DeNucci's

We had an excellent experience. Service was exceptional. Food was well timed and delicious. Ordered Garlic Knots, baked mozzarella, arrancini, Caesar salad, bolognese, veal parm, pizza, shrimp scampi, tiramisu. Everything was super delicious. Portions were large. We took home leftovers. I would definitely come back. Did not get pics of everything. Atmosphere was lovely and perfect for date night but casual enough that my family felt welcome for an early dinner. I especially loved that they fry their chicken/veal parms in a separate fryer and the flavor is amazing.

From the moment you walk in, the warm & inviting atmosphere sets the tone for an incredible dining experience. The staff is attentive, friendly and make you feel right at home. The menu is a perfect blend of classic and creative dishes, each unique and delicious. I’m not too well-versed on Italian food, but the bartender, CJ was informative, super patient with my indecisiveness — and he made some killer cocktails! Everything tasted incredible and I went home with a very happy belly :) Such a standout spot, I will definitely be back! Thanks again!

The food is always hot, saucy, and authentically Italian as promised. Service is warm, welcoming, and prompt. DeNucci's never disappoints. Plus, I love the vibe they set musically during brunch. The meatballs are so tender and moist. The ceasar salad is crisp and fresh, and I really appreciate the deliciously 😋 divine breadcrumbs they top the pasta and salads off with. My family favors the spicy crab campanelle, spaghetti cacio e pepe, and pepperoni pizza. They offer dining room, bar, and al fresco 🐕 friendly patio seating. Because parking is difficult to come by in this area, I suggest using a rideshare service or opting for the valet. Buon 🍝 appetito!

Absolutely amazing experience for restaurant week. The hazelnut espresso tartufo is the best dessert I’ve ever had!!!! Please keep this around and add it to the main menu. I’ll definitely be back to get that if so!

such a cute lil place that unfortunately did not quite live up to expectations 😭 not sure if we just ordered the wrong dishes, but none of the dishes arrived warm enough - they were all cold within like 2 min of eating individual dish notes: grilled calamari was delicious, it had a unique sauce that was very flavorful and paired well with the flavor of the squid. squid texture felt good as well lumache arrabbiata was also delicious. the sauce was like a normal red sauce with cheesiness added to it that made it taste rich lobster ravioli felt understuffed, and the filling tasted like nothing but lemon…would not recommend for $32 jumbo shrimp oreganata tasted okay but i wouldn’t order it again at $26 for the dish

Amazing! Gluten free/celiac here. Run, not joking- run there! After 15 years as a Celiac- best bread/pizza crust. Like a focaccia, light fluffy, olive-oil brushed absolutely delicious!!!!! Dedicated kitchen, writing review 4 hours after eating. Knowledgeable staff and manager. Restaurant- you need to sell this bread. People will come for it! Best meal in Chicago!

Solid Italian food. Special shoutout to the margherita pizza, I could tell they used low moisture mozzarella and the cheese held together well. I liked the chicken marsala too, it was cooked well and had decent flavor.

Visited Chicago for the weekend and everyone told us we HAD to go to Denucci’s. I really liked the atmosphere, the decor and the jazzy playlist created a really classy vibe. I had the bolognese which was delicious. Another person in my party ordered the chicken piccata but was served chicken parm. Not a huge deal, but then when we received the bill we saw they charged us for the lemon that they put with the side of pasta? What?? So that put a bad taste in my mouth. Service wasn’t spectacularly friendly, I felt our waiter was a little short with us at times. So overall I wasn’t very impressed and didn’t feel my expectations were met. I had a good meal but the other factors put a damper on the experience. Darn good tiramisu though.

Five stars all around for DeNucci's! This place is nestled in the heart of Lincoln Park and is an excellent add to the dining scene in the area. We've had the opportunity to dine on the patio (perfectly situated off the main thoroughfare of Lincoln for a relaxed meal) and the quaint interior which has an excellent mix of vintage and modern vibes. The food is excellent - we've tried a number of the starters with the calamari being the stand out. On our most recent visit, I had the Cacio e Pepe and my wife, the bolognese pastas as mains. Both were fresh and full of flavor. The star of the meal though was the tiramisu. Light, sweet and perfect after a big meal. Service has always been excellent and attentive. Will be back many more times.

Best Italian I've had in a while. Great service too. Try the Caesar. The sausage and peppers. The pasta. The bread. The beer. Try it all. Legit spot. Glad I don't live walking distance to this place or I'd look like a sumo wrestler in six months. Love it.

We came on a Sunday night prior to going to zoo lights, and I was pretty excited because I love their sister restaurant, Coda di Volpe. I was looking forward to some pasta and had been eyeing the garlic knots on the menu! While the food was overall good, I don't think it is worth the price. The service, despite it being somewhat slow, was not the best either. And the cocktails, while seeming to have high end ingredients or fancy combinations, were just super expensive, small, and generic tasting. We started with those garlic knots and I was so excited when they came out. They looked almost like parker house rolls covered with garlic butter. They were served with a small side of red sauce which was well seasoned and delicious. But while the outside of the rolls were soft and fluffy, the insides were dense and chewy, in a bad way. I was pretty disappointed in these small tough rolls and they were $8 for 4 of them. A bit steep considering garlic knots are supposed to be made out of discarded dough. I have no clue what they do to these garlic knots to make them so weird, and apparently the tough inside is a feature not a bug since many people have reviewed them saying the same thing. We also shared the house italian salad, which was delicious and hit the spot, but a bit small for $11 considering it was just iceberg lettuce, a few veggies, and dressing. It really reminded me of Olive Garden's salad, which I absolutely love, but double the price and very bottomed rather than bottomless. I considered ordering another one because it was so small but we just waited for our entrees. While we were greeted quickly and apps came out fast, we had to wait a while for our entrees which was fine, but the couple of times our waiter stopped by he did it in such a rush that we had to flag him back down to order another drink (which was empty when he went by, he was just inattentive). We ordered the Sunday special of Chicken scarpariello ($36) which was boneless chicken thighs, sausage links, and a metric ton of peppers. We also split the Orecchiette ($26). Both entrees were tasty, and we were impressed by the flavor and tenderness of the chicken. However it was only two small chicken thighs, and I feel like for the price there really should have been at least one more chicken thigh in there. It was disguised as a large entree because there were probably about a pound of cooked peppers included on the dish, but the pepper to meat ratio was way off, probably 5:1 of the meat which was just unbalanced. The Orecchiette was also delicious, tasted like a standard dish you'd get at any italian place so nothing particularly special. It was probably the most reasonably priced of our dishes and I still felt like it could have been a bit bigger. So while everything was tasty, the value just wasn't there. The cocktails are $16-17 for pretty standard drinks, and I think that's just ridiculous. Then the last thing that really bugged me was that our server dropped a dessert menu at 6:50, and he didn't come back until 7:10. We wanted to order dessert, but we had 7:30 zoo lights reservations so we ended up skipping it. We didn't see him at all during this time, and despite us trying to make eye contact with the manager, or SOMEONE to get our server so we could get dessert, no one seemed to notice. So overall this was a nice place but I think you can get similar tasty food at a much better price elsewhere in the city. For 2 cocktails, the "garlic knots", a salad, and 2 entrees, we ended up spending over $150 which was too much considering we didn't even have leftovers. Would have been 5 stars with better service and prices.

Wow...the best chicken parm I've ever had, and I'm a connoisseur. Crispy, cheesy, aromatic, herbal, truly a work of culinary art. We got the tagliatelle bolognese to go with it (splitsies style). What an amazing pairing. Rich and al dente!!! The ground meat in the bolognese was of high quality and had caramelization. Really all the details are accounted for here. I found my new favorite Italian

Loved this place so much had to write a review like right now! Booked a reservation for 5 tonight (Saturday) to celebrate my birthday. Service (6/5): genuinely excellent service - the host texted me regarding my reservation to ask for the birthday persons name & "happy birthday kacie" was stamped on all the menus. It was so thoughtful and the hostess & our server made sure to wish me a happy birthday. Not a necessity but it felt very genuine and thoughtful. Unfortunately I don't remember our servers name but he was so knowledgeable about the menu, attentive, and so so kind. We also brought a birthday cake that they lit up for us and provided plates to share. On our way out, another server offered us a bag to carry our cake box and leftovers in. Overall, I'd come back for service alone. Food (5/5): I got the spiked Italian lemonade and that's a great drink for girlies who like sweet drinks that don't taste too strong. HIGHLY recommend the fried calamari: perfectly crispy, also comes with slices of pepper and topped with lemon slices & paired with a perfectly acidic marinara sauce. Garlic Knots: very garlicky, delicious, but a little dense for my taste & paired with the same marinara sauce. It usually comes with 4 but our server had the kitchen add 1 more for us as we were a table of 5 which I felt was so generous. Pizza: you can get half and half! Somewhat thin dough and a crispy crust - I enjoyed the sausage & onion side more. Sausage was flavorful but there definitely needed to be more onion. Not the best pizza I've had but absolutely hit the spot. Arrabiata: vodka pastas cousin but tangier. A bit too tangy for my taste but add a little crushed pepper and it's nearly perfect. Pasta is perfectly cooked, there was just enough sauce to coat the pasta, and the portion is big! Ragu Pasta: had no idea what to expect with this but it was a much beefier & more savory spaghetti. The meatball was so flavorful and the pasta shape was new, fun, and held the sauce very well. Ambiance (4/5): it was a little cramped in there but I loved how warm and cozy the space was. It wasn't too loud and I'd highly recommend hosting friends here If you had any doubt, you gotta go! The food is simple, straightforward, and executed well

DeNuccis is the BEST Italian restaurant in Chicago. Literally just as good if not better than restaurants in Italy. Not only are the servers so nice and helpful, but the food is absolutely heavenly. Highly recommend their meatballs, spaghetti, and chicken parm. Pasta was nothing short of perfection. The tomato sauce they used for everything is the standard all other tomato sauces should live up to. Everything was so tasty and worth.

Went for restaurant week and every dish was delicious! The restaurant was a little tight and when it was full it was a little hard to hold a conversation, but that may be a result of some louder people around us and not the restaurant itself. either way the drink was delicious and strong, and all of the food overshadowed the restaurant layout.

This is a place I'll be craving. Came here with friends and had a feast. grilled calamari - was going to do fried but server recommended the grilled. Damn. It was great. Garlic knotts were stellar Chicken Parm - was craving this since I saw it on the menu. I added a side of spaghetti cause yolo. There's two decent sized chicken breasts...it's big enough to share. I loved it. spaghetti cacio e pepe was fantastic. I stole a few bites. Really good. Service was excellent. We had a bottle of Pinot that was perfect for the dinner. Sitting outside on a crisp summer day was peak Chicago. I hope to come back before summer is over

This is my new favorite Italian restaurant! I can't believe I haven't been here before. Denuccis achieves the neighborhood corner vibe while still having high end options and fantastic food. Our waiter pointed us to the chicken parm and pasta limone which were soo good. And then he recommended the grilled calamari as opposed to the fried. Normally I'm scared of seeing the squid so much but he was absolutely right. The grilled calamari was my favorite!

I would actually rate this spot at 4.5. We had a group of 6 for a birthday celebration. It was a bit difficult to get a reservation, so we were surprised it wasn't busy when we got there on a late Sunday afternoon. They print the name of the person celebrating on your menus, which is a nice touch. They also comped his dessert. The space is attractive and lively and we loved the booth for six, which allowed for good conversation and sharing. Drinks were ordered, Frozen Negroni was the favorite 5/5, Italian Lemonade, Aperol Spritz and Sbagliato were all enjoyed as well. We ordered a lot of food. We all like to eat so we shared and sampled. Garlic Knots, Gem Caesar, Arancini and Margherita pizza all 5/5. The appetizer round was the stand out IMO. No flaws for anyone, I especially enjoyed the Arancini. The next round was the Lumache, Cavatelli alla Joe, Chicken Cutlet Parmesan and sides of meatballs and sausage. The Lumache was the favorite, al dente and the sauce had the proper kick and tasty smooth sauce. Cavatelli was good, but I have had better. They were smaller than I am accustomed to and were a little too firm. They did not taste homemade to me. The meats were a mixed bag. Much of the group liked the meatballs, but I thought the basil was overpowering. I prefer Italian parsley in mine. The braciola meat was nice and tender, but the stuffing was just seasoned breadcrumbs, which tasted a bit mealy. The Chicken parm was good, still had some crisp, but I thought it could have used more seasoning. The sausage for me was the best of the meats. The dessert round was 2 latte, 1 espresso, Nutella/Banana Cannoli, various gelato and the Pistachio Blondie. All good, Pistachio Blondie was 5/5. Our server was outstanding, friendly but not intrusive and answered questions thoughtfully. I would 100% go back for the drinks, the pizza and the apps. There were so many more appetizers to try, that would be my focus.

First time trying DeNuccis and it did not disappoint! We got the garlic knots, lobster ravioli, Cavatelli Ragu alla Joe, and pistachios gelato. The lobster ravioli was so creamy and delicious with an ample amount of lobster filling. The garlic knots were also to die for. The gelato was really creamy but also very good. We sat outdoors and service was very friendly and fast. I did get a chance to see the indoors and it is very beautiful and elegant. Definitely recommend this place!

Loved this place! Server Mike was so attentive and nice, and the food was delicious. The Bolognese and garlic knots were yummy. The pistachio blondie for dessert was the best. Definitely will be back. Valet was a nice perk too only $12 at dinner.

Food was incredible - the chicken parm was so delicious and crispy, the pasta was so flavorful and saucy, the garlic knots were fluffy and tasty, the gelato was creamy and so yummy!! The service was great, we were taken care of just the right amount :) everyone was nice and helpful. The ambiance was so nice, there was a back room we saw that would be perfect for a birthday dinner or special occasion gathering, it was so charming and cute!!

DeNucci's is a lot of razzle-dazzle and has a great buzz. The atmosphere is sleek and contemporary. The place is packed! Reservations are not super easy to obtain (plan your visit in advance). But, you can walk in and sit at the bar (get there early before the dinner rush! ~5:45pm). Started with garlic knots- yum. Fluffy, buttery, garlicky. My only complaint? Portion size. There were 4. I wanted more! :) Had the kale salad. Perfectly balanced, great mix of textures, and pecorino. We ate every last bit of it. Spaghetti limone (imported pasta) and tagliatelle bolognese (fresh handmade pasta) were our entrees. The spaghetti limone was kinda basic but tasty and had a velvety texture. The bolognese was delicious. The dessert menu had creative spins on traditional Italian desserts, but I didn't order any. I'd be interested in returning if a friend wanted to try it.

Wonderful food, service, and ambiance! Can't wait to go back. Great for date night, groups, etc.

Nice service, pretty restaurant, food is hit or miss. Came here with a large party and our service was great. Parking is tough but there is valet. We split lots of items but a few stand outs - the fried calamari was good, garlic knots were perfect. The lobster ravioli was pretty bad. It was... sour? Way too much lemon and lobster was a bit rubbery. The cacio e Pepe was good. The cannoli was disappointing, the filling was too soft/fluffy, not thick enough. The worst offense was the pistachio ice cream which was totally tasteless. Honestly they should throw it away and take it off the menu, that shouldn't be served to people. Overall, I think there is room for improvement but I'm sure there's better Italian spots in Chicago than this.

Still loving this amazing neighborhood gem! I have been to DeNucci many times and the food and service are supreme. Shout out to Nick & AnnaBell (hope that's right) for a terrific night. For months I've been wanting to stop in on a Tuesday to check out the weekly lasagna special. I finally made it last night! Despite being delicious, it wasn't my favorite lasagna. Portion size was good, not too large but I did have some leftover. The tangy tomato sauce was a little too salty for me, and with seven layers I was expecting to have a bit more structured mouth feel. Unfortunately, it was just a bit mushy. Don't get me wrong that béchamel sauce is a delight but it can't compete with the spaghetti limone!!! The orecchiette pugliese is my friends favorite item on the menu and she actually gets it often. Villa takeout. friend's favorite item on the menu and she actually gets it often via takeout. Last night didn't disappoint. The pasta was perfect al dente, the sauce light and the sausage had just enough spice to keep things interesting. Whatever you do get the artichoke app. It is perfection. Skip the wines by the glass (I hope these change soon, I just can't find a red I like) and get a bottle. ;) Ladies will appreciate the unisex bathrooms in the basement! No lines, no waiting.

I can only speak about their takeout but the pasta and pizza both had a good portion! The pasta itself was very flavorful and pretty appetizing. Ordered the orrechiete!

I did takeout from here on what seemed like a busy Friday night. The place seems small, with a lot of people outside either waiting for a table or waiting for their pickup order. They have a takeout pickup window outside so you don't have to enter the building. Pretty organized set up, and was able to pick up my order at the promised time with no issues. We ordered their Bruschetta Pomodoro, Margherita pizza and Tagliatelle Bolognese. All three dishes tasted phenomenal. The Bruschetta was topped with tomato tartare and basil pesto. This is the first time that I've had pesto on bruschetta and it definitely a game changer. This is a must order every time. I can only imagine how this would taste fresh out of the kitchen. What a perfect way to start your dinner. The Margherita pizza was just as delicious. It came topped with basil and oven dried cherry tomatoes. This is also a first on a Margherita pizza for me. The tomatoes added some extra acidity that I don't typically get in a Margherita pizza. The crust was perfect and it had just the right amount of cheese. I really do appreciate Denuccis offering classic dishes with their own twist. The taglliatelle was cooked al dente and served with a very flavorful bolognese sauce. Overall I was very impressed with our dinner from Denuccis. I kept seeing this place pop up but wasn't in the mood to try another Italian restaurant. I'm sure glad I went with my gut and tried this place out. We'll definitely be returning to dine in.

We ordered the garlic knots, prosciutto arancini, pesto pizza and lumache arrabbiata! My favorite was the pesto pizza, it had spicy kick to it. Not my go-to Italian spot in Lincoln Park but I would definitely return to try a few more items and drinks! Love the outdoor patio, perfect for a summer night. Didn't have a reservation so we had to wait 30 minutes at the bar. Spot is still pretty popular so plan in advance!! Service was great

We got a reservation for DeNuccis on a Friday night and had an excellent experience. We started with the garlic knots for the table. It comes with 4 doughy knots that melt in your mouth. We also got the spicy pepperoni pizza which was delicious and a very good size. You could easily share one pizza among 3 people. We also got the spicy crab campanelle, which was the start of the show. A super tasty pasta with a ton of flavor. DeNuccis has a great energy and the staff is excellent. I'd love to come back.

On a crisp fall evening, this Italian LP staple was buzzing with activity. Crowds waiting to be seated inside and out, every table full of merry conversation and good food and wine. I was excited to host our out of town friends here. My favorites were the kale salad (good balance of sweet, savory & bitter), tartufo pizza (smart use of truffle w/o being overpowering), the branzino (flaky, tender meat and not overly salty) and the lumache arriabiata (al dente shells in a spicy red sauces). Calamari was good both grilled and fried. I would pass on the garlic knots (rather doughy) and the chicken parm (on the dry side). Service was fine for a busy evening, but a trip to the bathroom was appalling. I understand the evening was packed on a hectic Saturday Marathon weekend but bathrooms should be refreshed throughout the evening (especially with such high volume). It was unfortunate that the restroom situation put a damper on an otherwise enjoyable evening out with friends. I will return to enjoy my favorites but on a less busy weekend.

Cute place! Good vibes. The wait staff was very attentive. For apps, we got the garlic knots and arancini. The garlic knots were very buttery, but classic and soft and yummy. They came with 4. The arancini had meat in it which I was not expecting. They were pretty good, but not super flavorful and the sauce was also just ok. They normally come with 3, but since we had four people they added one additional one for us. For mains, the lobster ravioli was a little disappointing. The sauce wasn't very creamy or flavorful and the lobster on top was kind of dry. The pappardelle genovese, however, was extremely good. The meat was tender and the noodles tasted homemade.

Went here for dinner with family the other day and it was good. We had a couple of salads, which I would say stole the show. 2 of them and they were really great. Unfortunately, I dont remember which they were. Next we had a couple of pizzas which I only tasted and they were ok. Then I had a gluten free pasta and enjoyed that. I got it with a spicy arabiata sauce, which gave it good flavor. First of all, it's nice that they had a gluten free pasta substitute option. I can't believe some places still don't offer this. Glad they had one. Lastly, I tasted the tiramisu, and it was ok. I'm not a fan of tiramisu generally, so take that with a grain of salt. Enjoyed the dinner and I would definitely come back.

Cozy and quaint ambiance but delicious spicy vodka style pasta! The food is good and service is quick

Wonderful experience Amazing food : garlic knots with the sauce were delicious I had the Cavatelli alla joe- so flavorful - each sausage was amazing and added something different when paired with the pasta & sauce My mom had the Sunday special- the sweet & spicy peppers mixture was so good My brother had the branzino piccata - was also delicious - perfectly pan seared Server was also wonderful, we will definitely be back for sure to try the pizza Ambiance was perfect - the old school music selection was the icing on the cake of our experience

The ambience is gorgeous and the service was 10/10, but I thought the food overall was just ok. To be fair, I was heavily influenced by Instagram so maybe I had too high expectations but the garlic knots were bland in my opinion. The garlic flavor was only on top but not anywhere else. So many people hyped up the lumache arrabbiata and it was delicious but nothing that blew my socks off. I liked the flavor of the tonnarelli w/ sun gold pomodoro but the pasta texture wasn't my fav. Overall it was a solid meal but not as hyped up as I thought.

Came in on a Wednesday night with a friend and it was packed! Was able to snag a seat at the bar and service was fairly quick. The ambiance was so cozy - nice for a fall evening. Started with a Phony Negroni, which was pretty sweet but I enjoyed it! Also got the Garlic Knots to share. I thought they were pretty average but my friend really liked them. For the mains, got the spaghetti limón and tonnarelli with sun gold pomodoro. The sun gold pomodoro was so yummy, it was like the perfect balance of home made and restaurant flavor. The Margherita pizza was also amazing. Great crust and the tomato sauce which had the right amount of sweetness. For dessert got Al's affogato which was the perfect night cap. Overall a lovely meal!! I have als

3.5 - I got their lobster ravioli. A little disappointed with the portions while other dishes had a lot of food come withe them. Got the garlic bread which is what they are known for. Honestly, the bread was a little tough but it tasted fine. The drinks were very tasty. I got the vodka lemonade. The waiter was knowledgeable and kind. We had reservations at 7:45 but our table wasn't ready until later but wasn't a big deal. Would go again but am not itching to come back.

We had a rare night away from the kids so we decided to come here for dinner. Easily found free street parking nearby. I was a little worried we would have to wait long for a table because we did not have a reservation and everything was booked up online, but we got in at 5:30 and were seated right away. It's a super cute, intimate corner restaurant. Not a hugeeee menu but decent sized and lots of varied selections. Started with the aranchi which were perfectly fried and super stuffed. My husband as a main ordered the veal piccata with broccolini on the side and I had their tagliatelle bolognese. Delicious, and perfect portion. It left us with enough room to try their very boozy tiramisu (it was huge so we ended up taking half of it home). But the star dessert was the lemon buddino which was tangy and tart. Overall , great experience and will be back!

The restaurant was very clean and the staff was very nice. We were lucky enough to snag a booth. The garlic knots were excellent. The grilled calamari was a bit chewy but did taste good. The sauce that goes on was very strong and slightly overpowered the actual calamari. The spaghetti limone was very lemony but again was good. The pasta is cooked al dente so if you are someone who likes their noodles cooked longer, then I would imagine they could do that for you. The pasta was homemade. The location is good and we will return but will try different items. The pizzas must be very good as I saw someone bringing out boxes upon boxes every 5 minutes.

Super cute spot with cozy decor, good service (shoutout to our server whose name I can't recall but she was wearing a Wayne's world costume when we came in for Halloween), good food and cocktails. Did knock off a star as my pasta was super salty (as other reviews have pointed out). Would certainly come back to try the rest of the menu. What we ordered: - clam pizza - a must do, so good and I don't see clam pizza on the menu often so had to try it and did not regret it. I'm not a crust person but this was nice and airy - spaghetti limone - friend got this and she just got back from Italy and she said it hit the spot and took her back. I found it a less decadent version of a cacio Pepe - spicy crab campanelle- the sauce was pretty salty and overpowered the other flavors. Nice chunks of crab meat in the center. - gelato was nice and made in house. Pistachio and French vanilla were light - amaro manhattan was nice and boozy

A lovely local spot right in beautiful Lincoln park! My mom and I visited here after wanting to see what the hype was about. We were pleasantly greeted with a beautiful bar area that led into the cozy dining space. The restaurant was laid back and cozy like you would get from your neighborhood spot. However, the lighting created a vibe that was expensive and a great date night location. We stopped at the bar where I tried the refreshing Italian lemonade. I didn't love all of the drink options but this one definitely hit the mark for me. Sweet, slightly tart, and light! After sitting at the bar, we were taken to our table. We were seated in the back dining space which made us aware of how large the restaurant actually is. From there, we decided to order the garlic knots and instead of getting the full appetizer order of meatballs, our waiter made us aware of the option to just order the side of meatballs that came in a pair. Our appetizers came shortly after and the meatballs were delicious!! We loved the garlic knots as well but they could use an oil to dip them in as well as the marinara. After the appetizers, we decided to get pizza as our main entree. We did a half pesto and half margherita pie. I LOVE that they let you do half and half pizza. I feel like you don't see this often but it was a definitely highlight for me. They pesto and margherita came out piping hot and soooo delicious. Could not recommend more!

DeNuccis has recently opened & become very popular in Lincoln Lark. I was able to snag a reservation on a Sunday with my family. We sat on the patio- which is lovely. It is big & on Armitage so it's just a relaxing street. Service was very knowledge, but slow- they brought the food out at different times, which is kind of a pet peeve of mine. We had been hearing that the pizza was what to order- so we made our own with zucchini, tomato & spinach. It was a quality pizza. Thin & nice crust. It felt like it was missing some flavor to me, but it was still good. I tried some of my brothers pasta and you could definitely tell that it was homemade. The Bolognese sauce was sweet and tangy and the pasta was perfectly al dente. I also got the chop salad and I was extremely disappointed in this. I've been having some health issues and I can't eat anything spicy and the salad was really spicy, so maybe that's more on me, but I wasn't a fan. My dad got the chicken and was very satisfied. Overall, I wasn't blown away by the food but the atmosphere was so relaxing and I love the location of this restaurant so I will definitely be returning.

Delicious food and great ambience, maybe my new favorite Lincoln park Italian spot? Not shown: the lobster ravioli which was gone so quickly, absolutely delicious. Arancini I could've eaten 10 more. LOVED the split pizza option and both sides were incredible.

Another wonderful Italian restaurant in Chicago! A group of 4 of us recently got dinner here on a Friday night and split the meatballs, garlic knots, caesar salad, tonnarelli with pomodoro, spaghetti limone, and the chicken marsala. Each plate was super fresh and flavorful. I think I'd try the chicken parmesan instead of the marsala next time. Service was great, too. Only downside I'd say was the cocktails were on the smaller side.

Great neighborhood place. Everything on the menu is always outstanding. Wonderful service! We got lucky and sat at the bar without a reservation 7pm on Wednesday night.

Went here for to celebrate a birthday dinner. The ambiance was giving very Italian New York City vibes. The menu said happy birthday to our guest of honor which was quite a nice touch. As far as the food, we got the grilled to share which was quite good and was cooked in a delicious sauce. I had the chicken cutlets which were also quite good and flavorful and good portion size.

Cruising around enjoying the Chicago architectural open house, stopped at DeNucci's on Lincoln Ave and Dikens. Saturday afternoon with permit only parking was a challenge, take CTA, bike or Uber. It will be worth it. We scored a sidewalk table, it was a great place to dine, awesome people watching, lots of hustle bustle on the street. The tables are curb side so the don't expect a quiet sedate experience. Our server Dottie provided us exceptional service, very attentive and considerate. My wife and daughter, who are vegetarian elected to share a couple of plates, Dottie had the entree split evenly on two plates and delivered to the tables. A small attention to detail that had an enormous impact for us. No messy cut at the table, ask for an extra plate, da, da, deeda. Made the experience. The food was piping hot, I had the spicy Italian meatball sandwich. It came with a side choice, chip, salad or soup. I chose the minestrone soup, this soup was over the top delicious!! Rich tomato broth, perfectly cooked veggies and pasta. Perfect as a meal , or an appetizer or a warm meal up on chilly afternoon. The sandwich labeled as spicy could have used a shot of gardinair. The roll was light, crispy and fresh. A good eat, all in all. I'd keep DeNuccis in the Rolodex as returnable for a second try.

Finally tried this little corner spot in LP! we weren't sure if we were walking into an influencer type spot but we were so happy by the end of our meal to discover this was a great homey addition to the area. The highlight was for SURE the Tuesday special - lasagna bolognese. One of the best we've had and we've had a lot. Drinks were perfect and we overall enjoyed dinner. Not to mention, really cute space inside and outside for Lincoln Park summer sunset vibes. Will for sure be back or calling for takeout pizzas!

This is my favorite spot in Lincoln Park for pasta. Every pasta dish is so delicious! I had the tagliatelle bolognese for my main and was so impressed with the roasted, creamy sauce. The ambiance is neighborhood vibes, warm & inviting with cozy lighting and charming decor. Our server was awesome too! She gave great recommendations! Will be back regularly!

Denucci's was such a lovely experience. The staff was extremely kind and helpful, the food was so yummy, and the atmosphere was intimate and lively. I highly recommend their homemade pastas.

We stayed nearby so walked a block to have dinner here. We had no reservation and enjoyed the beautiful weather outside. Our service was helpful as she explained the choices for our meals. Everyone was attentive and friendly; the manager checked in on how we were doing. Our meal was very good. We had Prosecco and a peroni. Also had broccolini, kale and house salad, Pasta with 3 meats - sausage, short ribs and meatballs, pasta with short ribs, tiramisu and gelato. All tasted really good and freshly homemade. The overall experience was very positive. I'd come back here!

Amazing dinner spot in the heart of LP! This place has amazing pasta and pizza. The lemon pasta was amazing and it was light and delicious. The bolognese was what I got and it was a bit heavier but it was great and so fresh. I would recommend going here if you can get a reservation. So cute and great staff!

Had such a lively dinner with my mom here when she was in town. We made reservations for New Year's Day and were seated as soon as we walked in. Service was good and quick. Food was definitely family style, so our two plays and garlic knots were more than enough for two. Would return and try a dessert!

Omg what an awesome little place. All the staff there are amazing and so nice. Ambiance was so cool from the bar to all the decorations throughout. Food was absolutely delicious highly recommend the garlic knots, truffle mushroom arancini for starters then the lobster ravioli and lobster risotto were off the charts. Sooo good.... We celebrated our anniversary there and they had custom menus setup for us so cute. Thank you DeNuccis what an experience!!!!!

Had dinner here. Amazing food, highly recommend the speghetti lemone and the artichoke appetizer. Highlight of the dinner was our server, Ozzy. We are at the bar and he was friendly, knowledgeable, and overall just fantastic. Will definitely come again, next time in Chicago.

Buongiorno, my fellow food enthusiasts and pasta aficionados! I have embarked on a culinary journey that has left my taste buds doing the tarantella of joy. Enter "Denucci's," an Italian restaurant that has turned my ordinary Thursday into a tantalizing Tuscan adventure. Let me start by saying that the chicken parmigiana here is a culinary masterpiece - a symphony of flavors that danced a passionate tango on my palate. The chicken was so tender; I suspect it had a personal trainer. And the Parmesan? Oh, it was grated with such finesse that Michelangelo might have considered giving up the Sistine Chapel for a plate of this divine dish. Now, here's the twist - the noodles. They come separately, like distant cousins at a family reunion. So, if you're thinking of having a rendezvous between your chicken parm and some spaghetti, make sure to issue a proper invitation when you place your order. Trust me; you don't want to be caught in a culinary soap opera with ingredients that refuse to mingle. The salads are not just salads; they're green masterpieces that could make even the most dedicated carnivore consider a leafy lifestyle. The portions are so generous that after finishing one, I felt like I could bench-press a wheel of Parmesan so share with the table if you can! The salad was a delightful medley of freshness, with veggies so crisp they could start a stand-up comedy career. It was like the garden decided to throw a party on my plate, and everyone was invited. Now, let's talk about the service. Picture this: a server with a smile that could outshine the Italian sun and attentiveness that would make your nonna proud. If I needed anything, they were there quicker than you could say "spaghetti al dente." But here's a word of caution - the restaurant's floor is as slippery as a politician's promise. So, if you're wearing shoes with the traction of a banana peel, consider yourself warned. I sashayed into the restaurant with the grace of a ballerina, but by the end of the meal, I was doing an impromptu moonwalk. It's like they sprinkled olive oil on the floor for extra authenticity. So, my advice: walk cautiously, especially if you're planning to impress your date with your dance moves. In conclusion, Denucci's is more than just a restaurant. It's a chicken parm love letter to your taste buds with the symphony of veggies that come with the salads, and the service is as warm as a Sicilian summer. Buon appetito!

This was exactly what we were looking for on a date night: a charming restaurant with excellent service and delicious food. We started with the garlic knots and meatballs in red sauce. I could eat these every day for the rest of my life. Both appetizers were excellent on their own and even more magical when combined. I playfully told the manager that they should add Garlic Knot Meatball Sliders to the menu and name it after me! Next was the Chopped Salad. Very fresh and a sizable portion. This could serve up to 4 people. For the main event, we ordered a pizza: half white (mushroom) and half red (sausage and onion). The pizza with very tasty and fresh. The dough is super thin and the crust is crisp and chewy. Dessert was unreal! The Pistachio Blondie Sundae will alter your consciousness and make you a better human for the next few hours, at least! We really enjoyed this dining experience. The space is tastefully decorated in this upscale casual Italian eatery. Prices aren't cheap, but not outrageously high for most items. Service was very attentive and the food was excellent! Highly recommended!