Il Porcellino

Was looking for good Italian while in Chicago and landed here based on reviews, ratings and menu. We sat at the bar, full menu, bartender provided great service and recommendations. Had a few drinks which they made very well and then dinner. Apps were very good, meatballs were awesome and home made garlic bread was good, not great. Also ordered their watermelon salad which was also good. I had the Rigatoni alla vodka, which was great, not too rich, well balanced with your choice of protein (meat balls again cause of loved them). Restaurant had cool atmosphere. Will return in the future.

Great atmosphere. Great food. Great service. The garlic butter bread, complete with the decadent poured garlic butter sauce, was perhaps the most perfect bread our party of six has ever tasted. What a way to start a fantastic meal! The entrees -- the Salmon Picatta, Lasagna, Spicy Shrimp Scampi, and Gnocchi -- were each exquisite. And the Blackberry Sorbet will linger in my memory for a lifetime.

I went for Happy Hour because I got a gift card and wanted to make the most of it! I got two glasses of rose and the spicy pepperoni pizza for $25. 10/10 on food! I sat at the bar and everyone was extremely attentive. 10/10 on service. They had the big doors open on a warm summer night. 10/10 on atmosphere.

I was looking for a new Italian place in Chicago’s downtown area. I stumbled upon this place because it was closer to my hotel. Reservations are highly recommended, as this place gets packed very quickly, and there’s a good reason for it. The staff is amazing. They have some great in-house-made pasta options available. I tried the lasagna, and it was perfectly cooked. If the weather is nice, I would recommend sitting at the bar area near the street. I’ll definitely be returning to this place again.

A++ all the way! The appetizers and pasta were fresh, full of flavour and authentically Italian. Our server, Anna, was friendly and professional but the bar was a little delayed to get drinks flowing. Overall, I highly recommend coming here… Don’t miss out!

We had a lovely dinner here! Everything we ate was delicious and I’m already craving more. I’d have to say the meatballs and the chocolate cake were my favorite items but you couldn’t go wrong with anything. Great service and great prices! Definitely make a reservation if you can :)

What a wonderful dining experience my daughter and I had at your restaurant last month. My 15-year-old daughter chose your establishment for our first evening in the city for her spring break, and she knocked it out of the park! Everything was truly outstanding. The atmosphere was cozy and vibrant, filled with the happy buzz of conversation and laughter. We were fortunate to visit on a rare 80-degree day in late March, which allowed you to open the front windows, adding to the lovely ambiance. My daughter, Sophia, had already studied the menu and knew exactly what she wanted. I took my time perusing the options. We started with the fresh, hot, homemade crusty bread, generously topped with a delicious cascade of butter, fresh garlic, and cheese. For our entrees, we ordered the rigatoni ala vodka and the chicken piccata with a side of roasted asparagus. Both dishes looked fantastic and tasted even better. We savored every bite, and there wasn't a single scrap left on our plates! The service was also exceptional; our waiter and his support staff were attentive and friendly. If you're looking to venture off the beaten path and you love Italian food, I highly recommend giving this gem a try! PS - their Mediterranean Mule is a fun spin on the original. Recommended if a libation is what you need!

Food was very good!! Gets packed quickly so we went early. The interior is dark lighting and gets kinda loud but you can still talk and hear each other. Portions are great size for one person and prices aren’t too bad either.

Hey people! This place is good. I've been here before and returned to enjoy it just as much as I did a few years back. We got some meatballs and Tuscan cheese bread followed up a monstrosity of a lasagna to beat! I'll be very clear the lasagna is made for 2 people unless you got a big appetite then feel free to devour on your own. Place is lively, good ambiance, and awesome food. Come here! Eat! Enjoy! In health and happiness! Cheers!

Came back to Il Porcellino for the second time with a friend visiting from out of town, and it did not disappoint! The food, drinks, service, and ambiance were all lovely. We started with a whole loaf of garlic bread (a must-order) and a Caesar salad. The garlic bread was perfectly toasted with just the right amount of buttery goodness, and the Caesar was fresh and flavorful. For mains, we had the pappardelle alla porcellino--rich, savory, and the pasta was perfectly tender--and the sliced pepper steak grigliata, which was juicy and well seasoned. As for drinks, we tried the Persimmon Manhattan and the Respect Your Elders cocktail. Both were deliciously unique and well-crafted--definitely elevated the whole experience. The ambiance here is cozy yet lively, and the service is always friendly and attentive. This place continues to impress, and I'll definitely be back for round three :)

It was so nice we had it to have it twice in our trip! The burrata lasagna was delicious! Pasta sauce not too heavy and complimented the lasagna well. The garlic bread.....oh the garlic bread - amazing. That is all I have to say. My husband had the chicken parmesan which he really enjoyed. The dessert, Tiramisu was also delicious. Thanks to the fellow yelpers for solidifying our choice to make it to this Italian gem with a great romantic ambiance. Special shout out to Brian and Eduardo who were attentive, friendly and made our experience that much better. When we come back to Chicago, this will be our first stop!

We went back to Il Porcellino on Dec 21, 2024. We had a great time back and I'm so glad I tried their house special butternut squash pasta. IT WAS LITERALLY THE MOST DELICIOUS PASTA EVER. My bf and I still talk about it to this day. I am hoping they will continue to bring this back. My bf got his regular rigatoni alla vodka because it's amazing. Service was great and we were seated right away. This is definitely becoming one of our favorite spots in Chicago. I can't wait to go back.

I really enjoyed this restaurant, staff was very friendly. The restaurant was very busy and it was a weekday so the food had to be good and it was! I couldn't decide between the lasagna and chicken parmigiana, the bartender recommended the chicken parm. The chicken was tender and the breading flavorful. It was sauced perfectly and cheesy. It comes with a side of spaghetti. The entree was huge in my opinion so you won't go hungry. The restaurant had that old Italian feel to it, romantic in a sense with the low lighting...it was beautifully decorated inside. I paired my meal with a delicious Sangiovese. To end the night, I had the tiramisu. It was in a mini pan but I loved the presentation.

Service and atmosphere - 4.5 Food 3.5 This is an old school Italian restaurant, relaxed vibes, walls adorned with framed photos of movie stars and vintage magazine covers. Busy and good for groups, though it was loud for dinner. Large, busy bar. Our server was good and friendly. Appetizer - Roasted Brussels sprouts. They were ok. They weren't round like mini cabbages. More like mini trees, too many stalk-like pieces. Catch 35's remains my favorite Roasted Sprouts in Chicago. Entrees were BIG. Lasagna - Too salty and too heavy. The pasta, however, was al dente. I ate more of the excellent Parpadelle pasta. Light and delicious meat sauce. It was a nice meal to end our trip. Would've taken leftovers if we would have the chance to eat them!

This restaurant was really good! I went after seeing many recommendations on tik tok and it was a very pleasant experience. The food was delicious! The garlic bread is a must, they pour hot garlic butter on it at your table and it was truly amazing. It tasted very fresh and the bread had a great texture. The eggplant Parmesan was also great, very thin slices of eggplant and we tried the Ravioli Al Forno which was also really good. I wish there was a little more flavor on the ravioli as it was on the blander end for me but it was still made really well! My cousin got the chicken Parmesan which she also loved. We had a glass of their Lambrusco wine which was a great pairing with the food. Our server was very nice and helpful with the menu suggestions. He kept the food coming at a good pace. The ambiance of the restaurant was great! We sat at a high top and had a great view of the place.

Handmade pasta. Interior with character. Impeccable service. Is there anything more you could ask for in Chicago? So far, it's the best Italian I've had in the city. You must go.

Honestly a very underrated River North happy hour. Quite a few excellent food options and cocktail/wine for a reasonable price. We basically ordered all the apps and enjoyed some very solid Negronis. During summer they open up the space and have great outdoor seating and good for hosting larger parties. Definitely wanting to come back and have dinner here

Decided to try this spot after a family day at the zoo and I'm so glad I did. I love places where I don't feel like my kid is a nuisance. And this place is nice without feeling stuffy. It feels kinda old school in a way and I love the music. I started with an espresso martini because again, we went to the zoo. Then we ordered the garlic bread and fried calamari. I love the taste of the bread! Omg they poured the garlic butter on top when the bread arrived to the table. There's also fresh basil on top which was a nice contrast to all the buttery goodness. Def order this! It was moist but the top was so crispy. The calamari was also so tasty. Not chewy or dry. And I love everything spicy so the fried peppers was a nice touch. .Delicious!! The Alfredo was good (and normally not something I'd order lol). I added shrimp and those were the star. And finally had the steak gig latte (I know I spelled that wrong and too lazy to check.) it was fine and I enjoyed the chimichurri. Finally, the staff was friendly and complimented my baby so a win in my book. I will be back! The prices, the flavor and the atmosphere make this an easy place to return to.

Some of the best food I had while visiting Chicago! We sat at the bar and it was so pretty so see all the lights. Highly recommend!

Absolutely loved the chicken parmesan at this Italian restaurant. It may be one of my favorite versions of the dish. There was plenty of sauce and cheese and the chicken was cooked perfectly. Because we were traveling, I didn't want to have any leftovers and it was so good that I didn't want it to go to waste so I stuffed myself until I was uncomfortably full but very happy. Because we arrived without reservations, we were only able to snag seats at the bar. I'm so glad we decided to give it a shot still though because it was amazing and I'd definitely come back when I return to Chicago in the future.

Loved this restaurant!! Cozy vibes with low lights and soft music playing. The perfect spot to catch up with friends or family. Appetizers, entrees, and cocktails were all delicious! The super Tuscan they serve is ultra yummy! Friendly and efficient service as well.

Love so much the ambiance in this Italian restaurant , makes me feel back in Italy. The last time I've been here for the happy hour because I love the new adds like mushrooms and pancetta focaccia and the mezcal Negroni sour and to go the fried cheese ravioli but were overcooked and the cheese invisible since melted and instead of 6 got just 4 ...so it's a big NO. The food in general it's tasty and I totally recommend the whole loaf garlic bread, fried calamari ,spicy scampi spaghetti , brick chicken vesuvio, pappardelle alla Porcellino and they have the best cheesecake with blueberries ( didn't saw them in the menu the last time but hope they will put it back soon) . The wine it's a good quality . The place have also a beautiful patio with the Italian flag that makes you feel like in Italy. The service most of the time it's good.

I found an Italian restaurant that makes their own gluten-free fettuccine called Il Porcellino. The restaurant had beautiful lighting, pictures on the walls behind various booths of famous Italian-American notables, music of Frank Sinatra and other singers of that era playing gently, attentive young servers and a center bar that had happy hour while I was there, but there were no happy hour dishes that I could eat. No worries as I was seated and knew what I wanted before I arrived. I ordered a Caprese salad with five sections of tomato, basil, Bufala mozzarella in a balsamic dressing that was fresh and superb. I ordered the gluten free fettuccine with roasted chicken and mozzarella in a creamy tomato sauce. I finished the Caprese and showed some of the pictures I had taken of the restaurant to the servers and in particular the beautiful patio outside on a gorgeous late afternoon. The gluten-free fettuccine tasted to me no different than when I remembered what regular pasta tasted like: simply delicious. The roasted chicken and mozzarella in the creamy tomato sauce complemented the pasta really well. Once again, while I am gluten intolerant, I am not glutton intolerant and I finished the entire plate of pasta. Thankfully for me there was nothing on the dessert menu other than sorbet, which I decided to pass on. Another totally delightful meal in the Windy city that is calm warm and sunny so far.

Wow!! The burrata lasagna is delicious, and it came out quick, plus amazing service also!

Delicious italian spot with a very cozy and homey feel to it. Excellent service, fantastic dishes, and yummy cocktails. Highly recommend the meatballs, they were perfectly seasoned and the sauce was well balanced.

Il Porcellino was one of our favorite places when we lived in the city, and we ordered delivery yesterday to introduce our kids to the delicious flavors. I can say it's as good as we remember and proved to be a family favorite! Everything is prepped meticulously, and the presentation of all items was truly immaculate! The eggplant parmesan is my personal fav, and our kiddos enjoyed the chicken vesuvio and rigatoni. Highly recommend Il Porcellino for delicious food!

I visited Chicago this weekend and I'm glad I discovered this restaurant. The atmosphere is charming, and the place, especially at night, is even more beautiful than the photos show. It was the perfect choice to celebrate my anniversary. We shared our dishes, choosing the rigatoni alla vodka and the lasagna, and I have to say both were delicious. The sauces were exquisite, the texture perfect, and the burrata on top of the lasagna was an incredible touch. Although I would have liked the lasagna to be a bit hotter and fresher, the flavor more than made up for it. Our waitress recommended a cocktail similar to a Moscow mule call Mediterranean mule, which I loved for its balanced mix of sweet and sour, just to my taste. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Without a doubt, when I return to Chicago, I'll visit this place again. Plus, the service was exceptional.

I try and come here every time I'm in Chicago. So many Negronis on the menu and great cocktails to choose from. Food is comforting and delicious and dessert is killer. Love the service and vibe of the restaurant and always recommend it to my friends

Il Porcellino is the best for me! The food, the service, the ambiance, everything is perfect. Hands down to this one of the great spot for food in this area! The vodka sauce rigatoni in particular is fantastic. The Tuscan cheese bread was good I would have added more butter or moisture. So it is on the crispier side not bad just a bit unexpected. Bomboloni dessert had us bargaining over the last piece. Prices are extremely reasonable. New Italian favorite in this area. If I could give this place a higher rating I would! Food was great balanced flavors everything was excellent. Looking forward on next visit!

Dined here while in Chicago on business. The restaurant was a bit loud but we loved how our table was round and large enough for all of us to be able to be in conversation. The garlic bread was unreal and the other dishes as well. Large portions too which makes it nice for sharing.

If you are looking for the best Italian restaurant in the Chicago area, look no further. We are visiting from Houston and wanted some good Italian food. I searched Yelp for Italian restaurants near our hotel and this one was number one. Yelp never lets me down! The ambiance is amazing. Lots of light fixtures on the ceiling but still dark and vibey at the same time. Perfect for a date night. For drinks, I chose the Pinot Nero and had 2 glasses of it. It was very smooth. My husband and I chose to order the garlic bread where they pour the garlic butter on top - delish! The bread was warm and soft, but also had the perfect crunch on the edges. We split a regular Caesar salad before our meal and it was a great size for 2 people. I chose to get rigatoni alla vodka (absolutely phenomenal) and my husband got an order of meatballs and a side of vesuvio potatoes. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. It's the kind of meal where you are full but don't want to stop eating! Our waiter was very attentive without being overbearing. We noticed he had many tables in his section and we were impressed that he was able to juggle them all. He was able to provide good recommendations and quick service. If we return to Chicago, we will certainly be back here. 10/10 experience!

What a cute & cozy classic Italian spot in Chi! I've been to Il Porcellino twice and both times the food was wonderful. We tried the burrata, classic bread and the crispy brussel sprouts to start. Personally, I had the tagliatelle with beef and it was the perfect portion/very flavorful. The service was a little slow BUT that's part of the charm of most Italian spots in my opinion.

This is the best Italian food and pasta I've had in the Chicago area. The lasagna is amazing, and the other pastas are top-notch too. They even have kids' spaghetti ($7.95 as of Nov 2024), and the quality is just as good as the adult meals. The servers were friendly and gave great recommendations. The interior is beautifully designed and adds to the whole experience. Loved it!

To say this place was a great dinner would be an understatement. We had reservations, which I highly recommend because this place filled up very fast on a Tuesday night. The menu was the perfect size and had a ton of options for everyone. We ordered a couple different salads so we could all try and I ordered the ravioli with prosciutto. The food was unreal, but the service was even better. Our server was around ever few minutes checking to see if she could fill our wine and water glasses. By the time we finished dinner the manager had come over to check to see how our meal and experience was. Ashley was so incredibly nice and very helpful in choosing our next lunch and dinner spots. The food was incredible and the service was top notch.

Have been here many times and always have the best experience. Service is always fantastic. The food is outstanding! Every time my dad is in town he requests we go here for dinner :) They also have valet out front which is nice and convenient in this part of town. The Baked Burrata Lasagna is what drew me in and had me pick Il Porcellino for my birthday dinner a few years ago. It was such a great experience we continued to come back again and again. Most recently I had the Ravioli Al Forno which was rich and delicious! It hit the spot and the crispy prosciutto on top was a fantastic and interesting touch! Can't recommend this spot enough if you're looking for comforting, yummy Italian food. Oh - and since they're a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, you can use your Lettuce app for points/rewards!

Came here for a work event. Very popular and loud in the front, but they have a private room in the back. Cheese bread: delicious and would recommend Prime beef meatballs: delicious and would order again Caesar salad: They added celery which was an interesting addition. Otherwise, not too memorable Rigatoni alla vodka: super creamy and just missing some sort of protein unless you add $ Brick chicken vesuvio: probably the most disappointing dish of the night. Chicken was drier and could have used a less lean type of meat. Steak grigliata: Hanger steak was tasty and cooked medium rare. Fries were crispy.

Stopped by for dinner on a weekday. They were pretty busy around 6pm but we were able to get a table for two outdoors quickly. The ambiance of the restaurant and the customer service are both great. Order: Fried cheese ravioli - 5/10 Nothing like what we were expecting as we have had fried ravioli before. It was more bread than cheese. The dipping sauce was nice. Lasagna - 10/10 Very flavorful and delicious Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken - 6/10 Very creamy and heavy. The chicken didn't have any flavor and was tasted bland. I wouldn't order this dish again. Overall, I would go back but would order a different dish.

My husband and I made a reservation for Il Pocellino through yelp, we requested indoor seating and were hoping to get a romantic table. Upon entering, we saw it was beautiful and definitely had a romantic vibe. The hostess sat us at a barstool table, which is not what we wanted. Although that soured our mood a bit, our waitress made up for it. She was very attentive and provided excellent service. My husband and I started with the calamari. The calamari was perfectly fried and you were given two sauces to dip as well as lemon. The calamari was warm and had a nice crunch upon each bite. We also got the whole loaf garlic bread and that thing was HUGE. Once the waiter brought it to our table, we were asked if we wanted to add more garlic butter which my husband asked them to add to one side. This was some good bread! Very tasty and paired perfectly with our meal. I got the gnocchi bolognese and omg it was heavenly! Such a warm, comforting meal; the gnocchi was perfectly cooked, soft to the bite, and tender. The bolognese sauce contained prime beef and it was so good. It was the perfect amount of food. I had never seen a pasta dish using gnocchi like this before. My husband who is not a huge gnocchi fan thought it was delicious. My husband got the chicken piccata and it was excellent. We had chicken piccata at our wedding so eating it was special. The sauce was really good and the noodles that came on the side were perfectly cooked. We really enjoyed everything we ate here that we didn't have room for dessert! I wish we did though. Overall, I really enjoyed our meal and would definitely return if given the chance.

Overall: 4 Service: 5 Food: 3 Value: 4 Starter: Garlic bread Entree(s): Chicken Penne The garlic bread is a great appetizer. It comes out as a whole loaf of sour dough and topped with Parmesan cheese with a side of melted butter. I'm sure there's a bunch of great options on the menu but I'd pass on the chicken penne. The chicken didn't get much love. A bit overcooked and under seasoned. They might have been going for the sauce to make up the rest of the flavor but that was lacking too. It's creamy and garlicky but nothing bold.

Il Porcellino is the perfect romantic date night spot! I hate being one of those people, but after studying abroad in Italy, I feel like I am qualified to identify quality italian dishes and Il Porcellino does not disappoint! For drinks we got the Respect Your Elders and Mediterranean Mule. The RYE was so strong.. it was hard not to be tipsy. We paired it with the fried calamari appetizer and I loved how light and crispy the batter was. The calamari was soft and not rubbery at all and paired very well with the marinara and aioli. We ordered the rigatoni with sausage and the house special which came with a creamy tomato sauce with shrimp and calamari. I loveddd the sausage in the rigatoni and I could taste the freshness and quality of the seafood. I normally don't like red sauces but my dish was so light and had the perfect tomato-ness with a slight sweet flavor. I loved everything about my dish. We also got the tiramisu for dessert and it was very hefty! The portion sizes here are huge!!! I loved how fluffy the creme was! The service was also great and our waiter was very attentive and friendly. I'm happy to have ended our trip at this restaurant!

We loved this place! Arrived earlier than our reservation time and sat at the bar and enjoyed happy hour cocktails. It was so comfortable that we stayed there rather than move to the slightly noisier dining room for our reservation. We started with the grilled calamari appetizer. The texture was perfect; however, the marinara sauce was bland. Next, we split the Italian Salad that was loaded and could easily have served four people! For our entrees, we chose the Eggplant Parmesan and Baked Burrata Lasagna. Both were nicely seasoned and servings were generous. We were served by the bartenders who were efficient bus a bit stand-offish.

This place was great! We made reservations for two for 8pm, we did have to wait about 15 minutes for a table which was fine but wasn't expected since it was so late. Our server wasn't the best and checking in and refilling our drinks but the food was delicious. We got the cheese bread but the garlic bread going around also looked fantastic. It was a tough choice on the entree but ultimately I went with the tried and true alfredo which came with crispy prosciutto which I found to be a nice touch and then I added shrimp. The shrimp were good but kind of oddly shaped and didn't have any kind of seasoning, I think they were just boiled. My friend ordered the chopped green salad and the pappardelle pasta and enjoyed both of those dishes as well. I would come back if I were in town and wanting some pasta!

Awesome Italian food in the River north area. The ambience has a welcoming, family style decor that indignantly makes you feel warm and ready to eat some amazing carbs/pasta. It does get a little loud in the restaurant, but the food and service is outstanding. Highly recommend !

This place is amazing. I love the 1940s Italian bar vibe. They played Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc. The whole place is low lit. String lights on the ceiling. Just amazing. It's not often I find a place where both the ambiance and the food are top tier, but this place has it all! I had the chicken parm and it was one of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend.

Absolutely love this cozy Italian American restaurant in Chicago. The decor and lighting is perfect and makes you feel like you could sit and catch up with a friend for hours. I've been here a couple times when I'm in the area and the lasagna is the standout for me. Every time I have been here the service has been attentive and friendly. The prices and serving sizes are great for Chicago. I would highly recommend.

My recent experience at Il Porcellino was truly delightful. The service has noticeably improved since my last visit, greatly enhancing the overall dining experience. I got the rigatoni al vodka, eggplant Parmesan, crispy Brussels sprouts, tiramisu, and gelato. Each dish was a culinary masterpiece! The rigatoni al vodka was perfectly balanced, the eggplant Parmesan was wonderfully crispy, and the Brussels sprouts provided a delightful crunch. For dessert, the tiramisu and gelato were a great way to end the meal! The atmosphere at Il Porcellino is charming and inviting, further enhancing the dining experience. Reservations are highly recommended, although you can usually secure one day before, and walk-ins are welcomed. I am truly impressed with the improvements in service and the consistently exceptional food at Il Porcellino. I look forward to returning soon!

First time visitor Walk and reservation Busy spot centrally located Whimsical environment Business group outing celebration local spot it seems Portions were reasonable, fresh, not overpowering, and didn't leave one in a food coma House-made garlic bread was buttery soft crunchy flaky all the good - I would actually prefer more garlic and less butteriness Chicken piccata / thin chicken breast filet? Lemony perfectly cooked pasta Server was attentive and juggling a busy night but still provide nice service and friendly demeanor Recommend for an outing but certain there are more spots for local Italian goodness - I think the ambiance is what sold it for me :)

Updates: the owner reached out and helped us reimburse part of the check in addition to giving us a gift card. I would say this definitely made up for the service we had, and I did want to come again to enjoy the food more properly. We greatly appreciate this hospitality.

Oh my God, the meatballs were amazing. The cheese sticks were freaking great and the atmosphere was cool. The bartender was friendly and the music playing was very good.

Il Porcellino is located downtown near the Chicago river. It looks modern from the outside with scattered outdoor seating. From the street you can see the huge bar with the dining room in the back. OK, this place is pretty touristy but being downtown and surrounded by hotels, so it should be touristy. We had reservation because we were going to see a play near by. The inside is very busy with loads of Italian theme decor, think huge wine bottles from ceiling, and cheesy Italian 50s and 60s pop music in the background. The menu is pretty basic Italian fare. However we love Italian food and could not wait to try everything. We had a bottle of wine to start and split the burrata appetizer. I ordered the Ravioli with Pesto, my friend had the Chicken Vesuvio and my partner ordered Pappardelle alla Porcellino. We had some bread as well but we should have ordered the garlic bread, everyone else seem to have ordered that. The food was very good. My ravioli was nicely spiced with pesto and both my partner and friend both loved their dishes. Overall great service, great food, cheesy atmosphere and music but fun time. We will return.

I'm giving this place a 5 for the phenomenal play list that played the entire time we were there. Made me want to get up and dance. Lol No, but really, the vibe is unmatched. We had reservations and we were seated within 10-15 mins of getting there. Our waiter was great at helping us decide what to get while being aware of my seafood allergy. We started with the meatballs. They were our least favorite thing. They weren't terrible but they weren't great. They kind of seemed premade, like out of the bag. My husband had the steak and fries and gave it a 9/10 and I had the lasagne with extra Asiago cream sauce on the side and it was DELICIOUS. We also started with the bread with garlic butter poured on top. You definitely don't want to miss getting that. My husband who doesn't usually eat bread literally tore it up! We were so happy we chose this place while in Chicago.

Il Porcellino is decadent and delicious from start to finish! We ate here before seeing a show and snagged seats at the bar. The bar is full service and staffed with wonderfully attentive bartenders, so it felt more like table service. All of the food was delicious - truly 10/10! We started with the garlic bread which is served with an entire gravy boat of melted butter. So divine! The chicken parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, and ravioli al forno were all fabulous. I would order them all again. The ambience is a little dark and moody, so it is a great place for date night, but also works perfectly for dinner with friends or a pre-show bite to eat.

The customer service was amazing as well as the ambiance. My partner and I went after work for their happy hour and got to have a couple of drinks, talk and enjoy good food. However I thought the lasagna was pretty mediocre. It looked amazing and had many layers but all I tasted was cheese and tomato sauce. The cheese bread were also pretty basic so if you looking for amazing food, I would check out someplace else. Overall, the happy hour prices are good, I would definitely come in for drinks and a snack but that's about it.

Very cute date spot! My husband and I have been here many times. The vodka pasta is my favorite and he loves the spicy scampi and the orecchiete. The whole bread loaf is a must. Definitely have to check out!

We felt like we were in Italy again! Il Porcellino's atmosphere was warm and cozy and lively but not too loud or overwhelming. Lauren, our server, made excellent suggestions. The garlic bread is an absolute must have. We highly suggest ordering along with the burrata antipasta. The Chicken Piccata and Tagliatelle Primavera were both light and tasty. We LOVED the Rigatoni alla Vodka! A side of fries was perfect for the table to share and nibble on. Oh, and don't forget to get some gelato to finish off your Italian experience. We got vanilla and it was anything but basic. It was divine! Thanks Il Porcellino and Lauren for an excellent experience. We will see you again soon!

Immediately became a favorite restaurant! We had the Pinot Grigio to start & the grilled calamari as an appetizer. The grilled calamari is the best i've had in the city so far. I got the lemon one (there's also a spicy option) and would highly recommend it. The wait staff was timely and professional, making sure to refill our wine often and check in. The ambiance was great, definitely perfect for a date (or in my case a girls night) with warm lighting and lots of tasteful decor. I could not recommend the vodka pasta enough- it was to die for! My friend had the burrata lasagna and loved it as well- you really cannot go wrong here. Will definitely be back soon!

Wonderful experience all around. Ambiance is what you'd expect of a family Italian joint. Service from the hostess stand to the bat to the table was outstanding (we experienced every station without reservations on a busy evening). Food was good at the least enjoyed item and outstanding on everything else. The "good" was a matter or taste and not quality on the part of the establishment (if you make your own homemade pesto, try another dish-it isn't really fair to judge something that is a staple of your own home cooking). Everything other thing was wonderful (so was the pesto to be honest) from the drinks and appetizers to the mains and deserts, everything was a wonderful experience. Highly recommend!