Ordinarily we have a wonderful experience at this restaurant. Things have changed drastically. Prices seem to have gone up and the quality of the food offerings have gone down. Do not believe we will return to this restaurant. That's such a shame!
(1)
Neal M.
Went here last night for V-Day Dinner. Heard good things but read mixed reviews here on Yelp. After my experience, I understand these reviews completely. Restaurant is very well designed/decorated, modern Italian, clean, a bit dim but not so much as you can't read the menus. I really liked it when I walked in the door. We (just the two of us) were seated quickly by a very polite host. Then it went downhill. Took at least 8-9 minutes for a waiter to stop over at our table and they were nowhere near busy. Maybe 1/5 full? Then he said would you like a drink, took our order and ran off, I was expecting a pleasant Hello, or here's our specials. He was nice, but we felt hurried, like he had better things to do then spend time at our table. He brought our drinks, set them down and briskly walked away again. We perused the menu and many items read great, it was a tough choice. Then our waiter came back (after another 10 minutes or so) and asked if we were ready to order, then stopped and read us the specials. Unfortunately we had to ask him to repeat them all, we could not understand over his thick accent. Who would order a special that they cannot understand? Even after repeating we weren't sure what they were.. A printed specials sheet would have solved this problem. I would have also liked recommendations and suggestions, as most good Italian places have house specialties.. We split a spinach salad, I ordered the Veal Parmigiana, and my wife ordered the gnocchi. The food came out rather quickly, they split the salad for us which was nice. But portion size was rather small, I was done in 6-7 bites. Then our entrees arrived. Presentation was satisfactory but nothing better than an olive garden would have done. My Veal Parmigiana was OK at best, pounded way too thin (1/2 inch thick if I am being generous) and overcooked, and the side of spaghetti (a standard on most menu items here) was really unimpressive. A choice of pastas and/or sauces (like at most good Italian places) would be a big improvement. Sauce was completely bland and spaghetti was no diff than if i boiled a pot of water at home and made it with a jar of spaghetti sauce from aldi.. For this price this was a serious letdown. The standard needs to be a bit higher to match the pricing on the menu. My wife's gnocchi was also just OK, I have had much better, it was not made fresh and didn't melt in your mouth like gnocchi should. Again, just ok. The flavors were muted and nothing to write home about. Both meals were also just warm not hot enough, so by the time I was 1/2 done eating our dishes were pretty much room temp.. At this point neither of us was impressed so dessert was not even an option. We asked for the bill and took off, realized I just seriously overpaid for mediocre Italian food. In conclusion, overall I loved the look and feel of the place, but the food was a serious letdown, I understand the mixed reviews up here now. My wife says it was better the one time she was here before with some friends, so I might give it another try someday, but I will with serious hesitation. To compare, I have been to Gianni's a couple times and think it's pretty good (especially the one in deer park), Service and Food here are literally not even comparable, If Gianni's is an 8 on a scale of 1-10, this place is more like a 3-4.
(2)
Deborah H.
Looking forward to trying this restaurant out, but don't think I would go back! The waiter was more interested in his table outside than ours!! He flew by us, sitting in the bar, so many times, and never asked to see if we needed another drink!! The food took so long to get, and by that time, I was not even hunger! Very disappointing!!
(2)
Gregory V.
This is an extraordinary restaurant. We've been looking for good Italian restaurants in the area ... and quite frankly, disappointed more than satisfied. It's so mediocre that I started thinking I've been spoiled by all the outrageously delicious meals in NYC and Northern Jersey and maybe need to reassess a new level of satisfaction to what's available in the North Shore ... ... ... ... until Agio! What a great place. (I've since found others, but this is the first --- and we always remember our first ;- ) Great service, FANTASTIC wine list and delicious, well prepared, fresh food! F i n a l l y ... fresh, moist, 'wet', thickly-cut mozzarella in the Caprese Salad ... (maybe other restaurants might want to procure their source - hint-hint) ... and the Calamari had the right breading, lightly battered, cooked perfectly. Had I known how big the entree's would be, I'd probably have cut back on the app's. The portions are generous to say the least, especially the pasta and eggplant dinners! ... made for delicious leftovers ... for the next few days! (Yum) I'm very happy to have found this place ... it's a bit of a drive ... but worth it as the whole meal was moderately priced!
(5)
Melissa K.
Great place!!! Amazing specials! Been looking for a place like this in palatine. Don't even feel like I'm in the suburbs! Best patio around!!!
(5)
David B.
This is a restaurant that I have visited several times. When you walk into Agio you get what you see. It is a quality small Italian Bistro. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The service is excellent. If you are just looking for drinks, they have a beautiful bar. In the summer they have a very nice outdoor patio. It is a popular place with the locals and has a very solid clientele of regulars. I love the aged steaks. They are flavorful and tender. The osso-buco is great when it is on the menu. They always have weekly specials. The risotto also hits the spot. If you like wine, Agio has a nice selection and a very handsome display. One of the things I appreciate the most about my visits is like in Italy we were never rushed. Dinner is intended to be an event shared with loved ones and friends. At Agio it still is.
(5)
Mallory S.
A tad pricey, but definitely a gem in Palatine! The grouper was fantastic!!! The service was also great. I'm not too sure as to whether the entrees should be priced as high, but it seems like a great date place. I'm very glad I checked this place out because it's in the neighborhood and it sure does beat the run-of-the-mill Olive Garden.
(4)
Brittany P.
I love this place. I'm from palatine and it really is the gem of palatine. The service is great and they make you feel so comfortable. The seafood is great and so is the meat and pasta. Small, cute and cozy. Try it out!
(5)
Mark G.
Agio is as good as it gets. It's warm, inviting, great customer service and the food is phenomenal! Agio is a family run business and you can tell by the way everyone cares about providing a great patron experience! Joe, Mary, Mike, Bree, Lisa, Leo, Jackie are all awesome in their approach to customers. The food is awesome. When there try the risotto of the day or pene pasta topped with crab meat on it. Their wine selection is great as well. In the summer there is a patio area, which is an added bonus. Parking is tight, as it is in a strip mall so get there early and go often!
(5)
Emma L.
Beautifully decorated but it ends there. The waiter took forever to serve us and the food was pretty blah. To tell you the truth, Olive Garden makes better tasting food. Be prepared to pay quite a bit for your dinner too as this place is not cheap. I gave it a try but not planning on coming back.
(2)
Madison Z.
Great service and fabulous food. Their brunches are so good! From steak to any sort of pasta dish, you can't go wrong. Leo the waiter is also great.
(5)
Phil W.
We have always liked this small gem however something has changed as of late. The bar area has always been fairly cramped quarters and as long as you sit in a prompt fashion it does not come into play much. However, the quality of the food seems to have diminished while the prices have gone the complete opposite direction. $140 for dinner for two and a couple of glasses of wine just left me scratching my head on why we went to begin with.
(2)
Charlene M.
Bland and undercooked. Instead of making the order right or even cooked enough to be edible they told me to go home and microwave the leftovers.wow. terrible service terrible food.the only people happy with their dinner were drinking heavily. I guess the key is to be too drunk to know any better.
(1)
Chuck P.
Wanted to like it...Asked for a table in the main dining room at 8pm on a Tuesday which was half empty. The owner was hoping to fill it with more people, so we politely agreed to a small booth near the door. That would have been ok if the food was real. I don't mind paying $25 for chicken but is was just a couple slabs that looked like boiled chicken. As you know, the real places pound it down thin and give it a little sizzle. The sauces were doctored up canned. Another overpriced strip mall white-bread joint with no personality. Cannot recommend for your Holiday/office parties.
(2)
Stephanie M.
I really wanted to like this place... but I have to say my review is based mostly on the TERRIBLE server we had. My boyfriend and I did not make reservations for this past Saturday night but they were able to seat us right away- it was a little bit later so the non-reservation thing wasn't an issue, even though it was still pretty busy. Our waitress seemed nice enough and was very friendly, she just literally did not pay attention to us at all!! It was actually pretty ridiculous. We had been seated for over an hour before she even took our entree order! And we actually had to force our appetizer and wine order on her earlier. When she finally got around to acknowledging us long enough to take our entree order, we considered just asking for the check and leaving... She never offered to tell us the specials, we had to ask when we finally placed our entree order, but we were so hungry by then we had already made our decisions. Thankfully the food runners were on point and kept us well supplied with warm bread! The food was ok- nothing spectacular at all, nothing memorable. Maybe our tastes had been soured by the horrible service we were getting. I got some veal thing and my boyfriend got something chicken. I did really like "vegetable of the day" which was some sort of squash (she never told us what it would be). Our waitress even brought us our check without asking if we wanted any more wine or any desserts or coffee or anything. For a hundred bucks, we should have had a much better experience and been encouraged to spend more than that- I mean, I don't like to be "upselled" but she could have at least tried! A nice date night almost ruined by bad service... The restaurant had a great atmosphere though. We may go back and just sit at the bar and eat something there and give it another shot, but neither of us want to be subjected to such terrible service again.
(2)
A J.
empty for a friday lunch. service was attentive. minestrone tasted fresh and homemade. loved the broth. Capelleni di Agio....yum! could have used 1 more shrimp. the sauce..lemon pepper cream...loved it. dessert was ok...a warm chocolate cake with gelato. but since i rarely order dessert i want it to be amazing when i splurge. would go back again. would be nice to see a rotolo or other non basic pasta dish on the menu (in addition to my capelleni).
(4)
Kevin H.
Had a business lunch on a Monday. This was my second time back and wanted to check it out again. Overall, the food was very good but once again service very slow. My gut tells me they want to error on a smaller staff during the lunch hours. We had to chase someone down to take our order after 20-25 minutes. Made for a long business lunch.
A girlfriend and I came here last night for a dinner date, and we actually really enjoyed our food! The restaurant is kind of in an interesting location, but thats ok! They have a fairly good menu selection, but as a "not a big meat eater", I could only find a couple items on the menu that I could actually/would actually eat. My friend and I both ended up just getting a soup and salad. We ordered the ceasar salad...which was ok...Could have used more ceasar dressing, and seemed a bit like they just bought a bagged kit. :/ But the cream of spinach soup...honestly thats why Im giving this place 4 stars! AMAZING, If I wasn't so full I would have ordered another bowl. The soup and salad were both a perfect size and only $4 each!...$8 for dinner, pretty good deal if you ask me!!! The service was pretty good as well. Its a clean place...it says that its upscale, but I would say its a step above the Olive Garden....its one of those places you can dress up for a nice date or wear jeans and decent top and not feel out of place. Parking...meh. They have a lot that they share with other stores in the strip mall, but neither of us had an issue finding a park. They do take reservations! Yay! love places that take reservations on a weekend! I do want to come back with the hubby and try their fettuccini alfredo...and maybe more of that cream of spinach soup!
(4)
He K.
i went there at a friday night for the first time and a reservation is advised, because they were packed. i like the environment a lot. It's a bit dark, but it creates a great atmosphere. We sat at the bar. The barkeeper could definitely be a bit friendlier. He was very short with us and made us feel a bit unwelcome. However, the Pinot noir we had was amazing. My husband ate Salmon on Risotto and it was just great. Very, very tasty and fresh. My gnocchi with italian sausage were ok too but not as good as the other dish. The price point are at the higher level though. We will be back for sure, but this time with a reservation so we don't have to sit at the bar :)
(4)
Michael L.
Great upscale restaurant in Palatine. I was very impressed. I eat downtown a lot and this was very comparable if not better. We had a big group of 12 and they accommodated us with no issues. The service and food were great. I would go back any chance I get.
(4)
Andrea P.
Really good food but they don't have customer service. It's all about them. They have no regards for the customer and it's a shame because their cook is awesome. Too bad they don't respect or value their customers!!!
(2)
Very C.
Was ok. Very pricey not enough help and had to ask for everything from silverware to bread etc. Owner needs to hire some people. Cannot compete with Gianni's.
(2)
Rhonda G.
I love when I get lost looking for a place, and end up driving way out in the Chicago burbs. You tend to spot places, and after all the Irish festivities, Italian made perfect sense for dinner on St. Patrick's Day. When we sat down, a few other people obviously felt the same way. Normally this place would be packed. For an unknown place, we ended up ordering the same thing, linguine and clam sauce. I may have appreciated it more if I haven't been burning myself out on it with weekly trips to Buca. They cooked the noodles soft as requested. They're made with little neck clams in the shell, and the flavors are very nicely balanced. We shared a cup of minestrone, not memorable, but good, and full of veggies. A delicious, crusty bread is offered right away. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is beautiful, however the funky old soul playing prevents it from any romantic mood, and it does have that potential. You really forget you're in a strip mall, hell I didn't know what city I was in. Tourists should definitely make this a destination.
(4)
Dennis R. C.
I just want everybody to know that I had one of the finest dining experiences in a long time on Valentine's day!! We had the shrimp cocktail ,leg of duck for appetizers .Main course was Rack of lamb and the twin lobster tails.The ambience was pretty with rose petals on the table .Service was great !! The Heart Shaped Chocolate layered with Passion Fruit Cream Filing was a fitting finish. I wish I could fine something I didn't like. Sorry I could NOT!! They were packed as well. It's a must try-I think I'll go back for Mother's Day! Happy Customer
(5)
Restaurant Vigilant E.
We went for a birthday recently, it was my first time. I have to say, you certainly don't feel as though you are in a strip mall. The inside is very nice, and I am ashamed to say that I was one of two of our group of 5 who was a bit under dressed. Fortunately, because we went to dinner so early, we were just about the only ones in there. You don't need a tux, but I am not sure as I would wear jeans again (not without a sports coat at least). The menu is good size - a lot of variety, but not so many choices that the kitchen can't do a good job with what it offers. They brought us the obligatory bread, oil and parmesan cheese for the table - good bread, and I was happy to see that the cheese was freshly grated - not the lame baking soda-like granules that comes in "the green can." We ordered the grilled calamari to start. It was served with a balsamic reduction which I thought would be awful, but it was actually pretty good. My only issue with the calamari...the portion wasn't exactly huge for the price, but no hard done. We also ordered the bruschetta sampler. I tried two of the three varieties...the traditional bruscetta which was very good and the zucchini one - that was well prepared, but I prefer the traditional tomato and basil. Two people split a veal dish...it looked fine, but I am not much of a veal person. One person ordered the seafood pasta which looked quite good. Not sure what the other person had....I ordered Fettuccini Alfredo...this is a very simple dish and it was well executed. In retrospect, I would have liked to have ordered something else, but that is on me - this dish was well prepared and a good rendition. I THINK they make their own pasta...all in all, I would go back. Probably a good date place...the strip mall is lame, but you forget all about it once you're inside. We went for a birthday, but it would be good for any special occasion or even a nice Saturday dinner out. The waitress also had good wine knowledge - she described a few wines and the guy next to me - a sommelier and wine merchant, nodded that she was correct in her descriptions.
(3)
Tom M.
We go here quite a bit. Good food, reasonable prices, excellent wine selection, and a cozy, romantic ambiance for a dinner date. They serve Acacia Pinot Noir, which is one of our favorites, and their Osso Bucco (when available) is some of the best I've ever had. Been to more than a few of their wine tasting dinner events, and every one has been a great experience.
(5)
Rich W.
I came here previously for a Yelp wine event. I decided to return on my own to check out what the kitchen can do. The bread had the crust of a ciabatta and the inside of a filone. Great aroma and texture. The accompanying olive oil was mediocre - dull, thin, and nondescript. I was going to order a pasta. But upon inquiry, I found out that the only pasta made in-house was cavatelli, of which I was not a fan. So I decided to order the special of the day - wine braised short-rib with spatzle. While ordering, I had expressed reservation because I found it odd that an Italian restaurant that, for the most part, didn't even make its own pasta decided to make its own spatzle and serve it as a special. The waitress assured me that it was good. Well, it was not. The spatzle was carelessly shaped - some were regular sized, some were too small, and all were too thin and had an unappetizing appearance. The spatzle was also executed strangely. Half of the noodle had a crunchy texture, which made it seem that the spatzle was baked after being boiled. This "mac n' cheese" execution ruined the dish for me. The seasoning of the pasta was also uneven and heavy-handed, with part of the dish too salty to be edible. The short-rib, however, was tender and nicely flavored with a red wine sauce. This was definitely the highlight of the meal. I also ordered a side of risotto. It was slightly overcooked, and it was not creamy at all. What a shame because the seasoning of the rice was spot-on. The wine list was split into two halves - the regular and the reserved. The reserved wine list had pricier but more interesting bottles. I didn't order wine because the "by-the-glass" offering was dominated by generic table-wines and had a weak Italian repertoire. Dessert fared better. I got the trio, which consisted of panna cotta, canole, and hazelnut gelato. The panna cotta had good flavors - but the custard was a bit softer than my preferred texture. The gelato tasted great, but the texture was too dense - a sign of store-brought rather than freshly made gelato. Though the milk foam on top - which made this into a cappuccino experience - was a nice touch. The canole had a nice filling, but the wrap was too crispy and tasted like it was store-bought. I had to ask the waitress, and she confirmed that the wrap was indeed a purchase rather than house-made. Decor was warm, cozy, romantic, with a see-through wine-cellar on display. This was probably the nicest dining room I've seen in Palatine. Service was adequate and friendly, but was not professional enough to match up the casual fine dining atmosphere. I am quite conflicted with this place. The dining environment was unexpectedly lovely, and the wine list was ambitious for a restaurant of this size. But for a place that pays so much attention to these details, half of the desserts were not made by the restaurant, and most of the pasta was out of a box. Frankly, at this price point, I was expecting a bit more effort on the food front.
(3)
Mark W.
Nice decor, especially considering it's in a lil strip mall. Wine menu was very nice, especially considering location. I clearly came in with mid-level expectations. The food was good, but for the pricing I was expecting great. Maybe knock down the prices a lil bit, or start making your own pasta. I'd definitely go back if their pricing reflected a little bit more the quality of food, but it was a pretty decent meal. Doing homemade pasta would probably lower kitchen prices, and decrease the wait as well. Bread was good! ;o)
(3)
Richard S.
Best restaurant in Palatine for an upscale experience and great food. The food is always very good and the service is great. Servers know what they are doing and are professional. Drinks are great! The outdoor patio is very nice and has a fire place that adds to the experience. My only complaint is that it is too far to walk from the center of town. Just a tip if you want take out. The delivery place next door offers the same menu (from the same kitchen) for more reasonable prices - try the eggplant parmesan.
(5)
Tammy N.
Only OK: OK location with decent parking. Food good - prices high for the quality. Ordered an appetizer (stuffed portobello caps), 2 salads (caprese & spinachj), decided to split a pasta (gnocchi). After putting in our order the waitress returned to the table to let us know that we would be charged a $5 splitting fee. Wouldn't it have been just as easy to tell us when she took our order - was she new? had no one ever split a dish before? Gnocchi was flavorful but did not taste homemade. If I lived in Palatine I would probably like this restaurant....since I live in Chicago and have access to lots of good Italian restaurants it is not worth the drive.
(3)
Amy P.
Agio is one of our favorite places to go. We tend to eat late due to our work schedule and it s nice that we can go somewhere, get a nice glass of wine and a great meal at a late hour. We love that they make every dish fresh to order. Ths style of food they make...the prep takes a little longer, but it is worth it. The special risotto of the say is always solid, the Saffron is over the top. The scallops are always a hit and a favorite. they are very willing to help with food allergies as well. I do enjoy sitting in the bar area. I noticed another reviewer did not like the TVs, but many people do. Many times they are not on, or only one is on. I appreciate them when I want and can tune them out quite easily. The patio and re- vamped outside are is gorgeous. We are looking forward to dining out there this winter.
(5)
Steve K.
Great food. Great service. Crowded on a snowy Saturday night. Can't get a better review.
(5)
M S.
Great local restaurant with a downtown feel. Notable wine list, intimate seating. Delicious food at lunch and dinner. Half priced bottles of wine on Thursdays a lunch- great day for lunch with the ladies. Staff is knowledgable of menu and offers suggestions. A gem in the 'burbs!
(4)
Anne Marie J.
Loved it! Came for a 1st bday party and the parents rented out the entire restaurant for about 80 people. Great decor and space, great Italian food (crispy calamari and creamy sauces..yum!) and good service. It made for a great milestone birthday for a beautiful girl!
(4)
Joanne G.
Agio has a excellent Wine Selection. Owners and staff are pleasant and friendly. The food is good with a flare of elegance and not the typical Americanized Italian style. Agio is called a Bistro for a reason for their style of food and ambience. Not a place for kids, but great to meet up with friends. Palatine needs more places like Agio instead of all the fast-food, diner places along the Northwest Highway Cooridor.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
I have been to Agio's several times and have had some good lunches there (sandwiches and soup). I like the interior and find the restaurant comfortable and clean. Two friends and I went to Agio's for dinner the day before Easter. My friend and I ordered the Gnocchi with sausage and mushrooms - price between $17.00 and $18.00. The Gnocchi was good, but the sausage and mushroom part was a joke. There were about 5 pieces of little squares of sausage and not one mushroom. Very disappointing. If the dish was $9.00 or so, it would be so crazy - but $17.00? And no real sausage? When that is in the entree description? I don't think I'll be going back there any time soon. Too bad because they have a convenient location.
(2)
John B.
Agio could be so much more, but doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. It is full of contradictions, like the elegant dining room within view of a bar with a big screen TV -- showing an ultimate fighting match on the night we dined there. It was so distracting to be sipping a nice zinfandel and dipping warm bread in olive oil -- while seeing two musclebound men killing each other, unavoidably within my line of sight. The main dining room has a casual, bistro atmosphere, but with very high ceilings that make the noise level uncomfortably high. So, is this a casual bistro, an upscale Italian restaurant, or a sports bar? I still don't know. Meanwhile, the food was average, with overly heavy pasta (granted, we had gnocchi and cavatelli) and a tilapia in saffron sauce that had no flavor at all. Service, however, was great -- our waiter even gave me a free (and generous) sample of the gnocchi when I couldn't decide between the tilapia and the pasta. But both dishes were ultimately disappointing. Our search for a great Italian place close to home continues.
(3)
Howard S.
Went here for lunch; a good menu, and the minestrone soup was delicious. I had salmon with sauteed spinach for a very reasonable price, and bread was served with very good olive oil. Service was efficient and very courteous. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Larry S.
The plain exterior in a new strip mall on Northwest Highway is very deceiving. The only clue of something more inviting inside is the rather handsome exterior signage "Agio Italian Bistro". Once inside, your first impression of the elegant motif has to be a surprising "WOW". Very tastefully decorated, Agio is the most elegant dining setting in Palatine. Very much an indication that a fine dining experience awaits. You will not be disappointed in the broad array of pasta, veal, chicken, fish, and risotto dinner choices. Too bad a salad or soup is ala carte, but that is offset by the relatively low entree prices. Most pasta is in the $ teens and the more expensive meat and fish dishes are just $20 or so. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass as well. My dinner companion ordered pasta with vodka sauce and when she asked for a little more sauce they said they make each sauce to order but would make her some addl sauce anyway. Very accommodating! My veal marsala was excellent! I highly endorse this new restaurant. It is a welcome fine dining addition to Palatine!
(4)
Kristi S.
I noticed this place near my office, so I picked it for my administrative professional's (*cough*secretary's*cough*) day lunch as an alternative to all the Woodfield area chain restaurants. It's a cozy little place with nice decor and a large, intriguing walk-in wine cellar. Our server was friendly and polite, but seemed a little scarce. I ordered the eggplant parmesan for lunch and it was delicious. All of the lunch portions were small, probably in line with recommended serving size, but definitely not what we as a culture have come to expect from an Italian restaurant. It felt like they should've either been a little larger or a little cheaper. For me, it was the perfect amount to eat for lunch and not feel painfully stuffed for the rest of the afternoon. Everybody at the table cleared their plate, though, and I'm sure nobody would've turned up his nose at the idea of a few extra bites. The service, as I mentioned, seemed a little bit on the slow slide, but not painfully so. The place probably does just enough business to need 1.5 servers at the height of the lunch hour. For our party of five, we were in and out in about an hour and a half , so not terrible, but we definitely spent more time waiting for our food or server than eating. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and one of my bosses told me to add this restaurant to the list of places we take clients for lunch.
(3)
Teressa D.
Something to consider.... Met hubby at Agio last week. We hadn't been there since the last time I reviewed them. Same great service and the fun of eating outside in gorgeous weather! HOWEVER, at a bill of over $120, (2 entrees, appy and two drinks) we won't be returning except for special occasions. And the most disappointing part? My risotto was bland. I loooooove risotto.... Anyway, that's just too much for two people to spend on a weeknight in PALATINE!
(3)
Dan M.
Food was decent. Good service.
(4)
Victoria W.
We chose Agio as the venue for our wedding rehearsal dinner on a whim - we wanted Italian food that wasn't too pricey, close to our venue, with a private room for our group, and the flexibility for everyone to order off the regular menu, and Agio fit the bill. We were called the day ahead to see if we wanted appetizers ready for our party as we arrived, which was a nice touch for our guests. The room looked gorgeous, and was perfectly set up. I expected that with 20+ people ordering would be slow and inaccurate, as that's a bit of a tall order for any place, but everything came pretty quickly, and with no complaints. I ordered the scallops, and they were great, the accompaniments really making them pop. Everything was delicious, and we even came in under-budget on the dinner. I highly recommend Agio for an event.
(5)
Lewis M.
This is my favorite upscale spot in Palatine for sure. I live in New York and the food culture there is very competitive, and this is the type of place I can come to with my family after a trip back from NY, and I feel like the food is comparable and the vibe is great. If you want a romantic or intimate first date in palatine this is your spot to impress, and if you're trying to impress the older crowd this is also a great spot. Something for everyone who loves great Italian with a more modern sensibility. The cocktails are also nice and stiff. Get the fried calamari and gnocchi, both are really fresh and the gnocchi is authentic and translates to someone who may have never tried gnocchi. I will be back for sure!
(5)
Cassie F.
Fresh ingredients, nice menu and great service! Loved the warm Italian bread, olive oil and freshly shaved cheese to start. Had minestrone, a caprese salad and the pasta bolognese. All were delicious! My hubby had the pork chop which was also very good, though a touch overdone. Lisa Marie took great care of us. We'll def be back!
(4)
Dylan S.
I went here to celebrate my college graduation and to say the least, I was impressed. The restaurant has a very authentic Italian atmosphere. It was similar to being in Italy all over again. The size of the restaurant was also nice as it wasn't too big and wasn't too small or too loud. Our waitress was very nice and constantly had a smile on her face. When it came to the food, everything was great. The pasta was absolutely delicious when paired with seafood. The prices were very fair as well for how excellent the food was. On top of that, the white wine that I had with my dinner was fantastic and complimented the meal well. The desert was probably the best treat of the evening. The lemon cheesecake was awesome and I wish I got more. Everything was great, I would give it a 5 star review, but the only thing I found troubling was paying for everything at the end of the evening. There were some issues as we didn't get split checks and it complicated things with 9 people at the table. Then I checked my bank statement later that evening to find they took more out than what I thought I payed for. I got in touch with the manager and he assured me that it would correct itself in a few days time, which it did to the proper amount. I can't wait to come back for desert!
(4)
LFoodie K.
TERRIBLE!!! STAY AWAY! Drove by this place many times always looked very nice, yes the ambiance is great I'll give them that. Prices are high food is terrible We've gone to many Italian restaurants and this by far was the worst I don't even know how it got good reviews. My pasta was drenched in olive oil so much that the entire bottom of my bowl was just oil, Our friends ordered dishes with red sauce said it tasted SOUR and Acidic. The server also forgot about one of our orders my husband didn't get to eat his meal with the family at all, by the time his food came out everyone had already finished eating & they Still charged us for that entree even though they forgot about the order. No one came out to apologize nothing..Very bad business ethic. Would NOT recommend this place at all There are so many other great Italian Restaurants in the area.
(1)
Kimberly M.
Came here on a Saturday night with a reservation. Restaurant became more crowded later through the evening. Very pretty atmosphere and friendly staff. Good was delicious-enjoyed everything from soups and salads, pastas, chicken, chocolate cake and salted Carmel gelato. Everything was amazing. Food portions were large-pleanty of leftovers. Service was very slow but staff was kind Pricing was average-slightly over priced, but worth it. I will for sure be coming back here soon!
(4)
Jan M.
Atmosphere is casually elegant. Service is always friendly and professional. Food is mostly excellent, whether you dine in or use their catering services. Some of our favorites are Antipasto Platter, Scallops with Couscous, Cheese Ravioli with Creamy Marinara, Lemon Chicken (catered). Recent disappointment was the appetizer of Charred Sausage and Peppers. Sausages were beyond well done - extremely dry and tasteless. Martini's are always good, as are desserts.
(4)
Mark C.
Loved our server! Lisa Marie - she only works Friday nights .. what a treasure and fun to talk to. 5 stars for her service. Atmosphere of the restaurant was wonderful... everyone loved their entrees. I loved the martini. The only reason I had to give it 3 stars was because of my entree itself. I had the Spaghetti Ai Frutti di Mare (I substituted Rigatoni). Pasta cooked to perfection but the shellfish was terrible and it tasted very fishy...even the shrimp. It really was horrible... (I was enjoying the martini though so I didn't say anything.. just enjoyed what was a pricey pasta dish.) The mahi special on the other hand was awesome according to the other diner. I think the $$ is inaccurate.. more closer to $$$ unless you stick strictly with the Pasta without the seafood. I would still recommend with reservations (oh and make sure to have those), but stay away from the shellfish entrees.
(3)
Debi H.
Ambience exquisite. Wine list impressive. A bit pricey but well worth it. Try the chicken Marsala, it was amazing.
(4)
Stefanie W.
Last night was our last visit. I think I thought that on our first visit but somehow we found ourselves here fairly regularly for a time. There's something off here. The food was okay but presentation was wanting. Notable: We had the Antipasto Tray, which was striking for its enormous hunks of cheese. If Old Country Buffet did an antipasto platter, this is what it would look like. What put us off though was that we were thoroughly rushed. They weren't desperately busy and no one was waiting but the heat was on to get us fed and out. We were seated at a patio table and had a bit of a wait for a server. Once she arrived, however, there was no getting rid of her. Summer? Patio? Let us enjoy our wine maybe? Please?? Finally we had to tell her we'd wave for her when ready but nope...she kept pressing. And the pressure continued even after the food arrived with clearing plates the second anyone paused...once the busboy paused, just standing there, as if to wait for me to finish so he could get the plate! A large party later came for the under cover part of the patio. The staff seemed very harried. Is that what all of the fuss was about....the usual tables assembled into one? Seems they could use better training so the atmosphere is more unobtrusive and pleasant rather than obvious and frantic. Like I said, last visit. I mean it.
(2)
Jessica N.
This place is absolutely beautiful! I came here for dinner and sampled the vodka penne. The crabmeat was delicious but the vodka sauce tasted more like something from a jar than a restaurant. I would probably come here only to drink at the bar, from now on, which is fine by me!
(3)
Andrew M.
Definitely not what I expected from the outside. This place is beautifully decorated with a nice atmosphere. I was surprised as the strip mall it is in looks pretty unassuming. My wife and I made reservations for 6:30. We were some of the earlier diners. The place for really busy around 7. The service lagged at times, but overall it was good. The food was excellent. They have real Parmesan at the table. Not the powdery stuff. The bread was good. My Caesar salad was a bit bland. I had chicken Marsala as my entree. It was excellent. For dessert we ordered the double chocolate cake which was really good and not overly chocolatey. I also ordered the salted caramel gelato which I really enjoyed.
(4)
Liz B.
Nice little place with eclectic covered outdoor dining. Food is good. Specials are good. Service is good. I've been here many time and never disappointed. I've had the oysters, veal piccata, red snapper, fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp, NY strip steak and tiramisu. Not too busy during the week for a nice dinner the weekend is busy. Prices are average. I'm picky and usually substitude carbs for veges and they are great about it. I always ask for sauces on the side and its still wonderfully seasoned.
(4)
Kelly L.
Skip this place. I got horrible food poisoning. When I called to let them know, they were not very accommodating. We will never be going back.
(1)
Patricia D.
We went in on a Friday evening for dinner. We were seated right away, which was a plus. Afterwards, we looked over the menu, and placed our order with the waiter. Now, I understand that Friday nights are busy for restaurants, but we literally waited 45 mins for our meal. My husband asked for another drink, that took 15 mins to get to him. When we finally got our food, it tasted really good. We enjoyed the food. The price was right, but the wait for our food, was unacceptable. It seems as if they had only one chef preparing the meals. We'll try going back, possibly on another night, but if we receive the same service, we probably won't be back.
(3)
Gloria B.
I went here for lunch on Thursday with three co-workers. I hadn't been there for months, since I found plastic in my food. I was eating eggplant parmigiana and found saran wrap. I pointed it out to the waiter, who acknowledged they covered their pans of food with plastic wrap. He took it away and that was it. I guess I expected a manager to come apologize or a comped dessert or something. So I wasn't interested in going back until my retiring co-worker picked the restaurant. I again had the eggplant, which was fine, but I believe it was $16. No salad was included in that price, which had been the case in the past. As per usual at lunch time (the only time I've ever been there), we waited forever for our food. The restaurant wasn't crowded, maybe another four tables of people. We probably waited 30 minutes for our food, which is ridiculous, given the lack of patrons. Our waiter seemed disinterested at best. Now that my friend is retired, I won't be going back.
(2)
Fast Eddie F.
Inventive AND fun. Arguably the best restaurant in Palatine.
(5)
Jason T.
We have not been that adventurous when we have come here, but what we have ordered has been good, This is one of our favorite places to order calamari; it is very tender and the sauce is really fresh and tangy. We've had the pasta with vodka sauce and the gnocchi with sausage and cream sauce, and both are great. Also. Thursday nights are the perfect night to come here as it is half price wine night; it's a great chance for us to order a bottle that is nicer than what we would normally have.
(4)
Bart H.
So went her on a Saturday with a group of friends. Unfortunately I was the only one at the table that was not happy with my dish. I am sure everyone else at the table would probably give a better review but I have to base mine on what I had. I can't remember the exact name but it was the seafood melody over spaghetti with a white wine based sauce (I probably should have gone with the other option). Pasta seemed from a box and the sauce was light and watery with not much flavor. Bread was decent. Atmosphere was superb (I love the inside of this place). And service was nice. I would definitely go back again and try something new but I cannot recommend the seafood spaghetti. But before I went back there I would go back to Carlos and Carlos in Arlington Heights, killer pasta there.
(3)
Kimberly F.
So disappointing :( I went here for lunch on my birthday. There were two of us. We met at 12:30 but didn't leave until 3:00. Why did lunch take 2.5 hours? It took us an hour and a half to get our food. What on earth did we order to take that long? Funny you should ask. My mother in law ordered the special for that day, and I had half a sandwich and a salad. Really? It takes that long to make our food when there are a total of maybe 5 tables sat in the whole place? I suppose the restaurant is cute, the host was nice, the wine was decent, the food was mediocre at best, but the bad service made me never want to come back here. When we approached our server at the hour mark, he offered to help by getting us more wine. Hmmm, booze helps some situations, but not this one. He did comp much of the food and apologize for the service, and I understand people have an off day, but the food wasn't even good enough to make me want to give it another shot. So, I won't be coming back...by choice, anyway.
(1)
T D.
Good Italian food. Not great, just good. It took quite a while for our salads to come out and we were one of the earlier tables of the night. The decor is nice. Seems like the prices are on the steep side, like you are paying a surcharge for the atmosphere. Place was busy on a Friday night when we went. For us there are a lot of other places we will go before we go back here. Artistic Cuisine blows these guys out of the water.
(3)
Ken A.
Celebrated our 20th anniversary with dinner and a movie. She had the lasagna which tasted like wet noodles and tomato paste, I had the chicken breast vesuvio which was on par with most wedding food I have had. Service was slow, and the bruschetta appetizer was brought out 2 minutes before our meal. Too bad, we were looking forward to a new place for good italian, this isnt it.
(2)
Anthony B.
Disappointing . Was seated immediately, drink order taken in a timely fashion. I Ordered the cheese ravioli my wife the meat ravioli. Soup or salad is a la carte! The server brought one dish correctly. The other was a meat rigatoni. Not even close to what was ordered. Ravioli was bland, lacked seasoning. Not a good experience nor a good value.
(1)
Matt M.
All these polarizing reviews confuse me: Agio's is neither terrible nor incredible. A new installation along Northwest Hwy in Palatine, the restaurant has a decent ambiance for a suburban Italian restaurant. The special appertizer for the day was crab cakes. It was definitely above average for a midwestern restaurant. If you go, definitely get their peppercorn filet, which was impressive. Otherwise, the menu definitely has enough breadth to warrant a return visit.
(3)
J B.
Tasty traditional Italian fare. Excellent decor inside and wonderful outdoor seating on the patio. Service is good at a relaxed pace. Quiet enough to hold a conversation.
(4)
Debra C.
Food was very good! Service was good although a bit slow. Ambiance was nice but it be better if they would take out the t.v. from the bar which I found sort of detracted from the ambiance.
(4)
Mike S.
The ambiance is very nice. Even though the restaurant was full it wasn't that loud. My wife and I split a meal. The portions were small considering what you normally get at Italian restaurants. The food was very tasty. It cost $5 to share an item.
(3)
Kara C.
Love this restaurant!! Great atmosphere, great and friendly service and fantastic food - inventive specials and appetizers. Highly recommend going in here for a great dining experience and some fabulous wine!
(5)
larry c.
while in chicago area a "local" friend took us there last night..what a treat great food !!! creative menu and good dolce's too beautiful dining room inventive wine list nice people check it out..well worth it
(5)
Linda K.
Didn't even know this place existed until a customer from California told me about it! It's hidden away in a relatively new strip mall on Northwest Hwy in Palatine. The place is small - only about 15 tables and booths - but that's what makes it so charming. It's got a swanky, elegant feel to it. Love the decor! On the back wall is a well stocked wine room. Very nice wine selection. There is also a long bar adjacent to the dining area and outdoor seating is available. Started out with a glass of Acacia Pinot Noir - one of my fav's - and shared a caprese salad. Not sure what they did to it, but it was one of the best tasting caprese salads I have ever experienced! I ordered the Gnocchi for my entree, and shared the sauteed spinach.The Gnocchi was served with pancetta, sausage and mushrooms in a creamy tomato sauce. Both were delicious and filling! Had to ask for a to-go box. Also ordered some tiramisu to-go and enjoyed a few bites today. Very good but still not as good as Chicago Prime's! Our server Leo was delightful but, unfortunately, didn't get to spend a lot of time with him as we were limited on time and he was very busy. Service seemed a little slow at times...trying to get another glass of wine...but I just think they could've had more help on. I will definitely visit again....maybe for lunch next time. Nice to see a restaurant like this close by in Palatine.
(4)
Erin M.
Went here on a Friday night with husband, Dad, and grandma. I'm a city girl and don't travel to the suburbs much for "fine dining". Nice decor though the restaurant seemed out of place in the strip mall it was situated in. Grandma and I ordered a $30 bottle of wine and my husband and Dad had martinis. We ordered the grilled calamari to start - very good! Cooked in a balsamic/lemon glaze. We had two baskets of yummy, warm freshly baked bread. Three of us had veal dishes, prepared differently (Saltinbocca di Vitello, 23; Vitello Al Marsala, 21; Piccata di Vitello, 21). My husband had the steak special. The Saltinbocca di Vitello was AMAZING and hands down the best dish of the night. The food did take a while to come out but the waitress said that everything to made to order - nothing is sitting in the back ready to go. My Dad ended up spilling his second martini and the waitress brought another one without charging us. The bill was over $300. Everything was all-around good, but in this economy I'm not going to be racing out to Palatine anytime soon to return. However, if you're in the area, it's worth a stop.
(3)
Megan T.
I completly agree with the other two one star reviews. The decor is nice, but the service and food is not so great. There are a lot of italian restaurants in the area and this one cannot compete as is. The food to forever to get and the bread was stale. We asked for some baked garlic in oil to go with our bread and they just brought out garlic. We had to again ask for our oil and cheese to go with the small pile of garlic they brought out. Since our food took so long, were were sitting there for what seemed to be forever for our food. We thought the prices were high for what we were served when it finally came out of the kitchen. Needless to say we have never been back and do not intend to go.
(1)
Kat Q.
I have been to this Italian Bistro twice and was disappointed both times. The first time I went with a friend. I love Italian food and frequent the many Italian eateries in this area. My first visit was about one month after Agio's opened. The decor was nice, romantic. My friend and I both ordered pasta dishes. The food on a Sunday afternoon took over one hour to come. We were one of four tables occupied in the restaurant at the time. We had plenty of bread to eat but unfortunately it was hard as a rock and stale. The pasta dishes were average in taste and overpriced for the portion size. The second time I came here with a lady friend we sat at the bar. I ordered a $12.00 glass of Chianti. I was brought a huge glass with what amounted to about six tablespoons of wine in the glass. I asked the kind male bartender to give me at least half of a glass for the price. He whispered that he couldn't the owner was very strict about allowing the staff to pour no more then about 1/4 of a glass. Did I mention I paid TWELVE bucks for several tablespoons of wine? With all of the wonderful Italian restaurants in the Northwest suburbs I would think the owner would care more about pleasing his customers especially since two much better restaurants are no more then one minute away. I will not come back. I have heard other customers complain about the way the management here skimps on the food and wine.
(1)
jan l.
I'm highly amused as always, by the foodie wanna bees. the desserts were not made by the restaurant. and? perhaps they are smart enough to realize they don't have a pastry chef. The pasta came out of a box. Oh good God. The strip mall is lame. Hey, guess what, you live in Schaumburg and Palatine. ugh. We went for lunch last week. The service was truly outstanding. Our waiter was a delight. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful (hard to believe it's in a strip mall ugh) The food wasn't over the top exceptional, but it was certainly very, very good. The person I dined with had the chicken parmesan over pasta, and only ate half. She wanted to be sure to have leftovers. I had the lunch special soup and half sandwich. That day they had escarole and bean soup with Italian sausage. Very tasty, if I had to find a flaw, I would have crumbled the sausage, not diced it, but that is really nit picking.I will be going back. Even though the restaurant is in the strip mall. If you're going to complain about the strip mall restaurants, you need to move to the city. That is life in the suburbs. This isn't a $300 dinner for two. Oh and another thing, while being so harsh on a review, please find spell check. Thanks!
(4)
Kimberly M.
Came here on a Saturday night with a reservation. Restaurant became more crowded later through the evening. Very pretty atmosphere and friendly staff. Good was delicious-enjoyed everything from soups and salads, pastas, chicken, chocolate cake and salted Carmel gelato. Everything was amazing. Food portions were large-pleanty of leftovers. Service was very slow but staff was kind Pricing was average-slightly over priced, but worth it. I will for sure be coming back here soon!
(4)
Jan M.
Atmosphere is casually elegant. Service is always friendly and professional. Food is mostly excellent, whether you dine in or use their catering services. Some of our favorites are Antipasto Platter, Scallops with Couscous, Cheese Ravioli with Creamy Marinara, Lemon Chicken (catered). Recent disappointment was the appetizer of Charred Sausage and Peppers. Sausages were beyond well done - extremely dry and tasteless. Martini's are always good, as are desserts.
(4)
Mark C.
Loved our server! Lisa Marie - she only works Friday nights .. what a treasure and fun to talk to. 5 stars for her service. Atmosphere of the restaurant was wonderful... everyone loved their entrees. I loved the martini. The only reason I had to give it 3 stars was because of my entree itself. I had the Spaghetti Ai Frutti di Mare (I substituted Rigatoni). Pasta cooked to perfection but the shellfish was terrible and it tasted very fishy...even the shrimp. It really was horrible... (I was enjoying the martini though so I didn't say anything.. just enjoyed what was a pricey pasta dish.) The mahi special on the other hand was awesome according to the other diner. I think the $$ is inaccurate.. more closer to $$$ unless you stick strictly with the Pasta without the seafood. I would still recommend with reservations (oh and make sure to have those), but stay away from the shellfish entrees.
(3)
Debi H.
Ambience exquisite. Wine list impressive. A bit pricey but well worth it. Try the chicken Marsala, it was amazing.
(4)
Stefanie W.
Last night was our last visit. I think I thought that on our first visit but somehow we found ourselves here fairly regularly for a time. There's something off here. The food was okay but presentation was wanting. Notable: We had the Antipasto Tray, which was striking for its enormous hunks of cheese. If Old Country Buffet did an antipasto platter, this is what it would look like. What put us off though was that we were thoroughly rushed. They weren't desperately busy and no one was waiting but the heat was on to get us fed and out. We were seated at a patio table and had a bit of a wait for a server. Once she arrived, however, there was no getting rid of her. Summer? Patio? Let us enjoy our wine maybe? Please?? Finally we had to tell her we'd wave for her when ready but nope...she kept pressing. And the pressure continued even after the food arrived with clearing plates the second anyone paused...once the busboy paused, just standing there, as if to wait for me to finish so he could get the plate! A large party later came for the under cover part of the patio. The staff seemed very harried. Is that what all of the fuss was about....the usual tables assembled into one? Seems they could use better training so the atmosphere is more unobtrusive and pleasant rather than obvious and frantic. Like I said, last visit. I mean it.
(2)
Jessica N.
This place is absolutely beautiful! I came here for dinner and sampled the vodka penne. The crabmeat was delicious but the vodka sauce tasted more like something from a jar than a restaurant. I would probably come here only to drink at the bar, from now on, which is fine by me!
(3)
Andrew M.
Definitely not what I expected from the outside. This place is beautifully decorated with a nice atmosphere. I was surprised as the strip mall it is in looks pretty unassuming. My wife and I made reservations for 6:30. We were some of the earlier diners. The place for really busy around 7. The service lagged at times, but overall it was good. The food was excellent. They have real Parmesan at the table. Not the powdery stuff. The bread was good. My Caesar salad was a bit bland. I had chicken Marsala as my entree. It was excellent. For dessert we ordered the double chocolate cake which was really good and not overly chocolatey. I also ordered the salted caramel gelato which I really enjoyed.
(4)
Teressa D.
Something to consider.... Met hubby at Agio last week. We hadn't been there since the last time I reviewed them. Same great service and the fun of eating outside in gorgeous weather! HOWEVER, at a bill of over $120, (2 entrees, appy and two drinks) we won't be returning except for special occasions. And the most disappointing part? My risotto was bland. I loooooove risotto.... Anyway, that's just too much for two people to spend on a weeknight in PALATINE!
(3)
Dan M.
Food was decent. Good service.
(4)
Victoria W.
We chose Agio as the venue for our wedding rehearsal dinner on a whim - we wanted Italian food that wasn't too pricey, close to our venue, with a private room for our group, and the flexibility for everyone to order off the regular menu, and Agio fit the bill. We were called the day ahead to see if we wanted appetizers ready for our party as we arrived, which was a nice touch for our guests. The room looked gorgeous, and was perfectly set up. I expected that with 20+ people ordering would be slow and inaccurate, as that's a bit of a tall order for any place, but everything came pretty quickly, and with no complaints. I ordered the scallops, and they were great, the accompaniments really making them pop. Everything was delicious, and we even came in under-budget on the dinner. I highly recommend Agio for an event.
(5)
Liz B.
Nice little place with eclectic covered outdoor dining. Food is good. Specials are good. Service is good. I've been here many time and never disappointed. I've had the oysters, veal piccata, red snapper, fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp, NY strip steak and tiramisu. Not too busy during the week for a nice dinner the weekend is busy. Prices are average. I'm picky and usually substitude carbs for veges and they are great about it. I always ask for sauces on the side and its still wonderfully seasoned.
(4)
Kelly L.
Skip this place. I got horrible food poisoning. When I called to let them know, they were not very accommodating. We will never be going back.
(1)
Kathy T.
Ordinarily we have a wonderful experience at this restaurant. Things have changed drastically. Prices seem to have gone up and the quality of the food offerings have gone down. Do not believe we will return to this restaurant. That's such a shame!
(1)
Mark G.
Agio is as good as it gets. It's warm, inviting, great customer service and the food is phenomenal! Agio is a family run business and you can tell by the way everyone cares about providing a great patron experience! Joe, Mary, Mike, Bree, Lisa, Leo, Jackie are all awesome in their approach to customers. The food is awesome. When there try the risotto of the day or pene pasta topped with crab meat on it. Their wine selection is great as well. In the summer there is a patio area, which is an added bonus. Parking is tight, as it is in a strip mall so get there early and go often!
(5)
Emma L.
Beautifully decorated but it ends there. The waiter took forever to serve us and the food was pretty blah. To tell you the truth, Olive Garden makes better tasting food. Be prepared to pay quite a bit for your dinner too as this place is not cheap. I gave it a try but not planning on coming back.
(2)
Madison Z.
Great service and fabulous food. Their brunches are so good! From steak to any sort of pasta dish, you can't go wrong. Leo the waiter is also great.
(5)
Phil W.
We have always liked this small gem however something has changed as of late. The bar area has always been fairly cramped quarters and as long as you sit in a prompt fashion it does not come into play much. However, the quality of the food seems to have diminished while the prices have gone the complete opposite direction. $140 for dinner for two and a couple of glasses of wine just left me scratching my head on why we went to begin with.
(2)
Charlene M.
Bland and undercooked. Instead of making the order right or even cooked enough to be edible they told me to go home and microwave the leftovers.wow. terrible service terrible food.the only people happy with their dinner were drinking heavily. I guess the key is to be too drunk to know any better.
(1)
Lewis M.
This is my favorite upscale spot in Palatine for sure. I live in New York and the food culture there is very competitive, and this is the type of place I can come to with my family after a trip back from NY, and I feel like the food is comparable and the vibe is great. If you want a romantic or intimate first date in palatine this is your spot to impress, and if you're trying to impress the older crowd this is also a great spot. Something for everyone who loves great Italian with a more modern sensibility. The cocktails are also nice and stiff. Get the fried calamari and gnocchi, both are really fresh and the gnocchi is authentic and translates to someone who may have never tried gnocchi. I will be back for sure!
(5)
Cassie F.
Fresh ingredients, nice menu and great service! Loved the warm Italian bread, olive oil and freshly shaved cheese to start. Had minestrone, a caprese salad and the pasta bolognese. All were delicious! My hubby had the pork chop which was also very good, though a touch overdone. Lisa Marie took great care of us. We'll def be back!
(4)
Very C.
Was ok. Very pricey not enough help and had to ask for everything from silverware to bread etc. Owner needs to hire some people. Cannot compete with Gianni's.
(2)
Dylan S.
I went here to celebrate my college graduation and to say the least, I was impressed. The restaurant has a very authentic Italian atmosphere. It was similar to being in Italy all over again. The size of the restaurant was also nice as it wasn't too big and wasn't too small or too loud. Our waitress was very nice and constantly had a smile on her face. When it came to the food, everything was great. The pasta was absolutely delicious when paired with seafood. The prices were very fair as well for how excellent the food was. On top of that, the white wine that I had with my dinner was fantastic and complimented the meal well. The desert was probably the best treat of the evening. The lemon cheesecake was awesome and I wish I got more. Everything was great, I would give it a 5 star review, but the only thing I found troubling was paying for everything at the end of the evening. There were some issues as we didn't get split checks and it complicated things with 9 people at the table. Then I checked my bank statement later that evening to find they took more out than what I thought I payed for. I got in touch with the manager and he assured me that it would correct itself in a few days time, which it did to the proper amount. I can't wait to come back for desert!
(4)
LFoodie K.
TERRIBLE!!! STAY AWAY! Drove by this place many times always looked very nice, yes the ambiance is great I'll give them that. Prices are high food is terrible We've gone to many Italian restaurants and this by far was the worst I don't even know how it got good reviews. My pasta was drenched in olive oil so much that the entire bottom of my bowl was just oil, Our friends ordered dishes with red sauce said it tasted SOUR and Acidic. The server also forgot about one of our orders my husband didn't get to eat his meal with the family at all, by the time his food came out everyone had already finished eating & they Still charged us for that entree even though they forgot about the order. No one came out to apologize nothing..Very bad business ethic. Would NOT recommend this place at all There are so many other great Italian Restaurants in the area.
(1)
Chuck P.
Wanted to like it...Asked for a table in the main dining room at 8pm on a Tuesday which was half empty. The owner was hoping to fill it with more people, so we politely agreed to a small booth near the door. That would have been ok if the food was real. I don't mind paying $25 for chicken but is was just a couple slabs that looked like boiled chicken. As you know, the real places pound it down thin and give it a little sizzle. The sauces were doctored up canned. Another overpriced strip mall white-bread joint with no personality. Cannot recommend for your Holiday/office parties.
(2)
Tammy N.
Only OK: OK location with decent parking. Food good - prices high for the quality. Ordered an appetizer (stuffed portobello caps), 2 salads (caprese & spinachj), decided to split a pasta (gnocchi). After putting in our order the waitress returned to the table to let us know that we would be charged a $5 splitting fee. Wouldn't it have been just as easy to tell us when she took our order - was she new? had no one ever split a dish before? Gnocchi was flavorful but did not taste homemade. If I lived in Palatine I would probably like this restaurant....since I live in Chicago and have access to lots of good Italian restaurants it is not worth the drive.
(3)
Rich W.
I came here previously for a Yelp wine event. I decided to return on my own to check out what the kitchen can do. The bread had the crust of a ciabatta and the inside of a filone. Great aroma and texture. The accompanying olive oil was mediocre - dull, thin, and nondescript. I was going to order a pasta. But upon inquiry, I found out that the only pasta made in-house was cavatelli, of which I was not a fan. So I decided to order the special of the day - wine braised short-rib with spatzle. While ordering, I had expressed reservation because I found it odd that an Italian restaurant that, for the most part, didn't even make its own pasta decided to make its own spatzle and serve it as a special. The waitress assured me that it was good. Well, it was not. The spatzle was carelessly shaped - some were regular sized, some were too small, and all were too thin and had an unappetizing appearance. The spatzle was also executed strangely. Half of the noodle had a crunchy texture, which made it seem that the spatzle was baked after being boiled. This "mac n' cheese" execution ruined the dish for me. The seasoning of the pasta was also uneven and heavy-handed, with part of the dish too salty to be edible. The short-rib, however, was tender and nicely flavored with a red wine sauce. This was definitely the highlight of the meal. I also ordered a side of risotto. It was slightly overcooked, and it was not creamy at all. What a shame because the seasoning of the rice was spot-on. The wine list was split into two halves - the regular and the reserved. The reserved wine list had pricier but more interesting bottles. I didn't order wine because the "by-the-glass" offering was dominated by generic table-wines and had a weak Italian repertoire. Dessert fared better. I got the trio, which consisted of panna cotta, canole, and hazelnut gelato. The panna cotta had good flavors - but the custard was a bit softer than my preferred texture. The gelato tasted great, but the texture was too dense - a sign of store-brought rather than freshly made gelato. Though the milk foam on top - which made this into a cappuccino experience - was a nice touch. The canole had a nice filling, but the wrap was too crispy and tasted like it was store-bought. I had to ask the waitress, and she confirmed that the wrap was indeed a purchase rather than house-made. Decor was warm, cozy, romantic, with a see-through wine-cellar on display. This was probably the nicest dining room I've seen in Palatine. Service was adequate and friendly, but was not professional enough to match up the casual fine dining atmosphere. I am quite conflicted with this place. The dining environment was unexpectedly lovely, and the wine list was ambitious for a restaurant of this size. But for a place that pays so much attention to these details, half of the desserts were not made by the restaurant, and most of the pasta was out of a box. Frankly, at this price point, I was expecting a bit more effort on the food front.
(3)
Mark W.
Nice decor, especially considering it's in a lil strip mall. Wine menu was very nice, especially considering location. I clearly came in with mid-level expectations. The food was good, but for the pricing I was expecting great. Maybe knock down the prices a lil bit, or start making your own pasta. I'd definitely go back if their pricing reflected a little bit more the quality of food, but it was a pretty decent meal. Doing homemade pasta would probably lower kitchen prices, and decrease the wait as well. Bread was good! ;o)
(3)
Kat Q.
I have been to this Italian Bistro twice and was disappointed both times. The first time I went with a friend. I love Italian food and frequent the many Italian eateries in this area. My first visit was about one month after Agio's opened. The decor was nice, romantic. My friend and I both ordered pasta dishes. The food on a Sunday afternoon took over one hour to come. We were one of four tables occupied in the restaurant at the time. We had plenty of bread to eat but unfortunately it was hard as a rock and stale. The pasta dishes were average in taste and overpriced for the portion size. The second time I came here with a lady friend we sat at the bar. I ordered a $12.00 glass of Chianti. I was brought a huge glass with what amounted to about six tablespoons of wine in the glass. I asked the kind male bartender to give me at least half of a glass for the price. He whispered that he couldn't the owner was very strict about allowing the staff to pour no more then about 1/4 of a glass. Did I mention I paid TWELVE bucks for several tablespoons of wine? With all of the wonderful Italian restaurants in the Northwest suburbs I would think the owner would care more about pleasing his customers especially since two much better restaurants are no more then one minute away. I will not come back. I have heard other customers complain about the way the management here skimps on the food and wine.
(1)
jan l.
I'm highly amused as always, by the foodie wanna bees. the desserts were not made by the restaurant. and? perhaps they are smart enough to realize they don't have a pastry chef. The pasta came out of a box. Oh good God. The strip mall is lame. Hey, guess what, you live in Schaumburg and Palatine. ugh. We went for lunch last week. The service was truly outstanding. Our waiter was a delight. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful (hard to believe it's in a strip mall ugh) The food wasn't over the top exceptional, but it was certainly very, very good. The person I dined with had the chicken parmesan over pasta, and only ate half. She wanted to be sure to have leftovers. I had the lunch special soup and half sandwich. That day they had escarole and bean soup with Italian sausage. Very tasty, if I had to find a flaw, I would have crumbled the sausage, not diced it, but that is really nit picking.I will be going back. Even though the restaurant is in the strip mall. If you're going to complain about the strip mall restaurants, you need to move to the city. That is life in the suburbs. This isn't a $300 dinner for two. Oh and another thing, while being so harsh on a review, please find spell check. Thanks!
(4)
Anne Marie J.
Loved it! Came for a 1st bday party and the parents rented out the entire restaurant for about 80 people. Great decor and space, great Italian food (crispy calamari and creamy sauces..yum!) and good service. It made for a great milestone birthday for a beautiful girl!
(4)
Joanne G.
Agio has a excellent Wine Selection. Owners and staff are pleasant and friendly. The food is good with a flare of elegance and not the typical Americanized Italian style. Agio is called a Bistro for a reason for their style of food and ambience. Not a place for kids, but great to meet up with friends. Palatine needs more places like Agio instead of all the fast-food, diner places along the Northwest Highway Cooridor.
(4)
Larry S.
The plain exterior in a new strip mall on Northwest Highway is very deceiving. The only clue of something more inviting inside is the rather handsome exterior signage "Agio Italian Bistro". Once inside, your first impression of the elegant motif has to be a surprising "WOW". Very tastefully decorated, Agio is the most elegant dining setting in Palatine. Very much an indication that a fine dining experience awaits. You will not be disappointed in the broad array of pasta, veal, chicken, fish, and risotto dinner choices. Too bad a salad or soup is ala carte, but that is offset by the relatively low entree prices. Most pasta is in the $ teens and the more expensive meat and fish dishes are just $20 or so. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass as well. My dinner companion ordered pasta with vodka sauce and when she asked for a little more sauce they said they make each sauce to order but would make her some addl sauce anyway. Very accommodating! My veal marsala was excellent! I highly endorse this new restaurant. It is a welcome fine dining addition to Palatine!
(4)
Kristi S.
I noticed this place near my office, so I picked it for my administrative professional's (*cough*secretary's*cough*) day lunch as an alternative to all the Woodfield area chain restaurants. It's a cozy little place with nice decor and a large, intriguing walk-in wine cellar. Our server was friendly and polite, but seemed a little scarce. I ordered the eggplant parmesan for lunch and it was delicious. All of the lunch portions were small, probably in line with recommended serving size, but definitely not what we as a culture have come to expect from an Italian restaurant. It felt like they should've either been a little larger or a little cheaper. For me, it was the perfect amount to eat for lunch and not feel painfully stuffed for the rest of the afternoon. Everybody at the table cleared their plate, though, and I'm sure nobody would've turned up his nose at the idea of a few extra bites. The service, as I mentioned, seemed a little bit on the slow slide, but not painfully so. The place probably does just enough business to need 1.5 servers at the height of the lunch hour. For our party of five, we were in and out in about an hour and a half , so not terrible, but we definitely spent more time waiting for our food or server than eating. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and one of my bosses told me to add this restaurant to the list of places we take clients for lunch.
(3)
Jason T.
We have not been that adventurous when we have come here, but what we have ordered has been good, This is one of our favorite places to order calamari; it is very tender and the sauce is really fresh and tangy. We've had the pasta with vodka sauce and the gnocchi with sausage and cream sauce, and both are great. Also. Thursday nights are the perfect night to come here as it is half price wine night; it's a great chance for us to order a bottle that is nicer than what we would normally have.
(4)
Stephanie M.
I really wanted to like this place... but I have to say my review is based mostly on the TERRIBLE server we had. My boyfriend and I did not make reservations for this past Saturday night but they were able to seat us right away- it was a little bit later so the non-reservation thing wasn't an issue, even though it was still pretty busy. Our waitress seemed nice enough and was very friendly, she just literally did not pay attention to us at all!! It was actually pretty ridiculous. We had been seated for over an hour before she even took our entree order! And we actually had to force our appetizer and wine order on her earlier. When she finally got around to acknowledging us long enough to take our entree order, we considered just asking for the check and leaving... She never offered to tell us the specials, we had to ask when we finally placed our entree order, but we were so hungry by then we had already made our decisions. Thankfully the food runners were on point and kept us well supplied with warm bread! The food was ok- nothing spectacular at all, nothing memorable. Maybe our tastes had been soured by the horrible service we were getting. I got some veal thing and my boyfriend got something chicken. I did really like "vegetable of the day" which was some sort of squash (she never told us what it would be). Our waitress even brought us our check without asking if we wanted any more wine or any desserts or coffee or anything. For a hundred bucks, we should have had a much better experience and been encouraged to spend more than that- I mean, I don't like to be "upselled" but she could have at least tried! A nice date night almost ruined by bad service... The restaurant had a great atmosphere though. We may go back and just sit at the bar and eat something there and give it another shot, but neither of us want to be subjected to such terrible service again.
(2)
A J.
empty for a friday lunch. service was attentive. minestrone tasted fresh and homemade. loved the broth. Capelleni di Agio....yum! could have used 1 more shrimp. the sauce..lemon pepper cream...loved it. dessert was ok...a warm chocolate cake with gelato. but since i rarely order dessert i want it to be amazing when i splurge. would go back again. would be nice to see a rotolo or other non basic pasta dish on the menu (in addition to my capelleni).
(4)
Kevin H.
Had a business lunch on a Monday. This was my second time back and wanted to check it out again. Overall, the food was very good but once again service very slow. My gut tells me they want to error on a smaller staff during the lunch hours. We had to chase someone down to take our order after 20-25 minutes. Made for a long business lunch.
(3)
Richard S.
Best restaurant in Palatine for an upscale experience and great food. The food is always very good and the service is great. Servers know what they are doing and are professional. Drinks are great! The outdoor patio is very nice and has a fire place that adds to the experience. My only complaint is that it is too far to walk from the center of town. Just a tip if you want take out. The delivery place next door offers the same menu (from the same kitchen) for more reasonable prices - try the eggplant parmesan.
i went there at a friday night for the first time and a reservation is advised, because they were packed. i like the environment a lot. It's a bit dark, but it creates a great atmosphere. We sat at the bar. The barkeeper could definitely be a bit friendlier. He was very short with us and made us feel a bit unwelcome. However, the Pinot noir we had was amazing. My husband ate Salmon on Risotto and it was just great. Very, very tasty and fresh. My gnocchi with italian sausage were ok too but not as good as the other dish. The price point are at the higher level though. We will be back for sure, but this time with a reservation so we don't have to sit at the bar :)
(4)
Michael L.
Great upscale restaurant in Palatine. I was very impressed. I eat downtown a lot and this was very comparable if not better. We had a big group of 12 and they accommodated us with no issues. The service and food were great. I would go back any chance I get.
(4)
Andrea P.
Really good food but they don't have customer service. It's all about them. They have no regards for the customer and it's a shame because their cook is awesome. Too bad they don't respect or value their customers!!!
(2)
Rhonda G.
I love when I get lost looking for a place, and end up driving way out in the Chicago burbs. You tend to spot places, and after all the Irish festivities, Italian made perfect sense for dinner on St. Patrick's Day. When we sat down, a few other people obviously felt the same way. Normally this place would be packed. For an unknown place, we ended up ordering the same thing, linguine and clam sauce. I may have appreciated it more if I haven't been burning myself out on it with weekly trips to Buca. They cooked the noodles soft as requested. They're made with little neck clams in the shell, and the flavors are very nicely balanced. We shared a cup of minestrone, not memorable, but good, and full of veggies. A delicious, crusty bread is offered right away. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is beautiful, however the funky old soul playing prevents it from any romantic mood, and it does have that potential. You really forget you're in a strip mall, hell I didn't know what city I was in. Tourists should definitely make this a destination.
(4)
Dennis R. C.
I just want everybody to know that I had one of the finest dining experiences in a long time on Valentine's day!! We had the shrimp cocktail ,leg of duck for appetizers .Main course was Rack of lamb and the twin lobster tails.The ambience was pretty with rose petals on the table .Service was great !! The Heart Shaped Chocolate layered with Passion Fruit Cream Filing was a fitting finish. I wish I could fine something I didn't like. Sorry I could NOT!! They were packed as well. It's a must try-I think I'll go back for Mother's Day! Happy Customer
(5)
Toni B.
A girlfriend and I came here last night for a dinner date, and we actually really enjoyed our food! The restaurant is kind of in an interesting location, but thats ok! They have a fairly good menu selection, but as a "not a big meat eater", I could only find a couple items on the menu that I could actually/would actually eat. My friend and I both ended up just getting a soup and salad. We ordered the ceasar salad...which was ok...Could have used more ceasar dressing, and seemed a bit like they just bought a bagged kit. :/ But the cream of spinach soup...honestly thats why Im giving this place 4 stars! AMAZING, If I wasn't so full I would have ordered another bowl. The soup and salad were both a perfect size and only $4 each!...$8 for dinner, pretty good deal if you ask me!!! The service was pretty good as well. Its a clean place...it says that its upscale, but I would say its a step above the Olive Garden....its one of those places you can dress up for a nice date or wear jeans and decent top and not feel out of place. Parking...meh. They have a lot that they share with other stores in the strip mall, but neither of us had an issue finding a park. They do take reservations! Yay! love places that take reservations on a weekend! I do want to come back with the hubby and try their fettuccini alfredo...and maybe more of that cream of spinach soup!
(4)
Gregory V.
This is an extraordinary restaurant. We've been looking for good Italian restaurants in the area ... and quite frankly, disappointed more than satisfied. It's so mediocre that I started thinking I've been spoiled by all the outrageously delicious meals in NYC and Northern Jersey and maybe need to reassess a new level of satisfaction to what's available in the North Shore ... ... ... ... until Agio! What a great place. (I've since found others, but this is the first --- and we always remember our first ;- ) Great service, FANTASTIC wine list and delicious, well prepared, fresh food! F i n a l l y ... fresh, moist, 'wet', thickly-cut mozzarella in the Caprese Salad ... (maybe other restaurants might want to procure their source - hint-hint) ... and the Calamari had the right breading, lightly battered, cooked perfectly. Had I known how big the entree's would be, I'd probably have cut back on the app's. The portions are generous to say the least, especially the pasta and eggplant dinners! ... made for delicious leftovers ... for the next few days! (Yum) I'm very happy to have found this place ... it's a bit of a drive ... but worth it as the whole meal was moderately priced!
(5)
Melissa K.
Great place!!! Amazing specials! Been looking for a place like this in palatine. Don't even feel like I'm in the suburbs! Best patio around!!!
(5)
David B.
This is a restaurant that I have visited several times. When you walk into Agio you get what you see. It is a quality small Italian Bistro. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The service is excellent. If you are just looking for drinks, they have a beautiful bar. In the summer they have a very nice outdoor patio. It is a popular place with the locals and has a very solid clientele of regulars. I love the aged steaks. They are flavorful and tender. The osso-buco is great when it is on the menu. They always have weekly specials. The risotto also hits the spot. If you like wine, Agio has a nice selection and a very handsome display. One of the things I appreciate the most about my visits is like in Italy we were never rushed. Dinner is intended to be an event shared with loved ones and friends. At Agio it still is.
(5)
Mallory S.
A tad pricey, but definitely a gem in Palatine! The grouper was fantastic!!! The service was also great. I'm not too sure as to whether the entrees should be priced as high, but it seems like a great date place. I'm very glad I checked this place out because it's in the neighborhood and it sure does beat the run-of-the-mill Olive Garden.
(4)
Brittany P.
I love this place. I'm from palatine and it really is the gem of palatine. The service is great and they make you feel so comfortable. The seafood is great and so is the meat and pasta. Small, cute and cozy. Try it out!
(5)
Amy P.
Agio is one of our favorite places to go. We tend to eat late due to our work schedule and it s nice that we can go somewhere, get a nice glass of wine and a great meal at a late hour. We love that they make every dish fresh to order. Ths style of food they make...the prep takes a little longer, but it is worth it. The special risotto of the say is always solid, the Saffron is over the top. The scallops are always a hit and a favorite. they are very willing to help with food allergies as well. I do enjoy sitting in the bar area. I noticed another reviewer did not like the TVs, but many people do. Many times they are not on, or only one is on. I appreciate them when I want and can tune them out quite easily. The patio and re- vamped outside are is gorgeous. We are looking forward to dining out there this winter.
(5)
Steve K.
Great food. Great service. Crowded on a snowy Saturday night. Can't get a better review.
(5)
M S.
Great local restaurant with a downtown feel. Notable wine list, intimate seating. Delicious food at lunch and dinner. Half priced bottles of wine on Thursdays a lunch- great day for lunch with the ladies. Staff is knowledgable of menu and offers suggestions. A gem in the 'burbs!
(4)
Patricia D.
We went in on a Friday evening for dinner. We were seated right away, which was a plus. Afterwards, we looked over the menu, and placed our order with the waiter. Now, I understand that Friday nights are busy for restaurants, but we literally waited 45 mins for our meal. My husband asked for another drink, that took 15 mins to get to him. When we finally got our food, it tasted really good. We enjoyed the food. The price was right, but the wait for our food, was unacceptable. It seems as if they had only one chef preparing the meals. We'll try going back, possibly on another night, but if we receive the same service, we probably won't be back.
(3)
Gloria B.
I went here for lunch on Thursday with three co-workers. I hadn't been there for months, since I found plastic in my food. I was eating eggplant parmigiana and found saran wrap. I pointed it out to the waiter, who acknowledged they covered their pans of food with plastic wrap. He took it away and that was it. I guess I expected a manager to come apologize or a comped dessert or something. So I wasn't interested in going back until my retiring co-worker picked the restaurant. I again had the eggplant, which was fine, but I believe it was $16. No salad was included in that price, which had been the case in the past. As per usual at lunch time (the only time I've ever been there), we waited forever for our food. The restaurant wasn't crowded, maybe another four tables of people. We probably waited 30 minutes for our food, which is ridiculous, given the lack of patrons. Our waiter seemed disinterested at best. Now that my friend is retired, I won't be going back.
(2)
Fast Eddie F.
Inventive AND fun. Arguably the best restaurant in Palatine.
(5)
Bart H.
So went her on a Saturday with a group of friends. Unfortunately I was the only one at the table that was not happy with my dish. I am sure everyone else at the table would probably give a better review but I have to base mine on what I had. I can't remember the exact name but it was the seafood melody over spaghetti with a white wine based sauce (I probably should have gone with the other option). Pasta seemed from a box and the sauce was light and watery with not much flavor. Bread was decent. Atmosphere was superb (I love the inside of this place). And service was nice. I would definitely go back again and try something new but I cannot recommend the seafood spaghetti. But before I went back there I would go back to Carlos and Carlos in Arlington Heights, killer pasta there.
(3)
Restaurant Vigilant E.
We went for a birthday recently, it was my first time. I have to say, you certainly don't feel as though you are in a strip mall. The inside is very nice, and I am ashamed to say that I was one of two of our group of 5 who was a bit under dressed. Fortunately, because we went to dinner so early, we were just about the only ones in there. You don't need a tux, but I am not sure as I would wear jeans again (not without a sports coat at least). The menu is good size - a lot of variety, but not so many choices that the kitchen can't do a good job with what it offers. They brought us the obligatory bread, oil and parmesan cheese for the table - good bread, and I was happy to see that the cheese was freshly grated - not the lame baking soda-like granules that comes in "the green can." We ordered the grilled calamari to start. It was served with a balsamic reduction which I thought would be awful, but it was actually pretty good. My only issue with the calamari...the portion wasn't exactly huge for the price, but no hard done. We also ordered the bruschetta sampler. I tried two of the three varieties...the traditional bruscetta which was very good and the zucchini one - that was well prepared, but I prefer the traditional tomato and basil. Two people split a veal dish...it looked fine, but I am not much of a veal person. One person ordered the seafood pasta which looked quite good. Not sure what the other person had....I ordered Fettuccini Alfredo...this is a very simple dish and it was well executed. In retrospect, I would have liked to have ordered something else, but that is on me - this dish was well prepared and a good rendition. I THINK they make their own pasta...all in all, I would go back. Probably a good date place...the strip mall is lame, but you forget all about it once you're inside. We went for a birthday, but it would be good for any special occasion or even a nice Saturday dinner out. The waitress also had good wine knowledge - she described a few wines and the guy next to me - a sommelier and wine merchant, nodded that she was correct in her descriptions.
(3)
Tom M.
We go here quite a bit. Good food, reasonable prices, excellent wine selection, and a cozy, romantic ambiance for a dinner date. They serve Acacia Pinot Noir, which is one of our favorites, and their Osso Bucco (when available) is some of the best I've ever had. Been to more than a few of their wine tasting dinner events, and every one has been a great experience.
(5)
Linda K.
Didn't even know this place existed until a customer from California told me about it! It's hidden away in a relatively new strip mall on Northwest Hwy in Palatine. The place is small - only about 15 tables and booths - but that's what makes it so charming. It's got a swanky, elegant feel to it. Love the decor! On the back wall is a well stocked wine room. Very nice wine selection. There is also a long bar adjacent to the dining area and outdoor seating is available. Started out with a glass of Acacia Pinot Noir - one of my fav's - and shared a caprese salad. Not sure what they did to it, but it was one of the best tasting caprese salads I have ever experienced! I ordered the Gnocchi for my entree, and shared the sauteed spinach.The Gnocchi was served with pancetta, sausage and mushrooms in a creamy tomato sauce. Both were delicious and filling! Had to ask for a to-go box. Also ordered some tiramisu to-go and enjoyed a few bites today. Very good but still not as good as Chicago Prime's! Our server Leo was delightful but, unfortunately, didn't get to spend a lot of time with him as we were limited on time and he was very busy. Service seemed a little slow at times...trying to get another glass of wine...but I just think they could've had more help on. I will definitely visit again....maybe for lunch next time. Nice to see a restaurant like this close by in Palatine.
(4)
Erin M.
Went here on a Friday night with husband, Dad, and grandma. I'm a city girl and don't travel to the suburbs much for "fine dining". Nice decor though the restaurant seemed out of place in the strip mall it was situated in. Grandma and I ordered a $30 bottle of wine and my husband and Dad had martinis. We ordered the grilled calamari to start - very good! Cooked in a balsamic/lemon glaze. We had two baskets of yummy, warm freshly baked bread. Three of us had veal dishes, prepared differently (Saltinbocca di Vitello, 23; Vitello Al Marsala, 21; Piccata di Vitello, 21). My husband had the steak special. The Saltinbocca di Vitello was AMAZING and hands down the best dish of the night. The food did take a while to come out but the waitress said that everything to made to order - nothing is sitting in the back ready to go. My Dad ended up spilling his second martini and the waitress brought another one without charging us. The bill was over $300. Everything was all-around good, but in this economy I'm not going to be racing out to Palatine anytime soon to return. However, if you're in the area, it's worth a stop.
(3)
Megan T.
I completly agree with the other two one star reviews. The decor is nice, but the service and food is not so great. There are a lot of italian restaurants in the area and this one cannot compete as is. The food to forever to get and the bread was stale. We asked for some baked garlic in oil to go with our bread and they just brought out garlic. We had to again ask for our oil and cheese to go with the small pile of garlic they brought out. Since our food took so long, were were sitting there for what seemed to be forever for our food. We thought the prices were high for what we were served when it finally came out of the kitchen. Needless to say we have never been back and do not intend to go.
(1)
Kimberly F.
So disappointing :( I went here for lunch on my birthday. There were two of us. We met at 12:30 but didn't leave until 3:00. Why did lunch take 2.5 hours? It took us an hour and a half to get our food. What on earth did we order to take that long? Funny you should ask. My mother in law ordered the special for that day, and I had half a sandwich and a salad. Really? It takes that long to make our food when there are a total of maybe 5 tables sat in the whole place? I suppose the restaurant is cute, the host was nice, the wine was decent, the food was mediocre at best, but the bad service made me never want to come back here. When we approached our server at the hour mark, he offered to help by getting us more wine. Hmmm, booze helps some situations, but not this one. He did comp much of the food and apologize for the service, and I understand people have an off day, but the food wasn't even good enough to make me want to give it another shot. So, I won't be coming back...by choice, anyway.
(1)
Matt M.
All these polarizing reviews confuse me: Agio's is neither terrible nor incredible. A new installation along Northwest Hwy in Palatine, the restaurant has a decent ambiance for a suburban Italian restaurant. The special appertizer for the day was crab cakes. It was definitely above average for a midwestern restaurant. If you go, definitely get their peppercorn filet, which was impressive. Otherwise, the menu definitely has enough breadth to warrant a return visit.
(3)
T D.
Good Italian food. Not great, just good. It took quite a while for our salads to come out and we were one of the earlier tables of the night. The decor is nice. Seems like the prices are on the steep side, like you are paying a surcharge for the atmosphere. Place was busy on a Friday night when we went. For us there are a lot of other places we will go before we go back here. Artistic Cuisine blows these guys out of the water.
(3)
Ken A.
Celebrated our 20th anniversary with dinner and a movie. She had the lasagna which tasted like wet noodles and tomato paste, I had the chicken breast vesuvio which was on par with most wedding food I have had. Service was slow, and the bruschetta appetizer was brought out 2 minutes before our meal. Too bad, we were looking forward to a new place for good italian, this isnt it.
(2)
Anthony B.
Disappointing . Was seated immediately, drink order taken in a timely fashion. I Ordered the cheese ravioli my wife the meat ravioli. Soup or salad is a la carte! The server brought one dish correctly. The other was a meat rigatoni. Not even close to what was ordered. Ravioli was bland, lacked seasoning. Not a good experience nor a good value.
(1)
J B.
Tasty traditional Italian fare. Excellent decor inside and wonderful outdoor seating on the patio. Service is good at a relaxed pace. Quiet enough to hold a conversation.
(4)
Debra C.
Food was very good! Service was good although a bit slow. Ambiance was nice but it be better if they would take out the t.v. from the bar which I found sort of detracted from the ambiance.
(4)
Mike S.
The ambiance is very nice. Even though the restaurant was full it wasn't that loud. My wife and I split a meal. The portions were small considering what you normally get at Italian restaurants. The food was very tasty. It cost $5 to share an item.
(3)
Kara C.
Love this restaurant!! Great atmosphere, great and friendly service and fantastic food - inventive specials and appetizers. Highly recommend going in here for a great dining experience and some fabulous wine!
(5)
larry c.
while in chicago area a "local" friend took us there last night..what a treat great food !!! creative menu and good dolce's too beautiful dining room inventive wine list nice people check it out..well worth it
(5)
Elizabeth S.
I have been to Agio's several times and have had some good lunches there (sandwiches and soup). I like the interior and find the restaurant comfortable and clean. Two friends and I went to Agio's for dinner the day before Easter. My friend and I ordered the Gnocchi with sausage and mushrooms - price between $17.00 and $18.00. The Gnocchi was good, but the sausage and mushroom part was a joke. There were about 5 pieces of little squares of sausage and not one mushroom. Very disappointing. If the dish was $9.00 or so, it would be so crazy - but $17.00? And no real sausage? When that is in the entree description? I don't think I'll be going back there any time soon. Too bad because they have a convenient location.
(2)
John B.
Agio could be so much more, but doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. It is full of contradictions, like the elegant dining room within view of a bar with a big screen TV -- showing an ultimate fighting match on the night we dined there. It was so distracting to be sipping a nice zinfandel and dipping warm bread in olive oil -- while seeing two musclebound men killing each other, unavoidably within my line of sight. The main dining room has a casual, bistro atmosphere, but with very high ceilings that make the noise level uncomfortably high. So, is this a casual bistro, an upscale Italian restaurant, or a sports bar? I still don't know. Meanwhile, the food was average, with overly heavy pasta (granted, we had gnocchi and cavatelli) and a tilapia in saffron sauce that had no flavor at all. Service, however, was great -- our waiter even gave me a free (and generous) sample of the gnocchi when I couldn't decide between the tilapia and the pasta. But both dishes were ultimately disappointing. Our search for a great Italian place close to home continues.
(3)
Howard S.
Went here for lunch; a good menu, and the minestrone soup was delicious. I had salmon with sauteed spinach for a very reasonable price, and bread was served with very good olive oil. Service was efficient and very courteous. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Neal M.
Went here last night for V-Day Dinner. Heard good things but read mixed reviews here on Yelp. After my experience, I understand these reviews completely. Restaurant is very well designed/decorated, modern Italian, clean, a bit dim but not so much as you can't read the menus. I really liked it when I walked in the door. We (just the two of us) were seated quickly by a very polite host. Then it went downhill. Took at least 8-9 minutes for a waiter to stop over at our table and they were nowhere near busy. Maybe 1/5 full? Then he said would you like a drink, took our order and ran off, I was expecting a pleasant Hello, or here's our specials. He was nice, but we felt hurried, like he had better things to do then spend time at our table. He brought our drinks, set them down and briskly walked away again. We perused the menu and many items read great, it was a tough choice. Then our waiter came back (after another 10 minutes or so) and asked if we were ready to order, then stopped and read us the specials. Unfortunately we had to ask him to repeat them all, we could not understand over his thick accent. Who would order a special that they cannot understand? Even after repeating we weren't sure what they were.. A printed specials sheet would have solved this problem. I would have also liked recommendations and suggestions, as most good Italian places have house specialties.. We split a spinach salad, I ordered the Veal Parmigiana, and my wife ordered the gnocchi. The food came out rather quickly, they split the salad for us which was nice. But portion size was rather small, I was done in 6-7 bites. Then our entrees arrived. Presentation was satisfactory but nothing better than an olive garden would have done. My Veal Parmigiana was OK at best, pounded way too thin (1/2 inch thick if I am being generous) and overcooked, and the side of spaghetti (a standard on most menu items here) was really unimpressive. A choice of pastas and/or sauces (like at most good Italian places) would be a big improvement. Sauce was completely bland and spaghetti was no diff than if i boiled a pot of water at home and made it with a jar of spaghetti sauce from aldi.. For this price this was a serious letdown. The standard needs to be a bit higher to match the pricing on the menu. My wife's gnocchi was also just OK, I have had much better, it was not made fresh and didn't melt in your mouth like gnocchi should. Again, just ok. The flavors were muted and nothing to write home about. Both meals were also just warm not hot enough, so by the time I was 1/2 done eating our dishes were pretty much room temp.. At this point neither of us was impressed so dessert was not even an option. We asked for the bill and took off, realized I just seriously overpaid for mediocre Italian food. In conclusion, overall I loved the look and feel of the place, but the food was a serious letdown, I understand the mixed reviews up here now. My wife says it was better the one time she was here before with some friends, so I might give it another try someday, but I will with serious hesitation. To compare, I have been to Gianni's a couple times and think it's pretty good (especially the one in deer park), Service and Food here are literally not even comparable, If Gianni's is an 8 on a scale of 1-10, this place is more like a 3-4.
(2)
Deborah H.
Looking forward to trying this restaurant out, but don't think I would go back! The waiter was more interested in his table outside than ours!! He flew by us, sitting in the bar, so many times, and never asked to see if we needed another drink!! The food took so long to get, and by that time, I was not even hunger! Very disappointing!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy, Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Kathy T.
Ordinarily we have a wonderful experience at this restaurant. Things have changed drastically. Prices seem to have gone up and the quality of the food offerings have gone down. Do not believe we will return to this restaurant. That's such a shame!
(1)Neal M.
Went here last night for V-Day Dinner. Heard good things but read mixed reviews here on Yelp. After my experience, I understand these reviews completely. Restaurant is very well designed/decorated, modern Italian, clean, a bit dim but not so much as you can't read the menus. I really liked it when I walked in the door. We (just the two of us) were seated quickly by a very polite host. Then it went downhill. Took at least 8-9 minutes for a waiter to stop over at our table and they were nowhere near busy. Maybe 1/5 full? Then he said would you like a drink, took our order and ran off, I was expecting a pleasant Hello, or here's our specials. He was nice, but we felt hurried, like he had better things to do then spend time at our table. He brought our drinks, set them down and briskly walked away again. We perused the menu and many items read great, it was a tough choice. Then our waiter came back (after another 10 minutes or so) and asked if we were ready to order, then stopped and read us the specials. Unfortunately we had to ask him to repeat them all, we could not understand over his thick accent. Who would order a special that they cannot understand? Even after repeating we weren't sure what they were.. A printed specials sheet would have solved this problem. I would have also liked recommendations and suggestions, as most good Italian places have house specialties.. We split a spinach salad, I ordered the Veal Parmigiana, and my wife ordered the gnocchi. The food came out rather quickly, they split the salad for us which was nice. But portion size was rather small, I was done in 6-7 bites. Then our entrees arrived. Presentation was satisfactory but nothing better than an olive garden would have done. My Veal Parmigiana was OK at best, pounded way too thin (1/2 inch thick if I am being generous) and overcooked, and the side of spaghetti (a standard on most menu items here) was really unimpressive. A choice of pastas and/or sauces (like at most good Italian places) would be a big improvement. Sauce was completely bland and spaghetti was no diff than if i boiled a pot of water at home and made it with a jar of spaghetti sauce from aldi.. For this price this was a serious letdown. The standard needs to be a bit higher to match the pricing on the menu. My wife's gnocchi was also just OK, I have had much better, it was not made fresh and didn't melt in your mouth like gnocchi should. Again, just ok. The flavors were muted and nothing to write home about. Both meals were also just warm not hot enough, so by the time I was 1/2 done eating our dishes were pretty much room temp.. At this point neither of us was impressed so dessert was not even an option. We asked for the bill and took off, realized I just seriously overpaid for mediocre Italian food. In conclusion, overall I loved the look and feel of the place, but the food was a serious letdown, I understand the mixed reviews up here now. My wife says it was better the one time she was here before with some friends, so I might give it another try someday, but I will with serious hesitation. To compare, I have been to Gianni's a couple times and think it's pretty good (especially the one in deer park), Service and Food here are literally not even comparable, If Gianni's is an 8 on a scale of 1-10, this place is more like a 3-4.
(2)Deborah H.
Looking forward to trying this restaurant out, but don't think I would go back! The waiter was more interested in his table outside than ours!! He flew by us, sitting in the bar, so many times, and never asked to see if we needed another drink!! The food took so long to get, and by that time, I was not even hunger! Very disappointing!!
(2)Gregory V.
This is an extraordinary restaurant. We've been looking for good Italian restaurants in the area ... and quite frankly, disappointed more than satisfied. It's so mediocre that I started thinking I've been spoiled by all the outrageously delicious meals in NYC and Northern Jersey and maybe need to reassess a new level of satisfaction to what's available in the North Shore ... ... ... ... until Agio! What a great place. (I've since found others, but this is the first --- and we always remember our first ;- ) Great service, FANTASTIC wine list and delicious, well prepared, fresh food! F i n a l l y ... fresh, moist, 'wet', thickly-cut mozzarella in the Caprese Salad ... (maybe other restaurants might want to procure their source - hint-hint) ... and the Calamari had the right breading, lightly battered, cooked perfectly. Had I known how big the entree's would be, I'd probably have cut back on the app's. The portions are generous to say the least, especially the pasta and eggplant dinners! ... made for delicious leftovers ... for the next few days! (Yum) I'm very happy to have found this place ... it's a bit of a drive ... but worth it as the whole meal was moderately priced!
(5)Melissa K.
Great place!!! Amazing specials! Been looking for a place like this in palatine. Don't even feel like I'm in the suburbs! Best patio around!!!
(5)David B.
This is a restaurant that I have visited several times. When you walk into Agio you get what you see. It is a quality small Italian Bistro. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The service is excellent. If you are just looking for drinks, they have a beautiful bar. In the summer they have a very nice outdoor patio. It is a popular place with the locals and has a very solid clientele of regulars. I love the aged steaks. They are flavorful and tender. The osso-buco is great when it is on the menu. They always have weekly specials. The risotto also hits the spot. If you like wine, Agio has a nice selection and a very handsome display. One of the things I appreciate the most about my visits is like in Italy we were never rushed. Dinner is intended to be an event shared with loved ones and friends. At Agio it still is.
(5)Mallory S.
A tad pricey, but definitely a gem in Palatine! The grouper was fantastic!!! The service was also great. I'm not too sure as to whether the entrees should be priced as high, but it seems like a great date place. I'm very glad I checked this place out because it's in the neighborhood and it sure does beat the run-of-the-mill Olive Garden.
(4)Brittany P.
I love this place. I'm from palatine and it really is the gem of palatine. The service is great and they make you feel so comfortable. The seafood is great and so is the meat and pasta. Small, cute and cozy. Try it out!
(5)Mark G.
Agio is as good as it gets. It's warm, inviting, great customer service and the food is phenomenal! Agio is a family run business and you can tell by the way everyone cares about providing a great patron experience! Joe, Mary, Mike, Bree, Lisa, Leo, Jackie are all awesome in their approach to customers. The food is awesome. When there try the risotto of the day or pene pasta topped with crab meat on it. Their wine selection is great as well. In the summer there is a patio area, which is an added bonus. Parking is tight, as it is in a strip mall so get there early and go often!
(5)Emma L.
Beautifully decorated but it ends there. The waiter took forever to serve us and the food was pretty blah. To tell you the truth, Olive Garden makes better tasting food. Be prepared to pay quite a bit for your dinner too as this place is not cheap. I gave it a try but not planning on coming back.
(2)Madison Z.
Great service and fabulous food. Their brunches are so good! From steak to any sort of pasta dish, you can't go wrong. Leo the waiter is also great.
(5)Phil W.
We have always liked this small gem however something has changed as of late. The bar area has always been fairly cramped quarters and as long as you sit in a prompt fashion it does not come into play much. However, the quality of the food seems to have diminished while the prices have gone the complete opposite direction. $140 for dinner for two and a couple of glasses of wine just left me scratching my head on why we went to begin with.
(2)Charlene M.
Bland and undercooked. Instead of making the order right or even cooked enough to be edible they told me to go home and microwave the leftovers.wow. terrible service terrible food.the only people happy with their dinner were drinking heavily. I guess the key is to be too drunk to know any better.
(1)Chuck P.
Wanted to like it...Asked for a table in the main dining room at 8pm on a Tuesday which was half empty. The owner was hoping to fill it with more people, so we politely agreed to a small booth near the door. That would have been ok if the food was real. I don't mind paying $25 for chicken but is was just a couple slabs that looked like boiled chicken. As you know, the real places pound it down thin and give it a little sizzle. The sauces were doctored up canned. Another overpriced strip mall white-bread joint with no personality. Cannot recommend for your Holiday/office parties.
(2)Stephanie M.
I really wanted to like this place... but I have to say my review is based mostly on the TERRIBLE server we had. My boyfriend and I did not make reservations for this past Saturday night but they were able to seat us right away- it was a little bit later so the non-reservation thing wasn't an issue, even though it was still pretty busy. Our waitress seemed nice enough and was very friendly, she just literally did not pay attention to us at all!! It was actually pretty ridiculous. We had been seated for over an hour before she even took our entree order! And we actually had to force our appetizer and wine order on her earlier. When she finally got around to acknowledging us long enough to take our entree order, we considered just asking for the check and leaving... She never offered to tell us the specials, we had to ask when we finally placed our entree order, but we were so hungry by then we had already made our decisions. Thankfully the food runners were on point and kept us well supplied with warm bread! The food was ok- nothing spectacular at all, nothing memorable. Maybe our tastes had been soured by the horrible service we were getting. I got some veal thing and my boyfriend got something chicken. I did really like "vegetable of the day" which was some sort of squash (she never told us what it would be). Our waitress even brought us our check without asking if we wanted any more wine or any desserts or coffee or anything. For a hundred bucks, we should have had a much better experience and been encouraged to spend more than that- I mean, I don't like to be "upselled" but she could have at least tried! A nice date night almost ruined by bad service... The restaurant had a great atmosphere though. We may go back and just sit at the bar and eat something there and give it another shot, but neither of us want to be subjected to such terrible service again.
(2)A J.
empty for a friday lunch. service was attentive. minestrone tasted fresh and homemade. loved the broth. Capelleni di Agio....yum! could have used 1 more shrimp. the sauce..lemon pepper cream...loved it. dessert was ok...a warm chocolate cake with gelato. but since i rarely order dessert i want it to be amazing when i splurge. would go back again. would be nice to see a rotolo or other non basic pasta dish on the menu (in addition to my capelleni).
(4)Kevin H.
Had a business lunch on a Monday. This was my second time back and wanted to check it out again. Overall, the food was very good but once again service very slow. My gut tells me they want to error on a smaller staff during the lunch hours. We had to chase someone down to take our order after 20-25 minutes. Made for a long business lunch.
(3)Carol K.
Me in Palatine? That alone should have alerted the press as this is pretty far off of my beaten path. But when a friend called and invited me to dinner at his favorite Italian restaurant what's a girl to do? The good news was this place is really easy to find located at the end of a strip mall with plenty of free parking. And once you pull open the front door- you forget that you are out in the burbs as this is a cozy little place with a great bar, and a fabulous patio complete with a fireplace where you can enjoy your meal. I took a seat at the bar while I waited for my friend. The staff (all staff) were friendly and welcoming.....no less than 3 people greeted me and welcomed me to the restaurant. And it's obvious that the locals frequent this place as there was a group of men seated next to me who were engaging as well. The ambiance is dark wood with white draped table cloths on the tables. It gives the illusion of "fancy" but it's more like a trattoria so people are there in everything from shorts to work clothes to dressier attire. Once my friend arrived- we decided to stay and eat at the bar given the great service we had been getting from Bree who was behind the bar. If truth be told- this is my friend's favorite way to eat although I prefer to have my feet on the floor and not hanging from a bar stool! The menu has many great sounding selections on it, especially the pasta section, but given I was on a limited diet I stuck to the basics- a filet and some steamed veggies and my friend went with the special of the day which was a beautiful pork loin chop smothered in sautéed veggies. The food came up perfectly prepared and I have to say my steak rivaled some of the best I have had at my favorite steakhouses in the city. Nicely done! They have a nice wine list and the Cabernet you can get by the glass is quite good and is only about $8 a glass. Dinner for the two of us plus drinks ran about $120 although it is important to note that we did not have appetizers, salads or dessert so if you go for a "full meal" you will probably be closer to $200. All in all, Agio's was as good as my friend had been touting. Not sure when I'll get back up this way but if you are in the area and want a great meal served by people who care in a relaxed environment, give Agio's a try.
(4)Toni B.
A girlfriend and I came here last night for a dinner date, and we actually really enjoyed our food! The restaurant is kind of in an interesting location, but thats ok! They have a fairly good menu selection, but as a "not a big meat eater", I could only find a couple items on the menu that I could actually/would actually eat. My friend and I both ended up just getting a soup and salad. We ordered the ceasar salad...which was ok...Could have used more ceasar dressing, and seemed a bit like they just bought a bagged kit. :/ But the cream of spinach soup...honestly thats why Im giving this place 4 stars! AMAZING, If I wasn't so full I would have ordered another bowl. The soup and salad were both a perfect size and only $4 each!...$8 for dinner, pretty good deal if you ask me!!! The service was pretty good as well. Its a clean place...it says that its upscale, but I would say its a step above the Olive Garden....its one of those places you can dress up for a nice date or wear jeans and decent top and not feel out of place. Parking...meh. They have a lot that they share with other stores in the strip mall, but neither of us had an issue finding a park. They do take reservations! Yay! love places that take reservations on a weekend! I do want to come back with the hubby and try their fettuccini alfredo...and maybe more of that cream of spinach soup!
(4)He K.
i went there at a friday night for the first time and a reservation is advised, because they were packed. i like the environment a lot. It's a bit dark, but it creates a great atmosphere. We sat at the bar. The barkeeper could definitely be a bit friendlier. He was very short with us and made us feel a bit unwelcome. However, the Pinot noir we had was amazing. My husband ate Salmon on Risotto and it was just great. Very, very tasty and fresh. My gnocchi with italian sausage were ok too but not as good as the other dish. The price point are at the higher level though. We will be back for sure, but this time with a reservation so we don't have to sit at the bar :)
(4)Michael L.
Great upscale restaurant in Palatine. I was very impressed. I eat downtown a lot and this was very comparable if not better. We had a big group of 12 and they accommodated us with no issues. The service and food were great. I would go back any chance I get.
(4)Andrea P.
Really good food but they don't have customer service. It's all about them. They have no regards for the customer and it's a shame because their cook is awesome. Too bad they don't respect or value their customers!!!
(2)Very C.
Was ok. Very pricey not enough help and had to ask for everything from silverware to bread etc. Owner needs to hire some people. Cannot compete with Gianni's.
(2)Rhonda G.
I love when I get lost looking for a place, and end up driving way out in the Chicago burbs. You tend to spot places, and after all the Irish festivities, Italian made perfect sense for dinner on St. Patrick's Day. When we sat down, a few other people obviously felt the same way. Normally this place would be packed. For an unknown place, we ended up ordering the same thing, linguine and clam sauce. I may have appreciated it more if I haven't been burning myself out on it with weekly trips to Buca. They cooked the noodles soft as requested. They're made with little neck clams in the shell, and the flavors are very nicely balanced. We shared a cup of minestrone, not memorable, but good, and full of veggies. A delicious, crusty bread is offered right away. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is beautiful, however the funky old soul playing prevents it from any romantic mood, and it does have that potential. You really forget you're in a strip mall, hell I didn't know what city I was in. Tourists should definitely make this a destination.
(4)Dennis R. C.
I just want everybody to know that I had one of the finest dining experiences in a long time on Valentine's day!! We had the shrimp cocktail ,leg of duck for appetizers .Main course was Rack of lamb and the twin lobster tails.The ambience was pretty with rose petals on the table .Service was great !! The Heart Shaped Chocolate layered with Passion Fruit Cream Filing was a fitting finish. I wish I could fine something I didn't like. Sorry I could NOT!! They were packed as well. It's a must try-I think I'll go back for Mother's Day! Happy Customer
(5)Restaurant Vigilant E.
We went for a birthday recently, it was my first time. I have to say, you certainly don't feel as though you are in a strip mall. The inside is very nice, and I am ashamed to say that I was one of two of our group of 5 who was a bit under dressed. Fortunately, because we went to dinner so early, we were just about the only ones in there. You don't need a tux, but I am not sure as I would wear jeans again (not without a sports coat at least). The menu is good size - a lot of variety, but not so many choices that the kitchen can't do a good job with what it offers. They brought us the obligatory bread, oil and parmesan cheese for the table - good bread, and I was happy to see that the cheese was freshly grated - not the lame baking soda-like granules that comes in "the green can." We ordered the grilled calamari to start. It was served with a balsamic reduction which I thought would be awful, but it was actually pretty good. My only issue with the calamari...the portion wasn't exactly huge for the price, but no hard done. We also ordered the bruschetta sampler. I tried two of the three varieties...the traditional bruscetta which was very good and the zucchini one - that was well prepared, but I prefer the traditional tomato and basil. Two people split a veal dish...it looked fine, but I am not much of a veal person. One person ordered the seafood pasta which looked quite good. Not sure what the other person had....I ordered Fettuccini Alfredo...this is a very simple dish and it was well executed. In retrospect, I would have liked to have ordered something else, but that is on me - this dish was well prepared and a good rendition. I THINK they make their own pasta...all in all, I would go back. Probably a good date place...the strip mall is lame, but you forget all about it once you're inside. We went for a birthday, but it would be good for any special occasion or even a nice Saturday dinner out. The waitress also had good wine knowledge - she described a few wines and the guy next to me - a sommelier and wine merchant, nodded that she was correct in her descriptions.
(3)Tom M.
We go here quite a bit. Good food, reasonable prices, excellent wine selection, and a cozy, romantic ambiance for a dinner date. They serve Acacia Pinot Noir, which is one of our favorites, and their Osso Bucco (when available) is some of the best I've ever had. Been to more than a few of their wine tasting dinner events, and every one has been a great experience.
(5)Rich W.
I came here previously for a Yelp wine event. I decided to return on my own to check out what the kitchen can do. The bread had the crust of a ciabatta and the inside of a filone. Great aroma and texture. The accompanying olive oil was mediocre - dull, thin, and nondescript. I was going to order a pasta. But upon inquiry, I found out that the only pasta made in-house was cavatelli, of which I was not a fan. So I decided to order the special of the day - wine braised short-rib with spatzle. While ordering, I had expressed reservation because I found it odd that an Italian restaurant that, for the most part, didn't even make its own pasta decided to make its own spatzle and serve it as a special. The waitress assured me that it was good. Well, it was not. The spatzle was carelessly shaped - some were regular sized, some were too small, and all were too thin and had an unappetizing appearance. The spatzle was also executed strangely. Half of the noodle had a crunchy texture, which made it seem that the spatzle was baked after being boiled. This "mac n' cheese" execution ruined the dish for me. The seasoning of the pasta was also uneven and heavy-handed, with part of the dish too salty to be edible. The short-rib, however, was tender and nicely flavored with a red wine sauce. This was definitely the highlight of the meal. I also ordered a side of risotto. It was slightly overcooked, and it was not creamy at all. What a shame because the seasoning of the rice was spot-on. The wine list was split into two halves - the regular and the reserved. The reserved wine list had pricier but more interesting bottles. I didn't order wine because the "by-the-glass" offering was dominated by generic table-wines and had a weak Italian repertoire. Dessert fared better. I got the trio, which consisted of panna cotta, canole, and hazelnut gelato. The panna cotta had good flavors - but the custard was a bit softer than my preferred texture. The gelato tasted great, but the texture was too dense - a sign of store-brought rather than freshly made gelato. Though the milk foam on top - which made this into a cappuccino experience - was a nice touch. The canole had a nice filling, but the wrap was too crispy and tasted like it was store-bought. I had to ask the waitress, and she confirmed that the wrap was indeed a purchase rather than house-made. Decor was warm, cozy, romantic, with a see-through wine-cellar on display. This was probably the nicest dining room I've seen in Palatine. Service was adequate and friendly, but was not professional enough to match up the casual fine dining atmosphere. I am quite conflicted with this place. The dining environment was unexpectedly lovely, and the wine list was ambitious for a restaurant of this size. But for a place that pays so much attention to these details, half of the desserts were not made by the restaurant, and most of the pasta was out of a box. Frankly, at this price point, I was expecting a bit more effort on the food front.
(3)Mark W.
Nice decor, especially considering it's in a lil strip mall. Wine menu was very nice, especially considering location. I clearly came in with mid-level expectations. The food was good, but for the pricing I was expecting great. Maybe knock down the prices a lil bit, or start making your own pasta. I'd definitely go back if their pricing reflected a little bit more the quality of food, but it was a pretty decent meal. Doing homemade pasta would probably lower kitchen prices, and decrease the wait as well. Bread was good! ;o)
(3)Richard S.
Best restaurant in Palatine for an upscale experience and great food. The food is always very good and the service is great. Servers know what they are doing and are professional. Drinks are great! The outdoor patio is very nice and has a fire place that adds to the experience. My only complaint is that it is too far to walk from the center of town. Just a tip if you want take out. The delivery place next door offers the same menu (from the same kitchen) for more reasonable prices - try the eggplant parmesan.
(5)Tammy N.
Only OK: OK location with decent parking. Food good - prices high for the quality. Ordered an appetizer (stuffed portobello caps), 2 salads (caprese & spinachj), decided to split a pasta (gnocchi). After putting in our order the waitress returned to the table to let us know that we would be charged a $5 splitting fee. Wouldn't it have been just as easy to tell us when she took our order - was she new? had no one ever split a dish before? Gnocchi was flavorful but did not taste homemade. If I lived in Palatine I would probably like this restaurant....since I live in Chicago and have access to lots of good Italian restaurants it is not worth the drive.
(3)Amy P.
Agio is one of our favorite places to go. We tend to eat late due to our work schedule and it s nice that we can go somewhere, get a nice glass of wine and a great meal at a late hour. We love that they make every dish fresh to order. Ths style of food they make...the prep takes a little longer, but it is worth it. The special risotto of the say is always solid, the Saffron is over the top. The scallops are always a hit and a favorite. they are very willing to help with food allergies as well. I do enjoy sitting in the bar area. I noticed another reviewer did not like the TVs, but many people do. Many times they are not on, or only one is on. I appreciate them when I want and can tune them out quite easily. The patio and re- vamped outside are is gorgeous. We are looking forward to dining out there this winter.
(5)Steve K.
Great food. Great service. Crowded on a snowy Saturday night. Can't get a better review.
(5)M S.
Great local restaurant with a downtown feel. Notable wine list, intimate seating. Delicious food at lunch and dinner. Half priced bottles of wine on Thursdays a lunch- great day for lunch with the ladies. Staff is knowledgable of menu and offers suggestions. A gem in the 'burbs!
(4)Anne Marie J.
Loved it! Came for a 1st bday party and the parents rented out the entire restaurant for about 80 people. Great decor and space, great Italian food (crispy calamari and creamy sauces..yum!) and good service. It made for a great milestone birthday for a beautiful girl!
(4)Joanne G.
Agio has a excellent Wine Selection. Owners and staff are pleasant and friendly. The food is good with a flare of elegance and not the typical Americanized Italian style. Agio is called a Bistro for a reason for their style of food and ambience. Not a place for kids, but great to meet up with friends. Palatine needs more places like Agio instead of all the fast-food, diner places along the Northwest Highway Cooridor.
(4)Elizabeth S.
I have been to Agio's several times and have had some good lunches there (sandwiches and soup). I like the interior and find the restaurant comfortable and clean. Two friends and I went to Agio's for dinner the day before Easter. My friend and I ordered the Gnocchi with sausage and mushrooms - price between $17.00 and $18.00. The Gnocchi was good, but the sausage and mushroom part was a joke. There were about 5 pieces of little squares of sausage and not one mushroom. Very disappointing. If the dish was $9.00 or so, it would be so crazy - but $17.00? And no real sausage? When that is in the entree description? I don't think I'll be going back there any time soon. Too bad because they have a convenient location.
(2)John B.
Agio could be so much more, but doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. It is full of contradictions, like the elegant dining room within view of a bar with a big screen TV -- showing an ultimate fighting match on the night we dined there. It was so distracting to be sipping a nice zinfandel and dipping warm bread in olive oil -- while seeing two musclebound men killing each other, unavoidably within my line of sight. The main dining room has a casual, bistro atmosphere, but with very high ceilings that make the noise level uncomfortably high. So, is this a casual bistro, an upscale Italian restaurant, or a sports bar? I still don't know. Meanwhile, the food was average, with overly heavy pasta (granted, we had gnocchi and cavatelli) and a tilapia in saffron sauce that had no flavor at all. Service, however, was great -- our waiter even gave me a free (and generous) sample of the gnocchi when I couldn't decide between the tilapia and the pasta. But both dishes were ultimately disappointing. Our search for a great Italian place close to home continues.
(3)Howard S.
Went here for lunch; a good menu, and the minestrone soup was delicious. I had salmon with sauteed spinach for a very reasonable price, and bread was served with very good olive oil. Service was efficient and very courteous. Will definitely go back.
(5)Larry S.
The plain exterior in a new strip mall on Northwest Highway is very deceiving. The only clue of something more inviting inside is the rather handsome exterior signage "Agio Italian Bistro". Once inside, your first impression of the elegant motif has to be a surprising "WOW". Very tastefully decorated, Agio is the most elegant dining setting in Palatine. Very much an indication that a fine dining experience awaits. You will not be disappointed in the broad array of pasta, veal, chicken, fish, and risotto dinner choices. Too bad a salad or soup is ala carte, but that is offset by the relatively low entree prices. Most pasta is in the $ teens and the more expensive meat and fish dishes are just $20 or so. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass as well. My dinner companion ordered pasta with vodka sauce and when she asked for a little more sauce they said they make each sauce to order but would make her some addl sauce anyway. Very accommodating! My veal marsala was excellent! I highly endorse this new restaurant. It is a welcome fine dining addition to Palatine!
(4)Kristi S.
I noticed this place near my office, so I picked it for my administrative professional's (*cough*secretary's*cough*) day lunch as an alternative to all the Woodfield area chain restaurants. It's a cozy little place with nice decor and a large, intriguing walk-in wine cellar. Our server was friendly and polite, but seemed a little scarce. I ordered the eggplant parmesan for lunch and it was delicious. All of the lunch portions were small, probably in line with recommended serving size, but definitely not what we as a culture have come to expect from an Italian restaurant. It felt like they should've either been a little larger or a little cheaper. For me, it was the perfect amount to eat for lunch and not feel painfully stuffed for the rest of the afternoon. Everybody at the table cleared their plate, though, and I'm sure nobody would've turned up his nose at the idea of a few extra bites. The service, as I mentioned, seemed a little bit on the slow slide, but not painfully so. The place probably does just enough business to need 1.5 servers at the height of the lunch hour. For our party of five, we were in and out in about an hour and a half , so not terrible, but we definitely spent more time waiting for our food or server than eating. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and one of my bosses told me to add this restaurant to the list of places we take clients for lunch.
(3)Teressa D.
Something to consider.... Met hubby at Agio last week. We hadn't been there since the last time I reviewed them. Same great service and the fun of eating outside in gorgeous weather! HOWEVER, at a bill of over $120, (2 entrees, appy and two drinks) we won't be returning except for special occasions. And the most disappointing part? My risotto was bland. I loooooove risotto.... Anyway, that's just too much for two people to spend on a weeknight in PALATINE!
(3)Dan M.
Food was decent. Good service.
(4)Victoria W.
We chose Agio as the venue for our wedding rehearsal dinner on a whim - we wanted Italian food that wasn't too pricey, close to our venue, with a private room for our group, and the flexibility for everyone to order off the regular menu, and Agio fit the bill. We were called the day ahead to see if we wanted appetizers ready for our party as we arrived, which was a nice touch for our guests. The room looked gorgeous, and was perfectly set up. I expected that with 20+ people ordering would be slow and inaccurate, as that's a bit of a tall order for any place, but everything came pretty quickly, and with no complaints. I ordered the scallops, and they were great, the accompaniments really making them pop. Everything was delicious, and we even came in under-budget on the dinner. I highly recommend Agio for an event.
(5)Lewis M.
This is my favorite upscale spot in Palatine for sure. I live in New York and the food culture there is very competitive, and this is the type of place I can come to with my family after a trip back from NY, and I feel like the food is comparable and the vibe is great. If you want a romantic or intimate first date in palatine this is your spot to impress, and if you're trying to impress the older crowd this is also a great spot. Something for everyone who loves great Italian with a more modern sensibility. The cocktails are also nice and stiff. Get the fried calamari and gnocchi, both are really fresh and the gnocchi is authentic and translates to someone who may have never tried gnocchi. I will be back for sure!
(5)Cassie F.
Fresh ingredients, nice menu and great service! Loved the warm Italian bread, olive oil and freshly shaved cheese to start. Had minestrone, a caprese salad and the pasta bolognese. All were delicious! My hubby had the pork chop which was also very good, though a touch overdone. Lisa Marie took great care of us. We'll def be back!
(4)Dylan S.
I went here to celebrate my college graduation and to say the least, I was impressed. The restaurant has a very authentic Italian atmosphere. It was similar to being in Italy all over again. The size of the restaurant was also nice as it wasn't too big and wasn't too small or too loud. Our waitress was very nice and constantly had a smile on her face. When it came to the food, everything was great. The pasta was absolutely delicious when paired with seafood. The prices were very fair as well for how excellent the food was. On top of that, the white wine that I had with my dinner was fantastic and complimented the meal well. The desert was probably the best treat of the evening. The lemon cheesecake was awesome and I wish I got more. Everything was great, I would give it a 5 star review, but the only thing I found troubling was paying for everything at the end of the evening. There were some issues as we didn't get split checks and it complicated things with 9 people at the table. Then I checked my bank statement later that evening to find they took more out than what I thought I payed for. I got in touch with the manager and he assured me that it would correct itself in a few days time, which it did to the proper amount. I can't wait to come back for desert!
(4)LFoodie K.
TERRIBLE!!! STAY AWAY! Drove by this place many times always looked very nice, yes the ambiance is great I'll give them that. Prices are high food is terrible We've gone to many Italian restaurants and this by far was the worst I don't even know how it got good reviews. My pasta was drenched in olive oil so much that the entire bottom of my bowl was just oil, Our friends ordered dishes with red sauce said it tasted SOUR and Acidic. The server also forgot about one of our orders my husband didn't get to eat his meal with the family at all, by the time his food came out everyone had already finished eating & they Still charged us for that entree even though they forgot about the order. No one came out to apologize nothing..Very bad business ethic. Would NOT recommend this place at all There are so many other great Italian Restaurants in the area.
(1)Kimberly M.
Came here on a Saturday night with a reservation. Restaurant became more crowded later through the evening. Very pretty atmosphere and friendly staff. Good was delicious-enjoyed everything from soups and salads, pastas, chicken, chocolate cake and salted Carmel gelato. Everything was amazing. Food portions were large-pleanty of leftovers. Service was very slow but staff was kind Pricing was average-slightly over priced, but worth it. I will for sure be coming back here soon!
(4)Jan M.
Atmosphere is casually elegant. Service is always friendly and professional. Food is mostly excellent, whether you dine in or use their catering services. Some of our favorites are Antipasto Platter, Scallops with Couscous, Cheese Ravioli with Creamy Marinara, Lemon Chicken (catered). Recent disappointment was the appetizer of Charred Sausage and Peppers. Sausages were beyond well done - extremely dry and tasteless. Martini's are always good, as are desserts.
(4)Mark C.
Loved our server! Lisa Marie - she only works Friday nights .. what a treasure and fun to talk to. 5 stars for her service. Atmosphere of the restaurant was wonderful... everyone loved their entrees. I loved the martini. The only reason I had to give it 3 stars was because of my entree itself. I had the Spaghetti Ai Frutti di Mare (I substituted Rigatoni). Pasta cooked to perfection but the shellfish was terrible and it tasted very fishy...even the shrimp. It really was horrible... (I was enjoying the martini though so I didn't say anything.. just enjoyed what was a pricey pasta dish.) The mahi special on the other hand was awesome according to the other diner. I think the $$ is inaccurate.. more closer to $$$ unless you stick strictly with the Pasta without the seafood. I would still recommend with reservations (oh and make sure to have those), but stay away from the shellfish entrees.
(3)Debi H.
Ambience exquisite. Wine list impressive. A bit pricey but well worth it. Try the chicken Marsala, it was amazing.
(4)Stefanie W.
Last night was our last visit. I think I thought that on our first visit but somehow we found ourselves here fairly regularly for a time. There's something off here. The food was okay but presentation was wanting. Notable: We had the Antipasto Tray, which was striking for its enormous hunks of cheese. If Old Country Buffet did an antipasto platter, this is what it would look like. What put us off though was that we were thoroughly rushed. They weren't desperately busy and no one was waiting but the heat was on to get us fed and out. We were seated at a patio table and had a bit of a wait for a server. Once she arrived, however, there was no getting rid of her. Summer? Patio? Let us enjoy our wine maybe? Please?? Finally we had to tell her we'd wave for her when ready but nope...she kept pressing. And the pressure continued even after the food arrived with clearing plates the second anyone paused...once the busboy paused, just standing there, as if to wait for me to finish so he could get the plate! A large party later came for the under cover part of the patio. The staff seemed very harried. Is that what all of the fuss was about....the usual tables assembled into one? Seems they could use better training so the atmosphere is more unobtrusive and pleasant rather than obvious and frantic. Like I said, last visit. I mean it.
(2)Jessica N.
This place is absolutely beautiful! I came here for dinner and sampled the vodka penne. The crabmeat was delicious but the vodka sauce tasted more like something from a jar than a restaurant. I would probably come here only to drink at the bar, from now on, which is fine by me!
(3)Andrew M.
Definitely not what I expected from the outside. This place is beautifully decorated with a nice atmosphere. I was surprised as the strip mall it is in looks pretty unassuming. My wife and I made reservations for 6:30. We were some of the earlier diners. The place for really busy around 7. The service lagged at times, but overall it was good. The food was excellent. They have real Parmesan at the table. Not the powdery stuff. The bread was good. My Caesar salad was a bit bland. I had chicken Marsala as my entree. It was excellent. For dessert we ordered the double chocolate cake which was really good and not overly chocolatey. I also ordered the salted caramel gelato which I really enjoyed.
(4)Liz B.
Nice little place with eclectic covered outdoor dining. Food is good. Specials are good. Service is good. I've been here many time and never disappointed. I've had the oysters, veal piccata, red snapper, fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp, NY strip steak and tiramisu. Not too busy during the week for a nice dinner the weekend is busy. Prices are average. I'm picky and usually substitude carbs for veges and they are great about it. I always ask for sauces on the side and its still wonderfully seasoned.
(4)Kelly L.
Skip this place. I got horrible food poisoning. When I called to let them know, they were not very accommodating. We will never be going back.
(1)Patricia D.
We went in on a Friday evening for dinner. We were seated right away, which was a plus. Afterwards, we looked over the menu, and placed our order with the waiter. Now, I understand that Friday nights are busy for restaurants, but we literally waited 45 mins for our meal. My husband asked for another drink, that took 15 mins to get to him. When we finally got our food, it tasted really good. We enjoyed the food. The price was right, but the wait for our food, was unacceptable. It seems as if they had only one chef preparing the meals. We'll try going back, possibly on another night, but if we receive the same service, we probably won't be back.
(3)Gloria B.
I went here for lunch on Thursday with three co-workers. I hadn't been there for months, since I found plastic in my food. I was eating eggplant parmigiana and found saran wrap. I pointed it out to the waiter, who acknowledged they covered their pans of food with plastic wrap. He took it away and that was it. I guess I expected a manager to come apologize or a comped dessert or something. So I wasn't interested in going back until my retiring co-worker picked the restaurant. I again had the eggplant, which was fine, but I believe it was $16. No salad was included in that price, which had been the case in the past. As per usual at lunch time (the only time I've ever been there), we waited forever for our food. The restaurant wasn't crowded, maybe another four tables of people. We probably waited 30 minutes for our food, which is ridiculous, given the lack of patrons. Our waiter seemed disinterested at best. Now that my friend is retired, I won't be going back.
(2)Fast Eddie F.
Inventive AND fun. Arguably the best restaurant in Palatine.
(5)Jason T.
We have not been that adventurous when we have come here, but what we have ordered has been good, This is one of our favorite places to order calamari; it is very tender and the sauce is really fresh and tangy. We've had the pasta with vodka sauce and the gnocchi with sausage and cream sauce, and both are great. Also. Thursday nights are the perfect night to come here as it is half price wine night; it's a great chance for us to order a bottle that is nicer than what we would normally have.
(4)Bart H.
So went her on a Saturday with a group of friends. Unfortunately I was the only one at the table that was not happy with my dish. I am sure everyone else at the table would probably give a better review but I have to base mine on what I had. I can't remember the exact name but it was the seafood melody over spaghetti with a white wine based sauce (I probably should have gone with the other option). Pasta seemed from a box and the sauce was light and watery with not much flavor. Bread was decent. Atmosphere was superb (I love the inside of this place). And service was nice. I would definitely go back again and try something new but I cannot recommend the seafood spaghetti. But before I went back there I would go back to Carlos and Carlos in Arlington Heights, killer pasta there.
(3)Kimberly F.
So disappointing :( I went here for lunch on my birthday. There were two of us. We met at 12:30 but didn't leave until 3:00. Why did lunch take 2.5 hours? It took us an hour and a half to get our food. What on earth did we order to take that long? Funny you should ask. My mother in law ordered the special for that day, and I had half a sandwich and a salad. Really? It takes that long to make our food when there are a total of maybe 5 tables sat in the whole place? I suppose the restaurant is cute, the host was nice, the wine was decent, the food was mediocre at best, but the bad service made me never want to come back here. When we approached our server at the hour mark, he offered to help by getting us more wine. Hmmm, booze helps some situations, but not this one. He did comp much of the food and apologize for the service, and I understand people have an off day, but the food wasn't even good enough to make me want to give it another shot. So, I won't be coming back...by choice, anyway.
(1)T D.
Good Italian food. Not great, just good. It took quite a while for our salads to come out and we were one of the earlier tables of the night. The decor is nice. Seems like the prices are on the steep side, like you are paying a surcharge for the atmosphere. Place was busy on a Friday night when we went. For us there are a lot of other places we will go before we go back here. Artistic Cuisine blows these guys out of the water.
(3)Ken A.
Celebrated our 20th anniversary with dinner and a movie. She had the lasagna which tasted like wet noodles and tomato paste, I had the chicken breast vesuvio which was on par with most wedding food I have had. Service was slow, and the bruschetta appetizer was brought out 2 minutes before our meal. Too bad, we were looking forward to a new place for good italian, this isnt it.
(2)Anthony B.
Disappointing . Was seated immediately, drink order taken in a timely fashion. I Ordered the cheese ravioli my wife the meat ravioli. Soup or salad is a la carte! The server brought one dish correctly. The other was a meat rigatoni. Not even close to what was ordered. Ravioli was bland, lacked seasoning. Not a good experience nor a good value.
(1)Matt M.
All these polarizing reviews confuse me: Agio's is neither terrible nor incredible. A new installation along Northwest Hwy in Palatine, the restaurant has a decent ambiance for a suburban Italian restaurant. The special appertizer for the day was crab cakes. It was definitely above average for a midwestern restaurant. If you go, definitely get their peppercorn filet, which was impressive. Otherwise, the menu definitely has enough breadth to warrant a return visit.
(3)J B.
Tasty traditional Italian fare. Excellent decor inside and wonderful outdoor seating on the patio. Service is good at a relaxed pace. Quiet enough to hold a conversation.
(4)Debra C.
Food was very good! Service was good although a bit slow. Ambiance was nice but it be better if they would take out the t.v. from the bar which I found sort of detracted from the ambiance.
(4)Mike S.
The ambiance is very nice. Even though the restaurant was full it wasn't that loud. My wife and I split a meal. The portions were small considering what you normally get at Italian restaurants. The food was very tasty. It cost $5 to share an item.
(3)Kara C.
Love this restaurant!! Great atmosphere, great and friendly service and fantastic food - inventive specials and appetizers. Highly recommend going in here for a great dining experience and some fabulous wine!
(5)larry c.
while in chicago area a "local" friend took us there last night..what a treat great food !!! creative menu and good dolce's too beautiful dining room inventive wine list nice people check it out..well worth it
(5)Linda K.
Didn't even know this place existed until a customer from California told me about it! It's hidden away in a relatively new strip mall on Northwest Hwy in Palatine. The place is small - only about 15 tables and booths - but that's what makes it so charming. It's got a swanky, elegant feel to it. Love the decor! On the back wall is a well stocked wine room. Very nice wine selection. There is also a long bar adjacent to the dining area and outdoor seating is available. Started out with a glass of Acacia Pinot Noir - one of my fav's - and shared a caprese salad. Not sure what they did to it, but it was one of the best tasting caprese salads I have ever experienced! I ordered the Gnocchi for my entree, and shared the sauteed spinach.The Gnocchi was served with pancetta, sausage and mushrooms in a creamy tomato sauce. Both were delicious and filling! Had to ask for a to-go box. Also ordered some tiramisu to-go and enjoyed a few bites today. Very good but still not as good as Chicago Prime's! Our server Leo was delightful but, unfortunately, didn't get to spend a lot of time with him as we were limited on time and he was very busy. Service seemed a little slow at times...trying to get another glass of wine...but I just think they could've had more help on. I will definitely visit again....maybe for lunch next time. Nice to see a restaurant like this close by in Palatine.
(4)Erin M.
Went here on a Friday night with husband, Dad, and grandma. I'm a city girl and don't travel to the suburbs much for "fine dining". Nice decor though the restaurant seemed out of place in the strip mall it was situated in. Grandma and I ordered a $30 bottle of wine and my husband and Dad had martinis. We ordered the grilled calamari to start - very good! Cooked in a balsamic/lemon glaze. We had two baskets of yummy, warm freshly baked bread. Three of us had veal dishes, prepared differently (Saltinbocca di Vitello, 23; Vitello Al Marsala, 21; Piccata di Vitello, 21). My husband had the steak special. The Saltinbocca di Vitello was AMAZING and hands down the best dish of the night. The food did take a while to come out but the waitress said that everything to made to order - nothing is sitting in the back ready to go. My Dad ended up spilling his second martini and the waitress brought another one without charging us. The bill was over $300. Everything was all-around good, but in this economy I'm not going to be racing out to Palatine anytime soon to return. However, if you're in the area, it's worth a stop.
(3)Megan T.
I completly agree with the other two one star reviews. The decor is nice, but the service and food is not so great. There are a lot of italian restaurants in the area and this one cannot compete as is. The food to forever to get and the bread was stale. We asked for some baked garlic in oil to go with our bread and they just brought out garlic. We had to again ask for our oil and cheese to go with the small pile of garlic they brought out. Since our food took so long, were were sitting there for what seemed to be forever for our food. We thought the prices were high for what we were served when it finally came out of the kitchen. Needless to say we have never been back and do not intend to go.
(1)Kat Q.
I have been to this Italian Bistro twice and was disappointed both times. The first time I went with a friend. I love Italian food and frequent the many Italian eateries in this area. My first visit was about one month after Agio's opened. The decor was nice, romantic. My friend and I both ordered pasta dishes. The food on a Sunday afternoon took over one hour to come. We were one of four tables occupied in the restaurant at the time. We had plenty of bread to eat but unfortunately it was hard as a rock and stale. The pasta dishes were average in taste and overpriced for the portion size. The second time I came here with a lady friend we sat at the bar. I ordered a $12.00 glass of Chianti. I was brought a huge glass with what amounted to about six tablespoons of wine in the glass. I asked the kind male bartender to give me at least half of a glass for the price. He whispered that he couldn't the owner was very strict about allowing the staff to pour no more then about 1/4 of a glass. Did I mention I paid TWELVE bucks for several tablespoons of wine? With all of the wonderful Italian restaurants in the Northwest suburbs I would think the owner would care more about pleasing his customers especially since two much better restaurants are no more then one minute away. I will not come back. I have heard other customers complain about the way the management here skimps on the food and wine.
(1)jan l.
I'm highly amused as always, by the foodie wanna bees. the desserts were not made by the restaurant. and? perhaps they are smart enough to realize they don't have a pastry chef. The pasta came out of a box. Oh good God. The strip mall is lame. Hey, guess what, you live in Schaumburg and Palatine. ugh. We went for lunch last week. The service was truly outstanding. Our waiter was a delight. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful (hard to believe it's in a strip mall ugh) The food wasn't over the top exceptional, but it was certainly very, very good. The person I dined with had the chicken parmesan over pasta, and only ate half. She wanted to be sure to have leftovers. I had the lunch special soup and half sandwich. That day they had escarole and bean soup with Italian sausage. Very tasty, if I had to find a flaw, I would have crumbled the sausage, not diced it, but that is really nit picking.I will be going back. Even though the restaurant is in the strip mall. If you're going to complain about the strip mall restaurants, you need to move to the city. That is life in the suburbs. This isn't a $300 dinner for two. Oh and another thing, while being so harsh on a review, please find spell check. Thanks!
(4)Kimberly M.
Came here on a Saturday night with a reservation. Restaurant became more crowded later through the evening. Very pretty atmosphere and friendly staff. Good was delicious-enjoyed everything from soups and salads, pastas, chicken, chocolate cake and salted Carmel gelato. Everything was amazing. Food portions were large-pleanty of leftovers. Service was very slow but staff was kind Pricing was average-slightly over priced, but worth it. I will for sure be coming back here soon!
(4)Jan M.
Atmosphere is casually elegant. Service is always friendly and professional. Food is mostly excellent, whether you dine in or use their catering services. Some of our favorites are Antipasto Platter, Scallops with Couscous, Cheese Ravioli with Creamy Marinara, Lemon Chicken (catered). Recent disappointment was the appetizer of Charred Sausage and Peppers. Sausages were beyond well done - extremely dry and tasteless. Martini's are always good, as are desserts.
(4)Mark C.
Loved our server! Lisa Marie - she only works Friday nights .. what a treasure and fun to talk to. 5 stars for her service. Atmosphere of the restaurant was wonderful... everyone loved their entrees. I loved the martini. The only reason I had to give it 3 stars was because of my entree itself. I had the Spaghetti Ai Frutti di Mare (I substituted Rigatoni). Pasta cooked to perfection but the shellfish was terrible and it tasted very fishy...even the shrimp. It really was horrible... (I was enjoying the martini though so I didn't say anything.. just enjoyed what was a pricey pasta dish.) The mahi special on the other hand was awesome according to the other diner. I think the $$ is inaccurate.. more closer to $$$ unless you stick strictly with the Pasta without the seafood. I would still recommend with reservations (oh and make sure to have those), but stay away from the shellfish entrees.
(3)Debi H.
Ambience exquisite. Wine list impressive. A bit pricey but well worth it. Try the chicken Marsala, it was amazing.
(4)Stefanie W.
Last night was our last visit. I think I thought that on our first visit but somehow we found ourselves here fairly regularly for a time. There's something off here. The food was okay but presentation was wanting. Notable: We had the Antipasto Tray, which was striking for its enormous hunks of cheese. If Old Country Buffet did an antipasto platter, this is what it would look like. What put us off though was that we were thoroughly rushed. They weren't desperately busy and no one was waiting but the heat was on to get us fed and out. We were seated at a patio table and had a bit of a wait for a server. Once she arrived, however, there was no getting rid of her. Summer? Patio? Let us enjoy our wine maybe? Please?? Finally we had to tell her we'd wave for her when ready but nope...she kept pressing. And the pressure continued even after the food arrived with clearing plates the second anyone paused...once the busboy paused, just standing there, as if to wait for me to finish so he could get the plate! A large party later came for the under cover part of the patio. The staff seemed very harried. Is that what all of the fuss was about....the usual tables assembled into one? Seems they could use better training so the atmosphere is more unobtrusive and pleasant rather than obvious and frantic. Like I said, last visit. I mean it.
(2)Jessica N.
This place is absolutely beautiful! I came here for dinner and sampled the vodka penne. The crabmeat was delicious but the vodka sauce tasted more like something from a jar than a restaurant. I would probably come here only to drink at the bar, from now on, which is fine by me!
(3)Andrew M.
Definitely not what I expected from the outside. This place is beautifully decorated with a nice atmosphere. I was surprised as the strip mall it is in looks pretty unassuming. My wife and I made reservations for 6:30. We were some of the earlier diners. The place for really busy around 7. The service lagged at times, but overall it was good. The food was excellent. They have real Parmesan at the table. Not the powdery stuff. The bread was good. My Caesar salad was a bit bland. I had chicken Marsala as my entree. It was excellent. For dessert we ordered the double chocolate cake which was really good and not overly chocolatey. I also ordered the salted caramel gelato which I really enjoyed.
(4)Teressa D.
Something to consider.... Met hubby at Agio last week. We hadn't been there since the last time I reviewed them. Same great service and the fun of eating outside in gorgeous weather! HOWEVER, at a bill of over $120, (2 entrees, appy and two drinks) we won't be returning except for special occasions. And the most disappointing part? My risotto was bland. I loooooove risotto.... Anyway, that's just too much for two people to spend on a weeknight in PALATINE!
(3)Dan M.
Food was decent. Good service.
(4)Victoria W.
We chose Agio as the venue for our wedding rehearsal dinner on a whim - we wanted Italian food that wasn't too pricey, close to our venue, with a private room for our group, and the flexibility for everyone to order off the regular menu, and Agio fit the bill. We were called the day ahead to see if we wanted appetizers ready for our party as we arrived, which was a nice touch for our guests. The room looked gorgeous, and was perfectly set up. I expected that with 20+ people ordering would be slow and inaccurate, as that's a bit of a tall order for any place, but everything came pretty quickly, and with no complaints. I ordered the scallops, and they were great, the accompaniments really making them pop. Everything was delicious, and we even came in under-budget on the dinner. I highly recommend Agio for an event.
(5)Liz B.
Nice little place with eclectic covered outdoor dining. Food is good. Specials are good. Service is good. I've been here many time and never disappointed. I've had the oysters, veal piccata, red snapper, fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp, NY strip steak and tiramisu. Not too busy during the week for a nice dinner the weekend is busy. Prices are average. I'm picky and usually substitude carbs for veges and they are great about it. I always ask for sauces on the side and its still wonderfully seasoned.
(4)Kelly L.
Skip this place. I got horrible food poisoning. When I called to let them know, they were not very accommodating. We will never be going back.
(1)Kathy T.
Ordinarily we have a wonderful experience at this restaurant. Things have changed drastically. Prices seem to have gone up and the quality of the food offerings have gone down. Do not believe we will return to this restaurant. That's such a shame!
(1)Mark G.
Agio is as good as it gets. It's warm, inviting, great customer service and the food is phenomenal! Agio is a family run business and you can tell by the way everyone cares about providing a great patron experience! Joe, Mary, Mike, Bree, Lisa, Leo, Jackie are all awesome in their approach to customers. The food is awesome. When there try the risotto of the day or pene pasta topped with crab meat on it. Their wine selection is great as well. In the summer there is a patio area, which is an added bonus. Parking is tight, as it is in a strip mall so get there early and go often!
(5)Emma L.
Beautifully decorated but it ends there. The waiter took forever to serve us and the food was pretty blah. To tell you the truth, Olive Garden makes better tasting food. Be prepared to pay quite a bit for your dinner too as this place is not cheap. I gave it a try but not planning on coming back.
(2)Madison Z.
Great service and fabulous food. Their brunches are so good! From steak to any sort of pasta dish, you can't go wrong. Leo the waiter is also great.
(5)Phil W.
We have always liked this small gem however something has changed as of late. The bar area has always been fairly cramped quarters and as long as you sit in a prompt fashion it does not come into play much. However, the quality of the food seems to have diminished while the prices have gone the complete opposite direction. $140 for dinner for two and a couple of glasses of wine just left me scratching my head on why we went to begin with.
(2)Charlene M.
Bland and undercooked. Instead of making the order right or even cooked enough to be edible they told me to go home and microwave the leftovers.wow. terrible service terrible food.the only people happy with their dinner were drinking heavily. I guess the key is to be too drunk to know any better.
(1)Lewis M.
This is my favorite upscale spot in Palatine for sure. I live in New York and the food culture there is very competitive, and this is the type of place I can come to with my family after a trip back from NY, and I feel like the food is comparable and the vibe is great. If you want a romantic or intimate first date in palatine this is your spot to impress, and if you're trying to impress the older crowd this is also a great spot. Something for everyone who loves great Italian with a more modern sensibility. The cocktails are also nice and stiff. Get the fried calamari and gnocchi, both are really fresh and the gnocchi is authentic and translates to someone who may have never tried gnocchi. I will be back for sure!
(5)Cassie F.
Fresh ingredients, nice menu and great service! Loved the warm Italian bread, olive oil and freshly shaved cheese to start. Had minestrone, a caprese salad and the pasta bolognese. All were delicious! My hubby had the pork chop which was also very good, though a touch overdone. Lisa Marie took great care of us. We'll def be back!
(4)Very C.
Was ok. Very pricey not enough help and had to ask for everything from silverware to bread etc. Owner needs to hire some people. Cannot compete with Gianni's.
(2)Dylan S.
I went here to celebrate my college graduation and to say the least, I was impressed. The restaurant has a very authentic Italian atmosphere. It was similar to being in Italy all over again. The size of the restaurant was also nice as it wasn't too big and wasn't too small or too loud. Our waitress was very nice and constantly had a smile on her face. When it came to the food, everything was great. The pasta was absolutely delicious when paired with seafood. The prices were very fair as well for how excellent the food was. On top of that, the white wine that I had with my dinner was fantastic and complimented the meal well. The desert was probably the best treat of the evening. The lemon cheesecake was awesome and I wish I got more. Everything was great, I would give it a 5 star review, but the only thing I found troubling was paying for everything at the end of the evening. There were some issues as we didn't get split checks and it complicated things with 9 people at the table. Then I checked my bank statement later that evening to find they took more out than what I thought I payed for. I got in touch with the manager and he assured me that it would correct itself in a few days time, which it did to the proper amount. I can't wait to come back for desert!
(4)LFoodie K.
TERRIBLE!!! STAY AWAY! Drove by this place many times always looked very nice, yes the ambiance is great I'll give them that. Prices are high food is terrible We've gone to many Italian restaurants and this by far was the worst I don't even know how it got good reviews. My pasta was drenched in olive oil so much that the entire bottom of my bowl was just oil, Our friends ordered dishes with red sauce said it tasted SOUR and Acidic. The server also forgot about one of our orders my husband didn't get to eat his meal with the family at all, by the time his food came out everyone had already finished eating & they Still charged us for that entree even though they forgot about the order. No one came out to apologize nothing..Very bad business ethic. Would NOT recommend this place at all There are so many other great Italian Restaurants in the area.
(1)Chuck P.
Wanted to like it...Asked for a table in the main dining room at 8pm on a Tuesday which was half empty. The owner was hoping to fill it with more people, so we politely agreed to a small booth near the door. That would have been ok if the food was real. I don't mind paying $25 for chicken but is was just a couple slabs that looked like boiled chicken. As you know, the real places pound it down thin and give it a little sizzle. The sauces were doctored up canned. Another overpriced strip mall white-bread joint with no personality. Cannot recommend for your Holiday/office parties.
(2)Tammy N.
Only OK: OK location with decent parking. Food good - prices high for the quality. Ordered an appetizer (stuffed portobello caps), 2 salads (caprese & spinachj), decided to split a pasta (gnocchi). After putting in our order the waitress returned to the table to let us know that we would be charged a $5 splitting fee. Wouldn't it have been just as easy to tell us when she took our order - was she new? had no one ever split a dish before? Gnocchi was flavorful but did not taste homemade. If I lived in Palatine I would probably like this restaurant....since I live in Chicago and have access to lots of good Italian restaurants it is not worth the drive.
(3)Rich W.
I came here previously for a Yelp wine event. I decided to return on my own to check out what the kitchen can do. The bread had the crust of a ciabatta and the inside of a filone. Great aroma and texture. The accompanying olive oil was mediocre - dull, thin, and nondescript. I was going to order a pasta. But upon inquiry, I found out that the only pasta made in-house was cavatelli, of which I was not a fan. So I decided to order the special of the day - wine braised short-rib with spatzle. While ordering, I had expressed reservation because I found it odd that an Italian restaurant that, for the most part, didn't even make its own pasta decided to make its own spatzle and serve it as a special. The waitress assured me that it was good. Well, it was not. The spatzle was carelessly shaped - some were regular sized, some were too small, and all were too thin and had an unappetizing appearance. The spatzle was also executed strangely. Half of the noodle had a crunchy texture, which made it seem that the spatzle was baked after being boiled. This "mac n' cheese" execution ruined the dish for me. The seasoning of the pasta was also uneven and heavy-handed, with part of the dish too salty to be edible. The short-rib, however, was tender and nicely flavored with a red wine sauce. This was definitely the highlight of the meal. I also ordered a side of risotto. It was slightly overcooked, and it was not creamy at all. What a shame because the seasoning of the rice was spot-on. The wine list was split into two halves - the regular and the reserved. The reserved wine list had pricier but more interesting bottles. I didn't order wine because the "by-the-glass" offering was dominated by generic table-wines and had a weak Italian repertoire. Dessert fared better. I got the trio, which consisted of panna cotta, canole, and hazelnut gelato. The panna cotta had good flavors - but the custard was a bit softer than my preferred texture. The gelato tasted great, but the texture was too dense - a sign of store-brought rather than freshly made gelato. Though the milk foam on top - which made this into a cappuccino experience - was a nice touch. The canole had a nice filling, but the wrap was too crispy and tasted like it was store-bought. I had to ask the waitress, and she confirmed that the wrap was indeed a purchase rather than house-made. Decor was warm, cozy, romantic, with a see-through wine-cellar on display. This was probably the nicest dining room I've seen in Palatine. Service was adequate and friendly, but was not professional enough to match up the casual fine dining atmosphere. I am quite conflicted with this place. The dining environment was unexpectedly lovely, and the wine list was ambitious for a restaurant of this size. But for a place that pays so much attention to these details, half of the desserts were not made by the restaurant, and most of the pasta was out of a box. Frankly, at this price point, I was expecting a bit more effort on the food front.
(3)Mark W.
Nice decor, especially considering it's in a lil strip mall. Wine menu was very nice, especially considering location. I clearly came in with mid-level expectations. The food was good, but for the pricing I was expecting great. Maybe knock down the prices a lil bit, or start making your own pasta. I'd definitely go back if their pricing reflected a little bit more the quality of food, but it was a pretty decent meal. Doing homemade pasta would probably lower kitchen prices, and decrease the wait as well. Bread was good! ;o)
(3)Kat Q.
I have been to this Italian Bistro twice and was disappointed both times. The first time I went with a friend. I love Italian food and frequent the many Italian eateries in this area. My first visit was about one month after Agio's opened. The decor was nice, romantic. My friend and I both ordered pasta dishes. The food on a Sunday afternoon took over one hour to come. We were one of four tables occupied in the restaurant at the time. We had plenty of bread to eat but unfortunately it was hard as a rock and stale. The pasta dishes were average in taste and overpriced for the portion size. The second time I came here with a lady friend we sat at the bar. I ordered a $12.00 glass of Chianti. I was brought a huge glass with what amounted to about six tablespoons of wine in the glass. I asked the kind male bartender to give me at least half of a glass for the price. He whispered that he couldn't the owner was very strict about allowing the staff to pour no more then about 1/4 of a glass. Did I mention I paid TWELVE bucks for several tablespoons of wine? With all of the wonderful Italian restaurants in the Northwest suburbs I would think the owner would care more about pleasing his customers especially since two much better restaurants are no more then one minute away. I will not come back. I have heard other customers complain about the way the management here skimps on the food and wine.
(1)jan l.
I'm highly amused as always, by the foodie wanna bees. the desserts were not made by the restaurant. and? perhaps they are smart enough to realize they don't have a pastry chef. The pasta came out of a box. Oh good God. The strip mall is lame. Hey, guess what, you live in Schaumburg and Palatine. ugh. We went for lunch last week. The service was truly outstanding. Our waiter was a delight. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful (hard to believe it's in a strip mall ugh) The food wasn't over the top exceptional, but it was certainly very, very good. The person I dined with had the chicken parmesan over pasta, and only ate half. She wanted to be sure to have leftovers. I had the lunch special soup and half sandwich. That day they had escarole and bean soup with Italian sausage. Very tasty, if I had to find a flaw, I would have crumbled the sausage, not diced it, but that is really nit picking.I will be going back. Even though the restaurant is in the strip mall. If you're going to complain about the strip mall restaurants, you need to move to the city. That is life in the suburbs. This isn't a $300 dinner for two. Oh and another thing, while being so harsh on a review, please find spell check. Thanks!
(4)Anne Marie J.
Loved it! Came for a 1st bday party and the parents rented out the entire restaurant for about 80 people. Great decor and space, great Italian food (crispy calamari and creamy sauces..yum!) and good service. It made for a great milestone birthday for a beautiful girl!
(4)Joanne G.
Agio has a excellent Wine Selection. Owners and staff are pleasant and friendly. The food is good with a flare of elegance and not the typical Americanized Italian style. Agio is called a Bistro for a reason for their style of food and ambience. Not a place for kids, but great to meet up with friends. Palatine needs more places like Agio instead of all the fast-food, diner places along the Northwest Highway Cooridor.
(4)Larry S.
The plain exterior in a new strip mall on Northwest Highway is very deceiving. The only clue of something more inviting inside is the rather handsome exterior signage "Agio Italian Bistro". Once inside, your first impression of the elegant motif has to be a surprising "WOW". Very tastefully decorated, Agio is the most elegant dining setting in Palatine. Very much an indication that a fine dining experience awaits. You will not be disappointed in the broad array of pasta, veal, chicken, fish, and risotto dinner choices. Too bad a salad or soup is ala carte, but that is offset by the relatively low entree prices. Most pasta is in the $ teens and the more expensive meat and fish dishes are just $20 or so. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass as well. My dinner companion ordered pasta with vodka sauce and when she asked for a little more sauce they said they make each sauce to order but would make her some addl sauce anyway. Very accommodating! My veal marsala was excellent! I highly endorse this new restaurant. It is a welcome fine dining addition to Palatine!
(4)Kristi S.
I noticed this place near my office, so I picked it for my administrative professional's (*cough*secretary's*cough*) day lunch as an alternative to all the Woodfield area chain restaurants. It's a cozy little place with nice decor and a large, intriguing walk-in wine cellar. Our server was friendly and polite, but seemed a little scarce. I ordered the eggplant parmesan for lunch and it was delicious. All of the lunch portions were small, probably in line with recommended serving size, but definitely not what we as a culture have come to expect from an Italian restaurant. It felt like they should've either been a little larger or a little cheaper. For me, it was the perfect amount to eat for lunch and not feel painfully stuffed for the rest of the afternoon. Everybody at the table cleared their plate, though, and I'm sure nobody would've turned up his nose at the idea of a few extra bites. The service, as I mentioned, seemed a little bit on the slow slide, but not painfully so. The place probably does just enough business to need 1.5 servers at the height of the lunch hour. For our party of five, we were in and out in about an hour and a half , so not terrible, but we definitely spent more time waiting for our food or server than eating. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and one of my bosses told me to add this restaurant to the list of places we take clients for lunch.
(3)Jason T.
We have not been that adventurous when we have come here, but what we have ordered has been good, This is one of our favorite places to order calamari; it is very tender and the sauce is really fresh and tangy. We've had the pasta with vodka sauce and the gnocchi with sausage and cream sauce, and both are great. Also. Thursday nights are the perfect night to come here as it is half price wine night; it's a great chance for us to order a bottle that is nicer than what we would normally have.
(4)Stephanie M.
I really wanted to like this place... but I have to say my review is based mostly on the TERRIBLE server we had. My boyfriend and I did not make reservations for this past Saturday night but they were able to seat us right away- it was a little bit later so the non-reservation thing wasn't an issue, even though it was still pretty busy. Our waitress seemed nice enough and was very friendly, she just literally did not pay attention to us at all!! It was actually pretty ridiculous. We had been seated for over an hour before she even took our entree order! And we actually had to force our appetizer and wine order on her earlier. When she finally got around to acknowledging us long enough to take our entree order, we considered just asking for the check and leaving... She never offered to tell us the specials, we had to ask when we finally placed our entree order, but we were so hungry by then we had already made our decisions. Thankfully the food runners were on point and kept us well supplied with warm bread! The food was ok- nothing spectacular at all, nothing memorable. Maybe our tastes had been soured by the horrible service we were getting. I got some veal thing and my boyfriend got something chicken. I did really like "vegetable of the day" which was some sort of squash (she never told us what it would be). Our waitress even brought us our check without asking if we wanted any more wine or any desserts or coffee or anything. For a hundred bucks, we should have had a much better experience and been encouraged to spend more than that- I mean, I don't like to be "upselled" but she could have at least tried! A nice date night almost ruined by bad service... The restaurant had a great atmosphere though. We may go back and just sit at the bar and eat something there and give it another shot, but neither of us want to be subjected to such terrible service again.
(2)A J.
empty for a friday lunch. service was attentive. minestrone tasted fresh and homemade. loved the broth. Capelleni di Agio....yum! could have used 1 more shrimp. the sauce..lemon pepper cream...loved it. dessert was ok...a warm chocolate cake with gelato. but since i rarely order dessert i want it to be amazing when i splurge. would go back again. would be nice to see a rotolo or other non basic pasta dish on the menu (in addition to my capelleni).
(4)Kevin H.
Had a business lunch on a Monday. This was my second time back and wanted to check it out again. Overall, the food was very good but once again service very slow. My gut tells me they want to error on a smaller staff during the lunch hours. We had to chase someone down to take our order after 20-25 minutes. Made for a long business lunch.
(3)Richard S.
Best restaurant in Palatine for an upscale experience and great food. The food is always very good and the service is great. Servers know what they are doing and are professional. Drinks are great! The outdoor patio is very nice and has a fire place that adds to the experience. My only complaint is that it is too far to walk from the center of town. Just a tip if you want take out. The delivery place next door offers the same menu (from the same kitchen) for more reasonable prices - try the eggplant parmesan.
(5)Carol K.
Me in Palatine? That alone should have alerted the press as this is pretty far off of my beaten path. But when a friend called and invited me to dinner at his favorite Italian restaurant what's a girl to do? The good news was this place is really easy to find located at the end of a strip mall with plenty of free parking. And once you pull open the front door- you forget that you are out in the burbs as this is a cozy little place with a great bar, and a fabulous patio complete with a fireplace where you can enjoy your meal. I took a seat at the bar while I waited for my friend. The staff (all staff) were friendly and welcoming.....no less than 3 people greeted me and welcomed me to the restaurant. And it's obvious that the locals frequent this place as there was a group of men seated next to me who were engaging as well. The ambiance is dark wood with white draped table cloths on the tables. It gives the illusion of "fancy" but it's more like a trattoria so people are there in everything from shorts to work clothes to dressier attire. Once my friend arrived- we decided to stay and eat at the bar given the great service we had been getting from Bree who was behind the bar. If truth be told- this is my friend's favorite way to eat although I prefer to have my feet on the floor and not hanging from a bar stool! The menu has many great sounding selections on it, especially the pasta section, but given I was on a limited diet I stuck to the basics- a filet and some steamed veggies and my friend went with the special of the day which was a beautiful pork loin chop smothered in sautéed veggies. The food came up perfectly prepared and I have to say my steak rivaled some of the best I have had at my favorite steakhouses in the city. Nicely done! They have a nice wine list and the Cabernet you can get by the glass is quite good and is only about $8 a glass. Dinner for the two of us plus drinks ran about $120 although it is important to note that we did not have appetizers, salads or dessert so if you go for a "full meal" you will probably be closer to $200. All in all, Agio's was as good as my friend had been touting. Not sure when I'll get back up this way but if you are in the area and want a great meal served by people who care in a relaxed environment, give Agio's a try.
(4)He K.
i went there at a friday night for the first time and a reservation is advised, because they were packed. i like the environment a lot. It's a bit dark, but it creates a great atmosphere. We sat at the bar. The barkeeper could definitely be a bit friendlier. He was very short with us and made us feel a bit unwelcome. However, the Pinot noir we had was amazing. My husband ate Salmon on Risotto and it was just great. Very, very tasty and fresh. My gnocchi with italian sausage were ok too but not as good as the other dish. The price point are at the higher level though. We will be back for sure, but this time with a reservation so we don't have to sit at the bar :)
(4)Michael L.
Great upscale restaurant in Palatine. I was very impressed. I eat downtown a lot and this was very comparable if not better. We had a big group of 12 and they accommodated us with no issues. The service and food were great. I would go back any chance I get.
(4)Andrea P.
Really good food but they don't have customer service. It's all about them. They have no regards for the customer and it's a shame because their cook is awesome. Too bad they don't respect or value their customers!!!
(2)Rhonda G.
I love when I get lost looking for a place, and end up driving way out in the Chicago burbs. You tend to spot places, and after all the Irish festivities, Italian made perfect sense for dinner on St. Patrick's Day. When we sat down, a few other people obviously felt the same way. Normally this place would be packed. For an unknown place, we ended up ordering the same thing, linguine and clam sauce. I may have appreciated it more if I haven't been burning myself out on it with weekly trips to Buca. They cooked the noodles soft as requested. They're made with little neck clams in the shell, and the flavors are very nicely balanced. We shared a cup of minestrone, not memorable, but good, and full of veggies. A delicious, crusty bread is offered right away. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is beautiful, however the funky old soul playing prevents it from any romantic mood, and it does have that potential. You really forget you're in a strip mall, hell I didn't know what city I was in. Tourists should definitely make this a destination.
(4)Dennis R. C.
I just want everybody to know that I had one of the finest dining experiences in a long time on Valentine's day!! We had the shrimp cocktail ,leg of duck for appetizers .Main course was Rack of lamb and the twin lobster tails.The ambience was pretty with rose petals on the table .Service was great !! The Heart Shaped Chocolate layered with Passion Fruit Cream Filing was a fitting finish. I wish I could fine something I didn't like. Sorry I could NOT!! They were packed as well. It's a must try-I think I'll go back for Mother's Day! Happy Customer
(5)Toni B.
A girlfriend and I came here last night for a dinner date, and we actually really enjoyed our food! The restaurant is kind of in an interesting location, but thats ok! They have a fairly good menu selection, but as a "not a big meat eater", I could only find a couple items on the menu that I could actually/would actually eat. My friend and I both ended up just getting a soup and salad. We ordered the ceasar salad...which was ok...Could have used more ceasar dressing, and seemed a bit like they just bought a bagged kit. :/ But the cream of spinach soup...honestly thats why Im giving this place 4 stars! AMAZING, If I wasn't so full I would have ordered another bowl. The soup and salad were both a perfect size and only $4 each!...$8 for dinner, pretty good deal if you ask me!!! The service was pretty good as well. Its a clean place...it says that its upscale, but I would say its a step above the Olive Garden....its one of those places you can dress up for a nice date or wear jeans and decent top and not feel out of place. Parking...meh. They have a lot that they share with other stores in the strip mall, but neither of us had an issue finding a park. They do take reservations! Yay! love places that take reservations on a weekend! I do want to come back with the hubby and try their fettuccini alfredo...and maybe more of that cream of spinach soup!
(4)Gregory V.
This is an extraordinary restaurant. We've been looking for good Italian restaurants in the area ... and quite frankly, disappointed more than satisfied. It's so mediocre that I started thinking I've been spoiled by all the outrageously delicious meals in NYC and Northern Jersey and maybe need to reassess a new level of satisfaction to what's available in the North Shore ... ... ... ... until Agio! What a great place. (I've since found others, but this is the first --- and we always remember our first ;- ) Great service, FANTASTIC wine list and delicious, well prepared, fresh food! F i n a l l y ... fresh, moist, 'wet', thickly-cut mozzarella in the Caprese Salad ... (maybe other restaurants might want to procure their source - hint-hint) ... and the Calamari had the right breading, lightly battered, cooked perfectly. Had I known how big the entree's would be, I'd probably have cut back on the app's. The portions are generous to say the least, especially the pasta and eggplant dinners! ... made for delicious leftovers ... for the next few days! (Yum) I'm very happy to have found this place ... it's a bit of a drive ... but worth it as the whole meal was moderately priced!
(5)Melissa K.
Great place!!! Amazing specials! Been looking for a place like this in palatine. Don't even feel like I'm in the suburbs! Best patio around!!!
(5)David B.
This is a restaurant that I have visited several times. When you walk into Agio you get what you see. It is a quality small Italian Bistro. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The service is excellent. If you are just looking for drinks, they have a beautiful bar. In the summer they have a very nice outdoor patio. It is a popular place with the locals and has a very solid clientele of regulars. I love the aged steaks. They are flavorful and tender. The osso-buco is great when it is on the menu. They always have weekly specials. The risotto also hits the spot. If you like wine, Agio has a nice selection and a very handsome display. One of the things I appreciate the most about my visits is like in Italy we were never rushed. Dinner is intended to be an event shared with loved ones and friends. At Agio it still is.
(5)Mallory S.
A tad pricey, but definitely a gem in Palatine! The grouper was fantastic!!! The service was also great. I'm not too sure as to whether the entrees should be priced as high, but it seems like a great date place. I'm very glad I checked this place out because it's in the neighborhood and it sure does beat the run-of-the-mill Olive Garden.
(4)Brittany P.
I love this place. I'm from palatine and it really is the gem of palatine. The service is great and they make you feel so comfortable. The seafood is great and so is the meat and pasta. Small, cute and cozy. Try it out!
(5)Amy P.
Agio is one of our favorite places to go. We tend to eat late due to our work schedule and it s nice that we can go somewhere, get a nice glass of wine and a great meal at a late hour. We love that they make every dish fresh to order. Ths style of food they make...the prep takes a little longer, but it is worth it. The special risotto of the say is always solid, the Saffron is over the top. The scallops are always a hit and a favorite. they are very willing to help with food allergies as well. I do enjoy sitting in the bar area. I noticed another reviewer did not like the TVs, but many people do. Many times they are not on, or only one is on. I appreciate them when I want and can tune them out quite easily. The patio and re- vamped outside are is gorgeous. We are looking forward to dining out there this winter.
(5)Steve K.
Great food. Great service. Crowded on a snowy Saturday night. Can't get a better review.
(5)M S.
Great local restaurant with a downtown feel. Notable wine list, intimate seating. Delicious food at lunch and dinner. Half priced bottles of wine on Thursdays a lunch- great day for lunch with the ladies. Staff is knowledgable of menu and offers suggestions. A gem in the 'burbs!
(4)Patricia D.
We went in on a Friday evening for dinner. We were seated right away, which was a plus. Afterwards, we looked over the menu, and placed our order with the waiter. Now, I understand that Friday nights are busy for restaurants, but we literally waited 45 mins for our meal. My husband asked for another drink, that took 15 mins to get to him. When we finally got our food, it tasted really good. We enjoyed the food. The price was right, but the wait for our food, was unacceptable. It seems as if they had only one chef preparing the meals. We'll try going back, possibly on another night, but if we receive the same service, we probably won't be back.
(3)Gloria B.
I went here for lunch on Thursday with three co-workers. I hadn't been there for months, since I found plastic in my food. I was eating eggplant parmigiana and found saran wrap. I pointed it out to the waiter, who acknowledged they covered their pans of food with plastic wrap. He took it away and that was it. I guess I expected a manager to come apologize or a comped dessert or something. So I wasn't interested in going back until my retiring co-worker picked the restaurant. I again had the eggplant, which was fine, but I believe it was $16. No salad was included in that price, which had been the case in the past. As per usual at lunch time (the only time I've ever been there), we waited forever for our food. The restaurant wasn't crowded, maybe another four tables of people. We probably waited 30 minutes for our food, which is ridiculous, given the lack of patrons. Our waiter seemed disinterested at best. Now that my friend is retired, I won't be going back.
(2)Fast Eddie F.
Inventive AND fun. Arguably the best restaurant in Palatine.
(5)Bart H.
So went her on a Saturday with a group of friends. Unfortunately I was the only one at the table that was not happy with my dish. I am sure everyone else at the table would probably give a better review but I have to base mine on what I had. I can't remember the exact name but it was the seafood melody over spaghetti with a white wine based sauce (I probably should have gone with the other option). Pasta seemed from a box and the sauce was light and watery with not much flavor. Bread was decent. Atmosphere was superb (I love the inside of this place). And service was nice. I would definitely go back again and try something new but I cannot recommend the seafood spaghetti. But before I went back there I would go back to Carlos and Carlos in Arlington Heights, killer pasta there.
(3)Restaurant Vigilant E.
We went for a birthday recently, it was my first time. I have to say, you certainly don't feel as though you are in a strip mall. The inside is very nice, and I am ashamed to say that I was one of two of our group of 5 who was a bit under dressed. Fortunately, because we went to dinner so early, we were just about the only ones in there. You don't need a tux, but I am not sure as I would wear jeans again (not without a sports coat at least). The menu is good size - a lot of variety, but not so many choices that the kitchen can't do a good job with what it offers. They brought us the obligatory bread, oil and parmesan cheese for the table - good bread, and I was happy to see that the cheese was freshly grated - not the lame baking soda-like granules that comes in "the green can." We ordered the grilled calamari to start. It was served with a balsamic reduction which I thought would be awful, but it was actually pretty good. My only issue with the calamari...the portion wasn't exactly huge for the price, but no hard done. We also ordered the bruschetta sampler. I tried two of the three varieties...the traditional bruscetta which was very good and the zucchini one - that was well prepared, but I prefer the traditional tomato and basil. Two people split a veal dish...it looked fine, but I am not much of a veal person. One person ordered the seafood pasta which looked quite good. Not sure what the other person had....I ordered Fettuccini Alfredo...this is a very simple dish and it was well executed. In retrospect, I would have liked to have ordered something else, but that is on me - this dish was well prepared and a good rendition. I THINK they make their own pasta...all in all, I would go back. Probably a good date place...the strip mall is lame, but you forget all about it once you're inside. We went for a birthday, but it would be good for any special occasion or even a nice Saturday dinner out. The waitress also had good wine knowledge - she described a few wines and the guy next to me - a sommelier and wine merchant, nodded that she was correct in her descriptions.
(3)Tom M.
We go here quite a bit. Good food, reasonable prices, excellent wine selection, and a cozy, romantic ambiance for a dinner date. They serve Acacia Pinot Noir, which is one of our favorites, and their Osso Bucco (when available) is some of the best I've ever had. Been to more than a few of their wine tasting dinner events, and every one has been a great experience.
(5)Linda K.
Didn't even know this place existed until a customer from California told me about it! It's hidden away in a relatively new strip mall on Northwest Hwy in Palatine. The place is small - only about 15 tables and booths - but that's what makes it so charming. It's got a swanky, elegant feel to it. Love the decor! On the back wall is a well stocked wine room. Very nice wine selection. There is also a long bar adjacent to the dining area and outdoor seating is available. Started out with a glass of Acacia Pinot Noir - one of my fav's - and shared a caprese salad. Not sure what they did to it, but it was one of the best tasting caprese salads I have ever experienced! I ordered the Gnocchi for my entree, and shared the sauteed spinach.The Gnocchi was served with pancetta, sausage and mushrooms in a creamy tomato sauce. Both were delicious and filling! Had to ask for a to-go box. Also ordered some tiramisu to-go and enjoyed a few bites today. Very good but still not as good as Chicago Prime's! Our server Leo was delightful but, unfortunately, didn't get to spend a lot of time with him as we were limited on time and he was very busy. Service seemed a little slow at times...trying to get another glass of wine...but I just think they could've had more help on. I will definitely visit again....maybe for lunch next time. Nice to see a restaurant like this close by in Palatine.
(4)Erin M.
Went here on a Friday night with husband, Dad, and grandma. I'm a city girl and don't travel to the suburbs much for "fine dining". Nice decor though the restaurant seemed out of place in the strip mall it was situated in. Grandma and I ordered a $30 bottle of wine and my husband and Dad had martinis. We ordered the grilled calamari to start - very good! Cooked in a balsamic/lemon glaze. We had two baskets of yummy, warm freshly baked bread. Three of us had veal dishes, prepared differently (Saltinbocca di Vitello, 23; Vitello Al Marsala, 21; Piccata di Vitello, 21). My husband had the steak special. The Saltinbocca di Vitello was AMAZING and hands down the best dish of the night. The food did take a while to come out but the waitress said that everything to made to order - nothing is sitting in the back ready to go. My Dad ended up spilling his second martini and the waitress brought another one without charging us. The bill was over $300. Everything was all-around good, but in this economy I'm not going to be racing out to Palatine anytime soon to return. However, if you're in the area, it's worth a stop.
(3)Megan T.
I completly agree with the other two one star reviews. The decor is nice, but the service and food is not so great. There are a lot of italian restaurants in the area and this one cannot compete as is. The food to forever to get and the bread was stale. We asked for some baked garlic in oil to go with our bread and they just brought out garlic. We had to again ask for our oil and cheese to go with the small pile of garlic they brought out. Since our food took so long, were were sitting there for what seemed to be forever for our food. We thought the prices were high for what we were served when it finally came out of the kitchen. Needless to say we have never been back and do not intend to go.
(1)Kimberly F.
So disappointing :( I went here for lunch on my birthday. There were two of us. We met at 12:30 but didn't leave until 3:00. Why did lunch take 2.5 hours? It took us an hour and a half to get our food. What on earth did we order to take that long? Funny you should ask. My mother in law ordered the special for that day, and I had half a sandwich and a salad. Really? It takes that long to make our food when there are a total of maybe 5 tables sat in the whole place? I suppose the restaurant is cute, the host was nice, the wine was decent, the food was mediocre at best, but the bad service made me never want to come back here. When we approached our server at the hour mark, he offered to help by getting us more wine. Hmmm, booze helps some situations, but not this one. He did comp much of the food and apologize for the service, and I understand people have an off day, but the food wasn't even good enough to make me want to give it another shot. So, I won't be coming back...by choice, anyway.
(1)Matt M.
All these polarizing reviews confuse me: Agio's is neither terrible nor incredible. A new installation along Northwest Hwy in Palatine, the restaurant has a decent ambiance for a suburban Italian restaurant. The special appertizer for the day was crab cakes. It was definitely above average for a midwestern restaurant. If you go, definitely get their peppercorn filet, which was impressive. Otherwise, the menu definitely has enough breadth to warrant a return visit.
(3)T D.
Good Italian food. Not great, just good. It took quite a while for our salads to come out and we were one of the earlier tables of the night. The decor is nice. Seems like the prices are on the steep side, like you are paying a surcharge for the atmosphere. Place was busy on a Friday night when we went. For us there are a lot of other places we will go before we go back here. Artistic Cuisine blows these guys out of the water.
(3)Ken A.
Celebrated our 20th anniversary with dinner and a movie. She had the lasagna which tasted like wet noodles and tomato paste, I had the chicken breast vesuvio which was on par with most wedding food I have had. Service was slow, and the bruschetta appetizer was brought out 2 minutes before our meal. Too bad, we were looking forward to a new place for good italian, this isnt it.
(2)Anthony B.
Disappointing . Was seated immediately, drink order taken in a timely fashion. I Ordered the cheese ravioli my wife the meat ravioli. Soup or salad is a la carte! The server brought one dish correctly. The other was a meat rigatoni. Not even close to what was ordered. Ravioli was bland, lacked seasoning. Not a good experience nor a good value.
(1)J B.
Tasty traditional Italian fare. Excellent decor inside and wonderful outdoor seating on the patio. Service is good at a relaxed pace. Quiet enough to hold a conversation.
(4)Debra C.
Food was very good! Service was good although a bit slow. Ambiance was nice but it be better if they would take out the t.v. from the bar which I found sort of detracted from the ambiance.
(4)Mike S.
The ambiance is very nice. Even though the restaurant was full it wasn't that loud. My wife and I split a meal. The portions were small considering what you normally get at Italian restaurants. The food was very tasty. It cost $5 to share an item.
(3)Kara C.
Love this restaurant!! Great atmosphere, great and friendly service and fantastic food - inventive specials and appetizers. Highly recommend going in here for a great dining experience and some fabulous wine!
(5)larry c.
while in chicago area a "local" friend took us there last night..what a treat great food !!! creative menu and good dolce's too beautiful dining room inventive wine list nice people check it out..well worth it
(5)Elizabeth S.
I have been to Agio's several times and have had some good lunches there (sandwiches and soup). I like the interior and find the restaurant comfortable and clean. Two friends and I went to Agio's for dinner the day before Easter. My friend and I ordered the Gnocchi with sausage and mushrooms - price between $17.00 and $18.00. The Gnocchi was good, but the sausage and mushroom part was a joke. There were about 5 pieces of little squares of sausage and not one mushroom. Very disappointing. If the dish was $9.00 or so, it would be so crazy - but $17.00? And no real sausage? When that is in the entree description? I don't think I'll be going back there any time soon. Too bad because they have a convenient location.
(2)John B.
Agio could be so much more, but doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. It is full of contradictions, like the elegant dining room within view of a bar with a big screen TV -- showing an ultimate fighting match on the night we dined there. It was so distracting to be sipping a nice zinfandel and dipping warm bread in olive oil -- while seeing two musclebound men killing each other, unavoidably within my line of sight. The main dining room has a casual, bistro atmosphere, but with very high ceilings that make the noise level uncomfortably high. So, is this a casual bistro, an upscale Italian restaurant, or a sports bar? I still don't know. Meanwhile, the food was average, with overly heavy pasta (granted, we had gnocchi and cavatelli) and a tilapia in saffron sauce that had no flavor at all. Service, however, was great -- our waiter even gave me a free (and generous) sample of the gnocchi when I couldn't decide between the tilapia and the pasta. But both dishes were ultimately disappointing. Our search for a great Italian place close to home continues.
(3)Howard S.
Went here for lunch; a good menu, and the minestrone soup was delicious. I had salmon with sauteed spinach for a very reasonable price, and bread was served with very good olive oil. Service was efficient and very courteous. Will definitely go back.
(5)Neal M.
Went here last night for V-Day Dinner. Heard good things but read mixed reviews here on Yelp. After my experience, I understand these reviews completely. Restaurant is very well designed/decorated, modern Italian, clean, a bit dim but not so much as you can't read the menus. I really liked it when I walked in the door. We (just the two of us) were seated quickly by a very polite host. Then it went downhill. Took at least 8-9 minutes for a waiter to stop over at our table and they were nowhere near busy. Maybe 1/5 full? Then he said would you like a drink, took our order and ran off, I was expecting a pleasant Hello, or here's our specials. He was nice, but we felt hurried, like he had better things to do then spend time at our table. He brought our drinks, set them down and briskly walked away again. We perused the menu and many items read great, it was a tough choice. Then our waiter came back (after another 10 minutes or so) and asked if we were ready to order, then stopped and read us the specials. Unfortunately we had to ask him to repeat them all, we could not understand over his thick accent. Who would order a special that they cannot understand? Even after repeating we weren't sure what they were.. A printed specials sheet would have solved this problem. I would have also liked recommendations and suggestions, as most good Italian places have house specialties.. We split a spinach salad, I ordered the Veal Parmigiana, and my wife ordered the gnocchi. The food came out rather quickly, they split the salad for us which was nice. But portion size was rather small, I was done in 6-7 bites. Then our entrees arrived. Presentation was satisfactory but nothing better than an olive garden would have done. My Veal Parmigiana was OK at best, pounded way too thin (1/2 inch thick if I am being generous) and overcooked, and the side of spaghetti (a standard on most menu items here) was really unimpressive. A choice of pastas and/or sauces (like at most good Italian places) would be a big improvement. Sauce was completely bland and spaghetti was no diff than if i boiled a pot of water at home and made it with a jar of spaghetti sauce from aldi.. For this price this was a serious letdown. The standard needs to be a bit higher to match the pricing on the menu. My wife's gnocchi was also just OK, I have had much better, it was not made fresh and didn't melt in your mouth like gnocchi should. Again, just ok. The flavors were muted and nothing to write home about. Both meals were also just warm not hot enough, so by the time I was 1/2 done eating our dishes were pretty much room temp.. At this point neither of us was impressed so dessert was not even an option. We asked for the bill and took off, realized I just seriously overpaid for mediocre Italian food. In conclusion, overall I loved the look and feel of the place, but the food was a serious letdown, I understand the mixed reviews up here now. My wife says it was better the one time she was here before with some friends, so I might give it another try someday, but I will with serious hesitation. To compare, I have been to Gianni's a couple times and think it's pretty good (especially the one in deer park), Service and Food here are literally not even comparable, If Gianni's is an 8 on a scale of 1-10, this place is more like a 3-4.
(2)Deborah H.
Looking forward to trying this restaurant out, but don't think I would go back! The waiter was more interested in his table outside than ours!! He flew by us, sitting in the bar, so many times, and never asked to see if we needed another drink!! The food took so long to get, and by that time, I was not even hunger! Very disappointing!!
(2)