tesoriTesori is excellentThe wait staff is very friendly and helpful. The food was excellent, as were the drinks from the bar. Scallops, Caesar Salad, and Pasta were all high quality with great flavor. Drinks from the bar were well sized and delivered perfectly.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for pre symphony diningReally great service and wonderful menu options. The pork chop in red pepper sauce was outstanding.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMConvenient and delicious!We have been in town for a wonderful course at the Art Institute and were attending the symphony concert. This wonderful gem is in the symphony building and was absolutely perfect. We had a delightful waitress and thoroughly enjoyed our meal.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMperfect place before a concertperfect place before a concert but pricey for what it is6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst trip to Chicago.We visited Chicago to celebrate my birthday. Tesori was recommended to us from a friend. We are very pleased with this selection. A great dining experience. Thank you.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMCharles Butler review of Tesori II This will always be Rhapsody to me. I The food and service are wonderful. My wife and I love having dinner here before concerts. The matred and other staff are the best.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect on a Symphony NightOur first visit and we really enjoyed the lovely space, the food and the service. Might want to try the lively-looking bar sometime also (they serve a different menu there).
However, our evening was very negatively impacted by the woman at the next tabel (which was close) who spoke loudly and sometimes with vulgar language on her cell phone for MORE THAN 30 MINUTES !! I do think the restaurant should intercede and ask her to step outside.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMSymphony DinnerA great menu and wine list with outstanding service. After our dinner we experienced the Chicago Symphony conducted by Ricardo Muti. After the performance we returned to Tesori for a night cap. Mr. Muti walked in to the restaurant with other musicians and stopped by at table. How wonderful to make the evening magical. Ms. Deb Torres is the dinning director at Tesori who made us feel special and welcomed.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMI ate at Tesori for a businessI ate at Tesori for a business lunch. The atmosphere was perfect for our business discussion. Our server was awesome - she let us conduct business without interrupting but still managed to get our order and serve us. The food was outstanding. We all had salads and they were fantastic. I would definitely eat here again.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent!Excellent service. Innovative menu ...a chef that keeps it exciting with new flavors and dishes...every bite of food was delightful...fresh nice from restaurants that just dish out same bland menu items all the time6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMfood excellent, service notFood was very good, something for everyone, including gluten-free. our waiter, however, was almost indifferent, he wasn't friendly and seemed to really rather be doing something else. enjoyed the duck items on menu. The eggplant appetizer, however, must've sat in the little serving cast iron pans too long, waiting to be ordered? b/c the dish tasted like a cast iron pan. Anyone who cooks with cast-iron knows that you cannot leave food in the pan, it absorbs the iron taste. Not good.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMdining before the symphonyThis restaurant was perfect for dinner before or after the Chicago symphony. The valet parking was an additional welcome service. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeble. The menu was diverse and the food delicious.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is very good; space isFood is very good; space is comfortable and attractive. It is expensive and feels like they do that because they can take advantage of being in Symphony Center. I will continue to go because of the convenience.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMMuch improved!We had dined at this restaurant's predecessor (Rhapsody) many times before going to the Symphony. When it changed hands, we looked forward to trying Tesori. We had 2 very mediocre experiences in the Fall and were reluctant to return. But after a recent dinner there we can't wait to go back! Everything was delicious and the service was great.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGood straightforward ItalianThis is a good spot to go before a show at Symphony Center. I've had three meals there and two were excellent and one was decent. The pasta seems to be the safer bet.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMTesoriBefore attending the symphony, Tesori is the go to restaurant . Service is outstanding. You can enjoy something light at the bar or linger over fine cuisine in the dining room. Emphasis is on Italian & I can recommend the pasta.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat before CSOWe had dinner here before attending a CSO event, very handy. Our server Mimi was awesome. She had an excellent knowledge of how items were prepared as well as a very charming personality. All of the food was superb, with the exception of the duck confette, a bit dry and not too crispy. But the duck breast was perfect. You can't go wrong with dinner here.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Venue for a business dinnerOn a recent late night dinner with an out-of-town business colleague; the service was outstanding; my colleague was impressed with wine list; and the quality and variety of menu offerings was impressive.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat experienceoutstanding service, food was great. Good wine list. worth a repeat.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGood night!I just want to say the staff was the best I've ever seen. Very knowledgeable and attentive!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMThe best French toast ever!Really nice brunch, though it took quite a while for the food and our bill to show up. Good thing the two of us weren't in a hurry. We had the BEST French toast ever, and an omelette (with wild musrooms and fonina cheese) that was scrumptious.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMHuge, but very goodThe place looks nice, but is pretty huge and bright, so not a romantic date place. But we got a table for brunch on Mother's Day relatively easily, due to the large seating capacity. They didn't blink when we asked for a high-chair for our kid, so that was nice for a fancy joint. French toast was about the best we have ever had, they gave my wife a free champagne flight (Prosecco, actually, but who's complaining?) and they had a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar, which is a plus. My wife also had the pizza, which was excellent. Service was great, too. All told, three people having full orders with drinks, the bill was $50, which is a nice surprise for a place this good, located half a block from the Art Institute, in the middle of Fancyville.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMPre-Symphony deliciousness!Brunch on Sunday, May 5 at 1:30 pm before a 3pm concert at Symphony Center. Couldn't have been a better experience! Great food, excellent service, beautiful ambience.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMA great dinner before balletWe had dinner here before the Joffrey ballet and were very pleased. The waiter was wonderful explaining the various entrees and confirmed our choice of a wine from Venice region, which was great. I would highly recommend the burata and spinach salads as starters and while these a bass was just okay, the presentation, starters and overall atmosphere made up for it.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely setting, amazing pastaAte there early Saturday night before Joffrey and thought it was wonderful. Even though it is right downtown the trees outside of the huge windows makes it feel like you are in a secluded glen. And the pasta! All four of us had pasta dishes and the pasta was so incredibly light and delicious. I don't know how they do it!. All I can think about is how to get back there for more.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful place to get togetherA wonderful place to get together before the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performance! Delicious food, desserts were exquisite.
Waitstaff prompt and helpful in watching time for getting to CSO on time! Fantastic to have 3 choices of fish--2 in our party had halibut and 1 had walleye and salmon was also on the menu. We had a corner table for 5 and it was a perfect setting.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect before the concert fareIt was very busy before the concert but the service was great; the food was delicious; and we were out in plenty of time to find our seats. Definitely recommend!5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the new fare!the change to a new menu and attitude is welcome..since the choices in the area for a convenient and yet relaxing dinner pre-concert or ballet are so slim...we .have always liked this location.
The service is always consistently helpful, and servers are concerned with schedules...which is important. The new menu offers some gems, and the prices are more than fair. We will continue to be loyal!!5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect.I love everything about this place. Food was delicious, server was excellent. This place is a gem.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMBefore the symphony.....We had a really nice dinner here before the symphony. We like it so much better than Rhapsody - for both the price and the quality of the menu. They were good about getting us through in plenty of time for the show. I am not sure if I would come back to the restaurant if we were not going to the Symphony -- but the convenience and the food were perfect for that! That said, we will come back for the bar, even without symphony tickets..... we are always looking for a good place to meet in the Loop, especially since the Custom House bar closed. This will fit the bill -- and the bar menu looks like it is worth trying as well!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and serviceThe roasted octopus appetizer was outstanding. I also appreciated that I could purchase a half glass of wine. I was disappointed not to find Rhapsody on this visit to Chicago, but Tesori is an excellent replacement.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Ever!The spaghetti and meatballs were the most delicious I've ever eaten -- unlike any at regular Italian restaurants. My companion had the lasagna which was also outstanding. We will definitely go again.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMSecret to Making ReservationsOn Chicago Symphony nights, Tesori is jammed from 6:00 p.m. to about 7:45 p.m. If you're not CSO aficiandos, best time to make your reservation is any time after 7:45, when most of the patrons are leaving for the concert.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent scallop/lobsterExcellent scallop/lobster appetizer offset by very bland Amish chicken dish. Main course portions are too big - diners can't take doggy bags to the symphony. I wish they would make portions more reasonable and charge a bit less.
Legacy Rhapsody servers seem to be doing a much better job than the new folks.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect for dinner beforePerfect for dinner before the symphony or something light after the performance.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThis reinvention of the largelyThis reinvention of the largely disappointing Rhapsody and is a vast improvement. Both the food and the service were top notch and we'll definitely be back.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had great food and serviceWe had great food and service at Tesori. The creative combination of flavors was a real treat.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWarm and modern decor , goodWarm and modern decor , good ambiance. Better than Rhapsody. Service was great. Food was wonderful. Had the trout, which was very fresh and light with just the right portion- sized side. Would come back again.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe restaurant menu is variedThe restaurant menu is varied with something for everyone, and the food was delicious. We found that this is a great place for a meal either before or after the symphony, and we enjoyed a lovely lunch. The only thing that we did not like was our waiter who was so busy with other tables that he neglected to return and see how we were doing. He never brought a spoon for our dessert.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were there for lunch.We were there for lunch. Tesori is very busy on the days of CSO concerts but is able to main a good quality of food and service. I'm sure it would be less noisy at other times, which would make it an even better place in which to dine.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, and service.Excellent food, and service. Nice menu. Quiet place, so you can hear your dinner partners.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place to have a niceGreat place to have a nice dinner before the symphony!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and the service wereThe food and the service were wonderful. Diners should be aware though that as with most fine restaurants everything is a la carte. The entrees or second course generally do not include a starch so if you also want pasta that's in the first course which is an additional charge. Salads are also separate so if you are getting all the courses the price will add up fast. However, you probably won't need to get every course. Our party of three split two appetizers and each had an entree and dessert and we were full. An appetizer that is really good for sharing is a meat and cheese tray which was very generous.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a business group of sixHad a business group of six and they did a very nice job of taking care of us.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWe traditionally dined atWe traditionally dined at Rhapsody before CSO concerts. Tesori is a very nice replacement. The halibut special was wonderful as was the beet salad. The menu is different but has a lot of good choices at reasonable prices. Good experience with timely service and a relaxing atmosphere for preconcert dining.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMOther worldly...The meal and service were excellent from begining to end. The simplicity of a genuine Tuscan meal good food prepared spot on.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAll-around great. Very attentiveAll-around great. Very attentive to food restrictions.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMPoor dessertsVery convenient for before or after Symphony concert but not a destination. Prices too high relative to quality. Desserts are particularly poor and way overpriced. Seems like chef is trying to emulate "deconstruction" techniques of others without success. Tiramisu is unrecognizable Mason jar filled with tasteless white liquid with banana chunks and some chocolate shavings on top. Budino is not the usual molten center chocolate treat but a tiny piece of cold flourless chocolate cake. Not up to the level of when it was Rhapsody.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMperfect pastaThis is our local. The executive chef used to work in Italy in a Michelin 2 star, then came back here and has worked in some great addresses before buying this place and renaming it Tesori. The food is accessible Italian. We've lived in Italy and measure an Italian by the ability to make a simple pasta pomodoro... sounds simple, pasta with tomato but it't teh simple dishes that are the hardest as they need to really master the basic ingredients... Tesori does it to perfection.. Their chef Jesus makes the perfect pasta (and it is now actually added to the register as "Jesus pasta". Highly recommend here. Also on your own, you can sit at the bar and eat while watching the kitchen work which is nice.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMTesori! Symphony of Tastes!We four visitors to Chicago experienced an evening of true delight. We were seated promptly upon arrival and were looked after with a lot of TLC. The menu offered many options and inventive interpretations. The small plates array was a favorite of two of my guests. The suckling pig was a big event standout that my third guest is still talking about three days later. I had the seafood (white fish) that was cooked to perfection and a crispy skin that added texture and flavor. We all shared an assortment of gelati and beautiful cookies and departed to attend a stupendous concert at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (next door). What an evening of surprises!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AM