OVERRATED- The food was ok, the ambience is nice. Didnt like it that the waitors just stand in the corner staring at everyone, kinda annoying. The meatball is just a meatball, not sure why people say its amazing. The spaghetti was good, had a lil kick to it. The gnocchi was overcooked for me. But the truffle flavors in the pizza and gnocchi stood out and in a good way. Their coccoli was delish. Overall the place looks really nice, the food could've been better for the price.
(3)
Ritu R.
Here for Labor Day brunch. Waffles as an app- delish! Benedict - highly recommended. But too salty & mortadella was too thick. Pesto Hollandaise was delicious! Truffle eggs. Perfectly seasoned and flavorful. Highly recommend this! Sage Parm French Fries were yummy.
(4)
J R.
I came here this passed weekend. The place itself is pretty spacious and modern, very pretty. The waitress and hosts were very nice as well. I was not crazy about their food though. I had a burnt pepperoni pizza which i did like and I also got the short rib ravioli which i was not happy with at all! Not only did I pay $20+ for it, it was gross and the serving size was way too small for the price you pay. Unfortunately, I will probably not be back.
(2)
Steve B.
One of my go-to spots in Chicago. Great atmosphere, great food and great service. Believe it or not this troika is not that common in Chicago- River North in particular. I don't want to rehash what others have posted so I'll just trow out some personal faves. I have not had anything on the menu I did not really like. - order the coke-lee (spelled differently on menu) - pizzas are all great I love the cinq for mage with burnt pepperoni a personal creation. Your'e welcome. - mortadella melt. Awesomeness. It's only available at lunch - burratta, the bread is even great - shaved brussel sprout salad. There I said it. I hate the sprouts and I loved this
(4)
Stefani C.
I am italian and I just moved here. The food is very overrate. It's an expensive place with a decent food. You have to know that you go there for the atmosphere and to see the people inside. I personal suggest to go at the bar and take a cocktail because the restaurant is not so good. I have to say that the area at the bar it's very nice and it's full of people during the week-end so.... Depend what are you looking for !
(3)
Dr V.
Overall excellent restaurant. Coccoli appetizer was awesome. So was the the brick chicken. Very moist and flavorful. Cocktails were also very good especially #2. Service was top notch and food came out quick. Always very busy, but didn't have to wait long. Homemade gelato and sorbet great ending to a fabulous meal. Only knock was the lasagna is not traditional and I would rate average. Also it is a bit loud and a pretty young crowd. Highly recommend
(4)
Briana C.
I had a great experience here with a group of friends last night. It's a beautiful space with a large menu of absolutely delicious Italian food. We started with two of the Wagyu Beef Meatballs for the table: excellent. I took our server's recommendation to order the Spaghetti made with jumbo lump crab and loved it. I also tried bites of the Gnocchi and the Orecchiette which were equally amazing. Highly recommended!
(5)
Kit A.
I can't wait to stop at Siena Tavern again! I came here for brunch with my girl friend on a Saturday morning and was impressed with the design, layout, food and service. I'm so happy they have a patio too, even if it seems rather odd in the middle of downtown. Despite spending $50 each on brunch (which included 2 mimosas- $10 each, shared 3 entrees and sparking water - $7), I think it was one of the best expenses I've made. If you decide to have brunch, go with the truffle scrambled eggs! I'm sure this place is crazy once it turns dark and I will definitely be back to check the late night scene out!
(4)
Rob J.
Super crowded and I don't know why. Most of the people there weren't eating- maybe they were waiting to eat? There are tons of better bar-only options in River North. Scene is good, food is better. Great for sharing.
(4)
Lynn H.
It is a bit pricy, but the Tuffle Mushroom pizza and coccoli are amazing! Food definitely tastes fresh and the bar area is huge which is great for lunch and/or a place to start before heading out on a Friday/Saturday night.
(4)
Janna R.
A but douchy by night. Great dining during the day. Go for the cheese plate and burratta, everything is good but nothing extreme
(5)
Diana I.
This place was such a pleasant surprise! We decided to come here randomly for lunch since it was right across the street from our hotel, and their patio looked so charming and inviting with all the hanging plants and white lights. We got the BURRATA which was amazing! I am a huge burrata fan and this place really delivered. It was fresh, perfect soft texture, and tasted absolutely delicious with the tomato jam and basil oil, on top of the slightly crispy and chewy crostini. SO good! A little pricey though for an appetizer... it was $18, cost just as much as our pizza... PROSCIUTTO AND PEAR PIZZA. I really enjoyed this! The slightly salty and thinly sliced prosciutto perfectly balanced the sweet pears and bitter arugula. I also liked the thin and chewy dough/crust. I would choose this pizza over any Chicago deep dish pizza, hands down! Service was also great! Our server was really friendly and checked up on us often and made sure we had everything we needed. Overall, it's not exactly a must-try if you're a tourist in Chicago, but it's a solid restaurant if you're in the area and looking for a decent place to eat!
(4)
Christina L.
this place is pretty effing legit :) i used to basically live in the westin river north, but didnt try this spot until we were stuck in a torrential downpour and there arent a lot of options within a one block radius. but this place! was super pleasantly surprised - no wonder it's always packed! my gf and i sat down at the bar since there was nothinggg available for HOURS due to the weather. it was prefect for us. we ordered cocktails first. omg the cocktails. you can literally go down the list (which we did), and everything was fantastic. we were starving, so went ahead and ordered - wagyu beef meatball, shaved brussel sprouts, roasted cauliflower, and 1/2 and 1/2 pizza, which is amazing that they can split it! everything was honestly so good, and the ingredients are fresh. i think my fave had to be the meatball. so juicy. im so glad to have tried this spot!
(4)
Jen H.
Great food and a fun atmosphere. I've been here twice and the highlight of each visit has been the gelato. Seriously, so good! The pizza is also fantastic with an exceptional crust. So why not 5 stars? During today's visit the service was lacking. Lunch for five of us took well over two hours with only a few tables seated the entire time we were there. They were overstaffed for the lunch hour with many servers standing around not too far from our table. Despite the extra staff, service was slow, our server was constantly forgetting items, and something just felt off. I will continue going back to Siena Tavern but will sit at the bar where I've had great service.
(4)
Erin M.
Italian food is my favorite food to cook as well as eat and I think I may have just found my new favorite contemporary Italian restaurant. First off, our waitress was beyond amazing and provided quite possibly the best service I have ever had at a restaurant in River North. The atmosphere is cozy but still very open. The pizza was beyond amazing and overall the price is definitely reasonable for how impeccable the food is. I will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Dannie C.
I have come here twice with coworkers since my office is nearby and both times I was super impressed by the quality of the food! I'm just reviewing the PASTAS here and I'm giving them a big thumbs up! APPETIZERS Coccoli: Divine! I You put the stracchino cheese and prosciutto into the crispy dough balls (4 in one order) and you eat it like a mini sandwich. The truffle honey adds a very likable sweetness to it. So dangerous to get full on this but so good! Burrata: A very good dish to share as recommended by our waitress. PASTAS (this restaurant's highlight!) Short rib ravioli: Oozes with flavor! It came in a rich savory dark sauce that reminds me of the demi-glace sauce in Japanese omu-rice. I could have wolfed down entire raviolis at a time without first cutting them into smaller pieces (but I paced myself). I have a bias toward anything with mushrooms and loved how well the roasted porcini mushrooms went with my dish. Wish there had been more... Squid ink linguini: Another marvelous pasta! The spicy lobster cream sauce is unique and absolutely to die for. I'm not a fan of al dente pasta, so the soft texture of the linguini in this dish was totally to my liking. There were also generous chunks of lobster within the linguini in addition to the grilled lobster tail. DESSERTS I've only had the gelato here and it is EXCELLENT. In particular, the tiramisu flavor is exceptional and even has chunks of real tiramisu cake in it! To quote my company, "This is the best tiramisu gelato/ice cream I've ever had." I must take a star off for the service here. Siene Tavern could improve its process flow. Both times I've been here, the service was slow, even though the wait staff was very friendly. Nevertheless, I cannot wait to be back here again and try the other dishes (maybe the pizza sometime).
(4)
Rosa I.
The best place to eat hands down the gnocchi are amazing and the coccoli superb!! Service is excellent and I recommend dessert try bombolini or the monkey bread!! Every time we go Siena Tavern never disappoints
(5)
Nancy A.
Love Siena Tavern I typically order the kale salad with chicken or tuna. It is great and has the perfect amount of dressing. My guilty pleasure here is the pepperoni pizza and the birthday gelato.
(5)
Patty S.
Siena Tavern, what can I say about this delectable restaurant that hasn't been said already? Good Food? CHECK. Nice Atmosphere? CHECK. Good drinks? CHECK. I'll share some of our favorites dishes: Wagyu Beef Meatballs - It's a GIANT meatball! The first time this dish came to the table, we were very surprised by the size of it. The meatball nicely seasoned, moist, and everything you want a meatball to be. Smoked Mozzarella - My husband loves this dish. He has never been a fan of honey, but the honey they put on this dish is out of this world. I'm not sure where they source it from, but there is definitely something to be said about good ingredients. Ossobuco - This dish is big enough to share between 2 people if you order a 2-3 other small plates. There is nothing I don't like about this dish, but my absolute favorite is that bone marrow that they serve with a small fork. The meat is flavorful and literally melts in your mouth. I particularly like that they serve this with farro mushroom risotto -- infusing umami every way possible into this dish! From the crudo bar, we have tried the ahi tuna andhamachi -- both solid dishes, but the portions are small so I don't know it's worth the value. This place gets packed and is always booked up. I highly recommend a reservation if you want to sit in the dining area. The bar area is first come, first serve. They also have a lounge area tucked past the bar that also serve their full menu -- great place to grab a drink and a few bites to eat if you are lucky enough to find a spot.
(4)
Kalina N.
I went to visit a friend that works here and fell in love with the cocktails and the atmosphere of this restaurant! It has a very modern original look, from the bar to the couches and water glasses, which by the way are made from recycled wine bottles! How cool is that! I had the cocktail #2, and the spicy pizza. The cocktail was delicious and so was the pizza. I wish it was a little less spicy so I could taste the rest of the ingredients. It is very pricey but it's worth the experience! Overall a great experience!
(4)
Kelly K.
Let me start with this: Best lasagna I've ever had. In my entire 30 plus years on this Earth. Went with a group of friends (around 18 of us total) on Saturday night. Reservations were set for 6:15. Obviously we weren't all there on time, and they wouldn't seat us until everyone was there, which wasn't a problem. As soon as the last of our party arrived, we were seated right away, at one long table right off of the bar area. Ambiance is somewhat romantic, although I saw more groups of people than couples. It is quite loud in here, so take that into account. It's also dark, so don't think you're going to get amazing instagrams of your food without using the flash. The service was fantastic. We had two servers helping with our table. They were knowledgeable and friendly. Another bonus was that they separated our checks (with gratuity added in). I hadn't anticipated this at all but it was very much appreciated. I ordered a glass of wine and the previously mentioned lasagna. Wine was tasty and reasonable. The lasagna delectable. It comes in a cast iron ramekin with this carmelized, blackened, cheese crust that made the whole dish. If you're a fan of ricotta, you'll be disappointed, but since I'm not (why order the lasagna? it came recommended), it was heavenly. The meat sauce was flavorful and the noodles were cooked al dente. I'm salivating just thinking about it. Dessert was the salted caramel gelato. I believe the flavors on the menu change frequently, and although I had no room for dessert, I had to push through. I didn't regret it, and you won't either. Perfect. Can't wait to bring the husband here...that is, if I can convince him to come downtown for date night.
(5)
Sanjana D.
One of my favorite places. I never leave disappointed! I've gone for dinner, drinks, and brunch. I recently took 2 girlfriends for drinks, and Ivan, the bartender, was a superstar. He remade my picky friends drinks and let us sample another cocktail. Really went above and beyond my expectations for customer service and quality (they're high to begin with!).
(5)
Elsie C.
Service is slow. We just got drinks after being here 35 minutes. It took the server 15 minutes to get here to take the order. We are still waiting for the appetizer. After we finished the appetizer, it took another 20-30 minutes for drink refills. It went downhill from there. The busboys were great at picking up plates and refilling water glasses. The food was good
(3)
Belle L.
It's all about Cocktail No. 4. Good value for $. Common comfortable dishes with in-trend ingredients that are prepared well, but lacks edge and/or dimension to taste. Great service that is informative and quick to clean and refill water. Loud. 12-hour Braised Ossobuco ($36) -- shareable for 2 with another brown bag meal. It taste like a stew so you need carbs on the side -- rice, grilled bread with olive oil (available upon request) or potatoes. Great scoupable bone marrow. Braised Kale -- soupy. A ok. The brown bag will be repurposed with cayenne pepper, Chef Emeril style. Tiramisu -- kitchen did a great job on birthday decor. See photo. One of the few elaborates in Chicago. I am impress! As for taste and texture, a ok. Why do I feel that the textured choco milk cocoa powder on top of tiramisu is a cheapo ingredient?
(4)
Tima D.
I dont understand the hype behind this place. My experience was anything but five star. Star off with the service. Beyond slow. Food took a ridiculously long time to come out. Really didn't make any sense. Our waitress got numerous items from our order wrong maybe because it was so loud but when we tell you not to add bacon and you bring by a plate with bacon in plain sight...then I blame you for that. So when the orders were taken back to the kitchen the correct order came out 25-30 minutes later. At that point we didn't even want it anymore. The pasta was ok. Not great just ok. It actually came out slightly cold. The vibe in here is nice but its also a little random. They tried to get the STK vibe from vegas, loud music, lounge and full on dinner but they just don't do it right. It gets a little chaotic. The drinks were good but they were never the same. A friend of mine and I ordered the same drink and they both tasted oddly different. Probably different bartenders but still. Everything on the menu is overpriced in my opinion. The food was good but not great. I might come back just for a drink but I would pass on dinner here especially with a large group.
(3)
Ben A.
Went here tonight and had a fantastic dining experience.. I ordered the grilled octopus and the wagyu beef meatball.. Both reasonably priced and absolutely delicious. I got into octopus when in Greece and this tasted even better than what I had anyplace over there. Not a huge portion, but seasoned to perfection. The wagyu meatball was delectable.. Melt in your mouth delish. On top of the great food, the place was packed and buzzing all night. Regardless, the food arrived surprisingly quickly. I was rolling solo so I sat at the back bar and was served great cocktails and interesting craft brews by Trisha who was an absolute sweetheart. Great food and drinks, nice ambiance, and a fantastic bartender makes Siena a spot I'll definitely try to stop back at soon!
(5)
Elton W.
Beautiful space and really great food. Only drawbacks are that the service was a little slow on a Friday night (probably cause there were so many people there) and I could do away with all the TV's. I know Chicago is a big sports town, but it's a pretty swanky and modern space, and feel like all the tv's take away from that. Ends up feeling like a high end sports bar, which it's not given the food and space. But overall, one of the better spots in the area.
I spent two months this summer traveling back and forth to Chicago for work. Starwood aficianado that I am, I tried to stay at the Westin River North whenever possible. As I was looking for dinner options in the area, I found a promising looking Italian place around the corner - lo and behold, it was owned by Fabio Vivani, one this Top Chef junkie's all time favorites. Long story short, it was completely amazing, and I ended up going there about once per week. Here are my favorites: - Tuscan kale caesar (to start - it would be a crime to try to eat light at this place) - Gnocchi with truffle cream, fried sage, crispy pancetta (it's pretty much Fabio's signature for a reason - quite possibly the best gnocchi I've ever had) - Short rib ravioli with roasted porcini mushrooms and taleggio (on the heavy side, but that's not a bad thing if it's what you're in the mood for - the short rib filling melts in your mouth and the sauce is the perfect complement) - Orecchiette with prosciutto sausage, watercress, chili flake, and pecorino cheese (that's right, prosciutto sausage - holy deliciousness, Batman) - Squid ink linguini with grilled lobster tail, spicy lobster cream sauce, shaved green onion (it's on the pricey side, but you definitely get the amount of lobster to make it worth it - plus, I love squid ink pasta, and this linguini was excellent) The drink menu is also nice. If you're looking for a cocktail to start with, No. 16 is my favorite (Jameson, Campari, ginger zest, blackberry, lime), but No. 18 (Johnny Walker Black, ginger zest, lime, kumquat, thyme) is also a good option. After dinner, I definitely recommend the No. 5 (Maker's Mark, allspice dram, averna amaro, ginger apple cider, lemon, cinnamon, clove, bitters) - I was skeptical when the bartender suggested this to me in July, but typically fall flavors on ice work beautifully as a summer cocktail. Every wine I tried was very nice and the bartenders are very helpful with suggestions. I highly recommend Siena Tavern.
(5)
Sara M.
Let's just say Italian at it's finest! Fabulous dinner and wine to kick off the weekend with friends. Started off with the Burrata,Wagyu Beef Meatball and Tuscan Kale Caesar. Than onto the main course of Chicken Diavolo so moist and full of lemon flavor. Seared Scallops and finally Butternut Squash Tortellacci. That was almost a dessert in itself! Finished the night off with a round of coffee and very famous Bomboloni and Tiramisu. Every dish was better than the last. A great way to check out Siena is durning restaurant week with all their top dishes on the menu. I suggest going with a great group of friends and ordering several dishes to spilt. It's a great way to taste the menu. Amazing food, wine and atmosphere nothing short of what you would expect from Fabio Viviani!
(5)
Shaima C.
Absolutely incredible. We had the orecchiette and the short rib ravioli. Both were amazing, but we slightly preferred the orecchiette. Also, must try the coccoli for appetizer. Five stars.
(5)
Evita A.
Ate here twice during our visit to Chicago. Thought it was very good! One night I had the PASTA IN A JAR and thought it was very tasty. Since my husband ordered the meatball as an appetizer and didn't finish it he gave it to me to add to my pasta. I highly recommend ordering the two dishes together because they complete each other!
(5)
Adam W.
Great spot for Italian in River North... Came in around 6p mid-week, and was promptly seated (although it filled up rather quickly shortly thereafter). The good service continued, as the house beer was recommended (described as a wheat, but tastes more malty than you would expect) and a glass of red wine. For food, we had the Siena Chopped Salad, Short Rib Ravioli, and the Cinque Formaggi Pizza - all very, very good. Would highly recommend the SR Ravioli for folks who like mushrooms / umami-flavored pasta dishes. Would definitely come back for happy hour / dinner in the area. PS - Near the bathrooms, there is an ATM that also charges your phone for a fee. Hadn't come across one of those before, but useful if you're out of juice I suppose.
(4)
Dalia M.
I'm coming back here for sure. I got the short rib ravioli - OMG delicious. My vegetarian friend was dipping her potatoes in the sauce of it. Also tried some pizza which was good but not mind-blowing. I loved my pasta too much. We had 9pm reservations for 6 people but when we arrived 20 minutes late it was okay and we were seated immediately. Given it was a weeknight, the place had emptied out some at that point. I look forward to another meal here, earlier in the evening when the place is buzzing more. We had a really nice server who was very accommodating and funny throughout our meal. We were a couple drinks in and feeling a bit silly. Definitely had a fun time! Huge bar area that is apparently a fun happy hour. Definitely want to check that out as well!
(4)
Shane E.
I've been to Siena Tavern at least 6 times over the last two months, and I've left happy every single time. Here's why: 1. Great for business lunches - you can go the "light lunch" with their salad offerings (which are top notch btw), or you can get ambitious with either the burger or the meatball sandwich (both out of this world), OR you can go the charcuterie route (highly recommended). 2. Cocktails - last week I tried the #5. Notwithstanding the fact that I'm only 24, it was the best cocktail I've ever had. 3. Great staff - always been helpful. Special shout out to Brian the bartender, knew the menu like the back of his hand and had some really good wine pairing recommendations as well.
(4)
Benjamin B.
Let me start off by saying WOW! Visited for Restaurant Week and had an amazing time with friends. The food was out of this world delicious. Since I went with two other people, we shared all the food. The mozzarella appetizer with tomato jam was very flavorful. For the main course the scallops were fresh and the chicken with potatoes had a zesty lemon flavor. I tried several desserts and you can not go wrong with any choice. I have so much more to say, but stop by for yourself for a ultimate experience.
(5)
Julie Y.
Found my new fav restaurant.. From the drinks to dessert my mouth died and went to heaven. I legit want to come here everyday until I've tried everything on the menu. To start off ordered drinks wine was good and the old fashion was made perfect. Started with the wagyu beef tartare with giardiniera and quail egg best I've ever had. Then got squid ink linguini which I can't even put into words how good it was. Spicy cream sauce, dark noodles and amazing lobster. Dessert got the pistachio gelato which tasted like a freaken creamy birthday cake. So good!
(5)
Andrea R.
I didn't enjoy the full Siena Tavern experience during my first visit months ago because I just had a glass of wine and a few apps. I went back this past Saturday night and did it right. In fact, I'm still full (2 days later) from all the Siena Tavern deliciousness. Our party of 10 reserved the private party room a few months ago. We had a fixed menu that included several different courses. I think we were all full very early in the meal, but everything was just too good to stop eating. And so we ate and ate and ate. So much for those New Years Resolutions! I can honestly say that everything was amazing, but things I'd definitely order again next time: * grilled octopus * mozzarella bar * spaghetti * truffle mushroom pizza * hamachi * stick parmesan potatoes * bomboloni (dessert) That list covers about a 1/4 of what I ate. Can you see why I"m STILL full? I had volunteered to be the sober driver home to the burbs (in a snowstorm) that night so I stopped after a glass of wine, but my one glass of sauvignon blanc was lovely. I was definitely jealous of all the beautiful cocktails my friends were enjoying so I don't plan on volunteering to drive home from Siena Tavern next time. And there will be a next time very soon!
(5)
Stan L.
I'm visiting Chicago from Colorado and I must say that this place is awesome. It's definitely a popular place with a great interior and delicious Italian food. We ordered appetizers and pastas and everything was delicious. It looks like you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My wife and I had a great time there and we might comeback for more :)
(5)
Karen D.
Came here for brunch on a Sunday with two other people without a reservation. They sat us in outside seating within 5 minutes. I really love the ambiance of this place -- a mix of modern and rustic. The hanging light bulbs and light fixtures in general were very eclectic, Our server, Eric, was super friendly and gave us great recommendations. We ordered the truffle mushroom pizza as a starter to share and it was delicious. After a long Saturday night, I had to order a Bloody Mary and the tavern burger-- and just like that my hangover was magically gone. The melted teleggio and caramelized onions were great touches to the burger!
(4)
Leigh M.
My first meal ever in the city of Chicago and definitely one of my favorites to date. The monkey bread was sweet and dangerous (definitely can be shared among 2-3 people). The goat cheese toast and truffle scrambled eggs were a party in my mouth. They also have a variety of delicious homemade juices. The service was spectacular and the interior had that modern, industrial yet cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend!
(5)
Matthew D.
Don't cut kitchen hours even remotely close to stated if you want the regular menu. Website says kitchen until 11 pm, then reduced menu. Showed up at 10:40, very busy, regular kitchen already closed. Was looking forward to trying the pork chop, but only get pizza. I hate when restaurants do this
(1)
Joelle K.
This place was incredible!! The ambience is trendy yet cozy....service was phenomenal and the food was outstanding! We had a group of 6 and ordered nearly every pasta on the menu... The squid ink linguini and gnocchi were clear winners but everything was fantastic!
(5)
Sarah R.
Holy Batman! I was not expecting what I got at Siena Tavern, it was phenomenal! I'm someone who drinks dessert wine as regular wine, so maybe it was the Moscato D'asti that is partly responsible for this stellar 5 star rating, but whateva whateva, I do what I want. In true adventurous spirit, I decided to dabble in the octopus appetizer. Sure, being able to almost see a sucker may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me! Siena has contributed to a new addiction. Beet salad? Amazeballs, not sure I can talk about a salad more than this. It was simple, and I loved it! Of course I'm biased. I have a strange affinity for beats and candied nuts, if you do too, have this salad. As mentioned, dessert wine is something on the reg for me. Therefore, dessert: mandatory. Sticky date pudding, if you don't have it, you're missing out on an incredibly decadent dessert that you may or may not fight your friends/SO for. Either that or they will think you are a huge glutton. I assure you, it is worth it. I don't know where in my review I can add something about the service, but it, like the food, left nothing more to be desired. I'll be back Siena, I'll be back.
Food, service , management - all stellar. Vibrant bar scene. Don't miss the crudo (Italian sashimi). Tried the roasted carrot tortellaci, which I would order again in a heartbeat. For dessert, the bomboloni are Italian donuts that come with three sauces. Yum.
(5)
Heidi R.
Siena is as good as it gets. The pizza, the pasta, the apps, the seafood and the drinks are all amazing. My favorite hands-down is the waygu beef meatball, mushroom truffle pizza and gnocchi (minus the pancetta). Do yourself a favor and get there as soon as you can. My company did a restaurant buy-out in January for our holiday party. It was a great time, professional service, amazing food and beautiful space!
(5)
Isabel C.
New favorite classy restaurant in Chicago! This place was amazing! I came here with my family for my birthday since I wanted something different instead of a steak house. Everything was perfection: the ambiance, our waitress (Caitlin I think), the food, and the lovely birthday cake gelato. I could ramble on and on about this place, but I don't want to steer you away or make you read the longest review on the page so I'll just sum it up: GO TO SIENA TAVERN!
(5)
Kelli M.
Ambiance is amazing. They have romantic lighting and comfy booth seats for almost every table. I love the decor. Our waiter was great and willing to substitute or create our own dishes/ drinks to what flavors we preferred. They have small plates as well as large entrees to share. Italian food but with a modern twist- not typical mom and pop italian. They also put chili flakes in a lot of their dishes- too spicy for me. Also by the bathroom they have charging station for your cell phones which is awesome! They have outside seating as well- it's just on street. If your celebrating someone's birthday and you want them to bring out dessert with a candle make sure you clarify it's a surprise. Apparently me sneaking off to the hostess and whispering while stating "if we don't order anything still bring it" wasn't enough. Our waiter still walked up one minute later announcing "I hear it's someone's birthday!" Also we were a little disappointed. One of our friends was drinking soda and a piece of something went up his straw- it was a piece of glass! Not too sharp but definitely glass. We freaked out but luckily his mouth was ok. I didn't really like how he manager handled it. She said "oh it's just plastic"- I'm sorry, do you serve plastic in your food normally? And we were told we would be comped round of drinks but were comped a free dessert which is what- ten bucks and it was his birthday so you usually get free dessert anyway! Thanks? So nice place for a date all in all- just order drinks without ice I guess is my advice...
(3)
Brian S.
Great spot. The service is excellent and the menu is really nice. Great wine list. Get the bay scallops as they are the freshest in town. They also make a great cappuccino...I ate at the bar and the server was great, friendly, fast and full of fun.
(4)
Amber J.
Start with the perfectly charred, grilled octopus and the meatball that will melt in your mouth. I can't suggest anything better that those two delectable appetizers. My favorite entree on the menu has been the squid ink linguini with grilled lobster tail. Holy amazingness!!!
(5)
Janet X.
I've been to Siena Tavern three times now: two times for brunch and once for dinner. Other than the fact that it's impossible to get a dinner reservation at the reasonable time, I've found that this is a great spot for friends and couples alike. It can get loud during dinner-time but if you are lucky enough to get a booth, you can feel like you're the only people around. My food recommendations are boring because I've only had one in all three times: the gnocchi. Yes, it is that good. Yes, you should order it. No, you shouldn't share. Other things I've tried off of people's plates were good, but not as spectacular as that gnocchi: the squid-ink pasta was a little spicy but otherwise satisfying, the short rib ravioli was a little salty for my taste, the tiramisu French toast tasted just like it sounds -- gooey and marvelous -- but would be too sweet and heavy for my main dish. They DO serve all of their pastas and many lunch fare during brunch, so my recommendation for getting your gnocchi fill would be to be skip the dinner crowd and just go for brunch. You don't get the cool vibe of the old-fashioned bulbs, but the food is equally as good.
I cannot say enough good things about Siena Tavern. I went here to celebrate a birthday brunch with my parents and we left so impressed with this new Chicago restaurant. I wanted to be able to try quite a few things so I ordered some smaller dishes. The first thing I started out with was the Coccoli, a dish of warm crispy dough with prosciutto di parma, stracchino cheese, and honey. It was so amazing. I could have just stopped there. But I didn't, of course. Next I ordered the grilled octopus with duck fat potatoes and red chilies. It looked scary when it came out but tasted great going down! Even my parents tried it and liked it. Finally I ordered the Brussels sprouts salad which was nice and refreshing. My mother had the lobster roll (she can't resist) and it was amazing. Delectable. My father went with the tavern burger and even that was one of the best bites of burger I've ever had. I will definitely be going back to Siena Tavern. I had high hopes because of the Top Chef name behind it, and I wasn't disappointed whatsoever. It was a great birthday meal!
(5)
Michael M.
Top notch restaurant in Chicago. Service excellent, and food so good that I was in Chicago for 7 days and 4 of the 7 I came here for dinner. The Burrata, Coccoli and octopus appetizers are delicious. Gnocchi and pappardelle dishes were my favorites as well. The mushroom truffle pizza was also amazing. Don't miss this place if you are looking for good authentic italian food.
(5)
Darl B.
Just tried for lunch again so figured id give an update. on my first review I worte that ted t wrote: 'Just Generic and corporate feeling in virtually every way from the food to the atmosphere and even the location' Yup still a check. Fries are like a 'thing' with me. it sez a lot about a place. these are not well conceived or executed. bascailyl boring warm fries with some parm shredded on top. wow stop the presses. beet salad was okay. I mean I guess. fries. well we talked about the fries didnt we? Im a foodie of sorts... that means I liek good food btw. lol meh. Ps someone here wrote: ' ...creamy gelato. It was a splendid rendition and I can't imagine any improvements on the dessert.' Is that right? Well, my gelato was creme brulee flavor and it was a super super super sweet mess.
(2)
Liz K.
Siena Tavern sticks out in my mind as an Italian restaurant that is nothing like the Italian restaurants you have been to before. I love this place for its inventiveness and creativity for a cuisine that seems to have been the same for the past, well, forever. I love the atmosphere there. The bar area is adequately separated from the dining tables and it appears that the many of the tables are plush semi-circle booths that make it easy to see and talk to everyone in your party. The wall of windows makes the restaurant light enough during the day and when it gets dark, they have a sea of golden lights coming down from the ceiling. I've been twice now, once for lunch and once for dinner. Lunch was almost a year ago but I swear that I have had a love affair with that Italian sausage risotto ever since - I think about it all the time. The other night, a friend and I had dinner and I was also pleased with my meal. The Chianti was light and went perfectly with my meal. We split the coccoli, which I think is a perfect example of the inventiveness of the chef. Fried dough balls with honey, prosciutto, and cheese? Amazing. I liked my Farro Risotto entree but I actually liked the flavor of my friend's short rib ravioli better. The risotto was very hearty and was more monotone in terms of flavor and texture. The reason I have to knock it down a star is because I have not felt welcome by the front of house staff either time. Both times there were at least 3 people at the host stand and they all seemed more interested in talking to one another or checking their computer screens than welcoming me. Luckily, this last visit, the manager stopped by our table and asked how things were (with genuine interest) and it made me feel a little better. We also had an extremely competent server, Kristy, who made us feel at home, answered my questions, and made great recommendations. I do look forward to keeping this on my list of restaurants to try during restaurant week and on special occasions. It looks like their charcuterie is amazing, so I can't wait to try it for a happy hour!
(4)
Neal M.
Not a single complaint. Went on a Thursday night, with a reservation for 2. Showed up with an extra guest and they were very nice to accommodate us. The place is very wide open so it was very loud, but not overwhelming. Wait staff are very well trained and seem excited about the menu. Menu is focused but still broad to offer choices. We got the prime rib ravioli (easily my favorite. Very dark rich beef sauce) Carrot tortellacci with brown butter sauce and the lasagna. Every thing was perfect.
(5)
Saurabh P.
Food here was great. We were here during restaurant week, so we paid $45 for the pre-fix menu. I loved the food. We foolishly decided to order the mushroom truffle pizza as an appetizer thinking the entrees would be small. Bad idea. I ordered the meatball for the first entree, which was enormous and delicious... And very heavy. I realized I had to pace myself in order to make it through the rest of the meal. Fortunately I ordered the scallops for the entree, which were light and well prepared. Also tried the chicken, which I thought was better than the scallops and the portions were overwhelmingly huge. The gelato for desert was rich and delicious. I was basically useless for the rest of the day. The meal was so heavy I needed a nap when I got home. Good food, relaxed atmosphere. If it were in my neighborhood I would be a regular.
(4)
Selma C.
Great atmosphere. I went there on a Monday and the place was very busy.", which is definitely a great sign. I had the pasta in a jar and it was absolutely delish. The bartender was super personal as well. Definitely going back.
(4)
Emily H.
Great place! I came here after dinner on a Saturday for drinks. The place was packed, but we managed to snag seats at the bar when a couple people left. My friend and I were served by a great bartender. I ordered Whistlepig as my first whiskey and he ended up pouring me samples and suggesting different bourbons to try. Fantastic! My friend was more into cocktails and the bartender whipped him up a great margarita that was off-menu. I eventually got a little hungry and ordered the brussels sprouts and the burrata place as a snack. Both dishes were really great - but a little bit pricey. All in all, would be back again - and it's within walking distance to Sable, so why not?
(4)
D F.
Tasty food. Try the squid ink pasta. Be sure to make a reservation because you could be waiting an hour plus without one. Best to go with a date not really a family place. Loved the service. My waiter was quick and attentive. Great food again and try the donuts with the trio of sauces.
(4)
Kim K.
My husband and I ate at Sienna Tavern for his birthday dinner last night. This place is amazing and I have been trying to come up with reasons to go back since we left the place....15 hours ago.... We made a reservation because you never know how busy these trendy loop places will be after work. We were about 15 minutes early, but they seated us right away anyways. Our waiter, Sam, was really friendly and the service he offered was top notch. My water glass was never empty, and my husband didn't have to wait for another beer. Now on to the food. I ordered the gnocchi in truffle cream sauce with crispy sage and pancetta. My husband got the short rib ravioli. For sides we ordered the sticky Parmesan potatoes and the caramelized Brussels sprouts. Everything was amazing. They make their pasta in house and you can tell they use the freshest and finest ingredients. I can not stress enough how much an Italian restaurant can set itself apart from the rest just by making their own pasta. The portion sizes were pretty good. You don't get more than you can reasonably finish on your own, and we had just enough room for dessert. We shared the monkey bread and the tiramisu. Both were rich and delicious. Kudos to Sienna Tavern. And I can't wait until I can conjure up another special occasion so we may return!!
(5)
Amalita A.
I came here spontaneously on Sunday evening. I've been here on numerous occasions before and wanted to introduce my friend to Siena. The restaurant was packed, but we were still able to be sat with no wait time. Andrew was our server and he gave us impeccable service. He was kind, attentive and knew the dishes inside and out. We ordered the heirloom carrot salad as well as the roasted beet salad for starters. Don't get me started on the carrot salad the presentation was amazing. They made carrots look like ribbons and the texture of dressing was silky. It just left me wanting more! I love beets and they managed to balance the flavors of the greens and feta cheese! For cocktails I had the #2, it was a light refreshing drink. With blueberry lavender as well as prossecco. We ended our meal with GNOCCHI w. Truffle cream! It was a great way to end our weekend and I will be coming back for more!!
(5)
Julie G.
Came here with a group of 6: 2 vegans, 1 vegetarian (me), and 3 meat eaters. Everyone was equally satisfied! The vegan guests informed the waiter of their dietary restrictions and he was happy to accommodate. The chef made a vegan pasta dish for them with red sauce and lots of veggies as well as the shisito pepper app without the cream sauce. I split the heirloom carrot salad and mushroom truffle pizza with my very accommodating, meat-eater boyfriend. The salad was not what I was expecting. The carrots and other veggies are cold and crunchy. However the flavor did not disappoint and the marcona almonds took it over the edge. Would definitely order again as it's nice to try non leafy based salads from time to time. The pizza was amazing! Like most, I am obsessed with anything truffle and I often find myself ordering similar pizzas to this at other restaurants. This one was by far the best! Definitely, definitely order this! The other two diners were my parents, who can sometimes be hard to please as they are not as adventurous as their children when it comes to food. My mom ordered the lasagna, and while she seemed to like it OK, it was VERY meat heavy. It was served in a mini cast iron pot, not like the traditional lasagna she is used to. So just be aware. My dad had some pasta dish with lobster and he loved it. Also note: the oysters are very small, but flavorful. I think $14 for 4 tiny oysters is not worth it ultimately. I'm also jaded after having the best oysters in my life at a Daniel Boulud restaurant in NYC. We did order the coccoli app per suggestion on yelp. It was delicious and everyone loved it. I was even able to eat it as well (minus the prosciutto of course). Our waiter was kind of spacey and we ended up being there for over two hours. Luckily we had time to spare and we're happy not to be rushed.
(4)
Grennan K.
There are tons of great reviews for this spot. I live across the street. I am a foodie, I have given this spot multiple chances. All the hype it has to be impressive, no? ...No.
(2)
Anand A.
Consistently fun spot for drinks. Cocktails are a bit on the sweet side. But the scene/vibe post work is fantastic.
(3)
Eric C.
Get location. The one in Miami is amazing so I had to come to the Chicago location. Great spot! Great food! Most definitely worth trying out.
(5)
Erin Y.
Had a wonderful meal here the other night! Service was friendly and attentive, and our server was a very chill guy who seemed to know his stuff. To start, we had a pear and prosciutto pizza and the coccoli. The pizza was fantastic, definitely up there with the likes of Balena, etc. Good crust, and toppings were a great combo. The coccoli was one of the best things I've ever had. It is a must-try at Siena Tavern. Such a simple concept, but so, so delicious. The crispy dough was heavenly, the cheese rich and creamy, and the truffle honey... don't even get me started. So good! Sweet with just the right essence of truffles. Great start to the meal! For our entrees, we chose the pasta in a jar, gnocchi, squid ink linguine, and the osso buco. The pasta in a jar was good, but not outstanding. The pasta itself was perfectly al dente, but I felt like the flavors were a little bland. There was blue cheese in this dish, but you'd never know after eating it (I don't like blue cheese, so this worked out fine for me). The squid ink linguine was very good, and had a nice bit of lobster on top. However, the gnocchi was definitely the best pasta dish of the three we ordered. The gnocchi were perfect little pillows, soft and chewy and creamy. Just delicious. The sauce was both rich and light at the same time, and had great flavor of truffles. This dish was definitely the star on our table. The osso buco was also well prepared. Big piece of tender veal, lots of marrow in the shank bone, and a healthy scoop of farro risotto. Our only complaint about the entrees was that a couple--the pasta in a jar and the osso buco in particular--lacked salt. We asked for salt, which made each of these dishes so much better. If the kitchen can just season a tad bit better, all of these dishes would be stars. Side dishes were good. We had the brussel sprouts and shishito peppers. The brussels were good, but the shishito peppers were very well prepared. I don't like spicy, and luckily all of the ones I ate were mild! For dessert, we ordered the monkey bread, the gelato flight, and the bomboloni. Be aware, these portions are HUGE! The monkey bread was quite tasty, but a little difficult to eat because of how hard it was. The gelato flight was good, and is definitely a great way to sample Siena's many flavors. We tried salted caramel, s'mores, pistachio, and brown butter peanut. The brown butter peanut was the best in my opinion. S'mores was also very good. I found pistachio a little on the sweet side, and salted caramel could have used more caramel flavor. Of the desserts, though, the bomboloni were the best. These were huge beignet-like pieces of fried dough coated in sugar and served with "Nutella," raspberry, and caramel sauces. Our server recommended we inject our bombolonis using the squeeze bottles the sauces were served in, which is a fun concept for this tasty dessert. I've never had fried dough that didn't taste good, but these bomboloni were a true hit. Slightly crisp on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside. Delicious. We were celebrating a birthday, and they brought us a big scoop of birthday cake gelato with a candle, which was a nice touch. Overall, great experience at Siena Tavern. If I could make one complaint, it's that the menu is too broad! (Does this count as a complaint?) With only four people dining, it was so hard to make decisions on what to order, as literally everything sounded awesome. Family style is the way to do it here, folks, especially with such generous portion sizes. If I could, I would have tried one of everything. For this reason, I hope to be back!
(4)
Margaret H.
I came here on New Year's Eve for a nice lunch with friends. A lot of them had wanted to try Siena Tavern, but there reservations are booked months in advance, so this seemed like a great opportunity. I made a reservation for 8 on Open Table and had no problems. We even showed up a little late because of the snow and they were still accommodating. Thank you for that! This is my 3rd time coming here and I loved it once again! It's a go-to for me! We shared the meatball for an appetizer. It's served with sauce and crostinis. I always enjoy their meatball, as I've had the sub before too. Even my vegetarian friend was at least able to enjoy the sauce and the corstinis together. My friend and I split the lobster roll and the butternut squash tortellacci. I physically cannot walk into Sienna Tavern and not get the tortellacci. It's a seasonal dish that I'm afraid is going to be gone the next time I go! It's not huge portions - which is good! Pasta is heavy and you don't want to induce a coma, but it's just the right amount of food. Smart portions in my opinion. The lobster roll was great once again! Hearty pieces of lobster, well seasoned. They even split it for us without asking; I appreciate that type of planning. My only reason for giving this one less star is because of the service. Two waitresses introduced themselves with the same speech... clearly tables were getting mixed up among the wait staff. The waitress we did end up with was not attentive at all - not smart for a large group. We understand the restaurant was full, but it wasn't hectic at all. We were waiving her down to place our order and then were searching for her when we were trying to get our bill. The lunch took a lot longer than we were expecting because of the service. We assumed that because it was New Year's Eve lunch, that maybe it was the B-Staff. Typically the service is top notch and the waitresses are attentive and friendly. Overall, still a great experience! I'll be back! :)
(4)
Meg H.
This place was incredible! I never rave about food, however there was seven of us and everything was delicious. I highly recommend the meatball appetizer, the best "spaghetti" I've ever had in my life with spicy sauce & crab meat, and the Italian donuts that you inject with the creamiest carmel, chocolate, or raspberry. Bon appetite!! I will be back.
(5)
Lauren W.
Outstanding pastas, desserts. Excellent service. Great atmosphere, but a little loud. Wonderful place for a big group. I had friends report that the mixed drinks are pretty good, too.
(5)
Marni P.
Lots of neat menu options and good location downtown. A bit pricey but right on par with pricing in the area. The atmosphere is modern yet chill. All pasta are home made!
(4)
Bunny D.
This is one of my favorite restaurant in the city. Their truffle mushroom pizza is to die for!
(5)
Andre W.
I have often stopped in for drinks with friends on multiple occasions and I thought it was a nice joint. Everyone has been telling me this place has great food and due to the fact I don't put a lot of stock in river north restaurants I was like well maybe. For some reason I just had to try this place out. Stopped in on a rainy Friday nite with a last minute 6:30 reservation. We were excited to eat as we looked at other plates that showcased some goodies. We started out with Wagyu Beef Meatball (strongly recommended by a friend) for an appetizer and it was delicious. Its big and includes basil, roasted tomato sauce and ricotta. We had glasses of pretty good red wine to wash the meatball down. We decided to split plates for our entrees. We went with the Squid Ink Linguini and the Spaghetti. The Squid Ink Linguini was my favorite as it includes Grilled lobster tail, spicy lobster cream sauce, and shaved green onion...let me say that dish was out of this world. I love lobster so there may be a bias there LOL! The spaghetti was good as well as it included Jumbo lump crab, charred grape tomato, red chili & lemon sauce. Lets just say I ravaged both half plates. Funny enough, I had room for their very good tiramisu. So many good looking items on their menu ensures that I will return at some point soon. Service was stellar as our girl was able to break down her favorites on the menu. She made sure the glasses of wine and water kept coming.
(4)
Anli C.
A great spot for either weekend brunch or a workday lunch. My friends and I came here several times, and it hasn't disappointed us. Last time, we ordered octopus salad, grilled brussels sprout, and the truffle pizza. Every dish was spot on, with rustic presentation and delicate flavor. It gets busy during lunch time, but the service is always quick and organized. Oh a nice plus for moms with young toddlers - they have extra high chair just for their cute booth, so it's absolutely a considerate kid-friendly spot. No need to hesitate to bring your little foodies along and have them try some good food.
I am torn. And here's why. I live in Lakeview and work from home so I am not often exposed to what the kids call "happy hour in River North." And honestly, after coming here, I'm kinda glad... The food was good but the people left a lot to be desired. Met up with a friend for drinks and food and did not have a reservation. Mistake #1. In order to get a seat, you have to hover around someone who looks like they're finishing up and stalk their table until they leave. Then you jump in. They call it "open seating" I call it annoying. If I were sitting there eating, I would not want a group of strangers hovering around my table starting at me hoping I finish. How about keeping a list and calling my cell when a table comes up? There's a revolutionary idea. Then there are the expense account idiots. This place is located near a number of hotels and it became very apparent that there were a number of "big spenders" here who were drinking waaaaaay more than they should because they weren't paying for it. An EPIC FAIL to the waitstaff here when the guy at the table adjacent to us fell off his bar stool. This was after he was banging plates on the table and yelling out his friends name. This is not funny. This is irresponsible and why people like this die behind the wheel. Don't bring more drinks when there are already still full ones on the table and the staff just picked this moron up off the floor. The crowd was quite a mix of suited up types, sugar daddies (maybe they're lost and looking for the Viagra Triangle?) and random party girls. If this is your crowd, more power to you but not me. I'd rather people not bang plates or fall off chairs at my bar / restaurants... OK, now onto the good. The food was actually pretty tasty. We had the Burratta which was served with garlic toast and tomato jam. We also had a pizza with pear, prosciutto and arugula and also this very interesting coccoli which is a crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma and truffle honey. Everything was quite tasty but like most River North places, kinda expensive for what you got. $14 - $18 per for the apps and the pizza. Drinks were decent with a nice wine list and good selection of beers on tap so points for that. But again, River North prices. $9 for a Gumball-head. Same beer is $6 at BigStar. Overall nice place if it wasn't filled with drunken loud talkers. Maybe go for dinner and make a reservation and sit away from the bar.
(3)
Andy W.
More like 3.5 stars. Coccoli: Fried dough with cheese, honey, and prosciutto!! It was one of the more interesting appetizers I've had in recent years...and one of the tastiest! It was the highlight of the meal. That said, the pizza (we split the carne) and the baked lasagna were good, but not out of this world or anything. Fairly large space. Service was pretty good.
(3)
Srishti K.
Siena Tavern has really a great ambience. The outdoor seating is especially cute with all the little lights. The service is also really great. Someone in my party had to leave early, and the waitress was really good about getting him his order quickly. She even explained to him which items on the menu would be the quickest. Considering all of that, I was ready for this to be my new favorite place. Unfortunately, I didn't love the food. I got the Truffle Mushroom pizza. Although I just ordered one for myself, the pizza can definitely be shared by two people. The pizza wasn't bad, but it also wasn't worth the $18. It was just too oily even for pizza. The crust was also a little harder and chewier than it should have been. Someone at my table got a Kale Caesar, and despite being an avid salad-hater, I have to admit it looked amazing. If I go back, I would probably get the Kale salad.
(3)
Kathleen T.
5/5 for service and for food! Our server Parker really knew what he was talking about; from wines to the food to Siena Tavern as a restaurant! He's also super vibrant and attentive! As someone who works in the food industry which highers my service standards, I can still honestly say that his service was one of the best I've had in a while. Food, on the other hand is JUST as amazing! Started off with the Wagyu Beef Meatball and the Coccoli.The marinara sauce that the gigantic meatball was in was absolutely delicious. Super well seasoned and flavorful! The Coccoli was extremely light and the honey, prosciutto and mozzarella cheese was such a unique and delicious pairing! Definitely recommending both to start!! I ordered the spaghetti. It was a really generous portion and it was not a typical "spaghetti" you expect! It was roasted grape tomatoes, crab meat, and tossed in a lemon butter sauce which was super creamy and flavorful! My friends got the short rib ravioli, ossobucco, pasta in a jar (super awesome presentation), and the orecchiette and everyone said that they loved it. Desserts: the gelato flavors are delicious. Get the flight!!
(5)
Owais R.
Their truffle oil mushroom is simply brilliant . It's hard to get a reservation, so make sure to make one in advance. The parent company also owns several other restaurants in the area (I haven't visited them yet but they are on my list of places to visit).
(5)
Ada G.
I was excited to try this place due to the high reviews. I am from Los Angeles and when a restaurAnt is rated four stars and up it's because it the best. We are foodies and always on the look out for that restaurant that stands out. However, this place was disappointing to me perhaps I have been spoiled in LA with amazing restaurants. The food at Sienna Tavern was ok, but not great. It was very average and nothing special. My marinara sauce was too salty that after a few bites I had to stop eating. The Gelatos were not very good either. For the price, there has to be better restaurants out there and I intend to find them. P.s. The meatball was delicious, so if I go back that's the only thing I would get.
(3)
Sunny H.
This restaurant is definitely one of my favorites in Chicago! The food is always delicious and the service is great. The gnocchi is my favorite pasta and the mushroom pizza is also really good!
(5)
Amy C.
Rude staff. Made us wait for one and a half hours before telling us they could not accommodate us.
(1)
Nick R.
Amazing again. Came in at the Last minute and managed to find a table at the bar. Great scene, we hung out at the bar for a bit and they scene there is livelier than half the lounges in Chicago. A great place to go for drinks and socialize. We were greeted by Natalie our server who was awesome! She helped us choose some amazing appetizers and wines. The meatball and the coccoli are both must haves the coccoli are warm fluffy prices of fried dough that you stuff with prosciutto and strachinnno cheese with truffle honey. They are kind of like deconstructed sandwiches. Order them and don't look back!! I went with the gnocchi again and also shared some of the porterhouse with my friends. I will definitely be ordering that next time. I had the potatoes as a side. I will say that they look better on the menu than they actually taste. The cauliflower was a pleasant surprise. We did try the oysters which were a bit gamy and had a funny taste. Id probably skip those next time but none the less I wouldn't deduct a star for that as I'm anxiously looking forward to going back.
(5)
Samantha M.
One of my favorite spots in Chicago ! Perfect for a romantic night or an evening with friends. Incredible food and their craft cocktails are beautifully made ! If you are ever in town, this is a must!
(5)
Rochelle W.
I love this restaurant. I've been a handful of times and the food and service have been amazing every time. My faves are the coccoli, siena chopped salad, truffle mushroom pizza, lasagna, bomboloni and gelato, but judging from everything I've had, you can't go wrong! My only complaint about this place is that sometimes they are a little too attentive. I don't need my water filled after every sip! But, seriously, if that is my only complaint about a place, that's pretty awesome!
(5)
Kelley B.
We came here during Restaurant Week as this is a highly recommended restaurant in the City. The atmosphere is trendy and warm. We sat in one of the cozy booths, facing the street. The table started with the Brussels Sprout Salad, Burrata and Wagyu Beef apps. All were amazing and good portion sizes. For the second course my husband had the Scallops and liked the dish, and I had the Short Rib Ravioli, which was good. Finally, the server surprised me with Birthday Cake Gelato (which was Amazing!) and the table had the salted caramel gelato and bambolini. Both were basically inhaled. The only critique I have was that I had asked for a drink during the beginning of dinner but had to cancel it after it never arrived about 20 minutes later. No biggie because she comped the gelato. Overall, I would return for the atmosphere and desserts.
(4)
Katie P.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! I've been here 3 times- most recently for my birthday dinner. The service is great and the food is phenomenal! But be careful- you'll be rolling out of there. The food is rich and very filling. Some of my favorites: Coccoli: Get at least 1 order of this for your table. The most melt in your mouth amazing thing ever. Dough, cheese and prosciutto? Yes! Kobe Meatball: It's a HUGE amazing meatball- enough for 4 to share Gnocchi : Decadent Short Rib Ravioli: Rich Bomboloni: Yummy sugary donuts with 3 different dipping sauces!
(5)
Eric Y.
Comfort food, Italian style - La vita bella! Love this place - sleek decor, comfortable banquette seating, high tops, great service, thoughtful cocktails, lots of wine and good food. What's not to like? Now everyone loves fried dough but this place does it in unique ways. The coccoli appetizer is a must - pillowy fried dough balls, like deep-fried popovers - served with prosciutto, mild cheese, and truffled honey - assemble all the components and it's like a off-the-charts ham and cheese sandwich. The Bombolini dessert is another fried dough ball - this one has some potato in it to make it denser - and it's served with little squeeze bottles containing different delicious sauces. Yummy! Life is not all fried dough (darn) and we had lots of other good food. A definite highlight was the gnocchi, these are nudi type served with truffle cream sauce, pancetta and fried sage. Wow. The squid ink pasta with lobster was tasty too. There's a "pasta in a jar" - the pasta components are placed into a jar, shaken and plated. It's a fun concept. We also tried the 12 hour osso buco, This was really good too. Pizza is neopolitan style and has a nice crust - crisp, tender and no sagging! Really my only quibble was that many of the dishes were a bit under seasoned. Fortunately the salt came straight-away and all was good.
(4)
Sara J.
Went to a private event where they rented out the whole restaurant, it was a pretty awesome time. They for sure know how to handle a very large party if that's what you are looking for. Myself and a few other people stationed ourselves at the back pizza bar and had an absolutely wonderful bartender. She was perfectly attentive and made very good innovative drinks. Their signature appetizer the coccoli is delicious, my main regret is not eating more of it. I also really loved their truffle pizza, tiramisu and fried donuts. Unfortunately I was not a fan of the rest of the food that I tried, lasagna, steak and some ravioli. It seemed kind of hit or miss, very good to a bit unremarkable, the food landed on both ends of the spectrum. If I was in the area I would probably go back again even if it's just to get the coccoli and drinks.
(4)
Shradha A.
Food has gotten better since my previous experience - I enjoyed my truffle eggs and their monkeybread was amazing!
(4)
Harroop K.
Delicious creative take on modern Italian food! Was lucky to get a seat right away at the bar. Ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza and their butternut squash tortellini. Both were delicious I almost licked my plate! We got their gelato sampler for dessert. Everything here is made in house from scratch. You can really taste the freshness in everything. Would love to come back next time I'm in Chicago.
(5)
Dianne J.
Awesome truffle pizza. Big portion. It's one of my favorite pizza. The sausage bacon for the appetizers is also tasty.
(4)
Estee L.
My server Devin suggested the grilled octopus for an appetizer. I was not comfortable with that choice but he assured me that it was amazing. He explained the cooking process. I trusted him and went with it. So far, it's one of my faves on the menu. I also ordered a crab bisque, it was really tasty. I finished my dinner with a sticky dates dessert. It was decadent. The service as always was extraordinary. I felt welcome and never rushed to leave. I will return soon!
(5)
Sara H.
My boss and I went after work on a Tuesday. Super busy, so we put our name in. They wouldn't give us an estimated wait time...but they did say 2 parties were ahead of us, so we went to the bar to have a drink. We got the number 1 and 2 cocktails- both were amazing- not too sweet. The bar tender was so nice and made great suggestions. We had been waiting a while for a table, so we decided to order appetizers. The bartender recommended the grilled octopus and steak tartare, so naturally we ordered both. My boss has lived her entire life down south so she was a little skeptical at first. She also hates sea food, but LOVED the octopus!....I have been craving both since.... We ended up just sitting at the bar which initially was disappointing, but our food/staff experience was a good one!
(4)
John L.
I had dinner here for a work event and we had sectioned off the bar area for the evening. They provided a buffet and drinks for the evening. Overall I thought the experience was good and the food was good. They also served some appetizers and had their staff serve the group so I thought the service was pretty good as well. Good location and pretty good ambiance as well. Overall a solid pick in the loop. Cheers! John
(3)
Candice G.
Lunch w/ coworkers. It's a thing. Sometimes I partake. ... okay, okay. I guess I always partake... because somehow food just tastes better when your boss (or anyone but yourself) buys it. And because team building... yeah, that's the reason. Team building. Totally because of the team building. So anyway, I mention the work lunch because that's how I became familiar with Siena Tavern, a place that apparently everyone else who's even one iota of hip has been to, heard of, or has on their list of 'must try' places. I, on the other hand, had never heard of it (probably because it had three dollar $$$igns tagged on to it), nor did I understand why people were telling me to say hi to some Fabio character when I checked in, and to be completely honest, the way they spell Siena offends me in a way I can't explain... or at least can't explain well. I realize it's named after Siena, Italy, but that spelling makes me feel oddly uncomfortable... like when a person cuts a non-pie shaped piece from a pie and it makes you want to simultaneously fix the shape of the cut and knock out the person who took such a hap-hazard non-slice. moving on... Danny W picked Siena Tavern. A place he'd previously raved about but that I absolutely never would've gone to outside of this lunch since I'm not a big fan of Italian food and because of the aforementioned $$$ price category... but I had to respect the guy (a little, at least) for having the balls to pick such a pricey place for a work lunch knowing we wouldn't have to fit the bill... not that I didn't pick a crazy expensive place when it was my work lunch pick (Medieval Times!), but I consider that to be different since my pick was both lunch AND a world-class show, and we were celebrating two team member birthdays, and also because I'm last on the lunch rotation and so far every Candice-picks-lunch day has either been canceled, or no one comes, so I felt like I got to save up red-headed-co-worker points and pull the lunch trump card when my day finally did arrive. So we've got a reservation for 6 and they give us this big-ass booth near a semi-private room and just across from the side bar. The place was definitely bumpin' at 12:30 in the afternoon, but the staff were on their A-Game and the atmosphere, while I imagine is probably much swankier at night, worked for a nice lunch spot as well... not too casual, but perfect for our purpose of a work lunch, and even better- they have an adjusted lunch menu with fewer items than dinner, but they're also priced much friendlier to the average person than an evening feast at Siena would have been. Lunch is somewhere between semi-budget friendly and semi-splurge-y, depending on who's footing the bill, of course. My group started off with the Coccoli since the server was hyping it up as if she were Moses and the tablets read, 'though shall get the Coccoli'. When it came it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, and while I'll admit that I only had a bite, I thought it was just alright. Didn't really see what all the fuss was about. Since my usual routine involves a coffee (with about half flavored creamer) at 10:30am and then lunch around 3:30/4 and our work lunch times usually center around 'normal' eating hours, I really only wanted something light so I could say that I did, in fact, eat here, so I went with the Farro Salad (grilled herb-marinated shrimp & calamari, green bean, roasted peppers, celery, basil, herb mustard vinaigrette). It tasted a lot more vinegar-y than I was expecting and had an odd dairy tinge to it that made my stomach turn a little - but in all fairness, I think this dish would be something a person who likes coleslaw would really love, because that's what it was most similar to in my eyes. A really nice, fancy coleslaw... unfortunately I don't dig coleslaw--at all, but I still managed to scarf most of my dish down for the sake of the shrimp and calamari that gave their little lives for it. What I was sad I didn't get: The Squid Ink Linguini and the Lobster Roll with giant heaping chunks of lobster. I didn't get them because they were both upwards of $20 and as a person who frequents the Ramen aisle at Meijer, I didn't quite feel comfortable putting what seemed like such an extravagant lunch-time dish on the company dime... Luckily, Danny W didn't feel the same way and ordered up that $28 lobster roll and I'm only a little ashamed to admit I watched every bite as he devoured it. It looked... like heaven. It was stuffed to the brim and even Danny, who's quite the glutton, couldn't finish the last few bits of lobster that fell from him sammie. So when he wasn't looking I happily swooped in with my grabby fingers and plucked a few fallen pieces (along with some fries) from his plate. I left with major regrets about not ordering that lobster roll but vowed to save up my pennies and come back on my own one day to do that damn lobster roll all on my own. All 28-totally-worth-it dollars of lobster roll.
(4)
Anna W.
HIGHLY recommend this place!!!!!!!!!!!! Perfect environment and amazing food. It was our first time with my boyfriend here, we are deff coming back next weekend!!! We had the 5 cheese pizza and tried the Farro Salad-------- amazing. The white and red sienna sangria were delicious!!!!!! Our waiter was Parker!!! He's awesome!!!!!
(5)
Bobby O.
We had a siblings-night out and set an earlier reservation for 5 at 5:30pm on 12/26/14. We were seated promptly and the waitress was very attentive. We all decided to do a small plate-shared entree-style dinner. We got the truffle flatbread and "prosciutto sandwich", which melted in our mouths. They can add more, as it comes with 4. For entrees, we got the squid ink linguine and bolegne pastas. The squid ink was tasty, but not overwhelming. And for dessert we got a couple gelatin and the "doughnuts".It comes with 3 sauces- my favorite being the raspberry. Overall, everything that was suggested and dishes we got were excellent!!
(5)
Hollina U.
Siena Tavern is in my top three for fave restaurants in Chicago. I had been wanting to eat here since I first moved to Chicago last summer, but it's always so packed every time I come (but then my friends and I always last-minute decided to give it a try on a Friday or Saturday night). Finally was smart enough to make a reservation for a Sunday evening, when it's a bit slower. Everybody HAS to order the coccoli--- it's fried bread dough, prosciutto and truffle honey--- so damn good and I have never tasted anything like it! I also ordered the squid link linguine with lobster, which had a creamy lobster sauce that was just divine. One of my favorite pasta experiences ever! Ended the meal with the bomboloni that comes with three bottles of sauces so you can self-fill the bomboloni. The chocolate hazelnut sauce and the raspberry chianti sauce went really well together! Overall, this was one of the best meals I've had in Chicago. Service was very good too, the waitress we had was very attentive and made a good wine suggestion. Will definitely go back!!
(5)
Danny W.
You know that feeling you get when food comes out and you want what the person sitting next to you is eating? That happens here all the time cause each menu item is even more amazing looking than the next. From start to finish Siena wows with both its presentation and taste to the full effect. In a handful of visits I've had the Coccoli, Squid Ink Linguini, Kobe Meatball, Siena Chopped and Roasted Beet Salads, Gnocchi, and the Lobster Club. All I can say is their chef knows exactly what he's doing cause there wasn't a bad bite in the whole bunch. Service has been on point each visit as well with extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff. They all recommend different items to order which pretty much proves that everything is delicious. For an across the board Italian menu for lunch or dinner Siena Tavern is totally worth a trip in!
(5)
C V.
Great dirty martini with Blue Cheese Olives. Loved the Truffle pizza. Very cool atmosphere but make sure you reserve a table or be prepared to wait.
(5)
Laura K.
I was not impressed with this place. It definitely did not live up to all the hype if you ask me. The restaurant was pretty cool. I definitely liked the set up, however the food was just OK. Of everything we ate, I was only really impressed by the gelato at the end. I wouldn't really recommend this place. I would recommend Davonti Enoteca (similar concept, but better food) over Siena Tavern.
(3)
Kevin N.
Came here for a bachelor party, the location of this restaurant is perfect, right north of the river and in the hip and happening part of the city. Valet parking in front too, cool. Service: iffy service by the host, as 5/6 of our party was present, but they would not seat us right away even though the table was ready. We had to ask a few times before we were seated. The waiter however was very helpful throughout the meal. Atmosphere/decor: I'm a big fan of fine modern American dining and the decor in this restaurant does not disappoint. There's a bar on the left when you walk in, and seating in the right. We were seated on an elevated dining area and from our vantage point we could see most of the restaurant. Very nice! Food: darn. I didn't write this review right after eating there, so my memory is hazy. I do remember that the veal was delicious. We also ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza and prosciutto pear pizza, which was great. The pepperoni tasted as expected, but the prosciutto pear tasted very fresh! We also had a huge wagyu beef meatball for appetizer. I would definitely come back to this restaurant. You get a nice american dining experience, and it definitely has a nice date atmosphere. I would compare this favorably to bandera, which is one of my favorite american restaurants in Chicago.
(5)
Donna L.
Dinner @ Siena Tavern is amazing, but brunch is SO MUCH fun! I love the No. 2 on the drink menu- similar to a Bellini, with Prosecco it's amazing! I also love that we could order the Truffle Pizza for breakfast along with the brunch menu. It was a GREAT brunch!
(5)
Alex R.
(4.5 Stars) I'll cut straight to the good stuff because there is so much goodness going on here at Siena Tavern! To start, definitely order the coccoli. I'm serious, there's no question here, just order it. The coccoli is nice and crispy on the outside and so soft and airy on the inside. There's a glaze of truffle honey, which is indescribable, it's so good. It's also served with prosciutto and stracchino cheese, which is almost an embarrassment of riches at this point. Chef Fabio, you've really put something truly remarkable together here! We also ordered the bone marrow, which we knew we wanted as soon as we saw it on the menu. Don't be frightened, the bone marrow is remarkably soft and is perfect as a spread on the crispy bread it's served with. For our entrees, we got the squid ink linguini and the short rib ravioli. Just like the coccoli, you have to order the squid ink linguini. Just do it. No questions asked. The fresh pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was aromatic and had a nice kick without being overwhelming. The lobster was just slightly overdone, but even that did little to take away from this amazing dish. The short rib ravioli was also very good. The texture and flavor was spot on. We couldn't leave Siena Tavern without trying a pizza so we ordered the truffle mushroom pizza, which certainly did not leave us disappointed. Every component was amazing: the roasted mushrooms, the garlic cream mozzarella, and the drizzle of truffle oil. We ended our evening by ordering the bomboloni, which are fried doughnuts that you inject with delicious sweet sauces. The food was excellent, and the service was friendly and personal. I'm really glad we came here for my belated birthday dinner!
(5)
Vanessa X.
Excellent service. Superb environment. Solid food!! We had the short rib ravioli (B+), caramelized brussell sprouts (A) and prosciutto sausage (A-). The food was very flavorful and down to earth without overly fancy and pretentious ingredients or presentation. Even better, when I mentioned that I was intolerant to dairy, the kitchen even made a special sauce (without butter) to cook the ravioli with. I am pretty sure that I would love every single other dish on the menu! Next time I would definitely want to try the squid ink spaghetti, the sea bass and the octopus!!! Diners were mostly young professionals and the atmosphere was chill and relaxed and conducive to conversation, on a Tuesday night. Highly recommend and met my high expectations!!
(4)
Christy L.
I've been to Siena Tavern several times now and have always had great dishes there! My favorite item on the menu is the Coccoli, which is fried dough with prosciutto and cheese. Amazing! I'm also a fan of the meatball, shaved Brussels sprout salad, and cocktail menu. The pizzas are a bit hit or miss; some have a bit too much cheese for thin crust, in my opinion. Atmosphere is loud and fun!
(4)
cece D.
We love this place! We go here often for lunch and the food is amazing! the Grilled Octopus, Brussels, Cauliflower and Kale Caesar are my favorites. Not to mention the Truffle Pizza....truffle oil, not real truffles, but still delicious to me. It is my go to place in the neighborhood! However, I tried walking in for dinner at 9pm and OMG, the crowd was not to be believed. It felt like all the bars in that area. Not sure what I expected. I will never go there for dinner. I suggest stick to lunch. : )
(5)
Elina S.
Siena Tavern, I am definitely a fan! Came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon with my mom and her friend, but we did have reservations so we got a nice booth inside the trendy Italian restaurant. The place was busy even for lunch time so reservations are definitely recommended. They also have outdoor seating but it was a little too hott that day so we chose to sit and enjoy our lunch inside. Our server was super sweet and gave us some yummy recommendations and here is what we shared and loved: Coccoli-Crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey, so amazing the dough was super fluffy and the prosciutto just melts in your mouth, you get four pieces for $14 so it's definitely worth it, this is a unique and must try dish here. The tavern burger- Because I just can't resist something with tomato jam, this burger has fontina cheese, tomato jam, baby arugula, crispy pancetta, herb aioli on a brioche bun for $16. It seems a little pricey but it is amazing, one of my favorite dishes here, and it's super big with fries so you can easily share this dish. Truffle Mushroom Pizza- Roasted wild mushrooms, garlic cream, mozzarella, white truffle oil. How can you go to an Italian place and not try their pizza. It was good but not the best that I've ever had but for $18 it has like 8 pieces so you won't be left hungry, that's for sure. I would definitely try one of their pastas next time instead of the pizza since it was just so so but we were full beyond belief by this point after all the carbs. Tiramisu- For $9, the dish was presented beautifully, one of the prettiest I've ever seen, like with a Sienna Tavern tree logo made out of cocoa, just beautiful. This is made of roasted white chocolate and espresso meringue. It was good but a little too sweet for me so I would try another dessert next time. Overall, we liked the food here better than RPM but not as good as Davanti Enoteca, but if I'm in the busy area, I will definitely stop by again for some gnocchi since this place is good.
(4)
Laura R.
Every time- unbelievably good! First time we have sat at the bar for dinner and got the same wonderful service. I have not had one thing here that isn't 100% delicious. Gnocchi is pillows of wonderfulness. The truffle pizza is to die for. My husband and I share everything because it can be rich but it is worth diving into. I have had the salads too, all very good. Worth every calorie!
(5)
Mary Ann C.
We were here last night for drinks at the the bar and earlier in the year enjoyed dinner at the bar. The bar area is sizable and a great spot for people watching. It is a great space. The cocktails are tasty and well executed. The mozzarella options are all fantastic, and we both loved the mushroom pizza!
(4)
A L.
We were intrigued by their patio, but it was freezing and rainy so we ate inside. The restaurant is really pretty and has a great bright atmosphere. The food is really good ! We were there for lunch and had their burger and fries and their chicken sandwich and fries with sprinkled parmesean on the fries. Both were delicious and then had monkey bread with caramel, nuts and whip cream on it. The service was great and the waitress explained things on the menu. I would love to go back for dinner on the patio.
(5)
Magen R.
This was the best meal I've had in years... no joke! I was lucky enough to enjoy my meal in the restaurant's amazing wine cellar for a close friend's birthday. The room was gorgeous. The rustic wood on the walls with soft back lighting and the enormous table lent to a relaxing, yet upscale atmosphere. Definitely a great way to enjoy Siena's amazing fare. I only tried one cocktail, the #2, it was light and refreshing and I'd definitely recommend it. Now onto the food... I was lucky enough that I got to try a bunch of different things because we had a large group and each was more delicious than the last! A friend and I shared the coccoli and the bufala mozzarella for our appetizers. I have never experienced anything like the coccoli but it legitimately melted in my mouth. It was an amazing flavor combo, if you get it make sure you make use of the honey it's served with. Also worth nothing is the presentation, I loved how the app came on a giant wooden block, very fun. The bufala mozzarella was also outstanding. The sea salt, tomato jam and basil oil highlighted the cheese perfectly and the cheese so fresh. I also have to say I was really happy with the portion sizes of both appetizers. Both came with enough for four servings but could be split in half to have as many as eight servings. For my meal I chose the proscuitto fig pizza. It was a great flavor combination and I loved how fresh and light the figs were on the pizza. It was also an enormous portion with eight substantial slices, definitely a good pick! I also was lucky enough to try the gnocchi, parmesan sticky potatoes and artichoke gratin. I don't usually like gnocchi but I could not get enough of the gnoochi at Siena Tavern. The sauce was creamy and wonderful and the gnocchi were light as pillows that simply melted in your mouth. The artichoke gratin also melted in your mouth. It was like mac and cheese with artichokes, seriously amazing. Finally I fell in love with the parmesan sticky potatoes. They did not spare on the cheese or the seasoning and the potatoes were perfectly cooked, light and crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. The final topper of the meal were the amazing donuts with dipping sauces. They were lightly fried balls doused in powdered sugar served with a variety of amazing dipping sauces (I'd recommend putting the chocolate and carmel together). They were out of this word and again, a very large portion size. All in all Siena Tavern was amazing. The service and ambiance were outstanding and the food is unparalleled. Make a reservation. Right now.
(5)
Mike M.
Fantastic pizza! Had no trouble getting a seat at 5:30pm on a Fri. Only drawback is that the atmosphere isn't too kid friendly.
(4)
Grierson L.
Sat at the bar tonight and witnessed a first: guy behind the bar noticed that Group B snagged bar seats when Group A had been waiting and said, "Hey! I noticed y'all were here first, I will ask them to move if you want to sit." Group A said no thanks, appreciate the ask. Gotta tell ya: AWESOME on two counts!! 1: Bartender noticed/paid attention to what was happening on our side of the bar (considering he has the oven and chefs to contend w at this particular bar); and 2: that he offered and would have made the right choice. Kudos Siena!!!
(5)
Wayne H.
I went to Siena Tavern for lunch with some co-workers during the workweek. The place has a very cool, modern vibe to it. We started with a few appetizers: the kale salad, wagyu beef meatball, and Coccoli. The apps were okay, but I was expecting much more based on all the good reviews. If I had to pick a favorite I guess it would be the Coccoli because the prosciutto, cheese, and honey were delicious. I didn't care so much for the fried dough part of the appetizer. I ordered the lobster roll for my entree and it was okay as well. It came with fries that were over cooked without much flavor. I prefer the lobster roll at the New England Seafood Company....way better. I tried some of the pizza slices too and they were okay as well. I definitely would go back to Siena Tavern, but overall their food was pretty average.
(3)
Anthony M.
CATERING REDEFINED I was lucky enough to attend the Absolut Stuga Presentation held at the Event Creative Warehouse. They actually built a full Swedish farm inside. It was a truly amazing experience. When I walked in I was greeted by a server with a tray of delicious looking apps. She told me it was Coccoli, which meant nothing to me. I took one bite and was sent to heaven. I immediately knew I had just bitten into something special. I looked at the server and said, "Who is catering this event?" And she said, "Siena Tavern!" I said, "That was delicious!" She then told me that there was tons of food on the other side, after the tour through the Stuga! I must admit I have never tasted such flavor in a piece of catered food. The coccoli was a sweet puff pastry with sweet cheese like a ricotta and a slice of Procuitto on top with greens and a drizzle of something sweet. That is my guess on the ingredients because I didn't have a menu in front of me. I could hardly wait for my tour of the Stuga to finish, so I could sample more of this incredible food. During the event the food kept coming and there was plenty of it. I loved how the servers were actual Siena Tavern employees which meant they knew the food they were serving. My second favorite thing of the night was the Kobe meatball. It was covered in a delicious red sauce, ricotta & fresh basil. These things just melted in my mouth. I learned that at lunch I could get a meatball sandwich or for dinner I could get a 12 ounce giant meatball as an appetizer. Can I get both? Yeah it was that good. Again this was delicious food was at an event. This never happens. The most interesting item I tried was the cooked venison on a stick. I've never had deer and I've never had a desire to eat Bambi. But tonight I figured I would put Siena Tavern to the test. You want to know what? It was delicious. It was topped with two crispy potatoes. And those potatoes were still crispy. Again I've never had crispy potatoes at an event. I even grabbed the last one off the tray, so it should have been cold and soggy but it wasn't. I also loved the roasted tiny red peppers that had yummy cheese and chorizo inside. Again I didn't have a menu, so I'm gonna call it yummy cheese. I would love to make something like this at home. The gnocchi was so good. I'm not usually a fan but these housemade gnocchi were out is this world. I think I was really in love with the house made pancetta. It's like bacon but a hundred times better! They also were serving a small crostini with asparagus on top. It wasn't my favorite and because it wasn't easy to eat standing up with 500 people looking at me. I had a little taste but I didn't finish it. I had to dislike something because everything was so good. The servers just kept coming with more and more food. As I was standing there, I noticed the Chef Kevin Abshire was standing there looking at the event floor. I leaned over to him and said, "Best Catered food I ever had in my life!" He got a big smile on his face and said, "Thanks!" We had a great talk about food. I even learned that they were also cooking food onsite in a tent outback. No wonder everything tasted amazing. I wish all caters cared this much when serving food to a crowd. After talking the Chefs ear off, he obviously hasn't read one of my long winded reviews, he had to get back to work. He even made sure to tell me to call him when I finally eat inside there location. I thought the night of food was over and then they brought out hot donuts. Stop it! I had to grab one of these delicious bites. It was so good that I had to have another one. In fact, there were 3 different flavors. I highly recommend you order these. I was informed they are available at the restaurant. If you are looking to impress your guests with amazing food, then I would highly recommend the Siena Tavern prepare the food you. These tasty bites are a show stopper and you will be the Party Planner of the Year, if you use them for your next event. .
We really liked this place. Great diversity in the food choices. Coccoli and the grilled octopus were both remarkable. Grilled octopus was incredibly tender, and celery and grilled lemon were delicious accompaniments. Tuscan kale caesar salad was an interesting take on the classic caesar. Short rib ravioli was very rich-- glad we shared it. Carmelized brussels sprouts were a nice side dish--we especially liked the pancetta. Italian wheat beer on tap was a hit. Wine list was weak, especially on wines by the glass. Cocktail list was diverse and interesting. Service was most attentive without being intrusive. Atmosphere was casual. We had a very enjoyable evening.
(5)
Jamie B.
10PM Reso 3/28/14: Big downgrade and slip from my first visit this past fall. The pizza was flimsy and overly greasy. Our server was extremely rude and pushy, even rolled her eyes at me when I asked for a new candle on our table because it was out. She wouldn't leave our party of 5 alone at all the times we wanted to be left alone (and told her this) but yet was nowhere to be found when it came time to pay and we were ready with the check. Probably won't come back here because of how annoyed we all were with the service. Food doesn't outshine it. Upon leaving the joint walked past 3 plus employees and what looked like a manager without even a "thank you" for our patronage. Too loud of music, felt like more of a nightclub/sports bar and clearly that's where the mgmt's attention was. It was obnoxiously loud. Drinks were fine and the other dishes were all ok. Just a pretty big disappointment overall and I won't be back.
(2)
Michele M.
The gnocchi at Sienna Tavern took my breath away! Each forkful was packed with whipped and pillowy goodness. The smoky pancetta complements the truffle cream and left me pleasantly satisfied. Bon appetite with those magical puffs!
(5)
Agnes C.
I would have easily given this place a 4 or 5 star rating because of the appetizers alone, but I can't justify it because of my entree. Went there with my girls for a bach party dinner and we were all starving. Quickly ordered the mushroom pizza and burnt pepperoni pizza along with couple order of the meatball (singular) for appetizers. I don't know if it was because we were so hangry, but the mushroom pizza was heavenly. Soooo delicious, not too rich, crust was nice and thin. Burnt pepperoni had the little spicy kick to it which was a nice contrast to the creamy mushroom one. The meatball is huge, definitely enough for even 4 people to share. Great flavor and the sauce was so good I kept dipping my crust in it. I think they thought we were done after the pizzas and the meatballs because it took them a long time to come back and see if we were going to order entrees. Little do they know how much we eat.... Anyway, we each ordered a separate entree so we could all share. I tried a little bit of the gnocchi which was so fluffy and perfect, and the squid ink pasta was my personal favorite. I would get that again if I ever return. It was so good I took a little bit off the plates of three friends who ordered it so I would eat all of someone's. The risotto was also notable. It was HUGE too. The entree that was a complete fail though was mine - the Seared Scallop (not singular...comes with 4). It was so incredibly salty that I honestly could not even eat one whole scallop. I tried. I really did. Even tried scraping off the top green sauce and it was still hurting my tongue with the salt content. The greens and puree underneath was salty too which just ruined my taste buds. I would have sent it back to the kitchen, expect I ate so much of my friend's plates that I wouldn't have been able to eat another entree anyway. So - is it fair for me to give it 3 stars just because of the scallops? Yes - it is a main entree and a waste of money and appetite. No - to be completely fair I should allow another visit to try the dish again but I just can't make my mouth suffer again like that. Do get the pizza, meatball, squid ink pasta, and ask for Arturo to take your group pic. Don't get the scallops or go late Sunday night b/c they tend to run out of items and service gets slow.
(3)
Dominic R.
Came here last night for our 1 Year Anniversary. My girlfriend has been here several times and this was the place she chose. This was my first time here, so it's always exciting to try new places. I walked in starving! I was looking forward to some good Italian Food. We got our water and when you're at an Italain Restaurant....some bread with oil/cheese. Um, they don't give bread!?!?? That is crap! What Italian restauant doesn't give bread/oil to start with? We started out with a plate of "coccali", which to me was pretty much a Crescent roll, with some cheese to spread on it and some meat. you got 4, but for $16.00??? Eh, I thought that was a little high. I then ordered the "Lasagna". What came out of the kitchen was not what I expected. it was a little Cast Iron Bowl which looked to be a combination of "chili" and " French Onion soup" with some lasagna noodles layering the inside. it was ok, but really wasn't what i would expect when I order "Lasagna". Plus some good old bread would have been nice to help mop up the bowl. My gf had the ink squid lobster Linguini. She loves it, i tried that and it was pretty good. I had to ask our waitress what kind of food this place has. She confirmed "it's italian", but she told us "you know how you go to old school italian restaurants and you can barely walk out cause your so full? Here we don't do that because we want you to come back". Um, that made no sense. I want to walk out of a place feeling like I had a good meal and was full. Why would I want to go eat somewhere and not be full? To be honest, i walked out of there still hungry. I just felt for the amount of money I spent ($100 before tip) i feel the portions were small, the prices were a bit high and you really don't get filled up. There are much better Italian Restaurants in Chicago that will give you the basics or bread/oil, offer you a soup or salad with your meal and your entree would be a good size. I only came beause my girlfriend chose this for our anniversary dinner spot. Would I come back? Sure, but i'd make sure I ate before i came.
(1)
Davidson T.
My very first review, excited to say it's 5 stars. I'm not hugely into Italian cuisine, but this place is phenomenal from the crudo to the flatbreads. Don't miss the octopus or the meatball and be sure to share the squid ink pasta and short rib ravioli!
(5)
Lauren R.
Amazing food and great location. Hard to get a reservation last minute, but makes sense why. Great atmosphere, and the service is great.
(5)
Stefanie B.
This place is insanely good! The gnocchi is the best I ever had! It's like little bites of heaven! Seriously ridiculously good! The Coccoli was a fun appetizer and the Bomboloni donut dessert was the perfect end to a wonderful meal! Mix the nutella and salted caramel dipping sauce together to blow your mind! The Birthday Cake gelato and Krispy Caramel Fudge gelato were super YUM and great side desserts to go with donuts! They were out of the squid ink lobster pasta that I wanted to try but the gnocchi made up for it and more of a reason to go back. Tariq, our server...gotta give him a shout out for being AWESOME! Seriously he made the experience more fun and enjoyable! Especially with his reccomendations being on point! So hopefully your dining experience will include him as your server and consider yourself lucky! Stick around or go later when it turns into a lounge and you get to drink, eat and jam to music spun by DJ JayFunk from 103.5 KissFM!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!!
(5)
Sacha F.
I probably wouldn't go to this place normally because of the price, but I had a friend working there at the time and she was able to help us get 50% off the bill. THE FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE, and we ordered about half of the menu. They make their cheese in house and the mozzarella was on point. Best and strongest (but tastey) sangria I've ever had. I'm not sure what brand of wine they use but I would highly reccomend a glass or pitcher of the stuff, especially if you've had a long week. Here's what we ordered: The Burnt Pepperoni Pizza: one of the best thin crust pizzas I've had in Chicago. Spicy. Coccoli: GET THIS. it's a delicious light honey topped pastry appetizer that you stuff with cheese and prosciutto The meatball: enough for three, and comes with a ginat basket of garlic bread. The gelato: I had the pistachio. Incredible. Also made in house. Gnocchi: made with truffle cream, sage and pancetta. DO I NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE. Just go. Treat yourself or find a sugardaddy to treat you.
(5)
Lisa C.
It doesn't get any better than this. The flavors are fresh and delicious. This is some of the best Italian food you will find outside of Italy. I'm not a fan of Italian meatballs but I could eat the meatballs from here all day. The specialty cocktails are also amazing. This is a great place for a date. This restaurant seriously belongs somewhere exotic and you will not feel that you are in Chicago in here. Only caveat is that this place is expensive.....but totally worth it.
(5)
Lizzie B.
Siena Tavern is an awesome place - the ambience was great and the food was well done, great ingredients and fresh. For starters - the burrata is delicious - the grilled bread was so good, super buttery. The prosciutto pear pizza was decent - though the pear could have been cooked to be more tender (it was a little too crunchy to be on pizza). The shaved brussels sprout salad was creative for salad - but the brussels sprouts are raw, so the texture/taste might not be for everyone. For dinner - the orecchiette with prosciutto sausage was great. It was a little spicy and the pasta was fresh and cooked perfectly. For dessert, the gelato flight is a must. Siena has several flavors - the s'mores flavor is definitely worth trying as is the maple bourbon pecan. The tiramisu was not as flavorful as expected. The triple chocolate torte is also a great choice, but it super chocolately/sweet - so be prepared. Overall, a great choice for "contemporary" Italian in Chicago.
(4)
Nicole C.
Do not miss brunch at Siena Tavern! The Bloody Mary was delicious, well spiced and garnished with citrus, celery, a small piece or mortadella and cheese. Sampled the truffled eggs-ri-dic-ulous! The sausage gravy and biscuits looked amazing. The potatoes that arrive with some dishes are crispy perfection. I'll be back!
I've been to Siena Tavern a total of 3 times now. The first two were for dinner and both times were excellent. The third was for brunch and it wasn't the greatest experience out of the three. For dinner, I've had the waygu beef meatball, the coccoli, the mozzerella sampler, the cheese plate, the squid ink lobster linguini, the scallop risotto, and the lamb chops. All were excellent (especially the coccoli and cheese plate), except I thought the scallop risotto was too salty for my liking and just a little too rich. The lamb chops were grilled with a really nice char but a bit fatty (which lamb chops are sometimes). We ordered pumpkin gelato and espresso for dessert and both were superb (I'm a coffee and dessert snob). Loved our server both times for dinner. Didn't sound too robotic and made the experience really fun. Now onto brunch. Went with 3 of my girlfriends (one who has a 7 month baby) on a Sunday. We were sat immediately with a reservation at a nice table in the bar, so we could kind of see the Bears game. Our server came over and sounded like a robot. No personality the entire time and didn't make it very fun. She actually made one of my friends feel somewhat uncomfortable. When we ordered, my friend ordered a side of fries with her salad. The server proceeded to ask her if she wanted the fries for the table to share. "Um...no" my friend responded. Awkward. If she wanted fries for the entire table to share, don't ya think she would of specified that?!? Anyways, our order was placed. Then about 30 min later, our server came by again and explained to me that their waffle iron just broke and they couldn't make my Nutella waffles. Fine, it happens. She apologized and recommended something similar and I ordered it. Five minutes later, the rest of my parties food comes out and I sit there with no food. I mean she couldn't of told me earlier that the waffle iron broke so that I could of ate with the rest of my party? Or even offer me something to nibble on while I wait? This was definitely not the best experience I've had here, but given it is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago I will be back. I just wish they would of been more accommodating to the situation. They acted like they didn't care. If it wasn't for the great food they have, this would be a 2 star review. I'm being really generous.
(4)
Aimee M.
Siena Tavern was a wonderful spot for lunch. It's a beautiful and stylish restaurant, yet comfy. I can't wait to come back and check it out during evening hours. There was a bit of a hiccup about whom my server was going to be and it left me stranded for a bit of time. But they rebounded well, the manager came out to chat and even comped my drink--which was totally unnecessary as the rest of my lunch service didn't suffer and my server was sweet and funny. I opened with a glass of Tiamo Prosecco and the Burrata with Tomato Jam. Perfect pairing. The Burrata was creamy and so good with the grilled bread. The Tomato jam was a bit too sweet for me, but the Burrata was all I needed really. I opted to splurge a little and get the Squid Ink Linguini. I'm not ashamed to say I finished to whole thing. It was delicious. It was satisfying. It was heavenly. The pasta was cooked perfectly and there is a very good amount of lobster. The creamy sauce was almost like a reduced lobster bisque but with a spicy note. I want to try more things on the menu when I make future visits, but it will be hard NOT to order this dish next time. I absolutely loved it. Their cocktail list looks delicious as does their sangria. No Chef Viviani sighting, but he can rest easy, his people are taking very good care of the place and for that, I'll be back.
(4)
Kathleen C.
Love it! I had been trying to get into Siena Tavern for a while (shocking, I know, so is everyone...) and I finally lucked out with an early reservation for my Mom's birthday. I have to say that I was amazed that the restaurant, at 4:45pm, on a Thursday was already relatively bustling. By 5:15 or so, the place was pretty packed, and when we left (7-ish), there were no seats unless you had scored a reservation (like 2 months ago...). Anyway, we had a lovely time. First of all, the atmosphere was fun - very boisterous, but not overly loud, trendy, but not pretentious and a lovely space to look at. The wine list was quite nice, not huge, but had a great range of options and some interesting pics. My Mom and I had prosecco (it was her birthday after all!) and then we dove into the menu. My parents and I split the meatball (which was the size of a softball, yet flavorful and moist), and the crispy pastry with prosciutto and cheese for appetizers. Both were delicious, and I am not sure which one I liked better. For dinner, we all split the margherita pizza, lasagna and the papardelle pasta. Everything was flavorful and very well done, but I have to say that the lasagna was wonderful (and honestly, I don't really like lasagna and I usually never order it...). For dessert, we had the fruit tart which was great - fresh fruit, a nice crust and a custard-y ice cream with it. We had the greatest server (Gregory)! He made the experience a lot more fun. !
(5)
Kelly K.
Girl and the Goat used to be my favorite restaurant before I came to Siena Tavern. The octopus, meatballs,pizza, gnocchi, kale salad, and crudo are all delicious! Recommend greeting a reservation if possible.
(5)
Suki W.
We came to Siena Tavern on a Thursday night and enjoyed a good meal along with an energetic scene. We started with the airy coccoli, then to the fresh, crunchy Siena Chopped & Shaved Brussel Sprout salads, and finished up with a dense, rich Wagyu Beef Meatball so basically we had a bunch of appetizers which were more than enough to make a meal for 2. Thanks to Sam for impeccable, attentive service in a packed house. My sole complaint is that while the energy is really vibrant, the volume makes it tough to hear, even at a two-top.
(5)
Steph S.
I went to Siena Tavern on a Thursday night and it was packed. I got a drink called the No. 2 and it was refreshing and delicious. For appetizers we ordered the hearts of palm salad, Coccoli, and the truffle mushroom pizza. All were PHENOMENAL. I didn't know if dinner could live up to the appetizers. We ordered the gnocchi, pappardelle, and squid ink linguini. All were fantastic, especially the pappardelle. For desert, we had the homemade doughnuts. It was AMAZING. I could have eaten a thousand of them. Dinner was about two hours long, and it was truly a wonderful culinary experience. I will absolutely be back.
(4)
Irene Z.
The meatball is phenomenal! Absolute must have! Also a great bar/lounge type atmosphere. Would definitely go back!
(5)
David H.
My wife and I, and a couple of friends visited Siena Tavern today, and found the experience exceptional. The coccoli and wagy beef meatballs were mouthwatering. The carne pizza, short rib ravioli and tavern burger were on point and the bomboloni dessert had the whole table salivating!!! This is a must visit when you are in Chicago!!! Oh yeah and the staff was so attentive and knowledgeable about the menu!!!
(5)
Nishan P.
He was William Shatner's personal chef! The man fed T.J. Hooker, and the Priceline Negotiator! Captain Kirk liked his food so much that he chose to have it on a regular basis. And if it's good enough for Captain Kirk... I was hoping I'd get to meet Chef Fabio Viviani when we dined at his Siena Tavern last night. As luck would have it, he was out of town. We were seated at a four top by large floor to ceiling windows offering a great view of the action on Kinzie Street. Based on our server's recommendation I started with the Grey Goose cocktail No. 2. With peach, lemon, and prosecco, it tasted much better than the Johnny Walker Black cocktail No. 8. For an appetizer I wanted to try the Coccoli, but like the famous chef, it was MIA. They were out of stracchino cheese. The gigantic Kobe Meatball more than made up for the missing Coccoli. It was served in a tomato sauce with ricotta and shaved basil, and I would gladly have made a meal out of just it. I hear the meatball is so popular it has its own Twitter account. My squid ink linguini with a grilled lobster tail entree was spectacular. The spicy lobster cream sauce added just the right amount of heat. The dish was perfectly executed. I also loved that there were large chunks of lobster hidden in the pasta. For dessert, the Tiramisu was an obvious choice. We knew we couldn't go wrong with one of Chef Fabio's signature preparations. Our server also suggested the Bomboloni, Italian doughnuts. Served in a paper bag, they were accompanied by miniature squeeze bottles of caramel, chocolate and raspberry sauces which could be injected into the doughnuts. The caramel was a little too sweet for me. I resorted to making up my own sauce by mixing the much more subtle raspberry with the chocolate. Overall, the meal was excellent. It was a great value for money too. Of course that was to be expected. If there is one thing the Priceline Negotiator knows, it's a good deal. He would never have hired Chef Fabio if he didn't think he was getting a great deal.
(5)
Steven N.
Took my dad here for lunch when he was in town visiting me. I really enjoyed myself and the food. I had the cobb salad which I know isn't all that unique but it tasted great - the perfect balance of everything that's in a cobb salad. My dad had the pappardelle which was also very tasty - I of course tried his dish. The service was great too, server was super helpful and informative about the menu and the wine list. The price I quoted was for dinner - lunch is $$.
(4)
William B.
Good food, but a typically classless river north experience. We were seated half an hour late for our reservation and then rushed by the wait staff for the entire meal. Was never offered a cocktail, no attendance from waitress on any desires. We saw the waitress three times and only promptly for the bill. Dishes were served out of order (side dishes served as appetizers). The plates were insanely aggressively bussed with waiters and bussers leaning across the table to clean plates while other diners were only half finished with their meals. The food was fine. Halibut was perfectly cooked if lacking in vegetable accompaniment. Kale Ceasar was almost too fresh, quite nice. You can spend the same kind of money for food as good or better and service and ambiance that's designed for those older than postpubescents at a lot of other places nearby.
(2)
Cathy B.
I have to make time go back a second time on this trip! The cocoon is smetng I had never hear of and an absolutel MUST DO dish! The lightest and airy puffs of dough with a thin crisp crust, perfect for sharing. Cheese and prosciutto drizzled with honey and trifle oil..heaven on a late! Their meatball sandwich was well portioned and flavorful. I particularly enjoyed the gnocchi in a beautiful creamed sauce. The portion was small yeterfect for lunch. I didn't realize this was Fabio's place (of Top Chef fame). He has done very well here and I look forward to going back quickly to try their pizza and another plate of cocoli...in the meantime I will try to hunt down a copy cat recipe online so I can try to get someone in Florida to make it :)
(5)
Chris G.
Best Tiramisu in River North. Hands down, stfu. Soon after we sat down, our scrumptiously thin 12" Margherita pizza hit the bar and went well with my generous pour of their own red blend, which is also mouthgasmic. The thin amount of sauce and cheese were PERFECT for this lunchtime snack. The crust ends were perfect for dipping into the savory and erotic garlic aioli. The tiramisu comes in a metal trough and has climatic bits of white chocolate strategically scattered amongst the black coffee nirvana goo that sits between high class, crispy lady fingers. WOo! Danielle and Ashlee are the great ladies who took great care of us as we didn't quite hear the instructions at the front desk about how to proceed sans reservations. The ladies were handling a frenzied lunch rush crowd but kept the personal touch expert, along with the support staff who truly seemed to like having us there. (This isn't often the case in this area.) I'm pretty sure I've laughed it up with Daniel at another location nearby but forgot to mention it. Now I'm just a few steps from this location and have been waiting months for them to open, to such delight. Someone put a ton of thought, care and cash into this new spot and it has the widest, smoothest granite bar I've had the pleasure of groping.
(4)
Blake G.
First let me start off with the food...Oh, the food. I'm not ashamed to say that I have erotic dreams about the food at Sienna Tavern. I've eaten many things on the menu, and although I have some favorites, there is nothing that I have eaten on their menu that has been less than excellent. Here are my favorites...So far: #1: The Brick Chicken Diavlo...The chicken is amazing, but the potatoes that come with it are the best roasted potatoes that I've ever eaten. #2: The Waygu Beef Meatball...One word. AMAZEBALLS! #3: The Burrata is amazing...I would say that the only restaurant that rivals the burrata at Sienna Tavern, would be the burrata at RPM, which is also pretty amazing. I generally eat at the bar, and the service is usually pretty good, but when they get busy, the bartenders sometimes forget that they are working at a fine dining restaurant, and not at their other jobs at Moe's Cantina or American Junkie...There have been a few times when the service at the bar has been a bit unfriendly, but I'm willing to overlook that because overall, this restaurant sticks-the-landing on just about everything else. Having said that, Tricia, Clint, and Tanya at the bar, are always super friendly and on top of their game. The only other complaint, that I can't really blame them for because everyone wants to eat there, is that it can be super busy...All the time. For dinner, I would recommend getting there early (5pm) or later (9pm)...Otherwise, you can always stand at the bar and try to snag an open seat when someone leaves. The bar serves a full dinner menu. I've never tried, but I'm sure you can make a reservation as well if you want to eat in the dining room or outside on their patio in the summer. Oh, and how can I forget about their craft cocktails. I'm not big on craft cocktails, but I make an exception at Sienna. My two favorites are the #4 and the #5...You can thank me later.
(4)
Lexie V.
Delicious and fun Italian cuisine! We came in for my sisters birthday dinner and were extremely happy with our experience. Highlights of the meal for us were the amazing Kobe meatball appetizer, the short rib ravioli, and the osso buco; to name a few. I will be back to try more cocktails and yummy eats- keep it up, Siena Tavern!
I desided to sleep on it before I wrote a review, since I normally don't do this but my experience at this restaurant was so terrible I feel it would be an injustice not to share with others. The food was good, not great, but good but it doesn't matter when your server makes you feel like you are wasting his time or keeping him from something more important. This was our last stop on our personal food tour of Chicago and I can't say I will ever come back. This place should take some tips from RPM Italian or maybe just fire the waiter because he is not doing them any justice. As for food, it was delicious, not the best I have ever had but really great flavors and presentation but the service left such a bad taste in my mouth from the drink order I just can't get past it. Hopefully you have a better experimence than we did.
(1)
Kitrina D.
This restaurant is absolutely wonderful! I was in Chicago for work, and my friend suggested that we try Siena for dinner. We tried so many great things: their homemade mozzarella, pasta in a jar, gnocchi, and the Goose Island beer made specially for their restaurant. The pastas are definitely very heavy but delicious. It is also a little more on the expensive side, but I think with the quality of the food that the price is warranted. I will definitely try this place again when I return. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Gloria B.
Great Italian food presented well! Service was fast. I went there for lunch, got seated right away, and the server was available when needed. The meatball was delicious as well as this popover-type appetizer served with prosciutto and cheese. My friend liked her chopped salad, which had some avocado. I had the squid ink spaghetti with lobster that was rich and creamy with a spicy kick. For dessert, I had honey ice cream with chocolate chips, garnished with bee pollen. The ambience was trendy mixed with traditonal elements, and very spacious. It was busy and buzzing with people's conversations. However, I was able to talk with my friend in a normal voice without fear of being eavesdropped.
(5)
Pete B.
good, but not great. We pretty much ordered what people here recommended. cocolli: pretty good! but nothing mind-blowing. wasn't really sure how to eat it at first (do I stuff the whole prosciutto and cheese/honey inside/) Came in 4 pieces, and they were more filling than expected. meatball appetizer: well, this was unexpected. First up, the portion is huge; enough to be an entree. My friend commented that it was more like a meatloaf. the meatball was cooked well and everything, but well, it's not mind-blowing. gnocchi: I really enjoyed this dish but my friend didn't like it as much. The gnocchi is chewy in a very good way but the cream sauce was a bit too one-noted. Overall, we were quite surprised that two appetizers and a pasta really really filled us up. The portion here is pretty big which makes the price more reasonable than expected. Service was pretty bad. Our server looked genuinely bored and hated to be there. kinda reminded me of the grinch in a restaurant full of merry people. Overall, this is a pretty good surprisingly-more-traditional-than-not italian place. Nothing too inventive, but still a good Italian place. Will I go back? probably not. why pick good when you can choose great.
(3)
Michael U.
Items selected: Biscuits and Gravy - Smoked Brioche Bread Pudding Biscuit, Prosciutto Sausage Gravy Lobster Hash - Poached Eggs, Truffle Hollandaise Gnocchi - Truffle Cream, Fried Sage, Crispy Pancetta Coccoli - Crispy Dough, Stracchino Cheese, Prosciutto di Parma, Truffle Honey Truffle Mushroom Pizza - Roasted Wild Mushrooms, Garlic Cream, Mozzarella, White Truffle Oil Monkeybread - Hazelnut Cream, Caramel, Candied Hazelnuts Bombolini - Whisky Caramel, Chocolate Hazelnut, Raspberry Chianti, Pumpkin Cream Stuffed French Toast - Apple Cheesecake Stuffed Brioche, Vanilla Cream, Saba, Candied Grapes Finally gathering my mother and aunt before we all went back to our respective lives it was at splashy downtown Siena Tavern that we would enjoy a final family brunch and although much of the press has been good none of it would have led me to believe it would be one of the more memorable meals we would enjoy together this year. A surprisingly large space with banquets, bars, tables, lounges, and private rooms awash in wood and bathed in light from floor to ceiling windows it was mere moments after entering that we found ourselves seated on plush leather and with exquisite service throughout the only difficulty was avoiding ordering too much...unless of course you share my opinion that there can never be "too much of a good thing." Featuring a menu of brunch and lunch with subcategories savory, sweet, small, and large the meal started out well with the airy and crisp coccoli before moving to innovative brunch standards including slightly overcooked (and overpriced) Lobster Benedict over ratatouille alongside smoky, rich "biscuits and gravy" featuring buttery bread pudding in place of fluffy catsheads and as good as these were, the best was yet to come. Ostensibly an Italian restaurant but with pastas and secondi somewhat limited at brunch it was with elation that the restaurant's oft cited gnocchi arrived as good as the rumors with potato clouds so light they'd have floated away without the hefty yet balanced sauce and not to be outdone the aromatic pizza would also prove admirable with a golden crust featuring robust crunch and a lightly yeasty crumb beneath a hefty layer earthy mushrooms and just enough truffle oil to enhance but not overwhelm. Certainly not leaving without dessert it can only be said that Siena Tavern saved the best for last and although the dessert-menu staple Monkeybread was excellent it was the DIY Bombolini and Saba and Custard soaked cheesecake parfait feigning as French Toast that stole the show; the later almost indescribably complex and a 'must order' for fans of sweet and savory alike.
(5)
Max A.
Veal is vile, tastes like paper. Siena took it off the bill - I'll see if they can do better tomorrow
(3)
Kayla P.
Went for brunch. Great, attentive service. Had a mimosa and one of their #2 cocktails. YUM. Had the Coccoli, most amazing thing I've ever ate. Split the gnocchi, nutella butter waffle, lobster hash, and truffle oil mushroom pizza. Truly can't go wrong with anything but the gnocci was out of this world.
(5)
Yanyao N.
I could come here and live off the coccoli and squid ink linguine with lobster. Sure, the meatball is hefty and delicious, but the coccoli will send you over the edge - meat, cheese, carb, salty, sweet - SO satisfying. Throw in some salad (the fall salad is divine), maybe a burnt pepperoni pizza, and make sure to finish your meal with the tiramisu and bomboli (fill your own mini cutie doughnuts!). Then have someone wheel you out or order an Uber home. The food is great. Service can be hit or miss, but is generally friendly - nothing different from what you'd except from the River North neighborhood (not my favorite, in case you couldn't tell). This is a place that your visiting family who watch Top Chef will love, though I've never seen Fabio in here. As long as they keep serving the coccoli, I won't complain. :)
(4)
Senada I.
Absolutely love this place! It is my go to place in the city. The food is amazing and the vibe is always great as well. The staff is also really great especially my favorite bartender Aleyda. I hosted a birthday party there and it was a hit!
(5)
Anne L.
Waygu beef Meat Ball & coccoli appetizers were awesome! No entree necessary! Waiting for our dessert which sounds divine--Bomboloni & monkey bread!
(5)
Nicki S.
Went for lunch during Restaurant week and my group was all extrememly happy with the menu. I had the Truffle Mushroom Pizza, Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad, and Salted Caramel Gelato. All were amazing. I'll definitely be coming back for dinner sometime soon!
(5)
Thomas C.
Place was packed when we walked in on a Friday night ... reservations were all booked, either sit at the bar or begone, so we fought for a seat at the bar. WOW. We loved out cocktails but the mushroom pizza was phenomenal. Will definitely go back for dinner ... and more drinks.
(4)
Jessica N.
Ho-ly. Shit. This meal. It's taken me FOREVER to have the patience to get into this place. Finally got in early enough on a restaurant week lunch reservation for the hubby's birthday, and let me tell you, it's worth the wait! Definitely my fav Top Chef restaurant in the city (sorry Dale and Stephanie). Plus the Restaurant Week menu was extremely generous. Here's how it breaks down: Oysters (not part of Rest. Week) - Kumumotos. Always get them, they are amazing and the accoutrements were perfect. Coccoli - So creative, perfect combo of sweet/salty and great texture Meatballs - Delicious. Maybe the least remarkable because how good/unique can a meatball get? This was good, though Truffle Mushroom Pizza - I eat a lot of mushroom pizza and this one is definitely the best I've had in Chicago. The flavor was amazing, not overwhelming with the truffle. Mushrooms were perfect and delicious crust. holy shit. Gnocchi - Pasta is Fabio's speciality. These were so pillow-y. Maybe the best gnocchi I've had since old school Perennial closed. Bomboli - MUST TRY! They let you fill your own donuts and the portion is ridiculously large! Tiramisu - a little more "wet" than I personallly like my Tiramisu but very tasty. I can't wait to come back and try more of the protein and crudo dishes. BONUS - Fabio spotting! Love that!!!
(5)
Gino C.
Food is overpriced and garbage this isn't Italian it's Olive Garden with celebrity chef Wow
I've been here several times now including dinner a few times, lunch, and a brunch. Consistently good food and service. The restaurant is nicely done, very comfortable, cozy and hip and the vibe is great as this place is almost always busy. Reservations are hard to come by for dinner so book early. Both the food and drink are the real stars here. Cocktails are nicely executed and quite tasty. From a food perspective - I have not had a bad dish here. My suggestion is to order a lot of different foods and share because it is all fun and delicious. A few standouts for me have been the Brick Chicken (one of the best chicken dishes in Chicago - hands down!) - also the Burnt Pepperoni Pizza and the Kale Cesar Salad. The Burata from the Mozzarella Bar is also delicious. While this is not an inexpensive dinner when it is all said and done - but I think it's well worth it as they don't skimp on the portions or the flavor. I'll be back as everyone I've brought here has really enjoyed the entire experience.
(4)
Jill and Ying J.
WOAH. It's been a while since I've been this wowed by an Italian place in Chicago. Came here for lunch with a friend and 3 words: coccoli, gnocci, and monkeybread. I know the coccoli looks/sounds a bit skeptical but just get them--they're like cream puffs that you fill up with prosciutto, cheese, pesto, and truffle honey and then let harmonize in your mouth. And the house-made gnocci... it was not I but my friend who ordered it, and how thankful I am that she did. I think this is the first time I've actually had gnocchi the way it's supposed to taste, a far far cry from those dense weirdly textured balls that don't quite soak up flavors the way you want them to--no, these were perfectly the opposite, and may have actually turned gnocchi from my least favorite Italian pasta type to most favorite. To top it all off, service was impeccable, and the patio was perfect for a lazy Sunday lunch.
(5)
Lukas V.
Came here a few weeks back, and loved the food. The server recommended a dish that I never thought I would try, because of the ingredients in it... But boy she was right to recommend it, it's called Pasta in a Jar... Yummm-o. I do suggest that you make reservations, it's a little hard to get into if it's last minute... Oh and the wine list is to die for and greatly priced!!
(5)
Debbie F.
Seven of us had a great Sunday night dinner and drinks at Siena Tavern. It is a lively, hip place with delicious food. We had a wide assortment off the menu and absolutely loved everything with the exception of the pizza. It was just okay. The drinks are very inventive and yummy. I loved the decor and though it is a large place, the seaiting allows for intimate parties. My biggest beef would be the noise level because it was difficult to carry on a conversation, but we would return for the food and drinks, without a doubt!!!!!
(4)
Anika E.
I'm very against returning to the same restaurant if you're traveling. There is so much good food to try! But, I had to break the rules for this place. We (of course) found this place on Yelp. No reservations available, but we figured we'd give it a shot at sit at the bar. The bartender was SO sweet. She might've been amused at our sounds and facial expressions, so she kept feeding us! The cocktails were fabulous - I must've tried 4 different ones, and all were awesome. I kept going back to the one with Plymouth, lavender, violet, and a sprig of rosemary. If you know what's good for you, you'll get the Coccoli. Hollow balls of dough that you stuff with Prosciutto de Parma, straccino cheese, and truffle honey. Try to not moan while you eat this. We split a Kale Caesar, which I was concerned would be bitter, or unpleasant. Boy, was I wrong. The kale is tender, and the oven roasted tomatoes are a nice touch! Be sure to make sure they don't skimp on the croutons! After the bartender saw us drool over the truffle honey, she suggested the gnocci. Mmm, tiny pillows of goodness, with pancetta, truffle oil cream sauce, and a crispy brown butter sage. We added the carne pizza to the list which was good, but so much food! I wish we gave the desserts a shot, but there was no room left. We went back the next day, and had the same apps, and the soup of the day - corn chowder. Mm! Not too shabby. The second day's entree consisted of the orchiette pasta wth lamb and saffron. If you're into lamb and saffron, get it. My friend ordered the Bolognese pasta dish - SO GOOD. The pasta wasn't too thickly rolled, and the meat sauce was very tasty. Fun environment, and great waitstaff. Fabio, please bring your Coccoli to Los Angeles!
(4)
Betty C.
If you can make a reservation in advance ask for one of the tables on the raised level on the west side of the restaurant. It's a little quieter (only a little) and you can see all the action. Coccoli - again were delicious, octopus was a small serving but deep in flavor - some didn't like the celery in it. Brussels sprout salad lacked salt and overall didn't live up to it's billing. Roasted beet salad with arugula and truffle oil was tasty. What was nice was that they split salads into two portions when we mentioned we would be sharing. Double cut veal chop was tender and delicious- big enough for two, served with sauteed rapini and an agrodolce (sweet/sour) glaze and an arugula salad. Osso buco was fall off the bone tender with a great farro risotto and served with a longneck spoon to scoop out the bone marrow. Short rib ravioli had plenty of beef flavor and a rich brown demi glace sauce. The pizza with prosciutto and arugula reminded us of many eaten in Italy - fresh. Orecchietti with merguez sausage and saffron cream was very intensely flavored - delicious but almost too much flavor! Would like to return for lunch and spend only 1/3 the money! Prices are high for the portion size.
(4)
Aris B.
Fantastic experience with family/child accommodating. I've had wonderful meals previously at Siena on business and decided to bring the family together for our holiday "splurge" meal. Even though they are obviously going for a more adult crowd, I did notice a few family gatherings in place, and our server did not hesitate at all (or give any dirty looks) while tuning a few of the meals to work with the kiddos. EVERY one of the dishes we had was a big hit, from the octopus appetizer (I get it every time, and it is the best I've had, charred perfectly and tender), to the papperdelle (a bit boring compared to the other options, except where it counts, in taste). Finishing it off with the caramel cookies (and sharing some bombolini deserts, incredible). Literally every person at the table was loving their respective dishes, fantastic job. Hope they keep the quality bar high, I plan on making it a regular stop anytime I am back in Chicago
(5)
Ryan B.
I've probably eaten here 15-20 times over the last couple of years and it never, ever disappoints. The 16" softball meatball appetizer is always a good way to start the meal, but the star of the show is the prosciutto and pear pizza. Top 5 pizzas in the city.
(5)
Lance R.
Great food for lunch, convenient location, they have valet parking even for lunch and they have outdoor seating facing both Dearborn and Kinzie to do people watching at lunch. They have a good full stocked bar and the menu style is tapas but obviously more Italian geared. I recommend the sashimi(esq) dishes and the meatball appetizer as well as the gnocchi. The salads are also good. Definitely a top tiered choice compared to other places in the area. Also, they have a "board room" type private dining area for groups of 10-16 that's good for business meetings. The wait staff are VERY attractive as well as clientele in the bar area.
(4)
Emma K.
I came to dinner here with the boyfriend this past Tuesday evening, and it was definitely one of the best dining experiences I have had in Chicago. As a huge Top Chef fan, I made our reservations about a month prior to dinner, and it looks like they're even trickier to get now for prime dining times (we went at 7:30). We were seated immediately despite arriving 10 minutes early. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful, and the dining area is nicely separated from the bar. Our server was a little slow getting us started with ordering and getting our drinks, but he had a large table right behind us and I was in no hurry. He did a great job of explaining some unique features of the restaurant and pointing out a few of his favorite items on the menu. All of the food we got was so delicious (and we ate enough to roll out of the restaurant). The coccoli appetizer was amazing, and I could eat two of those just as a meal and be happy. I only had a couple small pieces of the carne pizza, but the pepperoni and basil made this delicious too. The crust was perfect and my boyfriend, the pizza snob, really enjoyed it. The gnocchi was phenomenal. The portion was relatively small, but I think this is a good thing since the truffle cream sauce is so rich. I would definitely get this again if (when) I go back. Since we had already eaten thousands of calories per person, we figured we might as well get dessert and got the bombolini. This dish is four warm doughnuts that come with three sauces in squeeze bottles (fancy variations on caramel, chocolate, and strawberry) that you can fill the doughnuts with - so fun and delicious. For such a nice restaurant in River North, the prices here are incredibly fair. The wine list has a ton of reasonably priced options which surprised me. While it was more than we normally spend on dinner, an appetizer + two entrees + dessert + 2 glasses of wine + 2 glasses of beer = $92. For such an amazing dinner, I think this is a steal. RPM is also on my restaurant bucket list, but I think now I might just cross it off and come back here for seconds instead! Only thing that would have made it better would have been seeing Fabio himself :)
(5)
Catherine P.
Dined at Siena Tavern on a Friday for a late lunch. To keep my review succinct: Pros: ~Lovely decor ~House draft and sangria were amazing ~Get the coccoli (at least one order!) ~Fair to generous portions ~Ordered the lobster roll, gnocchi, coccoli, and bombloni donuts and enjoyed every last bite ~bubbly manager stopped by to check on us Cons ~waitress couldn't exactly make suggestions (reading the menu in it's entirety doesn't help), but she may have been new/nervous. ~our meal came out before our appetizer was completed so timing was not ideal Will be back to try some of the cocktails, pizza, and more pasta options!
(4)
Meredith F.
Have gone here several times for work lunches. Great food and atmosphere! We had the grilled octopus - amazing! The chopped salad and mushroom truffle pizza are also very good. Love their desserts! The doughnut balls that you can squeeze fillings into were delicious! Will definitely be going back!
(5)
Brian L.
OMG! The food here was amazing! Coccoli, kale ceaser, gnocchi, truffle pizza and bomboloni to bring it home!!! Our server Kristen was great, knew the menu inside and out and left us wanting for nothing! I only wish I had two of me to keep eating. I can't speak highly enough about our meal! This place is a must!!
(5)
Angie K.
I love brunch but I hate waiting. Planning for my upcoming birthday brunch, I knew I wanted to pick a place that took reservations so I could avoid standing in the cold or squished in a small waiting area. I found Siena Tavern (already on my to-do list) was on Open Table and jumped immediately on the reso. I was running a little late (I run on Cuban time) and was scared this trendy spot would be packed and would give up my table. I called and they were totally cool with me coming in 10 minutes late. Upon walking in, I was already really happy I picked this place for my birthday brunch. It wasn't totally packed but still lively. In the main dining area, there were dark wood tables and tall booths with dark brown leather. Really cute, modern chandeliers hung from the ceiling. In another dining area, there were tables parallel to the windows that curved along the sidewalk. The crowd encompassed a mixture of young, hot 20-somethings (your typical River North-ers), a private party of middle aged women and a sprinkle of 30-40 y/o couples. My friend and my hubby accompanied me and as soon as our booties touched the booth seats, our waitress came around. My friend contemplated ordering the ahi tuna and asked the waitress her opinion.The waitress honestly responded that the portions would've been really small and probably not filling at all, considering the price. I so appreciated her honesty and we proceeded with our orders. I had already studied the menu (like the good yelper that I am) and suggested the fries and the benedict (aka green eggs!) to my hubby and friend and they listened. I had the truffle scrambled eggs, which should be no surprise for since I'm a truffle addict. YUM! They were perfectly cooked, with the perfect ratio of truffle in every bite. The dish also came with goat toast, basically thin bread with melted goat cheese on top. My hubby and friend LOVED their benedicts. My friend said she would've preferred regular hollandaise but my hubby said he enjoyed the pesto aspect. The fries were also pretty damn good since it came with an aioli sauce. Very very full and satisfied with the service, food, decor, I really have no complains with Siena Tavern. I look forward to checking out lunch/dinner another time!
(5)
Mike O.
Almost everything on the menu sounded good so it was very hard to choose and ordeded way too much. Kale cesar was tasty amd beet salad could use some work. Pepperoni pizza had a nice spice and the roasted brussel sprout pizza was reallt different and good. Truffle gnocchi was super rich after a few bites you couldnt handle anymore. Squid ink linguini had a ton of lobster that was well cooked and the sauce was fantasticm definately best dish of the night. Server was incredibly slow but was very knowledgeable about the products.
(3)
Jackie S.
I went here a few months ago to catch up with some friends I studied abroad with. I had passed Siena Tavern quite a few times so when my friend suggested we go there for lunch, I was quick to say yes. The coccoli is to die for as is the truffle mushroom pizza. It's actually hard to put into words how great the coccoli is. Order it and you won't regret it. While the place is a little pricy, I would definitely recommend trying it out. I know I'll be back sometime soon.
(5)
Lauren F.
As soon as I had my first bite of the Gnocchi with Truffle Cream and Crispy Pancetta at Chicago Restaurant Week's First Bites Bash, I knew a visit to Siena Tavern needed to be in my near future. Had I known when I took that bite that Siena Tavern was the new Italian restaurant of chef Fabio Viviani...well, let's just say there would have been some squeals involved. I'm a huge Top Chef fan and the charming Viviani of Season 5 won Fan Favorite for a reason. I had no doubt that my gnocchi was just a small taste of the amazing food Fabio had in store for Chicago. Situated on the corner of Kinzie and Dearborn, Siena Tavern fits perfectly into Chicago's trendy River North neighborhood. Lucas Stoioff and David Rekhson of Bull & Bear and Public House are no strangers to this 'hood, and they know how to do it right. Our reservation was at 6:30p on a Friday and we arrived early to grab a drink and check out the bar area before dinner. At 6p the place was seriously hoppin'...from business professionals grabbing a drink after work to girls dressed like they were ready to hit the club...it was quite the mix of people. We were able to grab a spot at the bar and try a few of their Femme du Coupe cocktails. I tried the #2 and the #4. Both on the sweeter side, one made with vodka and the other with gin. I thoroughly enjoyed both, but the #4 with plymouth, lavender honey, lemon, and creme de violette was definitely my fav. By 6:30p the wait for walk-ins was almost 2 hours...if you don't have a reservation I'd suggest stalking the bar patrons and swoop in once they're ready to leave-like I said, we snagged a couple seats at the bar less than 10 minutes after arriving. Once our reservation time rolled around we were seated at one of the half-circle booths in their large, open dining room. We had a group of 4 and the booth was perfect; we had more than enough room and the arrangement made for intimate conversation while letting us take in the beautiful space around us. The service we experienced was outstanding-our server Karissa was so friendly and had great suggestions, she coursed our dishes perfectly, and our water glasses were never empty. The plates at Siena are smaller and made for sharing. I think a group of 4 is the perfect size if you're looking to maximize the number of dishes you can try while still getting a decent portion of each. We started with a few smaller plates: the Burrata from their Mozzarella Bar, served with a delicious tomato jam and grilled bread; the Saba Roasted Bone Marrow with pickled maitake mushrooms and crispy bread; and the Siena Chopped Salad. The salad was good but the Burrata and Bone Marrow were major standouts. I will definitely be ordering both of these again when we return (because we'll obviously be returning). We followed up our "starters" with a few pastas. We tried the Short Rib Ravioli, Squid Ink Linguini, and Gnocchi. Again, they were all incredibly delicious and picking a favorite is nearly impossible, but I think the linguini stood out the most for me. The rich, meaty ravioli and velvety truffle cream gnocchi were both dishes I would absolutely order again. However, the subtle spice of the lobster cream sauce on the linguine was what really did it for me. Plus, I think I just love eating squid ink linguini! We would've loved to go on trying more of the pastas, but we were told it would be wise if we left room for some of their fantastic desserts. We went with the Tiramisu and the Bomboloni. The Tiramisu is Fabio's grandmother's recipe and grandma did not disappoint! I like to think of myself as somewhat of a Tiramisu connoisseur because I try it everywhere. Siena Tavern's rendition is without a doubt one of my favs. Rich and creamy yet it still feels light when you take a bite. Tiramisu perfection! The Bomboloni is also worth a sweet splurge at the end of your meal. Warm, airy dough covered in sugar and served with 3 different sauces in squeeze bottles-yes, you want this. You can squeeze the whisky-caramel, chocolate hazelnut, or lemon-maple sauce into the bomboloni at your discretion but in my experience more is better! Of course no meal at the restaurant of a famous chef is complete without a picture with the chef! Fabio was visiting tables in the bar and dining room all night and before we left we asked if we could grab him for a quick hello. He graciously posed for a picture with me and my night was complete! Absolutely fantastic meal, we can't wait to return!
(5)
Annon Imus X.
My husband and I visited Chicago for our 20th anniversary. I made lunch reservations at Siena Tavern for our first day. The restaurant was hopping and very energetic but not wall-to-wall people. We were seated right away in a great booth facing the busy street. Our server came over almost immediately and brought us a "Happy Anniversary" card. For appetizers, we ordered the very popular Coccoli and Waygu Beef Tartare. I must admit that I have never eaten tartare before and was very skeptical. After a couple glasses of nice wine, I dove right in. I'm not sure if all beef tartare is this amazing, but it was flavorful, creamy, perfectly seasoned and absolutely delicious. The Coccoli was also devine but I focused on the tartare and didn't want to fill up too much before our entrees. For our entrees, my husband had the pasta in a jar. The pasta was brought out in a mason jar with a closed lid. Inside the jar were layers of pasta and other yummy ingredients. The server shook the jar and poured the mixed pasta creation into the pasta bowl. It was a very cool presentation and my husband ate every last bite. I ordered the Prosciutto Pear pizza with baby arugula. The crust was perfect, the arugula was extremely peppery, and the pizza was phenomenal. Our server was fantastic, attentive and focused but never intrusive. Of all the restaurants we visited during our anniversary weekend, this is the one restaurant I cannot wait to re-visit!!
(5)
Patrick F.
Don't come here for a game! They won't play the audio. They won't play the audio as "they are not a sports bar." This is not sports! It's a Chicago bar and the Hawks are playing for he Cup!!! No audio? No game!
(1)
Katey A.
Do yourself a favor, order 2 orders of the coccoli. This sweet, salty combination of fresh bread, honey, panchetta and cheese will render you speechless. It really is as good as everyone says it is. However, it's also so good that everything that you have after the coccoli cannot meet your new high standard of amazing food. My boyfriend and I shared the brick chicken (tender, crispy, and the sauce was very savory), the gnocchi (truly little clouds of noodle heaven), and their version of a meat lovers pizza. Everything we ate was excellent and had very well developed flavors, but none could compare to the appetizer that we so quickly fell in love with. Our server was fantastic and the atmosphere is great for happy hour or date night. I'm serious about the coccoli though - get two.
(4)
Lauren T.
Siena Tavern was ok in terms of food and service. We did come on Valentine's Day so I did not expect to have exceptional service, but the service was pretty awful. We were first seated late and then it took our waiter about 15 minutes before greeting us at our table. The food is mediocre at best and the prices are ridiculous for what you are actually getting. We started with the coccoli for an appetizer, and it was decent, but again nothing so great it warrants $16 for cheese and bread essentially. For main dishes I had the pappardelle and my boyfriend had the spaghetti again ridiculously overpriced for what you are getting. There are much more authentic and reasonably priced Italian restaurants around Chicago.
(2)
Andrea K.
One of my new favorite restaurants in Chicago. I now live in CA but was raised in Chicago and worked across the street at Bin 36 for 2 years. Had this place been around back then I'd have been going there every day. The ambience is stellar. My fiance and I went with my best friend and her boyfriend to celebrate our December birthdays. The environment was welcoming, warm and cozy in a super stylish way. We got a booth with a view of Kinzie, which was nice. Service was great. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and checked on us appropriately. The GM came by twice to make sure everything was going well and that we were pleased. Now on to the food. So delish! We started off with the burrata which I am a huge fan of. They paired it with a tomato jam which paired perfectly, slightly savory and sweet at the same time. We also shared the truffle and mushroom pizza, which is one of my favorite pairings. The truffle flavor was not super overpowering, which I know is one reason a lot of people shy away from it. For entrees, I ordered the tortellacci, which I've never actually heard of. The brown butter sauce paired with the butternut squash filling was perfect, however, probably too sweet for someone who doesn't enjoy a little sugar with their dinner. My fiance ordered the bolognese which was fabulous. The perfect consistency and amount of meat in the sauce and pasta was cooked as it should be. My friend ordered the farro risotto with wild boar, which didn't sound like my thing. Oh how I was wrong. Maybe the best entree out of them all. So much flavor. Her boyfriend ordered the orecchiette, which again, was delectable. I was the only one to order dessert, the gelato, and it was superb. Overall, you must go here! A win on all levels, you cannot go wrong. Trust me.
(5)
Mary M.
Went here tonight with my boyfriend for a date night! The food was amazing, right on point. Started with the Waygu meatball, and that truly melts in your mouth. Next shared the gnoochi with truffle cream, and pancetta, that was an awesome dish. Then finished with the donuts with sauces to inject, wow!! What a cool concept, and those are killer! Have to say everything we ate was great, but the server was just as good. Juan was our server, he really had good knowledge, and wanted to make sure that our dinner was the best possible! Great place, and great service. :)
(5)
Rachel V.
Um, somebody take me back here please. Wow, is the food at Siena drop dead delicious. First off, great atmosphere. Trendy and cool without being pretentious. The service was excellent. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and made great food recommendations. I ordered the short rib ravioli which was absolutely perfect. And it wasn't skimpy like short rib ravioli usually is. The men split the 36 oz. Porterhouse, which they said was one of the best steaks they'd ever had. I don't remember what it's called, but the appetizer that is the doughy/cheesy goodness is an absolute MUST. Okay, I think I'm just going to make a reservation now to go back...
(5)
Randy S.
Bomboloni. Oh my goodness, Bomboloni. The atmosphere is surprisingly casual when you sit down, but don't let that fool you - the price tag is still pretty classy. You will find that much of those dollars are well spent. We did not see a entree that did not make us salivate, and our own selections were fantastic. Buffalo Mozzarella was sweet and tangy - a perfect blend. The Kale Caesar salad added something new that we couldn't quite put our finger on. It converted my date into Caesar salad lover! And that tagliatelle was was perfectly cooked. I don't think we could have picked wrong. But the icing on the cake that was this delicious meal was the Bomboloni. Siena Tavern has fried dough, sugared them, and provided you with 3 different sauces. you can coat the dessert with the sauce, or inject them... either way you will be transported to heaven. Oh man, this was my favorite part of my meal. And not for nothing, but the staff and servers are consummate professionals.
(4)
sara s.
We came for lunch so didn't need to worry about a wait. The food was very tasty. The servers were very friendly and helpful with the menu. The decor is really spectacular and we enjoyed looking around. I ordered the gnocchi it was okay but I felt it needed more flavor. I decided to try the white truffle shavings - totally not worth the $45 it was tasteless, no jokes. We had the bombilinos for dessert. Don't miss out on those. So much fun eating them and it was absolutely delicious!
(4)
Jennifer J.
Really, really like this place! It's always packed if you go during happy hour -- which isn't always a bad thing. It can take a while to get a drink, but the drinks are good. For appetizers, I love their hamachi & tuna crudo, the meatball is awesome & so is the coccoli. All the pastas are pretty good as well, but I usually just stick with apps and alcohol :-)
(4)
Emily Z.
Siena's first three star review, I seem to be the only one not drinking the Kool-aid. Though I did drink the #4- Plymouth, Lavender Honey, Lemon, Creme De Violette. Equal parts strong, delicious and magic! Having trouble getting a dinner reservation? I scored a Saturday lunch reservation a week in advance. Don't worry the daylight only enhances the great decor of Siena Tavern! Our Table of 4 oh'd and ah'd over the entire menu and split the 4 following dishes: Coccoli - crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey, $12 Delicious, cheese was out of this world, perfect to split amongst 4 Shaved Brussels Sprouts - parmigiano, toasted marcona almonds, $9 Not a fan, lacking flavor, honestly not worth $2 in my book. skip. Short Rib Ravioli - roasted porcini mushrooms, taleggio, $17 Okay, but nothing better, too salty for my taste and just nothing special, I needed more flavors. Nellcote, Girl in the Goat, these are places I will pay $17 for 5 ravioli... this one was not worth it. Prosciutto Pear - roasted garlic cream, taleggio, mozzarella, grilled pears, baby arugula, $17 Our second favorite dish and definitely the most filling for the price. Loved the sweetness of the pears and the creaminess and flavor of the double cheese! I was looking for this restaurant to blow me out of the water, like its long reservation lead time and prices, but sadly just A-ok for me, which means nothing in the city of 1,000 restaurants!
(3)
Mahsa T.
Usually a new restaurant generates a lot of hype and then you try it and it's a big let down--well, not so for Siena. I was pleasantly surprised at the good energy here, every time I've been here the bar area and restaurant are packed (in fact now I'm sad that I can't get a reservation for weeks). Besides the lively atmosphere and warm feeling you get when you enter Siena, the food is awesome. You must try the squid ink linguini! I will order this and this only every time I go here because it's that good. You get a lot of good lobster meat for the price and the creamy sauce is heavenly. I have also had the wagyu beef meatball, the roasted beet salad, the scallops and the coccoli (crispy dough with cheese)--all delicious! The salted caramel gelato is fantastic as is the chocolate. Warm colors, beautiful woodsy decor, the massive bar is an art piece. I would highly recommend Siena Tavern for any special occasion meal or after work drinks. Great people, atmosphere, and food.
(5)
Aakash P.
Great service, great food and great drinks! I came to Sienna Tavern on a Tuesday expecting to just grab a couple drinks. We ended up grabbing drinks and food. I got the margherita pizza which was cooked to perfection and great for sharing. The service was great and place was neither too loud or quiet. Ambience is perfect for a relaxing evening with a few friends. Will end up going back for a happy hour!
(4)
Roberta B.
Fabulous dinner! I'm still dreaming about the brick chicken the most delicious dish ever. Also enjoyed the giant Wagyu 12 oz. meatball which was seasoned perfectly in a delicious tomato based sauce. Pizza was also good, along with the chopped salad. Save room for dessert as there are many tantalizing choices but I only had room for the sorbet. This is a young crowd, noisy, not romantic but I would return in a heartbeat.
(5)
Chastity N.
I came here with my brunch buddy this past Saturday. My waitress was GREAT!!! and the food is amazing. We sat outside on the patio because the weather was great. DRINKS: Mimosa's. They were really good. FOOD: (shared ) We started off with the lasagna, which they cook in a circular cast iron pan; very different. It was sooooooooo meaty and saucy. THIS IS A MUST HAVE Then we had the burnt pepperoni spicy pizza. It was good, just a little too spicy for my taste....but maybe that's because I sprinkled extra crushed peppers on it LOL (my bad) We then ended with the caramelized waffle as dessert (LOL, i know) they with serve with a nutella butter that they mix and the syrup was an aged bourbon syrup topped with fresh berries. IT WAS DELISH Cant wait to go back and try this place for dinner!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Kate Z.
Siena Tavern haunts my dreams. It's that good. I've been a few times for work lunches and am always happy with the meal (to the point of bursting). Highly recommend the grilled octopus and the kale Caesar salad as individual items, but do try some cheese as well. Order a plate, you won't be sorry. Beautiful interior and excellent service. PS: Don't forget to order some bomboloni (donuts) for dessert! They are fluffy and sugary and taste like heaven. Bonus points for the yummy sauces you can either squeeze into the donut or simply use as a dip.
(5)
Helen H.
too bad.. i was soooo looking forward to this place for monthsss with my friends, and when you walk in with such a lovely welcoming aroma of truffles... mmmmm. i was so excited. we started off with some cocktails and beer- excellent excellent. light summery, perfect. #11 was my personal favorite. we got an app of the coccoli- holy crap- it was like eating clouds! so pillowy soft!! i thought it was great, but it was def hit or miss with the table. i got the tagliatelle with truffle butter... totall miss. it was so.. incredibly bland. no flavor except it tasted oily. my favorite thing is truffles, and i got zero of that. everyone tried my dish and agreed it was a big miss compared to theirs. i ended up eating everyone else's which was on the salty side for me. the Orchiette was excellent as well as the chicken. the tagilatelle did not get better as a leftover. def the truffle pasta at the Gilt bar is still my #1 fave in chicago so far.
(2)
Christine G.
The food is mediocre and the staff is terrible. We came in on a Saturday night (a group of 5), accidentally sat at a "wrong" table and the security immediately came with their stupid muscles and acted like they were going to beat the crap out of us 5 girls. We moved from the table with no issues when they asked us. We then waited for a table, got seated and 1 of us got denied service because she said "woohoo"! Really? We were then asked to leave because 1 of us were apparently intoxicated ,ridiculous! I will never come here again and never recommend it to anyone. With so many better restaurants in Chicago, this was my mistake. Sorry, I am a born and raised in Chicago, i know how the industry goes. I have been to Everest, Charlie Trotters in Lincoln Park, and all of Rick Bayless, they would never treat a customer like a piece of shit. Thanks Sienna Tavern, and Fabio, I'm also going on Facebook, Trip advisor, and any other sites i can think of.
(1)
Bobbie W.
My gf raved about this place and said it's one of the newer restaurants in Chicago. I went there twice during the weekend I was there, once just for drinks and the other time for dinner. If you're planning on having dinner, make reservations in advance! My gf made reservations a month before and the earliest available was 1030PM. The crowd is definitely more upscale and full of eye candy! Go here if you're single! The restaurant itself is huge and I love that the entire left section is a huge oval bar. Even though the bar seemed packed, it wasn't too hard to squeeze in and order a drink. They have some pretty good mixed drinks if you're into that and a huge selection of liquor. The food was just as delightful as the decor. We ordered the following: - Coccoli - didn't get the full effect bc I left out the prosciutto but it was light and tasty. Tip: cut it in half and stuff it with prosciutto like a sandwich - Grilled octopus - perfectly cooked and full of flavor - Farro salad - really refreshing and it was the perfect dish to balance all the other heavy stuff - Gnocchi - not too creamy/heavy and yummy! - Squid ink linguini - way too salty the first time they brought it out so we got another which was so much better. - Truffle mushroom pizza - can't go wrong with mushroom pizza Overall, service was great and the food was reasonably priced. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Jeffrey Z.
My wife and I have been excited to try this place and were lucky enough to get a reservation with a friend last night. The atmosphere was very trendy but not as loud as some of the other Chicago hotspots, which I appreciated. The decor felt sophisticated yet rustic somehow. I noticed some people comparing Siena Tavern to RPM in their reviews. Siena has a much more comfortable, less pretentious feel with much better food. The service was very friendly Our waitress seemed to have a lot going on, so we may not have seen her as much as we liked, but it didn't affect her friendly demeanor. Onto the food, we started with the Kobe Beef Meatball. The flavors were great with a delicious sauce and creamy homemade ricotta with some pieces of basil. There was a hint of lemon that I felt it could have done without. The meatball was huge, which likely kept it moist, but it may have been better as a few smaller balls. We got the Shishito Peppers side, and while these were another item that I thought had too much lemon, they were good (but not as good as Sunda's). For entrees, we shared the Shortrib Ravioli and Truffle Mushroom Pizza. The ravioli had a ton of flavor packed into it with a delicious cream sauce and balsamic on top. Unfortunately, the pasta was a bit undercooked, and there wasn't enough of the delicious short rib filling, which made it a little doughy. The pizza was a delicious flavor combo, and they showed good restraint with the truffle. The crust was definitely too chewy though. For dessert, we tried the salted caramel gelato, which was delicious. It was creamy and fluffy with a great balance between salty and sweet. While there were some minor flaws in dishes, the flavors were great as a whole. Being so new, they're surely still working out some kinks, so we'll be sure to give them another try and see how they progress.
(4)
Paul H.
Siena Tavern was recommended to us by a local we chatted up on the "L". Went for lunch...the food was really good. Had burger, lobster hash, monkey bread, giant meatball among the four of us. All great. Service was a little below expectations- for example had to ask for silverware after the food was delivered. Probably would have been a better experience but there were three loudly obnoxious over served guests at the bar near us. Really loud! I know that will happen but I was discouraged because the bar tender was joining right in and even providing shot tastings instead of seeing that a nuisance had developed. That kind of put a damper on an otherwise good meal.
(3)
Herman C.
Originally a five star experience and now would give it a 2 and 1/2. Returned to Chicago after a two long work trip and wanted to reward myself with something delicious. I had previously gone with a friend in the summer and enjoyed the meal thoroughly. Previously had ordered the wagyu meatball (Okay but nothing special) the gnocchi which was amazing and the porterhouse steak for two in a lemon butter sauce, also amazing. This time around I ordered the lobster with ink linguine and the porterhouse. The lobster and linguini was so salty I thought the chef might have mistakenly dropped the salt shaker in. The steak was super chewy and was not at all like my original experience for the aged meat. We had a bottle of Malbec to accompany which was solid and tiramisu for dessert which was eye pleasant but flavor wise was average. The dining experience was nice but the food was a let down. Might have to reconsider next time I wanna pay $250 for a meal
(3)
Melissa S.
I've been here about four times now and I love this place for lunch, after work drinks/snacks, and dinner too! Every item we've ever tasted has been delizioso. Pizzas = great and authentic to Italy (which I love). Gnocchi = to die for. Coccoli appetizer = best chefvention ever. Meats and cheeses = yum yum yum. On a fat day, I had the tavern burger and my god is this thing mouth watering. I will also admit I did not leave a single fry on my plate - they are most likely laced with crack they are so addictive. Returning there for lunch today with a group from work and I'm going to try the Ahi tuna to start and I haven't made up my mind about what else I am going to eat! Nom nom nom. 4 stars instead of 5 for: dirty-ish silverware (smudgy) and plates, bad acoustics (could barely hear my co-workers at lunch on a Tuesday)
(4)
Lightphoot _.
I was very impressed with the meal here. Ate at the bar and had nice service from the bartenders. The bar was big and open with TVs. They had a good selection of cocktails, although I only had wine. I started with the Wagyu Meatball which was very well-prepared. The meat melted in your mouth and the cheese was a nice compliment; the sauce had a good consistency and taste. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish it knowing I had a full pasta dish coming - this would be a good one to share. The Squid Ink Linguini was awesome! There was the perfect amount of lobster and sauce to go with the pasta. All in all I would definitely go back to try some other items, including the pizza which looked delicious.
(5)
Kelly C.
One of my favorite spots for casual work lunches during the week and the occasional brunch spot on the weekend. There are so many things on the menu that look tasty, it's hard to decide what to get (but makes it easy to come here over and over again). The pizzas are great, salads are good, and the sandwiches hearty. It's a trendy spot, but doesn't necessarily have all of the "too cool" crowd that some river north spots attracts - maintains a more down to earth feel (in a really good way). Service has always been good and dependable - know how to get you in and out if needed.
(4)
Adam C.
We had been hearing great things about ST ever since it opened and finally got around to trying it. We consulted Yelp for suggestions on what to order. We did a party-line ticket of all the favorites: Coccoli, Gnocchi, Meatball, Burrata, the burnt pepperoni pizza and the bomboloni donut dessert. Everything was really wonderful and lived up to the hype. The Coccoli was really interesting in taste and texture. Slightly sweet, slightly savory, with a crumbly pastry, meat and cheese. The gnocchi was good, but tasted like gnocchi we'd had at other places. The meatball was outstanding in every possible way. I'd eat one of those every day if I could. The burnt pepperoni pizza was delicious, but pretty spicy with a lingering burn that later gave us both heartburn. The dessert donuts were really yummy and fun to eat with little bottle of dipping sauce to try in cinnamon, chocolate, caramel and raspberry jelly.
(4)
Kaitlin W.
We first tried Siena Tavern for restaurant week and fell in love. I go back whenever the chance arises. If only it weren't so tough to get a reservation at a normal dinner time on open table! Favorites- kale Caesar, coccoli, truffle gnocchi, mushroom truffle pizza, bomboloni for dessert. Brussels sprout salad and squid ink linguine.were both just okay. The cocktail and wine selection doesn't disappoint, either!
(5)
Alicia M.
Confession, when I went to Chicago, this place was not on my radar (and I definitely had no idea that Fabio was the exec chef...though that was a definite added bonus). My boyfriend and I decided to go here after seeing an ad on one of the TV's in a taxi. The coccoli is what drew us in. They talked about these fried dough balls with truffled honey and proscuitto, it just sounded heavenly. So on our last day, we made our way over for lunch. It ended up being my favorite place in the city (and now I can't wait to go back). We started with the coccoli and the cheese plate - both were fantastic. Everything I had hoped the coccoli would be..it was...and more. The dough was so light and buttery, they cheese/herb pesto/proscuitto/honey all played so well together with creamy, salty, sweet and earthy flavors. It sounds like it would be overwhelming, but it wasn't. It also wasn't as heavy as I thought it would be. I had the truffled gnocchi for lunch (it was a heavy dish with a cream sauce, probably better for dinner). The gnocchi was fluffy, not gummy like most places do, and the truffle wasn't so potent that it over took the flavors. I had to smack my boyfriend's hand away because he kept trying to take mine. He had the kobe meatball sandwich, and loved it. The portions were pretty big. My only down fall with this place is that it can get pricey (everything looks so good/sounds so good that you want to order it all!) and the service isn't great. When we first got there, they told us we had to sit on the patio, and for a humid day, it wasn't the best. But we did it. At the beginning our waitress was very attentive, but towards the end, she disappeared. We actually waited for over 30 minutes to just get the check. So they lost a star there. Other than that, this is definitely a place you aren't going to want to miss!
(4)
Derek B.
Place was packed. Sat at the bar. Alena (sp) was our server. Had drinks, meatball appetizer, pizza and tiramisu. Exceptional food and service was top notch, including wine recommendation and water glasses being full at all times. Great atmosphere and best bar service have had!
(5)
Sonal R.
My favorite spot for anytime of the day. Diverse and really good alcohol selection and amazing food. I am a fan of the meatballs, gnocchi, salads, and flat breads.
(4)
Sheena C.
Being an Italian food lover, I had to try this place after reading the rave reviews. I was not disappointed. Dining at Siena Tavern was an absolute delight. We started with the coccoli which was nothing short of amazing. The sweetness of the truffle honey and saltiness of the pancetta bring the whole dish together beautifully. Next up I had the truffle gnocchi. Creamy and absolutely delicious. The lobster roll was equally delicious. Fries were perfectly cooked and the lobster was seasoned wonderfully. Will definitely be returning!
(4)
Stephanie N.
If you're like most women in American, you first fell in love with Fabio Viviani on Top Chef a few years ago. For those lucky women in Chicago, get ready to fall in love with Fabio in personal through the food and atmosphere he has created at Siena Tavern. I had very high expectations and was sure he was going to disappoint me... but thankfully my tastebuds and stomach were pleasantly impressed. Through the bartender's recommendation, we started with the Coccoli. How could you go wrong? Fried dough, creamy paired cheese drizzled with truffle honey... I could have stopped after appetizers. But I couldn't leave without putting the "Italian" to the test and tasting his meatball. A Wagyu Beef Meatball to be exact, which comes out without any pasta... which could scare some of you newbies, but for those of you familiar with Wagyu... it can carry itself and doesn't need filling carbs to dress it. The Italian surprised me in the Best way! It was quite possibly the best meatball I have EVER had... but don't tell my grandmother I said that. Don't miss this restaurant, but not just because you're a Top Chef fan, but because it some of the best food in Chicago. I would put on a Top 10 list of places to take a date. The atmosphere is perfect for such an occasion. And if the date is a bust... at least you had an incredible meal!
(4)
John Z.
It was good, but not up to the hype. We had to Coccoli (effectively a prosciutto and cheese sandwich), it was good, but nothing special. I would get again if nothing else jumped out at me. We had the Bay Scallop from the Crudo Bar, I would not get again. It was crisp, but very bland and forgettable. We had the Smoked Mozzarella, it was good, but tasted like gouda to me. We had the Pappardelle, and it was the best thing we ate. It pretty much saved the meal. The Bomboloni dessert was good, but it was just doughnuts with various frostings. The drink menu was great, as I had their version of an old fashioned, I think it was #5. We will probably go back, but there are other italian restaurants that are better.
(3)
Meg W.
So the gluten free menu is fabulous. The management is also awesome, however our server was less than polite. As soon as I explained my other allergies her demeanor changed and I felt embarrassed the rest of the night. I did not even order anything strange or containing things I'm allergic to. Needless to say, we probably won't be back, which is a shame because the food was delicious.
(3)
monica m.
Awesome meatballs. Great pizza. Awesome entrees. Great location, wine list and vibe. I'll go again. Reservations a must, but you may score a spot at the bar. I prefer this place to RPM.
(5)
Tim S.
Ate here with the family. We were full from a late lunch so we ordered a few items and shared. The prosciutto and pear pizza was excellent as was the shashito peppers. Try a few of their cocktails from the list...excellent. The tuna tartare was ok, not the best we've had. Our waiter was excellent as was all the servers. Overall it was a great experience.
(4)
Bran G.
When in River North, eat as the River Northerners do...and Siena Tavern is worth it! We popped in around 6 on a Saturday without a res. and were able to sit outside right away. Breezy spring afternoon but they have those high powered outdoor heating towers that make it very comfortable. I would love to sit inside because the atmosphere is open, inviting, and upscale yet casual. Service including hostess and waitress were impeccable. My cocktail was a 6 out of 5 if you like whiskey and thyme! It was "No. 18" on the menu and I highly recommend it. They also have a Siena Draft which is specially brewed for them by Goose Island. The waitress brought me a taster and it was also pretty dang good. We ordered a variety and shared: kale caeser, grilled octopus, hamachi crudo, parmesan potatoes, and the prosciutto pear pizza. Everything had great flavor with the octopus and hamachi seasoned perfectly. The pizza was my highlight. Sweet pears, salty prosciutto, and and peppery arugula on crust that you could taste the freshness. In an area with a lot of competition, Siena has it all!
(5)
Ian S.
Great drinks and apps. Sat at the bar, had a nice time.
(4)
Chris S.
Pretty solid place. I went with a co-worker and enjoyed the food / experience but think I would try a few other places before I made this a regular spot. Our waiter at first seemed lost, high or both and I guess they go with a team approach in serving you which wasn't explained. Therefore, the person that cleans off your table, will also grab you a plate, will also get a drink order, will also freshen up your water, etc. You never know who to ask for or what is in flight because 4 to 5 people are helping out. It was just a bit odd. On to the food. Appetizers * Coccoli - this was dumbo good. Crispy dough with cheese inside and then we put the prosciutto inside of it as well. I mean really solid appetizer. * Bufala Mozzarella - this was good but I think the garnishes took away from the mozzarella. Call me a simple guy but sometimes less is more. Entrees * Squid Ink Linguini - solid dish. This was my main and it was awesome. Licked the plate the clean. Nice big chunks of lobster and the pasta was perfect * Double Cut Pork Shop - we had a co-worker get this. Looked solid, he loved it but I didn't give it a try * Pasta in a Jar - I was told this was one of their favorites as well but no one at our table tried it Drinks * I'm going to warn you... if you struggle with bitters as I do... you should probably avoid their house cocktails. I did enjoy the No. 5 but I'm a bourbon guy. I tried getting a No. 10 and it was hot garbage. Again, I hate bitters but tried rolling the dice with this drink. It taste like a nigroni which single handily is the worst drink ever crafted.
(3)
Kim W.
Whenever I visit my son in Chicago we come here to eat. We have had the same waiter every time and we love that. My son orders the gnocchi every time and shares a little and they are delicious! I have had several entres and loved every one. Last weekend I had the carrot tortellacci and it was rich and buttery with fried sage leaves to add a bit of spice. I have also had the orecchiette and the short rib ravioli. They were both very flavorful and I would also have them again. I love the setting too, very hip with pretty lighting and a cool bar area. I can't wait to visit again!
(5)
S K.
Saturday lunch. Seated in a high traffic area. One of the men who bus tables kept kicking my chair as he was passing by. The kicks are hard enough so the kicker would have noticed if it was accidental. Requested to move to next table. Second time visiting Chicago. Granted people are not as friendly here, there's no excuse for all three receptionists just standing there staring at you, not even cracking a smile or saying a single word of greeting. We walked up to them and said hello and told them how many are dining. Then being seated at a crappy table with the chair kicking... Ugh... Food was just ok. Too much dressing on salad. Pretty cute presentations. Taste is not extraordinary. Our waiter was nice enough though service was slow at times. Takes a lot for me to give a one star review. Expected a lot more from a four star restaurant in a major city.
(1)
Sam L.
Great food and staff. The pastas were all amazing. A bit pricey, bit given the location and quality its worth it.
(4)
Brian L.
This place was tremendous. Had a really cool vibe to it and the food was incredible. This was without a doubt one of the best restaurants I've been to in my life. The spicy-meat pizza was off the charts. I will definitely be back there on my next trip to Chicago.
(5)
Laila C.
I came for a work lunch with 7 other people, between the 8 of us, we basically tried the full menu. coccoli- light fluffy, delicious but a touch too heavy on the truffle oil. Fun to open the fried dough and stuff the prosciutto wrapped cheese inside like a little sandwich. I wasn't a fan of the truffle honey, it got too sticky and a bit too sweet. ahi tuna and hamachi crudo plates: both were delicious but kind of small for $12. 4 small pieces each Prosciutto fig pizza: very heavy on the arugula, I had one bit and realized I didn't want the whole thing. Not bad...just nothing special Farro salad: tasty, pretty big, a LOT of farro Tuscan Kale Caesar: HUGE. but overpriced Lobster club: the lobster was rubbery. I could barely taste the bacon. The brioche didn't taste like anything so I just took off both pieces of bread and ate just the lobster and frisse. Not worth it for $21 Truthfully.....I didn't think this place was worth the hype. Pretty overpriced, the service was far too slow and our server was extremely inexperienced (he didn't know what was in the dishes and told us we should "order as much as possible" since it was a small plates restaurant). Took us more than 1.5 hours for lunch....not good enough.
(3)
Matt K.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Due to the marvelous menu we decided to make this a family style meal. It's not everyday I indulge in a meal where every single dish was superb. It was very difficult to pick a favorite, as each one was mouth watering. Four of us at the table shared a number of items. Here's the run down... -Gnocchi: truffle cream, fried sage, crispy pancetta. Do I really need to embellish this one for you? Yeaaaa... -Pappardelle: sauce bolognese, grated parmesan. Classic sauce with homemade pasta, well done. -Spaghetti: jumbo lump crab, charred grape tomato, red chili & lemon sauce. If I had to pick, this was my favorite dish ordered. Really unique combination of flavors, well done chef. -Seared Scallop: shaved fennel, blood orange, frisee, watercress, capers. Really good quality scallops, perfectly prepared and a nice combination of flavors, but probably could've saved some money and gotten another pasta instead. Still really enjoyed this dish. -Coccoli: crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey. This was a really unique dish, unlike anything I've had before. The flavors worked really well together and the dough was super fresh and warm. -Grilled Octopus: duck fat potatoes, red chilies, celery, aged balsamic, chive. Meaty, not chewy, blackened and really great quality. Excellent flavor all around. -Wagyu Beef Meatball: roasted tomato sauce, bellwether ricotta, shaved basil. Huge meatballs smothered in awesome tomato sauce. Tender and very Italiano. -Burrata: tomato jam, sea salt, basil oil. Melt-in-your-mouth creamy & salted cheese with a unique tomato jam to join. -Monkeybread: hazelnut cream, caramel, candied hazelnuts. Just when we thought we had no room left for dessert, we managed to scarf this down without a problem. The cocktails were also very tasty, but pricey as expected. My favorite of the few I tried was No. 5 bulleit bourbon, averna amaro, allspice dram, winter spice, apple brandy, lemon, angostura bitters... I mean really, how awesome does that sound? You have to eat here, just be prepared it's hard to get in and might break your wallet.
(5)
Greg G.
Came here the other night to celebrate my friends birthday. Great place to celebrate birthdays! We were seated in a big booth and the atmosphere and ambiance of this place is just really good. Especially at their bar where they have like 50 live plants growing on the wall, pretty cool. We got the Coccoli which we were told was a must order. It was good! They make their own dough which is pretty cool. They also use this dough in their house beer which I ordered and was not bad. It's similar to a pale ale, but not as much bite. We also got the berracado (sp?) mozzarella, that was good as well. The shaved brussel sprouts were great! We ordered 2 pizza's which turns out in addition to our other plates it was way too much food. The Carne and the Mushroom pizza were great but we took most of it home for leftovers! The best part of the night was a surprise confetti icecream that had a small birthday cake inside the icecream! I've never seen that before and it was verryyy good! I'll definitely be coming back for my birthday just for that cake again, I'm craving it right now thinking about it...
(5)
Kari B.
Came here last Friday night with 5 of my friends to celebrate a Birthday and have a girls night out. While the food was delicious, our server Rebekah dampened the mood of the entire table. She seemed annoyed that we wanted to try a bunch of dishes and split entrees among us rather then ask what our needs were and make suggestions. She was constantly trying to upsell and make us order more food than we wanted or needed. Case in point, we said we didn't want to order a pizza and she recommended we order a pizza 3-4 times throughout our meal. Rather then discuss how amazing the food was, my friends and I only discussed how pushy our server was. This was my second time dining at Siena Tavern and because the of the pushy service during my last visit, I will most likely not be back.
(2)
Molly D.
I want to preface this review by saying that we ate at the pizza bar and only tried their pizza and cocktails so I cannot speak on behalf of the homemade pasta and other entrees. That being said, we came in on a Saturday without a reservation around 7:00 so the only available seating was the pizza bar which we didn't mind. The pizza bar turned out to be a fun place to sit and watch the pizzas being cooked and prepared. The pizza bar even worked out ok with our party of four because the bar curves so everyone was still able to easily talk. Additionally, the server at the pizza bar was super friendly and helpful. He helped us order our cocktails which were tasty and cost $12.00 which is comparable to other places around this area. I had cocktail No. 19 which was tasty. For dinner we ordered the cinque formaggi pizza which was also good. It had a thin chewy crust and plenty of cheese. My husband and I shared and it and it was the perfect size for two. Now, being born and raised in Chicagoland, I have extremely high standards for pizza. My expectations might even be considered to be unreasonably high... So, with that in mind- The pizza was good but not my favorite. If I returned I would consider trying some of the homemade pasta and save my pizza orders for Lou Malnati's and Pizanos.
(3)
Leah C.
i now get the hype... when this place first opened up and i grew more frustrated that i couldn't even get a lunch reservation, i'd say to myself "how could an overpriced pasta place be doing so well". well yes, location is everything and it made for the perfect location for a pre-theatre meal but they also do more than fancy pizza and pasta. we were grateful that they let us keep our car in valet so that we could just walk to the chicago theatre after din. no surprise, we could not get a reservation but arriving at 6:30 on a saturday, 2 spots at the bar opened up fairly quickly (even for a busy evening of hawks' opener and chicago marathon madness). i'm actually glad we sat at the bar with our "server" at our disposal for questions and chatting. our bartender was more knowledgeable about the food (and drinks) than some servers i've had. the best part of our shared appetizer dinner - the farro salad (vegetarians - get it without the seafood). wow - just wow! the dressing, the hearty farro and the crisp greens and green beans were perfection. the burrata is served with a smoky-sweet tomato jam. the mushroom truffle pizza - exceptional. i normally can easily pitch the crust especially for italian style pizzas but not siena's. i knocked off one star because i struggled to find a wine by the glass that i really enjoyed which i find shocking for this type of establishment. i settled for an "okay" chianti that i've seen on the shelves of tj's for 1/10th the price.
(4)
Steph U.
I came here for Restaurant Week and wooooooow! I was not disappointed. I ordered the coccoli, the gnocci, and the crispy caramel gelato. I also split a bottle of wine with my friends, but I don't remember which one it was (sorry! So not helpful). I don't even know where to start with this meal, because it was so good. I'm not sure how to describe the coccoli. It was kind of like a popover with prosciutto, cheese, and honey. At first I wasn't sure if I would like it, because I'm not a big fan of prosciutto, but hot damnnnn this was good. Everything melts together perfectly in your mouth and it literally is like an orgasm in your mouth. For the second course, I was also a bit doubtful about ordering the gnocci, because it was the only dish without a lot of meat! I was thinking, hey, if you're gonna spend $44 no matter what, you should probably get some kind of meat right? Well, actually, no. The gnocci has this amazing truffle cream sauce and just like the coccoli, it is AMAZINGNESS in your mouth. I couldn't stop eating. It was just too good. For the dessert, I decided to go with the crispy caramel gelato. I don't even know what they put in that, but there was crunchiness, creaminess, and overall, superbness. I was struggling to finish it, because I was so full, but I knew I would regret it if I didn't eat all of it. Overall, I will definitely be back to try the regular menu, and anyone who is even considering stopping by here for Restaurant Week, I say GO! Go now!!
(5)
Nicole W.
A poem dedicated to Siena Tavern: Off to River North I went, To meet some colleagues for lunch - always a fun event. Siena Tavern was the choice, Reading the fabulous reviews, I did rejoice. In the pretty, modern space did we sit, Awaiting our eats, the coccoli we did split. While the appetizer was just fine, The kale salad was the winner, and it was all mine. For minutes I inhaled nothing but greens, That salad was boss - a delicious cuisine. I'll certainly come back for a drink or a snack, Or another kale salad, which I'll surely attack.
(4)
Elina K.
I've come here for both pre and post night-out drinks, but not for dinner. However ONE time I did get a chance to try their bombolini and because I couldn't stop thinking about them I had to leave a review. Here it is: the bombolini were the BOMB. Holy wow. Imagine three huge, sugar dusted, perfectly cooked donut holes paired with three different delicious sauces in little squeeze bottles. So you take the donut hole, right? And you stab it with one of the sauce bottles and squeeze the caramel or whatever you grabbed into the donut hole. Then you eat it. Then you die happy. Follow?
(4)
Alli W.
Amazing! Food, service and ambiance is excellence. We had the coccoli, kobe meatball, gnocchi and mozzarella. Every single one of them was absolutely delicious. The perfect blend of flavors and portions. I need to come back here for dinner when I can consume some beverages instead of a work-related lunch. Any time of the day, I don't imagine this place would disappoint. Excellent!!!!!
(5)
Rachael D.
Loved it! The interior is gorgeous and the food is interesting and full of flavor. Recommended: the coccoli (wow!) and the squid ink linguine with lobster. The Sangria is also killer good!
(5)
Clyde D.
Everything here was outstanding. From the decor, to the service, and most importantly the food. The decor was modern and eye-catching. Our server was nice and attentive. But the food was just out-of-this-world. We started with the Coccoli which is a crispy ball of dough with a light fluffy inside and it is served with stracchino cheese, proscuttio, and truffle honey. The combination of the sweet truffle honey, salty proscuttio, creamy cheese, and that crisptastic dough balls. My main course was Squid Ink Linguini with Grilled Lobster Tail and Spicy Lobster Sauce. The al dente pasta goes along beautifally with the heat and creaminess of the lobster sauce. For dessert we had the Monkeybread which just finished the meal off on a boss note.
(5)
Jen C.
I am such a Top Chef junkie. It's no wonder I had to hit up Siena's and taste Fabio's creations! Made reservations last minute and the place was empty at about 11am for brunch on a Saturday--we got a private booth, and any parties that came in after us were seated wide apart, which made it intimate and cozy. Our waiter was AWESOME--he actually took the time to talk to us about our visit to Chicago, and went over the menu in depth. We were recommended to start with the coccoli, which is a must order item at Siena's. It's a fancier, modern take of your usual bread, meat and cheese starters...and the drizzle of honey and pesto made it burst with flavor. What stood out to me on the entrees list was their squid ink pasta with lobster. I hardly see squid ink pasta, so I was so excited to try his take. The pasta was SO fresh and the right dente-ness, had plenty of lobster chunks including a tail on top. The portion was also really nice for what was going to be a heavy brunch altogether. This was so delicious and I would come back to Siena Tavern just to have the dish again. Their chicken sandwich was also tasty. Nothing to cry about in terms of sandwiches, but well executed. The fries were some of the best that I've had, as it wasn't salty at all, had cheese on it and you are provided with ketchup and a lemon/garlicky mayo. Finally, we ended our meal with their bomboli, which is a fun interactive dessert: 4 fried donuts that come with 4 sauces in squeeze bottles. You stick 'em into the donuts, and fill it in with cream. A very good dessert that ends your meal in giggles. Could not detect the whiskey in that caramel sauce, however. The raspberry sauce was really tasty. Overall, very good Italian food in a sexy, masculine restaurant.
(4)
Bj J.
Great Service, Great food amazing atmosphere, can't wait to go back again!
(5)
Jessica M.
Had a great experience here. Waited a little bit even though we had a reservation, but got a seat at the bar and ordered the No. 4. It was delicious. I didn't think it was too sweet and the rosemary added a great fall feeling. Everything about our meal was good. We started with the Kale cesar salad to split. I would suggest that FOR SURE. Our meals were also good, you can't go wrong with any of the handmade pastas. They are cooked to perfection! It's a little loud, but overall a good experience. I would recommend for an upbeat night. If you are looking for something more romantic and quiet go to RPM.
(4)
Ryan L.
This place is packing them in. Do people think they'll get a chance to see Chef Fabio? Do they also expect to see Bobby Flay or Wolfgang Puck at any of their joints? Also, River North was really lacking in terms of Italian. I mean, there's only RPM, La Madia, Quartino, Osteria, even Bar Toma, and maybe Balena a little further away. Good thing there is another option in this area. There are way too many items on the menu. I guess that fits for the hood. I do like the typewriter font they use for the menu, though. You will find out immediately that the pastas are made from scratch, which deserves a shoutout cause that's a lot of work and dedication. With so many Italian options, you probably need to hit a home run to stand out. So how is one item on the menu described? With "top shelf pasta". Uhh ok, sign me up. There also seems to be oven-dried tomatoes on many of the items. That just doesn't seem too creative. The daily risotto included scallops and was the best thing we ate. There was a nice sear on the scallops and that plate was devoured quickly. Also get the warm butter cake for desert, it was stupid good. I get the idea that cocktailing is of high importance. There is a crudo bar, and two other bar areas in the place that comprise half the restaurant. Is this a nice Italian place or another Public House in disguise? I must admit, the #4 was delicious but the #5 with Maker's Mark was really sweet for a bourbon drink. Service was nice, and they are definitely not hurting for business. Seems like most people are drawn to the chance of having Chef Fabio bat his flirty eyes at them. Don't be distracted! It's just ok.
Great place! Love the atmosphere, service and most importantly the food & drinks. Have eaten at the bar, a table, and even the private room located to the right of the bar. Each time the food, drinks & service was outstanding! Love the cocktails they've got, esp the #4 & #10. Also love the Siena chopped salad, pappardelle & truffle mushroom pizza! When I ate in the private room it was for a Christmas party of about 12 of us. Our server was great with helping us decide on what to order for our family style dinner. Reservations highly recommended.
(5)
Lisa W.
Went there for the first time last night and loved the atmosphere. Such a great after work bar and fun for friends to catch up. A lot of different kinds of people here. The dessert was yummy!! We had the birthday cake ice cream. It was Delish!
(4)
Tina C.
My mom and I went in for lunch today and wanted salads. I had the kale salad with shrimp and it was out of this world! it has parmesan cheese and sun-dried tomatoes with croutons. We also had cappuccinos and they were out of this world! Becca was our server and she was great! Absolutely loved her and her energy.
(5)
Merrill O.
I wanted to update my Yelp review to reiterate the fabulousness of this place! Amazing food....outstanding service....all in a beautiful, high-energy spot. (And all of you people that are only ordering pizzas?? Stop it! You're probably hurting the chef's feelings...and you are certainly missing out on some of the most incredible food of your life.) We went again last night for my nephew's birthday, and started with the Wagyu Beef Meatball, and the Roasted Beets Salad. Both very solid...especially the beet salad. A very nice start to our meal, but only whetting our appetite for the pastas. Besides the must-have Spaghetti (see my previous review for raves), we tried the Squid Ink Linguini (with lobster tail and lobster cream sauce) and the Truffle Gnocchi. Whoa, the Gnocchi was melt-in-your-mouth heavenly! Our waitress suggested getting it without the truffle oil, and I highly recommend that....with only the shaved truffle and the truffle cream sauce, it was already rich enough to put a Rockefeller to shame. So, in order of faves...I recommend 1) the Spaghetti, 2) the Gnocchi, 3) the Squid-Ink Linguini. (Seriously...see my previous review...you HAVE got to try the Spaghetti!) Also worth mentioning is the stellar customer service at this place. From the managers to the bussers to the hostesses, they are on top of their game in making sure you have an enjoyable evening. Whenever you can have a pre-dinner drink at the bar, Duke will never steer you wrong. He is attentive, friendly, and spot-on with recommendations. (BTW...if you are a fan of stouts, if they still have the Verdi Imperial Stout, it's a winner.) Our server last night was Allison...excellent service, very personable, and full of great menu tips...listen to her! And thanks to the Manager, Heather, for stopping by the table....please send kudos to your team for a wonderful evening! Can't wait for our next visit!!
(5)
Marlen J.
Siena Tavern is a very nice Italian restaurant! I went with a party of five and everyone loved this place from the time we walked into it. A young gentlemen was our waiter his name was Devon and he was awesome recommending a great taste of Italy! Devon really knew how to describe the specialty of every dish! Everyone's favorite was the truffle mushroom pizza, it was the most delicious pizza!!! We all had a great time and we will definitely return very soon! A special Thanks to our waiter Devon, he made our experience here at Siena Tavern extra special!
(5)
James E.
Went there for brunch today. The staff was pleasant and attentive. The food was even better. I had the artichoke omelette. The presentation was good but it was wonderful! I'm definitely going back.
(4)
Julia S.
This place was fantastic. I would definitely recommend the mozzarella bar. I got the burrata, and it was so savory and delicious. The truffle mushroom pizza was incredible as well, much larger than expected. We had heard incredible things about their French fries, and even though they weren't on the dinner menu, they cooked us a side of them. Cocktails were also very good. They are all listed by number and I had two different ones, both great!
(4)
Sandi P.
So glad we decided to try this during restaurant Week, the menu online looked intriguing and it certainly lived up to expectations in most areas. Things got off to a bit of a rocky start as we were seated directly across from a bussing station so were treated to constant rattling of dishes and cutlery :-(. After requesting a different table, we were accommodated with a booth near the private dining room which was a bit quiteter. We had plenty of time to peruse the interesting drink menu as service was a bit slow but friendly at least. Three of us had cocktails, tasty but pricey at $12 each, and husband tried a couple of different beer selections. The waiter was pretty knowledgeable about the beers We all opted for the special restaurant week menus - offered in $22 and $33 variations. One of the best dishes was undoubtedly the coccoli, which were savory balls of choux pastry (like savory cream puff dough) accompanied by prosciutto and a delicious sauce. Unfortunately I did not order these so relied on the generosity of my daughters for a taste! All entrees were a hit - the mushroom gnocchi is sublime, the meatball sandwich was generously portioned and served with excellent crispy skin-on fries and aioli and the farro risotto with shrimp which I dubiously ordered tasted much better than it sounded ! The gelato - we tried salted caramel and cinnamon - was very good but couldn't compare to the bomboloni- fried donut balls served with mini squeeze bottles full of chocolate, caramel and raspberry goodness!!! It was a very nice lunch and we would certainly return to try some other dishes - the pizza looked very tasty too.
(4)
Kim S.
I stopped in on arriving for a business trip. I'd just gotten off a train that was delayed for two hours and felt fairly wilted from the travel and walking in the heat with all my luggage. The place is cool and dimly lit and I was promptly greeted with an offer for luggage check. I freshened up in the restroom which was immaculately clean and then bar perched, since I was traveling solo. The bartender was super friendly and prompt and put a glass of white wine in front of me pronto. He did upsell as he suggested the $12 glass over the $10, but it was delicious. The menu was varied and everything looked good given how hungry I was. He helped steer me in a good direction with pizza that was perfectly prepared, immensely flavorful, and not too thin but not fat on the crust. I got a half and half...margarita on one half and a mushroom blend on the other. It was a good-sized pie and at $18, not a bargain but beyond satisfying. Before heading out, I decided to try one of the cocktails the bartenders were frequently shaking up from a variety of house-made elixirs. I tried one that had a Lavendar syrup and other intriguing ingredients. I was pleasantly surprised when the cocktail was left off my bill. I was invited back and my only regret is that my agenda didn't permit a return visit. This place is lovely, friendly, well-appointed, and has a great menu.
(5)
Jacob M.
TL; DR - Basically Olive Garden, but 5x the price and 3x the noise. Went with a group of 6 guys after a conference. We all agreed the place was trying really hard to be fancy while serving frankly pretty basic food at astronomical prices. Won't go back.
(2)
Derrick T.
An old friend and I got in touch again recently, and decided that since we both work in the downtown area, why not catch lunch and catch up on what's going on with each other's lives! With Siena Tavern's recent opening and being inbetween both our offices, it was the perfect location for us to enjoy a nice lunch meal. Reservations through open table were easy enough, and since we booked 11:30 for lunch, the place was nearly empty. Mind you, by the time we left at 1:00, it was packed to the brim. Friendly service, a VERY large menu, we were a bit overwhelmed at everything they had to offer. Ultimately, we settled on the following: Margherita Pizza ($14): For a brick oven pizza, it was good. If this was to be more of a neapolitan pizza, the dough is over worked and chewey, as opposed to light. The corncione is tougher than I expected, as is the rest of the dough as well, but it's not a bad pizza, just not a great one. Tavern burger ($16): Wow. Seriously, good burger. While I was a bit concerned since we had to order the burger medium well to well done (my friend is having her second baby!), the burger came out tender, juicy, and spectacular. I have to say, I was very impressed with their burger, which is why they've got the four star rating. Side note: They are SERIOUS about refilling your water... I think no less than 4 different water waiters came by to refill at least 8 times, and they'd reach across the table in front of us each time to refill our glasses, unfortunately interrupting conversation and making it a slightly awkward moment each time. The drawback of booths is that they can't come up behind you, but in this case, it may have been better to have the glasses at the end of the table instead of resetting it so that they needed to reach in front of us every time. Slow down with the water refills! We don't need a refill each time we drink a quarter of the glass! Verdict: A tasty place (particularly the burger), and I look forward to coming back to try their pasta! The pizza is underwhelming, but isn't bad... I think I just expected more.
(4)
Kavi P.
The food here was absolutely delicious. I think I enjoyed the appetizers more than the meal itself. The drinks were unique and just ok....bit overpriced. The meal was definitely expensive but worth it for the once in a blue moon visit.
(4)
Brian D.
Great atmosphere, service, and food. Have visited multiple times and never disappointed.
(5)
Natalie N.
Completely solid restaurant, I have been here a few times so I can say this. Everything that I have ordered here has been really fantastic. I have had the Coccoli, their burger, the lobster roll, and the mussels and clams. The one thing I can complain about is some of the prices. For instance, the lobster roll is $28.00, and I wouldn't think the price is that bad if I didn't have anything to compare it to. The best lobster roll I have ever had included a lb of lobster served warm for $25.00. There is no way there is even close to a lb of lobster. It's pretty tiny. Ok, I'm done bitching. Seriously a solid lunch option for Chicago. Service has always been great too.
(4)
Joseph L.
If you like going to a night club for dinner this is your place. We went here on a Saturday night and had pretty high expectations given the reviews. We arrived on time and were seated right away. The place is HUGE! Too big in my opinion, it feels like your at ESPN zone or something. They had TV's in there too playing sports... BLAH! The crowd was not my cup of tea, it was a lot of men and women who looked like the either belonged in a night club or a college dorm party. The people next to us were making out the entire time. And let's not forget the TECHNO MUSIC during your nice dinner. Now to the food. Food gets 3.5 stars. Appetizer: Coccoli - 3 (over rated in my opinion too greasy) Mains: Brick Chicken - 3 (good but you've had this before), Short Rib Ravioli - 3 (sorta bland and need more salt) Desert: (The best part) Affogato - 4, Brown Butter Peanut Gelato 5 (best ice cream i've ever had) All and all, the atmosphere really killed this place, big trendy, touristy and sports like. Sorta felt like a factory in there. I would give it one more shot just on a quiet tuesday night or during lunch.
(3)
Richard B.
Really exceptional service. Our waiter Gregory steered us to all the great items on the menu, including to die for short rib pasta and wonderful fresh Italian cheeses. A real find in the Miracle Mile.
(4)
Pamela G.
Kale caesar salad and pepperoni pizza were both amazing. Service was fast and great. Delicious old fashioned.
(5)
MARIA S.
Everything was wonderful at this place. The service was great. The delivery of the meal was timely. The food was melt in your mouth delicious! Excellent food at a good price. Just go!
(5)
Tisha K.
Love love love LOVE this place. Their service was impeccable. I am lactose intolerant so I am always hesitant going to Italian restaurants where most pastas are in a cream based sauce. However, I found found a few things on the menu that I could eat and the waitress made sure that there was no dairy in my dish. I would really recommend the risotto with shrimp. It had a lot of flavor and the portion size was perfect for one. It has a great ambiance and I would recommend this as a date place. It is a little pricey but the quality of the food is on point. Also try the donut holes - they are awesome and I would most definitely be back at this restaurant.
(5)
Amoli P.
Siena Tavern is one of my new favorite spots in the River North area as far as meeting friends for drink or a daytime stop to grab some food. The decor is standard for these types of places and the ambiance is no different from any other River North bar/restaurant, but it's got a great vibe during both the daytime and nighttime. The food offers something a little more special and a little more unique than typical bar food. The pizzas are made well and are easily big enough to share between 2 people. The parmesan fries are to die for (not necessarily unique, but so delicious that it doesn't matter). And they offer a crudo bar for the seafood lovers. The patio area is nice and we had a lovely early dinner there last Friday in the sunshine. Service was friendly and quick. We went with parmesan fries and the burnt pepperoni pizza and it was more than enough food for 2. The nicest surprise were the original and extremely delicious cocktails. I went with the No. 15, Jameson, campari, strawberry, lemon, and ginger. It was perfect. The perfect summer cocktail - light and fruity without being overly sweet. My fiance went with the No. 5, Makers, amaro, allspice, chai liqueur, bitters, and sparkling apple cider. This drink was equally amazing - a bit stiffer than mine but still refreshing. I'll definitely come by Siena on occasion when I'm walking around in the area or make it a plan when meeting groups of friends for a night out.
Knowing that I couldn't face another day of hibernation, even in the face of steady snow and blustery winds, I decided to take myself out to lunch at Siena Tavern to wind down Restaurant Week 2014. Though it was a fairly spur-of-the moment decision, I had no difficulty securing a spot, even calling about 45 minutes or so ahead to reserve. I later learned from my server that there were 50 cancellations that day for lunch, so methinks that was the reason I was accommodated so promptly. As to the food itself, the fare on offer here is right up my alley--modern classics, well presented and plated, with fresh ingredients. As I was studying my options on the menus ($33 and $22 fixed price menus for Restaurant Week lunch), I decided to take the edge off with a glass of wine. I went with the Malbec- an excellent pour that I knew would pair equally well with lighter and slightly heartier fare. The wine was just what the doctor ordered on this otherwise gloomy February day, with falling snow and falling stocks parading by on the CNBC ticker on the flat screen above my head. The menu offerings all looked promising but I was finally able to decide on my options--shaved brussel sprout salad with marcona almonds to start, shrimp risotto for the main, and salted caramel gelato for dessert. This is way more than I usually eat for lunch, but I knew what would be facing me outside (more snow and cold), running of errands, and an extended salon appointment. All of the dishes were standouts, though I must say the risotto was among the best I've ever tasted. Risotto is easy to screw up, as it tends to get either gummy or granular. This was not the case at Siena, and the presentation (a couple of shrimp on top of the dish along with shrimp pieces within the risotto) was well executed. The dessert-salted caramel gelato-stole the show and is a worthy successor to the gelato offerings at Rhapsody (RIP). Siena's dessert chef makes the gelato in-house, so this is definitely a must try. I'll also point out that the service was extremely efficient. In fact, I was in and out of here in less time than at some fast-casual spots which shall remain nameless. Sometimes, an indulgent experience at lunch is not optional, but required. From the excellent bites to the stellar service, last week's experience satisfied on all counts. I know I will be back, hopefully before next year's restaurant week.
(4)
Liana L.
This place is very good. We were a party of 4 and we went in at 5pm on a Saturday with no reservation. The bar area and the high-tops were pretty empty and we got a great table right away! By 5:30 the whole bar area was full and all the high-tops were occupied. If you don't have a reservation I highly recommend you go in for an early dinner. The Kobe meatball appetizer, the gnocchi, and the tiramisu were all extremely tasty! I would order them all again. The service was good as well. I would eat here again :)
(5)
Glen W.
Probably the best Italian (at least averaged over all dishes) I have had in Chicago. Only been there once though. All of the following were seriously delicious: burrata with caponata, brussels sprout salad, Gemela with duck ragout and squid ink linguini.
(5)
Melanie S.
One of my favorite lunch partners (holla Melissa M.!) and I go to lunch all the time. She's always game to go anywhere (money is no object as long as there's wine involved) so I knew I could recruit her to join me in trying Siena Tavern. I am no chef groupie. Sure, I appreciate someone that knows his way around a kitchen but a celebrity chef has no bearing on whether or not I go to a restaurant; I just want good food. I can't believe how many people asked me if I saw Fabio what's-his-name when I dined at Siena Tavern. The truth? Even though he was one of the more likeable contestants on Top Chef, I didn't even look for him when I was here. Everyone seems to be clamoring to eat here, so reservations, even at lunch, are hard to come by. We made ours a couple weeks in advance. I'm pretty sure they don't even take lunch reservations between 11:45 and 1:00 (pretty smart if you ask me; they get at least two seatings this way). When we arrived for our 1:00, crowds were out in full force. I really liked the atmosphere and it definitely seems tailor-made for River North. We were promptly shown to our table and given the shpiel by the waiter: "Everything's designed in the spirit of sharing." What a diplomatic way to proclaim that everything is served in small portions so you need to order a lot to feel satisfied. We all know by now that this food trend of "shared plates" is here to stay. I have accepted this, even if I don't like it. If I didn't, I'd have many fewer options when dining out. We ordered the burrata with tomato jam from the mozzarella bar, gnocchi, and crispy brick chicken with sticky parmesan potatoes. It was the perfect amount of food. The tomato jam was slightly sweet and beautifully offset the creamy burrata. The gnocchi simply melts in your mouth. I thought the combination of truffle, sage and pancetta was perfect. You could taste all three but none of these ingredients overwhelmed the others. The brick chicken was mostly boneless which made it easy to share, and we couldn't stop eating the potatoes that accompanied it. I also loved the garnishes of balsamic roasted garlic and grilled lemon. It was all delicious. We were stuffed and didn't save room for dessert, so next time, we'll order more light dishes so we can try the bomboloni (donuts you inject with squeeze bottles of sauces). I could really have a good time with those squirt bottles. The bar area looks like a fun place to have a cocktail after work (and I'm sure it's quite the scene) and my favorite part was the "wall of herbs" behind the bar. The herbs are freshly cut for cocktails and used in the food. It makes me want to go home and grow my own wall of herbs. Service was good, except for a few overzealous bussers who tried multiple times to clear away our plates while we were still eating. Many times we were in the middle of conversation and pausing between bites but that didn't mean we were done eating. (As if we were going to leave any gnocchi uneaten!) We also had to ask for additional plates and serving utensils. I feel like these should have been brought automatically if the intent is sharing food. While I don't mind eating out of the same bowl as my friend, it would be quite awkward coming here with work colleagues and eating off the same plate, ya know? I am definitely coming back.
(4)
Charles C.
My wife and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary there in August of 2013. I have several words to describe this place, FLAWLESS! TASTY! FUN,Great food! Cool atmosphere and helpful staff. I had the squid ink pasta, grilled octopus and some kind of small light and airy roll with procutto and honey....... FANTASIC! I look forward to my next visit!
(5)
Mickey A.
"I like to live dangerously." -- Number 2 Ok, not so much. I do, though, like quoting random Austin Powers movie quotes. This brings me to being addicted to Siena's #2 cocktail: prosecco, Grey Goose, peach, lemon, and some other goodies. Of the times I've been here so far, that's my go-to drink. I mean, it has prosecco, which can do no wrong in my eyes or palate. They also have a decent wine menu too. For reds, I dig their malbec option. The bar area is definitely a good spot to meet friends for drinks. It can be hard to find a spot but if you get a drink while you wait, something is bound to open up. Also, as silly as it sounds, they have hooks under the bar so you can hang purses and/or coats. Yes, these little things amuse me. I've been here more times to drink than to eat. I'm so-so on the food but willing to give another shot. My co-workers and I managed to snag late lunch reservations during their first week (or second week since they didn't serve lunch when they first opened). We looked forward to some good food but left feeling a bit underwhelmed. I ordered the burrata pizza (eggplant and zucchini topped with mozzarella) which was good but couldn't eat more than two pieces. I say find some sharing partners if you want pizza. We had some issues with food, but nothing that wasn't fixed or acknowledged right away. I think I favor the drinks more. I'm bound to get hungry so I'm sure I'll give their food another try.
(3)
H P.
This place has the best gnocchi. It is a must order. Gabriel was helping us at the bar. He service was wonderful.
(5)
Gladys T.
Terrible customer service. We got seated and sat there for about 15 minutes. 3 different servers walked back and forth attending to the tables around us without even acknowledging us. We left.
(1)
K B.
My aunt and I went back last night to celebrate my birthday and I must say, this place GETS IT. The service was impeccable and we agreed this was one of our best overall dining experiences in Chicago - ever (we've been here 10+ years and well versed in the Chicago food world). Allison, you were amazing, simply amazing! Thank you so much for the Happy Birthday gelato; wow! I'm uploading a photo with my recommendations, but if you're seeking an orgasm, order the Spaghetti. Without reservation, I would recommend this place over RPM, Quartino, Piccolo Sogno, Sapori Trattori, Cafe Bionda, Vivo, Nellcote and probably any other Italian place in the City. One last thing, which my aunt may cover in her review (which I completely agree): If you come here, there is no reason to order a pizza. I'm sure it's amazing, but anyone who rates this place less than 4 stars either ordered drinks only or pizza. You don't come to the best Italian restaurant to order a pizza - duh!
(5)
Tiffany L.
Like RPM, this is where the Richie Rich's of River North take their leggy, Louboutin'ed blondes to go and pretend to eat pasta. The crowd is slightly less douchey than RPM, but is still a place to be seen, as shown by the bar area being equal in size (if not larger) than the dining area. My favorite dishes were probably the Coccoli (although served with 4 measly pieces of fried dough. More fried dough! More fried dough!), and the grilled octopus. We should have ordered the gnocchi, but instead went for the Carbonara and the Squid Ink Linguini. Both were fine, but not standout. Skip the tiramisu here. It's... weird. I still prefer Balena for handmade pasta.
(3)
Kelly P.
This is a great looking spot in River North. Loved the large club chairs at our table and the street view we had to people watch. I'm not a very knowledgeable wine person, but my date said the red he has was very good. I personally love bubbles (prosecco and champagne) and they served those extremely chilled :) You have to start with the Coccoli. It's just a small cheese board with slightly cooked prosciutto, cheese and a honey drizzle but they give you these heavenly soft dough balls and you can make it all into a sandwich bite. Delicious. Kale Caesar salad was also fantastic. Still don't understand why some people don't "like" kale. This is the way to enjoy it. I kept my serving the entire meal to eat throughout. Also ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza which has almost too much heat and not much else to it. My boyfriend is a huge pepperoni fan so I let him have this choice and even he said it had no flavor aside from the heat. However, the crust on that pizza is perfection. Finished things up with the Butternut Squash Tortellacci. So, so good. I love a butternut squash pasta dish and this is top of the ranks. It is really sweet to the point we didn't order dessert but the sauce tastes like a spiced white chocolate and I was in heaven. All of the pasta dishes read amazing on the menu and I would return for another with a salad. The staff was extremely helpful and available. They may push a few too many plates on you but that's the issue when you are a two top. Too many options that you want to try. I am hoping at some point, Chicago becomes more friendly to half orders of main dishes! Four glasses of wine and four dishes came to about $60/person.
(4)
Licia L.
came here with my sister for dinner on a sunday night. no reservation and we were seated right away (which was so nice since we were walking around all day, and had to wait 3 hours to be seated for dinner at another restaurant the night before). Sam k was our server and he was awesome. it was out first time dining at siena tavern and Sam did a great job advising on portions. we shared the rigatoni and spaghetti. both pastas were cooked perfectly. the spaghetti sauce was creamy - it was still delicious but i thought it would be lighter from the menu description. either way, i liked it a bit more over the rigatoni (which was great, tomatoey sauce with lamb) because the crab, cherry tomatoes, lemon and chili gave each bite the perfect kick. the roasted cauliflower was the side we chose it was also delicious, so flavorful. for dessert we ordered the tiramisu and chocolate caramel cake. both were amazing but the chocolate cake was more decadent. i would definitely come back, and try the meatball, burrata, hamachi crudo (which all looked amazing). i also loved that they had a pinot gris by the glass. extra plus for me!
(5)
Priya N.
I really think this is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I have never had a bad experience. The place feels like Fabio's smile. (Cheesy I know). The mozzarella is made in house and is amazing. My favorites are the coccoli/ who thought to put these together in a combo!!? Only Fabio (swoon). I also live the the Wagyu meatball. I don't normally like beef items, but this is definitely the exception! The sauce is outta control. I love how veggie friendly this restaurant is! The truffle mushroom pizza, Tuscan kale salad, shaved Brussels sprout salad, burnt pepperoni and the burrata are my favorites! The crudo bar is also really yummy. I love this place. I literally take everyone who visits here!!
(5)
Terri T.
This was our second and will be our last time here. I think it is another example of a new restaurant that starts strong with great food, and then doesn't care anymore. But people keep coming based on the reputation or word of mouth. Our first visit was for lunch and we had a fiasco trying to be seated at a decent table even though we were virtually the only ones in the restaurant when we arrived at 11:30. This visit was for dinner and we were celebrating my husbands birthday. At 4:45 we entered a virtually empty restaurant. This was the latest time I could get on open table 2 weeks ahead. Very puzzling considering the restaurant remained only about a quarter full the entire time we were there. When we were escorted to the first table the host was told to lead us to, it was dirty. After getting seated at the booth next to the dirty one, we ordered a truffle mushroom pizza which we had enjoyed at our first visit. This time the topping covered about 2/3 of the crust with a good 3 inches of empty crust left. Plain old dough. Ugh. We ordered the Tuscan kale Caesar salad which was fine and 2 pastas: the gnocchi and the tagliatelle. Both were meh. No real flavor from either and our gnocchi was missing the fried sage. Then for dessert. I told them about the birthday when I confirmed the reservation and then told the manager when she came to our table when my husband was in the bathroom. She thanked me for letting her know. Great. We ordered the caramel cake also. When the bus boy brought the cake ( the servers here don't do a whole lot other than take the order) he was also holding a birthday gelato with a candle in it...except he didn't leave it our table when he left the cake. Huh? Don't know where it went but it never ended up at our table. I complained to the manager. She apologized and offered to comp the cake, which. Y the way at $12 was a joke. It really memorable at all. The gelato never came, even as an afterthought. The final straw came when after asking for a refill on coffee 4 times, I finally got it. The bus boy brought it ( of course), served it, and then accidentally spilled the entire thing of cream all over my daughter and I. There are simply too many restaurants in Chicago that not only care about the small details, but also serve great food. This restaurant does neither in my opinion. I. Their defense, after the cream spilling incident the manager comped the entire check. Nice gesture but we won't be back. I wonder if our server was non existent because Top Chef Morimoto was in the booth next to us? Maybe, but did they serve him all the good food for the night too?
(1)
Jami S.
Hosted a dinner for 14 of our friends at Siena Tavern a couple Saturdays ago and felt compelled to write this review solely based on service - which was fabulous! Allison, our server, was friendly & super attentive. She made the night so great for all of us and I know its not easy to wait on 14 buzzed twenty somethings... So thank you Allison! Food was awesome, def recommend the gnocchis! So good! Plus all the pizzas were delish too. The private dinner space was really nice and suited as perfectly. Can't wait to go back with just a few friends next time! Would have been 5 stars but we did have to wait awhile for our 9pm reservation.
(4)
Jill D.
Outstanding! Fabio did not disappoint! Siena is an excellent restaurant in a city of restaurants! We had the meatball appetizer, papradelle and ossobucco. All extremely fresh and prepared perfectly. The staff was friendly and responsive. Highly recommended!
(5)
Carol K.
It's a Tuesday night. 5:30. And this place is PACKED! I mean-packed! Guess that's what you get when you take a great location (corner of Kinzie and Dearborn) couple it with a famous "Top Chef" (Chef Fabio Viviani)and add in a space that is SO big that it seems like it has more seats at the two bars than they do in the dining area. Best described as a cross between an Italian market (try the mozzarella bar, the crudo bar or the pizza bar) a nice restaurant (reservations are a must or you will be out of luck!) and a local watering hole, Siena Tavern has a little of of whatever you are looking for . . .including plenty of people to take it all in with! The hostesses are great- very accommodating even to those of us who walked in without a reservation thinking this was a "just a bar" and that we could sit anywhere. Not the case. They took our names with a promise if something opened up they would call- but that was never the case . . .did I say this place was packed?? So we found some seats at the multipurpose bar in the back where the oven for the pizzas kept us warm on this chilly night, and our bartender (Marilyn?) took outstanding care of us with food and drink. The menu has several sections so you can go the shareable route, the entree route, the pizza route or a combo of all! We started with a margarita pizza piping hot from the oven and some wonderful buffalo mozzarella served with oven toasted bread and some tomato type sauce. It tasted as good as it looked and smelled. I also ordered from their crudo menu some hamachi and some ahi tuna which were also quite tasty and they even were able to get some steamed veggies (the biggest bowl of cauliflower I have ever seen except on my mom's dining room table at Thanksgiving!) which was also surprisingly fresh and tasty. The music is vibrant, but not invasive, I suspect as the night wears on this place gets a little more "clubby" given it's location. They also have a private party space in the back where a group was enjoying all Siena Tavern has to offer in a roped off space. Tables in the front bar area are first come first served so you may want to try your luck there but the more likely scenario is that you will spend your night at the bar the way we did unless you have a reservation in hand! And if you drive- there is valet out front for $12 (even the valet guys were friendly!) Fun, causal atmosphere, very tasty food and service that had us all saying that we will be back . . . . .hmm . . . . according to OpenTable that would have to be at 4pm on a weekday! Ah . .the joys of being the new hot place in town!
(4)
Lisa P.
It took awhile to get reservations to this new joint.....and when we finally got one; we arrived to the restaurant to see the main dining room almost entirely empty, so we opted for the bar instead since it was a livelier scene. My friends and I tried several dishes. The gnocchi was really tasty, as was the coccoli. I tried the roasted Carrot tortellacci and I really enjoyed it as well. It was a unique dish and I would order it again. Our waitress was very nice and I think sitting in the bar was a better choice than the dining room. Overall, the food was great. The only negatives were that my group felt like there should be a complimentary bread basket w/the meal.
(4)
Christine C.
Bear with me...I might ramble off incoherently as I'm still in a food coma from last night's Siena Tavern feast. I'm a foodie at heart, love trying new places in the city! My girlfriends and I made reservations weeks in advance to try Fabio's new place-HUGE fan! Fabio did not disappoint and I cannot wait to stuff my face at Siena again! The 5 of us split the Coccoli and the Kobe Meatball for an appetizer-both amazing and seriously melted in my mouth. I split the truffle gnocchi and the brick chicken with a girlfriend and we still got to take some home. I am already thinking about eating it later and salivating at the thought. Oh, and holy parmesan potatoes, those might have been the best part. I didn't think the gnocchi was too rich and the chicken was so fresh and juicy and cooked PERFECTLY. All of us also split the Cannolis and the Bomboloni for dessert....both delicious, delectable, and again not too rich to where we couldn't polish them off. The Bomboloni was my favorite-just something totally different and yummy! Everyone at the table agreed that this place blows RPM out of the water in terms of atmosphere and food. It's a chic restaurant without that uppity feel; you can be totally laid back and pretty casual at Siena.....and their portion sizes are a much better bang for your buck :) Reading the 1 star reviews from other people like Sean-who just walked in and sat at a table actually makes me angry....because 1.) you are a total idiot if you walk into a packed restaurant and think you get to sit at a table without a reservation and 2.) he didn't even eat their food! Some people need to use Yelp a little more constructively if you ask me. I have been to many nice restaurants in Chicago and all around the world and I thought this place was top notch. Our waitress, Katie, was a breath of fresh air. She knew about everything on the menu (including the booze) and even told us her favorites, which we tried most of them and agreed with her :) She was easy to talk to, attentive, and adorable! Next time I go I'll be requesting her! Lucas, one of the managers stopped by to chat with us which was a nice touch. We let him know that we loved everything about Siena and he was certainly glad to hear it. I appreciate when people take the time to talk to their customers-that speaks volumes about this place. The only thing that would have made the trip better-meeting Fabio, but I get it-the man is busy!!! Bottom line-go to Siena, make a reservation in advance, stuff your face, and go to bed uncomfortably full like I did last night. I promise you....you won't regret it!
(5)
Rachel B.
As much as I enjoy going to scene-y restaurants, typically I am a harsh reviewer if the food sucks. Such was not the case with Siena! Truth is, in cities like NYC; if it is a hotspot then the food is equally as epic as the hype surrounding it. Chicago is absolutely not this way. Jellyfish for example, the sole reason they're alive is because of the location and goofballs who want to look cool. Siena was a wonderful breath of fresh air! Grilled Octopus, incredible and cooked to perfection. Not easy! I am incredibly picky with my Octopus. Burrata-awesome. And the best for last...Truffle Mushroom Pizza was absolutely divine. My friends loved the Heirloom carrot, I was not the biggest fan. For 4 light-eating ladies, this was the absolute perfect amount! Dessert, the restaurant graciously comp'd us the Tiramisu and Bombolini. Tiramisu was too much cream and not enough cake. Bombolini came complete with three delicious sauce "squirters." Order it! So good. Will absolutely be back ASAP!
(4)
Rossel E.
A hidden gem we found at W Kinzie near merchandise mart. Went here once with a colleague which was a perfect choice since they had very good service, food, and ambiance for a lunch business meeting. We had the Wagyu beef meatball and the coccoli for starters. I love how you construct a mini sandwich from coccoli's crispy dough and the prusciutto drenched in honey truffle. Wagyu beef meatball sounds fancy but in reality taste like a good spiced Meatball melting in your mouth. I had the Gnocchi which is a good safe choice for main course but what made the dish awesome for me is the fried sage but I had a better gnocchi dumplings from pure ricotta cheese rather than a mix of flour and cheese. But 5 stars since our server was on point and was very pleasant. I'll be back for sure.
(5)
Josselyn W.
This review is for their weekend Brunch - We sat outside with a group of 5 people. Wait staff could have been a bit more attentive but the food was great! Good options for brunch (most around $14), and they also had a full lunch menu. I had the breakfast sandwich which came with a side of crispy potatoes sprinkled with parm cheese - both items were amazing. Friends had biscuits and gravy which they loved. Waffles with Nutella were also delicious. Lots of outdoor seating - not hard to get a reservation for a Saturday brunch.
(4)
Lauren G.
I really liked this place. I had the chopped salad and they were really accommodating to my allergies/preferences by making it egg and meat free. all the salads looked so good. I can't wait to try more items.
(4)
Alex R.
Started with the lentil soup and then had the chopped salad with chicken instead of salami. Loved how juicy and tender the chicken was, and the salad was very large. Had wonderful service.
(4)
Heather F.
Me and my very good friend came here for late lunch after seeing Phantom of the Opera. We had a great time. Our server Arturo was amazing. He gave us great recommendations and how'd is with anything we had questions about. The manager asked us if we needed anything. Every person on the staff was great and friendly. I will definitely be back. The gnocchi was absolutely amazing!!
(5)
Kori E.
We came here for a private event on Saturday night and it was awesome!! The staff was so great and the food was excellent. I think I pretty much sampled everything that was passed around and my faves were the gnocchi, beef carpaccio, the mushroom pizza with truffle oil, the meatball- omg was that sauce amazing and this puff pastry with cheese and prosciutto. I really enjoyed the ambiance as well, its a cool set up with a wrap around bar. I wouldnt mind stopping and just eating at the bar. I will definitely be back for dinner sometime soon!
(5)
Frank N.
I think this may be my new favorite Chicago eatery! We came here last night for a date night in eager anticipation of meeting Fabio but to no avail. He left town for a short trip but left the restaurant in great hands. The place was packed for Friday night and while I made reservations on opening night, our table was ready the second we walked in. I thought we'd sit at the bar and take it all in while waiting for our table but yay for us. The seats were unbelievably comfortable and our seat was right by the windows for some great people watching. Our server couldn't have made it any better. She was friendly and helped us travel through the menu with some of her recommendations. We started with the Hamachi Crudo. A perfect blend of jalapeno, truffle honey, shallots, and a balsamic reduction. Holy cow was this fresh and tasty! Next we ordered the Bar Harbor Mussels. OMG! Pancetta, white wine, red chilies, tomatoes, and a grilled bread for dipping...perfect meal that was not too spicy. Up next came the Hearts of Palm salad with watermelon radish, avocado, grapefruit, roasted marcona almonds in a citrus vinaigrette. What a perfect palate cleanser! And the next meal was the highly recommended Margherita pizza. This was so thin and flavorful with just the right amount of sauce! Next came our Short rib raviolis. I am a huge fan of anything with short ribs. Absolutely rich and filling! Lastly we had two desserts - The Bomboloni. This was our waitress' favorite and wow was she right on! It's just a perfectly warm Italian donut with three sauces that come in a cool presentation. Let's just say that the caramel was empty when we were finished! The second dessert was something that I really wanted to try: Olive Oil, Sea Salt, and Lemon Gelato. It has now become my favorite dessert ever! It was a perfect blend of sweet and salty!!! While everything was perfect from the drinks, the ambiance, and the food, I really was disappointed that we couldn't get a chance to chat with Fabio. But, it just gives us another reason to make reservations again!!
(5)
Kimberly S.
We went here for my husband's birthday and I am so glad we did. We had 5:30 reservations, but when we got there were able to snag a table in the bar area because the Blackhawks (whoohoo) were on. This place was packed by 6:!5 and our server was great. We came hungry and ordered the following: Grilled Octopus - Yummy, but I still love Girl and the Goats better. Kobe Meatball - So good, the flavors were spot on and the meatball was cooked perfectly. Foccacia - We got this as a filler and I think I would pick something else to try when going back. Gnocchi - My favorite thing, it just melted in your mouth. Bomboloni - My husband loved this, I think it might be due to squeezing the flavors into the dessert. With a bottle of wine and espresso for the two of our bill was only $120 and we were stuffed. Compared to RPM, I would pick Siena Tvern every time.
(4)
Whitney S.
Great atmosphere! The lasagna was amazing! The wine list was great as well. Loved it! We used the valet for our car and it was fast and the people were polite. Also, I accidentally left my wallet in the bathroom and they kept it in the safe for me, which was really thoughtful.
(5)
Jing C.
4 stars for the food 2 stars for the ambiance Came here for dinner with a girlfriend. Food was good but didn't blow me away and the ambiance disappoints. Food: - The appetizers were the highlight! I'd go back for the Coccoli and Grilled octopus! - Pizzas are huge for some reason. We ordered the truffle mushroom which was delicious but with heavier mushroom than truffle flavors. - Ravioli was good. Ambiance: - Too loud for most conversations. We had 8pm reservations on a Tuesday night and the club-style music was already going strong. - During our meal, a guy from another table came over 3 times and tried to chat us up and invite us to go out after. Very awkward & unwanted and increasingly pushy. Staff saw but didn't really do anything about it.
(3)
Haley D.
Had dinner here Saturday evening at 5 pm. We were a little annoyed at the beginning because we were sat at an extremely small table, a table for two, which we were. We asked if it would be possible to get a bigger table or a booth, and were told it was not because they had bigger reservations coming in that they needed the open tables for. This would have been all fine, except they sat at least four parties of 2 in the bigger tables we asked for in the next 30 minutes... Anyways, once food and drinks started coming I was calm and happy. Because, who cant be when bread and cheese starts to flow? Had two of the craft cocktails, dont remember which ones exactly, but both were great. Ordered the coccoli and it did not disappoint, not one little bit. one of the best appetizers I have had in YEARS!! Also had a kale Caesar salad, delicious. It was exactly what I was expecting in the best way possible. Entrees - this is where they get 4 stars. Both of entrees were just OK. Tried the gnocchi (at the suggestion of the server) and the short rib ravioli. Neither were particularly impressive, but good enough to eat. Dessert -MONKEY BREAD!!! So good, i wanted to lick the bowl, get this. When i return: I would not worry about a reservation, and just sit at the bar. there was plenty of seating between 5 and 6 45 while we were there. Also, i would probably just order a bunch of stuff to share, and not go with the pastas again. The appetizers and desserts were to die for, enough to get me back in the door!
(4)
Shawna B.
It was good. The food was solid but I'm struggling to remember what our group even ordered it was so not memorable. The pizza was tasty, the lobster pasta was good but really rich, the ravioli was also really rich. I guess I'm tired of chefs hiding behind fat in place of developing flavor. Pacing for our courses was really poorly executed but we were sitting outside on a nice night so it wasn't the worst thing. I had a gin cocktail that was quite tasty. I might go back and just do a cocktail and the mozzarella bar next time.
(3)
Adam D.
One of my favorites in Chicago, the atmosphere matched with the specialty drinks are worthy of 5 stars alone. Add the food and service in the mix and it exceeds all expectations of a river north hot spot. I can't get enough if the kale caesar, the #5 drink, the meatball, the pizzas... and on and on.
(5)
Mandi P.
Surprisingly friendly and good food! I was hesitant to venture to Siena Tavern until this place cooled off a bit, but husBAND was insistent. We popped in a couple of weeks ago at about 8:00 pm to get some drinks and check the place out. We only waited about 7 minutes before we were able to score some seats at the overly crowded bar. The bartender was super friendly and the other patrons weren't snots at all...this little discovery perplexed me as I had imagined a totally different scene. We had a few drinks and the warm chocolate butter cake (OMG good!) and then moved on, but promising to return after seeing all of the food come out while seated at the bar. The following week we decided to hit Siena Tavern first and have dinner. We got there early...like 6:00 pm and scored some bar seats immediately. We drank for a couple of hours and then proceeded to order and eat. We ordered the Bufala Mozzarella to start which comes with bread. Very good and tasty! My husBAND ordered the Farro pasta and had a grilled chicken breast added. He loved it. I ordered the gnocchi...so freaking good. I practically licked my plate clean. We had anticipated letting our food settle and then try a different dessert to split, but our friend arrived and we got to talking and drinking. By the time we realized it was already 11:30 pm. So, we paid up and kept the party moving. Overall, very good food, decently priced, friendly service, and very low on the D-bag scale. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Chicago L.
Get the tartar - so good!! Had a great lunch eating at the bar here with friends. Food was all really good, including the pizza. Wine was chilled and poured by our wonderful bartender, Kris. He brought our birthday girl some of the most incredible "birthday cake ice-cream" that was to die for! Apparently it's made in-house and was absolutely spectacular. Great place!!
(5)
Carol L.
If you only eat one thing here, it should be the squid ink pasta. Wow. I also had and liked the pizza, beet salad and smoked mozzarella (served with honey comb) but the squid ink pasta was the stand out among the dishes and vs pasta at other Italian places. The gelato selection is very impressive too (10 flavors to choose from). I had blueberry lemon curd and strawberry pie.
(4)
Jenny F.
Definitely try the squid ink pasta - it's particularly delicious! Got the Italian Chianti by the glass as well - very smooth, simple wine. Also had the truffle pizza and pappardelle pasta (with bolognese sauce) - both good food - comfortable, not mind-blowing but very satisfying! The coccoli was a just okay - came recommended but a bit underwhelming. It's fried dough ball with prociutto and cheese - semi-cold dish - wasn't a huge fan.
(4)
Nycole H.
I've been here before for cocktails and I have to say that they are truly delicious. Today I came for a brunch meeting with two others. It was a very nice brunch. I love the decor it's so beautiful and crisp. Nothing out of place. Extremely nice staff. I ordered the Artichoke Omelet because it looked so different. I have to say it was really tasty. Slightly heavy on the egg though. I don't think the egg had to be so thick. The potatoes were good but I'd ask if I could substitute them out next time. They didn't wow me. I would definitely come back to try their Steak and Eggs and for more drinks though!
(4)
Mandy M.
YUM! We were here for a mid-afternoon meal...Linner? Dunch? No matter, anytime, it's totally worth it! We sat at an expansive booth inside. The bar area was buzzing and the dining area was starting to fill on the Friday afternoon. About what I would expect for this area at that time of day. Our server was attentive, friendly and very happy to talk about the menu and provide recommendations since we had not been previously. Coccoli....EAT IT! Seriously, I could not get enough of it into my pregnant mouth. I wanted to order more. If I could have, that would have been all I ate. Seriously...get it. Order 2 if you have more than 2 people. Hell, if you are by yourself order 2. It's totally worth it. Pillows of delicious cheesy goodness and do NOT forget to use the honey. mmmm honey and cheese. If we hadn't moved out of the city, I would be eating here all the time. But alas, we did not order more b/c we also ordered a pizza and pasta to share. Pappardelle and prosciutto pear pizza. Pasta was well done, which I think are all housemade, and the sauce was very good. I would say not stand out, but holds it's own as a stable pasta and sauce. Pizza was also very good flavor combo, super crispy crust. Good for a group outing to have a few pieces and share. Damn, now I am checking my calendar to see when we can get into the city and eat Coccoli. Fun experience, good place to go with group of friends. It's not quiet, industrial like decor but very cool and worth the wait if it is busy!
(5)
Caroline J.
My first experience at Siena Tavern was at an opening luncheon for the commercial tenants of my building, since Siena is attached. I was able to sample almost everything on the menu and I have to say, every SINGLE thing I had was incredible. Some of their food incorporates very interesting combinations of flavors that can sound a but off-putting, but everything ends up being amazing. Now having been back a few times for dinner, I can't speak highly enough of their truffle pizza (really all their pizzas). Additionally, I love their innovative drink menu. The drinks are definitely pricey, but I think they are worth it. I like the atmosphere at Siena because it's in a relatively large space, but still feels incredibly cozy and intimate. This is a great date-night place, but also good for after work cocktails or a girls' night out.
(5)
Suzanne B.
Luckily the food and atmosphere were good enough to offset the horrible service from the host to the MIA waitstaff. Everyone in my party of 6 ordered a different pasta dish and licked their plates clean. I had the short rib ravioli and would certainly order again! Will return for the food and ambiance but with the expectation that hosts and wait staff will be less than attentive.
(3)
Mimi C.
I love this restaurant! Everything we ordered (& shared) was delicious! I, particularly loved mine....Ink Pasta with Lobster....sooooooo good. And their signature appetizer...Coccoli...so different and delectable! We ordered 2 for 3 of us and 1 would have been plenty. Took 2 home. $$$ for Italian but worth it.
(5)
betsy b.
Came here to celebrate my birthday and had been waiting weeks to give it a try. Started off with a bottle of Prosecco and was excited to have those fancy champagne glasses. For apps we did the Colicco and brussel sprout salad. Both were amazing. For our meal we shared 2 pastas and a pizza. The butternut squash pasta the highlight of the night. I could have just ordered 3 more of those. I wish there had been more on the plate. The short rib ravioli was just meh but the pear and prosciutto pizza was killer. I really enjoyed everything we ate...I just wish there was a bit more on the pasta plates. I also had a first at Siena last night....I sent back a bottle of wine. I NEVER do that. But our server poured me a taste and it was un-drinkable. I even had him try it and he agreed. He was super understanding about the whole thing. Since I'd never done it before I was really sure what to expect. But he offered up another suggestions and it didn't disappoint. Can't wait to come back here and try more of the menu.
(4)
FoodLover Z.
Upscale, trendy American-Italian restaurant with delicious food. Highlights of our meal were the lobster hash, burnt brussels sprout pizza and monkey bread. The coffee and drinks were very good as well. The place isn't cheap, with brunch costing about 50 bucks per head with one drink pp. But the food is worth the $$$.
(5)
Naz G.
This place is great! Think you'd be happy with whatever you get as EVERYTHING looks amazing! Had brunch here today..the eggs benedict was absolutely perfect. Im a totally eggs benedict snob so when I say it was perfect...it was absolutely perfect! Love their version of the sauce. If you are craving something sweet, make sure to try the Monkeybread!
(4)
Marc-Louis P.
I've been to many of the newer Italian restaurants in Chicago and this place blows them away. It is a very open space so you don't feel cramped as you do in many trendy restaurants. Also, the service was great for being a Saturday night. Our server never made us feel rushed and allowed us to take our time. A very enjoyable experience. We went for my wife's birthday with a group of six people and everyone went home very pleased with their meal. For appetizers we ordered the fried dough (Coccoli, wow what a mix when tasted with the cheese and prosciutto), a pizza (Carne, it was good but I wouldn't order if for a meal), buffalo mozzarella (very good with the apricot jam mixture) and the the smoked mozzarella (the cheese was very good but the daisy leaves made it taste like eating flowers, not really loved by anyone). Each person ordered their own entree and everyone loved them. Chicken diavolo, short rib ravioli, tagliatelle, baked lasagna, rigatoni and gnocchi. I had the pleasure of the rigatoni(not something I would normally order but it was perfectly cooked pasta with a spicy sauce and lamb). I tried the lasagna which was very good but I would wait until it cools down quite a bit for the cheese to harden a little bit to give it a more gooey texture. I also tried he gnocchi was was perfect. It was not overdone and had a gorgeous and rich white sauce.
(5)
Christian V.
This place is absolutely AMAZING! We had brunch and loved everything we tried. BEST Bloody Mary Ive ever had. HIGHLY recommend this place!!! ChrissyVDR
(5)
Jennifer C.
As I went looking for a place to eat upon a night wandering the city I got back to my hotel and noticed Siena Tavern across the street. The name ringing a bell I got on Yelp to figure out why... the oh so Famous Fabio from Top Chef owns this place. So I knew I wouldn't be able to get in. So I wandered over. It was 7:15 and she said to check in the bar. The whole place was packed. The vibe is cool in there they have 2 huge bars and it is almost like the whole place is laid out around the bars it is a little loud but it didn't bother me as I was alone and it drowned out my thoughts of reason as I ate and drank far more then I should of seeing how I am on a diet. Oh but I snagged a seat at the bar. I am not sure if anyone was waiting on it but I saw it and waited a moment and asked if anyone was sitting there and when they said , " No" I took that prime seat and was super happy I had walked over! Because when I looked online the next weekend I can get a reservation in the evening is the end of May if I am ok with a 10 pm dinner. Going the no carb route I got the Osso Bucco and it was Absolutely Amazing. Served with Bone Marrow and a Farro Risotto it was mouth watering good! I am so so glad I didn't go with pasta or pizza I would get that every time it was falling off the bone and full of flavor! The bartender recommended the Bombolino ( I think that is it) a dessert which was basically 3 of the donuts with the sugar on the outside they come out warm and served along side 3 squeeze bottles of sauces to put on your donut. There is a Rasberry, a whiskey caramel and a nutella one . Oh my god. I died a bit thinking about this again. And either my face was reflective of the joy my meal was bringing me as a half dozen people asked me what I was eating through out the course of my meal or they could just tell it was that good! My bartender/server was great! Food was great and enjoyed watching the bartenders in action making their fun concoctions! Bravo Fabio it was fabulous can't wait to come back!
(5)
Ricky R.
Sister couldn't eat her octopus; my pasta was ok, but not excellent. Noisy if you want to have a conversation, but definitely the spot to be or be seen. Wine list was descent, a great selection of Italian wines. Service was on par to excellent, but lacked the fine dining feel attention . Will give it a second try, maybe with a group of my single buddies, but satisfaction is yet to be completed.
(2)
Phil T.
Thank the man upstairs I wore my checkered button down so I can match every other d-bag that act like they have money at this place! Yes its poshy but the food is good! The staff is great and very accomodating!! Advising great recommendations. Prices are pretty standard for River North, the beers are priced fairly on the lower end. Def add this place to your list of must go to's its worth it. The pizza w/ the marinated eggplant and burrata is to die for!
(4)
Ralph M.
Over-rated. I came thinking I would be blown away, but this place was very average. The service was great, the server was attentive and explained the dishes very well. The five cheese pizza was soggy with little flavor. We tried two different mozzarella appetizers which were both too salty. The parpadelle pasta was really good. The bomboloni dessert was great. They were donut balls in which you can inject your own flavor into. Overall, pretty good but does not live up to the hype.
(3)
dante M.
Grilled octopus and carne pizza are a must!!!
(5)
Ashlee W.
I ate at Siena Tavern last night for the first time and was I glad I did!! Food: The food was fantastic! I was pleasantly surprised. First we ordered the Coccoli which was delicious. It was really fresh prosciutto wrapped in cheese and served with small fried dough balls. They suggested that we use the doughballs to make a sort of sandwich with the ingredients. We sat by the back bar where they cook the pizzas in the stove.. so we had to order one!! We ordered the Carne pizza and it was great! The dough was fresh, the meats were the right type and the right amount and the cheese on the pizza was very fresh. The pizza was a very generous size for 2 to share! We also ordered the Wagyu Tartare which was light and delicious as well. And of course, I had to order dessert! We ordered the monkey bread which was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. The dessert was not too big or too small and was the right amount of bread and cream on top. I can not wait to go back and try what other items they have on the menu! The Ink Squid Linguine will definitely be tried next!! Service: Our service was great. We decided that we wanted to sit by the bar and order from there. Adam was our bartender. He never let our drinks go empty and perfectly timed all our food. The food arrived very hot from the food runners. Oh and a side note, Lance Briggs was eating at a table while I was there :) . Not bad Siena!
(5)
Melanie P.
This place is great for appetizers and drinks. Atmosphere is relaxed and perfect for socializing (not too loud). Coccoli is a must try and the cocktails are very inventive. Out waitress was very attentive and gave us some really great suggestions. She was knowledgeable about the food and flavors. We started off with the coccoli and kobe meatball. Both were good, but the meatball was a little more standard fare while the coccoli was something I had never seen before. Our main dishes were the gnocchi and spare rib ravioli. We enjoyed both but could have gotten away with only ordering 1 main entree to share after plowing through the 2 appetizers. The gnocchi melted in my mouth and the sage perfectly complemented it, the sauce was a bit heavy though. My husband enjoyed his ravioli the more he ate it, the sharper cheese was a little off putting on the first bite but was something that really paired well with the dish the further along he got. I would suggest going back with 4 people (most of the tables are built to accomodate at least 4), ordering 2-3 appetizers and 2 main dishes to share. I would also stick with the pasta, this is what Fabio is known for and the Chop House is right down the street if you want a steak. Lastly, unfortunately they were out of both beers my husband and I were interested in, Goose Island / Sienna collaboration and 3 Floyds Gumballhead but as mentioned above the cocktails were delicious and I don't think you could go wrong with ordering any one of them.
(4)
Derek D.
Amazing food and really smart staff. Love it
(5)
Kendra N.
Came here with my friend last night with no reservations, and ended up being able to get 2 seats at the bar. Before we arrived, I was a little nervous that the place would be slightly pretentious like RPM, but the atmosphere and service were incredible! We had the burrata mozzarella, gnocchi, and brussel sprout salad. All were amazing! Given that this place has only been open a few days, you'd expect a few kinks, but there were none to speak of! Will definitely be back soon! Ooh also saw Chef Fabio constantly greeting people and checking in on tables!
(4)
Morgan H.
I went for a business lunch here and will not be returning. The menu is incredibly limited for anyone with a dietary restriction. I'm pescetarian, which usually leaves plenty of options open - not here. I had a few salads to choose from, and one pasta dish (all the other pastas are cooked in chicken stock). I opted for the kale Caesar, which is maybe half a handful of kale and a whole bunch of cheese, with two sun-dried tomato pieces, for $14. Massively overpriced. The fries are seemingly fine, but mostly crumbs. The cauliflower side was incredibly tangy - I couldn't put my finger on what exactly was wrong with them, but whatever it was, they were overpowering. The service was pretty awful - it took over an hour to get our food and there were only 5 of us in an almost empty restaurant. Servers were hanging out and having a great time together, but not at all interested in checking in on their tables. Drink orders were mixed up (we ordered water, an iced tea, a sprite and a Coke. Not complicated.) Sides were forgotten. So...in closing, you'll be investing WAY too much money for sub-par food, and be spending WAY too much time doing it, to make this place worth it. There are plenty of other options within a one or two block radius.
(2)
Fuudcritic C.
1 star for service for BRUNCH. 4 stars for food. WAAYYY TOOOO many staff and very poor service. I'm guessing that this brunch thing is all new to them but gosh...it's hard to believe that even with all that staff it was hard to find anyone. They were all clumped up in the bar area talking or nowhere to be found. Food always excellent though. I'd go back.
(1)
Sarv C.
Very disappointed with the service and food booked more than a month ahead and once we got there we had to wait by the bar for 30 minutes and didn't get the table till we followed up... So basically we were left on our own...menu is so confusing and took our waitress almost 3 minutes to explain it to us! We ordered farro salad which was an absolute let down. No taste at all. Cocooli was ok but nothing to go back for. Gnocchi was over cooked and covered with butter.. We won't be back and not recommended at all.
(2)
Amy J.
This place is definitely worth trying. Heard good things about this place so my girlfriends and I decided to go for dinner and drinks on Sunday night. Service was good and our food came out quickly. We started with the burrata, hamachi, fries, and hearts of palm. The burrata and hamachi were delicious!! Yum yum yum!! The fries and salad were blah. For entrees, we decided to try the spaghetti, short rib ravioli, squid ink linguini, and truffle mushroom pizza. The squid ink pasta was amazing!!!! The pasta was perfectly done and the creamy sauce was a perfect match for the accompanying lobster. The truffle pizza was really good too despite how greasy it was. My girlfriends liked the spaghetti more than I did; in my opinion, it was nothing special. Our (collective) least favorite choice was the ravioli. It was a great big disappointment. Don't waste your money. Balls of flavorless mush enveloped in pasta. For dessert, we ordered the bomboloni. We accidentally ordered two but when the second bag came out, no one objected. They were just too good. And all three sauces were perfect! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Siena Tavern -highly recommended!! I'll be going back a second time for sure.
(5)
Helen T.
Squid ink linguini really delish!!! The sauce is amazing!
(5)
Bri B.
The food was alright. It wasn't the absolute best Italian, but it was ok. The service was okay as well. One guy hit me over the head with the mussels, but it was okay, he apologized. The waiter wasn't very attentive or personable, just sort of there to work, so the overall experience could have been better, but the decor was pretty interesting and the food was okay. I MIGHT go back...but that's a BIG MIGHT. We started with the Coccoli- I could see the flavor palate they were going for, but it was a little sweet, but still decent. The Bar Harbor Mussels, I enjoyed. If you like red tomato sauce, you'd enjoy them. The mussels weren't fishy either. My partner didn't care for it so much as a dish however. The Gnocchi- Now this was my favorite. It melted in my mouth. Delicious!! Butternut Squash Tortellacci- a very sweet dish, so if you want sweet for dinner, then definitely go for it. The spaghetti carbonaraA- eh. I've had much better. It was a bit dry and not very much flavor, even with the bacon. Truffle Mushroom Pizza- Again, I've had much better. Not very flavorful, very mediocre. Piece has waaayy better pizza. Burnt Pepperoni pizza- I would just feed that to my kid who only eats pepperoni. Lots of red pepper, which I love red pepper, but it was used as a main flavor for the pizza instead of putting in actual flavor.
(3)
Molly A.
unique and delicious food! the cocktail list looked good as well, but i wasn't in the mood to imbibe, so i'll have to check that component out another time. the brussels sprout salad and the farro salad were top notch, and the kobe meatball was to die for (i even bought one to pack up and bring home to my husband). swanky atmosphere and lots of high-caliber eye contact situations available at the giant main bar. loves it!
(4)
Lori S.
We were really excited to try Siena Tavern as we have been seeing many appetizing photos and heard many great reviews. I went on a Monday night, it was pretty empty. We ordered a truffle mushroom pizza which was very delicious and the size pleased the table. We also ordered a BUTTERNUT SQUASH TORTELLACCI and it was very tasty. I would definitely recommend this. As for the entrees, we ordered a squid ink pasta, sea bass, and the 36 oz Porterhouse because we had heard exceptional things about their steaks. It's a good thing the pasta and fish were tasty because the steak missed the mark on every level and it took about 45min-1 hour to get the food in an empty restaurant. The steak was ordered medium rare and arrived medium well. It also had a very unappetizing texture and I can honestly say it was one of the worst steaks I have ever had. Our server was great throughout the entire meal and very attentive with the issues. The manager was called to the table after waiting 45 minutes for our meal and apologized by offering us a free desert. We weren't extremely happy so he offered us a round of drinks as we continued to wait. After the steak mishap, he again apologized, noting that it was indeed way overcooked. He comped the steak but both bad experiences make me reluctant to bring people here and try it again. Overall: Pastas and desert were very good but the rest of the menu and kitchen still needs a lot of work.
(3)
Ben T.
Great pizza and cocktails....brick chicken is great also. A lot of talent here ;)
(3)
Coll P.
What a phenomenal dinner we had at Siena Tavern! It started off a little rocky...we were sitting for over ten minutes before any server acknowledged us. That is, until the busboy went over to a server and told him we were waiting and then winked at us! :) We ordered food to share between four people as we wanted to taste a lot of things and I'm so glad we went this route! We for sure looked like gluttons but it was so so good and after tax & tip it was $47 a person! We started with the coccoli which was my FAVORITE thing we ate. It's fried dough balls, served on a platter of prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and basil oil. You are supposed to tear open the dough balls and shove in the goodness and make a quasi-sandwich. Ohhhhh my, so good. We also started with the waygu beef meatball which was huge, moist and had a bit of a lemony flavor to it. Very nice. On to the harvest salad that had all kinds of goodies in it (apple, candied hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds) and a refreshing spiced apple vinaigrette. We then chose a pasta-the butternut squash tortellacci. There were five ravioli-like pieces of butternut squash pasta in a brown sugar buttery creamy sauce. This dish is rich and understandably served small, as I was content with my one piece. Finally, we ordered two pizzas. Wrong decision as we were stuffed and barely put a dent in either. We assumed these would be like flatbreads but they're very big and could easily feed two. We ordered one with all different meats on it and one with pear, arugala and garlic cream. The latter was more of my kind of flavor, but I would have preferred them both to be cooked a little longer. All in all a wonderful meal! The icy on top of the entire visit was seeing Fabio at the bar, checking out the madness. Not ONE person was bothering him, and well, I didn't want to be THAT person, but it was very exciting! Cheers!
(5)
Chicago S.
Very good pizzas and pasta. You have to check this place out! I tried the grilled octopus that was amazing. It's definitely worth trying.
(5)
RT R.
Went there for Sunday brunch and it was yummy - I had the mushroom pizza and it was really delicious. I'm a huge fan of mushrooms, and this pizza did not disappoint. Friends had the usual brunch items - eggs benedict and were happy. The service was a little flaky, but great ambiance, and we got a table pretty easily.
(4)
Alice S.
Overall, had a great dining experience here! Started with the coccoli... amazing. could not get enough of the truffle honey on the plate either. kinda wanted to lick it off the plate... The meatball, gigantic, and super tender. Never had a meatball like this before, melt in your mouth deliciousness. Had the chopped salad, was... chopped salad. Nothing extraordinary about it, but nothing bad either. Short rib ravioli was great. Alot of restaurants seem to be throwing short rib raviolis on their menu these days, but they do it up right at siena tavern. Also ordered the carbonara. Carbonara flavors were all good, but was a bit disappointed that our pasta was not cooked all the way through. Had a bit of a crunch to it. If the pasta had been cooked properly I think I would have definitely enjoyed the carbonara. Ordered the carne pizza, it was good but nothing super amazing about it. Ended the savory portion of our meal with the osso bucco. Super tender and amazing! Had the bombolini for dessert... dipped in the whiskey caramel sauce? whew! I die! so good! Will definitely go back to try some more dishes on the menu!
Been here 3 times recently, and each time the bartenders have all made spot-on Old Fashioned's. That's enough to keep me coming back already, and I haven't had any food yet. That said: Gnocchi...amazing. Pizza...more than hits the spot. This chocolate gelato cake thing for dessert...on point. Want to have the Porterhouse and Wagyu meatball...and everything else too. My only complaint is that I don't live next door. (Probably for the best)
(5)
Faye B.
I went here once to grab a bite before a show at House of Blues. Mostly all I remember I remember how loud it was and crowded. Luckily we got seated outside where it wasn't so loud that my husband and I couldn't talk.
(3)
Cathy H.
This was my second time dining at Siena Tavern. Both times, I ate early, at 3:45 pm & 4:45 pm. The resto was not crowded at all. Many tables were still empty.Both times we got sat at the high-top tables behind the host stand. If you are short like me, 5'2, this is not a good seat because your feet don't touch the floor if you sit on the booth side. And, there is no bar for a foot rest.My legs started falling asleep. :0 Service was good the first visit and just okay the second visit. Dishes I loved: bone marrow w/maitake mushrooms and shaved fennel, gnocchi(made in house), and the bomboloni with the 3 sauces you could inject into each of the four bombolonis. Dishes I enjoyed and would order again: coccoli, homemade burrata, Bar Harbor mussels, squid ink linguini, the hamachi, and the tiramisu. Dish I probably wouldn't order again: the grilled octopus was cooked perfectly, but in my opinion, the overall dish was just okay. I did love the crispy potatoes in it! But, there are so many other things I would like to try at Siena Tavern before revisiting the octopus. Some of my friends said they did not like the night crowd at Siena Tavern, but I just come for the tasty food! Check out my photos on Foodspotting!
(4)
Samuel B.
Eating here late night on mardi gras before heading back to hotel for more sleep and meetings! Ambiance is right, not too loud or soft. Food is overpriced but when seeking late night nourishment the bartenders are eager to serve right before the kitchen closes. One drink and an appetizer should suffice most expensive late night cravings.
(5)
Chrysa L.
I seriously cannot give Siena Tavern anything less than a five star review. I had the gnocchi with crispy sage, prosciutto, and truffle cream. Absolutely divine. I was also surprised that the portion was a decent size. (Sometimes, with restaurants like this one, they give you five pieces of gnocchi and expect that to be your lunch.) The five of us could not stop raving about the parmesan/sage fries -- even using our fingers to swipe up every last bit of parmesan dust. For dessert, gelato was ordered and scarfed down. We also had an order of the Bomboloni - essentially a sugar-crusted doughnut. However, they bring four little squeeze bottles with different flavored creams and you can inject your "doughnut" with your choice of cream. I used the whisky-caramel and it was beyond delicious. To top it all off, the manager stopped by our table to ensure we were enjoying our visit. Our waiter was great. The wine list is extensive. The space itself is quite beautiful. Fabio (and his crew) did a fantastic job!
(5)
Dinna Y.
No food review here just drinks. Great spot to see friends with the circular bar. Moscow mules are very fresh and flavorful here and in a cool metal coffee-mug-like cup. Service was great. Our waitress was back often even when we already closed our tab. Can't wait to try the food there. Great ambiance too!
(5)
Rob C.
I had dinner with 4 others here and we started off with the Coccolio which was excellent. We ordered 5 different entres and split them. Below is how I would rank them: 1. Rack of lamb 2. Porterhouse 3. Brick Chicken 4. Ossobucco 5. Branzino The lamb had a great sweet and spicy flavor to it. The porterhouse we ordered medium rare and was nice and tender and grilled with herbs and full of flavor. The brick chicken was great but the star was the side it came with, the sticky parmesan potatos. It was full of flavor! For dessert I would highly recommend these fluffy kind of donuts they served with 3 bottles of different flavors to inject them with. They came in these small plastic bottles, one was caramel whiskey, raspberry and nutella. We ordered another dessert but we devoured this one and the other one, not so much. Great scene in the place. I was there on a bitterly cold Tuesday night yet it was still packed. Our server was Kate Lynn and she was excellent. She was friendly attentive and knew the menu inside out. Highly recommend this place for dinner or a night out by the bar area.
(4)
T M.
This place is great for drinks at the bar or dinner on the patio. I had the double cut pork chop and it was excellent!
(4)
Irbad C.
This place has been my "go to" spot not only for food but socializing as well. Patrons and bartenders are very nice and easy to talk to. Ambiance is great and what is there not to love about Dj Jesse. For those of you from St. Louis,MO, this place is the closest thing to Lucas Park Grille! Minus the dbags.
(5)
Susie L.
My review in a nutshell: Really great good, teeny-tiny portions, overpriced, but in a fun location. If I want Italian food, I go somewhere on Halsted. If I'm all dressed up and about to go out with my friends in River North and we need small plates, I go here.
(3)
Lea R.
Ok - The 3 stars is for the Pizza alone. We are neighborhood & decided to try Sienna again after a really expensive 2 salads & 2 drinks that it worth a 2nd visit. So we braved the snow storm gave Siena Tavern another chance. As I cannot remember the exact day - Someone managed to drop / knock over an entire crate of glasses in the hallway during our visit in January. So I am walking to & back from the bathrooms... seriously call your plumber. It stinks of sewage in the hallway outside the kitchen & bathrooms. Ummmmm - can't blame heat as it is -20 wind chill out. We had 2 waitresses & neither managed to keep up with our tables needs. Fresh glass of wine.... crickets... serve yourself from the bar. Fend off too enthusiastic table cleaners. Ummm, some of us do try to enjoy our meal and don't wolf it done like a last meal. Your sweet & on top of it but ask if your unsure. Wine... crickets.... Check.... crickets..... When we finally got some attention & the check we moved kitty corner over to Keefers for our after dinner cocktail. At least they know to keep checking on customers. Mind you this was not a busy evening. Chicago was beginning the Polar Vortex and there was no reason for us to be ignored by our servers as the bar area was not filled. I will also reiterate what we paid for 4 glasses of wine & a margarita pizza is CRAZY over priced. The pours are very cheap for $XX on a bottle you could buy for $x. Yes, you are paying for atmosphere, but we have been here several times and have never felt we were treated so wonderfully that the $ was worth it. After all of our visits - Siena Tavern is OFF our visit list. I am sure they will do just fine without us.
(3)
Jennifer H.
We had a casual early dinner here. Drinks, food, service all were good. Would definitely check it out again!
(4)
Jodi W.
Cool vibe and great food. Would go back and try items. The octopus was fleshy and not chewy. Great wine list.
(4)
Julie A.
What is the hype? The drinks are pre-mixed and totally average, on a Friday don't even think about sitting at the bar (at 5:00pm). We had the margarita pizza (meh) but the Shisito peppers were great, as well as the donuts and the burrata.
(3)
Bret D.
For lunch, I think you could do better for a business meet-up. However, if you're in River North, you'll do just fine here. The pastas are good for lunch. If you're going with a burger, you could probably dance around elsewhere in the dozen or so meat-oriented restaurants within a four-block radius. I'll give this a straight-up 2.5 star rating. The three stars is rounding up. Good...Not bad...Not bad...Good. BD
(3)
Jamie A.
Was really impressed with this place. The truffle mushroom pizza and kale Caesar salad were amazing. The atmosphere was lively and the music fun. Our server was also really attentive but not overly attentive and really friendly. Definitely will be visiting again
(5)
Thomas G.
This was a big dinner out with my family. Now, that may not sound like a big deal, but when you have three teenagers, getting together for dinner is a big deal. That's what we did at Siena Tavern a couple of nights ago. And our waiter, Tariq (I hope I'm spelling that right), made it awesome. He was endlessly patient with our many questions, made the right calls on food, was honest about the menu, brought us samples of wine and beer unasked for, and was all-around awesome. The food? Excellent. Best meal I've had in a long time. Literally no flaws. But great food isn't the same without a great waiter, and Tariq was that. Thank you my friend.
(5)
Lonnie A.
I love sienna tavern! Great food. Always fresh and consistent. Great bar area and atmosphere is fun and inviting. The meatball is a must try, so are the doughnuts. The burnt pepperoni pizza if very classic, add arugula to lighten it up.
(4)
L. Danovia ..
Husband and I shared a pizza for lunch recently. We had a reservation and was seated immediately. Pizza was delish, im a big fan of a chewy crust. I was so full that I didnt get a chance to order some of their famous gelato. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Jennifer C.
I like this place. I went on a Saturday at 6 pm with my mom and husband. My mom is a huge fan of top chef so she wanted to come to this restaurant as soon as she heard it was opening. To drink I had the no. 4 which was awesome and filled with lavendery goodness. For apps we had the coccoli (awesome! Yummy little make your own sandwiches) and ahi tuna from the crudo bar (also delish). For main courses we had the gnocchi with pancetta, truffle cream, and fried sage (rich but very good), brick chicken with crispy Parmesan potatoes (the potatoes were good but the chicken was just ok), and the seafood brodetto ( I didn't love this, but it was good when you dipped the bread in the broth, however, unless you are a HUGE fan of seafood I would probably try something else). For dessert we had the bomboloni (doughnuts with chocolate, caramel, and raspberry sauces. Yummy!!) and cannoli with pistachio gelato (just ok). Overall this restaurant is worth a try. I would definitely go back for apps, drinks, and the bomboloni dessert. In regards to service, not bad but it could certainly use some improvement to be 5 star worthy. Are waitress was nice enough, but was kind of MIA at times. The bigger problem though was the 8 or so employees who were congregating below us during our whole meal ( we were sitting up high in a both). It's kind of distracting while your eating having a bunch of people standing, talking, and texting people on their phones in close proximity to you.
(4)
M J.
It's true - the brick chicken has absolutely no flavor and there are no salt shakers in sight. Hey chef, if you're going to be cocky enough to keep salt shakers off the table make sure you put some seasoning on the food (the meatballs were bland as well.) I'll give props to the tasty salted caramel gelato (there's the salt!) but I'm not sure why it would take 15+ minutes for a pre-ordered desert to arrive after entree plates were cleared (BTW, it was like pulling teeth trying to get someone to wrap leftovers). Unfortunately the attractive interior and semi-celebrity connection will keep this place busy, which will keep them from improving and becoming a destination for people who enjoy food.
(2)
Allison H.
Good solid food and consistent service. I've been here a few times for both lunch and dinner. It's been busy all of those times and required reservations. For drinks, I've had both their sangria and special draft beer brewed for them by Goose Island. Both were wonderful and I would highly recommend either of them depending on your tastes. For appetizers, I've had the coccoli everytime. It's really good though definitely heavy since it consists of bread, meat, and cheese. What's not to like there? I've only had the tuscan kale caesar of the salads, which I thought was great and inspired me to make one of my own. For pizzas, I've had the baby artichoke, and burnt pepperoni. The pizzas are kind of underwhelming and the baby atichoke isn't even on the menu which I think was a good move. The burnt pepperoni is pretty much a standard pepporoni pizza. For pastas, I've tried the short rib ravioli, gnocchi, and orecchiette. They were all delicious and you wouldn't go wrong ordering any one of those. The food has been good everytime I've gone but everything is very rich so I would recommend sharing. An entire plate of the gnocchi to yourself would really be too much.
(4)
Mindy B.
I was so excited about trying this restaurant which is maybe why maybe it loomed larger in my mind then reality. The food was fine the service was fine. The lack of options on the menu is where I guess it just didn't work for me. It was very trendy. Also they wouldn't give me a booth even though I requested it 3 months prior when I made the reservation.
(3)
Jade W.
We walked into the bar area. The bar was dead as it was so nice outside and the patio was jamming. The bartender greeted us and gave us drink menus to mull over, and stated he would be with us shortly. Shortly seemed like a very long time considering the bar was not busy. It seemed as there was only (1) bartender on duty. Servers were lined up waiting for their drinks. We knew it would be quite some time before he would be able to get to us, so we left and scooted our way to Mercadito, and received fabulous and quick service.
(2)
Zac R.
Excellent pasta & pizza. Delicious cheeses Great service. Hip vibe.
(4)
Cecilia V.
Delicious!! Yumm! Must try the octopus appetizer and the black linguini with crab. My mouth was in pure heaven!
(5)
Casey Z.
I'm really disappointed by Siena Tavern. A year and a half ago I came here and felt the same sentiment. When I wrote a review that was unfavorable, I was contacted and offered a redo meal on the house which was fantastic. I came here again because my boyfriend wanted to try it and to my dismay the experience was exactly like my first experience here: bland and expensive. I don't mind an expensive meal as long as the food is worth it, but unfortunately this food is just sooo not worth it. In summation, I'm over this place. If your looking for an amazing italian restaurant in Chicago go to La Scarola, Quartino, or Briciola.
(1)
Stephanie H.
I went here for a coworker's birthday yesterday for lunch. We made a reservation, which is quite necessary for such a new, hopping restaurant. The hosts were very warm and welcoming, and we were seated immediately. Our server also greeted us promptly, and we were served water right away. Our server gave us recommendations/her favorites, which was good to hear since the menu has a lot to offer. The 6 of us ended up sharing the farro pasta, margherita pizza, burnt pepperoni pizza, and mushroom pizza. 2 people also ordered the turkey panini and kobe meatball sandwich, but those were a little more difficult to share. Everything I tried was good, especially the pasta. However, I thought the pizza at La Madia on Grand was better. The pizza at Siena Tavern was definitely tasting, but seemed to be lacking that extra boost of flavor. It was also very, very soft so we all had to fold the pieces over so it wouldn't completely flop over. I had a taste of someone's fries as well, which were really good. The service was great from everyone -- one of the managers stopped by to make sure everything was to our liking. The decor was trendy, and I loved that there were so many bars to sit at. Siena Tavern is definitely a great, new place to try!
(4)
Sally D.
The food, the service and the ambiance all fabulous! Our server was great, she made great suggestions and all of them were excellentl! We started with the Coccoli and the Wagyui Beef meatball antipasti - both delicious! Our entrees were all just as enjoyable. We finished with the Bomboloni for dessert - wow! So good! I can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu - in fact I just made reservations. We had a seat by the window and the people watching on a warm Saturday night was an extra bonus! Go, you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Brian M.
Chef Fabio's 4 week old new spot in Chicago! Definitely was high on my bookmark list to try! Sort of unfair to Siena is that I walked in with very high expectations. The decor of this place was awesome. Very Restoration Hardware and high-end lounge feel to the place. We started with grilled octopus, bone marrow and mussels. Our server was great in putting in the order in waves so it was one dish at a time versus it all just being dumped on us. The mussels were very good! It was served in this amazingly good tomato broth that had these tasty chunks of tomato in them! In fact one person in the group was more focused on eating the tomatoes than the mussels! The gilled octopus was the best I have ever had! It was meaty, tender and clearly seasoned to perfection. Eat bite had great taste and smoky flavor! Loved how there was a slight hint of spiciness with the peppers, celery and octopus. The bone marrow was full flavored, rich fatty goodness offset by the acid from the balsamic marinated mushrooms. We ordered as a table pizza, pesto pasta and gnocchi. The gnocchi was creamy, soft and pure comfort food. The pesto pasta was the best entree ordered! That pesto sauce was to die for. The pizza was good but the pesto clearly was the meal of the night. The cocktails were extremely well made and tasted very good. Only downer of the night was that Chef Fabio wasn't there. It's a must try spot!
(5)
Andrea C.
Took my husband here for his birthday this year. End to end, our experience was fabulous. We LOVE Top Chef and especially loved Fabio on the show, so I was hopeful, but not counting on him being there on a Monday night. Low and behold he was! But more on that later. Everything on the menu looked fab, so we had drinks to start and peruse. I chose a version of a Moscow mule and he went for a Manhattan. Our geography themed choices were both top notch. To start we had the bufala mozzarella which melted in our mouths. For our mains, he had the short rib ravioli which apparently was good because I didn't even get a bite. I had the orecchiette, which...yum! You had me at chili flake. We didn't think we could possibly have room for dessert, but we made room when Fabio came over because he heard it was my husband's birthday and suggested the Bambaloni and Tiramisu. Who were we to turn down his delightful Italian accent and what were promised to be donuts from heaven? For the record, Fabio did not lie to us and both desserts were delicious. I can't wait to return and try so many more things!
(5)
Shakila M.
I was not impressed with Siena Tavern but this could have been because I was with a large group from work or because I didn't order one of the dishes they specialized in. I would give them another try, but only if someone else was paying.
(3)
Melissa P.
Get the gnocchi. Literally melts in your mouth. Meatball and squid ink linguini are must-haves as well. Great service, need a reservation, casual. Relaxed vibe. They have a great wine cellar room that seats 12-14.
(4)
Annabelle P.
This place has exceptional service and wonderful food! Our dinner last night was spectacular.
(5)
Karisma E.
Love the drinks and Squid Ink Linguini! Will be back!
(5)
Erika H.
I was so very disappointed by the food at this restaurant. It just does not compare to the great eateries in Chicago such as Girl and the Goat, Avec, Purple Pig, etc. Worst of it all was the fact that it was so expensive. Otherwise, everything else was great. The service and staff was superb, way better I would even say than the aforementioned restaurants. I know this review won't accomplish much as many people love this restaurant, but if you're an absolute real foodie like myself, I would say to skip this one.
(2)
Hauwei L.
One of my new favorite places for brunch or food in general. 4 of us ordered the breakfast in a jar, the biscuits and gravy, the fresh made donuts, and the omelette. Everything was well prepared, very tasty, and rich. Don't come here if you're on a diet. Do come here if you want filling portions and pretty fancy food for pretty reasonable price.
Edited: The rule of the playground is, "first is the worst, second is the best, third is the one with the diamond chest." Well, in the case of my follow-up visit, second was the worst. Very disappointed because the the waiter recommended the wagyu meatball over the coccoli (apparently the meatballs have a twitter following), but I was not impressed. Not bad but they pale in comparison to the coccoli. Also had the brick chicken, which was the blandest thing I've eaten in a while. It had no salt! Don't get me wrong, I don't like overly salty things but this had none. Even my friend agreed. The bomboloni were pedestrian. Met expectations but didn't do anything else. Overall, I think Siena may be a 2-star rating but I bumped it up on account of the coccoli being so memorably amazing on my first visit. Kinda scared for a third potential visit. I googled the playground rule and apparently it also could end with "third is the one with the hairy chest." No thank you. **************************************************Â********************************** Review for food only as we ate outside on a relatively nippy evening at end of September. We avoided the wait for an indoor table (as well as the steady stream of douche and plastic coming in). Really though, the wait was at least an hour for two people despite us dining old people style and eating dinner at 5 pm. We started with the burrata and the coccoli, both of which were top notch. The fig and honey in the burrata was good, but it's hard to mess up burrata. The coccoli was decadent, and the marriage of the prosciutto, honey, pesto, cheese and truffle will have me back again. The fried dough was a little oily for my taste (this ain't Paula Dean's establishment) but was a unique thing for me. The gnocchi was good too but nothing I haven't had before; very rich in a buttery white cream sauce with pancetta. The short rib ravioli was ok but again very rich and heavy. Probably was a result of the butter, red wine and mushroom sauce. A bit on the pricier side but to be expected given the neighborhood and celebrity chef. I felt like the value for the short rib ravioli was the worst at nearly 20 bones for 5 pieces. But this is always an issue with small plates. Service was ok. The waiter was not intrusive but was a bit distant. Glad he steered us away from the foccacina but he could have done it in a less pejorative way. He gets a gold star for being so direct and candid. I would like to come here again, probably for lunch and try out the meatball.
(3)
Rachel S.
Holy mackerel, this place is a ball of crazy. The fiance and I stopped in here after dinner the other night to check it out, have a drink or two. First off, we were there at a slightly awkward time, around 9:30, so the dinner crowd was lingering, but the clubby types had arrived en masse. (Let me say, for the record, I was not expected clubby types at this place, but boy did they represent). Plusses: I had a glass of prosecco that was decent and was served in a champagne saucer which was utterly charming. Also, though I can hardly imagine how it could have been more crowded, there seemed to be enough standing room to not feel completely claustrophobic. Minuses: wowzers, douche-bag city. If that's your scene, no judgement, that might be a plus for you, but not so much for me. At one point a certain gentleman fitting the above description jostled my arm and caused me to spill the better portion of aforementioned prosecco down my silk blouse. And he didn't even notice. Also, at least at the back bar, there were only two beers on tap, which disappointed my gentleman companion. I can't speak to the food, I only witnessed the (somewhat schizophrenic) decor, atmosphere, and a single glass of bubbly.
(3)
Denise P.
One of the Best Meals I've had in a long time. Arrived at 1:30pm for a late lunch. Sat at the bar and observed the scene. Great atmosphere and a really good vibe. Was greeted by Miss Samantha who presented me a wine list and menu. She did not rush me and allowed me to take my time in making my wine and lunch selections. Started with the house made Burratta (simply fabulous). The Tomato jam and the accent of the Sea Salt rounded out the creamy texture of the cheese. A nice spoonful of all three on too of the Garlic toasted bread, yummmmmm! For lunch I had the Tagliatelle with a double shaving of Summer Black Truffles. Nuff said about that. I think I will be dreaming of this dish tonight while I sleep (it was that good). Finished off my meal with the Bombolino. Very light and fluffy (almost Zeppole like) doughnuts that came with the cutest sauce squeeze bottles. Whiskey-Carmel, Chocolate-Hazelnut, and Rasberry-Chianti sauces allowed you to experiment with these little delightful treats. Thank You Miss Samantha and Thank You Siena Tavern for a very wonderful afternoon. Ciao, Ciao'
(5)
Dawn B.
Tomato jam is ridiculous. Gnocchi also a winner. Be sure to ask for the s'more gelato (off menu) Insanely good. Tariq is also an insanely good waiter. Will definitely ask for him next time.
Ordered the No. 16 cocktail at the bar at the bar while I was waiting for the rest of the reservation party to arrive and it was exactly as it was described! Then as everyone arrived and we were seated, we decided to order the various things that were recommended on here: Gnocchi, Truffle Mushroom Pizza, and the Kale Caesar Salad. Bonus: they had Three Floyds on tap! All of the dishes were delicious and we're looking forward to returning to try more dishes here.
(5)
Ben K.
Oh my lord. This place is all hype. For an American Italian restaurant, I thought that the food quality was something that you would expect. I would say that the food quality was similar to Quartino for instance. They say their thing is making everything in house. Do they want a badge for that or something? With all of the other claims and prices, they better be making everything in house. My wife and I were there at 5:15 because, surprise!, that's the best reservation we could get and we wanted to try it. The decor is trendy, and the space has a very "new" and corporate feel. Nothing rustic that you might expect form the name, or the food. For some reason I kept thinking about Wildfire when we were in there. That is disappointing. Our server was nice and we ordered some drinks and the meatball to start. So weird-- The meatball came immediately and the drinks took a while. The timing was odd. Why would they do that? The meatball came out, and I'm not joking, 60 seconds after our server walked away with our app and drink order. There was a group of high school girls with one of their moms sitting next to us. They were talking about how they didn't have homecoming dates so this is what they were doing instead. I can totally appreciate that. There was this guy who was a server working there who would kind of stand around so the girls would notice him. How bruised must his ego be if he's striving for the attention of 16 year olds? It was creepy and also embarrassing. What a loser. My wife had pappardelle bolognese and I had a spaghetti with crab. Both were good, although small. We weren't expecting some weird Maggiano's portions but we did turn down dessert. We didn't want to risk the disappointment. We were out of there by 6:30. The service was too fast and a poor experience. With tip, the bill was $125 or so. Lastly, I want to say something about the crowd. At first, it felt as if everyone had come in from the suburbs to try this place. I realized that this was Fabio Viviani's place (I had to Google him before we went). This meant nothing to me and really continues to mean nothing to me. They use the Top Chef thing which has some serious marketing power and they are riding that hype well. There was just a strong JC Penney aesthetic in the clientele that you don't really come across at a lot of other downtown restaurants when you are off Michigan Avenue. All in all, the vibe was bad because of the crowd was lame, the food was good but there wasn't enough of it, and the service was terribly timed and poorly executed. The food tasted good but was not memorable, and this place is a total pass.
(2)
D. S.
Went after an art show in the loop and had a great time sitting at the pizza bar. Adrian was pleasant and attentive- would definitely sit at his bar again. Really enjoyed the veggie pizza and pappardelle! Rhubarb dessert was way too sweet for my taste- rhubarb is supposed to be tart. wished we would have done the gelato instead! Maybe just a difference in personal taste though.
(4)
Chirag P.
Being a big Chef Fabio fan from Top Chef I had to go there. All i have to say is try anything or everything. Enjoy. Seriously, i like EVERYTHING I HAD. But definitely try the coccoli anitpasti and the burrata from the mozzarella bar... after that have at it and try any of the pastas, pizzas. I've been there twice and had different things each time... stressing again... all good. They have some nice cocktails too, try the #2 or #8. Decor is very trendy modern chic, but it's casual dress which is nice.
(5)
Rebecca M.
Wow. I read previous reviews before we went to Siena Tavern and knew I was going to get a great meal... but this place far exceeded my expectations. Six of us came here on a Saturday night before seeing a show. Even during our 5:30 reservation, the place was busy. First good sign. My sister-in-law and her boyfriend were running late, but my husband and I, along with my in-laws, got seated right away. We ordered drinks and our server offered up some suggestions for appetizers. Both my husband and I had the Siena Draft, a beer brewed specifically for Siena. We are both beer snobs, and thought this one was good. Not incredible, but good. For an appetizer, we had the Grilled Octopus, which was delicious. We also ordered a couple cheeses -- the gorgonzola and the pecorino. Both were amazing, but the cheese portions are insanely small. There was actually only enough for one small piece of each cheese for each of us -- and for $7/cheese, I wasn't too pleased with that. And then the best part... the actual meal! I was lucky enough to try most everything that everyone ordered, so here's my two cents: - Pizza Bar: I ordered the Carne pizza (sausage, bacon, salami and more) and it was awesome. I would absolutely, 100% get this pizza again. My FIL ordered the Wild Boar pizza (butternut squash and a bunch of other things I don't really know) and it had the most unique taste for a pizza I've ever had. It had a sweetness to it. It was great, but I probably would never order it. - Pasta: My husband ordered the Orecchiette, which had sausage, spices and pecorino cheese... and it was so good -- highly recommend. My MIL ordered the Pasta in a Jar. Normally, I would not try this because it has mushrooms in it, but everyone was saying what a unique taste it had, so I had to take a small bite. It was also very delicious. My SIL ordered the Gnocci, and it was by far the best dish I tasted that night. When I go back to Siena, I will definitely get this pasta. - Meat: My SIL's boyfriend got the lamb, which I didn't try, but he said it was really great. The meat fell off the bones -- always a good sign!
(5)
Taylor D.
Today, I went to Siena for lunch for the first time. First of all, the place was packed at 1pm on a Tuesday, but we were seated quickly as we had a reservation. To start, we ordered some prosciutto and goat cheese. Both of these were delicious. For my entree, I ordered the orecchiette pasta with prosciutto sausage, watercress, and parmesan cheese. This was in a white wine sauce, but I have to say, that it was too salty for my taste, but the overall flavor was good. Service was just okay. I will be back to try something else on the menu. The pizzas sounded really good, but being an Italian, I had to try the pasta.
(3)
Ignacio D.
I have been to Siena five times now. Four for food and one for drinks. Out of the trendy Italian places in Chicago (where I would include RPM, Nico and others) I still think Siena ranks highest. As a good Italian restaurant should be to me, the trick is in the pizzas and pastas. Simply fantastic. The gnocchi, the short rib ravioli and the squid ink linguini are great. I also like almost all the desserts, but not crazy about the donuts as others are. The cocktails are also noteworthy. Good bar. I had a #11 last time (patron silver, grappa, st. germain, chamomile, orange bitters, lime, basil) and loved it!
(5)
Ted T.
Just Generic and corporate feeling in virtually every way from the food to the atmosphere and even the location. Not bad mind you but just in no way special. It's got some buzz currently and yes, Fabio from Top Chef is involved but you are as likely to find him here as you are Wolfgang Puck making a sandwich for you at one of his airport "Express" locations. It's all pleasant. The room uses reclaimed wood and has worn old looking concrete floors but it's all Disney-like, just very planned and artificial and lacking in authenticity. In fact that is really an insult to Disney (which does what they do very well), but it just feels fake here. The food is also pleasant but not excellent or memorable in any way. The Margarita pizza had less basil than any I have ever seen an NO fresh tomato or fresh cheese. It was in essence a bland cheese pizza with flavorless sauce. Clams and Mussels were a little better with the best part being the sauce soaked bread found at the bottom of the bowl. Service was friendly and attentive but may get worse as it gets crowded. I'm torn on it because nothing is offensively bad but nothing is really good either. Should be 2.5 stars. I am sick of the Edison bulbs and recycled wood that every new restaurant feels compelled to use, and they are out in force here. I'd love to see something fresh and new but NOTHING is new here. You have had better similar food many, many times I am sure. If you are taken here or find yourself here for some reason don't sweat it, it's fine. But I cannot imagine going out of your way to eat here. It is perhaps the most generic place to open downtown in the last year. At the end of the day Siena Tavern lacks heart. It's just going through the motions and collecting cash. It feels like a copy of more successful places both in Chicago and other cities and plays everything so safe that no one could possibly be offended. Of course nothing is really exciting either. There are 50 better options within a mile radius and a bunch of better options within a literal stone's throw. I don't hate Siena Tavern but if this becomes a generic chain of places opened everywhere from Miami to Kansas City that would not surprise me in the least.
(2)
Laura A.
Honestly delicious. I came here for a work lunch and we ordered the octopus and ahi tuna for starters. These were the highlights of our meals. The octopus has a great taste and texture; the tuna was the best I've ever had I had the gnocchi as my entree. I am not a pasta aficionado, but the gnocchi was pretty dense, so not my fav. The service was exceptional. They accidentally threw out our leftovers and made us entire new entrees without us asking. I later came back with my sister and had the beigneits. Very fluffy and the whisky caramel sauce was so good and unique.
(4)
Dina Z.
Went there with high expectations and was not disappointed .great dishes for every taste and the flavors a delish. Try Black ink linguini with a lobster and of course the pizza.
(5)
Ed G.
Had lunch there with my daughter. Nice place, nice people... enjoyed the food and drink.
Stopped here on NYE for a late lunch with a small group of friends. I tried the house craft brew, and was pleased with the product. Light, mildly hoppy and a hint of fruit. It went down very easily. As for the food, we sampled a number of items, and I was lucky enough to sample quite a few of them. I sampled the the gnocchi, stuffed raviolo, meatballs, one of the salads and the carne pizza. I was a fan of all of them, but can honestly say the pizza was nothing special in my opinion. Very fresh, and tasty, but nothing that made it stand out from the other various pizza places in chicago. The only reason I am giving four stars is because of the service. Understood that the staffing might be low on NYE (especially at the 1:30-3pm hour) but we found ourselves wondering where our waitress had run off to multiple times.
(4)
Stacy L.
Best meal I have had in Chicago. Went to a few other places, they were okay, but Siena does it right. Five Stars!
(5)
Erin M.
Siena tavern has been on my "must try" list for some time now. After trying what felt like half the menu, my hands down favorite of the night was the burnt pepperoni pizza. We started our 4 hour dinner out with the hand crafted cocktail made with absolute, ginger zest and fresh sage. I loved that I actually could taste the alcohol!! Thank you Mr. Bartender! The drink was super tasty. We then moved on to a variety of appetizers. In my opinion, the Kobe beef meatball was the best. The clear front runner of the night was the Pepperoni pizza which is now my favorite pizza pie in the city!! Super spicy with the red chilies and hand rolled home made crust. It simply doesn't get any better than this. I have to mention the soft brown leather restoration hardware looking chairs. They are to die for! So comfy. I could have sat there all night! Soft brown surroundings to go with the Siena theme I presume. Super trendy crowd. This restaurant is not to be missed!
(5)
Luis G.
Excellent, extraordinary, warm and welcoming. From the food to the staff, the the atmosphere and the man who made a pass on my girlfriend. This tavern is a prime choice to venture into and experience Chicago. This is a place you would want to dress casual.... However, I did not. I entered the tavern in a hoodie, gym shoes and windbreaker pants. The only thing I had going for me was my beautiful and very attractive girlfriend. Gentlemen, I dare say you ought to take your lovely lady to a place like this.. AND dress appropriate so that you don't feel out of place.
(5)
Alex L.
FOOD: Top notch. Delicate, fluffy, tasty gnocchi was my favorite. COCKTAILS: Stellar. Lavender aviation? Uhmmm YES PLEASE. SERVICE: Amateur at best. If it weren't for this, I'd give them 5 stars. Really, the service we got was so bad, I contemplated giving the restaurant 3 stars, but the focus for me is the food.
(4)
Lu N.
Great service! Must get meat ball, hamachi, octopus! beautiful ambiance!
(4)
Danielle B.
Got the halibut entree- was nothing special. Did try the squid ink linguini and will order this next time, that was delicious. The cocktails are pre-mixed which is a huge turn off for me. Ciccoli and pizza were good but not amazing. Had a house chopped salad and it was fine.
(3)
Jim G.
Overall very good. I was hoping for 5 stars. Split orecchiette pasta dish and that was excellent. Ordered the halibut for entree and to me it was 3 stars. The seasoning around it was very earthy and bitter. Took away from the halibut which was plain without. The service was great and totally appreciated not being rushed.
(4)
Linda S.
My new favorite brunch place. Outdoor seating, dog friendly, awesome food. Enough foot traffic to make it interesting, but not so chaotic as to detract from the outdoor eating experience. The kale salad is the best I've had. The burger was phenom.
(5)
Alexa G.
I ate at Siena Tavern a week ago for a girlfriends birthday and thoroughly enjoyed it. The restaurant has a great ambiance, where you can indulge in the swanky dining side of the restaurant, but still casually hang out in the bar area and catch some of the Hawks game. Our server was excellent! She spent a considerable amount of time explaining the menu and offered up some wine/cocktail pairing suggestions, which was greatly appreciated, as none of us had ever dined there before. She was very attentive throughout dinner but not overbearing, as she understood we were there to catch up and celebrate. The Coccoli was exceptional...I mean melt in your mouth exceptional...& the Burrata Mozzarella was also very delicious-the tomato jam is excellent. The only thing that kept me from a 5th star was my lasagna. I was craving some great Italian comfort food and my lasagna was served luke-warm at best, which shocked me because it was served in a cast iron skillet. The burnt pepperoni pizza was good, but not mind-blowing. Still made for great leftovers. The gnocchi was hands down the BEST gnocchi I've ever had-highly recommended. The Salad in a Jar has a great presentation, but ends up looking like mush on your plate. Survey said it was surprisingly really good though.. The birthday cake ice cream is made with actual birthday cake and there wasn't a drop left in the bowl. Props to the pastry chef! I will certainly be back...as soon as I can get a reservation :)
(4)
Anne C.
Soooo good! I have been talking about this place to whoever will listen since I went about a month ago. The Tuscan Kale Caesar was so good I'm still thinking about it! I'm not a huge sushi person but my girlfiends had me try the Hamachi and I love it! We also ordered the squid ink linguini and it was insane! Finally finished off with the Bomboloni.... SO SO GOOD! GO! PS It was FILLED with "broski's" at the bar- be forewarned!
(5)
Sopla R.
Stopped in a couple weeks ago. We wanted to sit outside but a storm was brewing so we opted to dine in. It wasn't too busy for a nice, later day, early eve. Sunday meal. It's a beautifully designed restaurant. Shared the Carne pizza and Bay Scallop Crudo with the Cauliflower side. Each dish, was savored. Portion size ample for price point. They were out of a lot of menu items due to a missed delivery. This didn't impact our experience but would def raise a flag if it happened next time we dined. All in all really enjoyed!!
(4)
Joey T.
NO. That is how I will answer when someone asks me if they should go to Siena Tavern. I went with two other people for lunch on a Monday. It was not busy in the slightest. Yet, the service was pretty bad. It took a good 10 minutes before someone asked us for drinks. Then another long while before we were asked for our orders. We all ordered pretty simple salads. The server also talked us into the coccoli. Thank goodness she did... for 2 reasons. 1) it was pretty darn good (which is why this review is 2 stars instead of one); 2) it came out 5 minutes after we ordered, but then our salads came out about 50 minutes after we ordered. We could not believe how long it took to make 3 simple salads.... and when they finally got to our table, we all were unimpressed. Service was not the best either. Just too many issues to deserve any more stars.
(2)
Brian P.
Ate here a while ago. Ensure you get cocktails--waiter was happy to recommend some very unique items. Gnocchi was nice, black cod was nicer. Decor is definitely a little bit more upscale, but seems a little odd in the "inauthentic-weathered-because-it's-brand-new" kind of way. It doesn't feel too different from Sable nearby though. Pizzas are fun and portions are quite large. Not a bad brunch location due to the fact that it seems more relaxed and many people here are nursing a hangover.
(3)
Laura J.
I've only heard good things about Siena Tavern and I FINALLY went for the first time last night to celebrate a birthday. We started off with Moscow Mules which we excellent. I also ordered Sangria later in our meal - excellent as well. For an app we ordered the Mozzarella Burrata - delicious, I particularly liked the hint of cinnamon it had. For our meal we ordered the Ahi Tuna, Gnocchi and Mushroom Truffle Pizza. PHENOMENAL - all of it. My favorite item though, was the Gnocchi; the gnocchi itself was light and fluffy and the truffle sauce was rich. Overall had an amazing experience at Siena Tavern. From the food, to the drinks, to the service, to the atmosphere - it was phenomenal!
(5)
Amy D.
I recently had a great lunch at Sienna tavern. We had reservations for a Saturday afternoon for five, and we all had a great lunch. I ordered the Sienna salad, and it was filled with many great ingredients. Plus it was dressed perfectly with a great vinaigrette. My friends all loved their dishes, which ranged from the lobster roll, cheeseburger, pizza and lasagna. The disappointing part was the gluten free menu. While it's nice to have our own menu, the selection was very limited. Most Italian places in Chicago offer either a gluten free pasta or pizza, which would have been nice to have included. While I enjoyed my salad, I'm not sure I'd come to eat dinner given the small GF selection.
(4)
Maria S.
I am always weary of the mammoth restaurants in River North that get a lot of press, most of them turn out to be thoroughly disappointing. However, Siena Tavern did not disappoint. I went for brunch. My cocktail was faaaantastic!!!! We started with some items for the table to share... a kale salad, which was good, and this amazing creation called "coccoli". The coccoli was a board with prosciutto, soft cheese, truffle honey and the puff pastries that are typically used to make profiterole... You need to order this!!!! I will never forget my brunch entree either.... Egg in a jar. It is a huge king crab leg in tempura batter served with two poached eggs, greens, and asparagus. It is all brought out in a mason jar and emptied onto your plate at the table. The presentation is so fun, I wish there was some kind of light sauce that could have been poured on top (hollandaise was served on the side, but I really did not use it). Everything was so good, we had to splurge and get dessert. The gelato was my favorite, you can get an assortment to try; they all come in little shot glasses. Delicious! I am definitely going back for dinner!
(5)
Natalie L.
As indicated in Maria P's review, we had mixed feelings about this place. Maria P. is much more timely in her review than I am. This place is trendy Italian in River North ... and maybe still working out some of the kinks. I liked the meatball and, rich or no, could have eaten the gnocchi all night. But man that fig pizza really killed it. Texturally it was just wrong. The cheese spread on it was just wrong. And that was the last course of our dinner. So ... one star for the great company ... one star for the good service ... and one star for the gnocchi. If I was out shopping in the area when it's nice out and there were spots open on the nice patio outside, I'd stop back in for a snack and a glass of wine. But I don't think that I'd wait 4 weeks for a table only available at 5:15 on a Tues.
(3)
Randi M.
Very good food at an upscale venue. Came on a Tuesday night and it was packed. Our party enjoyed the beet salad( so good), scallops with the risotto( excellent), wild mushroom ravioli( the plate was almost licked clean), kale cesar, and lasagna. The service was amazing too. A good solid choice on the North side.
(4)
Josh M.
Very good vibe, trendy but staying power type trendy. Gnocchi was spectacular, cooked very well. Roasted cauliflower was not spectacular, too much citrus and the flavors just didn't mix well. I'd definitely come back and try other entrees.
(4)
Crystal P.
First off...OMG!! Let me say my friend and I wish we could've tried everything on the menu although we practically did! We started off with the cauliflower delicious who knew this vegetable could taste so good! Then we ordered the coccoli another taste of heaven it damn near melted in my mouth. The unusual combo of flavors you wouldn't think would taste good are actually very delicious (honey, prosciutto, bread and cheese) oh my!!! My entree was the gnocchi very rich and creamy only wish I could have had more on my plate! Only negative I can give this place is that it's expensive and the pizza crust is not to my liking. But will definitely be a regular here when I visit the chi!
(5)
Gina S.
Ladies night = cocktails (and dancing but that's another review). A sign of complex flavored cocktail means there will be lots of ingredients. I had a #2...the cocktail! It was a unique flavor created by a whole lot of stuff including: Grey Goose, peach, lemon, blueberry lavender, cherry bark vanilla bitters and Prosecco. Enjoyable. When we initially walked in all of us noticed a smell that we just couldn't place...it was almost a cross between a stinky shoe and something funky. It wasn't until we order our pizzas that we were able to place that smell and it went from being an "ummm" to an "hmmm". As a group we split a Truffle Mushroom pizza (the smelly culprit) and a Margherita pizza. Both were good, but I think I liked the fungi/savoriness of the mushroom pizza more. It was like enjoying a good stinky cheese, you either love it or you hate it...I liked it. The crust was good too. Only downside, it was super loud and the service was a little slow because this place was bustin' with business.
(4)
Ryan P.
Can you say hyped up? We were excited to try this place after hearing all the great things. Result? Meh. If you like the whole River North scene, then you probably gave this 4 or 5 stars. If you came for great food, you definitely were let down. The space is of the restaurant is about equal to the bar space so that should let you know right there. Service was ok, the server let us know that they "serve some good s*** here" and "how bout I start you off with some good booze" right off the bat. However, he was unable to properly stage the meal, as there were times that the table was without food on it for up to 30 minutes. The truffle pizza was good, but thats were the good food ended really. Had the seafood brodetto which was described to me as "freaking amazing seafood in broth" which was a major letdown. 2 TINY shrimp in the broth, it was all clams and mussels, with a tad of whitefish thrown in. If I wanted a bunch of mussels I would have ordered them alone for about $20 less than this dinner option cost. We then had the orecchiette lamb merguez, which tasted like boxed hamburger helper with funky aftertaste due to the overwhelming amount of saffron in the dish. There was maybe a sprinkling of lamb, and the portion was small as well; not a problem as we took a few bites and left the rest as it was bad. Tiramisu was just decent, and still in the pan when served so you can't even see the pretty layers of the dish. TLDR: This is a seen and be seen place, there is no way in hell people are here for the food. Stop in for a drink before it closes in a couple years when the hype factor wears off.
(2)
Alessa B.
Came here with my sister in-law for dinner and drinks on a Thursday night and loved it. The restaurant itself is beautiful with a nice ambience - good for a friendly, romantic or business dinner and they offer outdoor seating which is always a plus for me. We ordered a variety of menu items to share- cheeses, meats, fish, salad, pizza, dessert to compare the good vs bad and honestly, we really liked everything. They also have a great drink menu selection. I've attempted to go back a few times since (without a reservation), but it's difficult to get a last minute table and I am not a fan of waiting an hour to get a table. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Jannis W.
A place for the young, hip and beautiful. Uhhh, right up my alley. Kidding... Siena has a cool, dark, industrial vibe. It echoes of good company and music that makes you wanna booty pop during dinner. Things that were highly recommended to me which I will in turn highly recommend to you. Gnocchi and coccoli. You can't go wrong with the fresh pizza. The squid ink linguini (handmade pasta) comes with a very generous lobster serving. Don't park your car out front after 11pm because you will get a ticket. But who drives in Chicago anyway?! If you want to take a chance and challenge the meter maids, you're welcome to do so. Come with an arsenal of a great face, an adorable Australian accent, and panty dropping charm. Yeah, I'm a lucky girl.
(5)
Vaidehi T.
We went here for dinner last night with a few friends. It was a perfect evening from start to finish. Its quite a big place and I quite liked the decor as well. The service is very good, and the food is excellent. We ordered the Truffle mushroom pizza, the Spring vegetable pizza nad the caramelized Brussel sprouts pizzas. We also tasted their gnocchi dish. Each dish was unique and oh-so-good. But my fave was the spring vegetable pizza - it was knock-your-socks-off delicious. Squash blossoms, asparagus, peas with pesto crema as the sauce - it was delectable. We also ordered dessert - tiramisu, double chocolate cake and caramel cookie jar. I will go straight to the Caramel Cookie jar - it was orgasmic!! Ummm sooo good. One of the best desserts I have eaten in recent times. Overall we had a wonderful time - we did not feel rushed at all. The service was great (though a bit slow) and the food was fantastic.
(5)
Steve A.
Despite its name, Siena Tavern doesn't really come across as either Italian or a tavern. True, there is a list of pizzas, and they serve drinks, but it seems more like a Hillstone concept to me. The decor is open and modern, with a few too many hard surfaces to control the noise level when it's busy (which seems to be most of the time). We went for Sunday brunch/lunch, and I was pleased to find that while there were some very tasty looking brunch items, there were also lots of non-breakfast choices. The chopped salad was an interesting conglomeration of vegetables, cheese and meat, and had enough juice from the artichoke hearts and other veggies that it didn't really need the accompanying honey mustard dressing, so I'm glad I had that on the side. The "burnt crust" pepperoni pizza wasn't quite as charred as I would have liked, but it did have a very thin crust and good flavor. Service was efficient, a necessity given how busy they were. I'm not sure what would draw me back for a revisit (maybe some of the breakfast items, which looked really delicious and really bad for you) but my visit was fine.
(4)
J. Spencer M.
Best original cocktails I have tasted in Chicago. This place has a creative chef making craft foods. The truffle gnocchi is the bomb. Their pizza's are great. And the main entrees are done well. The bar has some of the best recipes for any type of cocktail. They labeled in numbers. Try the #4 and the #10. Goose Island also brews a special beer just for Sienna. It's a great late night spot to go for food and specialty cocktails
(5)
Genevieve L.
Everything on the menu sounds delicious! The descriptions made even the things you didn't know how to say sound amazing. We were fortunate enough to have an awesome server who knew the menu inside out. We were conflicted about what to order since it all sounded so good so we asked her for some suggestions. To start, we had a couple of their signature cocktails-sangria for me and some bourbon drink for my boo. Both were awesome. Then we moved on to their meatball appetizer. It's one giant meatball topped wth cheese swimming in a pool of tomato sauce and fresh basil. I love the taste of fresh herbs so this was definitely a winner in my book. For dinner, I had the halibut. The crust on the halibut was the right amount of crispy without being overdone. It was the best fish I've ever had! And I'm not usually a fan of capers but the caper sauce paired well with it. This place is better if you go in a group of 4 or more so you can try a little but of everything.
There was over an hour wait for the dining area, so we sat at the bar. Boy am I glad we did! The people watching was entertaining, the ambiance was perfect - dim lighting and friendly bartenders. Then I got hungry.. and the food was DELICIOUS! We ordered the Burnt Pepperoni pizza and Caramelized Brussels sprouts. Lucky for me, my bar neighbor had one last slice of his Truffle Mushroom pizza.. so we did a trade-for-trade. SO GOOOD!!! I'd definitely venture off and try that one next time. I can't complain... I'll def return when visiting Chicago.
(5)
Brenda R.
What a wonderful meal. Beautiful craft cocktails got us started along with the luscious homemade cheese and meat board. Our server was amazing and spent time explaining the menu and feeling out our likes. She was on top of her game. Dinners were awesome. Gnocchi melted in in your mouth, the lamb was perfect and spaghetti and crab-- yum! Desserts didn't disappoint. Beignets with raspberry Carmel or chocolate filling Along with home made burnt peanut gelato -- over the top! Reservation for September! Can't wait!
(5)
Kristine C.
We were here a few months go, it took me awhile to get around to this. I still wanted to put my two cents in regarding the loop restaurant. It is a place for the after work crowd and tourists alike. They have a large bar area and lots of restaurant seating. The thing I liked the least was the amount of noise. It is incredibly loud. Their music is blaring and everyone is trying to talk over it. We were with friends and could hardly carry on a conversation across the table. The minute we stepped outside my ears were ringing and I had the quiet sense of calm again. I like their large Italian menu. There is something for everyone. My favorite part is the Mozzarella Bar. I chose the Burrata, classic and simple. I enjoy the taste of Burrata and not all the fluff and extras that sometimes accompany this dish. We also ordered the Shaved Brussels sprouts. Not impressed with a pile of sprouts. I would have preferred a bit more char to mine. The Truffle Mushroom pizza was pretty good. Anything with truffle (and enough truffle you can taste), is pretty tasty. Then, you cannot come to an Italian restaurant without trying some pasta. This time around I went with the Tagliatelle. Surprise, it has mushrooms and truffle. I cleared my plate. The pasta dish was very satisfying.
(3)
Claudine V.
My hunny and I came in late from San Fran so we had little choices for a late dinner place. We walked around our the trump tower are and saw this place. We wanted something light and good at the same time and we stumbled to this place. This place was Perfect!!! They were serving pizza and charcuterie and sashimi after 12 am which was peuuuurfeccctt for us. We had pizza with black truffles, hamachi sashimi and some charcuterie. We had two drinks to accompany our dinner which tasted really great. There was the bar area which was super crowded and the dining are with cozy booths. Luckily we had a cozy booth and was still able to listen to some cool techo, loungey music. Their menu was pretty diverse and I could see that its pretty delish!!! If I go back to Chicago, I will definitely hit this place again.
(4)
Shilpa M.
We came here for brunch on a Saturday morning! The Siena draft beer was awesome and we had the caramelized Brussels sprouts pizza with chicken ! It was one of the best pizzas in recent times! Highly recommend it. Also for desserts, we had the tiramisu was was very very good. I would definitely come here again :))
I came in here just to grab a quick bite before heading back to the hotel, and the stop was completely worth it. With my friends we ordered 3 of their pizzas and they were all delicious. The pizzas do have a nice gourmet twist. About the place itself it is a trendy spot that serves good drinks, with good service and atmosphere. I would recommend this place for people looking for a trendy pizza place.
(4)
Basil D.
Three Stars: Dinner/Drinks Four Stars: Brunch Well worth the trip to River North to eat here. MUST VISIT for brunch! I don't do "trendy" because it's usually overblown by people who really have no bloody clue what they're talking about. I finally made my way down the street from my building a few times to try the sensation everyone is talking about. Dinner: I've gone there for dates, happy hour, and dinner. The pizzas are good. They're wood oven pizzas and have excellent ingredients. Very tasty, but everyone is doing it, so it's worth ordering, but don't come here for the pizza. Kale Salad: Fantastic! I've had kale, it's all the rage now because it's healthy, has a lot of protein and enough roughage to keep you regular through to the Parousia. Kale can be bitter and a bit "rough" in the mouth. Siena's kale salad is simply fantastic, outstanding, incredible!! I never knew kale could taste so good! They toss the salad in a very light but milky dressing, and the kale leaf lends itself to holding the right amount of dressing so the proportion of dressing to kale is perfect. Hat's off to the chef to figure out how to do this so well. The shrimp wasn't overcooked and seasoned wonderfully. Very nice. The staff is truly fantastic at all hours of the day. They're warm, friendly, patient and helpful. Despite constantly being busy they never seem or act "rushed". The only exception is the snotty Asian man at the host/hostess station. He must have compromising pictures of the owner to keep a job there with his attitude. Now, brunch is simply fantastic. They have one of the best menus in the city. First, they have a proper brunch menu (some restaurants just open for brunch with no special menu...por qua?). Biscuits and Gravy: Didn't want to order it. I don't like feeling as if led ingots are setting in my stomach all afternoon. BUT I did order it, and it is marvelous! SO GOOD. It's not heavy at all. It's light, tasty and not pasty, flaky pastry, marvelous portion....perfect and presentation is great. Breakfast Sandwich: Simply awesome. My fave. Don't underestimate it. It's excellent. Monkey bread: Soooo good. Served warm and fresh. Tiramisu French Toast: Everyone is doing this type of thing, but they do it very, VERY well. Eggs Benedict: everyone thinks they can do it well, most can't. They do it very well. The hollandaise has a nice "tang" to it from the lemon, it's fresh, creamy, and light (some hollandaise can be very pasty, this isn't). Lastly, I recommend if you are a party of two or more, share the plates. Get some of the sweet pastry stuff, and then some of the other egg items and share with each other. It's the only way to do it! Oh, great coffee, excellent orange juice and mimosas. I hate bloody Mary's, so I can't judge theirs or anyone else's. Nothing better than sitting on the patio for brunch on the weekends. Great location, great people watching, and they're dog friendly.
(3)
Ivonne R.
Cool, large, trendy place. The service is friendly, accommodating, and fast. I went for brunch on a Saturday and had the delicious tiramisu French toast. The whipped cream topping was the best! My friends also enjoyed their entrees, but I hear lunch during the week is the best. Will go back! Recommended!
(5)
Jeanine Z.
I loved this place! It's a pretty restaurant. It's pretty trendy. We were seated at a table promptly. They have a nice wine list. For an appetizer we ordered grilled octopus. It was one of the best I've ever had. I ordered pappardelle pasta with bolognese sauce. The pasta was perfectly cooked. It was delicious. My friends ordered the salmon, truffle gnocchi, and tagliatelle with truffle, Parmesan and mushrooms. Everyone loved their entrees and ate until the last bite. For dessert, we had cookies and cream and tiramisu gelato and the cookie jar. The cookie jar came with cookies on the side and the Nutella and peanut butter mousse to dip the cookies into. Overall, this place had great service and food!
(5)
Blaine T.
This place is incredible!!! The bar scene is trendy and fun too. You have to try their pastas. The best seller is the gnocchi and it is amazing. The burnt pepperoni pizza is also fantastic. You have to try the specialty cocktails too. They are seasonal and definitely worth it. I would go with a few people so you can sample a bunch of dishes because you're going to want to try everything!!! Such a great restaurant and perfect for dates too
(5)
Dave O.
This place was awesome. If I lived in Chicago, this would be my goto spot. Its large, open, trendy and gives off a good vibe. I had the Alaskan grilled halibut, and it was cooked to perfection and looked like a masterpiece. The service was friendly and quick, which was surprising, with how busy they were. Ill be coming back here, next time I'm in town.
(5)
Andrea B.
Definitely worth the wait. I've been trying to get reservations for at least 3 months and finally I got one at a decent time. I started off the with grilled octopus (a tad bit gritty, but overall it was very good. The sauce was delicious). My entree was the orecchiette pasta with prosciutto sausage (SO GOOD). I'm not a pasta eater at all but I decided to try it bc everyone around me was eating pasta or pizza. Great choice, I highly recommend it! I finished off with the bomboloni, it was a perfectly cookies doughy donut with three sauce options. If I don't make it back for dinner I will for sure be back for dessert.
I was going on a quick work trip to Chicago and had a pretty straightforward request for my team out there: pick a good spot for lunch. Typically, I do my own restaurant research (shocker), but this time, I felt it best to leave it in the locals' hands. Without hesitation, their response was Siena Tavern, even going so far as to call it their favorite. I'd never heard of it, and neither had any of my colleagues in New York (for whatever reason, they were very interested in where we were going to eat). No matter - I was at the mercy of the Windy Citizens now. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the uber-trendy decor - part Crate and Barrel catalog, part reality show date location. The second was the sheer size of the place, space for days with a private party going on in the back complete with its own bar. Our waitress was immediately the epitome of Midwestern charm - smiley, bubbly, super attentive, and ultimately a ninja, popping up unexpectedly and often throughout our meal. When we placed an otherwise strong order to split as a table, I internally scoffed at the Heirloom Carrot Salad pick from one of our more health-conscious co-workers. To say the dish took me completely by surprise is an understatement. I don't love carrots, and with such a meat-centric menu, I pretty much planned on glossing over the salad section. But this - the titular veggies tossed with broccolini, shaved squash, goat cheese, Marcona almonds, and Cabernet vinaigrette - was fantastic. I scarfed this salad down and can confidently say it was my favorite thing I sampled at Siena Tavern. I had my eyes on the Wagyu Beef Meatball since first visiting the website and I was treated to a huge and deliciously blended sphere of meat, covered in roasted tomato sauce and topped with ricotta and basil. I was happy to see our Carne Pizza, a quattro-hog topping experience (housemade fennel sausage, pancetta cured bacon, sopressata, and prosciutto sausage), served as thin crust and none of that deep-dish nonsense. The Squid Ink Linguini had a lot of promise, containing both a grilled lobster tail and spicy lobster cream sauce, but it was served lukewarm and the temperature may have hurt the dish for me. Hey, I'll take three out of four any day, so no harm, no foul here. The clientele while I was in town was unsurprisingly a very business lunch crowd, and I see how Siena Tavern appeals to Chicago yuppies come happy hour or weekend brunch. This also explains why my fellow New Yorkers were unfamiliar with the place, perhaps appearing outside of tourist must-do lists and under strict local jurisdiction. Take the insider tip I was given and check out Siena Tavern when looking to get off the prescribed out-of-towner path, and live like a local, even if it's just for a lunch.
(4)
Stacey W.
Completely and totally impressed. From the decor to the food this place is a gem! I have now dined at the Chicago location and the south beach location and they were both very impressive. First visit we had the meatballs to start, the pappardelle and lasagna and the bomboloni for desert. Second visit we had the meatballs to start and for our entrees Colorado lamb chops, orecchiette( one of the best dishes I have ever had), lasagna, and the bomboloni for desert. This place is going to be a staple restaurant for our family moving forward!
(5)
Yvonne B.
I went for lunch and opted to sit at the bar while I waited for my friend. The atmosphere was bright, exuberant, and professional (it seemed as if many business folks from nearby buildings were dining there). There were at least two rooms: a main dining room and a bar. The bar room was hedged by large windows on two sides lined with tall tables. The bar dominated the middle of the room and had stools all around. Katie was my bar tender and she won me over with her friendly personality and keen recommendations. It's because of her that I passed on a table and chose to remain at the bar once my friend arrived. I started my midday meal with the No. 22 cocktail. Although Katie explained that Siena Tavern is well-known for their wine list (and it certainly was impressive) she pointed out the carefully formulated cocktails. They ALL appealed to me. I was intrigued that they had violet bitters, lavender, honey, sage or basil incorporated into every concoction. Katie selected the No. 22 for me. The ginger and lime were bright but the Johnny Walker Black made it mature and interesting. Finally, the Kriek Lambic contibuted a hint of innocent sweetness. I eagerly chose the Restaurant Week menu. First I ordered the beet salad which is not quite as the menu described. The menu indicates that the beets are glazed. They just may be; however, they were not glazed in a way that was recognizable to me. They seemed to be covered in a creamy dressing. Also, the menu fails to mention that the beet salad is served with arugula. I LOVE the fresh, spicy, peppery taste of arugula; however, I quickly discovered that my friend hates the stuff. He would have been displeased with that surprise so I thought I'd mention it here. I selected the Butternut Squash Tortellacci. Tortellacci are like the giant version of baby tortellini. As described, these were stuffed with butternut squash. It was very sweet and almost dessert-like. The pasta and the browned butter sauce with bits of fried sage helped to temper it a little but I suspect that it only made it more rich than it already was. I was happy to be introduced to this dish; however, I think that it makes for a confusing entree. Lastly, I had tiramisu gelato. It had large pieces of cake-like lady fingers mingled with the coffee, maple-y flavor of the creamy gelato. It was a splendid rendition and I can't imagine any improvements on the dessert. One strange occurrence ensued during my meal at Siena Tavern that I think is worth noting. Our entrees were ready and served while we were only midway through our appetizers. Katie confessed that the kitchen sometimes times dishes like that. I had higher expectations of Siena Tavern as they have a reputation for excellence. I felt pressured to finish my beet salad so that I could enjoy my butternut squash tortellacci while still hot. When I did get to the tortellacci, the brown butter sauce was starting to separate.
(3)
Kelly N.
Great ambiance. Sat at the bar at lunchtime and had a few beers with the cheese plate and chicken sandwich. Bartender was attentive and friendly. Food was delicious. I walked away slightly buzzed and full. Would love to come back just for drinks in the evening.
(4)
Tricia D.
OMG, that monkey bread! It is a must order! Sweet, perfect for sharing, and you can't go wrong with something sweet as an appetizer! This was the first time in a long time that I really loved the coffee a restaurant served up. I actually called back after my visit to find out what kind it was bc I had forgotten what the waitress said. It's Lavazza. One of my friends complimented the coffee another way: "it's brewed to the point that it's perfectly roasted, but not to the point of tasting really shitty". Isn't he so eloquent? For my meal, I had the breakfast skillet with root veggies, a baked egg, and burrata cheese. While it didn't have the same pizzazz as the coffee or monkey bread, I liked how savory it was. It just wasn't as much to write home about. "Are you saving room for something?", another friend asked me when I had half the plate wrapped up in a doggy bag... Um yes, dessert! Finished off this meal with the toffee/date pudding. Great choice on my part. The table also ordered the bombolini donuts, which were served up with a trio of sauces presented in mini squeeze bottles (like what fabric paint would be stored in). Creative! I'll be back for brunch or dinner for sure (bonus: OpenTable points!). I have the lobster roll, monkey bread (again), and pasta in mind!
(4)
Linda B.
So, I did not love this place the first time around. But it's restaurant week and the menu looked great and I liked Chef Fabio from top chef, so I decided to give it another try. Just about everything that we ordered was awesome. I started with the butternut squash soup and it was comforting and delicious. I loved everything about it. Then my friend and I split the burger and truffle pizza. I expected to like the pizza better but the burger was outstanding. There are many delicious burgers in the city and this was right up there with the best of them with flavorful meat and toppings that were very complimentary. The pizza was good too, it's just that the burger was amazing. Though surprisingly the fries were tasteless (I don't know how that happened). To close out the meal I had salted caramel gelato and it tasted as good as it sounds. I don't know what was going on the first time I visited but I'm glad I made the return trip and I plan to come again.
(4)
Jason W.
If you are looking at the pictures and think that the place doesn't look that nice, rest assured, it looks much nicer in person. Me and the gal ordered the carpaccio, squid ink lobster pasta, and pasta in a jar. Beef carpaccio, awesome. Lobster pasta, pretty awesome. Felt like the squid ink pasta didn't have that al dente chewiness to it, or not enough at least. Lobster was pretty good relative to all the other seafood I have been eating in Chicago which isn't very fresh at all. This place has decent lobster but not as fresh as you would get somewhere closer to the ocean. Drinks were good and they have a variety of custom cocktails to choose from. Girl got the sangria which was pretty good and I was coming off of a nasty hangover so I refrained from ordering. The only thing I can say that I was disappointed in was the pasta in a jar. The first two bites or so I thought, "Hey, pretty darn flavorful". Then after the third bite, my opinion transformed to, "I need water ASAP because this dish has double the salt". Anyways, despite the uber salty pasta I had to rate this up because they had a really cool pizza tosser (haven't seen that in a while). Will definately get the pizza next time.
(4)
Ann H.
SO SO Delicious! I had been here a couple of times before but never able to try such an array of dishes until I went with a larger group. We were seated at a round booth towards the back of the restaurant. Highlights from our meal include the Squid Ink Linguini with lobster, the truffle mushroom pizza and the Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad. Food was very tasty, savory and full flavored. We loved the texture and ingredients of each dish. The service was good and we were refilled water in a timely manner. The plates were cleared and replaced at least once during our meal. The ambiance is very cool and urban and kitcheney. I can't wait to come back again to try more entrees here. Recommended for groups and family.
(5)
Wen H.
Love, love, love of the staff, atmosphere, and the taste of the foods. The four stars is for the combination of all these elements together. Everything was very, very tasty. The reviews for foods this evening are the beef tartare and squid linguini. They were well seasoned with a unique twist on the tartare. The Lunguini was not the best I've had amongst my travels but still very tasty. There is something that feels like home each time I am in #ChiTown. The amazing people, warmth, and hospitality. Tonight for my food review is the incredible warm atmosphere at #SienaTavern with the super attentive bartenders Gabriel and Jose T., their attention to detail and noticed that my squid linguini looked like crap and sent it back before it was served to me, it was amazing to have that type of service!!! Recommendation from the staff this evening was the beef tartare and squid linguini. The beef tartare was well seasoned with and amazing twist of a raw quail egg and a creme crispy finish!!!! The squid linguini was yummy, but not my favorite of all times. Everything was paired with my favorite table wine, Chianti, wrapped up with a shot of expresso finished with a slice of lemonade just like when I visited Naples. I would definitely revisit for the friendly staff and deliciously yet incredible warm atmosphere watching the cooks at work. Gabriel was very intuitive to the needs and attention of his clients and recognized when it was inadequate... He's pretty fantastic!!! I know I'd totally invest in his ventures if he was looking for one. I am still looking for a hit that I feel a personal investment, catering to the PEOPLE not just focusing on the bottomline.
(4)
Jake V.
These guys know their target market. 30 something with some money, either from their paycheck or an expense report. Likes interesting food and bacon and truffle oil. And on my recent trip to Chicago I was exactly in the target market. Pizza with truffle oil and Brussels sprouts was great, and short rib ravioli was also very tasty. Not particularly cheap but not crazy expensive either.
(4)
George S.
Wow they try to rush you out of this place. They grab your drink before it is done. They grab your food before you are done. C'mon man, I'm trying to eat over here, I don't need you coming by every 5 minutes and asking if I'm done. I'm not done!! Let me finish my meal.
(1)
Laura O.
Fabulous! Our server was very attentive and helpful--her recommendations were so great that everything my party ordered was something she'd suggested! Definitely have the coccoli and the gnocchi. Both were incredible. Also, loved the ambience!
(5)
Tina L.
My first thought about this place is that it's really dark in there. But I guess all the cool trendy spots these days love that low lighting. Sets the mood, right? Maybe I'm just getting old, but if you need your iPhone flashlight to look at the menu, that's a little too dark for me. On to the review of the food tho. We came with a rather large group and ordered a variety of dishes to share family style. It's seriously the only way I like to roll, these days. It's just selfish if you order your own dish and don't share! It's actually been a while since I've eaten here, so I can't quite remember each dish that we ordered. Here are some of the highlights, as far as what I can remember. 36 oz aged porterhouse steak, florentine style, rosemary-garlic rub, grilled lemon. Good thing it came out last, because I might have just eaten the whole thing. This was, by far, the best dish of the evening. So juicy, delicious and everything you could hope for in a porterhouse. Wagyu Beef Meatball roasted tomato sauce, bellwether ricotta, shaved basil. This was actually really good too! A lot of flavor...and it's HUGE. Make sure to share. Squid Ink Linguini grilled lobster tail, spicy lobster cream sauce, shaved green onion. This was my least favorite dish, surprisingly. I think I just don't care too much for lobster or something. Orecchiette prosciutto sausage, watercress, chili flake, pecorino cheese. I love the extra kick that the chili flake gives to this dish. I preferred this pasta dish over the squid ink linguini.
(4)
Eve C.
Even though we knew Chef Fabio was bringing Siena Tavern to Miami in a few short months, we couldn't resist the temptation to indulge in an early dinner at the OG Chicago outpost. While everything sounded delicious, we knew we had a long night ahead of us, so opted to go a bit lighter on our selections. Yet we couldn't resist the coccoli with stracchino and prosciutto, the hamachi crudo with serrano chili, the gnocchi, and a shaved brussels sprouts salad, and indulged in a couple of glasses of wine. Everything was phenomenal, but the gnocchi was most certainly the stand-out. Amazingly light, yet filling, served in a truffle cream sauce with pancetta and sage, it was melt-in-your-mouth perfect, even on a warm summer afternoon. Our server was super-friendly and eager to offer suggestions when we requested. Prices were completely reasonable as well. I would definitely recommend Siena Tavern to anyone visit the area, and can't wait to check out the new Miami outpost!
(4)
Rhiannon S.
I keep wishing we could come back to this place soon! My husband and I stayed downtown a few weeks ago and happened upon this place for breakfast! It was one of the most amazing places we had been for breakfast in a very long time. The drinks were also amazing! The service was outstanding!
(5)
John G.
Prior to my reservation at RPM steak, noticed the place nearby and decided to stop by for a cock tail or two. Glad I did btw. Varied selection of all sort for anyone whether you are a vodka, whiskey, etc type of chum. Personally I had the no.5 and no.25. NO.25 w/ black label, love love love it! No.5 was good as well. Great variety of selective cocktails and nice staff. Parking is street meter or 12$ valet. Would come back. My lady enjoyed her cocktails as well venturing more on the sweet side. Can't remember her drinks but they came by recommendation of the bartender. Cheers
Limited GF options but the roasted chicken is great. My bf had pizza. The salted caramel gelato is to die for. I don't remember what wine we had but the recommendation from the bartender was spot on. The service was fantastic. They are quite busy on a Saturday night so make sure you make reservations in advance.
(4)
Brian W.
A surprisingly good place for lunch. Busy too, but ample seating at the bar, and decent attention from the bartender. Chef's Week special-- some decent bread appetizer, an overly sweet but otherwise very delicious s'mores ice cream for dessert, and a spicy lamb pasta that was nearly divine-- if you like the spice, the pasta tubes were perfectly al dente and the intensity was at the perfect balance. Very, very good.
(4)
Victoria O.
Definitely a hot spot in Chicago! Packed on a Wednesday night at 9 and would highly recommend making a reservation. If you have to wait there's a great bar to wait at. Ordered the meatball-yes meatball as in ONE big meatball. Came with grilled bread in tomato sauce. Also ordered the buffalo mozzarella from the selection of mozzarellas. Also came with grilled bread and olive oil and a yummy garlic sauce. Along with these two appetizers we ordered a side of grilled cauliflower. Good amount of food for two people. If you're really hungry would order maybe one of the pizza or pasta dishes as well. Enjoyed a glass of the still rose. Can't go wrong with a glass of rose to kick off the summer.
(4)
Mat M.
Siena Tavern was amazing! One of the best meals that I've had in a while. Tuesday night, three people - great table by the window. Appetizer: Coccoli- simply delish! rispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey Entree- we got three and shared: Carne Pizza Housemade fennel sausage, pancetta cured bacon, sopressata, prosciutto sausage, mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil Wild Bore Risotto We were one of the lucky few to have this as it was taken off the menu for their new spring menu. One of my friends had it before and wanted it again. "Pasta in a Jar" mezza rigatone, heirloom tomato, english pea, bellwether ricotta, micro basil, olive oil The entrees were amazing! We had gelato flight (all made in-house) and Bomboloni which were out of this world amazing. Needless to say, I'll be back - and if you haven't tried it, take my word for it; it's devine!
(5)
Michelle B.
Food, service, ambiance is all worth 5 stars at Siena Tavern. Here's what I got: - Burrata with tomato jam: creamy, savory, gooey. Came with good toast. - Coccoli: fried dough balls with prosciutto and (i think) burrata with a pesto type sauce -- how can you go wrong with this? You just can't. - Brussels sprout salad: delightfully crunchy and light - Gnocchi with truffle cream sauce: No words. - Prosciutto, pear and arugula pizza: sweet, meaty love personified. This was to share with three other people, in case you're oinking at me. Other highlights of this place are the spot-on service - our waitress was knowledgable and attentive. The food came out quickly and timed perfectly as we had lots of appetizers to finish. The ambiance is sleek and makes you feel a bit fancy. And they also have a mozzarella bar. Case closed.
(5)
Jackie C.
I loved this place! We had reservations here for a birthday dinner for a friends birthday. We had an amazing booth, with a great waiter who made sure we were enjoying ourselves. Ordered amazing wine! They were able to split the check without any issues. The gelato is definitely worth saving room for. This might be one of our go too places with friends for dinner and out of town guests.
(5)
Anna B.
I have to say that I absolutely love the design of this place! It is probably one of my favorite locations in Chicago. The menu is also amazing. My favorite items are the Roasted Beet Salad and the Ossobuco is amazing! The only reason that this isn't a 4 or 5 star review is because when my friend and I were sitting at the bar one night the bartender was really rude. I even overheard him making fun of another customer and her outfit. I thought it was really inappropriate. He also seemed more interested in running over to his group of friends at a table than getting us another cocktail. I think next time we'll make sure we just ask for a table and skip sitting at the bar ever again.
(2)
Sasha B.
Ambience is so nice! Music was on point an the food was delightful. The spicy pepperoni pizza was delish. Also the roasted peppers were awesome. Bruschetta was also great. Service was cordial and fast. Great place to hang out with a group of friends!
(5)
Carrie S.
Neat ambiance, and the place was crazy busy when I was there. That made it a little loud, so not great for the group I was in. They have a gluten free menu, and it is quite large. Lots of choices, and they were all really good. Our service was OK. She forgot to put some things into the kitchen that we ordered for the table, but we did get what we wanted in the end. I thought the portions were large, and we had a lot of food left over. Expensive, but very good. I would definitely recommend the Brussels sprouts.
(4)
Erika C.
Omfg, yea you have never heard such a thing from me. It was phenomenal each time we have been there. Reiterating each and every detail would be futile with 700 reviews everything was awesome! Paraphrasing the Lego Movie. I am rarely this emphatic, go for brunch make the rezos do what you need to, it is worth it!
(5)
Angelina S.
My date had taken me to dinner at Sienna Tavern on Monday night to celebrate my birthday. That night wasn't busy with reservations like it would be on a Friday. The service was bad. We were given a table near the entrance. When I asked for a booth facing the beautiful view of Kedzie street, I was told it was reserved and half an hour passed by without it being seated. The server didn't ask if I had any questions about the complex menu. What we ordered was garbage. My mother's cooking tasted better than what we were given. Clearly the server saw that we were upset and kept interrupting dinner every 15 seconds asking if everything was OK without fixing the already ruined atmosphere. Considering the service and $280 check, it was not worth it. I wouldn't recommend a friend to Sienna Tavern or dine there again.
(1)
Plamena G.
I've been here a couple of times now and I love it. Definitely a great place for dinner and cocktails, whether you're there on a romantic date or with a friend. My favorite dish so far has been the squid ink linguine with lobster. The pasta is cooked perfectly and the sauce is amazing. I wasn't a big squid ink pasta fan until I tried this dish. I also love the grilled octopus antipasti. It comes garnished with duck fat potatoes. They have a great variety of drinks. However, I really didn't care for their sangria. It was bitter and it didn't come with any fruit. I would not order it again, but they do have other awesome drinks you can pick from.
(4)
Faith D.
Lunch yesterday with a friend who is moving out of town. She had never been (this was my 5th visit). We shared the appetizer of Coccoli - 4 light, delicious, pastry puffs on a board next to slices of proscuitto, dollops of buffalo mozzeralla and honey. Two "yesses" for this one. Next was the hearts of palm salad - a gorgeous, light and refreshing salad of butter lettuce, long, thin sheets of hearts of palm, avocado, the thinnest slices of the largest radish you've ever seen, almonds and a delicious vinagrette dressing. Two "yesses" for this one as well (actually - I could eat this salad all summer long). We could have stopped there but we also had the wild mushroom pizza with truffle oil. Perfection on a plate. And to top it all of the flight of gelato. Heavenly. Seated exactly on time (12:15 lunch) in a roomy booth. Terrific service both waiter & backup guys who constantly refilled our water. Couldn't find anything to complain about if I tried.
(4)
Hannah C.
Perhaps because it's national doughnut day, but all I can say is: yum! We started off with the coccoli, burrata, and octopus, all of which were big hits. The spaghetti was a little under seasoned but the gnocchi was great. I don't even usually like gnocchi and I adored these. The gelato is thick and rich, almost like a nut butter. The bomboloni were a great dessert - fresh with great sauce flavors. Definitely a special occasion place, but we will totally be back.
(4)
Christina S.
Well, that's really not a fair thing to do to a burbs girl, now is it?? How the heck am I supposed to satisfy this new addiction on a regular basis? Fabio, I need a word, please. I had high expectations for my visit, as a Top Chef fan, a Fabio Viviani fan, an Italian fan, and you guessed it, Yelpers; I'm a food fan. ;) I've done my share of drooling over other people's check ins, photos and reviews. I mean, c'mon, Duchess Izzy practically lives there. I've served my time in suburbia hell-- I deserve this! Those kinds of expectations can often lead to disappointment, but nope, not here. Totally lived up to the hype for me, worthy every penny! It's a beautiful restaurant and our service was perfect; relaxed, no one hovering (too much), right pace of play, and a wonderful and friendly server in Elizabeth. I may even request her on our next visit, cuz yes, I'm already planning one. We did go for an early dinner with a reservation, around 5, preceding a concert, so I haven't been during peak hours The dishes we tried were: Coccoli- (appetizer, $14) balls of dough, prosciutto and cheese drizzled with truffle honey. Ahhhhdictive! Roasted Cauliflower- (side, $9) with pepperoncinis, topped with toasted pine nuts and torn mint. Great vegetarian option, but even my carnivorous-cauliflower-hatin' man loved it. (Gonna try this version at home, wish me luck.) 12-hour braised Ossobuco- (entree, $38) fall apart meat, with farro risotto and hazelnut gremolata. Gnocchi- (entree, $17) pillowy perfection cloaked in a truffle cream and crispy pancetta, topped with fried sage. So good, I had to hold myself back from not diving in! Tiramisu- (dessert, $9) a roasted white chocolate take on tiramisu, but not overly sweet or intense, damn good. Comes with espresso meringues on the side which melt in your mouth instantly like an espresso cotton candy! Almost stole the show, this from a person that generally hates meringue cookies. Gelato flight- (dessert, $15, 4 flavors) chose salted caramel, blackberry lemon curd, orange amaretti, and strawberry pie. Texture perfection, delicious, nice ending to the meal. Particularly enjoyed the blackberry and the caramel. We ordered a good sampling, but make no mistake, we held back, we wanted to try more on the menu, everything we saw being brought out to other people, and I nearly marched over to another party's table when I saw their coccoli hanging around uneaten for too long. Why they hadn't devoured it is beyond me. They needed to be taught a lesson. ;) Suffice it to say, there were no leftovers from our meal. Each item was delicious. I have to get back soon for more pasta, to try those pizzas and of course some cocktails, too. You buying, Signore Viviani??
(5)
CNP ny c.
I've always passed this place on the bus but never thought to go in until it was raining one day and my friend and I jumped in. I wish we had tried it sooner. We didn't go for the pizza but everything else we had was amazing. We asked the waiter for recommendations and pretty much just took his recommendations. The highlights were the proscuitto, mozzarella balls and then the dessert, the donuts were amazing (caramel whiskey and raspberry chianti DIY fillings!)
(4)
Brittany L.
The service was exceptional! Friendly staff, cute decorations and big circular bar. The food was phenomenal, Great wine selection too. I ordered a mozzarella cheese and tomato glaze with toasted bread and the sage gnocchi which was savory and very fresh! Management went out of their way by checking on me. I will definitely go back, I've heard good things about their brunch on Sundays.
(5)
Vicky L.
Somehow my travels have never taken me to Chicago until this past weekend, when we extended a layover on our way back from Europe. When we heard that Fabio Viviani's restaurant was Siena Tavern, we had to jump on booking a reservation stat, because both Husband and I love Fabio. I'm sure we would've enjoyed the food more had we not been tired from a 9-hour flight just a few hours prior, but what we did eat (which was most of our food) was pretty great. Bolognese sauce is usually how I judge a restaurant, and this was solid, with ribbons of pappardelle. They also have a solid drink menu, and Husband had cocktail No. 2 (which he downed before I got a sip). Not a huge fan of the coccoli with proscuitto because the last thing I wanted after a few weeks of unhealthy eating was fried dough balls. I also wasn't a fan of the white sangria (tasted really artificial and syrupy). Husband liked his lasagna, though he said it wasn't the best he's had. Overall, we would totally go back for the laid-back vibes, and to try out more of their items.
(4)
Ibrahim B.
The food was wonderful, arrived at about 3:40 we started with a grilled octopus which was amazing. My wife had the squad ink thy came with pasta little bit spicy but that wasn't a problem it was great. I got the ..... Escalope I didn't expect it to be sea food I thought it was lamb. All I can say that my mistake in ordering was perfect. Everything on the menu was amazing next time info there I'm going to close my eye and let my finger pick my food for me. The waiting was awesome she got us plates for sharing and she emphasized that several times I guess that's there strategy to make people taste the good food that they have.
(5)
Virg H.
Fantastic place...great food and excellent service. I love coming here and trying something new each time.
(5)
Billy M.
I so wanted this place to work and will go back based on the attentiveness of the server who recognized the "issues" with the risotto dish and comped it without even asking or hesitating. These folks recognize customer service for sure and I believe have better food than experienced from our first visit. Squid Ink pasta was fresh but so over powered with the spicy sauce that the diner lost any taste of the essential squid/fish flavor. Lobster tail presentation was nice but just too much sauce that took over the beautiful looking pasta. Pizza's looked great and will be the attraction for a return. As is the wine list which offered some very reasonable priced wines by the bottle. Impressed. HUGE bar area with easy access to a table for cocktails or full dinner menu.
Such a great menu! 6 of us went to dinner and we had one of the top booths. It was soooo fun. The food is really good and the service was excellent. I actually thought it was helpful for us when they added gratuity for a large party! We all shared a variety of dishes and it was great!! My favorite was the chopped salad. It was sooo tasty and I loved the dressing. I was visiting from NYC and I want to go back to Chicago ASAP to eat there. YUM
(5)
Niti B.
I have been dying to have a bite here since it opened and can't believe it took me this long to get here! It was well worth the wait since my date knew exactly what to get as a regular at this amazing restaurant! I started with a No. 2 cocktail and just let them keep coming! :) For starters we had the grilled octopus, shaved brussels sprouts and hamachi from the crudo bar. The grilled octupus was like no other I've had! The texture was just right moist and fresh with perfect amount of char. The only one that has been good in comparison was that at Davanti Enoteca. With the perfect amount of red chilies to add heat this dish was a perfect start. The brussels sprouts were refreshing and a nice change to the traditional way most restaurants have been serving them up as a trendy new side and were a great balance to the punch of flavor that the crudo and octopus had. The hamachi crudo was something out of this world and I could have eaten it all day! Light and refreshing with an interesting twist of flavors that I would not have thought to put together. For dinner we had the truffle gnocchi and I will never eat truffle from anywhere else and expect it to be this amazing!!! The gnocchi were like little pillows of heaven with a burst of flavor in your mouth everytime you took one in! The truffle was fresh and vibrant. It wasn't over powering as I have had it at many other locations. The chef prepared this dish with such percision and it spoke through on the plate. Now there was no room for dessert but my date insisted since I am a obsessed donut lover...he ordered Bomboloni which were warm made to order donuts with whisky-caramel, chocolate hazelnut and raspberry chianit sauces to pair with. Only one world needed to describe these bombolonis......AMAZING! Overall I can say that if you haven't made it in here put yourself down for a reservation now!...no matter how long you have to wait and how far in advance you have to plan the wait is worth it! The service is as perfect as the food and atmosphere and it speaks volumes that after all this time of being open you still can't just get a table on a whim!
(5)
Rafael L.
Another Chicago restaurant that doesn't disappoint! Started off with one of the best appetizers I've had, the Coccoli. This antipasti, had crispy dough with stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma and truffle honey. The pastas were house made and we could tell! We had the Tagliatelle, my favorite, the Peppardelle and the Baked Lasagna. Finished off the perfect meal with a Gelato flight. Just enough dessert for each of us. Service was great. Glasses were never empty and our server always checked on us to make sure all was well.
(5)
Frank O.
The food and service are both great (and lots of attractive waiters and waitresses), but the price is a bit too high for me to want to eat here regularly. Coccoli is great and also easy to make at home (done it twice, both times tasty but not quite as good as Siena's). Proscuitto Pear Pizza very delicious, and it's sweet so more like a healthy desert pizza (not that hearty). My girlfriend praises the Truffle Mushroom pizza, which is good if you like mushrooms (I do not care for them). Tiramisu French Toast doesn't really have much espresso or cream flavor to it, but it's still a sweet but not to sweet breakfast item (and healthy-ish because it comes with berries). Lobster hash comes with fresh lobster, but you certainly pay for it and don't get much food in the dish (would skip next time). The truffle gnocchi is supposed to be a Chef Fabio's signature dish, but the flavor of truffle cannot carry a dish on it's own, and I think it falls flat due to bland flavor.
(4)
Randy F.
Staying at the next door Westin River North, I stopped by Siena Tavern mainly due to proximity. Lucky me. The place was bustling on a Saturday night and although I only stopped by to pick up a to-go order, it's clear the place is a popular and fun environment for food and drink. The menu is eclectic but has a great assortment of Italian inspired cuisine from their mozzarella bar to their pizza bar. My sampling: Wagyu Beef Meatball - $17. I'm always a bit skeptical of anything with Kobe or Wagyu nowadays as the term has almost become more marketing than actual beef quality but this meatball (one very large one accompanied by a smaller one) was tender, tasty, and went perfectly with the roasted tomato sauce. Coccoli - this is their signature appetizer and I'd never had anything like it. It comes deconstructed when you order it to-go, so I had to look at some pictures online to figure how to reassemble. Essentially, it's a wonderfully crispy dough (like a donut) filled with stracchino cheese that you wrap around with prosciutto di Parma and top with truffle honey and pesto that they include in small containers. It's very good albeit very decadent and filling. Four come to a serving but I did my best to finish two. Gnocchi - the star dish. Fresh made gnocchi is topped with truffle cream sauce, fried sage, and crispy pancheta. Unlike the coccoli, I was disappointed in the smaller portion of gnocchi but mainly because it's so good and not that it's that small a portion! Overall, Siena Tavern was a great meal. It's not the most affordable place but the great quality ingredients and excellent flavors showcase what great restaurants this part of Chicago offers. Siena Tavern accepts credit cards including American Express.
(4)
Yulia R.
Siena tavern is a popular modern place. Highly recommend Coccoli! The best appetizer ever! Crispy dough melts in your mouth, the cheese goes well with the prosciutto. Roasted beets salad is also delicious. Toasted hazelnuts add unique taste to the salad. Can't wait to come back.
(5)
Liz K.
One of my favorite spots. I've been here a few times now, 2 of which we had private parties. The food is amazing! Some places stick you in the back somewhere for private events but here you are right next to the bar and up on almost a stage like atmosphere. And you also have your own bartender up there.
(5)
Andrew D.
My two visits to Siena Tavern left a fine impression of the joint. I came into the experience with high expecations and with my critical mind, seeing as it is in River North, owned by a celebrity chef, and came with astronomical acclaim. They did not disappoint on any level. The first time, I dined. I had the squid ink linguini and it was exquisite. This dish was something new to me so I was a bit nervous, but had always wondered what it would taste like. The creamy sauce that came along with it was a fine complement, as was the succulent lobster accompaniment. Nice wine to balance the meal, as well. The second time, we came in drink on a Saturday, as every other bar within a two-block radius had a ridiculous line. I ordered a bottle of Prosecco for myself and a bunch of ladies, and it was affordable and enjoyable. Only beef was that we were rushed into finishing the bottle because the staff decided to close the place early! Nothing a little chugging can't fix, right?
(4)
Seher D.
One of my coworkers has a habit of choosing the newest or most raved about restaurants in Chicago when she knows our company is paying for it - and I couldn't love her more for this. When we were having candidates interview for positions one day, she picked Sienna Tavern for lunch, and I was so excited. For one, I absolutely love Fabio Viviani, especially his comment about how he was on 'Top Chef' and not 'Top Scallops' when scallops was all Jamie cooked. Because we were a group of about 7 for lunch, they gave us the private room in the back, which was really nice and maybe a bit too intimate for the occasion, but still nice. To start, we ordered the Wagyu Meatball and the Margherita Pizza. The Margherita Pizza was meh and pretty average, but the Wagyu Meatball was AMAZING. Probably the star of the entire meal. It was HUGE, great for sharing, and the bread dipped in the sauce was almost as good as bread dipped in the broth of mussels. However, the rest of the meal was pretty lacking, and to be honest, downright, awful. As my main course, I ordered the Short Rib Ravioli. I could barely find the raviolis because they were swimming and covered in a thick, salty, brown sauce (that was also not mentioned or listed in the description on the menu). It was too much. I didn't enjoy the meal at all to be very honest. All my coworkers even looked over at my plate in confusion, because it's not what you imagined a Short Rib Ravioli dish to look like. After I suffered eating about 2 of the approximately 7 raviolis, my coworker next to me and I had a dare going regarding who would be able to actually eat the sauciest ravioli on my plate. We both had enough faith in ourselves to eat just one more. My coworkers ordered other items on the menu and seemed to be somewhat satisfied, so I'm not sure if I just ordered a bad item, if Sienna Tavern was having a bad day, or if my coworkers had a better "shake your head and smile" face than I did in front of our interviewees. Oh, and that dare. We both lost.
(3)
Meghan S.
Exceptional service! Our waitress gave great suggestions all evening. The cocktails are amazing - there's a variety of specialty drinks on the menu that will appeal to everyone. They also have a nice selection of wine and beer. The food is AMAZING! The butternut squash ravioli was impeccable - I usually don't go for ravioli but this win me over. On another visit, I got the farro salad. So so good, I'll definitely order that again on my next visit. light but satisfying!
(5)
Maggie Y.
Came here for brunch while in town and loved it. Absolutely great atmosphere and the menu/food was divine. Four stars because service was a teency bit slow, however we were taken good care of. I ordered the breakfast skillet and I highly recommend- so dang tasty!
(4)
Bose' A.
Brunch at Siena Tavern is delicious & the staff are all so friendly! I took my mom here for Mother's Day brunch and she loved it. We will definitely be back. We like savory and sweet so we tried 3 entrees and had dessert.
(5)
Megan G.
I ate here last night with my best friend, and we were impressed! My husband eats lunch/dinner here occasionally for work, so he suggested it for us. From the minute we walked in the door, the host was welcoming, the bartender was friendly, and the server was incredible. Parker suggested the coccoli and the squid ink linguine. Fantastic meal. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Leslie B.
Awesome place for a special occasion dinner or night out with the girls! Made a reservation well in advance for 6 on a Sunday night during my first visit and easily found a four-top table in the bar area (which serves the entire menu) the second time I came by. I've had a bunch of the cocktails from Siena and my favorites are the number 10 and 18. Everyone I've dined with has enjoyed their drinks as well. The biggest mistake I made at Siena during my first visit was ordering too many appetizers and then entrees. The best way to go about conquering the menu is splitting a bunch of things. Concerning appetizers, you cannot go wrong with the Coccoli, fried dough with prisciutto, soft cheese, and pesto. You make a little sandwich and it totally rocks. I've also really enjoyed the burrata, which comes with a tasty tomato jam and delicious grilled garlic bread. For pizza, I've tried both the burnt pepperoni and the truffle mushroom. I have to say, I really preferred the burnt pepperoni. It was incredibly flavorful, totally recommend. Pastas, the gnocchi is a very unique dish, but very rich, so I definitely recommend sharing this one. I also really enjoyed squid ink linguini and rigatoni with lamb sausage. Apparently, you can order their pastas in half orders which is helpful to know! Others in my party got the pork chop and brick chicken, they were huge hits...particularly those sticky potatoes that come with the chicken! Now, dessert. There are two that I highly recommend, the first of which is the Bombolinis. Try the chocolate, raspberry, and whiskey caramel sauces that accompany these tasty doughnuts and you won't be disappointed. Second, the housemade gelato is absolutely phenom. Flight is the way to go and blackberry lemon curd, brown butter peanut, and double chocolate were my faves. Siena Tavern is certainly not cheap. But you're in River North, at a new-ish, swanky restaurant, with delicious food...so what did you expect? Make a reservation or stop in and grab some bar seating for a delicious meal and attentive service. Overall, I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Simon R.
Visited while in Chicago for Microsoft Ignite. We got in at about 10 PM. Excellent, excellent professional service. Very friendly, just the right level of attentiveness, and great energy. We had a shadowing, training server at our table during the ordering and serving process. However, as they weren't stepping on each other, but rather complimenting each other, it was completely welcome. The atmosphere is definitely not quiet, but also definitely not clubby. It's the kind of place where you can take a single companion or a group of friends and talk at a normal volume in confidence that you won't be heard. The drinks we ordered didn't come immediately, but I was pleased with my number 1. My buddy got a number 17 and said it was a bit sweeter than expected. However, it was a house take on an Old Fashioned. The steak my friends ordered was delicious based on my sampling and their review. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. My pasta dish was very tasty as well. We ordered desserts as well, and everyone was pleased. Overall, I would highly recommend this place. It is only Monday, and the Microsoft conference goes until Friday, so maybe I will find an excuse to return. :)
(5)
Mary T.
Traditional Italian is my jam, but places like Siena Tavern have me smitten with modern Italian and its Mediterranean influences. The space is interesting very woody, but not in a rustic, manly sort of way I wasn't sure what to expect of a place with tavern in the moniker yet a menu not akin to what one normally expects of tavern food. We started with the hamachi crudo and three cheeses. The crudo was fantastic; delicate and light. The cheese left me wanting more; I forget the name, but the one our serer described as unusual wasn't all that interesting or adventurous to us. For our mains, he went with the sea bass and me with the squid ink linguine. We both agreed that his was good, but mine was amazing (and he's not a big fan of lobster). The pasta in my dish was cooked to perfection with just the right amount of spice to balance out the richness of the lobster. I'd definitely come back here, I just wish it didn't require advance planning (reservations highly recommended).
(4)
Kinnari P.
One of my favorite restaurants in the city. The gnocchi and the truffle mushroom pizza are my top choices when dining. The bombolini dessert keeps bringing me back. The cocktails are good. Tough restaurant to get into during dinner hours, but always a great later dinner spot! Highly recommended!
(5)
Lisa C.
Ate here with my husband and a friend on a Monday night and the place was packed. We sat at the end of the bar and it was just lovely. Great service from bartenders and staff. Really good energy in the entire place. Fun people watching. Bustling and just what you'd expect from a good restaurant. My husband is Italian and from New York, so he usually REFUSES to go to any Italian restaurants. He believes he can always cook better Italian food than anyone at any restaurant. HAHA! Well, he was wrong! He loves Top Chef's Fabio. So he was anxious to try the food. And, even my husband was impressed & happy! The menu is great. I had pappardelle with bolognese. My husband had short rib ravioli, and my friend ate lasagna. You know when the food arrives and no one says anything because they're digging their forks into the food, and everyone's eating because they love it? That's how it was. Fresh pasta = wonderfulness. We ordered the tiramisu also, and it's enough for 3 or 4 people to eat a bit, plus it comes with light and crispy meringue cookies. I will make special trips back to Chicago to eat here. Yay, pasta!
(5)
Liz G.
Taking a star away because of a recent lunch visit that involved a rubbery lobster roll and a $4 up-charge for brussel sprouts :(
(4)
Ali D.
Solid place! Love the food. Cool / hip vibe. A must visit when in the neighborhood. Can get busy so plan ahead. Enjoy!
(4)
Mike W.
All around AWESOME restaurant. Grilled octopus appetizer- excellent Harvest salad- Also good, Not sure what all was in it but I want more Short Rib Ravioli- 9/10 I think only Gemini Bistro has them beat Truffle pizza- very aromatic, mushrooms were a touch under done Pear and Prosciutto pizza- caramelized sweet pears and salty prosciutto with peppery arugula. Go for lunch and avoid the dinner rush.
(5)
Lauren B.
My husband and I are super picky about our Italian food, so much that we rarely go out for Italian because we can make it better at home. Siena Tavern did not disappoint. I would love to see a location open up in NYC, so I could enjoy this food more often. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs while ordering and we left stuffed. Here is the run down of what we ordered. Truffle Goat cheese and prosciutto: The goat cheese was amazing. The prosciutto was good, but not amazing. Coccoli: These light and ethereal fried dough balls were not to be missed. The stracchino cheese just melts in your mouth. The pesto served with it really made the dish. I could have done without the honey, as I didn't feel it added anything to the dish. Spring pizza: Being from the NY/NJ area I know good pizza, and this was a great one. I loved the fresh artichokes and vegetables. There is nothing I hate more than getting canned or frozen veggies on my pizza. The crust was super flavorful and more like what I'm used to eating at home. Gnocchi: This dish was everything gnocchi should be. They were light and pillowy, with a touch of truffle oil. The fried sage was a nice touch. If i lived closer, I would be here all the time.
(5)
Marc S.
The place has a nice atmosphere and was busy on a Friday night. We were in Chicago for the first time and wanted to try Chicago Pizza. My husband went to get his deep dish pizza and I wanted my thin crust Pizza. I had watched Top Chef and was glad that the recipes were from an Italian. I ordered the Margherita Pizza. The flavor was good but it arrived slightly warm and not fresh hot out of the oven and was the reason for 3 stars. The service was also a little slow. Refills took a while, and we were not acknowledged and stood around for 4 minutes right in front of the waitress before she asked to help us.
(3)
Lise S.
I've been looking forward to trying Siena Tavern and I had a chance to stop by for lunch in the summer. It was a lovely day, so the outdoor patio was great! I have to admit I was not impressed at all. I had a lunch salad and tea, which they should have been able to excel, but alas I had to decline the tea (it was rancid/old). The salad description had much promise to be really good...... Siena Chopped: romaine, iceberg, artichoke hearts, avocado, cherry tomato, green bean, egg, radicchio, red onion, salami, pepperoncini, cannellini beans, gorgonzola, sweet mustard vinaigrette $16 - but the lettuce was old and had brown spots. I've walked by this place several times and the place appears packed, so give it a try at your risk. Don't hesitate to send back a bad dish - they need to improve their quality. I was disappointed, so it will be a long time before I go back - plus their competition is really tough in Chicago so I'll try something else
(2)
Nicole L.
Fun Italian restaurant with unique cocktails, a lively atmosphere and delicious food. My husband and I shared the shaved brussel sprout salad. It was great. I had the orrechiette. The pasta was a perfect al dente. The sauce was very flavourful. My husband had the pappardelle bolognese, which he also enjoyed. Nice dessert menu and beautiful presentation. Bravo Fabio Viviani!
(4)
Jigna P.
Went here for brunch with a group of six. The food was good, no complaints from the table. They were very kind in making substitutions for dietary restrictions.
(4)
Courtney H.
We reserved in November and a reservation for this past Friday was the first we could get so we had a long time to build this place up! Thankfully, it was pretty good. I read a lot of the Yelp reviews, looked at pictures and looked at the menu beforehand so I pretty much knew what I wanted. We had a 7:30pm reservation and I arrived about 7:10pm. I did the valet ($14). They wouldn't seat us until the whole party was there, but even once we were all there we still had to wait a little past our reservation to be seated. We were seated in a booth facing the pizza bar. I started with the Coccoli. I did share some with the rest of the table, but I ate most of it myself. It was melt in your mouth good! Loved it. I then got the gnocchi with truffle oil, fried sage and pancetta. The pancetta wasn't cooked to my liking but the truffile oil was amazing. So good. I also tried the burrata with tomato jam and bread that my friend got and that was really good as well. For dessert, I had the salted caramel gelato and it was amazing. My sister had the tiramisu and she LOVES that dessert in general and really liked it here. My friend is a huge fan of their special birthday cake gelato; they only give it out if it's a birthday. However, the waitress said she would bring some out for him. I tried it and it was amazing!! It's vanilla ice cream with like, candy and cake in it. So good. Overall, I think I paid $65 for dinner including tip and tax and then $14 plus tip for the valet. Not a cheap night by any means, but I would go back again!
(4)
Kelly J.
Decided to pop on for a late dinner when we saw that the place was seriously hopping on the street. Well, that and after a quick star check on yelp! We had a couple of pasta dishes that were fabulous! Obviously freshly made and quality ingredients, it was well worth the midnight carb overload. Lovely and extensive wine list, excellent and attentive service in a gorgeous setting made up for the fact that it was so loud we could barely hear each other speak. I would go back.
(5)
Tracy T.
I usually have wonderful things to say about this place but today I had a not so great experience. Today, we came in to eat on their patio as it looked pretty empty and we came to the host stand who told us there was a bit of a wait for those tables but couldn't tell us how long the wait was. We waited over thirty minutes and asked again and they still couldn't tell us how much time it would take to get seated. Won't be coming back here anytime soon.
(1)
Kristen B.
Amazing Italian food and drinks! I've been there multiple times and tried a new item each time. It has all been great, especially the red sangria. Great food, great drinks, neat indoor atmosphere and nice outdoor patio.
(5)
Ben P.
Staff seemed a little shuffled and disorganized but the food made up for it. The No. 4 cocktail.... Freshest drink in town
(4)
Cat C.
Finding someone who's on the same page as you? Amazing! He and I were definitely in agreement that Siena Tavern is probably our second favorite Italian restaurant that we've been to (US only..we haven't been out of the country yet). We had a 5:30 reservation a couple Saturdays ago, but even as the night went on there were still a handful of tables still available. We were placed on a high top (but big table), I would have preferred a nicer lower "normal" table, but it was quite comfortable for me still since I got the plush booth seat. I loved our waiter Sam. He was so friendly, helpful and honest with us. Ladies, he's a cutie too! He and the rest of the waitstaff were very attentive as well. Sam explained that they use seasonal ingredients and pastas, mozzerella and chacuteries are even made fresh in house. It was definitely a hard choice to pick what to order because everything sounded and looked amazing! We shared for our appetizer: coccoli. They also split into two servings for us: the short rib ravioli and the tagilatelle. And for dessert the bomboloni. The coccoli was AMAZING! It's lightly fried dough paired with stracchino cheese, proscuitto and truffle honey. Everything was so fresh and well balanced. The truffle honey didn't overpower any flavors of the fried dough, creamy cheese or delicious proscuitto, it all complimented. After we finished this, I was tempted to order a second order for us or even a crudo item, but refrained to save room for dessert. As mentioned they split the pastas for us and even split the portions were very generous! The short rib ravioli were plumply filled with tender short rib and roasted porcini mushrooms with taleggio cheese and all in a delicious light savory brown butter sauce. The tagliatelle were accompanied with chantrelle mushrooms, parmigiano and a intoxicating truffle butter sauce. It was a lighter pasta dish but still packed a whole lot of flavor. Both pastas were delicious and this noodle/pasta loving girl of course loved the freshness of their in house homemade pastas...I can't pick which one I liked more. We were getting a little stuffed but I so wanted one of their enticing desserts. We finally decided on the interactive bomboloni. Four Italian style donuts with little tubes for you to squeeze in the fillings - whiskey caramel, chocolate hazelnut, and raspberry chianti. Besides the gelato, this was one of the more lighter desserts they offered. I loved how "interactive" it was and they were tasty, abeit a teeny bit oily, but that's how those bombolonis are. We didn't taste the whiskey in the sauce, but I loved the raspberry and chocolate hazelnut sauces. We told Sam, who later got a manager for us, that we hope they open one in SF because they would make such a killing! They are opening soon in Miami and next in LA...hopefully SF will be in the works in the next 5 years. Loved the mod and dark tones of this beautiful, delicious, affordable top notch restaurant. If you want a break from the pizza and meat in Chicago, definitely head to Siena Tavern. Of course we saw a mix of clientele, from a teenager having a birthday party here, families, and friends dining as well, but the decor makes for a cute date night restaurant. Our favorite restaurant on our trip for sure. Make reservations because they get busy!
(5)
Natalie C.
Came here for dinner with a girlfriend - we were moseying around downtown, enjoying the lovely and still warm weather (the last of it this year, I'm sure). They have a great wine and cocktail list - I ordered the #5 a delicious concoction of maker's mark, allspice dram, averna amaro, ginger apple cider, lemon, cinnamon, clove, and bitters. Delicious - like fall in a glass. I ordered the spaghetti with jumbo lump crab in a spicy lemon sauce with charred tomatoes. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the portions of crab very generous. My friend had the squid ink linguine with lobster - I tried a bite of it and it was also delicious. Overall I think Siena Tavern is a great place to have a lovely dinner - definitely not on the cheap side, but completely worth the money in terms of quality and ambiance.
(4)
Alex B.
Come on, this place is just flat out great. I was initially a little put off by the sceneier aspects of the place, but the outstanding food and service won me over. Siena way exceeded my expectations. We came for my daughter's birthday - she who has a bottomless appetite for Gnocchi. Normally when you show up with the family for a special occasion you may experience some drop off in service. Not the case at Sienna, in fact they rose to the occasion and really made her feel like this was a special night. Our server was warm, inviting, and happy to address any questions with patience and aplomb. However, the food was really the showpiece. I liked Fabio on Top Chef, but now I am definitely rooting for him on the next show in which he competes. Yum. We had the Coccoli, which are essentially savory cheese filled doughnuts - seriously, they were delicious and I could have eaten half a dozen. The Bufala Mozzarella was light and creamy - surprisingly refreshing. For mains it was Gnocchi (of course), squid ink pasta (which was truly excellent - salty and delicious), and Spaghetti with Crab and Lemon sauce which was outrageous. I love this dish because it is so light and yet bursting with flavors of freshness - lemon and the sea. But, in the final analysis the Gnocchi did live up to its billing - really great. The cocktail list was not my style - too many drinks with fruit and training wheels. But I had a #10 which was fine. The wine list was also similarly fine. I really enjoyed the meal here, it was delicious, served in a surprisingly warm environment by terrific servers. I will gladly be back.
(4)
Rebecca N.
Really good and I just think it may be a bit over-hyped. I did like it more than RPM though! People loveee the lobster linguini and the pepperoni pizza. The lobster linguine was good, but not almost 30 dollars. I really enjoyed the cocoli, brick chicken and the grilled octopus. I'll be coming back here.
(3)
Norm J.
Siena Tavern is one of my new favorite spots. The fact that it's within walking distance of my house is just an added bonus. The food here is oh so very very good. I've been here for brunch and dinner and left happy and stuffed each time. Drinks - are strong which is how I like them. I really like their Moscow Mule. Food: * Biscuits & Gravy - the biscuits are small, but once you get over that your taste buds will thoroughly enjoy this dish. * Bacon Omelet - good, but nothing special. * Grilled Octopus - yummy in the tummy. Get this! * Wagyu Beef Meatballs - these are delicious. Never thought I'd enjoy having balls in my mouth...but I do when I eat these. * Burnt Pepperoni - good pizza with a surprise spicy kick. * Gnocchi - Like It. Love It. Gotta Have It. Trust me, try Siena Tavern and your sense of taste will love you.
(5)
Lindsey D.
Ever since my friend told me about their truffle gnocchi, I had been wanting to try this place. I didn't feel like waiting for a special occasion so I just made my BF make a reservation on opentable for a random thursday night. It can be really difficult to get a reservation here at a normal dinner time, usually all that is open is like 5:30 or 10:30PM, but we managed to snag an 8PM time. When we arrived, we were promptly seated and given our massive menu's to look over. I obviously had already creeped the entire menu online so I already knew what I wanted. To drink, I ordered their red sangria which was very sweet--almost too sweet. I ended up not even finishing it. I should have ordered one of their signature cocktails like I planned on, but I was trying to save a few bucks. We started out with the kale ceasar salad. Meh. It was okay, but not any better than any other Kale ceasar I've had. We just wanted to have something green. We also ordered the coccoli which was pretty delicious, but I don't know if I'd get it again. Basically its 4 huge balls of dough that you eat with cheese and prosciutto. Next we ordered our entrees. We split the gnocchi and the squid ink pasta, both my choices. These were both AMAZING. The truffle gnocchi was everything I've always dreamed of. The gnocchi was so pillowy and the sauce so flavorful, I seriously was still thinking about it the next day. I would go back just to get this and call it a night. The squid ink pasta was also delicious. I will say the portion is a little small for the price, but I guess that's expected when lobster is involved. Some people might think it's a bit spicy, but I like spicy foods so it didn't bother me. I almost forgot we ordered the side of brussel sprouts. This was overkill and nothing to write home about. It was good but definitely unnecessary. Get the gnocchi.
(4)
Jessie B.
Amazing!! Loved the decor, customer service, and food! They greeted us at the table with complimentary glasses of wine due to a 20 minute wait past our reservation time. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable (Kaitlyn). She helped us pick the best. Definitely go For the coccoli for an antipasti, the farro salad, and the crab ravioli. The monkey bread with hazelnut cream was amazing!!
(5)
Monica B.
I love this place, whether it's just to grab a drink at the bar or feast on some delicious Italian delights! I've been here many times and the food has never disappointed me. My favorites include Coccoli (must get!), Kale Caesar Salad, Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Short Rib Ravioli, Squid Ink Linguini, Truffle Mushroom and Margherita Pizza. I recently sat outside for happy hour during a beautiful Friday evening. I really enjoy the No. 8 cocktail and a glass of Lamuri Nero d'Avola with my meal. I still have a lot yet to try off the menu, as well as brunch, so I'll keep coming back!
(4)
Poonam G.
This is my absolute favorite place in Chicago! Staff is super nice and accommodating! They have really nice cocktails! Meatballs and grilled octopus are my favorites dishes but everything on the menu is delicious! I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Rosa E.
me and my mother loved the patio design, so we decided to enter. The food was not as good as the decoration, but the staff was super friendly. Of all the things we had we enjoy more the little donuts (even thought we felt we were eating more than the recommended fat and sugar for a week in one bite!)
(3)
Shan D.
Love coming here. This is great spot for happy hour, dinner, and even brunch. However, the service is poor for such a well publicized and crowded place. On multiple occasions, the servers disappear after you get your food (so if you need an extra something, too bad), and they also forget to put in your drink orders. While a little frustrating, the scene and the majority of the food make up for the service. For happy hour, the scene is lively, attracting a great crowd. Their pastas are all delicious. The risotto is cooked perfectly; I wish I could make it as well as they do. The Brussel sprout salad is actually a little bland. Wouldn't recommend it. Their red pizzas are delicious. Not a fan of their white pizzas. One minor complaint is that the pizza often gets cold fast. I think that's because it's sitting out ready to be taken by the servers who are probably no where to be found. I still prefer La Madia's pizza over Sienna's, but Sienna's pasta is considerably better. Brunch is amazing too. Get an order of the Monkeybread to share with the table. It's perfectly sweet, and a great way to start your meal. I had the lobster hash, which was flavorful with plenty of lobster chunks, just not super filling. They have multiple gelato flavors with a few special flavors depending on the season. If you see the Peanut Butter & Jelly flavor, do yourself a favor and order it. I don't even like PB&j as a sandwich, but that gelato is pretty epic.
(4)
Rania K.
I had gone to Siena Tavern twice for dinner before visiting it again last weekend for brunch. We decided to do an early Father's Day celebration, and it proved to be a hit with everyone! I really appreciated the various vegetarian-friendly options and the fact that you can order off the brunch or lunch menu as early as 10am when the restaurant opens. Our server was Svetlana, and she was very attentive, cheerful, and got all of our orders and requests right. My mom is very picky about having her coffee/tea extremely hot so we made sure to tell Svetlana that, and she made sure my mom's cappuccino was perfect. The brand of coffee they carry here was one of the best I have had in a while. It was smooth, nutty, not acidic, and only needed a bit of sugar. I got the spring artichoke pizza with red sauce, and my other family members got artichoke omelets, the egg white breakfast sandwich, lemon almond pancakes, and tiramisu french toast. The french toast was good, presentation was great (as was the presentation for every dish we ordered), but I was expecting more of an actual tiramisu flavor. Instead, it just tasted generically sweet. I always enjoy the atmosphere here because it is trendy without being snobby or too fancy. It's the perfect mix of chic and fun.
(5)
Katie W.
We visited Siena Tavern on 5/17/15. It might have been one of the most amazing meals I have ever had. We started with the Coccoli, Burrata and Oysters. The Coccoli and Burrata were amazing, I highly recommend each. I didn't try the Oysters my husband ate all four and he said they were delicious! My sister and I had the Gnocchi, it was the best I have ever had, it was pillowy and creamy. My husband had the Squid Ink Linguini, it came with a large portion of lobster. My brother in law had the Ossobuco which he really enjoyed as well. His favorite out of all meals was the Gnocchi! Now if Fabio could open a location in DC that would be great :)
(5)
Dan M.
Great service and food and not entirely expensive for downtown! Location is great in River North the decor is very elegant and modern.
(5)
Jimmy J.
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang..... Get the chicken, potatoes, pizza, pasta everything you can. It is all worth the extra lbs and cash. The waitress talked up the portions like I was gonna be full and to be honest I eat a lot and I told her that and she was like "no...you'll be good" and it wasn't enough to fill me up at all. She tried to comp me a side of potatoes, but I happily paid. It's another one of those restaurants where they do things "right". You know what I mean? Like nothing is too over the top and everything is just very good. My favorite was the chicken diavolo. It had a sharpness to it that I hadn't tasted before, the citrus in it was incredible and went so well with the potatoes. The salad is fresh and it was almost like every piece of the salad was hand selected. Overall it was the kind of experience you'd hope to have whenever you go out to eat. If I ever make it back to chicago, I will absolutely make a few stops here to keep going on the menu.
(5)
Dianna R.
I dined here yesterday evening with my friend. My friend is a pescetarian. I loved that she had lots of intriguing options to choose from. We ordered the Roasted Alaskan Halibut and the Spaghetti with jumbo lump crab and lemon sauce. Very tasty! Great ambiance and space as well.
(5)
Sara L.
After passing by this place a million of times, we finally had the chance to check it out. This place is pretty much like any River North restaurant...loud music, dark lighting, dressed up crowd ready to start their night. It didn't take very long to seat us nor did it seem very busy in the dining area unlike the bar area. My friend suggested we do family style for our table so we can sample several items on their menu. Not going to lie that everything here is pretty much over priced for what you are getting. I mean don't get me wrong the food is good but not phenomenal. We ordered the farrow shrimp salad, white truffle pizza, bone marrow, and spaghetti. The farrow salad was pretty good and very light. The white truffle pizza was meeehh. The pizza crust kinda reminded me of Papa John's. However, no truffles, just mushrooms and truffle oil....womp womp. The bone marrow was alright. They give you two giant bones cut in half and three pieces of bread. I wished they gave us more bread since we had a lot of marrow. Lastly, we had the spaghetti that everybody raves about. The boyfriend didn't like that the spaghetti was a over cooked. I like my pasta softer, so it was good to me. I gotta admit I loved the spaghetti. Whatever that sauce was had just the right amount of kick to it. Would I ever pay 21 dollars for a tiny portion of spaghetti again..nahhh but it tasted good. We skipped on dessert since nothing really caught our eye. Overall, the food good, but very over priced for the quality.
(3)
Selena L.
While the food and service was good enough, I did enjoy the ambience a bit more. Rustic and warm. We ordered: Tuscan Kale Caesar, Carne pizza, "Pasta in a Jar", and the Seared Scallops. The carne pasta and seared scallops were excellent. The salad and pasta in a jar were just ok. Our server was nice enough. Overall, we had a good time.
(4)
Marisa A.
Confession: I was obliterated the first time I visited Siena Tavern, so you're lucky that I have the recollection to share this story. My friends and I strolled in late, sat at the bar, and ordered another totally unnecessary round of drinks. A group of people were sitting next to us and chatting over a mostly-eaten pizza. They left, leaving a single slice of pizza on the bar. Drunk hunger nipped at my better judgment. I looked around. I took the slice off the bar and stuffed it in my mouth. Uhhhhhhhhh. Stop whatever you're doing right now and go order the Truffle Mushroom Pizza. It's stupid good. Decadent, addicting, perfect. I freaked out as I was eating it because it was so delicious. Weeks later, my friend is still impersonating me eating that slice of pizza. "This is good. Oh my God. Guys, guys, this is good. You have to try this. This is good." Unsure of whether my experience was at all under the influence, I went back for a nice and normal dinner with friends. I can now say, with complete confidence, that the Truffle Mushroom Pizza at Siena Tavern is every bit as good as I thought it was. And not only that, but the rest of the menu is full of gems as well. I highly recommend the Coccoli, Octopus, Kobe Meatball, and charcuterie/cheese plates. But don't forget the pizza!
(5)
Anne C.
Had a great time here! The restaurant is exactly what I expected: It's loud, energetic, and really well designed, but the open pizza ovens, wine bar, and wood, brick, and chalkboard elements give it that warm Italian trattoria feel. I'm a fan. And the food is really really good... One thing you must order here is the Coccoli. They are basically savory donuts served with prosciutto, cheese, and truffle honey. They are a really unexpected combination of flavors and textures, but they work. We also tried the smoked mozzarella served with local honeycomb, candied walnuts, grilled escarole, and toasts. I loved the smoky cheese with sweet nuts and honey. And don't skip the Tuscan kale Caesar--one of the best takes on a Caesar that I have tried! Siena Tavern's menu features a variety of main course options: from heartier meat and seafood entrees to fresh pizzas to a selection of homemade pastas. My husband ordered the short rib ravioli, which was served with a sweet and savory mushroom sauce. I was torn between a few dishes, but ultimately decided on the spaghetti with jumbo lump crab meat, tomatoes, and chili flakes in a creamy lemon sauce. It was so delicious-- the fresh lemony flavor with rich crab and cream sauce. And as if we hadn't eaten enough... we ordered dessert. Siena Tavern serves a wide selection of homemade gelati. Since we couldn't decide on just one, we ordered three. Of course. We sampled the hazelnut, salted caramel, and maple mascarpone. The salted caramel gelato was far and away my favorite, but they were all delicious-- and I would eat any of them again.
(5)
Meaghan R.
Food was okay but to be fair, I was extremely excited after reading the menu so my expectations may have gotten the best of me. It wasn't bad or even that bland, but it didn't stick with me or stick out. I had the fried dough with prosciutto (which I saw them plating and meat was not fresh--taken from a stack of pre-sliced meat that came from the fridge. Dough was also literally fried; was expecting more of a pizza dough consistency, so this felt a lot fattier), watermelon salad (presentation was dated and flavors were not new but it is refreshing) and pasta in a jar (good flavors, fresh pasta didn't hold together well but still good). Good for groups due to large menu prime for sharing. Won't recommend and won't revisit.
(3)
Katie O.
"If the restaurant can't be bothered to replace the puck in the urinal or keep the toilets and floors clean, then just imagine what their refrigeration and work spaces look like."--Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential Oh Siena Tavern. I grimace thinking how your kitchen is, after being in the restrooms. I have been in frat houses with cleaner bathrooms than yours. I love the dark tile, C.O. Bigelow soap and lotions but it's all surrounded in a cloud of filth. Toilet paper and towels everywhere, water all over, and clogged toilets amuck. The first time I thought it was a fluke, Not the second (and shame on me) the third. Maybe what is worse, on Wednesday (6/5) I informed the hostess on the disaster and she informed me that "we don't clean the facilities". OBVIOUSLY. Maybe I should tell the bartender or waitress next time. I've always enjoyed the food, prior to using the facilities. Please clean up!
(3)
d a.
plus-good location negative-just didn't do it for me. everything underwhelmed and I came away with a first impression food wise of college food hangover bar at downtown prices. pizza was meh-a puddle of greese on top of a thing layer of unremarkable industrial cheese with a breadstick big crust. fries were tasteless-came with too little ketchup for what they gave you and really crunchy. lobster roll bun was fine but lobster roll was better described as a bun with some form of fancy lettuce, 3 pieces of lobster and some fennel/grass on top. If you're an adult it's a 2 bite sandwich. chicago has a lot of wonderful restaurants where they take the food and service seriously-the waiter interrupted us several times to ask us about lunch-rushing us, especially in that neighborhood and this one really isn't worth your time and especially resources. There wasn't anything I could point to aside from the location where I said this impressed me and most of it left me feeling like the ratio of check to quality was 4-1.
(1)
Mark W.
Great atmosphere, beautiful large wood bar, dim, trendy. Great food.. I've only tried the SeaBass so far.. but, it was perfectly cooked, and had some interesting and unique flavors throughout the dish to accompany the fish. Craft cocktail list superb, and quite extensive. Unique and tasty all around. Female bartender very friendly and sweet and really knew her spirits and techniques, etc.. Incredibly skilled.. Will definitely return.. cozy, intimate, and sexy scene..
(4)
Cassie V.
Our server was Tanner and he was fantastic! He made our large group feel welcomed and had great suggestions on delicious cocktails!!! 10 stars in our book.
(5)
Lauren T.
We had some of the best mushroom pasta ever. I'm still thinking about it. I would make sure to get to this restaurant while in Chicago.
(5)
Erin W.
Awesome. Food came out very quick and everything is excellent. Gnocchi was one of the best meals I've ever had.
(5)
Kelly K.
After all the hype, I was excited to try Siena Tavern. Upon entering, I saw the hostess... who looked like she was wearing what a college kid rolled out of bed in. For being one of the top new restaurants in Chicago, you would think that the staff would dress more professionally. As for the food: Coccoli- Little pieces of heaven in your mouth Kobe Meatball- Good, but not great Gnocchi- The sauce was amazing, but overly doughy gnocchi Prosciutto Pear pizza- The combination was delightful, but the dough was overly burnt. I know you can get some charring from a wood burning oven, but all I could taste was the char On to the service: Few things in life bug me more than an overly attentive bus boy. They refilled our water on average of 4 times/minute, even though there was a water bottle ON the table. At one point, we moved the bottle so the bus boy wouldn't grab it, and he interrupted our conversation to reach across all four of us to refill our already full water glasses. They were overly aggressive in clearing our plates as well. If I have a mouthful of food and my hand is touching my plate that still has two bites of pizza left, that does not mean you can clear my plate. On the other hand, our waitress was generally no where to be found! I think we talked to her twice after we ordered, and even then, it took us almost 10 minutes to find her to take our order. For all that, I don't think Siena Tavern lived up to the hype. Maybe I will be back for a drink, but the restaurant isn't worth it.
(1)
Tera D.
I have to say I'm a little bummed because I was expecting 4 stars here. The hubs had been previously for a work thing and loved it, but it just didn't match up on this go-around. We went with another couple and ordered quite a few things, and only a few were really standouts. Actually, only one, although to be fair that one rocked my world: the coccoli. Holy bread and honey this thing was amazing. If I went back, it would just be to the bar for wine and copious orders of coccoli. Certainly not for a cocktail, because the ones we tried were super sweet and not very tasty. As for the other food, the pizzas were especially disappointing. The gelato desserts were pretty good, but I wish they offered a tasting option, with small scoops of multiple flavors instead of having to commit to a larger portion of just one.
(3)
Melanie H.
I've been back two times since. I love it here. Great atmosphere great food and great fun. Looooove Siena
(5)
Hayley P.
Atmosphere: very chic but not like they're trying too hard Location: A+ Food: I ordered a very flavorful kale salad which is often hard to do with kale. I also split-n-traded the wagyu beef meatball sandwhich and the brioche lobster roll. Both were incredible. Great menu, I'll definitely be coming here again.
(4)
D W.
The MONKEYBREAD dessert is seriously 1 of the best things I have ever tasted in. my. life. Perfect ratio of (brioche?) bread to caramel sauce to candied hazelnuts. It was heavenly. Save room for it!
(4)
David S.
Stopped here on our way home from a Sunday afternoon architecture walk, and were quickly seated on a very nice table outside. Our first visit to the restaurant and we chose the margarita pizza as a good benchmark. The price, $16, is at the high end and frankly, we were underwhelmed. First, the good news is that the basil was fragrant and fresh. As good as we have had. The big disappointment was the crust that almost had a pretzel-like sensibility to it, but none of the attraction..Dense and with little flavor, it was a total miss. And for some reason, it appears that they use an egg wash or something similar to give the crust a sheen. We'll certainly come back to try something else, but we were underwhelmed by our first visit.
(3)
Chris N.
Pretty good... I was expecting a lot better. Being a top chef restaurant and all. Long wait..make sure you have a reservation. Bartender is great. He was on top of everything.
(3)
Unica V.
A new gem in Chicago. We weren't able to get a reservation...it was booked. But we decided to stick around and were able to get a bar seat. So glad we did. We ordered the grilled octopus and waygu beef tartar. The octopus was grilled perfectly; one if the beat we've had. The tartar, unfortunately, was below average. It wasn't spiced up enough and wasn't tender. But we ate it so it didn't suck! We had the Pasta in a Jar and holy deal was that good! Much better than advertised. I had a hard time blocking my husband's fork from my plate. We also had the Orecchiette which was very good. The chunks of sausage were so good and cooked perfectly. D'Angelo was our bartender and he paired wines with our meal. He definitely knows what he's doing. We will be back next time we are in Chicago. If you go, ask for D'Angelo... he'll treat you right and you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Anne C.
Mmm, the pappardelle pasta is my favorite! It's homemade from scratch! Their gelato is creamy, rich and smooth. I've had the pistachio and salted caramel and both were outstanding. I've also had the giant meatball as an appetizer which was fabulous! It gets super busy at night, so you're best off making a reservation. It's so busy at night that you can barely move, but if you're up for a lively atmosphere, then go for it. The servers are knowledgeable and personable. They usually give you full detailed descriptions of the menu. Overall, I enjoy coming here for dinner!
(5)
Tristin H.
This is a tough one... I'd lean more towards 4 stars, but my last experience wasn't great. In general, I love the bar area, plenty of bar space and nice employees. Always had great service and I like the general feel of the place. However, I recently went for brunch and had the Lobster Hash, being a fan of all things lobster. It was OK, but hardly had any lobster meat in it. Just some very small "specks" of lobster. So I basically paid $21 for hash. Dislike. I'll give them another try, as many menu items sound great (but so did the "lobster" hash). We'll see...
(3)
Ryan M.
Lobster roll was delicious.
(5)
Greg K.
Great vibe and energy. This is definitely a hot spot in Chicago for both the bar and the restaurant. Their bar is staffed by excellent mix-masters that know the standards and the unusuals as well. I ordered a Moscow Mule and it came I the classic copper mug and was poured to perfection. The food selection and presentation was excellent. I would liken it more towards a Gastro Pub with a variety of small plates, flat breads, charcuterie, mozzarella and crudo bars. There were also a handful of large plates as well as homemade pasta selections to chose from. We ordered was grilled octopus, wagyu beef meatballs, coccoli, ahi and hamachi from crudo bar, ossobuco, and squid ink pasta, all were excellent!
(4)
Kelsey K.
I want to give them 2 1/2 stars, but I'm trying this new thing where I'm not a Yelp whore and give out my stars all willy-nilly. That being said, the decor was AWESOME... but that's the only thing that made me totally stoked about this place. The clientele is douchey... like, really douchey. The staff was nice enough, whatever that's worth. The menu prices were high, but that's kind of par for the course in thie neighborhood. I'd go back, but I'm certainly not going out of my way to get there.
(2)
Wm B.
Had lunch at Sienna Tavern on 6/14. Great service, fantastic food, awesome drinks. I had the lobster roll and my wife had the chicken sandwich. Everything was spot on. Finished lunch outside and moved inside to have a cocktail at the bar. The inside is gorgeous and pretty spacious. Would love to go back for dinner.
(5)
Rajiv S.
I tried Siena Tavern during restaurant week 2014.. I loved the food!!! The Kale Caesar was just amazing! We got a bottle of wine, which worked perfect with our meal.. I had the gnocchi as my entree choice - I couldn't finish it but only b'coz I was saving room for the dessert! The gnocchi was perfect, the sauce was very good... We got pistachio gelato and tiramisu cake for dessert!! that gelato was the best I have ever had!.. We had a great time..
(5)
Izzy N.
Okay fine. They have really redeemed themselves in my eyes. And let me remind you, I usually am not the biggest fan of Italian food either. So ixnay to pizza, cheeses, lasagna, most pastas, meatballs and such. It'd have to be something really good to get me to change my tune so I'm a solid fan of Siena's. I'm very much into their squid ink linguine with lobster and the coccoli appetizer. I cannot stop ordering those two things. I'm hypnotized. HELP. But I could totally order the gnocchi again, along side the linguine. I think it's better to stick to their pastas, pizzas and entrees, as their tuna and hamachi crudo was average. Their parmesan fries were delicious. Their service was soo much better this time around. It was more understated - being just helpful enough. Even my partner in crime for dinner noted the changes. Praise the Lord it can be done. I love that they cared enough to fix service issues, which speaks volumes to me. By the way.. this place is great as a sunday night dinner spot, and out of all the times I've visited, I think I prefer it as a dinner spot. Really lively and dark enough. If you have to choose between two high profile Italian restaurants in this neighborhood, I'd come here over RPM hands down.
(4)
David L.
I have to say it was just so so because it was built up to be more. The interior tries to be so many things simultaneously it felt like a total train wreck. I will admit that televisions over the bar are a huge turn off as they are nothing but a distraction. If you can see them from your table we are off to a bad start. The concept of doing Italian from scratch is less a concept than a really good idea for anyone who is doing reasonable fresh Italian fare. I expect that you would be making your dough and pasta in house... why not? Service was fine, the food was fine, but I really wanted more and for the price, I really really wanted more. We left before dessert because we could not take another course of so so food.
(2)
Maria P.
I wanted to love this place because I love. Fabio. But I only liked it. It was good but I would never go back. What I loved-comfy chairs, roomy interior, they take reservations, the gnocchi, and the fried mortadella on the ricotta appetizer. What disappointed- we had the Kobe meatball and ricotta appetizers. They were okay but really overpriced, in my opinion. We also had shared the gnocchi and fig and prosciutto pizza. The gnocchi was the hit if the table but even that was very rich. The pizza crust was excellent but the toppings were cold and it just didn't work with the hit cheese. I never thought I would stop eating pizza before the overstuffed feeling hit but I did. I held out for dessert. Again, I thought they were misses. We had the berry shortcake, which was good but I could make that at home & the warm chocolate butter cake which I didn't love; probably because I had wanted cake, not what seemed like raw brownie batter. Also the wine was way overpriced. I realize it is river north, but $12 for a glass seemed a bit steep. Overall, stop in if you are in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way. I have had better Italian food and pizza at osteria via stato, davanti enoteca and a tavola
(3)
Angela S.
Food is above average, drinks are slightly. Keep to beer and the classics. Been here twice, once for a group lunch and another for drinks at the bar. If they can somehow breakaway from the tourist trap it'd be such a better experience. The decor could pass as a more upscale tavern but there's Indiana with their teenage daughters wearing their Victoria Secret pajama pants.
(3)
Erin C.
Coccoli was the bomb. Definitely start your night with that. Drinks were beyond fast. Grabbed a booth and had our first appetizer and drinks within 10 minutes. Their monkey bread dessert and fungetti ice cream were coma-inducing, sugar heaven. Pasta dishes were interesting in flavor - lamb rigatoni and short rib ravioli. Good but weren't highlights of the night. Ambiance and energy of Siena is great. Heard its great for post work happy hour too.
4.5 - this place was almost perfect, well done Fabio and staff! We met in the bar, which was overwhelmingly busy and chaotic. The bartender at the bar in the back was awesome though, he answered my questions about the drinks and said he could make something for me and take it back if I didn't like it. I didn't have to, the No. 5 was delicious! Strong bourbon, but sweet to take the edge off. Foodwise, everything was delicious. It's too hard to rate in order of yumminess because most of it was amazing, so I'll just list what we had, except to say the braised duck ragout was THE BEST DISH WE HAD (I win!) -cooked octopus - delicious all around, including the duck fat potatoes, we fought over this one -kobe meatball - I thought "what a waste of kobe beef", but I was wrong. It was tender and delicious and we licked the red sauce up until the plate was clean. So.Good. -burnt pepperoni pizza - we were intrigued so had to order this. I don't typically go for pepporoni pizza, but this was delicious. I think they use the same red sauce as the meatball - AWESOME!!! -lump crab spaghetti - very tasty, not at all fishy -brick chicken - I never order the chicken in restaurants because I always think I could make that at home. I'm always wrong because this chicken, right down to the crispy skin, was ah-mazing. You won't regret it. -roasted cauliflower side - briny and delicious -parmesan fries - yum. *a couple people had the squid ink pasta with lobster but I couldn't try due to an allergy. They enjoyed it though, but everyone agreed my duck was better :) Desserts - we tried almost everything, here's the order of yumminess -bomboloni - these donuts are amazing - the sauces, especially the homemade caramel sauce - are to die for. GET THIS. -warm butter cake - the cake was good, but the homemade gelato is what put it over the top -cannoli - I'm just not a huge fan of cannoli, so these were lost on me, but the pistachio gelato was amazing, we fought over it I took off .5 star because our server seemed much more attentive to other tables than to our table of 7. We would have ordered another bottle of wine if he had been paying attention, but instead we did without. Oh well. Everything else was outstanding, I need to go back for the lasagna, among other things!
(4)
CJ B.
We got into the city pretty late on a Saturday night, checked in to our hotel and immediately stepped out to grab a bite. They were pretty busy in the bar section and really really loud with all the drunk people and the blaring music. Fortunately we were able to be seated right away. Our server, Amy, was very sweet and hospitable. We were so tired and just ready for a drink to wind down. I had the No. 8 with Johnny Walker Black and it was really good. I love grapefruit so grapefruit + JWB = perfect combo! We had the Wagyu beef tartare, and it was absolutely delicious! The portion is rather small but so worth it! He had the short rib ravioli and I had the squid ink linguini with lobster. Oh man were they generous with the lobster portions! The cream sauce and the linguini were a match made in heaven! We ended with tiramisu that we weren't the biggest fan of. It wasn't bad by any means but we've definitely had better. Though the presentation was quite cute. We ended up getting margherita pizza to go and I couldn't help but grab a slice before we even left the restaurant! We were going to grab another round of drinks but the pizza came out so fast that we decided to just take the check. I would definitely be coming back but hopefully when it's not as loud. The food and service was great and I'm sure the atmosphere would have been really different had we came in earlier in the evening.
(5)
Beth M.
Nom nom nom! Everything here was just perfect. Managed to grab a 3:30 reservation for my anniversary dinner- not an ideal time, but was happy to just go. First, service was absolutely great. I saw a few negative reviews, so we either really lucked out or they're getting their stuff together. We (the husband and I) want to splurge a bit for our anniversary so we got a bottle of wine for $32, which, for a place like that isn't bad at all. It was the cheapest red and was really good, so that was great. Now the food- the MUSTS are the gnocchi and the first thing on the menu...the coccoli! Both were so perfectly executed and delicious. The second we ate both we were already making plans to come back. The hamachi's flavors were great and the seafood was so perfectly fresh but it wasn't a must try. My husband was obsessed with the Italian donuts for dessert. You get four huge fluffy donuts and four sauces to inject the donuts with- caramel, chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla bean. This is a must for anyone who likes sweets and was completely worth the cost to him (only $9). We will certainly be back again. It is also doable price wise, I think, for a normal night out.
(5)
Kyle P.
super nice layout and great looking place with three distinct areas to hang out in. The waitstaff was great and the fries were very good but the pizza was kinda of boring and bland. It looked great and was fine after a little tabasco and I really enjoyed the meatball. Again very cool place
(4)
Gary R.
This place was pretty good. Everyone was saying that it was run by Fabio, which is weird. I only remember him as the dude with the flowing hair who gets smashed by birds on roller coasters. I did not know he was a chef. Anyway, the food was good. I wish I remembered more, but I was so full and drunk when I left that it was hard to even comprehend that I was still alive. A few things came to mind: 1. They sell Octopusses. Really little ones. Those scare me a lot, and have dangerous testicles. 2. The Pizza is pretty darn good. We ordered a meaty one, whose main ingredient was cholesterol, followed by shame. I also believe I purchased some kind of pasta bologna thingy, which was of a much higher quality than what you get from Sbarro. 3. They sell 3 floyds beer, which is a plus. (region) 4. They brought us a dessert tray that contained a bunch of fried donuts with chocolate dipping sauce. I cannot understand how that was even legal, but it was damn good. The urinals were pretty solid, and were able to easily contain the litre upon litre of urine that I produced as i kept drinking the 3 Floyds.
(4)
Laura R.
Siena Tavern is a great place to come with a group... I loved trying a little bit of everything. And honestly, I think everything I tried was good. Pizzas were okay, spaghetti with crab was good but more spicy than I expected. I had given up sweets when I was there, so next time I plan on going crazy with the desserts, since what everyone else tried looked amazing. My only complaint is that it can still be tough to get a reservation for a group on weekend nights.
(4)
Annie O.
Ate here last night and boy oh boy did it meet my expectations! First off, my boyfriend and I arrived an hour early for our 8:30 reservation. Although the place was packed, I was thrilled that we were seated right away and at a great table by the window. We got the coccoli for an appetizer and it was outstanding! The honey flavor perfectly complimented the creamy mozzarella. The dough balls that came with were fantastic and a creative touch to this traditional Italian dish. We split the brick chicken and the margherita pizza. Chicken was very flavorful and juicy - I especially loved the potatoes on the side! Crunchy and crisp. The pizza was alright but not the best I have had. I probably wouldn't order it again since there are so many other delicious looking options on the menu. My favorite part of the meal was my No. 2 cocktail. It was OUT of this WORLD!!!! I would have ordered 4 more if it wasn't a Wednesday night! I cannot stop dreaming about this drink. I hate when drinks are too fruity and taste like candy. The No. 2 is anything but. It tastes so fresh and tart and light. I cannot describe how delicious it is! No wonder it's the most popular drink! I will come back again just to have it! Sienna Tavern also has partnered with Goose Island to produce a Signature Draft beer just for them. My boyfriend had two and said they were delicious!
(5)
Rupa N.
Siena Tavern is the quintessential example of a restaurant that is all the rage because its about people that want to see and want to be seen and not about the food. Reservations, especially weekend ones are incredibly tough to come by. I somehow snagged one on OpenTable at 9:30 p.m. and my expectations on food, cocktails, and ambiance were grandiose. Sienna quite simply did not deliver. We had the Coccoli, mussels and clams, gnocchi, and Bellwether Farm Ricotta Cheese from the mozzarella bar. The Coccoli and mussels and clams were probably my favorites overall but I was no where near blown away. The gnocchi and the ricotta cheese recommended by our waiter were bland. I expected to be overwhelmed by flavors but I was mostly underwhelmed. We also probably ordered one too many dishes for a party of 2. Cocktails were unimpressive and I found this surprising for a place that is supposed to be ultra hip. Between us, we had #2, #8, #12, and #14. #8 was interestingly good but I didn't care for the others. Ambiance was cool but it's way cooler at Yusho, Nightwood, Telegraph, Maude's Liquor Bar, Balena, Boarding House, and Longman and Eagle................
(2)
Courtney Z.
Highly highly recommend!! We had very high expectations and were somehow still impressed! The atmosphere is second to none, just perfect!! Spread out seating, perfect noise level. We had reservations at 645, so it seemed like the earlier crowd still there was very casual - however as it got later the attire became very trendy/going out feel. Perfect to bring parents to earlier and friends later!! Food was phenomenal!!! The Gnocchi is a MUST!! We ended up ordering too much food, but no one was too upset about bringing home the leftovers :) Drinks were fun and pretty good as well! Great, friendly service!
(5)
Kelly M.
After seeing all the great reviews, I dined at Siena Tavern on a Saturday night at 8:15pm for a birthday celebration. The restaurant is beautiful and for such a large space it's sectioned off nicely. The dining room feels like the dining room and not the bar, which is good because the bar gets really crowded. The service was okay. Our waiter didn't interact with us all that much but we were able to ask questions about the menu and our food arrived at a good pace. The cocktails are decent and inventive. The food was really good but the portions are on the smaller side (except for the pizza). The brussels sprout salad was delicious, as was the spaghetti carbonara and the brussels sprout risotto. We had a couple of the crudo appetizers which were okay, they just didn't have a lot of flavor. As for the scene...that's exactly it, a scene. This is where you'll see sky-high heels, skintight mini dresses and really fancy cars (a vintage Rolls Royce was parked out front). These people want your eyes on them. Although the food was good and the people watching is even better (in a "WHAT is she WEARING?!" kind of way), you really have to be in the mood for a place like this. Sometimes I want good food without the pretension of the crowd. I was fully expecting Scott Disick to walk in and demand a table.
(3)
Rick C.
Bottom line: I enjoyed myself here. We stopped in after work for an early dinner and were able to get a table. First impression is that it's a nice looking place. We had comfortable seating that wasn't super close to other tables like many places are doing. The waitress came by and recommended a few items. We took her advice when she steered towards a few things and they worked out well. For starters, we went with bone marrow and the truffle pizza. The bone marrow dish was good, not great. It dressed with balsamic. I guess we just kind of prefer ours simply prepared. Not bad though. The truffle pizza was tasty, but maybe not as great as the waitress implied. I had the leftovers the next day for a dope lunch. I'd easily get both dishes again though. We went kind of heavy since we wanted to try the pastas here and were concerned with the portion sizes. We've become accustomed to tiny pasta dishes at these types of restaurants and we were both hungry. We shouldn't have worried becuase the portions were pretty good. Not maggiano's take home and feed your family for a week good, but good nonetheless. The pastas we tried were the pappardelle with bolognese and the lobster with squid ink linguini. My wife liked the pappardelle more, I liked the linguini. Both were excellent. Too often, you find lobster overcooked and gross. Not the case here. the lobster in the sauce and the half tail on top were cooked perfectly. For dessert, we went with tirimasu. A little sweet, but dense and tasty. This place is a winner.
(5)
Stacy B.
I had such high hopes for this place but sadly it just isn't all that. There are so many amazing restaurants around Chicago without it being attached to a famous chief. This restaurant is best summed up as not bad not great... Meh. I struggled giving it 3 or 4 stars. I went with 4 just to give this place the benefit of the doubt and i liked the atmosphere. We take groups of clients out when visiting Chicago and unfortunately everyone left pretty disappointed. Oh well.
(4)
Lindsay S.
Sometimes I feel like a bad food lover...no clue who this chef was at all before making my reservations! I was simply going off a fantastic sounding menu of a new restaurant that was opening. I was drooling over it on my computer screen, went to make rezzies, and oh. Wow. I have to wait how long!? Something must be up I don't know about. Once discovered Chef Fabio was on Top Chef and blah, blah, blah I was bored and didn't care. I wanted a wood fired pizza. I had yet to find one in Chicago that I love. We arrived 15 minutes early and were told to grab a drink at the bar and they would come find us. I like the additional tiny bar in the back. I couldn't get to a hole in the large bar, and instead saw this little 'to-go' gem next to the DJ and then perched until our table was ready. I love the space! Sexy! There were TVs around, but I was happy that they were off despite the whole Big 10 basketball something-something going on. I wish we had gotten a booth - especially since those super high chairs still were too low for my comfort at the high table. And the mirrors behind my wife's head were almost distracting! But the kitchen was equally distracting for her. The music was a touch too loud, BUT I was sick and couldn't talk very loud, so my slight annoyance with that was partially about the illness. The waitress gave us lots to think about on the menu. They encourage sharing. Love it. Although she said the pizza was 10" and could be an appetizer. I know I'm not a large eater, but that seemed like a huge appetizer to me! In the end we got the roasted beet salad, the gnocchi with fried sage and panchetta and the burnt pepperoni pizza. We were warned about the pizza. We brushed it off. But WHOA this is spicy. But the spice seems to be mostly towards the center of the pizza so the bites after the first one were less heat-wise. So amazingly good. The gnocchi was PERFECT. Though I'm happy we shared it because it would have been too rich to finish on my own. Looking at Open Table, the reservations are ridiculous at the moment. But it won't stop me from calling occasionally to see if we can get in. Programmed into my phone now is this place! After a disappointment at Bavette's this place was exactly what I thought it would be and more!
(5)
Alex L.
Nothing short of delicious! Everything I ate was great. We went with a large group and were able I taste a ton. The watermelon salad was smaller than I thought, but it was fresh, spicy and creamy at the same time. The gnocchi was the best gnocchi I've ever eaten. Almost buttery rich but still air fluffy .. The texture is a cross between pasta, a marshmallow and Cotton candy. The pepperoni pizza was oven roasted and awesome. The brick chicken was crispy on the outside and so juicy inside. Don't forget to try their specialty drinks. #12 was great. Great balance between sweet and letting the flavor I the liquors show thru.
(5)
Sarah Beth T.
Worst salad ever. I rarely do reviews, but I could not let this go unnoticed. Ordered the Siena chopped salad and, by no stretch of the imagination, cardboard dipped in mayonnaise would have tasted better. It listed all these yummy ingredients - avocado, tomato, canellini beans, artichokes - fake, chewy, gross. All atop grade D shredded lettuce you find at Taco Bell. ONLY giving this a second star based on location and atmosphere.
(2)
James Z.
Oh, Fabio. Thank you. I always enjoy coming to Siena Tavern because the food is tasty and the space is absolutely beautiful. Huge windows and high ceilings really make the restaurant look much larger than it really is (though it's already quite big to begin with!). It's open and airy. The bar area is fantastic, and you can usually score a couple seats for a quick drink. It also helps that the bartenders are incredibly friendly. I especially love their "No. 2" cocktail (all cocktails are $12) and their burrata pizza with marinated eggplant and zucchini ($16) for a nice post-work drink+nosh. (The burrata pizza is fantastic because the burrata is slightly melted - as it should be! The crust is perfect and the pizza itself is not over-sauced or over-seasoned. Overall, it's awesome. Trust.) In the past, my friend has enjoyed their "No. 7" cocktail. Scoring dinner reservations though is quite hard so if you're really wanting to get in on this action, try dining at the bar at an early hour.
(4)
Kate L.
I'd give Siena Tavern a 4.5. My friend and I walked in yesterday without a reservation around 5:45 p.m. We were able to get a table after 15-20 minutes at the bar. The bartender who helped us seemed a bit green, but she was friendly and apologetic for taking a long time. We ordered Cocktain Nos. 2 and 11. I didn't try the 11, but I really enjoyed the 2. Once we were seated, we ordered and shared: 1) Coccoli: Crispy dough, stracchino cheese, proscuitto di parma, truffle honey; 2) Tuscan Kale Caesar: Oven-dried tomato, Parmesan, rosemary foccacia croutons, lemon-Caesar dressing; 3) Butternut Squash Tortellaci: Parmesan brown butter, crispy sage, crushed Amaretto cookies; 4) Truffle Mushroom Pizza: Oyster, shiitake, maitake, mozzarella, shaved winter truffle; and 5) Bombolini: Sugared doughnuts with whisky-caramel, chocolate hazelnut, and raspberry-Chianti sauces. Wow, everything was amazing! Very rich, but fresh and amazing. With the Coccoli, you can split the large dough balls open and create little sandwiches. I've never had a kale Caesar salad before, but I quite enjoyed it, especially with the oven-dried tomatoes. The cookies added a delicious hint of sweetness to the Tortellaci, which was otherwise very rich and creamy. Not much to say about the pizza except that it was fantastic and large enough to take home for leftovers. The Bombolini was exceptional; the doughnuts were large, warm, soft, and basically perfect! Our waitress was extremely friendly, helpful with recommendations, and attentive. The bar area where we sat was a bit noisy and crowded, but that's what we get for not making reservations in the dining room. We left feeling very full and happy. Will glady return!
To the man that knows a young lady and her manly drinks! - Adam We came to Siena Traven for a friend and my birthday celebrations and the evening was a pure pleasure. We got there at 7:15 (yes we made reservations so there was no waiting). We got our table right away and were greeted by our wonderful sweet server Adam. From the get go he was just chilled, fun, and gave us the best options for our drinks and half meat/veg eating friends. Anyway, Adam recommended we try 1, 2, 4, 5, and 11; so round one was 1, 2, 4, and 5... from there the night began; 5/6 rounds later... The menu is out of this world; we had a hard time picking what we wanted to eat. So we decided to share and do many different appetizers. (Can't remember everything we got but here is what I do remember us getting) Kobe Meatball, Roasted Beet Salad, Pear/Prosictto Pizza, Sage Parmesan Fries, Bomboloni with three different syrups, three different gelatos, and more. Everything was so good. I'll have to agree with the comment about the Kobe Meatball; huge is an understatement more like a mini football and over whelming for two meat eater's as it was a lot of food. The fries were amazing; it was a perfect blend of flavors. I recommend getting the fries. Either way, we all know Chef Fabio is amazing so the food and drinks will be good no matter what. Yes he is a very nice man; walks around says hi to people and takes pictures but he has to. The place is new and he wants everyone to like the place and trust me you will! So the main reason for my writing this review; it's simple we got there at 7:15pm and did not leave until 1:20(ish)am. (I was drunk at that point) The staff was cool, they did not try to push us out on a Saturday night. Adam was amazing! He even sat down with us and talked to us about life. Jason (I believe the manager) stopped by and bought us a round of drinks. The team there is not pushy at all; they all just kicked ass! I remember at one point I asked Adam if he needed the tab and he said, Nope! Chill. I'll get it later." To me that is amazing customer service; don't think I have seen that kind of service anywhere in Chicago. I can assure you I'll go back (soon) just because of the customer (and the drinks. Don't tell Adam that . ;-))
(5)
Mike B.
Great Italian place downtown. The Kobe meatball is a must have app. For dinner I just had a chopped salad with some steak on it, which was much better than I expected it to be. Great happy hour location!
(4)
M B.
Came here for my birthday dinner and it was fantastic! Everything from the cocktails, to food to service to ambiance was great. The Coccoli is a must get unlike anything I have ever had before. The gnocchi with sage and truffle was delicious! I love anything with truffles! The pizza was yummy and a pretty large portion. Was happy to see that octopus was not tough but actually really tender. Have had bad experiences with octopus in the past. Definitely go to the gym before you come here, but it is worth every bite. I cannot wait to go back and oh ya, make a reservation now!
(5)
Courtney G.
One of the best restaurants I've been to in Chicago. Literally the BEST Bloody Mary I've ever had in my life - get one even if you don't like them, it is fantastic. Sit outside to enjoy the city views and order the gnocchi, it's melt in your mouth delicious.
(5)
Paul F.
Awesome mussels!! Service is wonderful too.
(4)
Mike S.
Looking for an upscale, hip place to have a drink or eat some unique foods? This is the place. On a Tuesday, the place was jumping and it was evident from the young, business types, this was the place to hang. The drink menu is diverse, as well as their beer selection. The food menu is equally diverse, from 12-hour Baised Ossobuco to a 36oz Aged Porterhouse (which was the tastiest steak I've ever had). Don't skip the appetizers. From their Pizza Bar, we shared the Truffle Mushroom Pizza and thought we would counteract all the calories we were going to consume, with their Siena Chopped Salad. Everything was cooked perfectly and the wait staff and managers were very pleasant and fun to be around all night. Last, we gorged on 2 desserts for the table. We had the Monkeybread and these donut things from heaven (see the pic I uploaded). They came with 3 sauces to drizzle over the donuts, chocolate, caramel and strawberry. I don't give 5 stars too often, but this place had everything going for it. Loved it!!
(5)
Erica E.
My experience at Sienna Tavern this weekend was great! We had a reservation for 10:00 p.m. and were seated very promptly. We were given a table right next to the door. It was super windy and every time someone came in and out, we got blown away (literally). When we asked to be moved, the waitress moved us to a great corner table without hesitation. The best part of the entire experience was of course...the FOOD! We started with the buratta. It was a little small, but boy was it good! The bread they serve with it is toasted perfectly with butter and a hint of salt. Perfection! For dinner I shared the truffle gnocchi and the spicy watermelon salad with my dining companion. I swear, the spicy watermelon salad is truly the unsung hero of the menu. It is truly sensational. The watermelon is super fresh and it has this incredible peach/soy dressing. Finally we ended with the famous bombolone (donuts). They were served with four decadent sauces including; hazelnut, white chocolate, salted carmel and raspberry. I couldn't recommend this place more! One draw back was the service was a tad slow, but totally worth it for the amazing food! I will be coming back :)
(4)
D T.
I like it. A lot. It's in no way a 5 star place, but you can't be when you try to be a fine dining establishment, and the see and be seen nightlife spot. Never works. This place is PACKED. always. Whether its locals grabbing a bite, singles pretending to nonchalantly be grabbing a cocktail on a Tuesday, in full Saturday gear, or out of place tourists, psyched to catch a glimpse of Fabio. ( Tourists drive me nuts). So book ahead if you want to sit down. My biggest issue with the place, the bartenders have been consistent rude. I bartended for 12 yrs, it sucks. But it's your JOB, and you're in the service industry. If your bf broke up with you, you got hammered last night, a customer is being a douche, oh well. Fake it! And paying the premium cost for a cocktail makes it that much more imperative. Don't act bored with me, I'm on your side. I'm easy to serve, and I tip well. Service in Chicago is beyond embarrassing. However, it's a gorgeous spot, the food is very good, and it has an impressive bar scene. If I wanted to run into anyone semi famous in Chicago, it'd definitely be Fabio...but I'm not running there for that alone.
(4)
Jennifer H.
This place was ok. Super trendy and the hostess had kind of an attitude. She asked for my phone number but didn't say why and then we went to the bar to get drinks, which is right next to the hostess stand. After a while she never came to get us and I walked two feet over and she said she texted me twice that our table was ready. That would have worked if she told us why she was asking for my number and that she would text us when our table was ready. Ugh. Also the credit card machine was so slow at the bar, and I had to wait a while for our bill. The bartender was super nice and ended up coming over to our table with it about 20 minutes later. We started with the smoked mozz cheese with grilled escarole. The cheese was delish but the escarole was perhaps left on the grill a little too long. It was beyond charred and tasted like ashes, inedible. However, the pastas that we ordered were excellent. We got the carrot angolini(?) and the gnocchi. Both were really good! I would look up the details on the menu right now to post more info, their website is currently down. Looks like this place has some tech issues, but overall the food was good, minus the escarole.
(3)
Ev A.
I crave Siena Tavern. My mouth waters when I think about their Coccoli and Gnocchi. Oh gosh, I am going to sound like such a fat kid in this review so just brace yourself. My first experience was at the "Pizza Bar" and my server, Ashley, just took me under her wings and guided me through what I like to call TRUFFLE HEAVEN. It went something like this... Cocktails: Order the No. 2 cocktail. Shhh, just sip and enjoy. Starters: Coccoli. Warm doughy balls. I do not like sharing them because they are warm and delicious and I get anxious thinking someone will eat mine. Pizza: Truffle Mushroom and Prosciutto Pear pizzas. If you can't finish them, take the leftovers home. I legit did this with my girlfriend last night. We went in right before the kitchen closed at 11pm and ordered the Truffle Mushroom pizza. We could not help ourselves. We split the pizza, four slices each. I tried being a good girl because we had ordered the Burrata as well and this was supposed to be a late night "snack". So, I ate two slices and took the other two home. I ate the two slices for breakfast this morning. Ok, huge lie. I ate one slice when I got home last night and saved the other slice for breakfast. Housemade Pasta: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU... lots of good emotions here. I love the gnocchi and the Short Rib Ravioli and Pappardelle are so fresh and delicious, too! I haven't tried any others, and trust me I have tried, but I crave the gnochhi. I walk by Siena Tavern on my way to work and then think about gnocchi for the rest of the day. Dessert: Just. Stop. It. If you think you don't have room for dessert, just skim through the Yelp pictures. Do you see that Bomboloni? Again, warm doughy balls of magical goodness. This review is getting to be quite long. I'm sorry, but I did warn you about the cravings I get for Siena Tavern. I also had to thank Ashley for being awesome because she not only loves the food just as much as I do, but she was/is knowledgeable on the menu and attentive. I love you, Siena Tavern. See you tonight?
(5)
Chester C.
Top chef quality for sure. Don't miss the short rib ravioli and the pepperoni pizza, if you like some heat. Great service, excellent cocktails and cervesa list!
(5)
Lauren K.
my chi-town family recently through me an engagement dinner here. what a lovely place. the food was incredible. the private room in the back was divine. our server wrote absolutely nothing down and remembered all 15 orders impeccably and was more than amazing. the highlights were the squid ink pasta, the carne pizza and the cocktails. the cocktail #2 with proseco was out of this world. whatever the tequila numbered cocktail is on their menu is also amaze. one star off for the dj (been there heard that) and the fact that I was hit with a pizza box on the way to the ladies room by a server moving about. food, service and decor wise, a great place. the californians were impressed!
(4)
Steven P.
Reading the reviews and also the back sorry lends itself to a positive experience. The food was great and the drinks were equally excellent. Service at the bar was sub standard. It felt like I was doing them a favor by sitting at the bar. I had to ask for menus, drinks, and food options. No advice was given. The tarbender seemed more concerned about her lipgloss then my dining experience. Overall it was a good experience and could have been better.
(3)
Harold J.
Dinned here twice on our trip to Chicago. Service was extremely attentive from the server to the bus boys and expediters. All of our courses exceeded our expectations in taste, presentation, and execution.
Loved this atmosphere fun him but not bougie. Service get a little tight for my comfort when they get crowded but always glad to see my order every time.
(4)
Maryanne D.
We had a fantastic experience! I am here from Vegas visiting a friend, and we both watch Top Chef and it was her birthday so we decided to celebrate there. Our server Marissa really helped the experience because she had excellent hospitality! Food was wonderful. I am a Foodie and have been to a few ex-Top Chef contestants restaurants and they didn't do as well as this. Fabio's gnocchi was fantastic and exploded in my mouth! I'll be back.
(4)
Mike G.
Stopped in for lunch on a busy Saturday. First impressions, very warm and friendly. The place was buzzing. We were seated immediately. Service was exceptional. Food was amazing! Between the massive meatball, eggplant bruschetta and ravioli the food did not disappoint. All topped off with some delicious gelato and cappuccino. Great place, great service! We will absolutely be back.
(5)
steve d.
Wow. Squid ink linguine with lobster, truffle oil mushroom pizza, oysters and a host and server staff that are glad to see you make this place one of my top 3 in Chicago. If you are wavering between two, try Siena first, you wont be disappointed.
(5)
Amanda B.
Went in for a celebratory lunch on Friday after my husband matched for his medical residency program in Chicago. Whooo hooo for staying in Chicago for at least the next 4 years and to eating more yummy Chicago food, just like the food at Siena Tavern! There were 8 of us for lunch, with a good ranges of tastes and preferences. We ordered many appetizers just to get a range, like the coccoli, hamachi, ahi tuna, Kobe meatball, smoke mozzarella, and the buratta. The hamachi wasn't the table's favorite though we didn't have a lot of seafood fans anyway, so take it with a grain of salt. However, every other dish was demolished by our table and that was with 2 order of coccoli! What a fun range of flavors and tastes! The must haves to order again though: coccoli, Kobe meatball and the buratta! They were just fantastic. There were also many different entree orders. My squid ink linguine was fantastic with the lobster meat cooked to perfection! Another one of our group ordered the short rib ravioli and loved it. There was a carne pizza order, a brick chicken, a burger, and a lasagna order as well. All seemed quite happy with their selections, though one commented that he wished there had been a bit more sauce in the lasagna as it seemed pretty dry. Then, we decadently ordered the tiramisu, bomboloni, and cannolis for dessert. Yum! I preferred the tiramisu (Fabio's mom's recipe!) but the others were just as delicious and though we couldn't finish the desserts because we had already gorged ourselves on appetizers and entrees, many members of our table would have loved too! We'll definitely be back, though next time I might just come with my husband for a little date night.
(4)
Donna P.
The most gawd-awful lasagna I've practically ever had in my whole life a little round bowl befitting onion soup tonight. Service was fine, conscientious and cordial, hence the stars. Location is great. Maybe go there for the drinks alone? But I was there tonight for the carbs. And there wasn't a piece of bread, nor a pat of butter anywhere to be seen to redeem that little awful bowl of $18 lasagne. Heck, I could have gotten onion soup elsewhere and made my own pasta. Anyhow, kudos to the smiling staff who made it happen and to the courteous customers like me in this area who pretended it wasn't happening. Won't be back there anytime soon. Too many better places in this town.
(2)
Leo L.
Italian is tough here in the city. But the quality of dishes being pushed out on Saturday night (1st real business night) were impressive. Service was good and will only become better. (Can't blame a few hiccups on an entire new staff). Hands down MUCH better than RPM. Here is what we had: Ahi tuna - delicious, the peppercorn integrated in the kale on top was a great combo Grilled octopus - amazing, the duck fat potatoes provided a crunch and the celery gave it this sweet balance. It was like this grilled octopus with giardnara. Just right. Gnocchi - seemed to be the popular dish. Very very good Kobe meatball- an actual meatball with PERFECT seasoning and sauce. Should be shared because its a large serving. Apple fig tart dessert- wow. Really good and Delish all the way through. Hazelnut gelato - you will leave still thinking about. Addictive. No tiramisu that night. They seemed to have run out. Overall .. I only give it 4 stars because I feel the cocktail menu isn't up to par with what I feel it could be. Enjoy!
(4)
Jenny K.
I hosted my sister's bachelorette dinner here in the private dining space. The ambiance is beautiful and the privacy was perfect. Our server, Tanner, was friendly, fun, and accommodating. He even made sure that guest with special diets or food preferences were served well. The food was fantastic!
(5)
Jeff S.
I went for lunch with my team yesterday, and I'd have to say that our overall experience was fantastic. We shared the squid ink linguine, gnocchi, burrata, and prosciutto and pear pizza, and we enjoyed everything, particularly the first three items. The pizza was good, but I wouldn't consider Siena to be a "pizza" destination. The burrata was so incredibly smooth, albeit a bit on the slightly-too-sweet side, but definitely a strong start to the meal. My favorite was the squid ink linguine with grilled lobster. Flavorful, creamy, delicately cooked lobster. The gnocchi was melt-in-your-mouth soft, and the sauce didn't have an over-abundance of truffle oil infused cream. I didn't find the prosciutto and pear pizza to be fantastic, nor was it in any way offensive. I'll reserve further judgment until I'm able to try more of the pizzas at a later date. Service was a bit slow, but they ended up making up for it by comp'ing us the pizza. This was unexpected, but highly appreciated. This level of service bumped the review from a 4* to a 5*. The place is definitely a scene, but that's to be expected from a Top Chef restaurant in River North, I suppose. I'll definitely be back, if I can find room...
(5)
Sara S.
Since my mom was in town visiting for the weekend, I figured Siena Tavern would be the perfect place to take her. Our server, Tariq, was very attentive (even gave us the chance to meet Fabio!). Our meal was delicious from start to finish; we had the Farro Salad, Gnocchi, Proscuitto Pear Pizza, Chocolate Caramel Cake, Cocktail #2 and #4. Everything was incredible and unique in it's own way. I definitely recommend this restaurant and plan on coming back in the near future. Thanks Tariq for the awesome suggestions!
(5)
Meredith K.
I loved everything about this place except for maybe how crowded it is at the bar area, and the noise level. Its pretty loud in there! But the staff couldn't be more friendly and helpful which is amazing given the huge amounts of people that are in there. The atmosphere is pretty cool. It doesn't feel all nightclubby like it does in RPM. Everything is reasonably priced. I was here with a big group and we had bottles of wine so we really racked up the bill. But its a great way to have a little bit of everything. We started w/ the meatball and octopus. The sauce the meatball was in was fantastic. The octopus was cooked perfectly. Maybe the only gripe is that there were 7 of us and they set down a plate of 6 slices of bread. Then they ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza. I didn't have any but they said the crust was great. We also had a side of cauliflower which could be a main dish! It had a lot going on in a good way. Perfectly seasoned. I shared the risotto which had corn and fava beans and the spaghetti with crab. OMG the crab! They do not skimp on the meat. That was my favorite although the risotto was springy, light and perfectly cooked. My friend next to me had the duck which I don't eat but I tried a noodle b/c everyone was raving about the sauce. And yes that was the best sauce of the night. It was the right amount of anise. The friend across from me got the brick chicken which we all poo-pooed at first but that was the star of the show. Crispy, lemon, juicy chicken with potatoes. Yum!! For dessert you cannot pass up the doughnuts. I want to steal that little bottle of caramel sauce but instead I just ate it all right there! The doughnut is light and sweet and outstanding. You really only need one. We also tried the chocolate butter cake which was good but paled in comparison to the doughnuts. And the cannoli which was very good too! I will definitely be back many many more times.
(5)
Cara B.
I came Saturday night (the first night it was open to the public) and it was EXCELLENT! We had a group of 8 so we started out with 2 servers and both were extremely attentive and knowledgeable. Between our whole table, we got salads, apps, pizza, and pastas. Their kale caesar salad is one of my faves. I also really enjoyed the kobe meatball and i dont normally even eat red meat, so that says something! We came for a birthday celebration, and Fabio even stopped by to take his picture with the birthday girl, not to mention, they brought out a free donut dessert for the table to split! They have a few small kinks to work out, but for opening night of a restaurant that size, and with that large of a crowd, id say it was AWESOME!
(5)
Pooja K.
The number 4 drink is divine. Lavender and violet! Butternut squash totellacci is incredible. Also really loved the pepperoni pizza and the lamb chops as well as the kale salad. My all time favorite restaurant
(5)
Rich M.
Opening night and Chef Fabio was on hand! Very attentive staff taking individual roles very seriously. Bar drinks: Quite excellent. Wine: Very good bottle at our moderate price point. Food: Highlights were crudo (we ordered hamachi) and pizza (Burnt Pepperoni... Y.U.M.) Overall: Great atmosphere and stands up to other high end casual Italian.
(5)
Steve D.
Fun atmosphere Great food
(4)
April W.
My husband and I had such a great meal here last night! We did not have a reservation but were able to find seating in the bar area very quickly. We ordered 2 appetizers and a salad and were stuffed! The Coccoli was unique and delicious. I ordered the meatball because of its enormity and i saw it being dropped off to another table and I had to try it. I was not disappointed...probably my favorite food we ate that night. We had toasted bread that we were soaking up the sauce with, Yumm! We tried the watermelon salad which was nice, my husband liked it better than I did but there wasn't really anything to complain about! The service was great, it is a lively night spot! Side note- we sat in the booths behind the bar and another group joined us. We met some awesome people and had a fun night! They are all from Chicago and said the pizza is great there. I'll have to try it next time! So far my favorite meal in Chicago!
(5)
Laura K.
Oh my coccoli. I recently read an article on Siena Tavern that sniffed, "Don't expect Chef Fabio to be there." Fine, he wasn't, but his amazing food was. Trust me, you want to order the coccoli an appetizer. It's crisp dough balls, prosciutto, truffle honey and cheese. I have to thank my fiance for being a vegetarian, which meant I got all of the prosciutto. The whole concoction melts in your mouth and I'm still dreaming about it a week later. We also had the cinque formaggi pizza, which was quite tasty. I loved the little studs of gorgonzola cheese that we happened upon while eating. Oh, and they have Gumballhead on tap. Cheers!
(5)
Susan L.
What a mid-week treat! Stopped by after work and was seated at a booth facing the wood fire stove. Perfect for people watching! My lovely dining companion and I split everything: octopus (very tender) burrata (need I say more? THEY HAVE A MOZZARELLA BAR holy moly) squid ink lobster dish (decadent) Dessert: bomboloni (essentially build your own paczki) We enjoyed fun cocktails and very attentive service. I can't wait to go back for a special occasion (or another mid-week pick me up!) And yes, Fabio was there!
(5)
Simon P.
I've had dinner here around the time they opened and it was incredible. The meatball appetizer was legitimate, then the black ink linguine in lobster sauce was arguably the best pasta I've had in this city. I never order desert but the waitress convinced me to try the little donuts....let me just say it was WELL worth saving room for on future visits. This morning I had the brunch and the steak and eggs were just like everything else I've had here...incredible. Good price and a very good sized portion. You can't go wrong with this place.
(5)
Lindsay Y.
Oh Siena Tavern, you are fabulous and what I've been looking for. When I walked in I immediately noticed the plush decor and the beautiful bar area. We decided to order the brussel sprout salad, the grilled octopus for our starters. The octopus was super tender and delicious and the salad was crisp and refreshing. For our entrees we had the mushroom pizza and squid ink pasta. Both dishes were delicious! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jessica P.
Where to start.. this place was FABULOUS! Everything I had was amazing (except the pizza, it wasn't special, I would skip it next time). We were lucky enough to swipe a table next to the bar and had a back up reservation somewhere else in case we couldn't eat here, but it was my birthday so I had my heart set on it. As soon as we were seated, our service was outstanding. The gnocchi was probably my favorite, but we probably tried 5-6 different things instead of getting an entree. The drinks were pretty good as well, not the best, but I was satisfied. What made it all worth it was the birthday cake gelato at the end of the night, and OMG it was soo good. I will DEFINITELY be back here, one of the best restaurants I've been to in Chicago.
(5)
David O.
Pretty Dang Good!!! Went there because of recommendations from friends and was not disappointed. Excellent service, real Italian.
(5)
Sarah B.
Try the gnocchi! I am a bit of a picky eater, but was intrigued to try this place since I always see it busy. The menu has some classic pieces with a bit of a twist. To play it safe I stuck with the gnocchi and it was the best I have ever had! I've been looking forward to going back ever since.
(5)
Margie L.
It was just that, "okay." The #1 and #2 cocktails were tiny and nothing special. We were served tempura crab that had cartilage in it which I'm pretty sure isn't supposed to happen. Crab sans cartilage was okay, nothing special. I liked the gnocchi a lot, but as others have stated, portion was small. Doesn't bother me so much since I couldn't have eaten any more than was plated, but pretty overpriced for the size. Service was excellent, waitress was friendly, but really didn't have to do much since there are so many food runners. Overall, not a bad experience, but not thinking we'll return.
(3)
Angela T.
The former manager, Heather, sent us an email apology and mailed a gift card with the request we give Siena Tavern a second chance. This was several months ago, so I wasn't terribly surprised to find she had since left. Turnover is high in the industry. We stopped in for an early dinner. Despite an empty dining room, we were again shoved toward the bar. We didn't make reservations, so didn't protest. Still aggravating to see all the vacant tables when relegated to a high top. I will never enjoy eating at high tops. I am short and my legs always dangle uncomfortably. The service this time, aside from the bitchy host, was better. No spilled water, prompt delivery of drinks and food. Only one hiccup when our food arrived and the aerver had run off so quickly we couldn't stop him to point out we had no silverware. Cue awkward five minute head turning, eye contact attempts and random bus boy flag down. The ossobucco was delicious and husband's seafood spaghetti dish was tasty. The bathrooms were flooded and inoperable for the entirety of our 90 minute visit. Finally, a manager began waving patrons through to the employee restroom. Not wanting to journey through the back of the restaurant, we decided to hold it til we got to the next stop for drinks after dinner. Overall? Still underwhelming. Not returning. Not recommending.
(1)
Michelle H.
Everything was good. Service was great. It felt like a long-established urban neighborhood restaurant. We dined with a 7 person work party and everyone enjoyed the beautiful decor as well as the many, many dishes we shared.
(4)
Jeremy L.
My, what a great place! Went here for a friend's birthday on a Friday evening. As expected, it was pretty packed but luckily our friend had made reservations for 10 several days before so being seated was no problem for us. We started off with appetizers: Coccoli, grilled octopus and two servings of the Kobe meatballs. My favorite was definitely the Coccoli --the stracchino cheese (melt in your mouth) sandwiched between the doughy ball with the prosciutto on top was like a bite of heaven...no lie. SO GOOD. Cocktail: I ordered the #5 which was Maker's Mark, allspice dram, lemon, sparkling apple cider and a few other juices that I cannot remember. The drink was delicious and STIFF, which is always good. Entree: Many of the dishes can be shared between at least two people. My group was full of foodies so we each ordered our own and shared with the table --Italian style! I ordered the Gnocchi and it was very good! The bits of bacon set it off. Amongst the other dishes, my faves were the parmesan fries with Aioli sauce (Aioli makes everything better) and the short rib ravioli was a hit as well! I hear the spaghetti (with jumbo lump crab) is also worth a try..I was too full by the time that dish made it's way to my end of the table. Overall, very good experience. The waitress was not very attentive and seemed to be all over the place and that is why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5. Siena is a bit more pricey than my usual Friday dining, but it was a friend's birthday. I would definitely go again, just for the Coccoli alone.. Yes, it was that good.
(4)
Kristin I.
I've been a couple times - lunch and dinner. The food is amazing! Authentic, fresh and delicious - tastes like dishes are straight from Italy. Perfect for business or social. Also love the decor; can get a little loud, but very fun!
(5)
Mel A.
Totally giving 5 Stars for fabulous food selections from our server (and I stupidly do not remember her name... I'll just have to go again;) We asked her to choose and this is what we thoroughly enjoyed...... Grilled Octopus (so amazing... I want some as I write this at almost 2am) Ahi Tuna-crudo (yummy salsa verde & crushed peppercorns) Bufala Mozzarella (love the tomato jam) Prosciutto Pear-pizza (tons of fresh arugula on top) Scallops-crudo... as in raw and so damn tasty (I do not see this on the menu but they had a spicy flavor along the outside of them) Lastly... she ordered us dessert. It was a Tart.... which was way too heavy, thick and tart like :( So... don't get the tart... try something light and sexy. The name Tart is very deceiving here .. haha. Overall great experience and I can not wait to go back!!!!
(5)
Elizabeth A.
There isn't anything on the vegetarian friendly side of the menu that I've had here that I haven't liked. The flavors are really rich (read: super delicious but you wouldn't want to inquire about the calorie content) but not overpowering. Farro pasta is superb.
(4)
Bob P.
Had the lobster roll, and it was awesome. Not like most lobster rolls where the meat is terrible quality and just disguised by disgusting amounts of mayo. You could tell it was very fresh, and extremely tender. Pizzas looked great (and huge!) as well, although I have yet to try one. Highly recommended
(5)
Amanda M.
I made a reservation for 2 for my birthday a few months in advance. I was a little nervous with all the mixed reviews, but off we went. We were seated promptly at our reservation time, but at a 4 top that only had 3 chairs. It was a bit odd, as I sat on one side, facing my husband and an empty chair. Oh well. The decor was nice and it was a good crowd for a rainy Wednesday night. I ordered a glass of Prosecco, which was brought our promptly. Our server made several suggestions regarding the menu. We ended up not following any of them. We ordered the daily focaccia (mushroom), braised short rib ravioli and the gnocchi. The focaccia was nothing special. It came with olive oil and parm cheese for dipping. I am glad that we ordered it though, because our pastas took FOREVER to come out. Both the ravioli and gnocchi were delicious. Portions were small, as expected, but we knew we wanted to order dessert, so that was fine. I recommend both dishes. As for service, after we placed our order, we didn't see our server again until we were finished. It would have been nice for him to see if I wanted another drink, or to update us on how long our food was taking. We didn't have too much of an issue with the water refiller, as it was just two of us, so no reaching over to refill, but I did see it being an issue with a larger group seated near us. Dessert was the donuts that come with squeeze containers of sauce to inject. It was fun, but I ended up covered in sugar. They also gave me birthday cake gelato, which was yummy as well. In the end, we were there for over 2 hours, which seemed excessive for bread, pasta and donuts. Perhaps thats why a reservation is so hard to get?
(3)
Janis And Jeff J.
We found Siena Tavern on Yelp when we were visiting Chicago last weekend, and headed over for a late lunch since it was near our hotel. The place was packed after 1 pm on a Saturday afternoon and we didn't have a reservation and the bar was full. We saw the pizza bar was empty, and after a delay to see if he could find a waiter, the host agreed that we could be served there. Based on the reviews we were planning to try the risotto, but having a front row view of the pizza chef in front of the oven, we had to order them. Mr. Jones had the Carne packed with Italian sausage and meats, which he enjoyed with a Peroni draft. I hit the jackpot with the Truffle Mushroom pizza, completed with a drizzle of truffle oil by the server. It was one of the best pizzas we've ever had, including a summer in Italy. See photos here: travelingwiththejones.co… And, yes, we've already planned another quick weekend trip to Chicago during which we will return to Siena Tavern with a reservation.
(5)
Conor C.
This place is very loud but the food is incredible. Best pizza I had in awhile. Plus each pasta is hand made. If you want to go to an authentic Italian cuisine that is modernized and has great service as well then go here.
(5)
Shari G.
I have dined here several times and the food is always good. Salads are fantastic and though I try to recreate them at home, I never succeed. We went for brunch on Mother's Day and were able to sit outside. Despite the child next to us, watching a movie at full volume on an ipad, it was fantastic. The best part was our server. Several visits to Siena Tavern have been less than stellar because of lackluster or rude servers. This time our server made our day! He was fantastic, encouraged sharing, was enthusiastic and polite. Could not have had a better celebration. Egg dishes were creative and the portion sizes were perfect. He has set the bar for our next visit
(5)
Magen M.
Had Sunday Lunch and it was amazing. Lobster club was delicious, fries were delightful, ketchup and garlic aioli were perfect, and the salted caramel gelato was divine. enough adjectives? I'll definitely be back. Oh, P.S. Great service too!
(4)
Elena M.
I made a reservation for my boyfriend's birthday over a month ago. We've heard about the place and always wanted to try it, so I thought it would be a perfect spot to celebrate the occasion. When I made the reservation **I specified that it was for his birthday, a special occasion,** so if anything could be done to enhance his experience, it would be greatly appreciated. I wasn't expecting the red carpet treatment, maybe just a dessert with a candle in it (obviously I would pay, DUH), a card or a signed menu from the executive chef, or a simple acknowledgement of his birthday from the server (which I have come to expect based on all experiences I have had at other high-end restaurants). None of that happened. Further more, I had a friend of mine, an avid gourmand who also works in the restaurant industry, confirm my reservation and reiterate the importance of the evening. She spoke with Steve whom she said was very nice and reassured her that everything would be taken care of. So I was obviously under the impression that we would have a nice evening and that there was going to be some sort of recognition that this was a special occasion; hence, the month plus advance planning in order to make sure this request could be accommodated. Things started off badly, they sat us at a high top next to the bar, and I felt like I was at a first-come, first-serve sports bar seating area. Not only was it annoying to have people bump into my chair the entire night, but it was annoying to see three unutilized booths in the restaurant that we easily could have been seated at. Food: The food was extremely underwhelming. The only thing that we enjoyed was the oysters. I shouldn't fail to mention that the food is obnoxiously over-priced. I don't mind paying high prices for dinner, but the food better be worth my while- it certainly was not. We ordered: Burrata Mozzarella: There was so much salt that I literally had to spit it out. It was absolutely disgusting. It's funny that this seems to be a common theme in most of these reviews. TAKE A HINT. Even my boyfriend, who appreciates salt more than I do had trouble eating it; however, finished it because he was so hungry due to our late reservation. Parmesan Sage Fries: They were just OK. It's hard to like anything else after you have tried the fries with aioli at Au Cheval; oh my goodness I'm salivating just thinking about it! Anything in comparison is just, meh. The aioli at this restaurant tasted like ranch dressing. They also brought out the fries immediately after the Burrata as an appetizer when we specifically asked for them to be brought as a side with our meal. Mistiming and misplacement-ordering seems to be another theme in these reviews. TAKE ANOTHER HINT. In all fairness, the server noticed this after-the-fact and apologized for the mistake. Gemmeli (I'm not sure what it's called, but, it's a fusili pasta dish with duck and some pitiful sauce). The pasta was cooked well, but the duck was so gummy. And they must have run out of salt after making the Burrata because the sauce was incredibly bland. I absolutely love pasta, but this was terribly disappointing!!! Mediterranean Seafood Brodetto: My boyfriend had this dish; it satisfied him, but it wasn't anything he was raving about. His quote, "I've had better." We heard great things about the donuts, but we opted to skip dessert because we were so frustrated we just wanted to LEAVE. Service: Based on what I had mentioned earlier in this review I'm not happy with managing staff, but I can't knock the server because she did her job. She was the only positive aspect of the entire experience. She was very attentive, offered suggestions/recommendations, and she spoke loud enough for us to hear her. Unfortunately it's not enough to alter my perception of this "restaurant". Ambiance: I'm quite confused, am I eating at a restaurant? Or a bar? I felt like I was at a high end Moe's. Don't get me wrong, big screen TVs, bars, and high tops are great when I am trying to watch a game Sunday afternoon, have a casual dinner, etc... but when choosing a supposedly high quality restaurant to spend a special occasion at, it was obnoxiously distracting. I was looking for a nice, special evening with mind-blowing food. If they wanted to offer both atmospheres then it should have been clearly separated, for example how Tavernita has Barcito. So if you made it through my review, congrats! You can tell that I'm obviously pissed. If you are looking for good food don't bother with this place, especially for a nice occasion. It's overrated and underwhelming; you can get better Italian food at any number of other places in the city. Fabio, why slap your name on this piece of garbage? Especially considering how excited we were to try this restaurant and after all the hype, it's unfortunate that this place is memorable for all the wrong reasons.
(1)
DONNA M.
My hubby and I loved everything!! Gnochi, pizza, the cauliflower dish, the Tuscan Kale Caesar! Bellisamo!!! :) Great for client lunches.
(5)
jame s.
Roasted cauliflower side was the best part of my meal. I ordered the farro pasta, but the server got confused and the farro salad showed up with the other meals. The pasta arrived in short order, but was swimming in olive oil. I will try this restaurant again, but it might be a while.
(3)
Blair A.
So disappointed for Chef Fabio Viviani. Whoever is managing this restaurant must be a mess, because outside of the food and some of the wait staff... the rest of the staff is TERRIBLE. At this price point, and with Vivani's name I would have expected SOOOO much more. It feels like walking into the next cookie cutter 1 year river north restaurant when you walk in. This place will be re-branded or gone shortly, there is not reason to come back. The host had a horrible attitude and was treating patrons more like a doorman in the meat packing district than someone providing service. The wood fired pizzas were pretty good, but again for the price, meh.... If you go, go because it's the new place and you want to tell your friends you went. Do not go for the food, service, atmosphere, or crowd if you're under mid-40's.
(2)
Paola C.
Pizza was horrible: completely burnt, a huge garlic in the middle (never seen anything like that back home, quite frankly), clams and taleggio together is a blasphemy (you will NEVER find fish and cheese together in Italy. NEVER.) and I also found a piece of shell in it, I almost broke my teeth. Wine arrived after pizza. Antipasti were ok, but the waiter brought the wrong cheese. Geeez what a mess. Not the Italian experience, that's for sure. I am 100% Italian and what I can say is: NEVER AGAIN.
(1)
Dayle T.
I am so shocked by the number of 4-5 star reviews that I feel COMPELLED to tell the Yelp world about my underwhelming experience at this restaurant. I normally don't write reviews, but their rating is so incredibly misleading that I don't want people to waste their time (and money) like I did a couple of nights ago. Ambience- Confusing, to say the least. What are they trying to do here? Is this a high quality Italian restaurant... or a Moe's Cantina style bar? Why was I seated at high-top table after making a reservation months in advance? Why was there top-40 music blaring over the speakers? I could barely hold a conversation with my girlfriend. They market this place as if it was a high quality Italian eatery, yet you step into what is essentially a bar scene. I would have been fine if that's what I was expecting, but don't mislead your patrons. This is a BAR scene... Not an "Italian restaurant" by ANY MEANS. Same owners as Bull & Bear and Public House- it all makes perfect sense to me now...... Food- Not very good, at all.... I'm a human dumpster and pretty much love everything I eat. I wanted to like this place SO BADLY since I live literally half a block away. Disappointing is probably the word to most accurately describe it. Started off with oysters which were actually pretty good (figures because it takes no prep- they just crack 'em open)... But it all went down-hill from there. Ordered a plate from the "mozzarella bar" section of the menu. Again, I wanted to like it so much. It LOOKED(!) really good on the plate and I was so excited to put a bite into my fat mouth... But man was I disappointed . Salty as all hell, bread was burned, and this jam that went a long with it was just so Bland. I honestly could have cried- how are you an "Italian" restaurant and mess up such a basic plate. There was a drizzle of balsamic vinegar which was good, but not enough to recover the salty, burned and bland mess they served us. The girlfriend ordered this duck pasta. Again, LOOKED AWESOME. I put a bite in my mouth and thought my taste buds had disappeared. This was their highly touted HOMEMADE pasta? Seriously? The waitress even commented "oh man, that's a great dish" when she put the order in. Was this woman delusional? I'm not sure... I ordered this seafood Brodetto dish- A seafood mixture in a spicy tomato broth. It was actually halfway decent (THANK GOD). I can't lie about that. But again, I'm a human garbage can and enjoy pretty much everything. I have ordered a similar dish at several other restaurants in the city and this was probably the worst of them all. Whatever, I can deal with it. Lastly we had a order of sage fries with some sort of garlic aioli. It was OK, not the best by any means. But lets be Honest... if you can't get French fries with aioli down, may God Bless your soul Service- We had a great waitress! She was attentive, Loud (Cause this place is outrageously LOUD), and made some honest recommendations (although nothing ending up being great LOL). Regardless, she was nice and a did a good job. Can't knock her. She will have no problem finding a new gig once this place closes down before the end of the year (ZING!). In closing- I really wanted to like this place since I live a block away. But it just... sucked. Weird/confusing ambiance and pretty crappy food. Really wish I was laying down a 5 star review, but I just can't and I want the world to know there are much much(!) better [real] Italian restaurants in Chicago. Don't waste your time at this place.
(1)
Jordan C.
Positives - decor is cool and the rounded booth / high table we were seated at was very comfortable. The waitress was very friendly even though her kitchen and manager failed her considerably. What drove me to write the review - We ordered the focaccia special and the kitchen messed up the order 4 TIMES. A new Chicago Dining Record!!!! Went with my wife for a nice dinner on a Sunday night. Not too busy, but good energy in the room. The very kind waitress suggested we try to the Carrot Tortellacci and the Crab Spaghetti and the Daily Focaccia and Coccoli. (we both love bread!) We also had a good salad with carrots and pine nuts.. nice acid and flavor The Carrot Totellacci was outstanding... the pasta was delicious... but the Crab Spaghetti tasted like overcooked Ramen noodles... very eggy and soggy. Completely messed up cooking the pasta.. come on folks. The Coccoli was a great concept... popover dough with cheese, proscuitto and honey... but the popover dough had no taste at all... like a bad version of the puffs they give you at Fogo De Chao. Now for the ridiculousness. We ordered the highly touted Daily Focaccia - which was supposed to be covered with Cheese and Sopressata - a delicious Italian meat that looks like pepperoni. Note that the waitress rarely brings the food to the table herself.. it is always done by a food runner. Try #1 - The focaccia has no toppings and is cold to touch. It is also a bit dry and stale when we taste it. Waitress apologizes and says the "kitchen mixed up the order" Try #2 - The focaccia has 1 piece of sopressata (covering about 5% of the top) and it is still cold and rather stale. Waitress comes by and is "shocked" to see that it is still wrong.. we even have her touch the bread to verify that it is indeed cold. She begs us to try the order once more. Try #3 - The focaccia has 3 or 4 pieces of sopressata but is still shockingly barely warm. The tables next to us are really laughing now. The waitress comes by and is just exasperated. She says that her manager will personally handle it and asks us to wait another 10 minutes for one last try. Try #4 - The manager personally brings over the focaccia. 1 piece of sopressata and when we touch it, the bread is clearly cold. We ask him how this could happen for our 4th order and he just says the kitchen is having a bad day. He leaves somewhat abruptly. The waitress comes by...we and the table next to us is laughing at how ridiculous this all is and we just want to get out of there because it is now somewhat uncomfortable because she is so embarrassed and annoyed at her kitchen. We tell her that her manager was kind of a dick. The manager - I think it was Jason comes back by a few minutes later. He offers us cocktails.. which does not interest my pregnant wife. He then tries to insist that we come again to have a better experience. We explain that we just want to go and that there are far too many other places to go in Chicago to ever return to a restaurant who messes up a relatively simple order 4 times. We also note that he did not even care enough to make sure it was done right the 4th time. He continues to persist and we start feeling somewhat uncomfortable because he does not leave the table even as we are trying to be polite and just get our check and leave the place. Even as we say no to returning, he gives us his card and then starts asking questions about the baby we are having... which was a bit awkward given that we are just trying to leave. Too little too late. He was a dick the first time and didn't do his job to make sure that the 4th rendition of the focaccia was done correctly. The silver lining was that after this somewhat awkward and unpleasant conversation with the manager, our waitress - who was absolutely nice as can be comes by to give us our check and says that the entire meal was taken care of. We then gave her a very large cash tip and said that we felt sorry for the fact she had to work with such a mediocre kitchen and manager. So to sum it up. Don't go to Sienna for any important occasions. Their kitchen is uneven and the managers are not very polished. The restaurant interior is appealing and some of the food is very good. This would have been an absolute 1 star review if not for the all star waitress, the 1 good pasta dish, and the full comp. But messing up the same order 4 TIMES???? I have never had that happen in 10+ years of dining in Chicago. There are at least 30 excellent restaurants within 5 blocks of Siena Tavern.. go to one of those instead if you are eating and not just having cocktails.
(2)
Kevin D.
The food is good, however I had much higher expectations, due to the fact that the chef is a "Top Chef" and the menu looked incredible, and was ultimately let down. From what I tried I would recommend the seared scallops or any of the homemade pastas, They were my favourite. The service was mediocre at best, but again, I expected much better for the type of restaurant. The atmosphere was very loud, but it's a very nice interior. Overall it was a Solid restaurant, nothing incredible, nothing terrible.
(3)
ryan f.
Loved this place...I think the food is better than RPM's, but RPM has a better atmosphere. We tried a bit of almost everything on the menu. My favorites were: Antipasti - Coccoli (the truffle honey was amazing) Entree - Squid Ink Linguini (a bit of a kick to it, very tasty and great with the lobster) Desert - Tiramisu and Pistachio Gelato
(5)
Katie M.
Make reservations! Do not walk in expecting to get a table in a hour. Opened by Top Chef-winner Fabio! Drink - Between my friends and I we tried almost every cocktail on the menu and they were all, very, very good and I am a girl who usually sticks to various beers or a vodka based drink because I do not care for the taste of other liquors. My favorite was #1. My friend's favorite was #2 and our guy friend's fav was #9. Eat - From the Pizza Bar (see menu) I tried the Truffle Mushroom pizza: everything about it was perfect. Outstanding From the Mozzarella Bar I tried Bellweather Farm Ricotta Cheese, by the way you are not just getting cheese. This would make appetizer. Excellent I will return for the pasta when I do not plan on a night out in the city! I can hardly wait. Oh ya, make sure you dress your best;)
(5)
Maria D.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!! This was my second place back and it was just as good as the first time! Both times the service was great! I came here with a group of friends and had Tanner as my waiter who was just amazing. He gave great recommendations and it was a great experience. The second time I ventured back in I sat at the pizza bar! Chris was our bartender and he was so knowledgeable and friendly. We took his advice and went with the truffle pizza and farro salad. they were both delicious. All and All, Great service, Great Food and we even got lucky enough to get a picture with Fabio! I would definitely send all my friends here! I have also been to this restaurants group other establishments and love their style. Public House is one of my favorite bars and I applaud them on opening another successful place!
(5)
Madison A.
As an 18 year old I love to try new restaurants, and the other night I discovered this amazing spot. The staff couldn't have been better, very accommodating, and the food. The food was worth every penny. I will be recommending this place nonstop. LOVED IT.
(5)
betty b.
Cool and beautiful restaurant... everything is delicious but we've come back over & over for the coccoli & the Kobe meatball appetizers... and the bombolini dessert :)
(5)
Evanna S.
Great resteraunt but service destroyed the experience. Waitress Lauren gave poor service. Annoying interruptions at the table that weren't efficient. For a example, she would ask one person if they wanted a drink and then walk away quickly. She would bring the drink back and then others would need a drink. Caused multiple interruptions and then when food was brought out by runners, she was no where to be found. When it started to rain, she said maybe she could find umbrellas bit we would need to go inside and depending on the wait, was not sure we could be seated right away. Really? We already had our apps and was waiting on our dinner. What were they going to do with our food. All of us at the table are in the resetarunt business so we looked at her like really? And it wasn't until then that she offered to maybe go in and see what the situAtion was. She ruined the evening. 5 people, we spend over 350 bucks and we might as well thrown it out the window. The experience got worse but you get the picture!
(2)
J. C.
We came because we like Fabio, and wanted to try his food. I was kind of hoping he'd wander by the table at some point, but no such luck. I'm sure he's not in town very often. Sigh. Anyway, our date night dinner here was perfect! We had excellent food with great service. We loved the meat/cheese options and the plethora of Italian wines on the wine list (just wish they offered more of them by the glass!). Our entrees were both perfect (butternut squash tortellacci and orecchiette with prosciutto sausage). The portion sizes were perfect. One note on the ambiance - we had an early dinner and it seemed a bit sterile and modern at first (but still pleasant), but once it got darker and they dimmed the lights it improved and felt more cozy. If you're going for romantic, definitely try to snag a later reservation. If I HAD to come up with a negative, it would be that the texture of the gelato wasn't quite perfect. It was a lot "harder" or perhaps more frozen than the gelato we've enjoyed in Italy. Still delicious. We will definitely return!
(5)
Judy W.
Honestly great food, considering I was skeptical of the celebrity chefness. I had brunch there and attended a live demonstration with Fabio--it was all pretty good. I posted a longer review and pictures here: thehungrylearner.com/fab…
(5)
Karen W.
This is my third time at ST. The first two visits were for dinner. My husband and I sat at the bar and had great meals on both occasions. Waitstaff was very attentive and personable and made for enjoyable evenings. Today I went for a work lunch(just 2 people) and most folks expect to be there an hour to hour and 15 minutes. The waitstaff was very attentive and personable and came to our table often to apologize for the slow service. We had a 1230 reservation and didn't get our entree till almost 130 and had to throw it down in order to get back to work after a 90 minute lunch. Brought a guest from out of town and was embarrassed and very disappointed. No longer my go to spot for a work lunch.
(3)
Nicole S.
Seriously, getting a beverage at the bar here (even with a bar stool under my tush) was not easy. I had to beg for a wine menu and then when I got my tasty adult beverage it tasted like a bottle that had been left open for a while. Less than impressed. My friend had a beer and maybe that was the better route to go. Either way, the bartender never asked us if we wanted food or additional beverages so we closed out and left. Obviously they weren't that interested in our patronage. Vibe was loud (expected that) and not too warm and fuzzy. But they have beer and wine and a bartender or two who will eventually pour you something. Bare bones; no thrill here.
(2)
Sally L.
The food and drinks are amazing! I would give this place 5 stars but it is very crowded and hard to get a reservation. My friend and I stalked some seats at the bar and eventually got to sit down. The wait was worth it. I highly recommend getting the fried dough appetizer with cheese and prosciutto and the gnocchi. Our cocktails and wine were delicious. I will definitely be coming back here but will book my reservation well in advance!
(4)
Erik A.
The gnocchi was unbelievable, to die for! Also tried the carbonara, very good. The tiramisu was amazing too. Overall, great food, great ambiance, highly recommend.
(5)
Corey T.
The osso bucco was probably the best I have ever had. The beat part of the meal, though? Becca, our server. Not only was she friendly, fun, and accommodating, but she knew her stuff! Very knowledgable with great recommendations. And if it's your birthday, get ready to be treated like royalty. The birthday gelato was off the charts ridiculously good. With service like Becca's and food that is awesome, this place will be around for a while! I'd also recommend the brussel sprout salad.
(5)
Dana B.
Had a reservation for the "owners table" at 8pm. At 8:30, the table was still not available even though the party before us had paid their bill and was no longer ordering. My party of seven had been standing around waiting and the managers were completely unapologetic and didn't care if we had to wait around around half hour. In fact, Heather one of the managers was downright rude and disrespectful. I will never go to this restaurant again. There are too many good restaurants in River North to put up with an incapable staff. And as a patron who has been there before trust me when I say the food is mediocre at best.
(1)
Michelle G.
Really great experience as usual! This is my new fav spot and I have been frequenting Sienna for dinner with a large group of friends or drinks with a girlfriend at the bar. It's a great atmosphere and love any place where you can all share some amazing food and wines. Truffle mushroom pizza is to die for and the meatball antipasti is a must-try. love!
(5)
Asor A.
GREAT food!! nice, cool vibe!! cute bartenders!! what more could you ask for!! super delish!!! GET THE BONE MARROW
(4)
KM I.
I am thoroughly shocked by the number of 4 and 5 star reviews for Siena Tavern. Upon reading through their menu I was instantly intrigued. We initially stopped at Quartino for calamari, late on a Sunday night and they were sold out. Total bummer, so I said let's run to Siena and grab a table. We made a reservation and apparently we didn't need one. Since I can see the list of everything that was off or bad getting long we will continue this in list form. --no hostess at the door. I am sorry its 11pm on a Sunday but you are a bar and it says you are open until 2am on your website. There were 18 bus boys and smiling bartenders and it took us wandering in for someone to ask what we needed... --we went to the bar, food bar whatever, and asked a girl if we could still eat or get a waitress and she directed a bus boy to ask the manager...this guy walked over with a big attitude and stood about a full foot shorter than my 5 foot tall frame and said "what's up". The only real Italian thing in this place at this point was my temper. The place screamed typical bar, no surprise since they are opened by the same group as Public and Bull & Bear, and certainly the customer service was as far away from inviting as you can get. Not a representation of anything Italian I'd be proud of. He explained some bs that since they were slow they were going to close, 3 hours ahead of schedule....but if we wanted a quick pizza then to order it now. In retrospect I should have said see ya at this point. --we sat down because we felt so awkward and just ordered a margherita pizza. It was like any other you can get from Frankie's Scallopine or any of the million pizza places in Chicago. For $15 I was super unimpressed and thank God we only stuck to that item. No drinks even. The bartender was trying to be nice but I think she even knows that 3 weeks into this place opening it is a bust. The best place is to find a balance between outstanding customer service, delicious food, a beautiful environment all for a price that matches these, and this place failed to meet all of these criteria. --on a really disgusting side note I ran to the bathroom and was washing my hands and couldn't find the hand soap...they had a bottle of C.O. Bigelow BODYWASH. Seriously who manages this place? Anyways, an older woman next to me was furiously wiping her nose and appeared quite jittery after coming out of the stall and seeing someone else in the bathroom. I am pretty sure she was doing coke and not fighting a bad cold. All in all I think it is safe to say I would have rather gone home hungry after Quartino.
(1)
Joshua P.
We made reservations and were seated immediately. The restaurant is very pretty but is extremely loud which is all too common in Chicago. Now to the food. I had the Short Rib Ravioli which was undercooked. My friend got the Squid Ink Linguini. She said the lobster tail was overcooked and very tough. We also ordered the Smoked Mozzarella as an appetizer but it came out after we finished our entrees and it wasn't actually the Smoked Mozzarella but the Bellwether Farm Ricotta. Our server didn't catch the mistake and never apologized for the untimely arrival of the dish until we brought it to her attention for the second time. I would go a few streets up to Quartino any day for better Italian.
(2)
Ashley K.
Went for lunch. Had to try the gnocchi. We got a bowl to share at the table. So delicious! Like little pillows. I would love to curl up with a bowl of it. My burger was good too.
(4)
S C.
So, there was a discussion on how many stars each of us would give this restaurant. Two of us said 5, 1 said 4. The four is based on the theory that out of every restaurant in the universe, is this venue a 5? Like perhaps the French Laundry in CA? No, but in it's category, it definitely is a 5. If you want to eat here, you'd better plan ahead...way ahead.This is one happening place...by 5pm on Thursday, the bar is filled and a lot of dining tables are, too. In no time at all, it is standing room only and you have to raise your voice to be heard. The atmosphere is trendy, but not overwhelmingly so. We sat at a high top table near the open oven. At first I was not happy with this, because sometimes at a high top, you have to scramble a bit to sit down(really up) and your feet dangle-so uncomfortable. They have mitigated this by having a foot rail for your feet on the upholstered side of the table, and the chairs have foot rails, too. It was fine. The kitchen is a beehive of activity - not an open kitchen except for the oven, but we could still see the activity through the doorway. Surprisingly,as it was so busy, somehow we did not feel rushed. We had a very pleasant server - just the right mix of attentiveness, humor and information. My husband was seated facing a wall of mirrors. Our daughter remarked that if she was ever at a business meeting, she would take the seat underneath the mirrors, because the mirrors would distract her colleague from the conversation, giving her the advantage. The food, which was what we were there for....my gosh, really good. We tried different items and shared, so we could test the waters, so to speak. There was not one clunker in the bunch. The only thing I would change is that the toasted bread that came with the meatball could have been a little less toasted. Surprisingly, the stand out dish at our table was the lasagna. Our daughter, in all the years I've made lasagna, always turns her nose up and rarely eats it. I think the only time she has ever eaten lasagna in a restaurant was in Italy, where she had to admit, it was tasty. Now, I'm slightly insulted that my lasagna didn't make the grade, but this was seriously good and interestingly flavored lasagna. She dipped into Sienna Tavern's lasagna at least 3 more times...tiny bites bursting with flavor! She said that she didn't know what was in it, but clearly it is something highly addictive. By the way, I read another yelp review which said that the pasta was boxed....I don't know what that person had, but the pappardelle was most definitely not from a box...it is from scratch. Are wide, shallow champagne glasses back in favor?! Because for our Prosecco, that's what they used. I smiled....I am digging out my monogrammed silver wedding toasting goblets that have not seen the light of day for decades, not even for anniversaries. Everything old is new again?! We had a fruit tart, which was delicious - piled high with strawberries, sweet blackberries, raspberries and blueberries - they did not skimp on the fruit....the tart crust itself was admirable, as was the custard....there was also a dollop of gelato? on the plate...very good. What really makes a restaurant 5 star in my opinion, is whether or not I would go back. Yes, in a heartbeat. Siena Tavern has all the bells and whistles it needs.. Go for decor, the youthful, professional energy, to people watch, and last, but really first and most importantly, the food. ps....it also has a very nice, and spotless ladies room. Always appreciated. pps. be careful walking to the ladies room in heels...it was slightly slippery when I was there, but it was raining, so possibly the floor was damp. ppps...Valet parking $12.
(5)
Alyssa E.
If you ever wondered what authentic, delicious, memorable Italian food tasted like, go to Siena Tavern! WOW, Chef Fabio knows what he is doing! This place is definitely worth the hype it has been receiving and I cannot wait to go back! The food here was FANTASTIC and so memorable I cannot stop thinking about two dishes, the truffle gnocchi and the cocoli. To start the evening off, our waitress was great. Extremely helpful with drinks and menu suggestions for sharing as well as an overview of the menu. Our table started with 4 starters, the Kobe Meatball being one. Fantastic! The sauce was not too spicy with a dollop of ricotta on top. We also shared the Kale Caesar Salad and the Chopped Salad. Both were wonderful! My favorite small plate however, was the Cocoli, little crispy balls of dough (similar to a savory eclair puff) with stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey. Absolutely heavenly! I could have eaten that all myself! For the entrees, 4 out of the 6 in my party had the Gnocchi with truffle cream sauce and little bits of crispy pancetta. On top were perfectly fried sage leaves. We were all eating in silence because it was SO heavenly! The other two had the squid ink linguini and the pappardelle. Both said it was fabulous. After all that, you would think that we all would be stuffed (which we were) but who could leave without trying the desserts? We had to try the Chef Fabio's famous tiramisu, house made gelato, and the bomboloni. The tiramisu, came in a little loaf pan and was topped with shavings of chocolate covered coffee beans, hands down the best I have ever eaten. The gelato's came in a wide variety of delicious and different flavors. Creamy and rich, but not too heavy as you might think. Finally, the bombolni, which were perfect little balls of fried dough (similar to a donut) covered in sugar with three different dipping sauces-wiskey carmel, chocolate hazelnut, and fresh raspberry (my personal favorite!). I will definitely be going back and HIGHLY recommend! I can't stop thinking about this meal!
(5)
Paul G.
This was a great dining experience. Went for lunch on a weekday and though no tables were available, the host seated us in the lounge area at two sofas and a large coffee table. Skeptical at first, this ended up being a tremendous amount of fun. Comfortable, relaxed, but bustling scene. The space is great. Interesting layout, and it feels very roomy...could be the bountiful use of mirrors throughout. Food was very good, burger was loaded with flavor and dessert, though not needed, was quite necessary. Bonus star for the bathroom sink fixtures...the faucet is like a shower for your hands. A nice touch...neat place.
(5)
Jennifer L.
At the end of a very long work week in Chicago my friends and i planned to grab dinner here. We were seated for dinner immediately without reservation. The food was incredible...some of the best gnocchi that I've ever had! I managed to walk away spending only $55 on an appetizer, dinner, a glass of wine and desert which was pretty reasonable. Next time I'm in Chicago I will definitely revisit this restaurant.
(5)
Roshani C.
Ambience was good and they were able to squeeze us in for a table. The waitor was really nice and knowledgable. The burrata was good. And the salad and pizza were okay. The gnocchi pasta was good. The dessert was amazing, some donuts with different dipping sauces.
(4)
Sunil D.
A celebrity backed Italian restaurant in the heart of River North? I think I've seen this before? In the words of Lee Corso...Not so fast my friend. Bill and Juliana might have some heady competition on their hands from my man Fabio (no...not the blonde mane that adorns the grocery store romance novels). I found the atmosphere to be more approachable, and more laid back than RPM. I could see this easily becoming a great happy hour spot that is upscale enough to bring clients, but casual enough where you can just grab a quick bite and a beer. At first glance at the menu I thought things looked a little pricey (apps were in the mid teens). Take that with a grain of salt though, the portions are sizable and we left with a pretty big bag of leftovers and a few cocktails in us for $60-70 a person. Sure its not cheap, but for River North anything less than $100 for a good meal and a quick buzz seems like a relative bargain. This was more than a good meal though, we truly had a great meal from start to finish. Every dish we had exceeded expectations (in both portion size and overall quality). We started with the Coccoli, which was something new. Freshly baked bread that was like a popover, that was drizzled with honey that you crack open and fill with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto. "Fun and interactive" is how the waitress spun it, it was something new and different....definitely would get it again. We got the meatball to start with as well, this thing was basically a mini-football cooked to perfection. Massive and done just right, don't think I've ever had a better meatball. We also got the brussel sprout salad that was light and refreshing, had a bite of citrus in the dressing and some pine nuts to add a complimentary flavor profile. I would get this again....lets be honest, I would get all these things again. The pastas were awesome, the gnocchi were like floury puffy clouds that floated in your mouth. Words do not do these justice, we also got the squid ink and lobster pasta...which was also good. You can definitely tell these pastas were fresh and from scratch. If I had to pick one, the gnocchi hands down. We also got the pear/prosciutto pizza which had a perfect char on the crust and a great combination of ingredients. Like everything else this pizza was a lot larger than we were expecting. Osso bucco and the parmesan potatoes rounded out our feast. The osso bucco was a favorite of everyone at the table, I thought it was a little on the dry side, but still good enough that I would order it again. The potatoes were to die for as well. I know this all sounds repetitive, but everything was amazing. Its one of those restaurants I can't stop recommending to people and on top of it all we were there the first weekend it opened. To come on an opening weekend have great service, perfect food and an overall great experience, I think that is rare, even for a stellar restaurant. It looks like this place might skip right past the growing pains of a fledgling business and hit the ground running in full stride.
(5)
Sam C.
so good! went pretty early, and the place was already packed. drinks are delicious, had #2. pasta was amazing - had gnocci (out of this world) and butternut squash tortelacci. sano pizza was pretty good, as well as grilled octopus. had tiramisu and espresso to finish. fantastic! service was a little slow, but our waitress was very nice. can't wait to try it out again!
(5)
Amy L.
I love the ambiance in Siena Tavern, as well as all the private table nooks for seating. The prices are a little high for what you get in terms of food (quality and portions). The service leaves a lot to be desired. It took entirely too long in between courses to be served food, and too long to start. We ordered a bunch of stuff for sharing, indicated as much, and didn't have anything to eat for ~20 minutes or more. The hearts of palm salad is lackluster at best. It was styled poorly (like a highschool culinary student) and it had absolutely no flavor. The chopped salad was better but still nothing to report home about. ' The meatball was very good as well as the coccio (?) appetizer. The pear and prosciutto pizza was delightful. Carbonara lacked actual ingredients for texture and flavor. It was just as if it came from a vat with sauce on it and some dried parmesan "crouton" was thrown on for garish. Again, the presentation was disappointing. The gnocchi sauce was amazing; I could lick it off the plate, but the gnocchi themselves had a weird texture to them. My boyfriend (a trained chef) and I make homemade gnocchi all the time but these were too much like pillows. Perhaps some people like them that way, but I didn't care for them. Also, the floor is super slick for women in heels. Just a note that you might want to add something to the high traffic areas for traction or I could easily see a lawsuit happening.
(3)
Kathy L.
Went for Saturday brunch...beautiful space, service was earnest but a bit sketchy (waited in vain for a requested coffee refill). Had eggs Bennie with pesto hollandaise which was nicely presented but a tad on the salty side.
(4)
Erica W.
I enjoyed my food at Siena Tavern, (the Lamb Orecchiette, the cheese bar with the polenta bread - btw...who knew that people baked bread with polenta in it?) but the thing that really rocked my world was the desserts! I would go there for the desserts alone. The pastry chef is incredibly talented, and honestly could have her own restaurant. The desserts here rival Hot Chocolate and any other dessert restaurant that I have been to. The homemade gelato would give Black Dog Gelato a run for their money. I had a Strawberry Basil Balsamic gelato that was out. of. this. world. I had a fruit tart that had a mascarpone cheese gelato...ridiculous! The tiramisu...fabulous. Do not skip dessert when you go to Siena Tavern!
(4)
Maivy N.
Easily one of my favorite foodventures in Chicago! Italian comfort food that hits the spot and satisfies the taste buds. I think the pricing is also fair. Yelp currently rates this restaurant at the $$$ range but I have to agree with our Chicago resident friend (who recommended this place to us) that it's actually more of a $$ establishment. You could get a yummy dish here for under $20. The atmosphere is a major plus. The environment is calm and chill/relaxing with decor that really impresses. We were seated on a high table next to the pizza oven (quite a pretty site). We had dinner reservations for a party of 7 at 5pm and had no problems. Our servers were all very nice and personable. With a larger party, we were able to sample a variety of dishes. I would skip the shaved brussel sprout salad because I felt that it lacked flavor. The truffle mushroom pizza was out of this world! My only complaint is that the crust was on the harder side. My favorite dishes were the gnocci and the squid ink linquini. The spaghetti isn't what you would expect...it's a cream sauce with a refreshing lemon hint to it. It was pretty delicious as well. Must try the bombolini...it was bomb!
(4)
Bren L.
Solid food and great customer service. I was there for 1.5 days in Chicago to just eat (after just being there the week prior for work. read my review on Alinea and you will knwo why). They have a huge menu and the place is even bigger. I wanna say they can acommadate up to 100 people with a private dining room. We had squid pasta with lobster, brussel sprouts salad and lobster sandwich to share. I enjoyed all of it. pasta and lobster had a lot of butter so had to be good but the squid pasta was made very well. The fries on the lobster was pretty good as well with the garlic on top of it. Our waitress was very friendly and really accommodated us for allowing us to split the bill if we wanted to but we didnt have. Our baller friend paid for it (we paid her in cash. haha). Overall, this is a hit. check it out.
(5)
Jenna G.
I was kind of disappointed in this place. I've been twice now, and the first time the food was decent but not spectacularly memorable for all the hype and the second time (lunch on a Monday), the service was SUPER SLOW. It took 3 people 1.5 hours for lunch. They were slow to take our order as well and each course took a long time to come out. My food was just ok (hearts of palm salad with shrimp), (except the donuts, which are legit awesome). Our fries tasted decent but came out cold... TWICE (once as an order and then other fries came out as part of my friend's meal). All-in-all, I feel like they just deserve the hype they're getting because it's Fabio's restaurant. I think he' s a great chef, but he needs better people executing in his kitchen. Maybe go for drinks and donuts?
(3)
Liz U.
Loved it! Very nice decor inside the restaurant, if you're into a trendy atmosphere. The service was excellent, waiters were very attentive...my water glass never got to half full/empty. Now on to the best part, the food! I had the short rib ravioli. I was told the short rib had been braised for over 8 hours, and I could definitely taste the care that went into making that dish! The ravioli was perfectly cooked, and there was a brown gravy/sauce over the pasta, which was very good, however, depending on your palate, may be a bit on the salty side. I love salty food, so I enjoyed it. I had the chocolate butter cake, with caramel marscapone gelato. Although the "cake" was more like a pie, it was delicious and super sweet. My only complaint would be the portion size. I went to the restaurant, with the expectation that the portions would be small, however, when I asked about the size of my dish, our waiter advised me that the portions were big enough to share. I guess that depends on what you order, because 5 pieces of normal size ravioli is hardly enough for 2 people to share. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Darian C.
Had a business dinner there and it was spectacular. The service was incredible. The food was even better. Try the truffle pizza, the meatball and the chopped salad. All AMAZING. Squid ink pasta was soooo creamy and rich - a great dish to split! The ambiance is fun and lively - pretty loud so it isn't good for a romantic dinner but the party atmosphere is fantastic for a group!
(5)
Lisa G.
Delicious cocktails, mozzarella bar is great! Haven't had the full experience yet, but I'm expecting good things.
(4)
Stephen S.
Stopped in here on a Sunday evening and was super excited to see Fabio himself hanging at the host stand. The man was in the house! So was everyone else as this place was movin', they cited us an hour wait for a table for 2 but we grabbed a spot at the bar which worked out really well. Service was great, the space was still comfortable and the food was great. I was most interested to see what they were doing with their pizza here and as I'm such a burrata fan (which needs to be put on pizza more often!) I had to go with that. Also ended up sharing the kale caesar salad and the roasted cauliflower side. The burrata on the pizza was fantastic, creamy, with a slight saltiness. Amazing! I really liked the flavor of the crust but it was a little thin for me. If you like really thin crust pizza though you'd dig it! I actually found the salad and cauliflower to be the real stars of the night, the caesar salad dressing really paired nicely with the kale and the cauliflower had a nice lemon flavor and was paired perfectly with some really flavorful peppers. The place was a little spendy but that's the going rate in this neighborhood. I was also impressed with the beer selections on draft, bonus points for having the 3 Floyds Gumballhead.
(4)
Lee F.
We went here for two birthdays. The space is extremely large and extremely noisy,however it is a great ,trendy space. The food definitely has a unique twist and full of great flavors. We started with the highly recommended Coccoli very good it could have been a bit more generous with the procciotto . We also had the meatball the sauce was fantastic meatball a little to hard for me. We were a bit disappointed they at 8 pm they were out of the Brussel sprout salad so we we had the chopped which was nothing special. I have to say our server definitely was trying to upsell ,everything he recommended was the most expensive thing on the menu. The osso bucco was delicious , squid linguini delicious, as well as the risotto . The birthday dessert ice cream was excellent as well as the bambollini. I would definitely return.
(4)
Kojo Y.
JUST AWESOME! Best italian food so far in river north. The octopus wasn't the best I've had - girl and the goat has better octopus. But the pasta here is just EVERYTHING! House made and just filled with flavor. I can't wait to go back. The tomato sauce was light and very tasty; clean fresh taste
(4)
Ashley S.
This place is serving quality food to match the beautiful decor and service. I was in the area and was looking for a place to eat. Of course I couldn't get in that Saturday so I decided to make a reservation for the following sunday. I ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza and it was excellent. The date had the lobster sandwich and really liked it. I got a chance to taste some of the fries and they were good. I was playing it safe because I'd never been here. But I'll go back and try something different. The inside of this place is spectacular, not all small and cramped like many chicago restaurants. And our waitress was very helpful and attentive. No complaints here.
(4)
Jade M.
Great food, drinks, & trendy spot to hang. I love Siena Tavern, I have no negative comments, and cannot wait to come back! YUM YUM YUM!!!!
(5)
Robin D.
I think this place is just ok especially for the price. Not good Not Bad. There were some dishes that were good some that were just ordinary but none that were awful. They pride themselves with FROM SCRATCH preparation of dishes and you can taste that difference. They have a real good menu with a good quality selection. Kale Ceasar - i wanted a healthy so I got this. I Prosciutto Pear pizza was heavenly Seared scallop risotto had 3 scallops in it over risotto, it was good but not worth 30 bucks Ossobucco was good Squid Ink Linquini with lobster was good My favorite was Bellwether Farm Ricotta Cheese - this was yummy Tiramisu was excellent Ambience is nice and cosy. Im glad I tried this place and I would still recommend it but i dont see myself coming back for a repeat
(3)
Mike T.
Tried this place again and the food was better. The service was still slow but the dishes were more in sync and tasty.
(3)
John K.
Not too bad as to acquire a 2 star rating or below but not that great either. I guess the 4-star rating made me want to believe that there was something unique about this place that would pull me towards it again. Sadly, that's probably not going to be the case. Relegated to the likes of restaurants like Devon Seafood Grill. Had their Gnocchi...tasted like any other Gnocchi with only a few bits of vegetables, a little bit more cheesy perhaps. This place is probably better with being a bar alone than being a restaurant at the same time
(3)
Robert J.
With all these 4 and 5 star reviews I'm left wondering what I missed here. Yes, the decor and atmosphere is impressive, as was the service. But, for me, it's all about the food and I found it to be just average...honestly. We had apps, pizza, seafood, fresh pasta and there was only one thing that was exceptional - the Kobe beef meatball. Will probably go again, but I have been around a lot of very good Italian food and I'm feeling this is a bit overhyped given the owner, whom I really liked on top chef.
(3)
Anna P.
The ambiance is great, I love the huge space and the industrial yet warm feel. We were worried about seating, but it turned out there was plenty at the bar (there are two pretty sizable bars where you can sit and eat) so we sat there. Our server was great, the drink list was nice and more reasonable than I thought it would be (i.e. glasses of wine for under $10!) and the food was really good. We got the beet salad, which was excellent, the gnocchi, the pear and prosciutto pizza, and the fries. I would say everything was excellent except the fries, but then again they are fries so you can easily skip them! It's not cheap, but I would go back.
(4)
Sumi S.
This place has the best meatball sauce and kale salad done by an Italian restaurant. Kristen was our server, and she was great!
(4)
Rachel R.
We stopped in after dinner for a cocktail and were lucky enough to score a seat at the bar. Excellent service, lively ambiance and awesome cocktail sections. We had the #1, #2, and #6. They were all excellent, and we can't wait for our upcoming dinner reservation, as we've heard amazing things about the food! PS -- they also started serving brunch this weekend. I see another reservation in our near future!
(5)
R R.
We scored a coveted lunch reservation on a Tuesday! At 1:30pm, the place was packed. We were seated in a booth. For starters we got the burrata mozzarella, which was served with toast wedges and a creamed corn. The cheese was wonderful, but I was not excited with the corn accompaniment. Next we ordered their famous pizzas. As the veggie, I ordered the truffle mushroom, which was great and amble in size. I had plenty to take home for later that evening, My buddy ordered the burnt pepperoni which she loved and did confirm that it was spicy. We never made it to dessert. Next time! Was this worth all the hype and the payment of over $60 for lunch for two...I would argue possibly. The pizza was great but I have had just as fabulous pizza at Coalfire and other local favorites. This place is really about being scene in the downtown area having an uber cool power lunch with your co-workers. Despite all the accolades from foodies, I would give it a 7 out of 10 for food and experience. Maybe I need to return for dinner to have the experience about which everyone is buzzing. Chitown Veg Gal
(3)
Natalie L.
I did not eat at Siena but I enjoyed a great night and sunday funday there while visiting this past 4th of july, we enjoyed having spectacular drinks and meeting great people. Great night life and atmosphere, I hear the food is great too ! highly recommended.
(4)
Scott H.
Gotta say, was intrigued when the lunch plans were announced. The vibe at noon on a Friday was strong, with apparently all tables booked. The server was attentive and responsive to questions, although she heavily pushed things we were less interested in (like the meatball). The problem for me was the food - it just was fair. The appetizers - grilled cauliflower and asparagus were both just fine. The asparagus had a bit too much garlic - and this from a true garlic lover. And the gnocchi - well, I can only say, what a disappointment. Bland, small portion, and over sauced. Sorry, but for an Italian restaurant - that is just not acceptable. I have friends who have commended this place. I guess perhaps I might have ordered wrong? But I am uncertain if I will actually be back to try it again. Hip and popular don't trump mediocre Italian in a city with some really fine options.
(2)
Sam C.
Came here with a group of 7 and had quite a bit of their menu. The exceptional dishes are the following: Gnocci Tiramisu Bomboloni (pretty much a donut with different flavor of syrup) The rest of the stuff are just ok. My party got the following: Cocoli (which is ham, with cheese and bread which you can end up eating like a sandwich) Truffle Mushroom Pizza (which one of my companion said it reminds him of CPK pizza) Squid Ink Linguine Carbonara - the noodle's fresh made but definitely undercooked as it was hard Daily Risotto (I think it was butternut squash) Ossobucho Brick Chicken - which was overly dry Overall, the pasta are just ok. Their are made in house, as i can taste it, but they screwed them up by under cooking them. The rest of the entree have creative description by the server but under delivered. However, this place definitely is a nice place to go for a drink and dessert. The drinks are good and dessert are pretty solid. So I'd come back for those but maybe not the food.
(3)
Marisa P.
Came here on a Thursday night and had an amazing dinner! The restaurant is split into two sides; one side is the bar and was full with happy hourers; the other is the main dining area which was warm and modern. My friend and I started with the mussels, which were served in a flavorful red sauce with pancetta. The sauce was so delicious that I mopped as much of it up as I could! We also had he Hamachi crudo (with crispy onions and jalapenos) which was light and super flavorful, and finally we split the prosciutto pear pizza which was out of this world (and a pretty large portion). We ended the night with the pistachio gelato which was honestly the best gelato I have had in the city - so creamy and flavorful. Our server wasn't the most attentive and even somewhat snobby, and the busboys were somewhat overzealous with clearing plates when we weren't finished, but the food was so good that I will definitely be back!
(5)
Kristen B.
Possibly one of my new go-tos for apps and drinks. I went for lunch and we split the Coccoli and focaccia for appetizers - both were Heavenly. Two of the tastiest apps I've had in awhile. We also tried the Kobe meatball, which was just okay. I had the lobster club which was great. We split the bomboloni for dessert - sugared donuts that you glaze yourself in chocolate, caramel or raspberry sauce. So good! The atmosphere is fun; trendy, but warm and inviting. The bar is packed on the weekends. I haven't been for dinner, but will definitely be making a reservation soon.
(4)
Katie S.
This would be a great restaurant for a group, date night or even client dinner. I went with a large group and ordered many dishes to share among the group; very easy to share a variety of options. Would highly recommend the coccoli appetizer.
(4)
Nicole R.
I visited Siena tavern about a month ago and had the sweetest bartender anyone could ask for. I told him hey I had someone that made me a martini which had pear vodka and a lot of other things include, he kind of tilt his head at me and responded are you sure it wasn't me? Sure enough he was right! This drink was amazing, it involved grey goose pear, St Germaine, sour and pineapple juice then finish with champs. I mean wow what a cocktail, thank you Dangelo can't wait to purchase that drink from you again, we would have sat at the bar if it wasn't lack of chairs bummer. My lady friends enjoyed that martini as well so much that we keep ordering rounds of it. I am sure Tanner (who was amazing server) got annoyed that we keep order those drinks. Keep it up Siena Tavern, you have a staff that loves to make people happy
(5)
K. M.
The food and service were awesome! I had dinner with a group of 8 people. We tried a variety of dishes. I highly recommend the gnocchi, pizza, braised ossobucco and the the porterhouse steak. This is the perfect place that everyone can share dishes. For dessert we had the donuts-very light and fluffy. I will definitely go again!
(5)
Allison K.
I went on Saturday for brunch with five other women. I have two minor complaints that only slightly tarnished my experience. First, we all had big winter jackets and were not offered coat check at all. I asked if there was a place to hang coats when we were seated and it was clear it was going to be a tight squeeze. Second, my coffee cup sat empty for a few minutes longer than I thought was okay for such a nice restaurant. Overall, the food was amazing. For 6 people, we ordered two salads, two omelets, THE MEATBALL and bombolini for dessert. It was the perfect amount of food. Tuscan Kale Caesar was delicious and didn't have that gross kale taste. The roasted beet salad was also very good, but on the small size. The "sticky potatoes" with the omelet were perfect, crispy breakfast potatoes. The egg part of the omelet was the standard overcooked eggs you get at any breakfast place but the filling was yummy. The highlights were definitely the wagyu meatball and the bombolini. I could have eaten both of those in their entirety and called it a day. Meatball was perfectly tender, great classic tomato sauce, right amount of cheese and nice grilled bread for serving. Bombolini - can never go wrong with fried dough and do-it-yourself fillings. I will definitely go back when I'm in the mood for a splurge (money and calorie-wise).
(4)
Jon S.
Great food, great drinks and great atmosphere. Get the Kobe beef meatball appetizer.
(4)
M W.
Four stars for the big fat delicious 10 oz meatball appetizer. One star for the salad that had WAY too much salt. Not necessary to oversalt dishes, guys. Zero stars for only accepting an 11:30am lunch reservation on a Monday (instead of a noon reservation - no big deal) but then not unlocking the front door until EXACTLY 11:30am, forcing people to stand outside in 30 degree weather for 7 minutes while the hostesses watched through the glass. Geez - you see us waiting out there - can't you just unlock the door and let us wait in the foyer instead of outside?
(2)
DuSable Dining Club C.
Rating 1-10, 10 being the best: Atmoshere = 9 Menu = 8.3 Food = 8.9 Service = 7.7 Value = 8 If it's a rainy day on the Dock, would you recommend to the Group that we come here? Yes = 6, No = 1 Comments were: "While a great "hot spot" they're ironing out the wrinkles. Enjoyed the owner's visit--yeah, we're High Rollers. Good Spot, Great location, make sure reservations are honored within 15 mins. Gnochi Rocked! Pasta Perfect, good wine selection, pizza perfect but may be too small for our group. Great Choice. Took a really long time to get wine. Wish there was a single digit Chardonnay. I will return as long as Aga is working. A little Loud, really good Pizza--very thin A couple clarifications: we did have to wait more than 15 minutes after our reservation to get seated. Aga is the Bartender in the back bar.
(4)
Rachael W.
It's hard to find anything wrong at all with this place. Walked in and was immediately greeted by some friendly hostesses. The bartenders are awesome and the drinks are innovative and delicious. My only complaint is that there needs to be more seating in the bar area. It was packed at 6 on a Wednesday night! People were saving seats for other people and it didn't leave much room to even stand at the bar. Once we were seated, we had the smoked mozzarella which comes with grilled escarole that is to die for. Then we had truffle mushroom pizza which was outrageously amazing. Followed by gnocchi which was cooked EXACTLY how gnocchi is supposed to be cooked - pure perfection. Last but not least, we had the apple-fig tart which was superb. There are not enough positive adjectives to describe this place. Oh, and our server was as sweet, knowledgeable and friendly as they come. Overall, it was an amazing dining experience and I strongly encourage people to go check it out. You might not get to see Chef Fabio, but the food and drinks alone are worth the trip.
(5)
Gregory C.
I have been twice for dinner and both times I found the experience quite enjoyable. The decor is awesome and classy. The booths are comfy and are good for groups. The service has been outstanding both times and offer quite a few suggestions and know the menu top to bottom. LOVE the brick oven pizza. I will be back.
Good Food. I shared a Coccoli starter. Strong Truffle which I'm not crazy about but if you like Truffle, you will love. I had the squid ink Linguini and my co-worker had the Gnocchi. We both agreed that it was good but would likely try another dish next time. Atmosphere great. Presentation of food great. Food so far, good. Would go back in a minute and explore for the Wow dish for me.
(4)
Drew S.
This place is horrible... Worst bar in Chicago! Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time and money! The management is unprofessional, rude, and ignorant!!!! Go anywhere else in Chicago besides this place!! I live in that area and suggest you go to an actual classy Chicago establishment like Bin36, Hub51, or Shaw's!!!!!
(1)
Dante C.
Great dining experience with friends... Siena Tavern is a Top Chef place, guy from Bravo, bla bla. I stopped listening and agreed to check it out. I am glad I did !! The menu has an array of Italian favorites, however had some new additions I have not seen before. The Cuccoli and Crudo Bar selections were fantastic. We were a table of 4 and ended up sharing everything. Our waitress Hannah was very knowledgeable and helped guide our choices the entire evening. It is a big plus when the wait staff knows their customers and the menu. Next visit we are trying the Steak Florentine style! This place is here to stay.
(5)
Kesha P.
My first visit at Siena Tavern was exceptional. All of their spices and noodles are produced in house. The good was sensational and the waiter Justin was very knowledgeable. He patiently explained any of the authentic Italian dishes, we had questions about. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves Italian cuisine.
(5)
Liz S.
This is one of the best meals I've had in Chicago. Upon entering, we were greeted immediately and sat for our 7:15pm reservation. Within minutes of sitting down, we see Fabio walking through the restaurant saying hello to all of the customers. We asked to take a picture with him and he was happy to do it! Great start to the night. For an appetizer, we ordered the Burrata with tomato jam - it was incredible. Perfect portion and we ate every bite. For entrees, we ordered the squid ink linguini with lobster and the lasagna. We pretty much licked the plates clean. The squid ink linguini was the best pasta dish I've had in years. So flavorful, the lobster was cooked perfectly and the pasta itself was exquisite. We also had a side of the parmesean fries - mouth watering good. For dessert, we went with the bomboloni (donuts). Great presentation, with all the sauces in little squeeze bottles so you could put as much or as little as you please. These donuts truly melt in your mouth. They are unlike any other I've had. The ONLY slightly negative thing I can think of is we were offered tap or sparking water (usually meaning they have the sparking water for free). We chose sparkling water, but had a $7 charge on the bill. Not a huge deal, but would probably have gone for tap had we known. This is my new favorite restaurant in Chicago and will be our stop for all special occasions to come! YUM!
(5)
Stefani S.
Siena Tavern was the perfect spot for our Saturday night date night. Every single item that we ordered was perfectly cooked and tasted delicious. Specific stand out menu items for me were the Coccoli (crispy dough with stacchino cheese, prosciutto, and truffle honey), the burrata, and the tuna from the crudo bar. I could eat the burrata every day. The grilled bread that is served with the burrata (and served with many other dishes) is the perfect compliment to a creamy house made cheese, that is served with a sweet tomato jam that has a hint of sea salt and olive oil. The flavors could not compliment each other any better than they do. We also ordered the Kobe meatball, the Spicy Pepperoni Pizza, the Kale Caesar salad, the Lasagna, and the Roasted Cauliflower, and Bomboloni for dessert. The flavors of every dish were right on point. I only wish it was easier to get a reservation because I cannot wait to come back!
(5)
Ken T.
After my first trip to Siena a month ago (not a good experience), I gave it a second chance. I talked to the manager, Mackenzie, she was awesome and very concerned about my first experience at Siena. She did an excellent job of listening to my concerns and taking care of me. I can't say enough about the staff. They were all very pleasant and accommodating. I sat at the pizza bar (great bartender from Poland!) ordered the Burnt Pepperoni pizza - amazing, followed up by a sampling of some fresh fish from the Crudo bar (compliments of the chef)! Everything was prepared perfect and tasted awesome. I would highly recommend Siena, but make sure to get their early or get a reservation. The two times I have been there, the place has been packed (Tues and Wed nights) and a long wait to get in. Luckily I sat at the bar!
(5)
Tim E.
Jessica was a great server short rib ravioli and Brussels Spout salad were to write home about quality
(5)
Andrew D.
We visited Siena Tavern on the 5th day it was open, and got right in without a reservation. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating, and the manager stopped by our table to check on everything. We had cocktails 2,5,6,9 & 11 - all were great! We ordered the Coccoli, Shaved Brussel Sprouts, Brick Chicken, Butternut Squash Tortellaci, and the Pistachio, Sea Salt Caramel, and Lavender Gelato. Everything was amazing, and it was one of the best dining experiences we'd ever have. We were excited to return... HOWEVER, when we returned, we had made a 9:15 reservation, but were not seated until 10:00. Siena was still packed and had a great atmosphere, but the food and drinks were nothing like they had been the first time. We ordered a great riesling, and cocktails 2 & 9 (our favorites from our previous visit), but they were very different from when we ordered them on our first visit. We noticed they were being poured from pre-mixed bottles, rather than made to order, as they were the last time. We ordered the Prosciutto de Parma and the Pecorino Toscana to start, which were very good - but that's about all that was good. We also ordered the Saba Roasted Bone Marrow, which was very lacking in flavor and had no seasoning at all whatsoever, and the Crustini that was served with the Bone Marrow was so burnt it was completely black and charred. For our entrees we ordered the 12 Hour Braised Osso Bucco and the Gnocchi. The Osso Bucco was extremely dry and over-braised, and the Farro it was paired with was also lacking in flavor, and nothing special. The Gnocchi was so undercooked it was inedible. We each took one bite and that was all. The sauce had good flavor, but it was overwhelmed by the large amount of truffle oil it was covered with. The manager stopped by again on this visit, but our server seemed a bit frazzled, and we didn't see her nearly as much as the excellent server we had on our first visit. We decided not to order dessert, and probably will not return.
(2)
Marie F.
Siena Tavern is just ok - nothing that you would be cravng. Definitely don't worth the hype or long wait. Beef short ribs, coccoli were bland. The mushroom pizza was decent. Won't be back anytime soon!
(2)
J D.
As a huge Top Chef fan, I was sooo excited to hear that Fabio was opening up a restaurant here in Chicago. With all that buildup anticipation, it is easy to be disappointed, but Siena Tavern blew me away. I came with my girlfriends on Friday night. We shared the meatball and brussel sprout salad for the appetizers and the Sano and Prosciutto Pear pizza for our mains. I would say the Sano pizza was so so but everything else made up for it. I was dreaming about the meatball and Prosciutto Pear pizza for the rest of the weekend. This pizza has to be the best I have ever had. Salty and sweet with the perfect crust. I can't wait to come back and try more things on the menu. For dessert we the tiramisu and the the donuts that were melt in your mouth delicious. I thought the service was good, prices were really reasonable and the space was gorgeous. My new favorite place in the city.
(5)
Ashley A.
Stopped by last night with my husband. 6pm on Thursday and it was packed. Waited around at the back bar (by the pizza oven) and 2 seats opened up within 15 minutes. Service: Excellent. The bartender serving us was prompt and efficient. When I told her that I couldn't decide between a few red wine options, she brought them all out for me to sample. She was always checking in on us to ensure we had everything we needed, and timed the dishes perfectly. Drinks: I had two glass of red - one was a Ribasso and one a California blend. They were both delicious. He had a number 10 cocktail which he loved, and a number 8 which was not as good as the 10, but still enjoyable. Bone Marrow: The marrow was overdone - burned at the edges, as was the toast. It had great flavor that was over-shadowed by the bitter burnt toast. The fennel accompaniment, although milder than I would have though, didn't compliment the fatty marrow very well. Gnocchi: Absolutely delicious. Incredibly rich with the truffle cream and pancetta. The gnocchi were just slightly doughy, but still delicious. Short Rib Ravioli: The short rib center was slightly dry, and not as much flavor as I would have expected. The gravy dressing was flavorful, but it was improved by the bright balsamic reduction. Squid Ink Linguini: Very good - second favorite dish behind the gnocchi. It was difficult to discern the mineral-like flavor of squid ink pasta in such a rich and creamy sauce, but I loved the huge hunks of lobster and slightly spicy flavor of the sauce. Overall great experience at Siena and we plan on going back!
(4)
Gia F.
Sitting for a few minutes after arriving and the sous chef dropped off a complimentary salmon crudo special. I was impressed and it had only been 5 minutes. We sat by the bar and the bartender made his way out every time instead of shouting across the bar top every time we ordered or needed anything. The service was on point. I had the No. 5 & I loved it, the No. 2 was also very good. We only tried 2 other food items but I will most definitely be back to try more. It was packed at 9 pm on a Wednesday night and waiting for a table was easily over an hour but sitting at the bar was fine.
(4)
Amit K.
Italian food is all over Chicago, but somehow Siena has figured out a way to completely differentiate its food. Such unique ideas, whether it comes to their Pasta in a Jar meal, or their pizza options. Their appetizers are great, and their service is impeccable. I've been there 3 times now, and each time I've left with an excellent experience. I've never seen such a high end Italian restaurant offer so many vegetarian options. Their seafood options are excellent as well! This is definitely the best Italian restaurant in Chicago...
(5)
A K.
As a previous poster said, definitely MAKE RESERVATIONS. I don't usually complain about service, but if you show up without reservations (even on a weeknight before 6), you may have as unpleasant an experience as I did. The host will try to tell you that bar tables turn over quickly....they do not. They want you to believe it will be true and order a drink, which will turn into more drinks while you wait. I waited for an hour for a table, and during that time only one table and one seat were vacated in the bar area! If the host would have said the wait might be an hour, I could have dealt with that. Refusing to give a time, however, allows you to be delusional in thinking you will get to eat sometime soon. But even after you're seated, don't expect to be taken care of quickly. After waiting at least five minutes for water and a waitress to introduce herself, it took 45 minutes for a salad to arrive. The waitress apologized, but that did not make up for a 45 minute wait! for salad! The purpose of my visit was to eat pizza. The pizza is definitely not worth a two hour wait. It's fine, but not anywhere near the best in the city. If you're really going for the pizza, I say skip this place. However, it seems like Siena Tavern is made for large groups who want to drink a lot of wine and order an assortment of items. The large tables (which had reservations) seemed to be having a great time, unlike my disgruntled party of 2.
(2)
Lindsey M.
I've been to this restaurant twice and sat in the bar area both times. The first time was on a Saturday around noon for Brunch. The restaurant was less than crowded and our server was THE WORST. It took us an hour to receive our food, after asking numerous times where it was. In addition to that, our server was less than apologetic. While I was hesitant to try again, we had friends in town and wanted to take them out to lunch. Upon arrival, our server came up after 10 minutes and told us she gets off her shift in 10 minutes, but that she would take our drink orders and pass on the information to the next server when she arrives for her shift. After waiting about 15-20 minutes with no drinks in sight, we left the restaurant. We will not be back. The food was good (what little food we got), however, the customer service has been the worst I have ever experienced.
(2)
J S.
Have been here twice in the short time it has been open and will definitely be back for more! We went with a large group of people so we had the chance to try a majority of the menu items and they all impressed me. The coccoli, kale caesar salad, gnocchi, and pistachio gelato were my favorites. Server was very knowledgeable regarding the wine list and had great recommendations. I love Italian food and this venue successfully mixes great authentic cuisine with a trendy and lively bar atmosphere. Would also be a great date spot to sit at the bar, enjoy some drinks and order some za from the pizza chefs!
(5)
D P.
I was visiting Chicago with my boyfriend and we wanted to have a nice dinner out so we decided on Siena Tavern. We walked in (without a reservation- they were fully booked) and we were quite early on a Friday night (5:30 PM) so they gave us a seat at the bar (first come first serve) but we put our name down on the wait list for a table in the dining area. After about 30 mins they called us with a table ready which had a next reservation at 8PM so we had a good 2.5 hours to sit there- which we did. We had about 3 managers approach us throughout the night to check if everything was alright- that was very nice. The food was DELICIOUS. Although the pizza and pasta took quite a bit of time (over 20 mins)- it was great. The Farro salad was very different, refreshing, full of garlic (Mmmmm!) The spaghetti with lemon sauce- YUM. The burnt pepperoni pizza was also great. We ended the night with a tiramisu which was awesome too! Overall, the food was great, service was very friendly, ambience is lovely for a romantic dinner, drinks are super fun as well! I have no bad reviews about this place as a tourist! Enjoy :)
(4)
Jennifer V.
I went to Sienna Tavern with 5 other people for a friend's birthday dinner. 3 of my friends were looking forward to the grilled cheese special that was advertised but when we sat down for our 6:45pm reservation they said they said they were no longer serving the special even though it was for the entire day?? We then ordered the coccoli appetizer which was really good. The prosciutto was really tasty, there was enough for each to have 1 piece. A few of us then wanted to try the cheese board so we chose the gorgonzola and red rock to try. The cheese came on a large rock like tray with 5 cube of the red rock and a piece of gorgonzola the size of a half of slice of cheese. It was accompanied by 5 walnuts, a quarter size dollop of a honey sauce and a quarter sized dollop of a tomato jam. This entire tray cost $14 and it was the sparsest cheese tray I had ever come across. The cheese was good but 3 people shared it getting what I would call a nibble.....not worth $7 per cheese. We then ordered the faro pasta, gnocchi, and the orechiette. We also ordered the margherita pizza. The pizza was a very good size and was tasty....definitely the best priced item on the menu for the portion size. The pastas were all very good but again lacking on the portions. Normally after have 2 appetizers and then ordering pasta, to go bags are needed, not here. Everyone cleared there plates because the appetizers were so minimal. We also all ordered drinks which were very good. Lastly, on our open table reservation that it was our friends birthday and when it came time for dessert they brought nothing. The birthday girl ordered the $5 gelato and when it arrived the waitress had a candle in hand and said "it's your birthday right" she then lit the candle and stuck it in the dessert....not the way we really wanted that to happen for our friends special day. The restaurant also charged us for the $5 dessert...not very good customer service if you ask me. Overall food tasted good but the portions were too small for the cost, the server was friendly and knowledgeable when she was around but she went missing a few times and the drinks were average for the area. If you go don't experiment with appetizers just order pasta and a pizza to split!
(3)
Lauren T.
I came here with 10 people for a birthday party! We reserved a private room to celebrate my Aunt's 60th! TANNER was our server, and was extremely helpful with the menu options, and helping us set up our slideshow (which we played on a one way mirror in the room) which was very cool! The food was delicious, and I would like to recommend the Number 11 cocktail to anyone that loves tequila like I do! We had a vegan with us as well, and Tanner was so helpful in helping her pick things from the menu, or offering to create a dish that she would enjoy! Awesome! He went over all of his favorites from the menu and we ended up starting with the COCCOLI, OCTOPUS, MEATBALLS (which are huge), and I know there was something else, but I cant remember. I ordered the BRICK CHICKEN which was really good, and it came with potatoes as well. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves so much, and walked away with wonderful memories
(5)
Antoniah L.
Went on a Saturday night with my sister. Interestingly we were on our way to Hub 51, but detoured bc the freezing wind was gut punching us too much on the way. Looked swanky (and warm), and we'd never been so we checked it out. Arrived around 11 and were seated immediately. I had the number 5 and my sister had the number 2 for drinks. Both were well made and more layered/complex than your average cocktail, which seemed typical of the drink menu. Worth the $12, IMO. We had the wagyu meatball for a starter, shared the five cheese pizza as an entree, and finished with the Tuscan kale caesar salad - satisfactory all around. The house music mix playing was great and the decor was trendy. It's definitely loud and the bar, though spacious, was very crowded. Service was decent - all staff were very welcoming, friendly, and prompt for the most part. I'd visit again for dinner. It's not anything novel, but it's a solid joint.
(3)
Ann W.
Wow! This place is a must try. Met friends there and it has a great vibe and we had a great waitress. We did not have a reservation on a Sat which was risky but got there a 6 and enjoyed a drink and a short wait before we were seated. Gumballhead lovers will be pleased...it's on tap here! We started with the coccoli and the truffle honey it is served with makes it really special and a treat that you must try. The truffle mushroom pizza smelled delicious upon arrival but lacked a little flavor. Maybe my tastebuds were spoiled by the decadent coccoli! We tried the short rib ravioli that was perfectly topped with a light sauce and a drizzle of balsamic. If you want to go to heaven and back, try the gnocchi. The truffle sauce and fried sage are just so wonderful and special. The whole place smells of truffles, which I love, and truly a treat for truffle lovers with many menu items to choose from with truffles. Would definitely go back and recommend.
(5)
Yan X.
The server introduced this place as "refined casual" Italian food - we took that as a forewarning (this is not a tavern and nothing here reminds me of Siena, Italy). Their charcuterie came with only a few pieces of raisin toasts - it's odd that many places are serving these cold cut plates now but do not realize to serve it with good bread. Their homemade crab pasta was like Chinese egg noodles in a very thick sticky sauce with little flavor but they do give you a decent amount of crab. The pizza was meh. They do have a good wine selection. Overall, as we are not people who go to places only to be seen, we will not go back.
(1)
Jen D.
Yum~! Love the atmosphere, large space and good people. Yes, Chef Fabio was walking around, taking photos, speaking with diners, etc.. Very cool guy. I had the tuna tar tar and brussel sprout salad... delish. Friends ordered pizza, meat and cheese plates, mozerella, foccasia.. no food was wasted. One friend ordered the tarimisu, and it was a coffee flavor overload. Not the best dessert one has ever tasted... then again, the girl who actually ordered it, loved it. so.. to each their own for sure, especially when dealing wtih authentic cuisine. Good wine list, I did not see my red zin, by the glass, however, as that's my go to drink, so I resorted to prosecco. Oh, and then margherita.. wonderfully made, I will say. :D Definitely will be back, not just for the great atmosphere, but decent priced drinks and great food. Don't let the name fool you, it may be called a Tavern, but the food is top notch.
(5)
Akta D.
Wow! This place is fantastic. I've heard that it's difficult to get reservations, but if you're OK with eating at the bar and high tables then you don't need them. This place has great drinks, especially the wine. We got the pizza which was pretty good but it was missing some salt or garlic in the sauce. It gets 4 stars because the atmosphere is great and my bf said the grilled octopus was fantastic. I'll definitely be going back and trying some of their other items.
(4)
Karolina K.
Everything about Siena Tavern is amazing. Lets start with the food, how can anyone say that it is okay or bad. IT IS AMAZING. I recommend starting with the Cocci, which are soft, warm puffs that you open and fill with prosciutto and cheese. I would also recommend starting with the grilled Octopus, and squeezing lemon all over it. This was delicious. Then there is the gnocchi, which I crave all the time. You have to get the gnocchi and the spaghetti. It does not get any better. The Brick Chicken is amazing and the Porterhouse for two is the best steak I have every had. I can't believe it, I was shocked. Steak at an Italian place, this was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Deserts, wow the Bomboloni is to die for, comes with a side of different sauces to squeeze into the Italian donut. I have to say raspberry is my favorite. The ambiance and style inside Siena is amazing. you can't not have a good time. This is the most amazing restaurant I have ever been too.
(5)
Nadine P.
In a word, prosaic.....
(2)
Josh C.
Huge props to the Siena Tavern management for swiftly contacting us to let us know how disappointed they were in our experience. All we really wanted was to get in the door and try the food. Brad the manager invited us back and dinner was really quite flawless. Were they paying extra attention to us...maybe but we didn't mind. Our server Hannah (sp?) answered all of my food questions and made great recommendations...I'll actually be requesting her when i return...sorry Hannah. The coccoli was incredible, the kale Caesar salad was unique, and the short rib ravioli was deliciously al dente...delicious. We capped the meal off with the warm chocolate butter cake. I am not much of a desert guy but this cake (with some port) was killer. Thanks again to the Siena Tavern for asking us to come back in and try the food. We are avid food enthusiasts...we ate very well at Siena Tavern.
(5)
Jim K.
I met some friends for happy hour. We had drinks at a table near the bar and ordered a bunch of different food. Everything was great. Standouts weret the gnocci, kobi meatball, parpadelle, and the carne pizza. Good vibe and good service. I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Kari B.
Went here for Sunday brunch before seeing Book of Mormon. While they had outside seating it was "smelly" outside so we sat inside. The inside decor was really nice. I had the lobster hash which was great! Also a must is cocktail #2. It's a take on the Bellini. No Fabio siting but the food was great and loved the location. Would go back for more.
(4)
Jenny G.
Had an 11:00am reservation. Showed up at 11:02am and the doors were locked. Hostess clearly saw we were trying to get in, unlocked the door, then walked away, while we were still standing outside. Never opened the door for us, nor came outside to welcome us or apologize for the door being locked. After that "greeting" we decided to take our business elsewhere.
(1)
Sam V.
I came here for my birthday with my girlfriend and overall it was pretty good. The place is always packed. Keep in mind when they say they keep a percentage for walk-ins they count the bar seating so there are only about a dozen tables up for grabs. Service was great! Good to see in a new place. Usually that lacks in the beginning. The giant Kobe meatball was good not great. But my girlfriend had the squid ink linguine and that was incredible. I had the lasagna and while it was cooked perfectly there wasn't much flavor to it. Sorry to say Rosebud still has the best lasagna in the city. On the plus, manager came over and offered another entree, which I passed on and but she bought us desserts. I wasn't even making a big deal about it but it was great that they were so concerned. The donuts with glaze were awesome! They need a food truck of those all around the city. Overall a fun place and I will be back. just not for the lasagna.
(4)
Michael N.
Great ambiance and good place to go for happy hour or before dinner. Pretty decent upscale bar food and drinks. The truffle/mushroom pizza (as well as the burnt peperoni) is very solid. Crowd is typically girls in 20's/30's and guys in their 40's - 90's. So I'd definitely recommend if you're going for drinks and a quick bite, a girl looking for an older dude, or an older dude trading in for a younger girl. If you're looking for great food though, there are plenty of better options in the neighborhood.
(3)
Joanna K.
went to Siena Tavern to check out Fabio Viviani's new place ... and try his much-discussed gnocchi. Booked on OpenTable in February to secure a 7 pm res (before the place even opened!) We had to adjust the reservation downwards, from 4 to 2 ppl, two days before dining there, and they had no issue with that. Decor: Nice vibe overall. Gigantic bar, as mentioned by several. Like the tables and chairs (so comfortable!!!) and the booths looked intimate too. Not too packed together; comfortable. They have an herb wall where they apparently grow the herbs for the food! Drinks: Got the #9 -- delicious! We both loved that. My sister got the #2 as well, which was delicious. The waitress recommended a glass of pinot noir for me -- that was only OK. Food: Oh, the food. Just delicious from start to finish. We started with the meatball (huge, moist, delicious, covered in ricotta and divine tomato sauce) -- wonderful. Also got the bone marrow -- the presentation is great, with two huge bones that you scrape out and put on toasted bread with a lovely fennel salad and mushrooms. Just heavenly. For dinner, we got the squid ink pasta with lobster ($$$, but they do not skimp on the lobster) and the afore-mentioned GNOCCHI! The squid ink pasta was divine -- cooked just perfectly, with a tomato-cream sauce and lovely chunks of lobster everywhere over the black pasta. The gnocchi was just divine -- I have never in my life tasted such soft, pillowy (that is really the only word to describe it) gnocchi and realize now that the reason that I probably was indifferent on gnocchi before was because it was never made like THIS! It is dressed in a cream based truffle sauce with bits of pancetta and fried sage. The entire meal was amazing, but I dream of that gnocchi even now! Finally, for dessert -- the tiramisu was inventively presented in a little tin pan with meringues on the side (along with a picture of a tree in cocoa -- or espresso? not sure, didn't taste it alone) Be warned that all this food is HEAVY and they give reasonable-sized portions -- go hungry! Service: Initially, we sat for a bit before anyone approached us. Finally, our waitress Natalie (? I think that was her name) came by, and she certainly made up for that -- she was engaging, charming, funny, and very enthusiastic about her job. She answered the requisite "where's Fabio?" questions with humor and a smile. Her recommendations were great. (I asked her for a glass of Pinot Noir, and she told me the one they serve by the glass -- it was only OK, but that is not her fault!) My sister had wanted to take home some leftover squid ink pasta, and the busboy accidentally threw it away!-- the waitress was so sweet that she went and talked to the kitchen and had them prepare an ADDITIONAL half serving of the pasta for her (complete with delicious lobster, which in the original dish we had definitely eaten ALL of :) ) to take home at no extra charge! (we had paid the bill!) No complaints on the service -- she went above and beyond, and with a smile to boot. All in all -- definitely planning to return! Enjoyed the whole experience a lot!
(5)
Gina V.
Fabio Viviani, you've done an amazing job with this restaurant! I can not say enough amazing things about this place. The food was fabulous, our server was great and the atmosphere is so welcoming and trendy at the same time. I waited for 4 months to get a Saturday table at 8:30 pm (very popular day and time) at this place and I am telling you it was definitely worth the wait. The food is just amazing! I've been to RPM, which is just around the corner, and Siena Tavern blows RPM out of the water! For our dinner, we ordered the brussel sprouts salad, which was tangy, and perfect in so many ways. The salad was shaved pieces of brussel sprouts with small pieces of almonds and very light and refreshing dressing. We also had the Kobe meatball, which was the best meatball I've ever eaten (I'm Italian, so I've eaten my fair share of meatballs). First of all this meatball was huge and was covered with shaved cheese and served with amazing sauce. The meatball was perfectly cooked and just wonderful. We also ordered the buffala mozzarella, which was so creamy and soft and delicious. It was served with an amazing sweet, smoky sauce. The best cheese I've eaten. Then for our entrees we had the Carne pizza, and the short rib ravioli. First the pizza was probably a 14 inch and it was enough to feed 2-3 people comfortably. The meat on the pizza was spicy and plentiful. The cheese, the mozzarella which was amazing. The short rib ravioli in a mushroom sauce was delicious. The ravioli was cooked perfectly and the mushroom sauce was just delicious. I seriously can not say enough amazing things about this place. You need to go there and enjoy the food as much as we did.
(5)
Mark F.
My first visit. I had the Italian Beef Sandwich, which was so so (there didn't seem to be that much beef in it). The fries and garlic dip were good. The place is nicely decorated and has an attractive bar area. The staff look like cheerleaders--one was even playing with her hair all the time (if you found blonde hair in your pizza, that is probably where it came from). The place felt a little fake to me.
(2)
Sile O.
Four star average - really? Visiting from California we had dinner at ST. We decided to eat family style, so we were able to try lots of different things (two pasta dishes and one pizza, along with appetizers). WOW. This is the food experience I expected in Italy (but didn't have). The food was amazing. I'd give it more than five stars if I could.
(5)
mark b.
This is not a review of STs food, but more about the managements culture. From what i have heard from colleagues and friends, this is a fine food emporium. My yelp is strictly about their manners or specifically the managers. On Wednesday i had the misfortunate to be "doored" while commuting home on my bike, out in front of ST. I am a Bike commuter for more then 25 years so i am not new to mishaps. But what was appalling to me was that as i was trying to get myself and my bike back to snuff, ( bike was wrecked and i was badly banged up), the manager of ST came over and told me i had to move away from the curb in front of the restaurant. Mind you i was in the street, not near the patrons or even the valet stand. And never mind that the young woman who had bounced out of the cab in the middle of the street was now in ST. The manager did not offer me assistance of any kind; no towel to clean me not even a glass of water. Not only did he want me away from near his place, he was insistent that the police would ever come to the scene and i should just leave. I am sure its a fine place to eat but with that kind of management i can reccommend other places.
(1)
M W.
I've been there 4-5 times over the past few months for lunch, dinner and after work drinks. The food OK but uneven; and tends to be over salted (they need to use herbs and spices instead of cheap salt). Hostesses and managers are actually rude to guests (I've had it happen to our group as well as seen it with other guests). The servers are generally nice. This place is really overrated. Don't believe the hype.
(2)
Cameron W.
lasagna is clutch
(5)
Razzina z.
This review is based on the bar service only. I have not dined there so can't comment on food. Basically, we stopped by for a drink at the bar last night and happened to experience the rudest service in Chicago. The bartender didn't come over for about 15 min ( and it wasn't that busy) , then not only she didn't greet us or asked what we want she just rudely stared as if she doing us a favor . She had a bitchiest attitude and was very unpleasant, do not know her name ,but she had long dark hair with streaks and looked middle eastern . Later, another bartender started serving us and she was nice and that's why an extra star. I think this kind of place should not tolerate people who cannot provide good customer service..
(2)
Erica S.
This place is beyond terrific! I have never been to a more accommodating restaurant. I let the server know that I have certain dietary restrictions. She AND the manager, Heather, personally spoke with the chef to ensure that my meal would be exactly as I specified. I'm so appreciative of how great they were to me. And the food is amazing! Get the lobster linguine!!!!
(5)
Tracy F.
I've waited *months* to get into this restaurant. I had high expectations. They were definitely not met. First, the restaurant is extremely loud. I'm tolerant of energetic noise, but my ears were almost ringing. Second, the bar scene (which is actually very good) is so over popular that it spills into the dining area. When we were taken to our table, two people were sitting at it with their drinks and the hostess had to ask them to move. No one wiped down the table after they left. The appetizers were very good (Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad and Buratta). The entrees were extremely average. The gnocchi was oversized and too doughy (though the truffle sauce was very flavorful). The farro pasta with oven dried tomatoes was lacking tomatoes. I had to dig for them. Otherwise I was eating pasta with plain pesto. It was something I could make at home. The service was excellent and attentive. The manager came by and chatted us up for about 10 minutes and was very genuine. My advice: Go for the bar scene and pizza. It's not worth it for dinner. Prices are reasonable.
(2)
Kendra K.
Decor is beautiful, bar is fun, and food is amazing!! Highly recommend the Kobe meatball and coccoli appetizers. The baked lasagna is fresh, light and delicious!!
(5)
Erica T.
It's tough to get in but it's well worth the wait. The food is outstanding, the service is excellent, I just wish it was easier to get a reservation. I've been 5 times and can highly recommend the Squid Ink linguini, the Grilled Octopus, the Coccoli and the Hamachi (yes, I keep ordering the same things because it's just that good). I'm not a dessert eater at all but when I saw Lavender Gelato I had to submit. It's a spa in your mouth in the very best way. Just WOW! Love it.
(5)
Ann O.
This place is great! I have been for dinner and drinks a couple times. Drinks are delicious. The no. 2 is dangerously yummy.... And they have a nice beer selection. The food is very good (the pizza is great, as is the carrot pasta), though the menu is a tad limited in my opinion. It can get loud when it's crowded, but I took my parents here for an early dinner, and it was lovely. The booths are comfy, and the service was great. Considering it's the hip new place, and its location, I definitely expected it to be pricier, but it's not too bad (my pasta, I believe, was $14 - totally reasonable for a dinner entree that is a nice-sized portion)! Definitely worth a trip.
(4)
Qadree H.
We went into Siena Tavern because we were huge fans of Fabio from the cooking shows. We walked in for lunch and the hosts were great! We were seated and it felt like we were not getting the top notch service we would have expected to get from our server. The only reason I am still giving Siena a 4 is because all of the entrees that came out of the kitchen were top notch. The food was great. We had the Gnoochi-melt in your mouth and the braised short ribs pasta and this was stellar as well. Get the focaccia bread-it melts in your mouth as well. The decor was great, the host was great, but the service was not so good. Our server forgot to put in the focaccia bread order. She was slow with coming to take our order and checking back in as well. she also did not seem to make confident suggestions about the menu as well. I think that it is important for celebrity chefs to realize that we pay the price we pay for the food and the service. The servers should be more in tune to really WOW the customer because they are coming for great food and to see what the celebrity brand represents. For us the food was great, but the service needed a 1st class overhaul. I'm glad we went for lunch because had we gone for dinner with bad service I would have been so kind.
(4)
Heather S.
Not worth the hype. I think I enjoyed being downtown at a fun spot more than the food. My table did like the gnocchi and donuts, but skip the burnt pizza, meatball and chocolate mousse dessert. NOT worth it.
(3)
Jodi V.
It was my first time here this past week. The service was good and overall our experience was good. The kobe meatball was great. Margherita pizza was the worst I've ever had. Someone else at our table ordered it as well and thought it was awful too.
(3)
Patti P.
Wonderful. Second visit; first on a Sunday afternoon tonight early dinner. No reservation, no problem. Friendly service and tasty food. Pear and prosciutto pizza is good as are salads. Wine list offers good choice for reasonable prices. Great vibe and people watching. Only thing better would be seeing Fabiola on visit three!
(4)
Alan F.
So where do I start? From the decor to the staff to the food, it was amazing!!! I loved the mussels, pasta with duck confit, meatball, hamachi and grilled squid. Then for dessert, we had fried doughnuts that were served with small bottles chocolate, strawberry and caramel. Can you say amazing? Can't wait to get back to Chicago to treat myself to this amazing food orgy :)
(5)
Stardust B.
I highly recommend dining at the Siena Tavern - 51 W. Kinzie Street in Chicago. Start off with a glass of Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2011, a succulent & sophisticated wine. Imagine notes of tangerine, kiwi, melon, & honeyed lemon-lime. Then, enjoy the Kobe meatball with its melt-in-your-mouth flavors of beef, ricotta & basil, in chunks of tomato sauce. My other favorite was the Farro salad, mixed with grilled shrimp, calamari & veggies dressed in a herb-mustard vinaigrette. Next, savor the fork tender & moist Osso Bucco, garnished with gremolata. For desert, you will enjoy this sweet indulgence of fluffy and light Italian doughnuts, or Bomboloni. They are served with three little bottles of whisky-caramel, chocolate hazelnut & raspberry chianti sauces for you to dip as much as you please. Lastly, the olive oil, lemon & sea salt gelato was surprisingly refreshing. As for the waitstaff, they were friendly and knowledgeable. Plus, the character and atmosphere of Sienna Tavern was first class. To secure a seat, make reservations or arrive early and sit in the relaxed bar area. For a stress free lunch or dinner, valet your car or take a cab!
(5)
Aimee P.
We loved Siena Tavern when we dined there last Friday night. It took 6 weeks to get a 6:30 res on a Friday night and I called to try to push it back but they said no. Well, traffic was horrible and we didn't arrive until 7:00. They couldn't have been nicer and seated us right away without any comments on the time. The bar was hopping and the restaurant was busy but didn't seem packed, plenty of tables were open. The space is very nice, open and classy casual. Anyway, Casey was our server and she was great. ALways a treat to have a female server who recommends meat! She had great suggestions and we ordered tons of food......buffala mozzarella with tomato jam, pepperoni pizza, siena bread with evoo and cheese, beet salad, shaved brussel sprouts, gnocchi, pappardelle, carrot tortellaci, and the parmesan sage fries. Everything was delicious!! Only critique is that the staging was a little fast. In fact, we would have ordered another bottle of wine if the food had not all come out in 45 minutes. Btw, the #1 cocktail is delicious too! I'll be back as soon as I can get a reservation. ugh
(4)
Valerie B.
Siena Tavern takes up the first floor of a newish curved glass high rise. In the daylight the glass walls make the venue very bright and open. You enter through revolving doors to be greeted by the host/hostess station constructed of shiny steel plate held together by rows of rivets. It looks like an homage to the Restoration Hardware catalog. The overall decor is industrial-chic with acres of concrete, gray leather and black granite and this upcycled hub-cap bar doesn't really fit. Turn left and you will be in the bar area, which is huge. On a Friday evening it was packed with twenty or thirty somethings plus those who wished they were. To the right is the eating area. This separation of the bar/food area is good design as it means you can actually talk to the people you are eating with, something that is rare in many restaurants. The tables by the window are set up for foursomes. The middle area is a line of semi-circular banquettes which are raised one step above the floor level. They are actually very comfortable for twosomes, which is how they were being used, although I think they could accommodate four people. Nearer the kitchen there are high tops and then chairs against the bar. The waitress was excellent. She went through the menu highlighting favorites in each category. I was impressed that she was not trying to push the priciest items. All the food is made in-house and even the herbs are grown on the wall behind the bar. The menu is extensive and includes small plates, a mozzarella bar, a crudo bar, home made pasta and pizza plus more traditional entree sized dishes. The food came quickly and this restaurant was not being cheap on staffing levels. Bus boys were in evidence all the time. Water glasses were refilled and empty plates were promptly removed from the table. This was some of the best service I have had recently. My friend was the Birthday Girl and, as she is a hundred percent Italian, I defer to her on the authenticity of the food. She was raving about it, saying the tomato sauce was just like her mother's. We shared the Kobe meatball, which was approaching the size of a tennis ball, and the bufala mozzarella with eggplant caponata. Toasted bread came with both of these dishes. I loved the eggplant caponata and wished there was more of it although, to be fair, it was just the supporting act to the mozzarella. These sharing dishes are pretty close to entree size. My friend then had gnocchi with a truffle cream sauce, which she loved. I had the black squid ink linguini with lobster which was very tasty. We definitely didn't need dessert, but ordered some anyway. I had a warm apple-fig tart with triple vanilla bean gelato. The tart case was very crisp and had obviously been baked unfilled. The apples had been sliced into ribbons and mixed with little squares of dried fig. The tart filling had been flavored with spices and tasted just like Christmas. I loved it. My friend wanted gelato, but asked if she could have the triple vanilla bean which was not one of the options listed. She was happy when the answer was yes because, as she said, many restaurants are like petty dictators and just refuse to deviate from the written menu. We really enjoyed this restaurant and chose it because it was recommended by a friend. We definitely did not go because of the TV chef. In fact, we had never heard of him!
(4)
Erica G.
This place had amazing octopus, a great atmosphere, and the server Jessica was adorable and informative. She deserves 5 stars, and I definitely recommend the restaurant.
(4)
Barry P.
First the nuts and bolts and little things: Hot new place attached to Fabio Viviani of Check Please fame. He joined with a hot group to open a large space in the uber hot River North area. Think of Hubbard St, Erie St,. Kinzie, Dearborn, and State street near Wacker drive. Very competitive area for food. Well, he may have staying power as long as the crowds don't mind paying up to $16 for a pizza and upwards of $30 for a main course and $12 for parking. Now, little things. Had a very nice beet salad, but we also ordered the Truffle Pizza and the salad plate remained on the table for the pizza. A restaurant of this nature should have taken the salad plate and replaced it immediately. Servers and bus boys ned to know this. Also, forks were used, taken but not replaced until after we received our next course. Finally, my wife's decaf coffee was just colored weak water and the server did not bring cream or sugar and this had to be requested. Again, a restaurant of this type should not skimp on the coffee and should bring what is required without asking. Service was good and attentive and young, but the car park was quite slow in taking my car. The message starts on the outside. Now the food which is billed as rustic italian. I don't know. Maybe rustic with modern takes. We had a beet salad, a truffle pizza, the short rib ravioli, the gnocchi and the sea bass and the sticky parmesan potatoes, which are more like what you would get at a Sunday breakfast with eggs, and finished with the donuts and dipping sauces and pistachio gelato, and a nice bottle of wine. I think I would classify the food as small plates, but not very rustic. We did not leave hungry and all of the food was y good.to very good. The best in Chicago, hardly, but nothing to complain about. The gnocchi and ravioli were terrific and the pizza also very good. The room is beautiful and must have cost a small fortune to put together. Now, all they need to do is stay consistent, hope people don't have a problem spending the kind of dollars they are asking and keep filling the place. Last night, there was a steady stream of people so that may not be a problem, but foodies are fickle and once the next hot thing comes along, they move on. Finally, I had a nice conversation with one of the young managers. We talked about the restaurant and the area, and just lots of general stuff. Very nice young man, and he took time with us to talk. Helps with the PR. Good luck Fabio.
(4)
Megan T.
Loved this place. Went on a Sunday afternoon, very relaxed atmosphere. Waitress was wonderful and very helpful. Food was outstanding. We had the coccoli to start. Mind-blowing, (but sticky!). My husband and I shared the pizza and the chicken sandwich. Sandwich and fries were outstanding. Pizza was good, but probably would not do the pepperoni again since it was pretty spicy. The cheese-sauce ratio was perfect. The house beer was perfect and right up my alley. (Wheat ale from Goose Island)
(5)
Amita P.
We went there for my and a friend's birthday celebration. Adam was the nicest server. We all gave him a 2 thumbs up. For a busy Saturday night he was very attentive to our table. He gave us great recommendations and we loved every bite of our food. Thank you Adam!!
(5)
Cynthia P.
This place is a definite 5 stars for food quality...there were definitely some "mmmm"' going on at the table. Service was super slow I hate to admit. I've been to Italy several times and this restaurant exceeded my expectations since sometimes other top chef restaurants aren't so great...started off with the coccoli wow these literally melted in you mouth the truffle honey elevated the dish to an entire new level(I fell in live with truffles in Italy where they are in abundance), the prosciutto was high quality and the mozz melted in your mouth I highly recommend starting with this. We then split a truffle pizza and the gnocchi...the gnocchi hit he mark dead on true comfort food for a rainy day...the pizza was slightly underwhelming needed more flavor. Since is was my bday they brought a scoop of bday Icecream..at first sight I was disappointed but upon taste it was incredible pieces of cake in it---cleaned the bowl. My friend had a Bloody Mary said it was the best she had ever had...food is reasonable te drinks are expensive but that's typical in Chicago. I would say this restaurant is a must in Chicago!!
(5)
J. O.
This place definitely loved up to my expectations! The coccoli (fried dough with prosciutto and cheese, drizzled with truffle honey) was amazing. Tonight was the first night it was open to the public, and Top Chef Fabio Viviani was making the rounds which made it all worthwhile (so charming and nice). The atmosphere and service were great - everyone seemed really excited about the opening and the food. Even though they were not taking reservations, we waited only an hour and the hostess checked in on us in the bar several times and made sure we didn't wait too long. The food was really great, and I liked so many options on the menu that I had to make a point to come back another day. I did not get to try the pizza, but the meatballs, crude, coccoli, gnocchi, carbonara, and tiramisu were all really great. You can definitely taste that the pasta is homemade. I would recommend to anyone who wants to try a variety of Italian food with unique flavors.
(5)
Patty M.
I am not a big Yelper, but the food and service I had at Siena Tavern prompted me to write. I tried to get a reservation the same day -- 5:30 on Friday night, and was told they were full, but we could sit at the bar or outside. My friend and I arrived at 5:15 and were able to sit outside. We had the best service from Kristy K. who was knowledgeable about the food and also made GREAT recommendations. She was not one of these aloof hipsters that many restaurants hire, but genuinely nice and interested in our experience and feedback. She recommended the coccoli, which was outstanding. I still think of it. The fresh, crispy dough with the prosciutto wrapped around stracchino cheese was a taste sensation. I shared the Burrata with my friend. While the burrata portion was large, and the quality amazingly fresh, it was featured with figs. When the figs arrived, they were a mere decoration on the plate. When a menu lists figs in August, it should not be pieces that look like part of a mise-en-place. There should be more fig. I had the fresh and tasty pasta in a jar, which sounded like a gimmick, but was really good. My friend had lasagna in the cutest little metal baker. The tippy top of the meal was the bombolini. Wow, another fried dough extravaganza. We started with the coccoli, with fried dough, and ended with bombolini. A tasty meal and a great experience. When my friend recommended Siena Tavern, I hadn't heard of it, so I looked up their website and saw their wonderful video. I had just arrived home from a vacation in Italy, so that video and the stated intention of the partners to create something that was authentically Italian with an American twist really caught my interest. The restaurant did not disappoint in execution from the expectations created in the video. Thank you. And thanks, Kristy K for making it a fun evening.
(4)
Cynthia K.
I wanted to like this place, I really did. All of my party of 3 cannot recommend this restaurant. We waited 2 1/2 months to get a table for a Tues evening and so expectations for high. It is trendy and extrememly loud. We were seated on time for our reservation and the chairs were comfy. Our waitress was not up to par for this level of dining, rather confused. After 45 minutes our entrees arrived with no appetizer in sight. The server had no idea what we ordered or where it was. It showed up a few mintues later. To try and make things right they did 'comp' us the app. The lamb chop entree at $42 was overcooked and deluged in balsamic vinegar - a big miss. Nothing came with it - no veggie, no bread. The truffle/mushroom pizza had very scant toppings - I counted 2 slices with nothing but cheese on. The coccoli (popovers with ham-wrapped cheese) was strange - the cheese was mealy like it had been melted, hardened and remelted and the honey on it did not work for me. The Osso Bucco was fine. There is nothing accompaying your entrees - no veggies, no bread and sides are $9. $9 ?!?!?! for this price point and wiat to get in I need to be blown away. We were decidely NOT. The Sangria tasted like Brandy & seven up - no wine taste at all and all I kept getting were litte apple pieces up my straw. I could not finish the drink. We will not return, alas.
(2)
Liz S.
Went here on a Sunday evening for dinner. My friends and I are Top Chef addicts so of course I had to hit this restaurant while visiting Chicago. The food and service were fantastic. My friends and I started with the carrot salad which was very delicious. Light and refreshing. We ended up ordering two pasta dishes and two pizzas to share. Word of advice, skip the pizzas. They were ok but nothing special. We tried the four cheese and the pear with prosciutto and both were on the bland side although the crust was nice. The pasta however was amazing. We ordered the gnocchi and another pasta I can't remember the name of but it had braised duck on it. Both were unreal and we even asked for bread to wipe up the sauces. There were about four other pastas that sounded great too so like I said skip the pizzas and focus on the pastas. For dessert we did the bombolonis and salted caramel gelato. Both were so good and we all liked the whiskey caramel sauce for the bombolonis best. Our waitress was very attentive though not annoyingly so and provided great wine suggestions. I love this place and can not wait to go back my next time in Chicago!
(5)
Cami R.
Great decor, nice staff, great menu! To drink we ordered the sangria. It was made with white wine, but it didn't say in the menu... weird... We had the gnocchi (LOVED them!) and the short rib ravioli (AMAZING!). For dessert the Warm Chocolate Butter Cake, very good! Will return to try the rest of the menu!
(5)
Elizabeth C.
Great atmosphere, noisy but good. Amazing gluten free menu with many options. Not only is the gf men great but the staff is very knowledgeable about gluten and cross contamination. We ordered the grilled octopus, burrata cheese, and oysters as starters. All were fantastic. Main meal was the crudo bar (all 4) which was delicious. Will go back for another visit soon. I would recommend this place!!
(5)
Joe J.
Amazing dinner experience here: Kobe Meatball is out of this world. The spicy yellowtail appetizer is delicious. Seafood Brodetto is unique, spicy, but not overwhelming. Great entree choice. Margherita pizza is delicious too! Drinks were right on par with the food. Expensive, but you pay for what you get.
(5)
Jessica B.
Made reservations more than a month out for a girls night out and it was an excellent selection. I cannot rave enough about 90% of the things we had there, but one of my dishes fell completely flat. For starters, we had Coccoli, which is cheese, proscuitto and puff pastry (almost like sandwiches) and it was melt in your mouth amazing. I would eat plates of that no problem. We also split a pizza, the proscuitto and pear was recommended by our waitress and it was SO good. Love the combo and the crust was perfectly crispy but soft too. For pasta, I honed in on the homemade ones because, well that's always better. But my choice of gemilli with duck ragout and arugula was...boring. No real flavor and the pasta looked like it came out of a box. And it wasn't even cooked al dente. After having amazing, life changing pasta at Balena, this was a huge disappointment. Friends got the lasagna and roasted carrot tortellini and both loved theirs so I guess I just ordered poorly. Fortunately, the rest of the meal made up for the pasta I got, but honestly, just left a dampened experience. But, I would still go back here and try again because the other items we had were 100% knocks out of the park. Oh, and the cocktails were fab too. I couldn't find the list online of cocktails to share what I had, but the gin one with lavender was really good. Recommend that as well!
(4)
Nino D.
Visited Siena Tavern for the first time this past Saturday...we had a fabulous time. Food was amazing and the whole concept is pretty cool- from cocktails at the bar to the dinner dishes- everything was very well prepared. I like that you can come and have a pizza at the bar and drinks or sit down and have a full diner. Server was great and attentive. I will definitely visit again very soon.
(5)
Natalia K.
siena tavern is a great spot for lunch or after work drinks & appetizers because their plates are very easy for sharing. i always go with the coccoli (just as every other yelper recommends), gnocchi, and margharita pizza. the cocktails are great and there is a lot of crafty ones to choose from, i'm on a mission to try each one eventually!
(5)
Shannon L.
I enjoyed an extremely solid lunch here on a random weekday afternoon. Sienna Tavern definitely fits into River North, there's tons of well decorated space and the menu was excellent. Our table feasted on the pear and prosciutto pizza, brussel sprout salad, a burger and the daily soup & roasted cauliflower. The pizza was as delicious as any specialty pizza gets, and the size of the pizza was very satisfactory for the price. The brussel sprout salad was actually pretty underwhelming, but the rest of what we consumed that day was pretty delicious. Another star for the adorable logo and packaging for takeout orders. Our server was attentive and enthusiastic, and all in all we had a great meal. No reservations necessary for lunch, but I think that for dinner you're looking at two weeks out.
(4)
Jarrid C.
Head bow of praise. The food is to die for. My wife and I took advantage of the cold weather and was able to get immediate seating. Bekah hosted us for the evening. She was spot on with her immediate food suggestion of Wagyu Beef meatball. My immediate response upon first site was, "its just a meat ball" as I am not big on eating meat balls. Boy it was poor judgement on my part. I found myself not getting enough of it. It was so juicy, fresh and seasoned. The sauce blended with mozzarella cheese has a smooth slightly creamy feel without any overpowering zesty tomato taste. The garlic pieces inside of the meat ball were perfectly sauteed. The Show Stoppers! My meal was the Double Cut Pork Chop with caramelized brussel sprouts, garlic whipped potato and an apple cider sauce. I can not say that enough about the flavors that were infused in this Chop. It was season to perfection. The char on it was just right and it was packed with juices. It could never be mistaken for being dry. The Mash potatoes were creamy with intense flavors. The Brussel Sprouts were equally pleasing. They had a great deal of flavor and were caramelized to perfection. I have nothing bad to say about them. I just didn't like them because I personal do not like the taste of Brussel Sprouts, but my wife devoured them. I also had a house beer, which also tasted pretty good. My wife had the12-hour Braised Ossobuco Farro risotto with hazelnut gremolata sauce. The veal was very tender. It has a melt in your mouth feel. The risotto was very creamy and cook to perfection. So if any of you are ever watching those Chef shows and are wondering how risotto should taste, look no further. The Party Continues Desert The Gelato was a party in our mouth. We had the cinnamon mascarpone. We also had the Bomboloni. These little sugar dough rolls/biscuits things are amazing. They give you three different sauces that you can inject into them and with each bite its a Utopia. Bekah, took great care of us. When we return we will ask for her again. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and was very hospitable. We enjoyed our visit at Siena Tavern. My wife and out enjoyed our meals their more then our meals at Emeril's NOLA in New Orleans.
(5)
Jessica N.
LOVED IT! Everything we ordered here was fantastic from the drinks to the dessert. I went there with my mother and aunt and we shared everything and tried to get a little bit from each part of the menu. We, of course, started with the meatball which was very tasty. Not the best meatball I've ever had but it was good and the sauce was delicious and so fresh tasting. Another noteable item was the bellwether farm ricotta with crispy mortadella.... OH MY. I mean who ever thought of frying mortadella cubes was an effing genius. It was SO good. Came with grilled bread and pesto as well and it was gone nearly as soon as it was down on the table. We had a pizza with eggplant on it that was just ok - but I think it was poor ordering on our part. It wasn't memorable. But the absolute STAR of the meal was the SHORT RIB RAVIOLI - WOW. I'm pretty sure we licked the plate clean. I could have eaten a bucket of those things. Best pasta I've ever had in my life.
(5)
Cam L.
I had really been looking forward to a trip to Siena Tavern, and they definitely met my expectations. I'd definitely recommend it! We ordered drinks (interesting Sangria and Goose Island's Siena Tavern-exclusive brew). For the entrees, we had the Short Rib Ravioli and the Carne Pizza. They were both really good, although the Ravioli was the highlight - think Braised Beef-filled Ravioli with a creamy, flavorful sauce. The way that it was served made it great American food with a really good Italian twist. We were there for a birthday, and Gregory, our server was really good, he later brought us a complimentary scoop of Birthday Cake Gelato (tastes JUST like cake!) to celebrate.
(4)
Kevin C.
Chicago, Illinois Pretty good food, very slow service. We were a group of about 11 sitting in the back room. We shared most of the apps and several of the entrees with nearly all being very good. For dessert we had the doughnuts and tiramisu, these two dishes were great. Unfortunately however the service was very slow. This place has the typical, Cool, Chicago, Trendy vibe. It was a great scene (10 June 2013). Unfortunately however our server would disappear for 7 or 8 minutes at a time, completely unacceptable. Give us an additional server and I guarantee the additional bar tab offsets the labor. Leaving the table to go to the bar to order drinks is not good. Also, a few of us sat outside, on the sidewalk, for about an hour prior to dinner; my first drink took about 20 minutes the second arrived just before we went to our table. Both were very good, #5 and a #8?, just too slow. So... the service outside the dining room was slow as well. Mr/Ms GM, beef up the staff! Back to the food, we had the Parm Fries with our drinks....very good. I believe they're a new restaurant...so hopefully they'll work out the staffing kinks.
(3)
Vanessa M.
The ambiance here is amazing but let me tell you, the food is even better! If you're looking for a trendy place to dine, Siena Tavern is perfection. Swung over here for lunch with several co-workers and was completely impressed with this swanky eatery. The staff was wonderful and extremely accommodating. Our server had loads of recommendations, which was very helpful and made for a great lunch. First off: The focaccia bread. Even after all the food we ordered, the focaccia was the star of the show. It was dense, moist, and decadent. Forget about the carbs and eat it all. We moved onto the grilled octopus, which is served with duck fat potatoes, red chilies, celery, aged balsamic, and chive. It was tender, juicy, and left me aching for another order. We also shared an order of burrata, which comes with grilled bread, tomato jam, sea, salt and olive oil. FInally, I had the shaved brussel sprouts salad, which comes with parmigiano and toasted marcona almonds. It was good if you're looking for a light lunch but after eyeing my co-worker's farro salad, it left me drooling over hers instead! I'll definitely be going back, especially for the pizza bar!
(5)
Erin C.
Got all the suggested plates...all were amazing. To top it off, our waiter brought a birthday ice cream and candle when we didn't even tell him! Excellent meal, I will definitely be returning!!
(5)
matthew m.
Wow, wow, wow! Early was great for me and my family having dinner. My wife ordered off the menu and I ordered pizza. Wish we could do that at Osterio Via Stato next to our house but nope. You have to eat pizza in the bar or dinner menu in the restaurant but not at Siena!. Such a great atmosphere and the staff are well trained. Ill be back Friday.
(5)
James H.
Incredible brunch food. My wife got the Lobster hash and I got the eggs Benedict. Both were phenomenal. We also had a mimosa and Bloody Mary. Both were good but nothing special. If I had to recommend one brunch food it would be the eggs Benedict. I won't go into a long explanation of the taste but if you order it you will not be disappointed. It was a little pricy just for brunch but all in all it was worth it.
(5)
Michelle L.
AMAZING. I tried all the appetizers (no, really. I did) and a few of the meats and cheese. Everything was presented wonderfully and tasted delicious. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. Our server was Adam and he was so accommodating and attentive. Next I go back I'm going to request him as my server. Since it's still kind of new in River North I would definitely make a reservation a few weeks in advance. The place was packed around 9 pm on a Friday - not a single table or seat was open.
(5)
Erin C.
I have been wanting to check out this place for awhile now and I went there with a couple of friends last weekend. It had a really nice ambience and we had a great server. I ordered the brick chicken and thought it was amazing! I shared it with my friend whom also though it was good ,however, the next morning I woke up feeling terribly sick. I asked the one friend who I shared my chicken with if she had also gotten ill and she said she did. I knew right then we had been food poisoned! I called the restaurant and spoke with a manager. He took down my information and apologized and said another manager would be in contact with me. I understand these things happen but I have yet to hear from someone. They should have made it right. I paid $80 for wasting my dinner literally down the toilet! I will not be referring anyone there nor will I be going back. Very disappointed...
(2)
Rob I.
Everyone should try this place at least once, farro salad, meatball, and drinks are all great . Great job fabio!!
(4)
Deanna G.
Went to Siena Tavern last Friday to celebrate my birthday. We ordered the Buratta mozzarella to start which was amazing with the jam, honey and toasted bread. For our entrees we ordered short rib ravioli and lasagna. Ravioli was amazing! Lasagna was good, a little too salty for my taste but still good. When I made the reservation, the hostess asked what the occasion was and I told her it was my birthday. Not only did the manager stop by the table to check in on our meals, but also thanked me for choosing to celebrate my birthday with Siena. On top of that, the birthday cake ice cream is to die for with pieces of vanilla cake inside! So impressed with the top notch service and great meal! Would definitely recommend!
(5)
AnneMarie R.
I was in town visiting for a work conference and was taken here by a friend that lived in the area. Awesome! food was delish. We shared everything to get more out of the experience. It was a great atmosphere, great food, great service. Totally recommend.
(5)
James K.
Took advantage of the Chef Week lunch menu. Had the burrata, rigatoni, and pistachio gelato. The burrata had a nice creamy yet firm texture, and the seasoning was just right. When combined with the tomato jam and toasted bread, I could have eaten this for the entire meal. I usually don't like heat in my food, but the rigatoni had just the right amount, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I also added the diver scallop crudo which turned out to be a serendipitous decision. The scallop was fresh and briny, and the accompanying seasoning allowed the main ingredient to shine. The highest note of the meal may have been the pistachio gelato. Can't really describe it other than it was exquisite. The place has a great energy and brightness, but it is still an overall relaxed, laid back atmosphere. Granted it was a Friday, but I took a bar seat at opening time, and within 30 minutes both the table and bar seating were full.
(5)
M C.
The first time we came here for dessert and coffee and sat at the bar. The place was packed and the crowd was mainly young professionals. Very classy place without being outrageously expensive. The bartender serving us was cool and took good care of us. Really liked the atmosphere and the bar had a cool decor. Came here again for dinner. I had been craving home made pasta for a while so I immediately picked the pappardelle. Soooo good! The pasta is like flat wide sheets with meat sauce. So simple yet so tasty. My husband was jealous he didn't also order it. Saw the cooks preparing a pizza that looked really good. If I'm in the area again I'll have to try it. We had these little donuts for dessert that came with little bottles of vanilla, caramel, and chocolate syrup that you inject into the donuts. The donuts were totally yummy and fun. Both times we sat at the bar and the bartenders were totally cool and very attentive. Being from L.A. a place like this can be pretentious but I didn't get that from Siena Tavern. Wasn't snooty and we had a really good experience.
(4)
Kira S.
Great food, great atmosphere, great night. This is definitely a place to splurge, everything was very rich, but delicious. For me the standouts were the Coccoli (crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey), grilled octopus (tender and flavorful) and the homemade gnocchi with truffle cream, fried sage and crispy pancetta which was to die for. Reservations are hard to come by, definitely plan in advance.
(5)
Josh R.
Love the food and the space. Definitely coming back!
(4)
B.G. L.
Food was excellent. Party of 2 - ordered 4 separate things, 2 apps. to share and 2 entre. Apps were great sizes to share. Grilled octopus wonderful. My only complaint is the waitstaff was attentive to the point of being pesty. Roving table busing staff circulating constantly to remove plates, while it could be ok, I felt rushed, like they wanted to turn the table quickly. Our waiter was lovely but popped up to ask us "how is everything" way too often. Also had a visit from the Manager - no time for pleasant conversation as we were constantly talking to staff. All in all, I would certainly go back and try some more of the food offerings. Might need a little help with reading the menu - guess their printer ink was running low and the descriptions were very pale and hard to read. Oh well, I'm a senior so maybe I am missing a very "trendy" menu concept.
(4)
Amber N.
This place is going to be our go to place for years to come. From the moment you walk in you feel at home. The hostesses were friendly, the decor was thoughtful and the ambiance felt part Chicago, part Italy. The menu is so diverse that I think we need to go back about 5 more times to try everything. Rarely do you find a menu where not one thing looks bad! Everything we had was awesome, especially unique was the Coccoli, a crispy dough (like a puff pastry) that you stuff with cheese, prosciutto and truffle honey. OMG, ridiculous. Next we had the highly recommended Kobe Meatball, again another win! Other favorites for dinner were the Prosciutto Pear Pizza, the Baked Lasagna (the owner's mom's recipe I believe?) and the absolute most decadent, fluffy, rich gnocchi you will try, truffle cream, with crispy pancetta. Unreal actually. We ended our night by trying the out of this world, Bomboloni. They were like little donuts (made with some mashed potatoes to add fluff) that you could infuse with carmel, chocolate or raspberry yourself at the table with little squirt bottles. A must try! This place seems to have knowledgeable staff, great atmosphere, awesome wine and creative whiskey drinks. Siena Tavern pushes the bar up even higher in Chicago, its just right!
(5)
Michael P.
So I could not decide between the Risotto and Halibut. The Halibut was delicious. But the fish piece was bigger than the bed of vegetables it sat on. So 4, 3, 2, 1 I am done with my meal and wondering if I need to pick up a sandwich on my way back to the office. BIG price itty bitty portion. But good. The other at the table were also in the same mid set. good food but left the place hungry. Seats were very comfortable. Restaurant was clean and wait staff attentive. I guess if I have ordered an appetizer and dessert maybe the tiny portions would not have disappointed me so much. Oh I would also mention from Olive Garden to Spiaggia bread on the table of an Italian restaurant is a given, but not here.
(3)
Nikki S.
DELICIOUS--the staff is also very nice as well. I would definitely recommend the dessert (holy hugeness) and the coccoli appetizer. A little pricier than I am used it, but well worth it for the deliciousness.
(4)
Sarah S.
Lunch! Started with the wagyu meatball - divine! Beet salad for me was tasty, but nothing spectacular. Short rib ravioli (hubby) has many layers of flavor. Yum!
(4)
Lauren B.
Situation: Party of 5 showed up around 6:30 on a Monday but there were no tables in the dining room and no cancellations so we sat in the bar for about an hour and a high top table opened and we snagged it. Note, a lot of people are waiting in the bar so it is best to just ask the table very very politely when their bill comes if you can snag it. Drinks: Beer is very, very reasonably priced here, $5 my hubby had quite a few Revolution anti-heroes and the $12 cocktail price is standard. Where I was most impressed was the wine list! Going out downtown and finding bottles of wine in the $30-40 can be difficult and annoying, but they have a great variety. Memorable drinks were the No. 11 and No.1. Food: Solid, so awesome! Coccoli was fantastic, Kobe meatball was tender and moist, and the grilled octopus was very tasty and perfectly cooked. Brussel Sprout salad was very light, and I think they must blanch them because as another review said, you really don't get that heavy brussel taste. Farro Pasta was great and the pesto was really to die for. Carbonara was outstanding and the bacon was really amazing. Double chop was also awesome, although one of their pricier options, it was well worth the splurge. The Truffle mushroom Pizza was a surprise favorite, seriously crust was perfect cheese was divine and the truffle was pretty heavy, in the best way possible. Service: Waitress, I believe Tiffany, was very nice, gave great recommendations and helped us with the wine menu and making sure we had a reasonable $32 bottle to enjoy. Only hiccup of the night, and really only being open for a month and a half I'm assuming will get worked out, is that all entrees came out except for the veal chop which took another 5-8 minutes. No biggie, they did apologize for it and ask for patience with the kinks. Bottom line: Will be back, will recommend to friends. Also, very heavy Italian food, I would suggest splitting a salad or app and a main and splurging on an extra drink or two. Really, you will be stuffed.
(4)
Carry B.
The food here so great. I really love the Brussel sprout salad. The pumpkin ravioli is amazing!!! The wait staff is knowledgable of all food and drinks and friendly. The decor is beautiful. Call way in advance to make reservations!!
(5)
Stefanie M.
Hubby and I came here after the Hawks game and was not diasppointed by the food or service. The bar area was an obnoxious scene of guys wearing too much cologne and bass thumping music. Happily, we were able to snag a table in the dining area. Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly without being pushy. Cocktails: i had the #3, tasted like a peach bellini. Meatball: best one I have ever had. if I could have licked the plate I would have. Burrata: a little heavy on the salt, but nice texture. Mushroom truffle pizza: perfect balance of both mushroom and truffle, neither was overpowering. A terrific experience and will go back again. I have no idea how anyone in the bar area would be able to have a conversation though.
(4)
Stu S.
It pains me to say that most everything here--the food, the staff, the atmosphere--were mediocre. We had so been looking forward to coming here. There are many, many great Italian restaurants in Chicago but, sorry Fabio, this is not one of them. The gelato was good, though.
(2)
Chris H.
This is my new favorite restaurant in Chicago. From the minute you walk in, you can tell this place is top notch and has paid attention to details. It's a big space but never feels too big or empty. The decor is perfect. Little touches like the fresh herb garden growing in drawers behind the crudo bar are nice touches. The food is phenomenal. Everything I have guests in town, I take them here and they are amazed. The Coccoli is a really amazing. This could become the signature dish for Siena. It's unique and delicious. We loved everything that we had, but the Squid Ink pasta was another highlight for me. This place has phenomenal food but is also a great place to stop for a drink. Great cocktail and wine list.
(5)
Kari F.
I had high expectations of this place. The food was good, but not great. The strange thing was the first time I visited (when they first opened), the tavern burger was good, but the 2nd time I ordered it was a let down. The bun used to have rosemary, the cheese and tomato jam was plentiful, and the burger was pretty juicy. What happened? My group of 4 ordered the bone marrow- big disappointment. The whole dish was slathered in way too much balsamic vinegar, only one bone had any marrow in it, and they only gave us 3 tiny pieces of bread with it (for 4 people). The pappardelle pasta was really boring. Your normal sauce and pasta... nothing else. Ragu? I have and can make a better sauce with bread or SOMETHING else to go with it- no problem. The lobster club was fresh w/ tons of lobster. But again- not anything to talk about. Yawn. The hype of this place and the EXTREME prices don't fit the food. Service, however, was superb.
(2)
Caroline P.
It was Thursday evening and we got a seat around 5:30 at the back bar... sort of out of the way but perfect if you make it early enough and the front bar is already crowded, the back bar is fine. We had no chance of getting a normal table without a reservation Cocktail #11 was great, like a fancy margarita. We then switched to wine which was sort of an expensive choice, but the bartender who was also our server was attentive and helped us choose our bottle. We started with a 3 cheese plate, had the server pick the cheeses for us and they were all fantastic... and there was PLENTY of cheese... we could have gone with 2. We then split a margherita pizza and squid ink linguini (they plated our pastas separately which was nice). The pizza was delicious, very fresh, baked right in front of us and the pasta was very rich and filling. We did think this was too much food for 2 people, so keep that in mind, but everything was tasty. My main complaint is it was very expensive... I think we each spent $85 which seemed over the top to me, but then again it's River North. I can't decide if I'd go back... if I did, I'd eat/drink less :)
(3)
Bill J.
We wanted to like this place more than we did and had very high expectations - Fabio/Top Chef, etc. *PROSCIUTTO PEAR pizza = C (too sweet), Kale Salad - could have been great but way overdressed - C+, Meatball - B- (it's a nothing-special meatball), Roasted Cauliflower = A. No. 8 Cocktail = A, Bartenders = A - (she was great at mixing cocktails but didn't know the menu). Overall vibe = B-. I'm missing the link to Siena and some metal contraption at the front of the restaurant and the back bar. If we go back, it must be for the gnocchi based on other reviewers. We really did want to like it and tried over and over but mostly fell flat.
(2)
Sarah M.
This is a review of the bar and drinks only. Siena Tavern is one of River North's newest hot spots. I stopped in late on a Tuesday night for a drink. The space is beautiful and large with big windows looking out onto the street. The room feels comfortable and laid back. Lots of space. The bartenders were both fine. The young, brunette female bartender was especially friendly, and refilled our waters numerous times, even though we just had one drink and cashed out. I appreciated that. Nothing worse than being ignored after the tip is received. She also poured me a taste of the wine I selected before committing. The wine list left something to be desired. Only one BTG option per varietal is slightly annoying. I would prefer more options. I'll probably be back sometime soon to try the food.
(4)
Christina A.
Worst experience I've had in a while. I took my mom to brunch at Siena Tavern to celebrate her birthday. I even mentioned it in my open table reservation. The food was alright. Nothing special. Not very flavorful. The portions were pathetic considering the prices. But my poached eggs were done well. So, I'm giving props with an extra star. The service however...oh, the service. How can I even put it into words. It was slow and disorganized. She approached our table and we ordered coffees and an order of the Bomboloni to start. It took nearly 10 min to get our coffees. The donuts came soon after. However, our server didn't come back until after we were finished. Then she shows up asking if we wanted to order any starters. What?? We are here for brunch and besides, what do you think the bomboloni were? So we place our orders and she disappears again. Our dishes were dropped off by a food runner but our flatware was never replaced. So we're sitting there waiting for someone, anyone to come by the table. Plus, we had to ask for our coffees to be refilled each time. After our plates were cleared, she showed up again to drop off dessert menus and then disappeared again. When she came back, she didn't ask if we had decided on dessert, she just dropped off the check and walked away. She was unprofessional, disconnected, and not qualified to work at a restaurant of this caliber($100+ checks). The kicker was that no one wished my mom a happy birthday. Again, something I expect when booking brunch or dinner at a "nicer" restaurant.
(2)
Nicole K.
Love this place! The food was phenomenal. I love the atmosphere and you couldn't ask for a better location. We ordered the squid ink linguini, gnocchi, truffle mushroom pizza, shaved brussel sprout salad, coccoli, grilled octopus and hamachi. Everything was excellent! I could have done without the hamachi just because everything else was so rich...it didn't really light a candle to the other dishes. Our server was OK and we had some trouble ordering additional rounds of drinks and place settings, but overall we had a great experience. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Jill Z.
Love the layout of this place, large and open, tables not too crowded together. The acoustics are a little rough though, it felt like we had to yell across the table to have a conversation, maybe because it was a full house? The food was delicious, we all split a chopped salad and a kale salad. I had the gnocchi truffle (signature dish/delicious) and others tried the pear and prosciutto pizza and the brick chicken, lasagna - - all very good. It was my friend's birthday and the restaurant provided a gratis tiramisu complete with candle. Overall a good experience but the service definitely has some kinks to be worked out. I'd come here in another month or so and maybe it would be 5 stars. Also, they have a private room you can reserve without a fee for a larger table/group.
(4)
Charlotte B.
Food is good. Service was fair. Bustling & busy place. To be fair, not my kind of place or crowd. For corporate celebrity chef driven restaurant , it's good. Too many twenty something affected kids with mom & dad s credit cards. Would nt go out of my way. Sorry Fabiol, but I think you ll be ok without me! Ehh!
(3)
Vineet S.
SO thankful the in-laws watched the kids and we were able to get out and try Siena Tavern! Went on a Monday night with a group, 7 of us. Drinks were fantastic! I had the #2 and then another cocktail with made with Jameson. Apps we ordered included meatballs, the ham and cheese things, brussel sprout salad, kale caesar salad. Everybody loved everything! We also shared the meat pizza, mushroom pizza, gnocchi and another meat pasta dish. Flavors were incredible. Plenty of vegetarian! Service couldn't have been better - the waitress was even able to get me a feminine product which I really needed!! Restaurants like this make me really miss Chicago restaurants living in SF. A must go to!
(5)
Lana Y.
Wow! The most delicious Italian food I have had since coming back from Italy! The truffle mushroom pizza is beyond delicious!! It melts in your mouth and the flavor is superb! The gnocchi is just divine!! You will dream about it afterwards everything our waitress recommended was amazing from beginning to end! I will definitely go back again and enjoy the food all over!
(5)
Stephanie W.
First off, the drinks. I had Drink No. 5 and it was DELICIOUS. Try to get me to say no to anything involving Maker's Mark and apple cider. Try. For dinner, we had the Burnt Pepperoni pizza. It had a nice, spicy kick to it and was also really tasty. Overall, a great time.
(4)
Maggie R.
If you're looking for a trendy spot with decent food/drinks, good music, beautiful people surrounding you and perhaps catch a game all at the same time than this is your place!!! One of the best on Kinzie!
(4)
Neecy T.
This is a half-star bump up because I'm feeling rather generous. Overall, I was generally underwhelmed. I planned on doing lunch because I'd heard a lot of great things about this place. Opened by Fabio of top chef fame, modernized Italian, new river north spot, blah blah blah. I set a reservation for Tuesday afternoon, though upon entering I didn't need to, they were eerily quiet. I was seated with my two guests, a server came by, his name escapes me but that's to be expected as we NEVER saw him. If you're a new spot and you encounter people who've never been, I, personally like to know the menu's approach, the idea behind the cuisine, actually anything... I got nothing. That I can easily forgive. The fact that our table was consistently filled with dirty plates, we never got refills, he never checked back on any course but dessert...kind of unforgivable. Also, he noticed how we'd stacked all of our dirty plates in the middle if the table, and we still had to ask if he could clear it and then he blamed his busser. The food was okay, not mind-blowing and certainly not worth the price tag. We had the meatball (it's a ball if meat, can't really mess that up) with a savory tomato sauce as an appetizer. I had the squid ink linguine which was good, that's where I attribute the stars. The tiramisu was a disaster and tasted awful. The monkey bread was okay but it wasn't warm or as gooey as I like mine... Just kind of dry and lukewarm. I just wanted to be impressed or actually just being served would have been awesome. Just a pretty solid let down. It ended up being a bit expensive for a lunch, like $180 for 2 apps, 3 lunch entrees, 1 cocktail, a coffee, an ice-tea, and 2 desserts...I tipped 20% because I serve, but just felt burned over-all.
(3)
Bobby B.
Siena Tavern is an amazing place for lunch or dinner. Service was great, drinks were strong and the food was AMAZING. Two things on the menu that you must try is the Gnocchi with the truffle sauce it has pancetta in it which is nice and crispy. The second is the Hamachi Hamachi HAMACHI!!!!!!!!! The server said that it was spicy and usually when a server mentions that I don't think much of it because I have a high tolerance for heat when it comes to spicy food. I must say that the Hamachi packed just the perfect amount of spice to it. All the flavors in the dish blended so well together and I will definitely get it every time I go back to Siena Tavern
(5)
Emily M.
I was impressed that the host had taken the time to call me to let me know a table was ready for us early (I had called in that day to try for an earlier reservation). However, took quite a while for our server to make it to the table. We were celebrating a little, so it would've been nice to get a drink a little quicker. When our server came over, she had great recommendations, so that made up for it. I had the gnocchi and it was to-die-for, my friend had the chicken and it was okay. I'd definitely go back and try some of the more obscure items on the menu.
(4)
Bill M.
Liked Siena Tavern. A nice environment with comfort-type food and nice folks serving it. Grilled Octopus and Chopped Salad are staples. Diver Scallops and the Hamachi are good from the Crudo Bar and the pizzas are also a reliable choice. Nothing fancy but a nice choice for downtown.
(4)
Nikki L.
I came in for a quick lunch the other day and was very pleased with my overall experience. The service was prompt, friendly and professional. I ordered the Kobe meatball which was bigger than my head and the mushroom truffle pizza. Anything with truffle oil is a win for me! I haven't tried their dinner menu, but hope to go back again soon!
(4)
Michael A.
Went to the newly opened Siena Tavern on 3/6. The food was absolutely amazing. The kobe meatball may be $17, but its delicious, and as big as a softball. Gnocchi were divine, and the ricotta and pesto with bread was awesome. Our waiter was very friendly, and did a wonderful job at describing the items we were debating, and making recommendations. I cant wait to go back. Only two minor complaints: Our two drinks took forever to come. We were there just after 5pm, and it wasnt very crowded. Drinks should have come before the apps. Also, the valet service isn't the best, but thats not really on Siena Tavern.
(4)
Lani E.
UPDATE!!! So i went back to Siena Tavern and WOW was it different! First of all they expanded/updated their lunch menu and added some great lunch options. I went again with a large group for lunch and this time the service was fast and fabulous and the food was perfectly cooked. New reviews: buffalo mozzarella: bread WASNT burned to a crisp, they brought enough bread, tomatoes were delicious and the mozzarella was outstanding kale salad: excellent sirloin steak: very well cooked/seasoned, Parmesan potatoes were the only missed they tasted like they were soaked with oil, substitute the cauliflower which was great! I'm glad they cleaned up their lunch service because it was really really great this time!!!!! I would 100% recommend and have made reservations to return.
(5)
Sara R.
I can say first and foremost, the food was great, but that was the end of the good experience. Our waiter, Steve K, was awful. A restaurant like this should be embarrassed to have someone that inattentive on staff. He forgot about us after we ordered our appetizers and wine. Our appetizer plates had been cleared, and a bus person had even removed our menus thinking we were done. He came back by a solid 30-40 minutes later after we finally flagged him down. We asked if we could order our entrees, and he took one order then started to walk away from the table! The other two of us hadn't even ordered. It wasn't busy, so he didn't have that as an excuse. On top of everything he seemed rude and patronizing on the few occasions he actually was at our table. We felt like a big bother to him, and it wasn't like we were there for one drink and wasting his time (we came to eat and drink plenty). At any rate, I can think of dozens of places that are just as tasty, if not better for the price range AND have much better service in the same neighborhood. I would never go back.
(2)
John J.
Great spot to grab some drinks with friends & people watch. The atmosphere is always good but sometimes the service of the bartenders can be spotty. Haven't tried the food yet but have heard great things about it!
(4)
gabriel g.
The place was packed due to private party on one side but still the staff made it pleasurable. The pizza was very good and cooked perfectly for a wood burning oven and the bar staff was attentive, helpful and pleasant. Overall a place I would recommend without hesitation.
(4)
Sarah B.
I was hosting a business dinner here for a group of 11 and everything was perfect-- the food, the ambiance, the wine, and the service. Allison was our server and did an outstanding job. She was knowledgeable about all of the wine and gave great recommendations on her favorite dishes. We also had the private room which is ideal for a group of around 10. You are secluded which makes it easy to engage in conversation but you are also open to the rest of the restaurant.
(5)
Keri L.
After making reservations a month and a half ago, I couldn't wait to have dinner here for a girls night out. It was super busy when we walked in and Fabio was at the hostess stand. Exciting way to start the night. For 5 girls we ordered... Siena Chopped Salad: Very clean tasting. Cannelini beans, pepperoncini, and especially the boar salami were delish. I didnt really get the mustard dressing taste or any avocado now that I think about it, bummer. Smoked Mozz: Good earthy smokey flavor and texture, tasted like it was made in house. Had to ask for more bread since it only comes with 3 pieces. Gnocchi: This was SO rich and the favorite of the night. Yes we split this one gnocchi dish between 5 girls! But honestly, between the bacon, cream, and cheese I am not sure how someone could eat more than a little serving. Great melt in your mouth texture. Burnt Pep pizza: The pepperonis were delicious (I wonder if they come from a local butcher here?) cut super super thin which crisped up nicely in the oven and had the perfect heat between the chilis and red pepper flakes. Would get this again in a heartbeat. Outer crust was nice and fluffy but the underneath crust could have held up a little more. Pear and Prosciutto pizza: Great balance between sweet and savory. Thinly cut pear slices (they didn't taste grilled though...tasted more like they were red wine poached?) didn't overpower but added a great dimension. A few of us ordered gelato...the standout was the tiramisu flavor. I wish we got the whole tiramisu dessert instead. The other gelatos (hazelnut and olive oil/lemon) were not that great. They came out half melted...not cool! Overall we can't wait to go back to hit up the bar area which was bumping.
(4)
Meaghan M.
Great food and very lively place. My boyfriend got the lobster with squid linguini and I ordered the ossobuco- both were great! The service was alright, I did have to wait until my meal was almost finished until the waiter came back and asked if we wanted more to drink. Not the end of the world. The only negative comment I do have about the place is- it is loud. So while it is fun the food is good, it is not the place I recommend if you want to be able to hear eachother without others hearing you too because you do have to talk louder to keep the converstaion going.
(4)
Jessica S.
So yummy. I went here with a large group. The one area I was bummed about is I made a reservation for six and they only had a booth table left. The table was quite small. We tried a bunch of different foods and everyone ate a bit of everything. The oysters were fabulous. The pasta's were amazing. I really enjoyed the vibe and the food. I would go back for dinner and try other food.
(4)
Mary B.
Good brunch - was a fan of the bloody marys. Small brunch menu but sometimes thats a good thing. Would like to come back for lunch or dinner. Menu looked good!
(4)
Mari Y.
Went here for brunch with another couple on Saturday and we really enjoyed it! The restaurant is gorgeously decorated with industrial accents. Don't miss a private sitting area next to the bar with leather seats - would be great for a small private happy hour. We sat in a booth and I ordered a mimosa - not on the menu but they were happy to make one for me. As an appetizer we ordered a margherita pizza to share - the flavors were solid. I would have preferred a crispier bottom. The bf and I split the kale ceasar salad with chicken and the egg sandwich. Egg sandwich was more or less perfect and portion size was bigger than I expected. I thought it would be served on a croissant but it was actually on toasted sandwich bread. Nothing beats a runny egg on a sandwich - yum! It came with the greasiest potatoes ever made, which I skipped and my bf demolished. I'm not a super fan of ceasar dressing because it feels so indulgent but this one I actually liked. I think the kale really did it for me. Interesting because you could still taste the raw kale flavor. Most restaurants serve it with a vinaigrette to mute the raw kale flavor. Only thing was that some of the chicken pieces were a bit pink in the middle. Our server Greg was the best. He gave great recommendations and was chill the whole time. Sometimes servers can be assholes but Greg was really on top of his game this morning. He even suggested that the table do shoots and we said, "Great idea!" Who thinks a shot of fireball is a great idea at noon on Saturday? Greg did and we agreed. Fun experience.
(4)
W U.
Eh....wanted it to be delicious, but it just wasn't. Gummy, heavy gnocchi. 'Handmade' rigatoni that was clearly 'boxed'. Pepperoni pizza that needed salt. A server that explained crudo to me like I hadn't left the house in 5 years. Seriously? Oh, and Fabio has stolen Stephanie Izard's recipe for cauliflower with peppers, pine nuts and mint. C'mon, be original.... The only redeeming menu item was the donuts...
(2)
Sam C.
WOW! If you ever get a chance to go here....GO!!! The food is excellent! Very Trendy atmosphere. A little loud but it only because the place is full but very comfortable. You're not right on top of each other. For the table we ordered: Ink Linguini, Mussels and Clams, Mellon Salad, Truffle pizza! All were superb. Since the shared food was so awesome we shared bits of our entrees. They were Pork Chop, Ossobuco, Sea Bass, and scallops. Dessert we had Bomboloni with 4 different sauces. Again everything was excellent! We all can't wait to get back here and try the rest of the menu!
(5)
Stephanie C.
I went here for the 1st time last year soon after they opened and wasn't crazy about it. I think we ordered the wrong things and didn't go on the best night. I have been back twice since and loved everything! I tried the burrata appetizer, Brussels sprout salad, truffle pizza, gnocchi and some other things, and everything was wonderful!
(4)
Jenna M.
I am a really big fan of Fabio and was excited to try this restauran while I was in Chicago. It surpassed all expectations. The service was impecable, the food delicious and the overall atmosphere inviting. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone in town!
(5)
Gisha J.
Came to Siena Tavern on a Tuesday night for dinner and drinks and I'm so glad we did! The place was packed for a Tuesday night. The drinks were very tasty and every dish we got for dinner was delicious! We went with the Meatball appetizer and then the Pepperoni pizza and Short Rib ravioli for our entrees. I will definitely be returning. Our waiter was very helpful and the service was awesome!
(4)
Eugene G.
I was reading some of the negative reviews this place got, and I have to say, our experience was great! Someone had posted that they could not get a reservation here for a month. However, we were able to get a reservation just one day prior. When we arrived we were seated right away and not in some far off place at the smallest table, but at a table large enough for four people. Our waitress came quickly, and was very friendly and helpful. We started with the coccoli, basically puff pastry balls with prosciutto wrapped stracchino cheese. Delicious and it was so fine, that it all melted in my mouth! I had the short-rib ravioli, nothing short of mouth watering. The ravioli was great and the beef sauce was even better. It was so good I asked the waitress for some bread just to soak up the excess sauce. She said that they did not have bread baskets, but she did offer some toast on the house. The lady had the brick chicken with the sticky parmesan potatoes. Also extremely good. The chicken was juicy, crispy and cooked just right! The potatoes were also tasty. During dinner were trying to find a place for dessert, and at the end of the dinner, just to see what was available we asked for the desert menu, and we were glad we did. We ended up splitting the Bamboloni. It ended up being Beignet, four of them, with four different infusing sauces, whiskey-carmel, chocolate hazelnut, raspberry Chianti, vanilla cream. My two favorites were the chocolate hazelnut and the raspberry Chianti. Her's were the whiskey caramel. At no time were we rushed, hurried or have anyone clear our table without asking first. The food, all the food was great and we did not have to wait more than 20-25min to receive our main course after we had finished with the app. This place rocks, and we are eager to come back!
(5)
Linda S.
A group of us from work went here for lunch. We were put in a private room. Our waiter didn't show for quite awhile and when he did he was very laconic and aloof. The room itself was cacophonous and I couldn't hear the person next to me. He eventually came back with some drinks and left again, for another stretch of time. Finally we were able to order. When the food was brought (not by our server) it was cold. He never came to see if our food was satisfactory. I got the Brick Chicken with potatoes and it was so greasy I couldn't finish it. When we were finished, bus staff came in to clean up. We were gestured at to hand our dirty plates over to the staff from across the table to make their job easier. When paying $30 for lunch I think they should clean up after me! By the time we got our dessert menus we had been there for 1 1/2 hours and needed to get back. Service subpar. Food subpar. So disappointed.
(1)
Darci G.
Siena Tavern has really a modern ambience and they have outdoor seating, which is great. The outdoor area is cute with all the little lights. The service was also really good. The coccoli was my favorite it is nice and crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside. A lot of the food is shared food, but they do offer entrees. I would go here again FOR SURE!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
E S.
OVERRATED- The food was ok, the ambience is nice. Didnt like it that the waitors just stand in the corner staring at everyone, kinda annoying. The meatball is just a meatball, not sure why people say its amazing. The spaghetti was good, had a lil kick to it. The gnocchi was overcooked for me. But the truffle flavors in the pizza and gnocchi stood out and in a good way. Their coccoli was delish. Overall the place looks really nice, the food could've been better for the price.
(3)Ritu R.
Here for Labor Day brunch. Waffles as an app- delish! Benedict - highly recommended. But too salty & mortadella was too thick. Pesto Hollandaise was delicious! Truffle eggs. Perfectly seasoned and flavorful. Highly recommend this! Sage Parm French Fries were yummy.
(4)J R.
I came here this passed weekend. The place itself is pretty spacious and modern, very pretty. The waitress and hosts were very nice as well. I was not crazy about their food though. I had a burnt pepperoni pizza which i did like and I also got the short rib ravioli which i was not happy with at all! Not only did I pay $20+ for it, it was gross and the serving size was way too small for the price you pay. Unfortunately, I will probably not be back.
(2)Steve B.
One of my go-to spots in Chicago. Great atmosphere, great food and great service. Believe it or not this troika is not that common in Chicago- River North in particular. I don't want to rehash what others have posted so I'll just trow out some personal faves. I have not had anything on the menu I did not really like. - order the coke-lee (spelled differently on menu) - pizzas are all great I love the cinq for mage with burnt pepperoni a personal creation. Your'e welcome. - mortadella melt. Awesomeness. It's only available at lunch - burratta, the bread is even great - shaved brussel sprout salad. There I said it. I hate the sprouts and I loved this
(4)Stefani C.
I am italian and I just moved here. The food is very overrate. It's an expensive place with a decent food. You have to know that you go there for the atmosphere and to see the people inside. I personal suggest to go at the bar and take a cocktail because the restaurant is not so good. I have to say that the area at the bar it's very nice and it's full of people during the week-end so.... Depend what are you looking for !
(3)Dr V.
Overall excellent restaurant. Coccoli appetizer was awesome. So was the the brick chicken. Very moist and flavorful. Cocktails were also very good especially #2. Service was top notch and food came out quick. Always very busy, but didn't have to wait long. Homemade gelato and sorbet great ending to a fabulous meal. Only knock was the lasagna is not traditional and I would rate average. Also it is a bit loud and a pretty young crowd. Highly recommend
(4)Briana C.
I had a great experience here with a group of friends last night. It's a beautiful space with a large menu of absolutely delicious Italian food. We started with two of the Wagyu Beef Meatballs for the table: excellent. I took our server's recommendation to order the Spaghetti made with jumbo lump crab and loved it. I also tried bites of the Gnocchi and the Orecchiette which were equally amazing. Highly recommended!
(5)Kit A.
I can't wait to stop at Siena Tavern again! I came here for brunch with my girl friend on a Saturday morning and was impressed with the design, layout, food and service. I'm so happy they have a patio too, even if it seems rather odd in the middle of downtown. Despite spending $50 each on brunch (which included 2 mimosas- $10 each, shared 3 entrees and sparking water - $7), I think it was one of the best expenses I've made. If you decide to have brunch, go with the truffle scrambled eggs! I'm sure this place is crazy once it turns dark and I will definitely be back to check the late night scene out!
(4)Rob J.
Super crowded and I don't know why. Most of the people there weren't eating- maybe they were waiting to eat? There are tons of better bar-only options in River North. Scene is good, food is better. Great for sharing.
(4)Lynn H.
It is a bit pricy, but the Tuffle Mushroom pizza and coccoli are amazing! Food definitely tastes fresh and the bar area is huge which is great for lunch and/or a place to start before heading out on a Friday/Saturday night.
(4)Janna R.
A but douchy by night. Great dining during the day. Go for the cheese plate and burratta, everything is good but nothing extreme
(5)Diana I.
This place was such a pleasant surprise! We decided to come here randomly for lunch since it was right across the street from our hotel, and their patio looked so charming and inviting with all the hanging plants and white lights. We got the BURRATA which was amazing! I am a huge burrata fan and this place really delivered. It was fresh, perfect soft texture, and tasted absolutely delicious with the tomato jam and basil oil, on top of the slightly crispy and chewy crostini. SO good! A little pricey though for an appetizer... it was $18, cost just as much as our pizza... PROSCIUTTO AND PEAR PIZZA. I really enjoyed this! The slightly salty and thinly sliced prosciutto perfectly balanced the sweet pears and bitter arugula. I also liked the thin and chewy dough/crust. I would choose this pizza over any Chicago deep dish pizza, hands down! Service was also great! Our server was really friendly and checked up on us often and made sure we had everything we needed. Overall, it's not exactly a must-try if you're a tourist in Chicago, but it's a solid restaurant if you're in the area and looking for a decent place to eat!
(4)Christina L.
this place is pretty effing legit :) i used to basically live in the westin river north, but didnt try this spot until we were stuck in a torrential downpour and there arent a lot of options within a one block radius. but this place! was super pleasantly surprised - no wonder it's always packed! my gf and i sat down at the bar since there was nothinggg available for HOURS due to the weather. it was prefect for us. we ordered cocktails first. omg the cocktails. you can literally go down the list (which we did), and everything was fantastic. we were starving, so went ahead and ordered - wagyu beef meatball, shaved brussel sprouts, roasted cauliflower, and 1/2 and 1/2 pizza, which is amazing that they can split it! everything was honestly so good, and the ingredients are fresh. i think my fave had to be the meatball. so juicy. im so glad to have tried this spot!
(4)Jen H.
Great food and a fun atmosphere. I've been here twice and the highlight of each visit has been the gelato. Seriously, so good! The pizza is also fantastic with an exceptional crust. So why not 5 stars? During today's visit the service was lacking. Lunch for five of us took well over two hours with only a few tables seated the entire time we were there. They were overstaffed for the lunch hour with many servers standing around not too far from our table. Despite the extra staff, service was slow, our server was constantly forgetting items, and something just felt off. I will continue going back to Siena Tavern but will sit at the bar where I've had great service.
(4)Erin M.
Italian food is my favorite food to cook as well as eat and I think I may have just found my new favorite contemporary Italian restaurant. First off, our waitress was beyond amazing and provided quite possibly the best service I have ever had at a restaurant in River North. The atmosphere is cozy but still very open. The pizza was beyond amazing and overall the price is definitely reasonable for how impeccable the food is. I will definitely be back soon!
(5)Dannie C.
I have come here twice with coworkers since my office is nearby and both times I was super impressed by the quality of the food! I'm just reviewing the PASTAS here and I'm giving them a big thumbs up! APPETIZERS Coccoli: Divine! I You put the stracchino cheese and prosciutto into the crispy dough balls (4 in one order) and you eat it like a mini sandwich. The truffle honey adds a very likable sweetness to it. So dangerous to get full on this but so good! Burrata: A very good dish to share as recommended by our waitress. PASTAS (this restaurant's highlight!) Short rib ravioli: Oozes with flavor! It came in a rich savory dark sauce that reminds me of the demi-glace sauce in Japanese omu-rice. I could have wolfed down entire raviolis at a time without first cutting them into smaller pieces (but I paced myself). I have a bias toward anything with mushrooms and loved how well the roasted porcini mushrooms went with my dish. Wish there had been more... Squid ink linguini: Another marvelous pasta! The spicy lobster cream sauce is unique and absolutely to die for. I'm not a fan of al dente pasta, so the soft texture of the linguini in this dish was totally to my liking. There were also generous chunks of lobster within the linguini in addition to the grilled lobster tail. DESSERTS I've only had the gelato here and it is EXCELLENT. In particular, the tiramisu flavor is exceptional and even has chunks of real tiramisu cake in it! To quote my company, "This is the best tiramisu gelato/ice cream I've ever had." I must take a star off for the service here. Siene Tavern could improve its process flow. Both times I've been here, the service was slow, even though the wait staff was very friendly. Nevertheless, I cannot wait to be back here again and try the other dishes (maybe the pizza sometime).
(4)Rosa I.
The best place to eat hands down the gnocchi are amazing and the coccoli superb!! Service is excellent and I recommend dessert try bombolini or the monkey bread!! Every time we go Siena Tavern never disappoints
(5)Nancy A.
Love Siena Tavern I typically order the kale salad with chicken or tuna. It is great and has the perfect amount of dressing. My guilty pleasure here is the pepperoni pizza and the birthday gelato.
(5)Patty S.
Siena Tavern, what can I say about this delectable restaurant that hasn't been said already? Good Food? CHECK. Nice Atmosphere? CHECK. Good drinks? CHECK. I'll share some of our favorites dishes: Wagyu Beef Meatballs - It's a GIANT meatball! The first time this dish came to the table, we were very surprised by the size of it. The meatball nicely seasoned, moist, and everything you want a meatball to be. Smoked Mozzarella - My husband loves this dish. He has never been a fan of honey, but the honey they put on this dish is out of this world. I'm not sure where they source it from, but there is definitely something to be said about good ingredients. Ossobuco - This dish is big enough to share between 2 people if you order a 2-3 other small plates. There is nothing I don't like about this dish, but my absolute favorite is that bone marrow that they serve with a small fork. The meat is flavorful and literally melts in your mouth. I particularly like that they serve this with farro mushroom risotto -- infusing umami every way possible into this dish! From the crudo bar, we have tried the ahi tuna andhamachi -- both solid dishes, but the portions are small so I don't know it's worth the value. This place gets packed and is always booked up. I highly recommend a reservation if you want to sit in the dining area. The bar area is first come, first serve. They also have a lounge area tucked past the bar that also serve their full menu -- great place to grab a drink and a few bites to eat if you are lucky enough to find a spot.
(4)Kalina N.
I went to visit a friend that works here and fell in love with the cocktails and the atmosphere of this restaurant! It has a very modern original look, from the bar to the couches and water glasses, which by the way are made from recycled wine bottles! How cool is that! I had the cocktail #2, and the spicy pizza. The cocktail was delicious and so was the pizza. I wish it was a little less spicy so I could taste the rest of the ingredients. It is very pricey but it's worth the experience! Overall a great experience!
(4)Kelly K.
Let me start with this: Best lasagna I've ever had. In my entire 30 plus years on this Earth. Went with a group of friends (around 18 of us total) on Saturday night. Reservations were set for 6:15. Obviously we weren't all there on time, and they wouldn't seat us until everyone was there, which wasn't a problem. As soon as the last of our party arrived, we were seated right away, at one long table right off of the bar area. Ambiance is somewhat romantic, although I saw more groups of people than couples. It is quite loud in here, so take that into account. It's also dark, so don't think you're going to get amazing instagrams of your food without using the flash. The service was fantastic. We had two servers helping with our table. They were knowledgeable and friendly. Another bonus was that they separated our checks (with gratuity added in). I hadn't anticipated this at all but it was very much appreciated. I ordered a glass of wine and the previously mentioned lasagna. Wine was tasty and reasonable. The lasagna delectable. It comes in a cast iron ramekin with this carmelized, blackened, cheese crust that made the whole dish. If you're a fan of ricotta, you'll be disappointed, but since I'm not (why order the lasagna? it came recommended), it was heavenly. The meat sauce was flavorful and the noodles were cooked al dente. I'm salivating just thinking about it. Dessert was the salted caramel gelato. I believe the flavors on the menu change frequently, and although I had no room for dessert, I had to push through. I didn't regret it, and you won't either. Perfect. Can't wait to bring the husband here...that is, if I can convince him to come downtown for date night.
(5)Sanjana D.
One of my favorite places. I never leave disappointed! I've gone for dinner, drinks, and brunch. I recently took 2 girlfriends for drinks, and Ivan, the bartender, was a superstar. He remade my picky friends drinks and let us sample another cocktail. Really went above and beyond my expectations for customer service and quality (they're high to begin with!).
(5)Elsie C.
Service is slow. We just got drinks after being here 35 minutes. It took the server 15 minutes to get here to take the order. We are still waiting for the appetizer. After we finished the appetizer, it took another 20-30 minutes for drink refills. It went downhill from there. The busboys were great at picking up plates and refilling water glasses. The food was good
(3)Belle L.
It's all about Cocktail No. 4. Good value for $. Common comfortable dishes with in-trend ingredients that are prepared well, but lacks edge and/or dimension to taste. Great service that is informative and quick to clean and refill water. Loud. 12-hour Braised Ossobuco ($36) -- shareable for 2 with another brown bag meal. It taste like a stew so you need carbs on the side -- rice, grilled bread with olive oil (available upon request) or potatoes. Great scoupable bone marrow. Braised Kale -- soupy. A ok. The brown bag will be repurposed with cayenne pepper, Chef Emeril style. Tiramisu -- kitchen did a great job on birthday decor. See photo. One of the few elaborates in Chicago. I am impress! As for taste and texture, a ok. Why do I feel that the textured choco milk cocoa powder on top of tiramisu is a cheapo ingredient?
(4)Tima D.
I dont understand the hype behind this place. My experience was anything but five star. Star off with the service. Beyond slow. Food took a ridiculously long time to come out. Really didn't make any sense. Our waitress got numerous items from our order wrong maybe because it was so loud but when we tell you not to add bacon and you bring by a plate with bacon in plain sight...then I blame you for that. So when the orders were taken back to the kitchen the correct order came out 25-30 minutes later. At that point we didn't even want it anymore. The pasta was ok. Not great just ok. It actually came out slightly cold. The vibe in here is nice but its also a little random. They tried to get the STK vibe from vegas, loud music, lounge and full on dinner but they just don't do it right. It gets a little chaotic. The drinks were good but they were never the same. A friend of mine and I ordered the same drink and they both tasted oddly different. Probably different bartenders but still. Everything on the menu is overpriced in my opinion. The food was good but not great. I might come back just for a drink but I would pass on dinner here especially with a large group.
(3)Ben A.
Went here tonight and had a fantastic dining experience.. I ordered the grilled octopus and the wagyu beef meatball.. Both reasonably priced and absolutely delicious. I got into octopus when in Greece and this tasted even better than what I had anyplace over there. Not a huge portion, but seasoned to perfection. The wagyu meatball was delectable.. Melt in your mouth delish. On top of the great food, the place was packed and buzzing all night. Regardless, the food arrived surprisingly quickly. I was rolling solo so I sat at the back bar and was served great cocktails and interesting craft brews by Trisha who was an absolute sweetheart. Great food and drinks, nice ambiance, and a fantastic bartender makes Siena a spot I'll definitely try to stop back at soon!
(5)Elton W.
Beautiful space and really great food. Only drawbacks are that the service was a little slow on a Friday night (probably cause there were so many people there) and I could do away with all the TV's. I know Chicago is a big sports town, but it's a pretty swanky and modern space, and feel like all the tv's take away from that. Ends up feeling like a high end sports bar, which it's not given the food and space. But overall, one of the better spots in the area.
(4)Pam C.
Great décor/ambiance. Service is wonderful. Extensive wine list. It was the first day of fall, so I ordered Gazpacho...I know it makes no sense, but it's one of my favorites. This version was very good, a little more cucumber than some. It has some heat at the end of it, think it was chili oil. Huge portion. Would order again. Followed that with Burrata with tomato jam, basil oil and toasted bread. Tomato jam was the best part of this, IMO. They need to bottle that stuff! OMG, it's been 2 weeks and my mouth is still watering! Then I ordered, I know-I was a pig, the Short Rib Ravioli. This was a very rich dish, and after precious courses I was really about done. So I didn't enjoy this as much as I think I normally would have. This pasta dish is not available in a half portion :(. Next visit I'm ordering the Gnocchi.
(4)Annette V.
I spent two months this summer traveling back and forth to Chicago for work. Starwood aficianado that I am, I tried to stay at the Westin River North whenever possible. As I was looking for dinner options in the area, I found a promising looking Italian place around the corner - lo and behold, it was owned by Fabio Vivani, one this Top Chef junkie's all time favorites. Long story short, it was completely amazing, and I ended up going there about once per week. Here are my favorites: - Tuscan kale caesar (to start - it would be a crime to try to eat light at this place) - Gnocchi with truffle cream, fried sage, crispy pancetta (it's pretty much Fabio's signature for a reason - quite possibly the best gnocchi I've ever had) - Short rib ravioli with roasted porcini mushrooms and taleggio (on the heavy side, but that's not a bad thing if it's what you're in the mood for - the short rib filling melts in your mouth and the sauce is the perfect complement) - Orecchiette with prosciutto sausage, watercress, chili flake, and pecorino cheese (that's right, prosciutto sausage - holy deliciousness, Batman) - Squid ink linguini with grilled lobster tail, spicy lobster cream sauce, shaved green onion (it's on the pricey side, but you definitely get the amount of lobster to make it worth it - plus, I love squid ink pasta, and this linguini was excellent) The drink menu is also nice. If you're looking for a cocktail to start with, No. 16 is my favorite (Jameson, Campari, ginger zest, blackberry, lime), but No. 18 (Johnny Walker Black, ginger zest, lime, kumquat, thyme) is also a good option. After dinner, I definitely recommend the No. 5 (Maker's Mark, allspice dram, averna amaro, ginger apple cider, lemon, cinnamon, clove, bitters) - I was skeptical when the bartender suggested this to me in July, but typically fall flavors on ice work beautifully as a summer cocktail. Every wine I tried was very nice and the bartenders are very helpful with suggestions. I highly recommend Siena Tavern.
(5)Sara M.
Let's just say Italian at it's finest! Fabulous dinner and wine to kick off the weekend with friends. Started off with the Burrata,Wagyu Beef Meatball and Tuscan Kale Caesar. Than onto the main course of Chicken Diavolo so moist and full of lemon flavor. Seared Scallops and finally Butternut Squash Tortellacci. That was almost a dessert in itself! Finished the night off with a round of coffee and very famous Bomboloni and Tiramisu. Every dish was better than the last. A great way to check out Siena is durning restaurant week with all their top dishes on the menu. I suggest going with a great group of friends and ordering several dishes to spilt. It's a great way to taste the menu. Amazing food, wine and atmosphere nothing short of what you would expect from Fabio Viviani!
(5)Shaima C.
Absolutely incredible. We had the orecchiette and the short rib ravioli. Both were amazing, but we slightly preferred the orecchiette. Also, must try the coccoli for appetizer. Five stars.
(5)Evita A.
Ate here twice during our visit to Chicago. Thought it was very good! One night I had the PASTA IN A JAR and thought it was very tasty. Since my husband ordered the meatball as an appetizer and didn't finish it he gave it to me to add to my pasta. I highly recommend ordering the two dishes together because they complete each other!
(5)Adam W.
Great spot for Italian in River North... Came in around 6p mid-week, and was promptly seated (although it filled up rather quickly shortly thereafter). The good service continued, as the house beer was recommended (described as a wheat, but tastes more malty than you would expect) and a glass of red wine. For food, we had the Siena Chopped Salad, Short Rib Ravioli, and the Cinque Formaggi Pizza - all very, very good. Would highly recommend the SR Ravioli for folks who like mushrooms / umami-flavored pasta dishes. Would definitely come back for happy hour / dinner in the area. PS - Near the bathrooms, there is an ATM that also charges your phone for a fee. Hadn't come across one of those before, but useful if you're out of juice I suppose.
(4)Dalia M.
I'm coming back here for sure. I got the short rib ravioli - OMG delicious. My vegetarian friend was dipping her potatoes in the sauce of it. Also tried some pizza which was good but not mind-blowing. I loved my pasta too much. We had 9pm reservations for 6 people but when we arrived 20 minutes late it was okay and we were seated immediately. Given it was a weeknight, the place had emptied out some at that point. I look forward to another meal here, earlier in the evening when the place is buzzing more. We had a really nice server who was very accommodating and funny throughout our meal. We were a couple drinks in and feeling a bit silly. Definitely had a fun time! Huge bar area that is apparently a fun happy hour. Definitely want to check that out as well!
(4)Shane E.
I've been to Siena Tavern at least 6 times over the last two months, and I've left happy every single time. Here's why: 1. Great for business lunches - you can go the "light lunch" with their salad offerings (which are top notch btw), or you can get ambitious with either the burger or the meatball sandwich (both out of this world), OR you can go the charcuterie route (highly recommended). 2. Cocktails - last week I tried the #5. Notwithstanding the fact that I'm only 24, it was the best cocktail I've ever had. 3. Great staff - always been helpful. Special shout out to Brian the bartender, knew the menu like the back of his hand and had some really good wine pairing recommendations as well.
(4)Benjamin B.
Let me start off by saying WOW! Visited for Restaurant Week and had an amazing time with friends. The food was out of this world delicious. Since I went with two other people, we shared all the food. The mozzarella appetizer with tomato jam was very flavorful. For the main course the scallops were fresh and the chicken with potatoes had a zesty lemon flavor. I tried several desserts and you can not go wrong with any choice. I have so much more to say, but stop by for yourself for a ultimate experience.
(5)Julie Y.
Found my new fav restaurant.. From the drinks to dessert my mouth died and went to heaven. I legit want to come here everyday until I've tried everything on the menu. To start off ordered drinks wine was good and the old fashion was made perfect. Started with the wagyu beef tartare with giardiniera and quail egg best I've ever had. Then got squid ink linguini which I can't even put into words how good it was. Spicy cream sauce, dark noodles and amazing lobster. Dessert got the pistachio gelato which tasted like a freaken creamy birthday cake. So good!
(5)Andrea R.
I didn't enjoy the full Siena Tavern experience during my first visit months ago because I just had a glass of wine and a few apps. I went back this past Saturday night and did it right. In fact, I'm still full (2 days later) from all the Siena Tavern deliciousness. Our party of 10 reserved the private party room a few months ago. We had a fixed menu that included several different courses. I think we were all full very early in the meal, but everything was just too good to stop eating. And so we ate and ate and ate. So much for those New Years Resolutions! I can honestly say that everything was amazing, but things I'd definitely order again next time: * grilled octopus * mozzarella bar * spaghetti * truffle mushroom pizza * hamachi * stick parmesan potatoes * bomboloni (dessert) That list covers about a 1/4 of what I ate. Can you see why I"m STILL full? I had volunteered to be the sober driver home to the burbs (in a snowstorm) that night so I stopped after a glass of wine, but my one glass of sauvignon blanc was lovely. I was definitely jealous of all the beautiful cocktails my friends were enjoying so I don't plan on volunteering to drive home from Siena Tavern next time. And there will be a next time very soon!
(5)Stan L.
I'm visiting Chicago from Colorado and I must say that this place is awesome. It's definitely a popular place with a great interior and delicious Italian food. We ordered appetizers and pastas and everything was delicious. It looks like you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My wife and I had a great time there and we might comeback for more :)
(5)Karen D.
Came here for brunch on a Sunday with two other people without a reservation. They sat us in outside seating within 5 minutes. I really love the ambiance of this place -- a mix of modern and rustic. The hanging light bulbs and light fixtures in general were very eclectic, Our server, Eric, was super friendly and gave us great recommendations. We ordered the truffle mushroom pizza as a starter to share and it was delicious. After a long Saturday night, I had to order a Bloody Mary and the tavern burger-- and just like that my hangover was magically gone. The melted teleggio and caramelized onions were great touches to the burger!
(4)Leigh M.
My first meal ever in the city of Chicago and definitely one of my favorites to date. The monkey bread was sweet and dangerous (definitely can be shared among 2-3 people). The goat cheese toast and truffle scrambled eggs were a party in my mouth. They also have a variety of delicious homemade juices. The service was spectacular and the interior had that modern, industrial yet cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend!
(5)Matthew D.
Don't cut kitchen hours even remotely close to stated if you want the regular menu. Website says kitchen until 11 pm, then reduced menu. Showed up at 10:40, very busy, regular kitchen already closed. Was looking forward to trying the pork chop, but only get pizza. I hate when restaurants do this
(1)Joelle K.
This place was incredible!! The ambience is trendy yet cozy....service was phenomenal and the food was outstanding! We had a group of 6 and ordered nearly every pasta on the menu... The squid ink linguini and gnocchi were clear winners but everything was fantastic!
(5)Sarah R.
Holy Batman! I was not expecting what I got at Siena Tavern, it was phenomenal! I'm someone who drinks dessert wine as regular wine, so maybe it was the Moscato D'asti that is partly responsible for this stellar 5 star rating, but whateva whateva, I do what I want. In true adventurous spirit, I decided to dabble in the octopus appetizer. Sure, being able to almost see a sucker may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me! Siena has contributed to a new addiction. Beet salad? Amazeballs, not sure I can talk about a salad more than this. It was simple, and I loved it! Of course I'm biased. I have a strange affinity for beats and candied nuts, if you do too, have this salad. As mentioned, dessert wine is something on the reg for me. Therefore, dessert: mandatory. Sticky date pudding, if you don't have it, you're missing out on an incredibly decadent dessert that you may or may not fight your friends/SO for. Either that or they will think you are a huge glutton. I assure you, it is worth it. I don't know where in my review I can add something about the service, but it, like the food, left nothing more to be desired. I'll be back Siena, I'll be back.
(5)Nisha P.
My fiancé took us here for my birthday dinner. I had been before but we ordered many new things. The food is very tasty. The truffle mushroom pizza is a personal favorite. There is this dessert that is essentially Italian donut holes that you can self-stuff with fillings of your choice - chocolate, caramel etc. The most fun I've ever had with dessert in a restaurant:) Decent price range too, although the small plates are rather small. Other than that, a wonderful birthday dinner!
(4)Caryl W.
Food, service , management - all stellar. Vibrant bar scene. Don't miss the crudo (Italian sashimi). Tried the roasted carrot tortellaci, which I would order again in a heartbeat. For dessert, the bomboloni are Italian donuts that come with three sauces. Yum.
(5)Heidi R.
Siena is as good as it gets. The pizza, the pasta, the apps, the seafood and the drinks are all amazing. My favorite hands-down is the waygu beef meatball, mushroom truffle pizza and gnocchi (minus the pancetta). Do yourself a favor and get there as soon as you can. My company did a restaurant buy-out in January for our holiday party. It was a great time, professional service, amazing food and beautiful space!
(5)Isabel C.
New favorite classy restaurant in Chicago! This place was amazing! I came here with my family for my birthday since I wanted something different instead of a steak house. Everything was perfection: the ambiance, our waitress (Caitlin I think), the food, and the lovely birthday cake gelato. I could ramble on and on about this place, but I don't want to steer you away or make you read the longest review on the page so I'll just sum it up: GO TO SIENA TAVERN!
(5)Kelli M.
Ambiance is amazing. They have romantic lighting and comfy booth seats for almost every table. I love the decor. Our waiter was great and willing to substitute or create our own dishes/ drinks to what flavors we preferred. They have small plates as well as large entrees to share. Italian food but with a modern twist- not typical mom and pop italian. They also put chili flakes in a lot of their dishes- too spicy for me. Also by the bathroom they have charging station for your cell phones which is awesome! They have outside seating as well- it's just on street. If your celebrating someone's birthday and you want them to bring out dessert with a candle make sure you clarify it's a surprise. Apparently me sneaking off to the hostess and whispering while stating "if we don't order anything still bring it" wasn't enough. Our waiter still walked up one minute later announcing "I hear it's someone's birthday!" Also we were a little disappointed. One of our friends was drinking soda and a piece of something went up his straw- it was a piece of glass! Not too sharp but definitely glass. We freaked out but luckily his mouth was ok. I didn't really like how he manager handled it. She said "oh it's just plastic"- I'm sorry, do you serve plastic in your food normally? And we were told we would be comped round of drinks but were comped a free dessert which is what- ten bucks and it was his birthday so you usually get free dessert anyway! Thanks? So nice place for a date all in all- just order drinks without ice I guess is my advice...
(3)Brian S.
Great spot. The service is excellent and the menu is really nice. Great wine list. Get the bay scallops as they are the freshest in town. They also make a great cappuccino...I ate at the bar and the server was great, friendly, fast and full of fun.
(4)Amber J.
Start with the perfectly charred, grilled octopus and the meatball that will melt in your mouth. I can't suggest anything better that those two delectable appetizers. My favorite entree on the menu has been the squid ink linguini with grilled lobster tail. Holy amazingness!!!
(5)Janet X.
I've been to Siena Tavern three times now: two times for brunch and once for dinner. Other than the fact that it's impossible to get a dinner reservation at the reasonable time, I've found that this is a great spot for friends and couples alike. It can get loud during dinner-time but if you are lucky enough to get a booth, you can feel like you're the only people around. My food recommendations are boring because I've only had one in all three times: the gnocchi. Yes, it is that good. Yes, you should order it. No, you shouldn't share. Other things I've tried off of people's plates were good, but not as spectacular as that gnocchi: the squid-ink pasta was a little spicy but otherwise satisfying, the short rib ravioli was a little salty for my taste, the tiramisu French toast tasted just like it sounds -- gooey and marvelous -- but would be too sweet and heavy for my main dish. They DO serve all of their pastas and many lunch fare during brunch, so my recommendation for getting your gnocchi fill would be to be skip the dinner crowd and just go for brunch. You don't get the cool vibe of the old-fashioned bulbs, but the food is equally as good.
(4)Amanda M.
More of a 3.5. Overall, was good but wasn't mind-blown, which was expected, but hoped for differently as I am a big fan of Fabio's. Loved the décor and feel of the place, as it was inviting and cozy but with a flare and rustic elegance. Service was excellent. Our waitress was very helpful and super friendly. I enjoyed the appetizers more than the entrée. We got the recommended coccoli, wagyu beef meatball, two different mozzarellas, and the truffle mushroom pizza to start. While there was nothing wrong with the coccoli, it was not memorable and found it to be rather simple. I enjoyed the meatball, as it was massive and tasty. However, at the same time, it somewhat reminded me of lunch meat, because of its tender texture. It would have been great if there was some crunch or hardier texture to it. The mozzarellas were fresh and splendid. The mushroom pizza was the best, as even my boyfriend who is not a fan of mushrooms enjoyed it. I had the jar in a pasta. While it was indeed a cool presentation (as with everything else), being brought out literally in a jar and then shook up by our server, it again was not very memorable. It was tasty and had decent duck flavor, but there was a sweetness to it that did not work for me. I think there are better entrees to be tried here. I would have given four stars, except a member of our group ordered the double cut pork chop, medium to medium rare, and it came out nearly well done. This should definitely not happen in a nice place like this and expected better. I got the popular tiramisu and since it was my birthday celebration, I was surprised with complimentary birthday flavored gelato. The gelato was surprisingly good and not too sweet and had the perfect consistency. The tiramisu was great, tasted rather light and was robust in coffee flavor, and of course was presented beautifully, with the Siena tree logo in coffee grounds. Prices are on the higher end but it is River North and thought their portions were rather generous, especially for a fancier place. Very glad I tried this place and will return but definitely not in a hurry to do so. Will be more selective in my food selections next time. This place is a must, however, for those into food presentation.
(3)Carolyn L.
I cannot say enough good things about Siena Tavern. I went here to celebrate a birthday brunch with my parents and we left so impressed with this new Chicago restaurant. I wanted to be able to try quite a few things so I ordered some smaller dishes. The first thing I started out with was the Coccoli, a dish of warm crispy dough with prosciutto di parma, stracchino cheese, and honey. It was so amazing. I could have just stopped there. But I didn't, of course. Next I ordered the grilled octopus with duck fat potatoes and red chilies. It looked scary when it came out but tasted great going down! Even my parents tried it and liked it. Finally I ordered the Brussels sprouts salad which was nice and refreshing. My mother had the lobster roll (she can't resist) and it was amazing. Delectable. My father went with the tavern burger and even that was one of the best bites of burger I've ever had. I will definitely be going back to Siena Tavern. I had high hopes because of the Top Chef name behind it, and I wasn't disappointed whatsoever. It was a great birthday meal!
(5)Michael M.
Top notch restaurant in Chicago. Service excellent, and food so good that I was in Chicago for 7 days and 4 of the 7 I came here for dinner. The Burrata, Coccoli and octopus appetizers are delicious. Gnocchi and pappardelle dishes were my favorites as well. The mushroom truffle pizza was also amazing. Don't miss this place if you are looking for good authentic italian food.
(5)Darl B.
Just tried for lunch again so figured id give an update. on my first review I worte that ted t wrote: 'Just Generic and corporate feeling in virtually every way from the food to the atmosphere and even the location' Yup still a check. Fries are like a 'thing' with me. it sez a lot about a place. these are not well conceived or executed. bascailyl boring warm fries with some parm shredded on top. wow stop the presses. beet salad was okay. I mean I guess. fries. well we talked about the fries didnt we? Im a foodie of sorts... that means I liek good food btw. lol meh. Ps someone here wrote: ' ...creamy gelato. It was a splendid rendition and I can't imagine any improvements on the dessert.' Is that right? Well, my gelato was creme brulee flavor and it was a super super super sweet mess.
(2)Liz K.
Siena Tavern sticks out in my mind as an Italian restaurant that is nothing like the Italian restaurants you have been to before. I love this place for its inventiveness and creativity for a cuisine that seems to have been the same for the past, well, forever. I love the atmosphere there. The bar area is adequately separated from the dining tables and it appears that the many of the tables are plush semi-circle booths that make it easy to see and talk to everyone in your party. The wall of windows makes the restaurant light enough during the day and when it gets dark, they have a sea of golden lights coming down from the ceiling. I've been twice now, once for lunch and once for dinner. Lunch was almost a year ago but I swear that I have had a love affair with that Italian sausage risotto ever since - I think about it all the time. The other night, a friend and I had dinner and I was also pleased with my meal. The Chianti was light and went perfectly with my meal. We split the coccoli, which I think is a perfect example of the inventiveness of the chef. Fried dough balls with honey, prosciutto, and cheese? Amazing. I liked my Farro Risotto entree but I actually liked the flavor of my friend's short rib ravioli better. The risotto was very hearty and was more monotone in terms of flavor and texture. The reason I have to knock it down a star is because I have not felt welcome by the front of house staff either time. Both times there were at least 3 people at the host stand and they all seemed more interested in talking to one another or checking their computer screens than welcoming me. Luckily, this last visit, the manager stopped by our table and asked how things were (with genuine interest) and it made me feel a little better. We also had an extremely competent server, Kristy, who made us feel at home, answered my questions, and made great recommendations. I do look forward to keeping this on my list of restaurants to try during restaurant week and on special occasions. It looks like their charcuterie is amazing, so I can't wait to try it for a happy hour!
(4)Neal M.
Not a single complaint. Went on a Thursday night, with a reservation for 2. Showed up with an extra guest and they were very nice to accommodate us. The place is very wide open so it was very loud, but not overwhelming. Wait staff are very well trained and seem excited about the menu. Menu is focused but still broad to offer choices. We got the prime rib ravioli (easily my favorite. Very dark rich beef sauce) Carrot tortellacci with brown butter sauce and the lasagna. Every thing was perfect.
(5)Saurabh P.
Food here was great. We were here during restaurant week, so we paid $45 for the pre-fix menu. I loved the food. We foolishly decided to order the mushroom truffle pizza as an appetizer thinking the entrees would be small. Bad idea. I ordered the meatball for the first entree, which was enormous and delicious... And very heavy. I realized I had to pace myself in order to make it through the rest of the meal. Fortunately I ordered the scallops for the entree, which were light and well prepared. Also tried the chicken, which I thought was better than the scallops and the portions were overwhelmingly huge. The gelato for desert was rich and delicious. I was basically useless for the rest of the day. The meal was so heavy I needed a nap when I got home. Good food, relaxed atmosphere. If it were in my neighborhood I would be a regular.
(4)Selma C.
Great atmosphere. I went there on a Monday and the place was very busy.", which is definitely a great sign. I had the pasta in a jar and it was absolutely delish. The bartender was super personal as well. Definitely going back.
(4)Emily H.
Great place! I came here after dinner on a Saturday for drinks. The place was packed, but we managed to snag seats at the bar when a couple people left. My friend and I were served by a great bartender. I ordered Whistlepig as my first whiskey and he ended up pouring me samples and suggesting different bourbons to try. Fantastic! My friend was more into cocktails and the bartender whipped him up a great margarita that was off-menu. I eventually got a little hungry and ordered the brussels sprouts and the burrata place as a snack. Both dishes were really great - but a little bit pricey. All in all, would be back again - and it's within walking distance to Sable, so why not?
(4)D F.
Tasty food. Try the squid ink pasta. Be sure to make a reservation because you could be waiting an hour plus without one. Best to go with a date not really a family place. Loved the service. My waiter was quick and attentive. Great food again and try the donuts with the trio of sauces.
(4)Kim K.
My husband and I ate at Sienna Tavern for his birthday dinner last night. This place is amazing and I have been trying to come up with reasons to go back since we left the place....15 hours ago.... We made a reservation because you never know how busy these trendy loop places will be after work. We were about 15 minutes early, but they seated us right away anyways. Our waiter, Sam, was really friendly and the service he offered was top notch. My water glass was never empty, and my husband didn't have to wait for another beer. Now on to the food. I ordered the gnocchi in truffle cream sauce with crispy sage and pancetta. My husband got the short rib ravioli. For sides we ordered the sticky Parmesan potatoes and the caramelized Brussels sprouts. Everything was amazing. They make their pasta in house and you can tell they use the freshest and finest ingredients. I can not stress enough how much an Italian restaurant can set itself apart from the rest just by making their own pasta. The portion sizes were pretty good. You don't get more than you can reasonably finish on your own, and we had just enough room for dessert. We shared the monkey bread and the tiramisu. Both were rich and delicious. Kudos to Sienna Tavern. And I can't wait until I can conjure up another special occasion so we may return!!
(5)Amalita A.
I came here spontaneously on Sunday evening. I've been here on numerous occasions before and wanted to introduce my friend to Siena. The restaurant was packed, but we were still able to be sat with no wait time. Andrew was our server and he gave us impeccable service. He was kind, attentive and knew the dishes inside and out. We ordered the heirloom carrot salad as well as the roasted beet salad for starters. Don't get me started on the carrot salad the presentation was amazing. They made carrots look like ribbons and the texture of dressing was silky. It just left me wanting more! I love beets and they managed to balance the flavors of the greens and feta cheese! For cocktails I had the #2, it was a light refreshing drink. With blueberry lavender as well as prossecco. We ended our meal with GNOCCHI w. Truffle cream! It was a great way to end our weekend and I will be coming back for more!!
(5)Julie G.
Came here with a group of 6: 2 vegans, 1 vegetarian (me), and 3 meat eaters. Everyone was equally satisfied! The vegan guests informed the waiter of their dietary restrictions and he was happy to accommodate. The chef made a vegan pasta dish for them with red sauce and lots of veggies as well as the shisito pepper app without the cream sauce. I split the heirloom carrot salad and mushroom truffle pizza with my very accommodating, meat-eater boyfriend. The salad was not what I was expecting. The carrots and other veggies are cold and crunchy. However the flavor did not disappoint and the marcona almonds took it over the edge. Would definitely order again as it's nice to try non leafy based salads from time to time. The pizza was amazing! Like most, I am obsessed with anything truffle and I often find myself ordering similar pizzas to this at other restaurants. This one was by far the best! Definitely, definitely order this! The other two diners were my parents, who can sometimes be hard to please as they are not as adventurous as their children when it comes to food. My mom ordered the lasagna, and while she seemed to like it OK, it was VERY meat heavy. It was served in a mini cast iron pot, not like the traditional lasagna she is used to. So just be aware. My dad had some pasta dish with lobster and he loved it. Also note: the oysters are very small, but flavorful. I think $14 for 4 tiny oysters is not worth it ultimately. I'm also jaded after having the best oysters in my life at a Daniel Boulud restaurant in NYC. We did order the coccoli app per suggestion on yelp. It was delicious and everyone loved it. I was even able to eat it as well (minus the prosciutto of course). Our waiter was kind of spacey and we ended up being there for over two hours. Luckily we had time to spare and we're happy not to be rushed.
(4)Grennan K.
There are tons of great reviews for this spot. I live across the street. I am a foodie, I have given this spot multiple chances. All the hype it has to be impressive, no? ...No.
(2)Anand A.
Consistently fun spot for drinks. Cocktails are a bit on the sweet side. But the scene/vibe post work is fantastic.
(3)Eric C.
Get location. The one in Miami is amazing so I had to come to the Chicago location. Great spot! Great food! Most definitely worth trying out.
(5)Erin Y.
Had a wonderful meal here the other night! Service was friendly and attentive, and our server was a very chill guy who seemed to know his stuff. To start, we had a pear and prosciutto pizza and the coccoli. The pizza was fantastic, definitely up there with the likes of Balena, etc. Good crust, and toppings were a great combo. The coccoli was one of the best things I've ever had. It is a must-try at Siena Tavern. Such a simple concept, but so, so delicious. The crispy dough was heavenly, the cheese rich and creamy, and the truffle honey... don't even get me started. So good! Sweet with just the right essence of truffles. Great start to the meal! For our entrees, we chose the pasta in a jar, gnocchi, squid ink linguine, and the osso buco. The pasta in a jar was good, but not outstanding. The pasta itself was perfectly al dente, but I felt like the flavors were a little bland. There was blue cheese in this dish, but you'd never know after eating it (I don't like blue cheese, so this worked out fine for me). The squid ink linguine was very good, and had a nice bit of lobster on top. However, the gnocchi was definitely the best pasta dish of the three we ordered. The gnocchi were perfect little pillows, soft and chewy and creamy. Just delicious. The sauce was both rich and light at the same time, and had great flavor of truffles. This dish was definitely the star on our table. The osso buco was also well prepared. Big piece of tender veal, lots of marrow in the shank bone, and a healthy scoop of farro risotto. Our only complaint about the entrees was that a couple--the pasta in a jar and the osso buco in particular--lacked salt. We asked for salt, which made each of these dishes so much better. If the kitchen can just season a tad bit better, all of these dishes would be stars. Side dishes were good. We had the brussel sprouts and shishito peppers. The brussels were good, but the shishito peppers were very well prepared. I don't like spicy, and luckily all of the ones I ate were mild! For dessert, we ordered the monkey bread, the gelato flight, and the bomboloni. Be aware, these portions are HUGE! The monkey bread was quite tasty, but a little difficult to eat because of how hard it was. The gelato flight was good, and is definitely a great way to sample Siena's many flavors. We tried salted caramel, s'mores, pistachio, and brown butter peanut. The brown butter peanut was the best in my opinion. S'mores was also very good. I found pistachio a little on the sweet side, and salted caramel could have used more caramel flavor. Of the desserts, though, the bomboloni were the best. These were huge beignet-like pieces of fried dough coated in sugar and served with "Nutella," raspberry, and caramel sauces. Our server recommended we inject our bombolonis using the squeeze bottles the sauces were served in, which is a fun concept for this tasty dessert. I've never had fried dough that didn't taste good, but these bomboloni were a true hit. Slightly crisp on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside. Delicious. We were celebrating a birthday, and they brought us a big scoop of birthday cake gelato with a candle, which was a nice touch. Overall, great experience at Siena Tavern. If I could make one complaint, it's that the menu is too broad! (Does this count as a complaint?) With only four people dining, it was so hard to make decisions on what to order, as literally everything sounded awesome. Family style is the way to do it here, folks, especially with such generous portion sizes. If I could, I would have tried one of everything. For this reason, I hope to be back!
(4)Margaret H.
I came here on New Year's Eve for a nice lunch with friends. A lot of them had wanted to try Siena Tavern, but there reservations are booked months in advance, so this seemed like a great opportunity. I made a reservation for 8 on Open Table and had no problems. We even showed up a little late because of the snow and they were still accommodating. Thank you for that! This is my 3rd time coming here and I loved it once again! It's a go-to for me! We shared the meatball for an appetizer. It's served with sauce and crostinis. I always enjoy their meatball, as I've had the sub before too. Even my vegetarian friend was at least able to enjoy the sauce and the corstinis together. My friend and I split the lobster roll and the butternut squash tortellacci. I physically cannot walk into Sienna Tavern and not get the tortellacci. It's a seasonal dish that I'm afraid is going to be gone the next time I go! It's not huge portions - which is good! Pasta is heavy and you don't want to induce a coma, but it's just the right amount of food. Smart portions in my opinion. The lobster roll was great once again! Hearty pieces of lobster, well seasoned. They even split it for us without asking; I appreciate that type of planning. My only reason for giving this one less star is because of the service. Two waitresses introduced themselves with the same speech... clearly tables were getting mixed up among the wait staff. The waitress we did end up with was not attentive at all - not smart for a large group. We understand the restaurant was full, but it wasn't hectic at all. We were waiving her down to place our order and then were searching for her when we were trying to get our bill. The lunch took a lot longer than we were expecting because of the service. We assumed that because it was New Year's Eve lunch, that maybe it was the B-Staff. Typically the service is top notch and the waitresses are attentive and friendly. Overall, still a great experience! I'll be back! :)
(4)Meg H.
This place was incredible! I never rave about food, however there was seven of us and everything was delicious. I highly recommend the meatball appetizer, the best "spaghetti" I've ever had in my life with spicy sauce & crab meat, and the Italian donuts that you inject with the creamiest carmel, chocolate, or raspberry. Bon appetite!! I will be back.
(5)Lauren W.
Outstanding pastas, desserts. Excellent service. Great atmosphere, but a little loud. Wonderful place for a big group. I had friends report that the mixed drinks are pretty good, too.
(5)Marni P.
Lots of neat menu options and good location downtown. A bit pricey but right on par with pricing in the area. The atmosphere is modern yet chill. All pasta are home made!
(4)Bunny D.
This is one of my favorite restaurant in the city. Their truffle mushroom pizza is to die for!
(5)Andre W.
I have often stopped in for drinks with friends on multiple occasions and I thought it was a nice joint. Everyone has been telling me this place has great food and due to the fact I don't put a lot of stock in river north restaurants I was like well maybe. For some reason I just had to try this place out. Stopped in on a rainy Friday nite with a last minute 6:30 reservation. We were excited to eat as we looked at other plates that showcased some goodies. We started out with Wagyu Beef Meatball (strongly recommended by a friend) for an appetizer and it was delicious. Its big and includes basil, roasted tomato sauce and ricotta. We had glasses of pretty good red wine to wash the meatball down. We decided to split plates for our entrees. We went with the Squid Ink Linguini and the Spaghetti. The Squid Ink Linguini was my favorite as it includes Grilled lobster tail, spicy lobster cream sauce, and shaved green onion...let me say that dish was out of this world. I love lobster so there may be a bias there LOL! The spaghetti was good as well as it included Jumbo lump crab, charred grape tomato, red chili & lemon sauce. Lets just say I ravaged both half plates. Funny enough, I had room for their very good tiramisu. So many good looking items on their menu ensures that I will return at some point soon. Service was stellar as our girl was able to break down her favorites on the menu. She made sure the glasses of wine and water kept coming.
(4)Anli C.
A great spot for either weekend brunch or a workday lunch. My friends and I came here several times, and it hasn't disappointed us. Last time, we ordered octopus salad, grilled brussels sprout, and the truffle pizza. Every dish was spot on, with rustic presentation and delicate flavor. It gets busy during lunch time, but the service is always quick and organized. Oh a nice plus for moms with young toddlers - they have extra high chair just for their cute booth, so it's absolutely a considerate kid-friendly spot. No need to hesitate to bring your little foodies along and have them try some good food.
(5)Sam B.
I came here in June for my birthday lunch. I had been hearing about this trendy place and wanted to check it out - it didn't disappoint. We had reservations and when we arrived we were seated right away. There were three of us so we were sat in one of the comfortable tufted booths towards the front. The ambiance and décor were perfect; everything was well thought out and well branded. This is a tapas/small plate place. So you order a variety of plates and everyone tries a bite or two. To be honest, I can't remember all the dishes we ordered- there were a lot. I know there was a short rib pasta, lobster roll, truffle pizza, ahi tuna, tacos, a burger but the rest have slipped my mind.. Although I can't remember all the specific dishes, I can say that everything we ordered was great. None of the items were just mediocre, everything was delicious. At one point or another the fact that it was my birthday was mentioned. So at the end of the meal they brought me a complimentary ice cream dessert with a candle which was a nice touch. Valet is well worth it, it wasn't expensive at all and they let me keep the car there for the whole day while we went and did other things around the city. Very convenient.
(5)Joseph D.
I am torn. And here's why. I live in Lakeview and work from home so I am not often exposed to what the kids call "happy hour in River North." And honestly, after coming here, I'm kinda glad... The food was good but the people left a lot to be desired. Met up with a friend for drinks and food and did not have a reservation. Mistake #1. In order to get a seat, you have to hover around someone who looks like they're finishing up and stalk their table until they leave. Then you jump in. They call it "open seating" I call it annoying. If I were sitting there eating, I would not want a group of strangers hovering around my table starting at me hoping I finish. How about keeping a list and calling my cell when a table comes up? There's a revolutionary idea. Then there are the expense account idiots. This place is located near a number of hotels and it became very apparent that there were a number of "big spenders" here who were drinking waaaaaay more than they should because they weren't paying for it. An EPIC FAIL to the waitstaff here when the guy at the table adjacent to us fell off his bar stool. This was after he was banging plates on the table and yelling out his friends name. This is not funny. This is irresponsible and why people like this die behind the wheel. Don't bring more drinks when there are already still full ones on the table and the staff just picked this moron up off the floor. The crowd was quite a mix of suited up types, sugar daddies (maybe they're lost and looking for the Viagra Triangle?) and random party girls. If this is your crowd, more power to you but not me. I'd rather people not bang plates or fall off chairs at my bar / restaurants... OK, now onto the good. The food was actually pretty tasty. We had the Burratta which was served with garlic toast and tomato jam. We also had a pizza with pear, prosciutto and arugula and also this very interesting coccoli which is a crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma and truffle honey. Everything was quite tasty but like most River North places, kinda expensive for what you got. $14 - $18 per for the apps and the pizza. Drinks were decent with a nice wine list and good selection of beers on tap so points for that. But again, River North prices. $9 for a Gumball-head. Same beer is $6 at BigStar. Overall nice place if it wasn't filled with drunken loud talkers. Maybe go for dinner and make a reservation and sit away from the bar.
(3)Andy W.
More like 3.5 stars. Coccoli: Fried dough with cheese, honey, and prosciutto!! It was one of the more interesting appetizers I've had in recent years...and one of the tastiest! It was the highlight of the meal. That said, the pizza (we split the carne) and the baked lasagna were good, but not out of this world or anything. Fairly large space. Service was pretty good.
(3)Srishti K.
Siena Tavern has really a great ambience. The outdoor seating is especially cute with all the little lights. The service is also really great. Someone in my party had to leave early, and the waitress was really good about getting him his order quickly. She even explained to him which items on the menu would be the quickest. Considering all of that, I was ready for this to be my new favorite place. Unfortunately, I didn't love the food. I got the Truffle Mushroom pizza. Although I just ordered one for myself, the pizza can definitely be shared by two people. The pizza wasn't bad, but it also wasn't worth the $18. It was just too oily even for pizza. The crust was also a little harder and chewier than it should have been. Someone at my table got a Kale Caesar, and despite being an avid salad-hater, I have to admit it looked amazing. If I go back, I would probably get the Kale salad.
(3)Kathleen T.
5/5 for service and for food! Our server Parker really knew what he was talking about; from wines to the food to Siena Tavern as a restaurant! He's also super vibrant and attentive! As someone who works in the food industry which highers my service standards, I can still honestly say that his service was one of the best I've had in a while. Food, on the other hand is JUST as amazing! Started off with the Wagyu Beef Meatball and the Coccoli.The marinara sauce that the gigantic meatball was in was absolutely delicious. Super well seasoned and flavorful! The Coccoli was extremely light and the honey, prosciutto and mozzarella cheese was such a unique and delicious pairing! Definitely recommending both to start!! I ordered the spaghetti. It was a really generous portion and it was not a typical "spaghetti" you expect! It was roasted grape tomatoes, crab meat, and tossed in a lemon butter sauce which was super creamy and flavorful! My friends got the short rib ravioli, ossobucco, pasta in a jar (super awesome presentation), and the orecchiette and everyone said that they loved it. Desserts: the gelato flavors are delicious. Get the flight!!
(5)Owais R.
Their truffle oil mushroom is simply brilliant . It's hard to get a reservation, so make sure to make one in advance. The parent company also owns several other restaurants in the area (I haven't visited them yet but they are on my list of places to visit).
(5)Ada G.
I was excited to try this place due to the high reviews. I am from Los Angeles and when a restaurAnt is rated four stars and up it's because it the best. We are foodies and always on the look out for that restaurant that stands out. However, this place was disappointing to me perhaps I have been spoiled in LA with amazing restaurants. The food at Sienna Tavern was ok, but not great. It was very average and nothing special. My marinara sauce was too salty that after a few bites I had to stop eating. The Gelatos were not very good either. For the price, there has to be better restaurants out there and I intend to find them. P.s. The meatball was delicious, so if I go back that's the only thing I would get.
(3)Sunny H.
This restaurant is definitely one of my favorites in Chicago! The food is always delicious and the service is great. The gnocchi is my favorite pasta and the mushroom pizza is also really good!
(5)Amy C.
Rude staff. Made us wait for one and a half hours before telling us they could not accommodate us.
(1)Nick R.
Amazing again. Came in at the Last minute and managed to find a table at the bar. Great scene, we hung out at the bar for a bit and they scene there is livelier than half the lounges in Chicago. A great place to go for drinks and socialize. We were greeted by Natalie our server who was awesome! She helped us choose some amazing appetizers and wines. The meatball and the coccoli are both must haves the coccoli are warm fluffy prices of fried dough that you stuff with prosciutto and strachinnno cheese with truffle honey. They are kind of like deconstructed sandwiches. Order them and don't look back!! I went with the gnocchi again and also shared some of the porterhouse with my friends. I will definitely be ordering that next time. I had the potatoes as a side. I will say that they look better on the menu than they actually taste. The cauliflower was a pleasant surprise. We did try the oysters which were a bit gamy and had a funny taste. Id probably skip those next time but none the less I wouldn't deduct a star for that as I'm anxiously looking forward to going back.
(5)Samantha M.
One of my favorite spots in Chicago ! Perfect for a romantic night or an evening with friends. Incredible food and their craft cocktails are beautifully made ! If you are ever in town, this is a must!
(5)Rochelle W.
I love this restaurant. I've been a handful of times and the food and service have been amazing every time. My faves are the coccoli, siena chopped salad, truffle mushroom pizza, lasagna, bomboloni and gelato, but judging from everything I've had, you can't go wrong! My only complaint about this place is that sometimes they are a little too attentive. I don't need my water filled after every sip! But, seriously, if that is my only complaint about a place, that's pretty awesome!
(5)Kelley B.
We came here during Restaurant Week as this is a highly recommended restaurant in the City. The atmosphere is trendy and warm. We sat in one of the cozy booths, facing the street. The table started with the Brussels Sprout Salad, Burrata and Wagyu Beef apps. All were amazing and good portion sizes. For the second course my husband had the Scallops and liked the dish, and I had the Short Rib Ravioli, which was good. Finally, the server surprised me with Birthday Cake Gelato (which was Amazing!) and the table had the salted caramel gelato and bambolini. Both were basically inhaled. The only critique I have was that I had asked for a drink during the beginning of dinner but had to cancel it after it never arrived about 20 minutes later. No biggie because she comped the gelato. Overall, I would return for the atmosphere and desserts.
(4)Katie P.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! I've been here 3 times- most recently for my birthday dinner. The service is great and the food is phenomenal! But be careful- you'll be rolling out of there. The food is rich and very filling. Some of my favorites: Coccoli: Get at least 1 order of this for your table. The most melt in your mouth amazing thing ever. Dough, cheese and prosciutto? Yes! Kobe Meatball: It's a HUGE amazing meatball- enough for 4 to share Gnocchi : Decadent Short Rib Ravioli: Rich Bomboloni: Yummy sugary donuts with 3 different dipping sauces!
(5)Eric Y.
Comfort food, Italian style - La vita bella! Love this place - sleek decor, comfortable banquette seating, high tops, great service, thoughtful cocktails, lots of wine and good food. What's not to like? Now everyone loves fried dough but this place does it in unique ways. The coccoli appetizer is a must - pillowy fried dough balls, like deep-fried popovers - served with prosciutto, mild cheese, and truffled honey - assemble all the components and it's like a off-the-charts ham and cheese sandwich. The Bombolini dessert is another fried dough ball - this one has some potato in it to make it denser - and it's served with little squeeze bottles containing different delicious sauces. Yummy! Life is not all fried dough (darn) and we had lots of other good food. A definite highlight was the gnocchi, these are nudi type served with truffle cream sauce, pancetta and fried sage. Wow. The squid ink pasta with lobster was tasty too. There's a "pasta in a jar" - the pasta components are placed into a jar, shaken and plated. It's a fun concept. We also tried the 12 hour osso buco, This was really good too. Pizza is neopolitan style and has a nice crust - crisp, tender and no sagging! Really my only quibble was that many of the dishes were a bit under seasoned. Fortunately the salt came straight-away and all was good.
(4)Sara J.
Went to a private event where they rented out the whole restaurant, it was a pretty awesome time. They for sure know how to handle a very large party if that's what you are looking for. Myself and a few other people stationed ourselves at the back pizza bar and had an absolutely wonderful bartender. She was perfectly attentive and made very good innovative drinks. Their signature appetizer the coccoli is delicious, my main regret is not eating more of it. I also really loved their truffle pizza, tiramisu and fried donuts. Unfortunately I was not a fan of the rest of the food that I tried, lasagna, steak and some ravioli. It seemed kind of hit or miss, very good to a bit unremarkable, the food landed on both ends of the spectrum. If I was in the area I would probably go back again even if it's just to get the coccoli and drinks.
(4)Shradha A.
Food has gotten better since my previous experience - I enjoyed my truffle eggs and their monkeybread was amazing!
(4)Harroop K.
Delicious creative take on modern Italian food! Was lucky to get a seat right away at the bar. Ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza and their butternut squash tortellini. Both were delicious I almost licked my plate! We got their gelato sampler for dessert. Everything here is made in house from scratch. You can really taste the freshness in everything. Would love to come back next time I'm in Chicago.
(5)Dianne J.
Awesome truffle pizza. Big portion. It's one of my favorite pizza. The sausage bacon for the appetizers is also tasty.
(4)Estee L.
My server Devin suggested the grilled octopus for an appetizer. I was not comfortable with that choice but he assured me that it was amazing. He explained the cooking process. I trusted him and went with it. So far, it's one of my faves on the menu. I also ordered a crab bisque, it was really tasty. I finished my dinner with a sticky dates dessert. It was decadent. The service as always was extraordinary. I felt welcome and never rushed to leave. I will return soon!
(5)Sara H.
My boss and I went after work on a Tuesday. Super busy, so we put our name in. They wouldn't give us an estimated wait time...but they did say 2 parties were ahead of us, so we went to the bar to have a drink. We got the number 1 and 2 cocktails- both were amazing- not too sweet. The bar tender was so nice and made great suggestions. We had been waiting a while for a table, so we decided to order appetizers. The bartender recommended the grilled octopus and steak tartare, so naturally we ordered both. My boss has lived her entire life down south so she was a little skeptical at first. She also hates sea food, but LOVED the octopus!....I have been craving both since.... We ended up just sitting at the bar which initially was disappointing, but our food/staff experience was a good one!
(4)John L.
I had dinner here for a work event and we had sectioned off the bar area for the evening. They provided a buffet and drinks for the evening. Overall I thought the experience was good and the food was good. They also served some appetizers and had their staff serve the group so I thought the service was pretty good as well. Good location and pretty good ambiance as well. Overall a solid pick in the loop. Cheers! John
(3)Candice G.
Lunch w/ coworkers. It's a thing. Sometimes I partake. ... okay, okay. I guess I always partake... because somehow food just tastes better when your boss (or anyone but yourself) buys it. And because team building... yeah, that's the reason. Team building. Totally because of the team building. So anyway, I mention the work lunch because that's how I became familiar with Siena Tavern, a place that apparently everyone else who's even one iota of hip has been to, heard of, or has on their list of 'must try' places. I, on the other hand, had never heard of it (probably because it had three dollar $$$igns tagged on to it), nor did I understand why people were telling me to say hi to some Fabio character when I checked in, and to be completely honest, the way they spell Siena offends me in a way I can't explain... or at least can't explain well. I realize it's named after Siena, Italy, but that spelling makes me feel oddly uncomfortable... like when a person cuts a non-pie shaped piece from a pie and it makes you want to simultaneously fix the shape of the cut and knock out the person who took such a hap-hazard non-slice. moving on... Danny W picked Siena Tavern. A place he'd previously raved about but that I absolutely never would've gone to outside of this lunch since I'm not a big fan of Italian food and because of the aforementioned $$$ price category... but I had to respect the guy (a little, at least) for having the balls to pick such a pricey place for a work lunch knowing we wouldn't have to fit the bill... not that I didn't pick a crazy expensive place when it was my work lunch pick (Medieval Times!), but I consider that to be different since my pick was both lunch AND a world-class show, and we were celebrating two team member birthdays, and also because I'm last on the lunch rotation and so far every Candice-picks-lunch day has either been canceled, or no one comes, so I felt like I got to save up red-headed-co-worker points and pull the lunch trump card when my day finally did arrive. So we've got a reservation for 6 and they give us this big-ass booth near a semi-private room and just across from the side bar. The place was definitely bumpin' at 12:30 in the afternoon, but the staff were on their A-Game and the atmosphere, while I imagine is probably much swankier at night, worked for a nice lunch spot as well... not too casual, but perfect for our purpose of a work lunch, and even better- they have an adjusted lunch menu with fewer items than dinner, but they're also priced much friendlier to the average person than an evening feast at Siena would have been. Lunch is somewhere between semi-budget friendly and semi-splurge-y, depending on who's footing the bill, of course. My group started off with the Coccoli since the server was hyping it up as if she were Moses and the tablets read, 'though shall get the Coccoli'. When it came it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, and while I'll admit that I only had a bite, I thought it was just alright. Didn't really see what all the fuss was about. Since my usual routine involves a coffee (with about half flavored creamer) at 10:30am and then lunch around 3:30/4 and our work lunch times usually center around 'normal' eating hours, I really only wanted something light so I could say that I did, in fact, eat here, so I went with the Farro Salad (grilled herb-marinated shrimp & calamari, green bean, roasted peppers, celery, basil, herb mustard vinaigrette). It tasted a lot more vinegar-y than I was expecting and had an odd dairy tinge to it that made my stomach turn a little - but in all fairness, I think this dish would be something a person who likes coleslaw would really love, because that's what it was most similar to in my eyes. A really nice, fancy coleslaw... unfortunately I don't dig coleslaw--at all, but I still managed to scarf most of my dish down for the sake of the shrimp and calamari that gave their little lives for it. What I was sad I didn't get: The Squid Ink Linguini and the Lobster Roll with giant heaping chunks of lobster. I didn't get them because they were both upwards of $20 and as a person who frequents the Ramen aisle at Meijer, I didn't quite feel comfortable putting what seemed like such an extravagant lunch-time dish on the company dime... Luckily, Danny W didn't feel the same way and ordered up that $28 lobster roll and I'm only a little ashamed to admit I watched every bite as he devoured it. It looked... like heaven. It was stuffed to the brim and even Danny, who's quite the glutton, couldn't finish the last few bits of lobster that fell from him sammie. So when he wasn't looking I happily swooped in with my grabby fingers and plucked a few fallen pieces (along with some fries) from his plate. I left with major regrets about not ordering that lobster roll but vowed to save up my pennies and come back on my own one day to do that damn lobster roll all on my own. All 28-totally-worth-it dollars of lobster roll.
(4)Anna W.
HIGHLY recommend this place!!!!!!!!!!!! Perfect environment and amazing food. It was our first time with my boyfriend here, we are deff coming back next weekend!!! We had the 5 cheese pizza and tried the Farro Salad-------- amazing. The white and red sienna sangria were delicious!!!!!! Our waiter was Parker!!! He's awesome!!!!!
(5)Bobby O.
We had a siblings-night out and set an earlier reservation for 5 at 5:30pm on 12/26/14. We were seated promptly and the waitress was very attentive. We all decided to do a small plate-shared entree-style dinner. We got the truffle flatbread and "prosciutto sandwich", which melted in our mouths. They can add more, as it comes with 4. For entrees, we got the squid ink linguine and bolegne pastas. The squid ink was tasty, but not overwhelming. And for dessert we got a couple gelatin and the "doughnuts".It comes with 3 sauces- my favorite being the raspberry. Overall, everything that was suggested and dishes we got were excellent!!
(5)Hollina U.
Siena Tavern is in my top three for fave restaurants in Chicago. I had been wanting to eat here since I first moved to Chicago last summer, but it's always so packed every time I come (but then my friends and I always last-minute decided to give it a try on a Friday or Saturday night). Finally was smart enough to make a reservation for a Sunday evening, when it's a bit slower. Everybody HAS to order the coccoli--- it's fried bread dough, prosciutto and truffle honey--- so damn good and I have never tasted anything like it! I also ordered the squid link linguine with lobster, which had a creamy lobster sauce that was just divine. One of my favorite pasta experiences ever! Ended the meal with the bomboloni that comes with three bottles of sauces so you can self-fill the bomboloni. The chocolate hazelnut sauce and the raspberry chianti sauce went really well together! Overall, this was one of the best meals I've had in Chicago. Service was very good too, the waitress we had was very attentive and made a good wine suggestion. Will definitely go back!!
(5)Danny W.
You know that feeling you get when food comes out and you want what the person sitting next to you is eating? That happens here all the time cause each menu item is even more amazing looking than the next. From start to finish Siena wows with both its presentation and taste to the full effect. In a handful of visits I've had the Coccoli, Squid Ink Linguini, Kobe Meatball, Siena Chopped and Roasted Beet Salads, Gnocchi, and the Lobster Club. All I can say is their chef knows exactly what he's doing cause there wasn't a bad bite in the whole bunch. Service has been on point each visit as well with extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff. They all recommend different items to order which pretty much proves that everything is delicious. For an across the board Italian menu for lunch or dinner Siena Tavern is totally worth a trip in!
(5)C V.
Great dirty martini with Blue Cheese Olives. Loved the Truffle pizza. Very cool atmosphere but make sure you reserve a table or be prepared to wait.
(5)Laura K.
I was not impressed with this place. It definitely did not live up to all the hype if you ask me. The restaurant was pretty cool. I definitely liked the set up, however the food was just OK. Of everything we ate, I was only really impressed by the gelato at the end. I wouldn't really recommend this place. I would recommend Davonti Enoteca (similar concept, but better food) over Siena Tavern.
(3)Kevin N.
Came here for a bachelor party, the location of this restaurant is perfect, right north of the river and in the hip and happening part of the city. Valet parking in front too, cool. Service: iffy service by the host, as 5/6 of our party was present, but they would not seat us right away even though the table was ready. We had to ask a few times before we were seated. The waiter however was very helpful throughout the meal. Atmosphere/decor: I'm a big fan of fine modern American dining and the decor in this restaurant does not disappoint. There's a bar on the left when you walk in, and seating in the right. We were seated on an elevated dining area and from our vantage point we could see most of the restaurant. Very nice! Food: darn. I didn't write this review right after eating there, so my memory is hazy. I do remember that the veal was delicious. We also ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza and prosciutto pear pizza, which was great. The pepperoni tasted as expected, but the prosciutto pear tasted very fresh! We also had a huge wagyu beef meatball for appetizer. I would definitely come back to this restaurant. You get a nice american dining experience, and it definitely has a nice date atmosphere. I would compare this favorably to bandera, which is one of my favorite american restaurants in Chicago.
(5)Donna L.
Dinner @ Siena Tavern is amazing, but brunch is SO MUCH fun! I love the No. 2 on the drink menu- similar to a Bellini, with Prosecco it's amazing! I also love that we could order the Truffle Pizza for breakfast along with the brunch menu. It was a GREAT brunch!
(5)Alex R.
(4.5 Stars) I'll cut straight to the good stuff because there is so much goodness going on here at Siena Tavern! To start, definitely order the coccoli. I'm serious, there's no question here, just order it. The coccoli is nice and crispy on the outside and so soft and airy on the inside. There's a glaze of truffle honey, which is indescribable, it's so good. It's also served with prosciutto and stracchino cheese, which is almost an embarrassment of riches at this point. Chef Fabio, you've really put something truly remarkable together here! We also ordered the bone marrow, which we knew we wanted as soon as we saw it on the menu. Don't be frightened, the bone marrow is remarkably soft and is perfect as a spread on the crispy bread it's served with. For our entrees, we got the squid ink linguini and the short rib ravioli. Just like the coccoli, you have to order the squid ink linguini. Just do it. No questions asked. The fresh pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was aromatic and had a nice kick without being overwhelming. The lobster was just slightly overdone, but even that did little to take away from this amazing dish. The short rib ravioli was also very good. The texture and flavor was spot on. We couldn't leave Siena Tavern without trying a pizza so we ordered the truffle mushroom pizza, which certainly did not leave us disappointed. Every component was amazing: the roasted mushrooms, the garlic cream mozzarella, and the drizzle of truffle oil. We ended our evening by ordering the bomboloni, which are fried doughnuts that you inject with delicious sweet sauces. The food was excellent, and the service was friendly and personal. I'm really glad we came here for my belated birthday dinner!
(5)Vanessa X.
Excellent service. Superb environment. Solid food!! We had the short rib ravioli (B+), caramelized brussell sprouts (A) and prosciutto sausage (A-). The food was very flavorful and down to earth without overly fancy and pretentious ingredients or presentation. Even better, when I mentioned that I was intolerant to dairy, the kitchen even made a special sauce (without butter) to cook the ravioli with. I am pretty sure that I would love every single other dish on the menu! Next time I would definitely want to try the squid ink spaghetti, the sea bass and the octopus!!! Diners were mostly young professionals and the atmosphere was chill and relaxed and conducive to conversation, on a Tuesday night. Highly recommend and met my high expectations!!
(4)Christy L.
I've been to Siena Tavern several times now and have always had great dishes there! My favorite item on the menu is the Coccoli, which is fried dough with prosciutto and cheese. Amazing! I'm also a fan of the meatball, shaved Brussels sprout salad, and cocktail menu. The pizzas are a bit hit or miss; some have a bit too much cheese for thin crust, in my opinion. Atmosphere is loud and fun!
(4)cece D.
We love this place! We go here often for lunch and the food is amazing! the Grilled Octopus, Brussels, Cauliflower and Kale Caesar are my favorites. Not to mention the Truffle Pizza....truffle oil, not real truffles, but still delicious to me. It is my go to place in the neighborhood! However, I tried walking in for dinner at 9pm and OMG, the crowd was not to be believed. It felt like all the bars in that area. Not sure what I expected. I will never go there for dinner. I suggest stick to lunch. : )
(5)Elina S.
Siena Tavern, I am definitely a fan! Came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon with my mom and her friend, but we did have reservations so we got a nice booth inside the trendy Italian restaurant. The place was busy even for lunch time so reservations are definitely recommended. They also have outdoor seating but it was a little too hott that day so we chose to sit and enjoy our lunch inside. Our server was super sweet and gave us some yummy recommendations and here is what we shared and loved: Coccoli-Crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey, so amazing the dough was super fluffy and the prosciutto just melts in your mouth, you get four pieces for $14 so it's definitely worth it, this is a unique and must try dish here. The tavern burger- Because I just can't resist something with tomato jam, this burger has fontina cheese, tomato jam, baby arugula, crispy pancetta, herb aioli on a brioche bun for $16. It seems a little pricey but it is amazing, one of my favorite dishes here, and it's super big with fries so you can easily share this dish. Truffle Mushroom Pizza- Roasted wild mushrooms, garlic cream, mozzarella, white truffle oil. How can you go to an Italian place and not try their pizza. It was good but not the best that I've ever had but for $18 it has like 8 pieces so you won't be left hungry, that's for sure. I would definitely try one of their pastas next time instead of the pizza since it was just so so but we were full beyond belief by this point after all the carbs. Tiramisu- For $9, the dish was presented beautifully, one of the prettiest I've ever seen, like with a Sienna Tavern tree logo made out of cocoa, just beautiful. This is made of roasted white chocolate and espresso meringue. It was good but a little too sweet for me so I would try another dessert next time. Overall, we liked the food here better than RPM but not as good as Davanti Enoteca, but if I'm in the busy area, I will definitely stop by again for some gnocchi since this place is good.
(4)Laura R.
Every time- unbelievably good! First time we have sat at the bar for dinner and got the same wonderful service. I have not had one thing here that isn't 100% delicious. Gnocchi is pillows of wonderfulness. The truffle pizza is to die for. My husband and I share everything because it can be rich but it is worth diving into. I have had the salads too, all very good. Worth every calorie!
(5)Mary Ann C.
We were here last night for drinks at the the bar and earlier in the year enjoyed dinner at the bar. The bar area is sizable and a great spot for people watching. It is a great space. The cocktails are tasty and well executed. The mozzarella options are all fantastic, and we both loved the mushroom pizza!
(4)A L.
We were intrigued by their patio, but it was freezing and rainy so we ate inside. The restaurant is really pretty and has a great bright atmosphere. The food is really good ! We were there for lunch and had their burger and fries and their chicken sandwich and fries with sprinkled parmesean on the fries. Both were delicious and then had monkey bread with caramel, nuts and whip cream on it. The service was great and the waitress explained things on the menu. I would love to go back for dinner on the patio.
(5)Magen R.
This was the best meal I've had in years... no joke! I was lucky enough to enjoy my meal in the restaurant's amazing wine cellar for a close friend's birthday. The room was gorgeous. The rustic wood on the walls with soft back lighting and the enormous table lent to a relaxing, yet upscale atmosphere. Definitely a great way to enjoy Siena's amazing fare. I only tried one cocktail, the #2, it was light and refreshing and I'd definitely recommend it. Now onto the food... I was lucky enough that I got to try a bunch of different things because we had a large group and each was more delicious than the last! A friend and I shared the coccoli and the bufala mozzarella for our appetizers. I have never experienced anything like the coccoli but it legitimately melted in my mouth. It was an amazing flavor combo, if you get it make sure you make use of the honey it's served with. Also worth nothing is the presentation, I loved how the app came on a giant wooden block, very fun. The bufala mozzarella was also outstanding. The sea salt, tomato jam and basil oil highlighted the cheese perfectly and the cheese so fresh. I also have to say I was really happy with the portion sizes of both appetizers. Both came with enough for four servings but could be split in half to have as many as eight servings. For my meal I chose the proscuitto fig pizza. It was a great flavor combination and I loved how fresh and light the figs were on the pizza. It was also an enormous portion with eight substantial slices, definitely a good pick! I also was lucky enough to try the gnocchi, parmesan sticky potatoes and artichoke gratin. I don't usually like gnocchi but I could not get enough of the gnoochi at Siena Tavern. The sauce was creamy and wonderful and the gnocchi were light as pillows that simply melted in your mouth. The artichoke gratin also melted in your mouth. It was like mac and cheese with artichokes, seriously amazing. Finally I fell in love with the parmesan sticky potatoes. They did not spare on the cheese or the seasoning and the potatoes were perfectly cooked, light and crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. The final topper of the meal were the amazing donuts with dipping sauces. They were lightly fried balls doused in powdered sugar served with a variety of amazing dipping sauces (I'd recommend putting the chocolate and carmel together). They were out of this word and again, a very large portion size. All in all Siena Tavern was amazing. The service and ambiance were outstanding and the food is unparalleled. Make a reservation. Right now.
(5)Mike M.
Fantastic pizza! Had no trouble getting a seat at 5:30pm on a Fri. Only drawback is that the atmosphere isn't too kid friendly.
(4)Grierson L.
Sat at the bar tonight and witnessed a first: guy behind the bar noticed that Group B snagged bar seats when Group A had been waiting and said, "Hey! I noticed y'all were here first, I will ask them to move if you want to sit." Group A said no thanks, appreciate the ask. Gotta tell ya: AWESOME on two counts!! 1: Bartender noticed/paid attention to what was happening on our side of the bar (considering he has the oven and chefs to contend w at this particular bar); and 2: that he offered and would have made the right choice. Kudos Siena!!!
(5)Wayne H.
I went to Siena Tavern for lunch with some co-workers during the workweek. The place has a very cool, modern vibe to it. We started with a few appetizers: the kale salad, wagyu beef meatball, and Coccoli. The apps were okay, but I was expecting much more based on all the good reviews. If I had to pick a favorite I guess it would be the Coccoli because the prosciutto, cheese, and honey were delicious. I didn't care so much for the fried dough part of the appetizer. I ordered the lobster roll for my entree and it was okay as well. It came with fries that were over cooked without much flavor. I prefer the lobster roll at the New England Seafood Company....way better. I tried some of the pizza slices too and they were okay as well. I definitely would go back to Siena Tavern, but overall their food was pretty average.
(3)Anthony M.
CATERING REDEFINED I was lucky enough to attend the Absolut Stuga Presentation held at the Event Creative Warehouse. They actually built a full Swedish farm inside. It was a truly amazing experience. When I walked in I was greeted by a server with a tray of delicious looking apps. She told me it was Coccoli, which meant nothing to me. I took one bite and was sent to heaven. I immediately knew I had just bitten into something special. I looked at the server and said, "Who is catering this event?" And she said, "Siena Tavern!" I said, "That was delicious!" She then told me that there was tons of food on the other side, after the tour through the Stuga! I must admit I have never tasted such flavor in a piece of catered food. The coccoli was a sweet puff pastry with sweet cheese like a ricotta and a slice of Procuitto on top with greens and a drizzle of something sweet. That is my guess on the ingredients because I didn't have a menu in front of me. I could hardly wait for my tour of the Stuga to finish, so I could sample more of this incredible food. During the event the food kept coming and there was plenty of it. I loved how the servers were actual Siena Tavern employees which meant they knew the food they were serving. My second favorite thing of the night was the Kobe meatball. It was covered in a delicious red sauce, ricotta & fresh basil. These things just melted in my mouth. I learned that at lunch I could get a meatball sandwich or for dinner I could get a 12 ounce giant meatball as an appetizer. Can I get both? Yeah it was that good. Again this was delicious food was at an event. This never happens. The most interesting item I tried was the cooked venison on a stick. I've never had deer and I've never had a desire to eat Bambi. But tonight I figured I would put Siena Tavern to the test. You want to know what? It was delicious. It was topped with two crispy potatoes. And those potatoes were still crispy. Again I've never had crispy potatoes at an event. I even grabbed the last one off the tray, so it should have been cold and soggy but it wasn't. I also loved the roasted tiny red peppers that had yummy cheese and chorizo inside. Again I didn't have a menu, so I'm gonna call it yummy cheese. I would love to make something like this at home. The gnocchi was so good. I'm not usually a fan but these housemade gnocchi were out is this world. I think I was really in love with the house made pancetta. It's like bacon but a hundred times better! They also were serving a small crostini with asparagus on top. It wasn't my favorite and because it wasn't easy to eat standing up with 500 people looking at me. I had a little taste but I didn't finish it. I had to dislike something because everything was so good. The servers just kept coming with more and more food. As I was standing there, I noticed the Chef Kevin Abshire was standing there looking at the event floor. I leaned over to him and said, "Best Catered food I ever had in my life!" He got a big smile on his face and said, "Thanks!" We had a great talk about food. I even learned that they were also cooking food onsite in a tent outback. No wonder everything tasted amazing. I wish all caters cared this much when serving food to a crowd. After talking the Chefs ear off, he obviously hasn't read one of my long winded reviews, he had to get back to work. He even made sure to tell me to call him when I finally eat inside there location. I thought the night of food was over and then they brought out hot donuts. Stop it! I had to grab one of these delicious bites. It was so good that I had to have another one. In fact, there were 3 different flavors. I highly recommend you order these. I was informed they are available at the restaurant. If you are looking to impress your guests with amazing food, then I would highly recommend the Siena Tavern prepare the food you. These tasty bites are a show stopper and you will be the Party Planner of the Year, if you use them for your next event. .
(5)Gerard P.
I had high expectations for this restaurant, being a big fan of Fabio on Top Chef and having Siena Tavern in Chicago, surrounded by a high level of culinary geniuses. The food was great, had the carne pizza, chopped salad, black ink linguini with lobster, scallops and octopus for a few of us. The ambiance and service were a complete turnoff. I made reservations for 5 people at 9pm, I called at 6 to tell them we only needed a table for 4 and asked if they had anything earlier, but they said they were completely booked. Okay, no problem. We show up at 8:45 and notice about 6 tables completely empty. You really couldn't seat us any earlier than 9pm with all those open tables? Regardless, no big deal, just an annoyance. When our waiter took our orders, he closed his notepad and walked away without even taking my order. I had to shout for him to take mine. I ordered a glass of wine that never showed up. Again, I had to tell him he forgot the only drink our table ordered and when I told him to forget about it, since I was halfway thru our entrée by the time he came by to check on us, he just said "okay" and walked away. No apology, no complimentary glass, nada. He brought the check by and we watched him for a solid 15-20 minutes schmoozing with another coworker in the corner while we waited for him to pick it up so we could leave. Thank you, Jason S., for ruining our much hyped experience at Siena Tavern. You single handedly made me never want to return, regardless of how great the food was. You were an incompetent waiter, who walked around like you were too cool to be doing your job.
(2)Michael H.
We really liked this place. Great diversity in the food choices. Coccoli and the grilled octopus were both remarkable. Grilled octopus was incredibly tender, and celery and grilled lemon were delicious accompaniments. Tuscan kale caesar salad was an interesting take on the classic caesar. Short rib ravioli was very rich-- glad we shared it. Carmelized brussels sprouts were a nice side dish--we especially liked the pancetta. Italian wheat beer on tap was a hit. Wine list was weak, especially on wines by the glass. Cocktail list was diverse and interesting. Service was most attentive without being intrusive. Atmosphere was casual. We had a very enjoyable evening.
(5)Jamie B.
10PM Reso 3/28/14: Big downgrade and slip from my first visit this past fall. The pizza was flimsy and overly greasy. Our server was extremely rude and pushy, even rolled her eyes at me when I asked for a new candle on our table because it was out. She wouldn't leave our party of 5 alone at all the times we wanted to be left alone (and told her this) but yet was nowhere to be found when it came time to pay and we were ready with the check. Probably won't come back here because of how annoyed we all were with the service. Food doesn't outshine it. Upon leaving the joint walked past 3 plus employees and what looked like a manager without even a "thank you" for our patronage. Too loud of music, felt like more of a nightclub/sports bar and clearly that's where the mgmt's attention was. It was obnoxiously loud. Drinks were fine and the other dishes were all ok. Just a pretty big disappointment overall and I won't be back.
(2)Michele M.
The gnocchi at Sienna Tavern took my breath away! Each forkful was packed with whipped and pillowy goodness. The smoky pancetta complements the truffle cream and left me pleasantly satisfied. Bon appetite with those magical puffs!
(5)Agnes C.
I would have easily given this place a 4 or 5 star rating because of the appetizers alone, but I can't justify it because of my entree. Went there with my girls for a bach party dinner and we were all starving. Quickly ordered the mushroom pizza and burnt pepperoni pizza along with couple order of the meatball (singular) for appetizers. I don't know if it was because we were so hangry, but the mushroom pizza was heavenly. Soooo delicious, not too rich, crust was nice and thin. Burnt pepperoni had the little spicy kick to it which was a nice contrast to the creamy mushroom one. The meatball is huge, definitely enough for even 4 people to share. Great flavor and the sauce was so good I kept dipping my crust in it. I think they thought we were done after the pizzas and the meatballs because it took them a long time to come back and see if we were going to order entrees. Little do they know how much we eat.... Anyway, we each ordered a separate entree so we could all share. I tried a little bit of the gnocchi which was so fluffy and perfect, and the squid ink pasta was my personal favorite. I would get that again if I ever return. It was so good I took a little bit off the plates of three friends who ordered it so I would eat all of someone's. The risotto was also notable. It was HUGE too. The entree that was a complete fail though was mine - the Seared Scallop (not singular...comes with 4). It was so incredibly salty that I honestly could not even eat one whole scallop. I tried. I really did. Even tried scraping off the top green sauce and it was still hurting my tongue with the salt content. The greens and puree underneath was salty too which just ruined my taste buds. I would have sent it back to the kitchen, expect I ate so much of my friend's plates that I wouldn't have been able to eat another entree anyway. So - is it fair for me to give it 3 stars just because of the scallops? Yes - it is a main entree and a waste of money and appetite. No - to be completely fair I should allow another visit to try the dish again but I just can't make my mouth suffer again like that. Do get the pizza, meatball, squid ink pasta, and ask for Arturo to take your group pic. Don't get the scallops or go late Sunday night b/c they tend to run out of items and service gets slow.
(3)Dominic R.
Came here last night for our 1 Year Anniversary. My girlfriend has been here several times and this was the place she chose. This was my first time here, so it's always exciting to try new places. I walked in starving! I was looking forward to some good Italian Food. We got our water and when you're at an Italain Restaurant....some bread with oil/cheese. Um, they don't give bread!?!?? That is crap! What Italian restauant doesn't give bread/oil to start with? We started out with a plate of "coccali", which to me was pretty much a Crescent roll, with some cheese to spread on it and some meat. you got 4, but for $16.00??? Eh, I thought that was a little high. I then ordered the "Lasagna". What came out of the kitchen was not what I expected. it was a little Cast Iron Bowl which looked to be a combination of "chili" and " French Onion soup" with some lasagna noodles layering the inside. it was ok, but really wasn't what i would expect when I order "Lasagna". Plus some good old bread would have been nice to help mop up the bowl. My gf had the ink squid lobster Linguini. She loves it, i tried that and it was pretty good. I had to ask our waitress what kind of food this place has. She confirmed "it's italian", but she told us "you know how you go to old school italian restaurants and you can barely walk out cause your so full? Here we don't do that because we want you to come back". Um, that made no sense. I want to walk out of a place feeling like I had a good meal and was full. Why would I want to go eat somewhere and not be full? To be honest, i walked out of there still hungry. I just felt for the amount of money I spent ($100 before tip) i feel the portions were small, the prices were a bit high and you really don't get filled up. There are much better Italian Restaurants in Chicago that will give you the basics or bread/oil, offer you a soup or salad with your meal and your entree would be a good size. I only came beause my girlfriend chose this for our anniversary dinner spot. Would I come back? Sure, but i'd make sure I ate before i came.
(1)Davidson T.
My very first review, excited to say it's 5 stars. I'm not hugely into Italian cuisine, but this place is phenomenal from the crudo to the flatbreads. Don't miss the octopus or the meatball and be sure to share the squid ink pasta and short rib ravioli!
(5)Lauren R.
Amazing food and great location. Hard to get a reservation last minute, but makes sense why. Great atmosphere, and the service is great.
(5)Stefanie B.
This place is insanely good! The gnocchi is the best I ever had! It's like little bites of heaven! Seriously ridiculously good! The Coccoli was a fun appetizer and the Bomboloni donut dessert was the perfect end to a wonderful meal! Mix the nutella and salted caramel dipping sauce together to blow your mind! The Birthday Cake gelato and Krispy Caramel Fudge gelato were super YUM and great side desserts to go with donuts! They were out of the squid ink lobster pasta that I wanted to try but the gnocchi made up for it and more of a reason to go back. Tariq, our server...gotta give him a shout out for being AWESOME! Seriously he made the experience more fun and enjoyable! Especially with his reccomendations being on point! So hopefully your dining experience will include him as your server and consider yourself lucky! Stick around or go later when it turns into a lounge and you get to drink, eat and jam to music spun by DJ JayFunk from 103.5 KissFM!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!!
(5)Sacha F.
I probably wouldn't go to this place normally because of the price, but I had a friend working there at the time and she was able to help us get 50% off the bill. THE FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE, and we ordered about half of the menu. They make their cheese in house and the mozzarella was on point. Best and strongest (but tastey) sangria I've ever had. I'm not sure what brand of wine they use but I would highly reccomend a glass or pitcher of the stuff, especially if you've had a long week. Here's what we ordered: The Burnt Pepperoni Pizza: one of the best thin crust pizzas I've had in Chicago. Spicy. Coccoli: GET THIS. it's a delicious light honey topped pastry appetizer that you stuff with cheese and prosciutto The meatball: enough for three, and comes with a ginat basket of garlic bread. The gelato: I had the pistachio. Incredible. Also made in house. Gnocchi: made with truffle cream, sage and pancetta. DO I NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE. Just go. Treat yourself or find a sugardaddy to treat you.
(5)Lisa C.
It doesn't get any better than this. The flavors are fresh and delicious. This is some of the best Italian food you will find outside of Italy. I'm not a fan of Italian meatballs but I could eat the meatballs from here all day. The specialty cocktails are also amazing. This is a great place for a date. This restaurant seriously belongs somewhere exotic and you will not feel that you are in Chicago in here. Only caveat is that this place is expensive.....but totally worth it.
(5)Lizzie B.
Siena Tavern is an awesome place - the ambience was great and the food was well done, great ingredients and fresh. For starters - the burrata is delicious - the grilled bread was so good, super buttery. The prosciutto pear pizza was decent - though the pear could have been cooked to be more tender (it was a little too crunchy to be on pizza). The shaved brussels sprout salad was creative for salad - but the brussels sprouts are raw, so the texture/taste might not be for everyone. For dinner - the orecchiette with prosciutto sausage was great. It was a little spicy and the pasta was fresh and cooked perfectly. For dessert, the gelato flight is a must. Siena has several flavors - the s'mores flavor is definitely worth trying as is the maple bourbon pecan. The tiramisu was not as flavorful as expected. The triple chocolate torte is also a great choice, but it super chocolately/sweet - so be prepared. Overall, a great choice for "contemporary" Italian in Chicago.
(4)Nicole C.
Do not miss brunch at Siena Tavern! The Bloody Mary was delicious, well spiced and garnished with citrus, celery, a small piece or mortadella and cheese. Sampled the truffled eggs-ri-dic-ulous! The sausage gravy and biscuits looked amazing. The potatoes that arrive with some dishes are crispy perfection. I'll be back!
(4)Tiff A.
Definitely go here when you're in town. The gelato here is more like ice cream but still pretty good especially the créme brûlée #yummers
(5)Anne A.
I've been to Siena Tavern a total of 3 times now. The first two were for dinner and both times were excellent. The third was for brunch and it wasn't the greatest experience out of the three. For dinner, I've had the waygu beef meatball, the coccoli, the mozzerella sampler, the cheese plate, the squid ink lobster linguini, the scallop risotto, and the lamb chops. All were excellent (especially the coccoli and cheese plate), except I thought the scallop risotto was too salty for my liking and just a little too rich. The lamb chops were grilled with a really nice char but a bit fatty (which lamb chops are sometimes). We ordered pumpkin gelato and espresso for dessert and both were superb (I'm a coffee and dessert snob). Loved our server both times for dinner. Didn't sound too robotic and made the experience really fun. Now onto brunch. Went with 3 of my girlfriends (one who has a 7 month baby) on a Sunday. We were sat immediately with a reservation at a nice table in the bar, so we could kind of see the Bears game. Our server came over and sounded like a robot. No personality the entire time and didn't make it very fun. She actually made one of my friends feel somewhat uncomfortable. When we ordered, my friend ordered a side of fries with her salad. The server proceeded to ask her if she wanted the fries for the table to share. "Um...no" my friend responded. Awkward. If she wanted fries for the entire table to share, don't ya think she would of specified that?!? Anyways, our order was placed. Then about 30 min later, our server came by again and explained to me that their waffle iron just broke and they couldn't make my Nutella waffles. Fine, it happens. She apologized and recommended something similar and I ordered it. Five minutes later, the rest of my parties food comes out and I sit there with no food. I mean she couldn't of told me earlier that the waffle iron broke so that I could of ate with the rest of my party? Or even offer me something to nibble on while I wait? This was definitely not the best experience I've had here, but given it is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago I will be back. I just wish they would of been more accommodating to the situation. They acted like they didn't care. If it wasn't for the great food they have, this would be a 2 star review. I'm being really generous.
(4)Aimee M.
Siena Tavern was a wonderful spot for lunch. It's a beautiful and stylish restaurant, yet comfy. I can't wait to come back and check it out during evening hours. There was a bit of a hiccup about whom my server was going to be and it left me stranded for a bit of time. But they rebounded well, the manager came out to chat and even comped my drink--which was totally unnecessary as the rest of my lunch service didn't suffer and my server was sweet and funny. I opened with a glass of Tiamo Prosecco and the Burrata with Tomato Jam. Perfect pairing. The Burrata was creamy and so good with the grilled bread. The Tomato jam was a bit too sweet for me, but the Burrata was all I needed really. I opted to splurge a little and get the Squid Ink Linguini. I'm not ashamed to say I finished to whole thing. It was delicious. It was satisfying. It was heavenly. The pasta was cooked perfectly and there is a very good amount of lobster. The creamy sauce was almost like a reduced lobster bisque but with a spicy note. I want to try more things on the menu when I make future visits, but it will be hard NOT to order this dish next time. I absolutely loved it. Their cocktail list looks delicious as does their sangria. No Chef Viviani sighting, but he can rest easy, his people are taking very good care of the place and for that, I'll be back.
(4)Kathleen C.
Love it! I had been trying to get into Siena Tavern for a while (shocking, I know, so is everyone...) and I finally lucked out with an early reservation for my Mom's birthday. I have to say that I was amazed that the restaurant, at 4:45pm, on a Thursday was already relatively bustling. By 5:15 or so, the place was pretty packed, and when we left (7-ish), there were no seats unless you had scored a reservation (like 2 months ago...). Anyway, we had a lovely time. First of all, the atmosphere was fun - very boisterous, but not overly loud, trendy, but not pretentious and a lovely space to look at. The wine list was quite nice, not huge, but had a great range of options and some interesting pics. My Mom and I had prosecco (it was her birthday after all!) and then we dove into the menu. My parents and I split the meatball (which was the size of a softball, yet flavorful and moist), and the crispy pastry with prosciutto and cheese for appetizers. Both were delicious, and I am not sure which one I liked better. For dinner, we all split the margherita pizza, lasagna and the papardelle pasta. Everything was flavorful and very well done, but I have to say that the lasagna was wonderful (and honestly, I don't really like lasagna and I usually never order it...). For dessert, we had the fruit tart which was great - fresh fruit, a nice crust and a custard-y ice cream with it. We had the greatest server (Gregory)! He made the experience a lot more fun. !
(5)Kelly K.
Girl and the Goat used to be my favorite restaurant before I came to Siena Tavern. The octopus, meatballs,pizza, gnocchi, kale salad, and crudo are all delicious! Recommend greeting a reservation if possible.
(5)Suki W.
We came to Siena Tavern on a Thursday night and enjoyed a good meal along with an energetic scene. We started with the airy coccoli, then to the fresh, crunchy Siena Chopped & Shaved Brussel Sprout salads, and finished up with a dense, rich Wagyu Beef Meatball so basically we had a bunch of appetizers which were more than enough to make a meal for 2. Thanks to Sam for impeccable, attentive service in a packed house. My sole complaint is that while the energy is really vibrant, the volume makes it tough to hear, even at a two-top.
(5)Steph S.
I went to Siena Tavern on a Thursday night and it was packed. I got a drink called the No. 2 and it was refreshing and delicious. For appetizers we ordered the hearts of palm salad, Coccoli, and the truffle mushroom pizza. All were PHENOMENAL. I didn't know if dinner could live up to the appetizers. We ordered the gnocchi, pappardelle, and squid ink linguini. All were fantastic, especially the pappardelle. For desert, we had the homemade doughnuts. It was AMAZING. I could have eaten a thousand of them. Dinner was about two hours long, and it was truly a wonderful culinary experience. I will absolutely be back.
(4)Irene Z.
The meatball is phenomenal! Absolute must have! Also a great bar/lounge type atmosphere. Would definitely go back!
(5)David H.
My wife and I, and a couple of friends visited Siena Tavern today, and found the experience exceptional. The coccoli and wagy beef meatballs were mouthwatering. The carne pizza, short rib ravioli and tavern burger were on point and the bomboloni dessert had the whole table salivating!!! This is a must visit when you are in Chicago!!! Oh yeah and the staff was so attentive and knowledgeable about the menu!!!
(5)Nishan P.
He was William Shatner's personal chef! The man fed T.J. Hooker, and the Priceline Negotiator! Captain Kirk liked his food so much that he chose to have it on a regular basis. And if it's good enough for Captain Kirk... I was hoping I'd get to meet Chef Fabio Viviani when we dined at his Siena Tavern last night. As luck would have it, he was out of town. We were seated at a four top by large floor to ceiling windows offering a great view of the action on Kinzie Street. Based on our server's recommendation I started with the Grey Goose cocktail No. 2. With peach, lemon, and prosecco, it tasted much better than the Johnny Walker Black cocktail No. 8. For an appetizer I wanted to try the Coccoli, but like the famous chef, it was MIA. They were out of stracchino cheese. The gigantic Kobe Meatball more than made up for the missing Coccoli. It was served in a tomato sauce with ricotta and shaved basil, and I would gladly have made a meal out of just it. I hear the meatball is so popular it has its own Twitter account. My squid ink linguini with a grilled lobster tail entree was spectacular. The spicy lobster cream sauce added just the right amount of heat. The dish was perfectly executed. I also loved that there were large chunks of lobster hidden in the pasta. For dessert, the Tiramisu was an obvious choice. We knew we couldn't go wrong with one of Chef Fabio's signature preparations. Our server also suggested the Bomboloni, Italian doughnuts. Served in a paper bag, they were accompanied by miniature squeeze bottles of caramel, chocolate and raspberry sauces which could be injected into the doughnuts. The caramel was a little too sweet for me. I resorted to making up my own sauce by mixing the much more subtle raspberry with the chocolate. Overall, the meal was excellent. It was a great value for money too. Of course that was to be expected. If there is one thing the Priceline Negotiator knows, it's a good deal. He would never have hired Chef Fabio if he didn't think he was getting a great deal.
(5)Steven N.
Took my dad here for lunch when he was in town visiting me. I really enjoyed myself and the food. I had the cobb salad which I know isn't all that unique but it tasted great - the perfect balance of everything that's in a cobb salad. My dad had the pappardelle which was also very tasty - I of course tried his dish. The service was great too, server was super helpful and informative about the menu and the wine list. The price I quoted was for dinner - lunch is $$.
(4)William B.
Good food, but a typically classless river north experience. We were seated half an hour late for our reservation and then rushed by the wait staff for the entire meal. Was never offered a cocktail, no attendance from waitress on any desires. We saw the waitress three times and only promptly for the bill. Dishes were served out of order (side dishes served as appetizers). The plates were insanely aggressively bussed with waiters and bussers leaning across the table to clean plates while other diners were only half finished with their meals. The food was fine. Halibut was perfectly cooked if lacking in vegetable accompaniment. Kale Ceasar was almost too fresh, quite nice. You can spend the same kind of money for food as good or better and service and ambiance that's designed for those older than postpubescents at a lot of other places nearby.
(2)Cathy B.
I have to make time go back a second time on this trip! The cocoon is smetng I had never hear of and an absolutel MUST DO dish! The lightest and airy puffs of dough with a thin crisp crust, perfect for sharing. Cheese and prosciutto drizzled with honey and trifle oil..heaven on a late! Their meatball sandwich was well portioned and flavorful. I particularly enjoyed the gnocchi in a beautiful creamed sauce. The portion was small yeterfect for lunch. I didn't realize this was Fabio's place (of Top Chef fame). He has done very well here and I look forward to going back quickly to try their pizza and another plate of cocoli...in the meantime I will try to hunt down a copy cat recipe online so I can try to get someone in Florida to make it :)
(5)Chris G.
Best Tiramisu in River North. Hands down, stfu. Soon after we sat down, our scrumptiously thin 12" Margherita pizza hit the bar and went well with my generous pour of their own red blend, which is also mouthgasmic. The thin amount of sauce and cheese were PERFECT for this lunchtime snack. The crust ends were perfect for dipping into the savory and erotic garlic aioli. The tiramisu comes in a metal trough and has climatic bits of white chocolate strategically scattered amongst the black coffee nirvana goo that sits between high class, crispy lady fingers. WOo! Danielle and Ashlee are the great ladies who took great care of us as we didn't quite hear the instructions at the front desk about how to proceed sans reservations. The ladies were handling a frenzied lunch rush crowd but kept the personal touch expert, along with the support staff who truly seemed to like having us there. (This isn't often the case in this area.) I'm pretty sure I've laughed it up with Daniel at another location nearby but forgot to mention it. Now I'm just a few steps from this location and have been waiting months for them to open, to such delight. Someone put a ton of thought, care and cash into this new spot and it has the widest, smoothest granite bar I've had the pleasure of groping.
(4)Blake G.
First let me start off with the food...Oh, the food. I'm not ashamed to say that I have erotic dreams about the food at Sienna Tavern. I've eaten many things on the menu, and although I have some favorites, there is nothing that I have eaten on their menu that has been less than excellent. Here are my favorites...So far: #1: The Brick Chicken Diavlo...The chicken is amazing, but the potatoes that come with it are the best roasted potatoes that I've ever eaten. #2: The Waygu Beef Meatball...One word. AMAZEBALLS! #3: The Burrata is amazing...I would say that the only restaurant that rivals the burrata at Sienna Tavern, would be the burrata at RPM, which is also pretty amazing. I generally eat at the bar, and the service is usually pretty good, but when they get busy, the bartenders sometimes forget that they are working at a fine dining restaurant, and not at their other jobs at Moe's Cantina or American Junkie...There have been a few times when the service at the bar has been a bit unfriendly, but I'm willing to overlook that because overall, this restaurant sticks-the-landing on just about everything else. Having said that, Tricia, Clint, and Tanya at the bar, are always super friendly and on top of their game. The only other complaint, that I can't really blame them for because everyone wants to eat there, is that it can be super busy...All the time. For dinner, I would recommend getting there early (5pm) or later (9pm)...Otherwise, you can always stand at the bar and try to snag an open seat when someone leaves. The bar serves a full dinner menu. I've never tried, but I'm sure you can make a reservation as well if you want to eat in the dining room or outside on their patio in the summer. Oh, and how can I forget about their craft cocktails. I'm not big on craft cocktails, but I make an exception at Sienna. My two favorites are the #4 and the #5...You can thank me later.
(4)Lexie V.
Delicious and fun Italian cuisine! We came in for my sisters birthday dinner and were extremely happy with our experience. Highlights of the meal for us were the amazing Kobe meatball appetizer, the short rib ravioli, and the osso buco; to name a few. I will be back to try more cocktails and yummy eats- keep it up, Siena Tavern!
(4)Lori B.
The "best halibut ever" is how I described this dish to the manager. I was in the mood for a beautiful piece of fish and my selection was perfect. Expertly seared, lightly salted and sitting on a bed of sliced carrots and root vegetables and a brilliantly spiced purée of carrots. Could not have been happier. Excellent handcrafted cocktails, as well. I highly recommend the #13, which is comprised of Hendricks gin and a pear liqueur. Sat outside on a lovely summer evening. Wonderful service and dining experience.
(5)Christina H.
I desided to sleep on it before I wrote a review, since I normally don't do this but my experience at this restaurant was so terrible I feel it would be an injustice not to share with others. The food was good, not great, but good but it doesn't matter when your server makes you feel like you are wasting his time or keeping him from something more important. This was our last stop on our personal food tour of Chicago and I can't say I will ever come back. This place should take some tips from RPM Italian or maybe just fire the waiter because he is not doing them any justice. As for food, it was delicious, not the best I have ever had but really great flavors and presentation but the service left such a bad taste in my mouth from the drink order I just can't get past it. Hopefully you have a better experimence than we did.
(1)Kitrina D.
This restaurant is absolutely wonderful! I was in Chicago for work, and my friend suggested that we try Siena for dinner. We tried so many great things: their homemade mozzarella, pasta in a jar, gnocchi, and the Goose Island beer made specially for their restaurant. The pastas are definitely very heavy but delicious. It is also a little more on the expensive side, but I think with the quality of the food that the price is warranted. I will definitely try this place again when I return. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Gloria B.
Great Italian food presented well! Service was fast. I went there for lunch, got seated right away, and the server was available when needed. The meatball was delicious as well as this popover-type appetizer served with prosciutto and cheese. My friend liked her chopped salad, which had some avocado. I had the squid ink spaghetti with lobster that was rich and creamy with a spicy kick. For dessert, I had honey ice cream with chocolate chips, garnished with bee pollen. The ambience was trendy mixed with traditonal elements, and very spacious. It was busy and buzzing with people's conversations. However, I was able to talk with my friend in a normal voice without fear of being eavesdropped.
(5)Pete B.
good, but not great. We pretty much ordered what people here recommended. cocolli: pretty good! but nothing mind-blowing. wasn't really sure how to eat it at first (do I stuff the whole prosciutto and cheese/honey inside/) Came in 4 pieces, and they were more filling than expected. meatball appetizer: well, this was unexpected. First up, the portion is huge; enough to be an entree. My friend commented that it was more like a meatloaf. the meatball was cooked well and everything, but well, it's not mind-blowing. gnocchi: I really enjoyed this dish but my friend didn't like it as much. The gnocchi is chewy in a very good way but the cream sauce was a bit too one-noted. Overall, we were quite surprised that two appetizers and a pasta really really filled us up. The portion here is pretty big which makes the price more reasonable than expected. Service was pretty bad. Our server looked genuinely bored and hated to be there. kinda reminded me of the grinch in a restaurant full of merry people. Overall, this is a pretty good surprisingly-more-traditional-than-not italian place. Nothing too inventive, but still a good Italian place. Will I go back? probably not. why pick good when you can choose great.
(3)Michael U.
Items selected: Biscuits and Gravy - Smoked Brioche Bread Pudding Biscuit, Prosciutto Sausage Gravy Lobster Hash - Poached Eggs, Truffle Hollandaise Gnocchi - Truffle Cream, Fried Sage, Crispy Pancetta Coccoli - Crispy Dough, Stracchino Cheese, Prosciutto di Parma, Truffle Honey Truffle Mushroom Pizza - Roasted Wild Mushrooms, Garlic Cream, Mozzarella, White Truffle Oil Monkeybread - Hazelnut Cream, Caramel, Candied Hazelnuts Bombolini - Whisky Caramel, Chocolate Hazelnut, Raspberry Chianti, Pumpkin Cream Stuffed French Toast - Apple Cheesecake Stuffed Brioche, Vanilla Cream, Saba, Candied Grapes Finally gathering my mother and aunt before we all went back to our respective lives it was at splashy downtown Siena Tavern that we would enjoy a final family brunch and although much of the press has been good none of it would have led me to believe it would be one of the more memorable meals we would enjoy together this year. A surprisingly large space with banquets, bars, tables, lounges, and private rooms awash in wood and bathed in light from floor to ceiling windows it was mere moments after entering that we found ourselves seated on plush leather and with exquisite service throughout the only difficulty was avoiding ordering too much...unless of course you share my opinion that there can never be "too much of a good thing." Featuring a menu of brunch and lunch with subcategories savory, sweet, small, and large the meal started out well with the airy and crisp coccoli before moving to innovative brunch standards including slightly overcooked (and overpriced) Lobster Benedict over ratatouille alongside smoky, rich "biscuits and gravy" featuring buttery bread pudding in place of fluffy catsheads and as good as these were, the best was yet to come. Ostensibly an Italian restaurant but with pastas and secondi somewhat limited at brunch it was with elation that the restaurant's oft cited gnocchi arrived as good as the rumors with potato clouds so light they'd have floated away without the hefty yet balanced sauce and not to be outdone the aromatic pizza would also prove admirable with a golden crust featuring robust crunch and a lightly yeasty crumb beneath a hefty layer earthy mushrooms and just enough truffle oil to enhance but not overwhelm. Certainly not leaving without dessert it can only be said that Siena Tavern saved the best for last and although the dessert-menu staple Monkeybread was excellent it was the DIY Bombolini and Saba and Custard soaked cheesecake parfait feigning as French Toast that stole the show; the later almost indescribably complex and a 'must order' for fans of sweet and savory alike.
(5)Max A.
Veal is vile, tastes like paper. Siena took it off the bill - I'll see if they can do better tomorrow
(3)Kayla P.
Went for brunch. Great, attentive service. Had a mimosa and one of their #2 cocktails. YUM. Had the Coccoli, most amazing thing I've ever ate. Split the gnocchi, nutella butter waffle, lobster hash, and truffle oil mushroom pizza. Truly can't go wrong with anything but the gnocci was out of this world.
(5)Yanyao N.
I could come here and live off the coccoli and squid ink linguine with lobster. Sure, the meatball is hefty and delicious, but the coccoli will send you over the edge - meat, cheese, carb, salty, sweet - SO satisfying. Throw in some salad (the fall salad is divine), maybe a burnt pepperoni pizza, and make sure to finish your meal with the tiramisu and bomboli (fill your own mini cutie doughnuts!). Then have someone wheel you out or order an Uber home. The food is great. Service can be hit or miss, but is generally friendly - nothing different from what you'd except from the River North neighborhood (not my favorite, in case you couldn't tell). This is a place that your visiting family who watch Top Chef will love, though I've never seen Fabio in here. As long as they keep serving the coccoli, I won't complain. :)
(4)Senada I.
Absolutely love this place! It is my go to place in the city. The food is amazing and the vibe is always great as well. The staff is also really great especially my favorite bartender Aleyda. I hosted a birthday party there and it was a hit!
(5)Anne L.
Waygu beef Meat Ball & coccoli appetizers were awesome! No entree necessary! Waiting for our dessert which sounds divine--Bomboloni & monkey bread!
(5)Nicki S.
Went for lunch during Restaurant week and my group was all extrememly happy with the menu. I had the Truffle Mushroom Pizza, Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad, and Salted Caramel Gelato. All were amazing. I'll definitely be coming back for dinner sometime soon!
(5)Thomas C.
Place was packed when we walked in on a Friday night ... reservations were all booked, either sit at the bar or begone, so we fought for a seat at the bar. WOW. We loved out cocktails but the mushroom pizza was phenomenal. Will definitely go back for dinner ... and more drinks.
(4)Jessica N.
Ho-ly. Shit. This meal. It's taken me FOREVER to have the patience to get into this place. Finally got in early enough on a restaurant week lunch reservation for the hubby's birthday, and let me tell you, it's worth the wait! Definitely my fav Top Chef restaurant in the city (sorry Dale and Stephanie). Plus the Restaurant Week menu was extremely generous. Here's how it breaks down: Oysters (not part of Rest. Week) - Kumumotos. Always get them, they are amazing and the accoutrements were perfect. Coccoli - So creative, perfect combo of sweet/salty and great texture Meatballs - Delicious. Maybe the least remarkable because how good/unique can a meatball get? This was good, though Truffle Mushroom Pizza - I eat a lot of mushroom pizza and this one is definitely the best I've had in Chicago. The flavor was amazing, not overwhelming with the truffle. Mushrooms were perfect and delicious crust. holy shit. Gnocchi - Pasta is Fabio's speciality. These were so pillow-y. Maybe the best gnocchi I've had since old school Perennial closed. Bomboli - MUST TRY! They let you fill your own donuts and the portion is ridiculously large! Tiramisu - a little more "wet" than I personallly like my Tiramisu but very tasty. I can't wait to come back and try more of the protein and crudo dishes. BONUS - Fabio spotting! Love that!!!
(5)Gino C.
Food is overpriced and garbage this isn't Italian it's Olive Garden with celebrity chef Wow
(2)Alfreda D.
OMG. Delicious. I came here for a business lunch and it did not disappoint. One person in our group had recommended it and knew the menu fairly well. He started ordering "appetizers" and I was like whoa... it's just lunch. I'm going to be full before my main entrée comes out. That didn't stop me from eating them though. ;-) Here's the list for our table of 5: Coccoli Burnt Pepperoni pizza Tucsan Kale Caesar Wagyu Beef Meatball Sandwich x3 Lobster Roll - The coccoli was like warm dough that just melts in your mouth! Wow... and it came with cheese and prosciutto and honey... "Where am I?", I thought. "Heaven?" - I don't even like, like pizza. So why we needed a pizza as an "appetizer" was beyond me but whatever. Nor do I like pepperoni. However, I was able to sample the menu on somebody else's dime so why not!? LOL. The pizza was oily and delicious and the tomato sauce was spicy... like legitimately spicy!!! Yessss, it was a nice touch and I enjoyed it. Quietly, I wanted another slice but I had the will power to stop at one. - My colleague had the kale salad... he enjoyed it. I can't speak on it much other than that. - Three others at the table each ordered the meatball sandwich and devoured it! There was nothing left on their plates so I'm going to make a HUGE assumption and say that they loved it. - I ordered the lobster roll. Our server, Devin, said that it was rated top (or one of the top) lobster rolls in the city. OK buddy... I'll be the judge of that. Full disclosure, I'm not generally a fan of lobster to begin with but lobster rolls are different (to me) and I tend to like them better than just dipping lobster in warm butter. It was good. Full of flavor and tons of lobster squeezing out of the roll. They didn't skimp on the portion... and you know lobster ain't cheap! - Lastly, the fries... man, the fries were so tasty. Each sandwich came with them and they were topped with grated parmesan cheese. The cheese... gosh, I really never thought about grating parmesan on fries before... that's about to be my new thing! Needless to say, I really enjoyed my FULL sized lunch at Siena Tavern. The service was good, the venue was really nice and large. There was outdoor seating as well as large booths (where we sat), a large bar area and high top tables... the seating options were robust. I will be back again for sure.
(5)Jerry U.
I've been here several times now including dinner a few times, lunch, and a brunch. Consistently good food and service. The restaurant is nicely done, very comfortable, cozy and hip and the vibe is great as this place is almost always busy. Reservations are hard to come by for dinner so book early. Both the food and drink are the real stars here. Cocktails are nicely executed and quite tasty. From a food perspective - I have not had a bad dish here. My suggestion is to order a lot of different foods and share because it is all fun and delicious. A few standouts for me have been the Brick Chicken (one of the best chicken dishes in Chicago - hands down!) - also the Burnt Pepperoni Pizza and the Kale Cesar Salad. The Burata from the Mozzarella Bar is also delicious. While this is not an inexpensive dinner when it is all said and done - but I think it's well worth it as they don't skimp on the portions or the flavor. I'll be back as everyone I've brought here has really enjoyed the entire experience.
(4)Jill and Ying J.
WOAH. It's been a while since I've been this wowed by an Italian place in Chicago. Came here for lunch with a friend and 3 words: coccoli, gnocci, and monkeybread. I know the coccoli looks/sounds a bit skeptical but just get them--they're like cream puffs that you fill up with prosciutto, cheese, pesto, and truffle honey and then let harmonize in your mouth. And the house-made gnocci... it was not I but my friend who ordered it, and how thankful I am that she did. I think this is the first time I've actually had gnocchi the way it's supposed to taste, a far far cry from those dense weirdly textured balls that don't quite soak up flavors the way you want them to--no, these were perfectly the opposite, and may have actually turned gnocchi from my least favorite Italian pasta type to most favorite. To top it all off, service was impeccable, and the patio was perfect for a lazy Sunday lunch.
(5)Lukas V.
Came here a few weeks back, and loved the food. The server recommended a dish that I never thought I would try, because of the ingredients in it... But boy she was right to recommend it, it's called Pasta in a Jar... Yummm-o. I do suggest that you make reservations, it's a little hard to get into if it's last minute... Oh and the wine list is to die for and greatly priced!!
(5)Debbie F.
Seven of us had a great Sunday night dinner and drinks at Siena Tavern. It is a lively, hip place with delicious food. We had a wide assortment off the menu and absolutely loved everything with the exception of the pizza. It was just okay. The drinks are very inventive and yummy. I loved the decor and though it is a large place, the seaiting allows for intimate parties. My biggest beef would be the noise level because it was difficult to carry on a conversation, but we would return for the food and drinks, without a doubt!!!!!
(4)Anika E.
I'm very against returning to the same restaurant if you're traveling. There is so much good food to try! But, I had to break the rules for this place. We (of course) found this place on Yelp. No reservations available, but we figured we'd give it a shot at sit at the bar. The bartender was SO sweet. She might've been amused at our sounds and facial expressions, so she kept feeding us! The cocktails were fabulous - I must've tried 4 different ones, and all were awesome. I kept going back to the one with Plymouth, lavender, violet, and a sprig of rosemary. If you know what's good for you, you'll get the Coccoli. Hollow balls of dough that you stuff with Prosciutto de Parma, straccino cheese, and truffle honey. Try to not moan while you eat this. We split a Kale Caesar, which I was concerned would be bitter, or unpleasant. Boy, was I wrong. The kale is tender, and the oven roasted tomatoes are a nice touch! Be sure to make sure they don't skimp on the croutons! After the bartender saw us drool over the truffle honey, she suggested the gnocci. Mmm, tiny pillows of goodness, with pancetta, truffle oil cream sauce, and a crispy brown butter sage. We added the carne pizza to the list which was good, but so much food! I wish we gave the desserts a shot, but there was no room left. We went back the next day, and had the same apps, and the soup of the day - corn chowder. Mm! Not too shabby. The second day's entree consisted of the orchiette pasta wth lamb and saffron. If you're into lamb and saffron, get it. My friend ordered the Bolognese pasta dish - SO GOOD. The pasta wasn't too thickly rolled, and the meat sauce was very tasty. Fun environment, and great waitstaff. Fabio, please bring your Coccoli to Los Angeles!
(4)Betty C.
If you can make a reservation in advance ask for one of the tables on the raised level on the west side of the restaurant. It's a little quieter (only a little) and you can see all the action. Coccoli - again were delicious, octopus was a small serving but deep in flavor - some didn't like the celery in it. Brussels sprout salad lacked salt and overall didn't live up to it's billing. Roasted beet salad with arugula and truffle oil was tasty. What was nice was that they split salads into two portions when we mentioned we would be sharing. Double cut veal chop was tender and delicious- big enough for two, served with sauteed rapini and an agrodolce (sweet/sour) glaze and an arugula salad. Osso buco was fall off the bone tender with a great farro risotto and served with a longneck spoon to scoop out the bone marrow. Short rib ravioli had plenty of beef flavor and a rich brown demi glace sauce. The pizza with prosciutto and arugula reminded us of many eaten in Italy - fresh. Orecchietti with merguez sausage and saffron cream was very intensely flavored - delicious but almost too much flavor! Would like to return for lunch and spend only 1/3 the money! Prices are high for the portion size.
(4)Aris B.
Fantastic experience with family/child accommodating. I've had wonderful meals previously at Siena on business and decided to bring the family together for our holiday "splurge" meal. Even though they are obviously going for a more adult crowd, I did notice a few family gatherings in place, and our server did not hesitate at all (or give any dirty looks) while tuning a few of the meals to work with the kiddos. EVERY one of the dishes we had was a big hit, from the octopus appetizer (I get it every time, and it is the best I've had, charred perfectly and tender), to the papperdelle (a bit boring compared to the other options, except where it counts, in taste). Finishing it off with the caramel cookies (and sharing some bombolini deserts, incredible). Literally every person at the table was loving their respective dishes, fantastic job. Hope they keep the quality bar high, I plan on making it a regular stop anytime I am back in Chicago
(5)Ryan B.
I've probably eaten here 15-20 times over the last couple of years and it never, ever disappoints. The 16" softball meatball appetizer is always a good way to start the meal, but the star of the show is the prosciutto and pear pizza. Top 5 pizzas in the city.
(5)Lance R.
Great food for lunch, convenient location, they have valet parking even for lunch and they have outdoor seating facing both Dearborn and Kinzie to do people watching at lunch. They have a good full stocked bar and the menu style is tapas but obviously more Italian geared. I recommend the sashimi(esq) dishes and the meatball appetizer as well as the gnocchi. The salads are also good. Definitely a top tiered choice compared to other places in the area. Also, they have a "board room" type private dining area for groups of 10-16 that's good for business meetings. The wait staff are VERY attractive as well as clientele in the bar area.
(4)Emma K.
I came to dinner here with the boyfriend this past Tuesday evening, and it was definitely one of the best dining experiences I have had in Chicago. As a huge Top Chef fan, I made our reservations about a month prior to dinner, and it looks like they're even trickier to get now for prime dining times (we went at 7:30). We were seated immediately despite arriving 10 minutes early. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful, and the dining area is nicely separated from the bar. Our server was a little slow getting us started with ordering and getting our drinks, but he had a large table right behind us and I was in no hurry. He did a great job of explaining some unique features of the restaurant and pointing out a few of his favorite items on the menu. All of the food we got was so delicious (and we ate enough to roll out of the restaurant). The coccoli appetizer was amazing, and I could eat two of those just as a meal and be happy. I only had a couple small pieces of the carne pizza, but the pepperoni and basil made this delicious too. The crust was perfect and my boyfriend, the pizza snob, really enjoyed it. The gnocchi was phenomenal. The portion was relatively small, but I think this is a good thing since the truffle cream sauce is so rich. I would definitely get this again if (when) I go back. Since we had already eaten thousands of calories per person, we figured we might as well get dessert and got the bombolini. This dish is four warm doughnuts that come with three sauces in squeeze bottles (fancy variations on caramel, chocolate, and strawberry) that you can fill the doughnuts with - so fun and delicious. For such a nice restaurant in River North, the prices here are incredibly fair. The wine list has a ton of reasonably priced options which surprised me. While it was more than we normally spend on dinner, an appetizer + two entrees + dessert + 2 glasses of wine + 2 glasses of beer = $92. For such an amazing dinner, I think this is a steal. RPM is also on my restaurant bucket list, but I think now I might just cross it off and come back here for seconds instead! Only thing that would have made it better would have been seeing Fabio himself :)
(5)Catherine P.
Dined at Siena Tavern on a Friday for a late lunch. To keep my review succinct: Pros: ~Lovely decor ~House draft and sangria were amazing ~Get the coccoli (at least one order!) ~Fair to generous portions ~Ordered the lobster roll, gnocchi, coccoli, and bombloni donuts and enjoyed every last bite ~bubbly manager stopped by to check on us Cons ~waitress couldn't exactly make suggestions (reading the menu in it's entirety doesn't help), but she may have been new/nervous. ~our meal came out before our appetizer was completed so timing was not ideal Will be back to try some of the cocktails, pizza, and more pasta options!
(4)Meredith F.
Have gone here several times for work lunches. Great food and atmosphere! We had the grilled octopus - amazing! The chopped salad and mushroom truffle pizza are also very good. Love their desserts! The doughnut balls that you can squeeze fillings into were delicious! Will definitely be going back!
(5)Brian L.
OMG! The food here was amazing! Coccoli, kale ceaser, gnocchi, truffle pizza and bomboloni to bring it home!!! Our server Kristen was great, knew the menu inside and out and left us wanting for nothing! I only wish I had two of me to keep eating. I can't speak highly enough about our meal! This place is a must!!
(5)Angie K.
I love brunch but I hate waiting. Planning for my upcoming birthday brunch, I knew I wanted to pick a place that took reservations so I could avoid standing in the cold or squished in a small waiting area. I found Siena Tavern (already on my to-do list) was on Open Table and jumped immediately on the reso. I was running a little late (I run on Cuban time) and was scared this trendy spot would be packed and would give up my table. I called and they were totally cool with me coming in 10 minutes late. Upon walking in, I was already really happy I picked this place for my birthday brunch. It wasn't totally packed but still lively. In the main dining area, there were dark wood tables and tall booths with dark brown leather. Really cute, modern chandeliers hung from the ceiling. In another dining area, there were tables parallel to the windows that curved along the sidewalk. The crowd encompassed a mixture of young, hot 20-somethings (your typical River North-ers), a private party of middle aged women and a sprinkle of 30-40 y/o couples. My friend and my hubby accompanied me and as soon as our booties touched the booth seats, our waitress came around. My friend contemplated ordering the ahi tuna and asked the waitress her opinion.The waitress honestly responded that the portions would've been really small and probably not filling at all, considering the price. I so appreciated her honesty and we proceeded with our orders. I had already studied the menu (like the good yelper that I am) and suggested the fries and the benedict (aka green eggs!) to my hubby and friend and they listened. I had the truffle scrambled eggs, which should be no surprise for since I'm a truffle addict. YUM! They were perfectly cooked, with the perfect ratio of truffle in every bite. The dish also came with goat toast, basically thin bread with melted goat cheese on top. My hubby and friend LOVED their benedicts. My friend said she would've preferred regular hollandaise but my hubby said he enjoyed the pesto aspect. The fries were also pretty damn good since it came with an aioli sauce. Very very full and satisfied with the service, food, decor, I really have no complains with Siena Tavern. I look forward to checking out lunch/dinner another time!
(5)Mike O.
Almost everything on the menu sounded good so it was very hard to choose and ordeded way too much. Kale cesar was tasty amd beet salad could use some work. Pepperoni pizza had a nice spice and the roasted brussel sprout pizza was reallt different and good. Truffle gnocchi was super rich after a few bites you couldnt handle anymore. Squid ink linguini had a ton of lobster that was well cooked and the sauce was fantasticm definately best dish of the night. Server was incredibly slow but was very knowledgeable about the products.
(3)Jackie S.
I went here a few months ago to catch up with some friends I studied abroad with. I had passed Siena Tavern quite a few times so when my friend suggested we go there for lunch, I was quick to say yes. The coccoli is to die for as is the truffle mushroom pizza. It's actually hard to put into words how great the coccoli is. Order it and you won't regret it. While the place is a little pricy, I would definitely recommend trying it out. I know I'll be back sometime soon.
(5)Lauren F.
As soon as I had my first bite of the Gnocchi with Truffle Cream and Crispy Pancetta at Chicago Restaurant Week's First Bites Bash, I knew a visit to Siena Tavern needed to be in my near future. Had I known when I took that bite that Siena Tavern was the new Italian restaurant of chef Fabio Viviani...well, let's just say there would have been some squeals involved. I'm a huge Top Chef fan and the charming Viviani of Season 5 won Fan Favorite for a reason. I had no doubt that my gnocchi was just a small taste of the amazing food Fabio had in store for Chicago. Situated on the corner of Kinzie and Dearborn, Siena Tavern fits perfectly into Chicago's trendy River North neighborhood. Lucas Stoioff and David Rekhson of Bull & Bear and Public House are no strangers to this 'hood, and they know how to do it right. Our reservation was at 6:30p on a Friday and we arrived early to grab a drink and check out the bar area before dinner. At 6p the place was seriously hoppin'...from business professionals grabbing a drink after work to girls dressed like they were ready to hit the club...it was quite the mix of people. We were able to grab a spot at the bar and try a few of their Femme du Coupe cocktails. I tried the #2 and the #4. Both on the sweeter side, one made with vodka and the other with gin. I thoroughly enjoyed both, but the #4 with plymouth, lavender honey, lemon, and creme de violette was definitely my fav. By 6:30p the wait for walk-ins was almost 2 hours...if you don't have a reservation I'd suggest stalking the bar patrons and swoop in once they're ready to leave-like I said, we snagged a couple seats at the bar less than 10 minutes after arriving. Once our reservation time rolled around we were seated at one of the half-circle booths in their large, open dining room. We had a group of 4 and the booth was perfect; we had more than enough room and the arrangement made for intimate conversation while letting us take in the beautiful space around us. The service we experienced was outstanding-our server Karissa was so friendly and had great suggestions, she coursed our dishes perfectly, and our water glasses were never empty. The plates at Siena are smaller and made for sharing. I think a group of 4 is the perfect size if you're looking to maximize the number of dishes you can try while still getting a decent portion of each. We started with a few smaller plates: the Burrata from their Mozzarella Bar, served with a delicious tomato jam and grilled bread; the Saba Roasted Bone Marrow with pickled maitake mushrooms and crispy bread; and the Siena Chopped Salad. The salad was good but the Burrata and Bone Marrow were major standouts. I will definitely be ordering both of these again when we return (because we'll obviously be returning). We followed up our "starters" with a few pastas. We tried the Short Rib Ravioli, Squid Ink Linguini, and Gnocchi. Again, they were all incredibly delicious and picking a favorite is nearly impossible, but I think the linguini stood out the most for me. The rich, meaty ravioli and velvety truffle cream gnocchi were both dishes I would absolutely order again. However, the subtle spice of the lobster cream sauce on the linguine was what really did it for me. Plus, I think I just love eating squid ink linguini! We would've loved to go on trying more of the pastas, but we were told it would be wise if we left room for some of their fantastic desserts. We went with the Tiramisu and the Bomboloni. The Tiramisu is Fabio's grandmother's recipe and grandma did not disappoint! I like to think of myself as somewhat of a Tiramisu connoisseur because I try it everywhere. Siena Tavern's rendition is without a doubt one of my favs. Rich and creamy yet it still feels light when you take a bite. Tiramisu perfection! The Bomboloni is also worth a sweet splurge at the end of your meal. Warm, airy dough covered in sugar and served with 3 different sauces in squeeze bottles-yes, you want this. You can squeeze the whisky-caramel, chocolate hazelnut, or lemon-maple sauce into the bomboloni at your discretion but in my experience more is better! Of course no meal at the restaurant of a famous chef is complete without a picture with the chef! Fabio was visiting tables in the bar and dining room all night and before we left we asked if we could grab him for a quick hello. He graciously posed for a picture with me and my night was complete! Absolutely fantastic meal, we can't wait to return!
(5)Annon Imus X.
My husband and I visited Chicago for our 20th anniversary. I made lunch reservations at Siena Tavern for our first day. The restaurant was hopping and very energetic but not wall-to-wall people. We were seated right away in a great booth facing the busy street. Our server came over almost immediately and brought us a "Happy Anniversary" card. For appetizers, we ordered the very popular Coccoli and Waygu Beef Tartare. I must admit that I have never eaten tartare before and was very skeptical. After a couple glasses of nice wine, I dove right in. I'm not sure if all beef tartare is this amazing, but it was flavorful, creamy, perfectly seasoned and absolutely delicious. The Coccoli was also devine but I focused on the tartare and didn't want to fill up too much before our entrees. For our entrees, my husband had the pasta in a jar. The pasta was brought out in a mason jar with a closed lid. Inside the jar were layers of pasta and other yummy ingredients. The server shook the jar and poured the mixed pasta creation into the pasta bowl. It was a very cool presentation and my husband ate every last bite. I ordered the Prosciutto Pear pizza with baby arugula. The crust was perfect, the arugula was extremely peppery, and the pizza was phenomenal. Our server was fantastic, attentive and focused but never intrusive. Of all the restaurants we visited during our anniversary weekend, this is the one restaurant I cannot wait to re-visit!!
(5)Patrick F.
Don't come here for a game! They won't play the audio. They won't play the audio as "they are not a sports bar." This is not sports! It's a Chicago bar and the Hawks are playing for he Cup!!! No audio? No game!
(1)Katey A.
Do yourself a favor, order 2 orders of the coccoli. This sweet, salty combination of fresh bread, honey, panchetta and cheese will render you speechless. It really is as good as everyone says it is. However, it's also so good that everything that you have after the coccoli cannot meet your new high standard of amazing food. My boyfriend and I shared the brick chicken (tender, crispy, and the sauce was very savory), the gnocchi (truly little clouds of noodle heaven), and their version of a meat lovers pizza. Everything we ate was excellent and had very well developed flavors, but none could compare to the appetizer that we so quickly fell in love with. Our server was fantastic and the atmosphere is great for happy hour or date night. I'm serious about the coccoli though - get two.
(4)Lauren T.
Siena Tavern was ok in terms of food and service. We did come on Valentine's Day so I did not expect to have exceptional service, but the service was pretty awful. We were first seated late and then it took our waiter about 15 minutes before greeting us at our table. The food is mediocre at best and the prices are ridiculous for what you are actually getting. We started with the coccoli for an appetizer, and it was decent, but again nothing so great it warrants $16 for cheese and bread essentially. For main dishes I had the pappardelle and my boyfriend had the spaghetti again ridiculously overpriced for what you are getting. There are much more authentic and reasonably priced Italian restaurants around Chicago.
(2)Andrea K.
One of my new favorite restaurants in Chicago. I now live in CA but was raised in Chicago and worked across the street at Bin 36 for 2 years. Had this place been around back then I'd have been going there every day. The ambience is stellar. My fiance and I went with my best friend and her boyfriend to celebrate our December birthdays. The environment was welcoming, warm and cozy in a super stylish way. We got a booth with a view of Kinzie, which was nice. Service was great. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and checked on us appropriately. The GM came by twice to make sure everything was going well and that we were pleased. Now on to the food. So delish! We started off with the burrata which I am a huge fan of. They paired it with a tomato jam which paired perfectly, slightly savory and sweet at the same time. We also shared the truffle and mushroom pizza, which is one of my favorite pairings. The truffle flavor was not super overpowering, which I know is one reason a lot of people shy away from it. For entrees, I ordered the tortellacci, which I've never actually heard of. The brown butter sauce paired with the butternut squash filling was perfect, however, probably too sweet for someone who doesn't enjoy a little sugar with their dinner. My fiance ordered the bolognese which was fabulous. The perfect consistency and amount of meat in the sauce and pasta was cooked as it should be. My friend ordered the farro risotto with wild boar, which didn't sound like my thing. Oh how I was wrong. Maybe the best entree out of them all. So much flavor. Her boyfriend ordered the orecchiette, which again, was delectable. I was the only one to order dessert, the gelato, and it was superb. Overall, you must go here! A win on all levels, you cannot go wrong. Trust me.
(5)Mary M.
Went here tonight with my boyfriend for a date night! The food was amazing, right on point. Started with the Waygu meatball, and that truly melts in your mouth. Next shared the gnoochi with truffle cream, and pancetta, that was an awesome dish. Then finished with the donuts with sauces to inject, wow!! What a cool concept, and those are killer! Have to say everything we ate was great, but the server was just as good. Juan was our server, he really had good knowledge, and wanted to make sure that our dinner was the best possible! Great place, and great service. :)
(5)Rachel V.
Um, somebody take me back here please. Wow, is the food at Siena drop dead delicious. First off, great atmosphere. Trendy and cool without being pretentious. The service was excellent. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and made great food recommendations. I ordered the short rib ravioli which was absolutely perfect. And it wasn't skimpy like short rib ravioli usually is. The men split the 36 oz. Porterhouse, which they said was one of the best steaks they'd ever had. I don't remember what it's called, but the appetizer that is the doughy/cheesy goodness is an absolute MUST. Okay, I think I'm just going to make a reservation now to go back...
(5)Randy S.
Bomboloni. Oh my goodness, Bomboloni. The atmosphere is surprisingly casual when you sit down, but don't let that fool you - the price tag is still pretty classy. You will find that much of those dollars are well spent. We did not see a entree that did not make us salivate, and our own selections were fantastic. Buffalo Mozzarella was sweet and tangy - a perfect blend. The Kale Caesar salad added something new that we couldn't quite put our finger on. It converted my date into Caesar salad lover! And that tagliatelle was was perfectly cooked. I don't think we could have picked wrong. But the icing on the cake that was this delicious meal was the Bomboloni. Siena Tavern has fried dough, sugared them, and provided you with 3 different sauces. you can coat the dessert with the sauce, or inject them... either way you will be transported to heaven. Oh man, this was my favorite part of my meal. And not for nothing, but the staff and servers are consummate professionals.
(4)sara s.
We came for lunch so didn't need to worry about a wait. The food was very tasty. The servers were very friendly and helpful with the menu. The decor is really spectacular and we enjoyed looking around. I ordered the gnocchi it was okay but I felt it needed more flavor. I decided to try the white truffle shavings - totally not worth the $45 it was tasteless, no jokes. We had the bombilinos for dessert. Don't miss out on those. So much fun eating them and it was absolutely delicious!
(4)Jennifer J.
Really, really like this place! It's always packed if you go during happy hour -- which isn't always a bad thing. It can take a while to get a drink, but the drinks are good. For appetizers, I love their hamachi & tuna crudo, the meatball is awesome & so is the coccoli. All the pastas are pretty good as well, but I usually just stick with apps and alcohol :-)
(4)Emily Z.
Siena's first three star review, I seem to be the only one not drinking the Kool-aid. Though I did drink the #4- Plymouth, Lavender Honey, Lemon, Creme De Violette. Equal parts strong, delicious and magic! Having trouble getting a dinner reservation? I scored a Saturday lunch reservation a week in advance. Don't worry the daylight only enhances the great decor of Siena Tavern! Our Table of 4 oh'd and ah'd over the entire menu and split the 4 following dishes: Coccoli - crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey, $12 Delicious, cheese was out of this world, perfect to split amongst 4 Shaved Brussels Sprouts - parmigiano, toasted marcona almonds, $9 Not a fan, lacking flavor, honestly not worth $2 in my book. skip. Short Rib Ravioli - roasted porcini mushrooms, taleggio, $17 Okay, but nothing better, too salty for my taste and just nothing special, I needed more flavors. Nellcote, Girl in the Goat, these are places I will pay $17 for 5 ravioli... this one was not worth it. Prosciutto Pear - roasted garlic cream, taleggio, mozzarella, grilled pears, baby arugula, $17 Our second favorite dish and definitely the most filling for the price. Loved the sweetness of the pears and the creaminess and flavor of the double cheese! I was looking for this restaurant to blow me out of the water, like its long reservation lead time and prices, but sadly just A-ok for me, which means nothing in the city of 1,000 restaurants!
(3)Mahsa T.
Usually a new restaurant generates a lot of hype and then you try it and it's a big let down--well, not so for Siena. I was pleasantly surprised at the good energy here, every time I've been here the bar area and restaurant are packed (in fact now I'm sad that I can't get a reservation for weeks). Besides the lively atmosphere and warm feeling you get when you enter Siena, the food is awesome. You must try the squid ink linguini! I will order this and this only every time I go here because it's that good. You get a lot of good lobster meat for the price and the creamy sauce is heavenly. I have also had the wagyu beef meatball, the roasted beet salad, the scallops and the coccoli (crispy dough with cheese)--all delicious! The salted caramel gelato is fantastic as is the chocolate. Warm colors, beautiful woodsy decor, the massive bar is an art piece. I would highly recommend Siena Tavern for any special occasion meal or after work drinks. Great people, atmosphere, and food.
(5)Aakash P.
Great service, great food and great drinks! I came to Sienna Tavern on a Tuesday expecting to just grab a couple drinks. We ended up grabbing drinks and food. I got the margherita pizza which was cooked to perfection and great for sharing. The service was great and place was neither too loud or quiet. Ambience is perfect for a relaxing evening with a few friends. Will end up going back for a happy hour!
(4)Roberta B.
Fabulous dinner! I'm still dreaming about the brick chicken the most delicious dish ever. Also enjoyed the giant Wagyu 12 oz. meatball which was seasoned perfectly in a delicious tomato based sauce. Pizza was also good, along with the chopped salad. Save room for dessert as there are many tantalizing choices but I only had room for the sorbet. This is a young crowd, noisy, not romantic but I would return in a heartbeat.
(5)Chastity N.
I came here with my brunch buddy this past Saturday. My waitress was GREAT!!! and the food is amazing. We sat outside on the patio because the weather was great. DRINKS: Mimosa's. They were really good. FOOD: (shared ) We started off with the lasagna, which they cook in a circular cast iron pan; very different. It was sooooooooo meaty and saucy. THIS IS A MUST HAVE Then we had the burnt pepperoni spicy pizza. It was good, just a little too spicy for my taste....but maybe that's because I sprinkled extra crushed peppers on it LOL (my bad) We then ended with the caramelized waffle as dessert (LOL, i know) they with serve with a nutella butter that they mix and the syrup was an aged bourbon syrup topped with fresh berries. IT WAS DELISH Cant wait to go back and try this place for dinner!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Kate Z.
Siena Tavern haunts my dreams. It's that good. I've been a few times for work lunches and am always happy with the meal (to the point of bursting). Highly recommend the grilled octopus and the kale Caesar salad as individual items, but do try some cheese as well. Order a plate, you won't be sorry. Beautiful interior and excellent service. PS: Don't forget to order some bomboloni (donuts) for dessert! They are fluffy and sugary and taste like heaven. Bonus points for the yummy sauces you can either squeeze into the donut or simply use as a dip.
(5)Helen H.
too bad.. i was soooo looking forward to this place for monthsss with my friends, and when you walk in with such a lovely welcoming aroma of truffles... mmmmm. i was so excited. we started off with some cocktails and beer- excellent excellent. light summery, perfect. #11 was my personal favorite. we got an app of the coccoli- holy crap- it was like eating clouds! so pillowy soft!! i thought it was great, but it was def hit or miss with the table. i got the tagliatelle with truffle butter... totall miss. it was so.. incredibly bland. no flavor except it tasted oily. my favorite thing is truffles, and i got zero of that. everyone tried my dish and agreed it was a big miss compared to theirs. i ended up eating everyone else's which was on the salty side for me. the Orchiette was excellent as well as the chicken. the tagilatelle did not get better as a leftover. def the truffle pasta at the Gilt bar is still my #1 fave in chicago so far.
(2)Christine G.
The food is mediocre and the staff is terrible. We came in on a Saturday night (a group of 5), accidentally sat at a "wrong" table and the security immediately came with their stupid muscles and acted like they were going to beat the crap out of us 5 girls. We moved from the table with no issues when they asked us. We then waited for a table, got seated and 1 of us got denied service because she said "woohoo"! Really? We were then asked to leave because 1 of us were apparently intoxicated ,ridiculous! I will never come here again and never recommend it to anyone. With so many better restaurants in Chicago, this was my mistake. Sorry, I am a born and raised in Chicago, i know how the industry goes. I have been to Everest, Charlie Trotters in Lincoln Park, and all of Rick Bayless, they would never treat a customer like a piece of shit. Thanks Sienna Tavern, and Fabio, I'm also going on Facebook, Trip advisor, and any other sites i can think of.
(1)Bobbie W.
My gf raved about this place and said it's one of the newer restaurants in Chicago. I went there twice during the weekend I was there, once just for drinks and the other time for dinner. If you're planning on having dinner, make reservations in advance! My gf made reservations a month before and the earliest available was 1030PM. The crowd is definitely more upscale and full of eye candy! Go here if you're single! The restaurant itself is huge and I love that the entire left section is a huge oval bar. Even though the bar seemed packed, it wasn't too hard to squeeze in and order a drink. They have some pretty good mixed drinks if you're into that and a huge selection of liquor. The food was just as delightful as the decor. We ordered the following: - Coccoli - didn't get the full effect bc I left out the prosciutto but it was light and tasty. Tip: cut it in half and stuff it with prosciutto like a sandwich - Grilled octopus - perfectly cooked and full of flavor - Farro salad - really refreshing and it was the perfect dish to balance all the other heavy stuff - Gnocchi - not too creamy/heavy and yummy! - Squid ink linguini - way too salty the first time they brought it out so we got another which was so much better. - Truffle mushroom pizza - can't go wrong with mushroom pizza Overall, service was great and the food was reasonably priced. Will definitely go back.
(4)Jeffrey Z.
My wife and I have been excited to try this place and were lucky enough to get a reservation with a friend last night. The atmosphere was very trendy but not as loud as some of the other Chicago hotspots, which I appreciated. The decor felt sophisticated yet rustic somehow. I noticed some people comparing Siena Tavern to RPM in their reviews. Siena has a much more comfortable, less pretentious feel with much better food. The service was very friendly Our waitress seemed to have a lot going on, so we may not have seen her as much as we liked, but it didn't affect her friendly demeanor. Onto the food, we started with the Kobe Beef Meatball. The flavors were great with a delicious sauce and creamy homemade ricotta with some pieces of basil. There was a hint of lemon that I felt it could have done without. The meatball was huge, which likely kept it moist, but it may have been better as a few smaller balls. We got the Shishito Peppers side, and while these were another item that I thought had too much lemon, they were good (but not as good as Sunda's). For entrees, we shared the Shortrib Ravioli and Truffle Mushroom Pizza. The ravioli had a ton of flavor packed into it with a delicious cream sauce and balsamic on top. Unfortunately, the pasta was a bit undercooked, and there wasn't enough of the delicious short rib filling, which made it a little doughy. The pizza was a delicious flavor combo, and they showed good restraint with the truffle. The crust was definitely too chewy though. For dessert, we tried the salted caramel gelato, which was delicious. It was creamy and fluffy with a great balance between salty and sweet. While there were some minor flaws in dishes, the flavors were great as a whole. Being so new, they're surely still working out some kinks, so we'll be sure to give them another try and see how they progress.
(4)Paul H.
Siena Tavern was recommended to us by a local we chatted up on the "L". Went for lunch...the food was really good. Had burger, lobster hash, monkey bread, giant meatball among the four of us. All great. Service was a little below expectations- for example had to ask for silverware after the food was delivered. Probably would have been a better experience but there were three loudly obnoxious over served guests at the bar near us. Really loud! I know that will happen but I was discouraged because the bar tender was joining right in and even providing shot tastings instead of seeing that a nuisance had developed. That kind of put a damper on an otherwise good meal.
(3)Herman C.
Originally a five star experience and now would give it a 2 and 1/2. Returned to Chicago after a two long work trip and wanted to reward myself with something delicious. I had previously gone with a friend in the summer and enjoyed the meal thoroughly. Previously had ordered the wagyu meatball (Okay but nothing special) the gnocchi which was amazing and the porterhouse steak for two in a lemon butter sauce, also amazing. This time around I ordered the lobster with ink linguine and the porterhouse. The lobster and linguini was so salty I thought the chef might have mistakenly dropped the salt shaker in. The steak was super chewy and was not at all like my original experience for the aged meat. We had a bottle of Malbec to accompany which was solid and tiramisu for dessert which was eye pleasant but flavor wise was average. The dining experience was nice but the food was a let down. Might have to reconsider next time I wanna pay $250 for a meal
(3)Melissa S.
I've been here about four times now and I love this place for lunch, after work drinks/snacks, and dinner too! Every item we've ever tasted has been delizioso. Pizzas = great and authentic to Italy (which I love). Gnocchi = to die for. Coccoli appetizer = best chefvention ever. Meats and cheeses = yum yum yum. On a fat day, I had the tavern burger and my god is this thing mouth watering. I will also admit I did not leave a single fry on my plate - they are most likely laced with crack they are so addictive. Returning there for lunch today with a group from work and I'm going to try the Ahi tuna to start and I haven't made up my mind about what else I am going to eat! Nom nom nom. 4 stars instead of 5 for: dirty-ish silverware (smudgy) and plates, bad acoustics (could barely hear my co-workers at lunch on a Tuesday)
(4)Lightphoot _.
I was very impressed with the meal here. Ate at the bar and had nice service from the bartenders. The bar was big and open with TVs. They had a good selection of cocktails, although I only had wine. I started with the Wagyu Meatball which was very well-prepared. The meat melted in your mouth and the cheese was a nice compliment; the sauce had a good consistency and taste. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish it knowing I had a full pasta dish coming - this would be a good one to share. The Squid Ink Linguini was awesome! There was the perfect amount of lobster and sauce to go with the pasta. All in all I would definitely go back to try some other items, including the pizza which looked delicious.
(5)Kelly C.
One of my favorite spots for casual work lunches during the week and the occasional brunch spot on the weekend. There are so many things on the menu that look tasty, it's hard to decide what to get (but makes it easy to come here over and over again). The pizzas are great, salads are good, and the sandwiches hearty. It's a trendy spot, but doesn't necessarily have all of the "too cool" crowd that some river north spots attracts - maintains a more down to earth feel (in a really good way). Service has always been good and dependable - know how to get you in and out if needed.
(4)Adam C.
We had been hearing great things about ST ever since it opened and finally got around to trying it. We consulted Yelp for suggestions on what to order. We did a party-line ticket of all the favorites: Coccoli, Gnocchi, Meatball, Burrata, the burnt pepperoni pizza and the bomboloni donut dessert. Everything was really wonderful and lived up to the hype. The Coccoli was really interesting in taste and texture. Slightly sweet, slightly savory, with a crumbly pastry, meat and cheese. The gnocchi was good, but tasted like gnocchi we'd had at other places. The meatball was outstanding in every possible way. I'd eat one of those every day if I could. The burnt pepperoni pizza was delicious, but pretty spicy with a lingering burn that later gave us both heartburn. The dessert donuts were really yummy and fun to eat with little bottle of dipping sauce to try in cinnamon, chocolate, caramel and raspberry jelly.
(4)Kaitlin W.
We first tried Siena Tavern for restaurant week and fell in love. I go back whenever the chance arises. If only it weren't so tough to get a reservation at a normal dinner time on open table! Favorites- kale Caesar, coccoli, truffle gnocchi, mushroom truffle pizza, bomboloni for dessert. Brussels sprout salad and squid ink linguine.were both just okay. The cocktail and wine selection doesn't disappoint, either!
(5)Alicia M.
Confession, when I went to Chicago, this place was not on my radar (and I definitely had no idea that Fabio was the exec chef...though that was a definite added bonus). My boyfriend and I decided to go here after seeing an ad on one of the TV's in a taxi. The coccoli is what drew us in. They talked about these fried dough balls with truffled honey and proscuitto, it just sounded heavenly. So on our last day, we made our way over for lunch. It ended up being my favorite place in the city (and now I can't wait to go back). We started with the coccoli and the cheese plate - both were fantastic. Everything I had hoped the coccoli would be..it was...and more. The dough was so light and buttery, they cheese/herb pesto/proscuitto/honey all played so well together with creamy, salty, sweet and earthy flavors. It sounds like it would be overwhelming, but it wasn't. It also wasn't as heavy as I thought it would be. I had the truffled gnocchi for lunch (it was a heavy dish with a cream sauce, probably better for dinner). The gnocchi was fluffy, not gummy like most places do, and the truffle wasn't so potent that it over took the flavors. I had to smack my boyfriend's hand away because he kept trying to take mine. He had the kobe meatball sandwich, and loved it. The portions were pretty big. My only down fall with this place is that it can get pricey (everything looks so good/sounds so good that you want to order it all!) and the service isn't great. When we first got there, they told us we had to sit on the patio, and for a humid day, it wasn't the best. But we did it. At the beginning our waitress was very attentive, but towards the end, she disappeared. We actually waited for over 30 minutes to just get the check. So they lost a star there. Other than that, this is definitely a place you aren't going to want to miss!
(4)Derek B.
Place was packed. Sat at the bar. Alena (sp) was our server. Had drinks, meatball appetizer, pizza and tiramisu. Exceptional food and service was top notch, including wine recommendation and water glasses being full at all times. Great atmosphere and best bar service have had!
(5)Sonal R.
My favorite spot for anytime of the day. Diverse and really good alcohol selection and amazing food. I am a fan of the meatballs, gnocchi, salads, and flat breads.
(4)Sheena C.
Being an Italian food lover, I had to try this place after reading the rave reviews. I was not disappointed. Dining at Siena Tavern was an absolute delight. We started with the coccoli which was nothing short of amazing. The sweetness of the truffle honey and saltiness of the pancetta bring the whole dish together beautifully. Next up I had the truffle gnocchi. Creamy and absolutely delicious. The lobster roll was equally delicious. Fries were perfectly cooked and the lobster was seasoned wonderfully. Will definitely be returning!
(4)Stephanie N.
If you're like most women in American, you first fell in love with Fabio Viviani on Top Chef a few years ago. For those lucky women in Chicago, get ready to fall in love with Fabio in personal through the food and atmosphere he has created at Siena Tavern. I had very high expectations and was sure he was going to disappoint me... but thankfully my tastebuds and stomach were pleasantly impressed. Through the bartender's recommendation, we started with the Coccoli. How could you go wrong? Fried dough, creamy paired cheese drizzled with truffle honey... I could have stopped after appetizers. But I couldn't leave without putting the "Italian" to the test and tasting his meatball. A Wagyu Beef Meatball to be exact, which comes out without any pasta... which could scare some of you newbies, but for those of you familiar with Wagyu... it can carry itself and doesn't need filling carbs to dress it. The Italian surprised me in the Best way! It was quite possibly the best meatball I have EVER had... but don't tell my grandmother I said that. Don't miss this restaurant, but not just because you're a Top Chef fan, but because it some of the best food in Chicago. I would put on a Top 10 list of places to take a date. The atmosphere is perfect for such an occasion. And if the date is a bust... at least you had an incredible meal!
(4)John Z.
It was good, but not up to the hype. We had to Coccoli (effectively a prosciutto and cheese sandwich), it was good, but nothing special. I would get again if nothing else jumped out at me. We had the Bay Scallop from the Crudo Bar, I would not get again. It was crisp, but very bland and forgettable. We had the Smoked Mozzarella, it was good, but tasted like gouda to me. We had the Pappardelle, and it was the best thing we ate. It pretty much saved the meal. The Bomboloni dessert was good, but it was just doughnuts with various frostings. The drink menu was great, as I had their version of an old fashioned, I think it was #5. We will probably go back, but there are other italian restaurants that are better.
(3)Meg W.
So the gluten free menu is fabulous. The management is also awesome, however our server was less than polite. As soon as I explained my other allergies her demeanor changed and I felt embarrassed the rest of the night. I did not even order anything strange or containing things I'm allergic to. Needless to say, we probably won't be back, which is a shame because the food was delicious.
(3)monica m.
Awesome meatballs. Great pizza. Awesome entrees. Great location, wine list and vibe. I'll go again. Reservations a must, but you may score a spot at the bar. I prefer this place to RPM.
(5)Tim S.
Ate here with the family. We were full from a late lunch so we ordered a few items and shared. The prosciutto and pear pizza was excellent as was the shashito peppers. Try a few of their cocktails from the list...excellent. The tuna tartare was ok, not the best we've had. Our waiter was excellent as was all the servers. Overall it was a great experience.
(4)Bran G.
When in River North, eat as the River Northerners do...and Siena Tavern is worth it! We popped in around 6 on a Saturday without a res. and were able to sit outside right away. Breezy spring afternoon but they have those high powered outdoor heating towers that make it very comfortable. I would love to sit inside because the atmosphere is open, inviting, and upscale yet casual. Service including hostess and waitress were impeccable. My cocktail was a 6 out of 5 if you like whiskey and thyme! It was "No. 18" on the menu and I highly recommend it. They also have a Siena Draft which is specially brewed for them by Goose Island. The waitress brought me a taster and it was also pretty dang good. We ordered a variety and shared: kale caeser, grilled octopus, hamachi crudo, parmesan potatoes, and the prosciutto pear pizza. Everything had great flavor with the octopus and hamachi seasoned perfectly. The pizza was my highlight. Sweet pears, salty prosciutto, and and peppery arugula on crust that you could taste the freshness. In an area with a lot of competition, Siena has it all!
(5)Ian S.
Great drinks and apps. Sat at the bar, had a nice time.
(4)Chris S.
Pretty solid place. I went with a co-worker and enjoyed the food / experience but think I would try a few other places before I made this a regular spot. Our waiter at first seemed lost, high or both and I guess they go with a team approach in serving you which wasn't explained. Therefore, the person that cleans off your table, will also grab you a plate, will also get a drink order, will also freshen up your water, etc. You never know who to ask for or what is in flight because 4 to 5 people are helping out. It was just a bit odd. On to the food. Appetizers * Coccoli - this was dumbo good. Crispy dough with cheese inside and then we put the prosciutto inside of it as well. I mean really solid appetizer. * Bufala Mozzarella - this was good but I think the garnishes took away from the mozzarella. Call me a simple guy but sometimes less is more. Entrees * Squid Ink Linguini - solid dish. This was my main and it was awesome. Licked the plate the clean. Nice big chunks of lobster and the pasta was perfect * Double Cut Pork Shop - we had a co-worker get this. Looked solid, he loved it but I didn't give it a try * Pasta in a Jar - I was told this was one of their favorites as well but no one at our table tried it Drinks * I'm going to warn you... if you struggle with bitters as I do... you should probably avoid their house cocktails. I did enjoy the No. 5 but I'm a bourbon guy. I tried getting a No. 10 and it was hot garbage. Again, I hate bitters but tried rolling the dice with this drink. It taste like a nigroni which single handily is the worst drink ever crafted.
(3)Kim W.
Whenever I visit my son in Chicago we come here to eat. We have had the same waiter every time and we love that. My son orders the gnocchi every time and shares a little and they are delicious! I have had several entres and loved every one. Last weekend I had the carrot tortellacci and it was rich and buttery with fried sage leaves to add a bit of spice. I have also had the orecchiette and the short rib ravioli. They were both very flavorful and I would also have them again. I love the setting too, very hip with pretty lighting and a cool bar area. I can't wait to visit again!
(5)S K.
Saturday lunch. Seated in a high traffic area. One of the men who bus tables kept kicking my chair as he was passing by. The kicks are hard enough so the kicker would have noticed if it was accidental. Requested to move to next table. Second time visiting Chicago. Granted people are not as friendly here, there's no excuse for all three receptionists just standing there staring at you, not even cracking a smile or saying a single word of greeting. We walked up to them and said hello and told them how many are dining. Then being seated at a crappy table with the chair kicking... Ugh... Food was just ok. Too much dressing on salad. Pretty cute presentations. Taste is not extraordinary. Our waiter was nice enough though service was slow at times. Takes a lot for me to give a one star review. Expected a lot more from a four star restaurant in a major city.
(1)Sam L.
Great food and staff. The pastas were all amazing. A bit pricey, bit given the location and quality its worth it.
(4)Brian L.
This place was tremendous. Had a really cool vibe to it and the food was incredible. This was without a doubt one of the best restaurants I've been to in my life. The spicy-meat pizza was off the charts. I will definitely be back there on my next trip to Chicago.
(5)Laila C.
I came for a work lunch with 7 other people, between the 8 of us, we basically tried the full menu. coccoli- light fluffy, delicious but a touch too heavy on the truffle oil. Fun to open the fried dough and stuff the prosciutto wrapped cheese inside like a little sandwich. I wasn't a fan of the truffle honey, it got too sticky and a bit too sweet. ahi tuna and hamachi crudo plates: both were delicious but kind of small for $12. 4 small pieces each Prosciutto fig pizza: very heavy on the arugula, I had one bit and realized I didn't want the whole thing. Not bad...just nothing special Farro salad: tasty, pretty big, a LOT of farro Tuscan Kale Caesar: HUGE. but overpriced Lobster club: the lobster was rubbery. I could barely taste the bacon. The brioche didn't taste like anything so I just took off both pieces of bread and ate just the lobster and frisse. Not worth it for $21 Truthfully.....I didn't think this place was worth the hype. Pretty overpriced, the service was far too slow and our server was extremely inexperienced (he didn't know what was in the dishes and told us we should "order as much as possible" since it was a small plates restaurant). Took us more than 1.5 hours for lunch....not good enough.
(3)Matt K.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Due to the marvelous menu we decided to make this a family style meal. It's not everyday I indulge in a meal where every single dish was superb. It was very difficult to pick a favorite, as each one was mouth watering. Four of us at the table shared a number of items. Here's the run down... -Gnocchi: truffle cream, fried sage, crispy pancetta. Do I really need to embellish this one for you? Yeaaaa... -Pappardelle: sauce bolognese, grated parmesan. Classic sauce with homemade pasta, well done. -Spaghetti: jumbo lump crab, charred grape tomato, red chili & lemon sauce. If I had to pick, this was my favorite dish ordered. Really unique combination of flavors, well done chef. -Seared Scallop: shaved fennel, blood orange, frisee, watercress, capers. Really good quality scallops, perfectly prepared and a nice combination of flavors, but probably could've saved some money and gotten another pasta instead. Still really enjoyed this dish. -Coccoli: crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey. This was a really unique dish, unlike anything I've had before. The flavors worked really well together and the dough was super fresh and warm. -Grilled Octopus: duck fat potatoes, red chilies, celery, aged balsamic, chive. Meaty, not chewy, blackened and really great quality. Excellent flavor all around. -Wagyu Beef Meatball: roasted tomato sauce, bellwether ricotta, shaved basil. Huge meatballs smothered in awesome tomato sauce. Tender and very Italiano. -Burrata: tomato jam, sea salt, basil oil. Melt-in-your-mouth creamy & salted cheese with a unique tomato jam to join. -Monkeybread: hazelnut cream, caramel, candied hazelnuts. Just when we thought we had no room left for dessert, we managed to scarf this down without a problem. The cocktails were also very tasty, but pricey as expected. My favorite of the few I tried was No. 5 bulleit bourbon, averna amaro, allspice dram, winter spice, apple brandy, lemon, angostura bitters... I mean really, how awesome does that sound? You have to eat here, just be prepared it's hard to get in and might break your wallet.
(5)Greg G.
Came here the other night to celebrate my friends birthday. Great place to celebrate birthdays! We were seated in a big booth and the atmosphere and ambiance of this place is just really good. Especially at their bar where they have like 50 live plants growing on the wall, pretty cool. We got the Coccoli which we were told was a must order. It was good! They make their own dough which is pretty cool. They also use this dough in their house beer which I ordered and was not bad. It's similar to a pale ale, but not as much bite. We also got the berracado (sp?) mozzarella, that was good as well. The shaved brussel sprouts were great! We ordered 2 pizza's which turns out in addition to our other plates it was way too much food. The Carne and the Mushroom pizza were great but we took most of it home for leftovers! The best part of the night was a surprise confetti icecream that had a small birthday cake inside the icecream! I've never seen that before and it was verryyy good! I'll definitely be coming back for my birthday just for that cake again, I'm craving it right now thinking about it...
(5)Kari B.
Came here last Friday night with 5 of my friends to celebrate a Birthday and have a girls night out. While the food was delicious, our server Rebekah dampened the mood of the entire table. She seemed annoyed that we wanted to try a bunch of dishes and split entrees among us rather then ask what our needs were and make suggestions. She was constantly trying to upsell and make us order more food than we wanted or needed. Case in point, we said we didn't want to order a pizza and she recommended we order a pizza 3-4 times throughout our meal. Rather then discuss how amazing the food was, my friends and I only discussed how pushy our server was. This was my second time dining at Siena Tavern and because the of the pushy service during my last visit, I will most likely not be back.
(2)Molly D.
I want to preface this review by saying that we ate at the pizza bar and only tried their pizza and cocktails so I cannot speak on behalf of the homemade pasta and other entrees. That being said, we came in on a Saturday without a reservation around 7:00 so the only available seating was the pizza bar which we didn't mind. The pizza bar turned out to be a fun place to sit and watch the pizzas being cooked and prepared. The pizza bar even worked out ok with our party of four because the bar curves so everyone was still able to easily talk. Additionally, the server at the pizza bar was super friendly and helpful. He helped us order our cocktails which were tasty and cost $12.00 which is comparable to other places around this area. I had cocktail No. 19 which was tasty. For dinner we ordered the cinque formaggi pizza which was also good. It had a thin chewy crust and plenty of cheese. My husband and I shared and it and it was the perfect size for two. Now, being born and raised in Chicagoland, I have extremely high standards for pizza. My expectations might even be considered to be unreasonably high... So, with that in mind- The pizza was good but not my favorite. If I returned I would consider trying some of the homemade pasta and save my pizza orders for Lou Malnati's and Pizanos.
(3)Leah C.
i now get the hype... when this place first opened up and i grew more frustrated that i couldn't even get a lunch reservation, i'd say to myself "how could an overpriced pasta place be doing so well". well yes, location is everything and it made for the perfect location for a pre-theatre meal but they also do more than fancy pizza and pasta. we were grateful that they let us keep our car in valet so that we could just walk to the chicago theatre after din. no surprise, we could not get a reservation but arriving at 6:30 on a saturday, 2 spots at the bar opened up fairly quickly (even for a busy evening of hawks' opener and chicago marathon madness). i'm actually glad we sat at the bar with our "server" at our disposal for questions and chatting. our bartender was more knowledgeable about the food (and drinks) than some servers i've had. the best part of our shared appetizer dinner - the farro salad (vegetarians - get it without the seafood). wow - just wow! the dressing, the hearty farro and the crisp greens and green beans were perfection. the burrata is served with a smoky-sweet tomato jam. the mushroom truffle pizza - exceptional. i normally can easily pitch the crust especially for italian style pizzas but not siena's. i knocked off one star because i struggled to find a wine by the glass that i really enjoyed which i find shocking for this type of establishment. i settled for an "okay" chianti that i've seen on the shelves of tj's for 1/10th the price.
(4)Steph U.
I came here for Restaurant Week and wooooooow! I was not disappointed. I ordered the coccoli, the gnocci, and the crispy caramel gelato. I also split a bottle of wine with my friends, but I don't remember which one it was (sorry! So not helpful). I don't even know where to start with this meal, because it was so good. I'm not sure how to describe the coccoli. It was kind of like a popover with prosciutto, cheese, and honey. At first I wasn't sure if I would like it, because I'm not a big fan of prosciutto, but hot damnnnn this was good. Everything melts together perfectly in your mouth and it literally is like an orgasm in your mouth. For the second course, I was also a bit doubtful about ordering the gnocci, because it was the only dish without a lot of meat! I was thinking, hey, if you're gonna spend $44 no matter what, you should probably get some kind of meat right? Well, actually, no. The gnocci has this amazing truffle cream sauce and just like the coccoli, it is AMAZINGNESS in your mouth. I couldn't stop eating. It was just too good. For the dessert, I decided to go with the crispy caramel gelato. I don't even know what they put in that, but there was crunchiness, creaminess, and overall, superbness. I was struggling to finish it, because I was so full, but I knew I would regret it if I didn't eat all of it. Overall, I will definitely be back to try the regular menu, and anyone who is even considering stopping by here for Restaurant Week, I say GO! Go now!!
(5)Nicole W.
A poem dedicated to Siena Tavern: Off to River North I went, To meet some colleagues for lunch - always a fun event. Siena Tavern was the choice, Reading the fabulous reviews, I did rejoice. In the pretty, modern space did we sit, Awaiting our eats, the coccoli we did split. While the appetizer was just fine, The kale salad was the winner, and it was all mine. For minutes I inhaled nothing but greens, That salad was boss - a delicious cuisine. I'll certainly come back for a drink or a snack, Or another kale salad, which I'll surely attack.
(4)Elina K.
I've come here for both pre and post night-out drinks, but not for dinner. However ONE time I did get a chance to try their bombolini and because I couldn't stop thinking about them I had to leave a review. Here it is: the bombolini were the BOMB. Holy wow. Imagine three huge, sugar dusted, perfectly cooked donut holes paired with three different delicious sauces in little squeeze bottles. So you take the donut hole, right? And you stab it with one of the sauce bottles and squeeze the caramel or whatever you grabbed into the donut hole. Then you eat it. Then you die happy. Follow?
(4)Alli W.
Amazing! Food, service and ambiance is excellence. We had the coccoli, kobe meatball, gnocchi and mozzarella. Every single one of them was absolutely delicious. The perfect blend of flavors and portions. I need to come back here for dinner when I can consume some beverages instead of a work-related lunch. Any time of the day, I don't imagine this place would disappoint. Excellent!!!!!
(5)Rachael D.
Loved it! The interior is gorgeous and the food is interesting and full of flavor. Recommended: the coccoli (wow!) and the squid ink linguine with lobster. The Sangria is also killer good!
(5)Clyde D.
Everything here was outstanding. From the decor, to the service, and most importantly the food. The decor was modern and eye-catching. Our server was nice and attentive. But the food was just out-of-this-world. We started with the Coccoli which is a crispy ball of dough with a light fluffy inside and it is served with stracchino cheese, proscuttio, and truffle honey. The combination of the sweet truffle honey, salty proscuttio, creamy cheese, and that crisptastic dough balls. My main course was Squid Ink Linguini with Grilled Lobster Tail and Spicy Lobster Sauce. The al dente pasta goes along beautifally with the heat and creaminess of the lobster sauce. For dessert we had the Monkeybread which just finished the meal off on a boss note.
(5)Jen C.
I am such a Top Chef junkie. It's no wonder I had to hit up Siena's and taste Fabio's creations! Made reservations last minute and the place was empty at about 11am for brunch on a Saturday--we got a private booth, and any parties that came in after us were seated wide apart, which made it intimate and cozy. Our waiter was AWESOME--he actually took the time to talk to us about our visit to Chicago, and went over the menu in depth. We were recommended to start with the coccoli, which is a must order item at Siena's. It's a fancier, modern take of your usual bread, meat and cheese starters...and the drizzle of honey and pesto made it burst with flavor. What stood out to me on the entrees list was their squid ink pasta with lobster. I hardly see squid ink pasta, so I was so excited to try his take. The pasta was SO fresh and the right dente-ness, had plenty of lobster chunks including a tail on top. The portion was also really nice for what was going to be a heavy brunch altogether. This was so delicious and I would come back to Siena Tavern just to have the dish again. Their chicken sandwich was also tasty. Nothing to cry about in terms of sandwiches, but well executed. The fries were some of the best that I've had, as it wasn't salty at all, had cheese on it and you are provided with ketchup and a lemon/garlicky mayo. Finally, we ended our meal with their bomboli, which is a fun interactive dessert: 4 fried donuts that come with 4 sauces in squeeze bottles. You stick 'em into the donuts, and fill it in with cream. A very good dessert that ends your meal in giggles. Could not detect the whiskey in that caramel sauce, however. The raspberry sauce was really tasty. Overall, very good Italian food in a sexy, masculine restaurant.
(4)Bj J.
Great Service, Great food amazing atmosphere, can't wait to go back again!
(5)Jessica M.
Had a great experience here. Waited a little bit even though we had a reservation, but got a seat at the bar and ordered the No. 4. It was delicious. I didn't think it was too sweet and the rosemary added a great fall feeling. Everything about our meal was good. We started with the Kale cesar salad to split. I would suggest that FOR SURE. Our meals were also good, you can't go wrong with any of the handmade pastas. They are cooked to perfection! It's a little loud, but overall a good experience. I would recommend for an upbeat night. If you are looking for something more romantic and quiet go to RPM.
(4)Ryan L.
This place is packing them in. Do people think they'll get a chance to see Chef Fabio? Do they also expect to see Bobby Flay or Wolfgang Puck at any of their joints? Also, River North was really lacking in terms of Italian. I mean, there's only RPM, La Madia, Quartino, Osteria, even Bar Toma, and maybe Balena a little further away. Good thing there is another option in this area. There are way too many items on the menu. I guess that fits for the hood. I do like the typewriter font they use for the menu, though. You will find out immediately that the pastas are made from scratch, which deserves a shoutout cause that's a lot of work and dedication. With so many Italian options, you probably need to hit a home run to stand out. So how is one item on the menu described? With "top shelf pasta". Uhh ok, sign me up. There also seems to be oven-dried tomatoes on many of the items. That just doesn't seem too creative. The daily risotto included scallops and was the best thing we ate. There was a nice sear on the scallops and that plate was devoured quickly. Also get the warm butter cake for desert, it was stupid good. I get the idea that cocktailing is of high importance. There is a crudo bar, and two other bar areas in the place that comprise half the restaurant. Is this a nice Italian place or another Public House in disguise? I must admit, the #4 was delicious but the #5 with Maker's Mark was really sweet for a bourbon drink. Service was nice, and they are definitely not hurting for business. Seems like most people are drawn to the chance of having Chef Fabio bat his flirty eyes at them. Don't be distracted! It's just ok.
(3)Lisa H.
Over hyped. I had the 12 hr braised Osso Bucco that lacked seasoning. It didn't seem like meat that was cooked that long..seemed like it was pressure cooked because of the lack of taste. My fiancé had the burnt pepperoni pizza and that didn't taste that good either. Was expecting more from this restaurant especially for the wait. The bartenders and servers on the other hand are exceptional so I gave it two stars. Blah is one word to sum this dinner all up.
(2)Stefanie A.
Great place! Love the atmosphere, service and most importantly the food & drinks. Have eaten at the bar, a table, and even the private room located to the right of the bar. Each time the food, drinks & service was outstanding! Love the cocktails they've got, esp the #4 & #10. Also love the Siena chopped salad, pappardelle & truffle mushroom pizza! When I ate in the private room it was for a Christmas party of about 12 of us. Our server was great with helping us decide on what to order for our family style dinner. Reservations highly recommended.
(5)Lisa W.
Went there for the first time last night and loved the atmosphere. Such a great after work bar and fun for friends to catch up. A lot of different kinds of people here. The dessert was yummy!! We had the birthday cake ice cream. It was Delish!
(4)Tina C.
My mom and I went in for lunch today and wanted salads. I had the kale salad with shrimp and it was out of this world! it has parmesan cheese and sun-dried tomatoes with croutons. We also had cappuccinos and they were out of this world! Becca was our server and she was great! Absolutely loved her and her energy.
(5)Merrill O.
I wanted to update my Yelp review to reiterate the fabulousness of this place! Amazing food....outstanding service....all in a beautiful, high-energy spot. (And all of you people that are only ordering pizzas?? Stop it! You're probably hurting the chef's feelings...and you are certainly missing out on some of the most incredible food of your life.) We went again last night for my nephew's birthday, and started with the Wagyu Beef Meatball, and the Roasted Beets Salad. Both very solid...especially the beet salad. A very nice start to our meal, but only whetting our appetite for the pastas. Besides the must-have Spaghetti (see my previous review for raves), we tried the Squid Ink Linguini (with lobster tail and lobster cream sauce) and the Truffle Gnocchi. Whoa, the Gnocchi was melt-in-your-mouth heavenly! Our waitress suggested getting it without the truffle oil, and I highly recommend that....with only the shaved truffle and the truffle cream sauce, it was already rich enough to put a Rockefeller to shame. So, in order of faves...I recommend 1) the Spaghetti, 2) the Gnocchi, 3) the Squid-Ink Linguini. (Seriously...see my previous review...you HAVE got to try the Spaghetti!) Also worth mentioning is the stellar customer service at this place. From the managers to the bussers to the hostesses, they are on top of their game in making sure you have an enjoyable evening. Whenever you can have a pre-dinner drink at the bar, Duke will never steer you wrong. He is attentive, friendly, and spot-on with recommendations. (BTW...if you are a fan of stouts, if they still have the Verdi Imperial Stout, it's a winner.) Our server last night was Allison...excellent service, very personable, and full of great menu tips...listen to her! And thanks to the Manager, Heather, for stopping by the table....please send kudos to your team for a wonderful evening! Can't wait for our next visit!!
(5)Marlen J.
Siena Tavern is a very nice Italian restaurant! I went with a party of five and everyone loved this place from the time we walked into it. A young gentlemen was our waiter his name was Devon and he was awesome recommending a great taste of Italy! Devon really knew how to describe the specialty of every dish! Everyone's favorite was the truffle mushroom pizza, it was the most delicious pizza!!! We all had a great time and we will definitely return very soon! A special Thanks to our waiter Devon, he made our experience here at Siena Tavern extra special!
(5)James E.
Went there for brunch today. The staff was pleasant and attentive. The food was even better. I had the artichoke omelette. The presentation was good but it was wonderful! I'm definitely going back.
(4)Julia S.
This place was fantastic. I would definitely recommend the mozzarella bar. I got the burrata, and it was so savory and delicious. The truffle mushroom pizza was incredible as well, much larger than expected. We had heard incredible things about their French fries, and even though they weren't on the dinner menu, they cooked us a side of them. Cocktails were also very good. They are all listed by number and I had two different ones, both great!
(4)Sandi P.
So glad we decided to try this during restaurant Week, the menu online looked intriguing and it certainly lived up to expectations in most areas. Things got off to a bit of a rocky start as we were seated directly across from a bussing station so were treated to constant rattling of dishes and cutlery :-(. After requesting a different table, we were accommodated with a booth near the private dining room which was a bit quiteter. We had plenty of time to peruse the interesting drink menu as service was a bit slow but friendly at least. Three of us had cocktails, tasty but pricey at $12 each, and husband tried a couple of different beer selections. The waiter was pretty knowledgeable about the beers We all opted for the special restaurant week menus - offered in $22 and $33 variations. One of the best dishes was undoubtedly the coccoli, which were savory balls of choux pastry (like savory cream puff dough) accompanied by prosciutto and a delicious sauce. Unfortunately I did not order these so relied on the generosity of my daughters for a taste! All entrees were a hit - the mushroom gnocchi is sublime, the meatball sandwich was generously portioned and served with excellent crispy skin-on fries and aioli and the farro risotto with shrimp which I dubiously ordered tasted much better than it sounded ! The gelato - we tried salted caramel and cinnamon - was very good but couldn't compare to the bomboloni- fried donut balls served with mini squeeze bottles full of chocolate, caramel and raspberry goodness!!! It was a very nice lunch and we would certainly return to try some other dishes - the pizza looked very tasty too.
(4)Kim S.
I stopped in on arriving for a business trip. I'd just gotten off a train that was delayed for two hours and felt fairly wilted from the travel and walking in the heat with all my luggage. The place is cool and dimly lit and I was promptly greeted with an offer for luggage check. I freshened up in the restroom which was immaculately clean and then bar perched, since I was traveling solo. The bartender was super friendly and prompt and put a glass of white wine in front of me pronto. He did upsell as he suggested the $12 glass over the $10, but it was delicious. The menu was varied and everything looked good given how hungry I was. He helped steer me in a good direction with pizza that was perfectly prepared, immensely flavorful, and not too thin but not fat on the crust. I got a half and half...margarita on one half and a mushroom blend on the other. It was a good-sized pie and at $18, not a bargain but beyond satisfying. Before heading out, I decided to try one of the cocktails the bartenders were frequently shaking up from a variety of house-made elixirs. I tried one that had a Lavendar syrup and other intriguing ingredients. I was pleasantly surprised when the cocktail was left off my bill. I was invited back and my only regret is that my agenda didn't permit a return visit. This place is lovely, friendly, well-appointed, and has a great menu.
(5)Jacob M.
TL; DR - Basically Olive Garden, but 5x the price and 3x the noise. Went with a group of 6 guys after a conference. We all agreed the place was trying really hard to be fancy while serving frankly pretty basic food at astronomical prices. Won't go back.
(2)Derrick T.
An old friend and I got in touch again recently, and decided that since we both work in the downtown area, why not catch lunch and catch up on what's going on with each other's lives! With Siena Tavern's recent opening and being inbetween both our offices, it was the perfect location for us to enjoy a nice lunch meal. Reservations through open table were easy enough, and since we booked 11:30 for lunch, the place was nearly empty. Mind you, by the time we left at 1:00, it was packed to the brim. Friendly service, a VERY large menu, we were a bit overwhelmed at everything they had to offer. Ultimately, we settled on the following: Margherita Pizza ($14): For a brick oven pizza, it was good. If this was to be more of a neapolitan pizza, the dough is over worked and chewey, as opposed to light. The corncione is tougher than I expected, as is the rest of the dough as well, but it's not a bad pizza, just not a great one. Tavern burger ($16): Wow. Seriously, good burger. While I was a bit concerned since we had to order the burger medium well to well done (my friend is having her second baby!), the burger came out tender, juicy, and spectacular. I have to say, I was very impressed with their burger, which is why they've got the four star rating. Side note: They are SERIOUS about refilling your water... I think no less than 4 different water waiters came by to refill at least 8 times, and they'd reach across the table in front of us each time to refill our glasses, unfortunately interrupting conversation and making it a slightly awkward moment each time. The drawback of booths is that they can't come up behind you, but in this case, it may have been better to have the glasses at the end of the table instead of resetting it so that they needed to reach in front of us every time. Slow down with the water refills! We don't need a refill each time we drink a quarter of the glass! Verdict: A tasty place (particularly the burger), and I look forward to coming back to try their pasta! The pizza is underwhelming, but isn't bad... I think I just expected more.
(4)Kavi P.
The food here was absolutely delicious. I think I enjoyed the appetizers more than the meal itself. The drinks were unique and just ok....bit overpriced. The meal was definitely expensive but worth it for the once in a blue moon visit.
(4)Brian D.
Great atmosphere, service, and food. Have visited multiple times and never disappointed.
(5)Natalie N.
Completely solid restaurant, I have been here a few times so I can say this. Everything that I have ordered here has been really fantastic. I have had the Coccoli, their burger, the lobster roll, and the mussels and clams. The one thing I can complain about is some of the prices. For instance, the lobster roll is $28.00, and I wouldn't think the price is that bad if I didn't have anything to compare it to. The best lobster roll I have ever had included a lb of lobster served warm for $25.00. There is no way there is even close to a lb of lobster. It's pretty tiny. Ok, I'm done bitching. Seriously a solid lunch option for Chicago. Service has always been great too.
(4)Joseph L.
If you like going to a night club for dinner this is your place. We went here on a Saturday night and had pretty high expectations given the reviews. We arrived on time and were seated right away. The place is HUGE! Too big in my opinion, it feels like your at ESPN zone or something. They had TV's in there too playing sports... BLAH! The crowd was not my cup of tea, it was a lot of men and women who looked like the either belonged in a night club or a college dorm party. The people next to us were making out the entire time. And let's not forget the TECHNO MUSIC during your nice dinner. Now to the food. Food gets 3.5 stars. Appetizer: Coccoli - 3 (over rated in my opinion too greasy) Mains: Brick Chicken - 3 (good but you've had this before), Short Rib Ravioli - 3 (sorta bland and need more salt) Desert: (The best part) Affogato - 4, Brown Butter Peanut Gelato 5 (best ice cream i've ever had) All and all, the atmosphere really killed this place, big trendy, touristy and sports like. Sorta felt like a factory in there. I would give it one more shot just on a quiet tuesday night or during lunch.
(3)Richard B.
Really exceptional service. Our waiter Gregory steered us to all the great items on the menu, including to die for short rib pasta and wonderful fresh Italian cheeses. A real find in the Miracle Mile.
(4)Pamela G.
Kale caesar salad and pepperoni pizza were both amazing. Service was fast and great. Delicious old fashioned.
(5)MARIA S.
Everything was wonderful at this place. The service was great. The delivery of the meal was timely. The food was melt in your mouth delicious! Excellent food at a good price. Just go!
(5)Tisha K.
Love love love LOVE this place. Their service was impeccable. I am lactose intolerant so I am always hesitant going to Italian restaurants where most pastas are in a cream based sauce. However, I found found a few things on the menu that I could eat and the waitress made sure that there was no dairy in my dish. I would really recommend the risotto with shrimp. It had a lot of flavor and the portion size was perfect for one. It has a great ambiance and I would recommend this as a date place. It is a little pricey but the quality of the food is on point. Also try the donut holes - they are awesome and I would most definitely be back at this restaurant.
(5)Amoli P.
Siena Tavern is one of my new favorite spots in the River North area as far as meeting friends for drink or a daytime stop to grab some food. The decor is standard for these types of places and the ambiance is no different from any other River North bar/restaurant, but it's got a great vibe during both the daytime and nighttime. The food offers something a little more special and a little more unique than typical bar food. The pizzas are made well and are easily big enough to share between 2 people. The parmesan fries are to die for (not necessarily unique, but so delicious that it doesn't matter). And they offer a crudo bar for the seafood lovers. The patio area is nice and we had a lovely early dinner there last Friday in the sunshine. Service was friendly and quick. We went with parmesan fries and the burnt pepperoni pizza and it was more than enough food for 2. The nicest surprise were the original and extremely delicious cocktails. I went with the No. 15, Jameson, campari, strawberry, lemon, and ginger. It was perfect. The perfect summer cocktail - light and fruity without being overly sweet. My fiance went with the No. 5, Makers, amaro, allspice, chai liqueur, bitters, and sparkling apple cider. This drink was equally amazing - a bit stiffer than mine but still refreshing. I'll definitely come by Siena on occasion when I'm walking around in the area or make it a plan when meeting groups of friends for a night out.
(4)Andrea H.
I will admit that the only reason I went to Siena Tavern is because everyone's talking about it and it's next to impossible to get a reservation at a reasonable hour. I guess I'm a sucker for a restaurant that plays hard to get. After hearing that others have walked in with little to no wait, I'm convinced that they hold a good number of tables aside for walk ins. I couldn't get a reservation for a 4-top to save my life but our party of two was actually seated at one when we arrived. Don't get me wrong, the place is packed but next time I'll probably just take my chances. The pros for this place for me are the cocktails, the mozzarella bar and the crudo bar. Everything else was just alright. We started out with the kobe meatball. It was ok but definitely not worth the $17 price tag. We thought that the sauce was bland and too acidic. The meatball itself was pretty good but nothing special. For my entrée I tried the gnocchi. The flavor was solid but the gnocchi was too big, making it really doughy. I'm sure that if they downsized them a bit they would be better. My friend won when it came to ordering. She thought that ordering the ricotta cheese and oysters would be weird but they were the two best dishes we had. The ricotta came with a tasty pistachio pesto and some delicious chunks of crispy mortadella. It was fantastic. Her oysters were fresh and flavorful, some of the best I've had. As for cocktails, I think we tried most of them. It was clear that they put some thought into the menu, as there are some interesting options. We enjoyed everything we tried and there seems to be a little something for everyone. All in all, I would come back for another visit but it would most likely be for cocktails and appetizers. That seems to be what they do best.
(4)Shanti N.
Knowing that I couldn't face another day of hibernation, even in the face of steady snow and blustery winds, I decided to take myself out to lunch at Siena Tavern to wind down Restaurant Week 2014. Though it was a fairly spur-of-the moment decision, I had no difficulty securing a spot, even calling about 45 minutes or so ahead to reserve. I later learned from my server that there were 50 cancellations that day for lunch, so methinks that was the reason I was accommodated so promptly. As to the food itself, the fare on offer here is right up my alley--modern classics, well presented and plated, with fresh ingredients. As I was studying my options on the menus ($33 and $22 fixed price menus for Restaurant Week lunch), I decided to take the edge off with a glass of wine. I went with the Malbec- an excellent pour that I knew would pair equally well with lighter and slightly heartier fare. The wine was just what the doctor ordered on this otherwise gloomy February day, with falling snow and falling stocks parading by on the CNBC ticker on the flat screen above my head. The menu offerings all looked promising but I was finally able to decide on my options--shaved brussel sprout salad with marcona almonds to start, shrimp risotto for the main, and salted caramel gelato for dessert. This is way more than I usually eat for lunch, but I knew what would be facing me outside (more snow and cold), running of errands, and an extended salon appointment. All of the dishes were standouts, though I must say the risotto was among the best I've ever tasted. Risotto is easy to screw up, as it tends to get either gummy or granular. This was not the case at Siena, and the presentation (a couple of shrimp on top of the dish along with shrimp pieces within the risotto) was well executed. The dessert-salted caramel gelato-stole the show and is a worthy successor to the gelato offerings at Rhapsody (RIP). Siena's dessert chef makes the gelato in-house, so this is definitely a must try. I'll also point out that the service was extremely efficient. In fact, I was in and out of here in less time than at some fast-casual spots which shall remain nameless. Sometimes, an indulgent experience at lunch is not optional, but required. From the excellent bites to the stellar service, last week's experience satisfied on all counts. I know I will be back, hopefully before next year's restaurant week.
(4)Liana L.
This place is very good. We were a party of 4 and we went in at 5pm on a Saturday with no reservation. The bar area and the high-tops were pretty empty and we got a great table right away! By 5:30 the whole bar area was full and all the high-tops were occupied. If you don't have a reservation I highly recommend you go in for an early dinner. The Kobe meatball appetizer, the gnocchi, and the tiramisu were all extremely tasty! I would order them all again. The service was good as well. I would eat here again :)
(5)Glen W.
Probably the best Italian (at least averaged over all dishes) I have had in Chicago. Only been there once though. All of the following were seriously delicious: burrata with caponata, brussels sprout salad, Gemela with duck ragout and squid ink linguini.
(5)Melanie S.
One of my favorite lunch partners (holla Melissa M.!) and I go to lunch all the time. She's always game to go anywhere (money is no object as long as there's wine involved) so I knew I could recruit her to join me in trying Siena Tavern. I am no chef groupie. Sure, I appreciate someone that knows his way around a kitchen but a celebrity chef has no bearing on whether or not I go to a restaurant; I just want good food. I can't believe how many people asked me if I saw Fabio what's-his-name when I dined at Siena Tavern. The truth? Even though he was one of the more likeable contestants on Top Chef, I didn't even look for him when I was here. Everyone seems to be clamoring to eat here, so reservations, even at lunch, are hard to come by. We made ours a couple weeks in advance. I'm pretty sure they don't even take lunch reservations between 11:45 and 1:00 (pretty smart if you ask me; they get at least two seatings this way). When we arrived for our 1:00, crowds were out in full force. I really liked the atmosphere and it definitely seems tailor-made for River North. We were promptly shown to our table and given the shpiel by the waiter: "Everything's designed in the spirit of sharing." What a diplomatic way to proclaim that everything is served in small portions so you need to order a lot to feel satisfied. We all know by now that this food trend of "shared plates" is here to stay. I have accepted this, even if I don't like it. If I didn't, I'd have many fewer options when dining out. We ordered the burrata with tomato jam from the mozzarella bar, gnocchi, and crispy brick chicken with sticky parmesan potatoes. It was the perfect amount of food. The tomato jam was slightly sweet and beautifully offset the creamy burrata. The gnocchi simply melts in your mouth. I thought the combination of truffle, sage and pancetta was perfect. You could taste all three but none of these ingredients overwhelmed the others. The brick chicken was mostly boneless which made it easy to share, and we couldn't stop eating the potatoes that accompanied it. I also loved the garnishes of balsamic roasted garlic and grilled lemon. It was all delicious. We were stuffed and didn't save room for dessert, so next time, we'll order more light dishes so we can try the bomboloni (donuts you inject with squeeze bottles of sauces). I could really have a good time with those squirt bottles. The bar area looks like a fun place to have a cocktail after work (and I'm sure it's quite the scene) and my favorite part was the "wall of herbs" behind the bar. The herbs are freshly cut for cocktails and used in the food. It makes me want to go home and grow my own wall of herbs. Service was good, except for a few overzealous bussers who tried multiple times to clear away our plates while we were still eating. Many times we were in the middle of conversation and pausing between bites but that didn't mean we were done eating. (As if we were going to leave any gnocchi uneaten!) We also had to ask for additional plates and serving utensils. I feel like these should have been brought automatically if the intent is sharing food. While I don't mind eating out of the same bowl as my friend, it would be quite awkward coming here with work colleagues and eating off the same plate, ya know? I am definitely coming back.
(4)Charles C.
My wife and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary there in August of 2013. I have several words to describe this place, FLAWLESS! TASTY! FUN,Great food! Cool atmosphere and helpful staff. I had the squid ink pasta, grilled octopus and some kind of small light and airy roll with procutto and honey....... FANTASIC! I look forward to my next visit!
(5)Mickey A.
"I like to live dangerously." -- Number 2 Ok, not so much. I do, though, like quoting random Austin Powers movie quotes. This brings me to being addicted to Siena's #2 cocktail: prosecco, Grey Goose, peach, lemon, and some other goodies. Of the times I've been here so far, that's my go-to drink. I mean, it has prosecco, which can do no wrong in my eyes or palate. They also have a decent wine menu too. For reds, I dig their malbec option. The bar area is definitely a good spot to meet friends for drinks. It can be hard to find a spot but if you get a drink while you wait, something is bound to open up. Also, as silly as it sounds, they have hooks under the bar so you can hang purses and/or coats. Yes, these little things amuse me. I've been here more times to drink than to eat. I'm so-so on the food but willing to give another shot. My co-workers and I managed to snag late lunch reservations during their first week (or second week since they didn't serve lunch when they first opened). We looked forward to some good food but left feeling a bit underwhelmed. I ordered the burrata pizza (eggplant and zucchini topped with mozzarella) which was good but couldn't eat more than two pieces. I say find some sharing partners if you want pizza. We had some issues with food, but nothing that wasn't fixed or acknowledged right away. I think I favor the drinks more. I'm bound to get hungry so I'm sure I'll give their food another try.
(3)H P.
This place has the best gnocchi. It is a must order. Gabriel was helping us at the bar. He service was wonderful.
(5)Gladys T.
Terrible customer service. We got seated and sat there for about 15 minutes. 3 different servers walked back and forth attending to the tables around us without even acknowledging us. We left.
(1)K B.
My aunt and I went back last night to celebrate my birthday and I must say, this place GETS IT. The service was impeccable and we agreed this was one of our best overall dining experiences in Chicago - ever (we've been here 10+ years and well versed in the Chicago food world). Allison, you were amazing, simply amazing! Thank you so much for the Happy Birthday gelato; wow! I'm uploading a photo with my recommendations, but if you're seeking an orgasm, order the Spaghetti. Without reservation, I would recommend this place over RPM, Quartino, Piccolo Sogno, Sapori Trattori, Cafe Bionda, Vivo, Nellcote and probably any other Italian place in the City. One last thing, which my aunt may cover in her review (which I completely agree): If you come here, there is no reason to order a pizza. I'm sure it's amazing, but anyone who rates this place less than 4 stars either ordered drinks only or pizza. You don't come to the best Italian restaurant to order a pizza - duh!
(5)Tiffany L.
Like RPM, this is where the Richie Rich's of River North take their leggy, Louboutin'ed blondes to go and pretend to eat pasta. The crowd is slightly less douchey than RPM, but is still a place to be seen, as shown by the bar area being equal in size (if not larger) than the dining area. My favorite dishes were probably the Coccoli (although served with 4 measly pieces of fried dough. More fried dough! More fried dough!), and the grilled octopus. We should have ordered the gnocchi, but instead went for the Carbonara and the Squid Ink Linguini. Both were fine, but not standout. Skip the tiramisu here. It's... weird. I still prefer Balena for handmade pasta.
(3)Kelly P.
This is a great looking spot in River North. Loved the large club chairs at our table and the street view we had to people watch. I'm not a very knowledgeable wine person, but my date said the red he has was very good. I personally love bubbles (prosecco and champagne) and they served those extremely chilled :) You have to start with the Coccoli. It's just a small cheese board with slightly cooked prosciutto, cheese and a honey drizzle but they give you these heavenly soft dough balls and you can make it all into a sandwich bite. Delicious. Kale Caesar salad was also fantastic. Still don't understand why some people don't "like" kale. This is the way to enjoy it. I kept my serving the entire meal to eat throughout. Also ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza which has almost too much heat and not much else to it. My boyfriend is a huge pepperoni fan so I let him have this choice and even he said it had no flavor aside from the heat. However, the crust on that pizza is perfection. Finished things up with the Butternut Squash Tortellacci. So, so good. I love a butternut squash pasta dish and this is top of the ranks. It is really sweet to the point we didn't order dessert but the sauce tastes like a spiced white chocolate and I was in heaven. All of the pasta dishes read amazing on the menu and I would return for another with a salad. The staff was extremely helpful and available. They may push a few too many plates on you but that's the issue when you are a two top. Too many options that you want to try. I am hoping at some point, Chicago becomes more friendly to half orders of main dishes! Four glasses of wine and four dishes came to about $60/person.
(4)Licia L.
came here with my sister for dinner on a sunday night. no reservation and we were seated right away (which was so nice since we were walking around all day, and had to wait 3 hours to be seated for dinner at another restaurant the night before). Sam k was our server and he was awesome. it was out first time dining at siena tavern and Sam did a great job advising on portions. we shared the rigatoni and spaghetti. both pastas were cooked perfectly. the spaghetti sauce was creamy - it was still delicious but i thought it would be lighter from the menu description. either way, i liked it a bit more over the rigatoni (which was great, tomatoey sauce with lamb) because the crab, cherry tomatoes, lemon and chili gave each bite the perfect kick. the roasted cauliflower was the side we chose it was also delicious, so flavorful. for dessert we ordered the tiramisu and chocolate caramel cake. both were amazing but the chocolate cake was more decadent. i would definitely come back, and try the meatball, burrata, hamachi crudo (which all looked amazing). i also loved that they had a pinot gris by the glass. extra plus for me!
(5)Priya N.
I really think this is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I have never had a bad experience. The place feels like Fabio's smile. (Cheesy I know). The mozzarella is made in house and is amazing. My favorites are the coccoli/ who thought to put these together in a combo!!? Only Fabio (swoon). I also live the the Wagyu meatball. I don't normally like beef items, but this is definitely the exception! The sauce is outta control. I love how veggie friendly this restaurant is! The truffle mushroom pizza, Tuscan kale salad, shaved Brussels sprout salad, burnt pepperoni and the burrata are my favorites! The crudo bar is also really yummy. I love this place. I literally take everyone who visits here!!
(5)Terri T.
This was our second and will be our last time here. I think it is another example of a new restaurant that starts strong with great food, and then doesn't care anymore. But people keep coming based on the reputation or word of mouth. Our first visit was for lunch and we had a fiasco trying to be seated at a decent table even though we were virtually the only ones in the restaurant when we arrived at 11:30. This visit was for dinner and we were celebrating my husbands birthday. At 4:45 we entered a virtually empty restaurant. This was the latest time I could get on open table 2 weeks ahead. Very puzzling considering the restaurant remained only about a quarter full the entire time we were there. When we were escorted to the first table the host was told to lead us to, it was dirty. After getting seated at the booth next to the dirty one, we ordered a truffle mushroom pizza which we had enjoyed at our first visit. This time the topping covered about 2/3 of the crust with a good 3 inches of empty crust left. Plain old dough. Ugh. We ordered the Tuscan kale Caesar salad which was fine and 2 pastas: the gnocchi and the tagliatelle. Both were meh. No real flavor from either and our gnocchi was missing the fried sage. Then for dessert. I told them about the birthday when I confirmed the reservation and then told the manager when she came to our table when my husband was in the bathroom. She thanked me for letting her know. Great. We ordered the caramel cake also. When the bus boy brought the cake ( the servers here don't do a whole lot other than take the order) he was also holding a birthday gelato with a candle in it...except he didn't leave it our table when he left the cake. Huh? Don't know where it went but it never ended up at our table. I complained to the manager. She apologized and offered to comp the cake, which. Y the way at $12 was a joke. It really memorable at all. The gelato never came, even as an afterthought. The final straw came when after asking for a refill on coffee 4 times, I finally got it. The bus boy brought it ( of course), served it, and then accidentally spilled the entire thing of cream all over my daughter and I. There are simply too many restaurants in Chicago that not only care about the small details, but also serve great food. This restaurant does neither in my opinion. I. Their defense, after the cream spilling incident the manager comped the entire check. Nice gesture but we won't be back. I wonder if our server was non existent because Top Chef Morimoto was in the booth next to us? Maybe, but did they serve him all the good food for the night too?
(1)Jami S.
Hosted a dinner for 14 of our friends at Siena Tavern a couple Saturdays ago and felt compelled to write this review solely based on service - which was fabulous! Allison, our server, was friendly & super attentive. She made the night so great for all of us and I know its not easy to wait on 14 buzzed twenty somethings... So thank you Allison! Food was awesome, def recommend the gnocchis! So good! Plus all the pizzas were delish too. The private dinner space was really nice and suited as perfectly. Can't wait to go back with just a few friends next time! Would have been 5 stars but we did have to wait awhile for our 9pm reservation.
(4)Jill D.
Outstanding! Fabio did not disappoint! Siena is an excellent restaurant in a city of restaurants! We had the meatball appetizer, papradelle and ossobucco. All extremely fresh and prepared perfectly. The staff was friendly and responsive. Highly recommended!
(5)Carol K.
It's a Tuesday night. 5:30. And this place is PACKED! I mean-packed! Guess that's what you get when you take a great location (corner of Kinzie and Dearborn) couple it with a famous "Top Chef" (Chef Fabio Viviani)and add in a space that is SO big that it seems like it has more seats at the two bars than they do in the dining area. Best described as a cross between an Italian market (try the mozzarella bar, the crudo bar or the pizza bar) a nice restaurant (reservations are a must or you will be out of luck!) and a local watering hole, Siena Tavern has a little of of whatever you are looking for . . .including plenty of people to take it all in with! The hostesses are great- very accommodating even to those of us who walked in without a reservation thinking this was a "just a bar" and that we could sit anywhere. Not the case. They took our names with a promise if something opened up they would call- but that was never the case . . .did I say this place was packed?? So we found some seats at the multipurpose bar in the back where the oven for the pizzas kept us warm on this chilly night, and our bartender (Marilyn?) took outstanding care of us with food and drink. The menu has several sections so you can go the shareable route, the entree route, the pizza route or a combo of all! We started with a margarita pizza piping hot from the oven and some wonderful buffalo mozzarella served with oven toasted bread and some tomato type sauce. It tasted as good as it looked and smelled. I also ordered from their crudo menu some hamachi and some ahi tuna which were also quite tasty and they even were able to get some steamed veggies (the biggest bowl of cauliflower I have ever seen except on my mom's dining room table at Thanksgiving!) which was also surprisingly fresh and tasty. The music is vibrant, but not invasive, I suspect as the night wears on this place gets a little more "clubby" given it's location. They also have a private party space in the back where a group was enjoying all Siena Tavern has to offer in a roped off space. Tables in the front bar area are first come first served so you may want to try your luck there but the more likely scenario is that you will spend your night at the bar the way we did unless you have a reservation in hand! And if you drive- there is valet out front for $12 (even the valet guys were friendly!) Fun, causal atmosphere, very tasty food and service that had us all saying that we will be back . . . . .hmm . . . . according to OpenTable that would have to be at 4pm on a weekday! Ah . .the joys of being the new hot place in town!
(4)Lisa P.
It took awhile to get reservations to this new joint.....and when we finally got one; we arrived to the restaurant to see the main dining room almost entirely empty, so we opted for the bar instead since it was a livelier scene. My friends and I tried several dishes. The gnocchi was really tasty, as was the coccoli. I tried the roasted Carrot tortellacci and I really enjoyed it as well. It was a unique dish and I would order it again. Our waitress was very nice and I think sitting in the bar was a better choice than the dining room. Overall, the food was great. The only negatives were that my group felt like there should be a complimentary bread basket w/the meal.
(4)Christine C.
Bear with me...I might ramble off incoherently as I'm still in a food coma from last night's Siena Tavern feast. I'm a foodie at heart, love trying new places in the city! My girlfriends and I made reservations weeks in advance to try Fabio's new place-HUGE fan! Fabio did not disappoint and I cannot wait to stuff my face at Siena again! The 5 of us split the Coccoli and the Kobe Meatball for an appetizer-both amazing and seriously melted in my mouth. I split the truffle gnocchi and the brick chicken with a girlfriend and we still got to take some home. I am already thinking about eating it later and salivating at the thought. Oh, and holy parmesan potatoes, those might have been the best part. I didn't think the gnocchi was too rich and the chicken was so fresh and juicy and cooked PERFECTLY. All of us also split the Cannolis and the Bomboloni for dessert....both delicious, delectable, and again not too rich to where we couldn't polish them off. The Bomboloni was my favorite-just something totally different and yummy! Everyone at the table agreed that this place blows RPM out of the water in terms of atmosphere and food. It's a chic restaurant without that uppity feel; you can be totally laid back and pretty casual at Siena.....and their portion sizes are a much better bang for your buck :) Reading the 1 star reviews from other people like Sean-who just walked in and sat at a table actually makes me angry....because 1.) you are a total idiot if you walk into a packed restaurant and think you get to sit at a table without a reservation and 2.) he didn't even eat their food! Some people need to use Yelp a little more constructively if you ask me. I have been to many nice restaurants in Chicago and all around the world and I thought this place was top notch. Our waitress, Katie, was a breath of fresh air. She knew about everything on the menu (including the booze) and even told us her favorites, which we tried most of them and agreed with her :) She was easy to talk to, attentive, and adorable! Next time I go I'll be requesting her! Lucas, one of the managers stopped by to chat with us which was a nice touch. We let him know that we loved everything about Siena and he was certainly glad to hear it. I appreciate when people take the time to talk to their customers-that speaks volumes about this place. The only thing that would have made the trip better-meeting Fabio, but I get it-the man is busy!!! Bottom line-go to Siena, make a reservation in advance, stuff your face, and go to bed uncomfortably full like I did last night. I promise you....you won't regret it!
(5)Rachel B.
As much as I enjoy going to scene-y restaurants, typically I am a harsh reviewer if the food sucks. Such was not the case with Siena! Truth is, in cities like NYC; if it is a hotspot then the food is equally as epic as the hype surrounding it. Chicago is absolutely not this way. Jellyfish for example, the sole reason they're alive is because of the location and goofballs who want to look cool. Siena was a wonderful breath of fresh air! Grilled Octopus, incredible and cooked to perfection. Not easy! I am incredibly picky with my Octopus. Burrata-awesome. And the best for last...Truffle Mushroom Pizza was absolutely divine. My friends loved the Heirloom carrot, I was not the biggest fan. For 4 light-eating ladies, this was the absolute perfect amount! Dessert, the restaurant graciously comp'd us the Tiramisu and Bombolini. Tiramisu was too much cream and not enough cake. Bombolini came complete with three delicious sauce "squirters." Order it! So good. Will absolutely be back ASAP!
(4)Rossel E.
A hidden gem we found at W Kinzie near merchandise mart. Went here once with a colleague which was a perfect choice since they had very good service, food, and ambiance for a lunch business meeting. We had the Wagyu beef meatball and the coccoli for starters. I love how you construct a mini sandwich from coccoli's crispy dough and the prusciutto drenched in honey truffle. Wagyu beef meatball sounds fancy but in reality taste like a good spiced Meatball melting in your mouth. I had the Gnocchi which is a good safe choice for main course but what made the dish awesome for me is the fried sage but I had a better gnocchi dumplings from pure ricotta cheese rather than a mix of flour and cheese. But 5 stars since our server was on point and was very pleasant. I'll be back for sure.
(5)Josselyn W.
This review is for their weekend Brunch - We sat outside with a group of 5 people. Wait staff could have been a bit more attentive but the food was great! Good options for brunch (most around $14), and they also had a full lunch menu. I had the breakfast sandwich which came with a side of crispy potatoes sprinkled with parm cheese - both items were amazing. Friends had biscuits and gravy which they loved. Waffles with Nutella were also delicious. Lots of outdoor seating - not hard to get a reservation for a Saturday brunch.
(4)Lauren G.
I really liked this place. I had the chopped salad and they were really accommodating to my allergies/preferences by making it egg and meat free. all the salads looked so good. I can't wait to try more items.
(4)Alex R.
Started with the lentil soup and then had the chopped salad with chicken instead of salami. Loved how juicy and tender the chicken was, and the salad was very large. Had wonderful service.
(4)Heather F.
Me and my very good friend came here for late lunch after seeing Phantom of the Opera. We had a great time. Our server Arturo was amazing. He gave us great recommendations and how'd is with anything we had questions about. The manager asked us if we needed anything. Every person on the staff was great and friendly. I will definitely be back. The gnocchi was absolutely amazing!!
(5)Kori E.
We came here for a private event on Saturday night and it was awesome!! The staff was so great and the food was excellent. I think I pretty much sampled everything that was passed around and my faves were the gnocchi, beef carpaccio, the mushroom pizza with truffle oil, the meatball- omg was that sauce amazing and this puff pastry with cheese and prosciutto. I really enjoyed the ambiance as well, its a cool set up with a wrap around bar. I wouldnt mind stopping and just eating at the bar. I will definitely be back for dinner sometime soon!
(5)Frank N.
I think this may be my new favorite Chicago eatery! We came here last night for a date night in eager anticipation of meeting Fabio but to no avail. He left town for a short trip but left the restaurant in great hands. The place was packed for Friday night and while I made reservations on opening night, our table was ready the second we walked in. I thought we'd sit at the bar and take it all in while waiting for our table but yay for us. The seats were unbelievably comfortable and our seat was right by the windows for some great people watching. Our server couldn't have made it any better. She was friendly and helped us travel through the menu with some of her recommendations. We started with the Hamachi Crudo. A perfect blend of jalapeno, truffle honey, shallots, and a balsamic reduction. Holy cow was this fresh and tasty! Next we ordered the Bar Harbor Mussels. OMG! Pancetta, white wine, red chilies, tomatoes, and a grilled bread for dipping...perfect meal that was not too spicy. Up next came the Hearts of Palm salad with watermelon radish, avocado, grapefruit, roasted marcona almonds in a citrus vinaigrette. What a perfect palate cleanser! And the next meal was the highly recommended Margherita pizza. This was so thin and flavorful with just the right amount of sauce! Next came our Short rib raviolis. I am a huge fan of anything with short ribs. Absolutely rich and filling! Lastly we had two desserts - The Bomboloni. This was our waitress' favorite and wow was she right on! It's just a perfectly warm Italian donut with three sauces that come in a cool presentation. Let's just say that the caramel was empty when we were finished! The second dessert was something that I really wanted to try: Olive Oil, Sea Salt, and Lemon Gelato. It has now become my favorite dessert ever! It was a perfect blend of sweet and salty!!! While everything was perfect from the drinks, the ambiance, and the food, I really was disappointed that we couldn't get a chance to chat with Fabio. But, it just gives us another reason to make reservations again!!
(5)Kimberly S.
We went here for my husband's birthday and I am so glad we did. We had 5:30 reservations, but when we got there were able to snag a table in the bar area because the Blackhawks (whoohoo) were on. This place was packed by 6:!5 and our server was great. We came hungry and ordered the following: Grilled Octopus - Yummy, but I still love Girl and the Goats better. Kobe Meatball - So good, the flavors were spot on and the meatball was cooked perfectly. Foccacia - We got this as a filler and I think I would pick something else to try when going back. Gnocchi - My favorite thing, it just melted in your mouth. Bomboloni - My husband loved this, I think it might be due to squeezing the flavors into the dessert. With a bottle of wine and espresso for the two of our bill was only $120 and we were stuffed. Compared to RPM, I would pick Siena Tvern every time.
(4)Whitney S.
Great atmosphere! The lasagna was amazing! The wine list was great as well. Loved it! We used the valet for our car and it was fast and the people were polite. Also, I accidentally left my wallet in the bathroom and they kept it in the safe for me, which was really thoughtful.
(5)Jing C.
4 stars for the food 2 stars for the ambiance Came here for dinner with a girlfriend. Food was good but didn't blow me away and the ambiance disappoints. Food: - The appetizers were the highlight! I'd go back for the Coccoli and Grilled octopus! - Pizzas are huge for some reason. We ordered the truffle mushroom which was delicious but with heavier mushroom than truffle flavors. - Ravioli was good. Ambiance: - Too loud for most conversations. We had 8pm reservations on a Tuesday night and the club-style music was already going strong. - During our meal, a guy from another table came over 3 times and tried to chat us up and invite us to go out after. Very awkward & unwanted and increasingly pushy. Staff saw but didn't really do anything about it.
(3)Haley D.
Had dinner here Saturday evening at 5 pm. We were a little annoyed at the beginning because we were sat at an extremely small table, a table for two, which we were. We asked if it would be possible to get a bigger table or a booth, and were told it was not because they had bigger reservations coming in that they needed the open tables for. This would have been all fine, except they sat at least four parties of 2 in the bigger tables we asked for in the next 30 minutes... Anyways, once food and drinks started coming I was calm and happy. Because, who cant be when bread and cheese starts to flow? Had two of the craft cocktails, dont remember which ones exactly, but both were great. Ordered the coccoli and it did not disappoint, not one little bit. one of the best appetizers I have had in YEARS!! Also had a kale Caesar salad, delicious. It was exactly what I was expecting in the best way possible. Entrees - this is where they get 4 stars. Both of entrees were just OK. Tried the gnocchi (at the suggestion of the server) and the short rib ravioli. Neither were particularly impressive, but good enough to eat. Dessert -MONKEY BREAD!!! So good, i wanted to lick the bowl, get this. When i return: I would not worry about a reservation, and just sit at the bar. there was plenty of seating between 5 and 6 45 while we were there. Also, i would probably just order a bunch of stuff to share, and not go with the pastas again. The appetizers and desserts were to die for, enough to get me back in the door!
(4)Shawna B.
It was good. The food was solid but I'm struggling to remember what our group even ordered it was so not memorable. The pizza was tasty, the lobster pasta was good but really rich, the ravioli was also really rich. I guess I'm tired of chefs hiding behind fat in place of developing flavor. Pacing for our courses was really poorly executed but we were sitting outside on a nice night so it wasn't the worst thing. I had a gin cocktail that was quite tasty. I might go back and just do a cocktail and the mozzarella bar next time.
(3)Adam D.
One of my favorites in Chicago, the atmosphere matched with the specialty drinks are worthy of 5 stars alone. Add the food and service in the mix and it exceeds all expectations of a river north hot spot. I can't get enough if the kale caesar, the #5 drink, the meatball, the pizzas... and on and on.
(5)Mandi P.
Surprisingly friendly and good food! I was hesitant to venture to Siena Tavern until this place cooled off a bit, but husBAND was insistent. We popped in a couple of weeks ago at about 8:00 pm to get some drinks and check the place out. We only waited about 7 minutes before we were able to score some seats at the overly crowded bar. The bartender was super friendly and the other patrons weren't snots at all...this little discovery perplexed me as I had imagined a totally different scene. We had a few drinks and the warm chocolate butter cake (OMG good!) and then moved on, but promising to return after seeing all of the food come out while seated at the bar. The following week we decided to hit Siena Tavern first and have dinner. We got there early...like 6:00 pm and scored some bar seats immediately. We drank for a couple of hours and then proceeded to order and eat. We ordered the Bufala Mozzarella to start which comes with bread. Very good and tasty! My husBAND ordered the Farro pasta and had a grilled chicken breast added. He loved it. I ordered the gnocchi...so freaking good. I practically licked my plate clean. We had anticipated letting our food settle and then try a different dessert to split, but our friend arrived and we got to talking and drinking. By the time we realized it was already 11:30 pm. So, we paid up and kept the party moving. Overall, very good food, decently priced, friendly service, and very low on the D-bag scale. We will definitely be back!
(4)Chicago L.
Get the tartar - so good!! Had a great lunch eating at the bar here with friends. Food was all really good, including the pizza. Wine was chilled and poured by our wonderful bartender, Kris. He brought our birthday girl some of the most incredible "birthday cake ice-cream" that was to die for! Apparently it's made in-house and was absolutely spectacular. Great place!!
(5)Carol L.
If you only eat one thing here, it should be the squid ink pasta. Wow. I also had and liked the pizza, beet salad and smoked mozzarella (served with honey comb) but the squid ink pasta was the stand out among the dishes and vs pasta at other Italian places. The gelato selection is very impressive too (10 flavors to choose from). I had blueberry lemon curd and strawberry pie.
(4)Jenny F.
Definitely try the squid ink pasta - it's particularly delicious! Got the Italian Chianti by the glass as well - very smooth, simple wine. Also had the truffle pizza and pappardelle pasta (with bolognese sauce) - both good food - comfortable, not mind-blowing but very satisfying! The coccoli was a just okay - came recommended but a bit underwhelming. It's fried dough ball with prociutto and cheese - semi-cold dish - wasn't a huge fan.
(4)Nycole H.
I've been here before for cocktails and I have to say that they are truly delicious. Today I came for a brunch meeting with two others. It was a very nice brunch. I love the decor it's so beautiful and crisp. Nothing out of place. Extremely nice staff. I ordered the Artichoke Omelet because it looked so different. I have to say it was really tasty. Slightly heavy on the egg though. I don't think the egg had to be so thick. The potatoes were good but I'd ask if I could substitute them out next time. They didn't wow me. I would definitely come back to try their Steak and Eggs and for more drinks though!
(4)Mandy M.
YUM! We were here for a mid-afternoon meal...Linner? Dunch? No matter, anytime, it's totally worth it! We sat at an expansive booth inside. The bar area was buzzing and the dining area was starting to fill on the Friday afternoon. About what I would expect for this area at that time of day. Our server was attentive, friendly and very happy to talk about the menu and provide recommendations since we had not been previously. Coccoli....EAT IT! Seriously, I could not get enough of it into my pregnant mouth. I wanted to order more. If I could have, that would have been all I ate. Seriously...get it. Order 2 if you have more than 2 people. Hell, if you are by yourself order 2. It's totally worth it. Pillows of delicious cheesy goodness and do NOT forget to use the honey. mmmm honey and cheese. If we hadn't moved out of the city, I would be eating here all the time. But alas, we did not order more b/c we also ordered a pizza and pasta to share. Pappardelle and prosciutto pear pizza. Pasta was well done, which I think are all housemade, and the sauce was very good. I would say not stand out, but holds it's own as a stable pasta and sauce. Pizza was also very good flavor combo, super crispy crust. Good for a group outing to have a few pieces and share. Damn, now I am checking my calendar to see when we can get into the city and eat Coccoli. Fun experience, good place to go with group of friends. It's not quiet, industrial like decor but very cool and worth the wait if it is busy!
(5)Caroline J.
My first experience at Siena Tavern was at an opening luncheon for the commercial tenants of my building, since Siena is attached. I was able to sample almost everything on the menu and I have to say, every SINGLE thing I had was incredible. Some of their food incorporates very interesting combinations of flavors that can sound a but off-putting, but everything ends up being amazing. Now having been back a few times for dinner, I can't speak highly enough of their truffle pizza (really all their pizzas). Additionally, I love their innovative drink menu. The drinks are definitely pricey, but I think they are worth it. I like the atmosphere at Siena because it's in a relatively large space, but still feels incredibly cozy and intimate. This is a great date-night place, but also good for after work cocktails or a girls' night out.
(5)Suzanne B.
Luckily the food and atmosphere were good enough to offset the horrible service from the host to the MIA waitstaff. Everyone in my party of 6 ordered a different pasta dish and licked their plates clean. I had the short rib ravioli and would certainly order again! Will return for the food and ambiance but with the expectation that hosts and wait staff will be less than attentive.
(3)Mimi C.
I love this restaurant! Everything we ordered (& shared) was delicious! I, particularly loved mine....Ink Pasta with Lobster....sooooooo good. And their signature appetizer...Coccoli...so different and delectable! We ordered 2 for 3 of us and 1 would have been plenty. Took 2 home. $$$ for Italian but worth it.
(5)betsy b.
Came here to celebrate my birthday and had been waiting weeks to give it a try. Started off with a bottle of Prosecco and was excited to have those fancy champagne glasses. For apps we did the Colicco and brussel sprout salad. Both were amazing. For our meal we shared 2 pastas and a pizza. The butternut squash pasta the highlight of the night. I could have just ordered 3 more of those. I wish there had been more on the plate. The short rib ravioli was just meh but the pear and prosciutto pizza was killer. I really enjoyed everything we ate...I just wish there was a bit more on the pasta plates. I also had a first at Siena last night....I sent back a bottle of wine. I NEVER do that. But our server poured me a taste and it was un-drinkable. I even had him try it and he agreed. He was super understanding about the whole thing. Since I'd never done it before I was really sure what to expect. But he offered up another suggestions and it didn't disappoint. Can't wait to come back here and try more of the menu.
(4)FoodLover Z.
Upscale, trendy American-Italian restaurant with delicious food. Highlights of our meal were the lobster hash, burnt brussels sprout pizza and monkey bread. The coffee and drinks were very good as well. The place isn't cheap, with brunch costing about 50 bucks per head with one drink pp. But the food is worth the $$$.
(5)Naz G.
This place is great! Think you'd be happy with whatever you get as EVERYTHING looks amazing! Had brunch here today..the eggs benedict was absolutely perfect. Im a totally eggs benedict snob so when I say it was perfect...it was absolutely perfect! Love their version of the sauce. If you are craving something sweet, make sure to try the Monkeybread!
(4)Marc-Louis P.
I've been to many of the newer Italian restaurants in Chicago and this place blows them away. It is a very open space so you don't feel cramped as you do in many trendy restaurants. Also, the service was great for being a Saturday night. Our server never made us feel rushed and allowed us to take our time. A very enjoyable experience. We went for my wife's birthday with a group of six people and everyone went home very pleased with their meal. For appetizers we ordered the fried dough (Coccoli, wow what a mix when tasted with the cheese and prosciutto), a pizza (Carne, it was good but I wouldn't order if for a meal), buffalo mozzarella (very good with the apricot jam mixture) and the the smoked mozzarella (the cheese was very good but the daisy leaves made it taste like eating flowers, not really loved by anyone). Each person ordered their own entree and everyone loved them. Chicken diavolo, short rib ravioli, tagliatelle, baked lasagna, rigatoni and gnocchi. I had the pleasure of the rigatoni(not something I would normally order but it was perfectly cooked pasta with a spicy sauce and lamb). I tried the lasagna which was very good but I would wait until it cools down quite a bit for the cheese to harden a little bit to give it a more gooey texture. I also tried he gnocchi was was perfect. It was not overdone and had a gorgeous and rich white sauce.
(5)Christian V.
This place is absolutely AMAZING! We had brunch and loved everything we tried. BEST Bloody Mary Ive ever had. HIGHLY recommend this place!!! ChrissyVDR
(5)Jennifer C.
As I went looking for a place to eat upon a night wandering the city I got back to my hotel and noticed Siena Tavern across the street. The name ringing a bell I got on Yelp to figure out why... the oh so Famous Fabio from Top Chef owns this place. So I knew I wouldn't be able to get in. So I wandered over. It was 7:15 and she said to check in the bar. The whole place was packed. The vibe is cool in there they have 2 huge bars and it is almost like the whole place is laid out around the bars it is a little loud but it didn't bother me as I was alone and it drowned out my thoughts of reason as I ate and drank far more then I should of seeing how I am on a diet. Oh but I snagged a seat at the bar. I am not sure if anyone was waiting on it but I saw it and waited a moment and asked if anyone was sitting there and when they said , " No" I took that prime seat and was super happy I had walked over! Because when I looked online the next weekend I can get a reservation in the evening is the end of May if I am ok with a 10 pm dinner. Going the no carb route I got the Osso Bucco and it was Absolutely Amazing. Served with Bone Marrow and a Farro Risotto it was mouth watering good! I am so so glad I didn't go with pasta or pizza I would get that every time it was falling off the bone and full of flavor! The bartender recommended the Bombolino ( I think that is it) a dessert which was basically 3 of the donuts with the sugar on the outside they come out warm and served along side 3 squeeze bottles of sauces to put on your donut. There is a Rasberry, a whiskey caramel and a nutella one . Oh my god. I died a bit thinking about this again. And either my face was reflective of the joy my meal was bringing me as a half dozen people asked me what I was eating through out the course of my meal or they could just tell it was that good! My bartender/server was great! Food was great and enjoyed watching the bartenders in action making their fun concoctions! Bravo Fabio it was fabulous can't wait to come back!
(5)Ricky R.
Sister couldn't eat her octopus; my pasta was ok, but not excellent. Noisy if you want to have a conversation, but definitely the spot to be or be seen. Wine list was descent, a great selection of Italian wines. Service was on par to excellent, but lacked the fine dining feel attention . Will give it a second try, maybe with a group of my single buddies, but satisfaction is yet to be completed.
(2)Phil T.
Thank the man upstairs I wore my checkered button down so I can match every other d-bag that act like they have money at this place! Yes its poshy but the food is good! The staff is great and very accomodating!! Advising great recommendations. Prices are pretty standard for River North, the beers are priced fairly on the lower end. Def add this place to your list of must go to's its worth it. The pizza w/ the marinated eggplant and burrata is to die for!
(4)Ralph M.
Over-rated. I came thinking I would be blown away, but this place was very average. The service was great, the server was attentive and explained the dishes very well. The five cheese pizza was soggy with little flavor. We tried two different mozzarella appetizers which were both too salty. The parpadelle pasta was really good. The bomboloni dessert was great. They were donut balls in which you can inject your own flavor into. Overall, pretty good but does not live up to the hype.
(3)dante M.
Grilled octopus and carne pizza are a must!!!
(5)Ashlee W.
I ate at Siena Tavern last night for the first time and was I glad I did!! Food: The food was fantastic! I was pleasantly surprised. First we ordered the Coccoli which was delicious. It was really fresh prosciutto wrapped in cheese and served with small fried dough balls. They suggested that we use the doughballs to make a sort of sandwich with the ingredients. We sat by the back bar where they cook the pizzas in the stove.. so we had to order one!! We ordered the Carne pizza and it was great! The dough was fresh, the meats were the right type and the right amount and the cheese on the pizza was very fresh. The pizza was a very generous size for 2 to share! We also ordered the Wagyu Tartare which was light and delicious as well. And of course, I had to order dessert! We ordered the monkey bread which was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. The dessert was not too big or too small and was the right amount of bread and cream on top. I can not wait to go back and try what other items they have on the menu! The Ink Squid Linguine will definitely be tried next!! Service: Our service was great. We decided that we wanted to sit by the bar and order from there. Adam was our bartender. He never let our drinks go empty and perfectly timed all our food. The food arrived very hot from the food runners. Oh and a side note, Lance Briggs was eating at a table while I was there :) . Not bad Siena!
(5)Melanie P.
This place is great for appetizers and drinks. Atmosphere is relaxed and perfect for socializing (not too loud). Coccoli is a must try and the cocktails are very inventive. Out waitress was very attentive and gave us some really great suggestions. She was knowledgeable about the food and flavors. We started off with the coccoli and kobe meatball. Both were good, but the meatball was a little more standard fare while the coccoli was something I had never seen before. Our main dishes were the gnocchi and spare rib ravioli. We enjoyed both but could have gotten away with only ordering 1 main entree to share after plowing through the 2 appetizers. The gnocchi melted in my mouth and the sage perfectly complemented it, the sauce was a bit heavy though. My husband enjoyed his ravioli the more he ate it, the sharper cheese was a little off putting on the first bite but was something that really paired well with the dish the further along he got. I would suggest going back with 4 people (most of the tables are built to accomodate at least 4), ordering 2-3 appetizers and 2 main dishes to share. I would also stick with the pasta, this is what Fabio is known for and the Chop House is right down the street if you want a steak. Lastly, unfortunately they were out of both beers my husband and I were interested in, Goose Island / Sienna collaboration and 3 Floyds Gumballhead but as mentioned above the cocktails were delicious and I don't think you could go wrong with ordering any one of them.
(4)Derek D.
Amazing food and really smart staff. Love it
(5)Kendra N.
Came here with my friend last night with no reservations, and ended up being able to get 2 seats at the bar. Before we arrived, I was a little nervous that the place would be slightly pretentious like RPM, but the atmosphere and service were incredible! We had the burrata mozzarella, gnocchi, and brussel sprout salad. All were amazing! Given that this place has only been open a few days, you'd expect a few kinks, but there were none to speak of! Will definitely be back soon! Ooh also saw Chef Fabio constantly greeting people and checking in on tables!
(4)Morgan H.
I went for a business lunch here and will not be returning. The menu is incredibly limited for anyone with a dietary restriction. I'm pescetarian, which usually leaves plenty of options open - not here. I had a few salads to choose from, and one pasta dish (all the other pastas are cooked in chicken stock). I opted for the kale Caesar, which is maybe half a handful of kale and a whole bunch of cheese, with two sun-dried tomato pieces, for $14. Massively overpriced. The fries are seemingly fine, but mostly crumbs. The cauliflower side was incredibly tangy - I couldn't put my finger on what exactly was wrong with them, but whatever it was, they were overpowering. The service was pretty awful - it took over an hour to get our food and there were only 5 of us in an almost empty restaurant. Servers were hanging out and having a great time together, but not at all interested in checking in on their tables. Drink orders were mixed up (we ordered water, an iced tea, a sprite and a Coke. Not complicated.) Sides were forgotten. So...in closing, you'll be investing WAY too much money for sub-par food, and be spending WAY too much time doing it, to make this place worth it. There are plenty of other options within a one or two block radius.
(2)Fuudcritic C.
1 star for service for BRUNCH. 4 stars for food. WAAYYY TOOOO many staff and very poor service. I'm guessing that this brunch thing is all new to them but gosh...it's hard to believe that even with all that staff it was hard to find anyone. They were all clumped up in the bar area talking or nowhere to be found. Food always excellent though. I'd go back.
(1)Sarv C.
Very disappointed with the service and food booked more than a month ahead and once we got there we had to wait by the bar for 30 minutes and didn't get the table till we followed up... So basically we were left on our own...menu is so confusing and took our waitress almost 3 minutes to explain it to us! We ordered farro salad which was an absolute let down. No taste at all. Cocooli was ok but nothing to go back for. Gnocchi was over cooked and covered with butter.. We won't be back and not recommended at all.
(2)Amy J.
This place is definitely worth trying. Heard good things about this place so my girlfriends and I decided to go for dinner and drinks on Sunday night. Service was good and our food came out quickly. We started with the burrata, hamachi, fries, and hearts of palm. The burrata and hamachi were delicious!! Yum yum yum!! The fries and salad were blah. For entrees, we decided to try the spaghetti, short rib ravioli, squid ink linguini, and truffle mushroom pizza. The squid ink pasta was amazing!!!! The pasta was perfectly done and the creamy sauce was a perfect match for the accompanying lobster. The truffle pizza was really good too despite how greasy it was. My girlfriends liked the spaghetti more than I did; in my opinion, it was nothing special. Our (collective) least favorite choice was the ravioli. It was a great big disappointment. Don't waste your money. Balls of flavorless mush enveloped in pasta. For dessert, we ordered the bomboloni. We accidentally ordered two but when the second bag came out, no one objected. They were just too good. And all three sauces were perfect! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Siena Tavern -highly recommended!! I'll be going back a second time for sure.
(5)Helen T.
Squid ink linguini really delish!!! The sauce is amazing!
(5)Bri B.
The food was alright. It wasn't the absolute best Italian, but it was ok. The service was okay as well. One guy hit me over the head with the mussels, but it was okay, he apologized. The waiter wasn't very attentive or personable, just sort of there to work, so the overall experience could have been better, but the decor was pretty interesting and the food was okay. I MIGHT go back...but that's a BIG MIGHT. We started with the Coccoli- I could see the flavor palate they were going for, but it was a little sweet, but still decent. The Bar Harbor Mussels, I enjoyed. If you like red tomato sauce, you'd enjoy them. The mussels weren't fishy either. My partner didn't care for it so much as a dish however. The Gnocchi- Now this was my favorite. It melted in my mouth. Delicious!! Butternut Squash Tortellacci- a very sweet dish, so if you want sweet for dinner, then definitely go for it. The spaghetti carbonaraA- eh. I've had much better. It was a bit dry and not very much flavor, even with the bacon. Truffle Mushroom Pizza- Again, I've had much better. Not very flavorful, very mediocre. Piece has waaayy better pizza. Burnt Pepperoni pizza- I would just feed that to my kid who only eats pepperoni. Lots of red pepper, which I love red pepper, but it was used as a main flavor for the pizza instead of putting in actual flavor.
(3)Molly A.
unique and delicious food! the cocktail list looked good as well, but i wasn't in the mood to imbibe, so i'll have to check that component out another time. the brussels sprout salad and the farro salad were top notch, and the kobe meatball was to die for (i even bought one to pack up and bring home to my husband). swanky atmosphere and lots of high-caliber eye contact situations available at the giant main bar. loves it!
(4)Lori S.
We were really excited to try Siena Tavern as we have been seeing many appetizing photos and heard many great reviews. I went on a Monday night, it was pretty empty. We ordered a truffle mushroom pizza which was very delicious and the size pleased the table. We also ordered a BUTTERNUT SQUASH TORTELLACCI and it was very tasty. I would definitely recommend this. As for the entrees, we ordered a squid ink pasta, sea bass, and the 36 oz Porterhouse because we had heard exceptional things about their steaks. It's a good thing the pasta and fish were tasty because the steak missed the mark on every level and it took about 45min-1 hour to get the food in an empty restaurant. The steak was ordered medium rare and arrived medium well. It also had a very unappetizing texture and I can honestly say it was one of the worst steaks I have ever had. Our server was great throughout the entire meal and very attentive with the issues. The manager was called to the table after waiting 45 minutes for our meal and apologized by offering us a free desert. We weren't extremely happy so he offered us a round of drinks as we continued to wait. After the steak mishap, he again apologized, noting that it was indeed way overcooked. He comped the steak but both bad experiences make me reluctant to bring people here and try it again. Overall: Pastas and desert were very good but the rest of the menu and kitchen still needs a lot of work.
(3)Ben T.
Great pizza and cocktails....brick chicken is great also. A lot of talent here ;)
(3)Coll P.
What a phenomenal dinner we had at Siena Tavern! It started off a little rocky...we were sitting for over ten minutes before any server acknowledged us. That is, until the busboy went over to a server and told him we were waiting and then winked at us! :) We ordered food to share between four people as we wanted to taste a lot of things and I'm so glad we went this route! We for sure looked like gluttons but it was so so good and after tax & tip it was $47 a person! We started with the coccoli which was my FAVORITE thing we ate. It's fried dough balls, served on a platter of prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and basil oil. You are supposed to tear open the dough balls and shove in the goodness and make a quasi-sandwich. Ohhhhh my, so good. We also started with the waygu beef meatball which was huge, moist and had a bit of a lemony flavor to it. Very nice. On to the harvest salad that had all kinds of goodies in it (apple, candied hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds) and a refreshing spiced apple vinaigrette. We then chose a pasta-the butternut squash tortellacci. There were five ravioli-like pieces of butternut squash pasta in a brown sugar buttery creamy sauce. This dish is rich and understandably served small, as I was content with my one piece. Finally, we ordered two pizzas. Wrong decision as we were stuffed and barely put a dent in either. We assumed these would be like flatbreads but they're very big and could easily feed two. We ordered one with all different meats on it and one with pear, arugala and garlic cream. The latter was more of my kind of flavor, but I would have preferred them both to be cooked a little longer. All in all a wonderful meal! The icy on top of the entire visit was seeing Fabio at the bar, checking out the madness. Not ONE person was bothering him, and well, I didn't want to be THAT person, but it was very exciting! Cheers!
(5)Chicago S.
Very good pizzas and pasta. You have to check this place out! I tried the grilled octopus that was amazing. It's definitely worth trying.
(5)RT R.
Went there for Sunday brunch and it was yummy - I had the mushroom pizza and it was really delicious. I'm a huge fan of mushrooms, and this pizza did not disappoint. Friends had the usual brunch items - eggs benedict and were happy. The service was a little flaky, but great ambiance, and we got a table pretty easily.
(4)Alice S.
Overall, had a great dining experience here! Started with the coccoli... amazing. could not get enough of the truffle honey on the plate either. kinda wanted to lick it off the plate... The meatball, gigantic, and super tender. Never had a meatball like this before, melt in your mouth deliciousness. Had the chopped salad, was... chopped salad. Nothing extraordinary about it, but nothing bad either. Short rib ravioli was great. Alot of restaurants seem to be throwing short rib raviolis on their menu these days, but they do it up right at siena tavern. Also ordered the carbonara. Carbonara flavors were all good, but was a bit disappointed that our pasta was not cooked all the way through. Had a bit of a crunch to it. If the pasta had been cooked properly I think I would have definitely enjoyed the carbonara. Ordered the carne pizza, it was good but nothing super amazing about it. Ended the savory portion of our meal with the osso bucco. Super tender and amazing! Had the bombolini for dessert... dipped in the whiskey caramel sauce? whew! I die! so good! Will definitely go back to try some more dishes on the menu!
(4)A. M.
Like it, don't love it...will try again. A friend suggested trying this place for dinner so Saturday seemed like a great night to go. Silly us for not making reservations earlier, but we were able to grab a table from the "first come, first serve" section. That part is a bit awkward, because you have to stalk people that are leaving to ensure that you get the table before someone else swoops in. Anyway, the atmosphere is great, love the décor and the lighting. As far as the food is concerned, the Burrata cheese and grilled bread appetizer was awesome, paired great with my wine. I wanted to be "adventurous" and try something I wouldn't normally eat (i.e. seafood) so I ordered the Spaghetti that has jumbo lump crab. Did NOT like it at all. I ate it, (I better have, it was $26)...but it just didn't taste very good. Even if the crab had not been in there, it was very plain and didn't have much flavor. My friend, however, ordered the Gnocchi and that was delicious! Our server Jenni was great, and did a nice job keeping up with all the tables considering it appeared to be a busy night. I will definitely go here again, but will probably skip out on dinner and just do drinks and appetizers.
(4)Jeff S.
Been here 3 times recently, and each time the bartenders have all made spot-on Old Fashioned's. That's enough to keep me coming back already, and I haven't had any food yet. That said: Gnocchi...amazing. Pizza...more than hits the spot. This chocolate gelato cake thing for dessert...on point. Want to have the Porterhouse and Wagyu meatball...and everything else too. My only complaint is that I don't live next door. (Probably for the best)
(5)Faye B.
I went here once to grab a bite before a show at House of Blues. Mostly all I remember I remember how loud it was and crowded. Luckily we got seated outside where it wasn't so loud that my husband and I couldn't talk.
(3)Cathy H.
This was my second time dining at Siena Tavern. Both times, I ate early, at 3:45 pm & 4:45 pm. The resto was not crowded at all. Many tables were still empty.Both times we got sat at the high-top tables behind the host stand. If you are short like me, 5'2, this is not a good seat because your feet don't touch the floor if you sit on the booth side. And, there is no bar for a foot rest.My legs started falling asleep. :0 Service was good the first visit and just okay the second visit. Dishes I loved: bone marrow w/maitake mushrooms and shaved fennel, gnocchi(made in house), and the bomboloni with the 3 sauces you could inject into each of the four bombolonis. Dishes I enjoyed and would order again: coccoli, homemade burrata, Bar Harbor mussels, squid ink linguini, the hamachi, and the tiramisu. Dish I probably wouldn't order again: the grilled octopus was cooked perfectly, but in my opinion, the overall dish was just okay. I did love the crispy potatoes in it! But, there are so many other things I would like to try at Siena Tavern before revisiting the octopus. Some of my friends said they did not like the night crowd at Siena Tavern, but I just come for the tasty food! Check out my photos on Foodspotting!
(4)Samuel B.
Eating here late night on mardi gras before heading back to hotel for more sleep and meetings! Ambiance is right, not too loud or soft. Food is overpriced but when seeking late night nourishment the bartenders are eager to serve right before the kitchen closes. One drink and an appetizer should suffice most expensive late night cravings.
(5)Chrysa L.
I seriously cannot give Siena Tavern anything less than a five star review. I had the gnocchi with crispy sage, prosciutto, and truffle cream. Absolutely divine. I was also surprised that the portion was a decent size. (Sometimes, with restaurants like this one, they give you five pieces of gnocchi and expect that to be your lunch.) The five of us could not stop raving about the parmesan/sage fries -- even using our fingers to swipe up every last bit of parmesan dust. For dessert, gelato was ordered and scarfed down. We also had an order of the Bomboloni - essentially a sugar-crusted doughnut. However, they bring four little squeeze bottles with different flavored creams and you can inject your "doughnut" with your choice of cream. I used the whisky-caramel and it was beyond delicious. To top it all off, the manager stopped by our table to ensure we were enjoying our visit. Our waiter was great. The wine list is extensive. The space itself is quite beautiful. Fabio (and his crew) did a fantastic job!
(5)Dinna Y.
No food review here just drinks. Great spot to see friends with the circular bar. Moscow mules are very fresh and flavorful here and in a cool metal coffee-mug-like cup. Service was great. Our waitress was back often even when we already closed our tab. Can't wait to try the food there. Great ambiance too!
(5)Rob C.
I had dinner with 4 others here and we started off with the Coccolio which was excellent. We ordered 5 different entres and split them. Below is how I would rank them: 1. Rack of lamb 2. Porterhouse 3. Brick Chicken 4. Ossobucco 5. Branzino The lamb had a great sweet and spicy flavor to it. The porterhouse we ordered medium rare and was nice and tender and grilled with herbs and full of flavor. The brick chicken was great but the star was the side it came with, the sticky parmesan potatos. It was full of flavor! For dessert I would highly recommend these fluffy kind of donuts they served with 3 bottles of different flavors to inject them with. They came in these small plastic bottles, one was caramel whiskey, raspberry and nutella. We ordered another dessert but we devoured this one and the other one, not so much. Great scene in the place. I was there on a bitterly cold Tuesday night yet it was still packed. Our server was Kate Lynn and she was excellent. She was friendly attentive and knew the menu inside out. Highly recommend this place for dinner or a night out by the bar area.
(4)T M.
This place is great for drinks at the bar or dinner on the patio. I had the double cut pork chop and it was excellent!
(4)Irbad C.
This place has been my "go to" spot not only for food but socializing as well. Patrons and bartenders are very nice and easy to talk to. Ambiance is great and what is there not to love about Dj Jesse. For those of you from St. Louis,MO, this place is the closest thing to Lucas Park Grille! Minus the dbags.
(5)Susie L.
My review in a nutshell: Really great good, teeny-tiny portions, overpriced, but in a fun location. If I want Italian food, I go somewhere on Halsted. If I'm all dressed up and about to go out with my friends in River North and we need small plates, I go here.
(3)Lea R.
Ok - The 3 stars is for the Pizza alone. We are neighborhood & decided to try Sienna again after a really expensive 2 salads & 2 drinks that it worth a 2nd visit. So we braved the snow storm gave Siena Tavern another chance. As I cannot remember the exact day - Someone managed to drop / knock over an entire crate of glasses in the hallway during our visit in January. So I am walking to & back from the bathrooms... seriously call your plumber. It stinks of sewage in the hallway outside the kitchen & bathrooms. Ummmmm - can't blame heat as it is -20 wind chill out. We had 2 waitresses & neither managed to keep up with our tables needs. Fresh glass of wine.... crickets... serve yourself from the bar. Fend off too enthusiastic table cleaners. Ummm, some of us do try to enjoy our meal and don't wolf it done like a last meal. Your sweet & on top of it but ask if your unsure. Wine... crickets.... Check.... crickets..... When we finally got some attention & the check we moved kitty corner over to Keefers for our after dinner cocktail. At least they know to keep checking on customers. Mind you this was not a busy evening. Chicago was beginning the Polar Vortex and there was no reason for us to be ignored by our servers as the bar area was not filled. I will also reiterate what we paid for 4 glasses of wine & a margarita pizza is CRAZY over priced. The pours are very cheap for $XX on a bottle you could buy for $x. Yes, you are paying for atmosphere, but we have been here several times and have never felt we were treated so wonderfully that the $ was worth it. After all of our visits - Siena Tavern is OFF our visit list. I am sure they will do just fine without us.
(3)Jennifer H.
We had a casual early dinner here. Drinks, food, service all were good. Would definitely check it out again!
(4)Jodi W.
Cool vibe and great food. Would go back and try items. The octopus was fleshy and not chewy. Great wine list.
(4)Julie A.
What is the hype? The drinks are pre-mixed and totally average, on a Friday don't even think about sitting at the bar (at 5:00pm). We had the margarita pizza (meh) but the Shisito peppers were great, as well as the donuts and the burrata.
(3)Bret D.
For lunch, I think you could do better for a business meet-up. However, if you're in River North, you'll do just fine here. The pastas are good for lunch. If you're going with a burger, you could probably dance around elsewhere in the dozen or so meat-oriented restaurants within a four-block radius. I'll give this a straight-up 2.5 star rating. The three stars is rounding up. Good...Not bad...Not bad...Good. BD
(3)Jamie A.
Was really impressed with this place. The truffle mushroom pizza and kale Caesar salad were amazing. The atmosphere was lively and the music fun. Our server was also really attentive but not overly attentive and really friendly. Definitely will be visiting again
(5)Thomas G.
This was a big dinner out with my family. Now, that may not sound like a big deal, but when you have three teenagers, getting together for dinner is a big deal. That's what we did at Siena Tavern a couple of nights ago. And our waiter, Tariq (I hope I'm spelling that right), made it awesome. He was endlessly patient with our many questions, made the right calls on food, was honest about the menu, brought us samples of wine and beer unasked for, and was all-around awesome. The food? Excellent. Best meal I've had in a long time. Literally no flaws. But great food isn't the same without a great waiter, and Tariq was that. Thank you my friend.
(5)Lonnie A.
I love sienna tavern! Great food. Always fresh and consistent. Great bar area and atmosphere is fun and inviting. The meatball is a must try, so are the doughnuts. The burnt pepperoni pizza if very classic, add arugula to lighten it up.
(4)L. Danovia ..
Husband and I shared a pizza for lunch recently. We had a reservation and was seated immediately. Pizza was delish, im a big fan of a chewy crust. I was so full that I didnt get a chance to order some of their famous gelato. I will definitely be back!
(5)Jennifer C.
I like this place. I went on a Saturday at 6 pm with my mom and husband. My mom is a huge fan of top chef so she wanted to come to this restaurant as soon as she heard it was opening. To drink I had the no. 4 which was awesome and filled with lavendery goodness. For apps we had the coccoli (awesome! Yummy little make your own sandwiches) and ahi tuna from the crudo bar (also delish). For main courses we had the gnocchi with pancetta, truffle cream, and fried sage (rich but very good), brick chicken with crispy Parmesan potatoes (the potatoes were good but the chicken was just ok), and the seafood brodetto ( I didn't love this, but it was good when you dipped the bread in the broth, however, unless you are a HUGE fan of seafood I would probably try something else). For dessert we had the bomboloni (doughnuts with chocolate, caramel, and raspberry sauces. Yummy!!) and cannoli with pistachio gelato (just ok). Overall this restaurant is worth a try. I would definitely go back for apps, drinks, and the bomboloni dessert. In regards to service, not bad but it could certainly use some improvement to be 5 star worthy. Are waitress was nice enough, but was kind of MIA at times. The bigger problem though was the 8 or so employees who were congregating below us during our whole meal ( we were sitting up high in a both). It's kind of distracting while your eating having a bunch of people standing, talking, and texting people on their phones in close proximity to you.
(4)M J.
It's true - the brick chicken has absolutely no flavor and there are no salt shakers in sight. Hey chef, if you're going to be cocky enough to keep salt shakers off the table make sure you put some seasoning on the food (the meatballs were bland as well.) I'll give props to the tasty salted caramel gelato (there's the salt!) but I'm not sure why it would take 15+ minutes for a pre-ordered desert to arrive after entree plates were cleared (BTW, it was like pulling teeth trying to get someone to wrap leftovers). Unfortunately the attractive interior and semi-celebrity connection will keep this place busy, which will keep them from improving and becoming a destination for people who enjoy food.
(2)Allison H.
Good solid food and consistent service. I've been here a few times for both lunch and dinner. It's been busy all of those times and required reservations. For drinks, I've had both their sangria and special draft beer brewed for them by Goose Island. Both were wonderful and I would highly recommend either of them depending on your tastes. For appetizers, I've had the coccoli everytime. It's really good though definitely heavy since it consists of bread, meat, and cheese. What's not to like there? I've only had the tuscan kale caesar of the salads, which I thought was great and inspired me to make one of my own. For pizzas, I've had the baby artichoke, and burnt pepperoni. The pizzas are kind of underwhelming and the baby atichoke isn't even on the menu which I think was a good move. The burnt pepperoni is pretty much a standard pepporoni pizza. For pastas, I've tried the short rib ravioli, gnocchi, and orecchiette. They were all delicious and you wouldn't go wrong ordering any one of those. The food has been good everytime I've gone but everything is very rich so I would recommend sharing. An entire plate of the gnocchi to yourself would really be too much.
(4)Mindy B.
I was so excited about trying this restaurant which is maybe why maybe it loomed larger in my mind then reality. The food was fine the service was fine. The lack of options on the menu is where I guess it just didn't work for me. It was very trendy. Also they wouldn't give me a booth even though I requested it 3 months prior when I made the reservation.
(3)Jade W.
We walked into the bar area. The bar was dead as it was so nice outside and the patio was jamming. The bartender greeted us and gave us drink menus to mull over, and stated he would be with us shortly. Shortly seemed like a very long time considering the bar was not busy. It seemed as there was only (1) bartender on duty. Servers were lined up waiting for their drinks. We knew it would be quite some time before he would be able to get to us, so we left and scooted our way to Mercadito, and received fabulous and quick service.
(2)Zac R.
Excellent pasta & pizza. Delicious cheeses Great service. Hip vibe.
(4)Cecilia V.
Delicious!! Yumm! Must try the octopus appetizer and the black linguini with crab. My mouth was in pure heaven!
(5)Casey Z.
I'm really disappointed by Siena Tavern. A year and a half ago I came here and felt the same sentiment. When I wrote a review that was unfavorable, I was contacted and offered a redo meal on the house which was fantastic. I came here again because my boyfriend wanted to try it and to my dismay the experience was exactly like my first experience here: bland and expensive. I don't mind an expensive meal as long as the food is worth it, but unfortunately this food is just sooo not worth it. In summation, I'm over this place. If your looking for an amazing italian restaurant in Chicago go to La Scarola, Quartino, or Briciola.
(1)Stephanie H.
I went here for a coworker's birthday yesterday for lunch. We made a reservation, which is quite necessary for such a new, hopping restaurant. The hosts were very warm and welcoming, and we were seated immediately. Our server also greeted us promptly, and we were served water right away. Our server gave us recommendations/her favorites, which was good to hear since the menu has a lot to offer. The 6 of us ended up sharing the farro pasta, margherita pizza, burnt pepperoni pizza, and mushroom pizza. 2 people also ordered the turkey panini and kobe meatball sandwich, but those were a little more difficult to share. Everything I tried was good, especially the pasta. However, I thought the pizza at La Madia on Grand was better. The pizza at Siena Tavern was definitely tasting, but seemed to be lacking that extra boost of flavor. It was also very, very soft so we all had to fold the pieces over so it wouldn't completely flop over. I had a taste of someone's fries as well, which were really good. The service was great from everyone -- one of the managers stopped by to make sure everything was to our liking. The decor was trendy, and I loved that there were so many bars to sit at. Siena Tavern is definitely a great, new place to try!
(4)Sally D.
The food, the service and the ambiance all fabulous! Our server was great, she made great suggestions and all of them were excellentl! We started with the Coccoli and the Wagyui Beef meatball antipasti - both delicious! Our entrees were all just as enjoyable. We finished with the Bomboloni for dessert - wow! So good! I can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu - in fact I just made reservations. We had a seat by the window and the people watching on a warm Saturday night was an extra bonus! Go, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Brian M.
Chef Fabio's 4 week old new spot in Chicago! Definitely was high on my bookmark list to try! Sort of unfair to Siena is that I walked in with very high expectations. The decor of this place was awesome. Very Restoration Hardware and high-end lounge feel to the place. We started with grilled octopus, bone marrow and mussels. Our server was great in putting in the order in waves so it was one dish at a time versus it all just being dumped on us. The mussels were very good! It was served in this amazingly good tomato broth that had these tasty chunks of tomato in them! In fact one person in the group was more focused on eating the tomatoes than the mussels! The gilled octopus was the best I have ever had! It was meaty, tender and clearly seasoned to perfection. Eat bite had great taste and smoky flavor! Loved how there was a slight hint of spiciness with the peppers, celery and octopus. The bone marrow was full flavored, rich fatty goodness offset by the acid from the balsamic marinated mushrooms. We ordered as a table pizza, pesto pasta and gnocchi. The gnocchi was creamy, soft and pure comfort food. The pesto pasta was the best entree ordered! That pesto sauce was to die for. The pizza was good but the pesto clearly was the meal of the night. The cocktails were extremely well made and tasted very good. Only downer of the night was that Chef Fabio wasn't there. It's a must try spot!
(5)Andrea C.
Took my husband here for his birthday this year. End to end, our experience was fabulous. We LOVE Top Chef and especially loved Fabio on the show, so I was hopeful, but not counting on him being there on a Monday night. Low and behold he was! But more on that later. Everything on the menu looked fab, so we had drinks to start and peruse. I chose a version of a Moscow mule and he went for a Manhattan. Our geography themed choices were both top notch. To start we had the bufala mozzarella which melted in our mouths. For our mains, he had the short rib ravioli which apparently was good because I didn't even get a bite. I had the orecchiette, which...yum! You had me at chili flake. We didn't think we could possibly have room for dessert, but we made room when Fabio came over because he heard it was my husband's birthday and suggested the Bambaloni and Tiramisu. Who were we to turn down his delightful Italian accent and what were promised to be donuts from heaven? For the record, Fabio did not lie to us and both desserts were delicious. I can't wait to return and try so many more things!
(5)Shakila M.
I was not impressed with Siena Tavern but this could have been because I was with a large group from work or because I didn't order one of the dishes they specialized in. I would give them another try, but only if someone else was paying.
(3)Melissa P.
Get the gnocchi. Literally melts in your mouth. Meatball and squid ink linguini are must-haves as well. Great service, need a reservation, casual. Relaxed vibe. They have a great wine cellar room that seats 12-14.
(4)Annabelle P.
This place has exceptional service and wonderful food! Our dinner last night was spectacular.
(5)Karisma E.
Love the drinks and Squid Ink Linguini! Will be back!
(5)Erika H.
I was so very disappointed by the food at this restaurant. It just does not compare to the great eateries in Chicago such as Girl and the Goat, Avec, Purple Pig, etc. Worst of it all was the fact that it was so expensive. Otherwise, everything else was great. The service and staff was superb, way better I would even say than the aforementioned restaurants. I know this review won't accomplish much as many people love this restaurant, but if you're an absolute real foodie like myself, I would say to skip this one.
(2)Hauwei L.
One of my new favorite places for brunch or food in general. 4 of us ordered the breakfast in a jar, the biscuits and gravy, the fresh made donuts, and the omelette. Everything was well prepared, very tasty, and rich. Don't come here if you're on a diet. Do come here if you want filling portions and pretty fancy food for pretty reasonable price.
(5)Casey M.
Convenient location and great atmosphere. The scallops entrée is wonderful. Great wine list and cocktails. Our waitress was a "Debbie Downer" though....maybe she was having a bad day. I'll be back...hopefully with a different server!
(3)J M.
Edited: The rule of the playground is, "first is the worst, second is the best, third is the one with the diamond chest." Well, in the case of my follow-up visit, second was the worst. Very disappointed because the the waiter recommended the wagyu meatball over the coccoli (apparently the meatballs have a twitter following), but I was not impressed. Not bad but they pale in comparison to the coccoli. Also had the brick chicken, which was the blandest thing I've eaten in a while. It had no salt! Don't get me wrong, I don't like overly salty things but this had none. Even my friend agreed. The bomboloni were pedestrian. Met expectations but didn't do anything else. Overall, I think Siena may be a 2-star rating but I bumped it up on account of the coccoli being so memorably amazing on my first visit. Kinda scared for a third potential visit. I googled the playground rule and apparently it also could end with "third is the one with the hairy chest." No thank you. **************************************************Â********************************** Review for food only as we ate outside on a relatively nippy evening at end of September. We avoided the wait for an indoor table (as well as the steady stream of douche and plastic coming in). Really though, the wait was at least an hour for two people despite us dining old people style and eating dinner at 5 pm. We started with the burrata and the coccoli, both of which were top notch. The fig and honey in the burrata was good, but it's hard to mess up burrata. The coccoli was decadent, and the marriage of the prosciutto, honey, pesto, cheese and truffle will have me back again. The fried dough was a little oily for my taste (this ain't Paula Dean's establishment) but was a unique thing for me. The gnocchi was good too but nothing I haven't had before; very rich in a buttery white cream sauce with pancetta. The short rib ravioli was ok but again very rich and heavy. Probably was a result of the butter, red wine and mushroom sauce. A bit on the pricier side but to be expected given the neighborhood and celebrity chef. I felt like the value for the short rib ravioli was the worst at nearly 20 bones for 5 pieces. But this is always an issue with small plates. Service was ok. The waiter was not intrusive but was a bit distant. Glad he steered us away from the foccacina but he could have done it in a less pejorative way. He gets a gold star for being so direct and candid. I would like to come here again, probably for lunch and try out the meatball.
(3)Rachel S.
Holy mackerel, this place is a ball of crazy. The fiance and I stopped in here after dinner the other night to check it out, have a drink or two. First off, we were there at a slightly awkward time, around 9:30, so the dinner crowd was lingering, but the clubby types had arrived en masse. (Let me say, for the record, I was not expected clubby types at this place, but boy did they represent). Plusses: I had a glass of prosecco that was decent and was served in a champagne saucer which was utterly charming. Also, though I can hardly imagine how it could have been more crowded, there seemed to be enough standing room to not feel completely claustrophobic. Minuses: wowzers, douche-bag city. If that's your scene, no judgement, that might be a plus for you, but not so much for me. At one point a certain gentleman fitting the above description jostled my arm and caused me to spill the better portion of aforementioned prosecco down my silk blouse. And he didn't even notice. Also, at least at the back bar, there were only two beers on tap, which disappointed my gentleman companion. I can't speak to the food, I only witnessed the (somewhat schizophrenic) decor, atmosphere, and a single glass of bubbly.
(3)Denise P.
One of the Best Meals I've had in a long time. Arrived at 1:30pm for a late lunch. Sat at the bar and observed the scene. Great atmosphere and a really good vibe. Was greeted by Miss Samantha who presented me a wine list and menu. She did not rush me and allowed me to take my time in making my wine and lunch selections. Started with the house made Burratta (simply fabulous). The Tomato jam and the accent of the Sea Salt rounded out the creamy texture of the cheese. A nice spoonful of all three on too of the Garlic toasted bread, yummmmmm! For lunch I had the Tagliatelle with a double shaving of Summer Black Truffles. Nuff said about that. I think I will be dreaming of this dish tonight while I sleep (it was that good). Finished off my meal with the Bombolino. Very light and fluffy (almost Zeppole like) doughnuts that came with the cutest sauce squeeze bottles. Whiskey-Carmel, Chocolate-Hazelnut, and Rasberry-Chianti sauces allowed you to experiment with these little delightful treats. Thank You Miss Samantha and Thank You Siena Tavern for a very wonderful afternoon. Ciao, Ciao'
(5)Dawn B.
Tomato jam is ridiculous. Gnocchi also a winner. Be sure to ask for the s'more gelato (off menu) Insanely good. Tariq is also an insanely good waiter. Will definitely ask for him next time.
(5)Pattie P.
I thought Siena Tavern was great. My husband and I dined here for my birthday, and had wonderful service. The specialty cocktails are a must try. I'm not a heavy drinker, but I certainly enjoy a deliciously crafted libation when available. I had a delicious version of a manhattan made with Maker's Mark that had just the right hint of allspicy-ness. My husband, who enjoys Black Label as a stand-by, had a cocktail with that as its base, but also incorporated some citrus components. Quite tasty. The grilled octopus antipasti was excellent! I love grilled octopus and order it whenever I see it on a menu. Here, they marinate it for 24 hours and it absolutely works - very tender and just delicious! The mozzarella bar did not disappoint. Except when my husband ate most of it and was reluctant to share ;) I had to try the Truffle Gnocchi, and it certainly lived up to all the hype. It is, however, very rich with the truffle cream sauce and the truffle oil. A bit of a tasty splurge, if you will. My husband sampled the orecchiette with sausage and enjoyed it very much; especially because it had some heat. Being my birthday they brought over a tasty birthday surprise: funfetti cake and sprinkles, folded into gelato. All homemade; all delicious! Not knowing to expect the birthday gelato, we ordered two desserts: monkeybread and chocolate cake. Both delicious; however the chocolate cake was very rich and after a fairly rich dinner, it was just too much. If you want to splurge on dessert, keep that in mind when ordering antipasti and entrée. The cappuccino was good. They brew Lavazza which is not my favorite, but if it happens to be your favorite - there you go! Overall, a stellar dining experience. There were several other items on the menu I would definitely return to try!
(5)Grace C.
Ordered the No. 16 cocktail at the bar at the bar while I was waiting for the rest of the reservation party to arrive and it was exactly as it was described! Then as everyone arrived and we were seated, we decided to order the various things that were recommended on here: Gnocchi, Truffle Mushroom Pizza, and the Kale Caesar Salad. Bonus: they had Three Floyds on tap! All of the dishes were delicious and we're looking forward to returning to try more dishes here.
(5)Ben K.
Oh my lord. This place is all hype. For an American Italian restaurant, I thought that the food quality was something that you would expect. I would say that the food quality was similar to Quartino for instance. They say their thing is making everything in house. Do they want a badge for that or something? With all of the other claims and prices, they better be making everything in house. My wife and I were there at 5:15 because, surprise!, that's the best reservation we could get and we wanted to try it. The decor is trendy, and the space has a very "new" and corporate feel. Nothing rustic that you might expect form the name, or the food. For some reason I kept thinking about Wildfire when we were in there. That is disappointing. Our server was nice and we ordered some drinks and the meatball to start. So weird-- The meatball came immediately and the drinks took a while. The timing was odd. Why would they do that? The meatball came out, and I'm not joking, 60 seconds after our server walked away with our app and drink order. There was a group of high school girls with one of their moms sitting next to us. They were talking about how they didn't have homecoming dates so this is what they were doing instead. I can totally appreciate that. There was this guy who was a server working there who would kind of stand around so the girls would notice him. How bruised must his ego be if he's striving for the attention of 16 year olds? It was creepy and also embarrassing. What a loser. My wife had pappardelle bolognese and I had a spaghetti with crab. Both were good, although small. We weren't expecting some weird Maggiano's portions but we did turn down dessert. We didn't want to risk the disappointment. We were out of there by 6:30. The service was too fast and a poor experience. With tip, the bill was $125 or so. Lastly, I want to say something about the crowd. At first, it felt as if everyone had come in from the suburbs to try this place. I realized that this was Fabio Viviani's place (I had to Google him before we went). This meant nothing to me and really continues to mean nothing to me. They use the Top Chef thing which has some serious marketing power and they are riding that hype well. There was just a strong JC Penney aesthetic in the clientele that you don't really come across at a lot of other downtown restaurants when you are off Michigan Avenue. All in all, the vibe was bad because of the crowd was lame, the food was good but there wasn't enough of it, and the service was terribly timed and poorly executed. The food tasted good but was not memorable, and this place is a total pass.
(2)D. S.
Went after an art show in the loop and had a great time sitting at the pizza bar. Adrian was pleasant and attentive- would definitely sit at his bar again. Really enjoyed the veggie pizza and pappardelle! Rhubarb dessert was way too sweet for my taste- rhubarb is supposed to be tart. wished we would have done the gelato instead! Maybe just a difference in personal taste though.
(4)Chirag P.
Being a big Chef Fabio fan from Top Chef I had to go there. All i have to say is try anything or everything. Enjoy. Seriously, i like EVERYTHING I HAD. But definitely try the coccoli anitpasti and the burrata from the mozzarella bar... after that have at it and try any of the pastas, pizzas. I've been there twice and had different things each time... stressing again... all good. They have some nice cocktails too, try the #2 or #8. Decor is very trendy modern chic, but it's casual dress which is nice.
(5)Rebecca M.
Wow. I read previous reviews before we went to Siena Tavern and knew I was going to get a great meal... but this place far exceeded my expectations. Six of us came here on a Saturday night before seeing a show. Even during our 5:30 reservation, the place was busy. First good sign. My sister-in-law and her boyfriend were running late, but my husband and I, along with my in-laws, got seated right away. We ordered drinks and our server offered up some suggestions for appetizers. Both my husband and I had the Siena Draft, a beer brewed specifically for Siena. We are both beer snobs, and thought this one was good. Not incredible, but good. For an appetizer, we had the Grilled Octopus, which was delicious. We also ordered a couple cheeses -- the gorgonzola and the pecorino. Both were amazing, but the cheese portions are insanely small. There was actually only enough for one small piece of each cheese for each of us -- and for $7/cheese, I wasn't too pleased with that. And then the best part... the actual meal! I was lucky enough to try most everything that everyone ordered, so here's my two cents: - Pizza Bar: I ordered the Carne pizza (sausage, bacon, salami and more) and it was awesome. I would absolutely, 100% get this pizza again. My FIL ordered the Wild Boar pizza (butternut squash and a bunch of other things I don't really know) and it had the most unique taste for a pizza I've ever had. It had a sweetness to it. It was great, but I probably would never order it. - Pasta: My husband ordered the Orecchiette, which had sausage, spices and pecorino cheese... and it was so good -- highly recommend. My MIL ordered the Pasta in a Jar. Normally, I would not try this because it has mushrooms in it, but everyone was saying what a unique taste it had, so I had to take a small bite. It was also very delicious. My SIL ordered the Gnocci, and it was by far the best dish I tasted that night. When I go back to Siena, I will definitely get this pasta. - Meat: My SIL's boyfriend got the lamb, which I didn't try, but he said it was really great. The meat fell off the bones -- always a good sign!
(5)Taylor D.
Today, I went to Siena for lunch for the first time. First of all, the place was packed at 1pm on a Tuesday, but we were seated quickly as we had a reservation. To start, we ordered some prosciutto and goat cheese. Both of these were delicious. For my entree, I ordered the orecchiette pasta with prosciutto sausage, watercress, and parmesan cheese. This was in a white wine sauce, but I have to say, that it was too salty for my taste, but the overall flavor was good. Service was just okay. I will be back to try something else on the menu. The pizzas sounded really good, but being an Italian, I had to try the pasta.
(3)Ignacio D.
I have been to Siena five times now. Four for food and one for drinks. Out of the trendy Italian places in Chicago (where I would include RPM, Nico and others) I still think Siena ranks highest. As a good Italian restaurant should be to me, the trick is in the pizzas and pastas. Simply fantastic. The gnocchi, the short rib ravioli and the squid ink linguini are great. I also like almost all the desserts, but not crazy about the donuts as others are. The cocktails are also noteworthy. Good bar. I had a #11 last time (patron silver, grappa, st. germain, chamomile, orange bitters, lime, basil) and loved it!
(5)Ted T.
Just Generic and corporate feeling in virtually every way from the food to the atmosphere and even the location. Not bad mind you but just in no way special. It's got some buzz currently and yes, Fabio from Top Chef is involved but you are as likely to find him here as you are Wolfgang Puck making a sandwich for you at one of his airport "Express" locations. It's all pleasant. The room uses reclaimed wood and has worn old looking concrete floors but it's all Disney-like, just very planned and artificial and lacking in authenticity. In fact that is really an insult to Disney (which does what they do very well), but it just feels fake here. The food is also pleasant but not excellent or memorable in any way. The Margarita pizza had less basil than any I have ever seen an NO fresh tomato or fresh cheese. It was in essence a bland cheese pizza with flavorless sauce. Clams and Mussels were a little better with the best part being the sauce soaked bread found at the bottom of the bowl. Service was friendly and attentive but may get worse as it gets crowded. I'm torn on it because nothing is offensively bad but nothing is really good either. Should be 2.5 stars. I am sick of the Edison bulbs and recycled wood that every new restaurant feels compelled to use, and they are out in force here. I'd love to see something fresh and new but NOTHING is new here. You have had better similar food many, many times I am sure. If you are taken here or find yourself here for some reason don't sweat it, it's fine. But I cannot imagine going out of your way to eat here. It is perhaps the most generic place to open downtown in the last year. At the end of the day Siena Tavern lacks heart. It's just going through the motions and collecting cash. It feels like a copy of more successful places both in Chicago and other cities and plays everything so safe that no one could possibly be offended. Of course nothing is really exciting either. There are 50 better options within a mile radius and a bunch of better options within a literal stone's throw. I don't hate Siena Tavern but if this becomes a generic chain of places opened everywhere from Miami to Kansas City that would not surprise me in the least.
(2)Laura A.
Honestly delicious. I came here for a work lunch and we ordered the octopus and ahi tuna for starters. These were the highlights of our meals. The octopus has a great taste and texture; the tuna was the best I've ever had I had the gnocchi as my entree. I am not a pasta aficionado, but the gnocchi was pretty dense, so not my fav. The service was exceptional. They accidentally threw out our leftovers and made us entire new entrees without us asking. I later came back with my sister and had the beigneits. Very fluffy and the whisky caramel sauce was so good and unique.
(4)Dina Z.
Went there with high expectations and was not disappointed .great dishes for every taste and the flavors a delish. Try Black ink linguini with a lobster and of course the pizza.
(5)Ed G.
Had lunch there with my daughter. Nice place, nice people... enjoyed the food and drink.
(4)Mandy F.
Came here with fiancé and our bff for Sunday brunch last weekend. I have been trying to get dinner reservations here for months, but never sealed the deal, so this was the next best thing. The place was pretty quiet actually. Our waitress was patient with us as we chugged several glasses of water before getting our stuff together well enough to order. We got the coccoli which was ridiculously cheesy, pesto-ey, sweat and spreadable with yummy toast points. Great way to start things off! Two of us shared the egg sandwich and kale caesar. Kale was good, nothing special. Egg sandwich was also tasty with over easy eggs that exploded all over the place and bacon (duh). Fiancé had the benedict, which has also felt was delicious. Good food, good service and nice spacious interior!
(4)Mark L.
Stopped here on NYE for a late lunch with a small group of friends. I tried the house craft brew, and was pleased with the product. Light, mildly hoppy and a hint of fruit. It went down very easily. As for the food, we sampled a number of items, and I was lucky enough to sample quite a few of them. I sampled the the gnocchi, stuffed raviolo, meatballs, one of the salads and the carne pizza. I was a fan of all of them, but can honestly say the pizza was nothing special in my opinion. Very fresh, and tasty, but nothing that made it stand out from the other various pizza places in chicago. The only reason I am giving four stars is because of the service. Understood that the staffing might be low on NYE (especially at the 1:30-3pm hour) but we found ourselves wondering where our waitress had run off to multiple times.
(4)Stacy L.
Best meal I have had in Chicago. Went to a few other places, they were okay, but Siena does it right. Five Stars!
(5)Erin M.
Siena tavern has been on my "must try" list for some time now. After trying what felt like half the menu, my hands down favorite of the night was the burnt pepperoni pizza. We started our 4 hour dinner out with the hand crafted cocktail made with absolute, ginger zest and fresh sage. I loved that I actually could taste the alcohol!! Thank you Mr. Bartender! The drink was super tasty. We then moved on to a variety of appetizers. In my opinion, the Kobe beef meatball was the best. The clear front runner of the night was the Pepperoni pizza which is now my favorite pizza pie in the city!! Super spicy with the red chilies and hand rolled home made crust. It simply doesn't get any better than this. I have to mention the soft brown leather restoration hardware looking chairs. They are to die for! So comfy. I could have sat there all night! Soft brown surroundings to go with the Siena theme I presume. Super trendy crowd. This restaurant is not to be missed!
(5)Luis G.
Excellent, extraordinary, warm and welcoming. From the food to the staff, the the atmosphere and the man who made a pass on my girlfriend. This tavern is a prime choice to venture into and experience Chicago. This is a place you would want to dress casual.... However, I did not. I entered the tavern in a hoodie, gym shoes and windbreaker pants. The only thing I had going for me was my beautiful and very attractive girlfriend. Gentlemen, I dare say you ought to take your lovely lady to a place like this.. AND dress appropriate so that you don't feel out of place.
(5)Alex L.
FOOD: Top notch. Delicate, fluffy, tasty gnocchi was my favorite. COCKTAILS: Stellar. Lavender aviation? Uhmmm YES PLEASE. SERVICE: Amateur at best. If it weren't for this, I'd give them 5 stars. Really, the service we got was so bad, I contemplated giving the restaurant 3 stars, but the focus for me is the food.
(4)Lu N.
Great service! Must get meat ball, hamachi, octopus! beautiful ambiance!
(4)Danielle B.
Got the halibut entree- was nothing special. Did try the squid ink linguini and will order this next time, that was delicious. The cocktails are pre-mixed which is a huge turn off for me. Ciccoli and pizza were good but not amazing. Had a house chopped salad and it was fine.
(3)Jim G.
Overall very good. I was hoping for 5 stars. Split orecchiette pasta dish and that was excellent. Ordered the halibut for entree and to me it was 3 stars. The seasoning around it was very earthy and bitter. Took away from the halibut which was plain without. The service was great and totally appreciated not being rushed.
(4)Linda S.
My new favorite brunch place. Outdoor seating, dog friendly, awesome food. Enough foot traffic to make it interesting, but not so chaotic as to detract from the outdoor eating experience. The kale salad is the best I've had. The burger was phenom.
(5)Alexa G.
I ate at Siena Tavern a week ago for a girlfriends birthday and thoroughly enjoyed it. The restaurant has a great ambiance, where you can indulge in the swanky dining side of the restaurant, but still casually hang out in the bar area and catch some of the Hawks game. Our server was excellent! She spent a considerable amount of time explaining the menu and offered up some wine/cocktail pairing suggestions, which was greatly appreciated, as none of us had ever dined there before. She was very attentive throughout dinner but not overbearing, as she understood we were there to catch up and celebrate. The Coccoli was exceptional...I mean melt in your mouth exceptional...& the Burrata Mozzarella was also very delicious-the tomato jam is excellent. The only thing that kept me from a 5th star was my lasagna. I was craving some great Italian comfort food and my lasagna was served luke-warm at best, which shocked me because it was served in a cast iron skillet. The burnt pepperoni pizza was good, but not mind-blowing. Still made for great leftovers. The gnocchi was hands down the BEST gnocchi I've ever had-highly recommended. The Salad in a Jar has a great presentation, but ends up looking like mush on your plate. Survey said it was surprisingly really good though.. The birthday cake ice cream is made with actual birthday cake and there wasn't a drop left in the bowl. Props to the pastry chef! I will certainly be back...as soon as I can get a reservation :)
(4)Anne C.
Soooo good! I have been talking about this place to whoever will listen since I went about a month ago. The Tuscan Kale Caesar was so good I'm still thinking about it! I'm not a huge sushi person but my girlfiends had me try the Hamachi and I love it! We also ordered the squid ink linguini and it was insane! Finally finished off with the Bomboloni.... SO SO GOOD! GO! PS It was FILLED with "broski's" at the bar- be forewarned!
(5)Sopla R.
Stopped in a couple weeks ago. We wanted to sit outside but a storm was brewing so we opted to dine in. It wasn't too busy for a nice, later day, early eve. Sunday meal. It's a beautifully designed restaurant. Shared the Carne pizza and Bay Scallop Crudo with the Cauliflower side. Each dish, was savored. Portion size ample for price point. They were out of a lot of menu items due to a missed delivery. This didn't impact our experience but would def raise a flag if it happened next time we dined. All in all really enjoyed!!
(4)Joey T.
NO. That is how I will answer when someone asks me if they should go to Siena Tavern. I went with two other people for lunch on a Monday. It was not busy in the slightest. Yet, the service was pretty bad. It took a good 10 minutes before someone asked us for drinks. Then another long while before we were asked for our orders. We all ordered pretty simple salads. The server also talked us into the coccoli. Thank goodness she did... for 2 reasons. 1) it was pretty darn good (which is why this review is 2 stars instead of one); 2) it came out 5 minutes after we ordered, but then our salads came out about 50 minutes after we ordered. We could not believe how long it took to make 3 simple salads.... and when they finally got to our table, we all were unimpressed. Service was not the best either. Just too many issues to deserve any more stars.
(2)Brian P.
Ate here a while ago. Ensure you get cocktails--waiter was happy to recommend some very unique items. Gnocchi was nice, black cod was nicer. Decor is definitely a little bit more upscale, but seems a little odd in the "inauthentic-weathered-because-it's-brand-new" kind of way. It doesn't feel too different from Sable nearby though. Pizzas are fun and portions are quite large. Not a bad brunch location due to the fact that it seems more relaxed and many people here are nursing a hangover.
(3)Laura J.
I've only heard good things about Siena Tavern and I FINALLY went for the first time last night to celebrate a birthday. We started off with Moscow Mules which we excellent. I also ordered Sangria later in our meal - excellent as well. For an app we ordered the Mozzarella Burrata - delicious, I particularly liked the hint of cinnamon it had. For our meal we ordered the Ahi Tuna, Gnocchi and Mushroom Truffle Pizza. PHENOMENAL - all of it. My favorite item though, was the Gnocchi; the gnocchi itself was light and fluffy and the truffle sauce was rich. Overall had an amazing experience at Siena Tavern. From the food, to the drinks, to the service, to the atmosphere - it was phenomenal!
(5)Amy D.
I recently had a great lunch at Sienna tavern. We had reservations for a Saturday afternoon for five, and we all had a great lunch. I ordered the Sienna salad, and it was filled with many great ingredients. Plus it was dressed perfectly with a great vinaigrette. My friends all loved their dishes, which ranged from the lobster roll, cheeseburger, pizza and lasagna. The disappointing part was the gluten free menu. While it's nice to have our own menu, the selection was very limited. Most Italian places in Chicago offer either a gluten free pasta or pizza, which would have been nice to have included. While I enjoyed my salad, I'm not sure I'd come to eat dinner given the small GF selection.
(4)Maria S.
I am always weary of the mammoth restaurants in River North that get a lot of press, most of them turn out to be thoroughly disappointing. However, Siena Tavern did not disappoint. I went for brunch. My cocktail was faaaantastic!!!! We started with some items for the table to share... a kale salad, which was good, and this amazing creation called "coccoli". The coccoli was a board with prosciutto, soft cheese, truffle honey and the puff pastries that are typically used to make profiterole... You need to order this!!!! I will never forget my brunch entree either.... Egg in a jar. It is a huge king crab leg in tempura batter served with two poached eggs, greens, and asparagus. It is all brought out in a mason jar and emptied onto your plate at the table. The presentation is so fun, I wish there was some kind of light sauce that could have been poured on top (hollandaise was served on the side, but I really did not use it). Everything was so good, we had to splurge and get dessert. The gelato was my favorite, you can get an assortment to try; they all come in little shot glasses. Delicious! I am definitely going back for dinner!
(5)Natalie L.
As indicated in Maria P's review, we had mixed feelings about this place. Maria P. is much more timely in her review than I am. This place is trendy Italian in River North ... and maybe still working out some of the kinks. I liked the meatball and, rich or no, could have eaten the gnocchi all night. But man that fig pizza really killed it. Texturally it was just wrong. The cheese spread on it was just wrong. And that was the last course of our dinner. So ... one star for the great company ... one star for the good service ... and one star for the gnocchi. If I was out shopping in the area when it's nice out and there were spots open on the nice patio outside, I'd stop back in for a snack and a glass of wine. But I don't think that I'd wait 4 weeks for a table only available at 5:15 on a Tues.
(3)Randi M.
Very good food at an upscale venue. Came on a Tuesday night and it was packed. Our party enjoyed the beet salad( so good), scallops with the risotto( excellent), wild mushroom ravioli( the plate was almost licked clean), kale cesar, and lasagna. The service was amazing too. A good solid choice on the North side.
(4)Josh M.
Very good vibe, trendy but staying power type trendy. Gnocchi was spectacular, cooked very well. Roasted cauliflower was not spectacular, too much citrus and the flavors just didn't mix well. I'd definitely come back and try other entrees.
(4)Crystal P.
First off...OMG!! Let me say my friend and I wish we could've tried everything on the menu although we practically did! We started off with the cauliflower delicious who knew this vegetable could taste so good! Then we ordered the coccoli another taste of heaven it damn near melted in my mouth. The unusual combo of flavors you wouldn't think would taste good are actually very delicious (honey, prosciutto, bread and cheese) oh my!!! My entree was the gnocchi very rich and creamy only wish I could have had more on my plate! Only negative I can give this place is that it's expensive and the pizza crust is not to my liking. But will definitely be a regular here when I visit the chi!
(5)Gina S.
Ladies night = cocktails (and dancing but that's another review). A sign of complex flavored cocktail means there will be lots of ingredients. I had a #2...the cocktail! It was a unique flavor created by a whole lot of stuff including: Grey Goose, peach, lemon, blueberry lavender, cherry bark vanilla bitters and Prosecco. Enjoyable. When we initially walked in all of us noticed a smell that we just couldn't place...it was almost a cross between a stinky shoe and something funky. It wasn't until we order our pizzas that we were able to place that smell and it went from being an "ummm" to an "hmmm". As a group we split a Truffle Mushroom pizza (the smelly culprit) and a Margherita pizza. Both were good, but I think I liked the fungi/savoriness of the mushroom pizza more. It was like enjoying a good stinky cheese, you either love it or you hate it...I liked it. The crust was good too. Only downside, it was super loud and the service was a little slow because this place was bustin' with business.
(4)Ryan P.
Can you say hyped up? We were excited to try this place after hearing all the great things. Result? Meh. If you like the whole River North scene, then you probably gave this 4 or 5 stars. If you came for great food, you definitely were let down. The space is of the restaurant is about equal to the bar space so that should let you know right there. Service was ok, the server let us know that they "serve some good s*** here" and "how bout I start you off with some good booze" right off the bat. However, he was unable to properly stage the meal, as there were times that the table was without food on it for up to 30 minutes. The truffle pizza was good, but thats were the good food ended really. Had the seafood brodetto which was described to me as "freaking amazing seafood in broth" which was a major letdown. 2 TINY shrimp in the broth, it was all clams and mussels, with a tad of whitefish thrown in. If I wanted a bunch of mussels I would have ordered them alone for about $20 less than this dinner option cost. We then had the orecchiette lamb merguez, which tasted like boxed hamburger helper with funky aftertaste due to the overwhelming amount of saffron in the dish. There was maybe a sprinkling of lamb, and the portion was small as well; not a problem as we took a few bites and left the rest as it was bad. Tiramisu was just decent, and still in the pan when served so you can't even see the pretty layers of the dish. TLDR: This is a seen and be seen place, there is no way in hell people are here for the food. Stop in for a drink before it closes in a couple years when the hype factor wears off.
(2)Alessa B.
Came here with my sister in-law for dinner and drinks on a Thursday night and loved it. The restaurant itself is beautiful with a nice ambience - good for a friendly, romantic or business dinner and they offer outdoor seating which is always a plus for me. We ordered a variety of menu items to share- cheeses, meats, fish, salad, pizza, dessert to compare the good vs bad and honestly, we really liked everything. They also have a great drink menu selection. I've attempted to go back a few times since (without a reservation), but it's difficult to get a last minute table and I am not a fan of waiting an hour to get a table. Will definitely be back.
(5)Jannis W.
A place for the young, hip and beautiful. Uhhh, right up my alley. Kidding... Siena has a cool, dark, industrial vibe. It echoes of good company and music that makes you wanna booty pop during dinner. Things that were highly recommended to me which I will in turn highly recommend to you. Gnocchi and coccoli. You can't go wrong with the fresh pizza. The squid ink linguini (handmade pasta) comes with a very generous lobster serving. Don't park your car out front after 11pm because you will get a ticket. But who drives in Chicago anyway?! If you want to take a chance and challenge the meter maids, you're welcome to do so. Come with an arsenal of a great face, an adorable Australian accent, and panty dropping charm. Yeah, I'm a lucky girl.
(5)Vaidehi T.
We went here for dinner last night with a few friends. It was a perfect evening from start to finish. Its quite a big place and I quite liked the decor as well. The service is very good, and the food is excellent. We ordered the Truffle mushroom pizza, the Spring vegetable pizza nad the caramelized Brussel sprouts pizzas. We also tasted their gnocchi dish. Each dish was unique and oh-so-good. But my fave was the spring vegetable pizza - it was knock-your-socks-off delicious. Squash blossoms, asparagus, peas with pesto crema as the sauce - it was delectable. We also ordered dessert - tiramisu, double chocolate cake and caramel cookie jar. I will go straight to the Caramel Cookie jar - it was orgasmic!! Ummm sooo good. One of the best desserts I have eaten in recent times. Overall we had a wonderful time - we did not feel rushed at all. The service was great (though a bit slow) and the food was fantastic.
(5)Steve A.
Despite its name, Siena Tavern doesn't really come across as either Italian or a tavern. True, there is a list of pizzas, and they serve drinks, but it seems more like a Hillstone concept to me. The decor is open and modern, with a few too many hard surfaces to control the noise level when it's busy (which seems to be most of the time). We went for Sunday brunch/lunch, and I was pleased to find that while there were some very tasty looking brunch items, there were also lots of non-breakfast choices. The chopped salad was an interesting conglomeration of vegetables, cheese and meat, and had enough juice from the artichoke hearts and other veggies that it didn't really need the accompanying honey mustard dressing, so I'm glad I had that on the side. The "burnt crust" pepperoni pizza wasn't quite as charred as I would have liked, but it did have a very thin crust and good flavor. Service was efficient, a necessity given how busy they were. I'm not sure what would draw me back for a revisit (maybe some of the breakfast items, which looked really delicious and really bad for you) but my visit was fine.
(4)J. Spencer M.
Best original cocktails I have tasted in Chicago. This place has a creative chef making craft foods. The truffle gnocchi is the bomb. Their pizza's are great. And the main entrees are done well. The bar has some of the best recipes for any type of cocktail. They labeled in numbers. Try the #4 and the #10. Goose Island also brews a special beer just for Sienna. It's a great late night spot to go for food and specialty cocktails
(5)Genevieve L.
Everything on the menu sounds delicious! The descriptions made even the things you didn't know how to say sound amazing. We were fortunate enough to have an awesome server who knew the menu inside out. We were conflicted about what to order since it all sounded so good so we asked her for some suggestions. To start, we had a couple of their signature cocktails-sangria for me and some bourbon drink for my boo. Both were awesome. Then we moved on to their meatball appetizer. It's one giant meatball topped wth cheese swimming in a pool of tomato sauce and fresh basil. I love the taste of fresh herbs so this was definitely a winner in my book. For dinner, I had the halibut. The crust on the halibut was the right amount of crispy without being overdone. It was the best fish I've ever had! And I'm not usually a fan of capers but the caper sauce paired well with it. This place is better if you go in a group of 4 or more so you can try a little but of everything.
(5)Hannah P.
I went here last week with coworkers after hearing great things about this place. We were able to get a last minute reservation easily and the host was super friendly and inviting. Being from New England I loveee being in a Midwest city where everyone is so fricken nice and this place was no exception. We were warmly greeted and brought to our table. The group ordered the burrata which was really rich, creamy, fresh and flavorful. The bruschetta was also a fan favorite topped with tons of fresh sautéed veggies. A couple coworkers ordered the pizza which they raved about. Another person and myself ordered the hand cut squid ink linguini with lobster tail-OMG I could eat that dish forever. Everything about this dish screams perfection. Al dente pasta executed superbly with a richhhh luscious lobster tail sauce. Their drinks were also delightful! Everyone was pleased with the wine list/ beers on tap and I would be very keen to order their dirty martini with extra blue cheese stuffed olives any day. Can't wait to go back here.
(4)Castro S.
There was over an hour wait for the dining area, so we sat at the bar. Boy am I glad we did! The people watching was entertaining, the ambiance was perfect - dim lighting and friendly bartenders. Then I got hungry.. and the food was DELICIOUS! We ordered the Burnt Pepperoni pizza and Caramelized Brussels sprouts. Lucky for me, my bar neighbor had one last slice of his Truffle Mushroom pizza.. so we did a trade-for-trade. SO GOOOD!!! I'd definitely venture off and try that one next time. I can't complain... I'll def return when visiting Chicago.
(5)Brenda R.
What a wonderful meal. Beautiful craft cocktails got us started along with the luscious homemade cheese and meat board. Our server was amazing and spent time explaining the menu and feeling out our likes. She was on top of her game. Dinners were awesome. Gnocchi melted in in your mouth, the lamb was perfect and spaghetti and crab-- yum! Desserts didn't disappoint. Beignets with raspberry Carmel or chocolate filling Along with home made burnt peanut gelato -- over the top! Reservation for September! Can't wait!
(5)Kristine C.
We were here a few months go, it took me awhile to get around to this. I still wanted to put my two cents in regarding the loop restaurant. It is a place for the after work crowd and tourists alike. They have a large bar area and lots of restaurant seating. The thing I liked the least was the amount of noise. It is incredibly loud. Their music is blaring and everyone is trying to talk over it. We were with friends and could hardly carry on a conversation across the table. The minute we stepped outside my ears were ringing and I had the quiet sense of calm again. I like their large Italian menu. There is something for everyone. My favorite part is the Mozzarella Bar. I chose the Burrata, classic and simple. I enjoy the taste of Burrata and not all the fluff and extras that sometimes accompany this dish. We also ordered the Shaved Brussels sprouts. Not impressed with a pile of sprouts. I would have preferred a bit more char to mine. The Truffle Mushroom pizza was pretty good. Anything with truffle (and enough truffle you can taste), is pretty tasty. Then, you cannot come to an Italian restaurant without trying some pasta. This time around I went with the Tagliatelle. Surprise, it has mushrooms and truffle. I cleared my plate. The pasta dish was very satisfying.
(3)Claudine V.
My hunny and I came in late from San Fran so we had little choices for a late dinner place. We walked around our the trump tower are and saw this place. We wanted something light and good at the same time and we stumbled to this place. This place was Perfect!!! They were serving pizza and charcuterie and sashimi after 12 am which was peuuuurfeccctt for us. We had pizza with black truffles, hamachi sashimi and some charcuterie. We had two drinks to accompany our dinner which tasted really great. There was the bar area which was super crowded and the dining are with cozy booths. Luckily we had a cozy booth and was still able to listen to some cool techo, loungey music. Their menu was pretty diverse and I could see that its pretty delish!!! If I go back to Chicago, I will definitely hit this place again.
(4)Shilpa M.
We came here for brunch on a Saturday morning! The Siena draft beer was awesome and we had the caramelized Brussels sprouts pizza with chicken ! It was one of the best pizzas in recent times! Highly recommend it. Also for desserts, we had the tiramisu was was very very good. I would definitely come here again :))
(5)Kate M.
I really like Sienna Tavern. I like the food, I like the drinks, I like the décor, I like the location, I like the service, I just like it all. Mostly, I like the sangria and the kale Caesar salad with steak. Oh, and the lobster hash. I love the red sangria. The pizza is delicious too. Oh! And the sangria!! So, to sum it all up: take me here, give me sangria.
(5)Daniel D.
I came in here just to grab a quick bite before heading back to the hotel, and the stop was completely worth it. With my friends we ordered 3 of their pizzas and they were all delicious. The pizzas do have a nice gourmet twist. About the place itself it is a trendy spot that serves good drinks, with good service and atmosphere. I would recommend this place for people looking for a trendy pizza place.
(4)Basil D.
Three Stars: Dinner/Drinks Four Stars: Brunch Well worth the trip to River North to eat here. MUST VISIT for brunch! I don't do "trendy" because it's usually overblown by people who really have no bloody clue what they're talking about. I finally made my way down the street from my building a few times to try the sensation everyone is talking about. Dinner: I've gone there for dates, happy hour, and dinner. The pizzas are good. They're wood oven pizzas and have excellent ingredients. Very tasty, but everyone is doing it, so it's worth ordering, but don't come here for the pizza. Kale Salad: Fantastic! I've had kale, it's all the rage now because it's healthy, has a lot of protein and enough roughage to keep you regular through to the Parousia. Kale can be bitter and a bit "rough" in the mouth. Siena's kale salad is simply fantastic, outstanding, incredible!! I never knew kale could taste so good! They toss the salad in a very light but milky dressing, and the kale leaf lends itself to holding the right amount of dressing so the proportion of dressing to kale is perfect. Hat's off to the chef to figure out how to do this so well. The shrimp wasn't overcooked and seasoned wonderfully. Very nice. The staff is truly fantastic at all hours of the day. They're warm, friendly, patient and helpful. Despite constantly being busy they never seem or act "rushed". The only exception is the snotty Asian man at the host/hostess station. He must have compromising pictures of the owner to keep a job there with his attitude. Now, brunch is simply fantastic. They have one of the best menus in the city. First, they have a proper brunch menu (some restaurants just open for brunch with no special menu...por qua?). Biscuits and Gravy: Didn't want to order it. I don't like feeling as if led ingots are setting in my stomach all afternoon. BUT I did order it, and it is marvelous! SO GOOD. It's not heavy at all. It's light, tasty and not pasty, flaky pastry, marvelous portion....perfect and presentation is great. Breakfast Sandwich: Simply awesome. My fave. Don't underestimate it. It's excellent. Monkey bread: Soooo good. Served warm and fresh. Tiramisu French Toast: Everyone is doing this type of thing, but they do it very, VERY well. Eggs Benedict: everyone thinks they can do it well, most can't. They do it very well. The hollandaise has a nice "tang" to it from the lemon, it's fresh, creamy, and light (some hollandaise can be very pasty, this isn't). Lastly, I recommend if you are a party of two or more, share the plates. Get some of the sweet pastry stuff, and then some of the other egg items and share with each other. It's the only way to do it! Oh, great coffee, excellent orange juice and mimosas. I hate bloody Mary's, so I can't judge theirs or anyone else's. Nothing better than sitting on the patio for brunch on the weekends. Great location, great people watching, and they're dog friendly.
(3)Ivonne R.
Cool, large, trendy place. The service is friendly, accommodating, and fast. I went for brunch on a Saturday and had the delicious tiramisu French toast. The whipped cream topping was the best! My friends also enjoyed their entrees, but I hear lunch during the week is the best. Will go back! Recommended!
(5)Jeanine Z.
I loved this place! It's a pretty restaurant. It's pretty trendy. We were seated at a table promptly. They have a nice wine list. For an appetizer we ordered grilled octopus. It was one of the best I've ever had. I ordered pappardelle pasta with bolognese sauce. The pasta was perfectly cooked. It was delicious. My friends ordered the salmon, truffle gnocchi, and tagliatelle with truffle, Parmesan and mushrooms. Everyone loved their entrees and ate until the last bite. For dessert, we had cookies and cream and tiramisu gelato and the cookie jar. The cookie jar came with cookies on the side and the Nutella and peanut butter mousse to dip the cookies into. Overall, this place had great service and food!
(5)Blaine T.
This place is incredible!!! The bar scene is trendy and fun too. You have to try their pastas. The best seller is the gnocchi and it is amazing. The burnt pepperoni pizza is also fantastic. You have to try the specialty cocktails too. They are seasonal and definitely worth it. I would go with a few people so you can sample a bunch of dishes because you're going to want to try everything!!! Such a great restaurant and perfect for dates too
(5)Dave O.
This place was awesome. If I lived in Chicago, this would be my goto spot. Its large, open, trendy and gives off a good vibe. I had the Alaskan grilled halibut, and it was cooked to perfection and looked like a masterpiece. The service was friendly and quick, which was surprising, with how busy they were. Ill be coming back here, next time I'm in town.
(5)Andrea B.
Definitely worth the wait. I've been trying to get reservations for at least 3 months and finally I got one at a decent time. I started off the with grilled octopus (a tad bit gritty, but overall it was very good. The sauce was delicious). My entree was the orecchiette pasta with prosciutto sausage (SO GOOD). I'm not a pasta eater at all but I decided to try it bc everyone around me was eating pasta or pizza. Great choice, I highly recommend it! I finished off with the bomboloni, it was a perfectly cookies doughy donut with three sauce options. If I don't make it back for dinner I will for sure be back for dessert.
(4)Rachel E.
You know a restaurant is popular when you have a 10 PM reservation and still have to wait 15 minutes for your table to be ready. Word from the wise: make a reservation if you want to go to Siena Tavern. In all fairness, my boyfriend and I went here on Valentine's Day, but I still was floored that we had to wait for a 10 PM reservation. Thankfully, we weren't in any hurry, so we grabbed cocktails at the bar (the No. 13 was fabulous), and then waited until the hostess brought us to our table. We were fortunate enough to snag a booth, then got dessert recommendations from our server. Although there were a ton of options that caught our eye, we ended up getting their caramel cookie jar and the gelato flight (red velvet cake, Crème brûlée, brown butter peanut, and s'mores). Because why not go overboard on the Hallmark Holiday? The beau and I were in sugary nirvana, and couldn't even come close to finishing all of the items. Fantastic experience and a perfect date night in Chicago.
(5)Dan R.
I was going on a quick work trip to Chicago and had a pretty straightforward request for my team out there: pick a good spot for lunch. Typically, I do my own restaurant research (shocker), but this time, I felt it best to leave it in the locals' hands. Without hesitation, their response was Siena Tavern, even going so far as to call it their favorite. I'd never heard of it, and neither had any of my colleagues in New York (for whatever reason, they were very interested in where we were going to eat). No matter - I was at the mercy of the Windy Citizens now. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the uber-trendy decor - part Crate and Barrel catalog, part reality show date location. The second was the sheer size of the place, space for days with a private party going on in the back complete with its own bar. Our waitress was immediately the epitome of Midwestern charm - smiley, bubbly, super attentive, and ultimately a ninja, popping up unexpectedly and often throughout our meal. When we placed an otherwise strong order to split as a table, I internally scoffed at the Heirloom Carrot Salad pick from one of our more health-conscious co-workers. To say the dish took me completely by surprise is an understatement. I don't love carrots, and with such a meat-centric menu, I pretty much planned on glossing over the salad section. But this - the titular veggies tossed with broccolini, shaved squash, goat cheese, Marcona almonds, and Cabernet vinaigrette - was fantastic. I scarfed this salad down and can confidently say it was my favorite thing I sampled at Siena Tavern. I had my eyes on the Wagyu Beef Meatball since first visiting the website and I was treated to a huge and deliciously blended sphere of meat, covered in roasted tomato sauce and topped with ricotta and basil. I was happy to see our Carne Pizza, a quattro-hog topping experience (housemade fennel sausage, pancetta cured bacon, sopressata, and prosciutto sausage), served as thin crust and none of that deep-dish nonsense. The Squid Ink Linguini had a lot of promise, containing both a grilled lobster tail and spicy lobster cream sauce, but it was served lukewarm and the temperature may have hurt the dish for me. Hey, I'll take three out of four any day, so no harm, no foul here. The clientele while I was in town was unsurprisingly a very business lunch crowd, and I see how Siena Tavern appeals to Chicago yuppies come happy hour or weekend brunch. This also explains why my fellow New Yorkers were unfamiliar with the place, perhaps appearing outside of tourist must-do lists and under strict local jurisdiction. Take the insider tip I was given and check out Siena Tavern when looking to get off the prescribed out-of-towner path, and live like a local, even if it's just for a lunch.
(4)Stacey W.
Completely and totally impressed. From the decor to the food this place is a gem! I have now dined at the Chicago location and the south beach location and they were both very impressive. First visit we had the meatballs to start, the pappardelle and lasagna and the bomboloni for desert. Second visit we had the meatballs to start and for our entrees Colorado lamb chops, orecchiette( one of the best dishes I have ever had), lasagna, and the bomboloni for desert. This place is going to be a staple restaurant for our family moving forward!
(5)Yvonne B.
I went for lunch and opted to sit at the bar while I waited for my friend. The atmosphere was bright, exuberant, and professional (it seemed as if many business folks from nearby buildings were dining there). There were at least two rooms: a main dining room and a bar. The bar room was hedged by large windows on two sides lined with tall tables. The bar dominated the middle of the room and had stools all around. Katie was my bar tender and she won me over with her friendly personality and keen recommendations. It's because of her that I passed on a table and chose to remain at the bar once my friend arrived. I started my midday meal with the No. 22 cocktail. Although Katie explained that Siena Tavern is well-known for their wine list (and it certainly was impressive) she pointed out the carefully formulated cocktails. They ALL appealed to me. I was intrigued that they had violet bitters, lavender, honey, sage or basil incorporated into every concoction. Katie selected the No. 22 for me. The ginger and lime were bright but the Johnny Walker Black made it mature and interesting. Finally, the Kriek Lambic contibuted a hint of innocent sweetness. I eagerly chose the Restaurant Week menu. First I ordered the beet salad which is not quite as the menu described. The menu indicates that the beets are glazed. They just may be; however, they were not glazed in a way that was recognizable to me. They seemed to be covered in a creamy dressing. Also, the menu fails to mention that the beet salad is served with arugula. I LOVE the fresh, spicy, peppery taste of arugula; however, I quickly discovered that my friend hates the stuff. He would have been displeased with that surprise so I thought I'd mention it here. I selected the Butternut Squash Tortellacci. Tortellacci are like the giant version of baby tortellini. As described, these were stuffed with butternut squash. It was very sweet and almost dessert-like. The pasta and the browned butter sauce with bits of fried sage helped to temper it a little but I suspect that it only made it more rich than it already was. I was happy to be introduced to this dish; however, I think that it makes for a confusing entree. Lastly, I had tiramisu gelato. It had large pieces of cake-like lady fingers mingled with the coffee, maple-y flavor of the creamy gelato. It was a splendid rendition and I can't imagine any improvements on the dessert. One strange occurrence ensued during my meal at Siena Tavern that I think is worth noting. Our entrees were ready and served while we were only midway through our appetizers. Katie confessed that the kitchen sometimes times dishes like that. I had higher expectations of Siena Tavern as they have a reputation for excellence. I felt pressured to finish my beet salad so that I could enjoy my butternut squash tortellacci while still hot. When I did get to the tortellacci, the brown butter sauce was starting to separate.
(3)Kelly N.
Great ambiance. Sat at the bar at lunchtime and had a few beers with the cheese plate and chicken sandwich. Bartender was attentive and friendly. Food was delicious. I walked away slightly buzzed and full. Would love to come back just for drinks in the evening.
(4)Tricia D.
OMG, that monkey bread! It is a must order! Sweet, perfect for sharing, and you can't go wrong with something sweet as an appetizer! This was the first time in a long time that I really loved the coffee a restaurant served up. I actually called back after my visit to find out what kind it was bc I had forgotten what the waitress said. It's Lavazza. One of my friends complimented the coffee another way: "it's brewed to the point that it's perfectly roasted, but not to the point of tasting really shitty". Isn't he so eloquent? For my meal, I had the breakfast skillet with root veggies, a baked egg, and burrata cheese. While it didn't have the same pizzazz as the coffee or monkey bread, I liked how savory it was. It just wasn't as much to write home about. "Are you saving room for something?", another friend asked me when I had half the plate wrapped up in a doggy bag... Um yes, dessert! Finished off this meal with the toffee/date pudding. Great choice on my part. The table also ordered the bombolini donuts, which were served up with a trio of sauces presented in mini squeeze bottles (like what fabric paint would be stored in). Creative! I'll be back for brunch or dinner for sure (bonus: OpenTable points!). I have the lobster roll, monkey bread (again), and pasta in mind!
(4)Linda B.
So, I did not love this place the first time around. But it's restaurant week and the menu looked great and I liked Chef Fabio from top chef, so I decided to give it another try. Just about everything that we ordered was awesome. I started with the butternut squash soup and it was comforting and delicious. I loved everything about it. Then my friend and I split the burger and truffle pizza. I expected to like the pizza better but the burger was outstanding. There are many delicious burgers in the city and this was right up there with the best of them with flavorful meat and toppings that were very complimentary. The pizza was good too, it's just that the burger was amazing. Though surprisingly the fries were tasteless (I don't know how that happened). To close out the meal I had salted caramel gelato and it tasted as good as it sounds. I don't know what was going on the first time I visited but I'm glad I made the return trip and I plan to come again.
(4)Jason W.
If you are looking at the pictures and think that the place doesn't look that nice, rest assured, it looks much nicer in person. Me and the gal ordered the carpaccio, squid ink lobster pasta, and pasta in a jar. Beef carpaccio, awesome. Lobster pasta, pretty awesome. Felt like the squid ink pasta didn't have that al dente chewiness to it, or not enough at least. Lobster was pretty good relative to all the other seafood I have been eating in Chicago which isn't very fresh at all. This place has decent lobster but not as fresh as you would get somewhere closer to the ocean. Drinks were good and they have a variety of custom cocktails to choose from. Girl got the sangria which was pretty good and I was coming off of a nasty hangover so I refrained from ordering. The only thing I can say that I was disappointed in was the pasta in a jar. The first two bites or so I thought, "Hey, pretty darn flavorful". Then after the third bite, my opinion transformed to, "I need water ASAP because this dish has double the salt". Anyways, despite the uber salty pasta I had to rate this up because they had a really cool pizza tosser (haven't seen that in a while). Will definately get the pizza next time.
(4)Ann H.
SO SO Delicious! I had been here a couple of times before but never able to try such an array of dishes until I went with a larger group. We were seated at a round booth towards the back of the restaurant. Highlights from our meal include the Squid Ink Linguini with lobster, the truffle mushroom pizza and the Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad. Food was very tasty, savory and full flavored. We loved the texture and ingredients of each dish. The service was good and we were refilled water in a timely manner. The plates were cleared and replaced at least once during our meal. The ambiance is very cool and urban and kitcheney. I can't wait to come back again to try more entrees here. Recommended for groups and family.
(5)Wen H.
Love, love, love of the staff, atmosphere, and the taste of the foods. The four stars is for the combination of all these elements together. Everything was very, very tasty. The reviews for foods this evening are the beef tartare and squid linguini. They were well seasoned with a unique twist on the tartare. The Lunguini was not the best I've had amongst my travels but still very tasty. There is something that feels like home each time I am in #ChiTown. The amazing people, warmth, and hospitality. Tonight for my food review is the incredible warm atmosphere at #SienaTavern with the super attentive bartenders Gabriel and Jose T., their attention to detail and noticed that my squid linguini looked like crap and sent it back before it was served to me, it was amazing to have that type of service!!! Recommendation from the staff this evening was the beef tartare and squid linguini. The beef tartare was well seasoned with and amazing twist of a raw quail egg and a creme crispy finish!!!! The squid linguini was yummy, but not my favorite of all times. Everything was paired with my favorite table wine, Chianti, wrapped up with a shot of expresso finished with a slice of lemonade just like when I visited Naples. I would definitely revisit for the friendly staff and deliciously yet incredible warm atmosphere watching the cooks at work. Gabriel was very intuitive to the needs and attention of his clients and recognized when it was inadequate... He's pretty fantastic!!! I know I'd totally invest in his ventures if he was looking for one. I am still looking for a hit that I feel a personal investment, catering to the PEOPLE not just focusing on the bottomline.
(4)Jake V.
These guys know their target market. 30 something with some money, either from their paycheck or an expense report. Likes interesting food and bacon and truffle oil. And on my recent trip to Chicago I was exactly in the target market. Pizza with truffle oil and Brussels sprouts was great, and short rib ravioli was also very tasty. Not particularly cheap but not crazy expensive either.
(4)George S.
Wow they try to rush you out of this place. They grab your drink before it is done. They grab your food before you are done. C'mon man, I'm trying to eat over here, I don't need you coming by every 5 minutes and asking if I'm done. I'm not done!! Let me finish my meal.
(1)Laura O.
Fabulous! Our server was very attentive and helpful--her recommendations were so great that everything my party ordered was something she'd suggested! Definitely have the coccoli and the gnocchi. Both were incredible. Also, loved the ambience!
(5)Tina L.
My first thought about this place is that it's really dark in there. But I guess all the cool trendy spots these days love that low lighting. Sets the mood, right? Maybe I'm just getting old, but if you need your iPhone flashlight to look at the menu, that's a little too dark for me. On to the review of the food tho. We came with a rather large group and ordered a variety of dishes to share family style. It's seriously the only way I like to roll, these days. It's just selfish if you order your own dish and don't share! It's actually been a while since I've eaten here, so I can't quite remember each dish that we ordered. Here are some of the highlights, as far as what I can remember. 36 oz aged porterhouse steak, florentine style, rosemary-garlic rub, grilled lemon. Good thing it came out last, because I might have just eaten the whole thing. This was, by far, the best dish of the evening. So juicy, delicious and everything you could hope for in a porterhouse. Wagyu Beef Meatball roasted tomato sauce, bellwether ricotta, shaved basil. This was actually really good too! A lot of flavor...and it's HUGE. Make sure to share. Squid Ink Linguini grilled lobster tail, spicy lobster cream sauce, shaved green onion. This was my least favorite dish, surprisingly. I think I just don't care too much for lobster or something. Orecchiette prosciutto sausage, watercress, chili flake, pecorino cheese. I love the extra kick that the chili flake gives to this dish. I preferred this pasta dish over the squid ink linguini.
(4)Eve C.
Even though we knew Chef Fabio was bringing Siena Tavern to Miami in a few short months, we couldn't resist the temptation to indulge in an early dinner at the OG Chicago outpost. While everything sounded delicious, we knew we had a long night ahead of us, so opted to go a bit lighter on our selections. Yet we couldn't resist the coccoli with stracchino and prosciutto, the hamachi crudo with serrano chili, the gnocchi, and a shaved brussels sprouts salad, and indulged in a couple of glasses of wine. Everything was phenomenal, but the gnocchi was most certainly the stand-out. Amazingly light, yet filling, served in a truffle cream sauce with pancetta and sage, it was melt-in-your-mouth perfect, even on a warm summer afternoon. Our server was super-friendly and eager to offer suggestions when we requested. Prices were completely reasonable as well. I would definitely recommend Siena Tavern to anyone visit the area, and can't wait to check out the new Miami outpost!
(4)Rhiannon S.
I keep wishing we could come back to this place soon! My husband and I stayed downtown a few weeks ago and happened upon this place for breakfast! It was one of the most amazing places we had been for breakfast in a very long time. The drinks were also amazing! The service was outstanding!
(5)John G.
Prior to my reservation at RPM steak, noticed the place nearby and decided to stop by for a cock tail or two. Glad I did btw. Varied selection of all sort for anyone whether you are a vodka, whiskey, etc type of chum. Personally I had the no.5 and no.25. NO.25 w/ black label, love love love it! No.5 was good as well. Great variety of selective cocktails and nice staff. Parking is street meter or 12$ valet. Would come back. My lady enjoyed her cocktails as well venturing more on the sweet side. Can't remember her drinks but they came by recommendation of the bartender. Cheers
(4)Leo P.
This place is really great to go for a date or casual meal with friends. I do agree that it doesn't have the typical Italian feel or even a tavern but that didn't bother me. I ordered the coccoli to start and it was to die for!!!!! I could have ordered another one of those and been completely satisfied. It's got a great mixture of savory and sweet. I also ordered the handmade gnocchi...delicious! It was pretty rich so beware. At this point in my meal I was stuffed but Christin my server (who was very attentive and answered all my questions thoroughly) persuaded me to get dessert. I got the creme brûlée gelato. Needless to say i finished all that. I really loved the crunch bits of Caramelized sugar. Yum!! I had a great experience and would definitely recommend this place. Only downside was I didn't get to see Fabio
(5)Megan S.
Limited GF options but the roasted chicken is great. My bf had pizza. The salted caramel gelato is to die for. I don't remember what wine we had but the recommendation from the bartender was spot on. The service was fantastic. They are quite busy on a Saturday night so make sure you make reservations in advance.
(4)Brian W.
A surprisingly good place for lunch. Busy too, but ample seating at the bar, and decent attention from the bartender. Chef's Week special-- some decent bread appetizer, an overly sweet but otherwise very delicious s'mores ice cream for dessert, and a spicy lamb pasta that was nearly divine-- if you like the spice, the pasta tubes were perfectly al dente and the intensity was at the perfect balance. Very, very good.
(4)Victoria O.
Definitely a hot spot in Chicago! Packed on a Wednesday night at 9 and would highly recommend making a reservation. If you have to wait there's a great bar to wait at. Ordered the meatball-yes meatball as in ONE big meatball. Came with grilled bread in tomato sauce. Also ordered the buffalo mozzarella from the selection of mozzarellas. Also came with grilled bread and olive oil and a yummy garlic sauce. Along with these two appetizers we ordered a side of grilled cauliflower. Good amount of food for two people. If you're really hungry would order maybe one of the pizza or pasta dishes as well. Enjoyed a glass of the still rose. Can't go wrong with a glass of rose to kick off the summer.
(4)Mat M.
Siena Tavern was amazing! One of the best meals that I've had in a while. Tuesday night, three people - great table by the window. Appetizer: Coccoli- simply delish! rispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey Entree- we got three and shared: Carne Pizza Housemade fennel sausage, pancetta cured bacon, sopressata, prosciutto sausage, mozzarella, tomato, fresh basil Wild Bore Risotto We were one of the lucky few to have this as it was taken off the menu for their new spring menu. One of my friends had it before and wanted it again. "Pasta in a Jar" mezza rigatone, heirloom tomato, english pea, bellwether ricotta, micro basil, olive oil The entrees were amazing! We had gelato flight (all made in-house) and Bomboloni which were out of this world amazing. Needless to say, I'll be back - and if you haven't tried it, take my word for it; it's devine!
(5)Michelle B.
Food, service, ambiance is all worth 5 stars at Siena Tavern. Here's what I got: - Burrata with tomato jam: creamy, savory, gooey. Came with good toast. - Coccoli: fried dough balls with prosciutto and (i think) burrata with a pesto type sauce -- how can you go wrong with this? You just can't. - Brussels sprout salad: delightfully crunchy and light - Gnocchi with truffle cream sauce: No words. - Prosciutto, pear and arugula pizza: sweet, meaty love personified. This was to share with three other people, in case you're oinking at me. Other highlights of this place are the spot-on service - our waitress was knowledgable and attentive. The food came out quickly and timed perfectly as we had lots of appetizers to finish. The ambiance is sleek and makes you feel a bit fancy. And they also have a mozzarella bar. Case closed.
(5)Jackie C.
I loved this place! We had reservations here for a birthday dinner for a friends birthday. We had an amazing booth, with a great waiter who made sure we were enjoying ourselves. Ordered amazing wine! They were able to split the check without any issues. The gelato is definitely worth saving room for. This might be one of our go too places with friends for dinner and out of town guests.
(5)Anna B.
I have to say that I absolutely love the design of this place! It is probably one of my favorite locations in Chicago. The menu is also amazing. My favorite items are the Roasted Beet Salad and the Ossobuco is amazing! The only reason that this isn't a 4 or 5 star review is because when my friend and I were sitting at the bar one night the bartender was really rude. I even overheard him making fun of another customer and her outfit. I thought it was really inappropriate. He also seemed more interested in running over to his group of friends at a table than getting us another cocktail. I think next time we'll make sure we just ask for a table and skip sitting at the bar ever again.
(2)Sasha B.
Ambience is so nice! Music was on point an the food was delightful. The spicy pepperoni pizza was delish. Also the roasted peppers were awesome. Bruschetta was also great. Service was cordial and fast. Great place to hang out with a group of friends!
(5)Carrie S.
Neat ambiance, and the place was crazy busy when I was there. That made it a little loud, so not great for the group I was in. They have a gluten free menu, and it is quite large. Lots of choices, and they were all really good. Our service was OK. She forgot to put some things into the kitchen that we ordered for the table, but we did get what we wanted in the end. I thought the portions were large, and we had a lot of food left over. Expensive, but very good. I would definitely recommend the Brussels sprouts.
(4)Erika C.
Omfg, yea you have never heard such a thing from me. It was phenomenal each time we have been there. Reiterating each and every detail would be futile with 700 reviews everything was awesome! Paraphrasing the Lego Movie. I am rarely this emphatic, go for brunch make the rezos do what you need to, it is worth it!
(5)Angelina S.
My date had taken me to dinner at Sienna Tavern on Monday night to celebrate my birthday. That night wasn't busy with reservations like it would be on a Friday. The service was bad. We were given a table near the entrance. When I asked for a booth facing the beautiful view of Kedzie street, I was told it was reserved and half an hour passed by without it being seated. The server didn't ask if I had any questions about the complex menu. What we ordered was garbage. My mother's cooking tasted better than what we were given. Clearly the server saw that we were upset and kept interrupting dinner every 15 seconds asking if everything was OK without fixing the already ruined atmosphere. Considering the service and $280 check, it was not worth it. I wouldn't recommend a friend to Sienna Tavern or dine there again.
(1)Plamena G.
I've been here a couple of times now and I love it. Definitely a great place for dinner and cocktails, whether you're there on a romantic date or with a friend. My favorite dish so far has been the squid ink linguine with lobster. The pasta is cooked perfectly and the sauce is amazing. I wasn't a big squid ink pasta fan until I tried this dish. I also love the grilled octopus antipasti. It comes garnished with duck fat potatoes. They have a great variety of drinks. However, I really didn't care for their sangria. It was bitter and it didn't come with any fruit. I would not order it again, but they do have other awesome drinks you can pick from.
(4)Faith D.
Lunch yesterday with a friend who is moving out of town. She had never been (this was my 5th visit). We shared the appetizer of Coccoli - 4 light, delicious, pastry puffs on a board next to slices of proscuitto, dollops of buffalo mozzeralla and honey. Two "yesses" for this one. Next was the hearts of palm salad - a gorgeous, light and refreshing salad of butter lettuce, long, thin sheets of hearts of palm, avocado, the thinnest slices of the largest radish you've ever seen, almonds and a delicious vinagrette dressing. Two "yesses" for this one as well (actually - I could eat this salad all summer long). We could have stopped there but we also had the wild mushroom pizza with truffle oil. Perfection on a plate. And to top it all of the flight of gelato. Heavenly. Seated exactly on time (12:15 lunch) in a roomy booth. Terrific service both waiter & backup guys who constantly refilled our water. Couldn't find anything to complain about if I tried.
(4)Hannah C.
Perhaps because it's national doughnut day, but all I can say is: yum! We started off with the coccoli, burrata, and octopus, all of which were big hits. The spaghetti was a little under seasoned but the gnocchi was great. I don't even usually like gnocchi and I adored these. The gelato is thick and rich, almost like a nut butter. The bomboloni were a great dessert - fresh with great sauce flavors. Definitely a special occasion place, but we will totally be back.
(4)Christina S.
Well, that's really not a fair thing to do to a burbs girl, now is it?? How the heck am I supposed to satisfy this new addiction on a regular basis? Fabio, I need a word, please. I had high expectations for my visit, as a Top Chef fan, a Fabio Viviani fan, an Italian fan, and you guessed it, Yelpers; I'm a food fan. ;) I've done my share of drooling over other people's check ins, photos and reviews. I mean, c'mon, Duchess Izzy practically lives there. I've served my time in suburbia hell-- I deserve this! Those kinds of expectations can often lead to disappointment, but nope, not here. Totally lived up to the hype for me, worthy every penny! It's a beautiful restaurant and our service was perfect; relaxed, no one hovering (too much), right pace of play, and a wonderful and friendly server in Elizabeth. I may even request her on our next visit, cuz yes, I'm already planning one. We did go for an early dinner with a reservation, around 5, preceding a concert, so I haven't been during peak hours The dishes we tried were: Coccoli- (appetizer, $14) balls of dough, prosciutto and cheese drizzled with truffle honey. Ahhhhdictive! Roasted Cauliflower- (side, $9) with pepperoncinis, topped with toasted pine nuts and torn mint. Great vegetarian option, but even my carnivorous-cauliflower-hatin' man loved it. (Gonna try this version at home, wish me luck.) 12-hour braised Ossobuco- (entree, $38) fall apart meat, with farro risotto and hazelnut gremolata. Gnocchi- (entree, $17) pillowy perfection cloaked in a truffle cream and crispy pancetta, topped with fried sage. So good, I had to hold myself back from not diving in! Tiramisu- (dessert, $9) a roasted white chocolate take on tiramisu, but not overly sweet or intense, damn good. Comes with espresso meringues on the side which melt in your mouth instantly like an espresso cotton candy! Almost stole the show, this from a person that generally hates meringue cookies. Gelato flight- (dessert, $15, 4 flavors) chose salted caramel, blackberry lemon curd, orange amaretti, and strawberry pie. Texture perfection, delicious, nice ending to the meal. Particularly enjoyed the blackberry and the caramel. We ordered a good sampling, but make no mistake, we held back, we wanted to try more on the menu, everything we saw being brought out to other people, and I nearly marched over to another party's table when I saw their coccoli hanging around uneaten for too long. Why they hadn't devoured it is beyond me. They needed to be taught a lesson. ;) Suffice it to say, there were no leftovers from our meal. Each item was delicious. I have to get back soon for more pasta, to try those pizzas and of course some cocktails, too. You buying, Signore Viviani??
(5)CNP ny c.
I've always passed this place on the bus but never thought to go in until it was raining one day and my friend and I jumped in. I wish we had tried it sooner. We didn't go for the pizza but everything else we had was amazing. We asked the waiter for recommendations and pretty much just took his recommendations. The highlights were the proscuitto, mozzarella balls and then the dessert, the donuts were amazing (caramel whiskey and raspberry chianti DIY fillings!)
(4)Brittany L.
The service was exceptional! Friendly staff, cute decorations and big circular bar. The food was phenomenal, Great wine selection too. I ordered a mozzarella cheese and tomato glaze with toasted bread and the sage gnocchi which was savory and very fresh! Management went out of their way by checking on me. I will definitely go back, I've heard good things about their brunch on Sundays.
(5)Vicky L.
Somehow my travels have never taken me to Chicago until this past weekend, when we extended a layover on our way back from Europe. When we heard that Fabio Viviani's restaurant was Siena Tavern, we had to jump on booking a reservation stat, because both Husband and I love Fabio. I'm sure we would've enjoyed the food more had we not been tired from a 9-hour flight just a few hours prior, but what we did eat (which was most of our food) was pretty great. Bolognese sauce is usually how I judge a restaurant, and this was solid, with ribbons of pappardelle. They also have a solid drink menu, and Husband had cocktail No. 2 (which he downed before I got a sip). Not a huge fan of the coccoli with proscuitto because the last thing I wanted after a few weeks of unhealthy eating was fried dough balls. I also wasn't a fan of the white sangria (tasted really artificial and syrupy). Husband liked his lasagna, though he said it wasn't the best he's had. Overall, we would totally go back for the laid-back vibes, and to try out more of their items.
(4)Ibrahim B.
The food was wonderful, arrived at about 3:40 we started with a grilled octopus which was amazing. My wife had the squad ink thy came with pasta little bit spicy but that wasn't a problem it was great. I got the ..... Escalope I didn't expect it to be sea food I thought it was lamb. All I can say that my mistake in ordering was perfect. Everything on the menu was amazing next time info there I'm going to close my eye and let my finger pick my food for me. The waiting was awesome she got us plates for sharing and she emphasized that several times I guess that's there strategy to make people taste the good food that they have.
(5)Virg H.
Fantastic place...great food and excellent service. I love coming here and trying something new each time.
(5)Billy M.
I so wanted this place to work and will go back based on the attentiveness of the server who recognized the "issues" with the risotto dish and comped it without even asking or hesitating. These folks recognize customer service for sure and I believe have better food than experienced from our first visit. Squid Ink pasta was fresh but so over powered with the spicy sauce that the diner lost any taste of the essential squid/fish flavor. Lobster tail presentation was nice but just too much sauce that took over the beautiful looking pasta. Pizza's looked great and will be the attraction for a return. As is the wine list which offered some very reasonable priced wines by the bottle. Impressed. HUGE bar area with easy access to a table for cocktails or full dinner menu.
(4)Richard S.
Attended during lunch during Chicago restaurant week. Good service and the food we tried was awesome! The appetizer pork was fantastic and the risotto entrée was wonderful (just the right amount of spices). I recommend and will return.
(4)T B.
Such a great menu! 6 of us went to dinner and we had one of the top booths. It was soooo fun. The food is really good and the service was excellent. I actually thought it was helpful for us when they added gratuity for a large party! We all shared a variety of dishes and it was great!! My favorite was the chopped salad. It was sooo tasty and I loved the dressing. I was visiting from NYC and I want to go back to Chicago ASAP to eat there. YUM
(5)Niti B.
I have been dying to have a bite here since it opened and can't believe it took me this long to get here! It was well worth the wait since my date knew exactly what to get as a regular at this amazing restaurant! I started with a No. 2 cocktail and just let them keep coming! :) For starters we had the grilled octopus, shaved brussels sprouts and hamachi from the crudo bar. The grilled octupus was like no other I've had! The texture was just right moist and fresh with perfect amount of char. The only one that has been good in comparison was that at Davanti Enoteca. With the perfect amount of red chilies to add heat this dish was a perfect start. The brussels sprouts were refreshing and a nice change to the traditional way most restaurants have been serving them up as a trendy new side and were a great balance to the punch of flavor that the crudo and octopus had. The hamachi crudo was something out of this world and I could have eaten it all day! Light and refreshing with an interesting twist of flavors that I would not have thought to put together. For dinner we had the truffle gnocchi and I will never eat truffle from anywhere else and expect it to be this amazing!!! The gnocchi were like little pillows of heaven with a burst of flavor in your mouth everytime you took one in! The truffle was fresh and vibrant. It wasn't over powering as I have had it at many other locations. The chef prepared this dish with such percision and it spoke through on the plate. Now there was no room for dessert but my date insisted since I am a obsessed donut lover...he ordered Bomboloni which were warm made to order donuts with whisky-caramel, chocolate hazelnut and raspberry chianit sauces to pair with. Only one world needed to describe these bombolonis......AMAZING! Overall I can say that if you haven't made it in here put yourself down for a reservation now!...no matter how long you have to wait and how far in advance you have to plan the wait is worth it! The service is as perfect as the food and atmosphere and it speaks volumes that after all this time of being open you still can't just get a table on a whim!
(5)Rafael L.
Another Chicago restaurant that doesn't disappoint! Started off with one of the best appetizers I've had, the Coccoli. This antipasti, had crispy dough with stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma and truffle honey. The pastas were house made and we could tell! We had the Tagliatelle, my favorite, the Peppardelle and the Baked Lasagna. Finished off the perfect meal with a Gelato flight. Just enough dessert for each of us. Service was great. Glasses were never empty and our server always checked on us to make sure all was well.
(5)Frank O.
The food and service are both great (and lots of attractive waiters and waitresses), but the price is a bit too high for me to want to eat here regularly. Coccoli is great and also easy to make at home (done it twice, both times tasty but not quite as good as Siena's). Proscuitto Pear Pizza very delicious, and it's sweet so more like a healthy desert pizza (not that hearty). My girlfriend praises the Truffle Mushroom pizza, which is good if you like mushrooms (I do not care for them). Tiramisu French Toast doesn't really have much espresso or cream flavor to it, but it's still a sweet but not to sweet breakfast item (and healthy-ish because it comes with berries). Lobster hash comes with fresh lobster, but you certainly pay for it and don't get much food in the dish (would skip next time). The truffle gnocchi is supposed to be a Chef Fabio's signature dish, but the flavor of truffle cannot carry a dish on it's own, and I think it falls flat due to bland flavor.
(4)Randy F.
Staying at the next door Westin River North, I stopped by Siena Tavern mainly due to proximity. Lucky me. The place was bustling on a Saturday night and although I only stopped by to pick up a to-go order, it's clear the place is a popular and fun environment for food and drink. The menu is eclectic but has a great assortment of Italian inspired cuisine from their mozzarella bar to their pizza bar. My sampling: Wagyu Beef Meatball - $17. I'm always a bit skeptical of anything with Kobe or Wagyu nowadays as the term has almost become more marketing than actual beef quality but this meatball (one very large one accompanied by a smaller one) was tender, tasty, and went perfectly with the roasted tomato sauce. Coccoli - this is their signature appetizer and I'd never had anything like it. It comes deconstructed when you order it to-go, so I had to look at some pictures online to figure how to reassemble. Essentially, it's a wonderfully crispy dough (like a donut) filled with stracchino cheese that you wrap around with prosciutto di Parma and top with truffle honey and pesto that they include in small containers. It's very good albeit very decadent and filling. Four come to a serving but I did my best to finish two. Gnocchi - the star dish. Fresh made gnocchi is topped with truffle cream sauce, fried sage, and crispy pancheta. Unlike the coccoli, I was disappointed in the smaller portion of gnocchi but mainly because it's so good and not that it's that small a portion! Overall, Siena Tavern was a great meal. It's not the most affordable place but the great quality ingredients and excellent flavors showcase what great restaurants this part of Chicago offers. Siena Tavern accepts credit cards including American Express.
(4)Yulia R.
Siena tavern is a popular modern place. Highly recommend Coccoli! The best appetizer ever! Crispy dough melts in your mouth, the cheese goes well with the prosciutto. Roasted beets salad is also delicious. Toasted hazelnuts add unique taste to the salad. Can't wait to come back.
(5)Liz K.
One of my favorite spots. I've been here a few times now, 2 of which we had private parties. The food is amazing! Some places stick you in the back somewhere for private events but here you are right next to the bar and up on almost a stage like atmosphere. And you also have your own bartender up there.
(5)Andrew D.
My two visits to Siena Tavern left a fine impression of the joint. I came into the experience with high expecations and with my critical mind, seeing as it is in River North, owned by a celebrity chef, and came with astronomical acclaim. They did not disappoint on any level. The first time, I dined. I had the squid ink linguini and it was exquisite. This dish was something new to me so I was a bit nervous, but had always wondered what it would taste like. The creamy sauce that came along with it was a fine complement, as was the succulent lobster accompaniment. Nice wine to balance the meal, as well. The second time, we came in drink on a Saturday, as every other bar within a two-block radius had a ridiculous line. I ordered a bottle of Prosecco for myself and a bunch of ladies, and it was affordable and enjoyable. Only beef was that we were rushed into finishing the bottle because the staff decided to close the place early! Nothing a little chugging can't fix, right?
(4)Seher D.
One of my coworkers has a habit of choosing the newest or most raved about restaurants in Chicago when she knows our company is paying for it - and I couldn't love her more for this. When we were having candidates interview for positions one day, she picked Sienna Tavern for lunch, and I was so excited. For one, I absolutely love Fabio Viviani, especially his comment about how he was on 'Top Chef' and not 'Top Scallops' when scallops was all Jamie cooked. Because we were a group of about 7 for lunch, they gave us the private room in the back, which was really nice and maybe a bit too intimate for the occasion, but still nice. To start, we ordered the Wagyu Meatball and the Margherita Pizza. The Margherita Pizza was meh and pretty average, but the Wagyu Meatball was AMAZING. Probably the star of the entire meal. It was HUGE, great for sharing, and the bread dipped in the sauce was almost as good as bread dipped in the broth of mussels. However, the rest of the meal was pretty lacking, and to be honest, downright, awful. As my main course, I ordered the Short Rib Ravioli. I could barely find the raviolis because they were swimming and covered in a thick, salty, brown sauce (that was also not mentioned or listed in the description on the menu). It was too much. I didn't enjoy the meal at all to be very honest. All my coworkers even looked over at my plate in confusion, because it's not what you imagined a Short Rib Ravioli dish to look like. After I suffered eating about 2 of the approximately 7 raviolis, my coworker next to me and I had a dare going regarding who would be able to actually eat the sauciest ravioli on my plate. We both had enough faith in ourselves to eat just one more. My coworkers ordered other items on the menu and seemed to be somewhat satisfied, so I'm not sure if I just ordered a bad item, if Sienna Tavern was having a bad day, or if my coworkers had a better "shake your head and smile" face than I did in front of our interviewees. Oh, and that dare. We both lost.
(3)Meghan S.
Exceptional service! Our waitress gave great suggestions all evening. The cocktails are amazing - there's a variety of specialty drinks on the menu that will appeal to everyone. They also have a nice selection of wine and beer. The food is AMAZING! The butternut squash ravioli was impeccable - I usually don't go for ravioli but this win me over. On another visit, I got the farro salad. So so good, I'll definitely order that again on my next visit. light but satisfying!
(5)Maggie Y.
Came here for brunch while in town and loved it. Absolutely great atmosphere and the menu/food was divine. Four stars because service was a teency bit slow, however we were taken good care of. I ordered the breakfast skillet and I highly recommend- so dang tasty!
(4)Bose' A.
Brunch at Siena Tavern is delicious & the staff are all so friendly! I took my mom here for Mother's Day brunch and she loved it. We will definitely be back. We like savory and sweet so we tried 3 entrees and had dessert.
(5)Megan G.
I ate here last night with my best friend, and we were impressed! My husband eats lunch/dinner here occasionally for work, so he suggested it for us. From the minute we walked in the door, the host was welcoming, the bartender was friendly, and the server was incredible. Parker suggested the coccoli and the squid ink linguine. Fantastic meal. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Leslie B.
Awesome place for a special occasion dinner or night out with the girls! Made a reservation well in advance for 6 on a Sunday night during my first visit and easily found a four-top table in the bar area (which serves the entire menu) the second time I came by. I've had a bunch of the cocktails from Siena and my favorites are the number 10 and 18. Everyone I've dined with has enjoyed their drinks as well. The biggest mistake I made at Siena during my first visit was ordering too many appetizers and then entrees. The best way to go about conquering the menu is splitting a bunch of things. Concerning appetizers, you cannot go wrong with the Coccoli, fried dough with prisciutto, soft cheese, and pesto. You make a little sandwich and it totally rocks. I've also really enjoyed the burrata, which comes with a tasty tomato jam and delicious grilled garlic bread. For pizza, I've tried both the burnt pepperoni and the truffle mushroom. I have to say, I really preferred the burnt pepperoni. It was incredibly flavorful, totally recommend. Pastas, the gnocchi is a very unique dish, but very rich, so I definitely recommend sharing this one. I also really enjoyed squid ink linguini and rigatoni with lamb sausage. Apparently, you can order their pastas in half orders which is helpful to know! Others in my party got the pork chop and brick chicken, they were huge hits...particularly those sticky potatoes that come with the chicken! Now, dessert. There are two that I highly recommend, the first of which is the Bombolinis. Try the chocolate, raspberry, and whiskey caramel sauces that accompany these tasty doughnuts and you won't be disappointed. Second, the housemade gelato is absolutely phenom. Flight is the way to go and blackberry lemon curd, brown butter peanut, and double chocolate were my faves. Siena Tavern is certainly not cheap. But you're in River North, at a new-ish, swanky restaurant, with delicious food...so what did you expect? Make a reservation or stop in and grab some bar seating for a delicious meal and attentive service. Overall, I'll definitely be back!
(5)Simon R.
Visited while in Chicago for Microsoft Ignite. We got in at about 10 PM. Excellent, excellent professional service. Very friendly, just the right level of attentiveness, and great energy. We had a shadowing, training server at our table during the ordering and serving process. However, as they weren't stepping on each other, but rather complimenting each other, it was completely welcome. The atmosphere is definitely not quiet, but also definitely not clubby. It's the kind of place where you can take a single companion or a group of friends and talk at a normal volume in confidence that you won't be heard. The drinks we ordered didn't come immediately, but I was pleased with my number 1. My buddy got a number 17 and said it was a bit sweeter than expected. However, it was a house take on an Old Fashioned. The steak my friends ordered was delicious based on my sampling and their review. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. My pasta dish was very tasty as well. We ordered desserts as well, and everyone was pleased. Overall, I would highly recommend this place. It is only Monday, and the Microsoft conference goes until Friday, so maybe I will find an excuse to return. :)
(5)Mary T.
Traditional Italian is my jam, but places like Siena Tavern have me smitten with modern Italian and its Mediterranean influences. The space is interesting very woody, but not in a rustic, manly sort of way I wasn't sure what to expect of a place with tavern in the moniker yet a menu not akin to what one normally expects of tavern food. We started with the hamachi crudo and three cheeses. The crudo was fantastic; delicate and light. The cheese left me wanting more; I forget the name, but the one our serer described as unusual wasn't all that interesting or adventurous to us. For our mains, he went with the sea bass and me with the squid ink linguine. We both agreed that his was good, but mine was amazing (and he's not a big fan of lobster). The pasta in my dish was cooked to perfection with just the right amount of spice to balance out the richness of the lobster. I'd definitely come back here, I just wish it didn't require advance planning (reservations highly recommended).
(4)Kinnari P.
One of my favorite restaurants in the city. The gnocchi and the truffle mushroom pizza are my top choices when dining. The bombolini dessert keeps bringing me back. The cocktails are good. Tough restaurant to get into during dinner hours, but always a great later dinner spot! Highly recommended!
(5)Lisa C.
Ate here with my husband and a friend on a Monday night and the place was packed. We sat at the end of the bar and it was just lovely. Great service from bartenders and staff. Really good energy in the entire place. Fun people watching. Bustling and just what you'd expect from a good restaurant. My husband is Italian and from New York, so he usually REFUSES to go to any Italian restaurants. He believes he can always cook better Italian food than anyone at any restaurant. HAHA! Well, he was wrong! He loves Top Chef's Fabio. So he was anxious to try the food. And, even my husband was impressed & happy! The menu is great. I had pappardelle with bolognese. My husband had short rib ravioli, and my friend ate lasagna. You know when the food arrives and no one says anything because they're digging their forks into the food, and everyone's eating because they love it? That's how it was. Fresh pasta = wonderfulness. We ordered the tiramisu also, and it's enough for 3 or 4 people to eat a bit, plus it comes with light and crispy meringue cookies. I will make special trips back to Chicago to eat here. Yay, pasta!
(5)Liz G.
Taking a star away because of a recent lunch visit that involved a rubbery lobster roll and a $4 up-charge for brussel sprouts :(
(4)Ali D.
Solid place! Love the food. Cool / hip vibe. A must visit when in the neighborhood. Can get busy so plan ahead. Enjoy!
(4)Mike W.
All around AWESOME restaurant. Grilled octopus appetizer- excellent Harvest salad- Also good, Not sure what all was in it but I want more Short Rib Ravioli- 9/10 I think only Gemini Bistro has them beat Truffle pizza- very aromatic, mushrooms were a touch under done Pear and Prosciutto pizza- caramelized sweet pears and salty prosciutto with peppery arugula. Go for lunch and avoid the dinner rush.
(5)Lauren B.
My husband and I are super picky about our Italian food, so much that we rarely go out for Italian because we can make it better at home. Siena Tavern did not disappoint. I would love to see a location open up in NYC, so I could enjoy this food more often. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs while ordering and we left stuffed. Here is the run down of what we ordered. Truffle Goat cheese and prosciutto: The goat cheese was amazing. The prosciutto was good, but not amazing. Coccoli: These light and ethereal fried dough balls were not to be missed. The stracchino cheese just melts in your mouth. The pesto served with it really made the dish. I could have done without the honey, as I didn't feel it added anything to the dish. Spring pizza: Being from the NY/NJ area I know good pizza, and this was a great one. I loved the fresh artichokes and vegetables. There is nothing I hate more than getting canned or frozen veggies on my pizza. The crust was super flavorful and more like what I'm used to eating at home. Gnocchi: This dish was everything gnocchi should be. They were light and pillowy, with a touch of truffle oil. The fried sage was a nice touch. If i lived closer, I would be here all the time.
(5)Marc S.
The place has a nice atmosphere and was busy on a Friday night. We were in Chicago for the first time and wanted to try Chicago Pizza. My husband went to get his deep dish pizza and I wanted my thin crust Pizza. I had watched Top Chef and was glad that the recipes were from an Italian. I ordered the Margherita Pizza. The flavor was good but it arrived slightly warm and not fresh hot out of the oven and was the reason for 3 stars. The service was also a little slow. Refills took a while, and we were not acknowledged and stood around for 4 minutes right in front of the waitress before she asked to help us.
(3)Lise S.
I've been looking forward to trying Siena Tavern and I had a chance to stop by for lunch in the summer. It was a lovely day, so the outdoor patio was great! I have to admit I was not impressed at all. I had a lunch salad and tea, which they should have been able to excel, but alas I had to decline the tea (it was rancid/old). The salad description had much promise to be really good...... Siena Chopped: romaine, iceberg, artichoke hearts, avocado, cherry tomato, green bean, egg, radicchio, red onion, salami, pepperoncini, cannellini beans, gorgonzola, sweet mustard vinaigrette $16 - but the lettuce was old and had brown spots. I've walked by this place several times and the place appears packed, so give it a try at your risk. Don't hesitate to send back a bad dish - they need to improve their quality. I was disappointed, so it will be a long time before I go back - plus their competition is really tough in Chicago so I'll try something else
(2)Nicole L.
Fun Italian restaurant with unique cocktails, a lively atmosphere and delicious food. My husband and I shared the shaved brussel sprout salad. It was great. I had the orrechiette. The pasta was a perfect al dente. The sauce was very flavourful. My husband had the pappardelle bolognese, which he also enjoyed. Nice dessert menu and beautiful presentation. Bravo Fabio Viviani!
(4)Jigna P.
Went here for brunch with a group of six. The food was good, no complaints from the table. They were very kind in making substitutions for dietary restrictions.
(4)Courtney H.
We reserved in November and a reservation for this past Friday was the first we could get so we had a long time to build this place up! Thankfully, it was pretty good. I read a lot of the Yelp reviews, looked at pictures and looked at the menu beforehand so I pretty much knew what I wanted. We had a 7:30pm reservation and I arrived about 7:10pm. I did the valet ($14). They wouldn't seat us until the whole party was there, but even once we were all there we still had to wait a little past our reservation to be seated. We were seated in a booth facing the pizza bar. I started with the Coccoli. I did share some with the rest of the table, but I ate most of it myself. It was melt in your mouth good! Loved it. I then got the gnocchi with truffle oil, fried sage and pancetta. The pancetta wasn't cooked to my liking but the truffile oil was amazing. So good. I also tried the burrata with tomato jam and bread that my friend got and that was really good as well. For dessert, I had the salted caramel gelato and it was amazing. My sister had the tiramisu and she LOVES that dessert in general and really liked it here. My friend is a huge fan of their special birthday cake gelato; they only give it out if it's a birthday. However, the waitress said she would bring some out for him. I tried it and it was amazing!! It's vanilla ice cream with like, candy and cake in it. So good. Overall, I think I paid $65 for dinner including tip and tax and then $14 plus tip for the valet. Not a cheap night by any means, but I would go back again!
(4)Kelly J.
Decided to pop on for a late dinner when we saw that the place was seriously hopping on the street. Well, that and after a quick star check on yelp! We had a couple of pasta dishes that were fabulous! Obviously freshly made and quality ingredients, it was well worth the midnight carb overload. Lovely and extensive wine list, excellent and attentive service in a gorgeous setting made up for the fact that it was so loud we could barely hear each other speak. I would go back.
(5)Tracy T.
I usually have wonderful things to say about this place but today I had a not so great experience. Today, we came in to eat on their patio as it looked pretty empty and we came to the host stand who told us there was a bit of a wait for those tables but couldn't tell us how long the wait was. We waited over thirty minutes and asked again and they still couldn't tell us how much time it would take to get seated. Won't be coming back here anytime soon.
(1)Kristen B.
Amazing Italian food and drinks! I've been there multiple times and tried a new item each time. It has all been great, especially the red sangria. Great food, great drinks, neat indoor atmosphere and nice outdoor patio.
(5)Ben P.
Staff seemed a little shuffled and disorganized but the food made up for it. The No. 4 cocktail.... Freshest drink in town
(4)Cat C.
Finding someone who's on the same page as you? Amazing! He and I were definitely in agreement that Siena Tavern is probably our second favorite Italian restaurant that we've been to (US only..we haven't been out of the country yet). We had a 5:30 reservation a couple Saturdays ago, but even as the night went on there were still a handful of tables still available. We were placed on a high top (but big table), I would have preferred a nicer lower "normal" table, but it was quite comfortable for me still since I got the plush booth seat. I loved our waiter Sam. He was so friendly, helpful and honest with us. Ladies, he's a cutie too! He and the rest of the waitstaff were very attentive as well. Sam explained that they use seasonal ingredients and pastas, mozzerella and chacuteries are even made fresh in house. It was definitely a hard choice to pick what to order because everything sounded and looked amazing! We shared for our appetizer: coccoli. They also split into two servings for us: the short rib ravioli and the tagilatelle. And for dessert the bomboloni. The coccoli was AMAZING! It's lightly fried dough paired with stracchino cheese, proscuitto and truffle honey. Everything was so fresh and well balanced. The truffle honey didn't overpower any flavors of the fried dough, creamy cheese or delicious proscuitto, it all complimented. After we finished this, I was tempted to order a second order for us or even a crudo item, but refrained to save room for dessert. As mentioned they split the pastas for us and even split the portions were very generous! The short rib ravioli were plumply filled with tender short rib and roasted porcini mushrooms with taleggio cheese and all in a delicious light savory brown butter sauce. The tagliatelle were accompanied with chantrelle mushrooms, parmigiano and a intoxicating truffle butter sauce. It was a lighter pasta dish but still packed a whole lot of flavor. Both pastas were delicious and this noodle/pasta loving girl of course loved the freshness of their in house homemade pastas...I can't pick which one I liked more. We were getting a little stuffed but I so wanted one of their enticing desserts. We finally decided on the interactive bomboloni. Four Italian style donuts with little tubes for you to squeeze in the fillings - whiskey caramel, chocolate hazelnut, and raspberry chianti. Besides the gelato, this was one of the more lighter desserts they offered. I loved how "interactive" it was and they were tasty, abeit a teeny bit oily, but that's how those bombolonis are. We didn't taste the whiskey in the sauce, but I loved the raspberry and chocolate hazelnut sauces. We told Sam, who later got a manager for us, that we hope they open one in SF because they would make such a killing! They are opening soon in Miami and next in LA...hopefully SF will be in the works in the next 5 years. Loved the mod and dark tones of this beautiful, delicious, affordable top notch restaurant. If you want a break from the pizza and meat in Chicago, definitely head to Siena Tavern. Of course we saw a mix of clientele, from a teenager having a birthday party here, families, and friends dining as well, but the decor makes for a cute date night restaurant. Our favorite restaurant on our trip for sure. Make reservations because they get busy!
(5)Natalie C.
Came here for dinner with a girlfriend - we were moseying around downtown, enjoying the lovely and still warm weather (the last of it this year, I'm sure). They have a great wine and cocktail list - I ordered the #5 a delicious concoction of maker's mark, allspice dram, averna amaro, ginger apple cider, lemon, cinnamon, clove, and bitters. Delicious - like fall in a glass. I ordered the spaghetti with jumbo lump crab in a spicy lemon sauce with charred tomatoes. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the portions of crab very generous. My friend had the squid ink linguine with lobster - I tried a bite of it and it was also delicious. Overall I think Siena Tavern is a great place to have a lovely dinner - definitely not on the cheap side, but completely worth the money in terms of quality and ambiance.
(4)Alex B.
Come on, this place is just flat out great. I was initially a little put off by the sceneier aspects of the place, but the outstanding food and service won me over. Siena way exceeded my expectations. We came for my daughter's birthday - she who has a bottomless appetite for Gnocchi. Normally when you show up with the family for a special occasion you may experience some drop off in service. Not the case at Sienna, in fact they rose to the occasion and really made her feel like this was a special night. Our server was warm, inviting, and happy to address any questions with patience and aplomb. However, the food was really the showpiece. I liked Fabio on Top Chef, but now I am definitely rooting for him on the next show in which he competes. Yum. We had the Coccoli, which are essentially savory cheese filled doughnuts - seriously, they were delicious and I could have eaten half a dozen. The Bufala Mozzarella was light and creamy - surprisingly refreshing. For mains it was Gnocchi (of course), squid ink pasta (which was truly excellent - salty and delicious), and Spaghetti with Crab and Lemon sauce which was outrageous. I love this dish because it is so light and yet bursting with flavors of freshness - lemon and the sea. But, in the final analysis the Gnocchi did live up to its billing - really great. The cocktail list was not my style - too many drinks with fruit and training wheels. But I had a #10 which was fine. The wine list was also similarly fine. I really enjoyed the meal here, it was delicious, served in a surprisingly warm environment by terrific servers. I will gladly be back.
(4)Rebecca N.
Really good and I just think it may be a bit over-hyped. I did like it more than RPM though! People loveee the lobster linguini and the pepperoni pizza. The lobster linguine was good, but not almost 30 dollars. I really enjoyed the cocoli, brick chicken and the grilled octopus. I'll be coming back here.
(3)Norm J.
Siena Tavern is one of my new favorite spots. The fact that it's within walking distance of my house is just an added bonus. The food here is oh so very very good. I've been here for brunch and dinner and left happy and stuffed each time. Drinks - are strong which is how I like them. I really like their Moscow Mule. Food: * Biscuits & Gravy - the biscuits are small, but once you get over that your taste buds will thoroughly enjoy this dish. * Bacon Omelet - good, but nothing special. * Grilled Octopus - yummy in the tummy. Get this! * Wagyu Beef Meatballs - these are delicious. Never thought I'd enjoy having balls in my mouth...but I do when I eat these. * Burnt Pepperoni - good pizza with a surprise spicy kick. * Gnocchi - Like It. Love It. Gotta Have It. Trust me, try Siena Tavern and your sense of taste will love you.
(5)Lindsey D.
Ever since my friend told me about their truffle gnocchi, I had been wanting to try this place. I didn't feel like waiting for a special occasion so I just made my BF make a reservation on opentable for a random thursday night. It can be really difficult to get a reservation here at a normal dinner time, usually all that is open is like 5:30 or 10:30PM, but we managed to snag an 8PM time. When we arrived, we were promptly seated and given our massive menu's to look over. I obviously had already creeped the entire menu online so I already knew what I wanted. To drink, I ordered their red sangria which was very sweet--almost too sweet. I ended up not even finishing it. I should have ordered one of their signature cocktails like I planned on, but I was trying to save a few bucks. We started out with the kale ceasar salad. Meh. It was okay, but not any better than any other Kale ceasar I've had. We just wanted to have something green. We also ordered the coccoli which was pretty delicious, but I don't know if I'd get it again. Basically its 4 huge balls of dough that you eat with cheese and prosciutto. Next we ordered our entrees. We split the gnocchi and the squid ink pasta, both my choices. These were both AMAZING. The truffle gnocchi was everything I've always dreamed of. The gnocchi was so pillowy and the sauce so flavorful, I seriously was still thinking about it the next day. I would go back just to get this and call it a night. The squid ink pasta was also delicious. I will say the portion is a little small for the price, but I guess that's expected when lobster is involved. Some people might think it's a bit spicy, but I like spicy foods so it didn't bother me. I almost forgot we ordered the side of brussel sprouts. This was overkill and nothing to write home about. It was good but definitely unnecessary. Get the gnocchi.
(4)Jessie B.
Amazing!! Loved the decor, customer service, and food! They greeted us at the table with complimentary glasses of wine due to a 20 minute wait past our reservation time. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable (Kaitlyn). She helped us pick the best. Definitely go For the coccoli for an antipasti, the farro salad, and the crab ravioli. The monkey bread with hazelnut cream was amazing!!
(5)Monica B.
I love this place, whether it's just to grab a drink at the bar or feast on some delicious Italian delights! I've been here many times and the food has never disappointed me. My favorites include Coccoli (must get!), Kale Caesar Salad, Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Short Rib Ravioli, Squid Ink Linguini, Truffle Mushroom and Margherita Pizza. I recently sat outside for happy hour during a beautiful Friday evening. I really enjoy the No. 8 cocktail and a glass of Lamuri Nero d'Avola with my meal. I still have a lot yet to try off the menu, as well as brunch, so I'll keep coming back!
(4)Poonam G.
This is my absolute favorite place in Chicago! Staff is super nice and accommodating! They have really nice cocktails! Meatballs and grilled octopus are my favorites dishes but everything on the menu is delicious! I highly recommend this place!
(5)Rosa E.
me and my mother loved the patio design, so we decided to enter. The food was not as good as the decoration, but the staff was super friendly. Of all the things we had we enjoy more the little donuts (even thought we felt we were eating more than the recommended fat and sugar for a week in one bite!)
(3)Shan D.
Love coming here. This is great spot for happy hour, dinner, and even brunch. However, the service is poor for such a well publicized and crowded place. On multiple occasions, the servers disappear after you get your food (so if you need an extra something, too bad), and they also forget to put in your drink orders. While a little frustrating, the scene and the majority of the food make up for the service. For happy hour, the scene is lively, attracting a great crowd. Their pastas are all delicious. The risotto is cooked perfectly; I wish I could make it as well as they do. The Brussel sprout salad is actually a little bland. Wouldn't recommend it. Their red pizzas are delicious. Not a fan of their white pizzas. One minor complaint is that the pizza often gets cold fast. I think that's because it's sitting out ready to be taken by the servers who are probably no where to be found. I still prefer La Madia's pizza over Sienna's, but Sienna's pasta is considerably better. Brunch is amazing too. Get an order of the Monkeybread to share with the table. It's perfectly sweet, and a great way to start your meal. I had the lobster hash, which was flavorful with plenty of lobster chunks, just not super filling. They have multiple gelato flavors with a few special flavors depending on the season. If you see the Peanut Butter & Jelly flavor, do yourself a favor and order it. I don't even like PB&j as a sandwich, but that gelato is pretty epic.
(4)Rania K.
I had gone to Siena Tavern twice for dinner before visiting it again last weekend for brunch. We decided to do an early Father's Day celebration, and it proved to be a hit with everyone! I really appreciated the various vegetarian-friendly options and the fact that you can order off the brunch or lunch menu as early as 10am when the restaurant opens. Our server was Svetlana, and she was very attentive, cheerful, and got all of our orders and requests right. My mom is very picky about having her coffee/tea extremely hot so we made sure to tell Svetlana that, and she made sure my mom's cappuccino was perfect. The brand of coffee they carry here was one of the best I have had in a while. It was smooth, nutty, not acidic, and only needed a bit of sugar. I got the spring artichoke pizza with red sauce, and my other family members got artichoke omelets, the egg white breakfast sandwich, lemon almond pancakes, and tiramisu french toast. The french toast was good, presentation was great (as was the presentation for every dish we ordered), but I was expecting more of an actual tiramisu flavor. Instead, it just tasted generically sweet. I always enjoy the atmosphere here because it is trendy without being snobby or too fancy. It's the perfect mix of chic and fun.
(5)Katie W.
We visited Siena Tavern on 5/17/15. It might have been one of the most amazing meals I have ever had. We started with the Coccoli, Burrata and Oysters. The Coccoli and Burrata were amazing, I highly recommend each. I didn't try the Oysters my husband ate all four and he said they were delicious! My sister and I had the Gnocchi, it was the best I have ever had, it was pillowy and creamy. My husband had the Squid Ink Linguini, it came with a large portion of lobster. My brother in law had the Ossobuco which he really enjoyed as well. His favorite out of all meals was the Gnocchi! Now if Fabio could open a location in DC that would be great :)
(5)Dan M.
Great service and food and not entirely expensive for downtown! Location is great in River North the decor is very elegant and modern.
(5)Jimmy J.
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang..... Get the chicken, potatoes, pizza, pasta everything you can. It is all worth the extra lbs and cash. The waitress talked up the portions like I was gonna be full and to be honest I eat a lot and I told her that and she was like "no...you'll be good" and it wasn't enough to fill me up at all. She tried to comp me a side of potatoes, but I happily paid. It's another one of those restaurants where they do things "right". You know what I mean? Like nothing is too over the top and everything is just very good. My favorite was the chicken diavolo. It had a sharpness to it that I hadn't tasted before, the citrus in it was incredible and went so well with the potatoes. The salad is fresh and it was almost like every piece of the salad was hand selected. Overall it was the kind of experience you'd hope to have whenever you go out to eat. If I ever make it back to chicago, I will absolutely make a few stops here to keep going on the menu.
(5)Dianna R.
I dined here yesterday evening with my friend. My friend is a pescetarian. I loved that she had lots of intriguing options to choose from. We ordered the Roasted Alaskan Halibut and the Spaghetti with jumbo lump crab and lemon sauce. Very tasty! Great ambiance and space as well.
(5)Sara L.
After passing by this place a million of times, we finally had the chance to check it out. This place is pretty much like any River North restaurant...loud music, dark lighting, dressed up crowd ready to start their night. It didn't take very long to seat us nor did it seem very busy in the dining area unlike the bar area. My friend suggested we do family style for our table so we can sample several items on their menu. Not going to lie that everything here is pretty much over priced for what you are getting. I mean don't get me wrong the food is good but not phenomenal. We ordered the farrow shrimp salad, white truffle pizza, bone marrow, and spaghetti. The farrow salad was pretty good and very light. The white truffle pizza was meeehh. The pizza crust kinda reminded me of Papa John's. However, no truffles, just mushrooms and truffle oil....womp womp. The bone marrow was alright. They give you two giant bones cut in half and three pieces of bread. I wished they gave us more bread since we had a lot of marrow. Lastly, we had the spaghetti that everybody raves about. The boyfriend didn't like that the spaghetti was a over cooked. I like my pasta softer, so it was good to me. I gotta admit I loved the spaghetti. Whatever that sauce was had just the right amount of kick to it. Would I ever pay 21 dollars for a tiny portion of spaghetti again..nahhh but it tasted good. We skipped on dessert since nothing really caught our eye. Overall, the food good, but very over priced for the quality.
(3)Selena L.
While the food and service was good enough, I did enjoy the ambience a bit more. Rustic and warm. We ordered: Tuscan Kale Caesar, Carne pizza, "Pasta in a Jar", and the Seared Scallops. The carne pasta and seared scallops were excellent. The salad and pasta in a jar were just ok. Our server was nice enough. Overall, we had a good time.
(4)Marisa A.
Confession: I was obliterated the first time I visited Siena Tavern, so you're lucky that I have the recollection to share this story. My friends and I strolled in late, sat at the bar, and ordered another totally unnecessary round of drinks. A group of people were sitting next to us and chatting over a mostly-eaten pizza. They left, leaving a single slice of pizza on the bar. Drunk hunger nipped at my better judgment. I looked around. I took the slice off the bar and stuffed it in my mouth. Uhhhhhhhhh. Stop whatever you're doing right now and go order the Truffle Mushroom Pizza. It's stupid good. Decadent, addicting, perfect. I freaked out as I was eating it because it was so delicious. Weeks later, my friend is still impersonating me eating that slice of pizza. "This is good. Oh my God. Guys, guys, this is good. You have to try this. This is good." Unsure of whether my experience was at all under the influence, I went back for a nice and normal dinner with friends. I can now say, with complete confidence, that the Truffle Mushroom Pizza at Siena Tavern is every bit as good as I thought it was. And not only that, but the rest of the menu is full of gems as well. I highly recommend the Coccoli, Octopus, Kobe Meatball, and charcuterie/cheese plates. But don't forget the pizza!
(5)Anne C.
Had a great time here! The restaurant is exactly what I expected: It's loud, energetic, and really well designed, but the open pizza ovens, wine bar, and wood, brick, and chalkboard elements give it that warm Italian trattoria feel. I'm a fan. And the food is really really good... One thing you must order here is the Coccoli. They are basically savory donuts served with prosciutto, cheese, and truffle honey. They are a really unexpected combination of flavors and textures, but they work. We also tried the smoked mozzarella served with local honeycomb, candied walnuts, grilled escarole, and toasts. I loved the smoky cheese with sweet nuts and honey. And don't skip the Tuscan kale Caesar--one of the best takes on a Caesar that I have tried! Siena Tavern's menu features a variety of main course options: from heartier meat and seafood entrees to fresh pizzas to a selection of homemade pastas. My husband ordered the short rib ravioli, which was served with a sweet and savory mushroom sauce. I was torn between a few dishes, but ultimately decided on the spaghetti with jumbo lump crab meat, tomatoes, and chili flakes in a creamy lemon sauce. It was so delicious-- the fresh lemony flavor with rich crab and cream sauce. And as if we hadn't eaten enough... we ordered dessert. Siena Tavern serves a wide selection of homemade gelati. Since we couldn't decide on just one, we ordered three. Of course. We sampled the hazelnut, salted caramel, and maple mascarpone. The salted caramel gelato was far and away my favorite, but they were all delicious-- and I would eat any of them again.
(5)Meaghan R.
Food was okay but to be fair, I was extremely excited after reading the menu so my expectations may have gotten the best of me. It wasn't bad or even that bland, but it didn't stick with me or stick out. I had the fried dough with prosciutto (which I saw them plating and meat was not fresh--taken from a stack of pre-sliced meat that came from the fridge. Dough was also literally fried; was expecting more of a pizza dough consistency, so this felt a lot fattier), watermelon salad (presentation was dated and flavors were not new but it is refreshing) and pasta in a jar (good flavors, fresh pasta didn't hold together well but still good). Good for groups due to large menu prime for sharing. Won't recommend and won't revisit.
(3)Katie O.
"If the restaurant can't be bothered to replace the puck in the urinal or keep the toilets and floors clean, then just imagine what their refrigeration and work spaces look like."--Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential Oh Siena Tavern. I grimace thinking how your kitchen is, after being in the restrooms. I have been in frat houses with cleaner bathrooms than yours. I love the dark tile, C.O. Bigelow soap and lotions but it's all surrounded in a cloud of filth. Toilet paper and towels everywhere, water all over, and clogged toilets amuck. The first time I thought it was a fluke, Not the second (and shame on me) the third. Maybe what is worse, on Wednesday (6/5) I informed the hostess on the disaster and she informed me that "we don't clean the facilities". OBVIOUSLY. Maybe I should tell the bartender or waitress next time. I've always enjoyed the food, prior to using the facilities. Please clean up!
(3)d a.
plus-good location negative-just didn't do it for me. everything underwhelmed and I came away with a first impression food wise of college food hangover bar at downtown prices. pizza was meh-a puddle of greese on top of a thing layer of unremarkable industrial cheese with a breadstick big crust. fries were tasteless-came with too little ketchup for what they gave you and really crunchy. lobster roll bun was fine but lobster roll was better described as a bun with some form of fancy lettuce, 3 pieces of lobster and some fennel/grass on top. If you're an adult it's a 2 bite sandwich. chicago has a lot of wonderful restaurants where they take the food and service seriously-the waiter interrupted us several times to ask us about lunch-rushing us, especially in that neighborhood and this one really isn't worth your time and especially resources. There wasn't anything I could point to aside from the location where I said this impressed me and most of it left me feeling like the ratio of check to quality was 4-1.
(1)Mark W.
Great atmosphere, beautiful large wood bar, dim, trendy. Great food.. I've only tried the SeaBass so far.. but, it was perfectly cooked, and had some interesting and unique flavors throughout the dish to accompany the fish. Craft cocktail list superb, and quite extensive. Unique and tasty all around. Female bartender very friendly and sweet and really knew her spirits and techniques, etc.. Incredibly skilled.. Will definitely return.. cozy, intimate, and sexy scene..
(4)Cassie V.
Our server was Tanner and he was fantastic! He made our large group feel welcomed and had great suggestions on delicious cocktails!!! 10 stars in our book.
(5)Lauren T.
We had some of the best mushroom pasta ever. I'm still thinking about it. I would make sure to get to this restaurant while in Chicago.
(5)Erin W.
Awesome. Food came out very quick and everything is excellent. Gnocchi was one of the best meals I've ever had.
(5)Kelly K.
After all the hype, I was excited to try Siena Tavern. Upon entering, I saw the hostess... who looked like she was wearing what a college kid rolled out of bed in. For being one of the top new restaurants in Chicago, you would think that the staff would dress more professionally. As for the food: Coccoli- Little pieces of heaven in your mouth Kobe Meatball- Good, but not great Gnocchi- The sauce was amazing, but overly doughy gnocchi Prosciutto Pear pizza- The combination was delightful, but the dough was overly burnt. I know you can get some charring from a wood burning oven, but all I could taste was the char On to the service: Few things in life bug me more than an overly attentive bus boy. They refilled our water on average of 4 times/minute, even though there was a water bottle ON the table. At one point, we moved the bottle so the bus boy wouldn't grab it, and he interrupted our conversation to reach across all four of us to refill our already full water glasses. They were overly aggressive in clearing our plates as well. If I have a mouthful of food and my hand is touching my plate that still has two bites of pizza left, that does not mean you can clear my plate. On the other hand, our waitress was generally no where to be found! I think we talked to her twice after we ordered, and even then, it took us almost 10 minutes to find her to take our order. For all that, I don't think Siena Tavern lived up to the hype. Maybe I will be back for a drink, but the restaurant isn't worth it.
(1)Tera D.
I have to say I'm a little bummed because I was expecting 4 stars here. The hubs had been previously for a work thing and loved it, but it just didn't match up on this go-around. We went with another couple and ordered quite a few things, and only a few were really standouts. Actually, only one, although to be fair that one rocked my world: the coccoli. Holy bread and honey this thing was amazing. If I went back, it would just be to the bar for wine and copious orders of coccoli. Certainly not for a cocktail, because the ones we tried were super sweet and not very tasty. As for the other food, the pizzas were especially disappointing. The gelato desserts were pretty good, but I wish they offered a tasting option, with small scoops of multiple flavors instead of having to commit to a larger portion of just one.
(3)Melanie H.
I've been back two times since. I love it here. Great atmosphere great food and great fun. Looooove Siena
(5)Hayley P.
Atmosphere: very chic but not like they're trying too hard Location: A+ Food: I ordered a very flavorful kale salad which is often hard to do with kale. I also split-n-traded the wagyu beef meatball sandwhich and the brioche lobster roll. Both were incredible. Great menu, I'll definitely be coming here again.
(4)D W.
The MONKEYBREAD dessert is seriously 1 of the best things I have ever tasted in. my. life. Perfect ratio of (brioche?) bread to caramel sauce to candied hazelnuts. It was heavenly. Save room for it!
(4)David S.
Stopped here on our way home from a Sunday afternoon architecture walk, and were quickly seated on a very nice table outside. Our first visit to the restaurant and we chose the margarita pizza as a good benchmark. The price, $16, is at the high end and frankly, we were underwhelmed. First, the good news is that the basil was fragrant and fresh. As good as we have had. The big disappointment was the crust that almost had a pretzel-like sensibility to it, but none of the attraction..Dense and with little flavor, it was a total miss. And for some reason, it appears that they use an egg wash or something similar to give the crust a sheen. We'll certainly come back to try something else, but we were underwhelmed by our first visit.
(3)Chris N.
Pretty good... I was expecting a lot better. Being a top chef restaurant and all. Long wait..make sure you have a reservation. Bartender is great. He was on top of everything.
(3)Unica V.
A new gem in Chicago. We weren't able to get a reservation...it was booked. But we decided to stick around and were able to get a bar seat. So glad we did. We ordered the grilled octopus and waygu beef tartar. The octopus was grilled perfectly; one if the beat we've had. The tartar, unfortunately, was below average. It wasn't spiced up enough and wasn't tender. But we ate it so it didn't suck! We had the Pasta in a Jar and holy deal was that good! Much better than advertised. I had a hard time blocking my husband's fork from my plate. We also had the Orecchiette which was very good. The chunks of sausage were so good and cooked perfectly. D'Angelo was our bartender and he paired wines with our meal. He definitely knows what he's doing. We will be back next time we are in Chicago. If you go, ask for D'Angelo... he'll treat you right and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Anne C.
Mmm, the pappardelle pasta is my favorite! It's homemade from scratch! Their gelato is creamy, rich and smooth. I've had the pistachio and salted caramel and both were outstanding. I've also had the giant meatball as an appetizer which was fabulous! It gets super busy at night, so you're best off making a reservation. It's so busy at night that you can barely move, but if you're up for a lively atmosphere, then go for it. The servers are knowledgeable and personable. They usually give you full detailed descriptions of the menu. Overall, I enjoy coming here for dinner!
(5)Tristin H.
This is a tough one... I'd lean more towards 4 stars, but my last experience wasn't great. In general, I love the bar area, plenty of bar space and nice employees. Always had great service and I like the general feel of the place. However, I recently went for brunch and had the Lobster Hash, being a fan of all things lobster. It was OK, but hardly had any lobster meat in it. Just some very small "specks" of lobster. So I basically paid $21 for hash. Dislike. I'll give them another try, as many menu items sound great (but so did the "lobster" hash). We'll see...
(3)Ryan M.
Lobster roll was delicious.
(5)Greg K.
Great vibe and energy. This is definitely a hot spot in Chicago for both the bar and the restaurant. Their bar is staffed by excellent mix-masters that know the standards and the unusuals as well. I ordered a Moscow Mule and it came I the classic copper mug and was poured to perfection. The food selection and presentation was excellent. I would liken it more towards a Gastro Pub with a variety of small plates, flat breads, charcuterie, mozzarella and crudo bars. There were also a handful of large plates as well as homemade pasta selections to chose from. We ordered was grilled octopus, wagyu beef meatballs, coccoli, ahi and hamachi from crudo bar, ossobuco, and squid ink pasta, all were excellent!
(4)Kelsey K.
I want to give them 2 1/2 stars, but I'm trying this new thing where I'm not a Yelp whore and give out my stars all willy-nilly. That being said, the decor was AWESOME... but that's the only thing that made me totally stoked about this place. The clientele is douchey... like, really douchey. The staff was nice enough, whatever that's worth. The menu prices were high, but that's kind of par for the course in thie neighborhood. I'd go back, but I'm certainly not going out of my way to get there.
(2)Wm B.
Had lunch at Sienna Tavern on 6/14. Great service, fantastic food, awesome drinks. I had the lobster roll and my wife had the chicken sandwich. Everything was spot on. Finished lunch outside and moved inside to have a cocktail at the bar. The inside is gorgeous and pretty spacious. Would love to go back for dinner.
(5)Rajiv S.
I tried Siena Tavern during restaurant week 2014.. I loved the food!!! The Kale Caesar was just amazing! We got a bottle of wine, which worked perfect with our meal.. I had the gnocchi as my entree choice - I couldn't finish it but only b'coz I was saving room for the dessert! The gnocchi was perfect, the sauce was very good... We got pistachio gelato and tiramisu cake for dessert!! that gelato was the best I have ever had!.. We had a great time..
(5)Izzy N.
Okay fine. They have really redeemed themselves in my eyes. And let me remind you, I usually am not the biggest fan of Italian food either. So ixnay to pizza, cheeses, lasagna, most pastas, meatballs and such. It'd have to be something really good to get me to change my tune so I'm a solid fan of Siena's. I'm very much into their squid ink linguine with lobster and the coccoli appetizer. I cannot stop ordering those two things. I'm hypnotized. HELP. But I could totally order the gnocchi again, along side the linguine. I think it's better to stick to their pastas, pizzas and entrees, as their tuna and hamachi crudo was average. Their parmesan fries were delicious. Their service was soo much better this time around. It was more understated - being just helpful enough. Even my partner in crime for dinner noted the changes. Praise the Lord it can be done. I love that they cared enough to fix service issues, which speaks volumes to me. By the way.. this place is great as a sunday night dinner spot, and out of all the times I've visited, I think I prefer it as a dinner spot. Really lively and dark enough. If you have to choose between two high profile Italian restaurants in this neighborhood, I'd come here over RPM hands down.
(4)David L.
I have to say it was just so so because it was built up to be more. The interior tries to be so many things simultaneously it felt like a total train wreck. I will admit that televisions over the bar are a huge turn off as they are nothing but a distraction. If you can see them from your table we are off to a bad start. The concept of doing Italian from scratch is less a concept than a really good idea for anyone who is doing reasonable fresh Italian fare. I expect that you would be making your dough and pasta in house... why not? Service was fine, the food was fine, but I really wanted more and for the price, I really really wanted more. We left before dessert because we could not take another course of so so food.
(2)Maria P.
I wanted to love this place because I love. Fabio. But I only liked it. It was good but I would never go back. What I loved-comfy chairs, roomy interior, they take reservations, the gnocchi, and the fried mortadella on the ricotta appetizer. What disappointed- we had the Kobe meatball and ricotta appetizers. They were okay but really overpriced, in my opinion. We also had shared the gnocchi and fig and prosciutto pizza. The gnocchi was the hit if the table but even that was very rich. The pizza crust was excellent but the toppings were cold and it just didn't work with the hit cheese. I never thought I would stop eating pizza before the overstuffed feeling hit but I did. I held out for dessert. Again, I thought they were misses. We had the berry shortcake, which was good but I could make that at home & the warm chocolate butter cake which I didn't love; probably because I had wanted cake, not what seemed like raw brownie batter. Also the wine was way overpriced. I realize it is river north, but $12 for a glass seemed a bit steep. Overall, stop in if you are in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way. I have had better Italian food and pizza at osteria via stato, davanti enoteca and a tavola
(3)Angela S.
Food is above average, drinks are slightly. Keep to beer and the classics. Been here twice, once for a group lunch and another for drinks at the bar. If they can somehow breakaway from the tourist trap it'd be such a better experience. The decor could pass as a more upscale tavern but there's Indiana with their teenage daughters wearing their Victoria Secret pajama pants.
(3)Erin C.
Coccoli was the bomb. Definitely start your night with that. Drinks were beyond fast. Grabbed a booth and had our first appetizer and drinks within 10 minutes. Their monkey bread dessert and fungetti ice cream were coma-inducing, sugar heaven. Pasta dishes were interesting in flavor - lamb rigatoni and short rib ravioli. Good but weren't highlights of the night. Ambiance and energy of Siena is great. Heard its great for post work happy hour too.
(4)Diana P.
Beautiful décor, fun place to dine and food was not too bad either. Our waitress was very friendly and made our meal that much better. Overall, good (not great) food but overpriced for the small portions you get. I guess that's the trend now. Because of that, not sure I'll be back.
(4)Kristin M.
4.5 - this place was almost perfect, well done Fabio and staff! We met in the bar, which was overwhelmingly busy and chaotic. The bartender at the bar in the back was awesome though, he answered my questions about the drinks and said he could make something for me and take it back if I didn't like it. I didn't have to, the No. 5 was delicious! Strong bourbon, but sweet to take the edge off. Foodwise, everything was delicious. It's too hard to rate in order of yumminess because most of it was amazing, so I'll just list what we had, except to say the braised duck ragout was THE BEST DISH WE HAD (I win!) -cooked octopus - delicious all around, including the duck fat potatoes, we fought over this one -kobe meatball - I thought "what a waste of kobe beef", but I was wrong. It was tender and delicious and we licked the red sauce up until the plate was clean. So.Good. -burnt pepperoni pizza - we were intrigued so had to order this. I don't typically go for pepporoni pizza, but this was delicious. I think they use the same red sauce as the meatball - AWESOME!!! -lump crab spaghetti - very tasty, not at all fishy -brick chicken - I never order the chicken in restaurants because I always think I could make that at home. I'm always wrong because this chicken, right down to the crispy skin, was ah-mazing. You won't regret it. -roasted cauliflower side - briny and delicious -parmesan fries - yum. *a couple people had the squid ink pasta with lobster but I couldn't try due to an allergy. They enjoyed it though, but everyone agreed my duck was better :) Desserts - we tried almost everything, here's the order of yumminess -bomboloni - these donuts are amazing - the sauces, especially the homemade caramel sauce - are to die for. GET THIS. -warm butter cake - the cake was good, but the homemade gelato is what put it over the top -cannoli - I'm just not a huge fan of cannoli, so these were lost on me, but the pistachio gelato was amazing, we fought over it I took off .5 star because our server seemed much more attentive to other tables than to our table of 7. We would have ordered another bottle of wine if he had been paying attention, but instead we did without. Oh well. Everything else was outstanding, I need to go back for the lasagna, among other things!
(4)CJ B.
We got into the city pretty late on a Saturday night, checked in to our hotel and immediately stepped out to grab a bite. They were pretty busy in the bar section and really really loud with all the drunk people and the blaring music. Fortunately we were able to be seated right away. Our server, Amy, was very sweet and hospitable. We were so tired and just ready for a drink to wind down. I had the No. 8 with Johnny Walker Black and it was really good. I love grapefruit so grapefruit + JWB = perfect combo! We had the Wagyu beef tartare, and it was absolutely delicious! The portion is rather small but so worth it! He had the short rib ravioli and I had the squid ink linguini with lobster. Oh man were they generous with the lobster portions! The cream sauce and the linguini were a match made in heaven! We ended with tiramisu that we weren't the biggest fan of. It wasn't bad by any means but we've definitely had better. Though the presentation was quite cute. We ended up getting margherita pizza to go and I couldn't help but grab a slice before we even left the restaurant! We were going to grab another round of drinks but the pizza came out so fast that we decided to just take the check. I would definitely be coming back but hopefully when it's not as loud. The food and service was great and I'm sure the atmosphere would have been really different had we came in earlier in the evening.
(5)Beth M.
Nom nom nom! Everything here was just perfect. Managed to grab a 3:30 reservation for my anniversary dinner- not an ideal time, but was happy to just go. First, service was absolutely great. I saw a few negative reviews, so we either really lucked out or they're getting their stuff together. We (the husband and I) want to splurge a bit for our anniversary so we got a bottle of wine for $32, which, for a place like that isn't bad at all. It was the cheapest red and was really good, so that was great. Now the food- the MUSTS are the gnocchi and the first thing on the menu...the coccoli! Both were so perfectly executed and delicious. The second we ate both we were already making plans to come back. The hamachi's flavors were great and the seafood was so perfectly fresh but it wasn't a must try. My husband was obsessed with the Italian donuts for dessert. You get four huge fluffy donuts and four sauces to inject the donuts with- caramel, chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla bean. This is a must for anyone who likes sweets and was completely worth the cost to him (only $9). We will certainly be back again. It is also doable price wise, I think, for a normal night out.
(5)Kyle P.
super nice layout and great looking place with three distinct areas to hang out in. The waitstaff was great and the fries were very good but the pizza was kinda of boring and bland. It looked great and was fine after a little tabasco and I really enjoyed the meatball. Again very cool place
(4)Gary R.
This place was pretty good. Everyone was saying that it was run by Fabio, which is weird. I only remember him as the dude with the flowing hair who gets smashed by birds on roller coasters. I did not know he was a chef. Anyway, the food was good. I wish I remembered more, but I was so full and drunk when I left that it was hard to even comprehend that I was still alive. A few things came to mind: 1. They sell Octopusses. Really little ones. Those scare me a lot, and have dangerous testicles. 2. The Pizza is pretty darn good. We ordered a meaty one, whose main ingredient was cholesterol, followed by shame. I also believe I purchased some kind of pasta bologna thingy, which was of a much higher quality than what you get from Sbarro. 3. They sell 3 floyds beer, which is a plus. (region) 4. They brought us a dessert tray that contained a bunch of fried donuts with chocolate dipping sauce. I cannot understand how that was even legal, but it was damn good. The urinals were pretty solid, and were able to easily contain the litre upon litre of urine that I produced as i kept drinking the 3 Floyds.
(4)Laura R.
Siena Tavern is a great place to come with a group... I loved trying a little bit of everything. And honestly, I think everything I tried was good. Pizzas were okay, spaghetti with crab was good but more spicy than I expected. I had given up sweets when I was there, so next time I plan on going crazy with the desserts, since what everyone else tried looked amazing. My only complaint is that it can still be tough to get a reservation for a group on weekend nights.
(4)Annie O.
Ate here last night and boy oh boy did it meet my expectations! First off, my boyfriend and I arrived an hour early for our 8:30 reservation. Although the place was packed, I was thrilled that we were seated right away and at a great table by the window. We got the coccoli for an appetizer and it was outstanding! The honey flavor perfectly complimented the creamy mozzarella. The dough balls that came with were fantastic and a creative touch to this traditional Italian dish. We split the brick chicken and the margherita pizza. Chicken was very flavorful and juicy - I especially loved the potatoes on the side! Crunchy and crisp. The pizza was alright but not the best I have had. I probably wouldn't order it again since there are so many other delicious looking options on the menu. My favorite part of the meal was my No. 2 cocktail. It was OUT of this WORLD!!!! I would have ordered 4 more if it wasn't a Wednesday night! I cannot stop dreaming about this drink. I hate when drinks are too fruity and taste like candy. The No. 2 is anything but. It tastes so fresh and tart and light. I cannot describe how delicious it is! No wonder it's the most popular drink! I will come back again just to have it! Sienna Tavern also has partnered with Goose Island to produce a Signature Draft beer just for them. My boyfriend had two and said they were delicious!
(5)Rupa N.
Siena Tavern is the quintessential example of a restaurant that is all the rage because its about people that want to see and want to be seen and not about the food. Reservations, especially weekend ones are incredibly tough to come by. I somehow snagged one on OpenTable at 9:30 p.m. and my expectations on food, cocktails, and ambiance were grandiose. Sienna quite simply did not deliver. We had the Coccoli, mussels and clams, gnocchi, and Bellwether Farm Ricotta Cheese from the mozzarella bar. The Coccoli and mussels and clams were probably my favorites overall but I was no where near blown away. The gnocchi and the ricotta cheese recommended by our waiter were bland. I expected to be overwhelmed by flavors but I was mostly underwhelmed. We also probably ordered one too many dishes for a party of 2. Cocktails were unimpressive and I found this surprising for a place that is supposed to be ultra hip. Between us, we had #2, #8, #12, and #14. #8 was interestingly good but I didn't care for the others. Ambiance was cool but it's way cooler at Yusho, Nightwood, Telegraph, Maude's Liquor Bar, Balena, Boarding House, and Longman and Eagle................
(2)Courtney Z.
Highly highly recommend!! We had very high expectations and were somehow still impressed! The atmosphere is second to none, just perfect!! Spread out seating, perfect noise level. We had reservations at 645, so it seemed like the earlier crowd still there was very casual - however as it got later the attire became very trendy/going out feel. Perfect to bring parents to earlier and friends later!! Food was phenomenal!!! The Gnocchi is a MUST!! We ended up ordering too much food, but no one was too upset about bringing home the leftovers :) Drinks were fun and pretty good as well! Great, friendly service!
(5)Kelly M.
After seeing all the great reviews, I dined at Siena Tavern on a Saturday night at 8:15pm for a birthday celebration. The restaurant is beautiful and for such a large space it's sectioned off nicely. The dining room feels like the dining room and not the bar, which is good because the bar gets really crowded. The service was okay. Our waiter didn't interact with us all that much but we were able to ask questions about the menu and our food arrived at a good pace. The cocktails are decent and inventive. The food was really good but the portions are on the smaller side (except for the pizza). The brussels sprout salad was delicious, as was the spaghetti carbonara and the brussels sprout risotto. We had a couple of the crudo appetizers which were okay, they just didn't have a lot of flavor. As for the scene...that's exactly it, a scene. This is where you'll see sky-high heels, skintight mini dresses and really fancy cars (a vintage Rolls Royce was parked out front). These people want your eyes on them. Although the food was good and the people watching is even better (in a "WHAT is she WEARING?!" kind of way), you really have to be in the mood for a place like this. Sometimes I want good food without the pretension of the crowd. I was fully expecting Scott Disick to walk in and demand a table.
(3)Rick C.
Bottom line: I enjoyed myself here. We stopped in after work for an early dinner and were able to get a table. First impression is that it's a nice looking place. We had comfortable seating that wasn't super close to other tables like many places are doing. The waitress came by and recommended a few items. We took her advice when she steered towards a few things and they worked out well. For starters, we went with bone marrow and the truffle pizza. The bone marrow dish was good, not great. It dressed with balsamic. I guess we just kind of prefer ours simply prepared. Not bad though. The truffle pizza was tasty, but maybe not as great as the waitress implied. I had the leftovers the next day for a dope lunch. I'd easily get both dishes again though. We went kind of heavy since we wanted to try the pastas here and were concerned with the portion sizes. We've become accustomed to tiny pasta dishes at these types of restaurants and we were both hungry. We shouldn't have worried becuase the portions were pretty good. Not maggiano's take home and feed your family for a week good, but good nonetheless. The pastas we tried were the pappardelle with bolognese and the lobster with squid ink linguini. My wife liked the pappardelle more, I liked the linguini. Both were excellent. Too often, you find lobster overcooked and gross. Not the case here. the lobster in the sauce and the half tail on top were cooked perfectly. For dessert, we went with tirimasu. A little sweet, but dense and tasty. This place is a winner.
(5)Stacy B.
I had such high hopes for this place but sadly it just isn't all that. There are so many amazing restaurants around Chicago without it being attached to a famous chief. This restaurant is best summed up as not bad not great... Meh. I struggled giving it 3 or 4 stars. I went with 4 just to give this place the benefit of the doubt and i liked the atmosphere. We take groups of clients out when visiting Chicago and unfortunately everyone left pretty disappointed. Oh well.
(4)Lindsay S.
Sometimes I feel like a bad food lover...no clue who this chef was at all before making my reservations! I was simply going off a fantastic sounding menu of a new restaurant that was opening. I was drooling over it on my computer screen, went to make rezzies, and oh. Wow. I have to wait how long!? Something must be up I don't know about. Once discovered Chef Fabio was on Top Chef and blah, blah, blah I was bored and didn't care. I wanted a wood fired pizza. I had yet to find one in Chicago that I love. We arrived 15 minutes early and were told to grab a drink at the bar and they would come find us. I like the additional tiny bar in the back. I couldn't get to a hole in the large bar, and instead saw this little 'to-go' gem next to the DJ and then perched until our table was ready. I love the space! Sexy! There were TVs around, but I was happy that they were off despite the whole Big 10 basketball something-something going on. I wish we had gotten a booth - especially since those super high chairs still were too low for my comfort at the high table. And the mirrors behind my wife's head were almost distracting! But the kitchen was equally distracting for her. The music was a touch too loud, BUT I was sick and couldn't talk very loud, so my slight annoyance with that was partially about the illness. The waitress gave us lots to think about on the menu. They encourage sharing. Love it. Although she said the pizza was 10" and could be an appetizer. I know I'm not a large eater, but that seemed like a huge appetizer to me! In the end we got the roasted beet salad, the gnocchi with fried sage and panchetta and the burnt pepperoni pizza. We were warned about the pizza. We brushed it off. But WHOA this is spicy. But the spice seems to be mostly towards the center of the pizza so the bites after the first one were less heat-wise. So amazingly good. The gnocchi was PERFECT. Though I'm happy we shared it because it would have been too rich to finish on my own. Looking at Open Table, the reservations are ridiculous at the moment. But it won't stop me from calling occasionally to see if we can get in. Programmed into my phone now is this place! After a disappointment at Bavette's this place was exactly what I thought it would be and more!
(5)Alex L.
Nothing short of delicious! Everything I ate was great. We went with a large group and were able I taste a ton. The watermelon salad was smaller than I thought, but it was fresh, spicy and creamy at the same time. The gnocchi was the best gnocchi I've ever eaten. Almost buttery rich but still air fluffy .. The texture is a cross between pasta, a marshmallow and Cotton candy. The pepperoni pizza was oven roasted and awesome. The brick chicken was crispy on the outside and so juicy inside. Don't forget to try their specialty drinks. #12 was great. Great balance between sweet and letting the flavor I the liquors show thru.
(5)Sarah Beth T.
Worst salad ever. I rarely do reviews, but I could not let this go unnoticed. Ordered the Siena chopped salad and, by no stretch of the imagination, cardboard dipped in mayonnaise would have tasted better. It listed all these yummy ingredients - avocado, tomato, canellini beans, artichokes - fake, chewy, gross. All atop grade D shredded lettuce you find at Taco Bell. ONLY giving this a second star based on location and atmosphere.
(2)James Z.
Oh, Fabio. Thank you. I always enjoy coming to Siena Tavern because the food is tasty and the space is absolutely beautiful. Huge windows and high ceilings really make the restaurant look much larger than it really is (though it's already quite big to begin with!). It's open and airy. The bar area is fantastic, and you can usually score a couple seats for a quick drink. It also helps that the bartenders are incredibly friendly. I especially love their "No. 2" cocktail (all cocktails are $12) and their burrata pizza with marinated eggplant and zucchini ($16) for a nice post-work drink+nosh. (The burrata pizza is fantastic because the burrata is slightly melted - as it should be! The crust is perfect and the pizza itself is not over-sauced or over-seasoned. Overall, it's awesome. Trust.) In the past, my friend has enjoyed their "No. 7" cocktail. Scoring dinner reservations though is quite hard so if you're really wanting to get in on this action, try dining at the bar at an early hour.
(4)Kate L.
I'd give Siena Tavern a 4.5. My friend and I walked in yesterday without a reservation around 5:45 p.m. We were able to get a table after 15-20 minutes at the bar. The bartender who helped us seemed a bit green, but she was friendly and apologetic for taking a long time. We ordered Cocktain Nos. 2 and 11. I didn't try the 11, but I really enjoyed the 2. Once we were seated, we ordered and shared: 1) Coccoli: Crispy dough, stracchino cheese, proscuitto di parma, truffle honey; 2) Tuscan Kale Caesar: Oven-dried tomato, Parmesan, rosemary foccacia croutons, lemon-Caesar dressing; 3) Butternut Squash Tortellaci: Parmesan brown butter, crispy sage, crushed Amaretto cookies; 4) Truffle Mushroom Pizza: Oyster, shiitake, maitake, mozzarella, shaved winter truffle; and 5) Bombolini: Sugared doughnuts with whisky-caramel, chocolate hazelnut, and raspberry-Chianti sauces. Wow, everything was amazing! Very rich, but fresh and amazing. With the Coccoli, you can split the large dough balls open and create little sandwiches. I've never had a kale Caesar salad before, but I quite enjoyed it, especially with the oven-dried tomatoes. The cookies added a delicious hint of sweetness to the Tortellaci, which was otherwise very rich and creamy. Not much to say about the pizza except that it was fantastic and large enough to take home for leftovers. The Bombolini was exceptional; the doughnuts were large, warm, soft, and basically perfect! Our waitress was extremely friendly, helpful with recommendations, and attentive. The bar area where we sat was a bit noisy and crowded, but that's what we get for not making reservations in the dining room. We left feeling very full and happy. Will glady return!
(4)Andrew P.
Wife and I went for date night when we were in Chicago. We did a cheese plate before arriving so we dug right into entrées. I had the gnocchi (adding the truffles) and a Siena Draft while Lindsey did the pappardelle (sticking with water). Good tastes all around - I especially enjoyed my dish. Service was excellent and we were seated promptly despite arriving a bit early for our reservation. Great mood and style in the place as well - it felt very energetic. I'd definitely return in future trips to Chi Town and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this for your next outing. It seemed like a great place for groups - very social.
(5)Payal G.
To the man that knows a young lady and her manly drinks! - Adam We came to Siena Traven for a friend and my birthday celebrations and the evening was a pure pleasure. We got there at 7:15 (yes we made reservations so there was no waiting). We got our table right away and were greeted by our wonderful sweet server Adam. From the get go he was just chilled, fun, and gave us the best options for our drinks and half meat/veg eating friends. Anyway, Adam recommended we try 1, 2, 4, 5, and 11; so round one was 1, 2, 4, and 5... from there the night began; 5/6 rounds later... The menu is out of this world; we had a hard time picking what we wanted to eat. So we decided to share and do many different appetizers. (Can't remember everything we got but here is what I do remember us getting) Kobe Meatball, Roasted Beet Salad, Pear/Prosictto Pizza, Sage Parmesan Fries, Bomboloni with three different syrups, three different gelatos, and more. Everything was so good. I'll have to agree with the comment about the Kobe Meatball; huge is an understatement more like a mini football and over whelming for two meat eater's as it was a lot of food. The fries were amazing; it was a perfect blend of flavors. I recommend getting the fries. Either way, we all know Chef Fabio is amazing so the food and drinks will be good no matter what. Yes he is a very nice man; walks around says hi to people and takes pictures but he has to. The place is new and he wants everyone to like the place and trust me you will! So the main reason for my writing this review; it's simple we got there at 7:15pm and did not leave until 1:20(ish)am. (I was drunk at that point) The staff was cool, they did not try to push us out on a Saturday night. Adam was amazing! He even sat down with us and talked to us about life. Jason (I believe the manager) stopped by and bought us a round of drinks. The team there is not pushy at all; they all just kicked ass! I remember at one point I asked Adam if he needed the tab and he said, Nope! Chill. I'll get it later." To me that is amazing customer service; don't think I have seen that kind of service anywhere in Chicago. I can assure you I'll go back (soon) just because of the customer (and the drinks. Don't tell Adam that . ;-))
(5)Mike B.
Great Italian place downtown. The Kobe meatball is a must have app. For dinner I just had a chopped salad with some steak on it, which was much better than I expected it to be. Great happy hour location!
(4)M B.
Came here for my birthday dinner and it was fantastic! Everything from the cocktails, to food to service to ambiance was great. The Coccoli is a must get unlike anything I have ever had before. The gnocchi with sage and truffle was delicious! I love anything with truffles! The pizza was yummy and a pretty large portion. Was happy to see that octopus was not tough but actually really tender. Have had bad experiences with octopus in the past. Definitely go to the gym before you come here, but it is worth every bite. I cannot wait to go back and oh ya, make a reservation now!
(5)Courtney G.
One of the best restaurants I've been to in Chicago. Literally the BEST Bloody Mary I've ever had in my life - get one even if you don't like them, it is fantastic. Sit outside to enjoy the city views and order the gnocchi, it's melt in your mouth delicious.
(5)Paul F.
Awesome mussels!! Service is wonderful too.
(4)Mike S.
Looking for an upscale, hip place to have a drink or eat some unique foods? This is the place. On a Tuesday, the place was jumping and it was evident from the young, business types, this was the place to hang. The drink menu is diverse, as well as their beer selection. The food menu is equally diverse, from 12-hour Baised Ossobuco to a 36oz Aged Porterhouse (which was the tastiest steak I've ever had). Don't skip the appetizers. From their Pizza Bar, we shared the Truffle Mushroom Pizza and thought we would counteract all the calories we were going to consume, with their Siena Chopped Salad. Everything was cooked perfectly and the wait staff and managers were very pleasant and fun to be around all night. Last, we gorged on 2 desserts for the table. We had the Monkeybread and these donut things from heaven (see the pic I uploaded). They came with 3 sauces to drizzle over the donuts, chocolate, caramel and strawberry. I don't give 5 stars too often, but this place had everything going for it. Loved it!!
(5)Erica E.
My experience at Sienna Tavern this weekend was great! We had a reservation for 10:00 p.m. and were seated very promptly. We were given a table right next to the door. It was super windy and every time someone came in and out, we got blown away (literally). When we asked to be moved, the waitress moved us to a great corner table without hesitation. The best part of the entire experience was of course...the FOOD! We started with the buratta. It was a little small, but boy was it good! The bread they serve with it is toasted perfectly with butter and a hint of salt. Perfection! For dinner I shared the truffle gnocchi and the spicy watermelon salad with my dining companion. I swear, the spicy watermelon salad is truly the unsung hero of the menu. It is truly sensational. The watermelon is super fresh and it has this incredible peach/soy dressing. Finally we ended with the famous bombolone (donuts). They were served with four decadent sauces including; hazelnut, white chocolate, salted carmel and raspberry. I couldn't recommend this place more! One draw back was the service was a tad slow, but totally worth it for the amazing food! I will be coming back :)
(4)D T.
I like it. A lot. It's in no way a 5 star place, but you can't be when you try to be a fine dining establishment, and the see and be seen nightlife spot. Never works. This place is PACKED. always. Whether its locals grabbing a bite, singles pretending to nonchalantly be grabbing a cocktail on a Tuesday, in full Saturday gear, or out of place tourists, psyched to catch a glimpse of Fabio. ( Tourists drive me nuts). So book ahead if you want to sit down. My biggest issue with the place, the bartenders have been consistent rude. I bartended for 12 yrs, it sucks. But it's your JOB, and you're in the service industry. If your bf broke up with you, you got hammered last night, a customer is being a douche, oh well. Fake it! And paying the premium cost for a cocktail makes it that much more imperative. Don't act bored with me, I'm on your side. I'm easy to serve, and I tip well. Service in Chicago is beyond embarrassing. However, it's a gorgeous spot, the food is very good, and it has an impressive bar scene. If I wanted to run into anyone semi famous in Chicago, it'd definitely be Fabio...but I'm not running there for that alone.
(4)Jennifer H.
This place was ok. Super trendy and the hostess had kind of an attitude. She asked for my phone number but didn't say why and then we went to the bar to get drinks, which is right next to the hostess stand. After a while she never came to get us and I walked two feet over and she said she texted me twice that our table was ready. That would have worked if she told us why she was asking for my number and that she would text us when our table was ready. Ugh. Also the credit card machine was so slow at the bar, and I had to wait a while for our bill. The bartender was super nice and ended up coming over to our table with it about 20 minutes later. We started with the smoked mozz cheese with grilled escarole. The cheese was delish but the escarole was perhaps left on the grill a little too long. It was beyond charred and tasted like ashes, inedible. However, the pastas that we ordered were excellent. We got the carrot angolini(?) and the gnocchi. Both were really good! I would look up the details on the menu right now to post more info, their website is currently down. Looks like this place has some tech issues, but overall the food was good, minus the escarole.
(3)Ev A.
I crave Siena Tavern. My mouth waters when I think about their Coccoli and Gnocchi. Oh gosh, I am going to sound like such a fat kid in this review so just brace yourself. My first experience was at the "Pizza Bar" and my server, Ashley, just took me under her wings and guided me through what I like to call TRUFFLE HEAVEN. It went something like this... Cocktails: Order the No. 2 cocktail. Shhh, just sip and enjoy. Starters: Coccoli. Warm doughy balls. I do not like sharing them because they are warm and delicious and I get anxious thinking someone will eat mine. Pizza: Truffle Mushroom and Prosciutto Pear pizzas. If you can't finish them, take the leftovers home. I legit did this with my girlfriend last night. We went in right before the kitchen closed at 11pm and ordered the Truffle Mushroom pizza. We could not help ourselves. We split the pizza, four slices each. I tried being a good girl because we had ordered the Burrata as well and this was supposed to be a late night "snack". So, I ate two slices and took the other two home. I ate the two slices for breakfast this morning. Ok, huge lie. I ate one slice when I got home last night and saved the other slice for breakfast. Housemade Pasta: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU... lots of good emotions here. I love the gnocchi and the Short Rib Ravioli and Pappardelle are so fresh and delicious, too! I haven't tried any others, and trust me I have tried, but I crave the gnochhi. I walk by Siena Tavern on my way to work and then think about gnocchi for the rest of the day. Dessert: Just. Stop. It. If you think you don't have room for dessert, just skim through the Yelp pictures. Do you see that Bomboloni? Again, warm doughy balls of magical goodness. This review is getting to be quite long. I'm sorry, but I did warn you about the cravings I get for Siena Tavern. I also had to thank Ashley for being awesome because she not only loves the food just as much as I do, but she was/is knowledgeable on the menu and attentive. I love you, Siena Tavern. See you tonight?
(5)Chester C.
Top chef quality for sure. Don't miss the short rib ravioli and the pepperoni pizza, if you like some heat. Great service, excellent cocktails and cervesa list!
(5)Lauren K.
my chi-town family recently through me an engagement dinner here. what a lovely place. the food was incredible. the private room in the back was divine. our server wrote absolutely nothing down and remembered all 15 orders impeccably and was more than amazing. the highlights were the squid ink pasta, the carne pizza and the cocktails. the cocktail #2 with proseco was out of this world. whatever the tequila numbered cocktail is on their menu is also amaze. one star off for the dj (been there heard that) and the fact that I was hit with a pizza box on the way to the ladies room by a server moving about. food, service and decor wise, a great place. the californians were impressed!
(4)Steven P.
Reading the reviews and also the back sorry lends itself to a positive experience. The food was great and the drinks were equally excellent. Service at the bar was sub standard. It felt like I was doing them a favor by sitting at the bar. I had to ask for menus, drinks, and food options. No advice was given. The tarbender seemed more concerned about her lipgloss then my dining experience. Overall it was a good experience and could have been better.
(3)Harold J.
Dinned here twice on our trip to Chicago. Service was extremely attentive from the server to the bus boys and expediters. All of our courses exceeded our expectations in taste, presentation, and execution.
(5)Trixy D.
I found a list online of must try foods and this one said that "If fried dough is on the menu, it's really a no-brainer that you need to order it." We found the Coccoli ($14) on the menu as an appetizer, so we ordered it. It is fried balls of a dough that is more like an egg popover than a pizza dough but it is delicious, served with stracchino cheese (a flavorful creamy cheese) wrapped in prosciutto with truffle honey drizzled on it. Delicious! Would never have tried it had we not read the review. We also ordered the entrée of Short Rib Ravioli ($18), made with roasted porcini mushrooms. Fresh homemade pasta!!! For Dessert we shared the Boboloni ($9), which were puffy donuts, with four little squeeze bottles filled with (my favorite) the caramel, chocolate, raspberry chianti jelly, and a seasonal pumpkin cream. You could try a different flavor on every bite and each one was sensational. Their décor is upscale chic', great booths and comfortable leather chairs, exposed bulb lighting and mirrored walls. The music is loud enough to mask the talking and laughing but not loud enough that you can't hear your wait-person or each other. It is a very fun atmosphere! We have walked by many times in the evening and they have a very busy bar scene but we never ventured in, but now that we have, we will definitely be back. We were there during Sunday brunch, and they were busy but we were still able to get a table. Reservations are recommended. We definitely plan on ordering pizza the next time because every one that came out looked fantastic! ** Could not wait and went back for Pizza yesterday. Wonderful burnt pepperoni pizza when hot, but hands down the worst leftover pizza ever. Be sure to finish it there when its tasty hot! :-)
(4)Jiwon M.
Loved this atmosphere fun him but not bougie. Service get a little tight for my comfort when they get crowded but always glad to see my order every time.
(4)Maryanne D.
We had a fantastic experience! I am here from Vegas visiting a friend, and we both watch Top Chef and it was her birthday so we decided to celebrate there. Our server Marissa really helped the experience because she had excellent hospitality! Food was wonderful. I am a Foodie and have been to a few ex-Top Chef contestants restaurants and they didn't do as well as this. Fabio's gnocchi was fantastic and exploded in my mouth! I'll be back.
(4)Mike G.
Stopped in for lunch on a busy Saturday. First impressions, very warm and friendly. The place was buzzing. We were seated immediately. Service was exceptional. Food was amazing! Between the massive meatball, eggplant bruschetta and ravioli the food did not disappoint. All topped off with some delicious gelato and cappuccino. Great place, great service! We will absolutely be back.
(5)steve d.
Wow. Squid ink linguine with lobster, truffle oil mushroom pizza, oysters and a host and server staff that are glad to see you make this place one of my top 3 in Chicago. If you are wavering between two, try Siena first, you wont be disappointed.
(5)Amanda B.
Went in for a celebratory lunch on Friday after my husband matched for his medical residency program in Chicago. Whooo hooo for staying in Chicago for at least the next 4 years and to eating more yummy Chicago food, just like the food at Siena Tavern! There were 8 of us for lunch, with a good ranges of tastes and preferences. We ordered many appetizers just to get a range, like the coccoli, hamachi, ahi tuna, Kobe meatball, smoke mozzarella, and the buratta. The hamachi wasn't the table's favorite though we didn't have a lot of seafood fans anyway, so take it with a grain of salt. However, every other dish was demolished by our table and that was with 2 order of coccoli! What a fun range of flavors and tastes! The must haves to order again though: coccoli, Kobe meatball and the buratta! They were just fantastic. There were also many different entree orders. My squid ink linguine was fantastic with the lobster meat cooked to perfection! Another one of our group ordered the short rib ravioli and loved it. There was a carne pizza order, a brick chicken, a burger, and a lasagna order as well. All seemed quite happy with their selections, though one commented that he wished there had been a bit more sauce in the lasagna as it seemed pretty dry. Then, we decadently ordered the tiramisu, bomboloni, and cannolis for dessert. Yum! I preferred the tiramisu (Fabio's mom's recipe!) but the others were just as delicious and though we couldn't finish the desserts because we had already gorged ourselves on appetizers and entrees, many members of our table would have loved too! We'll definitely be back, though next time I might just come with my husband for a little date night.
(4)Donna P.
The most gawd-awful lasagna I've practically ever had in my whole life a little round bowl befitting onion soup tonight. Service was fine, conscientious and cordial, hence the stars. Location is great. Maybe go there for the drinks alone? But I was there tonight for the carbs. And there wasn't a piece of bread, nor a pat of butter anywhere to be seen to redeem that little awful bowl of $18 lasagne. Heck, I could have gotten onion soup elsewhere and made my own pasta. Anyhow, kudos to the smiling staff who made it happen and to the courteous customers like me in this area who pretended it wasn't happening. Won't be back there anytime soon. Too many better places in this town.
(2)Leo L.
Italian is tough here in the city. But the quality of dishes being pushed out on Saturday night (1st real business night) were impressive. Service was good and will only become better. (Can't blame a few hiccups on an entire new staff). Hands down MUCH better than RPM. Here is what we had: Ahi tuna - delicious, the peppercorn integrated in the kale on top was a great combo Grilled octopus - amazing, the duck fat potatoes provided a crunch and the celery gave it this sweet balance. It was like this grilled octopus with giardnara. Just right. Gnocchi - seemed to be the popular dish. Very very good Kobe meatball- an actual meatball with PERFECT seasoning and sauce. Should be shared because its a large serving. Apple fig tart dessert- wow. Really good and Delish all the way through. Hazelnut gelato - you will leave still thinking about. Addictive. No tiramisu that night. They seemed to have run out. Overall .. I only give it 4 stars because I feel the cocktail menu isn't up to par with what I feel it could be. Enjoy!
(4)Jenny K.
I hosted my sister's bachelorette dinner here in the private dining space. The ambiance is beautiful and the privacy was perfect. Our server, Tanner, was friendly, fun, and accommodating. He even made sure that guest with special diets or food preferences were served well. The food was fantastic!
(5)Jeff S.
I went for lunch with my team yesterday, and I'd have to say that our overall experience was fantastic. We shared the squid ink linguine, gnocchi, burrata, and prosciutto and pear pizza, and we enjoyed everything, particularly the first three items. The pizza was good, but I wouldn't consider Siena to be a "pizza" destination. The burrata was so incredibly smooth, albeit a bit on the slightly-too-sweet side, but definitely a strong start to the meal. My favorite was the squid ink linguine with grilled lobster. Flavorful, creamy, delicately cooked lobster. The gnocchi was melt-in-your-mouth soft, and the sauce didn't have an over-abundance of truffle oil infused cream. I didn't find the prosciutto and pear pizza to be fantastic, nor was it in any way offensive. I'll reserve further judgment until I'm able to try more of the pizzas at a later date. Service was a bit slow, but they ended up making up for it by comp'ing us the pizza. This was unexpected, but highly appreciated. This level of service bumped the review from a 4* to a 5*. The place is definitely a scene, but that's to be expected from a Top Chef restaurant in River North, I suppose. I'll definitely be back, if I can find room...
(5)Sara S.
Since my mom was in town visiting for the weekend, I figured Siena Tavern would be the perfect place to take her. Our server, Tariq, was very attentive (even gave us the chance to meet Fabio!). Our meal was delicious from start to finish; we had the Farro Salad, Gnocchi, Proscuitto Pear Pizza, Chocolate Caramel Cake, Cocktail #2 and #4. Everything was incredible and unique in it's own way. I definitely recommend this restaurant and plan on coming back in the near future. Thanks Tariq for the awesome suggestions!
(5)Meredith K.
I loved everything about this place except for maybe how crowded it is at the bar area, and the noise level. Its pretty loud in there! But the staff couldn't be more friendly and helpful which is amazing given the huge amounts of people that are in there. The atmosphere is pretty cool. It doesn't feel all nightclubby like it does in RPM. Everything is reasonably priced. I was here with a big group and we had bottles of wine so we really racked up the bill. But its a great way to have a little bit of everything. We started w/ the meatball and octopus. The sauce the meatball was in was fantastic. The octopus was cooked perfectly. Maybe the only gripe is that there were 7 of us and they set down a plate of 6 slices of bread. Then they ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza. I didn't have any but they said the crust was great. We also had a side of cauliflower which could be a main dish! It had a lot going on in a good way. Perfectly seasoned. I shared the risotto which had corn and fava beans and the spaghetti with crab. OMG the crab! They do not skimp on the meat. That was my favorite although the risotto was springy, light and perfectly cooked. My friend next to me had the duck which I don't eat but I tried a noodle b/c everyone was raving about the sauce. And yes that was the best sauce of the night. It was the right amount of anise. The friend across from me got the brick chicken which we all poo-pooed at first but that was the star of the show. Crispy, lemon, juicy chicken with potatoes. Yum!! For dessert you cannot pass up the doughnuts. I want to steal that little bottle of caramel sauce but instead I just ate it all right there! The doughnut is light and sweet and outstanding. You really only need one. We also tried the chocolate butter cake which was good but paled in comparison to the doughnuts. And the cannoli which was very good too! I will definitely be back many many more times.
(5)Cara B.
I came Saturday night (the first night it was open to the public) and it was EXCELLENT! We had a group of 8 so we started out with 2 servers and both were extremely attentive and knowledgeable. Between our whole table, we got salads, apps, pizza, and pastas. Their kale caesar salad is one of my faves. I also really enjoyed the kobe meatball and i dont normally even eat red meat, so that says something! We came for a birthday celebration, and Fabio even stopped by to take his picture with the birthday girl, not to mention, they brought out a free donut dessert for the table to split! They have a few small kinks to work out, but for opening night of a restaurant that size, and with that large of a crowd, id say it was AWESOME!
(5)Pooja K.
The number 4 drink is divine. Lavender and violet! Butternut squash totellacci is incredible. Also really loved the pepperoni pizza and the lamb chops as well as the kale salad. My all time favorite restaurant
(5)Rich M.
Opening night and Chef Fabio was on hand! Very attentive staff taking individual roles very seriously. Bar drinks: Quite excellent. Wine: Very good bottle at our moderate price point. Food: Highlights were crudo (we ordered hamachi) and pizza (Burnt Pepperoni... Y.U.M.) Overall: Great atmosphere and stands up to other high end casual Italian.
(5)Steve D.
Fun atmosphere Great food
(4)April W.
My husband and I had such a great meal here last night! We did not have a reservation but were able to find seating in the bar area very quickly. We ordered 2 appetizers and a salad and were stuffed! The Coccoli was unique and delicious. I ordered the meatball because of its enormity and i saw it being dropped off to another table and I had to try it. I was not disappointed...probably my favorite food we ate that night. We had toasted bread that we were soaking up the sauce with, Yumm! We tried the watermelon salad which was nice, my husband liked it better than I did but there wasn't really anything to complain about! The service was great, it is a lively night spot! Side note- we sat in the booths behind the bar and another group joined us. We met some awesome people and had a fun night! They are all from Chicago and said the pizza is great there. I'll have to try it next time! So far my favorite meal in Chicago!
(5)Laura K.
Oh my coccoli. I recently read an article on Siena Tavern that sniffed, "Don't expect Chef Fabio to be there." Fine, he wasn't, but his amazing food was. Trust me, you want to order the coccoli an appetizer. It's crisp dough balls, prosciutto, truffle honey and cheese. I have to thank my fiance for being a vegetarian, which meant I got all of the prosciutto. The whole concoction melts in your mouth and I'm still dreaming about it a week later. We also had the cinque formaggi pizza, which was quite tasty. I loved the little studs of gorgonzola cheese that we happened upon while eating. Oh, and they have Gumballhead on tap. Cheers!
(5)Susan L.
What a mid-week treat! Stopped by after work and was seated at a booth facing the wood fire stove. Perfect for people watching! My lovely dining companion and I split everything: octopus (very tender) burrata (need I say more? THEY HAVE A MOZZARELLA BAR holy moly) squid ink lobster dish (decadent) Dessert: bomboloni (essentially build your own paczki) We enjoyed fun cocktails and very attentive service. I can't wait to go back for a special occasion (or another mid-week pick me up!) And yes, Fabio was there!
(5)Simon P.
I've had dinner here around the time they opened and it was incredible. The meatball appetizer was legitimate, then the black ink linguine in lobster sauce was arguably the best pasta I've had in this city. I never order desert but the waitress convinced me to try the little donuts....let me just say it was WELL worth saving room for on future visits. This morning I had the brunch and the steak and eggs were just like everything else I've had here...incredible. Good price and a very good sized portion. You can't go wrong with this place.
(5)Lindsay Y.
Oh Siena Tavern, you are fabulous and what I've been looking for. When I walked in I immediately noticed the plush decor and the beautiful bar area. We decided to order the brussel sprout salad, the grilled octopus for our starters. The octopus was super tender and delicious and the salad was crisp and refreshing. For our entrees we had the mushroom pizza and squid ink pasta. Both dishes were delicious! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Jessica P.
Where to start.. this place was FABULOUS! Everything I had was amazing (except the pizza, it wasn't special, I would skip it next time). We were lucky enough to swipe a table next to the bar and had a back up reservation somewhere else in case we couldn't eat here, but it was my birthday so I had my heart set on it. As soon as we were seated, our service was outstanding. The gnocchi was probably my favorite, but we probably tried 5-6 different things instead of getting an entree. The drinks were pretty good as well, not the best, but I was satisfied. What made it all worth it was the birthday cake gelato at the end of the night, and OMG it was soo good. I will DEFINITELY be back here, one of the best restaurants I've been to in Chicago.
(5)David O.
Pretty Dang Good!!! Went there because of recommendations from friends and was not disappointed. Excellent service, real Italian.
(5)Sarah B.
Try the gnocchi! I am a bit of a picky eater, but was intrigued to try this place since I always see it busy. The menu has some classic pieces with a bit of a twist. To play it safe I stuck with the gnocchi and it was the best I have ever had! I've been looking forward to going back ever since.
(5)Margie L.
It was just that, "okay." The #1 and #2 cocktails were tiny and nothing special. We were served tempura crab that had cartilage in it which I'm pretty sure isn't supposed to happen. Crab sans cartilage was okay, nothing special. I liked the gnocchi a lot, but as others have stated, portion was small. Doesn't bother me so much since I couldn't have eaten any more than was plated, but pretty overpriced for the size. Service was excellent, waitress was friendly, but really didn't have to do much since there are so many food runners. Overall, not a bad experience, but not thinking we'll return.
(3)Angela T.
The former manager, Heather, sent us an email apology and mailed a gift card with the request we give Siena Tavern a second chance. This was several months ago, so I wasn't terribly surprised to find she had since left. Turnover is high in the industry. We stopped in for an early dinner. Despite an empty dining room, we were again shoved toward the bar. We didn't make reservations, so didn't protest. Still aggravating to see all the vacant tables when relegated to a high top. I will never enjoy eating at high tops. I am short and my legs always dangle uncomfortably. The service this time, aside from the bitchy host, was better. No spilled water, prompt delivery of drinks and food. Only one hiccup when our food arrived and the aerver had run off so quickly we couldn't stop him to point out we had no silverware. Cue awkward five minute head turning, eye contact attempts and random bus boy flag down. The ossobucco was delicious and husband's seafood spaghetti dish was tasty. The bathrooms were flooded and inoperable for the entirety of our 90 minute visit. Finally, a manager began waving patrons through to the employee restroom. Not wanting to journey through the back of the restaurant, we decided to hold it til we got to the next stop for drinks after dinner. Overall? Still underwhelming. Not returning. Not recommending.
(1)Michelle H.
Everything was good. Service was great. It felt like a long-established urban neighborhood restaurant. We dined with a 7 person work party and everyone enjoyed the beautiful decor as well as the many, many dishes we shared.
(4)Jeremy L.
My, what a great place! Went here for a friend's birthday on a Friday evening. As expected, it was pretty packed but luckily our friend had made reservations for 10 several days before so being seated was no problem for us. We started off with appetizers: Coccoli, grilled octopus and two servings of the Kobe meatballs. My favorite was definitely the Coccoli --the stracchino cheese (melt in your mouth) sandwiched between the doughy ball with the prosciutto on top was like a bite of heaven...no lie. SO GOOD. Cocktail: I ordered the #5 which was Maker's Mark, allspice dram, lemon, sparkling apple cider and a few other juices that I cannot remember. The drink was delicious and STIFF, which is always good. Entree: Many of the dishes can be shared between at least two people. My group was full of foodies so we each ordered our own and shared with the table --Italian style! I ordered the Gnocchi and it was very good! The bits of bacon set it off. Amongst the other dishes, my faves were the parmesan fries with Aioli sauce (Aioli makes everything better) and the short rib ravioli was a hit as well! I hear the spaghetti (with jumbo lump crab) is also worth a try..I was too full by the time that dish made it's way to my end of the table. Overall, very good experience. The waitress was not very attentive and seemed to be all over the place and that is why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5. Siena is a bit more pricey than my usual Friday dining, but it was a friend's birthday. I would definitely go again, just for the Coccoli alone.. Yes, it was that good.
(4)Kristin I.
I've been a couple times - lunch and dinner. The food is amazing! Authentic, fresh and delicious - tastes like dishes are straight from Italy. Perfect for business or social. Also love the decor; can get a little loud, but very fun!
(5)Mel A.
Totally giving 5 Stars for fabulous food selections from our server (and I stupidly do not remember her name... I'll just have to go again;) We asked her to choose and this is what we thoroughly enjoyed...... Grilled Octopus (so amazing... I want some as I write this at almost 2am) Ahi Tuna-crudo (yummy salsa verde & crushed peppercorns) Bufala Mozzarella (love the tomato jam) Prosciutto Pear-pizza (tons of fresh arugula on top) Scallops-crudo... as in raw and so damn tasty (I do not see this on the menu but they had a spicy flavor along the outside of them) Lastly... she ordered us dessert. It was a Tart.... which was way too heavy, thick and tart like :( So... don't get the tart... try something light and sexy. The name Tart is very deceiving here .. haha. Overall great experience and I can not wait to go back!!!!
(5)Elizabeth A.
There isn't anything on the vegetarian friendly side of the menu that I've had here that I haven't liked. The flavors are really rich (read: super delicious but you wouldn't want to inquire about the calorie content) but not overpowering. Farro pasta is superb.
(4)Bob P.
Had the lobster roll, and it was awesome. Not like most lobster rolls where the meat is terrible quality and just disguised by disgusting amounts of mayo. You could tell it was very fresh, and extremely tender. Pizzas looked great (and huge!) as well, although I have yet to try one. Highly recommended
(5)Amanda M.
I made a reservation for 2 for my birthday a few months in advance. I was a little nervous with all the mixed reviews, but off we went. We were seated promptly at our reservation time, but at a 4 top that only had 3 chairs. It was a bit odd, as I sat on one side, facing my husband and an empty chair. Oh well. The decor was nice and it was a good crowd for a rainy Wednesday night. I ordered a glass of Prosecco, which was brought our promptly. Our server made several suggestions regarding the menu. We ended up not following any of them. We ordered the daily focaccia (mushroom), braised short rib ravioli and the gnocchi. The focaccia was nothing special. It came with olive oil and parm cheese for dipping. I am glad that we ordered it though, because our pastas took FOREVER to come out. Both the ravioli and gnocchi were delicious. Portions were small, as expected, but we knew we wanted to order dessert, so that was fine. I recommend both dishes. As for service, after we placed our order, we didn't see our server again until we were finished. It would have been nice for him to see if I wanted another drink, or to update us on how long our food was taking. We didn't have too much of an issue with the water refiller, as it was just two of us, so no reaching over to refill, but I did see it being an issue with a larger group seated near us. Dessert was the donuts that come with squeeze containers of sauce to inject. It was fun, but I ended up covered in sugar. They also gave me birthday cake gelato, which was yummy as well. In the end, we were there for over 2 hours, which seemed excessive for bread, pasta and donuts. Perhaps thats why a reservation is so hard to get?
(3)Janis And Jeff J.
We found Siena Tavern on Yelp when we were visiting Chicago last weekend, and headed over for a late lunch since it was near our hotel. The place was packed after 1 pm on a Saturday afternoon and we didn't have a reservation and the bar was full. We saw the pizza bar was empty, and after a delay to see if he could find a waiter, the host agreed that we could be served there. Based on the reviews we were planning to try the risotto, but having a front row view of the pizza chef in front of the oven, we had to order them. Mr. Jones had the Carne packed with Italian sausage and meats, which he enjoyed with a Peroni draft. I hit the jackpot with the Truffle Mushroom pizza, completed with a drizzle of truffle oil by the server. It was one of the best pizzas we've ever had, including a summer in Italy. See photos here: travelingwiththejones.co… And, yes, we've already planned another quick weekend trip to Chicago during which we will return to Siena Tavern with a reservation.
(5)Conor C.
This place is very loud but the food is incredible. Best pizza I had in awhile. Plus each pasta is hand made. If you want to go to an authentic Italian cuisine that is modernized and has great service as well then go here.
(5)Shari G.
I have dined here several times and the food is always good. Salads are fantastic and though I try to recreate them at home, I never succeed. We went for brunch on Mother's Day and were able to sit outside. Despite the child next to us, watching a movie at full volume on an ipad, it was fantastic. The best part was our server. Several visits to Siena Tavern have been less than stellar because of lackluster or rude servers. This time our server made our day! He was fantastic, encouraged sharing, was enthusiastic and polite. Could not have had a better celebration. Egg dishes were creative and the portion sizes were perfect. He has set the bar for our next visit
(5)Magen M.
Had Sunday Lunch and it was amazing. Lobster club was delicious, fries were delightful, ketchup and garlic aioli were perfect, and the salted caramel gelato was divine. enough adjectives? I'll definitely be back. Oh, P.S. Great service too!
(4)Elena M.
I made a reservation for my boyfriend's birthday over a month ago. We've heard about the place and always wanted to try it, so I thought it would be a perfect spot to celebrate the occasion. When I made the reservation **I specified that it was for his birthday, a special occasion,** so if anything could be done to enhance his experience, it would be greatly appreciated. I wasn't expecting the red carpet treatment, maybe just a dessert with a candle in it (obviously I would pay, DUH), a card or a signed menu from the executive chef, or a simple acknowledgement of his birthday from the server (which I have come to expect based on all experiences I have had at other high-end restaurants). None of that happened. Further more, I had a friend of mine, an avid gourmand who also works in the restaurant industry, confirm my reservation and reiterate the importance of the evening. She spoke with Steve whom she said was very nice and reassured her that everything would be taken care of. So I was obviously under the impression that we would have a nice evening and that there was going to be some sort of recognition that this was a special occasion; hence, the month plus advance planning in order to make sure this request could be accommodated. Things started off badly, they sat us at a high top next to the bar, and I felt like I was at a first-come, first-serve sports bar seating area. Not only was it annoying to have people bump into my chair the entire night, but it was annoying to see three unutilized booths in the restaurant that we easily could have been seated at. Food: The food was extremely underwhelming. The only thing that we enjoyed was the oysters. I shouldn't fail to mention that the food is obnoxiously over-priced. I don't mind paying high prices for dinner, but the food better be worth my while- it certainly was not. We ordered: Burrata Mozzarella: There was so much salt that I literally had to spit it out. It was absolutely disgusting. It's funny that this seems to be a common theme in most of these reviews. TAKE A HINT. Even my boyfriend, who appreciates salt more than I do had trouble eating it; however, finished it because he was so hungry due to our late reservation. Parmesan Sage Fries: They were just OK. It's hard to like anything else after you have tried the fries with aioli at Au Cheval; oh my goodness I'm salivating just thinking about it! Anything in comparison is just, meh. The aioli at this restaurant tasted like ranch dressing. They also brought out the fries immediately after the Burrata as an appetizer when we specifically asked for them to be brought as a side with our meal. Mistiming and misplacement-ordering seems to be another theme in these reviews. TAKE ANOTHER HINT. In all fairness, the server noticed this after-the-fact and apologized for the mistake. Gemmeli (I'm not sure what it's called, but, it's a fusili pasta dish with duck and some pitiful sauce). The pasta was cooked well, but the duck was so gummy. And they must have run out of salt after making the Burrata because the sauce was incredibly bland. I absolutely love pasta, but this was terribly disappointing!!! Mediterranean Seafood Brodetto: My boyfriend had this dish; it satisfied him, but it wasn't anything he was raving about. His quote, "I've had better." We heard great things about the donuts, but we opted to skip dessert because we were so frustrated we just wanted to LEAVE. Service: Based on what I had mentioned earlier in this review I'm not happy with managing staff, but I can't knock the server because she did her job. She was the only positive aspect of the entire experience. She was very attentive, offered suggestions/recommendations, and she spoke loud enough for us to hear her. Unfortunately it's not enough to alter my perception of this "restaurant". Ambiance: I'm quite confused, am I eating at a restaurant? Or a bar? I felt like I was at a high end Moe's. Don't get me wrong, big screen TVs, bars, and high tops are great when I am trying to watch a game Sunday afternoon, have a casual dinner, etc... but when choosing a supposedly high quality restaurant to spend a special occasion at, it was obnoxiously distracting. I was looking for a nice, special evening with mind-blowing food. If they wanted to offer both atmospheres then it should have been clearly separated, for example how Tavernita has Barcito. So if you made it through my review, congrats! You can tell that I'm obviously pissed. If you are looking for good food don't bother with this place, especially for a nice occasion. It's overrated and underwhelming; you can get better Italian food at any number of other places in the city. Fabio, why slap your name on this piece of garbage? Especially considering how excited we were to try this restaurant and after all the hype, it's unfortunate that this place is memorable for all the wrong reasons.
(1)DONNA M.
My hubby and I loved everything!! Gnochi, pizza, the cauliflower dish, the Tuscan Kale Caesar! Bellisamo!!! :) Great for client lunches.
(5)jame s.
Roasted cauliflower side was the best part of my meal. I ordered the farro pasta, but the server got confused and the farro salad showed up with the other meals. The pasta arrived in short order, but was swimming in olive oil. I will try this restaurant again, but it might be a while.
(3)Blair A.
So disappointed for Chef Fabio Viviani. Whoever is managing this restaurant must be a mess, because outside of the food and some of the wait staff... the rest of the staff is TERRIBLE. At this price point, and with Vivani's name I would have expected SOOOO much more. It feels like walking into the next cookie cutter 1 year river north restaurant when you walk in. This place will be re-branded or gone shortly, there is not reason to come back. The host had a horrible attitude and was treating patrons more like a doorman in the meat packing district than someone providing service. The wood fired pizzas were pretty good, but again for the price, meh.... If you go, go because it's the new place and you want to tell your friends you went. Do not go for the food, service, atmosphere, or crowd if you're under mid-40's.
(2)Paola C.
Pizza was horrible: completely burnt, a huge garlic in the middle (never seen anything like that back home, quite frankly), clams and taleggio together is a blasphemy (you will NEVER find fish and cheese together in Italy. NEVER.) and I also found a piece of shell in it, I almost broke my teeth. Wine arrived after pizza. Antipasti were ok, but the waiter brought the wrong cheese. Geeez what a mess. Not the Italian experience, that's for sure. I am 100% Italian and what I can say is: NEVER AGAIN.
(1)Dayle T.
I am so shocked by the number of 4-5 star reviews that I feel COMPELLED to tell the Yelp world about my underwhelming experience at this restaurant. I normally don't write reviews, but their rating is so incredibly misleading that I don't want people to waste their time (and money) like I did a couple of nights ago. Ambience- Confusing, to say the least. What are they trying to do here? Is this a high quality Italian restaurant... or a Moe's Cantina style bar? Why was I seated at high-top table after making a reservation months in advance? Why was there top-40 music blaring over the speakers? I could barely hold a conversation with my girlfriend. They market this place as if it was a high quality Italian eatery, yet you step into what is essentially a bar scene. I would have been fine if that's what I was expecting, but don't mislead your patrons. This is a BAR scene... Not an "Italian restaurant" by ANY MEANS. Same owners as Bull & Bear and Public House- it all makes perfect sense to me now...... Food- Not very good, at all.... I'm a human dumpster and pretty much love everything I eat. I wanted to like this place SO BADLY since I live literally half a block away. Disappointing is probably the word to most accurately describe it. Started off with oysters which were actually pretty good (figures because it takes no prep- they just crack 'em open)... But it all went down-hill from there. Ordered a plate from the "mozzarella bar" section of the menu. Again, I wanted to like it so much. It LOOKED(!) really good on the plate and I was so excited to put a bite into my fat mouth... But man was I disappointed . Salty as all hell, bread was burned, and this jam that went a long with it was just so Bland. I honestly could have cried- how are you an "Italian" restaurant and mess up such a basic plate. There was a drizzle of balsamic vinegar which was good, but not enough to recover the salty, burned and bland mess they served us. The girlfriend ordered this duck pasta. Again, LOOKED AWESOME. I put a bite in my mouth and thought my taste buds had disappeared. This was their highly touted HOMEMADE pasta? Seriously? The waitress even commented "oh man, that's a great dish" when she put the order in. Was this woman delusional? I'm not sure... I ordered this seafood Brodetto dish- A seafood mixture in a spicy tomato broth. It was actually halfway decent (THANK GOD). I can't lie about that. But again, I'm a human garbage can and enjoy pretty much everything. I have ordered a similar dish at several other restaurants in the city and this was probably the worst of them all. Whatever, I can deal with it. Lastly we had a order of sage fries with some sort of garlic aioli. It was OK, not the best by any means. But lets be Honest... if you can't get French fries with aioli down, may God Bless your soul Service- We had a great waitress! She was attentive, Loud (Cause this place is outrageously LOUD), and made some honest recommendations (although nothing ending up being great LOL). Regardless, she was nice and a did a good job. Can't knock her. She will have no problem finding a new gig once this place closes down before the end of the year (ZING!). In closing- I really wanted to like this place since I live a block away. But it just... sucked. Weird/confusing ambiance and pretty crappy food. Really wish I was laying down a 5 star review, but I just can't and I want the world to know there are much much(!) better [real] Italian restaurants in Chicago. Don't waste your time at this place.
(1)Jordan C.
Positives - decor is cool and the rounded booth / high table we were seated at was very comfortable. The waitress was very friendly even though her kitchen and manager failed her considerably. What drove me to write the review - We ordered the focaccia special and the kitchen messed up the order 4 TIMES. A new Chicago Dining Record!!!! Went with my wife for a nice dinner on a Sunday night. Not too busy, but good energy in the room. The very kind waitress suggested we try to the Carrot Tortellacci and the Crab Spaghetti and the Daily Focaccia and Coccoli. (we both love bread!) We also had a good salad with carrots and pine nuts.. nice acid and flavor The Carrot Totellacci was outstanding... the pasta was delicious... but the Crab Spaghetti tasted like overcooked Ramen noodles... very eggy and soggy. Completely messed up cooking the pasta.. come on folks. The Coccoli was a great concept... popover dough with cheese, proscuitto and honey... but the popover dough had no taste at all... like a bad version of the puffs they give you at Fogo De Chao. Now for the ridiculousness. We ordered the highly touted Daily Focaccia - which was supposed to be covered with Cheese and Sopressata - a delicious Italian meat that looks like pepperoni. Note that the waitress rarely brings the food to the table herself.. it is always done by a food runner. Try #1 - The focaccia has no toppings and is cold to touch. It is also a bit dry and stale when we taste it. Waitress apologizes and says the "kitchen mixed up the order" Try #2 - The focaccia has 1 piece of sopressata (covering about 5% of the top) and it is still cold and rather stale. Waitress comes by and is "shocked" to see that it is still wrong.. we even have her touch the bread to verify that it is indeed cold. She begs us to try the order once more. Try #3 - The focaccia has 3 or 4 pieces of sopressata but is still shockingly barely warm. The tables next to us are really laughing now. The waitress comes by and is just exasperated. She says that her manager will personally handle it and asks us to wait another 10 minutes for one last try. Try #4 - The manager personally brings over the focaccia. 1 piece of sopressata and when we touch it, the bread is clearly cold. We ask him how this could happen for our 4th order and he just says the kitchen is having a bad day. He leaves somewhat abruptly. The waitress comes by...we and the table next to us is laughing at how ridiculous this all is and we just want to get out of there because it is now somewhat uncomfortable because she is so embarrassed and annoyed at her kitchen. We tell her that her manager was kind of a dick. The manager - I think it was Jason comes back by a few minutes later. He offers us cocktails.. which does not interest my pregnant wife. He then tries to insist that we come again to have a better experience. We explain that we just want to go and that there are far too many other places to go in Chicago to ever return to a restaurant who messes up a relatively simple order 4 times. We also note that he did not even care enough to make sure it was done right the 4th time. He continues to persist and we start feeling somewhat uncomfortable because he does not leave the table even as we are trying to be polite and just get our check and leave the place. Even as we say no to returning, he gives us his card and then starts asking questions about the baby we are having... which was a bit awkward given that we are just trying to leave. Too little too late. He was a dick the first time and didn't do his job to make sure that the 4th rendition of the focaccia was done correctly. The silver lining was that after this somewhat awkward and unpleasant conversation with the manager, our waitress - who was absolutely nice as can be comes by to give us our check and says that the entire meal was taken care of. We then gave her a very large cash tip and said that we felt sorry for the fact she had to work with such a mediocre kitchen and manager. So to sum it up. Don't go to Sienna for any important occasions. Their kitchen is uneven and the managers are not very polished. The restaurant interior is appealing and some of the food is very good. This would have been an absolute 1 star review if not for the all star waitress, the 1 good pasta dish, and the full comp. But messing up the same order 4 TIMES???? I have never had that happen in 10+ years of dining in Chicago. There are at least 30 excellent restaurants within 5 blocks of Siena Tavern.. go to one of those instead if you are eating and not just having cocktails.
(2)Kevin D.
The food is good, however I had much higher expectations, due to the fact that the chef is a "Top Chef" and the menu looked incredible, and was ultimately let down. From what I tried I would recommend the seared scallops or any of the homemade pastas, They were my favourite. The service was mediocre at best, but again, I expected much better for the type of restaurant. The atmosphere was very loud, but it's a very nice interior. Overall it was a Solid restaurant, nothing incredible, nothing terrible.
(3)ryan f.
Loved this place...I think the food is better than RPM's, but RPM has a better atmosphere. We tried a bit of almost everything on the menu. My favorites were: Antipasti - Coccoli (the truffle honey was amazing) Entree - Squid Ink Linguini (a bit of a kick to it, very tasty and great with the lobster) Desert - Tiramisu and Pistachio Gelato
(5)Katie M.
Make reservations! Do not walk in expecting to get a table in a hour. Opened by Top Chef-winner Fabio! Drink - Between my friends and I we tried almost every cocktail on the menu and they were all, very, very good and I am a girl who usually sticks to various beers or a vodka based drink because I do not care for the taste of other liquors. My favorite was #1. My friend's favorite was #2 and our guy friend's fav was #9. Eat - From the Pizza Bar (see menu) I tried the Truffle Mushroom pizza: everything about it was perfect. Outstanding From the Mozzarella Bar I tried Bellweather Farm Ricotta Cheese, by the way you are not just getting cheese. This would make appetizer. Excellent I will return for the pasta when I do not plan on a night out in the city! I can hardly wait. Oh ya, make sure you dress your best;)
(5)Maria D.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!! This was my second place back and it was just as good as the first time! Both times the service was great! I came here with a group of friends and had Tanner as my waiter who was just amazing. He gave great recommendations and it was a great experience. The second time I ventured back in I sat at the pizza bar! Chris was our bartender and he was so knowledgeable and friendly. We took his advice and went with the truffle pizza and farro salad. they were both delicious. All and All, Great service, Great Food and we even got lucky enough to get a picture with Fabio! I would definitely send all my friends here! I have also been to this restaurants group other establishments and love their style. Public House is one of my favorite bars and I applaud them on opening another successful place!
(5)Madison A.
As an 18 year old I love to try new restaurants, and the other night I discovered this amazing spot. The staff couldn't have been better, very accommodating, and the food. The food was worth every penny. I will be recommending this place nonstop. LOVED IT.
(5)betty b.
Cool and beautiful restaurant... everything is delicious but we've come back over & over for the coccoli & the Kobe meatball appetizers... and the bombolini dessert :)
(5)Evanna S.
Great resteraunt but service destroyed the experience. Waitress Lauren gave poor service. Annoying interruptions at the table that weren't efficient. For a example, she would ask one person if they wanted a drink and then walk away quickly. She would bring the drink back and then others would need a drink. Caused multiple interruptions and then when food was brought out by runners, she was no where to be found. When it started to rain, she said maybe she could find umbrellas bit we would need to go inside and depending on the wait, was not sure we could be seated right away. Really? We already had our apps and was waiting on our dinner. What were they going to do with our food. All of us at the table are in the resetarunt business so we looked at her like really? And it wasn't until then that she offered to maybe go in and see what the situAtion was. She ruined the evening. 5 people, we spend over 350 bucks and we might as well thrown it out the window. The experience got worse but you get the picture!
(2)J. C.
We came because we like Fabio, and wanted to try his food. I was kind of hoping he'd wander by the table at some point, but no such luck. I'm sure he's not in town very often. Sigh. Anyway, our date night dinner here was perfect! We had excellent food with great service. We loved the meat/cheese options and the plethora of Italian wines on the wine list (just wish they offered more of them by the glass!). Our entrees were both perfect (butternut squash tortellacci and orecchiette with prosciutto sausage). The portion sizes were perfect. One note on the ambiance - we had an early dinner and it seemed a bit sterile and modern at first (but still pleasant), but once it got darker and they dimmed the lights it improved and felt more cozy. If you're going for romantic, definitely try to snag a later reservation. If I HAD to come up with a negative, it would be that the texture of the gelato wasn't quite perfect. It was a lot "harder" or perhaps more frozen than the gelato we've enjoyed in Italy. Still delicious. We will definitely return!
(5)Judy W.
Honestly great food, considering I was skeptical of the celebrity chefness. I had brunch there and attended a live demonstration with Fabio--it was all pretty good. I posted a longer review and pictures here: thehungrylearner.com/fab…
(5)Karen W.
This is my third time at ST. The first two visits were for dinner. My husband and I sat at the bar and had great meals on both occasions. Waitstaff was very attentive and personable and made for enjoyable evenings. Today I went for a work lunch(just 2 people) and most folks expect to be there an hour to hour and 15 minutes. The waitstaff was very attentive and personable and came to our table often to apologize for the slow service. We had a 1230 reservation and didn't get our entree till almost 130 and had to throw it down in order to get back to work after a 90 minute lunch. Brought a guest from out of town and was embarrassed and very disappointed. No longer my go to spot for a work lunch.
(3)Nicole S.
Seriously, getting a beverage at the bar here (even with a bar stool under my tush) was not easy. I had to beg for a wine menu and then when I got my tasty adult beverage it tasted like a bottle that had been left open for a while. Less than impressed. My friend had a beer and maybe that was the better route to go. Either way, the bartender never asked us if we wanted food or additional beverages so we closed out and left. Obviously they weren't that interested in our patronage. Vibe was loud (expected that) and not too warm and fuzzy. But they have beer and wine and a bartender or two who will eventually pour you something. Bare bones; no thrill here.
(2)Sally L.
The food and drinks are amazing! I would give this place 5 stars but it is very crowded and hard to get a reservation. My friend and I stalked some seats at the bar and eventually got to sit down. The wait was worth it. I highly recommend getting the fried dough appetizer with cheese and prosciutto and the gnocchi. Our cocktails and wine were delicious. I will definitely be coming back here but will book my reservation well in advance!
(4)Erik A.
The gnocchi was unbelievable, to die for! Also tried the carbonara, very good. The tiramisu was amazing too. Overall, great food, great ambiance, highly recommend.
(5)Corey T.
The osso bucco was probably the best I have ever had. The beat part of the meal, though? Becca, our server. Not only was she friendly, fun, and accommodating, but she knew her stuff! Very knowledgable with great recommendations. And if it's your birthday, get ready to be treated like royalty. The birthday gelato was off the charts ridiculously good. With service like Becca's and food that is awesome, this place will be around for a while! I'd also recommend the brussel sprout salad.
(5)Dana B.
Had a reservation for the "owners table" at 8pm. At 8:30, the table was still not available even though the party before us had paid their bill and was no longer ordering. My party of seven had been standing around waiting and the managers were completely unapologetic and didn't care if we had to wait around around half hour. In fact, Heather one of the managers was downright rude and disrespectful. I will never go to this restaurant again. There are too many good restaurants in River North to put up with an incapable staff. And as a patron who has been there before trust me when I say the food is mediocre at best.
(1)Michelle G.
Really great experience as usual! This is my new fav spot and I have been frequenting Sienna for dinner with a large group of friends or drinks with a girlfriend at the bar. It's a great atmosphere and love any place where you can all share some amazing food and wines. Truffle mushroom pizza is to die for and the meatball antipasti is a must-try. love!
(5)Asor A.
GREAT food!! nice, cool vibe!! cute bartenders!! what more could you ask for!! super delish!!! GET THE BONE MARROW
(4)KM I.
I am thoroughly shocked by the number of 4 and 5 star reviews for Siena Tavern. Upon reading through their menu I was instantly intrigued. We initially stopped at Quartino for calamari, late on a Sunday night and they were sold out. Total bummer, so I said let's run to Siena and grab a table. We made a reservation and apparently we didn't need one. Since I can see the list of everything that was off or bad getting long we will continue this in list form. --no hostess at the door. I am sorry its 11pm on a Sunday but you are a bar and it says you are open until 2am on your website. There were 18 bus boys and smiling bartenders and it took us wandering in for someone to ask what we needed... --we went to the bar, food bar whatever, and asked a girl if we could still eat or get a waitress and she directed a bus boy to ask the manager...this guy walked over with a big attitude and stood about a full foot shorter than my 5 foot tall frame and said "what's up". The only real Italian thing in this place at this point was my temper. The place screamed typical bar, no surprise since they are opened by the same group as Public and Bull & Bear, and certainly the customer service was as far away from inviting as you can get. Not a representation of anything Italian I'd be proud of. He explained some bs that since they were slow they were going to close, 3 hours ahead of schedule....but if we wanted a quick pizza then to order it now. In retrospect I should have said see ya at this point. --we sat down because we felt so awkward and just ordered a margherita pizza. It was like any other you can get from Frankie's Scallopine or any of the million pizza places in Chicago. For $15 I was super unimpressed and thank God we only stuck to that item. No drinks even. The bartender was trying to be nice but I think she even knows that 3 weeks into this place opening it is a bust. The best place is to find a balance between outstanding customer service, delicious food, a beautiful environment all for a price that matches these, and this place failed to meet all of these criteria. --on a really disgusting side note I ran to the bathroom and was washing my hands and couldn't find the hand soap...they had a bottle of C.O. Bigelow BODYWASH. Seriously who manages this place? Anyways, an older woman next to me was furiously wiping her nose and appeared quite jittery after coming out of the stall and seeing someone else in the bathroom. I am pretty sure she was doing coke and not fighting a bad cold. All in all I think it is safe to say I would have rather gone home hungry after Quartino.
(1)Joshua P.
We made reservations and were seated immediately. The restaurant is very pretty but is extremely loud which is all too common in Chicago. Now to the food. I had the Short Rib Ravioli which was undercooked. My friend got the Squid Ink Linguini. She said the lobster tail was overcooked and very tough. We also ordered the Smoked Mozzarella as an appetizer but it came out after we finished our entrees and it wasn't actually the Smoked Mozzarella but the Bellwether Farm Ricotta. Our server didn't catch the mistake and never apologized for the untimely arrival of the dish until we brought it to her attention for the second time. I would go a few streets up to Quartino any day for better Italian.
(2)Ashley K.
Went for lunch. Had to try the gnocchi. We got a bowl to share at the table. So delicious! Like little pillows. I would love to curl up with a bowl of it. My burger was good too.
(4)S C.
So, there was a discussion on how many stars each of us would give this restaurant. Two of us said 5, 1 said 4. The four is based on the theory that out of every restaurant in the universe, is this venue a 5? Like perhaps the French Laundry in CA? No, but in it's category, it definitely is a 5. If you want to eat here, you'd better plan ahead...way ahead.This is one happening place...by 5pm on Thursday, the bar is filled and a lot of dining tables are, too. In no time at all, it is standing room only and you have to raise your voice to be heard. The atmosphere is trendy, but not overwhelmingly so. We sat at a high top table near the open oven. At first I was not happy with this, because sometimes at a high top, you have to scramble a bit to sit down(really up) and your feet dangle-so uncomfortable. They have mitigated this by having a foot rail for your feet on the upholstered side of the table, and the chairs have foot rails, too. It was fine. The kitchen is a beehive of activity - not an open kitchen except for the oven, but we could still see the activity through the doorway. Surprisingly,as it was so busy, somehow we did not feel rushed. We had a very pleasant server - just the right mix of attentiveness, humor and information. My husband was seated facing a wall of mirrors. Our daughter remarked that if she was ever at a business meeting, she would take the seat underneath the mirrors, because the mirrors would distract her colleague from the conversation, giving her the advantage. The food, which was what we were there for....my gosh, really good. We tried different items and shared, so we could test the waters, so to speak. There was not one clunker in the bunch. The only thing I would change is that the toasted bread that came with the meatball could have been a little less toasted. Surprisingly, the stand out dish at our table was the lasagna. Our daughter, in all the years I've made lasagna, always turns her nose up and rarely eats it. I think the only time she has ever eaten lasagna in a restaurant was in Italy, where she had to admit, it was tasty. Now, I'm slightly insulted that my lasagna didn't make the grade, but this was seriously good and interestingly flavored lasagna. She dipped into Sienna Tavern's lasagna at least 3 more times...tiny bites bursting with flavor! She said that she didn't know what was in it, but clearly it is something highly addictive. By the way, I read another yelp review which said that the pasta was boxed....I don't know what that person had, but the pappardelle was most definitely not from a box...it is from scratch. Are wide, shallow champagne glasses back in favor?! Because for our Prosecco, that's what they used. I smiled....I am digging out my monogrammed silver wedding toasting goblets that have not seen the light of day for decades, not even for anniversaries. Everything old is new again?! We had a fruit tart, which was delicious - piled high with strawberries, sweet blackberries, raspberries and blueberries - they did not skimp on the fruit....the tart crust itself was admirable, as was the custard....there was also a dollop of gelato? on the plate...very good. What really makes a restaurant 5 star in my opinion, is whether or not I would go back. Yes, in a heartbeat. Siena Tavern has all the bells and whistles it needs.. Go for decor, the youthful, professional energy, to people watch, and last, but really first and most importantly, the food. ps....it also has a very nice, and spotless ladies room. Always appreciated. pps. be careful walking to the ladies room in heels...it was slightly slippery when I was there, but it was raining, so possibly the floor was damp. ppps...Valet parking $12.
(5)Alyssa E.
If you ever wondered what authentic, delicious, memorable Italian food tasted like, go to Siena Tavern! WOW, Chef Fabio knows what he is doing! This place is definitely worth the hype it has been receiving and I cannot wait to go back! The food here was FANTASTIC and so memorable I cannot stop thinking about two dishes, the truffle gnocchi and the cocoli. To start the evening off, our waitress was great. Extremely helpful with drinks and menu suggestions for sharing as well as an overview of the menu. Our table started with 4 starters, the Kobe Meatball being one. Fantastic! The sauce was not too spicy with a dollop of ricotta on top. We also shared the Kale Caesar Salad and the Chopped Salad. Both were wonderful! My favorite small plate however, was the Cocoli, little crispy balls of dough (similar to a savory eclair puff) with stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey. Absolutely heavenly! I could have eaten that all myself! For the entrees, 4 out of the 6 in my party had the Gnocchi with truffle cream sauce and little bits of crispy pancetta. On top were perfectly fried sage leaves. We were all eating in silence because it was SO heavenly! The other two had the squid ink linguini and the pappardelle. Both said it was fabulous. After all that, you would think that we all would be stuffed (which we were) but who could leave without trying the desserts? We had to try the Chef Fabio's famous tiramisu, house made gelato, and the bomboloni. The tiramisu, came in a little loaf pan and was topped with shavings of chocolate covered coffee beans, hands down the best I have ever eaten. The gelato's came in a wide variety of delicious and different flavors. Creamy and rich, but not too heavy as you might think. Finally, the bombolni, which were perfect little balls of fried dough (similar to a donut) covered in sugar with three different dipping sauces-wiskey carmel, chocolate hazelnut, and fresh raspberry (my personal favorite!). I will definitely be going back and HIGHLY recommend! I can't stop thinking about this meal!
(5)Paul G.
This was a great dining experience. Went for lunch on a weekday and though no tables were available, the host seated us in the lounge area at two sofas and a large coffee table. Skeptical at first, this ended up being a tremendous amount of fun. Comfortable, relaxed, but bustling scene. The space is great. Interesting layout, and it feels very roomy...could be the bountiful use of mirrors throughout. Food was very good, burger was loaded with flavor and dessert, though not needed, was quite necessary. Bonus star for the bathroom sink fixtures...the faucet is like a shower for your hands. A nice touch...neat place.
(5)Jennifer L.
At the end of a very long work week in Chicago my friends and i planned to grab dinner here. We were seated for dinner immediately without reservation. The food was incredible...some of the best gnocchi that I've ever had! I managed to walk away spending only $55 on an appetizer, dinner, a glass of wine and desert which was pretty reasonable. Next time I'm in Chicago I will definitely revisit this restaurant.
(5)Roshani C.
Ambience was good and they were able to squeeze us in for a table. The waitor was really nice and knowledgable. The burrata was good. And the salad and pizza were okay. The gnocchi pasta was good. The dessert was amazing, some donuts with different dipping sauces.
(4)Sunil D.
A celebrity backed Italian restaurant in the heart of River North? I think I've seen this before? In the words of Lee Corso...Not so fast my friend. Bill and Juliana might have some heady competition on their hands from my man Fabio (no...not the blonde mane that adorns the grocery store romance novels). I found the atmosphere to be more approachable, and more laid back than RPM. I could see this easily becoming a great happy hour spot that is upscale enough to bring clients, but casual enough where you can just grab a quick bite and a beer. At first glance at the menu I thought things looked a little pricey (apps were in the mid teens). Take that with a grain of salt though, the portions are sizable and we left with a pretty big bag of leftovers and a few cocktails in us for $60-70 a person. Sure its not cheap, but for River North anything less than $100 for a good meal and a quick buzz seems like a relative bargain. This was more than a good meal though, we truly had a great meal from start to finish. Every dish we had exceeded expectations (in both portion size and overall quality). We started with the Coccoli, which was something new. Freshly baked bread that was like a popover, that was drizzled with honey that you crack open and fill with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto. "Fun and interactive" is how the waitress spun it, it was something new and different....definitely would get it again. We got the meatball to start with as well, this thing was basically a mini-football cooked to perfection. Massive and done just right, don't think I've ever had a better meatball. We also got the brussel sprout salad that was light and refreshing, had a bite of citrus in the dressing and some pine nuts to add a complimentary flavor profile. I would get this again....lets be honest, I would get all these things again. The pastas were awesome, the gnocchi were like floury puffy clouds that floated in your mouth. Words do not do these justice, we also got the squid ink and lobster pasta...which was also good. You can definitely tell these pastas were fresh and from scratch. If I had to pick one, the gnocchi hands down. We also got the pear/prosciutto pizza which had a perfect char on the crust and a great combination of ingredients. Like everything else this pizza was a lot larger than we were expecting. Osso bucco and the parmesan potatoes rounded out our feast. The osso bucco was a favorite of everyone at the table, I thought it was a little on the dry side, but still good enough that I would order it again. The potatoes were to die for as well. I know this all sounds repetitive, but everything was amazing. Its one of those restaurants I can't stop recommending to people and on top of it all we were there the first weekend it opened. To come on an opening weekend have great service, perfect food and an overall great experience, I think that is rare, even for a stellar restaurant. It looks like this place might skip right past the growing pains of a fledgling business and hit the ground running in full stride.
(5)Sam C.
so good! went pretty early, and the place was already packed. drinks are delicious, had #2. pasta was amazing - had gnocci (out of this world) and butternut squash tortelacci. sano pizza was pretty good, as well as grilled octopus. had tiramisu and espresso to finish. fantastic! service was a little slow, but our waitress was very nice. can't wait to try it out again!
(5)Amy L.
I love the ambiance in Siena Tavern, as well as all the private table nooks for seating. The prices are a little high for what you get in terms of food (quality and portions). The service leaves a lot to be desired. It took entirely too long in between courses to be served food, and too long to start. We ordered a bunch of stuff for sharing, indicated as much, and didn't have anything to eat for ~20 minutes or more. The hearts of palm salad is lackluster at best. It was styled poorly (like a highschool culinary student) and it had absolutely no flavor. The chopped salad was better but still nothing to report home about. ' The meatball was very good as well as the coccio (?) appetizer. The pear and prosciutto pizza was delightful. Carbonara lacked actual ingredients for texture and flavor. It was just as if it came from a vat with sauce on it and some dried parmesan "crouton" was thrown on for garish. Again, the presentation was disappointing. The gnocchi sauce was amazing; I could lick it off the plate, but the gnocchi themselves had a weird texture to them. My boyfriend (a trained chef) and I make homemade gnocchi all the time but these were too much like pillows. Perhaps some people like them that way, but I didn't care for them. Also, the floor is super slick for women in heels. Just a note that you might want to add something to the high traffic areas for traction or I could easily see a lawsuit happening.
(3)Kathy L.
Went for Saturday brunch...beautiful space, service was earnest but a bit sketchy (waited in vain for a requested coffee refill). Had eggs Bennie with pesto hollandaise which was nicely presented but a tad on the salty side.
(4)Erica W.
I enjoyed my food at Siena Tavern, (the Lamb Orecchiette, the cheese bar with the polenta bread - btw...who knew that people baked bread with polenta in it?) but the thing that really rocked my world was the desserts! I would go there for the desserts alone. The pastry chef is incredibly talented, and honestly could have her own restaurant. The desserts here rival Hot Chocolate and any other dessert restaurant that I have been to. The homemade gelato would give Black Dog Gelato a run for their money. I had a Strawberry Basil Balsamic gelato that was out. of. this. world. I had a fruit tart that had a mascarpone cheese gelato...ridiculous! The tiramisu...fabulous. Do not skip dessert when you go to Siena Tavern!
(4)Maivy N.
Easily one of my favorite foodventures in Chicago! Italian comfort food that hits the spot and satisfies the taste buds. I think the pricing is also fair. Yelp currently rates this restaurant at the $$$ range but I have to agree with our Chicago resident friend (who recommended this place to us) that it's actually more of a $$ establishment. You could get a yummy dish here for under $20. The atmosphere is a major plus. The environment is calm and chill/relaxing with decor that really impresses. We were seated on a high table next to the pizza oven (quite a pretty site). We had dinner reservations for a party of 7 at 5pm and had no problems. Our servers were all very nice and personable. With a larger party, we were able to sample a variety of dishes. I would skip the shaved brussel sprout salad because I felt that it lacked flavor. The truffle mushroom pizza was out of this world! My only complaint is that the crust was on the harder side. My favorite dishes were the gnocci and the squid ink linquini. The spaghetti isn't what you would expect...it's a cream sauce with a refreshing lemon hint to it. It was pretty delicious as well. Must try the bombolini...it was bomb!
(4)Bren L.
Solid food and great customer service. I was there for 1.5 days in Chicago to just eat (after just being there the week prior for work. read my review on Alinea and you will knwo why). They have a huge menu and the place is even bigger. I wanna say they can acommadate up to 100 people with a private dining room. We had squid pasta with lobster, brussel sprouts salad and lobster sandwich to share. I enjoyed all of it. pasta and lobster had a lot of butter so had to be good but the squid pasta was made very well. The fries on the lobster was pretty good as well with the garlic on top of it. Our waitress was very friendly and really accommodated us for allowing us to split the bill if we wanted to but we didnt have. Our baller friend paid for it (we paid her in cash. haha). Overall, this is a hit. check it out.
(5)Jenna G.
I was kind of disappointed in this place. I've been twice now, and the first time the food was decent but not spectacularly memorable for all the hype and the second time (lunch on a Monday), the service was SUPER SLOW. It took 3 people 1.5 hours for lunch. They were slow to take our order as well and each course took a long time to come out. My food was just ok (hearts of palm salad with shrimp), (except the donuts, which are legit awesome). Our fries tasted decent but came out cold... TWICE (once as an order and then other fries came out as part of my friend's meal). All-in-all, I feel like they just deserve the hype they're getting because it's Fabio's restaurant. I think he' s a great chef, but he needs better people executing in his kitchen. Maybe go for drinks and donuts?
(3)Liz U.
Loved it! Very nice decor inside the restaurant, if you're into a trendy atmosphere. The service was excellent, waiters were very attentive...my water glass never got to half full/empty. Now on to the best part, the food! I had the short rib ravioli. I was told the short rib had been braised for over 8 hours, and I could definitely taste the care that went into making that dish! The ravioli was perfectly cooked, and there was a brown gravy/sauce over the pasta, which was very good, however, depending on your palate, may be a bit on the salty side. I love salty food, so I enjoyed it. I had the chocolate butter cake, with caramel marscapone gelato. Although the "cake" was more like a pie, it was delicious and super sweet. My only complaint would be the portion size. I went to the restaurant, with the expectation that the portions would be small, however, when I asked about the size of my dish, our waiter advised me that the portions were big enough to share. I guess that depends on what you order, because 5 pieces of normal size ravioli is hardly enough for 2 people to share. I will definitely be back!
(4)Darian C.
Had a business dinner there and it was spectacular. The service was incredible. The food was even better. Try the truffle pizza, the meatball and the chopped salad. All AMAZING. Squid ink pasta was soooo creamy and rich - a great dish to split! The ambiance is fun and lively - pretty loud so it isn't good for a romantic dinner but the party atmosphere is fantastic for a group!
(5)Lisa G.
Delicious cocktails, mozzarella bar is great! Haven't had the full experience yet, but I'm expecting good things.
(4)Stephen S.
Stopped in here on a Sunday evening and was super excited to see Fabio himself hanging at the host stand. The man was in the house! So was everyone else as this place was movin', they cited us an hour wait for a table for 2 but we grabbed a spot at the bar which worked out really well. Service was great, the space was still comfortable and the food was great. I was most interested to see what they were doing with their pizza here and as I'm such a burrata fan (which needs to be put on pizza more often!) I had to go with that. Also ended up sharing the kale caesar salad and the roasted cauliflower side. The burrata on the pizza was fantastic, creamy, with a slight saltiness. Amazing! I really liked the flavor of the crust but it was a little thin for me. If you like really thin crust pizza though you'd dig it! I actually found the salad and cauliflower to be the real stars of the night, the caesar salad dressing really paired nicely with the kale and the cauliflower had a nice lemon flavor and was paired perfectly with some really flavorful peppers. The place was a little spendy but that's the going rate in this neighborhood. I was also impressed with the beer selections on draft, bonus points for having the 3 Floyds Gumballhead.
(4)Lee F.
We went here for two birthdays. The space is extremely large and extremely noisy,however it is a great ,trendy space. The food definitely has a unique twist and full of great flavors. We started with the highly recommended Coccoli very good it could have been a bit more generous with the procciotto . We also had the meatball the sauce was fantastic meatball a little to hard for me. We were a bit disappointed they at 8 pm they were out of the Brussel sprout salad so we we had the chopped which was nothing special. I have to say our server definitely was trying to upsell ,everything he recommended was the most expensive thing on the menu. The osso bucco was delicious , squid linguini delicious, as well as the risotto . The birthday dessert ice cream was excellent as well as the bambollini. I would definitely return.
(4)Kojo Y.
JUST AWESOME! Best italian food so far in river north. The octopus wasn't the best I've had - girl and the goat has better octopus. But the pasta here is just EVERYTHING! House made and just filled with flavor. I can't wait to go back. The tomato sauce was light and very tasty; clean fresh taste
(4)Ashley S.
This place is serving quality food to match the beautiful decor and service. I was in the area and was looking for a place to eat. Of course I couldn't get in that Saturday so I decided to make a reservation for the following sunday. I ordered the burnt pepperoni pizza and it was excellent. The date had the lobster sandwich and really liked it. I got a chance to taste some of the fries and they were good. I was playing it safe because I'd never been here. But I'll go back and try something different. The inside of this place is spectacular, not all small and cramped like many chicago restaurants. And our waitress was very helpful and attentive. No complaints here.
(4)Jade M.
Great food, drinks, & trendy spot to hang. I love Siena Tavern, I have no negative comments, and cannot wait to come back! YUM YUM YUM!!!!
(5)Robin D.
I think this place is just ok especially for the price. Not good Not Bad. There were some dishes that were good some that were just ordinary but none that were awful. They pride themselves with FROM SCRATCH preparation of dishes and you can taste that difference. They have a real good menu with a good quality selection. Kale Ceasar - i wanted a healthy so I got this. I Prosciutto Pear pizza was heavenly Seared scallop risotto had 3 scallops in it over risotto, it was good but not worth 30 bucks Ossobucco was good Squid Ink Linquini with lobster was good My favorite was Bellwether Farm Ricotta Cheese - this was yummy Tiramisu was excellent Ambience is nice and cosy. Im glad I tried this place and I would still recommend it but i dont see myself coming back for a repeat
(3)Mike T.
Tried this place again and the food was better. The service was still slow but the dishes were more in sync and tasty.
(3)John K.
Not too bad as to acquire a 2 star rating or below but not that great either. I guess the 4-star rating made me want to believe that there was something unique about this place that would pull me towards it again. Sadly, that's probably not going to be the case. Relegated to the likes of restaurants like Devon Seafood Grill. Had their Gnocchi...tasted like any other Gnocchi with only a few bits of vegetables, a little bit more cheesy perhaps. This place is probably better with being a bar alone than being a restaurant at the same time
(3)Robert J.
With all these 4 and 5 star reviews I'm left wondering what I missed here. Yes, the decor and atmosphere is impressive, as was the service. But, for me, it's all about the food and I found it to be just average...honestly. We had apps, pizza, seafood, fresh pasta and there was only one thing that was exceptional - the Kobe beef meatball. Will probably go again, but I have been around a lot of very good Italian food and I'm feeling this is a bit overhyped given the owner, whom I really liked on top chef.
(3)Anna P.
The ambiance is great, I love the huge space and the industrial yet warm feel. We were worried about seating, but it turned out there was plenty at the bar (there are two pretty sizable bars where you can sit and eat) so we sat there. Our server was great, the drink list was nice and more reasonable than I thought it would be (i.e. glasses of wine for under $10!) and the food was really good. We got the beet salad, which was excellent, the gnocchi, the pear and prosciutto pizza, and the fries. I would say everything was excellent except the fries, but then again they are fries so you can easily skip them! It's not cheap, but I would go back.
(4)Sumi S.
This place has the best meatball sauce and kale salad done by an Italian restaurant. Kristen was our server, and she was great!
(4)Rachel R.
We stopped in after dinner for a cocktail and were lucky enough to score a seat at the bar. Excellent service, lively ambiance and awesome cocktail sections. We had the #1, #2, and #6. They were all excellent, and we can't wait for our upcoming dinner reservation, as we've heard amazing things about the food! PS -- they also started serving brunch this weekend. I see another reservation in our near future!
(5)R R.
We scored a coveted lunch reservation on a Tuesday! At 1:30pm, the place was packed. We were seated in a booth. For starters we got the burrata mozzarella, which was served with toast wedges and a creamed corn. The cheese was wonderful, but I was not excited with the corn accompaniment. Next we ordered their famous pizzas. As the veggie, I ordered the truffle mushroom, which was great and amble in size. I had plenty to take home for later that evening, My buddy ordered the burnt pepperoni which she loved and did confirm that it was spicy. We never made it to dessert. Next time! Was this worth all the hype and the payment of over $60 for lunch for two...I would argue possibly. The pizza was great but I have had just as fabulous pizza at Coalfire and other local favorites. This place is really about being scene in the downtown area having an uber cool power lunch with your co-workers. Despite all the accolades from foodies, I would give it a 7 out of 10 for food and experience. Maybe I need to return for dinner to have the experience about which everyone is buzzing. Chitown Veg Gal
(3)Natalie L.
I did not eat at Siena but I enjoyed a great night and sunday funday there while visiting this past 4th of july, we enjoyed having spectacular drinks and meeting great people. Great night life and atmosphere, I hear the food is great too ! highly recommended.
(4)Scott H.
Gotta say, was intrigued when the lunch plans were announced. The vibe at noon on a Friday was strong, with apparently all tables booked. The server was attentive and responsive to questions, although she heavily pushed things we were less interested in (like the meatball). The problem for me was the food - it just was fair. The appetizers - grilled cauliflower and asparagus were both just fine. The asparagus had a bit too much garlic - and this from a true garlic lover. And the gnocchi - well, I can only say, what a disappointment. Bland, small portion, and over sauced. Sorry, but for an Italian restaurant - that is just not acceptable. I have friends who have commended this place. I guess perhaps I might have ordered wrong? But I am uncertain if I will actually be back to try it again. Hip and popular don't trump mediocre Italian in a city with some really fine options.
(2)Sam C.
Came here with a group of 7 and had quite a bit of their menu. The exceptional dishes are the following: Gnocci Tiramisu Bomboloni (pretty much a donut with different flavor of syrup) The rest of the stuff are just ok. My party got the following: Cocoli (which is ham, with cheese and bread which you can end up eating like a sandwich) Truffle Mushroom Pizza (which one of my companion said it reminds him of CPK pizza) Squid Ink Linguine Carbonara - the noodle's fresh made but definitely undercooked as it was hard Daily Risotto (I think it was butternut squash) Ossobucho Brick Chicken - which was overly dry Overall, the pasta are just ok. Their are made in house, as i can taste it, but they screwed them up by under cooking them. The rest of the entree have creative description by the server but under delivered. However, this place definitely is a nice place to go for a drink and dessert. The drinks are good and dessert are pretty solid. So I'd come back for those but maybe not the food.
(3)Marisa P.
Came here on a Thursday night and had an amazing dinner! The restaurant is split into two sides; one side is the bar and was full with happy hourers; the other is the main dining area which was warm and modern. My friend and I started with the mussels, which were served in a flavorful red sauce with pancetta. The sauce was so delicious that I mopped as much of it up as I could! We also had he Hamachi crudo (with crispy onions and jalapenos) which was light and super flavorful, and finally we split the prosciutto pear pizza which was out of this world (and a pretty large portion). We ended the night with the pistachio gelato which was honestly the best gelato I have had in the city - so creamy and flavorful. Our server wasn't the most attentive and even somewhat snobby, and the busboys were somewhat overzealous with clearing plates when we weren't finished, but the food was so good that I will definitely be back!
(5)Kristen B.
Possibly one of my new go-tos for apps and drinks. I went for lunch and we split the Coccoli and focaccia for appetizers - both were Heavenly. Two of the tastiest apps I've had in awhile. We also tried the Kobe meatball, which was just okay. I had the lobster club which was great. We split the bomboloni for dessert - sugared donuts that you glaze yourself in chocolate, caramel or raspberry sauce. So good! The atmosphere is fun; trendy, but warm and inviting. The bar is packed on the weekends. I haven't been for dinner, but will definitely be making a reservation soon.
(4)Katie S.
This would be a great restaurant for a group, date night or even client dinner. I went with a large group and ordered many dishes to share among the group; very easy to share a variety of options. Would highly recommend the coccoli appetizer.
(4)Nicole R.
I visited Siena tavern about a month ago and had the sweetest bartender anyone could ask for. I told him hey I had someone that made me a martini which had pear vodka and a lot of other things include, he kind of tilt his head at me and responded are you sure it wasn't me? Sure enough he was right! This drink was amazing, it involved grey goose pear, St Germaine, sour and pineapple juice then finish with champs. I mean wow what a cocktail, thank you Dangelo can't wait to purchase that drink from you again, we would have sat at the bar if it wasn't lack of chairs bummer. My lady friends enjoyed that martini as well so much that we keep ordering rounds of it. I am sure Tanner (who was amazing server) got annoyed that we keep order those drinks. Keep it up Siena Tavern, you have a staff that loves to make people happy
(5)K. M.
The food and service were awesome! I had dinner with a group of 8 people. We tried a variety of dishes. I highly recommend the gnocchi, pizza, braised ossobucco and the the porterhouse steak. This is the perfect place that everyone can share dishes. For dessert we had the donuts-very light and fluffy. I will definitely go again!
(5)Allison K.
I went on Saturday for brunch with five other women. I have two minor complaints that only slightly tarnished my experience. First, we all had big winter jackets and were not offered coat check at all. I asked if there was a place to hang coats when we were seated and it was clear it was going to be a tight squeeze. Second, my coffee cup sat empty for a few minutes longer than I thought was okay for such a nice restaurant. Overall, the food was amazing. For 6 people, we ordered two salads, two omelets, THE MEATBALL and bombolini for dessert. It was the perfect amount of food. Tuscan Kale Caesar was delicious and didn't have that gross kale taste. The roasted beet salad was also very good, but on the small size. The "sticky potatoes" with the omelet were perfect, crispy breakfast potatoes. The egg part of the omelet was the standard overcooked eggs you get at any breakfast place but the filling was yummy. The highlights were definitely the wagyu meatball and the bombolini. I could have eaten both of those in their entirety and called it a day. Meatball was perfectly tender, great classic tomato sauce, right amount of cheese and nice grilled bread for serving. Bombolini - can never go wrong with fried dough and do-it-yourself fillings. I will definitely go back when I'm in the mood for a splurge (money and calorie-wise).
(4)Jon S.
Great food, great drinks and great atmosphere. Get the Kobe beef meatball appetizer.
(4)M W.
Four stars for the big fat delicious 10 oz meatball appetizer. One star for the salad that had WAY too much salt. Not necessary to oversalt dishes, guys. Zero stars for only accepting an 11:30am lunch reservation on a Monday (instead of a noon reservation - no big deal) but then not unlocking the front door until EXACTLY 11:30am, forcing people to stand outside in 30 degree weather for 7 minutes while the hostesses watched through the glass. Geez - you see us waiting out there - can't you just unlock the door and let us wait in the foyer instead of outside?
(2)DuSable Dining Club C.
Rating 1-10, 10 being the best: Atmoshere = 9 Menu = 8.3 Food = 8.9 Service = 7.7 Value = 8 If it's a rainy day on the Dock, would you recommend to the Group that we come here? Yes = 6, No = 1 Comments were: "While a great "hot spot" they're ironing out the wrinkles. Enjoyed the owner's visit--yeah, we're High Rollers. Good Spot, Great location, make sure reservations are honored within 15 mins. Gnochi Rocked! Pasta Perfect, good wine selection, pizza perfect but may be too small for our group. Great Choice. Took a really long time to get wine. Wish there was a single digit Chardonnay. I will return as long as Aga is working. A little Loud, really good Pizza--very thin A couple clarifications: we did have to wait more than 15 minutes after our reservation to get seated. Aga is the Bartender in the back bar.
(4)Rachael W.
It's hard to find anything wrong at all with this place. Walked in and was immediately greeted by some friendly hostesses. The bartenders are awesome and the drinks are innovative and delicious. My only complaint is that there needs to be more seating in the bar area. It was packed at 6 on a Wednesday night! People were saving seats for other people and it didn't leave much room to even stand at the bar. Once we were seated, we had the smoked mozzarella which comes with grilled escarole that is to die for. Then we had truffle mushroom pizza which was outrageously amazing. Followed by gnocchi which was cooked EXACTLY how gnocchi is supposed to be cooked - pure perfection. Last but not least, we had the apple-fig tart which was superb. There are not enough positive adjectives to describe this place. Oh, and our server was as sweet, knowledgeable and friendly as they come. Overall, it was an amazing dining experience and I strongly encourage people to go check it out. You might not get to see Chef Fabio, but the food and drinks alone are worth the trip.
(5)Gregory C.
I have been twice for dinner and both times I found the experience quite enjoyable. The decor is awesome and classy. The booths are comfy and are good for groups. The service has been outstanding both times and offer quite a few suggestions and know the menu top to bottom. LOVE the brick oven pizza. I will be back.
(5)Ricardo S.
As nice as it is to try new dishes every time you go to a restaurant, I've already accepted that I will order the Gnocci every time I dine at Siena Tavern. It's too incredible not to order. The only disappointing part about it is that the portions aren't bigger. The same goes for the enjoyable Butternut Squash Tortellaci, which I would rank second only to Café Spiaggia's version. Not as great was the Warm Apple Fig-Tart. The honey was a bit over-powering for me. Finally, the service was excellent and so fast that we had an extra hour and a half to kill before our show at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. But I guess that's what happens when you have an early dinner.
(4)Patrick N.
Good Food. I shared a Coccoli starter. Strong Truffle which I'm not crazy about but if you like Truffle, you will love. I had the squid ink Linguini and my co-worker had the Gnocchi. We both agreed that it was good but would likely try another dish next time. Atmosphere great. Presentation of food great. Food so far, good. Would go back in a minute and explore for the Wow dish for me.
(4)Drew S.
This place is horrible... Worst bar in Chicago! Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time and money! The management is unprofessional, rude, and ignorant!!!! Go anywhere else in Chicago besides this place!! I live in that area and suggest you go to an actual classy Chicago establishment like Bin36, Hub51, or Shaw's!!!!!
(1)Dante C.
Great dining experience with friends... Siena Tavern is a Top Chef place, guy from Bravo, bla bla. I stopped listening and agreed to check it out. I am glad I did !! The menu has an array of Italian favorites, however had some new additions I have not seen before. The Cuccoli and Crudo Bar selections were fantastic. We were a table of 4 and ended up sharing everything. Our waitress Hannah was very knowledgeable and helped guide our choices the entire evening. It is a big plus when the wait staff knows their customers and the menu. Next visit we are trying the Steak Florentine style! This place is here to stay.
(5)Kesha P.
My first visit at Siena Tavern was exceptional. All of their spices and noodles are produced in house. The good was sensational and the waiter Justin was very knowledgeable. He patiently explained any of the authentic Italian dishes, we had questions about. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves Italian cuisine.
(5)Liz S.
This is one of the best meals I've had in Chicago. Upon entering, we were greeted immediately and sat for our 7:15pm reservation. Within minutes of sitting down, we see Fabio walking through the restaurant saying hello to all of the customers. We asked to take a picture with him and he was happy to do it! Great start to the night. For an appetizer, we ordered the Burrata with tomato jam - it was incredible. Perfect portion and we ate every bite. For entrees, we ordered the squid ink linguini with lobster and the lasagna. We pretty much licked the plates clean. The squid ink linguini was the best pasta dish I've had in years. So flavorful, the lobster was cooked perfectly and the pasta itself was exquisite. We also had a side of the parmesean fries - mouth watering good. For dessert, we went with the bomboloni (donuts). Great presentation, with all the sauces in little squeeze bottles so you could put as much or as little as you please. These donuts truly melt in your mouth. They are unlike any other I've had. The ONLY slightly negative thing I can think of is we were offered tap or sparking water (usually meaning they have the sparking water for free). We chose sparkling water, but had a $7 charge on the bill. Not a huge deal, but would probably have gone for tap had we known. This is my new favorite restaurant in Chicago and will be our stop for all special occasions to come! YUM!
(5)Stefani S.
Siena Tavern was the perfect spot for our Saturday night date night. Every single item that we ordered was perfectly cooked and tasted delicious. Specific stand out menu items for me were the Coccoli (crispy dough with stacchino cheese, prosciutto, and truffle honey), the burrata, and the tuna from the crudo bar. I could eat the burrata every day. The grilled bread that is served with the burrata (and served with many other dishes) is the perfect compliment to a creamy house made cheese, that is served with a sweet tomato jam that has a hint of sea salt and olive oil. The flavors could not compliment each other any better than they do. We also ordered the Kobe meatball, the Spicy Pepperoni Pizza, the Kale Caesar salad, the Lasagna, and the Roasted Cauliflower, and Bomboloni for dessert. The flavors of every dish were right on point. I only wish it was easier to get a reservation because I cannot wait to come back!
(5)Ken T.
After my first trip to Siena a month ago (not a good experience), I gave it a second chance. I talked to the manager, Mackenzie, she was awesome and very concerned about my first experience at Siena. She did an excellent job of listening to my concerns and taking care of me. I can't say enough about the staff. They were all very pleasant and accommodating. I sat at the pizza bar (great bartender from Poland!) ordered the Burnt Pepperoni pizza - amazing, followed up by a sampling of some fresh fish from the Crudo bar (compliments of the chef)! Everything was prepared perfect and tasted awesome. I would highly recommend Siena, but make sure to get their early or get a reservation. The two times I have been there, the place has been packed (Tues and Wed nights) and a long wait to get in. Luckily I sat at the bar!
(5)Tim E.
Jessica was a great server short rib ravioli and Brussels Spout salad were to write home about quality
(5)Andrew D.
We visited Siena Tavern on the 5th day it was open, and got right in without a reservation. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating, and the manager stopped by our table to check on everything. We had cocktails 2,5,6,9 & 11 - all were great! We ordered the Coccoli, Shaved Brussel Sprouts, Brick Chicken, Butternut Squash Tortellaci, and the Pistachio, Sea Salt Caramel, and Lavender Gelato. Everything was amazing, and it was one of the best dining experiences we'd ever have. We were excited to return... HOWEVER, when we returned, we had made a 9:15 reservation, but were not seated until 10:00. Siena was still packed and had a great atmosphere, but the food and drinks were nothing like they had been the first time. We ordered a great riesling, and cocktails 2 & 9 (our favorites from our previous visit), but they were very different from when we ordered them on our first visit. We noticed they were being poured from pre-mixed bottles, rather than made to order, as they were the last time. We ordered the Prosciutto de Parma and the Pecorino Toscana to start, which were very good - but that's about all that was good. We also ordered the Saba Roasted Bone Marrow, which was very lacking in flavor and had no seasoning at all whatsoever, and the Crustini that was served with the Bone Marrow was so burnt it was completely black and charred. For our entrees we ordered the 12 Hour Braised Osso Bucco and the Gnocchi. The Osso Bucco was extremely dry and over-braised, and the Farro it was paired with was also lacking in flavor, and nothing special. The Gnocchi was so undercooked it was inedible. We each took one bite and that was all. The sauce had good flavor, but it was overwhelmed by the large amount of truffle oil it was covered with. The manager stopped by again on this visit, but our server seemed a bit frazzled, and we didn't see her nearly as much as the excellent server we had on our first visit. We decided not to order dessert, and probably will not return.
(2)Marie F.
Siena Tavern is just ok - nothing that you would be cravng. Definitely don't worth the hype or long wait. Beef short ribs, coccoli were bland. The mushroom pizza was decent. Won't be back anytime soon!
(2)J D.
As a huge Top Chef fan, I was sooo excited to hear that Fabio was opening up a restaurant here in Chicago. With all that buildup anticipation, it is easy to be disappointed, but Siena Tavern blew me away. I came with my girlfriends on Friday night. We shared the meatball and brussel sprout salad for the appetizers and the Sano and Prosciutto Pear pizza for our mains. I would say the Sano pizza was so so but everything else made up for it. I was dreaming about the meatball and Prosciutto Pear pizza for the rest of the weekend. This pizza has to be the best I have ever had. Salty and sweet with the perfect crust. I can't wait to come back and try more things on the menu. For dessert we the tiramisu and the the donuts that were melt in your mouth delicious. I thought the service was good, prices were really reasonable and the space was gorgeous. My new favorite place in the city.
(5)Ashley A.
Stopped by last night with my husband. 6pm on Thursday and it was packed. Waited around at the back bar (by the pizza oven) and 2 seats opened up within 15 minutes. Service: Excellent. The bartender serving us was prompt and efficient. When I told her that I couldn't decide between a few red wine options, she brought them all out for me to sample. She was always checking in on us to ensure we had everything we needed, and timed the dishes perfectly. Drinks: I had two glass of red - one was a Ribasso and one a California blend. They were both delicious. He had a number 10 cocktail which he loved, and a number 8 which was not as good as the 10, but still enjoyable. Bone Marrow: The marrow was overdone - burned at the edges, as was the toast. It had great flavor that was over-shadowed by the bitter burnt toast. The fennel accompaniment, although milder than I would have though, didn't compliment the fatty marrow very well. Gnocchi: Absolutely delicious. Incredibly rich with the truffle cream and pancetta. The gnocchi were just slightly doughy, but still delicious. Short Rib Ravioli: The short rib center was slightly dry, and not as much flavor as I would have expected. The gravy dressing was flavorful, but it was improved by the bright balsamic reduction. Squid Ink Linguini: Very good - second favorite dish behind the gnocchi. It was difficult to discern the mineral-like flavor of squid ink pasta in such a rich and creamy sauce, but I loved the huge hunks of lobster and slightly spicy flavor of the sauce. Overall great experience at Siena and we plan on going back!
(4)Gia F.
Sitting for a few minutes after arriving and the sous chef dropped off a complimentary salmon crudo special. I was impressed and it had only been 5 minutes. We sat by the bar and the bartender made his way out every time instead of shouting across the bar top every time we ordered or needed anything. The service was on point. I had the No. 5 & I loved it, the No. 2 was also very good. We only tried 2 other food items but I will most definitely be back to try more. It was packed at 9 pm on a Wednesday night and waiting for a table was easily over an hour but sitting at the bar was fine.
(4)Amit K.
Italian food is all over Chicago, but somehow Siena has figured out a way to completely differentiate its food. Such unique ideas, whether it comes to their Pasta in a Jar meal, or their pizza options. Their appetizers are great, and their service is impeccable. I've been there 3 times now, and each time I've left with an excellent experience. I've never seen such a high end Italian restaurant offer so many vegetarian options. Their seafood options are excellent as well! This is definitely the best Italian restaurant in Chicago...
(5)A K.
As a previous poster said, definitely MAKE RESERVATIONS. I don't usually complain about service, but if you show up without reservations (even on a weeknight before 6), you may have as unpleasant an experience as I did. The host will try to tell you that bar tables turn over quickly....they do not. They want you to believe it will be true and order a drink, which will turn into more drinks while you wait. I waited for an hour for a table, and during that time only one table and one seat were vacated in the bar area! If the host would have said the wait might be an hour, I could have dealt with that. Refusing to give a time, however, allows you to be delusional in thinking you will get to eat sometime soon. But even after you're seated, don't expect to be taken care of quickly. After waiting at least five minutes for water and a waitress to introduce herself, it took 45 minutes for a salad to arrive. The waitress apologized, but that did not make up for a 45 minute wait! for salad! The purpose of my visit was to eat pizza. The pizza is definitely not worth a two hour wait. It's fine, but not anywhere near the best in the city. If you're really going for the pizza, I say skip this place. However, it seems like Siena Tavern is made for large groups who want to drink a lot of wine and order an assortment of items. The large tables (which had reservations) seemed to be having a great time, unlike my disgruntled party of 2.
(2)Lindsey M.
I've been to this restaurant twice and sat in the bar area both times. The first time was on a Saturday around noon for Brunch. The restaurant was less than crowded and our server was THE WORST. It took us an hour to receive our food, after asking numerous times where it was. In addition to that, our server was less than apologetic. While I was hesitant to try again, we had friends in town and wanted to take them out to lunch. Upon arrival, our server came up after 10 minutes and told us she gets off her shift in 10 minutes, but that she would take our drink orders and pass on the information to the next server when she arrives for her shift. After waiting about 15-20 minutes with no drinks in sight, we left the restaurant. We will not be back. The food was good (what little food we got), however, the customer service has been the worst I have ever experienced.
(2)J S.
Have been here twice in the short time it has been open and will definitely be back for more! We went with a large group of people so we had the chance to try a majority of the menu items and they all impressed me. The coccoli, kale caesar salad, gnocchi, and pistachio gelato were my favorites. Server was very knowledgeable regarding the wine list and had great recommendations. I love Italian food and this venue successfully mixes great authentic cuisine with a trendy and lively bar atmosphere. Would also be a great date spot to sit at the bar, enjoy some drinks and order some za from the pizza chefs!
(5)D P.
I was visiting Chicago with my boyfriend and we wanted to have a nice dinner out so we decided on Siena Tavern. We walked in (without a reservation- they were fully booked) and we were quite early on a Friday night (5:30 PM) so they gave us a seat at the bar (first come first serve) but we put our name down on the wait list for a table in the dining area. After about 30 mins they called us with a table ready which had a next reservation at 8PM so we had a good 2.5 hours to sit there- which we did. We had about 3 managers approach us throughout the night to check if everything was alright- that was very nice. The food was DELICIOUS. Although the pizza and pasta took quite a bit of time (over 20 mins)- it was great. The Farro salad was very different, refreshing, full of garlic (Mmmmm!) The spaghetti with lemon sauce- YUM. The burnt pepperoni pizza was also great. We ended the night with a tiramisu which was awesome too! Overall, the food was great, service was very friendly, ambience is lovely for a romantic dinner, drinks are super fun as well! I have no bad reviews about this place as a tourist! Enjoy :)
(4)Jennifer V.
I went to Sienna Tavern with 5 other people for a friend's birthday dinner. 3 of my friends were looking forward to the grilled cheese special that was advertised but when we sat down for our 6:45pm reservation they said they said they were no longer serving the special even though it was for the entire day?? We then ordered the coccoli appetizer which was really good. The prosciutto was really tasty, there was enough for each to have 1 piece. A few of us then wanted to try the cheese board so we chose the gorgonzola and red rock to try. The cheese came on a large rock like tray with 5 cube of the red rock and a piece of gorgonzola the size of a half of slice of cheese. It was accompanied by 5 walnuts, a quarter size dollop of a honey sauce and a quarter sized dollop of a tomato jam. This entire tray cost $14 and it was the sparsest cheese tray I had ever come across. The cheese was good but 3 people shared it getting what I would call a nibble.....not worth $7 per cheese. We then ordered the faro pasta, gnocchi, and the orechiette. We also ordered the margherita pizza. The pizza was a very good size and was tasty....definitely the best priced item on the menu for the portion size. The pastas were all very good but again lacking on the portions. Normally after have 2 appetizers and then ordering pasta, to go bags are needed, not here. Everyone cleared there plates because the appetizers were so minimal. We also all ordered drinks which were very good. Lastly, on our open table reservation that it was our friends birthday and when it came time for dessert they brought nothing. The birthday girl ordered the $5 gelato and when it arrived the waitress had a candle in hand and said "it's your birthday right" she then lit the candle and stuck it in the dessert....not the way we really wanted that to happen for our friends special day. The restaurant also charged us for the $5 dessert...not very good customer service if you ask me. Overall food tasted good but the portions were too small for the cost, the server was friendly and knowledgeable when she was around but she went missing a few times and the drinks were average for the area. If you go don't experiment with appetizers just order pasta and a pizza to split!
(3)Lauren T.
I came here with 10 people for a birthday party! We reserved a private room to celebrate my Aunt's 60th! TANNER was our server, and was extremely helpful with the menu options, and helping us set up our slideshow (which we played on a one way mirror in the room) which was very cool! The food was delicious, and I would like to recommend the Number 11 cocktail to anyone that loves tequila like I do! We had a vegan with us as well, and Tanner was so helpful in helping her pick things from the menu, or offering to create a dish that she would enjoy! Awesome! He went over all of his favorites from the menu and we ended up starting with the COCCOLI, OCTOPUS, MEATBALLS (which are huge), and I know there was something else, but I cant remember. I ordered the BRICK CHICKEN which was really good, and it came with potatoes as well. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves so much, and walked away with wonderful memories
(5)Antoniah L.
Went on a Saturday night with my sister. Interestingly we were on our way to Hub 51, but detoured bc the freezing wind was gut punching us too much on the way. Looked swanky (and warm), and we'd never been so we checked it out. Arrived around 11 and were seated immediately. I had the number 5 and my sister had the number 2 for drinks. Both were well made and more layered/complex than your average cocktail, which seemed typical of the drink menu. Worth the $12, IMO. We had the wagyu meatball for a starter, shared the five cheese pizza as an entree, and finished with the Tuscan kale caesar salad - satisfactory all around. The house music mix playing was great and the decor was trendy. It's definitely loud and the bar, though spacious, was very crowded. Service was decent - all staff were very welcoming, friendly, and prompt for the most part. I'd visit again for dinner. It's not anything novel, but it's a solid joint.
(3)Ann W.
Wow! This place is a must try. Met friends there and it has a great vibe and we had a great waitress. We did not have a reservation on a Sat which was risky but got there a 6 and enjoyed a drink and a short wait before we were seated. Gumballhead lovers will be pleased...it's on tap here! We started with the coccoli and the truffle honey it is served with makes it really special and a treat that you must try. The truffle mushroom pizza smelled delicious upon arrival but lacked a little flavor. Maybe my tastebuds were spoiled by the decadent coccoli! We tried the short rib ravioli that was perfectly topped with a light sauce and a drizzle of balsamic. If you want to go to heaven and back, try the gnocchi. The truffle sauce and fried sage are just so wonderful and special. The whole place smells of truffles, which I love, and truly a treat for truffle lovers with many menu items to choose from with truffles. Would definitely go back and recommend.
(5)Yan X.
The server introduced this place as "refined casual" Italian food - we took that as a forewarning (this is not a tavern and nothing here reminds me of Siena, Italy). Their charcuterie came with only a few pieces of raisin toasts - it's odd that many places are serving these cold cut plates now but do not realize to serve it with good bread. Their homemade crab pasta was like Chinese egg noodles in a very thick sticky sauce with little flavor but they do give you a decent amount of crab. The pizza was meh. They do have a good wine selection. Overall, as we are not people who go to places only to be seen, we will not go back.
(1)Jen D.
Yum~! Love the atmosphere, large space and good people. Yes, Chef Fabio was walking around, taking photos, speaking with diners, etc.. Very cool guy. I had the tuna tar tar and brussel sprout salad... delish. Friends ordered pizza, meat and cheese plates, mozerella, foccasia.. no food was wasted. One friend ordered the tarimisu, and it was a coffee flavor overload. Not the best dessert one has ever tasted... then again, the girl who actually ordered it, loved it. so.. to each their own for sure, especially when dealing wtih authentic cuisine. Good wine list, I did not see my red zin, by the glass, however, as that's my go to drink, so I resorted to prosecco. Oh, and then margherita.. wonderfully made, I will say. :D Definitely will be back, not just for the great atmosphere, but decent priced drinks and great food. Don't let the name fool you, it may be called a Tavern, but the food is top notch.
(5)Akta D.
Wow! This place is fantastic. I've heard that it's difficult to get reservations, but if you're OK with eating at the bar and high tables then you don't need them. This place has great drinks, especially the wine. We got the pizza which was pretty good but it was missing some salt or garlic in the sauce. It gets 4 stars because the atmosphere is great and my bf said the grilled octopus was fantastic. I'll definitely be going back and trying some of their other items.
(4)Karolina K.
Everything about Siena Tavern is amazing. Lets start with the food, how can anyone say that it is okay or bad. IT IS AMAZING. I recommend starting with the Cocci, which are soft, warm puffs that you open and fill with prosciutto and cheese. I would also recommend starting with the grilled Octopus, and squeezing lemon all over it. This was delicious. Then there is the gnocchi, which I crave all the time. You have to get the gnocchi and the spaghetti. It does not get any better. The Brick Chicken is amazing and the Porterhouse for two is the best steak I have every had. I can't believe it, I was shocked. Steak at an Italian place, this was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Deserts, wow the Bomboloni is to die for, comes with a side of different sauces to squeeze into the Italian donut. I have to say raspberry is my favorite. The ambiance and style inside Siena is amazing. you can't not have a good time. This is the most amazing restaurant I have ever been too.
(5)Nadine P.
In a word, prosaic.....
(2)Josh C.
Huge props to the Siena Tavern management for swiftly contacting us to let us know how disappointed they were in our experience. All we really wanted was to get in the door and try the food. Brad the manager invited us back and dinner was really quite flawless. Were they paying extra attention to us...maybe but we didn't mind. Our server Hannah (sp?) answered all of my food questions and made great recommendations...I'll actually be requesting her when i return...sorry Hannah. The coccoli was incredible, the kale Caesar salad was unique, and the short rib ravioli was deliciously al dente...delicious. We capped the meal off with the warm chocolate butter cake. I am not much of a desert guy but this cake (with some port) was killer. Thanks again to the Siena Tavern for asking us to come back in and try the food. We are avid food enthusiasts...we ate very well at Siena Tavern.
(5)Jim K.
I met some friends for happy hour. We had drinks at a table near the bar and ordered a bunch of different food. Everything was great. Standouts weret the gnocci, kobi meatball, parpadelle, and the carne pizza. Good vibe and good service. I'll definitely go back.
(5)Kari B.
Went here for Sunday brunch before seeing Book of Mormon. While they had outside seating it was "smelly" outside so we sat inside. The inside decor was really nice. I had the lobster hash which was great! Also a must is cocktail #2. It's a take on the Bellini. No Fabio siting but the food was great and loved the location. Would go back for more.
(4)Jenny G.
Had an 11:00am reservation. Showed up at 11:02am and the doors were locked. Hostess clearly saw we were trying to get in, unlocked the door, then walked away, while we were still standing outside. Never opened the door for us, nor came outside to welcome us or apologize for the door being locked. After that "greeting" we decided to take our business elsewhere.
(1)Sam V.
I came here for my birthday with my girlfriend and overall it was pretty good. The place is always packed. Keep in mind when they say they keep a percentage for walk-ins they count the bar seating so there are only about a dozen tables up for grabs. Service was great! Good to see in a new place. Usually that lacks in the beginning. The giant Kobe meatball was good not great. But my girlfriend had the squid ink linguine and that was incredible. I had the lasagna and while it was cooked perfectly there wasn't much flavor to it. Sorry to say Rosebud still has the best lasagna in the city. On the plus, manager came over and offered another entree, which I passed on and but she bought us desserts. I wasn't even making a big deal about it but it was great that they were so concerned. The donuts with glaze were awesome! They need a food truck of those all around the city. Overall a fun place and I will be back. just not for the lasagna.
(4)Michael N.
Great ambiance and good place to go for happy hour or before dinner. Pretty decent upscale bar food and drinks. The truffle/mushroom pizza (as well as the burnt peperoni) is very solid. Crowd is typically girls in 20's/30's and guys in their 40's - 90's. So I'd definitely recommend if you're going for drinks and a quick bite, a girl looking for an older dude, or an older dude trading in for a younger girl. If you're looking for great food though, there are plenty of better options in the neighborhood.
(3)Joanna K.
went to Siena Tavern to check out Fabio Viviani's new place ... and try his much-discussed gnocchi. Booked on OpenTable in February to secure a 7 pm res (before the place even opened!) We had to adjust the reservation downwards, from 4 to 2 ppl, two days before dining there, and they had no issue with that. Decor: Nice vibe overall. Gigantic bar, as mentioned by several. Like the tables and chairs (so comfortable!!!) and the booths looked intimate too. Not too packed together; comfortable. They have an herb wall where they apparently grow the herbs for the food! Drinks: Got the #9 -- delicious! We both loved that. My sister got the #2 as well, which was delicious. The waitress recommended a glass of pinot noir for me -- that was only OK. Food: Oh, the food. Just delicious from start to finish. We started with the meatball (huge, moist, delicious, covered in ricotta and divine tomato sauce) -- wonderful. Also got the bone marrow -- the presentation is great, with two huge bones that you scrape out and put on toasted bread with a lovely fennel salad and mushrooms. Just heavenly. For dinner, we got the squid ink pasta with lobster ($$$, but they do not skimp on the lobster) and the afore-mentioned GNOCCHI! The squid ink pasta was divine -- cooked just perfectly, with a tomato-cream sauce and lovely chunks of lobster everywhere over the black pasta. The gnocchi was just divine -- I have never in my life tasted such soft, pillowy (that is really the only word to describe it) gnocchi and realize now that the reason that I probably was indifferent on gnocchi before was because it was never made like THIS! It is dressed in a cream based truffle sauce with bits of pancetta and fried sage. The entire meal was amazing, but I dream of that gnocchi even now! Finally, for dessert -- the tiramisu was inventively presented in a little tin pan with meringues on the side (along with a picture of a tree in cocoa -- or espresso? not sure, didn't taste it alone) Be warned that all this food is HEAVY and they give reasonable-sized portions -- go hungry! Service: Initially, we sat for a bit before anyone approached us. Finally, our waitress Natalie (? I think that was her name) came by, and she certainly made up for that -- she was engaging, charming, funny, and very enthusiastic about her job. She answered the requisite "where's Fabio?" questions with humor and a smile. Her recommendations were great. (I asked her for a glass of Pinot Noir, and she told me the one they serve by the glass -- it was only OK, but that is not her fault!) My sister had wanted to take home some leftover squid ink pasta, and the busboy accidentally threw it away!-- the waitress was so sweet that she went and talked to the kitchen and had them prepare an ADDITIONAL half serving of the pasta for her (complete with delicious lobster, which in the original dish we had definitely eaten ALL of :) ) to take home at no extra charge! (we had paid the bill!) No complaints on the service -- she went above and beyond, and with a smile to boot. All in all -- definitely planning to return! Enjoyed the whole experience a lot!
(5)Gina V.
Fabio Viviani, you've done an amazing job with this restaurant! I can not say enough amazing things about this place. The food was fabulous, our server was great and the atmosphere is so welcoming and trendy at the same time. I waited for 4 months to get a Saturday table at 8:30 pm (very popular day and time) at this place and I am telling you it was definitely worth the wait. The food is just amazing! I've been to RPM, which is just around the corner, and Siena Tavern blows RPM out of the water! For our dinner, we ordered the brussel sprouts salad, which was tangy, and perfect in so many ways. The salad was shaved pieces of brussel sprouts with small pieces of almonds and very light and refreshing dressing. We also had the Kobe meatball, which was the best meatball I've ever eaten (I'm Italian, so I've eaten my fair share of meatballs). First of all this meatball was huge and was covered with shaved cheese and served with amazing sauce. The meatball was perfectly cooked and just wonderful. We also ordered the buffala mozzarella, which was so creamy and soft and delicious. It was served with an amazing sweet, smoky sauce. The best cheese I've eaten. Then for our entrees we had the Carne pizza, and the short rib ravioli. First the pizza was probably a 14 inch and it was enough to feed 2-3 people comfortably. The meat on the pizza was spicy and plentiful. The cheese, the mozzarella which was amazing. The short rib ravioli in a mushroom sauce was delicious. The ravioli was cooked perfectly and the mushroom sauce was just delicious. I seriously can not say enough amazing things about this place. You need to go there and enjoy the food as much as we did.
(5)Mark F.
My first visit. I had the Italian Beef Sandwich, which was so so (there didn't seem to be that much beef in it). The fries and garlic dip were good. The place is nicely decorated and has an attractive bar area. The staff look like cheerleaders--one was even playing with her hair all the time (if you found blonde hair in your pizza, that is probably where it came from). The place felt a little fake to me.
(2)Sile O.
Four star average - really? Visiting from California we had dinner at ST. We decided to eat family style, so we were able to try lots of different things (two pasta dishes and one pizza, along with appetizers). WOW. This is the food experience I expected in Italy (but didn't have). The food was amazing. I'd give it more than five stars if I could.
(5)mark b.
This is not a review of STs food, but more about the managements culture. From what i have heard from colleagues and friends, this is a fine food emporium. My yelp is strictly about their manners or specifically the managers. On Wednesday i had the misfortunate to be "doored" while commuting home on my bike, out in front of ST. I am a Bike commuter for more then 25 years so i am not new to mishaps. But what was appalling to me was that as i was trying to get myself and my bike back to snuff, ( bike was wrecked and i was badly banged up), the manager of ST came over and told me i had to move away from the curb in front of the restaurant. Mind you i was in the street, not near the patrons or even the valet stand. And never mind that the young woman who had bounced out of the cab in the middle of the street was now in ST. The manager did not offer me assistance of any kind; no towel to clean me not even a glass of water. Not only did he want me away from near his place, he was insistent that the police would ever come to the scene and i should just leave. I am sure its a fine place to eat but with that kind of management i can reccommend other places.
(1)M W.
I've been there 4-5 times over the past few months for lunch, dinner and after work drinks. The food OK but uneven; and tends to be over salted (they need to use herbs and spices instead of cheap salt). Hostesses and managers are actually rude to guests (I've had it happen to our group as well as seen it with other guests). The servers are generally nice. This place is really overrated. Don't believe the hype.
(2)Cameron W.
lasagna is clutch
(5)Razzina z.
This review is based on the bar service only. I have not dined there so can't comment on food. Basically, we stopped by for a drink at the bar last night and happened to experience the rudest service in Chicago. The bartender didn't come over for about 15 min ( and it wasn't that busy) , then not only she didn't greet us or asked what we want she just rudely stared as if she doing us a favor . She had a bitchiest attitude and was very unpleasant, do not know her name ,but she had long dark hair with streaks and looked middle eastern . Later, another bartender started serving us and she was nice and that's why an extra star. I think this kind of place should not tolerate people who cannot provide good customer service..
(2)Erica S.
This place is beyond terrific! I have never been to a more accommodating restaurant. I let the server know that I have certain dietary restrictions. She AND the manager, Heather, personally spoke with the chef to ensure that my meal would be exactly as I specified. I'm so appreciative of how great they were to me. And the food is amazing! Get the lobster linguine!!!!
(5)Tracy F.
I've waited *months* to get into this restaurant. I had high expectations. They were definitely not met. First, the restaurant is extremely loud. I'm tolerant of energetic noise, but my ears were almost ringing. Second, the bar scene (which is actually very good) is so over popular that it spills into the dining area. When we were taken to our table, two people were sitting at it with their drinks and the hostess had to ask them to move. No one wiped down the table after they left. The appetizers were very good (Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad and Buratta). The entrees were extremely average. The gnocchi was oversized and too doughy (though the truffle sauce was very flavorful). The farro pasta with oven dried tomatoes was lacking tomatoes. I had to dig for them. Otherwise I was eating pasta with plain pesto. It was something I could make at home. The service was excellent and attentive. The manager came by and chatted us up for about 10 minutes and was very genuine. My advice: Go for the bar scene and pizza. It's not worth it for dinner. Prices are reasonable.
(2)Kendra K.
Decor is beautiful, bar is fun, and food is amazing!! Highly recommend the Kobe meatball and coccoli appetizers. The baked lasagna is fresh, light and delicious!!
(5)Erica T.
It's tough to get in but it's well worth the wait. The food is outstanding, the service is excellent, I just wish it was easier to get a reservation. I've been 5 times and can highly recommend the Squid Ink linguini, the Grilled Octopus, the Coccoli and the Hamachi (yes, I keep ordering the same things because it's just that good). I'm not a dessert eater at all but when I saw Lavender Gelato I had to submit. It's a spa in your mouth in the very best way. Just WOW! Love it.
(5)Ann O.
This place is great! I have been for dinner and drinks a couple times. Drinks are delicious. The no. 2 is dangerously yummy.... And they have a nice beer selection. The food is very good (the pizza is great, as is the carrot pasta), though the menu is a tad limited in my opinion. It can get loud when it's crowded, but I took my parents here for an early dinner, and it was lovely. The booths are comfy, and the service was great. Considering it's the hip new place, and its location, I definitely expected it to be pricier, but it's not too bad (my pasta, I believe, was $14 - totally reasonable for a dinner entree that is a nice-sized portion)! Definitely worth a trip.
(4)Qadree H.
We went into Siena Tavern because we were huge fans of Fabio from the cooking shows. We walked in for lunch and the hosts were great! We were seated and it felt like we were not getting the top notch service we would have expected to get from our server. The only reason I am still giving Siena a 4 is because all of the entrees that came out of the kitchen were top notch. The food was great. We had the Gnoochi-melt in your mouth and the braised short ribs pasta and this was stellar as well. Get the focaccia bread-it melts in your mouth as well. The decor was great, the host was great, but the service was not so good. Our server forgot to put in the focaccia bread order. She was slow with coming to take our order and checking back in as well. she also did not seem to make confident suggestions about the menu as well. I think that it is important for celebrity chefs to realize that we pay the price we pay for the food and the service. The servers should be more in tune to really WOW the customer because they are coming for great food and to see what the celebrity brand represents. For us the food was great, but the service needed a 1st class overhaul. I'm glad we went for lunch because had we gone for dinner with bad service I would have been so kind.
(4)Heather S.
Not worth the hype. I think I enjoyed being downtown at a fun spot more than the food. My table did like the gnocchi and donuts, but skip the burnt pizza, meatball and chocolate mousse dessert. NOT worth it.
(3)Jodi V.
It was my first time here this past week. The service was good and overall our experience was good. The kobe meatball was great. Margherita pizza was the worst I've ever had. Someone else at our table ordered it as well and thought it was awful too.
(3)Patti P.
Wonderful. Second visit; first on a Sunday afternoon tonight early dinner. No reservation, no problem. Friendly service and tasty food. Pear and prosciutto pizza is good as are salads. Wine list offers good choice for reasonable prices. Great vibe and people watching. Only thing better would be seeing Fabiola on visit three!
(4)Alan F.
So where do I start? From the decor to the staff to the food, it was amazing!!! I loved the mussels, pasta with duck confit, meatball, hamachi and grilled squid. Then for dessert, we had fried doughnuts that were served with small bottles chocolate, strawberry and caramel. Can you say amazing? Can't wait to get back to Chicago to treat myself to this amazing food orgy :)
(5)Stardust B.
I highly recommend dining at the Siena Tavern - 51 W. Kinzie Street in Chicago. Start off with a glass of Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2011, a succulent & sophisticated wine. Imagine notes of tangerine, kiwi, melon, & honeyed lemon-lime. Then, enjoy the Kobe meatball with its melt-in-your-mouth flavors of beef, ricotta & basil, in chunks of tomato sauce. My other favorite was the Farro salad, mixed with grilled shrimp, calamari & veggies dressed in a herb-mustard vinaigrette. Next, savor the fork tender & moist Osso Bucco, garnished with gremolata. For desert, you will enjoy this sweet indulgence of fluffy and light Italian doughnuts, or Bomboloni. They are served with three little bottles of whisky-caramel, chocolate hazelnut & raspberry chianti sauces for you to dip as much as you please. Lastly, the olive oil, lemon & sea salt gelato was surprisingly refreshing. As for the waitstaff, they were friendly and knowledgeable. Plus, the character and atmosphere of Sienna Tavern was first class. To secure a seat, make reservations or arrive early and sit in the relaxed bar area. For a stress free lunch or dinner, valet your car or take a cab!
(5)Aimee P.
We loved Siena Tavern when we dined there last Friday night. It took 6 weeks to get a 6:30 res on a Friday night and I called to try to push it back but they said no. Well, traffic was horrible and we didn't arrive until 7:00. They couldn't have been nicer and seated us right away without any comments on the time. The bar was hopping and the restaurant was busy but didn't seem packed, plenty of tables were open. The space is very nice, open and classy casual. Anyway, Casey was our server and she was great. ALways a treat to have a female server who recommends meat! She had great suggestions and we ordered tons of food......buffala mozzarella with tomato jam, pepperoni pizza, siena bread with evoo and cheese, beet salad, shaved brussel sprouts, gnocchi, pappardelle, carrot tortellaci, and the parmesan sage fries. Everything was delicious!! Only critique is that the staging was a little fast. In fact, we would have ordered another bottle of wine if the food had not all come out in 45 minutes. Btw, the #1 cocktail is delicious too! I'll be back as soon as I can get a reservation. ugh
(4)Valerie B.
Siena Tavern takes up the first floor of a newish curved glass high rise. In the daylight the glass walls make the venue very bright and open. You enter through revolving doors to be greeted by the host/hostess station constructed of shiny steel plate held together by rows of rivets. It looks like an homage to the Restoration Hardware catalog. The overall decor is industrial-chic with acres of concrete, gray leather and black granite and this upcycled hub-cap bar doesn't really fit. Turn left and you will be in the bar area, which is huge. On a Friday evening it was packed with twenty or thirty somethings plus those who wished they were. To the right is the eating area. This separation of the bar/food area is good design as it means you can actually talk to the people you are eating with, something that is rare in many restaurants. The tables by the window are set up for foursomes. The middle area is a line of semi-circular banquettes which are raised one step above the floor level. They are actually very comfortable for twosomes, which is how they were being used, although I think they could accommodate four people. Nearer the kitchen there are high tops and then chairs against the bar. The waitress was excellent. She went through the menu highlighting favorites in each category. I was impressed that she was not trying to push the priciest items. All the food is made in-house and even the herbs are grown on the wall behind the bar. The menu is extensive and includes small plates, a mozzarella bar, a crudo bar, home made pasta and pizza plus more traditional entree sized dishes. The food came quickly and this restaurant was not being cheap on staffing levels. Bus boys were in evidence all the time. Water glasses were refilled and empty plates were promptly removed from the table. This was some of the best service I have had recently. My friend was the Birthday Girl and, as she is a hundred percent Italian, I defer to her on the authenticity of the food. She was raving about it, saying the tomato sauce was just like her mother's. We shared the Kobe meatball, which was approaching the size of a tennis ball, and the bufala mozzarella with eggplant caponata. Toasted bread came with both of these dishes. I loved the eggplant caponata and wished there was more of it although, to be fair, it was just the supporting act to the mozzarella. These sharing dishes are pretty close to entree size. My friend then had gnocchi with a truffle cream sauce, which she loved. I had the black squid ink linguini with lobster which was very tasty. We definitely didn't need dessert, but ordered some anyway. I had a warm apple-fig tart with triple vanilla bean gelato. The tart case was very crisp and had obviously been baked unfilled. The apples had been sliced into ribbons and mixed with little squares of dried fig. The tart filling had been flavored with spices and tasted just like Christmas. I loved it. My friend wanted gelato, but asked if she could have the triple vanilla bean which was not one of the options listed. She was happy when the answer was yes because, as she said, many restaurants are like petty dictators and just refuse to deviate from the written menu. We really enjoyed this restaurant and chose it because it was recommended by a friend. We definitely did not go because of the TV chef. In fact, we had never heard of him!
(4)Erica G.
This place had amazing octopus, a great atmosphere, and the server Jessica was adorable and informative. She deserves 5 stars, and I definitely recommend the restaurant.
(4)Barry P.
First the nuts and bolts and little things: Hot new place attached to Fabio Viviani of Check Please fame. He joined with a hot group to open a large space in the uber hot River North area. Think of Hubbard St, Erie St,. Kinzie, Dearborn, and State street near Wacker drive. Very competitive area for food. Well, he may have staying power as long as the crowds don't mind paying up to $16 for a pizza and upwards of $30 for a main course and $12 for parking. Now, little things. Had a very nice beet salad, but we also ordered the Truffle Pizza and the salad plate remained on the table for the pizza. A restaurant of this nature should have taken the salad plate and replaced it immediately. Servers and bus boys ned to know this. Also, forks were used, taken but not replaced until after we received our next course. Finally, my wife's decaf coffee was just colored weak water and the server did not bring cream or sugar and this had to be requested. Again, a restaurant of this type should not skimp on the coffee and should bring what is required without asking. Service was good and attentive and young, but the car park was quite slow in taking my car. The message starts on the outside. Now the food which is billed as rustic italian. I don't know. Maybe rustic with modern takes. We had a beet salad, a truffle pizza, the short rib ravioli, the gnocchi and the sea bass and the sticky parmesan potatoes, which are more like what you would get at a Sunday breakfast with eggs, and finished with the donuts and dipping sauces and pistachio gelato, and a nice bottle of wine. I think I would classify the food as small plates, but not very rustic. We did not leave hungry and all of the food was y good.to very good. The best in Chicago, hardly, but nothing to complain about. The gnocchi and ravioli were terrific and the pizza also very good. The room is beautiful and must have cost a small fortune to put together. Now, all they need to do is stay consistent, hope people don't have a problem spending the kind of dollars they are asking and keep filling the place. Last night, there was a steady stream of people so that may not be a problem, but foodies are fickle and once the next hot thing comes along, they move on. Finally, I had a nice conversation with one of the young managers. We talked about the restaurant and the area, and just lots of general stuff. Very nice young man, and he took time with us to talk. Helps with the PR. Good luck Fabio.
(4)Megan T.
Loved this place. Went on a Sunday afternoon, very relaxed atmosphere. Waitress was wonderful and very helpful. Food was outstanding. We had the coccoli to start. Mind-blowing, (but sticky!). My husband and I shared the pizza and the chicken sandwich. Sandwich and fries were outstanding. Pizza was good, but probably would not do the pepperoni again since it was pretty spicy. The cheese-sauce ratio was perfect. The house beer was perfect and right up my alley. (Wheat ale from Goose Island)
(5)Amita P.
We went there for my and a friend's birthday celebration. Adam was the nicest server. We all gave him a 2 thumbs up. For a busy Saturday night he was very attentive to our table. He gave us great recommendations and we loved every bite of our food. Thank you Adam!!
(5)Cynthia P.
This place is a definite 5 stars for food quality...there were definitely some "mmmm"' going on at the table. Service was super slow I hate to admit. I've been to Italy several times and this restaurant exceeded my expectations since sometimes other top chef restaurants aren't so great...started off with the coccoli wow these literally melted in you mouth the truffle honey elevated the dish to an entire new level(I fell in live with truffles in Italy where they are in abundance), the prosciutto was high quality and the mozz melted in your mouth I highly recommend starting with this. We then split a truffle pizza and the gnocchi...the gnocchi hit he mark dead on true comfort food for a rainy day...the pizza was slightly underwhelming needed more flavor. Since is was my bday they brought a scoop of bday Icecream..at first sight I was disappointed but upon taste it was incredible pieces of cake in it---cleaned the bowl. My friend had a Bloody Mary said it was the best she had ever had...food is reasonable te drinks are expensive but that's typical in Chicago. I would say this restaurant is a must in Chicago!!
(5)J. O.
This place definitely loved up to my expectations! The coccoli (fried dough with prosciutto and cheese, drizzled with truffle honey) was amazing. Tonight was the first night it was open to the public, and Top Chef Fabio Viviani was making the rounds which made it all worthwhile (so charming and nice). The atmosphere and service were great - everyone seemed really excited about the opening and the food. Even though they were not taking reservations, we waited only an hour and the hostess checked in on us in the bar several times and made sure we didn't wait too long. The food was really great, and I liked so many options on the menu that I had to make a point to come back another day. I did not get to try the pizza, but the meatballs, crude, coccoli, gnocchi, carbonara, and tiramisu were all really great. You can definitely taste that the pasta is homemade. I would recommend to anyone who wants to try a variety of Italian food with unique flavors.
(5)Patty M.
I am not a big Yelper, but the food and service I had at Siena Tavern prompted me to write. I tried to get a reservation the same day -- 5:30 on Friday night, and was told they were full, but we could sit at the bar or outside. My friend and I arrived at 5:15 and were able to sit outside. We had the best service from Kristy K. who was knowledgeable about the food and also made GREAT recommendations. She was not one of these aloof hipsters that many restaurants hire, but genuinely nice and interested in our experience and feedback. She recommended the coccoli, which was outstanding. I still think of it. The fresh, crispy dough with the prosciutto wrapped around stracchino cheese was a taste sensation. I shared the Burrata with my friend. While the burrata portion was large, and the quality amazingly fresh, it was featured with figs. When the figs arrived, they were a mere decoration on the plate. When a menu lists figs in August, it should not be pieces that look like part of a mise-en-place. There should be more fig. I had the fresh and tasty pasta in a jar, which sounded like a gimmick, but was really good. My friend had lasagna in the cutest little metal baker. The tippy top of the meal was the bombolini. Wow, another fried dough extravaganza. We started with the coccoli, with fried dough, and ended with bombolini. A tasty meal and a great experience. When my friend recommended Siena Tavern, I hadn't heard of it, so I looked up their website and saw their wonderful video. I had just arrived home from a vacation in Italy, so that video and the stated intention of the partners to create something that was authentically Italian with an American twist really caught my interest. The restaurant did not disappoint in execution from the expectations created in the video. Thank you. And thanks, Kristy K for making it a fun evening.
(4)Cynthia K.
I wanted to like this place, I really did. All of my party of 3 cannot recommend this restaurant. We waited 2 1/2 months to get a table for a Tues evening and so expectations for high. It is trendy and extrememly loud. We were seated on time for our reservation and the chairs were comfy. Our waitress was not up to par for this level of dining, rather confused. After 45 minutes our entrees arrived with no appetizer in sight. The server had no idea what we ordered or where it was. It showed up a few mintues later. To try and make things right they did 'comp' us the app. The lamb chop entree at $42 was overcooked and deluged in balsamic vinegar - a big miss. Nothing came with it - no veggie, no bread. The truffle/mushroom pizza had very scant toppings - I counted 2 slices with nothing but cheese on. The coccoli (popovers with ham-wrapped cheese) was strange - the cheese was mealy like it had been melted, hardened and remelted and the honey on it did not work for me. The Osso Bucco was fine. There is nothing accompaying your entrees - no veggies, no bread and sides are $9. $9 ?!?!?! for this price point and wiat to get in I need to be blown away. We were decidely NOT. The Sangria tasted like Brandy & seven up - no wine taste at all and all I kept getting were litte apple pieces up my straw. I could not finish the drink. We will not return, alas.
(2)Liz S.
Went here on a Sunday evening for dinner. My friends and I are Top Chef addicts so of course I had to hit this restaurant while visiting Chicago. The food and service were fantastic. My friends and I started with the carrot salad which was very delicious. Light and refreshing. We ended up ordering two pasta dishes and two pizzas to share. Word of advice, skip the pizzas. They were ok but nothing special. We tried the four cheese and the pear with prosciutto and both were on the bland side although the crust was nice. The pasta however was amazing. We ordered the gnocchi and another pasta I can't remember the name of but it had braised duck on it. Both were unreal and we even asked for bread to wipe up the sauces. There were about four other pastas that sounded great too so like I said skip the pizzas and focus on the pastas. For dessert we did the bombolonis and salted caramel gelato. Both were so good and we all liked the whiskey caramel sauce for the bombolonis best. Our waitress was very attentive though not annoyingly so and provided great wine suggestions. I love this place and can not wait to go back my next time in Chicago!
(5)Cami R.
Great decor, nice staff, great menu! To drink we ordered the sangria. It was made with white wine, but it didn't say in the menu... weird... We had the gnocchi (LOVED them!) and the short rib ravioli (AMAZING!). For dessert the Warm Chocolate Butter Cake, very good! Will return to try the rest of the menu!
(5)Elizabeth C.
Great atmosphere, noisy but good. Amazing gluten free menu with many options. Not only is the gf men great but the staff is very knowledgeable about gluten and cross contamination. We ordered the grilled octopus, burrata cheese, and oysters as starters. All were fantastic. Main meal was the crudo bar (all 4) which was delicious. Will go back for another visit soon. I would recommend this place!!
(5)Joe J.
Amazing dinner experience here: Kobe Meatball is out of this world. The spicy yellowtail appetizer is delicious. Seafood Brodetto is unique, spicy, but not overwhelming. Great entree choice. Margherita pizza is delicious too! Drinks were right on par with the food. Expensive, but you pay for what you get.
(5)Jessica B.
Made reservations more than a month out for a girls night out and it was an excellent selection. I cannot rave enough about 90% of the things we had there, but one of my dishes fell completely flat. For starters, we had Coccoli, which is cheese, proscuitto and puff pastry (almost like sandwiches) and it was melt in your mouth amazing. I would eat plates of that no problem. We also split a pizza, the proscuitto and pear was recommended by our waitress and it was SO good. Love the combo and the crust was perfectly crispy but soft too. For pasta, I honed in on the homemade ones because, well that's always better. But my choice of gemilli with duck ragout and arugula was...boring. No real flavor and the pasta looked like it came out of a box. And it wasn't even cooked al dente. After having amazing, life changing pasta at Balena, this was a huge disappointment. Friends got the lasagna and roasted carrot tortellini and both loved theirs so I guess I just ordered poorly. Fortunately, the rest of the meal made up for the pasta I got, but honestly, just left a dampened experience. But, I would still go back here and try again because the other items we had were 100% knocks out of the park. Oh, and the cocktails were fab too. I couldn't find the list online of cocktails to share what I had, but the gin one with lavender was really good. Recommend that as well!
(4)Nino D.
Visited Siena Tavern for the first time this past Saturday...we had a fabulous time. Food was amazing and the whole concept is pretty cool- from cocktails at the bar to the dinner dishes- everything was very well prepared. I like that you can come and have a pizza at the bar and drinks or sit down and have a full diner. Server was great and attentive. I will definitely visit again very soon.
(5)Natalia K.
siena tavern is a great spot for lunch or after work drinks & appetizers because their plates are very easy for sharing. i always go with the coccoli (just as every other yelper recommends), gnocchi, and margharita pizza. the cocktails are great and there is a lot of crafty ones to choose from, i'm on a mission to try each one eventually!
(5)Shannon L.
I enjoyed an extremely solid lunch here on a random weekday afternoon. Sienna Tavern definitely fits into River North, there's tons of well decorated space and the menu was excellent. Our table feasted on the pear and prosciutto pizza, brussel sprout salad, a burger and the daily soup & roasted cauliflower. The pizza was as delicious as any specialty pizza gets, and the size of the pizza was very satisfactory for the price. The brussel sprout salad was actually pretty underwhelming, but the rest of what we consumed that day was pretty delicious. Another star for the adorable logo and packaging for takeout orders. Our server was attentive and enthusiastic, and all in all we had a great meal. No reservations necessary for lunch, but I think that for dinner you're looking at two weeks out.
(4)Jarrid C.
Head bow of praise. The food is to die for. My wife and I took advantage of the cold weather and was able to get immediate seating. Bekah hosted us for the evening. She was spot on with her immediate food suggestion of Wagyu Beef meatball. My immediate response upon first site was, "its just a meat ball" as I am not big on eating meat balls. Boy it was poor judgement on my part. I found myself not getting enough of it. It was so juicy, fresh and seasoned. The sauce blended with mozzarella cheese has a smooth slightly creamy feel without any overpowering zesty tomato taste. The garlic pieces inside of the meat ball were perfectly sauteed. The Show Stoppers! My meal was the Double Cut Pork Chop with caramelized brussel sprouts, garlic whipped potato and an apple cider sauce. I can not say that enough about the flavors that were infused in this Chop. It was season to perfection. The char on it was just right and it was packed with juices. It could never be mistaken for being dry. The Mash potatoes were creamy with intense flavors. The Brussel Sprouts were equally pleasing. They had a great deal of flavor and were caramelized to perfection. I have nothing bad to say about them. I just didn't like them because I personal do not like the taste of Brussel Sprouts, but my wife devoured them. I also had a house beer, which also tasted pretty good. My wife had the12-hour Braised Ossobuco Farro risotto with hazelnut gremolata sauce. The veal was very tender. It has a melt in your mouth feel. The risotto was very creamy and cook to perfection. So if any of you are ever watching those Chef shows and are wondering how risotto should taste, look no further. The Party Continues Desert The Gelato was a party in our mouth. We had the cinnamon mascarpone. We also had the Bomboloni. These little sugar dough rolls/biscuits things are amazing. They give you three different sauces that you can inject into them and with each bite its a Utopia. Bekah, took great care of us. When we return we will ask for her again. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and was very hospitable. We enjoyed our visit at Siena Tavern. My wife and out enjoyed our meals their more then our meals at Emeril's NOLA in New Orleans.
(5)Jessica N.
LOVED IT! Everything we ordered here was fantastic from the drinks to the dessert. I went there with my mother and aunt and we shared everything and tried to get a little bit from each part of the menu. We, of course, started with the meatball which was very tasty. Not the best meatball I've ever had but it was good and the sauce was delicious and so fresh tasting. Another noteable item was the bellwether farm ricotta with crispy mortadella.... OH MY. I mean who ever thought of frying mortadella cubes was an effing genius. It was SO good. Came with grilled bread and pesto as well and it was gone nearly as soon as it was down on the table. We had a pizza with eggplant on it that was just ok - but I think it was poor ordering on our part. It wasn't memorable. But the absolute STAR of the meal was the SHORT RIB RAVIOLI - WOW. I'm pretty sure we licked the plate clean. I could have eaten a bucket of those things. Best pasta I've ever had in my life.
(5)Cam L.
I had really been looking forward to a trip to Siena Tavern, and they definitely met my expectations. I'd definitely recommend it! We ordered drinks (interesting Sangria and Goose Island's Siena Tavern-exclusive brew). For the entrees, we had the Short Rib Ravioli and the Carne Pizza. They were both really good, although the Ravioli was the highlight - think Braised Beef-filled Ravioli with a creamy, flavorful sauce. The way that it was served made it great American food with a really good Italian twist. We were there for a birthday, and Gregory, our server was really good, he later brought us a complimentary scoop of Birthday Cake Gelato (tastes JUST like cake!) to celebrate.
(4)Kevin C.
Chicago, Illinois Pretty good food, very slow service. We were a group of about 11 sitting in the back room. We shared most of the apps and several of the entrees with nearly all being very good. For dessert we had the doughnuts and tiramisu, these two dishes were great. Unfortunately however the service was very slow. This place has the typical, Cool, Chicago, Trendy vibe. It was a great scene (10 June 2013). Unfortunately however our server would disappear for 7 or 8 minutes at a time, completely unacceptable. Give us an additional server and I guarantee the additional bar tab offsets the labor. Leaving the table to go to the bar to order drinks is not good. Also, a few of us sat outside, on the sidewalk, for about an hour prior to dinner; my first drink took about 20 minutes the second arrived just before we went to our table. Both were very good, #5 and a #8?, just too slow. So... the service outside the dining room was slow as well. Mr/Ms GM, beef up the staff! Back to the food, we had the Parm Fries with our drinks....very good. I believe they're a new restaurant...so hopefully they'll work out the staffing kinks.
(3)Vanessa M.
The ambiance here is amazing but let me tell you, the food is even better! If you're looking for a trendy place to dine, Siena Tavern is perfection. Swung over here for lunch with several co-workers and was completely impressed with this swanky eatery. The staff was wonderful and extremely accommodating. Our server had loads of recommendations, which was very helpful and made for a great lunch. First off: The focaccia bread. Even after all the food we ordered, the focaccia was the star of the show. It was dense, moist, and decadent. Forget about the carbs and eat it all. We moved onto the grilled octopus, which is served with duck fat potatoes, red chilies, celery, aged balsamic, and chive. It was tender, juicy, and left me aching for another order. We also shared an order of burrata, which comes with grilled bread, tomato jam, sea, salt and olive oil. FInally, I had the shaved brussel sprouts salad, which comes with parmigiano and toasted marcona almonds. It was good if you're looking for a light lunch but after eyeing my co-worker's farro salad, it left me drooling over hers instead! I'll definitely be going back, especially for the pizza bar!
(5)Erin C.
Got all the suggested plates...all were amazing. To top it off, our waiter brought a birthday ice cream and candle when we didn't even tell him! Excellent meal, I will definitely be returning!!
(5)matthew m.
Wow, wow, wow! Early was great for me and my family having dinner. My wife ordered off the menu and I ordered pizza. Wish we could do that at Osterio Via Stato next to our house but nope. You have to eat pizza in the bar or dinner menu in the restaurant but not at Siena!. Such a great atmosphere and the staff are well trained. Ill be back Friday.
(5)James H.
Incredible brunch food. My wife got the Lobster hash and I got the eggs Benedict. Both were phenomenal. We also had a mimosa and Bloody Mary. Both were good but nothing special. If I had to recommend one brunch food it would be the eggs Benedict. I won't go into a long explanation of the taste but if you order it you will not be disappointed. It was a little pricy just for brunch but all in all it was worth it.
(5)Michelle L.
AMAZING. I tried all the appetizers (no, really. I did) and a few of the meats and cheese. Everything was presented wonderfully and tasted delicious. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. Our server was Adam and he was so accommodating and attentive. Next I go back I'm going to request him as my server. Since it's still kind of new in River North I would definitely make a reservation a few weeks in advance. The place was packed around 9 pm on a Friday - not a single table or seat was open.
(5)Erin C.
I have been wanting to check out this place for awhile now and I went there with a couple of friends last weekend. It had a really nice ambience and we had a great server. I ordered the brick chicken and thought it was amazing! I shared it with my friend whom also though it was good ,however, the next morning I woke up feeling terribly sick. I asked the one friend who I shared my chicken with if she had also gotten ill and she said she did. I knew right then we had been food poisoned! I called the restaurant and spoke with a manager. He took down my information and apologized and said another manager would be in contact with me. I understand these things happen but I have yet to hear from someone. They should have made it right. I paid $80 for wasting my dinner literally down the toilet! I will not be referring anyone there nor will I be going back. Very disappointed...
(2)Rob I.
Everyone should try this place at least once, farro salad, meatball, and drinks are all great . Great job fabio!!
(4)Deanna G.
Went to Siena Tavern last Friday to celebrate my birthday. We ordered the Buratta mozzarella to start which was amazing with the jam, honey and toasted bread. For our entrees we ordered short rib ravioli and lasagna. Ravioli was amazing! Lasagna was good, a little too salty for my taste but still good. When I made the reservation, the hostess asked what the occasion was and I told her it was my birthday. Not only did the manager stop by the table to check in on our meals, but also thanked me for choosing to celebrate my birthday with Siena. On top of that, the birthday cake ice cream is to die for with pieces of vanilla cake inside! So impressed with the top notch service and great meal! Would definitely recommend!
(5)AnneMarie R.
I was in town visiting for a work conference and was taken here by a friend that lived in the area. Awesome! food was delish. We shared everything to get more out of the experience. It was a great atmosphere, great food, great service. Totally recommend.
(5)James K.
Took advantage of the Chef Week lunch menu. Had the burrata, rigatoni, and pistachio gelato. The burrata had a nice creamy yet firm texture, and the seasoning was just right. When combined with the tomato jam and toasted bread, I could have eaten this for the entire meal. I usually don't like heat in my food, but the rigatoni had just the right amount, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. I also added the diver scallop crudo which turned out to be a serendipitous decision. The scallop was fresh and briny, and the accompanying seasoning allowed the main ingredient to shine. The highest note of the meal may have been the pistachio gelato. Can't really describe it other than it was exquisite. The place has a great energy and brightness, but it is still an overall relaxed, laid back atmosphere. Granted it was a Friday, but I took a bar seat at opening time, and within 30 minutes both the table and bar seating were full.
(5)M C.
The first time we came here for dessert and coffee and sat at the bar. The place was packed and the crowd was mainly young professionals. Very classy place without being outrageously expensive. The bartender serving us was cool and took good care of us. Really liked the atmosphere and the bar had a cool decor. Came here again for dinner. I had been craving home made pasta for a while so I immediately picked the pappardelle. Soooo good! The pasta is like flat wide sheets with meat sauce. So simple yet so tasty. My husband was jealous he didn't also order it. Saw the cooks preparing a pizza that looked really good. If I'm in the area again I'll have to try it. We had these little donuts for dessert that came with little bottles of vanilla, caramel, and chocolate syrup that you inject into the donuts. The donuts were totally yummy and fun. Both times we sat at the bar and the bartenders were totally cool and very attentive. Being from L.A. a place like this can be pretentious but I didn't get that from Siena Tavern. Wasn't snooty and we had a really good experience.
(4)Kira S.
Great food, great atmosphere, great night. This is definitely a place to splurge, everything was very rich, but delicious. For me the standouts were the Coccoli (crispy dough, stracchino cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle honey), grilled octopus (tender and flavorful) and the homemade gnocchi with truffle cream, fried sage and crispy pancetta which was to die for. Reservations are hard to come by, definitely plan in advance.
(5)Josh R.
Love the food and the space. Definitely coming back!
(4)B.G. L.
Food was excellent. Party of 2 - ordered 4 separate things, 2 apps. to share and 2 entre. Apps were great sizes to share. Grilled octopus wonderful. My only complaint is the waitstaff was attentive to the point of being pesty. Roving table busing staff circulating constantly to remove plates, while it could be ok, I felt rushed, like they wanted to turn the table quickly. Our waiter was lovely but popped up to ask us "how is everything" way too often. Also had a visit from the Manager - no time for pleasant conversation as we were constantly talking to staff. All in all, I would certainly go back and try some more of the food offerings. Might need a little help with reading the menu - guess their printer ink was running low and the descriptions were very pale and hard to read. Oh well, I'm a senior so maybe I am missing a very "trendy" menu concept.
(4)Amber N.
This place is going to be our go to place for years to come. From the moment you walk in you feel at home. The hostesses were friendly, the decor was thoughtful and the ambiance felt part Chicago, part Italy. The menu is so diverse that I think we need to go back about 5 more times to try everything. Rarely do you find a menu where not one thing looks bad! Everything we had was awesome, especially unique was the Coccoli, a crispy dough (like a puff pastry) that you stuff with cheese, prosciutto and truffle honey. OMG, ridiculous. Next we had the highly recommended Kobe Meatball, again another win! Other favorites for dinner were the Prosciutto Pear Pizza, the Baked Lasagna (the owner's mom's recipe I believe?) and the absolute most decadent, fluffy, rich gnocchi you will try, truffle cream, with crispy pancetta. Unreal actually. We ended our night by trying the out of this world, Bomboloni. They were like little donuts (made with some mashed potatoes to add fluff) that you could infuse with carmel, chocolate or raspberry yourself at the table with little squirt bottles. A must try! This place seems to have knowledgeable staff, great atmosphere, awesome wine and creative whiskey drinks. Siena Tavern pushes the bar up even higher in Chicago, its just right!
(5)Michael P.
So I could not decide between the Risotto and Halibut. The Halibut was delicious. But the fish piece was bigger than the bed of vegetables it sat on. So 4, 3, 2, 1 I am done with my meal and wondering if I need to pick up a sandwich on my way back to the office. BIG price itty bitty portion. But good. The other at the table were also in the same mid set. good food but left the place hungry. Seats were very comfortable. Restaurant was clean and wait staff attentive. I guess if I have ordered an appetizer and dessert maybe the tiny portions would not have disappointed me so much. Oh I would also mention from Olive Garden to Spiaggia bread on the table of an Italian restaurant is a given, but not here.
(3)Nikki S.
DELICIOUS--the staff is also very nice as well. I would definitely recommend the dessert (holy hugeness) and the coccoli appetizer. A little pricier than I am used it, but well worth it for the deliciousness.
(4)Sarah S.
Lunch! Started with the wagyu meatball - divine! Beet salad for me was tasty, but nothing spectacular. Short rib ravioli (hubby) has many layers of flavor. Yum!
(4)Lauren B.
Situation: Party of 5 showed up around 6:30 on a Monday but there were no tables in the dining room and no cancellations so we sat in the bar for about an hour and a high top table opened and we snagged it. Note, a lot of people are waiting in the bar so it is best to just ask the table very very politely when their bill comes if you can snag it. Drinks: Beer is very, very reasonably priced here, $5 my hubby had quite a few Revolution anti-heroes and the $12 cocktail price is standard. Where I was most impressed was the wine list! Going out downtown and finding bottles of wine in the $30-40 can be difficult and annoying, but they have a great variety. Memorable drinks were the No. 11 and No.1. Food: Solid, so awesome! Coccoli was fantastic, Kobe meatball was tender and moist, and the grilled octopus was very tasty and perfectly cooked. Brussel Sprout salad was very light, and I think they must blanch them because as another review said, you really don't get that heavy brussel taste. Farro Pasta was great and the pesto was really to die for. Carbonara was outstanding and the bacon was really amazing. Double chop was also awesome, although one of their pricier options, it was well worth the splurge. The Truffle mushroom Pizza was a surprise favorite, seriously crust was perfect cheese was divine and the truffle was pretty heavy, in the best way possible. Service: Waitress, I believe Tiffany, was very nice, gave great recommendations and helped us with the wine menu and making sure we had a reasonable $32 bottle to enjoy. Only hiccup of the night, and really only being open for a month and a half I'm assuming will get worked out, is that all entrees came out except for the veal chop which took another 5-8 minutes. No biggie, they did apologize for it and ask for patience with the kinks. Bottom line: Will be back, will recommend to friends. Also, very heavy Italian food, I would suggest splitting a salad or app and a main and splurging on an extra drink or two. Really, you will be stuffed.
(4)Carry B.
The food here so great. I really love the Brussel sprout salad. The pumpkin ravioli is amazing!!! The wait staff is knowledgable of all food and drinks and friendly. The decor is beautiful. Call way in advance to make reservations!!
(5)Stefanie M.
Hubby and I came here after the Hawks game and was not diasppointed by the food or service. The bar area was an obnoxious scene of guys wearing too much cologne and bass thumping music. Happily, we were able to snag a table in the dining area. Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly without being pushy. Cocktails: i had the #3, tasted like a peach bellini. Meatball: best one I have ever had. if I could have licked the plate I would have. Burrata: a little heavy on the salt, but nice texture. Mushroom truffle pizza: perfect balance of both mushroom and truffle, neither was overpowering. A terrific experience and will go back again. I have no idea how anyone in the bar area would be able to have a conversation though.
(4)Stu S.
It pains me to say that most everything here--the food, the staff, the atmosphere--were mediocre. We had so been looking forward to coming here. There are many, many great Italian restaurants in Chicago but, sorry Fabio, this is not one of them. The gelato was good, though.
(2)Chris H.
This is my new favorite restaurant in Chicago. From the minute you walk in, you can tell this place is top notch and has paid attention to details. It's a big space but never feels too big or empty. The decor is perfect. Little touches like the fresh herb garden growing in drawers behind the crudo bar are nice touches. The food is phenomenal. Everything I have guests in town, I take them here and they are amazed. The Coccoli is a really amazing. This could become the signature dish for Siena. It's unique and delicious. We loved everything that we had, but the Squid Ink pasta was another highlight for me. This place has phenomenal food but is also a great place to stop for a drink. Great cocktail and wine list.
(5)Kari F.
I had high expectations of this place. The food was good, but not great. The strange thing was the first time I visited (when they first opened), the tavern burger was good, but the 2nd time I ordered it was a let down. The bun used to have rosemary, the cheese and tomato jam was plentiful, and the burger was pretty juicy. What happened? My group of 4 ordered the bone marrow- big disappointment. The whole dish was slathered in way too much balsamic vinegar, only one bone had any marrow in it, and they only gave us 3 tiny pieces of bread with it (for 4 people). The pappardelle pasta was really boring. Your normal sauce and pasta... nothing else. Ragu? I have and can make a better sauce with bread or SOMETHING else to go with it- no problem. The lobster club was fresh w/ tons of lobster. But again- not anything to talk about. Yawn. The hype of this place and the EXTREME prices don't fit the food. Service, however, was superb.
(2)Caroline P.
It was Thursday evening and we got a seat around 5:30 at the back bar... sort of out of the way but perfect if you make it early enough and the front bar is already crowded, the back bar is fine. We had no chance of getting a normal table without a reservation Cocktail #11 was great, like a fancy margarita. We then switched to wine which was sort of an expensive choice, but the bartender who was also our server was attentive and helped us choose our bottle. We started with a 3 cheese plate, had the server pick the cheeses for us and they were all fantastic... and there was PLENTY of cheese... we could have gone with 2. We then split a margherita pizza and squid ink linguini (they plated our pastas separately which was nice). The pizza was delicious, very fresh, baked right in front of us and the pasta was very rich and filling. We did think this was too much food for 2 people, so keep that in mind, but everything was tasty. My main complaint is it was very expensive... I think we each spent $85 which seemed over the top to me, but then again it's River North. I can't decide if I'd go back... if I did, I'd eat/drink less :)
(3)Bill J.
We wanted to like this place more than we did and had very high expectations - Fabio/Top Chef, etc. *PROSCIUTTO PEAR pizza = C (too sweet), Kale Salad - could have been great but way overdressed - C+, Meatball - B- (it's a nothing-special meatball), Roasted Cauliflower = A. No. 8 Cocktail = A, Bartenders = A - (she was great at mixing cocktails but didn't know the menu). Overall vibe = B-. I'm missing the link to Siena and some metal contraption at the front of the restaurant and the back bar. If we go back, it must be for the gnocchi based on other reviewers. We really did want to like it and tried over and over but mostly fell flat.
(2)Sarah M.
This is a review of the bar and drinks only. Siena Tavern is one of River North's newest hot spots. I stopped in late on a Tuesday night for a drink. The space is beautiful and large with big windows looking out onto the street. The room feels comfortable and laid back. Lots of space. The bartenders were both fine. The young, brunette female bartender was especially friendly, and refilled our waters numerous times, even though we just had one drink and cashed out. I appreciated that. Nothing worse than being ignored after the tip is received. She also poured me a taste of the wine I selected before committing. The wine list left something to be desired. Only one BTG option per varietal is slightly annoying. I would prefer more options. I'll probably be back sometime soon to try the food.
(4)Christina A.
Worst experience I've had in a while. I took my mom to brunch at Siena Tavern to celebrate her birthday. I even mentioned it in my open table reservation. The food was alright. Nothing special. Not very flavorful. The portions were pathetic considering the prices. But my poached eggs were done well. So, I'm giving props with an extra star. The service however...oh, the service. How can I even put it into words. It was slow and disorganized. She approached our table and we ordered coffees and an order of the Bomboloni to start. It took nearly 10 min to get our coffees. The donuts came soon after. However, our server didn't come back until after we were finished. Then she shows up asking if we wanted to order any starters. What?? We are here for brunch and besides, what do you think the bomboloni were? So we place our orders and she disappears again. Our dishes were dropped off by a food runner but our flatware was never replaced. So we're sitting there waiting for someone, anyone to come by the table. Plus, we had to ask for our coffees to be refilled each time. After our plates were cleared, she showed up again to drop off dessert menus and then disappeared again. When she came back, she didn't ask if we had decided on dessert, she just dropped off the check and walked away. She was unprofessional, disconnected, and not qualified to work at a restaurant of this caliber($100+ checks). The kicker was that no one wished my mom a happy birthday. Again, something I expect when booking brunch or dinner at a "nicer" restaurant.
(2)Nicole K.
Love this place! The food was phenomenal. I love the atmosphere and you couldn't ask for a better location. We ordered the squid ink linguini, gnocchi, truffle mushroom pizza, shaved brussel sprout salad, coccoli, grilled octopus and hamachi. Everything was excellent! I could have done without the hamachi just because everything else was so rich...it didn't really light a candle to the other dishes. Our server was OK and we had some trouble ordering additional rounds of drinks and place settings, but overall we had a great experience. I will definitely be back!
(4)Jill Z.
Love the layout of this place, large and open, tables not too crowded together. The acoustics are a little rough though, it felt like we had to yell across the table to have a conversation, maybe because it was a full house? The food was delicious, we all split a chopped salad and a kale salad. I had the gnocchi truffle (signature dish/delicious) and others tried the pear and prosciutto pizza and the brick chicken, lasagna - - all very good. It was my friend's birthday and the restaurant provided a gratis tiramisu complete with candle. Overall a good experience but the service definitely has some kinks to be worked out. I'd come here in another month or so and maybe it would be 5 stars. Also, they have a private room you can reserve without a fee for a larger table/group.
(4)Charlotte B.
Food is good. Service was fair. Bustling & busy place. To be fair, not my kind of place or crowd. For corporate celebrity chef driven restaurant , it's good. Too many twenty something affected kids with mom & dad s credit cards. Would nt go out of my way. Sorry Fabiol, but I think you ll be ok without me! Ehh!
(3)Vineet S.
SO thankful the in-laws watched the kids and we were able to get out and try Siena Tavern! Went on a Monday night with a group, 7 of us. Drinks were fantastic! I had the #2 and then another cocktail with made with Jameson. Apps we ordered included meatballs, the ham and cheese things, brussel sprout salad, kale caesar salad. Everybody loved everything! We also shared the meat pizza, mushroom pizza, gnocchi and another meat pasta dish. Flavors were incredible. Plenty of vegetarian! Service couldn't have been better - the waitress was even able to get me a feminine product which I really needed!! Restaurants like this make me really miss Chicago restaurants living in SF. A must go to!
(5)Lana Y.
Wow! The most delicious Italian food I have had since coming back from Italy! The truffle mushroom pizza is beyond delicious!! It melts in your mouth and the flavor is superb! The gnocchi is just divine!! You will dream about it afterwards everything our waitress recommended was amazing from beginning to end! I will definitely go back again and enjoy the food all over!
(5)Stephanie W.
First off, the drinks. I had Drink No. 5 and it was DELICIOUS. Try to get me to say no to anything involving Maker's Mark and apple cider. Try. For dinner, we had the Burnt Pepperoni pizza. It had a nice, spicy kick to it and was also really tasty. Overall, a great time.
(4)Maggie R.
If you're looking for a trendy spot with decent food/drinks, good music, beautiful people surrounding you and perhaps catch a game all at the same time than this is your place!!! One of the best on Kinzie!
(4)Neecy T.
This is a half-star bump up because I'm feeling rather generous. Overall, I was generally underwhelmed. I planned on doing lunch because I'd heard a lot of great things about this place. Opened by Fabio of top chef fame, modernized Italian, new river north spot, blah blah blah. I set a reservation for Tuesday afternoon, though upon entering I didn't need to, they were eerily quiet. I was seated with my two guests, a server came by, his name escapes me but that's to be expected as we NEVER saw him. If you're a new spot and you encounter people who've never been, I, personally like to know the menu's approach, the idea behind the cuisine, actually anything... I got nothing. That I can easily forgive. The fact that our table was consistently filled with dirty plates, we never got refills, he never checked back on any course but dessert...kind of unforgivable. Also, he noticed how we'd stacked all of our dirty plates in the middle if the table, and we still had to ask if he could clear it and then he blamed his busser. The food was okay, not mind-blowing and certainly not worth the price tag. We had the meatball (it's a ball if meat, can't really mess that up) with a savory tomato sauce as an appetizer. I had the squid ink linguine which was good, that's where I attribute the stars. The tiramisu was a disaster and tasted awful. The monkey bread was okay but it wasn't warm or as gooey as I like mine... Just kind of dry and lukewarm. I just wanted to be impressed or actually just being served would have been awesome. Just a pretty solid let down. It ended up being a bit expensive for a lunch, like $180 for 2 apps, 3 lunch entrees, 1 cocktail, a coffee, an ice-tea, and 2 desserts...I tipped 20% because I serve, but just felt burned over-all.
(3)Bobby B.
Siena Tavern is an amazing place for lunch or dinner. Service was great, drinks were strong and the food was AMAZING. Two things on the menu that you must try is the Gnocchi with the truffle sauce it has pancetta in it which is nice and crispy. The second is the Hamachi Hamachi HAMACHI!!!!!!!!! The server said that it was spicy and usually when a server mentions that I don't think much of it because I have a high tolerance for heat when it comes to spicy food. I must say that the Hamachi packed just the perfect amount of spice to it. All the flavors in the dish blended so well together and I will definitely get it every time I go back to Siena Tavern
(5)Emily M.
I was impressed that the host had taken the time to call me to let me know a table was ready for us early (I had called in that day to try for an earlier reservation). However, took quite a while for our server to make it to the table. We were celebrating a little, so it would've been nice to get a drink a little quicker. When our server came over, she had great recommendations, so that made up for it. I had the gnocchi and it was to-die-for, my friend had the chicken and it was okay. I'd definitely go back and try some of the more obscure items on the menu.
(4)Bill M.
Liked Siena Tavern. A nice environment with comfort-type food and nice folks serving it. Grilled Octopus and Chopped Salad are staples. Diver Scallops and the Hamachi are good from the Crudo Bar and the pizzas are also a reliable choice. Nothing fancy but a nice choice for downtown.
(4)Nikki L.
I came in for a quick lunch the other day and was very pleased with my overall experience. The service was prompt, friendly and professional. I ordered the Kobe meatball which was bigger than my head and the mushroom truffle pizza. Anything with truffle oil is a win for me! I haven't tried their dinner menu, but hope to go back again soon!
(4)Michael A.
Went to the newly opened Siena Tavern on 3/6. The food was absolutely amazing. The kobe meatball may be $17, but its delicious, and as big as a softball. Gnocchi were divine, and the ricotta and pesto with bread was awesome. Our waiter was very friendly, and did a wonderful job at describing the items we were debating, and making recommendations. I cant wait to go back. Only two minor complaints: Our two drinks took forever to come. We were there just after 5pm, and it wasnt very crowded. Drinks should have come before the apps. Also, the valet service isn't the best, but thats not really on Siena Tavern.
(4)Lani E.
UPDATE!!! So i went back to Siena Tavern and WOW was it different! First of all they expanded/updated their lunch menu and added some great lunch options. I went again with a large group for lunch and this time the service was fast and fabulous and the food was perfectly cooked. New reviews: buffalo mozzarella: bread WASNT burned to a crisp, they brought enough bread, tomatoes were delicious and the mozzarella was outstanding kale salad: excellent sirloin steak: very well cooked/seasoned, Parmesan potatoes were the only missed they tasted like they were soaked with oil, substitute the cauliflower which was great! I'm glad they cleaned up their lunch service because it was really really great this time!!!!! I would 100% recommend and have made reservations to return.
(5)Sara R.
I can say first and foremost, the food was great, but that was the end of the good experience. Our waiter, Steve K, was awful. A restaurant like this should be embarrassed to have someone that inattentive on staff. He forgot about us after we ordered our appetizers and wine. Our appetizer plates had been cleared, and a bus person had even removed our menus thinking we were done. He came back by a solid 30-40 minutes later after we finally flagged him down. We asked if we could order our entrees, and he took one order then started to walk away from the table! The other two of us hadn't even ordered. It wasn't busy, so he didn't have that as an excuse. On top of everything he seemed rude and patronizing on the few occasions he actually was at our table. We felt like a big bother to him, and it wasn't like we were there for one drink and wasting his time (we came to eat and drink plenty). At any rate, I can think of dozens of places that are just as tasty, if not better for the price range AND have much better service in the same neighborhood. I would never go back.
(2)John J.
Great spot to grab some drinks with friends & people watch. The atmosphere is always good but sometimes the service of the bartenders can be spotty. Haven't tried the food yet but have heard great things about it!
(4)gabriel g.
The place was packed due to private party on one side but still the staff made it pleasurable. The pizza was very good and cooked perfectly for a wood burning oven and the bar staff was attentive, helpful and pleasant. Overall a place I would recommend without hesitation.
(4)Sarah B.
I was hosting a business dinner here for a group of 11 and everything was perfect-- the food, the ambiance, the wine, and the service. Allison was our server and did an outstanding job. She was knowledgeable about all of the wine and gave great recommendations on her favorite dishes. We also had the private room which is ideal for a group of around 10. You are secluded which makes it easy to engage in conversation but you are also open to the rest of the restaurant.
(5)Keri L.
After making reservations a month and a half ago, I couldn't wait to have dinner here for a girls night out. It was super busy when we walked in and Fabio was at the hostess stand. Exciting way to start the night. For 5 girls we ordered... Siena Chopped Salad: Very clean tasting. Cannelini beans, pepperoncini, and especially the boar salami were delish. I didnt really get the mustard dressing taste or any avocado now that I think about it, bummer. Smoked Mozz: Good earthy smokey flavor and texture, tasted like it was made in house. Had to ask for more bread since it only comes with 3 pieces. Gnocchi: This was SO rich and the favorite of the night. Yes we split this one gnocchi dish between 5 girls! But honestly, between the bacon, cream, and cheese I am not sure how someone could eat more than a little serving. Great melt in your mouth texture. Burnt Pep pizza: The pepperonis were delicious (I wonder if they come from a local butcher here?) cut super super thin which crisped up nicely in the oven and had the perfect heat between the chilis and red pepper flakes. Would get this again in a heartbeat. Outer crust was nice and fluffy but the underneath crust could have held up a little more. Pear and Prosciutto pizza: Great balance between sweet and savory. Thinly cut pear slices (they didn't taste grilled though...tasted more like they were red wine poached?) didn't overpower but added a great dimension. A few of us ordered gelato...the standout was the tiramisu flavor. I wish we got the whole tiramisu dessert instead. The other gelatos (hazelnut and olive oil/lemon) were not that great. They came out half melted...not cool! Overall we can't wait to go back to hit up the bar area which was bumping.
(4)Meaghan M.
Great food and very lively place. My boyfriend got the lobster with squid linguini and I ordered the ossobuco- both were great! The service was alright, I did have to wait until my meal was almost finished until the waiter came back and asked if we wanted more to drink. Not the end of the world. The only negative comment I do have about the place is- it is loud. So while it is fun the food is good, it is not the place I recommend if you want to be able to hear eachother without others hearing you too because you do have to talk louder to keep the converstaion going.
(4)Jessica S.
So yummy. I went here with a large group. The one area I was bummed about is I made a reservation for six and they only had a booth table left. The table was quite small. We tried a bunch of different foods and everyone ate a bit of everything. The oysters were fabulous. The pasta's were amazing. I really enjoyed the vibe and the food. I would go back for dinner and try other food.
(4)Mary B.
Good brunch - was a fan of the bloody marys. Small brunch menu but sometimes thats a good thing. Would like to come back for lunch or dinner. Menu looked good!
(4)Mari Y.
Went here for brunch with another couple on Saturday and we really enjoyed it! The restaurant is gorgeously decorated with industrial accents. Don't miss a private sitting area next to the bar with leather seats - would be great for a small private happy hour. We sat in a booth and I ordered a mimosa - not on the menu but they were happy to make one for me. As an appetizer we ordered a margherita pizza to share - the flavors were solid. I would have preferred a crispier bottom. The bf and I split the kale ceasar salad with chicken and the egg sandwich. Egg sandwich was more or less perfect and portion size was bigger than I expected. I thought it would be served on a croissant but it was actually on toasted sandwich bread. Nothing beats a runny egg on a sandwich - yum! It came with the greasiest potatoes ever made, which I skipped and my bf demolished. I'm not a super fan of ceasar dressing because it feels so indulgent but this one I actually liked. I think the kale really did it for me. Interesting because you could still taste the raw kale flavor. Most restaurants serve it with a vinaigrette to mute the raw kale flavor. Only thing was that some of the chicken pieces were a bit pink in the middle. Our server Greg was the best. He gave great recommendations and was chill the whole time. Sometimes servers can be assholes but Greg was really on top of his game this morning. He even suggested that the table do shoots and we said, "Great idea!" Who thinks a shot of fireball is a great idea at noon on Saturday? Greg did and we agreed. Fun experience.
(4)W U.
Eh....wanted it to be delicious, but it just wasn't. Gummy, heavy gnocchi. 'Handmade' rigatoni that was clearly 'boxed'. Pepperoni pizza that needed salt. A server that explained crudo to me like I hadn't left the house in 5 years. Seriously? Oh, and Fabio has stolen Stephanie Izard's recipe for cauliflower with peppers, pine nuts and mint. C'mon, be original.... The only redeeming menu item was the donuts...
(2)Sam C.
WOW! If you ever get a chance to go here....GO!!! The food is excellent! Very Trendy atmosphere. A little loud but it only because the place is full but very comfortable. You're not right on top of each other. For the table we ordered: Ink Linguini, Mussels and Clams, Mellon Salad, Truffle pizza! All were superb. Since the shared food was so awesome we shared bits of our entrees. They were Pork Chop, Ossobuco, Sea Bass, and scallops. Dessert we had Bomboloni with 4 different sauces. Again everything was excellent! We all can't wait to get back here and try the rest of the menu!
(5)Stephanie C.
I went here for the 1st time last year soon after they opened and wasn't crazy about it. I think we ordered the wrong things and didn't go on the best night. I have been back twice since and loved everything! I tried the burrata appetizer, Brussels sprout salad, truffle pizza, gnocchi and some other things, and everything was wonderful!
(4)Jenna M.
I am a really big fan of Fabio and was excited to try this restauran while I was in Chicago. It surpassed all expectations. The service was impecable, the food delicious and the overall atmosphere inviting. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone in town!
(5)Gisha J.
Came to Siena Tavern on a Tuesday night for dinner and drinks and I'm so glad we did! The place was packed for a Tuesday night. The drinks were very tasty and every dish we got for dinner was delicious! We went with the Meatball appetizer and then the Pepperoni pizza and Short Rib ravioli for our entrees. I will definitely be returning. Our waiter was very helpful and the service was awesome!
(4)Eugene G.
I was reading some of the negative reviews this place got, and I have to say, our experience was great! Someone had posted that they could not get a reservation here for a month. However, we were able to get a reservation just one day prior. When we arrived we were seated right away and not in some far off place at the smallest table, but at a table large enough for four people. Our waitress came quickly, and was very friendly and helpful. We started with the coccoli, basically puff pastry balls with prosciutto wrapped stracchino cheese. Delicious and it was so fine, that it all melted in my mouth! I had the short-rib ravioli, nothing short of mouth watering. The ravioli was great and the beef sauce was even better. It was so good I asked the waitress for some bread just to soak up the excess sauce. She said that they did not have bread baskets, but she did offer some toast on the house. The lady had the brick chicken with the sticky parmesan potatoes. Also extremely good. The chicken was juicy, crispy and cooked just right! The potatoes were also tasty. During dinner were trying to find a place for dessert, and at the end of the dinner, just to see what was available we asked for the desert menu, and we were glad we did. We ended up splitting the Bamboloni. It ended up being Beignet, four of them, with four different infusing sauces, whiskey-carmel, chocolate hazelnut, raspberry Chianti, vanilla cream. My two favorites were the chocolate hazelnut and the raspberry Chianti. Her's were the whiskey caramel. At no time were we rushed, hurried or have anyone clear our table without asking first. The food, all the food was great and we did not have to wait more than 20-25min to receive our main course after we had finished with the app. This place rocks, and we are eager to come back!
(5)Linda S.
A group of us from work went here for lunch. We were put in a private room. Our waiter didn't show for quite awhile and when he did he was very laconic and aloof. The room itself was cacophonous and I couldn't hear the person next to me. He eventually came back with some drinks and left again, for another stretch of time. Finally we were able to order. When the food was brought (not by our server) it was cold. He never came to see if our food was satisfactory. I got the Brick Chicken with potatoes and it was so greasy I couldn't finish it. When we were finished, bus staff came in to clean up. We were gestured at to hand our dirty plates over to the staff from across the table to make their job easier. When paying $30 for lunch I think they should clean up after me! By the time we got our dessert menus we had been there for 1 1/2 hours and needed to get back. Service subpar. Food subpar. So disappointed.
(1)Darci G.
Siena Tavern has really a modern ambience and they have outdoor seating, which is great. The outdoor area is cute with all the little lights. The service was also really good. The coccoli was my favorite it is nice and crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside. A lot of the food is shared food, but they do offer entrees. I would go here again FOR SURE!
(4)