations every time she would announce a name and since this is a huge restaurant, with a fast turn over, the announcements were beings made every minute or so. I think Quartino should turn down the volume just a little bit, so that the announcements aren't jarring. That aside, I'd like to go back to Quartino every opportunity I get.

Josh G.

Definitely in my top 10 for downtown dining. Very seldom a wait, great small plates with very unique flavors, delicious bread, and an excellent wine selection. I will be coming back often.

Karla M.

The tapas were great, the noise was a bit high but the service was great even if it was packed.

Ruthie K.

Great veal skirt steak. reasonable prices

Dan T.

Went there from work. Didn't have to pay ... sooo that was good. But that where it ends with the positive. The place is huge, the cram tourists in from organized tours, party events and try to get them out as fast as possible. Nothing of what came to the table was good. Everything (except the bread) was greasy: meatballs, pizza, veggies, ..... The tiramisu was lacked espresso for the ladyfingers, the ladyfingers were soft, no amaretto, ..... Stay clear.

Robert H.

After eating my way through the river north area, this is the first place that felt like it had both quality and a sense of heritage. Light lunch of chicken soup, salami, and pickled veggies. All were great.

Diana M.

This place was conveniently located a few blocks away from where we were staying at and was open till 2am. Works for me! There was a lot to choose from - too much that I found their menu to be a bit overwhelming. We really didn't know what to choose so we asked the server to suggest what was best for us. At the end of the night, I wasn't impressed by the food - it wasn't bad; just not noteworthy. I don't see what the hype was with having over 1000 reviews and rated at a 4. it was just ok to me. Reasonably priced, nice ambiance, staff was friendly, centrally located downtown Chicago...and food was ok...3 stars.

Vanessa K.

This place really isn't that good, dont be fooled by the amount of yelp reviews. Booked it for table of seven a month in advance and yes, it's def a popular spot due to its proximity to Downtown... but it isn't worth the hype - you should really go to Purple Pig or Girl and the Goat if you're down for some real Chicago-food experience. The tapas were mediocre (we got the calamari, caprese, scallops, broccoli rabe, dates wrapped in Italian meat, mushroom risotto, clams with pasta) - all of which I thought was a fair evaluation because it was a good amount of food and oh, the free bread that they gave. The bread was cold and stale, butter was not flavorful but paired with balsamic vinegar it was a tad bit better. The dishes were like I said mediocre except for the scallops but the dish was also 16 dollars for three scallops so that wasn't such a great deal. The mushroom risotto tasted a little funny and the broccoli rabe was bitter that we almost threw it away. On top of that, the service was whatever. The servers in their Italian jerseys were not super attentive and pressured us multiple times to order more food and dessert and that was no bueno. Overall, I would not come back again and would not recommend anyone else to either. The only plus thing was that the host at the front helped us take a picture and he got on his knees to help us get a good picture with the sign. Thank you, kind host.

Danielle N.

Great find for affordable and laid back Italian in River North. Came here on a weeknight with a friend. The atmosphere was lively and we enjoyed a couple of tapas and the sangria. I would recommend this as a great option for Italian food before a night out- the smaller portions will leave you feeling satisfied but not put you in a pasta induced coma before you even make it to Hubbard Street. The place also had a much more energetic vibe than many of the stuffy traditional Italian restaurants you might find downtown.

Lynn P.

The food was good, but the service was lackluster. They try to stuff too many tables in a small space, and we were on a corner, getting bumped by waitstaff and customers. Our waitress was too preoccupied with other tables, that nearly every part of our order was wrong. Next time, I would ask for outdoor seating, as it was more calm and spacious.

Gus G.

First time I had the risotto with Italian sausage with peas it was good April Ordered the tortellini with fettuccine sauce I had to finch it never disappointed with the food.

Mike L.

Post dinner at moto Not bad at all! Tasty pizza packed with veggies, including hot red peppers. Great inexpensive by the glass tons of choices. We had a very reasonable valpolicella. Would revisit.

J T.

It was the perfect ending to a perfect day. Wonderful, attentive staff...great food...probably the best risotto known to man! Actually, I will dream of this risotto for quite awhile. The atmosphere is a little loud, but we are finding that is the norm for the great quality, trendy spots in Chicago.

Kelvin C.

Sorry, had high expectations judging from the reviews but perhaps our concierge recommended a different place for good reason. Parents are well travelled and I've been to New York but this place can't even compare to our Vancouver BC quality for pizza. In my 30odd years of pizza eating never had I left a restaurant with unfinished pizza. Well my parents did the same tonight. The homemade fettuccine was just as poor. Pizza crust was the chewiest I've ever had, tomatoe sauce tasted raw and uncooked, cheese was so thin and flavourless, basil leaves (on the margarita) was also raw! A frozen pizza would have fared better. Homemade fettuccine had a rough and very chewy texture. It was also unusually thick- so much so I thought we ordered bad handmade Chinese noodles. They don't even have draft beer, maybe just good ambiance. Oh and the washroom design was unique- so I liked that. Was at Pizano's two nights ago- Very good deep dish and homemade pasta- though they're known for their thin crust I believe. or Portillos hot dogs is just 2 blocks away and yes they're awesome. See my reviews for these two venues. Quartino: Food: 1/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Food most important overall: 2/5

Sheila F.

My boyfriend and I came here 3 years ago and came back recently because we liked it so much! The food is delicious! Lots of options for what youre in the mood for ( Italian food wise) . There are plenty of good bottles of wine for fairly cheap prices. We had the dates rapped in pancetta - deliciously sweet, penne alla vodka, fruit de la mare and the Zeppolis for dessert- we shared all the dishes and it was only $35! The wait staff was so friendly and helpful and even accommodated our specific seating reservation-we called ahead. Check this out if you want good italian food!

Benjamin D.

Tourist Italian food. Not bad. Atmosphere is nice but we sat on the patio and ordered the following: Caprese Salad (good) Shaved Vegetable salad (okay) Roasted Octopus (okay) Eggplant Parm (Awesome) House Pinot Noir (not good) In all, nothing to go back for and for the money and similar large downtown Italian restaurant style, Volare is way more on point.

Swagsman W.

House-Made Burrata with Roasted Beets Salad was good. The Burrata (mozarella cheese ball with creamy middle) was a nice compliment to the beets and greens. Great recommendation from server to order two 1/2 portions of the two entrees I couldn't decide between. Ravioli Filled with Braised Pork, Speck, & Fava Beans , and the Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo - Tuscan Pasta Ribbons with Braised Beef Tomato Sauce. The ravioli was good, but was really enhaced by the Speck (prosciutto). Braised beef tomoato sauce was excellent. Pure comfort food. Tried the tiramisu (another half order suggestion from server which was perfect size). The dessert was underwhelming as the lady fingers were missing a soaking with espresso (or coffee) and rum, and the topping was dusted exclusively with and too much cocoa power (should have chocolate shavings). I gave honest feedback to my server, and although I didn't ask for it she removed it from my bill. A nice gesture which she got back in her tip. Overall the bill was $37 including wine, so a nice value. Quite loud inside.

Mags L.

I just love the food! Everything is so tasty and garlic filled. Olives, salami, fresh Mediterranean salads, pasta, pizza, shrimp, veal meatballs, wine....what on earth could be better?? I come back time after time again. I almost wish I could resist so as to try someplace else.

Meredith C.

The environment is probably better suited for a group looking for a fun night out, not date night. Not quite the intimate setting I was looking for. Went here yesterday, wanted to do something nice before going to a show. I made reservations ahead of time, however I should have noted it was a special occasion. I thought by how dressed up we were that maybe the hostess would have noticed and given us a more "private table", but we were sat next to the main aisle in a rather empty dining room. At first the service wasn't great, Hostess seemed a bit cold and I had to flag someone down just to get some water after 10 min of waiting. But after that, no real complaints. Dirty Martini was ok, the blue cheese olives didn't taste fresh, they had a weird taste to them. Prosciutto wrapped dates were amazing, best part of the meal. Split a beef filet, the kitchen actually made them to two different temps. I wasn't expecting this, so it was a really nice thing they would accommodate. They even told us which was which. This is great bc my BF and I do not share the same opinion on how meat should be cooked (medium rare obviously). Our other two dishes weren't bad, they just weren't all that great. The gnocchi was fresh, but was not a fan of the pesto sauce and veggies it was served with. The Soprano Pizze was really good, I just didn't realize they use fennel in the giardiniera. We specifically avoided the Italian Sausage so we wouldn't have to taste fennel, but by no means is that the restaurant's fault. I would come back, but only as a group or if someone else chose the place. Or just to get those dates...holy hell are they good.

Thomas B.

Food was pretty good, but a bit overpriced in my opinion. It was also VERY LOUD and CROWDED.

Scott Z.

Extremely friendly service. I accidentally forgot my left-overs at my table, and returned 20 minutes later to retrieve them. My waiter had already thrown away the leftovers, but insisted I wait as they placed a NEW order for the pizza AND pasta I had for dinner. Not only did I enjoy perfected Italian recipes, I also got to experience 5 star service

lisa w.

Good selection of tasty food - small plates. Fun atmosphere, but a little bit loud inside. I like that they play old Italian movies on TVs around the restaurant. Great breads & yummy fondue. Make a reservation - it gets very crowded.

Susan S.

I'm here at a work conference with 200+ financial planners and First Trust tales us to this fantastic Italian restaurant! It's hard to cook for 200 and keep the quality up but Quartinos did it! Buffet style Italian food, I'm just bummed I got full before dessert! The cheese is made fresh daily! Try the pizza, the pasta and the polenta fries! Yummy!!!!!

Ahmed K.

Choosing a place to dine in Chicago can be a mountainous task - there are so many options everywhere that you begin to worry that you might not get to try all of its thousand or so restaurants in under two weeks. My best advice is to start from the top and work your way in and I found that Quartinos was definitely a place that stood up to that idea. It was recommended by a friend with excellent taste in restaurants and boy was he spot on again. Upon ariving, the hosts were exceptionally friendly (I thought I would have to donate a kidney to get a table). Looking at the menu - I wanted to try so many things but I settled for a few good ones. The idea here is very similar to a small plates / tapas kind of deal but this is Chicago so beware of the massive portions. The Veal meatball basil red chili pizza was good but nothing out of this world (then again I thought it was unfair for me to have just tried the best Pizza I've ever experienced the night before at Giordano's), the roasted lemon and herb chicken was stunning, the eggplant olive and caper salad was also nice and refreshing as was the duck prosciutto and the chicken soup, but I think the real star of this meal was the veal sliders - they were excellent and at just $2.50 each, it's almost a no-brainer to try at least one. To wash it all down - an Italian blood orange and grapefruit soda. And all of that rarely put a dent in my wallet - it's definitely recommended for anyone visiting Chicago. Massive props to the exceptionally friendly and helpful waitstaff who go above and beyond even in such insanely busy nights.

Cassie C.

I am giving them a star because the food was good, but everything else was terrible. We came here for a random dinner around 5p on a Sunday and initially were greeted quickly and seated. After being seated we didn't see a waiter for 15 minutes! When he finally came to introduce himself and get our drinks we decided to just order everything in case he didn't come back for another 15 minutes. ---Keep in mind they were not busy by any means except for one large group of 10 and a few other tables-- We kept running out of water and because we could not get the attention of our initial server we kept having to stop other servers for water and additional orders. They forgot 2 of our additional orders and when we got a hold of a server to tell them our server finally came over and told us it would be a few more minutes, rather than just apologizing for the mistake. I wish I could say the food was so good that I would be willing to give them another chance but I cant.

Rajeev M.

Why I went: Lunch with mom in Downtown Chicago before heading back to school. Initially I wanted to go to Xoco but it was closed and when we decided on quartino it definitely hit the spot What I ordered Burrata with Beet Salad/Fresh Bread: I love burrata so I had to order this! It was better at Pizza Antica. I had to add more salt/pepper and olive oil to this burrata, but it still had had great texture. I also liked the difference in texture in the salad between the cubed beets and shaved beets. Half/Half Pizza: I LOVED that you could get Half and Half! I will preface this review by saying I am not an authority on pizza and maybe pizza connoisseurs might be up in arms about how this was not traditional Neopolitan style pizza,. but I enjoyed it.The crust was not blasted by the heat of the oven and completely charred. It was completely cooked through and had a nice crunch and slight chew. When I come back I will definitely order it again with different flavors. Campania Fonduta, House Made Ricotta, Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, & Hand Torn Basil - $12 My Favorite of the two pizzas! The Housemade Ricotta had a nice luxurious texture and was delicious. I also loved the strong basil flavor. I would order this again! Prosciutto D'Anitra Onion, Duck Prosciutto, & Wild Arugula - $13 I really like pizzas with Arugala. I love the flavor of Arugala and It really helps balance the inherent heaviness of pizza and lightens it up. . I however was not blown away by the duck prosciutto and there really was not enough to really get a sense of the flavor. Overall it was okay but not great and I will probably try another pizza in lieu of this one next time. Eggplant Parm: Mom ordered this and she really liked the strong basil flavor that was present all the way through The Good: Great Service /Solid Food/Lots of Variety on the Menu The Bad: Far/Difficult to Park (Used 14$ Valet)/ Cut to the Chase: 4 Stars Unexpected choice but Solid Italian food will definitely return if in the area

XL V.

This place was recommend by my bf's good friend. We decided to give it a try and we weren't disappointed in the food and service. Ambiance was authentic, almost rusty yet romantic. I enjoyed my visit. The veal meatball sliders were delicious: tender and just the right size. The coleslaw side order tasted really unique but was good. Also, a little spicy. I ordered the bruschetta with egg plants and portobello mushrooms. Just yummy! The place was very crowded and it was a little hard to navigate. We got seated on the balcony, which had awesome views. It was chilly but they had outside heaters which really helped. Our server was very friendly and joked around. It made the experience even better. The bathroom wasn't very impressive because it was crowded and dingy and old-looking. There was a bathroom attendant who didn't do much. Girls with sparkly fancy dresses were hogging the mirrors and it was just a confusing mess. I would have given this place 5 stars if I wasn't disappointed in the bathroom. I'd definitely go back though. In fact, I decided to make a reservation to celebrate my bf's birthday, hoping to receive the same, nice service as the first time we were there.

Meredith B.

My cousin's bridal shower took place at Quartino, and they did a really beautiful job. The decor was classy and understated, and the service was attentive. Easy to get refills on wine! We had a nice private space upstairs where we could mingle and open gifts, and several tables where we had our nice lunch. The meal was served family style, and I remember especially enjoying the spinach salad, the cavatelli with tomato/basil/ricotta, and the shrimp risotto. There were lots of lovely little small/plates appetizers too. I wish I could remember more details, but I know that the food was fresh and well-prepared and served in a classy environment. Would be great for any private dining event, and I'm sure for regular dinner too!

Romy K.

Had a nice late lunch here while visiting from out of town - sat outside on a beautiful, sunny afternoon. Really liked that they serve wine by the 1/2 liter and full liter, in addition to by the bottle. Waiter was very knowledgable about the wines and made a good recommendation for our 1/2L order. Tapas portions of Italian dishes - great concept - perfect portions for the 2 of us to share. Polenta fries were excellent - as was the broccoli rabe. The salmon was cooked perfectly, but a bit under seasoned. Gnocchi was a little dense - I prefer them a bit more fluffy - but acceptable. Finished off our lunch with a very good espresso.

Tracy L.

My friend and I came here for dinner around 5:45 on a Friday night, and the restaurant was bustling but not packed, which was nice. I actually made our reservation on Yelp and we were seated immediately. Our server was super friendly and explained everything to us patiently. What I like about Quartino is that they do half plates on many of their main plates, so we were able to try 2 or 3 different dishes each without feeling too full or paying a lot. We split a plate of bruschette which I found to be different in taste and more artistically plated than I've seen at other places. It was good but messy (the bread was too big to be bite-size, and biting made the toppings fall off). I ordered the Crisp Calamari and the Tortellini pasta (half order). The tortellini was amazing but unfortunately I am newly lactose intolerant so I had to get the half order (my stomach still voiced its displeasure after my meal). I think my friend ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana and then tasted the Giardiniera Romana, which was actually pretty good for being pickled vegetables (our server was kind enough to get her a tiny plate of that because it was too small to begin with to make it a half plate and my friend didn't want to order it fully in case she didn't like it). Our total for the TWO of us came out to be about $25. That was a pleasant surprise. Definitely will be coming back here to try out their other dishes!

Jo N.

Only here visiting for two days and ate here twice. When you find the best why look elsewhere.

Andrew C.

Best Italian in Chicago

Cindy S.

This place is so cute! A great place to have a date. My husband and I started with duck prosciutto and one of the cheeses (can't remember the name, but it was quite salty) paired with the fennel salad and the cucumbers. Loved it. Next, we had the mushroom risotto (yummy!!) and the house made noodles with the beef sauce (delicious!!). Dessert was the off menu tiramisu. I highly enjoyed this meal and would definitely return. We also shared a 1/4 carafe of wine-- prices are fantastic here and I really enjoyed my wine! Service was excellent, too.

Phil G.

Nicholas was the best host! He was welcoming and accommodating, and got us in on a busy Saturday night without a reservation. The server was spot on, friendly and knew the menu front to back. The food was delicious and served quickly. Get the prosciutto pizza!

Charmy C.

Awesome selection of small plates and wines!

Ron W.

Good food for the price, very inexpensive for downtown Chicago. But, the absolute LOUDEST restaurant, by far, I've ever been to. Almost impossible to hear the server or have a conversation.

E.J. G.

My favorite restaurant ever! I have been fortunate to eat at the finest restaurants in S.F., L.A., the O.C., Hawaii, the list goes on... I even opened this Yelp account thing JUST to review Quartino. I ate here with my boyfriend and his parents one night and came back the next night with a party of 9 because the food was so good! Hell, we even craved Quartino the next day but opted out of another trip to the city. Ok...obviously I LOVED it.... Why? The Salumeria tasting was the best idea. Two meats, two cheeses, three spuntini and delicious apricot puree and mostarda to compliment. The duck prosciutto with Taleggio cheese and apricot puree atop a nut/raisin(maybe dates) bread?! I felt like the rat in Ratatouille. We ordered a pizza both nights; first the Prosciutto D'Anitra and the next night the Soprano (added tomato sauce). Delicious pizza Naples style and so good we devoured it before we could speak. Ordered a liter of house wine and finished it (well, mostly I did). Also ordered the shrimp dish, soup, and the Dates wrapped in Pancetta. I hate Gorgonzola cheese but somehow I enjoyed the combination of Pancetta and honey atop the dates. We also ordered dessert; Coppa al Banana and The Hot Chocolate cake (BOTH AMAZING). The party we brought with us the second night were a group of true Italians and they also were in amazement of the ecstasy brought on by Quartino's food. Amazing, amazing, amazing. Service was great. In fact, if it weren't for Brandon/Brendon (it is loud in there) we probably would have passed it up the first night and meandered elsewhere. He explained the menu and within a few seconds we were watering at the mouth. Waiters and waitresses are very attentive and the bussers are constantly clearing your table. I felt like I was in Italy!! This is mentioned last in my review because the quality of food is priceless, however their prices are very affordable. About $100 for a party of 4 to gorge?! I'd be there 3 times a week if I could. Definitely going to visit there once, twice, maybe three times next time I am in Chicago.

Basil D.

Quartino is a great place to meet for dinner or drinks or just appetizers. They have a terrific "small plates" menu. I've eaten there at least three times. The meatballs are fantastic, very moist and just the right size for small plates. My only problem with it is there is wayyy too much bread. The bun was too thick and too big. I propose that if one is going to serve meatballs as a "small plate" they should either bake or contract out a small bun where the proportions are more appropriate. The salads were wonderful. They put the right amount of balsamic vinegar, good mozzarella, and sweet tomato. If you go to Quartino, you must absolutely get the zeppole, the traditional Italian dessert usually on a "St. Joseph Table". For the heathen, Italians celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph on 19 March with great solemnity and they have a huge spread of foods, many unique to the feast, and zeppole is one of them! They are chocolate perfection in a puff pastry. I had my doubts they could pull it off, but Quartino did it perfectly. The wine list is wonderfully diverse, with very affordable wines. The five of us polished off 4 bottles, along with pizza, meatballs, salad, and salmon and the bill came to only $160, not bad. The pizzas are sincerely wonderful. They top them with terrific ingredients like arugula which is wonderfully peppery, good olive oil, and a nice fire baked crust. Worth going, a good sturdy hang-out.

Chitrali S.

Delicious tapas! I loved their eggplant Parmesan so delicious! We also had the funghi pizza which was also good portion size and tasty. Tons of items to share husband had the veal sliders and thought they were delicious. They have a ton of veggie options and their selection of woes are great.

Jenny P.

Delicious! Quartino was our favorite eatery on our Chicago trip this past weekend. We had a reservation for 7 pm on a Saturday night and saw quite a few people waiting to be seated so a reservation is recommended. We shared the veal meatballs, shrimp risotto, and linguine with clams between the two of us. The veal meatballs lived up to the hype on Yelp. Tender, moist, flavorful... just everything that you envision in a perfect meatball. I don't know what the marinade is to create such tenderness but the meatballs just melt in your mouth! The shrimp risotto was the winner for us, however. There was such depth in its broth/sauce that rendered the dish to be both creamy but an intoxicating roasted and nutty flavor at the same time. The shrimp were furthermore cooked perfectly. Needless to say, we were talking about this dish for the next two days. We also shared a chocolate lava cake which seemed to have espresso as its base. A chocolate-lover's heaven and a perfect end to the delicious meal!

Sally V.

I love this restaurant. I had my birthday party here and I had a fantastic time. The food and service were both excellent. I can't wait to come back for that Linguini and Clams. Delicious!

Martin P.

Excellent to-share italian tapas. We had a selection of cheese, duck proscuito, olives, grilled peppers, beet salad and a pizza. All that accompanied by a good red wine. It was delicious and very affordable. The place is popular and busy. Eat outside on the terrace as the inside is very loud when filled with customers.

Tiffany C.

Only thing you need to know? The cold pizza the next day makes your tastebuds tingle with anticipation and excitement (almost) as much as the day of. Alright, there's a bit more to be said. But honestly I'm not sure I can add anymore to what everyone else has already gushed about. The environment, food, and service are impeccable, top-notch. Our waiter was patient, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable not just about all aspects of the "usual suspects" on the food menu, but which wines/sizes would go well with our meal as well. We ordered the Campania pizza (a white pizza), the duck prosciutto, and a sort of self-devised concoction pasta that was pure perfection on a plate. Our pasta was an angel hair with vodka sauce and garlic and it was the ideal serving size for two mildly hungry people who still would like to devour a delicious thin-crust pizza. Our waiter seemed to read our mind when we couldn't find a pasta off the menu that really appealed off the bat and suggested that we invent our own to our liking. The duck prosciutto was very good, but certainly more of an amuse-bouche than a stand-alone plate, in my opinion? It had a great chewiness and mouthfeel and a good cured flavor, but wasn't too salty at all. There was also a side of pickled vegetables that I wasn't very impressed by, but this is more because I don't really care for pickled things in general. The pizza, oh mygoodness, the pizza. Ricotta cheese, soft cherry tomatoes, basil, I don't know how this could possibly go any better than it did. The pizza was so fresh and delicious that it felt like every bite I took only increased my happiness further and made me crave more! (rather than that pesky diminishing returns theory). I honestly have a slight desire to live here in Chicago forever just so I never have to be too far away from the pizza. I don't really like deep dish pizza too much (too heavy with the tomato), but I love thin-crust, and this thin-crust pizza is, without a doubt, the best I've ever had. Quartino, I will keep you in my heart and memory until we can finally be together again!! Love, your number 1 California fan.

Nicole H.

The dessert is to DIE for!! Soo good. -it's very loud in there so be prepared for that. Although, you may not notice it as you relish over your amazing meal.

J.B. S.

3.5 stars. Ate indoors, it was VERY loud. And pricey. The best part was on Mondays they have full bottles of house wine for only $10. Wow.

Hayley P.

I went here with about seven people and it was the perfect choice for a group. The food was really good and it had a great wine list. The service, though, was the only downside. The waitress took forever so one of the guys I was with actually went up to the register to get her and he overheard her talking shit about our table. Safe to say we didn't give her a huge tip. Also it is EXTREMELY noisy so don't come here if you're looking for an intimate dinner.

Tara J.

In Chicago for one night and went here. I wanted something I couldn't get back home. Warm decor. Dark but moody. The waiters are in jeans with soccer shirts but its casual to fancy. It's loud with laughing and plates clinking. You can eat outside, in the dining room or at the bar. Service was great. Nice wine selection. Got the $5 blanco and it was really good!

Mark D.

Good, solid Italian food. Nothing special about this place, but worth a visit.

Mike K.

Every city needs one of these...mad busy, chaotic, shouldn't work but does! Food arrived in an ad hoc way. What we ordered was very good but one main arrived well after the others so just as well we were happy to share. Our server was very good and overall we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

James S.

Great place for really good Italian food and drinks before going out with your group to the clubs/bars/etc. Perfect for Friday/Saturday night. It can be loud and busy so just be prepared. Definitely not an intimate date kind of place.

Amir A.

Solid Italian tapas with a great selection of goodies. The pricing here is fair for downtown Chicago/tapas. I was pleased with the service and while the starting bread that was brought out was not the greatest, the food we ordered including: the Polenta Fries (half order, small portion), steamed clams (delicious, decent portion), and Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo (decent portion), were flavorful, served warm, and overall delightful. If you aren't terribly hunger but could go for a light meal full of flavor, this is the place to go.

Cindy D.

first of all, they didn't seat us after we arrive on time though we had a reservation. they still go With first come first served. so what's the point of making a reservation? Then, good is just ok-- super noisy. Wouldn't recommend.

Jin L.

We visited Quartino in between a 2 hour wait for the Purple Pig. While it wasn't a particularly memorable experience, it was a decent option to try out, given there was no waiting time to get a table. Food: 3/5- The food was good, but no dish stood out. It's a middle of the road culinary experience that you'd expect from a average Italian restaurant. Service: 4/5- Everyone from the hostess to the servers and bussers were nice. We had a good time and were well taken care of. Environment: 4/5- This is a nice establishment, pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-tier Italian joint. One funny thing I noticed was a semi-inappropriate old Italian movie that was playing on the tv, amidst diners of all ages, including kids. Value: 3/5- The portions were good and the price was right, Return? Maybe. If you're I'm mood for some drinks with food on the side, this place is a good choice.

Melinda M.

Great for a casual client dinner. We sampled at least 20 different dishes and there was something for everyone's taste; which took the pressure off choosing a place for client's when you don't really know their food preferences. It's very busy so quiet conversation wasn't an option but the energy was great, the wait staff attentive and very knowledgeable. Between drinks, apps, entrees and dessert the bill was only $150 for the three of us. I will definitely go back here the next time I have business in Chicago!

Pinak B.

Dining date: July 27th, 2013 & others Website: quartinochicago.com Quartino's has become my Italian restaurant of choice for the summer of 2013. Quartino's has always delivered when I am in the mood to indulge in carbohydrates. The menu is simple, yet highly effective for communal dining. The service is attentive though not extraordinary. Be forewarned, during the summer months the restaurant can get very crowded. The restaurant has no problems fitting people into every corner of their restaurant. Not all spots are comfortable, and I have found myself squeezed into an uncomfortable spot with very little room to maneuver myself. The menu consists of traditional Italian fare, pizza's, pasta's etc. The portions are small AND meant to be shared, so feel free to order extra entrees. We typically order a pizza and a few different pasta's and share everything. The food is of a decent quality, though falls far short of some other Italian restaurants in the city. I find myself gravitated to the restaurant more for its ambiance and the ability to try a few different things over the quality of its food product. I am not implying that it is bad, however, the food does taste like it has been mass produced to please their carbohydrate hungry patrons. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for its ambiance, and the ability to try a few different dishes without getting overwhelmed with large quantities of food like other traditional Italian restaurants. pbarot.blogspot.com

Haywood J.

Visited with a work group last week. We sat outside and we did family style, all ordering something and sharing around. Every dish was very tasty, fresh and traditional Italian. The atomosphere was great - this place has been around a long time and the decor (when I made it inside) was amazing - the bar area, the marble, the wood - all very impressive. My only critique might be that some of the portions were on the small side for some of the dishes, but overall the experience was quite good, and I would recommend this to others.

Shereene M.

I'm so happy I finally got a chance to try this place! I have been running by it during my Yelp research but never got a chance to check it out until I was in the area with a few friends and was trying to find a late dinner for a group of 5. I love a spot that takes reservations online and I can get confirmation right away! We were able to share a few things and a couple pitchers of sangria and spent just $25 a person! The sangria was pretty good.. I wish I remembered what we ordered but everything was great! I believe we shared 4 items (4 guys, 2 girls) and we were good! We of course then shared two desserts which stole the show! We were full, happy and didn't empty out our wallet!

Gayathri K.

Try the homemade pasta here. It was incredible. The service was excellent, and it is loud, can be crowded, but eating at the bar was really great. I liked that it was like old school italian. Thin style pizza, very italian, excellent wine lists, lots of great small plates.

Najah H.

I wish I had ordered more stuff to try . Started with the duck prosciutto. No complaints! Ordered the linguine claim half plate with white sauce and now I'm regretting not ordering the full plate. T'was pretty good The dessert menu is extensive but it's really all sorts of gelato. Which is fair given this is an Italian joint but I'm disappointed that there's no tiramisu on that list I like how they have an in between area that's not quite patio but is considered indoors. So you can get seated without much wait and still get fresh air and view of the street for some people watching.

Gloria C.

We stopped by this place after visiting the museum of contemporary art. What a great choice for lunch! Decently priced and well-staffed, everything was amazing! I cannot rave ENOUGH about this place. Looking for italian food in the city? Forget about the tourist traps like Giordano's, come to Quartino!!!!!!! I could rave about the food but it would go on and on. The seafood stew was fantastic. So was the proscuitto wrapped dates drizzled in honey and stuffed with gorgonzola. The shrimp risotta was mouthwatering delicious. Lastly, fellow yelper Will P. was absolutely right. The tiramisu here is amazing. It's off the menu but absolutely delicious. Fluffy, soft, not too sweet, with a delicate tiramisu flavor. I love good, unpretentious food, and I felt Quartino was just that. If you're in Chicago, definitely come here! Amazing!

Jared W.

Quartino is an amazing restaurant. The food is as good as it gets for someone who knows his food; but isn't quite a critic. However, the service is amazing. The staff, all around, was amazingly genial. We saw many larger parties, accommodated very well. I would recommend this place for non-food snobs who are looking to have a great time.

Shin M.

I had always heard this place was busy. We tried to get a reservation for 2 around 5:30-6:00 on a friday night but they said they only had a 5:00 available. So we called back 5 minutes later and they said the 5:00 was gone and they only had a 4:30 available. So we said we will just walk in. We walked in around 5:20 and there were a ton of tables open and we got seated right away. The .place started getting packed around 6ish. My fiance and I got the: Garlic dip: It was ok. It basically tasted like garlic hummus. Nothing special. Dates: Absolutely delicious! I would definitely recommend this. Gnochhi: I was surprised it came with pesto instead of some type of red sauce... the pesto had almost zero flavor which made the gnocchi dish tasteless. Penne a la vodka: Very yummy!! The sauce was good. If you ask for parmesan, they will bring you a brick of parmesan in a container thing, and you can grind fresh parmesan on your food. Kinda cool. Their bread cutter was sitting across from us too which was cool to watch. So that's 2 for 4. I knew this was a tapas place but it was different than what I expected. There were only like 6 items on the appetizer list, then like 6 salads, and then a bunch of entrees. But the entrees were pretty much tapas size but cost an entree price. Also, the waiter was nice but we felt so much pressure from him to keep ordering more and more. And in the beginning, I told him I still wasn't ready to order (because I had no idea what anything was on the menu) and he said "I know the prices are expensive... but" and I was quite insulted by that.. I'm glad I tried this place but I don't think I will return...

Anne Q. T.

What to eat when the business dinner reservation is not til another 2 hrs: soup, trio of olives, and a duck and arugula pizza. Ambience is lively. Service is spot on.

Chris S.

Thankfully we had a reservation or else getting in on a Friday night would have been nearly impossible. We sat at a table crammed into the middle of the restaurants with three bachelorette parties nearby. The restaurant was loud enough without the constant "woo's" and screams coming from grown women wearing tiaras and pageant sashes. I haven't been in Chicago very long, but it's becoming very evident that River North may be the bachelorette party capital of the world. The noise and the presence of a bathroom attendant are what's keeping me from giving Quartino 5 stars. I can't stand bathroom attendants - I'm all for folks making a buck, but I generally prefer paying people for services that I either can't or don't want to do for myself; turning water on and grabbing a paper towel are things I'd rather handle on my own. As far as our meal, everything was great. Our waiter was very helpful and we decided to try a bunch of things from all over the menu. We started with the angus beef carpaccio and the spinach salad, both of which were very refreshing on a hot evening. We then ordered the mushroom risotto (delicious), sea scallops (nothing special, but I love scallops), and the veal osso buco (tender and juicy). The three of us were still hungry, so we ordered the eggplant parmagiana (not my favorite but still good) and the roasted baby octopus (amazing). We finished with a sorbet and biscotti type dessert that was very good.

Stephanie M.

Good pizza BUTTT not the best. Though I loved the italian doughnuts, they tasted like little funnel cakes!

Caitlyn M.

Service is awesome, the gelato is amazing, and their food and wine is so reasonably priced. They also have great outdoor seating and a laid back atmosphere. It's a great place for dates or for a group of friends. Never disappointed. And for the love of God try the vanilla gelato.

Colleen W.

Serves food late! We ate around 11:30pm and it was nice to sit in actual restaurant not just bar food. Quartino serves small plates which i love love love, its fun to try a bunch of things and the portions are decent size, especially the pastas. The goat cheese ricotta was so heavenly and fluffy I would go back just for that! Tried the pancetta-wrapped dates drizzled with honey (yum) the tortellini with peas and prosciutto in cream sauce ( crisp peas that popped in your mouth with fresh flavor- yum). Generous sized scallops were nicely cooked and buttery. Tried the white wine sangria which wasn't my favorite, kind of an odd flavor and almost no fruit. Made up for it with the coppa de banana dessert, a carmelized banana, vanilla gelato homemade whipped cream and chocolate shavings! Again, yum. This place is extremely loud, I think something to do with the acoustics and high ceilings because there were fewer than 10 people in bar area but it seemed like they were screaming. Nothing a few rugs or wall decor wouldn't help. Not life-changing, but tasty food and ill definitely go back to try their pizzas. :)

Sam I.

I love the service and the pizza. The donut balls are too oily and not good. I would choose another dessert next time. Definitely will go back to try more dishes.

Dennis W.

OK, first off, I am an Italian food SNOB, having grown up with a Sicilian mother and having lived in Southern Italy for several years earlier in life. As a result, I can be a tough grader on Italian restaurants, so keep this in mind as you read further. I arrived at Quartino slightly before my 6PM reservation, and thought "What a cool place!". People were sitting outside, along the street, and some were on the second floor balcony overlooking State Street (that great street). There was a lot of street and subway noise (a couple subway vent grates are on the sidewalk beside the outdoor seating), so I decided to get a table inside, as I was meeting 3 business colleagues and wanted a quieter atmosphere more conducive to conversation. When I got inside I loved the decor and ambience. Very much trattoria meets Italian deli; warm and inviting. Shortly after I arrived, 2 of the remaining 3 members of my party arrived so we were shown to our small table for four in the middle of the interior space on the first floor. We were amongst the only ones there, and the ambient noise level was acceptable (hint: notice this is the second time I've mentioned noise level and I haven't even gotten to the food yet). The fourth member of our party arrived a few minutes later, and oddly enough, that seemed to be the time when a large influx of other diners occurred. Our waitress came by and got our drink orders, and I could barely hear her. She was somewhat soft-spoken, though. She explained that Quartino was a different kind of restaurant, that the portions were small and meant to be shared, and that the best way to enjoy the menu is to order a few things and they would arrive as they are ready, then order a few more, etc., etc., until you have your fill. A huge stack of plates was in the center of the table to allow for a continual flow of new tastes and food. We ordered a round of beer and started off with a Quattro Stagione pizza, and olive plate and some veal meatballs. The olives were delicious, the veal meatballs were out of this World, however the pizza was a huge disappointment. The crust was horribly soggy and wet, and the toppings all slid off the crust every time we went to take a slice. Clearly this is because they didn't drain or otherwise dry the toppings adequately (my guess is it was the artichokes that flooded the crust), and water leached out all over the crust and other toppings. Absolutely inexcusable in a place that promotes its pizza as much as they do. The only way I could eat it was to smash it all together on my plate and scoop it up with my fork. The next wave of food was a decidedly better: decent fried calamari with rather bland marinara sauce, some excellent pork dish and very good gnocchi with a cheesy spinach sauce. After working our way through our "second round" and a few more beers, we moved onto the dessert. The dessert seemed to be more of an individual thing. One of our party ordered a raspberry sorbet and enjoyed it; another tried some sort of banana coppa thing and he said it was delicious; I ordered a plate of zeppole with chocolate sauce, and they were divine. Perfectly fried and the sauce had just the right amount of sweetness, bitterness and chocolate flavor. Now, as for the noise. It was horrendously loud once the whole dinner crowd arrived. I gave up trying to hold a conversation with anyone not seated directly next to me and couldn't hear a single thing the waitress said after taking our initial drink order. Sure the place was crowded, and yes the tables are close together, but my ears were literally ringing when I stepped outside, and didn't stop ringing until I arrived home after a 10 minute Red Line subway ride. I think part of the issue is the hard floors and tin ceilings provide no sound absorption at all. I dunno - but I do know this almost ruined the evening for me. I don't know if it would be any better outside, but I can't imagine it being worse, even with the street noise, cars and subways rumbling past. So, all in all, not a bad place. I'll may go back; will likely try to sit outside; and I may even try the pizza again, but absolutely no pizza with any topping that needs draining or drying or that contains a lot of water.

Svitlana P.

Food is excellent, but the service is even better! Came here yesterday with a group of 12 people to celebrate bf's birthday and the service was unmatched. Scott is not only great at his job, he's got a great sense of humor cause he whipped out (pun intended) a crazy surprise birthday dessert. The food was absolutely delish as always. The only thing to know is that it gets quite loud, but that's part of the fun!

Michael F.

A lot of good item, nothing overly amazing. The price was right and its a fun place to go. I will definitely be back to satisfy a tapas craving.

Edward W.

3.5 stars I had lunch reservation at 7pm for 8 people and we were quickly seated. We decided to eat family style so we could try as many dishes as possible. We ordered 7 different dishes. Rustica Pizza - my favorite dish of the restaurant, just tasted right Soprano Pizza - tasted a bit odd with the chili peppers Duck Prosciutto Pizza - couldn't taste the duck at all, just tasted like a cheese pizza with arugula. definitely not worth the price. Tortellini - this was decent but there wasn't enough of it Fettucini - over cooked and not enough sauce Cheese Fondue - this was okay. the cheese wasn't that tasty. Duck Prosciutto - pretty good, but a bit too oily. Also ordered a bellini, which was super fruity and couldn't taste the alcohol at all. I feel like the quality of the meal definitely slipped since it was on July 4th and there were way too many orders going into the kitchen. For most of the night, it sounded like the dishes were coming out 20 minutes later than usual.

Doug P.

Good for close friends or smaller business gathering. Very active/vibrant dining area that not so supportive of serious client dialogue. If out to simply eat, drink and be merry while too much food (good red sauce by the way) keeps coming then this is a destination of choice.

Robin L.

While visiting Chicago recently for an extended vacation, my husband and I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at State/Grand (reviewed on TA), with amazing 21st floor views of the city, including a bird's-eye view of Quartino. To say this place is 'packed' every evening, would be an understatement. The 9 - 5 local crowd begins to filter in right after work, and dining goes late into the evening. Being a regular on TA and Yelp, I had done my homework and learned that Quartino is a popular place with both Chicago visitors AND locals (always a good sign). The atmosphere is friendly, comfortable, and very loud. (Think: gregarious dinner party with 50 of your closest friends and alcohol flowing - in a cavernous room.) Yes, THAT kind of loud. The wait staff is friendly, efficient, knowledgeable, and extremely accommodating. We were lucky enough to meet Lanny, Alicia, and Jose on our Sunday evening visit. They were exceptional, to say the least! Professionalism that matched a 5-star restaurant, but with the ease of a carefully-planned family function. My husband, a former Disney employee, and I noted the outstanding service. This is a tapas restaurant, so the menu is pretty overwhelming with so many dishes from which to choose, if you're new to tapas. That's where your wait staff can help, offering suggestions - about pairings, how much food to expect, etc... Speaking of pairings, the red sangria was wonderful! And.... you can order just the size you want. I highly recommend a liter.... it's sublime. The Husband chose martinis and wasn't disappointed. An excellent bottle of wine rounded out our over-the-top meal in this amazing restaurant. (We splurged a tad.) Attire: dressy casual for evening - not too fancy, not too casual - 'city chic' or dressier resort wear would be appropriate: dark jeans, slacks for the guys, or a nice summer dress. You'll find seating indoors and limited outdoors, though our HOT July visit kept us indoors. It's a great restaurant for couples or groups... like an Italian family meal, the chairs are pulled up to accommodate all who arrive! I don't think I'd recommend this restaurant for families with small children/babies after 5 PM... not because they wouldn't be welcomed, but because of how loud it is. We saw a few families with small children, (looked like locals), and they were leaving shortly after we arrived around 6:15 PM. We did notice a few teenagers with parents, and even they kind of looked a little overwhelmed at the noise and pace. During the day, probably an entirely different story. It IS, after all, a very comfortable place. Saved the best for last - the food: WOW!!! We tried a few dishes: white bean and garlic spread with crusty bread, calamari with a house red sauce, beef tips, beef ribs, and gnocchi. All were outstanding, but the gnocchi and beef tips stood out as 'exceptional' - with rich flavors, perfectly cooked, and paired beautifully with red wine. Well into my 40's, I never truly appreciated the red wine/white wine pairing concept - and I'm a wine drinker who's visited Napa Valley a few times - until our visit to Quartino. The beef tips deserve a dry red wine.... mouth-watering!! OUTSTANDING. Be sure to visit the upstairs restrooms and check out the entryway as you go through their doors. Take a dollar or two for the lovely attendants in the RR. To close, I'd like to send a BIG thank you to Adam and his entire team. Taking time to stop by our table to personally welcome us to Quartino was quite nice, especially during such a busy evening.

Ann M.

I'm a big fan of Quartino's. If you are looking for someplace quiet, this is not the place for you, but if you love small plates, having a laugh of two with some friends, this is the perfect place. Everything we had was fantastic.

Christine S.

Popped in late one evening without any real plan. There were only a few patrons at the tables, but the bar was probably 80% full. Ordered a martini and few menu items. Started with the braised baby octopus and sadly found it way too chewy. Couldn't finish it. Next I ordered the veal meatballs. They seemed to have been sitting around for a while and were merely tepid in temperature. Although I did finish them, I prefer my food to be out-of-the-oven hot (as I'm sure most do). The bartender asked how I enjoyed each item, and I was honest with him. After my meatballs the manager came over to inquire of my meal (the bartender must've told him of my reactions), and he told me he appreciated the feedback, as that's how a kitchen gets better. I concur. Next I ordered the duck prosciutto pizza. This was really tasty, and I would order it again. Took home what I didn't finish. Four stars because while I did not enjoy my first two items, I also wasn't charged for them. We all know this is what SHOULD happen but oftentimes does not (unless we pitch a fit). I was appreciative of the restaurant's willingness to appease me, and that kind of service goes a long way in my book.

Isabel C.

This is my second time here for another friends birthday. Same experience with the food, nothing was special. Veal meatballs were Luke warm and not flavorful, goats milk ricotta was bland and other things I tasted from friends were nothing to rave about. Service was once again fabulous! I have come to the conclusion that the thing that makes this place is the desserts. Last time was the doughnuts this time was chocolate cake and omg was it amazing. I will come back again to try more things but I will always save room for dessert.

Bridget C.

I am not a big pasta eater. I generally don't crave a big Italian dinner. One thing I do love, however, is great food with great flavor! I also love trying many different things. Quartino is my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago, and I don't go there for the pasta, eggplant parmesan, or the pizza. While those dishes are amazing as well, their seafood dishes and meat dishes are also incredible. After winning a bet over which team would score the first touchdown during the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day dinner was my choice! I knew right away that I was in the mood for Quartino, and everything that they have to offer. If you are wanting a private, romantic atmosphere, Quartino is not the place to choose. It is loud and crowded, but it somehow feels like a family gathering. I LOVE that. The lighting is dim, which does make it feel slightly more intimate. On to the food... We pretty much knew EXACTLY what we would be ordering before we even got there. We are pretty loyal to our favorite dishes, but are always trying at least one new thing each time. We started out by ordering their house red wine. The rosso. It is only $20 dollars for an entire liter, and we enjoyed it. We ordered the cheese fondue which comes with bread to dip. We added apples to the order, because apples and cheese... killer combo! The fondue is a really nice dish, because it's something to nosh on as you wait for your other dishes to arrive. The grilled octopus is really good, as well. It has a slightest of a spicy kick to it. It's really good! It is a must-order for me. The steamed clams are phenomenal! They actually give you a decent portion with grilled bread. You will need that grilled bread to soak up the delicious, brothy sauce that the clams are served in. If you are pasta lover, I highly recommend the cavatappi. It is a house-made pasta that is extremely doughy in texture, which I like. It is slathered in a marinara sauce with fresh basil. I cannot forget to mention that it is also topped with globs of ricotta. Perfect! My boyfriend always chooses the meat dish since he is more of a meat-eater than I am. Per recommendation of our fabulous server, Juan, we chose the veal skirt steak. IT. WAS. PERFECT. We finished our meal with espresso and a vanilla gelato with bananas. We savored every bite of that dessert! We will be back to Quartino many many times!

Courtney B.

Always delicious! Romantic, fun atmosphere. Wonderful carafes of wine to start with your appetizer (yum caprese salad and cheese fondue). The portions are made for sharing (or enjoying alone) so you can try lots of delicious offerings. Make sure you save room for dessert.

Isaac S.

I came here with my girlfriend about 6 months ago and it has become a favorite date spot of ours. We have only ordered the desserts, but they are fantastic. The profiteroles are the just order. The pastries are fantastic and the chocolate sauce on them is just great. The ice cream in the center is perfectly sweet as well. Paired up with great service and quick seating, Quartino gets a perfect rating.

Lynette H.

This is the best spot in River North! It's a small plates type place. Which is great because you get to try so many different dishes. Honestly, order anything in the menu and it will be delicious. Can't go wrong at all. The servers are all nice and hardworking. The restaurant gets really busy but it's a great atmosphere. The wine list is superb as well. They also have a full bar. In the warmer months it's great to sit on the patio or sidewalk.

Doug P.

I came here a few weeks ago on the recommendations of a few friends. It was midday afternoon and the place was not too busy, so we were seated very quickly. The hostess and the staff were friendly, but the staff seemed to be huddled in the back of the restaurant chatting with each other, so it took some effort for the staff to notice us when we needed up. I am sure they are more attentive when they are busy, but it was a bit of a turn off during the meal. The food itself was very good. I had a nice glass of Chianti, steamed clams, veal Milanese and arugula salad. The meal was highly satisfying and I barely had enough room for the tiramisu (which was awesome). If you are in the area I highly recommend giving it a try.

Annie B.

I have had lunch and dinner here several times when in Chicago. Great food and great variety. My last visit was on July 14, 2013. They were offering a great brunch special, but with the kiddos present we opted for the full menu. Shared plates this visit included the veal meatballs, broccoli rabe, and margarita pizza. Kids had Italian sodas. We had more than enough food...no dessert..and for four people the bill came to $38 and some change before gratuity. I'd recommend this place to ANYONE. Dates, families, groups will all enjoy this place!

Tiff T.

Cute & sophisticated Italian restaurant- surprised there were seats available on a Saturday afternoon, when most of the others were packed. Good food & good service. Prices are decent for Italian cuisine & location of the place. Would love to go for the 3rd time.

Nadia S.

Perfect spot to come to to start a long night out w friends! Perfect sized small plates, loved the penne w vodka sauce I think it was, and the pizza was pretty good too. Attentive server who knew when to give us space too. I will def be back to try other dishes.

Franco B.

Really romantic atmosphere and a wide variety of wines. I would def come back.

Ben A.

This seems like a fun place to go with a group.. Unfortunately I was traveling solo on business and therefore didn't get the full experience. I got seated outside right away. The hostess seemed sort of aloof and was more focused on looking pretty than being friendly and welcoming. It then took almost 20 minutes for somebody to come take my order. The waiter was extremely friendly and sociable so that was nice, but he was slow all night due to a seemingly limited amount of staff working the crowded outdoor patio section. The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time and tasted good - I got the steak carpaccio and veal meatballs with a soft cheese topping from the wine plate menu. I probably would've given quartino a 4 out of 5 based solely upon the food but unfortunately I then sat there with nothing in front of me for another 15 minutes before I could find my waiter and ask for the check. All in all, solid food, good for groups, but definitely not the best service I've received in Chicago.

Lea J.

I know that over 2,000 people before me have said this place is great, but, it's not. This is a chuky-cheese for adults. I didn't check the fire-code, but at any given time during dinner they can and do sets upwards of....I'm just guessing 400-500 guests(?) this means the food is not beautiful, interesting or lovingly prepared. No matter where you sit, it's very loud. It's a volume business with fairly low-end ingredients. I'm not saying it's terrible for the money, I'm saying it's not worth the time and calories. If you consider yourself a foodie, don't go here.

Britani C.

A-FREAKING-MAZING!!! everything here is delicious. a friend took me here one day for dinner and I fell in love. After taking my boyfriend less than a week later for a lunch date, it is now one of our favorite places in the city!! I can't wait until my parents come up to visit and I get to take them here! Calamari is on point. Veal is probably the most mouth-wattering delicious gift from god that has ever graced my palate. SO GOOD. EAT ALL THE FOODS!

Ree L.

Went here for a quick bite before heading to Vertigo Lounge down the street. Great place! Wine plates and Fondue were right on!! Tasty goodness. Tables are a little too close and place can get noisy so not best for romantic evening but for a night out on town its perfect. Wait staff great.

Nisha P.

Great place for a group dinner. The place was wild when we got there with birthday parties and bachelorette gatherings alike. The food was standard. Traditional Italian. Nothing too special, but certainly tasty. But the wine comes in carafes of many sizes and was VERY reasonably priced.

Susan S.

Large plates of great food on reasonable price at nice neighborhood

J B.

Favorite higher-end but still family affordable Italian downtown. Food is always fresh, with lots of handmade options, high quality, reasonably good service, and the price doesn't completely break the bank for a family of 4 or 5.

Nick B.

I have been here more times then I can count on two hands. I believe my friend and I have tried just about everthing on the menu. Everything is yummy. It is small plates so I would say get a bunch of dishes to try. Service is great. The only thing I haven't liked here was the house wine. Stick with a name for the wine.

Jason N.

Eat here, you'll love it! Make reservations, or face an hour or more wait. Definitely get the Zeppole!!

Min P.

A-ok

Olivia H.

Quartino is a high quality, tapas-style Italian place, so if you're on a budget, it is key to note that some of the dishes are available as half portions (mostly pasta and seafood plates)! This means you can try more things without sacrificing too much financially! Of course, Quartino is still by no means cheap. For my friend and I, our bill still came out to be ~$50 (with tax and tip) for 3-4 plates and a 1/2 liter of wine. But everything we ate was phenomenal! My personal favorites were the roasted baby octopus and the duck prosciutto. The baby octopus was tender, well seasoned, and served alongside some greens. Such magic. The duck prosciutto was served in tiny pieces, but each bite was so deliciously fatty and flavorful that we were able to make it last for quite awhile. Ultimately, this is worth the visit. Think you'll still be hungry? You can always stuff yourself with free bread (the college student way), or plan to come here for a pre-dinner snack.

Christina P.

Best Italian in town - affordable, quality food + service. I always make sure that I make a stop here whenever I make a trip up to Chicago. Their food + service never disappoints you. The hostesses and waiters are super friendly, efficient, and consistent. All meals come with a bread basket (bottomless) and the waiters are very good about making sure your water glass is never empty. Portion sizes run just perfect - not too overwhelming, not too small. They leave you satisfied. Dishes to try: - I'm not usually a veal fan, but I highly recommend the Veal Meatballs Napoli. - Orecchiette Pasta - Linguine with Clams (Red/white sauce = both awesome) - Romaine Hearts or Wild Arugula Salad I can't wait to go back to try their pizza dishes! Tip: They have an awesome lunch special - 3 course menu, $25 for 2 people!

Megan D.

This is one of my go-to restaurants in the city. There is something for everyone, even gluten-free folks. The food is delicious, half orders are available, and the wait staff have an extensive knowledge of cheese, meats, and alcohol pairings. always good!

Diane G.

Me and 6 other ladies went here for a friend's birthday dinner. If you're coming on a weekend, definitely make a reservation as it was PACKED. Thankfully, we made a reservation so we didn't have to wait at all. Although we were told this is typically "tapas" or family-style, we opted to order our own dishes due to peoples' varied tastes. For whatever reason, the server seemed annoyed that we decided not to do family-style. From that point on, our server wasn't the nicest (1st star down for customer service). I ordered the homemade gnocchi which was very good, but not 4-star+, amazing good. The gnocchi was about $10.75, so not bad at all for the portion size and quality. That being said, I've had better Italian food elsewhere in Chicago (Briciola in Ukrainian Village for example, comes to mind). Finally, the ambiance of Quartino was not my cup of tea. It was quite LOUD and hard to have a conversation with anyone not sitting next to you. I personally prefer more intimate settings. So for the 3-star food quality and non-ideal ambiance, another star down. Maybe I'm just not a Michigan Ave kinda gal....

Julie J.

We were looking for a family-friendly restaurant that took reservations so the kids wouldn't get hangry waiting 2+ hours for pizza at the usual tourist spots. We also wanted good quality food (for foodie grownups, but stuff that the kids would still eat). This fit the bill. I wouldn't say it was the best food ever, but good enough. There weren't many other kids in there, but we didn't feel too out of place. The wine was my favorite; good, but not overpriced. My biggest complaint and the reason I probably will never go back...the noise level was ridiculous. I had to YELL to speak to my husband sitting right next to me. I could not even converse with the kids across the table. Our ears were ringing once we left. I'm not a grumpy old codger...we can usually handle some noise and would even expect some on a busy Friday night, but it was out of control. I was hoarse and losing my voice when we left.

Troy C.

I come here about once a week. The pros are endless from the great food selection and quality, super friendly staff, fun atmosphere. The only con I can think of is the noise level gets high. Try it out with a group of people

Ryann E.

Love this place!!! The food is fantastic. We've eaten multiple items from all sections of the menu and haven't had any complaints. I love the concept of Italian tapas. It allows you to get pasta and pizza and not be stuffed out of mind. It's a great place for groups or a fun lively date.

Ellen D.

I had a great lunch here while exploring the Magnificent Mile, directed in part by Yelp reviews. They make most of the pasta in house and the tagliatelle al sugo was truly excellent. I never felt rushed even though I was there by myself and the waiter was very nice and explained all the specials. I also had a very reasonably priced and delicious red wine and warm chocolate cake to top it off. I hope to return next time I am in Chicago.

Katy K.

Amazing food! Tends to be loud inside but worth it for the polenta fries and pizza. Great for small groups to share plates.

Robert U.

Great pasta, cozy and casual inside, and they take reservations. The menu is pretty broad, but I stick with the pasta, which is very good. The table bread is great, as are the small salads. Can't go wrong here. If you like pasta, check this place out.

Maggie W.

FIRST things FIRST - The Tiramisu? Yes. Please. I'll take 5 to go. NEXT- The cheese plate? ya gotttta get it. ALSO- I didn't see Chicken Parm on the menu and the killer waiter, Lanny was like duhhh we will make it for you. THEN- Back to Lanny though, he was the best and genuinely seemed to like working there.

Christina L.

love love quartino. italian tapas are such a great idea because usually they come in such big portions that you have leftovers that are not delicious the following day. have been to quartino on various occasions and most recently for st. patty's day to down some yummy sangria - amazing. the restaurant is always bustling no matter what time it is (especially on weekends) but its usually pretty easy to grab a seat at the bar when you have fewer than 5 in your party, which is what we ended up doing. plus - had to catch some basketball on tv! the service is fast and friendly, and everyone just seems to really enjoy being there, which i think is a great sign. on earlier occasions i've tried the seafood stew, meatballs, various pastas and pizzas, as well as their yummy tiramisu - and you can get half portion, which is key to success after a lot of carbs... cant wait to come back to chicago to eat moreee - so much deliciousness in this city.

Ziyuan H.

the tiramisu is good very creamy but too sweet！ the pork shrank and octupus is just so so！

Quoc N.

I had high expectations for Quartino but I'm not sure I was blown away by the food or the atmosphere. The food was just okay but nothing that other tapas bars can't replicate or execute better. We ordered some of the more popular dishes like polenta fries, veal sliders, shrimp and sausage risotto. My favorite was probably the polenta fries since I've never had it presented that way before. It also came out piping hot which was a plus. Veal sliders were decent and my friends seem to liked them quite a bit. I was not as impressed with the infamous pork shank. Ours came out dry and was tough overall. It tasted a lot like leather after chewing my way through my first bite. However, as I got to the center of the shank, it got better and the meat did indeed slide off the bone. My biggest gripe though, is the seating arrangement. I get that restaurants want to utilize their real estate as much as possible, especially when they're likely paying both arms and legs for competitive spaces smack-dab in the middle of downtown. However, this place takes it up a notch as you can probably taste the food of tables around you if you tried hard enough. Again, I don't blame them for doing this to accommodate their large volume of customers but I had hoped for a less intimate experience with the foodies that night.

Justin C.

This place is wonderful! The food and drinks are marvelous! When eating at this place I truly feel like I'm in Italy. (Yes I have been) this is the sort of place that makes Chicago what it is! Staff is terrific and service exceptional. I highly recommend to any and all.

Sheila N.

Came here on a Sunday night and we thought there wouldn't be too bad of a wait but were given a 45 minute wait time. Hostess said we can sit outside immediately, wait for a bar which was first come/first serve, or we can wait. It was nice outside, so we decided on that rather than the wait. We ordered the Salumeria Tasting and the gnocchi, along with a 1/4 litre of Barbera D'Alba and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand (wish we got the name of this one because it was really good!). Both the salumeria tasting and gnocchi were equally satisfying and was the perfect amount of food for us since we weren't STARVING but we weren't not hungry either. For the salumeria tasting, you must get the duck proscuitto, as many of the other reviews here recommend! It's delicious! Our server was very attentive and service was fast! Wish we could have come back here again to try other items on their menu!

Lesia C.

I am going to give this place 2 stars, because when my family started coming here 4-5 years ago, it was way better. Quartino has really gone downhill with the quality of their food. I will also begin by saying that the service was great and the staff was very friendly and attentive, along with the managers. But the food here is just not good. We came here last night, and ordered vodka martinis to start. Very good, but at 14$ a piece, we should have gotten wine. My father ordered the minestrone, and I ordered the prosciutto wrapped dates. The dates were amazing, but the minestrone was just okay. Not bad, but again, just soup. My mother joined us and we ordered the crispy calamari, soppressata, beet salad, skirt steak, and the rigatoni with butternut squash and pancetta. 1. the calamari just tasted like any other calamari you could get at an Italian restaurant, basic fried with marinara sauce. Not bad, but again, nothing special and not worth the price. 2. The soppressata was extremely bland and flavorless. A very small portion came out. 3. The beet salad was again very bland and flavorless. It just tasted like plain beets that had been diced, and thrown in with some walnuts and some very dry ricotta cheese. 4. The skirt steak was another very small portion. Again, I understand that this is a tapas restaurant, we have been here countless times and to other tapas restaurants in the city. But when you order a meat dish, the meat should be the biggest portion of the dish. There was more plain arugala salad and roasted tomatoes on the plate than steak. Again, not bad, but not worth the price. 5. Finally, we get to the rigatoni. We ordered it per the recommendation of our waitress, and this is probably one of the worst things I've ever ordered at a restaurant. I was told by the manager that it's an "acquired taste" and that some people either love it or hate it, but I can't see how anyone could love plain boiled noodles sprinkled with plain boiled butternut squash. There was no sauce, it was extremely dry, and I couldn't taste any seasonings, not even salt or pepper. The waitress was very kind and took it off our bill, but at a total of $100 still for all of this, we will not be returning. It is a shame because the staff are very friendly, but the food is simply not what it used to be a few years ago.

Shannon N.

Went here for dinner on a Sunday night w/ my sister around 6:30ish and we were seated immediately since we were okay with sitting outside. If we didn't, the wait would be around 45 min...and just before we had left our hotel we were contemplating on making a reservation but from availability, we decided to skip doing that--if it was colder, I would say it was a bad decision on our part, but since the weather was only in the low 50's in the evening, it wasn't bad at all! WHAT WE GOT: 1) Salumeria Tasting: you get a choice of 2 salumis, 2 cheeses, and 3 spuntini .... we decided on mortadella and the duck prosciutto (so good!!), pecorino and taleggio, and the roasted peppers, beet salad, and artichokes campobasso. Loveeeed the assortment they give you--there was such a wide variety, plus olives and an apricot spread they give you--that we were never bored with what we had. 2) Gnocchi: with green beans, potatoes, arugula pesto--this was so good! The gnocchi were nice, pillowy bites of goodness. Mmmmmm. My sister and I were looking around and admiring what all the other tables had gotten around us--we wish we weren't full or else we would have ordered more (especially the pizza!). Next time.... next time. Our server was nice and great with checking in on us and even apologized after our gnocchi came out before our tasting--we didn't mind at all!

Lo S.

Yum!!! Just finished having early dinner on the balcony! Perfect day for it! We started with the arugula and mandarin salad really good. Small portion. And we also got the vegetarian pizza very tasty! Good size portion! The cauliflower w salsa verde was disappointing though :( the tiramisu and cannoli were delicious!! Overall great food soooo many options and affordable! Waiter was really nice and helpful! So that's a plus!

Kristal T.

Quartino is a well earned 5 stars! Their pizza is delicious and both entrees myself and my date enjoyed were delicious! Theresa was a great server even on a busy St. Patrick's day Saturday. Felt a little cramped at our tiny table next to a wall but given the weekend not much of an issue. Was amazing food and and even better service. I would certainly eat here again and highly recommend.

Bethany A.

I was downtown with two friends today and we were looking for a place to eat lunch at. Unfortunately it was St. Patrick's Day so everything was super crowded... EXCEPT Quartino had tables! My roommate had recommended this place to me earlier this year so we decided to stop there for lunch. We were seated really quickly and given menus and bread (which, by the way, is freshly sliced with a cool machine and actually delicious with their olive oil and balsamic vinegar). However, it seemed that they expected us to order immediately and when we didn't, they just kind of left us and forgot to come back and take our order. I had to flag them down in order to put in our order, BUT the food did come out pretty quickly afterwards. EXCELLENT (would absolutely order again): Panino al Gelato Limone - lemon cream gelato sandwiches with lemon curd, whipped cream, and lemon chips. The scoops of lemon cream gelato were very generous and lemony and delicious, but the sandwiches were made of sponge cake (a little firmer, I think) and they were SO GOOD. They were soaked in lemon curd and topped with whipped cream... we talked about this dessert for the whole way back to campus. This is definitely a must-order dish. PRETTY GOOD (would probably order again): The pappardelle with braised beef. The beef wasn't a standout for me, but I loved the toothiness of the pappardelle strips, which were cooked perfectly. The veal meatballs in tomato/raisiny sauce were also really good because the sauce was a touch sweet and the meatballs were very tender and well-seasoned. AVERAGELY GOOD (probably would skip next time): The calamari was a little too oily and heavy and salty for our taste, but I can see why so many people on Yelp love it. Also the kale salad was good, but it seemed like something I could toss together at home if I tried hard enough. Overall our bill was 52 bucks without tip, so for three people, that was pretty good! I definitely want to come back and try more pastas and pizza.

Gaius Julius C.

Worthy of an Emperor. Many ample plates. Wonderful pastas. Sufficient wines. Ah, and the desserts ... I thought I was home on the Via Appia. Take your cohort and go. Victory is yours.

Carmen Y.

Came here based on a friend's recommendation. Veal meatballs and gnocchi are a must try. The place gets extremely crowded on weekends. Expect to a long wait. Staff service is a bit slow but the food came out quickly.

Lena D.

Came here with a group of 20. The place on a Friday night was packeddd. (And no fewer than 5 bachelorette parties were occuring) The place is loud. Really loud, I would not recommend this place for an intimate meal. Party with friends? Sure. Appetizers: Assorted bruschetta - I liked the portobello mushroom one with shaved romano, delish. Artichokes Campobasso - good. Caponata, delicious, not too salty, lovely. Pasta: Potato gnocchi with argula pesto, I mean besides the fact that every server said gnocchi funny, they were homemade and delicious. Fettuccine with fresh tomatoes and evoo. Yum. Fresh pasta makes all the difference. Meat Course: Salmon with black olives and tomato - delicious Roasted Chicken with thyme - could have used some more salt, but better undersalted than over salted. Dessert: Dark Chocolate fonduta with pears, strawberries, pinapple, apple and biscotti. Yesss. I saw some plates of octopus go to the table next to us, they made me jealous. They looked awesome. I could see why there were so many parties going on.

David J.

Great place. Friendly staff great food(the goat cheese ricotta was great). Pasta delicious. We had the pappardelle.

Peter V.

The pappardelle was outstanding. I loved the fresh pasta and beef was excellent. Sat at the bar and the service was quick and very friendly. Highly recommended!

Jim J.

Wasn't quite sure what I was getting into when I made a reservation for valentine's day but it turned out to be a great experience. The lighting set a nice intimate tone and the dishes were sized perfectly for sharing with my date. Our waiter was very helpful with the menu and everything tasted fresh. Definetly recommend any of the cheese plates.

David N.

Delicious food every time I've been here. Last night was the tasting plate (tons of food!) and a fennel sausage pizza. Very attentive staff with great recommendations.

Blaine T.

This place is so solid. It's amazing for groups. If you have a huge group this is where to go. I've been there with 22 people, 12 people, 8 people. They are super accommodating, and it's a huge venue so it's easy. The food is great! It's italian sharing plates so you should just get a ton of different dishes and try as much as you can. My absolute favorites are the tortellini, penne a la vodka, short rib, & Ravioli. They have great sangria too and wine.

SoSunnychicago S.

Group of 8 with a reservation. There are a lot of tables, but they're very close together, so don't expect a romantic setting. Waiters were friendly, funny, and swift with the food & drinks. They have a gluten-free menu, which was nice for a few in our party. Apple and bread fondue was a good starter. Favorite dishes were the beef short ribs and the skirt steak. Now for the negatives: The chicken was dry and the gluten-free pasta was horrendous. Rock solid noodles and bad flavor on that sauce. Would have been better to use the sauce from the sausage? If you're going to go gluten free, skip the pasta. Also they gave us the wrong dessert and still charged for it. Overall, would go back for the fun items and to try the pizza. Prices seem standard ($12 for the chicken or sausage plates), but are tapas portions without sides, so plan accordingly!

Jacki S.

I would rate Quartino as a solid three stars. Good food, good service, I just wasn't really blown away with any of the dishes. We started out with the polenta fries with red bell pepper salsa. It was pretty tasty and came out very hot, so it clearly was made fresh. While the first few bites were interesting, it became a little bland and boring and my husband ended up finishing the dish. I will say that he loved these and thought they were very good. We then ordered the veal meatballs, which were served in tomato sauce with basil and topped with ricotta. This dish was quite good, but again I felt it was missing some flavor. It also became cold quite quickly. Neither me nor my husband were impressed with this dish. Next was shrimp with garlic, red chili, pinot grigio, E.V.O.O. and lemon juice. Very fresh, bright, and acidic with nice garlicky notes. Again, a solid dish but nothing special. The gnocchi with green beans and arugula pesto was my favorite of the night. It was interesting and had a nice mix of flavors and textures. We also really enjoyed the campania pizza, which had a very nice, tender and slightly chewy crust and was topped with fonduta, ricotta, roasted cherry tomatoes, and basil leaves. This was a very good pizza if you are looking for something a little different. I really liked the oven roasted tomatoes, it gave the pizza an intense tomato flavor. We finished the meal with the zeppoles, which were deep fried dough balls dusted in powdered sugar and served with a side of honey and dark chocolate sauce. These were very good, but also very rich. They were excellent with the hot, strong coffee we ordered to accompany them. Like I said, this place serves solidly good food, and you won't regret eating here. However, I think there are other restaurants that take the flavors a bit further and will create a more memorable impression.

Mike H.

One of my favorite italian eateries in Chicago, small plate tapa style with super affordable wine and great service. Always a fan of the knife cut sausage, meatballs Napoli and the charcuterie.

Molly C.

My husband and I were thrilled with our choice to eat here. Walking distance from our hotel too; The Godfrey. Our server was wonderful - seeing as how we were clueless and new to this menu & style, she gave great detail of dishes. She also was very honest in telling us we were ordering too much food & recommended we get a half order of certain dishes, she saved us money this way! And we were completely full when we left! We enjoyed the veal meat ball appetizer, caprese salad, braised beef pasta & tortellini with prosciutto, & lemon curd tart & the donuts for dessert. We both had waters. Our bill was $50 - for us small town folks this was a pricier splurge meal, but absolutely worth it. The atmosphere was great too. It's louder, but we could hold conversation just fine. The building inside is gorgeous, we sat upstairs. We would recommend this place! I will say, there's a restaurant just like this place in KC, MO and they offer a happy hour with SEVERAL dishes half price and they're also fabulous. Wish there were more options like that in Chicago.

Vaibhav V.

Great meal! Come with a large group, as the dishes are meant to be shared as a group. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous, so it might be difficult to have conversations across the table. I came with seven of my friends and tried almost nine dishes. Everything on the dinner menu was good to excellent. Favorites include the duck prosciutto pizza, fried calamari, and shrimp risotto. The dessert menu was decent not great: Nutella Panino: 5/5 -- excellent mini Nutella sandwiches Biscotti de Basa: 1/5 -- biscuits were too hard, completely soaked in sugar, and unappetizing for most part; not recommended Zeppole 3.5/5 -- hot mini donuts with either chocolate spread or honey spread; a bit dry; expected more flavor

Jose G.

Had a great dinner. We started with drinks. A Martini a lemon flavor not sweet and so strong and great. Red Sangria great flavor Calamari great for sharing Duck pizza which was amazing must try Short rib pasta was amazing Dessert. -tiramisu not on menu but a must. -Italian donuts with chocolate a yummy Will come back again.

Jason S.

A group of us celebrated my partner's birthday last night at Quartino's and had a great experience. The host staff was very nice and professional, not flustered at all despite it being a very busy night. Our server was extremely personable and helpful, offering great suggestions and efficient service. We all enjoyed our tapas, especially the shrimp rissoto, calarmari, and osso buco. I wouldn't say it was the most amazing Italian food I've ever had, but overall the quality was better than average. I'd absolutely recommend this place to others - especially for groups or for a date night. The sharable plates made for great conversation and a satisfied stomachs.

Kelsey S.

Food was simple and delicious, carried in waves to and from the table as our group was caught up in conversation tucked away in our own room. Wine, too, was flowing. For our group dinner, the meal consisted of four courses, served family-style: antipasti, paste, pesce e specialita and dolci. When we sat down, plates of Roasted Beet & Walnut Salad, Assorted Bruschette and Polenta Fries were already waiting for us. The beet salad was earthy, not overly sweet, and sprinkled with walnuts and fresh ricotta salata. A trio of bruschette were topped with peppery arugula, warm Sicilian eggplant and portobello mushrooms (each separate) and, of course, cheese. These warm, crisp toasts served as a much better start to the meal than a basket of bread. By themselves, the polenta fries were a little under-salted and under-seasoned; but use them to mop up heaps of red sauce, and all is forgiven. Paste was next, and the dishes in this course were especially comforting: Gnocchi with Arugula Pesto and Spaghetti con Pomodoro. The gnocchi were soft, pillowy and just a tad chewy (as they should be) sitting in a shallow pool of pesto alongside green beans and potatoes. Spaghetti con Pomodoro isn't a complicated dish, but Quartino's Pomodoro is a light, lovely fusion of tomato and basil. The Pesce e Specialita - for us, Salmon and Chicken - fell a little flat. The fish was dry and chewy, which I've never had before in salmon. Dolci, though, made up for it. Dessert was Tiramisu - a layered, soaked cake treat that's not for the faint of appetite. An amalgamation of flavors, including coffee, cocoa and mascarpone, Quartino's Tiramisu is almost too much, but then you share with a friend (or two), and it's suddenly just the right amount of rum, ladyfingers and cocoa to cap off a meal. You'll leave feeling full, but in all the right ways.

Austin Y.

My go-to Italian restaurant in River North. Over the course of many visits, items experienced include - Excellent: fried calamari, huge and perfectly crispy; shrimp risotto, just creamy enough with a healthy portion of butterflied shrimp; pappardelle ribbons which perfectly pick up the braised short rib; veal meatballs with ricotta, incredible banana coppa. Very good: duck prosciutto pizza; delicious veal meatball sliders; succulent baby octopus; braised pork ravioli, profiteroles are great (Comparatively) unremarkable: braised pork shank is well done but without any distinctive flavor; veal meatballs napoli are a bit too sweet; eggplant parmesan too oily and one-dimensional. Overall, Quartino remains a great choice, especially with cheap but good carafes of wine. Service has been consistently attentive, water glasses were rarely empty. Atmosphere is loud, lively, packed with people, and overall a lot of fun.

D.L. C.

Holy sh*t. Just go. I don't even know why you're still reading this. Reserve a table or just walk...now. Don't go anywhere else, go here. Please. I implore you. Now that I've gotten my lame attempt at Yelp humour out the way, here's why I'm so stoked about this place, brodie. Pasta, sauces and bread are housemade, and all that jazz. I'm no expert of Italian food, but I can assure you that in the few dozen family-owned places I've been to across the nation, none of them are touching Quartino. I had fettuccine alfredo, my friend had some kind of short ribs pasta dish and we shared a half liter of sangria and an assortment of olives. Prices are AWESOME. For the two of us, our meal was under 50 bucks and that's with the espresso closer. I don't wanna bore you with all the deets...just take your butt there pronto. And ask for John, he's a cool guy.

Susan C.

I went here with some friends for restaurant week. The waiter we had was very knowledge about the food, is friendly and attentive. The service was great cuz the waiter always come back from time to time to see how we were doing. My friend and I share the prefixe menu which was great except my friend didn't care for her chicken soup and I didn't care for the zeppole because it wasn't good. I had way better zeppole in NYC. I sample my friends mushroom risotto and it wasn't that good because the rice didn't look right to me. Overall I will come back to this restaurant to try other dishes on the menu.

Sharon C.

I was here for a birthday dinner and I can't really comment on the food - but the bottle of riesling we ordered was delicious, and so was the bread. As it happened, I had had a very late lunch and so wasn't hungry at all when it came time for dinner, but I had the wine and several plates of bread, and the waiters weren't pushy at all about me not ordering any food. Fantastic experience.

Jeff W.

This place is pretty happening. I would say It's a great spot for lunch or dinner and their prices don't break the bank. They have the classic Italian wine glasses (no stems, and look more like a small rocks glass).

Gregg V.

Loved this place.......great food and the service very friendly and efficient!

Emily J.

I am so shocked that I have never been here before a few weeks ago! It's everything you'd want in your friendly neighborhood Italian restaurant, and more. First of all, the prices are beyond reasonable, our check was $55 for two people and that was 4 dishes, 2 desserts, and 2 glasses of wine, I was very impressed! Secondly, the service is excellent. Our server was truly hustling with his huge section but he got everything done and was just so genuine. He took the time to help us sort through the extensive menu and choose wine, all with a smile (a real one). Thirdly, the atmosphere couldn't be better. It's crowded and just the right amount of loud where you know every one is having a great time. You really feel like you are in an authentic Italian restaurant; complete with a bread slicer in the middle of the floor, meats and cheeses hanging everywhere and Italian football jerseys covering the walls and the servers. I love the funny black and white Italian movies playing on mute with English subtitles. My friend and I were trying to figure out the plot the entire time we were waiting for our food (we never got it). Lastly, the food here is amazing. Start with the white bean garlic dip and you will end up eating all the bread and probably asking for more. The pizzas are full of flavor and really heavy on the toppings, which I think are the best parts. Save room for dessert as you won't want to miss the profiteroles or the Nutella sandwich; get both and you won't be disappointed!

Valeria A.

Great!!! This place is legit Italian and so good!!!! Totally Advise or! Just reserve cause it is packed!

Ashley I.

I loved this place! The steak, salad and gluten free pasta were delicious. The gelato was amazing! I would definitely go back.

Jessica A.

Can I start off by saying I think Quartinos is very very over hyped? After failing to dine at several other restaurants because of their ridiculous wait times we came to Quartinos, with over 2,000 reviews I expected to have a decent dining experience upon walking in. First off, we were a group of 4 and I kid you not we had to be seated 3 different times. The first 2 times they placed us in the most absurd areas, the places where no one wants to sit, by the corner near the kitchen where employees are constantly carrying plates walking around saying excuse me. The third time was a charm and we were finally able to eat. Now onto their drinks, the cocktails we ordered by the bar were good, a little pricey but what do you expect nowadays. Once we were seated we ordered a pitcher of sangria for the table. Not impressed.....I think we were spoiled by the sangria at cafe ba-ba-reeba which comes with actual fruit pieces in the pitcher and comes super chilled with ice. Here they passed around cups with ice and shriveled up, unappetizing looking pieces of fruit in it. Sangria was very warm and the pitcher almost looked kind of old and dirty. Finally, the food. We ordered a couple of things. Calamari- their calamari was good but how do you really screw that up? Shrimp- pretty good but nothing amazing Fetuccine alfredo- again your typical fettuccine alfredo pasta that I could probably make at home Soprano pizza- eh we ordered this one because my boyfriend wanted something with meat on it but I think it almost would have been better without the sausages Gnocchi- DO NOT I repeat do not order this. It was SO bland it was almost like I was just chewing on plain dough with absolutely no flavor. I kept telling myself it tasted better with Tabasco but everyone at the table said it was just because now I was tasting the Tabasco My favorite was probably the Nutella sandwich we ordered for dessert. I don't know if we were having an off night at Quartinos or ordered all the wrong things but as of right now I've tried so many better places in Chicago I will not be making my way back here.

Erik C.

Quartino is one of the best restaurants in all of River North! I've been here at least 5 times and it has never disappointed. The menu is so vast the anyone (even vegetarians like me) can find several things they would like. The service is always great (ask for Tony!) I would recommend this place for a group or just a friend date, I wouldn't go here for a romantic date just because the atmosphere is loud and very busy. Definitely ask the server to pair a wine with what you order as the wine menu is huge. I highly recommend the pizzas and minestrone soup. They have a G free menu if that's your thing. I always finish my dinner here with the house-made limoncello. Can't wait to go back to Quartino!

Adam W.

Quartino is a great spot for a date, or a group of friends interested in trying a number of Italian dishes... Went a few weeks ago, and along with some wine tried much of what is recommended in other reviews - bruschetta, veal meatballs, pancetta wrapped dates, a pizza, and the orechiette & sausage pasta dish. Give high marks to the dates, meatballs and the orechiette, for sure. This place is especially good on an afternoon / evening with nice weather if you can find a spot on their patio. Add it to the rotation!

Lisa C.

I love Quartino - we took our two boys there during a busy holiday weekend and it was fun. The food was great, the atmosphere lively and everyone around us felt the same way. Our waiter was MIA part of the time because they were so busy, but I will go back because we loved the rest of the staff.

Blaise B.

Such a huge fan!!! I would love, love, love to have this back home in Detroit. Quartino will for sure be a new must-stop place every time I'm in Chicago. I highly recommend the fondue- the mixture of cheeses was absolutely perfect. Also really enjoyed the vodka penne. If you like Italian food and you like tapas, then this is the place for you.

Julia S.

Balsamic is excellent. Do try it on the bread. Chicken soup is delicious, don't pass it by.

Esme R.

took my boyfriend here to his bday last night. my first time there, his 3rd. it's a tapas place, very reasonably priced. Our bill was $65 and we were stuffed. My favorite was the beat salad and clam linguine. The cheese and salami were OK. Mushroom risotto was quite bland and unappetizing. We had a small two top so there was no room for all the plates. Things kept dropping. It is very loud so not the best date restaurant. we had to yell to.hear each other. The service was adequate. I think overall 3 stars.

Donna G.

At a conference with hubby so eating on my own tonite. Wasn't sure where I would be comfortable. Sitting in the bar on a high top. Lots going on around me. Very relaxing. Staff very helpful. Started with half caprese salad. Delicious! Just enough for me. Lightly dressed and salty mozzarella! Shrimp risotto just right size. Sundried tomatoes, bits of zucchini and basil. Yummy bread to sop up the juices! Great relaxing place!

Katie D.

Simply amazing. Great portions for sharing. The ambiance is loud and fun. Must have the eggplant Parmesan its to die for. I am definitely coming back!!!

Stacy J.

I have never been disappointed with Quartino; I always leave glad that I came. It is generally very busy in the evening, and tends to be on the louder side; lunch is quieter. The food is unique and the menu is extensive. I am generally wary of places with a large menu, but Quartino has figured out how to manage a wide variety of food while still producing fresh and tasty dishes. Some of the pastas are hand made (they are indicated on the menu). I enjoy the smaller portions and being able to sample several dishes. We have not had anything yet that we did not enjoy. We do particularly love the pizzas, the osso bucco, the penne a la vodka, the fettucine alfredo, and the hot chocolate cake for desert, and, of course, the wine. The grano padano cheese grater on the table is a wonderful touch. The ambience and the décor are great. Quartino is one of a kind, which adds to the experience.

Santiago R.

Amazing place! Really good value. The pizzas are very good for 12-15$, and good size. Things are to share, and they come out of the kitchen whenever they are ready, which was fun. Wine selection is ok and for a reasonable price. We had a quattro staggioni pizza, an asparagus risotto (tasted very nice to asparagus), bean spread (very big for 5$), calamari (the best ones I've had in the US), and ravioli (they tasted very good, but very small plate). The hot chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream was awesome!

Susan S.

This is a pretty good restaurant. They have a great selection of wine and we had a variety of tappas. We sat on the balcony which offered great people watching on the street. The food is good, service is good. Sorry, I was too hungry to take pictures.

Kris L.

Group friendly, loud, tons of tables, open late. Quartinos is an Italian tapas and wine bar that can appeal to everyone! The menu is vast with pastas, pizzas, salads...foods not to miss: polenta fries with red pepper sauce (amaaaaazingly tasty!), margherita pizza (perfect and simple) and the paparedelle with braised beef(the beef just melts in your mouth). The wine carafes are awesome in their variety but definitely can get a bit pricey. My go to late night place (when I can snag a table!)

Robbie C.

It's been 3 days since I ate at quartinos and I am still recovering. I spent the first night in the E.R. after eating there. The last time I've been this sick was when I had Typhoid in Mexico. I'm not exaggerating or a dramatic person. My digestive tract is seriously messed up. It started to hit me on the subway ride home from the restaurant. 3 hours later, I was still violently ill. Vomited for the next 5 hours. My god it was awful. Never eating there again.

Justine M.

One of the employees at the James Hotel (just up the block) recommended we try this place for lunch, and we certainly weren't disappointed. Our waiter was very friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient -- can't beat that combination -- and even better, the food was delicious! Truly fresh and reminiscent of the warm dishes I enjoyed while in Italy. Mmmm. They've got a great selection of dishes and offer an unbeatable lunch deal that includes 3 dishes for $25 -- that'll easily feed two people and leave you both full. Enjoy!

Andrew S.

Was in town and needed a last minute place for a group. We found this place on open table that day and were promptly seated. we proceeded to order some wine and a combo of small plates to share. The atmosphere was lively, service professional and efficient, and the food not bad. To be honest, none of the small plates stood out as amazing and none were horrible. All in all it was a nice evening for a lively dinner with friends, but not a destination.

Michelle Denise P.

Tapas, Italian style. Their Mushroom Risotto is to die for! It doesn't look very appetizing, but it's so yummy! The Veal Osso Buco was okay, I was expecting it to be a bit better, especially with reviews and the price tag that came with it, but I don't think I'd order it again. Also had the Dates Wrapped in Pancetta. They were pretty good too, but I've had better. The pancetta was cooked well, but the date was a bit off. Service was great. Quick and friendly. We had dinner here on a Friday night and it was super busy. I made reservations earlier that day, and I'm glad I did. The wait was ridiculously long without a reservation.

Kim G.

After not getting into Sable, we stumbled on this delight and couldn't have been happier. Busy with an inviting interior and friendly staff, this Italian eatery only got better when the food arrived. featuring small plates that arrive as the kitchen finishes them, Quartino's food ranges from good to spectacular. Don't leave without trying the asparagus risotto, which was unbelievably good... Or the Zeppole to finish off. I'll be heading back next time I am in Chicago.

Alexa L.

Quartinos is a great place to go with a larger group (with a reservation). The plates are very inexpensive and its fun to taste a bunch of different things. The downside is that the dining room is very big and can get loud so conversation may be a little hard (or I may be a little deaf). For a group of six, we ordered: Veal meatballs, Funghi pizza, Calamari, Shrimp, 2x Cavatelli, Tortellini, Penne alla Vodka, and Eggplant Parmigiana. The highlights were definitely the Shrimp and the Cavatelli.

Tatiana G.

Stopped by Quartino on a total whim. From the outside it looks super nice and I was a little nervous i was under dressed but when i entered i noticed they had a typical bar area as well as a nicer section for dinner. I glanced at the menu and knew i wanted everything on it. There choices of wine are delicious as well as extremely reasonably priced. It a huge restaurant and can get a little noisy but over all i really enjoyed my appetizers and bottle of red. Next time i go i plan to get some dinner and perhaps do a wine flight!! cheers :)

Jennifer Y.

Quartino's is my go-to restaurant in the River North neighborhood. They're priced reasonably, have great dishes and the restaurant itself has a great interior. It's a comfortable atmosphere, always with a good amount of people and usually a old vintage movie playing on their tv screens. It's perfect for multiple occasions, a nice date with someone, a casual get-together, or a group outting. The bar section is quite nice too, although I haven't ventured over there yet, but their selection of alcohol is mainly wine with some beers, at least in the dining section. As for food, there are some great items and others just mediocre. Their pizzas are really delicious and so well-priced (at most $13 for a full custom-made pizza), and the pastas are equally as good. I recommend the Linguini with White Clam Sauce. Some of their appetizers, soups and salads don't have as much to say, they're not bad but not noteworthy. So I would definitely go with pizza or pasta. Their style of dining is Italian style so everything is supposedly shared (if you choose to do so) which is really nice when you have a group of people to share among. I would highly recommend this place, it's got the right vibes and you can tell by how much business they get that they have earned their reputation in the area. On weekends and Fridays it gets packed, so I urge you to make reservations as early as you can or you will be waiting a while. Saturday is always busy, I called to make reservations on Thursday one time and they only had 5:30 or 9'oclock for dinner available for that Saturday already. Another thing I've done sometimes is ordered pizza that I can pick up without having to wait for a table, which if you call ahead only takes 20-30 minutes. Otherwise this is a perfect place to stop by for a meal on weekdays, when it's less busy, not much of a wait but still filled with people. Great place, good food.

Priscilla Y.

I absolutely love Quartino. Fantastic food at a great price. Most dishes are in smaller plates. Order many and share. Been there so many times and so far have not been disappointed. Its much better to park valet than at the meter...just cheaper. My all time favorites are the duck prosciutto pizza with arugula and grilled pork belly with granny smith apple (which unfortunately is no longer on the menu). Pretty much everything is delicious on the menu.

Jonathan H.

Awesome food that everyone can share. Stand-out dishes for us were Penne alla vodka and the orchiette. Mushroom pizza was a big hit at the table as well.

Ashley S.

Loved this place - went their to start off a bachelorette party. It was a perfect spot for a large group. The restaurant was packed... but the service was fast and very attentive! Food - great variety and flavor! The portions were perfect for sharing, too. I've been to tapas restaurants before, and at best you could share an extremely tiny place with only 2 people. These are large enough where several people can enjoy them. Price - amazing value! The tapas are priced perfectly... and the wine by the liter is amazing! You won't break the bank here. Atmosphere - It's definitely an upbeat, fun, loud place to go. If you're looking for something quiet and romantic - this isn't your spot. Service - fast and attentive! This place is perfect for groups! You won't sit around long waiting for drinks or your food. A must go!

Rose S.

seriously? who approved these recipes? the polenta fries were underwhelming, and not Italian. The veal meatballs napoli were completely awful, the taste was so gamey. And the worst? tagliatelle bolognese (pasta with meat sauce), which I've had all of my life in new york, Italy, etc...they didn't even come close to how it's supposed to taste. The ONLY decent thing I would ever come back for is the pizza, but then again, how hard is it to screw up pizza?

Kara M.

We ordered a liter of wine for $20, and four people ate for $65. Everything was wonderful. I will be back next time I'm in Chicago.

Joanne W.

Idk why but Chicago's restaurants are just taking over my mind right now! I'm actually not from around Chicago haha. Just visiting a friend & she suggested this place since she went here before & said that they have amazing "tapas" style dishes that you can share with the whole table. *** Your meal comes with freshly sliced sourdough bread with butter !! *** Ordered: - Linguine with clams - DROOLING just thinking about this. It had SOOOO much clams in here, it almost seemed endless! And they cooked it in white or red sauce (we chose white) and seriously..... it was cooked to perfection! It was spicy too.... and you know you can't go wrong with a spicy dish! - Calamari - Been craving calamari for ages and this place was so delicious. It was baked / fried just the right amount. Came with marinari sauce, YUM! I could not stop eating this dish........ it was just that good. - Arugula salad - This started off our meal just right. Lots of greens for healthiness. It came with pine nuts and orange slices. The lemon zest of the sauce made this salad really tasty. It wasn't too overpowering so you could basically eat this salad forever haha. - Parmesan eggplant - This was my least favorite dish because I'm not a big fan of eggplants & the cheese was wayyyy too much. It was literally a FAT blanket of cheese over a thin amount of eggplant. Meh. I also loved the venue of this place. It's really a type of friendly group restaurant. But i also saw families, couples, kids. It's really a great place to eat with just about anybody!

Jesse S.

Our server was very kind and helpful. We got the cavatelli, bean spread, and bruschette. All were great, but the cavatelli was the best! The noodles were cooked to perfection and the tomato sauce still had chunks of tomato in it!

Angela R.

This is our second visit. We lived the first and now the second visit was equally fantastic!! We arrived early for our reservation so we sat at the bar to have a glass of wine. The bartender was so attentive, I ordered my wine, which he described to be very fruity and maybe I should try it first. He was right! Not my cup of tea, so he recommended a few based on what I said I liked. Amazing!

Yanfei G.

Holy crap!!! This is my 3rd time come here. My coffee has DETERGENT in it! I told the waiter but he DIDN'T say sorry to me! I hate this place and will not come here any more !

Drew E.

Quartino is the best restaurant in Chicago! The best of the best. We love the atmosphere, the food, the location and the service. We got the gnocchi, the penne in vodka sauce, the short ribs, the calamari, and the italian donuts. We DEFINITELY would come again!

Alaina T.

Great food and service, and I love that the wine comes in multiple sizes depending on my mood. I've come here for couples dinners as well as with my family and have always had a good experience. The only bad part is that the wait can be very long, especially on weekends, so definitely make a reservation!

Chris T.

Hungry on a late night and demanding quality food? Come here! We needed to find a place to eat that was open late and wasn't McDonald's, and was happy to find this place. They've got a full bar, a comfortable atmosphere and great service. I'd recommend the Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo - it's thick and rich. And you cant go wrong with any of the pizzas.

nguyen d.

desserts, specifically the chocolate molten cake thing was amazing

Tara D.

Delightful!!! Super cute restaurant with tons of people there to complete the feel of this very busy dining choice! I found the dishes to be perfectly made! I thought this dining experience was perfectly yummy!!!!!

Christene L.

One of my favorite spots in the city. Delicious food and great service that won't do damage to your wallet. Here are a few dishes I have tried: Pizzas - Margherita: Good but worth spending the extra $1-2 for another pizza that packs more flavor - Quattro Stagioni: I ensure one person orders this every time I go because its flavors compliment almost any pasta Pastas - Cavatelli: So simple, yet so delicious. I think I remember a waiter telling us it was a favorite pasta of many workers - Rigatoni: I'm more of a red sauce vs. white sauce person, but I very much enjoyed this cream-based pasta - Tortellini: Melts in your mouth, mmm Desserts - Zeppole: Ask for half honey half dark chocolate sauce so you can savor both flavors - Dark chocolate fondue: Quality chocolate. We ran out of strawberries by the end, so we began dipping our Garretts popcorn in it Service: They are friendly and attentive. One time, my friend found a hair on her pasta dish (later realizing it was probably her own hair haha). We told our waitress who was very apologetic and offered that they make us a new pasta. My friend said it was okay and that she would eat around it, probably because she figured it was her hair. After we declined the new pasta offer, the waitress let us know that the pasta was on the house, along with any dessert of our choice. Of course, we went with the most expensive dessert they had-- the dark chocolate fondue. Afterwards, the manager came to our table and apologized for the pasta. They handled the situation very well. 5 stars.

Emily N.

I made a reservation here yet I still had to wait another 30 minutes to get a table. It was extremely loud and crowded. Personally, I don't particularly fancy dining in loud and cluttered restaurants. My dad and I had to yell at each other from across the table to hear what the other was saying. The food, however, came out quick and it was delicious. We ordered the Fumo Negli Occhi (Smoked Provolone, Speck, & Baby Spinach) and Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo (Tuscan Pasta Ribbons with Braised Beef Tomato Sauce). The Fumo Negli Occhi is a form of pizza; it was made very thin, crunchy and extremely good. I liked the touch of smoked provolone that they added into the pizza. The Papperdelle pasta was made perfectly and the braised beef gave it much flavor. The pasta had a chewy texture to it; it was not too hard or too thick to eat. Even though the food is delicious, I personally would not come here again for dinner. Even with reservations it takes forever to get a table since the place is so crowded. I would definitely come here to eat lunch since it is not as hectic and crowded during that time.

Zara H.

Cozy, great atmosphere. Food is good!

Good food, good service. The decoration is very classy and that doesn't mean a premium price on the menu either.

Marina K.

Not as good as I expected based on Yelp reviews. We got the Neopolitan pizza with sausage, fennel, onions and diced tomatoies and it was just OK. We also tried the dates wrapped in pancetta, but the gorgonzola cheese inside was over the top (and not in a good way - too many flavors trying to overwhelm each other). Our final dish, the broccoli rabe, was totally bland and needed salt. On the plus side, service was quick and attentive. In summary, everything was so-so and not memorable. On to the next.

Timothy D.

Pretty busy... I was here on a Tuesday night and sat in the bar around 8pm. Felt alive and buzzing. I had the: 1. prosciutto-wrapped figs stuffed with Gorgonzola and drizzled with honey... pretty good, not amazing, but decent and unique. Probably 9 figs or so. Sweet, salty, creamy, sticky, crispy, smooshy... all kinds of texture 2. Mushroom risotto: Nice earthy flavor. 3. Italian sausage with peppers and onions: worst dish of the evening. The sausage lacked spice and flavor. Surprisingly the peppers and onions didn't add much. Maybe because they were not cooked much with the sausage. The broth was bland also. Stay away. I'd go again to try more things. It was fun, energetic, etc.

Seth F.

Holy over-rated Batman. This is the 42nd review I've written today and, by far, the rating with which I'm most puzzled. Its not bad, but it's certainly not good. I'll agree that the concept of Italian tapas is somewhat novel, but really it just equates to getting a greater variety of mediocre food. I have a theory that the majority of the positive reviews are from out-of-towners in awe of its novelty. I base this on nothing more than its location and my incredulity towards its ranking. On an aside: I'd say that around 30% of the time, when I was trying to coordinate the location for a date with a girl I did not know very well and asked her where she wanted to go, the answer would be Quartino. Let's just say, at the very least, a girl who responded with that answer was playing catch up for said date.

Ben H.

Really happy about this place. The food was out of bounds, everything was both creative and delicious. The plates are for sharing and though described as "medium and small", they can be quite large. Two of us couldn't finish the pork shank. The duck prosciutto was interesting. Definitely recommend getting a reservation. I've been here twice and it can get *extremely* crowded, it was absolutely packed the first time I went (a friday), and more normal on a wednesday. I'll be back to try their other things though.

Steve B.

Service was great! Outside seating does not take reservation so you can sit faster. The pizzas AE awesome and definitely have a salumi!

Agustin K.

Reasonably priced, nice hustling and bustling ambiance. I thought their mushroom risotto was excellent but aside from that I cannot say I was impressed. The braised ribs was also nicely flavored but it came out lukewarm hence I felt the filmy feeling from the fat. We also ordered the duck prosciutto cold cut, it was good but not spectacular. A good place to chill and people watch. For Chicago, it was quite tight so get ready to hear your neighbor's conversation.

Pamela J.

Absolutely love this place! First stop when friends come in from out of town. Great food. Great service.

O K.

Pretty good selection of fresh food. Smaller plates meant for sharing. Took awhile to get seated even though we came at off peak hourse. Friendly staff.

Scarlett C.

great food and great place!

Brenda N.

small tapas place. Duck Prosciutto Asiago Vecchio Tortellini Orecchiette Rigatoni strawberry Gelati everything we ordered was delicious. they have house wines for 20/bottle. fun to go with friends to share and try new things.

Thamer B.

I have been to italy and i have tried lots of italian restaurants around the world. when i checked for italian restaurant in downtown chicago this one was the most rated so i planned to visit it. we went to the place and it was the four of us. actually their service was amazing the waiter was very friendly and helpful although it was a bet packed as it was the mothers day. the food actually was not as we expected at all, we had duck breast and burrata for appetizer the duck breast we returned it as we did not like it at all, the burrata was just okay. we had pizza and shrimp fruti di mare which were good but not great, and we had the scalvi i think its name and was nothing special about it at all, i dont think i would comeback again although the ambiance of the restaurant is nice.

K B.

4 = Food 4.5 = Experience 5 = Wine

Kimberly C.

This tapas restaurant was a great place with friends and family. The staff were very attentive and informative. We had the tasting Wine suggested Donut with dark chocolate Gnocchi Bone marrow Service and food were great! :)

Brian L.

After a long day, we didn't want to wait too long for a table at a restaurant. We called around, and Quartino said they could seat us with little to no wait, and as promised, we were lead to our table after only 5 minutes of waiting. Dishes We Demolished: +` White Bean & Garlic Spread - 4/5 - The spread tasted amazing with those thick slices of bread, but it could have used a tad more salt. +` Calamari - 4/5 - The crispy fried calamari paired with the marinara sauce was delicious! +` Sauteed Spinach - 5/5 - The best sauteed spinach... ever! +` Prosciutto D'Anitra Pizza - 4.5/5 - I actually liked the duck prosciutto paired with the peppery arugula, but the crust was too crunchy for me. +` Brodetto Ai Frutti Di Mare - 5/5 - Shrimp, octopus, clams, and fish in a seafood tomato broth--this had to be the BEST dish we ordered tonight. The broth was phenomenal. Soak the bread in it! +` Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo - 4/5 - The braised beef tasted amazing, but I still think the dish could have used a little more seasoning. Overall, Quartino makes amazing food and has superb service--the Brodetto Ai Frutti Di Mare is a must try!

Neha J.

Awesome food! Great Service! Never Ever disappoints!

Jeemin P.

My FIRST 5 star review! Veal Meatballs- OMG I don't like raisins, but the raisins in this dish compliment the meatballs SO WELL!! HOMEMADE PASTA- can't remember the name, but the one with fresh ricotta- it was a vegetarian dish but I LOVED IT! (true meatlover here) Braised Beef- Yummm Sparkling moscato- DELICIOUS!! Zeppoles with dark chocolate dipping sauce :) My BFF made reservations here and SO GLAD SHE DID!!! :) LOVED IT, Service was awesome too :)

Dardo S.

Real and excellent Italian food/pasta

Kathleen C.

I always enjoy Quartino, but it's been so long since I've been there, that I figured I'd update my review after a recent visit. As usual, the place was hopping - even at 9pm on a Saturday. Thankfully, a reservation here does wonders, and we were immediately seated. Service was a bit slower than normal, but they were so packed, it's understandable. We had the lamb meatball sliders (fantastic!), pancetta wrapped dates (delicious), and a margherita pizza (wonderful and fresh). Food - 5 Service - 4 Value - 5!! Atmosphere - 5 Bathrooms - 4 (no offense to the very friendly attendant but I simply can't get my head around why this is necessary!)

Joe A.

This is my new favorite restaurant! The arugula pizza and roasted baby octopus reminded my wife and me of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Absolutely phenomenal! The duck prosciutto and house made giardiniera is pretty ridiculously good too. If limoncello is your thing, you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend visiting, and ask for Sam to be your waiter, he's a real class act.

Erin H.

I came here on a date about a month ago. I reccomend this place to everyone when they ask me about restaurants to try. The Fondue was great (especially with the potatoes), and they had plenty of veggie options for me to choose from! The staff was super friendly and very knowledgable about the menu. :) I'll definitely be back with friends!

Margaret S.

Consistently fantastic and fresh. Menu is imaginative and large. I always have to stop here in the course of my Michigan Avenue wanderings, and I've brought friends to this restaurant. They were equally impressed!

Jonathan N.

You should definitely make a reservation because the wait can be ridiculous at times, especially during dinner. Maybe it's me.. but I am not a fan of Italian tapas? That is weird coming out of my mouth, I love all foods. Maybe it was what we ordered. Veal meatballs - it was a different flavor but after 2, I was tired of it and did not want anymore. Braised Pork Shank - this is one big piece of tender pork. It was good, but definitely way too much for 2 people. Gnocchi - we should have went with the waiter's recommendation but I read some other yelp reviews that this was good. It was too plain for me and just needed more.. something, flavor? Beef Short Ribs - It was very fatty and I could not live with myself putting chunks of fat into my belly. I think this place can be pretty good, but I am definitely more of a Mexican tapas fan after this experience.

Victoria F.

Fantastic food and terrific service! It really doesn't get better than Quartinos when you have a group of good friends you want to go out with for dinner. We've been several times before and it's always been good, but we just had our Rehearsal Dinner at Quartinos and blocked off the majority of the 2nd floor for our 60 guests in early March 2013. I can't say enough good things about the food and the service. All of the servers were so nice and made everything really easy. All the guests loved it and there was a big variety for everyone. The best moment was when they brought around my favorite pasta dish and to make it vegetarian, they left off the prosciutto. I was so disappointed, but 2 seconds after they dropped off the plates of pasta, they followed with a full plate of prosciutto! It was great service and presentation. The set up was great and they even had a bunch of TV's positioned so everyone in both rooms could see the video my husband made of us growing up! It was a great experience and will always be a great memory from our wedding weekend!

Stephanie W.

Italian tapas? SIGN ME UP. I have been here countless times and am never disappointed. If I have visitors in town, I take them to Quartino, order the cheese fondue, they are happy, and we all win. Pizzas? Pastas? It's all good. Wine's good. In summation: everything here is GOOD.

Jeremy D.

1592... Reviews. In 1492, Columbus sailed and I see that Quartino has reached 1592 reviews... I'll see as to how clever I'm feeling in making a joke about that. I've been going to Quartino (there IS no 's in the name... But we are in Chicago, It isn't JEWEL, (the grocery store) it's Jewels) for about 7yrs now. Is the FOOD that fantastic? Well... Depends upon what you get. Not everything is entirely consistent, but it doesn't suck either. This isn't "Italian Tapas"... This is ENOTECA. Similar to tapas, and the Italians have just as long of a tradition in doing "small plates dining". The pizzas come in one size and yes... ONE person COULD knock it down. This is NOT "pasta by the POUND with red-lead" spaghetti joint and it isn't Chicago Style Pizza. I could get into a lecture as to how a REAL Italian (meaning, in Italy) meal would go and 99.9% won't believe me, because you keep going to places in ROME or VENICE where the menu is ALSO in ENGLISH. Pasta is a very "small course" in a coursed meal and one rule is: fish and cheese do NOT come together in the same meal either... Much less dish. On a pasta a-la vongole (clams in white sauce), DO NOT have cheese grated on it! In some instances, the food IS that fantastic. The house cured Duck Prosciutto (no, there is no "H" in spelling prosciutto) is AMAZING. You CAN have it on a pizza (which I highly recommend, Prosciutto D'Anitra... nom, nom, nom) as well as on it's own for Salumeria. Get over your hangups about chicken/duck. YES, you CAN CURED duck. In Japan... I'd be down with chicken sashimi. And I trust Chef John Colleta. Chef John is one of those guys whom you've NEVER HEARD OF... BUT, he HAS trained some of the guys whom you have/ are hearing about NOW and some of those guys... When their projects didn't go as well as they could have/ should have, go BACK to working for John Coletta. His boucherie/ salumeri/ bunch of cured meats & sausages with cheese on a board, is one the BEST in Chicago. His sauce Bolognese doesn't suck either. Most reading this, don't really know that Sauce Bolognese is a meat ragout (ragu) where the meats are TEMPERED/ braised in milk, then TOMATO. The Italians braise a LOT of meats in MILK. Chef John's is one of the better Ragu Bolognese I've had. Certainly here in the city of Chicago. And I love the house-made pasta. One of the more INTERESTING BARGAINS on the menu is: Veal Skirt Steak. THIS is my go-to dish. Sizable portion of protein, arugula and roasted tomato salad... Phenomenal. Steamed Clams in Pinot Grigio... Under $12? And that MUCH clam? Seriously? Where the place falters is... Some consistency. Over the winter, they were running Roasted Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts. SO FRICKIN' GOOD! Seriously, lemon, garlic, chili flake and Olive Oil, roast and it was AWESOME. Yet, the absolute WORST broccoli rabe. Kills me. And I LOVE these BITTER greens. Arugula! Kale! Brussels Sprouts! And their Rabe... as well as the sauteed spinach... Pathetic, overcooked and sitting in this watery bath of camouflage green. Worst. For sure a spot on the menu that fails me. Beef carpaccio ain't all that either. The grappa cured salmon was AWESOME and I wish they would bring that back. The seared tuna was really good too. Salads are very good as well as imaginative. Cesar has too much anchovy. Their version of Chippino/ Frutti De Mare... A friggin' BARGAIN. Considering that "doing 1,000 covers (people)" is a s l o w night... And how BIG the place is, This place keeps up some awfully good standards to the food. Maybe not "Cheesecake Factory" standards... But we aren't talking about "Cheesecake Factory" and you really don't want to know what I think of that as "cuisine." I respect Cheesecake Factory as much as I respect Satan himself. There are some SERIOUS BARGAINS on the wine list too. There really IS a reason as to WHY I've been coming here for 7+yrs and yes, it helps that MOST of their menu is available until MUCH later than 99.9% of when restaurants are serving their FULL menu. Overall, the food is solid and the staff is great. Service, be it; at the bar, in the bar or in the dining room... Everyone has always been great to me. The menu is BEST when you step out of comfort zone as well with going for seasonal dishes. Have some house cured or made salume or "God's Feet" cheese and live a little.

Karla W.

Wasn't sure what to expect. Yelp was down (drats!) so I couldn't read reviews or check rating before we went in. Italian Tapas. Love Italian. Love tapas. How could this go wrong? It didn't! Great food. Great decor. Great overall vibe. Highly recommend. My only tiny complaint was our tiny table. No room for the delicious food. :/

Amy S.

This place is my go-to spot when I need a large group reservation and FAST. They have an enormous space, so it's not too difficult getting a reservation the week before. The food is somewhat average, it depends what you order really. But my favorites are the gnocci, pappardelle, and cavatelli. They are usually the table's favorites, so it's a must order every time. Their seafood is actually pretty fresh and really delicious too. The best thing is that this is all tapas, so I get to try a little bit of everything each time. Also, they have a selection of 1-2 bottles of Red/White that are only $20, so everyone gets pretty ...happy... by the end of the meal! I am hosting a birthday party here next month for 20 people, so I wonder how service will be because it was a little on the slow side the last few times I came. All in all, a great place for big crowds!

Dale L.

Quartino is a solid 4 star, but I'm giving it 5 to make up for the underrating as well as to give the management and staff a high five on jobs well done! Located close to the Red Head I'd been by Quartinos many many times but never dined there... We had a group of 12 that I booked through yelp/opentable late afternoon on the day of. Our numbers changed up and down, communicated with Quartino a couple of times, then ultimately wound up with 11 after all, conventions are always a challenge locking down folks for dinner...I equate it to herding cats! When we arrived we checked in and were told it would be about 15 minutes....no problem...we negotiated the bar area and got a round. It was Monday night and the hustle and bustle, tight quarters, and upbeat feel of the patrons was an ambiance that just felt comfortable. Some where around the 20 minute mark, a manager came by, identified our group, acknowledged our wait time and assured us our table was next up...then bought our group a round at the bar for having to wait longer than expected. Well done Matt. Well done. Within minutes we were on our way to our table. The waitstaff were welcoming, knowledgeable, and prompt. The variety of choices and small plate style really works well for a group. Our table had a variety of the offerings, all of which were very good with the pork shank and meatballs standing out in my memory. Overall a very nice experience at Quartinos. Good people, good food, good times...

Partha A.

Tapas which are cold, tough and clearly not Spanish - not that they advertise it to be, but they need not call it tapas either. Anyways - terrible food. They only get the footfall because they are in the middle of everything. The pasta was soggy. Salumi plate bad to say the least. $100 down the gutter.

Dan M.

So while in Chicago, we had a few folks flying in so I turned to my foodie friend and he was able to direct me to Quartino for a nice team dinner. This place was perfect in my mind because I love Tapas and Italian Food. What a great idea to have small plates for Italian food. Bravo. Our team arrives here at 6 PM on a Thursday and we were still missing two folks. They told us that they would seat us once our party arrived which I did not mind and felt was fair. Finally the last two members joined the party and we were brought into the main dining room of the bustling restaurant. It is quite packed in here and there is not a whole lot of wiggle room as a warning to folks. Since it is in fact pretty packed, the noise level is on the loud side as well. The décor of the joint was inviting and casual which was reinforced by the tables placed closely together. It made it seem like one large family at a dinner table ready to consume a delicious meal. I was a fan of the ambiance. The service was also super friendly. The waiter was very knowledgeable over all of the food including what vino to order based on what type of vino we were looking for. They were attentive throughout the meal even though each waiter seemed to be waiting on multiple tables. We ordered a ton of plates to share which included the veal meatballs, the Bolognese, penne ala vodka, the margherita pizza, and the parpadelle. Everything was delicious honestly. A solid joint and definitely hearty enough to share with folks. The penne alla vodka was one of my more favorites and the meatballs were great as well. I was worried that they would be a bit bland but they were flavorful so definitely a plus. Everyone loved the small plate experience as we were all able to try multiple different things without getting full quickly. This is definitely a great place to bring a group of folks to spend some time bonding with folks. Solid food and a relaxing atmosphere. I will definitely be back to try a few more plates during my next Chicago visit.

Scott W.

Another great experience here! Good food and wine. It was very simple booking a reservation through my yelp app.

Ed V.

My favorite restaurant in the city!!!

Ryan T.

This place is always pretty good! I usually think this place deserves 4 stars but I am going to give them a small demotion based upon the attentiveness of the service and the value of the food, which is always good, but was not as good the last time I went. The problem with this place is a lack of table maintenance and overly expensive drinks. Gnocci is the best thing I have had on the menu and everything else is always pretty yummy as well. I am definately coming back even if my last experience wasn't perfect.

Eileen E.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The food is amazing, great wine list and city center location makes it fun. The prices are very fair and on the less expensive side. The atmosphere is always upbeat and busy. I would suggest making a reservation, especially on the weekends. The manager Nick Haubrich will make any guest feel right at home and has always made our experiences perfect!

Jason F.

If tapas, and Italian food are your thing, I'd highly suggest Quartino as a spot in Chicago to come and try. What's great about tapas is that there's so much variety and the dishes are small. This offers a lot of food tasting, and is really great to socialize with. I came here with two of my other friends, and got seating right away because this spot is LARGE. There's a big first floor, and just as large second story. It's quite unbelieveable. Having such a vast menu, I would just suggest you not overly think about it, and just order what you think sounds good & have at it. That's the best way to do it! Foods don't come in any order. It's what ever is cooked and it just comes out. For example our sampler plate of meat and cheeses came last while the pasta and baked stuff came first. Odd, but not bad at all! Off our dinner adventure, I would recommend the following: 1) Eggplant Parmigiana - I'm enjoy eating eggplant, and when breaded, I love it even more! Rich with flavor. Excellent! 2) Steamed Clams - YES! Must get. Small clams, delicious in flavor. Rich! Save your bread and dip it in the juices. So much yum in a plate! 3) Pappardelle al Sugo di Manzo - Pasta ribbons with braised beef in tomato sauce. As a pasta lover, this was devine. The braised beef was so soft. Very simple and well made. 4) Veal Meatball Slider - Different and good. Eat this when it comes out and don't wait on it because it will get cold! Other tidbits -- if you are a Neopolitan Pizza lover, this spot may also be for you! The options for their pizza's were pretty large, so I'm going to assume that this is their bread and butter on top of tapas actually. For a couple that comes in, this may be the way to go if tapas isn't your thing. Wine options galore. Middle of the road pricing in my opinion. Not cheap, but not too expensive. We had 6-7 dishes, myself a 1/2 Sangria, and my other friend 1/2 red wine, the total came out to $130 not including tip. $35-40/head ~ can't complain when the food is great!

Patty C.

I really liked the feel and charming decor of this place. The small plates are great for sharing. This place gets pretty loud though, so not very romantic or anything like that. The food is pretty good too. Come with a group to order more dishes.

Zainab N.

This place was a gem of a find! We got really lucky and found an open reservation here for New Year's Eve. We LOVE eating family style and getting to try more than a few things on the menu, so Quartino was perfect for us. Italian food is easy to make, but extremely difficult to make well. I've only been to two Italian places that have made memorably delicious Italian food, and this is one of them. Everything we ordered made us say "mmmm..." The food was well seasoned, cooked to perfection and served in perfect proportions for one person to eat all him/herself or for at least 4 people to be able to share pretty fairly. Between the four of us, we got 5 pasta dishes, a pizza and a bottle of wine and I think it only came out to be around $30/person...fantastic!! Reasonably priced, great service, absolutely delicious food. I can't wait to come back!!

Ryan G.

Quartino is a gem. It offers a local feel and has great appeal. It is reasonably priced and you get more than your money's worth. Great good, atmosphere, and service. A neighborhood joint in a big city.

Meredith K.

I have been coming to Quartino for over a year now. It was one of the first places I tried when I moved to Chicago and have been coming back ever since. Food: Tapas style which is great for sharing and sampling multiple items without getting too full. I love all the pizzas but my favorites are the vegetarina and the melanzane. I am also a huge fan of the veal meatballs napoli and asparagus risotto. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any of their dishes! Recently I have gotten hooked on the monthly wine bash event. The last Wednesday of every month for $20 you can drink as much wine and eat as many small plates as you want from 7-9 (It is quite a steal!!). I think it has been a great way to unwind with friends and coworkers during the week. Perfect excuse to go out on a Wednesday night, even in the middle of winter! I would recommend making reservations as it always seems extremely crowded no matter the day for dinner. I would recommend this restaurant for anyone who loves Italian in the River North area.

Matt S.

My girlfriend and I made reservations here for our Valentine's Day dinner and loved it. The food was great (although the $25 for 2 meats, 3 cheeses, etc special seems like not enough for the money). We will definitely go back soon.

Kaitie M.

I love Quartino! It was a regular spot for my friend and I when we were living in Chicago, and when we're back in town Quartino will be our spot once again. We became quite fond of the bartender Erik, because he's friendly & personable, and great at his job - especially when it comes to pouring carafes of wine! The restaurant and bar is always super busy, so we always opted out of waiting for dining room service and sat where ever we wanted in the bar. That being said, the hostesses are all very beautiful so if you get to talk to them, the wait may not seem like such a bad option. The food is great! Our go to dishes were the Beet Salad (yum!), Chilled Zucchini, or any of the awesome vegetarian pizza choices, which are gourmet style with creative topping combinations. For a Chicago restaurant, Quartino does offer quite a few options for vegetarians, (YAY!!) One time we ordered a pizza that already had several toppings on it and asked to have fresh arugula added. The pizza arrived shortly after with a huge pile of crispy arugula on top! They know what they're doing. The service is fast! Each item takes about five minutes to arrive once you have ordered it. It makes the whole situation very simple as you can sit there drinking your wine and order as you please until you are full. I like that. They always give you bread and oil before your meal and it's difficult not to dig in and eat a whole bunch - It's filling! They also top everything with a healthy dose of oil, which is nice to indulge in, but oil is fattening, and in my eyes is unnecessary in most cases. Lemon or lime juice is a much tastier, fresher, and healthier topping for salads! The price, service, food, wine, and atmosphere are all Excellent - Quartino is awesome!

Michelle C.

I really liked this place--more than I thought I would. Like everyone has said, it's tapas style, which I normally don't think of when it comes to Italian food, but actually makes a lot of sense. Our waitress, Alysia was super helpful and fun and great and she really made our experience even better. She even gave us suggestions on where to go for the rest of our trip since we were visiting Chicago for the first time. One of my favorite parts of the restaurant was that it's open late. I love eating late and am on a super late schedule so it was so great to see something open late that serves really good food. We started with the white bean hummus (YUM), the dates (holy shit!) and the carpaccio (alright). The bread basket was placed down immediately after we were seated and olive oil & balsamic were already on the table, which I loved. We also got the braised beef papparadle which was phenomenal and the scallops which were equally as good. I was super happy with our dinner! Oh, and we spilt a very affordable bottle of wine, which makes any dinner better! ;) Things do come out when they are ready, which I kind of like, especially since we were warmed about this beforehand. If I wasn't told, I would probably be confused, so be warned :)

Seferina B.

This restaurant, part of the Gibson group, has become my and my boyfriend's go-to date night place. It's easily accessible and really well priced and the food is fantastic. A dinner for two, with a shared dessert comes to around $35 with tip. A couple of things should be noted: - Quartino's is a large restaurant and packs people in so at times it can be very loud, especially if you are seated near the bar area. Although I don't normally like sitting by the kitchen exit space, it is actually one of the quieter corners of the restaurant - They are known for "family-style" dining. This means that their dishes are meant to be shared by a group of people, each of whom takes what they want from a plate and passes it around. I personally don't like to share my food but have never experienced a problem with portion size. However, if you do find their portion to be small, it's cheap enough that you could order another entree easily. - They are great for groups and for kids. They make really accessible Italian food - especially their entrees. Their apps are meat/dairy place centered, which isn't my thing. A lot of people go here for bachelor/ette parties or after work, so their staff is used to accommodating large groups of people. The attire isn't casual per se, but suits aren't required. It has a comfortable elegance. - For those that drink, they have an extensive wine and beverage list which looks fantastic. They also always have a crowded bar. Recommended dishes: Eggplant parmesan, pizza margherita, zeppoles with dark chocolate dipping sauce

Johnny P.

Just like the restaurant description says..... "Italian Tapas" Super chill and mellow vibe with the friendly Italian welcome! Lanny was our server and he was very helpful and friendly! He gave us suggestions and answered any and all of our questions! Always checked in with us and provided superb service! The Manager (i think) also stopped by to check on us as well...(thats always a bonus in my book!) On to the fooooood!!! Did the Lunch special (3 choices of plates for $25) - Veal Meatball Sliders: TASTY!!!! - Linguini with Clams: Buttery and tasty! - Fried Calamari: Crispy and not wimpy calamari! ***The portions are very generous...so come with your appetite!!! - Also paired it with Pinot grigio/Pinot blanco blend....went perfect together!!! Our only disappointment was they did not have Bone Marrow. Our server, Lanny tried to ask, but he informed us it was seasonal. BUMMER!!! Awesome food, great service....highly recommended!

Jacky W.

This place is absolutely lovely. For being such a large restaurant, it feels very intimate. The staff is incredibly helpful, prompt, and very sweet. My water glass never ran dry, which is always one thing I take note of in a busy restaurant. My foodie companion and I could not decide what to get, so the waitress allowed us a lot of half portions of many things, which I thought was very accommodating and greatly impressed me. We tried the Spinach & Arugula salads (both good, Arugula was better), Spaghetti all' Arrabbiata (perfect amount of spice), Cavatelli (ricotta made it very rich and creamy...delicious), and Fettuccini. This is traditional Italian at its best.

Sara M.

We LOVED Quartino and will make it a regular stop on our Chicago trips from now on. It was packed on a Sunday night which spoke for itself. We enjoyed great service, fantastic food, fun atmosphere and an overall great time! The plates are small (for sharing, like Tapas) but we each ordered one to share and we all felt very full and satisfied so the final tab was not bad at all. I would recommend the pizza and the Sangria. Wasn't too crazy about the tortellini. Overall thought we loved this place!!

carma s.

We had our wedding reception at Quartino, and I can't say enough good things about both the food and the service. The event planning staff (Julie) was very professional, responsive, and easy to work with. We had a private dining room for 35 people, and three wait/bar staff dedicated to our room (led by Roberto). They were so helpful and went out of there way to make sure everyone's wine glasses were filled throughout the night, and that every table had as much of the family-style food as they could eat. Everything was delicious!

Linna C.

Great energy with amazing wine and home-made pastas! Saturday night, this place is packed, from bar to restaurant, wine is flowing, everyone is in their best garb and all I spell is amazing food. Girlfriend and I shared a pitcher of wine along with a pastas dish and bacon wrapped dates and ended our meal with some zeppoles! Everything was amazing, I would definitely come for a return visit!

David R.

Just tried Quartino last Saturday and it was great. I guess the key is to eat early to avoid the crowds. We made reservations for 4:30 anticipating that it would be packed later in the evening (thanks fellow yelpers for the heads up). Now let's get to the food. I started off with the Minestrone Soup, which tasted wonderful, not too salty. The main course was the Ravioli Filled with Braised Pork, Speck, & Fava Beans. It was an excellent dish cooked perfectly. For dessert, sorry I can't remember the name, some sort of chocolate cake, but holy crap, it was so good! Anyway, the food is great, but the seating is way too close together. I can't imagine what it's like when it is busy! We will be back to visit Quartino, just not past 5:00.

Fei W.

In the spirit of the Yelp 100 challenge and my friend helpfully having her 30th birthday dinner here last night, here's an updated review. Great place for groups. House white and red wines are very drinkable and can be ordered by the half liter or liter. Served in non-traditional wine glasses that can be used to play quarters at the table. That was with another group, but it was quite classy, I assure you. Food! And all of it for very reasonable prices. -Pappardelle - great pasta choice, though last night I found the noodles a bit more al dente than I'd like. -Penne ala vodka - another solid choice. In fact, we got two orders of this. -Mushroom Risotto - we requested it with non-pork stock as a member of our group doesn't eat pork. Still tasty. -Beef short ribs - um.. delicious delicious meat. Tender, flavorful, can't go wrong. -Gnocchi - gnocchi really isn't my thing, but for gnocchi lovers, I'm sure this would suffice. -Polenta fries - piping hot! No for reals, it's hot, but delicious. So eat carefully. -Calamari - pretty standard. Less breading than some places use so more flavor comes through. -Soprano pizza - political incorrectness on very well executed crust. -Linguine with clams - white sauce, get it with the white sauce. Tasty broth. Lots of clams so hopefully you like those. -Zeppole - this was courtesy of our waiter for the aforementioned birthday. We sang happy birthday loud enough to drown out the noise of quartino. If you've ever been, you'd know that's loud. That's how we roll. These were good, but I prefer beignets. I'm a diva. I've had lots of other stuff here too and it hardly ever disappoints. The noise level is deafening, but works well for large rowdy parties. We used it to play telephone. Probably wouldn't take a date here. Unless you don't want to talk to your date, then it's a good strategic move.

M. H.

Pros: good pasta, great tapas. Risotto is fabulous (except asparagus). Great tortellini, caprese, tapas sampler. Cons: skip the asparagus risotto ... bland as water. Its extremely loud. You have to sit incredibly close to other patrons. Slow service. Confused identity ... tapas, pasta, pizza ... hmm? Pretty sure our server was drunk or on drugs and he gave us birthday apps and dessert on the house but forgot to take it off our bill .... twice!!

Angee B.

I keep trying to figure out how this place gets such good reviews. We got a pizza and the polenta fries and nothing stood out. Maybe I should have gotten one of the pastas? We didn't have a bad experience, just nothing special.

Joshua C.

Great food, awesome atmosphere, and good service. Highly recommend.

Yvonne I.

I've come to this place twice and both visits were pleasant. The waiters/restaurant encourages you to enjoy the food "tapas style", but you don't have to if you don't want to. The first time I went was on an early Sunday evening and I had the tortellini. The tortellini was the perfect portion for one and it was delicious. Perfect balance of ingredients and flavor. During my second visit I had the caponata salad. I love olives and eggplant, but if you don't love them, this wouldn't be something you would like. The flavor of the caponata was both strong and a little spicy. I had one of the pizzas on the menu. The pizza didn't come out until my two friends were done with their main dishes,but it was worth the wait. The prices here are extremely reasonable for the quality and amount of food they serve. This is a great place for a date, family, a group of friends, or really any group of people. Location is perfect as well.

Wayne F.

Place is nice, service is good however portions are small. At least the house salad and eggplant parm are small. Also, I personally prefer a lot of sauce relative to cheese on my eggplant and this place does the reverse.

Michelle L.

I am not a 5-star reviewer. We went to Quartino with a large group and they handled it BEAUTIFULLY. The wait staff was above and beyond for our rowdy table of 16. We drank a ton of wine, sampled 15 dishes, and tried ALL of the desserts. It was a great evening.

LaLaLaLa L.

i love quartino! I've been coming here for years and am always pleased with my experience. If you're looking for a quaint, quiet, romantic dinner, this is not where you will find that. I love coming here with girlfriends and drinking wine, trying lots of different things and laughing! It's the perfect spot to meet friends. Some of my personal favorites are: The goats milk ricotta with bread... Amazing. I work in River North and sometimes come get this for lunch. the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese pasta, the pizzas, among others. a couple things i DIDN'T love.. The shrimp.. it wasn't bad.. just not as flavorful as i would have liked, and the chicken soup. The soup was very carrot tasting. nice chunks of chicken, though! While it may not be my favorite, it could be yours!

Melanie G.

Stopped in here on a whim (and after a quick check of the Yelp rating) while walking around town looking for a place to eat while in town on business. I was seated immediately, and the hostess was thoughtful enough to seat me a on the outside of the room, where I could people watch (again, by myself). Service was excellent - props to the bus boys - from the get go. I started off with the caprese salad: fresh tomatos, basil and excellent mozarella! There was plenty for 2 or even 3 people. Next, I ordered the veal osso bucco. FYI - the other comments about this being an Italian tapas place is a great description, because none of the specialty dishes, like the osso bucco, come with sides. But the osso bucco was so delicious that it didn't need any!! I ended with biscotti and coffee for dessert...again, way too much food for one person, but the staff is more than happy to box it up for you. Appears that this is a popular place with locals, and I see why! There is a great atmopshere, and you could come here for a casual meet with friends or a romantic date; even by myself, I was perfectly comfortable. I will definitely be back!

Norah S.

Really really good food. I got a salad and my friend is happy with her pasta. We split bread and had a good time. Be aware of their corporate event offerings, the food might not be that great, at least from my personal experience

Beth P.

Stopped in here for lunch for a latte and mushroom rissoto. It was delicious and I would certainly go back! Service was great and there was a private room to rent upstairs for special events. This would be a great place to go with a group of people...I highly suggest it.

Lois K.

I went here because it's nearby and a friend had told me that is has the "most authentic Italian food" in the city. I had pretty high expectations and left underwhelmed. I thought it would be a bit nicer or a restaurant, so I was surprised when I sat down at a table with those red and white picnic table covers. The pizza was pretty standard neapolitan pizza that you can get almost anywhere. The polenta fries were a complete waste of money and stomach space. I also had the penne a la vodka with Italian sausage, which was fine... But I could make the same quality pasta at home. All in all, I found that this was a pretty run of the mill Italian restaurant.

Dennis L.

I arrived at 8pm. They said it would be a 30min wait for a party of 2. Luckily we went inside and found seating at the bar. The bar isn't only the bar table, the random small tables to the right of the bar table includes the bar room. Full menus and amazing service. The bread was so delicious. Soft and moist. Be sure to ask for vinegar because they don't give it to you unless requested. The short rib was so small. It was very soft and the meat just melted in my mouth. The problem with this was that it was somewhat bland. There wasn't as much flavor as I had hoped. 6/10 on this We also ordered the linguine with clams. The clams were awesome. Get the white rather than red. This was yummy. Extremely oily and greasy but good nonetheless. I don't think I would come back because it wasn't anything spectacular that I couldn't find in Los Angeles, CA but it's a good experience.

Mignon B.

Great food. Enjoyed the Napoli (sweet with golden raisins) and Polpette (marina sauce) meatballs. Salumeria tasting and pink bubble....wow! Rob, located in the bar, is informative and can give you tips on what delicious treat will engage your palate.

Gabrielle O.

Quartino is a fun place to go for dinner. I loved the ambience, and Italian small plates is a great idea. The service is absolutely above average. Every member of the staff is super attentive and kind. As for the food: the calamari was the best I've had in a long while, the beef carpaccio was amazing, and the braised pork ravioli was melt in your mouth delicious! however, the eggplant parm was very bland and disappointing. Everything else, including the sangria, was perfect though! Four plates among two people was not too much, and maybe not enough! There is definitely more to try!

Sarah C.

We came here after a 6 hour bus ride from Detroit to Chicago. We had reservations for like 930 or 10. I don't think it was needed since it was so late. First thing I noticed was how freaking loud it was here. We were sitting pretty close together and I still could barely hear. The food came out quickly though: Roasted Baby Octopus - This had the potential of 5 stars but unfortunately for some parts of it I felt like I was eating cancer (char) and the veggies were too salty. Vegetarina Asparagus, Cauliflower, Zucchini, Eggplant, & Wild Arugula - $12 : It was basically a pizza with a wild arugula salad on top. More like two separate dishes in one. Gnocchi Potato Dumplings, Green Beans, Potatoes, Arugula Pesto, & Pork Stock - $10.75: I was surprised I liked it but I probably won't order this again. So we were pretty tired so we just wanted to head back to our hotel and sleep. Our waiter was chatting up with this table for 10 minutes before we were able to get his attention to get the check. Same thing when we signed our cards. Considering how Chicago has so many great restaurants I don't think I will be coming back.

Katie R.

1 star for the cavatelli, 1 star for the awesome busboy. i don't understand the hype of this place, but give someone enough wine and anything will taste good. our food was dismal at best. even the bread you start with is "blah". we started with the caprese which was decent (at least the mozzarella wasn't slimy), moved on to the eggplant parmesan which was soggy and bland and the cavatelli, which i actually really enjoyed, then onto the margarita pizza which was also bland (it looked better than it tasted), and lastly had the scallops. the scallops were lukewarm like they had been sitting out for some time and one was majorly burnt. it looked like a mcdonald's operation in the kitchen so i can imagine why everything is so-so. our waiter, to be nice, sucked. he didn't stop by once to ask if we needed anything after we ordered, just asking once if everything was okay. no water refill, no asking if we wanted a refill on booze. with that said, the busboy compensated for that, asking if we wanted more wine, getting us a new bottle of water, asking if we needed anything else with our meal.. and all with a huge smile. the fact that our waiter just didn't seem to care really bothered me. dessert was decent (we had the sorbet) although the biscotti could have broken your teeth. they also sent us with cans of tomatoes. i'm still left questioning that, but it at least made me a little happier with my experience.

Maripaz R.

Great feel to this downtown restaurant. There was a nice vibe and atmosphere. Tuesday night and the restaurant was packed. Small plates are all the rage in Chicago and Quartino was no exception. We started with the Caprese Salad - good but nothing outstanding. Buffalo mozzarella was fair. Veal sliders were ok but not a must try. Roasted Octopus was very tasty and tender. Mushroom Risotto was a favorite and pays out on the appetite appeal of the description. Pesto Gnocchi was tasty, a good balance of flavors. My only real ding on the place was the volume. Per my preamble, I like a restaurant that's buzzing but I also like to talk during dinner. This is definitely perfect for a fun night out but not for business.

Tuyen V.

The roasted baby squid: Melts in your mouth and is kind of amazing. Ravioli: Delicious. Prosciutto D'Anitra: Different yet tasty. Profiteroles: Ordinary. You have to make reservations as it gets so packed every single day. The food came out in a timely manner and service was good.

Sejal P.

This place always surprises me! it's amazing food at reasonable price. They are authentic and genuine with their ingredients. I believe so far i've tried almost everything on the menu here. I absolutely love everything here but my favorites are the clams, be sure to ask for extra bread. Their broth goes perfect for dipping. Food: great taste always 5* Service: super friendly 5* Quality: nothing beats fresh herbs even if you ask for Oregano on the side with your pizza it's fresh cut! 5*

Kathryn K.

Great for accommodating groups. If I am not going out with more than four people than I don't think of it. But it is a great choice for groups because it has something for even the pickiest of people. I am deducting a star because sometimes the service is not the quickest.

David L.

I had a thoroughly enjoyable meal here tonight: crisp romaine hearts salad; shared Caprese salad; farmhouse chicken, perfectly tender with a tangy/zesty light sauce; some of a friend's tiramisu (special). I also enjoyed some of the small but diverse bottled beer selection: Founders Centennial IPA and Great Lakes Brewing Co.'s Eliot Ness Vienna Lager, both outstanding (reviewed separately on ratebeer.com ). (Unfortunately, no drafts.) Food prices were quite reasonable. Beer at $6 was standard for a restaurant and the quality of beer. Service was great. Note that the place is quite loud, and the restaurant was packed on a Thursday; make reservations.

Dennis L.

Quartino, I think I love you. Seriously, you delivered! With such a great and diverse menu, I decided to put our server to work right away. I asked her to bring a few cheeses, a pizza, and 2-3 other dishes for the three of us. We quickly found out that this was the way to go! Here is the lowdown: Wine: Lazio - If You See Kay - Awesome cabernet sauvignon based blend Cheese: Asiago Vecchio - wonderful sharp asiago Taleggio - another winner...so good Pizza: We had a great pie that was half Fumo Negli Occhi and half Campania. Put it this way...I am going to order it again on my next visit. Tapas: Sea Scallops - Perfectly cooked Tortellini (Half Order) - I could have eaten the whole plate Pappardelle (Half Order) - Excellent pasta, delicious sauce Overall, I enjoyed a great dinner with some great company. I will be back for sure.

Leslie G.

the portions were all made for sharing, however, asparagus risotto was not seasoned enough. the garlic shrimp was tiny and salty. the pizzas had no taste. the only good thing was the charcuterie plate we devised.

Natalie U.

This place was good enough for me start a yelp account. Yup, it's that good. You should try get a reservation ahead of time b/c this place is jam packed for good reason. My boyfriend and I came here for our 2 year anniversary at 9pm since the slots were all taken. I heard about this palce and wanted to try it since the reviews were so good and they were right. The service was great, and the waiter was super charismatic and attentive. I looove tapas. Highly recommend the prosciutto and cheeses! It comes with mini sides and jams and honey to eat with. We got a free pizza since the chef made a mistake and the waiter asked if he wanted it for free. (yes thank you very much!) It was fresh and tasty.

N O.

Went here for my birthday with a group of 14. This place is very very busy. The wait by the door is a little crowded but I guess there isn't much you can do about that. Food is great. We ordered two pizzas, shrimp risotto, octopus (i didnt care to try that), scallops, pasta, and another dish or two that I can't recall at the moment. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because the drinks we ordered would come late or the waiter forgot to bring a drink. Other than that, its a great place to go and share a few dishes.

Jen D.

I've long been an advocate for Quartino as a great place for a group outing. It's especially great if you have some picky eaters in the group. But my most recent outing was a bit upsetting (sat night, 7pm). The reasons I love Quartino for groups - good food, cheap prices, the cheapest, drinkable wine in town and a rowdy table doesn't feel out of place, because it's so loud. I would not go for a "foodie" meal, but it's great for a group. I've not been there in just over a year, but our experience was a bit disappointing. I'm hoping it's a blip on the radar and not the new typical. - 25 minute wait for our table, despite a reservation - 25 minutes is spent crammed in the first floor waiting area, they just have too many people there waiting and nowhere near enough waiting space for a restaurant that seats that many people (this place is HUGE) - Most rushed meal I've had in a long time - the small plates came out fast and furious, we were done within 50 minutes of sitting down. Not really the sort of experience I was wanting. I'll give mgmt credit, we had a problem during the meal but it was handled to our satisfaction. I'll keep an eye on reviews and will probably go back at some point with a few friends to check it out - I really want to keep it in my arsenal.

TJ Y.

I went here on their 7th anniversary, so the pastas, pizzas, and house wine bottles were $7. That's a few dollars cheaper than their regular menu, so it was a great deal! The food was great! A few things we ordered were the funghi pizza (really good!), linguine with clams (lots of clams, but a the taste was a bit bland), cavatelli (best pasta dish that night), pappardelle al sugo di manzo (pretty good, lots of meat), gnocchi (also really good), penne alla vodka (the sauce was a little light, but it tasted good), rigatoni (did not like this one... it was bland and way too creamy). Overall, the food was great!! For $7, it was totally worth it. Our server was awesome! One of the best servers that I have encountered so far. He provided recommendations and was honest about his opinions on the dishes. We took his suggestions and were not disappointed in the food. Since we were all sharing, he brought the dishes out a couple at a time so that we always had a few on our table and were eating each while it was hot. It's a great place to go with friends and I would return to try the other stuff on the menu.

M C.

This is the place to go with a bunch of friends or for a casual night and great food to share. Place is always crowded, but make a res and you'll be seated quickly at a "cozy" table. I'm always amazed how the waitstaff manages to wedge/stack/cantilever half a dozen plates on the already full table - kudos. Share the plates you and your company order - don't be greedy here - you can always order another. The white bean spread is amazing and has a little zing to it with the peppers. Try something new every visit. I think our favorites were: penne with vodka sauce, beef carpaccio, ravioli, margarita pizza, and our favorite for dessert - the homemade Italian donuts with powdered sugar and hot chocolate sauce. Simple and amazing! Only drawback is the noise - gets very loud when full. Great place to have a few appetizers and drinks after work too, as the atmosphere is fun and casual.

Kelsey T.

A great place for a group to try tons of delectable plates. There is a wide variety of options for every diner: vegetables, seafood, pasta, pizza, olives..... My absolute favorite was the roasted octopus, which was tender and super flavorful. Hardly any wait for a table and the staff was very attentive.

Julian C.

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. I had made reservations for 6:30 but was not seated until 7:15 (to be fair, I didn't get there until 6:45ish). The star I'm knocking off is mostly due to the wait: people were crammed like sardines in the waiting area and it was somewhat suffocating. Reading other reviews, this seems to be more of a norm than an exception. Despite the delay, once we were seated the overall experience was great. The waiter (can't remember his name but he looked like the pudgy guy from Grey's Anatomy, not that I watch that show) was very helpful and attentive. Pros: Cavatelli - simple-sounding pasta dish, but was oh so delicious. Perfectly-cooked pasta, and the ricotta cheese really made the sauce pop Beef Short Rib - 13 bucks for one rib seems a little steep, but it was mighty tasty Mushroom Risotto - Not as enjoyable for me as the two dishes above, but if you're a fungus fan you'll love the flavors Cons: Romaine Hearts Salad - looks like a bed of chopped-up lettuce Desserts - ordered a half-order of the doughnuts and a half-order of the Tiramisu. While neither were bad, I expected a little more Pro-Tip: Our waiter was extremely helpful in recommending we order half-orders of a couple of our dishes (I was not aware we could do this). The half-orders were still generous, and allowed us to really expand the variety of dishes we tried without overly taxing the stomach/wallet. Good call, Grey's-man!

Vincent G.

Great atmosphere and service. Food was reasonably priced and drinks were as well. Food taste was mediocre at best. We had pizza, scallops, pasta and veal meatballs. Pasta and "gravy" had no flavor at all. Everything else was ok. Very lively atmosphere for drinks but food I could do w/o

Jaime C.

This place is AMAZING!!! I had never had Italian tapas, but Quartinos definitely made it work. I wanted to bring my friends, who are from Cali, to something special in Chicago. They definitely enjoyed it. I made reservations on a Friday night at 8:30 PM. We were running a bit late so I called half an hour before our RSVP and luckily they were nice enough to push it to 9:00 pm. Upon our arrival, the lobby was a madhouse. People were elbow to elbow. Luckily, we only had to wait for 5 minutes for our table. For our table for a party of 4 girls, we only ordered four dishes. While its recommended to order more considering its tapas style, the four dishes worked well for us. We got the shrimp risotto, wild arugula salad, paparazzi pizza, and the rigatoni that had chicken and broccoli. All four dishes was delicious. It was nice to share and try a little of everything. We also ordered a bottle of wine which our waiter recommended to us. I forget the name but they have a nice selection. Our bill came out to be 25pp including tax and tips. I highly recommend this place. Come with reservations and a big group so you can try more dishes!

Valerie R.

Seafood stew was amazing. The rest if the meal, though, was just average. The spuntini consisted mostly of unremarkable pastes from a jar. The broccoli rabe was terribly bitter. The ravioli was pan fried and more like a dumpling. Atmosphere-wise, it has a bustling rustic quality but it's extremely loud - yelling is necessary to make yourself heard - so take care not to bring children.

Erin M.

Quartino, I wanted to love you unabashedly, but I just can't. It all began in your entryway. What is up with that space?! At 5'2" I tend to get lost in a crowd, but all the pushing and shoving as patrons traipsed in and out was an immediate turn off. We had reservations for 6 and were seated at 6:45. Typically, I would have been mildly annoyed, but as we were going to see "The Book of Mormon" at 8, being seated this late meant a rushed dinner and no dessert. Don't mess with a girl who lives for dessert. You earned some love back after this debacle because the manager greeted us and provided is some drinks on the house; gotta say I love a restaurant (or any business for that matter) who works to keep guests happy. The service was spotty. I'm not saying it was our server's fault as she had a crowded section and a dangerously narrow gauntlet of tables to get around to, but it was s...l...o...w despite the food coming out quickly. That, and maybe at 32 I am a bit of a curmudgeon, but the place is LOUD. It was hard to hear my date across our tiny table (that as a tiny person I nevertheless felt crammed into). The food was okay. I personally tried the sausage and tagliatelle bologese. The tagliatelle was mushy and the sauce a bit sweet, but the sausage was delish. This earned another star in my book. The third star comes with the plentiful, aromatic and freshly baked bread that we enjoyed with our meal. Maybe I would come again, maybe I wouldn't. Might have to listen to "Eye of the Tiger" to get myself pumped up and would have to make sure I had nowhere to go immediately after.

Andrea S.

We got here at 6 and the wait was 4 hours for a table on a (long weekend) Saturday night, so we found a seat right away at the bar instead. We had white Sangria (with cubes of apple and orange in our glasses), spinach and pear salad, mushroom risotto, and octopus. The portions were small, but everything was delicious and very reasonably priced. Explains the long wait. We'll be making a reservation the next time we come.

Amanda H.

I went here last weekend with a group of five people and the service was fantastic! Our waitor was hilarious and extremely helpful, we were interested in different types of prosciutto they had so he brought out a plate for us to sample! I'm gluten free so everyone at the table ordered from their gluten free menu so that we could all share. We ordered a huge assortment of food (olives, prosciutto, asparagus risoto, cheese plates, roasted peppers, beef filets, steamed clams, roasted tuscan sausage, and many others). We were all amazed at how fantastic each dish was! Definitely try this place out, whether you have a small or big group of people!

Garrett G.

I'm a big fan and have enjoyed many diners here. For the location and selection it's actually pretty cheap. The servers have always been nice and somehow I always get a table fairly quikcly (they must be good and turning them over). I recommend the octopus. This is a great spot for tourists and locals alike.

Jessica G.

I like this place. Comfortable set-up, sort of close together in the dining room, but still comfortable. Also not overly loud, which is something that I like. It's a big open room more or less so there could potentially have to be some yelling to be heard but we did not have to do so. Good service - not overly aggressive but very timely and the food came out quickly, which was nice because the people we were with were on a tight schedule that night. Good with bringing refills, too. These are small plates and you could probably get away with ordering a couple of starters and then eating your own small portion. I like to share so this is a good place for a group and a good place to get to try a lot of different things. Standouts were the sausages on the meat and cheese platter and the octopus was a big favorite at our table, too. I also really liked the gnocchi. We also ordered the zeppole for dessert - these were probably my most favorite item of all. I mean, who can resist light, airy puffs of doughnut and chocolate for drizzling? I would be of a mind to just order that for my whole meal next time. Awesome stuff! There's valet if you think you want to drive and don't want to have to park, too. Overall, quite lovely and I would be glad to go back!

Jennifer B.

Good food, large seating capacity so you can always get in!

Michael N.

Thank you. The food is great, home made and flavorful. The service was friendly and welcoming. The prices are crazy reasonable. Incredible wine selection by the glass. Thank you for extraordinary dining experience. Solid value for price paid. I will return with friends and family. Yum!!

Ashley G.

We walked into the restaurant and the waiting area on a friday night at 9pm was PACKED. We were all shoved around and it was really uncomfortable. The bar area was empty so I don't know why they don't push people in that direction. Once we got out of that mess we found 2 seats at the bar and didn't mind the wait time (about 15 minutes). The menu is a sharing menu so we ordered several dishes for the table. Everything was delicious and full of flavor. I wish we had room for dessert because their dessert menu was superb. Maybe next time.

Eric D.

Pretty good, the prosciutto was amazing. It was the wifes birthday, the waiter gave us a shot and some italian donuts complimentary. This place rocks!

Colleen R.

Love the ambience. They did the rustic, old Italian kitchen look before anyone else did! The service is friendly and happy to help with ordering. The food is good (not great.) I love the late night hours! Will be back. Great place for groups.

Jenna H.

Blah. Another Chicago spot that I am not sure why the reviews are so fantastic. We were packed like sardines (6 of us) into a room upstairs that had the feel of a pool hall. It was SO loud in there that the next day, some of us had lost our voices from screaming across the table the whole night. It sucked. Nothing on the menu really sounded that great to me at the time and I ordered the tomatoes caprese. It was good- but really how hard is that to make? No one in my party said their food was anything to write home about. We had a good server is about the only real positive thing I can say. Big fat bummer.

Nancy L.

Welcomed 2013 at Quartinos. The decoration is fab and the food was perfect. Our waiter had the coolest personality and was very attentive. Will be back without a doubt.

Mia B.

I've always wanted to try this place. I found the service to be outstanding. Our waiter was helpful and had a positive attitude. Looking around the restaurant, this seemed to be the case with the entire staff; everyone seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs, which makes a big difference. The food is VERY simple, but well-executed. You won't see any revolutionary items on the menu, no fusion and so on. But they use high-quality ingredients, so the flavors of the food really speak for itself. My boyfriend and I really enjoy sharing plates so we can try a little bit of everything and not feel like our belts are about to explode afterwards. The shared plates were perfect for us, plus you can order quarter and half bottles of wine. I was picking up the tab and it ended up being a very economical but special night out for us! It got rather crowded towards the end of our stay, and luckily I had noted in the reservations that we had theatre tickets. We had no trouble at all getting there on time.

Vicki Z.

Good wine, great food, and wonderful service. That is the equation of a good restaurant. Clearly, Quartino's knows what they are doing. One of my personal local favorites!

Katie W.

The polenta fries are amazing! I also had gnocchi and the noodles could not have been better. Very interesting restaurant, very loud and fun!

Erin S.

This place was incredible! I came here with my family and we sampled things all over the menu. From the salami appetizers, to pizza, to short rib, to pasta, everything was phenomenal. Everything was made in house and tasted like it was straight from Italy. I will definitely be returning!

Cortney A.

We went to Quartino last night for New Years Eve dinner. We had plans downtown for midnight so we were looking for somewhere to eat around 10. About a week before NYE, I called all of our usual places trying to get a reservation and there was nothing available! After reading a ton of Yelp reviews I decided to give Quartino a try. They had a reservation available at the time we wanted so we put our name in via Open Table. Last night we ended up arriving downtown about an hour earlier than we anticipated. We stopped at Purple Pig first but they had a 3 hour wait! So we went to Quartino and they were able to get us in right away! The service at the hostess stand was really great. The ambiance in Quartino is really nice. I love the subway tile walls, the antique candleabras, the open airy feeling and the downtown views. The restaurant has a very European bistro feel which was really unexpected in the downtown touristy area. The food is Italian small plates or tapas. We ordered the following: Polenta fries: crispy and delicious, really unique! I wish they came with marinara sauce though instead of the red pepper sauce. Tortellini w/ alfredo sauce, peas and prosciutto: my partner loved this dish, he wants to come back for it! Ravioli w/ braised pork and fava beans: this dish was delicious but a little saltier than it needed to be. With the prosciutto and parm they don't need to add so much salt! Chicken: garlicky and delicious Calamari: fresh and well seasoned. The portion was a bit too large for tapas though. The best thing about our meal was our server. I can't recall his name but he was really friendly and outgoing. He explained the menu to us and even got me a free drink when they didn't have the one I wanted! He went above and beyond and that is just a great feeling. We weren't too thrilled to be going here on New Years since it seemed like any other Italian place (of which, Chicago has plenty!) but we were pleasantly surprised and will definitely be going back again!

Larry L.

Really nice place, best for a doble date ir group if six, since to get to try a lot of dishes and flavors. Wine is great price, we got a montepulciano and we liked a lot, sliced salad, baby spinach salad, asparagus risotto, salmon, gnochi ( my least favorite) home made sausage, all were great and Michael the manager made us tried the zepolle and was good( not my favorite dessert since i dont care for deep fried) convinient fir us since we stayed at the embassy suites on state. A must try place... And the hostess were all great... Nice blonde smiles

Sherry P.

I've been here a few times but I think this will be my last. We've always been just after Christmas and the place is always packed. I would NEVER wait 2 hours for this restaurant so we always end up in the bar. It's a fun atmosphere but really crowded and noisy--really more of a young person's place. I'm the type of person more interested in the food than the crowd and the food is just average. Nothing has ever been bad but nothing has been fantastic either. Last time we had the marrow, which was very good but they seemed to have taken that off the menu. This time I had the duck prosciutto pizza with arugula. The duck prosciutto is really good but there wasn't very much of it on the pizza. In my head I was expecting a white sauce and some cheese on it but maybe I didn't read the menu well enough because it was a red sauce, which just didn't work. It would be a great pizza if they put more imagination into it. As it was, it just tomato sauce on pizza dough with a bunch of arugula on top. My husband had linguini and clam sauce--pretty spicy--but not outstanding. One big negative besides the average food is that nothing comes out of the kitchen together. I know this is supposed to be family style but I personally think it's the mark of a weak kitchen staff that there is so much time in between dishes. I mean, the small bowl of linguini and clams really isn't a sharing type of dish.

Nikki S.

This is definitely a small plates type of restaurant meant for sharing, so that is always a bit tricky for ordering, but the waiter definitely helped us out. I would definitely recommend the cheese fondue & the calamari & the donut dessert. Wow looks like I recommended a lot, but lots of good eats. They definitely get a GOOD crowd on a Saturday night, so make reservations, and seems better for an older crowd.

Jason S.

Best place ever!!!! Always good and always a good time. GREAT option for clients looking to have a good time and get social too! Go with a group to maximize tasting options but always get 1. The salumi options 2. The sausage. Where the wine is cheaper than water IS my favorite group place to go in the city. Words of warning though.... It is loud, it is crowded and you better have reservations. Italian tapas for all!!!!

Daniel S.

Good food, good wine, good atmosphere.

K K.

LOVE this place! My husband and I go here all the time. It's perfect for any dinner night. It's a bit noisy though, so you'll have to speak up!

Susanne H.

TERRIBLE! Our flight got in late, so we searched some restaurants on Yelp and this place looked great. We arrived at a very crowded restaurant, which we were fine with, but the noise was overwhelming. My boyfriend and I were sitting on same side of the table and had issues hearing each other. We ordered caprice, it came with two pieces of mozzarella and a few pieces of tomato. The mozzarella was slimy! It took forever to get a second round of beer even though the waitress kept passing our table. The pizza was just as bad as the appetizer. The mushrooms tasted terrible and the overall taste of the pizza was just awful. We were so disappointed as we were looking forward to eating in Chicago and we were severely let down.

Tatyana R.

Great food and service!

Gregg D.

Highly recommended by Yelp and the hotel we were staying at, we made reservations on a Saturday night for a holiday dinner for the three of us. We walked to Quartino and arrived about 30 minutes ahead of our reservation time, figuring we would have a drink at the bar. Much to our delight, they cleared a table and seated us immediately. Minutes later Aldo was at our table ready to serve. First time here? Yes. Ever done small plate tapas style? Nope. No problem, says Aldo, I'll explain it to you. He did a great job with suggestions and guiding us through the meal. Service was prompt and friendly but not intrusive. Nice job Aldo! Thanks for making us feel comfortable. We started with some spicy salami, Asagio cheese and olives. Comes with walnut bread, pickled veggies and apricot purée. I liked the salami..it lived up to its spicy name. The combo of walnut bread, cheese and apricot purée was delicious. My wife was eating the apricot purée by the spoonful it was so tasty. My son chose the Cavatelli for one course and I got us the pork shank to share. The pasta was good, not great. Nice tomato flavor and cheesy. The pork shank was absolutely fantastic. It is soaked in wine for like 9 hours and falls off the bone. It is served over some super creamy mashed potatoes. I'm still thinking about a forkful of the moist, flavored meat with hot mashed potatoes! And for only $10! This was plenty of food for us. Along with some cocktails total bill was about $80. Very reasonable. We had a great time. The restaurant is very loud, but I liked it. A nice high energy vibe; celebratory. Oh yeah, they also had "A Christmas Story" playing on the TV. We laughed through dinner and mimed the lines. "You'll shoot your eye out!" "Bumpases".

Don H.

I was in Chicago over the weekend visiting family and this was the place we went for dinner on Saturday night. We had heard good things about it and decided to see for ourselves. First of all, make reservations. This place was packed. Even with reservations it still took a few minutes to seat four adults (and my young grandson), but that's OK. Crappy restaurants aren't crowded, so that's actually a good sign. If you're driving, use the valet service. It isn't much, about 12 bucks and it was worth it. There's really no public parking around, especially during Christmas shopping season. Cab fare would have been higher and would have been a double expense to and from, we had the baby as well, so valet was the right choice for us. We were seated and met by Alyssia, our server. She immediately established that it was our first visit and explained how the tapas/small plate style worked. She went over the menu and took our drink orders. Within minutes, drinks were served. She even brought an extra wine glass in case I changed my mind (I rarely drink). Alyssia answered several questions about different dishes and once we decided, she was off and running. First to arrive were the veal meatball sliders. Big hefty meatballs, I'd guess about 1 1/2 to 2 oz each, on small buns with pomodoro sauce and giardiniera. There was a cheese on there as well but I'm not sure what type, didn't ask. Veal was very tasty, could have used a little more seasoning for me, but it was very good still. Within a few minutes, and the next dish was dates wrapped in pancetta, stuffed with Gorgonzola Dolce & drizzled with honey. Holy cow, that was wonderful. The sweet and the savory of the gorgonzola with the sweet of the honey and the pancetta just can't be described, you simply have to try it. Everyone loved them and we seriously thought about ordering more but there was so much more food coming, we reluctantly passed. Next up was the Pappardelle al sugo di manzo, beef with pappardelle pasta in a tomato sauce. Very good and filling, little bit of heat on the back end. Just right for a chilly night. Next, the only low note of the evening. The rest of the group wanted a pizza, I wanted some veggies. We settled on Quattro Stagioni, a pizza with marinated artichokes, portobellos, roasted peppers, zucchini, and grana. I had asked Alyssia if I could get some of the same veggies on the side for me, she said sure, no problem. Well, the kitchen goofed it up and put all the veggies on the side and none on the pizza, so we basically had a cheese pizza. Most of the food was being delivered by a different server each time, so when Alyssia came around and saw what had happened, she disappeared for a moment and when she returned, told us that she had taken care of it and taken the pizza off our bill. Now that's damn good service! Last up was gnocchi. I have to admit, I didn't try it; I was nearing my limit by this time. It's made with green beans, potatoes, arugula, pesto and pork stock; it's not your average gnocchi. But everyone else loved it. Alyssia came around with the dessert menu. She let on that there was tiramisu that wasn't on the menu. I was trying to be good, my wife and I were going to split a dessert, a Panino al Gelato Limone, a lemon cream gelato sandwich with lemon curd, and whipped cream. The others had ordered a Nutella Panino, which is just what it sounds like, toasted panini with nutella. What I had missed was a wink and a nudge between my wife and Alyssia, the next thing I know we had the lemon panino, the nutella panino and the tiramisu. To top it all off, Alyssia said that she'd seen how I had perked up at the mention of tiramisu, even though she had already scrubbed the pizza, she wanted us to be completely happy, she comped all three desserts! Is that awesome or what? Besides being a top notch server, hustling back and forth all evening as well as waiting several other tables, Alyssia really knocked it out of the park that night. Friendly, cheerful, and absolutely has the diners interest at heart, she made the night for us. My son picked up the tab for the meal and was certainly generous to Alyssia for her service and I gave her a little extra on the side as well. She certainly earned it; we also gave her an attaboy with her manager before leaving. I hope they darn well appreciate what they have in her. Overall, the food was outstanding. Everything was nicely done, the veal was moist and a good starting point, the pancetta dates were killer; the pappardelle was delicious, little hiccup on the pizza and veggies but it was saved by outstanding service. BTW, the veggies were great, should have got more of those as well. Gnocchi was super by all accounts. I can personally attest to to the tiramisu and the lemon panino as being worth the trip all by themselves. A wonderful meal and service that can't be beat anywhere. Very much looking forward to returning.

Mickey A.

I had many visits but only now reviewing. I know, such a Yelp cliche but whatever. There are so many reviews but here is my short (hopefully) but to the point review. + Good for groups. I've been here for alumni functions usually held upstairs. This past summer I hosted a group of 10 ladies for a bachelorette party dinner. I looked into getting a private room for us (through private events section of website), but due to keeping costs down, ended up with reserving a table in the dining area. It actually worked out since the party attendance wasn't as big as expected. Actually, that same night, I think we saw about three or four other tables with bachelorette party people. + Even though portions are small (think tapas style), I always leave like I ate one big meal. My parents were in town for Thanksgiving. My dad liked the idea of small dishes because he thinks he's gaining a belly. Whatever, dad. He liked it so much we came back...three freakin' times in a week. In our defense, we didn't order the same dishes each time. The favorites though were the shrimp risotto, polenta fries (my personal fave), the not so spicy salami (name escapes me), and fried calamari. If you don't like loud places or sit somewhat too close to the next table, this might not be for you. Otherwise, it's not a bad option to take out-of-towners and/or need a place for a group function. You can make reservations via Open Table. I highly recommend reserving a table because it does get really crowded, even on the most random weeknight.

Kathy K.

One of my favorite places in Chicago. Great food, fun, busy, family style my kind of place.

Jade F.

I really like coming to Quartino. My friends all love coming here and I had no idea what the big fuss was until I actually ordered food from here. They are super accommodating with dietary restrictions! I've come here many times with friends in the past and my favorite dishes are polenta fries, vegetariana pizza (awesome awesome pizza), and chocolate fondue. Their chocolate fondue is one of the best I've ever had in my life. Super delicious. I just came back here earlier this week with a friend and the wild arugula salad was just okay. I was debating between getting a sangria or moscato for dessert and then ended up getting a moscato. Biggest moscato ever! I loved it. It wasn't just a bit of alcohol (like what restaurants usually give you for an after dinner / meal drink), I was actually given a lot. All I can say is, yum :)

Mopsie B.

Decent, if somewhat mainstream American-Italian food. I think they probably consider themselves an upscale Maggiano's and it is, to the extent that it attracts A LOT of tourists and suburbanites, particularly on the weekends. It's always packed. I've been here twice, out of necessity. The first time was because a friend and I were hungry and we happened to be passing by. The second time was for our office Christmas party. Our buffet was really cold, even for dishes that weren't supposed to be. I thought the pasta was very mediocre. The pizza is decent. Overall, it's fine but they're just too crowded for it to be an enjoyable place to go. It's fine if you're starving but otherwise, there are lots of better places to go.

Shamik T.

Love Quartino. Hadn't been there in a number of years, but finally made my way back a couple weeks ago. Amazing pasta arrabiata. Perfect amount of spiciness. Haven't had the pizza recently, but the pasta was delightful.

Heidi S.

The food was okay - wide selection. The wine was also good. I think the best part about this place is that it's downtown. Pops across the street has better food and champagne. Quartino's is also too loud for an intimate conversation or date.

Jen K.

Save your money. This place is awful. Worst cheese fondue I've ever had. It was incredibly runny and had an awful flavor. The sprosetta, dates, and carpaccio would all equally bland and flavorless. Why this place is popular is beyond me...

The Trip R.

Wow! One of the best meals we've had in a very long time. We went with another couple and had a wonderful evening. Fantastic wine (love that you can buy it by the 1/4, 1/2, or full litre) and we had a wonderful array of dishes. Loved the Cheese fondue, the bacon dates, and the pizza was a home run too. Our service was great as well. Great place for a small group meal, I think it'd be a little trickier with larger groups.

Jay M.

Wow. Just wow! Excellent customer service AND fantastic food. You can tell how invested the owners and management are in their staff, and it totally translated table side. I recommend the kale salad, the minestrone(vegetarian to boot), and the veal flank steak with wild rocket and roasted cherry tomatoes. So good and so affordable, I left a 40% tip! Thanks Sam and Ryan, one of the best meals I've had in Chicago in the 10 times I've been here in the last 3 years!!!

Hamza S.

The food was excellent, and the servers went above and beyond out of there way to make sure your dining experience is excellent.

Amber Y.

My favorite restaurant in the entire universe!!!!!!! The best and most affordable Italian food I've ever had. I lived in Chicago for 4 years (and would eat here many times per month) and now live in New York City and dream about going back to Chicago just to eat here. I love their arrabiata and pizzas. Whenever a friend is going to be in Chicago I tell them to go to Quartino.

Ellen S.

Awful customer service. I had a reservation for my boyfriend and I for my 21st birthday and they gave us the worst seat. They then proceeded to celebrate the birthday of the girl at a table next to us, but ignored me. Food was good for some plates but awful on others. And then the bill was outrageous!

Andrew S.

The food was pretty good, but we had a bizarre experience last week. We had a small group there for my mom's birthday. I noted on my reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, but not a soul there mentioned it- whatever, not a big deal. Anyways, at the end of the meal we said we wanted to see a desert menu to celebrate a birthday and have some cappuccinos. Our server eventually brings us an actual desert, no menus, and no coffee. Ok, cool, we think, they just brought us a birthday desert (that we didn't order), except they charged us for it. Someone in the party questioned the manager about it on our way out and he blew us off and was quite a jerk about it. The food was fine, very large portions for a share menu, but between our server and the manager being so rude about it I couldn't recommend it to anyone.

Enza S.

The food- NOT good- everything was either bland or had a fishy taste to it staff- really nice loud, Italian, cozy, family style place

Amanda T.

I have been a long time Yelp user and this is now my first post. What can I say? Quartico met beyond my expectations that I felt the need to inform everyone (in the Yelp-universe). We came in for dinner on a Saturday evening and were able to be seated immediately. Service: A+ Upon sitting down at our table, we were graciously greeted by our server, Jeff, who took the time to go over the menu with us, as well as provide recommendations since it was our first time. The servers and staff continued going out of their way to provide us excellent service and they definitely achieved that. Food: A- The appetizers and entrees (other than the pizza) are tapas style (sharing). This does not certainly mean that the portions are big. They are definitely your average sized entree. We ordered the Veal Meatballs for the appetizers. These were very tender and were seasoned well (9/10). For the entrees, we ordered the Penne alla Vodka and the Shrimp Risotto. The Penne alla Vodka was great and the ratio between pasta to sauce was perfect, but it definitely didn't stand out (8/10). On the other hand, the Shrimp Risotto was definitely the contender that night. So good that we ordered another plate. I have never, ever had a risotto that excellent before. I honestly have no words for how amazing this dish is. You must order and see for yourself (REALLY - JUST DO IT). Lastly, we ordered the Zeppole for dessert and this was also great, but did not stand out (8/10). Booze: A Full service bar with an extensive wine collection. I had myself the mojito and this was very good.

S B.

We went there for lunch on Father's Day. While the food was decent, the service was simply awful. Our server disappeared for long periods of time and ignored our attempts to flag her down. Asking another server and the maitre d' wasn't very helpful either. It was something the whole family was looking forward to, but ended up being a terrible experience.

Carolyn M.

I had a delightful agency-sponsored dinner here. Although really, when the agency is paying, what meal isn't delightful? We had what seemed like a hundred courses and pretty much every one was hoovered immediately. The salads are fantastic as is the calamari. The beignet dessert was a big hit as well. Great service, and they continued to be attentive even after the table got a little rowdy. Very convenient location.

Patrick W.

Everything is delicious from the olives and salami to the pasta and pizza. The wine is also very cheap!

Greg N.

Well! 2600 reviews on this one! I've gone here quite a bit and this will be the one place I actively miss when I move away from Chicago. I always get the ravioli and the honey donuts, the pizza and small pasta plates are delicious too. The plates are small and priced low so you can try a bunch of different things and share with the table. Eclectic mix of tables/chairs/silverware. Old time/foreign movies playing on the TVs (muted but with subtitles).

Andrew A.

The ambiance and service is ordinary, but the food is actually fresh and delicious rustic Italian. I'm vegetarian, and I absolutely love the homemade minestrone soup. Also the arugula salad with orange and pine nuts is very fresh and fantastic, as well as the sauteed spinach with lots of fresh garlic and lemon. It's Italian countryside food in a casual environment. If you select the right foods, you can eat healthy here while enjoying great taste.

french i.

Met my girlfriend for dinner last week. Sat outside which was pleasant though noisy. The service was great but the kitchen was definitely off that night. The fried calamari was quite rubbery and the small shallow dish with sauce is ridiculously small for the order of calamari. The pizza margherita was marginal. The crust was dark brown to black leaving 1/3 of the pizza very hard to chew (and we were hungry). That left about 2/3rds of the pizza as edible with good crust wise but it was very bland and unremarkable. Had better often, including the last time we held a family dinner at Quartino. The server was on top of things and very nice. Other than that it was a disappointing dinner, particularly since I raved about the restaurant to my out of town guest. #embarrassment

Megan B.

Everything about this place was very mediocre. All the dishes we ordered were just ok and made me wish I had gone to one of the better Italian restaurants in the city. This place gets packed on the busy nights, and it doesn't seem like their service can keep up. We had someone else's dish delivered to our table and barely saw our waitress. This was easily our worst meal in Chicago.

Brian V.

Doesn't get better than this. Great food, little loud but worth it . From tourists to service industry, this place is excellent, consistent, and always a great time

Brad B.

My partner and I have been dining at Quartino at least weekly for many years. We feel it is a great value and the food quality is very high. Service is always good and attentive and we are always greeted warmly. I would highly recommend the restaurant .

Marti M.

An absolute go-to and favorite amongst myself and friends. I often bring people here visiting from out of town and my friends and I have been to many birthday dinners here! Such great food, friendly staff, good for game-watching and the prices- you can't beat them for the area! It's great all around.

Mathieu B.

What can I say about Quartino's? I have been coming here since 2011 and the food still remains exceptional. The wine, phenomenal! And the services, the best in Chicago. The wine list is so extensive that I feel as though I would need an entire month of regular visitation to sample it all! And, this is a good thing! I came here for an afternoon lunch with a friend on a Thursday afternoon and my friend was sold on the place. Our waiter, who became Manager during his shift with us was amazing. He even gave us his new manager card and promised a complimentary prosecco upon our next visit. We nearly ate our way into the ER, the food was so good. I would give this gem 10 Stars if it were possible. Well done Quartino! You have outdone yourself yet again.

Chef G.

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. A must when I am in Chicago. Italian small plates is what is offered. A great way to try many items on a great menu. Tonight I ordered the veal meatballs, cavatelli pasta, salami (cured in house) and provolone cheese. And a Peroni for a beverage. Just waiting for it all to arrive at the table. The meatballs arrived with the salami and provolone. The meatballs were tender and delicious. The raisin sauce they where was a good pairing. The salami was delicious. It came with pickled cucumbers and grapes. The amount of pickling was just right. Provolone nice and sharp. The cavatelli arrived. Delicious. I highly recommend Quartinios. Make sure you make reservations. Enjoy.

Kara S.

I have been craving Quartino since going gluten free due to an intolerance 6 months ago. I found that they had a gluten free menu online, and was so excited to go. I was bummed they didn't have gfree pizza, but planned to get their gfree pasta. A manager, Alysia, stopped by to check on us and I suggested them getting gluten free crust. 20 minutes later, my favorite pizza was in front of me. Alysia ran to the nearby Trader Joe's and picked up gluten free crust so I could enjoy the pizza I had missed so much. She went above and beyond to be sure I was satisfied, and for that I am grateful. What a fantastic experience. I will surely be back soon! Thanks, Alysia and the wonderful Quartino staff. Your food is delicious and service is incredible!!

Diana B.

We hosted a private party at Quartino's Memorial Day weekend. We lived in Chicago for over a decade, but moved out west to San Francisco four years ago. We were in town for a friend's wedding and wanted to introduce our 9 month old baby girl to our friends. We had such a large party, the restaurant suggested their Naples room and provided a wonderful menu option to make it easy. The price for family style dining and choices were fantastic. It included their famous polenta fries! And, they had 2 servers that were dedicated to our room. Those two gentlemen could not have been more amazing. They even brought some pizza and simple pasta items for some of the kids in our party who weren't interested in the fancier items on our special menu. And there was no extra charge. I highly recommend reserving this room and going with Quartino's if you have a small party of 20-40 people. From booking the event to paying the bill, the experience was really a treat. We fondly remembered our time in Chicago enjoying Quartino's and the city.

Danielle S.

Keeping it simple this time... Ranked in order: 1. Campania pizza - founduta and house made ricotta. Enough said, amazing! I will be back to just sit at the bar and have this pizza. 2. Prosciutto San Daniele - guess why I picked it? It was so soft, thin and luxurious I couldn't stand it. 3. Steamed Clams - Pinot Grigio and red chili broth. Not too strong but strong enough and the bread for dipping is wonderful. 4. Asiago Vecchio - lovely cheese, make sure you pair it with the apricot. 5. Manzo pizza - short rib was super flavorful, pesto was amazing but a little too much fennel for my taste. 6. Polenta Fries - they are what they say, polenta. The dipping sauce is needed. I guess I wanted these badly because so many people posted on yelp but I wouldn't go back for those. Much better options on the menu! Lastly. Wine, service and atmosphere made me happy. We will return!

Corine M.

This place was recommended to us by our hotel bartender. We called to make reservations but they said they didn't have any availability till after 10pm (we called shorty after 5pm). We decided to be adventurous and chance it hoping to get two spots at the bar, we lucked out got a table! So much for an after 10pm reservation. Lol we were glad we chanced it because it was a great meal. Loved how they leave a whole bottle of tap water at the table! I hate waiting for water refills when I'm thirsty. We had great service and fun lively atmosphere. Definitely a busy place upstairs and downstairs. We intended on saving room for dessert since I viewed some great pictures on yelp, but in the end we were way too stuffed from everything else. -veal sliders 4/5 -calamari 5/5 -shrimp 5/5 -shrimp risotto 4.5/5 -spaghetti and meatballs 3.5/5 Everything was small plate style which allowed us to try a bunch of items. Love that. Overall 4.5, would go back.

Pete M.

Everything is just par here. Nothing special and nothing to complain about.

Stefania C.

Good service, great authentic Italian food choices, nice location. Don't miss the house made pasta (especially cavatelli) and the Sicilian caponata! (I'm from Sicily)

Linda C.

We had reservation and was seated immediately. I saw people without reservations being turned away. The restaurant was completely booked for the night. We had the roasted baby octopus with braised escarole. We had the beef short ribs. We had the osso buco. We had the panino al gelato limone (lemon cream gelato sandwich with lemon curd, whipped cream and lemon chips). We also had the zeppole with honey and chocolate. I did not like this. Anyone who had NYC zeppole will agreed that this zeppole does not measured up. The middle collapse on touch. The dough is not good. We also had a coke and a lemonade. Everything is tapas.

Fred F.

Just yummy goodness....amazing polenta fries, veal meatballs, pizza, salami, awesome bolognese sauce....on and on...great service too. Owned by the Gibsons folks. Gets very packed early....open very late...probably the best time to go....sample a bunch of stuff with friends.

Bryan D.

Absolute pleasure. Currently we are experiencing their buffet format. There are gentlemen on both sides of the table describing each plate as we serve. Stellar. The service is perfect. They are attentive and quick to educate with recommendations. All of this enjoyed on the second floor patio.

Marshall R.

Place was good nothing to rave about I had dinner place was busy! I had the meatball sliders they were really good also had a pasta could tell the quality was there. I really enjoyed the decoration the place was done up right. Service was good as well really enjoyed the place I will have to come back to it again. I recommend reservations it was really busy.

Yanping T.

great food and ambience (a little noisy though).