Jimmy's Place

We booked Jimmy’s Place in July. This place was the perfect location for a family dinner. My husband and I had a civil ceremony earlier that day and arranged a family style dinner afterwards to celebrate. Jimmy was amazing, and made us feel so comfortable. Loved the menu, attention to detail, service. They went above and beyond to accommodate us. The vibe of the place is i primate and old Chicago. The food was hit with our guest. Everyone loved the pizza. Perfect place for dinner or to celebrate with family and friends.

We hosted a funeral luncheon here recently and it was great. They were incredibly accommodating with short notice and even opened early for us. Owner was very kind and the food was delicious. Thanks!

I've lived in the area for a couple years, but i never ordered from jimmys, as there were so many other options that I already knew However, there were tons of giod reviews, so i decided to give it a shot I ordered pickup, and waited perhaps 2-3 minutes when I arrived I got the plain cheese to better judge the quality of the pizza When I got it back home, it was still nice and hot, amy I dug in The crust was the perfect mix of chewy and crispy, the cheese the was flavorful and the sauce was flavorful I'm going to have to come back to try the other items, as they really seem to know what they're doing!

Great neighborhood restaurant and bar. Jimmy's the food is basic Chicago Italian food which is both very good and reasonably priced. The decore is not fancy, but there is a friendly vibe. Families with kids are welcome.

Classic thin chewy crust tavern cut pizza. Perfect combination of toppings and cheese. The large antipasto salad was more than enough to satisfy 5. Salad order also included in house baked bread.

We hosted a baby shower in the party room at Jimmy’s Place. Jimmy and the staff were extremely accommodating and easy to work with. They allowed us to come early and set up decorations and helped set up the space for what we wanted. We added a few extra appetizers and an open bar to the basic package and it was a great value for the quality. The staff were very attentive and helpful. Guests were very impressed with the calamari, pizza, and handmade pasta. The desserts were SO good. The staff packed up leftovers so guests could take them on their way out. The whole team did a great job at helping us make a customized family event memorable and with as little stress as possible.

Good place for dinner. The ingredients were fresh and flavorful. There were a couple little things that were a little off, such as the angel hair pasta was a bit overcooked along with the chicken, and the pizza was a bit bland. However, the service was friendly and really personable, you can tell that a lot of the locals eat here. The ambiance is relaxing and the portions are huge.

Met family here for pizza and both the food and service were exceptional, Caleb, our server, was top notch and was 💯 attentive and a super kind server — among the best service I’ve had in city. Pizza was flavorful and super crispy. Can’t wait to come back!

The food was good as hell but i took a dump and the doors were like see through and it was open so i didn't have privacy

Melt in your mouth good authentic Italian food. At first I didn't understand the menu. Like why do all these pasta dishes not come with meat? But after researching Italian cuisines, I learned that pasta is a course in of itself, and it and its sauce should stand on its own. Jimmys place does this perfectly. I had homemade cavatelli with vodka sauce, with a sausage as a side. I started of those with a perfectly made Negroni. The food here is well worth the price. I will have to stop in next time I'm in Chicagoland.

Great service and the food was very homemade Italian. We got the pepperoni pizza, ravioli, spaghetti, meatballs and sausage. Everything was delicious and flavorful. The sauce is a little sweet but not in a negative way. I was pouring it over everything. Great atmosphere. Will be back.

Everyone was so nice, great service, warm fresh bread to start. The breaded steak sandwich was better than ricobenes!!!! Fries were perfect balance. Escarole and beans very good. Fried zucchini was abundant and expertly prepared. Great prices.

I attended a memorial service for an old friend at Jimmy's place. The food and service and hospitality.m were all excellent.

We had a family gathering. There may have been 20 or more of us. They took care of us with great service and good food. We enjoyed salad, pasta, and pizza and even a gluten free pizza. Although most of the family drank soda, I was pleased to find they carry Heineken 0.0. My only complaint is that the noise level is very high but that's also a testament to how much fun the many customers were having.

Good reliable neighborhood restaurant. We order pizza from here several times a year. Pizza is our favorite from them, as it's a tavern style thin crust. Pasta dishes and other dishes are a bit hit or miss. I have ordered a pasta that was delicious and then the next time we order the exact same thing it tastes like the sauce came from a jar. But the service is good, along with the prices.

The restaurant has a decent amount of seating. There was a large party in the second room. The service was friendly. The calamari was very good with just the right amount of breading and crunch. We tried the shrimp appetizer which has a little kick. I enjoyed my baked mostaccioli. My husband liked his pork chop and potatoes. The portions allowed for leftovers. Lastly, the tiramisu was good but not great. The bussers were very eager hard workers! They were checking on us often!

This place cannot be beat. Food is awesome. Drinks are great and reasonably price. Atmosphere is comfortable and casual. Staff always makes you feel welcome.

The food is excellent-- just like your Grandma would have made if she were an amazing chef. But the service is incredible. I'd ear here every day if I could.

Jimmy's never disappoints! The cavatelli with vodka sauce was delicious, as well as the sausage. We also had the salmon and t bone steak. Portion for the salmon was a bit small, but it tasted great. Friendly and attentive service and owner Jimmy was very hospitable. Come here for great Italian food!

Attended a graduation party here last week. This is a great location with good food and a unique bar atmosphere. Everything appeared to be clean -- including the bathrooms. The vodka pasta made with fresh pasta and the most delicious vodka sauce and the fresh bread with garlic olive oil were the shining stars of the food provided at the party. The Cesar, house, and hot cannellini bean with greens salads were all fresh and yummy as well. The chicken, meatballs, sausage and peppers and cheese ravioli were all very good too. The owner, Jimmy, was onsite during most of the party but ended up leaving early leaving his staff to work the party. When Jimmy realized the party guests were not heavy drinkers and most were only ordering sodas and Shirley temples his attitude changed and he told the guests the bar was out of grenadine which is very hard to believe when the place had not even opened for the day. The dessert sampler platters provided at the part were pretty good. The cheesecake and chocolate cake were the best. I did not have the carrot cake since it had pecans in it. A HUGE warning regarding the Cannoli here - I took one bite of the cannoli and noticed it tasted very funny. I have had numerous cannolis in my life from all sorts of Italian places and this one did not taste like any cannoli I've ever had. Side note -- I have a very bad allergy to peanuts and do everything I can to avoid eating them and I usually check for labels saying peanuts are included. However the dessert platters were not labeled and I am used to pistachios being included in cannoli but not peanuts. I ended up having an allergic reaction and needing to take Benadryl to get my symptoms under control. Upon closer review of the cannoli, the chopped nuts on them were definitely peanuts that had been rolled on the ends of the cannoli with green sprinkles to turn them green (making them look very similar to chopped pistachios). My uncle called the restaurant the next day and asked what kind of nuts they use and the woman who answered the phone immediately stated they use peanuts. I would be willing to come back for the delicious Lillian food and a glass of wine but will be avoiding the cannoli at all cost which is sad because I love cannoli.

Now the food at Jimmy's was good and not bad for Forest Park and the service was great and the beers were cold , I would definitely be returning to try something different

I have ordered from Jimmy's Place many times through out the years and just recently catered a dinner sent to my nephew and wife who just had twins, with a 3 yr old at home also. They were so happy to receive the meal of sausage, potatoes, peppers and salad. They loved it! Jimmy delivered this order himself and if I heard correctly even took a picture with the new twins!!! Thanks so much for making their dinner experience a great one for them Jimmy. I know you now some more new customers.... Mary Lynn Pelzer

Good food, good people, good prices. They don't have their own delivery frivers though, so I recommend carryout or dining in.

We had a funeral luncheon at Jimmy's. He was so kind and helpful. His daughter and all the other servers working that day were empathetic to my family. Pizzas absolutely delicious. Spacious and clean we were able to host all of our guest. I was worried about parking, but there's plenty street parking in the neighborhood. Thank you Jim. Definitely plan on going back with my family .

Okay, they earned these stars because, not only was the food good, but they opened for a funeral luncheon on a Saturday afternoon. They most certainly did not have to do that. The servers were attentive providing drinks and then pizzas to each table. And, may I point out that every table in the restaurant was occupied. The rest of the food was offered as a buffet that included pasta, chciken, salad, veggies, and sausage and peppers. A nice selection of desserts rounded out the meal. Totally enjoyable. Now the problem is parking. Madison has become a very lively street for dining and shopping. Parking is sparse and you have to pay whether it be street parking or lot. If you find a spot ~ enjoy.

We love jimmy's place! Yummy food, good people. My fav is the antipasto salad and pasta w vodka sauce, and you cant go wrong w any pasta.

Bad place bad people. We came in and were disgusted by the service and the food will not be returning

Service a bit slow but everyone was nice and accommodating. Stop by for pizza to go - it was overcooked - almost burnt.

I came here as a fundraiser event for a local school. First off, the staff (from the greeter to the server) were kinda dicks. One told us where to sit, then we were yelled at by another for sitting there. And it kinda went the same way from there on. Sure, they were busy, but the time from ordering, be it drinks, apps or mains, was terrible. Way terrible. The food was fine, nothing to write home about, but fine. Compared to something in Little Italy, it's not even close. Over all, given a choice, you probably want to choose elsewhere. I'm happy we helped the school fundraiser though, and if that were to happen again, I'd still come back to eat.

This was a neighborhood spot known for solid, Italian "fast food." While it mimics a decor blend of "bar meets family friendly Italian," it is time for a re-fresh. The restaurant appears shabby, run down and now needs kitchen attention. Our family ordered an appetizer of clams, the meatball salad, and a pasta entree. Unfortunately, none of it was prepared well. Meatballs were gray because they were under cooked, the clams were minuscule and dripping in a soupy "sauce" (instead of being properly breaded) and the pasta was sticky, cold and in a tomato sauce that was not pleasing. While we know this is not a fine dining establishment, food should still be served hot and appetizing.

Unfortunately the pasta was mediocre at best. We were really exited to try this place being on the main strip in forest park we had high expectations but the pasta was lacking so much flavor! I had fettuccine alfredo which was extremely bland and the sauce was chunky, my partner had chicken parmesan with red sauce and he told me that he'd had canned sauce be better. I'm not even a picky eater but for the price I could've gone somewhere else and gotten x10 better pasta.

This is an incredible Italian restaurant in a very friendly and humble setting. Portions are incredible, the quality is beyond compare. This is becoming a go to Italian restaurant for us.

Pizza was off and service was strange . What happened new owners or what ?. Pizza crust and taste was pretty bland not crisp as had a different make up as in the past . Asked for an OldStyle in a bottle and got a draft and told me it was OldStyle. Really. Did not recognize one server what up ?

This is my third review of Jimmy's in the past 12 years - my six-year "rotation review" is "due", so time to share another post. We went for my brother's birthday - four of us altogether. The last time I had been there was six years ago - my last visit didn't really leave me wanting for more. I'd say that feeling didn't change after this trip - the food was good, but nothing spectacular. I can't recall our server's name - it was her first day. She did pretty well except for one oversight. I decided to order gnocchi. Generally, most gnocchi are the small pillows with the lightly embedded fork marks in them. But these were more like semi-wide linguine noodles cut in 3/4 inch lengths. It was OK, but not as good as what I was anticipating. My brothers both ordered cavatelli with vodka sauce - this dish is probably the restaurant's featured entree. This is where the newbie missed - she brought them both cavatelli with red sauce. They looked past it but mentioned it to her later just as an fyi. She was very apologetic. I didn't catch exactly what my sister-in-law ordered, but she was good with it. So we had a decent meal and I decided to pick up the tab - about $140 for the four of us with two appetizers, only one beer and no dessert. I gave the waitress my debit card and get back the receipt to sign... it's about $4 higher than the amount on the check. A closer look reveals a "processing fee". That's the first time I've ever been charged that on a debit card - kinda ticked me off a bit. Once again I leave this place not craving for more - like I used to when it first opened.

Stumbled upon this place because it was close to Loyola Hospital. Can't say enough good things about the food and friendly hospitality. Jimmy and his staff took great care of my brothers and I - classic spot with a lot of character and history.

Their pizza is amazing...perfect ratio of cheese and sauce. However the hidden gem is Gina: personal, genuine, and makes a killer old fashioned. Stumbled upon Jimmy's by chance...nothing else in the neighborhood was open and we were hungry. Restaurant was empty and I had some concerns as to why that might be....and after such a pleasant experience there should be a line out the door. Pizza wasn't cheap but it darm good and worth it. I'll absolutely return! Gina, you rock!

Food isn't that great and it's overpriced. I got the meat ravioli... the dough is really thick because they just shoved a meatball in it. Not worth $20

People who are saying how good the food is are definitely wrong here. Let me start off by saying, my wife ordered the salmon with roasted potatoes and it was hard as wood. My son ordered the fish pasta (Jimmys specialty) and when it came to the table there was a smell like an ashtray. I had to taste it for myself and it was terrible. The only good thing here is the pizza and fried veggies. The waitress was really nice and she took both of our bill . Jimmy came to our table and said and said what! You didn't like my fish pasta. Never the less he made us feel uncomfortable. And his recipe SUCKS!

Excellent service and good. Loved the atmosphere. We enjoyed it and would love to return when in the area again.

Been eating here for about 15 years. Tonight I was so very disappointed by what I witnessed while picking up my take out order. Guess they don't know about COVID restrictions, mandatory mask wearing, social distancing and restaurant capacity guidelines? Because NOTHING was being followed tonight at 6pm when I was in this establishment. Owner Jimmy was running around with his bandanna mask around his neck. The UNMAKSED waitress stood with us at the door, holding a tray of drinks talking with us for well over 2 minutes. The bartender was behind the bar, and also trying to get take out orders out, he was fixing drinks, he was wearing a mask, had it looped around only 1 ear the other side was hanging down. Dine in customers were lined up booth after booth, no social distancing between booths, and NOBODY was wearing a mask! Only one booth was actually eating at the time, everyone else seemed to be chatting away, maskless of course. There was a party going on in the party room, people walking around, back and forth between rooms, NO MASKS, except for one elderly lady. Guess the Village Health Inspector needs to do their job, along with the State of Illinois. Both which I will be contacting this week. Our food, I paid for it, brought it home and threw it away! Because if they are not following the guidelines in the front of the house where the public is, makes you kind of wonder what is happening in the back? Sorry, after 15 years, we will not be patronizing this establishment again.

Made a reservation for a luncheon. Owner claims someone called to change the time. He did not get a name or confirm with me. As a result claimed we were late, and charged an extra fee on my credit card without my knowledge. Owner called my sister to complain about me after I talked to him about the unauthorized charge. Not too customer friendly. I would not recommend.

Delicious!! My favorite is the shrimp saragusa, which is listed as an appetizer, but with 14 shrimp, some red pepper, garlic, butter, etc., it's like an Italian shrimp cocktail. Definitely my favorite item here and totally constitutes a full meal (at a great price, too). If you want a couple meals from an order, maybe try Jimmy's Homemade Cavatelli w/ Vodka Sauce--it's uh amazing uh-uh-amazing!

If your youth hockey team has a game scheduled at Ridgeland Commons ("The Ridge"), this is your pre-game meet-up location. The sizable bar can handle a group of 20 and it has plenty of tables for wait service, if you have time to sit down and eat. The food is very good. Highly recommend the stuffed mushrooms and the pizza. The kitchen can get overwhelmed when crowded, so if you know you're going to order pizza, call in your order before you arrive. It can take over 30 minutes for a thin-crust pie. It's worth the wait, if you have time. If you don't, you'd better call ahead. A great hangout for Fenwick Friars fans.

Love the place but delivery is hit and miss. ordered mushroom sausage and onion. got tomatoes onion sausage. not the end of the world but my receipt shows it correctly. Then the salad, yes a salad not antipasto but all lettuce a sliver of tomato,, sprinkler of cheese and sausage.. no artichokes etc.. nothing like the picture, but looked like a lame dinner salad.. I'll dine in,, but its not first delivery mistake.

Pizza is excellent and their house dressing is so tasty and fresh and truly made and bottled in house. My only complaint is that they charged a processing fee for running any credit card for payment and they don't tell you in advance. Not sure how long this has been occurring but it happened this evening after dining in. It just really is annoying considering the overall exorbitant costs of foods these days

This is a hard review to write because it is difficult to say which is the best The food- amazing (Shrimp Saragusa, Stuffed artichokes- Chicken Vesuvio, Eggplant parmigiana and Chicken parmigiana all perfect) The drinks- way toooo good The ambiance- great The family run business- second to none Live entertainment- perfect The service- couldn't be better All in all a tremendous experience and I would give it 10 stars if possible

I live in the Forest Park area and have passed this place many a times and always they get a solid crowd in there. I have been meaning to try it out for some time, but for one reason or the other I never do. On Saturday, 01/11/20, the weather was bad, I didn't feel like driving and I had a taste for a pizza. I don't believe in having food delivered, so I bundled up and went for a couple block walk. Located in the heart of Forest Park, its located right off Madison Avenue. There isn't a parking lot, but tons of street parking. You could also take the blue line and walk it over. It has a very cool décor on the inside, lots of local high school memorabilia, which I think is awesome. Fenwick, OPRF HS, Trinity, Proviso are all schools that I saw represented on wall. I had a taste for a pizza and decided to get a large, thin crust sausage pizza. Wanted to play it safe and you know what, it was a solid pizza. Not the worlds best pizza, but I enjoyed it. The sausage was good, the cheese was solid. The crust was a tad on the crunchy side for me, but I still enjoyed it. I would definitely ordered again. The price is a little on the high end for a pizza which is a little on the smaller side. On Tuesday and Wednesday evening its half price night, one per table. So a large one topping one cost roughly $10-12. Very good deal if you ask me. Next time I am going to order the mushrooms because those looked really good. Great local option for a solid Za!!!! (Sorry about not posting any pictures, but I completely forgot, next time.)

My family LOVES Jimmy's Place!! We've gone with big groups after baseball games, on our own as a family and without fail, we always have a great time. The food is delicious and the portions are huge! We started with an order of calamari as an appetizer and it was perfect. Crispy and just the right level of salt. I ordered my kids one order of spaghetti and meatballs to split and we still had leftovers!! My husband and I split an order of lasagna and it was so good I can hardly wait to go back and have it again. Even the bread they bring to the table before the meal is great...warm from the oven. The last time I went in I had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy himself. He was so genuinely kind and that alone makes me want to go back to support him. Thanks Jimmy!

I wish I could say the food was better because I appreciate having a "mom and pop" italian place nearby but it's not. We ordered a ton of food recently. The burger tasted like meatloaf, I'm assuming because it was the same meat. The vesuvio potatoes are completely uncooked, literally raw. The pizza was tiny, I thought when I walked out of the restaurant that the box was empty. It might have been 10", which is ridiculous. The pasta was fine but the sauce was just poured on top, which was pretty gross. For example, the fettuccini alfredo container was swimming in white sauce, with some noodles in it. They should refocus on quality food that the owners would actually eat at home.

Damn near perfect neighborhood joint right down to the Black & White checkered tablecloths. My kinda place! Sit at the bar and peruse the menu while you enjoy a robust cocktail! No pushy service here; Your allowed to live in the moment. As for myself, not much for ordering appetizers that distract from the essentials... Crusty Bread is delivered immediately. Tag-team that with delicious Escarole or Minestrone soup...that's all the teaser you'll need! As it is, mopping up olive oil with warm crusty bread is more than a justifiable temptation. The menu reads easily and to the point. Jimmy's is Old School Italian. You cant go wrong with any Pasta option especially the Homemade Cavetelli w/Vodka sauce. The chalkboard "Daily Special" listing is where you'll find a twist, particularly in the availability of fresh seafood. Jimmy did it right by naming the place after himself. I'd do the same!

Was here for a private party. Food & service were great! Homemade pasta w/vodka sauce was spot on. Italian dressing over fresh mixed greens was delish & thin crusted pizza was good.

Had pasta with clams white Pasta so over cooked falling apart No flavor and it was swimming in some sort of broth All clams out of a can not one real clam. $18.50 Never again will I make this mistakes. After I went I was told their sausage is good should have gotten that.

This is my first time going there today, and it was great. We walked through the door and we were immediately welcomed from across the room by Jimmy who was manning the bar. Our waitress was fantastic. Food was good, especially the bread baked on site. Great warm, clean, and welcoming atmosphere in a classic-styled Italian restaurant complete with checkered tablecloths.

Had similar experience about 2/3 months back. Pizza and salad were great. But the waitresses/wait staff was a mess. Like, really confused. Wouldn't check in with table. The pizza and salad saved the experience but as many have said, need to get the servers up to par.

This is a family run business that does a great job making you feel like you're at home! They are really nice people and I always look forward to seeing the owner greet us from behind the bar. The food is pretty great, but just so expensive. Homemade Cavatelli w/ Vodka Sauce is 17 bucks!? That's a bit over kill for a pasta dish if you ask me. My parents come here and enjoy the Lemon Chicken Vesuvio with potatoes which is around 18 dollars. The quality of the food is great, but I think from now on I'd just go next door to Francesca's Fiore and get a similar meal for less. I also think this place can get a bit too loud. A lot of local kid sports teams come in here for their parties and they can get a tad rowdy. My mother likes to go to places that she can hear the conversation, and this isn't the best place for her. The bread that they bring out in the beginning of the meal is fresh and warm which is a plus! The apps are pretty pricy as well.

So sorry for the low score here... but .. oh my oh my where did Jimmy's go? The ambience is still casual as expected, table cloths could use a wipe down because they are torn plastic... and menu LOOKS wonderful..now, the reality. Service is very confused, and unaware of the bar menu. It's bad when a server doesn't know what a "martini up"means in an Italian restaurant, ok, how about a glass of wine? "What kind"? Never asked. Timing ruins the menu, too, when everything is served at once, or worse, oh ya, the salad is now dessert. Taking time to train the servers to respect the reputation of the institution Jimmy set up is a good future goal. Keep it alive.

I was slightly disappointed in this place. It was a weird mash-up of Italian family dining and a sports bar, which I didn't mind much, but I did mind the slow service. From receiving menus after we already read the takeout menu to giving in and asking the bus boy for a check, this place drew out every step of the dining process. Food came out hot, so the kitchen was just ridiculously slow. Only liked one of the three dishes - the alfredo gorgonzola. Also had the antipasta and italian beef sandwich. Would i go again? Eh, maybe. But I'd make sure it's with people i could have long conversations with.