La Macchina Cafe
1620 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL, 60201
La Macchina Cafe Menu
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Address :
1620 Orrington Ave
Evanston, IL, 60201 - Phone (847) 425-1080
- Website https://www.lamacchinacafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
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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Leah K.
We have been to this gem for a scrumptious dinner in the past; this was my first breakfast experience and it was super yummy as well. The beignet-like doughnut things are fantastic with the authentic Italian coffee. My sister and I split a Croque madam and a poached-eggs-in-creamy sauce type of thing. The latter was my favorite while my sister preferred the Croque, but both were yum! The service is a little slow, but very friendly - just pretend you're in Europe!
(4)Stephanie A.
Let's start with the good stuff: great coffee, delicious Homeade pasta and excellent wine. So sad that we did not enjoy our meal. We really want this place to succeed. Alas, it's horrible. Cold and drafty. Waiter/waitress took at least 10 minutes to approach our table and made scarce appearances throughout the night. Food arrived to empty glasses. We had ordered a nice bottle of wine (good wine list), but our waitress "had a brain fart". Seriously? I've never submitted a yelp review before and I truly wish the best for this place, but they better get their act together.
(2)Patrick B.
Agree with David F. Great food. Horrible service. Witnessed a kid with swim goggles bus a table. Could not have been more than 13. Waitstaff is very linear-I only do one thing and then I do the next thing when both could have been done together. And unless you are doing Pilates, don't sit in the lounge area.
(3)Taylor T.
I came into La Macchina on a weekday afternoon, in between lunch and dinner service; I brought my laptop and wanted to have some coffee and food while I did work. The atmosphere is great; there are a lot of tables of different heights, and the space can accommodate people out to have a solitary meal, grab a drink with friends, catch up over appetizers - anything. The service was less than stellar - I sat at the bar, and the server who helped me out knew the menu, but was fairly inattentive. I had to ask for silverware after my food arrived because she hadn't brought any, and she didn't really check in on me to make sure my food was alright or to see if I needed anything else. Moreover, she handed me my food from across the bar, and I was seriously concerned that she'd drop it. She ended up setting a few plates down and scooting them over. I don't mind that so much as I do the fact that the service station was literally right next to me, on my side of the bar, and she had stopped there a few times while I was there - it would have been easy enough to bring my food over to the other side of the bar. This was a problem when she brought me my coffee; she kept her hand on the coffee cup and ended up getting her hand inside and on the rim of the mug, which was unappetizing. The food was good, but not out of the ordinary. I had the fish chowder and La Macchina salad. The chowder ended up being less thick than I expected, and with a lot less seafood than I expected, either. I got quite a few clam/oyster shells in my soup and they were all empty! I would have overlooked it if I had actually had clams or oysters in my soup, but I just got a few pieces of octopus and fish. It made no sense. The salad was decent, but the dressing was more oily than flavorful, and it wasn't tossed well; all the apple remained stuck together, and the cheese was in two or three large chunks. I know some salads with cheese present the cheese in 1-2 large pieces atop the salad (similar to how a garnish would be presented), but the gorgonzola was tossed in the salad so I don't think that that's how it was meant to be. It would have been better if it had been crumbled. That being said, the honey pecans were really delicious and all the flavors worked well together; this is a variation on one of my favorite salads and I really enjoyed the novelty of the grapes in the salad. I feel bad giving this a low review, but I just wasn't impressed. It's a good workspace, however, so I'm going to try it again sometime soon, and I'll revise my review if the food and service are any better next time.
(2)S A.
Great place! Authentic and well executed italian food. Service was also good, attentive but not intrusive. For a few years we had an italian friend live here in the US. He liked to cook and would frequently prepare traditional italian meals for us. Well, La Macchina's food is almost as going to dinner to our friend's house.
(5)Gold B.
Great find!!! The food is delicious. We enjoyed all 5 courses. Cozy, contemporary atmosphere. Great service. Great menu!
(5)Cami R.
Went for lunch with my husband and my son. Friendly staff and nice service. We had the butternut squash tortelli and the spinach tortelli in lunch portion.Both highly recomended! Added a great salad for $3 which had a pretty good size!!.For dessert the chocolate lava cake (way too much lava and little cake). They didnt have gelato to go with it... Would love to go again!!
(5)Al D.
Very cool vibe inside and the waiters brought us tall glasses of water and free beignets even though we were just stopping in for coffee. The coffee itself was EXCELLENT. It tasted like it had come out of a perfectly executed french press, even though I am pretty sure it was drip. It tasted much darker than the fruity stuff from Intelligentsia but not as dark as Starbucks/charbucks...just better than both. I have only had the coffee once so hopefully this wasn't a fluke :) They roast their own beans (you can purchase there) and also have a cool old espresso machine if you want espresso based drinks. The place hasn't really been discovered yet which also means you can likely always find a table. Good stuff.
(5)evie s.
I love this place. I haven't been for breakfast yet, but I've been there for dinners and a couple of times for an afternoon glass of wine. The food is stellar. Truly stellar. They have a great selection of Italian cheeses, some flown in from Italy every week, according to one of the waiters. And their homemade pastas are the best. They have a really nice wine selection, both by the glass and the bottle. The atmosphere is nice -- it's a little unusual because it has 3-4 different areas to sit (lounge area, tables, wine bar and coffee bar, I think), but I like it. It's casual and friendly. The service has never been bad, though once we had a waiter who went above and beyond with information -- in a good way. The place is a great addition to the neighborhood.
(5)S.K. R.
The food was very good, especially the pasta. The only negative is the chairs - too hard and uncomfortable. We'll be back.
(4)tricia l.
We were there tonight for the first time and went before a movie. Here's the deal: we ordered the lasagna and it was delicious...but very small portions. And it cost $17. I think this is the kind of place where you need to order an appetizer, and a salad and an entree---to have enough food. And then you are talking pretty big bucks. At least what you would spend at Campagnola or The Stained Glass Bistro. We were going to split a salad but thought, what the heck, our orders of lasagna should be enough. But they weren't. I about got a hotdog in the movie to make up for it. I did order a Cappacino and it came without foam--in other words it was a latte--and the waitress explained they didn't have a foam thing. So La Macchina Cafe has delicious lasagna for sure, but you get an appetizer portion as a entree, and if you fluff out your meal with appetizer and salad and wine and dessert and a latte masked as a cappacino, you are in for spending some pretty big bucks.
(3)Charlie H.
Greeted by Chris, a hospitable owner who gave us a tour and explained their coffee roasting process. Hands down best espresso I've had. We will be back for brunch and dinner soon. Its warm and visually interesting interior made my creative side jump. I'm looking forward to working remotely here.
(5)Marya F.
I wrote a review last year, and feel the need to update. Since that review, I've been back to La Macchina another 5-6 times, mostly for lunch, which has some terrific items. However, on our last visit, there were some negative things to note. I was disappointed to see that service is STILL below average . Our waiter had issues with eye contact and hospitality. We were never given silverware and had to pluck it off a nearby table. It took awhile to get water, and it was not refilled. We ordered the pugliese cheese with cherry tomatoes, capers & peppers. After one bite - yuck - the cheese was sour & awful. I flagged the waiter down and he seemed confused as I told him the cheese was bad. He just stood there- no apology or offer to replace the item. I actually had to ask him to take it away. We had a horrible taste in our mouths, which was difficult to get rid of with half a glass of water. The waiter eventually brought another plate with the same appetizer and said nothing--just plopped it in front of us and walked away. There was no follow up. We eventually got our main courses, and then the waiter never returned. We had to find him to get the bill. I know this could have happened in any restaurant. It's not the expired cheese per se - it was the whole experience.
(1)Eric M.
The pasta here is sublime. The six meat lasagna is rich delicate memorable. The spinach Swiss chard tortellini also. Start with the salmon bruschetta. Or the soft super fresh pugliala with capers and tomatoes. Everything about atmosphere and service is a little start up rough but once your food comes you won't care.
(5)Silvia R.
The food is great, my risotto was amazing (and this is a dish that is easy to screw up), and desserts and the burrata were both heavenly. The real deal, felt like I was sitting at a restaurant in Rome. Loved the funky decor, but I agree that they have to work on the service. The waiters are very polite, but their inexperience shows, which is unfortunate. My husband ordered a tortellini soup (also amazing) and wasn't given a spoon, they forgot to bring us bread and it arrived when we had finished our entrees, that kind of thing. Truth be told, we went on the first week they opened, so maybe things have gotten better in that sense. In any case, both the food and the ambience are a solid 5. Will be back for sure!
(4)Ruben K.
On Tuesday I went with my friend who came to see me from Europe and I won't say how bad was the experience. After we sent a plate of soup for 17 dollar the charge for it too too bad. I will told to my friends about my experience.
(2)Patricia S.
Hip, yet still cozy. Just the right touch of Italian branded "Americana"; makes for festive atmosphere. Simply good, flavorful food on the "nicer" end. Something for everyone...homemade pastas, Italian meats & cheeses, specialty coffees from fresh roasted coffee beans. Clean & open. Staff trained to recommend wine, aperitif & digestif pairings...and the price is right.
(5)Bernard B.
Went there for opening night, so it was a buffet and not the full menu yet. Still fabulous! Grilled vegetables, mushroom risotto, sausage pasta all fresh and well made. I look forward to sampling more of the menu! Interesting atmosphere with repurposed lumber for the furniture and lots of vintage Italian motorbike ads. Service was very friendly though understandably still learning the menu.
(4)Jean F.
Went in for brunch on Saturday with 3 friends and will probably return for dinner to give their main menu a try, but I must say that the whole brunch situation left much to be desired in the way of service. We had two La Macchina Croque Monsieur sandwiches which were very tasty and two of their eggs benedict entrees. Food was very tasty and portions were ample, but not obscene. Our waiter was indifferent at best. He brought 3 coffees and a San Peligrino, but no cream or sugar and no glass with ice for the soda. After several minurtes, I finally left the table to find another server to ask for the missing items. Our server was unable to describe the Croque Monsieur saying that he, "...didn't usually work brunch." He delivered our food, but offered no refills on coffee and did not inquire to see if anyone needed anything else. Then nothing. AWOL for a very long time. In general, I do not like plates swept away immediately. I prefer to linger while everyone finishes. Did we linger!! Another server popped over, but did not clear the table. Our server stood outside for a bit and fixed his hair in the window, but walked right past us as he returned inside with nary a glance in our direction. Then it became a bit of a challenge for us to see just how long we could be ignored...as it turns out, quite a long time. Finally another server delivered the check, didn't make a move to clear the table. We paid (cash so as not to have to wait for our MIA server) and left. Again, I will return to try the main menu, but this was a real service disappointment.
(3)Leanne A.
Great service, friendly staff, delicious food. This is going to be a regular spot for us.
(5)Michelle S.
Went for lunch on Saturday. Amazing experience. Very hip atmosphere with vintage italian motorcycles and tables made from reclaimed barn wood. Food was excellent quality and fresh. My risotto was perfectly prepared. My friends raved about the Bolognese. The service was great and highly informative. Best cup of cappuccino I have ever had. I plan on going back again and again.
(5)Rowena M.
How has this place not shown up on my radar? I wonder if it could be because of its location? It's located on a somewhat awkward curve along Orrington Ave. that would not really make it very visible to passersby (on cars, at least). Nonetheless, I was happy to have "discovered" it for dinner last night. Imagine my delight as I quietly squealed upon seeing parmiggiano cheese from red cows! The last time I had this type of cheese was on a trip to Rome a few years back so of course we had that! We ignored any rules (if these even exist) on having form and structure to our food choices and just ordered whatever looked good to us on the menu. It's a good thing our girls are quite well versed on Italian cuisine as my 5-year old's first request was if I could order her some polenta (proud mommy beaming)! Aside from the cheese, we also had a charcuterie board of prosciutto di parma, salami soppressata, mortadella and speck, a special appetizer of beef and lamb skewers (lamb was just a tad on the gamey inside even for my husband who loves lamb), and scallops. The pastas were handmade and found both the squid ink pasta and the tagliatelle with bolognese sauce hearty and satisfying. Did you actually think I would skip dessert? We opted for the gnoco frito which were essentially fried (being the key word here) dough drizzled with honey and doused with powdered sugar. I even dipped a couple on the delectable cup of cortado! All in all a great choice and will definitely be on my list for Evanston spots!
(4)James R.
I was very pleased with the pasta dishes and the service. It was clear that the noodles and sauce were freshly made and the flavors were full but not heavy or overpowering. I think the portions were reasonable, too many Italian places have obscenely large portions. It is not a fancy place, more like hipster meets an Italian auto garage. I'm not complaining, it's just a different vibe, but it doesn't take away from the food. For Evanston, they can certainly use the variety.
(4)Kate L.
Cute ambience. Much improved from when I came here March 2014. Last time there were flies all around the windows and the food felt overpriced and mediocre. This time, we came to brunch with a Groupon and left full and happy! It was beautiful weather for outdoor seating, and the servers were very accommodating to help us find good seats. La Macchina Salad - good variety of ingredients and tasty, but a small portion for the price. Also found a tiny hair stuck to the gorgonzola... ($8) Linguine with Pesto and Shrimp - deeeelicious!! But could be a larger portion for the price ($20) Orechiette with sausage ($9) - also great. Reminds me of Zuppa Tuscana, Steak and Eggs - not so great. Came with burnt toast and the steak was hard and a little burnt too. The potatoes came cold. Actually a total waste of $15. If I wasn't already using a Groupon I would've complained about the steak and hair, but I let it go. Everything else was very enjoyable. Service was nice. Coming again!
(4)Stacy W.
This was extremely overpriced for what we got, the portion sizes weren't particularly large. $50 for two small plates? We asked for a specific changes to the menu, they assured us they had the type of noodles we were asking for, and then sent us The original noodles anyway. Very disappointing experience, order from somewhere else. The vodka sauce was good.
(1)K K.
Delicious, from the scallops and arugula pear salad to the butternut squash tortelli and chicken Arrosto. Waiter Corey was 4 stars. Highly recommended.
(5)Kyle D.
Overall: Cute little cafe with good food and drinks. Casual and interesting decor to go along with it. The good: The food, specifically our dessert that we got, was pretty tasty. The drinks were hot and fresh and tasted good. The decor of the cafe was interesting. Not exactly "cozy", but it's rustic and different. A ton of food options to choose from for breakfast, lunch, snacks, or dinner. The bad: The service wasn't the best. Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 7/10 Food: 8/10
(4)Steve A.
This is one of the better Italian restaurants in Evanston, despite the confusing name that makes it sound like it's a coffee place. They do indeed have good espresso, but it really is an Italian cafe. I tried two specials of the day. The first was the "artichoke fritters" which weren't actually fritters, but lightly battered artichoke pieces deep fried. A better choice was the mussels in cream sauce. These were nicely done, and the cream sauce was delicious without being too heavy. A basket with two types of bread was provided, and one of them proved perfect for dipping in the leftover sauce. There is a thoughtful list of wines by the glass, including many Italian selections, and the pours are generous. A macchiato was the perfect way to finish off the meal.
(4)Estee L.
Five star service. Really loved the motorcycle antique ambiance theme. Our drinks, appetizers, first course, salads, entrees and dessert were all amazing. I had a really nice time and had a wonderful experience. I will be returning again. I love the homemade food that is all displayed on beautiful platters and serving tetradon shaped platters. Our server Ethan went above and beyond to ensure this was a pleasurable dining experience.
(5)Holly V.
Went here today and had a great experience...Matt was our waiter and was so friendly and patient because i was having a hard time ordering. He recommended the black truffle pasta for me and the range free chicken with potatoes for my boyfriend. We both loved our dinner and was very satisfying with taste and customer service. I would recommend this spot if anyone is in the downtown evanston area!
(5)Jessica M.
The food was just ok, the service was VERY slow for a Sunday brunch (only two waiters working on a Sunday during brunch!) and the portions are VERY small and overpriced. Unless they either start making decent sized portions entrees or lower their price I will definitely not be coming back. I can't remember one single place I have been in Evanston or Chicago that I finished eating my plate and was still hungry in the end, this was the only one so far. Lucky us we had a Groupon voucher, but even with the Groupon I didn't think the price was fair considering the fact that I was still hungry after finishing my lunch. And let me tell you, I am the kind of person that eats so little that in 9 out of 10 times I have to grab a to-go box to bring home my leftovers cause the normal portions for entrees are just overall more than I can eat. Not the ones from La Macchina Cafe though! So, beware!!!
(3)B R Hungry X.
Food is awesome here, I had the truffle tagatielle, gnocchi dough appetizers, and hubs has the butternut squash ravioli. Used the groupon so price was good. Would give 4 stars but the place could clean up a little, bathroom was dirty and tables a bit sticky.
(3)Rick R.
I'm almost leery bout giving this place such rave reviews but I gotta say that I've never had such fresh and amazing pasta dishes outside of Italy! I mean some of the dishes here you'd expect in a more expensive Italian restaurant and even in one of those you'd pay beaucoup bucks for but not here and if I did I wouldn't hesitate since it's so spectacular (sorry for my run on sentences)! The atmosphere here is that of a tavern somewhere roadside on route to lake Como or somewhere remote in Italy. It's Italian biker chic and the food is to die for! The deserts are homemade or at least it sure effen tastes like it does! Cappuccinos (if made by our server Corey) is the bomb! With so much Italian crap in Evanston and all of Chicagoland, this place is a Godsend! There you go I guess I liked it...Just don't tell anyone!
(5)Lydia J.
I just left here for lunch. I was served bad shrimp by the MANAGER. I was sick in the restaurant and that same manager didn't bother to come over and apologize. The server who was not even serving my table was kind and apologized however it should have been the manager who made the apologies. There is no excuse for serving bad seafood and making customers sick. I didn't even eat the rest of the bruschetta appetizer which was good before I ate the shrimp. The shrimp was in their lunch Mediterranean salad. I will not be returning here ever and don't recommend that anyone else who values their health eats here.
(1)Daphne L.
I've now been to LaMacchina three times, and am really enjoying the food. The service can be hit or miss; not bad, just kind of slow, but the food is quite good. Before I forget, I need to talk about the tiramisu. I am not a dessert person, there are very few desserts I like. This tiramisu? Delicious, absolutely delicious. I try not to think about it because I don't want to eat it everyday, which I could do. Get the tiramisu. They serve bread with roasted garlic and olive oil, always a treat. There's a full bar and a good wine list, and the food is delicious. My favorites are the burratta, and the pasta with truffles. The grilled octopus is another absolutely delicious dish. It's a great place for dinner, and while I've gone for lunch, I think it's a bit pricey for a workday lunch. The last time I was there, however, they offered lunch specials, which I either didn't notice during previous visits, or it's a new thing. I will definitely visit again and again.
(4)Angela S.
Real deal Americanos, mixed with motorcycles, authentic Italian influences and a menu worth coming back for. I was super excited to come back today. I've stopped in before in passing just to check it out, but today I actually stopped in for a coffee and a brief stay. An amazing space with so much to see. It was busy during lunch, so I'm thrilled to know it's getting the attention it so deserves! The owners are super friendly, the staff is on the ball, and the food smelled SO good. My Americano was absolutely memorable, and I can taste it on the tip of my tongue as I write this. Foaming on the top like it's supposed to be and smooth not bitter or burned in flavor. Decorated with Italian motorcycles and cool handmade furniture. Can't wait to come back for a bite!
(4)Kathleen M.
3 of us went there for lunch for the 1st time. Our orders: 2 (different types) salads with chicken and 1 panini with a side salad. Very fresh and nicely prepared. The portions were just right for lunch - not overflowing the plates, which, btw, were cute (triangular) and not very large. We weren't offered bread or rolls and we didn't ask for any. Service was friendly and excellent. Prices were good - their menu is online. Decor is simple and slightly funky with lots of wood. We'll definitely return there again.
(4)U.M. S.
Went here a few weeks ago with a bunch of co-workers from the office and had a BLAST. The truffle cream gnocchi were spot on this time, our server, Corey, made sure of it! Caroline was also great and made sure we got all our drinks and refills in a timely manner. My co-workers and I had a blast and even got to meet the owner Marco and his son, Luca! Such a wonderful place with an awesome history behind it. Definitely will be returning and asking for Corey!
(5)Adam J.
Enjoyed dinner there last night, the bolognese, roasted chicken and seafood linguine were hits. They also were happy to offer up making any type of pasta that my kids might want, which they loved.
(4)Jessica L.
Yee! Finally visited place after following their facebook page since 2012!! Stopped by for dinner at 6PM today (Monday) and the place was pretty empty, but began filling up by the time we left (8pm). Food: Smoked Salmon, Red Onions, Capers, Parmigiano Reggiano Cream bruschetta Chicken Arrosto (special) Orecchiette with Sausage & Rapini Bruschetta - the salmon, red onions, capers and cream was great, but the bread was a little soggy/not nicely toasted so it was a little difficult to eat. The crust was almost impossible to bite through so I ended up cutting parts of it out and not eating it. Chicken Arrosto - this was the special of the day ($19) and oh-my-gawd, it was so delicious. The portion was also very very big so I had three large pieces left over to take home. The chicken was roasted perfectly, with crisp/crunchy skin and very moist inside. The spinach inside the chicken was also very flavorful and delicious, and the sauce (I have no idea what it was other than the caramelized onions) was nicely complementary. However -- it started getting very heavy/too much protein by the end of the meal, so I'm very glad that my friend ordered the orecchiette since the pasta's sausage had a little spice that worked well with the heaviness chicken arrosto. Orecchiette with Sausage & Rapini - yumyum! the pasta was nicely cooked and the spiciness of the sausage was PERFECT with saltiness of the pasta itself. As I've mentioned before, if you're ordering a dish with lots of protein, this pasta dish nicely complements it. All in all, the ambiance is great, the tables and chairs are a little uncomfortable (but I see that they're trying to go for the whole rustic look so I guess that makes sense). The food was great, and so was the coffee. Bread for the bruschetta was not that great, but all the other foods were wonderful!
(4)Angela C.
I came here on a weekday night for a late dinner. There were very few people in the restaurant, and service was prompt. I tried the following dishes: -Mixto a griglia (grilled octopus, calamari, and shrimp on leafy greens with balsamic vinaigrette): there was too much char on the seafood for my taste -Polenta, sausage, peppers: mild flavor, but good -Meat ravioli (which wasn't called ravioli on the menu): good -Gnocco fritto (basically hollow beignets): ok I would say the portions were medium-sized, and prices were in the $12-25 range for most things. In terms of drinks they serve wine and liquor, but no beer (you can go next door to World of Beer for that). I'd recommend La Macchina Cafe to people who don't mind spending more money on smaller portions of good (but not great) Italian food.
(4)Paul M.
The best food in town! I am really happy I found this diamond in the rough. The owner is extremely polite and the staff is always friendly. They have excellent deon specials and appetizers. This place needs more business because it's rare to find such great food and service these days. If you haven't tried it then come. You will NOT br disappointed!
(5)Faith L.
This is a very special place. Marco literally makes his Italian grandmother's recipes, and it's the real deal. I don't think I've ever been to an Italian place quite like it. Roasted garlic served with the bread, pasta that brings out flavors you didn't know existed... it's a great tour into one person's vision of Italian cuisine, and it's a great vision. Tonight we had the burrata and truffle tagliatelle - the pasta was homemade and delicious, perfect al dente. Lively atmosphere, and reasonable prices for the quality of the food. Highly recommended!
(5)Kristina W.
I really, really wanted to love La Macchina Cafe because of the amazing ambience and raving reviews from my friends. However, it just fell short of my expectations. I came this past Sunday at 1pm with 3 friends, and it happened to be the cafe's inaugural brunch. We got to try: - Free glass of Pinot Grigio to commemorate their first brunch - I typically love free things, but sadly, the wine was room temperature (probably because they were sharing the same bottle with other tables & we went kind of late). Pinot gris should typically be served cold, so I couldn't really enjoy it to the fullest. - Taliglieri: Prosciutto di Parma, Salami Soppressata, Mortadella, and Speck - No complaints about the meat, as they were delicious and very reasonably priced. However, they only gave the four of us 4 pieces of bread total, which is a bit strange considering there were so many slices of meat... I think we had to ask for more bread 2X. - Bruschetta: Smoked Salmon, Red Onions, Capers, Parmigiano Reggiano Cream - Bread crusts were a little bit too hard, but toppings were delicious. - Orecchiette with Sausage & Rapini - Very delicious for the first half of the plate before it started getting kind of salty and heavy - I'd recommend ordering the half portion order (I got the whole and ended up taking the last 1/3 home), or if you order the larger one, share with other people. - House Made Butternut Squash Tortelli with Brown Butter & Sage - Tasted pretty good, but there were only 9 small pieces in the full order ($17), so basically each one was $2. I wouldn't order this if I were extremely hungry. - Risotto: Chanterelle and Matsutake Mushroom - Flavors were yummy, but the risotto itself was a little harder than I usually like it. Finally, I just have two more major qualms about the service: Firstly, we noticed on our bill a $2 " OPEN FOOD" cost, and it turned out to be for the small plate of olive oil that my friend requested with her bruschetta. I think the waiter should have warned us about the cost before putting in the order, because my friend wouldn't have ordered it if it hadn't been complimentary. Secondly, we sat at the table right at the entrance, which was separated from the rest of the cafe by a large pillar. Due to this, we often times had difficulty flagging down our waiter when he was in the main section of the restaurant. I suppose that as a guinea pig for their inaugural brunch, I shouldn't have expected a flawless meal. Thus I will definitely return when Cafe Macchina has gotten into the routine of things and improved the consistency and quality of their food and service.
(3)James M.
One gloomy mid-afternoon, I decided that I needed a wee boost to get me thru my work shift,. I opted for a good cuppa joe, and I figured that an Italian café would be a great destination. Nope. The six-ounce cup was handed to me half full. That's $2.18 for three ounces of coffee. The barista had poured it from a large thermos, so I probably just had the bad luck of catching its last few remaining drops. No problem--I wouldn't have minded the wait for a fresh brew. But no--I wasn't given the option. Just six tablespoons of tepid coffee in a half-empty cup. I was too dumbfounded to object and just stumbled outside with my cup of sadness. There are way too many quality cafés in this town for anyone to throw away their money as I did at La Macchina Café.
(1)Jane W.
I've been craving the chewy, doughy goodness of the piadina for the past few days, so finally made it back here for lunch. Alas, no upgrade to 5 stars. Two reasons for this: 1. Pricing. I ordered a bruschetta plate to share ($5 for 4 pieces) and a full size of orecchiette with sausage and rapini ($15). Basically ended up paying $23 for a meal with tip and tax. My lunch buddy paid the same amount and got the butternut squash ravioli... literally got 10 pieces. Both of us left not even close to full (read: got an Andy's concrete literally right after I finished lunch). 2. It's very unusual for me to branch out and try new dishes once I found a favorite, but decided to be adventurous today. The orecchiette wasn't to my liking. Flavors were too dark and muddled. Meh. Will come back periodically when I feel like treating myself, and will probably stick with the piadina. 3 stars for the experience today + 5 stars for the experience last time = 4 average.
(4)Jenny H.
We stopped by here for a late dinner since their kitchen is open until 10, which is hard to come by in Evanston, and we are so glad that we did. First off, the interior is very nice. It is spacious and clean, and they have lots of different seating options- couches with low tables by the windows, bar seating facing the open kitchen, tables, "booths", etc. We were greeted right away by our waitress, Vanessa, who was attentive and helpful the whole night. We ordered the bruschetta with tuna, capers, fennel, and lemon to start (6). It came with four, and they were delicious! We were able to taste all the different flavors, and they worked very well together. We also ordered the prosciutto, arugula and balsamic reduction piadina (9), which is kind of like a quesadilla, and a sausage and peppers polenta (12). I would recommend all three of these dishes. They were all very good, and filling. The chef stopped by to talk with us, and he was awesome. He sat at our table and told us all about the cheeses and balsamic vinegar, and how they were cured and aged in Italy. He also pulled out his phone to show us pictures! This was the first time we got to talk with a chef and it was really a special experience, which bumped up my review to 5 stars. He also recommend a wine- the casali vini pra di bosso Lambrusco dry wine, which is very inexpensive at 5 dollars a glass. I don't usually enjoy wine, but this wine was so good and paired very well with our food. The chef also sent over some cheese for us to try, and it was as good as he described. Even though we were stuffed, we couldn't resist ordering dessert since all our dishes had exceeded our expectations. We ordered the tiramisu (8) which is made in house, and it was delicious. They gave a very generous portion, and it was light and airy, and was pretty much a perfect way to wrap up our meal. Service was wonderful. Multiple people checked up on us throughout our stay just to make sure that we were okay. We definitely enjoyed the entire experience- the food, drinks, service, and chatting with the chef. We will be back to try their other menu options, and you should check it out, too!
(5)Marion J.
dinner review Seafood pasta was tasteless and simply not good, with sand in the seafood (common in clams but still!!). Service was not attentive even though the restaurant was empty (we never got our drink order, bread was brought well after we got our dish after asking again about it) bread tasted a bit stale, olive oil was about 2 teaspoon in the bottom of a dish. Other dishes were ok but not great . Maybe it was an off night, since I have had a better experience another time, but unfortunately, we won't be back.
(2)Sharon C.
I was here on a Friday night around 1 with a friend, and it was one of three stops that we made that night - and probably my favorite for drinks and atmosphere. I ordered a whiskey sour, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The bathrooms were clean, there was plenty of seating, and they didn't seem to mind when people brought in food from other establishments. The bartenders were easy to draw the attention of and seemed very polite.
(4)Paul K.
I was a super fan of this restaurant. I liked their vongole a lot. I have visited the restaurant more than 8 times. I was very satisfied with their food and service and even recommended this place to my friends. However, the quality of the food have been changed recently. I am not sure what they changed but all the noodles are salty and not fully boiled. It was unacceptable quality of the food. It's weird because not only the food I ordered was terrible but also other dishes my friends ordered were all unacceptably salty and not fully boiled.
(1)Paulina K.
Few things that they make are spectacular. Some are weird. I like these few above else at this time.
(5)Greg J.
Went for brunch last Saturday morning at 9:30am. Closed. We decided to give it another chance today. We ordered the ratatouille frittata and the three mushroom risotto for brunch. 1. The three mushroom risotto was well cooked. The mushroom flavors really came out well, not dulled by the cream. The small portion size is perfect for a light brunch. 2. The frittata was a simple presentation. A little bland for some people I would guess. I generally like to stay away from sodium, but I even found myself tempted to sprinkle a dash onto it. The roasted red potatoes however were salted and was a nice compliment when I did have that desire for a little salty taste. The bread was nicely buttered and slightly burnt - which I actually thought added to the dish. Overall a nice place to have brunch on a sunny Saturday.
(3)Sahil A.
This is one of the most underrated places for food in Evanston. On a food alone basis, this place would be 4-5 stars easily, but unfortunately, the service is kind of crap and the place is a little messy in places (specifically, there are a ton of crumbs under the glass the sits on the bar... Would highly recommend going for lunch, wont be too busy (service should be less on an issue) and the paninis are awesome. I think they made the foccacia in house, which was terrific. Also, the guy who made my friend's coffee last time I was there had no idea what he was doing, so the coffee was subpar. That said, my friend ordered a mocha, so maybe he deserved it.
(3)John S.
I had a really nice dinner! I sat at the bar and had an incredible bar tender! The food is superb.
(5)Marian R.
We had a party of 6 go to the restaurant. It proved to be excellent, from the service to the food. The prices are NOT expensive, despite the review displayed here, and they were very wiling to serve you a half portion of just about anything. Some selections: the salads are all robust, especially the Greek apple salad; the butternut squash tortellini were great, as were the tagliatelle with truffles or porcini; the grilled seasonal vegetable salad was immense and delicious with eggplant, asparagus, tomato, squash, and roasted arugala; my son had a marvelous seafood spread with clams and mussels with special arboria. They let us talk; they let us dine. My compliments to the owner.
(5)A A.
I was here for a friends bd brunch and I ordered over medium eggs w/ pototoes and toasts.. It took FOREVER to get my order and then my eggs were cold so I sent them back.. Second time around they brought back over easy eggs and burnt toast..never coming back for sure...
(1)Joe B.
Great authentic Italian food. The linguine alla vongole and ragu bolognese are among the best I've had. House roasted coffee and tiramisu are a must. A bit pricey for dinner, but lunch specials are an amazing deal.
(4)Mindy M.
Worst service ever. There are only two waiters serving the whole shop. We waited for almost one hour for our food. Terrible!!
(1)Stephanie L.
I am obsessed with this place. Coffee, prosciutto, bread, and a good atmosphere. I really don't need anything else. I just missed La Macchina's tasting menu so I decided to duck in for a late lunch on Saturday around 2pm. It seems the staff is still working on getting into the groove of things but overall, I had a really pleasant experience. We were asked numerous times how everything was going, if we were enjoying our food, and our waters were continuously filled. All in all, I would give service a solid 4.5 and seeing as they are just starting, I have full confidence that they'll be up to a 5 in no time. So we ordered the tuna, fennel, and caper bruschetta as well as the meat platter with prosciutto di parma, salami soppressata, and mortadella and speck. I really enjoyed both dishes. The capers and fennel evened out the strong tuna taste that I usually am not a fan of and it sat on a piece of beautifully buttered crostini. The meat platter was equally as delicious but I have yet to come across prosciutto that I haven't liked so...take from that what you will. Our waiter was kind enough to give us an order of gnocco fritti even though we didn't order it. It was very similar to fry bread almost. Puffed pieces of fried dough. Can't really go wrong with that. Overall, a solid experience and since I didn't try the bulk of their main menu (such as entrees) I don't feel as if I have the judgement to give them 5 stars. I'm excited to see how they will improve over time and next visit, I will for sure try the polenta with sausage and peppers and a piadina!
(4)april w.
New restaurant in Evanston! I wasn't too into their food. I can here for brunch and ordered the carrot cake pancake. It just didn't taste like carrot cake, which u always love. I'm not sure what was off about it. This place is in Evanston and super close to the NU campus, which is a convenient location. Somewhat pricy though. They do have outdoor seating, which is nice in the summer.
(3)Andy S.
Definitely has a cool Italian café vibe to it with the layout of everything, tables, stuff on the walls, etc. Menu has some very interesting things on it. I greatly enjoyed the flatbread with prosciutto. There was a salmon crostini type dish that was good. For the entrée I shared a seafood pasta that had clams in it which was good. The sauce was very light (almost too light IMO). Part of the reason I give this place 3 stars for now is that the waitress didn't ask which sauce for the pasta we wanted (there are two very different choices). That was an oversight. The second is I was very underwhelmed by the tiramisu dessert. I would definitely give this place another shot as it has a lot of the pieces in place of a great place.
(3)Dee W.
What a fun eclectic space with delicious food none the less. I've now been here four times - lunch with a colleague, date night with the hubby, and twice for a mommy girls' night out. Starting with some bread with these softened garlic and olive oil, service is really stellar. Our server refilled our waters and came to check on us several times. The owner has made an effort to come by our table to also check on us, as well. For food - I would definitely recommend the gnocco fritto, olives appetizer, grilled octopus, bruschetta - I've tried the tuna and also the smoked salmon. For the salads, the La Macchina salad and grilled seasonal vegetables were also excellent choices, too. From trying their freshly brewed coffee to a glass of the house cabernet, I'm really happy that La Macchina is here in Evanston and it's now added to one of our go to spots!
(5)Faith D.
If you don't mind sitting in booths of hard wood with hard edges and metal chairs that weigh a ton (heavy metal. literally) -- then by all means, try this place. Very odd room set up (I notice some call it quirky or eclectic) -- we just thought it was uncomfortable. I thought the music had a great vibe. We sat down at about 5:45 on a Thursday night. Our nice server, Matt, brought olive oil, a whole roasted garlic and bread to the table. We ordered drinks. So far so good. Menu looked interesting and Matt had a few recommendations. Three of us told him we would "share". We ordered the burratta salad, pasta with black truffles, scallops (which we requested be cooked through) and grilled octopus. In just a very few minutes ALL of our food arrived ALL at the same time. Maybe it was early and they wanted to get us out of the way but a slightly slower pace would have made sense. We didn't have an opportunity to ask to slow it down because it all arrived at once. that being said -- the food was VERY good with the exception of the scallops which could have been a bit more well done and less jiggly. Dessert was tiramisu and gelato (vanilla) with balsamic. Both were delicious. The salads that accompanied the grilled octopus and scallops were also good. We all though the food was terrific -- solid B -- but the comfort was a "D". I don't think we'll go back but it was interesting.
(2)Lee R.
Loved my visit here. Time will tell whether it can shake the double-curse of a location on this stretch of Orrington and the long lineage of coffee shops that have been laid to rest in this very location. If you'd ever been to Enigma Cafe (nee Ambrosia Cafe) they've kept the layout much the same, but drastically upgraded the interior. The inside is spacious and lit very well. During the day, the large windows permit a lot of light into the space and in the evening there's a sort of dim, homely glow to the environment similar to the interior of Union Pizza. I love coffee and I love small plates establishments and I'm tremendously glad to see a new one in town. I'm often working remotely and I can tell this is going to be a new favorite stop for me in my Unicorn Cafe & Brothers K rotation.
(4)Orack B.
Food was not that bad for brunch. Cool interior, and a nice euro-vibe. I think I would probably come back for dinner. Service was sub-standard. The worst part about my experience was finding the establishment to be just plain dirty. My table was dirty, my plate was dirty, the bathroom was dirty, and the server's apron was filthy. The server didn't seem to be knowledgable in the least about the establishment and its offerings. The owner also didn't seem to care about greeting his patrons as they walked in.
(3)Scott W.
If Peroni did ads like the latest tripped-out series from Heineken, La Macchina would be the perfect spot. The space is quirky and fun with a very urban Italian vibe. There's a motorcycle. There're metal conduit and industrial lighting fixtures, chunky wood and dark steel furniture, and fake exposed wood beams. There's casual couchy seating, as well as more traditional tables. And the kitchen is semi-exposed to the whole room so you feel like you're in the action. A real cafe. La Macchina the kind of restaurant where the owner makes sure you are having a great time. He's part of the experience -- his accent and care makng you feel like you are some place special and different. We had a wonderful dinner of Rigatoni Bascaiola, the daily special Zuppa di Pesce and the lasagna "Like Ermanno does in Italy", along with the terrific bread (yes, I said terrific!) and roasted garlic, and a La Macchina salad. All were prepared with fine ingredients and plated with love. And couple of glasses of wine. Finishing with the rich tiramisu. So so good. La Macchina is not your everyday Italian place, like Dave's Italian Kitchen or Panino's. Its a step up. But not too spendy. A perfect spot for a date night or start to a night out with the guys or with the ladies.
(4)A B.
Great food, great service! I'm not sure when all the people who had bad service came here, but we came on a Saturday night, and our service was stellar. Our waitress was perfectly attentive but not overly so, and the owner brought us our salad (which they had very nicely split for us), and made sure we had everything we needed. The wine and food was delicious, and even the decaf coffee was outstanding. It's a bit pricey--definitely not something we'd do every week, but when you want something a little extra special, it's worth it. If I had one suggestion, it would be that the owner spring for new chairs--the ones they have are not comfortable. But everything else was great!
(5)Ted F.
Quickly becoming a regular favorite. A great place for a quick bite, a large gathering with friends, or a 5 course affair to celebrate something important. The squid ink tagliatelle with bottarga is simply one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. Great Italian wine list.
(5)Tim S.
Great food. Brilliant coffee. Very reasonable prices. Service very friendly but needs to be more attentive. Nobody checked in with us after delivering food until we were finished. Overall solid place. Will definitely come back.
(4)Dan C.
Good food but truly terrible service tonight. We arrived and were seated outside. After 15 minutes of waiting for a waiter, one of the cooks finally stopped by and took our drinks and appetizer order. Both the wine and apps were delicious, but that would be the last service we would see. After about an hour of sitting, annoyed at the lack of service, we finally went inside to see if we could chase down a waiter. Finally decided to just get our check and forego the entrees. Disappointed.
(1)Pete F.
Second visit. First visit awesome food chaotic service. Second visit fantastic food, entertaining AND efficient service. Killer bolognese!!!
(4)Kaitlyn K R.
Delicious food, cool atmosphere, great service. The menu is totally authentic-- exactly the same as you would see at an ostaria in Bologna! I suggest their homemade pasta and gnocchi fritto. The wine list is extensive, but the staff is friendly and willing to explain what will taste best with your dish. The owner comes around to welcome you, and is very passionate about his restaurant. My only suggestion-- call ahead to get a table away from the front windows. The tables there are great for drinks and appetizers but not a full meal.
(5)Carrie T.
Poor service, bad food. I ordered a pasta special with clams, mussels, and other seafood. It came smelling overly fishy. Another person at my table ordered the same item and received mussels that had not yet opened. Service was slow and inattentive. The waitress brought the wrong risotto to the table for one of my friends. Drinks took a prolonged period to be brought to the table. There are better places in Evanston to patronize.
(1)Daniel C.
We just had dinner here earlier this week. It was WONDERFUL. The hand-made, hand-cut pasta was the best I've ever had; great flavor and texture and unusual and hard to find combinations (swiss chard, truffles, etc.). The roast chicken and potatoes were crispy and delicious. The pana cotta was creamy, served with confit fruits that were a great compliment. Baby arugula salad, bread, etc. -- all great. These are authentic Italian recipes from the propietors' mother and grandmother. FINALLY, a really good Italian restaurant in Evanston that is not super-expensive and time-consuming. The food is good enough for special occasions, but this is also easily a great after-work or nothing-in-the-fridge dinner spot, so we plan to dine here frequently. Terrific regional Italian wine list. Extremely reasonable prices.
(5)Eric D.
Good and authentic Italian food. This newish place in Evanston (needed some new places) has the itchen right in the middle. Marco, the owner, seems to be doing well and greats everyone with a smile (a true Italian). Lots of great choices on the menu. Good bar and wine selection. Have been here two times and had good outcomes both times. Basement tables are not as good ... get seated on the main floor or take a seat at the bar instead.
(4)james c.
We were here with a large party and experienced the following: Terrible service, poor menu descriptions and both over/under cooked food. Perhaps they do better with small orders, but we won't be back to find out unfortunately.
(1)Rebekka T.
Uhhhhhhhhh YES. Super cool restaurant, rustic looking with an area with couches if you just want to pop in for a cappuccino. I wanted to take the fresh pasta home and cuddle with it. Also, if you're interested in classic Italian bikes, the owner has another business selling some amazing mopeds and scooters. If you're only interested in Italian food, well, that's good too.
(5)Horace L.
Easy to miss when walking down the street No complaints with service or temperature Tasty starter bread for with some sort of softened garlic Nice place Not for vegetarians Terrific pasta A bit overpriced
(4)Sylvia E.
When you walk in you're greeted with eclectic reclaimed wood tables and life sized antique Italian motorcycles. The music selection of top 40s hits cheapened the atmosphere, and the chairs were all plastic foldable ones. (Perhaps they were waiting on an order of wooden ones) The service was languorous and even though we were only one of three couples dining, our food wasn't particularly prompt. That said the food that did arrive was beautifully prepared and completely authentic. I ate the tuna bruschetta with capers, and it really provided a unique twist on the typical app. The grilled veggies were also a treat. When it came to the main dishes my orichiette was fantastic. That said I've had friends who have gone back and have had even worse service and over salted food. Which brings my review down to 3 stars.
(3)Judy H.
I have had two very pleasant visits to La Macchina. First visit was midday for a cup fresh-tasting decaf. Returned on a Saturday eve, around 9:30 for a light meal. The place was lively, and we chose to sit at the bar. The food was very flavorful and look forward to returning to try some other dishes. Highly recommend the polenta with sausage and peppers, and the risotto with mushrooms. The service was very pleasant and engaging. The chef stopped by to drop off a sample of one of their brunch items, which was delicious. The bartender was on her second day, and she really knew what she was doing. My only recommendation would be to lower the volume of the background music. All in all, a great addition to the Evanston dining scene.
(4)Warren F.
Good food. I had some pasta dish that was amazing. Lasagna. The motorcycles are a cool touch. I will definitely be back. My three year old thinks it is the motorcycle restaurant. I tell him it is a restaurant with motorcycles.
(5)Ana W.
La Macchina Café (so named for the motorcycles that the owner includes as the theme of the restaurant) has a modern, sharp feel to it. I ordered the lasagna, it was pretty magnificent. However, this restaurant receives 3 stars for its lackluster service. We waited a looong time for our food and the waiters appeared to have too many tables to serve.
(3)Barry J.
I started coming here after my shift across the street in the afternoon maybe once a week and I have no regrets since. I really come back for the service, local conversation and even the local gin and whiskey. It's a nice quaint hole in the wall I'll be back to visit time and time again.
(4)Michelle K.
I was so excited to come here because my friends had been raving about this place since it opened. Not only that, when I got here, I wanted to like it so much and enjoy my experience. I went for breakfast and was shocked to hear that they only had three options--not even a menu! The options were eggs, potatoes, and speck; eggs, potatoes, and sausage; or a vegetarian omelet with potatoes and toast. Easy enough to remember; however, the drink menu was impossibly difficult to read from where we were seated--would have been so much easier to read on a menu in front of us and perhaps I could have ordered a drink had I been able to see what my options were. Anyway, the limited menu was not the problem. In fact, as a girl who has difficulty making decisions, it was nice to have limited options though I might have appreciated a little more variety. If I had to rate this based on my experience, I would probably have given it a 3. It wasn't anything fantastic. A pretty standard omelet. The potatoes were okay--a little bland and the toast was a little tough to chew and cut up the inside of my mouth a little--maybe a little stale. HOWEVER. My friend's meal. He got the eggs, potatoes, and sausage. He ordered eggs over medium and when they came, they were a little runnier than he wanted. Easy enough to fix. However when we got it back, it looked as if his whole plate had been placed under a heater or something as his sausage was now completely black and charred. He just cut off the burnt parts and ate it but I couldn't help but feel bad that I had suggested we come. The service, on the other hand, was fantastic. Our server--I think he may have been the owner--was so friendly and more than polite. He checked on us enough but not in an overbearing way. He made sure we had everything we needed and wasn't fazed by my friend's questions. I've heard it's better for dinner so I would be open to coming back for dinner after the restaurant gets a little more time under its belt to get things more established and the quality of the food more consistent. Upon return if the food is better AKA not burnt to a crisp, I would be more than happy to bump this rating up.
(2)David F.
Food Great. Service...Not Good. Hopefully the owner reads these Yelp reviews. Seems to be a pretty consistent theme in other reviews. Atmosphere is great. Food very good. Service, unprepared and unresponsive. Just kind of lame. I'm going back again. I HOPE it gets better.
(3)FakeName G.
The food is good but parking is impossible during lunch hours. If you're thinking about coming here for lunch, don't bother.
(3)Noah O.
A welcoming dining experience for Evanston. My wife and I had our eyes on this new restaurant's opening since we first saw the notices in the window 'coming soon'. Evanston could surely use some more cafes and restaurants. We have many good ones throughout town, and yet they can all fill up quite early on weekend and sometimes even weekday nights, making for finding a last minute table or even sitting down with a coffee near impossible. We stopped in on Saturday night for dinner around 8pm and were met with warm welcomes from the staff. Both of the owners took the time to stop by during our visit to introduce themselves and ask how everything was. We enjoyed a sampling of meats and cheeses from the menu along with a wonderful wine recommendation from one of the owners: Cusumano Benuara Nero d'Avola (full bodied and a bit spicy) just what we were looking for. Followed that with the 'House made chard/spinach torelli' with a superb sauce of butter and parmigiano reggiano which absolutely melted in your mouth. We look forward to coming back for dinner again and in the meantime stopping in for an espresso during the week!
(5)Laura K.
Visited La Macchina for the first time last night with a few friends and had an absolutely delightful, and surprisingly affordable, dinner of small plates. All of our dishes were up to par if not above, with one exception (the soup of the day -- cream of broccoli -- which tasted more like a bitter broccoli puree). I highly recommend the burratina, butternut squash tortelli, and gnocco fritto. The pear and arugula salad was also quite tasty. While I wasn't in love with the spinach filling, I still loved the piadina for the dough (sort of in between flatbread and quesadillas). I will definitely be returning soon!
(5)jamie h.
Excellent food. Ordered take out. I am complete foodie - especially Italian food. Excellent. Butternaut squash - calamari grilled and machione salad. All excellent.
(5)Robert W.
Very good place for a date night out without putting a big hole in your pocket. Our server, Tara, gave us some excellent recommendations as well as great service. Entrees: my better half and I agreed that the home-made lasagna was the best we've ever had. The chard/spinach-filled tortelli was also to die for. We also had the tasty gnocco fritto. Large wine selection. We'd definitely come back. Ambiance: So-so. Food: Stellar Service: Excellent
(4)Cindy S.
I'm surprised by some of the lukewarm reviews as I have been here about three times and think the food is amazing! The mixto a griglia is my favorite and I love the appetizer with the aged balsamic in a spon served with crumbled parmesan. And the bread pudding is to die for!!
(4)Florie P.
La Macchina Cafe has delicious, authentic Italian food served in a funky atmosphere by an eager to place waitstaff! I can't wait to return. This place is hard to find but worth the trip. Our waitress, Heather, was so excellent and really guided us towards the right wine and food throughout our entire meal with a smile on her face. The wine list is quite long for by the glass wine so I described the type of wine I'd like and Heather's pick was right on. The owner came by to welcome us and chatted with us just like they do in Italy. He's from Bologna and many of the recipes are his mother's. We were immediately served roasted garlic and delicious bread (high end olive oil and grated cheese were on the table) to munch while we made our selections. Three of us easily shared the Frito Misto plate and a Caesar salad - the Frito Misto plate had incredible seasoning and contained plenty of shrip, octopus & calamari to share. The Caesar salad was very flavorful...no bottled dressing here. For our mains we tried the stuffed pork loin, the cavetelli and the Tagliatelle with Black Truffles. We all loved our meals and I came home with lunch for tomorrow. The portions are good, not ridiculous, but each dish is flavored so uniquely and so well, no one reached for salt and pepper throughout the entire meal! We had coffee with a shared and amazing cannoli (homemade of course). I should mention that this place roasts its own beans and is open as a coffeehouse AND restaurant during the day. The coffee was so good I bought some beans to take home. This is by far the most authentic Italian food I've eaten outside of Italy and I just can't believe its right here in Evanston. Don't be fooled by the casual look of the restaurant, this is the REAL DEAL!
(5)