Diners' Choice: Contemporary Italian restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary Italian cuisine in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Nonna Silvias Trattoria and Pizzeria

4.8

4.8 (1830)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Park Ridge

About the restaurant

Nonna Silvia's is a popular neighborhood restaurant nestled between Park Ridge and Edison Park. Family owned for 22 years, Chefs Steve Marti & John Giannini have been cooking authentic, regional Italian cuisine (from central Italy) since opening the restaurant. Inspired by and named after their grandmother, Silvia Giannini, Nonna Silvia's offers homemade pastas, fresh seafood, specialty pizzas, and a choice selection of local, Midwestern meats. We feature a collection of more than 60 wines (many of our wines are award-winning, Wine Spectator rated) from all over the world as well as craft beer and signature cocktails. Our restaurant has a warm and intimate Tuscan ambiance and a popular outdoor patio. Come and join us for a memorable meal and experience!

Top review

BarryVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Worth a ride to go to and food very good.A neighborhood where parking at a premium. Have been there twice and does not disappoint.Ambiance is really what detracts from 5 star

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Popular dish

Grilled Calamari

Alla Vita

4.8

4.8 (2541)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

West Loop

About the restaurant

Serving a casual, family-style menu, Alla Vita is a place to gather and enjoy comfortable Italian cuisine. Alla Vita means “to life” in Italian which recognizes overcoming life's challenges and creating a space for shared meals and memorable experiences. Executive Chef Lee Wolen shares his passion for fresh, delicious Italian food made simply with the best ingredients.

Follow @allavitachicago to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings.

Top review

Cecily

Dined 4 days ago

Just had a birthday lunch and it was amazing!! Service was awesome and the food was soooo good! Definitely will be going back.

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Forno Mauri Italian Pizzeria

4.8

4.8 (14)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

South Loop

About the restaurant

Northern Italian pizzeria, Forno Mauri, brings the oldest traditions of Milano bakeries to the heart of Printer’s Row with its 14’’ thin crust Tonda Classica and all-Italian imported ingredients, including the best Fiordilatte mozzarella from Agerola.
Owner of Sofi Italian in Chicago, Maurizio Michi is a Milanese and NYC restaurateur who has catered to the world’s most high profile clientele from fashion designers, film stars, musicians, and artists to business executives and royals.

Top review

MaryVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Forno Mauri and its “Mother” restaurant, Sofi, next door are both delicious restaurants! The pizza choices at Forno Mauri are exceptional! The ingredients - including the flour - are all imported from Italy and are both authentic and creative!! Great service, wonderful wine choices and outstanding appetizers as well as deserts!!

etta Bucktown

4.6

4.6 (31)

$50 and over

Contemporary Italian

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

At etta Bucktown, we’re proud to be a local favorite for neighborhood Italian dining. Known for our wood-fired dishes and relaxed, welcoming vibe, we’re open daily for lunch and dinner, plus we offer a lively brunch every Saturday and Sunday. Whether you're here for a casual meal or a celebratory gathering, Etta is where Bucktown comes to eat, drink, and connect.
To book parties of 9 or more, please visit our website at https://www.ettarestaurant.com/bucktown/about

Top review

TyederriousVIP

Dined on Jun 3, 2025

Fantastic food and service. Definitely look forward to visiting again in the future.

Prosecco

4.4

4.4 (2792)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

River North (Chicago)

About the restaurant

PROSECCO, in the heart of the River North Gallery District, is a chic, yet welcoming restaurant serving comfort foods from all 20 regions of Italy and Chicago's largest selection of sparkling wine.

Enjoy classic comfort foods -- from house-made pasta to nightly beef, fish and game menu additions.

Prices are moderate, but those wishing to indulge in an evening of culinary mischief will not be disappointed!

Top review

TerryVIP

Dined 2 days ago

The owner/chef was great, Mark made it a point to talk to all the patrons and even sat for a few minutes with some. Food was outstanding and the drinks were great!

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Experience

Happy Hour at Prosecco in the Bar

Passero

4.5

4.5 (1026)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Arlington Heights

About the restaurant

Passero is a trattoria-inspired American restaurant located in downtown Arlington Heights. It is the collaboration of Italian-American heritage over many generations and the culinary interpretations of Chef Matt Peota. By sourcing ingredients from the surrounding areas the dishes also reflect the seasonality of the Midwest.

Passero translates to “sparrow” in Italian, and like the sparrow this neighborhood eatery symbolizes joy, creativity and hard work. Passero serves as a reminder that busy hands and minds promote a happy and full life.

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TaylorVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Service and food was great! Prices of food and drinks are quite high for a suburban restaurant. Expect city prices. They used to have a happy hour but not anymore.

Fiamme

4.5

4.5 (1982)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

Naperville

About the restaurant

Fiamme Pizzeria Napoletana pulls inspiration from the flames of its blazing hot pizza oven, producing exquisite Italian dishes influenced by the traditions of Naples. Our true star of the show is the new kid on the block Detroit, pan style pizza that takes your tastes buds on a trip to remember from the caramelized cheese crown to the cloud like crust. Far more spirited than the average pizzeria, Fiamme provides an excellent and unique selection of wines and craft beers to go along with its impassioned cuisine.In addition to offering imported ingredients to ensure the most authentic Italian dishes, you will also find dairy-free and gluten-free options to meet the needs of any guest. Baked at 900 to 1000 degrees in an oak-fired brick oven, this pizza is sure to please anyone who loves a good slice. Make your next night out a special experience with a trip to Fiamme Pizzeria Napoletana in Naperville, Illinois.

Top review

Kathy

Dined 2 days ago

Great as always !! I Will be going back soon Cant wait

North Shore Bistro

4.4

4.4 (122)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Highland Park

About the restaurant

A fun and exciting new addition to the North Shore! Located at 250 Skokie Blvd. in Northbrook, North Shore Bistro is a mix of modern Italian Cuisine and high end handcrafted cocktails! Open until 2 AM Friday and Saturday we are bringing the night life back to Northbrook! But don't forget the food! We have all of Chef Marciano's specials that made the place so special in the past! Come in today, see all the new decor, and try an amazing meal paired with some delicious drinks or a bottle of wine from our handpicked wine list!

Top review

SallyVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Bistro salad was very good but the menu said it contained black olives (which I was looking forward to) and, instead they were Kalamata olives. The chicken Marsala was very good and my husband said the brick chicken was somewhat dry. Fortunately, it came with a lot of sauce. The banana cheesecake was outstanding and the carrot cake was very good too. Extremely nice host, server and bussers. The server, although personable, knowledgeable and friendly, never checked back after the food was served to find out if we needed anything

Figo Wine Bar

4.5

4.5 (453)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

Figo Wine Bar invigorates the best qualities of an Italian wine bar. A menu incorporating foreign cuisines into a traditional Italian menu and a sommelier-selected wine list encourage a new and exciting experience.

Our beverage menu includes an extensive wine list and beautiful craft/classic cocktail selection, all pastas are made in house and we source all of our ingredients locally.

Top review

KateVIP

Dined on Jun 4, 2025

A nice selection of tapas in a cozy, but not cramped, space. We had tortellini, asparagus bruschetta and meatballs and all were good. They have a nice selection of cocktails on wine. Beer is not a focus. Very welcoming and relaxing.

Blue Fire Restaurant

4.3

4.3 (58)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Oak Park

About the restaurant

Blue Fire is located in Elmwood Park, Illinois, and specializes in serving authentic European cuisine. This restaurant offers catering services and is perfect for family dinners, business meetings, or meeting with friends. Blue Fire also offers packages for private events.

The menu at Blue Fire includes main dishes, salads, pastas, seafood, burgers, shawarma, pizzas, desserts, and much more. We also have a children's menu and vegetarian dishes. Popular dishes include rigatoni alla vodka, Alfredo pasta, pork medallions, steak, beef stroganoff, dark side of the sea, arugula fusion roast beef, and fried calamari. Offered desserts include tiramisu, cheesecake, medovik, and mille-feuille.

Top review

Jerome

Dined on Jun 3, 2025

Everything looked really good—honestly hard to pick just one, but the burger definitely stood out. It caught my eye right away with that melty cheese and how fresh it looked. Seemed like it had a great balance of flavor and didn’t even need anything on the side. I’d order it in a second. The whole vibe was super chill and it was the kind of burger you go for when you’re craving something legit.

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Experience

FREE PIZZA On Your First Visit

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