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Riccardo Trattoria
Riccardo Trattoria

Riccardo Trattoria Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.riccardotrattoria.com/index.htm
  • Phone: (773) 549-0038
  • Hours of Operation: Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 5:00pm-10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 5:00pm - 11:00pm, Sunday: 5:00pm - 9:00pm


  • Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Dress Code: Business Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Beer, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Getting there

  • Parking: No
A word from Riccardo Trattoria
Riccardo started his career at a very young age in Milan's prestigious "GIRARROSTO" family owned. Then, in 1982 he moved to the United States and he opened the famous Sonny Bono's in Los Angeles. In 1987 he started to work with his cousin Roberto Ruggeri (owner of Bice's Venture), with him he… opened Bice New York, Los Angeles and many others around the world.

Now, after three years as Executive Chef of Bice in Chicago, and together with his wife (and sous chef), Veronica, and his cousin (and hostess), Barbara, he decided to continue his gastronomic artistry and creativity in his restaurant named after himself "Riccardo Trattoria."


Here through the craftsmanship of an Italian food connoisseur, dishes are prepared with an almost zen-like essentiality that has shaped Riccardo's professional and existential life course.Continued
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Diner Reviews
  • "I took my best friend of 45 years to dinner for her birthday. The staff noticed the gift bag and asked if we were celebrating a birthday. They brought a delicious dessert to the table. Always attentive and polite. Dining at Riccardo's never fails to remind me of my family's trip to Italy. "
    Dined on 4/12/2014
  • "We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Riccardo Trattoria. From the incredible burrito, to the fabulous parpadella and our entrée of brazinni the entire meal was exceptional. Our server Savon was engaging and informative. We would recommend Riccardo Trattoria to anyone seeking a wonderful dinner in Chicago."
    Dined on 4/11/2014
  • "I must say, after visiting Chicago for many years and eating at many restaurants, Riccardo Trattoria was probably the best Italian restaurant that I have eaten at. The food was delicious, the service very personable, friendly and informative. We loved our Sicilian waiter and spoke Italian with him the entire evening."
    Dined on 4/12/2014
  • "Well known on many "Best of" lists this restaurant delivers the goods!"
    Dined on 4/10/2014
  • "We attended with a large group and the waiter offered to bring out our food "family style" meaning we could try almost everything on the menu. Every single dish was amazing, there was not one that our table could complain about. Absolutely delicious."
    Dined on 4/5/2014
  • "Just a wonderful experience from start to finish. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The food was excellent. Our waiter was charming and knowledgeable and made great suggestions. Service was paced perfectly, didn't have to wait long for anything, but never felt rushed. I wish this restaurant was within walking distance for me, I would be there all the time..."
    Dined on 4/1/2014
  • "Our food was delicious and our server was helpful and timed our dinner perfectly. The layout is a bit too cozy as we could almost hear others' conversations. The dining room is cute and I realize they want to maximize seats, but maybe another look at how the tables coexist would be beneficial. However, loved the food and service."
    Dined on 3/28/2014
  • "This is the second time I've been to Riccardo Trattoria and both times have been an excellent experience. Dining, service, and drinks all are amazing. I recommend this restaurant to anyone for any occasion"
    Dined on 3/23/2014
  • "quite by far, the best italian restaurant in Chicago. haven't tried spiaggia yet, but i imagine Riccardo gets the stars for simply being reasonably priced and amazing food. everything had impeccable flavor. and dishes that would not have been ordered for being too unusual proved to be incredible.."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "This is the 2nd time for dining here: Chicago Restaurant Week and Chef Week . . . unbelievable array of menu items - 4 courses and everything is/was delicious . . . wonderful wine list - 2011 Dolcetta and the service was fantastic. I'd recommend for anytime, it's too good for just a special occasion . . ."
    Dined on 3/19/2014
  • "Title says it all. The food, the service, everything. Went for Chef's Week, can't wait to go again. Don't miss."
    Dined on 3/18/2014
  • "My boyfriend and I were celebrating our 3 year anniversary and wanted a small, intimate Italian restaurant. When we came across Ricardo Trattoria we were totally surprised with how cute, intimate it was. The service was EXCELLENT! They always knew when you needed something and they cleaned/refilled the whole night. Only issues I had with the evening is that they forgot to send out a side item that we had ordered, and the spinach side item on the menu was not as good as I had expected which was a little disappointing because I love spinach tossed in olive oil--this for some reason was just very bad. HIGHLY recommend the Gnocchi Bava and the Battuta menu items...delicious!"
    Dined on 3/17/2014
  • "Always awesome, there is nothing on the menu that won't impress. Best osso buco in the city.....try anything and you'll be happy. The service is A plus! Gosh, between the amazing waiters and fantabulous food.....your night at R. will be memorable. At least one person at your table should try the veal chop Emiliana....osso Buco and meat loaf. You will be so happy!"
    Dined on 3/17/2014
  • "This is out favorite Italian in Chicago. Worth a special trip every time."
    Dined on 3/7/2014
  • "Good quality food but wine was very expensive: $11 for the cheapest glass! Cheapest bottle in the mid-$30s; most over $40."
    Dined on 3/2/2014
  • "This was a great find! We loved the look and feel of the place....and the food was outstanding. Our service was attentive but not pushy. Reservations are a must! We were surprised with how small a place it is...and there's no place to wait if your table isn't ready which could be a problem. We'd go back in a heart beat....but probably not on a busy Fri or Sat night."
    Dined on 2/26/2014
  • "We were a party of six on a Friday night. We had limited time as we were going to Park West. We all enjoyed our dinner immensely and can't wait to go back to have a more relaxed time. Pasta and fish were both outstanding"
    Dined on 2/21/2014
  • "For us, this was a pleasant alternative to the Loop for a business dinner. I enjoyed the layered flavors of my Endive & Beet salad and Veal Saltimbocca, which were prepared with fresh ingredients and without heavy dressings or sauces. The portions were reasonably sized, leaving me satisfied without the need for a take home half the size of the original meal. The service was good and wonderfully quirky. The Chef briefly visited us in the dinning room with a genuine interest in whether the food was prepared to our liking. The décor was warm and inviting. I thought the wine list was solid, but the beer offerings are limited. I can't wait to return with friends!"
    Dined on 2/20/2014
  • "On Monday, when the snow was very heavy, we had a reservation at Riccardo Trattoria. I was able to trudge through the snow by foot for an early dinner, but my friend couldn't get there from far north. I was alone in the restaurant. All the guys working there were great. I had a wonderful, simple dinner of an organic salad and Fettucine bolognese. Delicious. It was a wonderful dinner! One of my favorite places where the food is always so very good."
    Dined on 2/17/2014
  • "Great authentic atmosphere with a friendly and dedicated staff. The food was great and the service was impeccable."
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "The food and service were excellent! We can't wait to go back!"
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Lobster ravioli and rack of lamb were excellent. Also, the lamb was cooked to order. Service could have been better, especially when you have a server to table ratio of almost one."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "Relaxed atmosphere was diminished by high noise level. Quality of food varied by plate. All in all, adequate but not impressive."
    Dined on 2/4/2014
  • "I've been here half a dozen times in the last year and I've never had a bad dish. Everything on the menu is great. Only downsides: their list of liquor is significantly lacking. Last time I went (2/4) the service was a bit slower than usual."
    Dined on 2/4/2014
  • "Love this place! Just about my favorite restaurant in Chicago, and that's saying a lot given all the choices we have. The calamari appetizer is always the best. The soft shell crab was divine -- I will order that next time too. Two people at the table had the black and white spaghetti with the lobster; I wish I had been one of them -- but I was not shy about helping myself to portions from their plates. I had the pappardelle and I wasn't crazy about it-- it was ok but not nearly as good as all the other dishes we had. Of course the panna cotta is absolutely the best in the city."
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "This is our choice when we crave authentic, delicious Italian cuisine with an elegant touch. The ambience is cozy yet refined. The food is always consistently delectable. Must haves are the grilled calamari, the tuna tartare, the fish entrees and any of the pasta dishes - especially the seafood linguine. Excellent wine selection and save room for dessert. The tiramisu - all I can say is YUM!"
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "Friendly and precise service. Food was absolutely amazing! We each opted for the Restaurant Week menu, and loved everything we had. Seating was a little tight, but we enjoyed the coziness. Perfect place for a date night. My boyfriend and I both agreed Riccardo's might just be our favorite restaurant find in the city!"
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "Always so many good things on the $33 menu. It's a great deal."
    Dined on 1/30/2014
  • "The food was exceptional and my friend visiting from Florence attested to its authenticity. He ordered the tripe which I would have passed on but it was delicious. My spouse ordered the truffle risotto and it was perfect. My dish, a seafood medley in a broth was served hot and very tasty. I went for restaurant week and ordered from the three course menu which seemed like a bargain. Our waiter carried on a conversation with my friend in Italian which only added to the evening."
    Dined on 1/28/2014
  • "This romantic Italian restaurant is perfect for a quick, low key bite with a friend when you're feeling fancy, or great for a date!"
    Dined on 1/27/2014
  • "Six of us enjoyed a restaurant week dinner - each ordering differently and sharing. Great round table in the corner. The appetizer plates were plentiful. Highlights included the artichoke, tuna and elk dishes. Amazing!! The calamari was more than enough to share with many at our table. Highly recommend the short ribs, tagliolini w/white and black noodles, marscapone, tiramisu and berry desserts."
    Dined on 1/26/2014
  • "The food was very good - not very creative and plate presentation was lacking. My risotto looked like a cow-pie shaped blob someone just scooped onto the plate. Pretty thin for risotto, and no garnish. The halibut was very good (very fresh). The Elk carpaccio was excellent. The dessert was very good. This is a very good Italian restaurant, but you wont't be wowed if you're a foodie."
    Dined on 1/25/2014
  • "So glad we finally got to experience Riccardo trattoria. It is hard to get a dinner reservation but we had a 5 o'clock reservation in the middle of the week which made it easier. The food was definitely wonderful and the service was very professional. The setting was very pretty and reminded me of a small intimate restaurant in Italy. Only thing was the lighting which was a little bright but that might have been because of our early dinner hour. We would definitely go back!"
    Dined on 1/22/2014
  • "Food was fine, not amazing. The service was not knowledgeable and not particularly accommodating. The crowd was definitely >40 but the music (stereotypical Italian restaurant jazz and big band) was too loud for "intimate." Just not an interesting enough place for how high the reviews are."
    Dined on 1/23/2014
  • "You are very lucky if Riccardo's is one of your "go to's" -- always warm, friendly, welcoming and great food! One of our family's favorites for any occasion. And Riccardo himself is a wonderful person and chef -- a very gifted and special man. You are very lucky when he is cooking in the kitchen, which is almost always."
    Dined on 1/20/2014
  • "We came here upon a friend's recommendation for a birthday celebration. I twas an outstanding choice and we'll definitely be back. We were able to park for free (!) on the west side of Clark Street immediately across the street from the restaurant where there is no parking meter feeding required!"
    Dined on 1/20/2014
  • "Consistency is not foolish, nor is it the hobgoblin of little minds at Riccardo's. I have dined there since it opened, and each successive experience has been as delightful and as satisfying as the first. If anything, Riccardo and his team are improving with age. Newcomers should consider dining family style to sample a little bit of everything: fava beans with parm and veal meatballs for the first course; daily risotto and a pasta as a second; lamb and beef tenderloin as a third. Any (or perhaps all) of the desserts are the perfect pieces of punctuation to the experience, especially the ricotta cheesecake. They have one of the best groups of servers in the business, too. Treat them well, and they may treat you to something unexpected."
    Dined on 1/20/2014
  • "RT parallels the finest trattorias that my husband & I explored in Rome, Florence, and Venice. It is delicious and undeniably authentic, with wild boar sausage and pheasant as winter staples, which by the way, are not to be missed! Do yourself a favor and take advantage of the shaved truffles over pasta...it melts in your mouth. Portions are plentiful too. The only drawback is RT's limited space, which prohibits more frequent visits!"
    Dined on 1/12/2014
  • "Very gracious staff and accommodating. Busy with casual diners. Food was authentic Italian food one would find in a family trattoria simple and delicious."
    Dined on 1/19/2014
  • "We were taking my 81 year old aunt out for her birthdayso we I chose Riccardo's. The menu is extensive and authentic Italian with roots from Milano. Imported Italian beer was great. I ordered the spaghetti carbonara(fantissimo) because I know it is challenging to make- It was perfect and very filling. Wife had fettuccine Bolognese, one guest had Lobster Ravioli (He raved about it. Ric chose an Italian wine- perfect. Deserts awesome.! House Tiramisu is recommended to try but Panacota was great too. Arrived 15 minutes late because it was a typical January Chicago Blizzard and they could not have been nicer(We called to tell them we were on our way. Great Food Great Service(They all work as a team) No Problem Valet Parking!"
    Dined on 1/18/2014
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