The Rosebud

Italian restaurant · Little Italy

The Rosebud

Italian restaurant · Little Italy

3

1500 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607

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The Rosebud by null
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The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
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The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
The Rosebud by null
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Highlights

Traditional Italian fare, huge portions, old school vibe  

Featured in Eater
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1500 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607 Get directions

rosebudrestaurants.com
@rosebudrestaurants

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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1500 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607 Get directions

+1 312 942 1117
rosebudrestaurants.com
@rosebudrestaurants
𝕏
@rosebudchicago

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 12, 2025

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@eater

Rosebud on Taylor Closes After 50 Years, Will Become a Private Event Space - Eater Chicago

"Rosebud, a prominent name for Italian American cuisine in Chicago, is converting its Little Italy flagship to a private event space and speakeasy-style bar. Rosebud on Taylor, the original hub of the hospitality group, closed to the public on Sunday, December 31. As of the start of 2024, the space on the edge of the Illinois Medical District is available solely for special event booking under the working name Rosebud: The Speakeasy, founder Alex Dana tells the Sun-Times." - Naomi Waxman

https://chicago.eater.com/2024/1/2/24022410/rosebud-taylor-hutch-american-bistro-closed-cannabis-dispensary-green-dolphin-smoque-steak-wine-bar
View Postcard for The Rosebud
@eater

The Best Restaurants for Group Dining in Chicago

"The Taylor Street fixture has doled out Italian classics since the ‘70s. From locals to tourists, many patrons feel like family thanks to the convivial atmosphere and large portions. Come with a posse and share spaghetti and meatballs, brick chicken, meat lasagna, chicken Vesuvio, and more over bottles of Chianti." - Samantha Nelson, Eater Staff

https://chicago.eater.com/maps/best-group-dining-restaurants-in-chicago
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@eater

Four Corners Unveils its Retro Revamp of River North’s Motel Bar Tomorrow - Eater Chicago

"Tom Hanks ate at Rosebud and loved the baked Ziti." - Daniel Gerzina

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/9/5/17822976/motel-bar-revamp-opening-four-corners-river-north-farmers-fridge-expansion-intel
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Daritza Herrera

Google
Came here with a friend for dinner and drinks and it was a great experience all around. The bartender was excellent and our drinks were on point. We shared the meatballs (filling and delicious) and the chopped breaded eggplant salad was huge and perfectly done. Cozy, intimate vibe that’s great for date night. Loved the baby grand piano, though there wasn’t live music the Wednesday we visited.

Frank Desandre

Google
My family and I stopped in on their soft opening yesterday, and all I have to say is, wow! The food and service were absolutely amazing. The quality and care for each dish is next level. The staff from our waitress to the manager made us feel like family. I can't recommend this place enough. We will be back!

Robert Lane

Google
ROSEBUD ON TAYLOR IS BACK!!! So happy to hear it has reopened. I've traveled the world and eaten everywhere, but theres nothing like returning to a legendary Chicago establishment. All of the new school Chicago places need to visit the OG and take notes. The staff was accommodating for a last minute, late evening reservation. Not only did they stay the course as if we were the first customers of the day, we felt like we were eating in someone's home. The ambiance and decor nails everything you expect from white tablecloth Italian. The food? Everything we had was outstanding: Appetizers: Bruchetta, Minestrone, and Sausage and Peppers (tremendous) Drinks: Martinis and Shirley Temple's Entrees: The chicken cacciatore was phenomenal, the vodka rigatoni was superb, and the arrabiatta cavatelli was bursting with flavor with just the right amount of spicy. All of the pasta was cooked to perfection. The lamb chops could have used a little char, but were massive and melt in your mouth, paired witb a buttery, lemon sauce. Dessert: The tirimisu was decadent and fresh. Above all, great Italian food is measured by the SERVICE. Genuinely friendly, welcoming, and attentive service is what set Rosebud apart from so many great Chicago options. Massive portions, we took a ton home and enjoyed a great evening. Spread the word, the OG is back. Get there and experience Chicago dining at its finest

Joseph Miller

Google
Hi, my name is Albert Miller. Me and my wife had a wonderful time for our anniversary yesterday at Rosebud‘s on Taylor Street service was fantastic. Food was fantastic. Service was unexplainable so great. They treat you like family if I had a chance to give 100 star rating I would The manager Eddie and all the crew members are fantastic. The food is cooked fresh the way they prep their food is fantastic. The way they cook it present it to you and your family. I would highly suggest that whoever sees this will go and experience fresh cooked Italian food in Chicago. They will treat you like family.

Richard Wright

Google
This was an incredible experience. From the wonderful service to the absolutely exceptional food, it was awesome. I will warn you, DON'T think these portions are like your typical restaurant. They are HUGE! I had the chicken parm and had never seen a portion so large. It was the same with the "piece" of carrot cake my wife and I intended to share, only to find it was a quarter of the entire cake. Add to that the quality of the food's taste and you have a winning combination. This is no exaggeration and I've attached pictures to prove it. Did I mention the ambiance? Thank you to the wonderful staff for making this experience so special for us!

BRUCE Carter

Google
So the food here was amazing, the service is outstanding but keep in mind there is a dress code when you go in, and the Atmosphere was superb! Our Host name was John I believe and he was amazing he also said that he was from Indiana, witch happened to be where we where visiting from. I highly recommend this place.

Janine Faille

Google
I recently visited Rosebud and overall, it was a decent experience. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, however it was a bit on the dark side in there. The menu had a good variety of Italian dishes to choose from. While the food was well-prepared and presented nicely, the temperature of my food was warm at best. The service was friendly, although there were a few minor hiccups with timing and attention to detail. Despite these shortcomings, it was still a decent meal.

Angela Buffington-Johnson

Google
Stopped here while on a work trip and during the Italian Festival on Taylor Street! The items on the special menu all sounded good. I had Grandma’s Gravy and it was delicious! I would like to come back and sit in the dining room, looked very classy and old school inside. They had the street blocked off and seating outside. It was a fun atmosphere!
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Hollywood C.

Yelp
I had the pleasure of visiting this restaurant when I went to Chicago this past weekend. Ashley C was my server and she was absolutely amazing. Service was on point and food was delicious. Other staff even came over to make sure I was having a great experience, I would visit this location again. I want to thank the staff for a great experience especially Ashley.
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Maddy M.

Yelp
Wonderful experience here. I was surprised to see how empty it was. The service was great and the food was delicious! Very hefty portions. I love the old school Italian, dimly lit, white tablecloth vibe. We brought a toddler and they were very accommodating. It seems like this would be a great place for date night! We also saw someone celebrating a birthday. Apparently this is the OG Rosebud! Lots of history here. I had the chopped salad which was so refreshing and filling! Packed with veggies and stacked high! No way is this for one person. I took more than half of it home! The best thing I tasted was the bolognese. Holy cow (and veal). Loved the fresh ricotta on top adding a nice creamy texture. We also took home what we couldn't eat and I ended up eating it a couple hours later because it was that good. I think the Rosebud is worth a visit if you are in town! Great atmosphere and old school Italian cuisine. I'll be back for that bolognese!
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Eve K.

Yelp
Classic Italian that did not disappoint. 4.5 stars Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - Location: there are many locations in town but glad went to the original in Italian area away from tourist crowds - Seabass piccata special: best thing I ate all weekend (and I had all stellar meals): huge piece of fish that was so tender with a sauce that was a perfect capery lemony goodness the spinach below also soaked in. 5 stars - Orecchiette broccolini sausage: I wasn't so excited that this was the dish of all the pastas the hub wanted to order because it seemed so plain, but it was simple and full of flavor and so great. 5 stars - Brick chicken: also simple but packed a lot of flavor being crispy outside and juicy inside. 4.5 stars - Waiter: was also our bartender, was personable, and had great suggestions - Atmosphere: simple, dark, and classic restaurant atmosphere Lowlights - Wine and cocktails were just ok: both were fine with us, but stretching to think of something that wasn't a knockout highlight... Loved our dining experience here and was just what we wanted from our authentic Italian Chicago dinner.
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Angelina I.

Yelp
So glad we were able to dine in before this location closes! The spaghetti and meals were great. The meatballs tasted like a mix of beef and veal, and the red sauce was good with fresh basil. The veal piccata was the real star of the show, and was deliciously crispy and cheesy. Tiramisu was very moist and a great size for sharing at the end of a veryyy filling meal.
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Serg D.

Yelp
A nice but largely unremarkable Italian-American restaurant. The warm bread at the beginning was yummy and the drinks were well-prepared. For food, we had the seafood salad, which was alright but unfortunately the seafood was not the freshest that Chicago has to offer. Also, the scungilli (snail) could have been shaved more thinly, so as to catch the very flavorful lemon vinaigrette. We also had a side of momma's meatballs, which were lovely and perfectly cooked! The restaurant itself is somewhat dark, but otherwise I appreciated all the wood and brown tones. The vibe from the waitstaff felt strange - everyone appeared to be running around and on edge. The food, service, and ambiance are not worth the price.
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Mindy C.

Yelp
1st time come with friend. It's delicious and authentic. Great place and I saw the Frank table. Amazing. Big portions.
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Ledora T.

Yelp
Food and drinks were great. It's a little tight in space but the quality is definitely there. The short rib bolognese is amazing! I enjoyed the Brussels as well.
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Denise M.

Yelp
Mediterranean salad was good. Got seated quickly and sat outside. Wait staff was nice. Place is a little pricey. The salad was $20.
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Jose C.

Yelp
The Rosebud was my introduction to "fine dining" back in 2002. Sadly, you don't hear much matter about them these days. You get a classic Italian vibe here, with the mood set right, lights dimly lit and Frank Sinatra playing all night long. It doesn't get better than that on Taylor Street. The service for the most part was great. We made reservations and we immediately got seated upstairs. It took a little bit to get our order in, but luckily we weren't in a rush. Once we were able to get our food in, everything else went very smoothly. They start you off with bread, with olive oil and Parmesan cheese already on the table. I truly look forward to this set up anytime I'm eating Italian food. It's absolutely the best way to start the night. With a glass of wine of course. We also ordered their bruschetta. The tomatoes tasted fresh and coated in olive oil, topped with Parmesan cheese, fresh basil. So much flavor packed in these little bad boys. They also came with olives which I don't like. I also ordered their minestrone. I've definitely had better minestrone, but this one was ok. It was also served lukewarm. My wife ordered their Tortellini Carbonara. It came with Parmesan cream, prosciutto, mushrooms and sweet peas. This one was okay. The Parmesan cream tasted similar to Alfredo. But the pasta was cooked perfectly and the dish was very filling. I ordered their Spaghetti & Meatballs. I know I know, a very simple dish. How boring. But there's something about this dish, and not just here, that I love. The marinara that they make at Rosebud is so damn delicious. I like that they've been so consistent with the flavor of this sauce for at least twenty years. Oh the nostalgia. The meatballs were also cooked to perfection and had just the right amount of seasoning to compliment the spaghetti and marinara perfectly. I can't wait to go back.
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Andy S.

Yelp
Great food, great atmosphere at the Taylor Street location. Service is excellent and the wine list is extensive! Try the sautéed broccolini as a side, you won't be disappointed...
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Mateo A.

Yelp
Great food, reasonable pricing, excellent wait staff. The mood and lighting was nice. Thank you !
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Chara W.

Yelp
Rosebuds has been a staple in my family forever ! Never disappointed!!! So glad they brought back my favorite stuffed artichoke ! It's one of the best I have ever had! My pasta was great !!! Service is wonderful as always ! Make a reservation and try the brick chicken! Also our fav !!! Restaurant vibe is old school Chicago and the ambiance is just that ! Love, love this place !!!
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Mike D.

Yelp
Great Italian spot on Taylor St. Sat outside and ordered the antipasto salad, stuffed mushrooms and sausage & peppers. All of the food was great, but I really enjoyed the antipasto salad. Will definitely get that again. Stuff mushrooms were very good and garlicky as well.
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Steve M.

Yelp
Lunch at The Rosebud on Taylor was filling, very good, over priced nothing special really. If you're ready for standard old style 'red sauce' large plates this is the place for you. 3 stars not 4.
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Nicole G.

Yelp
Absolutely delicious, cheesy, and flavorful. They bring fresh bread to the table. The Caprese Salad is subtle but so fresh. The Mediterranean salad is also a go to for salads. We also got the Baked Cavatelli, it's creamy and does not have spice (heat) to it. The ricotta dumplings melt in your mouth. I love spice so I went for the Baked Ziti. It was fantastic. The sausage was flavorful and not too spicy that it overpowered the dish. Id recommend the Blueberry dry Martini for a cocktail. Simple flavors that cut the vodka. Our waitress was great at recommendations, patient, got everything correct, and very nice!
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Cherie M.

Yelp
We had reservations but decided to sit at the bar. So glad we did. Met a few great couples we chatted with and they gave lots of other local recommendations, even drew us a map! LOL. The bartender was Addyson. She was amazing with her recommendations. We just wanted a snack because the night was young! Had the mussels in white wine sauce & the artichoke. Delicious. If you are visiting or just looking for a great local spot, look no further.
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james j.

Yelp
I just went there on a date it was close by Costco where I was working I just sat at the bar but it was really nice great atmosphere and the food was good I think I had some appetizers and some drinks definitely would go back! Classy.
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Paul S.

Yelp
Outstanding. The service, the hospitality, the ambiance all 5 out of 5. Now, let's talk about the food. Family style portions that are crazy good. Don't forget dessert and an espresso.

Devin S.

Yelp
0 stars if I could. Run run away. I've given this place enough chances to see that they either must have sold or changed owners. HORRENDOUS SERVICE. Server never told us the specials, as soon as we sat down she goes"Drinks? appetizers, are we ready to order." Clearly not I've just sat down. I order drinks an appetizer very hurried.30 plus minutes for drinks to the table. When she finally brings my drink order, she is again pushing me to order. I literally tell her once my appetizer is here I'll order dinner. She didn't like this very much and decided to punish me the rest of the evening. NEVER came back to the table one time. Appetizer took almost an hour. She waited till the appetizer was cleared off my table to come back to take the entrees order. Oddly entrees were up right away. I then attempt to order a glass of wine with dinner. Another 30 minutes go by, no wine. I ask for the Manager. Their GM thinks he is Richie from the The Bear. Same nasty demeanor, uncaring, and I can see why there are service issues as it usually trickles down.When I asked him why this lack of service was accept, he told me "they were busy." Believe me, it was a normal Average Saturday night. Also, the cook spent most of the night chit chatting with the table behind us and was personally bringing their food. This was supposedly to be a special birthday dinner and they ruined it. They then canceled out my reservation on open table on purpose to avoid me leaving a negative review on there. Talk about BEYOND UNPROFESSIONAL.RUN RUN AWAY from this horrible place.

Barbara H.

Yelp
Way overpriced! It's no wonder they're closing. Food was good, but only good. Nothing sttod out except the bill! This was always a good place for a good value. Sadly no more. If their new speakeasy charges the same prices, it's sure to be gone. There are many better Italian restaurants for far less $. Go somewhere else!
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Rosette S.

Yelp
I have been going to rosebuds for over 30 years. HOWEVER, this time I was highly disappointed. The lasagna was so dry, it had no tomato sauce and very little ricotta and very small amount of cheese The Caesar salad was not tossed, Caesar dressing on the side, and three small anchovies in a small container. SAD!! VERY DISSATISFIED!
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Mary G.

Yelp
This was a pickup order of fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp.When I got home and opened it, it was fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. Called the restaurant which refused to refund and prepare the correct meal even though I offered to text a photo of the mistaken meal. 'My computer won't let me do that.' Whattt??? Thus posting a negative review for failure to resolve a simple mistake.
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Darrielle M.

Yelp
Loved it! The food and atmosphere did not disappoint. The service was also Amazing! I definitely recommend!
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Thanh T.

Yelp
Wow terrible starter bread! The grilled calamari appetizer was alright. My burrata itself was fantastic - great crumbly texture and thin skin. I wasn't a fan of the arugula bed, balsamic glaze, or prosciutto

Nika N.

Yelp
We found this restaurant from our bartender at the bar. The best Italian food I ever had in America! Their ceaser salad was very different and tasty. Our server, Antonio,was so friendly and nice.

Sandy C.

Yelp
Food was wonderful. Maria our server was. great. She was transplanted from Carmines to this location. Great everything!!!
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Andy N.

Yelp
Rosebud is a name you hear bounced around Little Italy and the UIC area. Fancy, classic Italian fare inside a dimly lit restaurant that is reminiscent of a family banquet hall. I knew I had to try this once before I left Chicago and was glad to have lunch here finally. During a weekday lunch, the place was virtually empty. They have a lunch menu that offers plates closer to the $15 range which means big savings if you don't want to spend a lot for dinner. We were seated very quickly and our server brought out bread for the table which your olive oil will be put to good use. Between the two of us, we ordered the Chicken Limone and their Dumplings. The chicken came with a side of marinara pasta to compliment the plate. We were surprised to see that it was a fairly small portion considering we heard everything would be a lot bigger. It was pretty good but certainly not my favorite. The dumplings however were amazing. Creamy dumplings served with mushrooms and peppers, it was definitely the better of the two and one I would absolutely come and get again. We ended up dipping our bread into the sauce since it was just that good. I'm happy to have finally checked off Rosebud from my bucket list. Definitely worth a visit especially for those dumplings. Street parking is available but limited during busy hours.
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Charlie M.

Yelp
Wow. This place is so good. We were walking by and decided to go In and give it a shot and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere was nice, the portions were huge and the food was amazing. We will absolutely be back when we are in Chicago. Well done Rosebud
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Oleksandr K.

Yelp
The Rosebud is a personal favorite of mine. Mainly it's the staff, I first met them when delivering for the location as a Caviar courier. I come from a city scene when it comes to my background, so I know a Vibe when I feel one. After having taken the photo for the future, I am now sharing this phenomenon so that everyone who hasn't yet, makes sure to put it in their planner/iPhone/Android/To Do List; My opportunity came when I was invited to a birthday celebration of a matriarch. Experience Rosebud for yourselves, perfect for a last minute invite for a dinner with family and only your closest friends! Why you may ask? The dessert is so good, you won't want to share it with anyone but your closest friends and favorite family members!

Sherry A.

Yelp
This is our go-to Italian spot when in Chicago! Love the ambiance, love the food! Get the baked ziti! And desserts are enormous.
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Cherie C.

Yelp
The food was superb. The service outstanding. Our waiter Kieran was amazing. So, kind with all details of our meal making it seem as though it was a pleasure to have us for dinner. I have been to many restaurants since the pandemic started and have given so much "slack" to people that barely want to be in the business. Kieran revalued the experience of fine dining. Also, just geing appreciated as another person. I hope Rosebud knows how this is the main characteristic of a truly enjoyable "dining experience".
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Nolan F.

Yelp
You'll immediately notice their prices are higher than most Italian restaurants but the quantity is also definitely higher than most Italian restaurants. If you want to get appetizers and/or dessert on top of a main course of pasta, you're most likely going to pack that pasta to go unless you're a beast. I have no complaints about the quality of food nor service. Everything was so delicious, especially tiramisu.
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Tanya L.

Yelp
We made reservations here on the recommendation of the hotel staff for a good Italian meal. Service 4/5; ambiance 2/5 (so dark, hard to see menu or what you're eating); food 2/5 great Bread! eggplant parm tasted like plastic, spicy calamari was good until we found a piece of plastic in it ; antipasto salad-meh; grilled shrimp was done perfectly. Cost 2/5, rather exorbitant for quality of food.
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Mike T.

Yelp
Food was amazing and the service was perfect! They were friendly and checked in without interrupting my meal.

Raquel P.

Yelp
I really liked this place. The food was delicious. Their cannolis were excellent. Homemade limoncellos. Service was great. Highly recommend.

Sylvia T.

Yelp
I was really disappointed with my take out order from this long time favorite restaurant. I paid $43 for a one item carry out! Linguine w/ shrimp and broccoli. No utensils, bread with no butter or oil, no Parmesan.... Dine in pricing w/o the high quality dine in experience!
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Hunter H.

Yelp
This place was a massive disappointment. I came here for my anniversary and the food was honestly just gross. We got the lobster ravioli and a red sauce dish. Both dishes were wayyy over cooked and gummy. I would not recommend coming here unless you want to overpay for really bad food...

Former P.

Yelp
Bruschetta was soggy. You have to toast the bread first! I couldn't cut into it, it was soggy bread with tomatoes.
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Beth W.

Yelp
Finally had the chance to take one of our daughters to my husband's favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago. As usual, we had a great meal. We stopped in on a cold snowy Saturday so we had no wait to be seated for our late lunch. We started with the bruschetta. The flavors of the tomato and basil were fresh. We had no troubles finishing the four pieces fast. My husband had the Veal Saltimboca. The three cutlets were a great portion for lunch and my husband had some left to bring home. He also had the house salad. The portion was again generous and overall the salad was great with one catch - the red onions were a bit overpowering. My daughter had the Tortellini Carbonara. The sauce was thick and filling (in her words). The tortellini themselves were filled with a generous portion of cheese. And she too had leftovers. I had the Penne Bolognese and it was delicious. I can't say I'm a huge meat sauce fan but am now a big fan of Rosebud's bolognese sauce. There was the right amount of meat and the sauce flavor was creamy with they right zip of the tomato base. My leftovers rounded out enough for us to eat for another meal. Glad that Rosebud on Taylor is still as great as it was when I was first went more than 25 years ago. It remains my husbands favorite in Chicago as well.
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Armando S.

Yelp
Great to be back in the Second City after a few years. Rosebud over the years has always been a great staple of traditional Italian and ginormous portions. This location is the original in the Little Italy neighborhood. Great old world vibe. Nowhere near a hipster joint, and I would have it any other way.
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John D.

Yelp
Had the lamb chops, the sea bass, and the ziti. Everything was incredible! The service was great as well.
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Jonathan K.

Yelp
We usually take pics but not this time. Upon entering we told we needed reservations by who would be our waiter, then another gentleman said he could squeeze us in. Ok, so we ordered soup I believe clam chowder and a steak salad. Steak salad was phenomenal. Also remembered ordering a fish dish in the $56 dollar range ( just don't remember ) as it was on a special menu , something arrabata I don't know) anyways and spaghelli w/ meatball. My son is the spaghetti master and disliked it. The fish was oily and just nothing to write home about. I've lived in Chicago for about 10 years and was always told to try the burger. Well this was a complete let down. The place was maybe at 40% capacity on a Friday. Waiter was nice after the front fiasco. Maybe he did not know. I would not repeat for our experience with the items we ordered. The place had a nice feel to it with dim lighting. I might return someday for the burger. Pricey for much better options elsewhere.
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Will H.

Yelp
Went on a whim for lunch and it's well worth the visit. Certainly not "life changing," but the chicken marsala for $14 was quite tasty and filling, even in the lunch size portion. You also get the fresh warm bread, olive oil (of course), and a side of pasta with the entree. Lunch prices are reasonable for a big city. My server was Tony and he was great, friendly and knowledgable, made some great wine recommendations. I'd go back if in the area, especially for lunch. At 2 pm on a Friday the place wasn't empty but was far from packed. Cannoli tasted fresh and espresso was strong. Also, VERY clean bathroom is always a plus.

MaryLu C.

Yelp
It is with great sadness that I am writing this review. I know they struggled to reopen, but Rosebud is THE place to do on Taylor. As a long time, Tri-Taylor resident of Italian descent, Rosebud on Taylor has been our families go to place for celebrations. I went there last night and I was treating a business colleague, who loves Rosebud, for a year end dinner and could not have been more disappointed. I ordered a bottle of wine, but when it arrived it was already poured into two glasses al la Olive Garden. My friends' Negroni and that is her go to drink, was awful. She sent it back. The wine itself was amazing. Our orders were a bowl of Minestrone and a seafood salad for me and my friend ordered a Cesar salad and a pasta dish. Then we waited, and waited. Two glasses of wine for me later, my friend received her Cesar and the pasta dish together. I received nothing. After several more minutes, I get a cup of cold Minestrone soup. Sent it back. I knew I was a bit tipsy so I said nothing because I did not want to appear to be that drunk "Karen." I eventually receive a bowl of soup which they comped. Finally, my Seafood salad which was delicious arrived. By the time my friend finished her Cesar, which was wonderful, her pasta was cold. Sad for such a fine traditional Italian restaurant to have such a lapse. Next time I am taking my clients and friends to one of the Italian restaurants on South Oakley.
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Joel C.

Yelp
This used to be my go-to spot but I was just there a few days ago and it has changed the quality and quantity has decreased, I would only go for the spicy calamari and their were times I would only get that as my main course, I'm a big guy and they would serve a big bowl that filled me up but when I went there recently the amount was at least 70% less than what I usually get and the presentation looked as if they took someone's leftovers and add it to the plate, the coke I would get a glass of ice and a bottle of coke and fill it up instead they give you a watered down coke and my glass had lipstick on it which I didn't noticed until after I drank half the glass the main course was subpar but what really made me find a new spot is the fact they charge a 3% surcharge on the bill which is fine had the quality of the food didn't change, needless to say the price of the food did not equate for the satisfaction of the food.
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Luke C.

Yelp
Rosebud is a pretty long-lived italian restaurant near UIC. Ambiance is old-style and very dim. It seems a little dated and perhaps even dingy. It was half empty when we went. The food here comes in HUGE portions and everything is priced higher accordingly. For appetizers, we got a clam dish, calamari, and bruschetta. I enjoyed the bruschetta the most and thought the basil taste was prominent but very refreshing. The garlic bread was crunchy but not stale-crunchy. However, I found the clams and calamari to be pretty plain. You might expect something with better execution but it seems like they just give bigger portions here to compensate. I thought the spicy sauce dip for the calamari was unique though. Overall the appetizers did not stand out to be despite the portion size and I felt like the sauce that came with the clams was too thin and a bit sour. The dish I got afterwards was also HUGE. It was the carbonara pasta. The sauce was too thick and rich for my taste, because it was much too filling and there was no way that anyone could finish it without bringing it home for leftovers, when it won't taste as good. The ratio of sauce to pasta was too high, and I found that there were also too many mushrooms in the pasta and not enough prosciutto bits. Service was very attentive and good for a restaurant like this. They made sure to pace the appetizers and entrees given their size.
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David R.

Yelp
There seems to be a cult following for this restaurant, so on a recent visit to Chicago, we stopped in for dinner. Parking was tough to find because the Rosebud was resurfacing their parking lot. That should be finished in a week. The sign did say $10 for parking, not sure if the restaurant will give a credit, but be sure to ask. We started with the fried calamari and a salad. The calamari was soft and cooked crispy, with a perfect marinara sauce. They also brought out bread. The Rosebud Choppe Salad was loaded with fresh ingredients, and easily fed four of us. After this, I was comfortable and could have went home without eating again. When the main dishes came out, I knew everyone at the table was taking home a to-go bag. I had the Baked Ziti Genovese which has a delicious Spicy Italian Sausage. It came out in a steel casserole dish. Delicious! I'm a red sauce fan, and it was very flavorful. I was able to eat about a third of it and was done. The rest will be for lunch tomorrow. My wife had the Tortellini Carbonara. She enjoyed the perfectly cooked noodles with the great flavors. She is a huge fan of peas and mushrooms, so it was perfect for her. Our daughter special ordered the Zuppa Di Mare, a seafood medley that could easily feed two adults. Loaded with all types of seafood, fantastic as well. My son loved the Baked Lasagna. Their red sauce is a key to many of the dishes. Definitely perfected over the years. With drinks, you will spend about $40 per person, unless you go for the Zuppa Di Mare, which was $48. The next time we come here, we will spilt a couple of dishes between the group. Expect quality food in large portions.
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William G.

Yelp
I came here with a group to celebrate a birthday. Why this location? Well because to me this location feels the most like, old Chicago, in what's left of a very gentrified little Italy. I know what to expect, I am going to receive excellent Italian dishes. I love the ambiance, there is enough character to go around, and then some. Also, the service here is excellent. Our server Patrick is part of the ambiance. He is very good at reading his guests and giving them exactly what they want. During our meal, he was successful. He was cheery, spot on with recommendations, funny when he needed to be, and not pesty. We started out with the delicious baked clams and equally delicious grigliata misto (mixed seafood grill). What's a celebration without some bubbly to make it more special and memorable?!? So we ordered some decent prosecco and wala we were clearly on our way to a beautiful fiesta Italiana! We then moved on to nicely made house salads. As for the main entrees, we had seabass, risotto, skirt steak, and whitefish. All of the dishes were prepared and served with an Italian twist. Most importantly, they were all as expected, delicious! Then, for the birthday person, he brought out a massive piece of in house made delicious cannoli cake that was big enough to feed all of us. Bravo Rosebud! Its experiences like this that will keep me coming back over and over again!
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Iris S.

Yelp
I've never disagreed more with a restaurant's Yelp reviews. I got the spicy grilled calamari and it was actually terrible. Maybe the portions for other things are larger but there were literally 11 pieces of calamari in my dish, most of which were small tentacles. There were three flat pieces and they tasted fishy - and not in the fresh and flavorful way. I'm fine with spicy food but the "sauce" was so spicy by itself and if you had the misfortune to eat a pepper you'd probably be miserable the rest of the meal. Would've been better off putting the calamari in marinara sauce. Chicken Parmesan was fine, exactly what you'd expect, probably a dish for two. They didn't even bother having fresh bread, it was stale and tasted store bought. Service was nice. But the calamari was memorably bad and really dragged the place down and even without it, Rosebud still would've been nothing special.
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Sean T.

Yelp
One of my favorite italian restaurants anywhere. The Taylor St location is it. Absolutely delicious old school classic Italian. Chicken parm enough for two. Just got to town and can't wait to get in there. The spicy calamari is not to be missed as well. Delicious and big servings. Come hungry and don't miss this place if you're in Chicago