Merlo On Maple

Chef Silvia and Robby's service keep us coming back. The cuisine is like what you would enjoy in Italy. It is not Italian-American by any means, and that's what we enjoy. If you can't decide what to eat, you can rely on Robby to make some very good suggestions, from the wine through dessert. Going enjoy yourself!

One of our favorite Italian spots in the city. Everything exudes freshness. Have not ordered one dish that was disappointing. Good wine list. Not your typical Italian-American fare that Chicago is so overrun with, but real regional Italian cuisine. A tad on the pricey side, but so worth it. Highly recommended.

Went with the 8 course prefix tasting menu and paired it with the suggested Pinot and really couldn't have been happier. Come hungry for this, although the portions are relatively small initially, they ramp up quickly. Some of the beat cuisine I remember having in Chicago and very authentic Northern Italian. Only negative was that the building itself is a converted 3 flat and while some may find it charming, watch your head on the stairs if you are more than 6 ft tall. Great service though and nice intimate atmosphere.

Overpriced for the quality of the food. The bolognese was bland. My fish special had an off smell that all at my table smelled, however, the waiter found nothing wrong with it. It was also very dry. He kept telling me how "fresh" the fish was. The fennel salad was great as were the rolled eggplant with marinara. The lasagne was a big disappointment. They do have a nice wine selection. However, it was not worth the price of our final bill. I will say that our waiter was very friendly and attentive.

This is a spectacular dining experience. Cozy, romantic, warm, classic environment, glorious Bolognese fare, superb wine selection and the best servers we've encountered in many years of dining throughout the world. Truly felt as though we were at a family place in Italy. Excellent for those who want to escape the loud, trendy, cold, contemporary restaurants that seem to be the fad in Chicago these days. We could actually carry on a conversation without yelling.. Annapolis, Maryland

Last Sunday was my first visit to Merlo on Maple and will certainly not be my last. A deeply satisfying dining experience. The food was true Northern Italy fare prepared impeccably. The wines selected were perfectly matched to the fare. The service was caring and alert without being fawning and obtrusive. The rooms are elegant but also warm and comfortable. I can't tolerate the cacophony so common in restaurants today and there is none of that here, you can carry on conversation at a normal volume. Most rewarding, 5 stars are not enough

We have dined at dozens of Chicago restaurants and this wasn't one I will return to. The carpaccio was good with truffles however the other dishes were below average. The wine was the best part of our meal and the service was slow. Our waiter was nice but didn't come around often. We couldn't wait to get out of this place so we surely won't be back. There are at 20+ Italian restaurants I would recommend over this one in Chicago!

I had made a reservation for Valentine's Day over a month prior. I had read great reviews and was thrilled to have dinner here with my loved one. When we arrived, they placed us at a table that was not romantic at all. It was quiet and uncomfortable. I asked for a table in the front room where you have a view of outside and they said everyone had assigned seating and they are fully booked. I found this interesting considering I booked over a month out and probably way earlier than half of the people dining there. We ordered appetizers, a salad, and main dishes. The proportions were extremely small and for a beautiful little Italian restaurant - I had very high expectations for the food. Nothing was really the right temperature or tasted good - if we had to compare the food to something we decided banquet hall food - which is never a great experience. My boyfriend also ordered a old fashion drink because he loves whiskey. They mentioned they have a full bar and make great drinks - he said it was probably the worst drink he ever had which is not good considering how many of these he has had in his lifetime. Lastly, when we were walking out and leaving after skipping dessert and just wanted to leave - we figured at least one of the hostess' would say thank you for coming in. She chased us out the front door not to say thank you - but for some reason ask what our name was under our reservation in open table to she could record it. Overall, it was an extremely disappointing experience that I had scheduled for over a month in advance. I would not recommend or return to this restaurant.