Alla Vita
Restaurant · West Loop
564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
Highlights
Ricotta dumplings, wood-fired pizzas, chicken parm, Amari
Ricotta dumplings, wood-fired pizzas, chicken parm, Amari
"This West Loop Italian spot is from the same chef as Boka, which means the food is great. And while the menu isn’t going to blow your mind with creativity (it’s mainly pizza, pasta, and a handful of entrees), it is delicious. The cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings are now our reigning definition of “decadent.” The pizza has a chewy crust, and the chicken parmesan stays crispy even while sitting in a rich tomato sauce. It’s in the former Bellemore space (which is huge), and it’s decorated with hanging plants and a very cool fabric wave ceiling. The bar is full of people dining solo, and the restaurant is buzzing with staff and everyone from couples to large groups. Reservations are released on Opentable 60 days in advance at 12:01am. Options for prime dinner times are few and far between, so plan on booking a month or so ahead of time. Or grab a seat at the bar or on the patio right when they open. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen
"Two conflicting ideas can exist at the same time: you might want to be left alone, but also be surrounded by people having a good time. And a solo meal at the bar at Alla Vita in the West Loop is the best way to steal some vicarious socialization. It’s incredibly popular, and always buzzing. And the space—decorated with hanging plants and a very cool fabric wave ceiling—is roughly the size of Terminal 2 at O’Hare but with way better food. Particularly the cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings. They can only be described as “sexy”, as they’re firm on the outside, have a creamy ricotta center, and swim in a silky cheese and black pepper sauce. Resist the urge to light up a cigarette after eating. Reservations are released on Opentable 60 days in advance at 12:01am. Options for prime dinner times are few and far between, so plan on booking a month or so ahead of time. Or grab a seat at the bar or on the patio right when they open. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen
"Any Chicago restaurant associated with the words “West Loop,” “Italian,” and “Boka Restaurant Group” is probably going to be a good time. This is the case with Alla Vita, an Italian spot on Randolph. It’s designed to be a crowd-pleaser, buzzing with everyone from couples to large groups in town for some conference. It’s also pretty, decorated with hanging plants and an intriguing overhead installation that looks a little like fish gills. The menu is straightforward—mainly pizza, pasta, and a handful of entrees. The pizza has a chewy wood-fired crust, and the silky cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings will have you waving a spoon in the air like a 2000s Yoplait commercial. Reservations are released on Opentable 60 days in advance at 12:01am. Options for prime dinner times are few and far between, so plan on booking a month or so ahead of time. Or grab a seat at the bar or on the patio right when they open." - team infatuation
"This West Loop Italian spot is incredibly busy and popular, and serves lunch Monday through Friday. And while the daytime menu isn’t going to blow your mind with creativity (it’s mainly pizza, pasta, and a handful of sandwiches), it is delicious. The cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings are now our reigning definition of “decadent.” The pizza has a chewy wood-fired crust, and the chicken parmesan sandwich is packed with flavor. The bar is full of people dining solo, and even during the day, the restaurant is buzzing with staff and everyone from couples to large groups. Reservations are released on Opentable 60 days in advance at 12:01am. Options for prime dinner times are few and far between, so plan on booking a month or so ahead of time. Or grab a seat at the bar or on the patio right when they open. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - adrian kane, john ringor, nick allen, veda kilaru
"Two conflicting ideas can exist at the same time: you might want to be left alone, but also be surrounded by people having a good time. And a solo meal at the bar at Alla Vita in the West Loop is the best way to steal some vicarious socialization. It’s incredibly popular, and always buzzing with everyone from couples and small groups, to people eating at the bar and the staff serving them. And the impressive space—decorated with hanging plants and a very cool fabric wave ceiling—roughly the size of Terminal 2 at O’Hare but with way better food. Particularly the cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings. They can only be described as “sexy”, as they’re firm on the outside, have a creamy ricotta center, and swim in a silky cheese and black pepper sauce. Resist the urge to light up a cigarette after eating. Reservations are released on Opentable 60 days in advance at 12:01am. Options for prime dinner times are few and far between, so plan on booking a month or so ahead of time. Or grab a seat at the bar or on the patio right when they open. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, nick allen
