Topo Gigio

“Very quaint, old building with a small restaurant feel. The food was delicious and what was superb, that made this experience phenomenal was the bar tender/waiter in the outside dining area; RUDY! He has worked here for 29 years and his energy level, attention to customers made our dining experience memorable. He went above and beyond by recommending an appetizer for 4, recommended an addition to our main meal for us to share, offered to store our leftovers in the fridge while we went to a show. Smart man. What did that result in? We came back after the show for espresso martinis made to perfection. That’s quite the service. This is a must visit when in Chicago!”

“The grilled octopus was surprisingly delicious. The Risotto di Mare was very tasty and very good portion. Highly recommend both. Will revisit next time in Chicago.”

“Had a really nice dinner here during my Chicago trip. I sat at the bar and the whole place had that warm, old-school Italian restaurant feel that made the experience even better. I ordered the grilled calamari, scallops pesto, black linguine alla russa, tiramisu, and a Topo Tini. The calamari was fresh, tender, and lightly charred with a bright lemon finish. The scallops were soft and flavorful, and the pesto cream sauce was rich without being too heavy. The black linguine alla russa was the star of the meal — perfectly cooked squid ink pasta with generous seafood and a sauce that coated everything well. I finished with the tiramisu, which was a great ending to the meal, and the cocktail was also excellent. Food, service, and atmosphere were all on point. Definitely one of the most satisfying meals I had in Chicago.”

“Visited this place twice before adding this review. First impression: this restaurant is a quiet gem in a bustling neighborhood. Their side patio makes it feel as if you have stepped out of Chicago for just a moment. Lots of notable people have visited this place and they have won numerous awards. It’s also a family owned busy with a fascinating story!! For my first visit, I ordered the polenta and portobello mushroom. I had to send it back because they made the gravy with a beef sauce which wasn’t indicated on the menu so if you are vegetarian make sure you let them know before ordering. Overall the dish was good. I’d rate the polenta a solid 4.5/5 and the mushroom a 3.5/5. On my return trip, I ordered the gnocchi and here is where this place shines. The gnocchi was amazing. A solid 5 out of 5. The cream sauce was cooked to perfection with a great balance of cheese and tomatoes & the gnocchi was pillowy soft. The server indicated they make it fresh. The prices are reasonable especially if you go for lunch. In terms of service, it can be a little slow. Other than that, I’d highly recommend. I don’t eat calamari. My friend does and gave it a 10 out of 5.”

“I ordered the mushroom appetizer which was not very flavorful. I was hoping the Linguine alla Vongole Veraci would save the day but the noodles end up hard and it just ruined it for me. Please boil your pasta a little longer for it to be soft to chew.”