Orso's

We had an amazing experience with Orso’s Restaurant while organizing a birthday party for my husband. From day one, the team was incredibly professional, responsive, and patient (and trust me, I had a lot of questions). They arranged a tasting for us, which made choosing the perfect menu easy and stress-free. Every detail was thoughtfully handled, and communication was clear and timely throughout the whole process. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious — top-quality, beautifully prepared, and honestly some of the best you’ll find in the Gold Coast. Our guests were impressed, and we couldn’t have asked for a better celebration. Huge thanks to the Orso’s team for making this night so special. Highly recommend for events and unforgettable dinners! Especially thanks to Diana, Nakita and their Mr. manager.

Sausage and peppers was my pick for the best appetizer. My entree was Jalapeño Gnocchi with vodka sauce. I have never had a better gnocchi! Soft and pillowy. They are known for their vodka sauce. Ambience was cozy. Delightful experience.

My friends and I had an absolutely lovely time at Orso’s. Our food was delicious and our waiter was very attentive. The manager came to our table several times to make sure we were having a very nice experience. The pianist, Joe, was the best part of the evening. He played wonderful songs all night and he didn’t mind us singing along. I’ll be back!

Old world atmosphere. We only had 30 minutes and they served us immediately. Fresh tortellini soup and crusty bread. Delicious...

We got married here ! Wonderful service, delicious food, amazing staff, impressive space with a cozy outdoor space and an upper deck. Truly an incredible venue with outstanding employees. Old school classic Chicago Italian institution. Worth a flight to Chicago just to visit. The thousands of picture frames with celebrities paired with the vibe makes this an essential Chicago visit .

Cuuuttteee Italian resturant that allowed us to rekindle our love. Italy holds a special place in my heart, and this was what I needed. Food was excellent! Atmosphere under the grapevine was perfect I cant wait to return

Beautiful outside area with dining under a canopy of grape vines. The food was delicious and our waiter was for friendly and helpful.

We loved Orso’s! We recently moved to Old Town and visited in December. Our server was great and the atmosphere is cozy. We enjoyed our vodka rigatoni and chicken picatta. The affogato was phenomenal.

This is an amazing restaurant. We've been going here for years and have never had a bad experience with food, service, or anything. The patio is so stunning and the interior is so cozy. The Jalapeño Gnocchi with vodka sauce is to die for. Easily my favorite meal in Chicago. Would recommend for a date, dinner with friends, family dinners, birthdays, really any reason to dine!

A basic community Italian restaurant. Food is not fabulous, but it's good and Hardy . Salads were good and plentiful to share. We ordered the vodka, pasta, meatballs, and sausage. Meatballs are just OK sausages were much better. Service was solid . Ambience typical Italian.

Let me start with the positives, cordial staff and host, fair pricing for old town, large portions, excellent bread and good food. Shout out to the clams casino and tortellaci al prosciutto. You can skip the grilled calamari and portobello mushrooms. Why 3 stars? It's because we were seated in the Tiffany room otherwise known as the basement. Granted we're not the only ones there. I ask for outdoor seating up front which was all taken-fine. But I later discovered they have a huge beautiful patio outback. IDK maybe that was full too this Saturday night but that doesn't negate my feeling like a second class citizen in the basement.

Probably the best tiramisu I've had in my life so far. Initially visited for my cousins rehearsal dinner and loved the family style servings and space for family and friends. Good spot for date night, dinners, parties. If it wasn't for my headache I'd enjoy the food even more but each bite I had was comforting and delish. I can see why the couple enjoyed their dates here enough to have their rehearsal dinner! Service was attentive and they made the best use of their space as they could. Could bathe in their Alfredo sauce *yum*

I came here with a group of friends and it's the perfect spot for a get together! The ambiance felt like being in a little town in Italy, it was cute! We could hear the live music playing too! The waiters were great and quick with service. I ordered the chicken verdino! It was a juicy chicken and the mushrooms were beautifully sautéed! I just didn't understand the use of potatoes. They weren't bad or anything, but I wasn't expecting it. One doesn't expect potato wedges with their Italian food, and it wasn't on the menu. It stuck out like a sore thumb. Overall, the ambiance and service exceeded my expectations, but the food could be more cohesive with a traditional Italian dining experience that is advertised.

I came to Orso's on a Wednesday evening and really enjoyed the classic Italian ambiance! The penne allá vodka was fantastic and I had leftovers to take home. I'd recommend getting pane e olio to start as well for only $2. Our waiter also let us know that Wednesdays have a BOGO deal on pizza. I would come back here to try it, although I think the pasta is most highly recommended!

The jalapeño gnocchi with vodka sauce is so delicious! I've been here a few times and my friend or I always order it - I've also had it delivered a handful of times. This time we also got the Capellini Melissa which was outstanding! Capellini pasta with peas, shrimp and sun dried tomatoes - it had a little kick to it too, just fantastic. We were lucky to sit in the front window where we could enjoy the lovely ambiance while doing a little people watching.

Patio dining in May. Love that it's covered so in case it rains, we won't be affected. Calamari: really tender. Better than anywhere else. Also love the color of batter is light in color. Mixed Greens: got it split in half between me and my friend. Nice portion, perfect balance of sauce & greens. Strawberries, walnut, goat cheese with greens and balsamic vinaigrette-- it's my kind of salad! Risotto: it was on special menu. Got it split into 2 also. It was too salty though, but yet lacked flavor. I added Parmesan cheese to make it more tolerable. Sausage was also salty too. Skip risotto. Next time, pizza for me!

Our party of 6 needed a spot for dinner before our main stage show at Second City, so we made reservations at Orso's. I'm so glad we did. The harvest salad, Caesar salad, and burrata salads were all delicious and fresh. The pasta entrees were delicious, and the portions were just right. And the cannoli was a lovely way to end the meal. Service was attentive without being intrusive, and that's a tough balance. It was excellent from start to finish. The decor is also lovely. The interior of the restaurant is an old world beauty, with a piano (and live pianist) and beautiful chandeliers. The exterior patio space is absolutely charming. Highly recommend, and would return.

I recently visited Orso's as a late birthday dinner for my mom. We definitely loved the ambience of the restaurant as we got to sit outside in the in-closed patio. Me & my gf ordered a couple of cocktails to go with our pastas of choice. I ordered the Penne Alla Vodka, which was pretty taste but the sauce could've been thicker and creamier. She ordered the Bucatini Diavolo but it was hard to enjoy since the sauce was way spicier than expected. My mom and sister both got the dolce vita , and my little brother got the chicken Alfredo. They were all satisfied. Other than that our waiter was great , very patience and helpful.

Our meal was delicious! The spinach ravioli, arancini, calamari fritti and Caesar salad were scrumptious. The wine was great too! Our server was perfectly attentive. This is a wonderful neighborhood spot. We love it here and highly recommend it.

Came very briefly for appetizers in the main dining area. Seats and tables are tight in this space, so be prepared for a bit more of an intimate dining experience, including keeping your chair closer to the table if you sit in an aisle. They have an outdoor enclosed patio area that seemed to be a bit more spacious. Overall the calamari app was solid and service was fantastic.

Orso's is very solid. Have ordered many times off their menu but my absolute favorite is the jalapeño gnocchi. Spicy but not over the top, and creamy to cut the spice back. It really is a unique and perfectly done dish. Their other dishes are good too, you really can't go wrong with what you order. I had the chicken parm sandwich today for lunch - first time I have ordered a sandwich from them. It had a nice cut of chicken on it and plenty of sauce, def keep a napkin near by with this one! Thanks Orso's!

Could be one of the best Chicken Vesuvio I have had in a long time! Service was good, all set in a pleasant outdoor garden.

The service, attentive, no over your shoulder but attentive, and friendly The food l, excellent, been patronizing Orsos for over fourty years. Haven't Frank the owner in awhile, hope he's ok, great person. Atmosphere, always on point. I know the pianist passed some years ago, but having live piano music at dinner is a real treat, I hope they start that again. Always five stars, over fourty years, never a bad meal

Conveniently in old town with lots of affordable pasta options. I love this dish and the rich creaminess.

Quick service and cheap eats in Chicago! I was shocked to find that two people could come here for lunch and order soup, a main, and a coffee and it was less than $50 for both of us!!

My friend and I decided to come here on a whim after a long day of sight seeing. I didn't really expect much from this place as we were really tired and hungry. We decided to sit at the bar as it was about an hour wait to be seated. The bartender was very nice and friendly! He made our drinks very quickly and made wonderful suggestions. We ordered the bruschetta, jalapeño gnocchi, and tortellaci. Our bartender suggested getting the gnocchi with just oil and getting a side of vodka sauce to dip it in! It was an amazing suggestion as we were already both debating between the two sauces. the gnocchi was very soft which isn't my particular favorite but the flavor was there nontheless. The sauces were amazing and I loved the kick from the jalapenos. The tortalleci was truly the star of the show though. We asked to add mushrooms and I think it really pulled everything together! The prosciutto was super thick and crispy and the pasta was incredibly flavorful. I loved every bite of it and I highly suggest ordering this next time you come. Everything was delicious and the service was even better! lf I ever come back to Chicago this is at the top of my list.

We came to celebrate my boyfriend's mom's birthday. My coworker referred me to this place because she enjoyed their food and patio. We got seated outside and we loved their patio and appreciated the grape vines spread across the roof. I ordered the special shrimp pasta and although I liked the noodles, the dish was way too spicy and I can handle spice. It was spicy and kind of sour. I do wish it was less spicy and less sour but I do say the shrimp was tasty! My boyfriend ordered the vodka, one of our fav dishes to order at Italian restaurants. It was pretty good! We also got the fettuccini and two orders of the fumigato which were throughly enjoyed.

So I'm not one to typically write a review but... I was reborn after dining at Orso's. Reborn. We came on a Friday night and ordered calamari, penne alla vodka, salmon vesuvio and spaghetti with garlic and olive oil. When I tell you I have dreamed about this meal every night since I ain't kidding. When I'm brushing my teeth- I'm thinking about orsos. When I'm getting in my car- I'm thinking about orsos. When I shower- I'm thinking about orsos. When I found out my dog died- still thinking about orsos.

Had an amazing time dining at Orso's. An old school tavern style Italian restaurant with pictures of our favorite local celebrities on the wall. Friendly service and a filling lunch in the heart of Old Town. I ordered from the lunch menu, tortellini Ella Pana with a Caesar salad. The tortellini was rich in flavor and the caesar salad was filling, crisp, and hit the spot. I'm definitely coming back for more pasta.

Stopped in for lunch. Excellent place to grab a bite, wether it's casual or on a date. Ordered the sausage and peppers app and lasagna for my main. Great combo and the lasagna was A+. Highly recommend. Great find in Old Town! I'll be back.

I've gone to this restaurant many times and it is ALWAYS an amazing place to dine, as well as the first Italian restaurant I suggest to people in Old Town. Whether it be the penne alla vodka, tortellaci al prosciutto or jalapeño gnocchi, this place ALWAYs serves the best pasta. The starters are the best on the street with my favorites being the steam mussels in a white wine sauce, the calamari fritti or the portobello mushrooms served with a reduction sauce. The servers know the menu well for when I need a suggestion on something new to try and ambience is always great. If I had to put a number to it, I probably have gone to Orso's at least once a month for the past three years. I always regret choosing any other Italian restaurant down the street-- even my partner suggests Orso's over the other Italian restaurants in the Old Town area now! I can't believe the rating on Yelp as this is a great restaurant to me--but after some digging it looks like past waiters were the issue. Lucky for me I can confidently say I haven't had a waiter issue in the last 3 years of going to Orso's. Unfortunately I am moving from the area and won't be able to have dinner at Orso's monthly, but I will be returning when I come back to Chicago!

The spot is unique - very old school Italian vibes but still classy. Food is fantastic, flavorful and portions are massive. Couple of special mentions would be the Bruschetta and Tortellini Prosciutto were incredible. Service was on point with a lot of help. Kind of a bummer because their espresso machine was broken but only means I have to come back again to get my fix. Overall, glad to have stumbled upon this spot!

Terrific historic old school atmosphere. Delicious traditional Italian food and cocktails. Highly recommended when in Old Town.

We had my bridal shower here! The area was close off on the outdoor area it was half covered half vines which was a beautiful touch to the place. The weather was perfect a little sunny a little breeze. Cute Italian vibes. We got 3 tables for seating and then two extra tables for cards/gifts and a flower bar. We also got to bring our own desserts as well! We had brunch buffet and it was delicious. We had the pesto almond chicken, along with their salad which was so good. They had veggie frites and sandwich frites too. They also had Nutella French toast which was a little on the sweeter end but still very yummy. I didn't get to try their tiramisu because it was all gone before I got to try it but everyone said it was good! The service was nice, the people serving was very accommodating, when I needed some extra plates or more drinks they were on it. Overall it was a very great experience!

Sweet cozy place with yummy food This is the second time I am here with my Fiancé. And we love this place. Ambiance- beautiful. Smaller space but well maintained. Wait time- if not reserved, about 90min Bar- has bar seating and variety of cocktail and wine options. Noise level- Average They have a beautiful Piano area. They say they sometime. Never seen anyone playing though. Food- my favorite is Jalapeño Gnocchi... I JUST LOVE IT. No comparison. I took one star off because of the manager. We had just finished our dinner and our server came with check and said that the manager has asked him to ask us to go because there are people waiting. Excuse us mr.manager, We were seated 10min late from our reservation time and you are asking us to leave just because you couldn't manage the reservations. Also, We heard two parties standing by the bar area and talking about inconvenience to them because of reservations mismanagement. When we mentioned we still need to order dessert, server talked to manager and then got us the menu. Our overall experience was good and loved food.

I got the veal stuffed Tortellacci with a prosciutto sauce. The portions are huge! the interior was not what I expected for present day old town. However I learned on their website they're one of the original restaurants in historic Old Town. You definitely get an old world atmosphere. Beware the cannolis have pistachios even though it's not listed on the menu. My friend has a nut allergy, but our server remade it for us without the pistachios.

We enjoyed dinner here last Friday evening, and it was an enjoyable experience. The restaurant is in Old Town and has the feel of a place in old Italy. There was a man playing the piano when we arrived. We were seated pretty quickly and decided on our wine and entrees. We split a Caesar salad, and it was excellent. My friend had the Penne Alla Vodka. I chose the Ravioli a Piacere, with the beef ravioli and vodka sauce. Everything was very good! Service was good, although it took a bit for us to receive our check. All in all, an enjoyable Italian dinner at Orso's!

We went to Orso's in Old Town for lunch during Restaurant Week and what a great surprise. This was our first time there and everything was delish! We ordered the Calamari and the breading was so light and crispy. I ordered the Jalepeno Gnocchi and my husband ordered the White Fish with Lemon and Capers. Both dishes were so flavorful and fresh. To end our meal we had the Canoli and Tiramisu. The tiramisu just melted in my mouth. We will definitely be back!

The gnocchi with vodka sauce was absolutely beyond delicious. Absolutely incredible every single bite was joyous. Highly recommend that! Great service too!

This is a classic Italian restaurant by standards of Long Island, New Jersey, Atlantic City and yes, Philadelphia The photo array of local fans and national fans. Wow. Our guests were awe spoke to be included with Police and Fire Leaders, The servings were bountiful, so of you if you are light hearted this may not be the place for your crowd. Our waiter and guide, Scott was experienced and a great guide for the restaurant. Food is beyond unless you had an Italian grandmother and the service is impeccable. Great location. I'm relying on my son's referral and he meets the measure. Get a reservation

I was actually here for a wedding and I Have to say it was a great place for a wedding, the food was good , the bartenders were awesome and the rest of the staff was wonderful . I will come back here on a regular visit as it impressed me so much.

Ambiance was quite nice. Piano player, beautiful decor. First, I've never been to an Italian restaurant that didn't offer bread. The portion ls were generous, but the taste was mediocre. Got chicken Vesuvio, and in the waiters suggestion did the split chicken breast version. The meat was very tender and juicy, but overpowering with salt abs oregano. It was a salt bomb. The lobster fettuccine had fresh pasta and a good amount of lobster, but they masked the lobster with red pepper flake. It was so diavolo that my mouth was on fire. The lobster had to issues. Old and overcooked. Tail oars were rubbery, the claw piece was dry and felt like a dry chicken breast. Had a fishy taste meaning it wasn't fresh. Being well versed in cooking, i know what to expect from a properly prepared lobster and this wasn't it. Would have given them a second try, considering the season and not being able to get fresh all the time, but for the price I'd expect at least a basket of bread and oil. Only reason we tried them is because topi gigio had an hour wait. Should have waited. Wasted $160

Love the place! It's the oldest family-run restaurant in Old Town. Can't wait to go back and visit Frank, the proprietor, who makes every guest feel like family. The food is amazing, service is friendly and prices are fair. You gotta go!

Incredible food and service! Perfect for date nights and family gatherings. The cocktail and wine lists are quite good and the gelato dessert options are unbelievably good!

We went to Orso's after 5 years and the food quality has worsened significantly. We ordered pizza and for a thin crust pizza, the crust was very thick. We ordered chicken Marsala and it didn't have any flavor. Pasta alla vodka, felt like it was pasta boiled put in bottled sauce. You can cook better pasta at home. Really disappointed with the food and service.

-we had a great lunch/dinner here while visiting. The ambience is old school with dark wood and cozy. Our server was very good and sweet also. calamari--71YRSOLD, BEST WE HAVE 'EVER' HAD, seriously & we've had many cheese ravioli -good and tender lazagna- incredible, delish clams casino-the only not perfect dish, very tough, didn't eat The calamari took the winning prize!!!!

I had dinner after work with a friend one weeknight. It was cold and rainy and not very busy. I get it, all things considered. I loved that they had a guy playing guitar. He was wonderfully talented and quite friendly. We really enjoyed the live entertainment. It was a very nice touch. Our server was a good guy but his timing was a bit awkward. He was either around too much or he was missing in action. I had just taken a big bite of my salad and he wanted to know what I was going to order for my entree. In the end it all worked out. Every time I dine at Orso's I have hopes that it will be better than last time, given that they have been around forever - a real classic. Sadly, this last visit's entree was not my thing either. I ordered penne with marinara and asked if they could add spinach and mushrooms. My pasta arrived looking like it was someone's tumbled around leftovers. The veggies seemed to have been cooked in oil and garlic. I would have preferred fresh veggies but didn't know I needed to make that clear. I tasted no red sauce. All I tasted was garlic so strong it left a chemical-like taste on my lips. Maybe someone who loves oil and garlic would have enjoyed it but not me. My salad was soooo good. Crisp iceberg and fresh tomato. (I gave my friend the olives) The homemade vinaigrette was fantastic!! The piping hot bread was equally impressive. If only I had ordered a bigger salad and bread... The room cannot be beat. Old world charm and quirky decor really add to the vintage coziness. The metal ceiling and giant chandeliers are incredible. In warm weather, they offer one of the best courtyards in Chicago for al fresco dining. I would definitely go again for live entertainment, a perfect martini, crisp salad and warm bread. But I will definitely skip a main entree.

The interior was not what I expected, but I did love the old school painted glass and chandeliers. Seemed more like a pub than an Italian restaurant from the inside entrance, but maybe that just means I need to come back in the summer to check out the patio for a more romantic ambiance! Service was great, prompt, and friendly. We had a delicious pour of house Chianti at an excellent price, and bruschetta to start. The bruschetta with fresh mozzarella on top was delicious and a nice portion. My house salad was also a nice big portion with a tasty light dressing, but the grilled salmon I got on top was over cooked and super small. I got to try my date's chicken parm, which was standard. Overall, I liked the restaurant and would love to try brunch, but for a classic Italian dinner I think topo Gigio is still a favorite nearby.

Food was amazing and not too pricey. The inside of the building was cool - loved all the stained glass windows. Waited an eternity because we didn't have a reservation, but I will likely return (with a reservation).

The penne vodka was super yum but the pizza was okay in my opinion. Still tasted good, and made good leftovers! The calamari was good though, and I enjoyed my red sangria as well. The portions were reasonable, the service was quick and friendly, and this place has an old school Italian family feel to it. I was part of a large party where one person ordered a bunch of things, but I didn't try all of it. I'd like to come back and try more pasta dishes to give a full review.

This place looks lovely and inviting when you walk past it, and the ambiance is actually great! The patio is full of plants and feels relaxing. It's also in a nice location in the heart of Old Town. However, the rest of the experience was pretty meh. The service felt rushed because they were understaffed which was understandable. Unfortunately they didn't serve bread before the meal like you would expect from an Italian place. Cocktail tasted artificial, like drinking a gummy worm. The food was also pretty much flavorless. The chicken parm tasted like it had been frozen--not crispy at all. Probably not coming again

Victor was an amazing server. The food was timely and fresh and the service was impeccable. At no point did we feel unattended. This guy killed it.

Cali Mari was delish and bruschetta was on point. Highly recommend for a weekday lunch.

much better than topo giggio, servers are attentive and helpful and give great recommendations. Their pizza is light and crispy, jalapeño gnocchi is fluffy and just the right away of spicy and such a unique dish you can't get anywhere. great place with good prices and the quality is always fantastic

Swung in here for dinner earlier in the week. Bartender was very nice. Suggested to get the tortellini which was fantastic! Gave off a nice cozy Italian feel. Would swing back any time

Food was below average. Service is very bad. Was here for brunch and our simple order took over 30 minutes to prepare. When asked, they unapologetically said that our ticket did not print. Note to the manager/ owner - please take some pride in your establishment. Your employees are an embarrassment to this foodie town.

Love orsos! One of our usual meals that we get delivered, but love the local ambiance of eating at the restaurant. Our usual order consists of a caprese salad, jalepeno gnocchi & fumigato. The jalepeno gnocchi is like nothing I've tried before and I would 100% recommend - I've only ever ordered with olive oil & garlic as the sauce, but it's perfect, so I haven't found a need to try something new. Portions are on the larger side. Between 3 people, two pasta dishes were more than enough Should also note that we once had a horrible experience via grubhub where our order was never processed. We ended up on the phone with the restaurant where they asked for our address. A few days later a gift certificate and a handwritten note made it to us. They offer their own delivery service if you want to extra support local!