"A birthday at Ummo feels like having a party at a friend’s loft apartment—if your friend also made fresh pasta. This fun Italian restaurant in River North is full of groups sharing giant dry-aged steaks, piles of pasta, and playful tomato-shaped desserts. Framed posters cover every inch of the walls and there’s an energetic funk and soul soundtrack. And when you throw in a second floor with a DJ, pool table, and lots of couches for lounging, there’s no reason the party has to stop after the cacio e pepe." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, nick allen