Trattoria D.O.C.
706 Main St, Evanston, IL, 60202
Trattoria D.O.C. Menu
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Address :
706 Main St
Evanston, IL, 60202 - Phone (847) 475-1111
- Website https://trattoria-doc.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : 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 : 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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Erin M.
The food is okay. The ambience is lacking. The service is awesome. This is not a romantic Italian bistro. They pack you in like sardines such that you can hear every word of the conversation going on at the table next to you and there's not enough room to move around -- hardworking busboys managed to jostle my chair at every pass, which got to be highly annoying. The food also wasn't great -- my salad was very good, but the risotto needed more salt than it should have to become palatable. The service, however, was amazing. We had the most attentive and knowledgeable server ever, and were never looking for someone to fill our drinks or water. They saved our date.
(3)Vikx M.
Nothing special, prices are a bit on the high side for the quality of the food. Only go there when the Mexican restaurant down the street is closed.
(3)J M.
This place gets steady business, but not such that there's ever a long wait. It's slightly off the beaten path, and the decor is fine albeit not amazing. But - a big but! - the food more than makes up for it. Absolutely delicious. We have thoroughly enjoyed every meal, from the salad (tricolore is my fave), the wood fire pizzas, and the homemade pastas. Fresh and delicious. Wine selection is good and well-priced. Service is always good . . . not lacking but not cloying, either. Very low-key. We've come as a couple and with our kids, and it's comfortable either way. Happy for us that we can always get a table here, but seriously, this place should be packed!
(5)Christine B.
Pizza is delicious! We've had a few pastas as well and they were tasty too. Always great to finish off with the tasty gelato--perfect for sharing it.
(4)John W.
I go here when I want some italian pizza. The pizza has always been great seems healthier and tastier than your regular pizza. I've had a few of the pasta entrees and the portions are huge. I'm not a huge fan of the pasta dishes its tasty but too rich and heavy for my taste.
(4)Andy S.
Service was very good here and the food was generally tasty. I give it 3 stars because the food I ordered was very disappointing, sorry to say. It was a special that was apparently running out - a red risotto. Very bland and it was very surprising. I tried other people's food and it was good. Maybe this is just a tip that in my opinion avoid the risotto special. I would definitely give this place another try though.
(3)Cecile C.
I love thin crust pizza and they do it pretty darn well. The Quattro Stagioni is a fav and is what keeps me going back! I've not tried the pastas, and found the salads to be a bit meh. But if you like a good thin crust, fresh and tasty pizza this is the place! Most often I take mine to go, but the restaurant has a cozy atmosphere, and service has been decent the few times I've dined in.
(4)Emanuele A.
One of the best pizzas in the Chicago area and a very nice environment. Our little kids played around and the waiters were always very friendly with them and they even entertained the kids while we were waiting for our food.
(4)Matt L.
I ate here last night with my family and friends and was extremely happy. Being one who travels to Italy at least once a year and being part of a big Italian family I tend to be critical of Italian Food in restaurants. I must say I was super impressed with 99% of what was dished out. We were 8 adults and 6 kids in total so besides what i must say is one of the top three pizzas in the city we were able to see a pretty nice variety of what Pizza Doc has to offer. Again the pizza was fantastic! The pappardelle were exquisite and true to flavors , texture and quality as you would find in a top restaurant in Italy. Many Roman dishes that were outstanding especially the matriciana which I am coming back for. The salads were fresh and the Grilled Treviso with Grilled Calamari had a great balance of flavors which we enjoyed. As I said earlier we were a pretty big table and the kids started being kids at the end. Even with the commotion our Italian family was causing, the staff was courteous, polite and professional. In particular our waiter was very knowledgeable, spoke Italian and made us feel at home. It kills me to put this last line but I must because I did say I was impressed with 99%. The one thing that I believe could use some help was the espresso at the end. Although its very rare to find any Italian restaurant that can make an exceptional Espresso, I believe it can be done. We had several at the table and we were all in harmony that it was on the burnt side and could have been more authentic in taste. Besides this minor issue I was amazed at with the Restaurants Rustic Artisanal Cuisine that rivals some of the Best Restaurants in Italy and Most of the ones here in the State. I look forward to eating here again.
(5)Horace L.
Definitely solid Italian food. Fresh ingredients, tasty pizza and excellent cannoli.
(4)Emmanuel R.
Delivery on time Nice people on phone and deliver Very good food
(5)Quanisha P.
Pros - Cute restaurant, lively bar, good pinot grigio, good waitress CONS- horrible risotto blech, blech...risotto with tomatoes, graden veggys and white sauce = minute rice with frozen peas, carrots and corn (the kind you cried about as a kid). Bland and definitely not risotto.
(2)Jean C.
We finally went to Trattoria DOC as we like Italian and wanted to walk. I do not plan to go back. It wasn't 'bad', really, but absolutely nothing interesting. We thought thought the menu looked good but food not well prepared. For instance, the vegetable on the side was completely cold (not supposed to be) and had a weird flavor (it was spinach and broccolli I guess....leftovers?) Salmon was well cooked, if a little dry. Alan had tilapia but the livornese sauce was not a good taste. Too bad. Oh and the cabernet was not good at all. Service was weak... Too bad.
(1)Laura S.
I had high hopes for this place and was very disappointed. The chicken entree was awful. The chicken breasts were so fatty they were inedible. The side of potatoes was bland. I can't believe how much I paid for such disappointing food. Yuk.
(1)Lauren B.
Great food, excellent service what more could you ask for?? Kid friendly as well! My niece and nephew drew all over the table paper cloth......they had so much fun
(4)Lizbeth T.
Casual, neighborhood Italian joints with great food and not-quite-special-occasion prices are an elusive species, which is why I like Trattoria D.O.C. First of all, their wine list is amazingly affordable, with a broad selection of house reds, whites and a rose ranging from $6-8 per glass. That's a steal! I usually go for one of their wood-fired pizzas, which are dependably delicious. A perfect thin-crust antidote to Chicago deep dish, with a nice selection of toppings. But it's also worth checking out the daily specials. Yesterday, a special asparagus soup with lump crab meat was the highlight of my meal.
(4)Marie D.
Loved it! We were a party of ten, and everyone seemed to enjoy their meals and the overall experience. Great service from Tina, delicious risotto, bolognese, pizza, calamari, ravioli. My only disappointment was the tiramisu, which was a bit bland and watery. That's minor, though, and I'll definitely go back.
(4)Melissa F.
Me and my girlfriend went here on our date night and we were really happy with out service and food our waiter was helpful and friendly and we loved it. We told my girlfriends mother that the place was night and a few weeks later we went again and had a so so waitress who was flighty the food was still really good and we were over all really happy. It is really hot inside so dress lightly!
(4)Ken G.
Let me start by saying I am a Italian food snob. I am a big fan of Rosebud on Taylor St., Zia's and Cafe Bionda, that being said I saw the pictures on yelp and thought it looked really good. Ordered mussels, tagliatelle bolognese and pappardelle ragu to go. The mussels were bland at best and not fresh tasting. I am a huge fan of bolognese when it's done well but this was just pasta with parmasen cheese I mean there was literally no sauce to scoop up so definitely not my style of bolognese (where it usually has a great meat sauce) this was not it. The ragu had the same problem just really no sauce and to be honest they both tasted the exact same. It was also like $50 which was not worth it. I would not trust Yelp with this restaurant. Boo
(1)Tom A.
This is a nice spot with good service. My only comment regards the grilled calamari which was so sweet, you couldn't taste it. Balsamic vinegar doesn't get that sweet... They must have added sugar. Otherwise it's a fine place.
(3)James B.
Italian just like your mom used to make, and then you wished you could fire her. Also, the house wine might be Franzia.
(1)Matt R.
Do you like restaurants with lots of space to stretch out? Where you are sitting on comfy couches and have small private areas? Well guess what? That isn't Trattoria! Meanwhile, here's what Trattoria DOC is: A nice sitdown italian restaurant with some very creative pizzas. They had a pizza with arugula and artichoke that was fantastic. Additionally, this is a place to go if you want a lot of good vegetarian options. The GF had a pizza with asparagus and although I thought it tasted great, to be honest it was quite short on the asparagus. We're talking like 8 asparagus for a 14" pizza or so. There is a nice wine selection and a nice italian selection, all of which seem to be good sized for an individual. Price is pretty in line with the portions, as the pizza's were around $12 or $14 each. It was still cheaper than ordering pizzas of the same size at the other Trattoria. So if you like italian food, and you want to try a place with some unique dishes such as Suppli, this is definitely a good place to go. Oh, and the suppli was great. It was like a fried mozarella stick with lemon rice in the middle, with a taste I've never experienced before.
(5)S P.
It was just "ok" I asked the waitress if they had real Italian pizza, or American pizza and she looked at me like I offended her. I've been to Italy three times, it's a serious question. She said of course it was Italian pizza. It was not. The crust was not "Italian" it was American, in fact it was Pizza Hut American. As was the sauce. The ingredients were good though. I ordered the seafood pizza and if they would have made proper crust, then I would say it was a very good pizza. But it was just tasty seafood that I was picking off with my fork at the end. The latte was just ok. Overall it was tasty but not what I was hoping to find. I guess not many places know how to make real Italian pizza =[
(3)Michael M.
This is one of our favorite places in Evanston. Really authentic Italian, that is a real meal, not just red sauce and noodles. But even we have been wow'd by the holiday specials this year! And the staff is always fantastic. This should be your every day and special event go to restaurant!
(5)Rachel S.
Ahhh the pizza....the pizza!!! Amazing wood fired oven pizza! We've been here twice now, and both times the food and the service were excellent. We had the Margarita pizza, the arugula, and the potato....SOOOO yummy! Last time I was there I had the filet which was delicious. Their pasta is tasty and well cooked. We will definitely return.
(5)Team B.
We stopped by to use our WBEZ 2-for1. We'd had bad luck in the past, but it's really close to our house and we had the coupon. We ordered two ravioli dishes. The special (a squash ravioli) was passable, but the mushroom ravioli was nearly tasteless. We also had a forgettable sponge cake dessert (it might've been a special, too). Service was a bit slow, but the main problem is the mediocre food.
(2)Veda P.
Great food and great service! I've been to Italy many times and this is the first time I've even seen a restaurant in the US do pizza like Italy, it was awesome! Also the antipasto de terra was wonderful; as was the caprese salad. We will be going back and we live an hour away in Naperville. Did I mention that the service was fantastic!!!
(5)Kris L.
Tried this restaurant for the first time today, and I wish I had known about it long before! their food was soooo delicious and the service was great - I would love to go back to try more of their dishes. They have a pretty extensive menu too!
(4)Jeff F.
So wanted it to be great, but its not. Walk in and you smell the wood burning pizza oven, but from that point on everything was downhill. Too expensive, not memorable, bad service, no kids menu - $11 for boxed pasta with butter- come on....
(2)Frank W.
Good pizza! Limited seating availability.
(3)skip l.
We had a very disappointing dinner this Saturday -- that's the basis for this review. At other times, we've had very good experiences. But when they fail on a Saturday night, something's wrong. Their seafood rissoto, usually richly favored was tasteless and served with less than the usual amount/variety of seafood. (The server offered to take it back, but we had eaten much of it during conversation, and didn't want to wait. On request, he shaved some parmisan cheese for us; but that didn't help much).Another rissoto was similarly without distinction. The grilled vegetables, usually extrordinary, were limp and bland. Then they were out of the dessert we ordered -- early on a Saturday night.. In the past, we've loved their grilled calamari and their panacoti, but -- as another Yelper mentioned -- they seem inconsistent. A year ago, we (too) got a basket of moldy bread. But we've kept coming back for the rissoto. I wish this time we'd returned it to the kitchen, of only to make the point!
(2)Ginny L.
After a rave recommendation from my parents, I checked this place out, and in terms of the food, they were absolutely right to be so impressed by it. The grilled vegetable appetizer was full of fresh eggplant, zucchini, green beans, and more, drizzled in a sauce that perfectly complimented the smoky way they were cooked. The goat cheese, spinach, and tomato pizza I had was huge (though it was meant to serve one) and provided me with a delicious if not somewhat unhealthy lunch for the next two days. Then the panna cotta was just a dream; words cannot describe how amazing it was, except to say that after eating it I immediately went home and learned how to make it myself. But... the service. Though the place was empty save for one table, it took us five minutes to be seated. Once we were, it took another fifteen til the waiter took our order. When he brought a basket of bread to the table, it was obviously old bread, as not only was it stale, but a few pieces contained fuzzy black mold. I pointed it out and the waiter said it was probably just that piece and it didn't matter, instead of immediately apologizing and bringing a fresh basket. Basically, this is a place to check out if you like Italian, however, make sure you go during a slightly busier time of the day when there are more waiters and customers present, giving you a significantly better chance of 1. having a waiter notice you and 2. getting bread that hasn't been sitting around for the past few days.
(3)George M.
Wow. Not too good. You know when you walk in a restaurant and you get that "holy sh** I should leave right now" feeling. I should have went with my gut. We started with fried calamari, a standard for me. Most likely the worst calamari I have had. The server tried, but you could tell he was not totally confident in his job. The decor as well was a not flattering, and the hostess greeted people with an apathetic smile. Not a good strategy for a business, let alone a restaurant. For my main dish, I went with a prosciutto and wriggle pizza. I usually love this pizza. In thus case, the bed of arugula was not carefully placed, and there was little care in the inclusion of sauce or cheese in my pie. Also, my prosciutto was quite fatty, and I wouldn't be surprised if it went directly from the deli package to my pizza. I didn't order dessert. I always order dessert. I hate to be this harsh, but it was probably one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had.
(1)S G.
So... I don't know what it is about Evanston restaurants, have yet to have a good experience. All great ideas, locations, decor and menus--- but the final execution is poor. My mom and I originally were craving mexican, and thought to check out Lupitas. After noticing the place was completely empty, we decided to stroll down the street and the windows of Trattoria were calling us. Once inside, there was only a single other table- some guy reading the paper and having salad. The rest of the scene? one waitress and a huge empty restaurant. The bread was fresh (I read about the mold experience from another yelper)...the waitress was friendly...the menu was expansive. I decided on the mussels marinara, from the appetizer section ($8.75). My mom decided to try the zuppa de pesce from the special menu ($22). After a brief wait- I got my mussels, a bowl full with a thick tomato sauce. The mussels were obviously not fresh, the sauce although sparse was decent. The mussels were tough, rubbery and just tasted old. I even got a few sandy ones. If you're in the mood for mussels, check out the ones at Maggianos (downtown chicago location) they are AMAZING. On to the bigger disappointment. I mean, this was laughable. My mom's "soup" arrived...looking suspiciously EXACTLY like my appetizer. Mussels and Clams still in the shell. Few Calamari rings (two or three) and a SINGLE shrimp. Please note, these were in the same thick-tomato base as my appetizer...and there was barely sauce enough to cover the bottom of the plate. All i kept thinking was $22?!?!?! She should have just had my appetizer! The waitress asked how everything was, I couldn't help but let her know that what she brought to my mom was clearly not a soup. Her reply? "Yeah, we tend to make it thicker here. Would you like me to thin it out??" Perhaps she missed my point--- fishermans stew, zoppa de pesce, whatever you want to call it... should NOT still have the shells in it. At least, no where in the world (and i mean, literally in the world) that we've been has served it that way. So out comes the menu, couldn't decide on anything else--- so we settled for one of their "famous" pizzas, quattro formaggi. By the way, this place touts themselves on their pizzas, even stating that they don't cut them to preserve the "integrity" of their pizza..... LITERALLY FOUR MINUTES LATER, we get our pizza. Of course it was uncut... and here we both are staring at round piece of flour with some cheese on it. No sauce. No basil-leaf to top it off. No final drizzle of olive-oil. Ok, fair enough- so who cares about the presentation, lets get to the taste. Four Cheese? Um... it was very mild- the blue-cheese barely detectable. Papa Johns offers a better pie- heck you can take a piece of pita bread and put melt some cheese on it- save yourself the $14. There was NO flavour. None. Zero. Zip. Zilch. We split a piece and took the rest to go (we shouldn't have bothered). In a nutshell? Maybe a good place for a glass of wine, just make sure you go with a full stomach. Dont bother with the pizza... or the mussels for that matter.
(1)Dan N.
Best Meatball sandwich in the Chicago Area. I am a big guy and it lasted me two meals. At $8 for a meatball during lunch, killer deal!
(4)Michael B.
Trattoria DOC is a classic example of an Italian restaurant with a hit-or-miss menu. The daily features seemed interesting enough when I went in, but I would have liked our server to explain them a bit instead of just throwing a card on the table for us to read. Fortunately, my mother and I are hardcore Sicilian so my group decided on the fried zucchini flowers with artichoke mousse to start. Then, we looked at the pizza list. Dear God, this thing was a monster. It must have had at least 20 different pizzas, again which our server (I barely want to call her that) did not bother to go over--it was obvious we were new to the area. Whatever, we still trudged through it. The pasta and entrée list was not much better, although easier to get through based on the descriptions in Italian (again, the fact that my mom and I can read in Italian saved the day, not our server). I got the lamb ragu with pasta, and I must say that it was good, although the portion left something to be desired. My mother got a Bolognese sauce. The other two guests got a calzone-like pizza with vegetables and penne with marinara, respectively. Over all, I can't say that I would go back. The service was mediocre; our server...or should I say order taker...was clearly not into it. She didn't do anything poorly, but she certainly didn't do anything well either. The food tasted good, but for the price, I was expecting something a little more interesting at the very least. Maybe had she guided us through the menu instead of sitting around for us to read through it, both parties would have enjoyed the hour exchange a little more.
(3)Helen P.
The grilled fillet is so good I ate far more than I'd intended. Great service, delicious dessert.
(4)Jessica L.
I'm giving five stars, because four and half isn't a choice, and I don't want to give four. It seems that it's fair to say they might be best reducing their menu in the name of freshness. My only bad (and it wasn't that bad) experience here was with a take-out piece of cake. It was slightly stale, maybe made the day before. Other than that, Guiliana and the other servers are fabulous! The food is definitely wonderful. I recommend the grilled vegetable appetizer and a bottle of Dolcetto. Sometimes it's offered by the glass, but with the new wine doggie bags, the bottle is just fine thank you very much. I seem to always get the same pizza, the spinaci, I believe. Save room for gelato, and get one scoop of each! Delish! Flavors vary, but some favorites have been pistachio, lavender, and lemon. Absolutely delightful! Go, and go again!
(5)Laura A.
Just tried this place for lunch yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. The food (I ordered rigatoni) was good, and best yet, the lunch special was $5.99 for a salad (albeit tiny) and a decent size pasta entree! With the warm bread, I left super full, and my wallet was not empty. I didn't get any drinks or dessert, but they seemed to have a decent wine selection and enticing desserts -- any place that has creme brulee on the menu totally gets 5 stars from me.
(5)Christine P.
I've been here a couple times and I haven't been let down either time. The atmosphere is quite cozy, but there is a lot of space to move around and get a couple big parties into the restaurant, making it more lively. The service was great and the wine (and wine choices) were even better. I had a tough time deciding on an order, but only because I couldn't decide on one item to eat! I ended up starting with the Caprese salad (always a favorite) which had the right amount of bite with the balsamic, and the right amount of salt & pepper. Last visit, I had the spinach gnocchi with bleu cheese sauce, which went quite well with my white wine. For dessert, the panna cotta was great (even though it's not my favorite dessert). It's nice to find a place a little off the beaten path of Downtown Evanston AND from Ravenswood/Andersonville. Parking wasn't horrendous on the street, and it's on Main street, so there's tons of fun shops around.
(4)Urszula P.
My husband and I go to this place for years now, and it's the best Italian Restaurant in 100 miles radius, hands down. I've spent part of my college years in Italy so I had best as far as pizza goes :) So after many years in Chicago I was overjoyed to find this place. Let's start with appetizers - they are amazing; definitely try their calamari and mussels in red sauce - unbelievable! Best pasta carbonara, enormous selection of just great, great pizza. But food is not only reason we go back there - friendly stuff, owner that is present almost all the time making sure that you're satisfied, comfy, down to earth setting .....just my kind of place!
(5)Dee W.
What a nice dining experience - we were able to sneak in 7:30pm reservations on Valentine's Day and as expected, the place was packed but not overly packed. Our tables were a bit close to each other and the atmosphere was very warm and the lights were actually really well lit and bright compared to most other restaurants that I've been to. The SO liked the track lighting and noted that they should put more stuff on their walls to give it a more personalized touch. They did have a nice Valentine's day dinner special for $70 for two, but we opted to pick our own options. We started off with the calamari thanks to Jesster A's suggestion which was really light - the breading tasted really light and the sauce tasted really light - we dully noted that could be both a good and bad thing. The SO had a pizza which had air dried beef on it - think of a gourmet beef jerky which was a bit salty but in a good way. We ordered a bottle of red wine, I'm sorry I can't remember what it was called, but it was very fitting. Our server was very nice and friendly - I did have to send back the initial wine glass that he gave me because it did have a red lipstick imprint still on it (not mine). I had tried to order their filet but they were out, so to compensate, I got a ribeye in the same creamy white sauce which was delish. Their mashed potatoes were whipped so light and fluffy and buttery, it was yummy! After all that, we were too full to try dessert but their options did look very good. Overall, a good experience, next time, I'll be sure to pick up an order of their pasta which did look pretty good. See pictures for pictures of the food and wine.
(4)Shradha A.
Update 02/2008: I was craving thin pizza one day recently and thought of this as the closest Italian place - I was not disappointed. And so I added a star to them now! I was looking to get out of Northwestern area and look for good Italian food. That's how I landed up at this place, decided to give it a shot, and am not going back there anytime soon! I think it's just a pseudo wanna-be fancy overly-expensive passable-food place. Got the pizza, took FOREVER to arrive, the servers were no help at all, and was glad to finish and leave! I don't have much to say for them, except: dont go here!
(3)John W.
Finally, a good restaurant in Evanston. Here's the story, these are the people who originally brought you Pizza DOC down on Lawrence. They sold that location and thus the service has suffered a bit but its still close to my house and I still go. That being said, this place is great and seemingly less crowded than DOC and they have brought over much of the staff from the original location along with the same menu. This is the best pizza in Chicago(oops Chicago area)...Unless of course you are a Superfan and have to have stuffed Pizza with SAAsage and peppers. But alas, I love the authentic, thin, fire brick oven pizzas the best. And go there for the pizza, not pasta. Its not that the pasta will be bad but this is a pizza place and that is waht they do best. Anyway, whenever I am in Evanston and I don't want just fish and chips at Nevins, this is where I'll be going and its really not that far from my house in Edgewater so perhaps I'll even start throwing it back into the rotation. But hurry, only a matter of time before they are on Check Please. Ok, so I don't know that they haven't been on Check Please but if they haven't and do get on there this place will be packed because it will get good reviews
(5)Georgiana G.
Absolutely the Best pizza I've ever had. Wonderful variety of 21 different wood fire pizzas to choose from. I recommend their Quattro Stagioni pizza that has generous sections of mushrooms, olives, and artichoke and prosciutto slices to cover the whole pizza. Served piping hot with a superb crust! Great service in a most pleasant setting. A true value with delicious top grade ingredients.
(5)Suzanne P.
This is a charming and wonderful place to eat in South Evanston. I've been here several times, and I've always been really happy with my meal and the overall experience. First of all, I like the decor. It's lovely without being in your face, and is a great place to bring friends to. The servers are all really really nice and helpful and I've always felt taken care of when I dine there. The food is wonderful! I've loved every pasta that I have tried. I think they must make their own pasta on site because it always is so fresh. I also love trying their Bruscetta! The wine list is great too. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves some good Italian food!
(4)Carol J.
I've eaten here about thirty times and yes, of course I know people here, that being said I have never had a bad meal or bad service. I must be one of the lucky ones! I crave their pizza (especially the quattro frommagio) often and would drive to the end of the earth for it. The service I've gotten here has always been spectacular. But again, I am treated exceptionally well by the people that run this place and maybe thats why. There isn't a dish on the menu that I haven't tried and haven't loved but it is the pizza that I will sell my soul for.....the perfect crust with the slight char from the wood burning oven. The single piece of basil scenting the margherita. And the wine list with excellent values.....don't even get me started. I find their prices exceptionally reasonable but maybe thats because I expect to pay a little more for the quality of the food I enjoy. And I'm used to overpaying for everything downtown. Mark the bartender/manager/partner is a sweetheart and always delightful and the food is amazing. Can't say enough great things about Tratt DOC.
(5)Paul U.
I've been here for dinner three times and each time it was a disappointment.
(1)U.M. S.
I love the Fried Calamari, 4 cheese pizza, pizza margherita, spinach gnocchi, gelato, etc. Those 5 are generally safe and delicious bets if this restaurant really is hit and miss with their menu (I've stuck with those options rather than try anything else). The deliveries are kind of expensive as is the price for the pizzas simply based on portion size (really small).
(4)Tim O.
Don't get me wrong, this place is great. You won't be unhappy with the food despite some of the low reviews on this site. If you are in a rush, don't go to a restaurant like this, and if you do, get some wine and chill out. (...these luxury condos on Main/Chicago are bringing a bunch of super impatient jackasses into this neighborhood. "Um... waiter I have a charity function at Kellogg to attend, could you please expedite my Ravioli.") I probably eat here more than Campagnola, but I prefer the food and the atmosphere over at Campagnola on Chicago.
(4)Joe B.
Yay!!! For years I was wondering what the heck had happened to Pizzeria DOC on Lawrence. It was the same place, but something had changed... and not really for the better. So, what an awesome surprise to find the owners had actually moved and opened up Trattoria DOC in Evanston. It's always very simple, home-like, and the food is delicious and consistent as ever. It's traditional Italian dishes, the pizzas and spaghetti carbonara are to die for.
(4)M Y.
Is there a half star? The worst food I ever ate! Terrible service. I make better Italian food! Not my choice, was there with same friend and another friend. This time I had a ravoli pasta, again, no taste!
(1)Tyler W.
OK, my friend thought this place was amazing. It didn't blow me over. I've been told had I gotten pizza it would have knocked my puddin' pops off my socks. Seeing the asparagus goat cheese pizza led me to think otherwise. Decent Bruschetta, OK atmosphere (a little to romantic to be family, a little to family to be romantic), and really nasty ravoli mean that despite the good company I've got to give this place 2 stars. Step it up guys!
(2)Kari S.
OH (pause) MY (pause again) GOSH...[think Janis of Friends]. I just ate the most delicious thin crust pizza from Trattoria D.O.C. I'd heard about this restaurant from my co-workers who still drive up to Evanston just for the food, but I didn't quite believe them until I tried for myself. Absolutely amazing pizza. I had the pizza camilla, which had tomato sauce, gorgonzola, mozerella, ham, and oregano. The ham was sliced very thin and tasted so good- just the right amount of salty. All the ingredients were in perfect amount on top of the deliciously fresh crust. The pizza is baked in a brick oven. My co-workers had great looking pizzas as well (we each ordered our own, and I have leftovers that are already calling my name). I looked at tables of other guests, and their food looked mighty tasty. We finished off lunch with cappuccinos that had the best foam ever (which could be a result of my not having a cappuccino for weeks). Our waiter was extremely nice, so as for the poor service in prior reviews, I'm not sure what that was about. It was a bit cold in the place, so bring a sweater. Definitely give DOC a try- I will be driving up to Evanston again just for it. There is also a location in Lincoln Square.
(5)Joshua D.
They have/had this truffle pizza that was perhaps the most amazing pizza I've ever had. Rather pricey(the truffle makes it that way) but it's really good food. Everything else they make is really good.
(5)Britni W.
This restaurant is always a nice treat if I'm looking to have a nice dinner out without having to drive or hop a train. The food is good but they seem to keep removing our favorites from the menu so we go less and less often. The mashed potatoes are sinfully nommy if you get there on a day they have them to serve to you. Overall it's a nice dinner but not amazing. Sadly the prices are a trad too high to justify going more than every once in a while. If you are looking to impress someone don't take them here. If you are looking for a nice dinner that everyone can afford not a bad choice but not my first.
(4)Samantha R.
Ah - not great. Once we got the food, it was okay. We were a family party of 11 and truly with all of us choosing different entrees we should have been able to settle on at least a few dynamite dinners, but we didn't. Two of the pizzas were raved about although neither blew my socks off and the kids ate steak which they thought was pretty good. Of course I tasted it and agreed but I'd never go to an Italian restaurant for a decent steak when there are many extraordinary ones around. I had a shrimp fettuccine which was pretty authentic but on the salty side. Back to my earlier comment regarding the service, it was mediocre at best. The ambiance felt more like a tavern than a finer eating establishment. I could not hear the waiter at all once he arrived at our table so he had to make individual stops at each of us to explain the entrees one by one. Either he was new - to the restaurant or to speaking English, but ordering was pretty rough going as he couldn't pronounce the names of the dishes nor explain them. Most of us were looking to the next guy for help. I couldn't really tell how anyone else liked their food because most of the conversation was a shouting match so I let it go unquestioned. The best part of the entire dinner was our dessert which I later discovered was ordered elsewhere and was brought in by the party thrower for the occasion. Wouldn't be my choice for another family gathering. Might be better for a smaller party but I don't think I'd even give it a second try.
(3)George K.
Not bad. We had visited their pizzeria on Lawrence a few happy times but this was our first visit here. Pizza was good and authentic (based on our many trips to Italia). Waiter (Luka) was friendly and efficient. Wine (a Frescobaldi super-Tuscan) was very good and they used balloons. Tables were a tad too close together to suit me and HVAC system was variable but I think we'll be back. Later: Well, we went back and had another good time. HOWEVER, there is a gentleman working behind the bar with ratty facial hair and unkempt clothing. He is distracting to diners like us. I recommend he clean up his appearance and wear a bartender's apron.
(4)Perry S.
Trattoria DOC makes you understand why so many restaurants go out of business. My advice is to stay home. This was one of the unimaginative meals I have had in a long time that was only made worse by the poor service. (At one point I had to get up to get my own water.) Boring presentation, sub standard ingredients, and nothing that makes you glad you came. We tried this restaurant on the suggestion of a coworker. Their wine list was boring so we skipped it. We both ordered lamb from their special menu. After a long wait, we were served something that appeared to be different from what was described in the menu and turned out to be one of the toughest pieces of lamb I have ever had. If I didn't know better I would have thought it was mutton. The presentation reminded me of a Salisbury Steak frozen TV dinner from the 60's. There are a lot of good restaurants in Chicago-land and this is not one of them. My recommendation is to keep on walking and find another place.
(1)Yvette F.
I live right up the street from this place and frequently do lunch or dinner here. I agree it's not Italy but the menu is a pretty great take on authentic Italian cusine. The pizza selection is outstanding, I like the Patate & Rosmarino. And the pasta dishes are not your typical American take on an Italian dish - they seem to stay pretty true to the original. The wait staff does try to play up the Italian, play up the wine sales and etc. I've had good and bad service here but since it's new I'd say they are still working out the kinks. I think they could have done a lot better with the decor - it's pretty plain and doesn't really have that warm cozy feeling of an Italian restaurant. This is the one thing I found strange about this place. Give it a try, I think you'll be glad you did.
(4)Swapna P.
By far, the best Italian restaurant in Evanston. Very cozy and relaxed atmosphere inside and you feel comfortable going there in jeans or in something dressier. The food is phenomenal. I've enjoyed every dish I've ever had there. The spicy mussels, porcini risotto, and pappardelle with duck are must-tries. There is a really large variety of pizzas available. Plus, if you're undecided or have a small appetite, they make half-size portions of any of the i primi dishes so you can have both the risotto and the pappardelle if you're in the mood!
(5)Allison S.
I will never go back to this restaurant. While dining there with a friend recently we were told we could not add chicken to a pizza "because it isn't Italian...Italians never put chicken on a pizza...yes we have chicken here but I doubt our kitchen would do that." My mouth literally dropped to the floor when I was told that they *could* fulfill our request, but *wouldn't*. Really, for better pizza and a nicer staff, head up the road to Trattoria Demi.
(1)Jesster A.
Spouse would only give it two, maybe a grudging three star rating... partly based on ordering that pasta with duck that everyone seems to order and no one can remember the name of (I do have a copy of the menus somewhere around here - meet the lunch menu - same as the dinner menu (except for a few sandwiches.) We both found the Pappardelle all' Anatra (duck) to be bland and uninspired (why bother with the duck for this kind of result?) I got lucky with the Risotto al Frutti di Mare (read: seafood) which was plate licking good. We disagreed about the fried Calamari (which I liked, spouse said was the frozen pre-breaded stuff, and a lousy brand at that. Second visit (a month later, in August) was less successful. Thinking I was on a roll with the risotto, this time I got the "al Porcini Freshi" variation - which was way too much of an only so-so thing. It would have made a great SIDE dish but was too boring and monotonous to stand on it's own. And for just $1.75 less than the seafood laden version kind of a rip as well. Katsuyuki's optimism was not rewarded: the Spaghetti alla Carbonara was stiil seriously oversalted (when cooking with both bacon and Parmesan exercise restraint with the salt shaker) and quite dry too. Service disappointed both times. The first time, server just seemed inexperienced. Second time was a fiasco. After upgrading us to a much more expensive wine, she never showed up again and appeared not to notice repeated flag down attempts. Finally a beleagured bus boy pretended to understand our dilemma and a visiting wine rep overheard us and brought us glasses of wine herself! Later, the regional manager (who just happened to be there to conduct a training class) stopped by to apologize and offered us a comp glass of wine (even though by then we were done eating).) A few tables away our waitress was now paying attention to us and crying her eyes out - so we found ourselves in the position of pleading with the manager to give her a second chance and not fire her. Oh Yuck. We did appreciate the comp wine - since that upgraded wine suggestion was $14.95 a glass (vs the $7.95 a glass we had planned to order.) But that seafood risotto was so good - I want to try it again - so I guess I'll risk taking my Mom there for her birthday?
(4)Bob K.
Go for the Pizza... Trattoria DOC was a nice place. The pizza oven made it uncomfortably warm but the beer was extra cold. Service was average as our waiter failed to put in our app order....bringing our salads in its place. Salads were good...the Celery Salad was a little over celery-y... Everyone ordered pizza and no one was disappointed. Most every table was ordering pizza, so the prior reviews must be right.
(3)MartÃn G.
Excelent food. Bad service. Served all but one at the table. Was not served by the time everyone else finish eating. Despite the food, won't be coming back. For this prices I expect a little more care.
(1)kathleen m.
We met friends at Trattoria DOC for dinner. I was nervous after reading on Yelp that the owners also owned Pizzeria DOC, which I think it disgusting. However, our experience at Trattoria DOC was excellent. The calamari was very good and the bruchetta was decent. Our pasta dishes were tasty and everyone was extremely satisfied with their respective meal. Our server was very attentive and pleasant. When we didn't finish our second bottle of wine, he offered to cork it so we could take it to-go, which was a very nice touch.
(4)Olive G.
My favorite place to get a combination of both - great wood burning pizza and a glass ( or bottle) of expertly chosen wine. The last few times i was there i sat at the bar - Mark (the owner/bartender) recommended excellent wine to go with my meal. Highly recommend!
(5)David B.
Been to DOC about a half dozen times and its always been a good experience. Great pasta and pizza, good selection of wines and typically fun specials and appetizers.
(3)Jason P.
Good food. I got some nice pizza, though I apparently ordered one without sauce, which was a mistake. A classy establishment.
(4)Hugh B.
I had a fine time here. We went early on a cold Sunday evening. The place was almost empty. Started with a pizza margherita, which was simple and delicious. Then we had arugula salad, and two of us had paparadelle with duck. Everything was delicious. Service was knowledgeable and attentive without being condescending or overbearing. Atmosphere is a bit drab, but otherwise this is a fine place.
(3)Andrea K.
I have been enjoying The food and service at Trattoria DOC for the past 4 years. Went again this evening and had a fabulous meal as usual. The menu has changed slightly from my last visit. My favorite pizza (speck) and the duck pasta are no longer on the menu. That is a shame because they were fantastic. We ordered another pizza with prosciutto which was very good but did not have the bacon flavor the spec has. We also had the caprese salad. The tomatoes were very good, especially for March. The chicken limon, another favorite, was great. I suggest getting the panna cotta for dessert. The servers are friendly and the wine suggestion went well with dinner.
(5)Sandy S.
Very underwhelmed. Pizza meh. Pasta meh. Not worth a trip back, IMHO.
(2)Jeff H.
I went here when my family was in town specifically for the pizza. I had the four quarters pizza (not really knowing what it was) and the rest of us had others. I think I liked some of the others better than mine, but overall the pizza was excellent and would definitely go back if I had the chance.
(4)Ann A.
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(2)Randi G.
Updated look and menu but essentially traditional Italian...but better. The calamari salad (with the grilled calamari) is excellent, could be an entree. The pizzas are wonderful. The service is accomodating, they easily made changes by request, were attentive without hovering, and met our time requests. As noted, it is a cross between family and romance. We went as two middle aged couples and fit right in to a mix of young and old. The pizza crust could be improved, but otherwise a knockout and welcome addition to the Evanston scene
(3)Jayne A.
Don't hesitate to try Trattoria D.O.C. What a great dinner the four of us had on a recent Saturday night starting with being able to make a reservation as the restaurant was packed upon our arrival. Our server, Molly, was friendly and took care of all of our needs at the pace that we set. The menu was unique and our choices were all delicious. We loved the four scoops of gelato as we finished our meal. We will all definitely return to this great find:)
(5)David B.
Wow, what an awful experience. I've never felt such condescension in a restaurant. My wife had the gall to request a pizza with specific ingredients. The waitress made it very clear that the only pizzas available were the ones on the menu. Slow service. Overpriced. Hoping this one does not hang out too long in South Evanston. We can do better. If you are in the neighborhood, head over to Campagnola for a place that justifies the price.
(1)Keith F.
Very disappointed! First time dining at the restaurant tonight at about 6:30PM (Sunday). The place was empty and the atmosphere was drab. It did pick-up at about 7:00PM which is why I think we were disappointed since you cannot have only TWO servers operate an entire restaurant. Our waitress (long blonde hair) was not very good. She "hovered" over our table when we first arrived, then she was no where to be seen. We ordered the stuffed pepper appetizer and she could not remember if they had it or not. She returned 5 minutes later to tell us that they were OUT! Then, I ordered the Risotto Frutti di Mare which was OK. My partner ordered the manicotti dish with sliced italian sausage which was bland and actually could have been Ragu so that is how good we thought it was. In the end, we ate and the place really filled up. We noticed most people ordered pizza. Then, we actually decided to order dessert which we rarely do. We ordered the Zuppa Incal...(sp?) rum-filled cake with white and chocolate creme. She came back 5 minutes later to tell that they were OUT of that too! Come one ... seriously, we ordered two things off "special" menus that were not available. That being said, with the mediocre entrees, we will NOT be back. We did fill out the comment card advising them to AT LEAST HAVE what they advertised as "special."
(1)Nick H.
Yeah, this place looks like a fancy fine Italian restaurant. The wife and I had dinner here one evening in the summer. Our server was a slightly hefty Italian guy. That was pretty cool and helped with the authenticity. The pizza that we ordered was good, too. The one that I ordered had a thin crust, some basil and some salty little fish on it. Delicious. I imagine this is what pizza is really like in Italy...of course I've never been there, so I don't know. What was weird about this place was the seating arrangement. We were seated at a table near the front window, parallel to and not even two feet away from occupied tables on either side of us. Are restaurants like this in Italy? If so, I'm not going there for exciting culinary experiences anytime soon. We were seated so close to the our neighboring diners that we had to take turns talking to our companions. It went something like this: Woman next to us #1: " I can't believe she said that." Woman next to us #2: " I know, she gets so crazy when she drinks." *pause to allow us to start conversation* Me: "So, what are you getting?'" Wife: " I dunno?" Woman next to us #1 "Yeah, she doesn't need to drink so much..." And so on. After this battle of the conversations, we were stuck with a significant bill. That kind of sucked. Minus one star for the weird seating and another for the high bill.
(3)Joseph F.
I recently visited here for dinner on a Tuesday night and found that they were completely under staffed. The dinner took about 45 minutes too long for waiting for our server to return with every course. The food was good, and reasonable for the size of portions. I would probably go back but hopefully the service will be better, or perhaps I would consider them for take out.
(3)gd v.
Went with a group of people so I was able to sample a little bit of everyone's order...nothing stood out. The pizza was just ok...my pasta dish which was a special was just so,so...the mussels & grilled calamari were just so,so. Everthing was just so.so - so I won't be going back. Totally over-rated.
(2)Evanstonienne H.
This is the best thin crust pizza! The Rustica is a favorite! The Suppli appetizers are delicious and melt in your mouth. The Gnocchetti Formaggi are so unctuous that you are going to appreciate every mouthful. My taste buds oscillate between Spaghetti alle Vongole e Bottarga and Linguine all'Aragosta which are equally delightful. My better half swears by the Pappardelle all'Anatra -- only for those who like duck , of course. The specials are always a good surprise... I love this restaurant and the staff is very professional and attentive.
(5)Michelle M.
Ate here once and I have one work-YUK! Never again. The food was just horrendous.
(1)Karen L.
I went last night and was as disappointed as I was the first time. I'm not sure why they can't get it together here. Their ventilation was terrible and the place got hot and smoky several times. I was ignored for 5-10 minutes when I walked in and when I was first seated at my table. The busboy is the only efficient person working there. They should fire the manager and put him in charge.
(2)kb j.
We had a solid dining experience on a weekend evening. Our reservations were honored promptly. It's a decent sized, somewhat bare-bones dining room. It was filled with a mix of families and groups of varying ages. Service was efficient. The food was solid fare. We enjoyed the individual size pizzas. The wine list is Italian-centric and has many decently priced choices.
(4)Kat W.
TraTToRia D.O.C. Friendly waitstaff, nice and simple decor, reasonable (for being fancy) price, just like the Pizza DOC on Lawrence. This place has great selection of authentic Italian cuisine, but the Spaghetti Carbonara I had was way too salty. I am sure they'll fix it -- it was their 3rd week.
(4)Jen H.
I have to go with Tyler's review on this one. It just didn't blow me over. I was really crossing my fingers for a cute Italian bistro in my neighborhood. The atmosphere is nice, but is mixed...I can't quite decide if it wants to be family Italian or romantic Italian. Our service was okay, and the bread (always my favorite at Italian places) was cold and tough. My carbonara (with fresh pancetta) was creamy and quite good, and my husband's spicy bucatini with red sauce, was also relatively okay. Maybe for takeout we will hit this place up again..debateable for the prices.
(2)Laura R.
This restaurant opened this past April, and after reading some bad reviews on Metromix (where everyone seems to be crabby), we weren't sure what to expect. The service was very friendly - we had a reservation and were seated very quickly. We had grilled marinated vegetables which we delicious (especially the peas!) but they got cold very quickly and weren't as good then. I had the pasta with duck (I can't remember what it's called and I still fill very guilty for eating a duck) which was pretty good. My boyfriend absolutely loved his seafood pizza, although to me it looked kind of like they threw as much seafood as they could think of on it (which is exactly what he likes). Even though I was completely full, I had the tiramisu which was good. They have a lot of good pastas and tons of pizzas. It seems like they're getting decent business since it was pretty busy when we were there.
(4)nick d.
This was my first time here and I have to say that my meal is one of the best things I've ever eaten. Ever. I had the blue cheese gnocchi with spinach and the flavors were spot on - really really delicious. The wine selection is solid and our server was great. I forgot her name, unfortunately but if the owners read this she was working last night with blonde-ish brown hair. All around, I highly recommend this place. We also got the smoked mozz appetizer and it was great. I sampled some of my party's food - the carbanara, and some chicken dish: both of those were good too. But compared to the gnocchi that I ordered, almost nothing could stack up. Food might be ruined for me from now on. Too bad that dish is probably like 40,000 calories because that stuff is the elixir of life. Highly recommended.
(5)Lina P.
It's a popular spot among my colleagues, therefore, I go here a lot. I've been back maybe 6-7 times. Everything is usually really good, and kind of reminds me of Italy with the style of pizzas they serve, personal, uncut, and with many diverse type of toppings. I have also had the pasta, and the risotto, and I think the pasta is really delicious. Some items could be priced a little bit more reasonably, but overall it is always a great experience. I will be back again many times I'm sure. Friendly staff too.
(4)Rick R.
This place is way underrated. The pizza margarita here is the bomb! Delicious crust, sauce and cheesy goodness you will love it. We started with their Bellini Martina's and calamari fritti. The martini was refreshing and potent and was a great accompaniment to the crisp, and succulent, perfectly fried calamari. Tricolor salad was next along with Pizza Stagione on this visit. Delicious indeed! My only complaint is that the outdoor seating needs a major redo. I mean even I don't have plastic Walmart chairs in my backyard! Yuck! Get some nice Trattoria chairs for God sake! There I said it! Nevertheless service (ask for Stephen) and food here are very good!
(4)Steve A.
This is a pleasant Italian restaurant in the middle of an old fashioned block of main street surrounded by lots of interesting shops. Pizzas are served uncut so they don't get soggy, and there are some interesting salads. I had a combination of celery, apple and radicchio that was quite refreshing. The wine list has some uncommon offerings by the glass, including the seldom seen primitivo. There is some sidewalk seating that's perfect on a nice day. The only downside is that it's not inexpensive, and there doesn't seem to be a lunch menu, so two courses can result in a rather pricey noon-time meal. But on a nice summer evening it's certianly a good outside dining option.
(3)T B.
This review is only for their pizza. We thought we'd give it a try based on other reviews. Wow, what a disappointment. We ordered 2 pies. The crust was good, but the sauce had NO flavor, and there was very little sauce. The cheese was low quality, greasy, yellow in color, and lacked flavor; obviously not high quality mozzarella. We ended up throwing away our leftovers. Having recently moved from Chicago to Evanston, we were spoiled by all the great pizza options in the city. Anyone who says this pizza is good really should venture out of Evanston to eat great pizza. Sorry DOC, we won't be back.
(2)Loma K.
Came here for a friends birthday. Decent Italian food. I wasn't too amused by the food selection on their menu.
(3)Sally A.
Great food, good service, happy to see a family business thriving on my block! They are always busy and the owners get to know and remember customers. It has a great family atmosphere and authentic Italian menu, it's my go to for a glass of wine and classics.
(5)Dawn C.
Great service, authentic Italian food with good size portions. You walk in and are warmly greeted with crusty Italian bread, oil, cracked pepper and parmigiana cheese. The menu has a great mix of appetizers, salads, pasta and meat/seafood dishes. I highly recommend the tagliatelle Bolognese. The food is amazing. Worth the drive to Evanston.
(5)Valerie W.
I've been to Trattoria D.O.C. twice, and regrettably never did get my first review penned. That was back in March. We went back again for Father's Day, and had a bit of a different experience. Allow me to elaborate: March: We went for a birthday party where the menu had been pre-planned and everything served family-style, which I can get down on. We all started with their house salad, which was very good and I like the balsamic dressing. The family style menu consisted of: Calamari Fritti: fried calamari w/ spicy anchovy marinara. The calamari was lightly breaded and fried, not overcooked. A. Zuppetta di Cozze: mussels sautéed in a spicy tomato sauce. I love mussels, but this wasn't my favorite for some reason. Pappardelle al ragu d'anatra: wide ribbon pasta sautéed with a red wine, tomato, duck sauce topped with parmigiano: good flavors, not a lot of duck, but all around yummy Orcchiette con spinaci: spinach, red pepper flakes, evoo, garlic, butter, wine, cherry tomatoes, parmigiano. Probably my favorite pasta. I'm not one for heavy sauces and like a kick of spice. Margherita pizza - standard Silvio & Gabriele - tomato sauce, mozzarella, arugula, prosciutto, sliced tomato, shaved parmigiano. Overall the meal was enjoyable, service was great and everything came out hot and ready to go. Fast-forward to father's day: No family-style this time, we all just ordered. We had a group of 10. Most, if not all of us, complained that the food was cold and undercooked. I ordered the tricolore salad, which was actually very good, I'm a sucker for beets and endive. I followed that up with the Napoli pizza, which has anchovies and capers on it. The menu touted fresh mozzarella, but the kitchen definitely used regular mozz. The pizza had absolutely been sitting, you know the look that cheese on top of pizza gets when it's not exactly hot anymore. I will admit I was disappointed. Maybe we'll give Trattoria D.O.C. another shot another time.
(3)Azra H.
Always amazing service and delicious pizzas--wood-burning oven and fresh ingredients! Outdoor patio also allows one to enjoy the street traffic in this quaint part of Evanston.
(5)David L.
Sweet neighborhood restaurant. Way better than average pasta. Salmon livornese excellent. Wide variety of pizzas and nice wine list. Great service and reasonable prices. You could easily pay much more for much less. Go there!
(4)Vincent C.
It's in plain sight and on a heavily trafficked section of Main St, so I wouldn't go so far as to call Trattoria D.O.C. a hidden gem, but it's definitely underrated. Over the last couple of years, my wife and I have combined to eat most of their menu. It's simple, solid Italian food - nothing fancy, but it's just done right. The pizzas are fantastic, though I have to admit this business of not slicing it is odd (I don't buy the whole soggy crust reasoning). I'm a sucker for calamari fritti, but the spicy anchovy marinara alone makes it worth ordering. Since I don't usually crave pasta, I end up getting the special risottos because they are always interesting and delicious. D.O.C. is maybe not the best place to go for a date, since at prime dinner times the place is packed with families (read: kids), but it's a nice spot for a weeknight meal.
(4)M.j. R.
I went here for Valentine's day with my girlfriend and we had a great time. Good service and excellent food. We both order pasta and had no complaints. This is a nice little Italian place the I recommend to my friends.
(5)