Gioia Chicago

"Veteran chef and partner Federico Comacchio will celebrate Christmas Eve with a culinary tradition close to many hearts: the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a meal with roots in the Roman Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on the holiday. Comacchio will feature seven seafood specials such as octopus carpaccio and squid ink risotto with sepia and n’duja. Gioia’s regular menu will also be available, as will seasonal cocktails and wine pairings. Reservations are available via OpenTable." - Ashok Selvam, Eater Staff

"If your in-laws suddenly appear at your doorstep, demanding fancy pasta dinner in the West Loop right now, go to Gioia. It’s busy, upscale, and has decent handmade pasta, like bucatini cacio e pepe, pici with ragu, and paccheri mancini prepared tableside. As a bonus, there’s a bar that doesn’t get too loud, in case you’d like to have a gentle post-dinner talk about boundaries. " - nick allen, adrian kane, veda kilaru

"This West Loop Italian upstart opened in 2021 with a fantastic pasta lineup. The crowd-pleaser is a paccheri Mancini spun table side. Cacio e Pepe made with bucatini is another favorite in this intimate space along Randolph Restaurant Row." - Ashok Selvam, Eater Staff

"The restaurant-studded W. Randolph corridor recently welcomed the gleaming Gioia. Set amid a host of new developments, it is in full swing, thanks to its authentically Italian accents and contemporary mien—elegant Venetian stucco walls and a blast of blue via a piece of art. The black marble bar encourages nursing—a negroni, maybe?The menu is a veritable resume of Chef Federico Comacchio's years of experience in Italian kitchens. A simple salad (croccante) arrives perfectly dressed with vincotto and stracciatella; while veal tortellini in a brown butter-and-sage sauce explodes with flavor. Hearty types won't be able to resist the maialetto, which includes pork belly and baby back ribs, with roasted potatoes. It's very straightforward and very enjoyable." - Michelin Inspector

"Quite frankly, our trip to Gioia was the inspiration behind this guide. This new Italian restaurant in the West Loop is just perfect for people who just want to have a conversation. It’s large without feeling cavernous, tastefully decorated in soothing neutral colors, and the service is on top of everything without being obtrusive. More importantly, the food is good. The focus is on handmade pastas, which include things like a fantastic bucatini cacio e pepe, pici with ragu, and paccheri mancini prepared tableside. And while Gioia is in one of Chicago’s busiest neighborhoods, it’s still easy to book a reservation. Plus, there’s a large bar area that’s great for hanging out after dinner, and a cute sidewalk patio with comfortable tables and chairs that don’t look like they were hastily purchased from a discount garden store." - adrian kane