Gaetano's & Ristorantino MediterraneoSuburb Italian GemThis neighborhood restaurant in Forest Pak is a few blocks walk for us and so we know it well. Gaetano is a very talented cook and at times in the past it seemed he may be trying too hard to impress. No longer. His menu is large but not over-whelming and the blend of tastes is extraordinary. I cannot think of a bad meal or dish we have had there. The wines list is excellent and the staff very friendly and knowledgeable. We are *very* fortunate to have this gem in our neighborhood.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMLOVE THIS PLACE.Gaetano's is fantastic. My dad avoids wheat/gluten due to celiac sprue and this is one of the few places where I can take him when he visits because he's also mainly vegetarian and most other restaurants' gluten-free options involve meat. The servers are always knowledgeable and accommodating, and the food is amazing every time. I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough. Check it out and see for yourself, it's a wonderful place.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGaetano's is a special find.Gaetano's is a special find. Unlike any other Italian restaurant you'll find. You really cant go wrong with any of his dishes! LOVE LOVE LOVE!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome discoveryWe wanted a place to meet friends from the suburbs convenient to them and us from downtown Chicago. A friend told us of Gaetano's for authentic great Italian food and wine list. They were right.
The atmosphere was so nice- like you were in a Tuscan part of Italy. Was hard to decide what to order- the menu made you hungry with all the choices. Wine list did not disappoint.
The service was super friendly- with several Italian waiters. Met the owner chef on way out- so hospitable.
We will definitely go back!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMSo good!Food was delicious! Tiramisu is the best I've ever had! Does a decent job being vegetarian friendly, one of my favorite places to eat.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAdventure in eating!Gaetapas at Gaetano's is an adventure in eating! You never know what you will get, but anything Gaetano's makes is heavenly! I have tried foods I would have never ordered on my own. I have discovered foods I never knew I liked! I really think Gaetano could make shoe leather taste fabulous! He is a food genius.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was good but notThe food was good but not great. And given the price, I wouldn't recommend going there. For the price and the hype, I expected more. However, the wine list and the service were fabulous.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWhere do I start? My friendWhere do I start? My friend from Omaha requested that we eat at Gaetano's on her latest trip to Chicago -- we had dined there previously, and she was so blown away by the flavors, combinations, and presentation. Once again, Gaetano did not disappoint -- it was awesome! I had beef short ribs over saffron risotto, which was outstanding, while my friend had the butternut squash gnocchi with fungi, which she raved about. Our waiter was delightful, and provided both excellent service and entertainment with his wit. It was truly a dining pleasure for two foodies like us, and I know we'll be coming back.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGaetano's was an excellentGaetano's was an excellent restaurant. I have been living in Forest Park for many years and must say this is one of the best kept secrets. The food, music and ambiance was outstanding!!!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Dining Diva's loved theThe Dining Diva's loved the food at Gaetano's. We were so impressed with the Foccacia and chickpea spread at the start of our meal. Our calamari and asparagus appetizers were inventive and delicious. The lamb scallopini with fingerling potatoes, spinach, kalamata olives and artichokes was so tasty. The white fish with the fried onion threads was fabulous and the presentation was awesome.We shared the bread pudding--so good.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMI have dined at Gaetano'sI have dined at Gaetano's many times over the years, and they always far exceed my expectations. The food is inventive and beautifully served, the atmosphere is perfect for a romantic dinner. One of my favorite restaurants.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMStill the best!Still my favorite restaurant in the whole Chicago area. Chef Gaetano is a genius!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMwell executed and deliciouswell executed and delicious entrees, and plenty of quality choices. gaetano never disappoints.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMy boyfriend and I chose Gaetano'sMy boyfriend and I chose Gaetano's for our anniversary dinner because we knew the chef, Gaetano from a previous restaurant. We were not only very pleased with the food but truly felt special because of the service from Bella our server. We started with the calamari wrapped around asparagus with just a touch of heat from the secret sauce drizzlied across it. My boyfriend had the ribeye with was a beautiful cut of meat and cooked perfectly. I had the stuffed pork chop also very tasty. It was the Gorgonzola sauces that really made me choose this dish and it was amazing! Bella, our server was not only attentive but really made us feel special. We will be back and I encourage others to stop in at the gem in downtown Forest Park.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMTremendous food, with goodTremendous food, with good variety. We went with someone who was very adventurous and someone very conservative and all were happy. Try the chef's tasting!4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGaetano could make anythingGaetano could make anything taste fabulous! Everything he makes is amazing! This is our favorite place to eat in the Chicago area.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMHidden gem!Delicious, beautifully presented food. All the reviews say to try the tasting menu, but we shared app and individual entree and had left overs.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMMEditerranean at its Best!Best Place in Chicago. Get the Gaetapa's (Tasting Menu). Wine pairings are 1/2 price on Tuesdays!4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely Scrumptous!The food is above and beyond excellent. Highly recommend if you have not tried Gaetano's GO!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is excellent food ---barThis is excellent food ---bar none --this is THE Best Italian food in the western suburbs perhaps in the Chicago area .Restaurant is small but that lends itself to excellant one on one service from start to finish Weekends are very busy Call in advance for reservations are a must .Owner Gaetano stops by to make sure you enjoy your experience3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGREAT Food, wine and service!We had a birthday celebration at Gaetano's on a Tuesday and it was awesome! Our server recommended a wine to match our entrées. Personally, I had the Grenache that was paired wonderfully with my Striped Bass entrée. The other entrées were the Short Ribs over Risotto, Gnocchi (specials menu) and the Rigatoni with Italian sausage and wild mushrooms. Each portion was more than what we could handle BUT we made room to share two terrific desserts of bread pudding and crème brulee.
Our server was excellent in her recommendations and the service was at a perfect pace. I am amazed at the quality and quantity of fine food that comes from the tiny kitchen! Come hungry and leave with a satisfied smile on your face. I’d recommend reservatio3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMBest restaurant experienceBest restaurant experience I have had in the Chicago area. What a gem!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe tasting menu at Gaetano'sThe tasting menu at Gaetano's is fantastic. It's imaginative and delicious!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMReally liked the food. OurReally liked the food. Our waiter was not only attentive,but very nice and informative. I was not crazy about our table, there was about 12" between tables where we sat, which I don't think could be helped due to the size of the restaurant, but it was very hard to hear across the table and I could hear the conversations on both sides of us. When we go back again, which we will, I would request to be seated somewhere else. OVerall very good experience.3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Find!Very quaint. We love the creativity that they put into their dishes. Like nothing you will find! The combinations of flavors is outstanding. The service is fantastic, they are very knowledgable and have many great suggestions.7/30/2012 12:00:00 AM