Fanatico
1215 Blackhawk Rd, DeKalb, IL, 60115
Fanatico Menu
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Visit below restaurant in DeKalb for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in DeKalb for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in DeKalb for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1215 Blackhawk Rd
DeKalb, IL, 60115 - Phone (815) 517-1740
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Anne M.
The rolls were rubbery like a bouncing ball, the gnocci was not good at all.... I do not recommend this place. The price was way too much, only good thing I could say is that bruschetta tasted like the Salsa at Jewel-Osco so I will go back to the grocery store and toast my own bread for way less.
(1)Jason O.
We sat at the bar and ordered a Cesar salad and the sausage Parmesan. Food was great, the service was exceptional, and the price matched to what we received. I cannot complain about anything.
(4)Chris R.
The garlic knots/rolls are simpy awesome, and way too easy to fill up on. I think the pizza here is great. Crispy yet chewy crust, nice and thin. Reminds me of my favortie pizza shop I grew up eating at on the east coast. The decor is quite nice, and this is not the type of place I'd expect to be so close to Greek Row. The staff are very polite and respectful.
(4)Sriram V.
This is the only good Italian restaurant in DeKalb! Their pasta's are absolutely delicious! Ordered take out from here a bunch of times. Their lasagna is creamy and really well cooked! I remember ordering a shrimp entree which is extremely well made. Good choices on sides. Their potato wedges are yum! Their salads lack a lil flavor. Why am I cutting off a star? I've had much better Italian food outside of DeKalb. I still haven't tried their house pizza's yet which I've heard are great. I'll update this review once I order from here again. Ambience is good. Nothing spectacular. Friendly staff. No problems there! They're expensive though! Most of their pizza's and other good entrées are upwards of 15 dollars! This could be one of those places where you can visit a couple of times a month! Must try. In DeKalb at least!
(4)Elizabeth R.
Decent. Nothing fabulous. For DeKalb, this place is without a doubt five stars. Dinner is well-priced with your option of spaghetti or a salad. The pasta dishes are delicious. The lasagna was flavorful. It was not soggy or overcooked. I close the Chicken Francese which was just a little too sour. The lemon in the sauce was overpowering. I ordered the salad which was good but nothing special. The pasta option was awful. Bland, boring, just not good enough as a side. The service was a little slow. We were the only people in our section. We were a table of 7 on graduation day. We kept having to seek our servers for service.
(3)Eduardo S.
We absolutely love this place. The food is amazing along with the service. We recommend Fanatico to all our friends.
(5)Matt D.
Very good food. Reasonable price. We had a great waiter. Quick and fresh. They customized the food how we wanted it. They were out of milk, but made a special trip for our kids.
(4)Chris W.
Good food. Ok priced. The best Italian food in this area. Herd to find but staff is nice and place is big.
(4)Tom S.
Everything is fresh breads every dish is made from scratch. And prices are reasonable !
(5)Brian K.
SKIP THIS PLACE. Apparently they don't deliver to Sycamore. YOU ARE ONE TOWN OVER! This place needs to get over itself and deliver to paying customers. Pretty silly that they are this arrogant.
(1)Becky C.
Dinner was ok. Service was ok. Loved the bread! And ended up nibbling more from my niece's kid's menu dimner than my own! Did get a free cannoli for my birthday.
(3)Theodore M.
Not to go all McDonald's or anything but "I'm lovin' it". Best Italian cuisine in 5 counties.
(5)Roger K.
Four stars for food & 3 for ambience. The Reviews pointed us to Fanatico and they were on the money. Excellent food and service this evening, on our first visit! Warm selection of rolls to start with olive oil & Parmesan. "Mixed salad for two" family style, was outstanding and more than above average. ( green & black olives, greens, marinated red peppers, sweet sport peppers, gairdinaire (sic) ) Chicken rollitillas (sic) w/ Marsala sauce was outstanding. Likewise, my wife's Veal Marsala was superb....plus, more than could safely be consumed. Finally, the Tiramisu was so tasty and creamy. Our service was exceptional with Angie as our waitress, knowledgeable & personable. Wonderful experience!
(4)Shan H.
Excellent service! Called and reserved a table for 9 without a problem. Delicious food!!! Definitely a place to return again and again. They serve warm rolls with olive oil & Parmesan cheese. I ordered capellini (angel hair pasta) alla vodka and it was amazing!!! Would taste great with shrimp, tho I chose not to have it this time. My husband had chicken rolatini and LOVED it. We went out with family, some had simple pasta dishes with shrimp or meat sauce, some had veal and others had salads. EVERYONE loved their food. We are DEFINITELY coming back here and telling our friends about it. Love that its also not far from NIU Convention Center.
(5)Terri S.
Had lunch there this week and ordered the Shrimp Scampi lunch entree. The plate arrived with 3 shrimp on a bed of pasta!! I understand that for $10.95 you get what you pay for but that was not typical Shrimp Scampi! The sauce was bland and no flavor at all. The waitstaff was attentive but we were his only table as the restaurant was empty! The roof was leaking so an entire section was closed off, not very appealing. Most likely would not recommend this to other business associates.
(2)Jimmy E.
Had the cream of spinach pizza with pepperoni 18" it was good. Waitress was good, only had to tell her once we need water. There was 5 of us, and 1 is a vegan so she order steam vegetables, didn't get much, 3 bites for $5.95. It is $$$. Also we were put at a Bad table. Will not go back.
(3)Jim M.
I've had three great experiences here and can't understand how there are so many good reviews and just a few mean spirited ones. My food was delicious and the staff went out of their way to be friendly and accommodating each time. Think about the last three Italian restaurants that failed in the area that had good food too but set us back forty to fifty bucks per person with a glass of wine. This is cozy, has good food and is very reasonable. Pop in on a week night and spend twenty including tip. Maybe it's not a Michelin five star, but it's close to what my Sicilian grandmother would have fixed, especially the tender Calamari Marinara.
(4)Dave Y.
I have gone here several times with many friends and never been disappointed. The food is beyond exceptional and you can tell it is prepared professionally. There is a wide variety of offerings, so no one in the family should come away hungry. Staff is prepared to explain any dish and more often than not, the chef makes an appearance at your table as well. This would be a GREAT place for a first, tenth or 1021st date. While above average price-wise, it is right inline with what you get. Owner does not advertise much if at all, so word of mouth is what they depend on
(5)Matt H.
This is a fairly new restaurant in town and we have been here three times so far. It was good enough the first time for us to come back and it has gotten better every time as it is coming into it's own. I worry that the location of the restaurant will hurt it as it is off the beaten path and that would be a shame. I do not find a website for them and their Facebook page is very sparse. If they read this review I would highly recommend they get a website and update their Facebook page soon or they will probably not last long - it's all about the internet and social media right now. When the building was being renovated to become Fanatico I had heard that the owner is from Italy and this was a great passion of his. Whether that is true or not I believe it to be true given the quality and variety of the Italian cuisine. The last time we were there, last week, my wife had the chicken rolini and I had the fettuccine alfredo. We were both very happy with our meals. The fresh baked bread basket is amazing. They have good salads and I cannot remember what I had during the previous visits and it is a shame I cannot reference their website to tell you what we ate but I remember that we were happy with everything we have had or we would not have gone back. They have the usual Italian fare such as: chicken parmesan, spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli... as well as many non-traditional items. They have a nice wine list as well as a full bar. We talked about them on our last week's podcast ( dirtylaundry1.podomatic.… ) and we will most likely go here and talk about them again.. A good atmosphere with a lot of potential. I just hope word gets out, despite their lack of effort, so they will be around for awhile. I hope to review them again and can rate them even higher.
(3)Tom V.
Living in DeKalb and loving itailian we decided to give this place a try. I will start by saying the service was just great, and the decor is pleasant. I would give 2 1/2 stars on those two things if that were an option, but it's not. The food was just okay. Not bad by any means, and the serving size was large, but just mediocre. I ordered the Bolognese with penne, what I received was a marinara with meat. It was an okay sauce but not a Bolognese. There is a big difference. Also, there was no fresh ground pepper, just a shaker on the table. Again, I didn't hate anything, and we had great service, just nothing special. Just a note: The food has been better here. Moved rating up to three stars
(3)Josh H.
My wife, our family, and I went out to dinner after a convention and found this little gem. It's a bit out of the way to get to, but we were glad we took the time to go here. First off, the menu has a good variety of Italian dishes and pastas. My wife had been really wanting a certain dish for a while and was delighted to see that this place offers it (It was an "a la vodka" dish). I personally had the Chicken Rollitini. Both of us really enjoyed our meals, which were more flavorful than we expected. Service was excellent. We also had two great waiters at our table. They were friendly, always on top of empty cups, and were quick to respond if we had questions or needed assistance. If you're in the DeKalb area and want Italian, this is a good place to go!
(5)Ev S.
Nice atmosphere, good food and great sangria. I was surprised to have a restaurant of this type in by Greek Row, it's a nice change for that area. Most other decent restaurants are on 23 or rt. 38. Lots of menu choices, and all very good. The sangria has Grand Marnier and lime, a nice, different blend. I only wish the had oil and Parm cheese to dip bread it. Also, fresh parm and ground pepper would be nice . A little too much of a Greek restaurant feel, but good. Excellent canoli and tiramisu.
(4)Joseph B.
This place is fine for what it is. They are obviously trying hard. I would recommend ordering something simple off the menu- pizza or pasta. The food is simple and of large portion sizes. Which may be just what their clientele wants. Do not be mistaken that this is gourmet Italian food, which it isn't.
(2)Guillermo P.
Food was excellent! I personally think that Dekalb needed a place like this. The staff was friendly and inviting, even one of the cooks even told us that he went to culinary school in Sicily! You must try this place if you are in the mood for Italian cuisine.
(4)Michael R.
I ate here with my girlfriend and could not say enough about our overall experience. The service is friendly and quick and our food was delicious and abundant. We just ate at a so called high end gourmet Italian dinner in Chicago to which both of us remarked How Fanatico is 100 times better and we cannot wait to get back to Fanatico for some REAL GOOD Italian food! I have recommended this restaurant to practically every person I have met in the area.
(5)Ryan K.
I have dietary restrictions because of celiac disease. Hence everything must be strictly gluten free. When i came in and explained this to the waiter the chef came out and talked about what he could do for me. He made me a special wine chicken dish that was to die for. 5 stars for you Fanatico!
(5)Dave S.
Went for the first time at my daughter's request. She knows I like good Italian. All sauces and soups were home made. The italian sausage and peppers a delight. Was told that the cannoli was a must. Left room for it and glad I did - unfortunatly had to share it with my wife... If you've been to Boston - Its on par with Mikes or Marias Bakery... Next time will try the scampi. Nice attentive service. Home made sangria (tried the red) was really nice.
(4)Ray G.
Great meal and service! Food is tremendous with a nice selection. Highly recommended for a date night or a gathering. I've enjoyed a bar pie, meatballs and a calzone. Everything was great. Still working through menu items and touch ups. It is a very comfortable place.
(5)Colleen T.
the food is great, the portions fantastic, and the garlic rolls are too addicting. great bar service, table service was ok. I will definitely miss this place when I leave dekalb
(4)Suzie G.
This is some of the best Italian food you can get! Most of the items you can order are homemade, and you taste the difference. The wait staff is excellent, and the owners are very friendly and attentive. Their desserts are pretty good, but you won't miss out if you skip dessert.
(4)Chelsea M.
Food is phenomenal!! I was welcomed by friendly faces as soon as I walked in. The atmosphere is one of a kind, very nice. I've been there at least 5 times and got a different entree each time and was never disappointed! Everyone should go there! Plus the staff is not only wonderful but smokinnn hot;)
(5)Roger T.
Very nice atmosphere! The menu was very extensive and very nicely priced. Our server was JJ and she was knowledgeable and we could tell she served before because our whole experience was awesome. The chicken rollatini was so good!!!! After, we had a drink at the bar and it was nice to be able to relax and have a conversation not in all the college bars where drunk college kids are. Overall experience was awesome and we will be going back very soon :)
(4)Stephanie D.
They did a good job with the decorations but the rest was lacking, seriously lacking. This is coming from a person that gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. Below is a detailed summery. Here's a run down of our experience there: We weren't sure if they were even open due to no hours being posted anywhere. When we walked in, we were greeted happily and seated immediately. There was only two other parties in the whole place. Everything went well until we received our main course (we got drinks and an appetizer before). We had to ask for silverware at this point because we were the only table without it. Simple amateur mistake, Ive made the same one, no biggy, we didn't fault our waitress for it. But then suddenly, she didn't come back to refill drinks, check on us, see if we needed boxes or the check. When she finally did, it took her ten minutes to come back with the change so we sat there with our coats on just waiting. Run down of our food: Complimentary ROLLS: If half weren't burnt, they would have been great. The non-burnt ones were yummy though! FRIED CALAMARI: tasted good, were not rubbery at all, but very greasy (like stomach upset after a couple of bites) LINGUINE ALLA VODKA: Bad. It needed some more acid to break through the fat. It felt like eating butter, it coated my mouth with a slick layer of milk fat. It wasn't really seasoned either. So in the end it was like eating linguine noodles covered in thick pink cream... but not in a good way. I was disappointed. I LOVE pasta of any sort :( MEATBALLS: Served as two 3in in diameter meatballs on a plate with some marinara under them. Size was great. Tasted like a mixture of beef and pork. Not sure if they were made there or frozen. These also needed a lot more seasoning. They were just balls of meat with weird texture. The marinara redeemed them though. It added a good spice. NEAPOLITAN PIZZA (Pepperoni): Crust was okay. Sauce was okay. Pepperoni was okay. I preferred this to anything else I had. Other notes: -Flat screen TVs with Food Network on. Pretty cool. -Music was like a mixture of Middle Eastern and elevator music. Weird for an Italian restaurant. -Some guy with an accent and dirty white coat came and asked us how our meal was. No idea who he was... saw him cleaning tables earlier. Maybe the cook? Maybe the owner? Maybe an overzealous bus boy? -The booths smelled overpoweringly like new plastic. That should go away soon though. -This is a new restaurant, they will get better. It will just take time. -Our bill came out to $45 If I seem like a totally b****, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be, I just believe that people need to be fully informed.
(2)Stacy W.
I think this is a nice option for Sunday night dining when so many of my other standbys are closed (Golden Thai Jasmine and Taxco in particular!). We ordered baked clams--thumbs up! Shrimp scampi--they were jumbo shrimp and cooked just right. And pasta--al dente and sauce was very tasty, clearly home made. The bread basket was much too tasty, and all fresh baked. My only complaint was that the cocktails were a bit odd, such as my dirty martini without olives--had olive brine, but no olives. The waitress said they may be out of the "little sticks". Other than that, the drinks were great! The chef came to our table and asked how everything was. Service was excellent. I've had fancier Italian cuisine, but this was satisfactory and tasty. We may bring the kids next time.
(3)Jordan C.
Great atmosphere and nice change of pace from the typical "college campus atmosphere" at NIU
(4)Charm S.
Service is poor. Inflexible menu, mediocre quality food. The chef is unable or refuses to carry out special dietary requests. Have had errors with every order placed. I let the restaurant know, the owner called me to insult me and my intelligence. Very unpleasant overall.
(1)Steve M.
Flame! Have had each of the chicken entrees on the menu. Never failed to satisfy, and always some to take home. Not bad pricing either! Nice to have a place like this in Dekalb!
(5)David J.
I have been to this restaurant several times. Each time I have gone, I have had a different meal, and each time they were awesome! The prices are outstanding, especially when you account for the HUMONGOUS portions (be ready to take a doggy bag home for tomorrow's lunch!). Upscale, clean, and a weekends are a "Who's who" of local members of the community. You wouldn't expect a place like this near Greek Row, but its certainly worth the trip. One you try it you'll be sure to come back for more!
(5)Ryan H.
My experience seems to be at odds with other reviewers. When I walked in the cool was having a drink at the bar--already not a good sign. I ordered some kind of salad and the greens were completely coated in oil from giardinara that topped it. I got chicken that was "in a creamy lemon sauce." What I got was a fried chicken cutlet drowning in a thin sauce that tasted like powdered chicken broth and fake lemon juice. My dining partner ordered a pasta dish consisting of bland, slightly overcooked pasta with generic canned red sauce. To top it off the bill was nearly 40 dollars. The decor is a bit odd as well; it tried to make itself seen like upscale dining, but there are televisions everywhere and the bar looks like a holdover from the previous business (a tequila bar). This restaurant is just another reason for me to stay away from Greek row.
(1)Mr. J.
Really good food. Best Italian and overall meals in DeKalb County. Great New York style and Italian pizzas. Have great drink specials usually, as well, to go along with a really nice bar. Known mostly for its food, and most people who go once end up becoming frequents. Most of the biggies for NIU are always in there because of the quality. The owner will know you if you've been in there before. They also just built a ridiculously nice outdoor patio area with a fireplace and fountain. The entire place, inside and out in the patio area, is modern and makes you forget you're stuck in DeKalb. All in all, a solid place and easily the most comfortable place to eat or drink in DeKalb.
(5)Julie T.
I have been to Fanatico twice now and I have loved my experiences both times. I was so surprised this place existed on Blackhawk! I learned about it from a friend and as I drove down the street, it just seemed like it was plopped out of nowhere! What a great location for hungry college students. The outdoor seating area is nice. It would be perfect for great summer evenings with a light breeze. I ordered the Baked Ziti the first time and it was delicious. The second visit I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan and it was one of the best meals I have eaten. Their salad is delicious; it consists of tomatoes, giardiniera, black olives, a giant green olive, cucumbers, and roasted red pepper. I ordered it with the house dressing, which is spectacular (a balsamic vinaigrette -- my friend wishes they sell it in mass quantities). The bread is delicious! They offer garlic rolls and large breadstick shaped rolls. The wine prices vary between $6.50 and $8.00 a glass. I enjoyed the Pinot Grigio. Besa was an excellent waitress. She was very nice and made sure she checked in on us at appropriate amount of times ensuring our experience was satisfactory. She gave us some tips about the sangria and explained some of the food dishes, which was helpful. She also remembered me from my first visit and thanked me for coming again. Overall, I love this place. When I think of a nice restaurant to go to, this is my first choice.
(5)Jenny G.
Can't go wrong with this authentic Italian cuisine! I can't say anything bad about this place. The service is always 100% attentive to you and your guests. Also, I was thinking about having my wedding reception there and found out they have an entire private area in the basement! I was able to take a tour and it's absolutely perfect (separate bar, tv, my own music choice or a DJ area, separate restrooms, and plenty seating)! I highly recommend this place to anyone!
(5)