il Porcellino

“My first visit to Il Porcellino and everything was outstanding. The garlic bread with clarified butter is a must-order, and the pesto sauce is so good that you should get a side and put it on everything. Every dish was flavorful, well-executed, and clearly made with care. The highlight of the evening was our server, Beatrice B. She was phenomenal—a true class act. Knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely friendly, she made us feel special from start to finish. Her enthusiasm for the menu was contagious and had us wanting to order everything. Exceptional food paired with exceptional service. Can’t wait to come back.”

“il Porcellino was not planned; however, I was so happy the stars aligned to bring us there. Like an amateur I did not have reservations anywhere on a Saturday night and waitlist would have had us waiting hours. However, we were in the neighborhood and their door was open so we went to the host stand. There was quite the wait for the dining room and the patio, but there just so happened to be for open spots at the bar so we jumped on them. The bartender was friendly and helpful, even when they were packed. We decided what we wanted and went for it. Within probably 30 minutes we had this spread in front of us. AMAZING. The pasta for this burrata lasagna is handmade and a house specialty. We had to get that. The salmon piccata was light and bright with those capers and sauce. I have never had grilled calamari before, but I honestly liked it more than fried. It wasn’t rubbery at all. The gnocchi were like delicate little pillows in a flavorful sauce, and I thought about eating my weight in the tuscan cheese focaccia. We loved the old Italian feel of the place and I lucky we came across it. If you are in River north, definitely put it on your list.”

“I absolutely loved my experience at Il Porcellino. The atmosphere was incredibly pleasant, perfect for a special night out. The service was exceptional. We had the pleasure of being taken care of by Isabel, and she was wonderful, very attentive, kind, and made the whole experience feel even more special. We started with the Sicilian Margarita, which was delicious. For appetizers, we shared the grilled calamari and the Caesar salad (both were great), but the real highlight was the pappardelle alla porcellino. The pasta tasted incredibly fresh, and the texture was perfect. The pork shoulder and prime beef ragù was absolutely phenomenal!!! To top it all off, Isabel surprised us with ice cream to celebrate our recent wedding, which was such a thoughtful and sweet touch. We loved everything about our experience and can’t wait to come back!”

“We really liked this place! It was very busy. The Caesar and calamari were outstanding. My wife really liked her pappardelle noodles. I also thought the lasagna was good, but not quite worth the hype. We really appreciates the free dessert for our anniversary as well as the server noticing I don’t drink alcohol and bringing over a non alcoholic beverage to celebrate. The inside is super cute and not too loud. Very photo worthy. Overall we are glad we stopped by.”

“So good! We went in to celebrate a belated Valentine’s Day. Our server was attentive and responsive to questions. The food was phenomenal. The star of the show were the lasagna and meatballs. Alongside the chocolate cake for dessert. Vesuvio style potatoes was the only item we wouldn’t order again. Overall delicious and good service!”