Ignotz's Ristorante

Pizza restaurant · Heart of Chicago

Ignotz's Ristorante

Pizza restaurant · Heart of Chicago

2421 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

Highlights

Classic Italian cuisine in a cozy, narrow space adorned with colorful old-world murals.

2421 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608 Get directions

ignotzristorante.com

@ignotzristorante

@infatuation

"Like a bonus level in a video game, there’s a pocket neighborhood inside Pilsen called the Heart Of Italy. It’s just one street with a number of old-school Italian restaurants, and food-wise, Ignotz is the best. The chicken parmigiana is worth traveling for, and the lasagna is really good, too. Not to mention that they win the award for best table bread setup, since it comes with a roasted bulb of garlic for spreading, plus some breadsticks you’ll only wish were unlimited. The whole restaurant is in a refurbished house, and you’ll be eating in a living room complete with a fireplace, and family photos on the mantel." - adrian kane

14 Excellent Old-School Italian Restaurants In Chicago, Ranked From Oldest To Newest

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@infatuation

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@infatuation

"There’s a pocket neighborhood inside Pilsen called the Heart Of Chicago. That’s where you’ll find Ignotz, located next to a bunch of other old-school Italian restaurants with chicken parm on the menu. But Ignotz’s is the one you want. The chicken parmigiana includes tender chicken, light breading, a rich tomato sauce, and a satisfying (but not overwhelming) amount of cheese. And as the cutlet absorbs the sauce, the breading evolves from light and crispy to soft and billowy, which is a texture you never knew you needed until now. " - adrian kane

The Best Chicken Parmesan In Chicago

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@infatuation

"This Italian restaurant in the Heart of Italy (a pocket neighborhood in Pilsen) also begins the meal with bread, and it’s one of our favorite setups. It comes with a roasted bulb of garlic for spreading, plus breadsticks that will remind you why, deep down, you still love Olive Garden. The portions here are huge, and the food is great. The chicken parmigiana is worth traveling for, and the lasagna is really good, too. The whole restaurant is in a refurbished house, and you’ll be eating in a living room complete with a fireplace and family photos on the mantel." - adrian kane

Where To Eat When You’re Sick Of Being Told To Order 2-3 Small Plates Each

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@infatuation

"Ignotz is a very good Italian restaurant in a pocket neighborhood inside Pilsen called the Heart Of Chicago. The chicken parmigiana is worth traveling for, and the lasagna is really good, too. Not to mention that they win the award for best table bread setup, since it comes with a roasted bulb of garlic for spreading, plus some breadsticks you’ll only wish were unlimited. The whole restaurant is in a refurbished house, and you’ll be eating in a living room complete with a fireplace, and family photos on the mantel." - Adrian Kane

Ignotz Ristorante Review - Pilsen - Chicago - The Infatuation

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Google

This was a truly surprising spot that I did not expect much being in this neighborhood. Everything was on point, from bread, appetizer, main, dessert, drink, and service. The roasted garlic to starts with bread, olive oil and cheese, amazing. Calamari did not have too much breading, not over fried, just perfect texture and hot marinara sauce, and the generous amount. Spicy vodka rigatoni with meatball, the sauce and oil was well emulsified with pasta, so it was gooey and perfect texture. Linguine with clam, that white wine reduced with generous amount of clam and garlic really brought flavor, most of all, had just enough salt to not make bland that most places tend to do. Service was on point, very attentative, even owner stopped by to say hi, asking how the food was, this place is legit. It's not on the main road, and it's a bit hard to find a parking because it's like between the block, but if you are in the area and craving Italian, this place is it.

Eric U

Google

This place is truly a hidden gem! A delightful slice of Italy! The food was DELICIOUS, our server Benjamin did an AMAZING job! The owner made us feel really welcomed, told us a brief history of the restaurant. Super glad my family and I came across this fine establishment. I highly recommend Ignotz's

Alyssa Poblete

Google

Great restaurant! We went 2 separate times and each time was a fantastic experience. The most recent time they had a valet otherwise its street parking but I was on a bicycle so for any car drivers. Patio seating was amazing, the inside was cozy and intimate with another dining area. We had a reservation for a birthday and one just walking in, we were seated pretty instantly. We finished everything we ordered! Tasted delicious! The cheese on the lasagna was so perfectly baked! The servers are very accommodating. They gave us tabasco to go with the calamari and an extra plate for the clam shells without me having to ask. They gave us gelato (birthday) which was very good, they had vanilla or lemon flavored. We got vanilla with an espresso shot on the side. We ordered the Lasagna, Large Fried Calamari, and I believe the Linguine with clam (white) sauce. We got soup of the day and have tried the salad both were good! They had a vegetable soup one day and a miso and egg soup and a jalapeño soup another all were delicious. Bread and roasted garlic always hit the spot.

Morgan Wahlberg

Google

Cannot rave about this place more! As you find a parking spot on the fully packed street, you cannot walk up to the doors facing the street, you have to walk down a narrow walk way and enter on the left. The 50+ seat inside has the Italian family charm. You are greeted with water, bread, and the roasted garlic to spread. We ordered our food with Pat, who has worked there for 24 years! Family! The bruschetta, a 16inch pepperoni with half green peppers, and the lasagne with a side salad and the balsamic dressing. The bruschetta comes out on warm bread with warm chopped tomatoes and onions on top. The Pizza is cracker thin with such a great crunch! Delicious sauce and cooked perfectly! But the lasagna was the winner of the night. The huge piece came with layers of home made noodles, meat, cheese, and swimming in sauce that was not over powering so you tasted every bite! After dinner they bring you chocolate covered cherries in whipped cream. I cannot wait to go back and add to the wonderful dishes I’ve already tried. Worth the drive, would be worth the wait if there was one, and worth the trying to find parking!

Donna Crocker

Google

I have always been a fan of Italian food so this was like finding a little sliver of heaven. After being greeted by a hostess and guided down a gangway, we entered the dining room and were quickly seated. Our waitress was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed to make our experience one to remember. A glass of Meiomi Pinot Noir accompanied by a loaf of bread, homemade breadsticks and a head of garlic is a great way to settle in for the main event. The salad was fresh and crisp with a great Italian vinaigrette. Here is the star of the show! Chicken Vesuvio! All I can say is, OMG! The chicken was cooked perfectly - tender, moist, well-season. The sauce was silky and so tasty. The potatoes were sliced smaller than the usual cut but that made me love them all the more. A tender roasted crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. This was the BEST chicken vesuvio that I’ve ever had! The cannoli was crisp with a creamy filling that included chocolate chips. It was a great place to kick back with friends and enjoy a n amazing dinner with pretense. Best evening ever!

Nick Pecora

Google

Best old school joint in the neighborhood. The owner and staff are spot on a rd friendly zbd the food is all the classics done perfectly. We celebrated my daughters graduation here and basically ordered the menu. The chicken Vesuvio is one of the best we’ve ever had and the Vodka sauce was something special. The lasagna stole the show!

Mona

Google

Overall Thoughts: The service, hospitality, and personalized attentiveness in this spacious family-owned Italian restaurant are incredible. The owner Roger came out to greet each guest, our server was super sweet, and the whole experience came with complimentary bread and a small dessert. For just the warmth of the service and pleasant experience, I’d be down to come back. Food-wise, though some things were pretty good, there were overall more misses than hits. I’m more than willing to give other dishes on the menu a try though, as they look promising. The prices are reasonable, especially for the large, filling portion sizes. For a Friday night, there were a good amount of people, but there were still many empty tables in the restaurant. Food I tried: - Fried Calamari (3/5): Wasn’t a huge fan of this one. The calamari didn’t taste very fresh, and they were soggy. - 3 Topping Pizza with spinach, mushroom, and sausage (4.1/5): Overall solid thin crust pizza, though I felt it was a little lacking in flavor. - Rope Pasta Special (4.2/5): This dish was one of the specials of the day— it was a bit overcooked / mushy and I wish the flavors popped out more (it was mostly just salty). The sausage and chicken were cooked really nicely and flavorfully though. Overall, it was not bad, but I would want to try a different (perhaps more sauce/cream-based) pasta dish next time. - Clam Chowder Soup (4.9/5): This was the soup of the day that came with our pasta order. The small bowl was delicious— rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Definitely a highlight. - Free bread service and frozen cherry treat (5/5): Always love to see complimentary bread and dessert. The bread was pretty fresh and tasty, and I especially enjoyed the full garlic head spread that came with it. The chocolate covered frozen cherry was a nice simple closing touch. — Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Food: 4.1/5 Ambience: 4.8/5 Service: 5/5 Overall Value: 4.3/5

Jasmine Shah

Google

Absolutely a hidden gem and now one of my favorite Italian spots in the city! This place nails the Italian and Chicago classic ambience and everyone (including the owner) was very friendly. Service was slow-paced but there were special touches like complimentary bread with roasted garlic and chocolate cherries for dessert. The food portion sizes were large and we will have leftovers for days. Highly recommend for a night out!