Ciro

A true hidden gem in Oak Park! It feels like you are stepping right into Italy. Delicious and authentic Italian food made with ingredients direct from Italy! Ciro and his staff are so welcoming, kind, passionate, and entertaining. We even showed Ciro the fresh pasta we made at home and he was excited to tell us his secrets to make it even better next time! I can’t wait to come back, the tiramisu is to die for!

What a cute, quaint, fabulous place! The food was absolutely delicious! The owner, Ciro was the best host! What a wonderful experience! I definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious Italian food! 10 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ciro is a delightful experience serving some of the most delicious meals. Ciro himself is such a charming character vibrant with life! You must dine here at least one, but I guarantee you’ll be back for more!

Walked in here by chance, best thing to happen to me this week. Ciro is an amazing person who is not just is a top chef but cares for all his customers to have a great experience. All his food was delicious but especially the focaccia and cannoli! Thank you Ciro!

I never do restaurant reviews. I don't usually eat anywhere that is unique enough to get one. I'm doing it because I appreciate when I see a passion project. Delicious food. Friendly service. Forces you to slow down and savor the meal. I usually don't like a lot of sauce on pasta because it just overwhelms the simple saltiness of the noodles and is too rich. Not in this case, it was just enough. We ordered more bread because we didn't want the remaining sauce to go to waste. The wait is not poor service, it's due to care about quality. It's nice to be in an environment where the people making the food aren't having to frantically get out food in a timely way to a hundred+ people. Not American/typical Italian size portions that make you feel ill afterwards. I always thought Italian places prided themselves on gigantic portions so this was a refreshing change. It also wasn't so small that it felt pretentious. It's a meal, not a food painting or a tiny edible sculpture. Come hungry but not "all you can eat" hungry. For ambiance it was nice to have the private window seat but then you miss out on seeing them make the food. Guess we'll have to go back and get the other half of the experience. Thank you. We'll be back. Allow yourself about 90 minutes.

Such a fun place! Very intimate environment and high quality food. Blows every other Italian American joint I’ve been to out of the water! Already looking forward to another trip back. I’m not a drinker but they have amazing Italian sodas here which were so refreshing! Also the pesto is to die for! I’ve never liked pesto but this place completely changed my mind. Must visit!

Ciro is a place you need to visit asap. The chef Ciro is a wonderful guy- cooking up beautiful delicious meals. This little spot will be getting national acclaim soon enough

Had the most enjoyable meal at Ciro this past weekend. All food is thoughtfully prepared with locally sourced or imported ingredients and it is reflected in the flavors of the food…all was so delicious! Ciro and Mike are fun to interact with and provide a great dining experience in a very personal, cozy space. I can’t wait to return and have the best Italian food outside of Italy!

Ciro is truly a hidden gem in Oak Park and one of the best restaurants I've been to. The moment you walk in, you can feel the authenticity, this is real Italian cuisine made with love. It's a small, intimate restaurant where you can sit at the bar and watch your food being made right in front of you. We weren't sure what to order, so Ciro himself offered to just bring us what he thought we should try. Every single dish was incredible. You can see the time, care, and passion that goes into everything he makes. Ciro was so warm and friendly, making the whole experience feel personal and special. This is the kind of place that reminds you why you love going out to eat. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves authentic Italian food. I can't wait to come back--and bonus, it's BYOB!

What an incredible meal in such a unique environment! Ciro is a tiny little counter service situation where you watch the kitchen prepare your meal and have a chance to talk directly to the chefs. It was such a fun experience and the food was incredible. The meatballs were a massive standout but everything was amazing on its own. Very reasonably priced (BYOB, so stop next door for a bottle!) and everything is available for take and bake to make at home too!

One of the most authentic and best Italian meals I've ever had -- truly unforgettable. From the moment you walk in, you can see the chefs working right behind the counter. They're so friendly and genuinely love sharing their knowledge about the culture and history behind each dish. It's a really special experience. The food? Incredible. The spaghetti was unlike anything I've ever had -- fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The bread came out warm and chewy, and the tiramisu... honestly one of the best I've ever tasted. It's BYOB, and luckily there's a wine shop right next door in case you forget a bottle. With only about 10 seats inside, it's cozy and intimate, but definitely make a reservation ahead of time. This place is a true gem -- I can't wait to go back!

I've only been twice now, but both times were amazing. The second time I was in, Ciro greeted me by name. It feels like you're having dinner at a friend's house. Only the friend is making some of the best Italian pastas you've ever eaten.

This place is so quaint and cute. I think it seats about 10 people total so it's very intimate. Ciro and Mike were both very kind and explained the menu and the restaurant's history to me because it was my first time there. Everything was delicious & I like that you can byob. You can also get everything they serve premade in to go style which is great.

Who would've thought I would have the best Italian food in Chicago??? Not me!!! Everything we had here was DIVINE. The freshly made foccacia bread was so beautifully appetising (I am still baffled that every bite tasted like fresh tomato even when there wasn't any tomato in the bite). I ordered the fusilli and I devoured it - it's a mix of red sauce with an acidic undertone which is perfect for my taste buds. And my partner ordered the special pasta - it's Ciro's grandma's recipe and it's a must when you come here. As my partner said, you can taste his culture and his family in his food. But the ABSOLUTE MUST ORDER is the tiramisu. It was perfect. Ciro mentioned that all the ingredients are made from scratch and/or imported from Italy. Hence the mascarpone in the Tiramisu was perfectly light yet flavourful. Ciro provided a wonderful time of food and conversation. You can sense his passion for Italian food not just through his cooking, but through his intention as he cooks. Come for a leisurely meal where you get to chat and witness the magic happen in front of you. It's a small venue so you better hope you're lucky, or you can get everything on the menu to-go with detailed instructions of how to prepare it for yourself at home. The next time I'm back in Chicago, Ciro's will definitely be my first stop. Grazie, Ciro!

Found this place from Yelp search after our son's ball game. Glad we gave this authentic Italian cafe a try. Chef Ciro welcomed and served us. You can just feel the warm, hospitable energy from this place the moment you walk in. Our teenager enjoyed hearing the stories Chef shared about the place, how he source all ingredients direct from Italy, and the fact that every dish is lovingly prepared there. We both had the lentil soups, my son had meatballs and rigatoni pasta. We capped it with tiramisu that wasn't overly sweet, but just right. He even lit up a candle on it for my son's birthday. This is worth the stop.

Heard about this place from a coworker and it was great! It's a small charming place with counter seating. Made for great conversation with the chefs. Ciro introduced himself to my husband and I right when we were seated. The food was so delicious, he shares his family recipes as well as his own creations. All our dishes were wonderful. Can't wait to go back and try more.

Excellent service , great food with an even greater story behind it . Ciro and staff were amazing . Highly recommend the Pesto Potato gnocchi w/ focacccia. I will be returning !

Fantastic Italian food, so much is imported and of the highest quality, I will be back

Ciro is an incredible little byob spot in Oak Park! They started as take and bake items, and now have 8 counter seats that fill up quickly. Ciro, the owner and namesake, is a gem - his homemade dishes are amazing and he is happy to share his story and talk about the food. Don't miss the mind-blowing tiramisu at the end of your meal!

Delicious food and such a personal touch with the intimate seating and chef cooking the food right in front of you. My favorite Oak Park meal by far!

Cozy gem! This intimate Italian restaurant has authentic flavors and a warm atmosphere. Limited seating adds to the charm. Being BYOB is a plus, and the adjacent wine shop is convenient. Highly recommend the meatballs.

I tried this place when it first opened up when they only had one dish. Ciro is passionate about what he does and you can really tell. The price is steep, but I appreciate higher quality ingredients and preparation. The portion size seemed a bit small, but it was surprisingly larger than it looked and very filling. The pasta al forno alla nanella was definitely good. I plan to come back to try some of his new dishes.

I've wanted to try Ciro for awhile and they blew me away. Oak park has so many great restaurants to choose from but if you are hungry for Italian you need to go here. We met Ciro, who is enthusiastic about Italian cooking and creating a welcoming atmosphere. He educated us on his food and how he makes it. He has these great dreams for the restaurant and you have to root for his passion. With the open kitchen concept you can see the chef's interactions which makes you feel like you are watching it all come together. I had the rigatoni which was amazing. Had these really tender tiny meatballs. But the gnocchi my partner had amazing with this lemony creamy pesto sauce was one of the best dishes I've tried. Do not skip the tiramisu. Ciro said they only use Italian ingredients so it's light and delicate the perfect ending to a lovely dinner. Buy a bottle of wine next door and have a great time. We will be coming back

An absolutely delicious lunch with owner Ciro describing the special ingredients and tastes we were experiencing. Small space, so don't think you can just walk in and BYOB. We had a magical experience! We were treated like family and I will for sure going back again! You can also grab and go but eating there is really worth the experience. A true taste of Italy!!

I cannot say enough amazing things about Ciro. The restaurant had been on my list for a while but I just hadn't made the time until I was gifted a gift card by family. The focaccia, the pastas, cannoli, tiramisu, the conversation and laughs were incredible!

As simple as stating as this is a experience, and hands down my favorite Italian restaurant! Ciro and Mike make the place special. Ciro passion is in every dish! The conversations are always amazing and normally about food and Italy.

For those who haven't had the pleasure of Ciro, allow me to tell you the story. At first glance, it is disappointingly unassuming. There are no tables. There is only a kitchen countertop with high bar stools. "I dressed up for this?" I thought to myself. There were only two men who worked there, including a slender man who claimed to be the chef. They say to never trust a skinny chef, so I was skeptical. The chef/owner, Ciro, proudly told us that he made the pasta from scratch, he uses hard to find sugars for his desserts and only uses the freshest ingredients for his pre-cooked food he warms in front of you. Unlike most restaurants, there were no pans on fire, dinging of bells, or garnishes on the side of plates. One bite of his food and it doesn't matter. None of it matters. The lack of tables, the pre-cooked food. He could've pulled the pasta from the garbage and I still would have eaten it. You can taste the art, the craft, and the care that Ciro developed and perfected over time. His love of food stemmed from watching his grandmother cook in Italy. As a young boy, he sat under a table in her kitchen, mesmerized by the smells of her Italian dishes, the sight of flour flown in the air. If you've ever seen one of the last scenes in the movie Ratatouille, the experience is similar to that of the food critic. He takes one bite of his food and he's suddenly transported to when he was a young boy and his mother lovingly prepared ratatouille. Only the experience at Ciro is that you are transported to his childhood. You taste the love his grandmother had for him as a young boy in Italy. In short, his food is memorable, transformative, and somehow, amazingly, this skinny chef manages to feeds your soul.

Ciro is a local gem, and so is his restaurant. Our friends decided to share this spot with us after their brief discovery of it a few months ago. I can only guess it is because of both the inviting atmosphere Ciro curates inside his restaurant and the charm he brings to diners who walk in and partake of his food. Inside is a small dining counter, enough for maybe 8-10 lucky diners. Much of the menu is suitable for take away, but can be enjoyed in the establishment as well. The food is phenomenal - authentic because it's authentic to the chef (his signature dish is named for his Nonna). The moment you spark a conversation with Ciro you will understand how passionate he is about bringing his food to this area. You will fall in love with each bite as Ciro begins to tell you how technique and quality ingredients do more than adding excessive fillers like cream to his dishes. Apart from the food being delicious I think it's this warm and genuine love for what he does that makes you feel like you've sat at a dinner table with his family in Italy. Highlights: the meatballs, fusilli, rigatoni Practical tip: If dining in, there is a wait for him to prepare your food. Its a one man operation, but it's worth the wait. I suggest taking a minute to enjoy a fizzy drink and take in the charm of the restaurant or enjoy some conversation while you wait.

amazing experience, great food, great service in a wonder intimate atmosphere. love the stories on how they source their ingredients and how they put them together. it is like being at Nona's kitchen.

I took my daughter here and she thought it was the "best restaurant ever." She loved the decor and ambiance, the fresh pasta, and the attention to culinary detail. Highly recommended!

Absolutely fantastic! Best Italian in greater Chicagoland area. As good as going to Italy. Ciro is a gem.

Wow, this is the real deal! Every pasta Ciro creates is amazing. Oak Park is lucky to have Ciro. The flavors should be a model for every Italian restaurant and trattoria. What a great guy too! Friendly, genuine, passionate and funny! An intimate spot and an overall incredible experience. Don't come here expecting endless bad breadsticks, apps, or any types of salads, especially Iceberg, there is none! You want pasta? He's got pasta! E questo è tutto! Stai zitto e mangia! Grazie per tutto! Ci vediamo presto!

We are so glad we brought our parents here tonight! Not only is the food amazing, but everyone that works here is so fun, kind, and welcoming. We will definitely be returning in the near future, even if it's just for dessert! Thank you, Ciro!

Mamma Mia! Among all the good Italian restaurants that we have in Oak Park, this is no doubt THE BEST! I can't recommend it enough! Every dish is prepared with such care and love, that it feels like your granny made it for you. Dont leave without trying the tiramisu!! Shoutout to chef Ciro and his team for making such a good impact in our community.

I was in Oak Park for 4 days and on 2 of those days I ate here. Trust me I would've eaten here for 3 days if they were open on Sundays. The food is amazing despite being "pre-prepped". Almost everything I ate is stored in their fridge in tins and then baked in a fancy oven thing. Don't let that deter you! The food came out delicious regardless. Definitely try their take and bake option! My favorite item is by far the focaccia and would definitely recommend getting it with pesto and stracciatella. My favorite entree was the polpette with added mozzarella. I wish I could've tried the spaghetti but it's only available after 4:30 pm. The cannoli is insanely good. I took a bite and I felt pure bliss. The cream is different because they use sheep's milk unlike what most places in the states use. Support local and go here! The two guys on staff I met were very nice as well, one of them being Ciro himself. If I'm ever back in this area I'm definitely coming here!

Ciro is amazing, best Italian food in Chicago plus an intimate dining experience. Highest of recommendations to check it out.

Where to begin! The owner & chef was so kind and enthusiastic! The food was homemade with many ingredients imported from Italy, and tasted absolutely exquisite! Small but clean and happy restaurant that feels like home. The vibe was really relaxed. Might be the best Italian restaurant I've been to in the US! Would love to come back soon!

Michelin-star worthy. Further details on this shortly, but first an acknowledgment that, unfortunately for this mediocre writer, his clientele is literate enough that prior reviews pretty much cover it in a beautiful way: in a nutshell, the most vibrant, beautiful, authentic Italian cuisine in Chicagoland, made all the more enjoyable by the equally buoyant personality of its chef-owner. Ciro -and his food- is as consistent as he is passionate. For a European consumer who has lived in the States for some time such as myself, the simplicity and traditional nature of his dishes make them feel genuinely inventive. The food is light yet filling, but the most impressive quality in all the dishes is the balance of flavours. This is achieved in part through a fabulous attention to details and a passion for ingredients - with Ciro, what the French call the terroir is most certainly in your plate (delighting the nose before the palate), and he will joyously share the stories behind the food and its origins. Not only is he producing consistently incredible food, he is also tirelessly working to improve on his already amazing dishes. Within a month and after a second taste of his tiramisu (the only dessert on his menu), I decided that it was the best I have had. Ciro happily commented that in the interval since I had first tasted it, he had actually changed the coffee beans to ones from his native region as well as the sugar. (By the way, he makes the coffee for the tiramisu in a traditional moka pot - I suspect that is also part of the difference.) Ciro's food as well as his personality are the best cultural ambassadors for Italy - and beyond that, for a carefully crafted menu, which inspires both nostalgia and a desire to share the meal in good company.

I met a colleague for lunch at Ciro today and it was fantastic! Loved the intimate countertop space - Ciro (also the name of the proprietor and chef) was friendly and engaging as he told us about the ever changing menu and his plans to build out the window counter to serve gelato. His sense of service was impeccable; despite the fact that he was right across the counter from us for our whole meal, we were still able to talk business without feeling like he was in our face. We split two dishes at his recommendation and both were excellent. While not all of the pasta is handmade in house, he did mention it's high quality dried pasta from Italy, and it was cooked perfectly al dente. My only regret is that I didn't have enough room to try the housemade gnocchi - maybe next time!

I went here a month ago and loved it. I had not been to a restaurant like this before but really like the vibe and personalized touch. I felt like I was in a friend's house eating dinner but also got to see an amazing meal can be cooked at home. The service was phenomenal. The waiter knew a lot of about the food and helped greatly with wine pairings. Honestly this is a hidden gem.

What a lovely little place., Such fresh homemade tasty food. Like being at a cool dinner party. Do not be offended by their no frills approach to feeding you. Everything fresh and clearly made for today's service. Try meatballs, focaccia, eggplant and of course the tiramisu!!

The food the service and the ambience was all amazing. Owner was very nice. Small restaurant with a casual setting and bright ambience. Seating at counter. Must visit if in the area.

My friend and I had dinner at Ciro's tonight. It was a wonderful experience. Great food, great service-we will definitely go back.

We've been wanting to try Ciro for some time and our Nonna's 80th was the perfect excuse. I contacted Chef Ciro in the week leading up to the date and requested to take up nearly all of the stools at the bar. He could not have been nicer and more accommodating. We had a fabulous time - noshing, laughing, drinking and toasting another year of life - and excellent food! Grazie mille to Ciro and team!

Ciro is such a wonderful addition to the Oak Park community! Ciro, the owner, makes a delicious ziti dish and is so kind. It's clear that his heart is fully in his work, and I'm excited to see the new creations he comes up with as he expands his business!

Amazing Italian food from scratch with imported products. This is the BEST Italian food I have ever had. I came with my sister and tried several items from appetizers to deserts. EVERYTHING is incredible. will visit again.

Our first time, definitely not our last!!! Everything was delicious-I had Nona's pasta and my husband had the gnocchi-I think mine was better...he thinks his was! lol! We ended with tiramisu-it was right there, how could we not? It was so worth it! Can't wait to try something else next time!

We searched for a special place to celebrate a birthday. We has recently been to Italy and wanted enjoy authentic Italian food. We came across Ciro, right here in Oak Park! It was an amazing experience enjoyed by all of us (5 adults), including 3 children (7, 11, 13). It gave us the feeling of a private dinner. The food and drinks brought us to the flavors of Italy. It was exceptionally delicious. We ordered two of each, appetizers and mains. We shared every dish. The youngest enjoyed home made spaghetti while nibbling it on some of the exquisite dishes. It was wonderful not to need to make a decision which dish to enjoy. Each was unique and delicious. Chef Ciro shared that 90% of the ingredients are sourced from Italy and thoughtfully created. Everything from the appetizers to the desserts we enjoyed at home were exceptional. The teenager commented it was the best cannoli he has ever had. We look forward to trying some of the dishes to bake at home. Thank you Chef Ciro and Mike for a rememberable experience. It was Perfecto!

Great pasta! Just like Nana's! Ciro very friendly and a great chef! Great when you're running late from work and still want something that is great food! It's become a regular staple for me!

Thank you for a great girls night out. The atmosphere was quaint and the food was delicious. The Chef passion comes through on every dish, from pasta Nanella, gnocchi and my favorite the meatballs. The tiramisu was out of this world! Thank for sharing your talents with Oak Park!

Great Italian food! The owner, Ciro, is the essence of superb hospitality. I will be back!

Ok my people, I ordered the ziti today because I had not had a pasta dish for a minute. It was very yummy, the sad part was the way it disappeared so quickly off my plate. Please pay this establishment a visit and enjoy great northern Italy cooking. You won't be disappointed. Can't wait for the fresh bread and gelato.

Best traditional italian place of all time. Never liked any pasta in America as its difficult to compare to the authentic pasta crafted in Italy. This is the one exception as it was built from a true Italian. Great conversations, great service, and even better food. Please visit this place, trust me!

Ciro is an amazing individual His pasta is outstanding..... A lovely spot nestled in Oak Park...don't miss it Sei bravissimo con un cuore molto grande. Auguroni

My buddy picked up some pasta from here while I was visiting Chicago. Real good stuff.

The food was amazing! Definitely recommend and will continue to come here. The flavors are outstanding to say the least!! Italian food at its finest. The atmosphere is also warm and inviting. It's definitely a must!!