Enoteca Roma Ristorante

This was a recommendation from a local and was outside of the typical area Of downtown Chicago, a 20 min cab ride from Michigan Ave. and WELL WORTH IT. It was a nice evening and we sat on the back patio next to a dribbling fountain. Romantic setting.
My boyfriend and I shared the caprese appetizer, the Venison pasta bolognese and the eggplant spaghetti and they were all delicious, very flavorful and presented nicely.
The service was perfect, never waited and he made sure he had time to help is with our decision.
Relaxed atmosphere.
Will def go back when I get back to Chicago.

Came here with my fiancé, and mom. We ate out on the patio, (which has a luscious array of flowers). The food here is outstanding. I recommend the carrot gnocchi. The owner took her time to greet us and provide some interesting anecdotes about the menu, and how the restaurant came to be. One of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. So much so that it inspired me to create a Unilocal account and leave this review. Dine here, you won’t regret it.

Not really sure why this place has so many good reviews. I was excited to try Enoteca based on what Unilocalers were saying but I was sorely disappointed.
It was a Friday night and the place was dead. First sign we should have walked out. The server was not on the ball. Super inattentive. The place looks run down. Bathrooms need cleaning. The bruschetta flight was average. The eggplant dish I will say was pretty delish. The special was mushroom ravioli which I am pretty sure was left over from the day before.
Overall… not impressed.

Had them cater a small party for my husbands business. The food was outstanding !!! The variety of creative bruschetta options was amazing — loved the caramelized onion bruschetta as well as the strawberry and mascarpone. The combinations were all fabulous. Prosciutto wrapped melon-​yum! everything was very fresh and wonderful.

This is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. There are countless great Italian places here, but I have been here 100 times and literally have never had a bad meal. Once, they gave me the wrong arrincini of the day (beet and goat cheese), when I ordered spinach and mushroom. It was taken off of the bill, and it still tasted fantastic. Steve was our server and he was great. Very accommodating every time. — Arrincini of the day (every day) and a fresh house made pasta of the day (every day) — great wine selection — bakery attached next door — try any house-​made pasta or dessert. You cannot miss with Enoteca — Grazie

Authentic Italian dishes… but also original (not the usual traditional ones).
The place is nice, casual but also very pleasant, good even for a date.
A bit expensive but worth.

Chicago is full of many great Italian restaurants, and this restaurant is one of those great restaurants. The inside of the restaurant is quaint and romantic. The two of us sat on the back patio, and the back patio was spacious and beautiful.
To drink, I opted for one of the white wines from their large wine menu. My boyfriend and I are both seafood lovers, so we often have to try out calamari at the different restaurants we visit. We had the calamari here, and the calamari was crispy and plentiful. Picking a main dish was difficult because I wanted to try almost every menu item. I had read somewhere that they make their own gnocchi and pasta, so I actually opted for the gnocchi. I ordered the Gnocchi Alla Erbe, which has braised pork in it. The gnocchi itself is outstanding, and the tender braised pork is the perfect addition. I highly recommend their gnocchi.
Only downside about our first visit was the service. We arrived around 7:30pm on a Friday night, and the restaurant was only at about half capacity. Our waiter was pretty attentive during the beginning of our visit. Around 8, almost every seat was filled and the service was a reflection of this change. After we got our meal, we didn’t see our waiter for around 40 minutes. During some of that time, we were trying to get his attention, but he was pretty busy with other tables. I eventually got up and went inside to talk to another staff member about getting our check. Even though our service experience was not the best, the food itself would make me want to come back. During my next visit I would just come during a less busy time or day.

My brother and his wife made us a reservation here after hearing my husband and I wanted pizza for dinner. At first we were bummed not to be having Chicago-​style pizza, but they guaranteed this place was worth it, and they were right!
The ambience is very warm and inviting, old school Italian here. There’s only a handful of tables, which all back up to a large bar here — this created a nice, bustling feeling without being overfull or tight. Our waiter was attentive though definitely a bit off, not in a bad way though. He was very friendly and provided some fun entertainment for the evening with his jokes. All of the food was spot on.
We split an order of bruschetta (5 for $ 11), they’re small but this is a great deal as you get to try many flavors. And one flavor was better than the next! We got the toscana — simple cannellini beans with white pepper but well-​executed; cristina — the spicy jam made this, it was far more spicy than expected in the best way possible; roma — tomato, basil and garlic, very simple again but each flavor was highlighted perfectly; sicilia — (a strong) black olive pâté and capers, very salty but I loved it. There was one more that I didn’t try, but I can say no one tried one they didn’t like!
We also had a full order of the Dragona pizza — it’s a Roman-​style square pizza. It’s baked with tomatoes and olive oil, then taken out of the oven and topped with burrata and fresh basil. The dough was light and fluffy, almost like a focaccia bread. The burrata melted in your mouth and the tomato and basil tasted extremely fresh. We were both pleasantly surprised at how much we loved this pizza, as we usually go for a simpler thin crust.
The last entrée my husband and I split was the Giovanna pasta. This included spaghetti, eggplant, spicy marinara, burrata and fresh basil. This was a massive serving of pasta! I wished there was a bit more eggplant, as the pieces that were in there were perfectly sautéed and delicious. The spicy marinara had a nice kick to it, and the burrata added a creaminess without taking over the entire dish.
My brother and his wife had another pasta dish and a salad, and both were very satisfied with their meals too.
We finished with an affogato for them and a piece of chocolate fudge cake served with vanilla gelato for us. The cake was decadent and a massive slice! It was super fudgey and tasted delicious with the cool, creamy vanilla.
One last thing I appreciated was the menu was well-​marked for vegetarian and vegan options. Not necessarily needed but a nice touch. We’ll be back next time we visit Chicago! From Unilocal pictures, it looks like they have a beautiful outdoor seating area in summer, so I’d love to come back and try that out.

Waited 30 min after being seated for someone to come by. Almost left, and we should have.

The first bit of magic was the appearance of a lovely back patio which we did not know existed. On a warm April evening in Chicago, this is a real joy. The wine list was extensive and excellent, and we were early enough to get a wonderful $ 5 glass of French rose. Yummm. We shared a huge meat tray. Of course the ravioli was fantastico, but the real winner was the «pera,» a pasta with pear, ricotta, walnuts and gorgonzola. Spectacular.

We decided on this place after careful assessment of many great options in the area. I kid you not. We talked by 10+ restaurants which all looked great. Bf and I were taking a stroll on a warm Sunday night. Started off in Noble Square, then Humboldt Park, and ended up in Ukrainian Village/​West Town. I actually had a place in mind, but decided to switch as we walked by Enoteca Roma. I couldn’t help but stare and partially drool at what the people were eating on the patio. It was a large spaghetti dish and looked so bomb. Once the aroma got to me, there was no way of passing. Btw, there’s a back patio which is well lit and creates a comforting, laid-​back ambiance; that’s where we sat. We ordered the bruschetta combo, where you choose 5 out of 11 choices. They were all tasty. The mussels drenched in light tomato sauce were delicious. The base is more of a soup and I gladly slurped away using the shell as my spoon. The winner of the night, and the reason i was sold on the restaurant in the first place (remember that patio scene in the beginning?) was the Giovanna. It was full of flavor and heavy on the sauce. Two perfect combinations for Italian in my opinion. The sauce is mainly tomato base with eggplant, spicy marinara, basil, and burrata. The spaghetti was cooked al dente. It was so amazingly good. The plate was spotless as if we licked it clean. Portions are generous; price is slightly steep for Italian in my opinion but worth it. The glass of sauvignon blanc paired well with all the dishes. The tiramisu tasted nothing like it, and more like chocolate cake since it was firm and chocolate-​y, but doesnt matter. It tasted good b/​c we scraped the plate clean. Service was outstanding.
Warning: you’re missing out on some terrific Italian food if you haven’t tried Enoteca Roma. I can’t wait to come back when warm weather becomes consistent so i can take advantage of their patio again.

We started off with the bruschetta sampler, which was pretty good. We got 5 separate bruschettas, but one of the pieces that came out was not what we ordered. Our server very kindly brought us the right one, so we ended up getting 6 bruschetta for that price. That was a good start.
However, when we were ordering, he didn’t even mention the specials. I happened to see it on a chalkboard as we were walking in, and had to ask him to confirm that it was true.
I opted for the special, which was wild boar ravioli with Pancetta. The Pancetta was probably the saltiest thing I have eaten in my life. The ravioli was very good.
My husband got the Cervo pasta, which had venison bolognese. He said it was fine. Nothing special.
Overall it certainly wasn’t bad, but we probably won’t come back because there are too many other good options in this area to try.

This place is a relatively hidden gem. You walk in to a small seating area and bar. The atmosphere is intimate. I believe that larger parties can be seated in the next room (which is actually the adjacent bakery). Enoteca consistently delivers quality food. Hubby and I have been several times now, often with a Gilt voucher in tow. Their large bruschetta offering is a must try! I particularly enjoy the several fruit and cheese options, but they do the classic tomato-​basil well too. Pastas are fresh and flavorful. Good wine menu too. If you’re looking for a cozy date night or small gathering place for friends, with good quality and without pretension, this is the place for you!

This place is absolutely FABULOUS.
I brought my parents here recently and this was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long long time. The bruschetta flight was a wondrously delightful taster. It’s definitely not «filling» per se, but such a great combination of unique and classic flavors. We also had some pizza to start and the CRUST is absolutely phenomenal. SO fresh, SO tasty, SO perfectly toasted – definitely a surprisingly delectable pizza pie from a place not known for its pie.
For dinner, the Penne Arabiata is absolutely phenomenal. The sauce is an addictive combination of sweet, savory, and spicy – one of the best sauces I’ve ever had. The risotto is also wondrously creamy.
Absolutely excited to have this little gem in my neighborhood – will be visiting again very soon.

Came to Enoteca Roma because of a Gilt City voucher – $ 59 got us two apps, two entrees, a dessert and a bottle of wine. Yessir!
The food and service at this place were both pretty strong. The bruschetta flight was a cool idea and all five that we had ($ 11 normally) were tasty, even though the bread used as the base for each one was only so-​so. The calamari wasn’t spectacular but it was very solid and the seasoning was just right. The Dragona pizza was good – the burrata was quite nice, though – and the lasagna was pretty incredible, even if the consistency was a little soupy for a lasagna dish. The cake in our chocolate cake was only OK but the frosting was fantastic.
The location here – just west of all of the «action» on Division – is tricky but otherwise, give this place a look. Thanks again, Gilt City!

We have been here twice and both times we were blown away. My husband and I are picky foodies, so for us, that really says something! We have had the lasagna and eggplant parmesan. Both are delicious. Last night I had the Pear Ricotta Ravioli with Walnut Gorgonzola Sauce. I cannot even explain how amazing it was. It is hands down one of the best dishes I have ever had. Definitely the best Italian dish outside of our vacation in Italy years ago.
Our server was very attentive and helpful. I did not get his name, but I am pretty sure, he waited on us the last time too. Seriously… go here! Just make sure you have a reservation because it is a tiny place. I would love to go back during the summer when we can eat on the patio.

No maam. No sir. I will not be returning to this place for any reason, ever.
Boss decided to take our whole team here for our New Year celebration dinner. There’s a group of 10 of us. We arrive to find out we’re seated at a very awkwardly small and uncomfortable table that we all had to squeeze into… okay fine, but strike one. The restaurant was extremely cold and the exposed thermostat sat right behind my coworker’s head. Occasionally, a woman (staff member) from the restaurant would come back and ask us to adjust the temperature whether up or down (she first asked her to turn it up and then down again once it got too warm– fine, although tacky). So finally, I guess they’re tired of asking us to control it and decide to just open the patio door (which is directly next to our table) to cool the restaurant down without asking us (THE TABLE SITTING DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE DOOR) if we mind or even if we wouldn’t mind adjusting the thermostat once more. So finally I ask our waiter — which, I’ll get to him in a second — why the door is open. He proceeds to say it’s too warm in the restaurant when I mention the thermostat and that we can turn it down. I reach to touch it (as we had done already 2 – 3 times that night, per requested) and he, very rudely, said «please do not touch that» and walked away. Immediately my coworkers all displayed a very shocked look.
This is paired with the fact that our server, PATRICK O. was completely a douche. Was not personable at all. Any time there’s a group that large, waiters usually take time to get to know what’s being celebrated, offer some guidance on the menu, advise what’s good for large group ordering… he did NONE of this. He acted annoyed and rushed as we all placed our orders (mind you, they were not that busy), and we had to pull info out of him about menu suggestions. And on top of all of that, the food wasn’t even that great. I left and still went to get more food after because I was unsatisfied. And then my boss later told me that Patrick too k the liberty to circle one of the higher tip amounts on the bill. *sideeye*
Anyhoo, I won’t be going back here and I would advise you not to either.

Can’t wait to come back in the summer to check out their cute patio.
Bottle prices on the wine weren’t bad so if you are planing to have a glass or two definitely consider that.
Just like other reviewers you kinda have to do the bruschetta flights. I love that you get to pick a few different ones. I personally loved the one with raspberry jam. It had the great sweetness from the raspberry with just a kick of heat.
The herb gnocchi with braised pork was hearty and a great choice on a cold winter night. I definitely picked up the herbs in the gnocchi.
The restaurant isn’t very large so reservations would be smart. We had a reservation but table wasn’t ready yet so ended up just sitting at the bar.

Came here on Saturday night for dinner (Halloween), now we had a reservation, we did not need it, however due to the night idk if that was normal or not.
Food was amazing, bruschetta flight so good, we tried the Debby, Piemonte, Calabria, Napoli, and the Toscana, all delicious. Than my friend and I split the Gnocchi Di Carote and the Pumpkin Ravioli (which was the special). So good, best pumpkin ravioli I’ve ever had.
Service was pretty slow but they only had 1 waitress as far as I could tell, and I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt given the night.
This place is very cute and intimate, small, they only have a few tables so make a reservation if you can, food was delicious, cant want to go back, such a great date spot.

My family of 10 came here last Saturday for a birthday celebration and decided on doing the «mangia mangia» or family style menu. GREAT option when you have a large group! Could not believe it was only $ 30/​person! Included a meats & cheeses platter, 2 different salads, many different varieties of bruschetta, mussels, polenta and three different entres of pastas. (see pictures) Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING was delicious. Esp loved the bruschettas and the pear raviolis. Not your typical «Americanized» Italian food-​more classic and definitely authentic. So much food, we all left full but not overly full. Love this place, will definitely be back! Oh and if you come hee in the summer-​def recommend dining al fresco in the back patio!