Alla Vita

"Boka Restaurant Group unveiled an Italian spot in the former Bellemore space in 2021 to much buzz. The interior, engineered by Kehoe Designs, has beautiful touches like waves of fabric hanging from the ceiling and a garden-style wooden pergola draped with plants. Chef Lee Wolen plays all the hits on his menu and guests can expect pillowy ricotta dumplings, creamy vodka rigatoni, wood-fired pizzas, and crispy chicken parm smothered in red sauce and buffalo mozzarella. And on the beverage front, the wine list predominantly showcases Italian bottles while the liquor shelf includes Amari and vermouth." - Ashok Selvam, Eater Staff

"An Italian restaurant in West Loop, known for its quality ingredients and beautiful setting." - Kevin Chau

"This busy 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) what’s on it is delicious. The cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings are now the 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 few and far between, so plan on booking a month or so in advance, or snagging a seat at the bar right when they open." - sam faye, adrian kane, veda kilaru, nick allen

"The Verdict: Not reinventing the wheel, but book a table and wear those cute new shoes that hurt your feet. Any Chicago restaurant associated with the words “West Loop,” “Italian,” and “Boka Restaurant Group” is guaranteed to be hyped. This is the case with Alla Vita, an Italian BCR on Randolph.  It’s designed to be a crowd-pleaser, buzzing with everyone from couples to large groups in town for some investment conference. It’s also pretty, decorated with hanging plants and an intriguing overhead installation that looks a little like fish gills. And while the menu isn’t going to blow your mind with creativity (it’s mainly pizza, pasta, and a handful of entrees) what’s on it is good. 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. " - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen

"Verdict: Any Chicago restaurant associated with the words “West Loop,” “Italian,” and “Boka Restaurant Group” is guaranteed to be popular. Alla Vita is designed to be a crowd-pleaser, buzzing with everyone from couples to large groups in town for the Morningstar Investment Conference. And while the menu isn’t going to blow your mind with creativity, what’s on it is good. But how long is too long to wait for a reservation just to eat some chicken parm and pizza? Your answer will determine whether it’s worth waiting two months to book a table, or walking in to snag a seat at the first-come, first-served bar or patio." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen