Victory Italian | Oak Park

My husband and I had dinner here, and it was absolutely amazing, just as we expected. Karen, our waitress, was incredibly kind and attentive, making our experience even better. She recommended the spaghetti, and I have to say—it’s probably the best I’ve ever had! We also shared the Caesar salad, which was both delicious and generously sized. My husband ordered the ravioli, which unfortunately wasn’t his favorite, but overall, everything else was wonderful and made for a perfect evening!

Last December, just before the holidays, I had the pleasure of dining at Italian Victory in Oak Park, Chicago. The festive atmosphere was immediately inviting, with the glow of Christmas lights outside setting the perfect mood for a cozy evening. We started with complimentary garlic bread topped with grated cheese and served alongside marinara sauce. As someone who adores garlic, I found it absolutely irresistible--crispy, flavorful, and just the right amount of indulgence to kick off the meal. My advice: savor it, but don't overdo it, as it's easy to fill up before the main course. Next, I tried their Caesar salad. While the salad itself was fresh and crisp, with crunchy croutons that I thoroughly enjoyed, the dressing wasn't quite what I was expecting. It was lighter and more liquidy compared to the thicker, creamier Caesar dressings I'm used to. I didn't love it, but I think it was more a matter of personal preference than anything else. For my main entrée, I ordered the lamb chops oreganato, cooked medium well. The chops were good but could have used a touch more seasoning. They were served with potatoes, which were fantastic on their own, but the sauce that accompanied the lamb felt a bit too acidic for my liking. While it worked well with the potatoes, it didn't complement the lamb as much as I'd hoped. What really stood out, though, was the atmosphere and service. The staff was attentive and welcoming, and the energy in the restaurant was warm and inviting. My favorite part was the view--sitting by the window, I could see the trees outside wrapped in Christmas lights, adding a magical touch to the evening. It was a lovely experience overall, even if a few dishes weren't entirely to my taste.

My first time here. We had dinner together with my fiancé's friend, we met for thr first time. Servings was huge, food was good as well. The thing is, it's kinda hard to find a parking specially busy days.

We had an amazing time at Victory Italian. First, our server Dave was great. Very kind and helpful with all of his recommendations, you would be lucky to have him as your server. The food itself was incredible. We had the Risotto of the day (with steak), Sea Bass, Caesar salad and grilled broccolini. Overall, we had a great experience and can't wait to go back.

Very nice decor, The waiter was nice. The the portion sizes were generous everyone took home left overs. Calamari was tasty Steak was over seasoned and the risotto a bit bland. The lamb chops were delicious. Lasagna was a bit salty. Drinks were on point! We arrived at 2pm on a Friday no wait. It was a bit on the pricier side but overall a good time.

First time at the restaurant. Service was excellent, we had a great waiter. The waiter made some suggestions on the wine which we enjoyed. The food was ehh. I ordered the stuffed shells. Was a generous portion but was swimming in vodka sauce and overly done with the mozzarella topping. The ricotta and spinach stuffing was seasoned well and the pasta cooked perfectly. The overly drenched vodka sauce and over the top mozzarella was a disappointment and a complete disservice to the poor shells. It completely overpowered the dish. Not impressed. We shared a tiramisu which was well portioned and delicious.

Our first time eating at Victory Italian. My best friend picked the place for my birthday dinner today. The Chicken Parmesan was amazing! So was the cheesecake. Generous portions and great service. Our waiter Jake was a real sweetie. We will be going back! Update (7/17/2024): I went back for my birthday! My friend offered to take me anywhere, and I chose Victory Italian. Everything was just as great as my first visit. I ordered my favorite drink (twice), a Long Island ice tea, and they were delicious. Staff were all very friendly and attentive. This time, I tried the pork chops Calabrese (which came with delicious potatoes), and I loved it!

The restaurant serves variety of foods so there is a lot to choose from. I got their lobster linguine and I was happy with it. The portions are generous and servers always make sure everything is going well. I would recommend fried calamari. Although the music choice in the restaurant was weird and didn’t really go well with the dinner atmosphere.

This restaurant is such a gem of a find. Ambiance was decent, clean and well decorated and inviting. We've walked by so many times and finally decided to try one late night while waiting to meet up with friends for some drinks at another location. We ordered a drink and got some fried calamari l. It was so fresh and delicious. We also opted for a tiramisu. Since this place seems to be very authentic. It did not disappoint, it was so delicious. Drinks: we orders a blueberry mule and an old fashioned. We both really enjoyed it, so refreshing and good. The next weekend we came back to see how dinner would be from here since we were so impressed by the last experience. The restaurant was packed, not surprising at all. We didn't have reservations, but were excited even if we had to wait. We don't have to wait and we're seated almost immediately. Service was lovely. Every staff member was super welcoming and friendly. We both decided on the baked calamari and the octopus for our appetizers. They were so delish. For our entree we both picked specials. I got the sea bass special, it was tender and flavorful. My boyfriend got the Saturday special. It consisted of sausage, meatball, chicken, gnocchi in a red sauce. He really enjoyed it. Drinks: We both got drinks, a blueberry mule for me and an old fashioned for him.New each had two since we took an uber. We passed on dessert, we were both stuffed to the brim. But we were offered a limoncello to try, it was very authentic, delicious and strong. Overall it gives family vibes and a nice outing for good food, drinks, and conversation. Definitely check them out.

Last December, just before the holidays, I had the pleasure of dining at Italian Victory in Oak Park, Chicago. The festive atmosphere was immediately inviting, with the glow of Christmas lights outside setting the perfect mood for a cozy evening. We started with complimentary garlic bread topped with grated cheese and served alongside marinara sauce. As someone who adores garlic, I found it absolutely irresistible--crispy, flavorful, and just the right amount of indulgence to kick off the meal. My advice: savor it, but don't overdo it, as it's easy to fill up before the main course. Next, I tried their Caesar salad. While the salad itself was fresh and crisp, with crunchy croutons that I thoroughly enjoyed, the dressing wasn't quite what I was expecting. It was lighter and more liquidy compared to the thicker, creamier Caesar dressings I'm used to. I didn't love it, but I think it was more a matter of personal preference than anything else. For my main entrée, I ordered the lamb chops oreganato, cooked medium well. The chops were good but could have used a touch more seasoning. They were served with potatoes, which were fantastic on their own, but the sauce that accompanied the lamb felt a bit too acidic for my liking. While it worked well with the potatoes, it didn't complement the lamb as much as I'd hoped. What really stood out, though, was the atmosphere and service. The staff was attentive and welcoming, and the energy in the restaurant was warm and inviting. My favorite part was the view--sitting by the window, I could see the trees outside wrapped in Christmas lights, adding a magical touch to the evening. It was a lovely experience overall, even if a few dishes weren't entirely to my taste.

Great experience all around! Super cozy, cute and inviting ambiance, incredibly kind and attentive staff. Garlic bread comes out fresh within minutes of being seated. I asked for a mezcal margarita and it ended up being blood orange and tasted fantastic. For food, I went with nanna's gravy but swapped the noodles for gluten-free penne. Portions are HUGE. I will be back!

Our most recent visit was on a Sunday evening and the place was still quite lively. The complimentary garlic bread is delicious and within our party we had various pasta, risotto, steak and seafood dishes, all of which were excellent. A slice of key lime pie to finish was a perfect ending to a wonderful meal.

What a great experience - the grilled octopus was an incredible way to start! Incredible service, and fresh, delish food. Took all of Jake's recommendations. He did not disappoint! Guillermo was the host and had such a great vibe and energy!!!

This was my first visit and I had a great time. The food was absolutely delicious. Please keep that complementary garlic bread coming! I could just eat a plate of that with a salad. I tried the spaghetti (loved the sauce) and meatballs (they were flavorful and tender). I'd order it again. Our server was so nice and not over-bearing. They also had fun music playing, though I'd turn it down a bit so people in a larger group don't feel like they have to compete.

Victory is a cozy spot perfect for a night cap, a family dinner, an outing with friends or date night! It's a nice location in Oak Park where there aren't too many dining options. The service and staff very friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. Although the decor and layout give off a traditional Italian style setting with a hint of mob-style, some of the pieces were outdated (lighting, wobbly dining table). All of the food pictured on the review, as well as the appetizer, that is not pictured were delicious and prepared very nicely. The cheese cake was just okay and I would not get again. The tiramisu was spectacular!

Food is delicious, servings are generous, service is great but the televisions all around are a turn off to me. Ruins the ambiance for me.

I love this place. Their food is excellent (the ravioli is one of my favorite dishes in town) and I also like the vibe and service. Happy to have this near home as a reliable go-to!

Dave by far provided exceptional service that exceeds expectations. They had a big party but Dave was friendly, communicated with us the scenario but made sure he took care of us as well. The food was amazing! Everything was cooked to perfection! Will definitely be back again soon for the service and the food!

A good friend of mine made reservations for us to dine here for a belated birthday dinner for me. Located in Oak Park on Marion Street. Nice outside patio to enjoy the nice weather. My friend wanted to dine inside because it was super-hot that day. The ambience here is incredible. Grown and Sexy vibes. Their music playlist was amazing. My friend ordered me a bottle of wine to celebrate another amazing year of life. I'm still in awe as I'm writing my review about this place. This place has a warm and nice, elegant feeling. We ordered the shareable Italian Wedge Salad, iceberg lettuce wedges, bacon, tomato, cucumber, scallions & gorganzola dressing. Delicious and very filling. I ordered the Rigatoni alla Vodka, pasta marinated in a mascarpone sauce that was made with victory vodka, calabrian chilis, fresh basil & ricotta. I was a bit disappointed with this dish. It was undercook. The server suggested that I try something different. No charge of course. Second choice dish was a better choice. 8 Finger Cavatelli a spicy arrabbiata sauce, prosciutto, chilis, crush spicy tomatoes. Great dining experience, our server was very nice and attentive. After, we finished eating the server came out with a Key Lime Pie to celebrate my birthday. Thanks Karen. Top Notch Service Award. Pleasant & Warm Attitude and was very attentive to her customers.

First time trying Victory and we will absolutely be back! The food was outstanding! The mussels were fantastic. We had the pork chop and gnocchi for our main course. We are currently fighting over the leftovers. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu.

The owner/manager was incredibly nice, and our server was personable! We got the archani rice ball for appetizer. The menu said it is two large balls, but we got 4 small balls, so they must have changed it. They were delicious, but very greasy and made me feel a little sick. The complimentary bread and sauce is outstanding- it's very buttery and greasy, but good! My husband got the chicken Parmesan, which was too pricy for what it is and higher than average compared to other restaurants (he ordered this a lot). It came with a side of mosticholi and sauce, but it's better to serve plain noodles with this as the chicken parm dish is loaded with sauce. I got the papardelle bologne. I was actually shocked to find it bland.. however, it had much flavor the NEXT day, so maybe the spices needed to sink in? Not sure. All the portions were very large, and the outside had a cozy space for sitting with well taken care of flowers.

When I moved to Oak Park from downtown, I was excited for a number of things, but felt like I was likely going to experience a decline in the quality of restaurant food. As a rule, this has turned out to be true. However, I was relieved when we tried ordering from Victory for the first time. The calamari was extremely fresh and delicious. The chicken parmesan was a very generous portion, more than enough for two, and was pretty damn good. We've done a number of their other dishes and I can definitely recommend the meatballs and the lasagna. I finally ate there last week and I wasn't disappointed. Great service and very tasty old fashioned's. It will set you back a bit, but 100% worth it.

I really enjoyed the service, food and ambiance! I came here on a solo dinner date and will definitely be coming back here again by myself and with others! I had a super nice waitress who wasn't pesky, fast service, and acknowledgement from the manager! I will say, this is not a cheap restaurant, so bring your wallets and an empty stomach so you can fully enjoy!!!

Fantastic Mothers Day meal specifically I'd say a 4.3 score. Tock worked great for the reservation. The service was a little slow-going at first as we were a couple of the first patrons of the day and the staff seemed to be re-working the table assignments, but once our waiter was introduced, things went great. The ambiance of the place, which was previously renovated by Two Brothers, is still very sophisticated and inviting as we sat in the front windows area. Starving ourselves all morning, we got right to the entree orders and all three - stuffed shells, orchiette with rapini and sausage and the wonderful crab-stuffed sea bass all knocked it outta the park. Food came out pretty quick and was ample, balanced, perfectly cooked and flavorful - we know good Italian and someone back there in the kitchen definitely knows what they're doing! They had several tempting flavors of gelato available, we just grabbed some for mom to take home, altho gelato or not, the best part was mom genuinely raving about it most of the (slow) walk back home! We will certainly be back.

A relaxing meal amidst the bustle of downtown Oak Park. It was a breezy cool 55, but with their overhead heaters we were perfectly comfortable outside. Also, the patio seating is first come first serve. The hosts were not overly welcoming, but they were the exception. The servers were all nice and attentive, without hovering. The bread we received while we waited was a nice touch and introduced our tastebuds to the nice flavors ahead. Maybe when ordering the Victory Bourbon, I should have asked for a specific bourbon, because the one in the Old Fashioned was harsh and bitter, impacting the usual smoothness of an old fashioned. A nice gentle bubbly Prosecco. The two main entrees had an evenly sauced ratio of pasta, to sauce to meat. The flavor was complex and layered. The peas with the gnocchi were crispy fresh and delicious.

Food was pretty good and the portions were a bit on the larger side. Staff was courteous, and I like that it has a large outdoor seating area.

The meatballs were fabulous...mmmm the flavors were so yummy, perfect amounts of cheese and garlic and YUM. I ordered the summer salad with meatballs and asked them if I could do a Cesear instead. The waiter brought it to me as a ceaser and gave me a side of meatballs......I paid a lot for it that way. I feel they could have simply swapped out the Salads?

The service was impeccable! I never had to ask for anything, the servers came by the table just enough and at the perfect times. We were greeted so warmly and acknowledged kindly when we left. I have zero complaints. The food was even better. This is my new favorite restaurant. I had the linguine and clams pasta with a white sauce but had them add some spice to it. It was soooo good! *chefs kiss* I also had a glass of wine and the pour had me a little suspicious but it was definitely enough to get that good feeling buzz. This place is definitely worth 5 stars.

Just a EXTRA note to say how amazing this restaurant is. We had a wonderful server who was so sweet and attentive. Great recommendation on the food and wine. My husband and I LOVED and split the rigatoni with two (added) meatballs and it was unreal. I have no complaints about this spot. 10/10.

Outstanding food, lovely service and ambience! This might be the best, quality Italian style food in the immediate Oak Park/Elmwood Park area.

Outstanding meals at Victory great service great food Mike high lasagna was delicious

We have ordered take out from her several times and the food is always beyond delicious! We get the lasagna, meatballs, and many of their homemade pastas. The food arrives hot, perfectly sauced. The delivery is on time and reliable. The portions are huge, I always have leftovers for lunch the next day. I also get garlic bread thrown in with most of my orders without asking for it :) not sure if that is planned or if they throw it in as a perk

I had an amazing meal and experience at Victory Italian in Oak Park. I was in town visiting and just wanted a nice dinner alone. My server (I forget her name but I adored her) was so attentive and helpful. She helped me pick out my dish and went she went to put it in, they were out of the lamb so I went with her other recommendation. My wine was just the right amount of bold and the prices weren't outrageous. The appetizer bread was possibly the best garlic bread I have ever had in my life. Check this place out, you won't regret it!

Nice place. Nice service. Would make a good place for an evening dress up date. They start you with this garlic cheese bread w/Marinara sauce. This is seriously good. Like one of the best complimentary breads I ever had. The escarole and beans was ok at best, bland for me. Some salt might have helped. The rapini and sausage was a little more flavorful but overall just ok, the sausage was promising . Aunt Angie's stuff shell was ok. I best. I could taste the vodka not over powering but I can tell it was vodka. Chicken was added and sadly that to was just ok. Will I or won't I is the question. The prices and overall food suggest I shouldn't. However that bread was so good I will go back perhaps i can find something else they do well.

I am a resident of Oak Park. We have several excellent Italian restaurants in town, and Victory is certainly one of them. I only recently tried Victory for the first time, and have already been back for more. The bar area is an excellent place to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail. The menu is delicious. I've enjoyed the gigantic Caesar salad, sausage and peppers, Nana's Gravy (rigatoni), Gnocchi Romano, cannoli (yes, it has chocolate chips in the ricotta filling, as I feel it ought), and all have been delicious. I enjoyed the wine selections available. The service was middling on my first visit, but excellent on subsequent visits. Overall, my new favorite! Can't wait to return!

Excellent service. Great atmosphere. And amazing food! Their attention to detail makes this a wonderful dining experience. Will come again most definitely

The food is incredible and large portion sizes for what you pay ! The complimentary garlic bread is with coming for alone.

Nice ambiance. Good service. But the food is the star. The calamari and Caesar salad were above average. The gnocchi was one of the best dishes I've ever eaten. It was so good. The cannoli was probably the best I've ever had. Can't wait to go back.

I love a good Italian place and you can't go wrong at Victory Italian! Came here for Valentine's Day and it was pretty crowded so I thought we were going to get not as good service just from how busy they were, but that was not the case at all. Karen, our server, was so amazing and helpful and we can't wait to go back for more date nights! My husband ordered the 8 finger pasta and I ordered the gnocchi Romano. The gnocchi Romano was soooo good, because everything about that dish just works so well together. It's like a light tomato/slightly creamy sauce and the sweetness from the peas really balances the heaviness from the sauce. The mushrooms give it so much more flavor and the gnocchi of course was just on point. We also ordered the burrata as an appetizer which came with an avocado which I thought was interesting. But the burrata was the perfect way to start the meal, it was so tangy and fresh and I definitely recommend it.

For the second time, I ordered delivery. It took over 2 hours to receive order and it was cold. When I called to find out what was the status of my order, they couldn't tell me. I had ordered spaghetti with meatballs. Meatballs were dry and hard. Sauce was not much better than buying jar sauce. Over seasoned with salt. There is much better Italian in the neighborhood.

Really great bread! Honestly the best part. They have a great wine selection. We split the calamari and the gnocchi and a cannoli. All the portions are huge so either split or be prepared to take things home. Everyone was super friendly. But again the complimentary bread was the best part.

Wonderful high end Italian. The lasagna was one of the best I have ever had. Others in my party enjoyed the gnocchi and chicken franchise. Meatballs were good but not outstanding.

Solid Italian food, but pretty pricey! $33 for Chicken Parm? And it was good but not $33 great! Red sauce on pasta was fine. Nothing special. And it was noisy! Loud music and weird acoustics where we thought we were sitting with the people at the next table!

Healthiest dish around! Love the OPRF chopped salad with blackened salmon on top! Delicious, guilt-free, filling plant-based meal (with or without the salmon).

I am here a lot and today was first negative experience. The usuals were not here. Hostess was smug, ordered to go not offered a drink of water at the bar and the wait was significant and it wasn't busy. I frequent a lot but for 80 bucks for one meal and no drinks maybe not that great.

Ambiance, staff, atmosphere and the food were amazing. We were visiting family in Oak Park and they had made reservations for us. By far the best bolognese with Pappardelle pasta I have had in recent memory. Everything tasted so fresh and the flavors all came together. Our server (his name escapes unfortunately) was on point and had great recommendations for the food and wine. If you are in the area check this place out.

Nice ambience, very informal-there is a large screen TV in the main dining room- soccer was on while we were there. Service was good. The waiter attentive and good brief conversations. The server and buss men were good - all food came and were bussed down the middle because the tables are to do do properly. Lightly toasted French bread smothered in sauce and cheese topped with spices, served with more sauce NOPE! They do not serve Italian bread. Caesar salad smothered in finely grated cheese- NOPE (grated medium small slices yes. Dressing milky, no seasoning. Grilled shrimp, calamari, etc plate-EXCELLENT! Clams in linguine- Very Good. Lasagne- you will not recognize it. Good taste but nothing like any Italian serving I've known. While the linguine was al dente- Perfect, the ziti was way overcooked and the sauce tasted bottled. (Made for kids?!?) I too were prefer better preparation and no leftovers. I would rather have better prepared food and no leftovers.

Delicious food!!! Great drinks and personable service. I mean the pics don't do it justice it was too good

My girlfriends and I came to Victory tonight for dinner and a few drinks and I have never had such amazing service as I had here. Our server was Guillermo and everything about him was beautiful. From the moment we sat down until the moment we left, he went above and beyond to give us the best dining experience absolutely possible. He truly made us feel so welcome for the 2 hours we were there. He made us laugh every time he came to the table and also gave us great recommendations when it came to our food and drink orders. Before we left I had to go up to the manager and tell him our great our experience was, it was truly unforgettable. We will definitely be back! Recommending to everyone!

I hadn't been to this location for many years, since it was the Marion Street Cheese Market. The décor is pretty much the same, cozy and warm, and the vibe is similar. VIBE: Warm wood tones and dim-ish lighting make for an intimate space, though a bit noisy. A welcoming space. (There is also a good-sized patio with bright lights and overhead radiant heaters; if I return, I'd probably choose that for the brighter lighting and less noise.) SERVICE: Everyone was friendly and helpful. The staff was perhaps a bit less polished than I'd experience in a Chicago restaurant at the same price point. Food was well-paced. Server did not check back in a timely manner for more drinks. FOOD: The Caesar salad was crisp and delicious, and came with optional (and quite good) anchovies. My Calabrese pork chop entrée consisted of two large pork chops, served with roast potatoes, calabrese peppers and pepperoncini - the chops were OK, just a bit chewy, and the sauce was enjoyably perky. Truly a massive portion. My companion said their orecchiette was "just OK"; the sausage was bland and the pasta undistinguished. Another large portion. I get that some folks like huge portions, but we are not among them, leftovers notwithstanding. I'd rather pay the same for a smaller portion of high-quality food. There's a broad selection of interesting and appropriate wines by the glass; the pours are not generous. I'll probably try Victory again, but next time I'll go for the apps in the interest of smaller portions and maybe better food. And I'll go for the outdoor seating, if it's available. I wish them well - I'd like to see some decent, top-notch dining destinations in Oak Park.

This was the first time here. We love the clean, contemporary look of the dining room. My wife had the Chicken Vesuvio, and I had a dish with Rapini, Italian sausage in a creamy sauce over pasta. Both dishes were over the top great. The bottle of wine, Patrick, the manager recommended, was spot on great! It was a great night out with the wife, and I'm looking forward to coming back soon.

Dinner get together with family at victory. Our waiter, Dave was fantastic. Very honest about selections he thought were great and which ones were ok and why they were just ok. Also as a sommelier he was very knowledgeable about the right wine pairings. I had the lamb chops. They were fantastic. Overall a great Italian dinner with superb service!

I had a taste for Chicken Parm and I never order it out anymore because it's usually too thick and greasy, and most places just don't know how to make it correctly. I ordered it to go. When I walked in for my pick the place was packed and they had my order ready. Wow was I surprised. First time here and I have to say it was not only the perfect thickness, there was no grizzle, it wasn't breaded with 10 lbs of breadcrumbs, it had the perfect amount of cheese and sauce ratio, and it was not greasy because they BAKED IT! It was excellent and it was HUGE! Enough for 2 people for sure. The broccolini and the side of penne pasta were both al dente and also excellent! If what I had was a typical example of they offer then this place is a 10! Tutto era molto buono!!

Visiting from out of town and read about this place. Thought I'd get some take out. The order was ready on time and the staff were very prompt in getting my order as well as thoughtfully wrapped the order so it wouldn't leak or spill. The Food: Antipasto salad, awful. I would not recommend this, for the price the size was good but who puts un pickled fresh raw cute celery and carrots and what tasted like old meat on the salad. I ate the tomatoes and they were good, and the salad dressing was great. No spice no tang and no pickled veg. Spaghetti with meatballs. For the price I wouldn't get it again but the meatballs were very good. I would try other items at this place, give them a second chance but if you try it, come prepared to spend a small fortune, the prices steep.

Small portion (4 ravioli for $22) served at about room temperature. Service was good though. Karen was great! Didn't go for the ambiance; not important.

Love love love this restaurant. We find ourselves going consecutive weekends sometimes The appetizer bread is so good! As is the clams appetizer, calamari, meatball salad, ravioli, and stuffed shells! Excellent service as well! One of our favorites in OP I always get a cannoli to go!

Grilled Salmon added Jumbo Shrimp Over a linguine butter pasta / Shrimp & Chicken Francese with a side of grilled vegetables