Ciccio Mio

Can’t say enough good things about our evening. First off, we were the last ones seated for the night and the entire staff still gave us top tier service start to finish. Both the appetizers and plates were satisfying, and well portioned. Finished with the gelato ice cream (with olive oil & sea salt) which was the best part IMO. Both of us had two cocktails. Whiskey and Bellini. The ambiance is a moody, European swanky bistro vibe with vintage flare. We left Tre Dita (the newer upscale Italian restaurant) to try here last minute and so happy we did. Great date night spot!

Eight thin little slices of salmon for $28.99 + tax (salmon crudo) was, in my opinion, an unreasonable price. The black truffle bucatini would have been perfect if it hadn't been so cold. Perhaps heating the dishes would help keep the food warm.

I was surprised this was on the Michelin Guide!

Maybe I hyped it up too much in my head, but it fell a tad short of my expectations. The food was good, but nothing particularly outstanding or unique. If you've been to a good Italian spot before, you won't find anything too different here.

However, the location was fantastic, and the decor was fabulous. Service was decent, nothing extraordinary. The Aperol spritz was enjoyable, and both the lasagna bolognese and chicken parmesan were delicious. On the downside, the caesar salad wasn't the best, despite being loaded with cheese.

I'd still recommend giving it a try, but perhaps don't expect the world. Sometimes, high expectations can lead to a bit of disappointment, even when the experience is still solid.

I would highly recommend reservations because we saw so many people get turned away. The food was good and the drinks were even better. Pastas we’re cooked well. They have an old school espresso machine. I really appreciate the service which made the experience also feel intimate and comfortable. It is fairly dark in here but still very enjoyable.

We had a fantastic experience celebrating our anniversary here last night! Jessica was our server and she was incredible. She was very knowledgeable and her recommendations were spot on. There was nothing we tried that we didn’t like, including the drinks. Such a perfect intimate dinner and we’ll worth the wait for a reservation.

We loved our experience here tonight. The food, atmosphere, and especially the service was excellent. We didn't have a reservation but were lucky enough to get a stool in the lounge.

Jessica, our server, was excellent. She was very knowledgeable, had great recommendations, and overall made this experience stand out over other Hogsalt visits.

[Update: My partner says she would have voted Jessica's service 7/5 if possible. Great recommendations, spacing of the dish delivery was perfect, and we never felt rushed]

We had the Spicy Vodka Rigatoni**, Pappardelle*, Chicken Parm, Vesuvian Potatoes, Toasted Almond Gelato*, and Panettone Bread Pudding* (seasonal). Everything was great but we especially liked the *. The spicy rigatoni is a must.

We also really enjoyed the Old Fashioned and the Sardinian wine.

A very cute and cozy Italian restaurant. Reservations are hard to come by as this is a popular place with very limited seating, so plan in advance. Love the ambiance and decor. It’s dimly lit and romantic. The service and food was great. It’s not the best Italian cuisine in Chicago, but it’s definitely delicious and worth a visit.