Volare Ristorante Italiano

Volare was the perfect spot for my boyfriend and I to celebrate our anniversary. Seldom in Chicago do you find a restaurant that feels so warm and authentic like Volare. Absolutely fantastic food, we ordered the salsiccia e peperoni, gnocchi allá vodka, braciole (special), side of a rapini, and they gave us a special dessert since we were celebrating our anniversary. Best of all was the service from Karl, our amazing waiter. He was very warm and personable and made our experience as fantastic as it was. He provided great suggestions for things to try with our meal, and took his time to provide thoughtful and personal suggestions. We never felt rushed. Just good service is hard to come by nowadays, but truly memorable service like Karl's is even rarer. Thank you so much Karl and Volare for an amazing anniversary!!!

Restaurant week 2026/ I was expecting a lot of this place, since is always busy. I thing is overrated since it very pricey for the actually food quality. The only delicious item from the restaurant menu was the pancetta, which they don’t have on the regular menu. As a main we tried the risotto al filetto,nothing special, undercooked in my opinion and hard to eat, husband tried ravioli di vitello, sauce was delicious, he just got 4 raviolis though, which was absurd. As dessert we tried the tiramisu, it was ok, and profitero which was hard to enjoy, service was excellent, hostess and vibe was perfect! Food was not !

We went for Restaurant Week to enjoy a neighborhood restaurant icon and were not disappointed. While and service was excellent in keeping with a fine Italian restaurant, the table spacing is tight with large tables about so the noise levels can be loud if seated next a large table. The service is great being courteous and friendly.

I hardly know where to begin. We started with a perfect bottle of Chianti, fresh warm bread, Vongole al Forno and a Caesar salad. Our entrees were Gnocchi alla Vodka and Pollo Arrosto alla Diavola. Everything was amazing from presentation to the incredible flavors. Our server Alex couldn’t have been more perfect! He was so friendly, warm and attentive without being intrusive. You can tell he loves his job. My sister and I enjoyed a such wonderful evening together. Experience 11/10!

Old school Italian at its best, downtown. Great marinara sauce, that is enough said. It is a great spot for a casual Italian comfort food, nothing fancy and the prices are very reasonable giving the current economy. Great staff and attentive services. The seafood squid ink pasta or the risotto would be my go to, period. Reservation strongly recommended.

We had a wonderful experience at Volare. The food was outstanding across the board and absolutely lived up to its reputation, but what truly made the night unforgettable was the service. Our server, Giuliano, provided the best service I have experienced so far. He was incredibly warm, respectful, attentive, and genuinely kind. Everything felt effortless and welcoming from start to finish, which made the meal even more enjoyable. I was also deeply impressed that Volare offers a Chinese menu. This is very rare and speaks volumes about how much the restaurant respects its customers, regardless of where they come from. It made ordering easier and showed a level of thoughtfulness that you do not often see. Exceptional food, exceptional service, and genuine care for guests. We will absolutely be coming back and recommending Volare to others.

Recommended to me by a local, this place is full of grumpy, loud, old Italian Americans... Just as it should be. My waiter got yelled at for not getting me bread far enough😳 I found it all very endearing, and the food was fantastic and pretty fast. If you want some legit old world vibes and the simple, clean, high quality, perfectly tuned dishes, go here.

My wife and I found this place online and came for the reviews. First thing we noticed walking in the door was the top notch service of the staff there. Super respectful, helpful, and responsive. Food was amazing! Definitely going back when we are in Chicago again.

Amazing food! Friendly, crowded and loud in a wonderful neighborhood kind of way - waitstaff friendly and solicitous. Such a great experience that we went back 2 days later - and if anything it was even better!

Volare exceeded my expectations and is one of the best Italian places I've ever been to. The food and service is incredible and if you haven't been you should check it out. Thank you to our server (I think his name was Matt) for doing such a wonderful job. We had a great time and are looking forward to being back. My coworker and I wanted Italian and called a few places and volare was able to seat us relatively quickly. I will say when we showed up on time for our reservation (which was made like an hour in advance via phone so keep in mind we were likely treated more as a walk up) we still had to wait maybe 20 mins for a table. It was totally worth it. The ambiance of the restaurant is old classic Italian and great for a group or a nicer evening out. We were served multiple baskets of bread while we waited and the bread was freshly made and delicious. The olive oil was also very good. I hear their calamari is very popular, we went for a Caesar salad and eggplant rolls to start. The Caesar salad was perhaps the best I've ever had, the whole anchovies on top were delicious and the dressing was top tier. The eggplant rolls were similarly incredible. They were coated in marinara and stuffed with cheese. The marinara was hands down the best I've ever had. I couldn't stop thinking about it... We ordered our dinner and my coworker got the mussels and I got the lasagna. The mussels were HUGE some of the biggest I've ever seen and so tasty. The lasagna was a classic preparation and was easily top 3 I've ever had. I will say the lasagna is quite salty. I couldn't stop thinking about the marinara (seriously it's so good it's actually insane) and I ordered a boat of marinara on the side to ladle over the lasagna to balance out the saltiness. I texted my boyfriend during the meal to tell him I was literally eating the marinara with a spoon bc it was so good hahaha We were so stuffed by this point that we couldn't eat anything more but I really wanted to try their dessert so I ordered a tirimasu to go. I ate it for breakfast the following morning and it was easily one of the best I've had. I didn't order a cocktail but my coworker did and enjoyed it. She and I both travel frequently and have pretty high standards for food and both agreed if we were back we would come back to volare again. In a city with virtually endless dining options, she and I would both normally opt to try something new. But when the food service and experience is as good as Volare, why bother looking elsewhere when you can have the best.

I would recommend making reservations. This restaurant is busy! We walked in and got a dirty look from the hostess so that's wasn't a good start! Although our waitress and the busboys were excellent! We started with the fried calamari and carpaccio. Both were great! The marinara that came with the calamari was very good. It tasted very fresh and had that sour tomato taste which we loved. The carpaccio was amazing. They did pair with artichoke which I wasn't used to, but it paired well. I ordered the linguine with clams. I found it very greasy. I found that there was too much olive oil. I didn't eat much of it but it was overwhelming. I loved their menu. They have great options. They serve authentic Italian food which was what I was looking for!

Great place! It was incredibly crowded when we arrived early Friday night, as expected. They offer covered patio, indoor, and bar seating. To avoid the 45 minute wait, we happily took the last two seats at the bar. I really loved the energy here, maybe we came while there was a convention in town, but it felt like everyone knew each other. We got the bruschetta, chicken risotto, and a sampler pizza. All very satisfying, though I've never had grilled chicken with risotto before, so that was a first. Bruschetta was great, I tend to judge any Italian place on their bruschetta - I am not a fan of the new wave where everyone is trying to reinvent the wheel with unique ingredients. Not here, they served the classic tomato, olive oil, and cheese. Our bartender was very patient with us and the rest of the crowd at the bar. She was very polite and great energy!

Lots of tables and staff. Staff are really attentive and responsive. Busy restaurants good for dating and friends hangout. Food is kinda mediocre. Bread was warm and soft with garlic and herb flavor. Like it Tagliere misto: nothing special. Not much variety and texture Lasagna al forno is way too salty. Kinda like canned lasagna Primo spaghetti Neri al pesce pasta is a bit too sour for my taste. More red sauce than white sauce. Not much meat tbh Veal Ragu pasta special is also mediocre and salty Tiramisu actually pretty good with the fresh fruit Wouldn't come back due to the price and food quality

I'm in chicago for a work related trip and staying at a Marriott property near Volare, and given the generally excellent Yelp and Google reviews I decided to try them for dinner on a very chilly December Sunday evening sans reservation. The front of the house team recommended eating at the bar and it was a solid suggestion. The outside tables seemed well heated and serviced but the action at the bar and in the main room was the better choice for a solo diner IMHO. I ended up watching the S.F. 49ers (my home team) lose to Buffalo on the TVs near the bar and I had great conversations with nearby diners and regulars. This is a locals place and it was reflected in the fair prices, generous pours at the bar and overall vibe. I got the fried calamari starter and it was solidly executed with a generous portion, as was the red sauce to dip the adeptly fried squid into - and I ordered a beef braciola (flattened and stuffed steak) special served with handmade gnocchi which was delicious. Overall a solid old school Italian joint clearly serving both locals and visitors. Highly recommended. Well done !!

Sure! Here's a concise version: | A Slice of Italy in Every Bite We are at Volare last week, and it was incredible! The food was bursting with authentic Italian flavors--our calamari, Cesar salad and bruschetta were all scrumptious and the handmade fettuccini bolognese was rich and comforting. Everyone else loved their entrees as well! The ambiance was warm and inviting, perfect for both date nights and gatherings with friends. Service was friendly and knowledgeable.

We were seated at a cozy corner table, adorned with crisp white paper tablecloths, setting the tone for a delightful meal. We started with the Bruschetta Italiana and Caesar salad as appetizers. The bruschetta was incredibly fresh and bursting with flavor--absolutely delicious! The Risotto Fattoria was a standout dish, so rich and flavorful that I'll definitely be ordering it again on my next visit. The gnocchi alla vodka was a dream--soft, pillowy, and perfectly complemented by the sauce. The service was exceptional, making the entire dining experience even more enjoyable. A solid 10/10!

Loved this experience! First off - get a reservation early. They fill up quickly. Our waiter said this restaurant opened in 1997. Once you go here, I think you'll see why it's still here. The service we received was top notch from the person who seated us, the head waiter and from the other wait staff who were there helping us have a great experience. The food - it was perfect. I had a pasta with sausage and mushroom sauce, my son had a pizza that was a different flavor on each quarter, my wife had gnocchi, my daughter has risotto. We all shared calamari, a beat salad and tiramisu. We all tried some of everyone's so I guess I could say we all shared everything. And we all said something like "wow!" With each taste. My wife and I said the salad was the best salad we'd ever had. The atmosphere is comfortable and feels like you've stepped into an Italian world. There are a lot of people in this restaurant. We were able to have conversations, we were not crowded, it was lively and fun. Loved it and highly recommended Volare Ristorante Italiano!

We got there around 7pm on Sunday without a reservation and luckily, the wait was only 20min. We ordered pretty quickly, since we were hungry. The restaurant was very busy, and we sat outside which was kind of nice and quieter. We ordered a classic spaghetti and a special salmon truffle pasta, tiramisu for dessert. The food was fresh and tasty. The dessert was satisfying. As some other Yelper mentioned, the portion was quite large so we got some leftover for next day.

HOMEMADE PASTA!!!!! This says it all! Delicious, fresh, flavorful! Old family style Italian restaurant. Great service, quick, effecient. Ample wait staff. Large portions A little loud and tables are close though we thiroughly enjoyed our meal! What we ate: Insalata Volare:chopped lettuce, artichoke, hearts of palm, tomato, radish, roasted peppers, carrots, cucumber, provolone, aged red wine vinaigrette Gnocchi alla Vodka: homemade ricotta dumplings in our famous vodka sauce Fettuccine alla Bolognese: fettuccine pasta in a traditional bolognese sauce My rating rationale +1 Service +1 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1 Presentation +1 Atmosphere/vibe +1 Value

Really classic Italian spot! The place feels like a step back in time. We had to wait a really long time to get in but once we did the service was great and fast. Really delicious pastas and salads and appetizers. Portions were huge and worth it too. Great desserts. Only gripe we had was they charge for water. We asked for tap but they brought out multiple bottles that cost too much. I expect that in Europe but not America.

First timer here surprisingly. Place was packed with what seemed like a good mix of regulars and new crowd. Big big big shout out to Joe for his outstanding, attentive and friendly service. What we ordered: - Volare Signature Insalata di Mare - did not expect to love this so much but we ate every last bite and I'm still thinking about it a day later - squid ink pasta - delicious and generous portions - linguine and clams - great flavor - cannoli - comes with 3 pieces... loved the lemon pistachio side The meh: - was walked to the wrong table and felt like I was low key racially profiled when the gent assumed I was with an Asian party when I clearly checked in and the name wasn't right - I love tiramisu and I felt it was dry and not as creamy as I'd liked Would go back for that salad!

Such a great experience in Chicago! Very central location so we met up with a few friends for dinner. Made a last minute reservation for peak dinner hour over the phone with no issues at all. We were seated promptly upon arrival.The restaurant is intimate and has a warm ambiance. The food was also great, albeit a little on the salty side. Prices are a little higher given its upscale vibe, but I thought it was reasonable. We ordered a clam pasta, chicken parmesan, and vodka gnocchi, all of which were delicious. Overall will come back'

I had no idea what an amazing dining experience this would be. Our server Alex was fantastic, he checked in at the right cadence. Our water glasses and wine glasses were always checked on and refilled when running low. We had the San Felice Bell'Aja , it was so good, we got a bottle to take back with us. The restaurant makes great use of the space they have. I had the most amazing Gnocchi alla Vodka made with homemade ricotta. They were like marshmallow pieces of heaven. The lemon sorbet was phenomenal, it was made in house and not store bought. Incredible. The crème brûlée was delicious and the semifreddo was so tasty. It was most delicious and memorable food experience during our long weekend in Chicago. We look forward to coming back there when we return to Chicago.

Loveeeee this spot can't go wrong with classic, red sauce, no messing around, Chicago Italian. Easiest place to become a regular lol if you haven't been make a reservation ASAP. Service was amazing too we never had empty waters or a messy table. Can't wait to be back!

Appetizers were OK. Service was extremely slow restaurant was extremely busy and loud and my entrée that cost $38 that was supposed to have shrimp crab and Scallops was bad. It had one shrimp, no crab no scallops and it was $38. Very disappointed.

Always a good sign when patrons have come to a restaurant several times. The Volare salad. My fettuccine special with clams and seafood was great. Super good wine with an extensive list. Good dessert and great service. They had several sittings but 6&8 were full especially for a Tuesday night.

The food at Volare was really something special. My girlfriend and stopped by while in Chicago and were very glad we did. The service was good and the ambiance was alright but the food really was the focal point. We had the Chicken Parmesan and Gnocchi and they both were delicious. The chicken was perfect and I am still thinking about how tasty the Gnocchi was. I would definitely return for an enjoyable dinner or date!

All so great All the workers there speak Italian :0 Tartufo ($26) was my favorite! Full of mushroom + truffle flavor! It was good even when it's cold the next day Love the Grigliata Mista ($27) as well! Super charcoal-y and lots of seafood! There was salad at the bottom of the dish which I really liked bc it balances out the salty flavor but also felt out of place? Spaghetti Neri Al Pesce ($38) was also good! Full of lobster/crab meat. Squid ink pasta taste like regular pasta lol Overall, great experience, great atmosphere, great service. We were able to grab a reservation the day before!

What happened to our previously favored Chicago Italian restaurant? Bread old, $27 grigliata mista bad, cozze bad ! Wasted $100 and left hungry! Sour and stale taste and not fresh. Sadly won't return and staff didn't care to bring fresh bread

Service was good. Portion size was very generous. I had the Kale salad and the Lasagna and both portions were large. You could easily split both with your significant other. See pics. And a glass of Chianti was only $9 a glass! And it wasn't happy hour! Good luck finding a deal that good anywhere else on the mile!

Ok I moved from NY to GA 2020. For 30 + years my husband and I were regulars at Parkside in Corona. The best restaurant! We haven't found a great Italian restaurant in GA. We came to Chicago for the holiday weekend and I made reservations here for 8:30 tonight. The restaurant was packed! The owner was in the dining room moving things along. The server was professional and knew how to time things. The food was DELICIOUS! Pictures below. This restaurant would be our Parkside if we lived here. You absolutely should eat here!!

10/05/2024 Just adding some pictures from our visit to this restaurant. Thank you so much Mark Paul P. The food was great!!!!

Food 5*, Service 5*++++ I came here because of the great reviews on Yelp but it's always a risk when you take visitors to a restaurant you haven't been to yourself. In this case we were attending a trade show in Chicago with our vendors from China. I had visited them in China a couple of weeks ago and they were great hosts and I wanted to return the courtesy. When our party of 7 arrived I asked the server if we could be served family style so my guests could sample different Italian dishes. He said don't worry about it and he would take care of us. Take care he did! He selected several different dishes and presented them family style as requested, all the way to desert. My guests loved it and so did we. I can't say enough about how accommodating they were. The food was excellent as well! I highly recommend this place. Give it a try and leave me a comment about your experience!

Second visits, the food is still delicious and amazing. They were crazy busy when we visited on the Friday night. The roasted beets and kale salad is amazing, the crispy garbanzo adds a great crunch to the salad. My must order is definitely insalata volare, this dish is definitely amazing and worth the price. One negative thing is that I made a reservation, but we still had to wait in line when we arrived. It feels like making a reservation is pointless during their busy time (busy still advise to do so). The customer service was still friendly and welcoming, so it saved the disappointment/ dissatisfaction. The environment is warming and cozy as always. I'm excited to try out more of their seafood dishes and salad options.

It seems that the reservation is required but we managed to get a table immediately with walk in. It's located along the Michigan avenue and closed to the magnificent mile. It's very crowded in the dinner hour. Good service and atmosphere. We really liked their spaghetti noodles and pizzas. They all come with good portions and incredible flavor! We also ordered Grogialta mista, grilled mixed seafood. You can definitely tell and taste freshness of all food. We will come back to try other dishes for sure!

Outstanding food! and service on a very busy St Patrick Day weekend evening. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Food and Ambiance are spectacular. Our server was great and gave great recommendations.

We ordered to go food but oh my was this one of the most delicious to go experiences ever. The gnocchi was so creamy and smooth. The pasta was perfectly cooked and a great amount of meat! And I saved my favorite for last, the chicken Parmesan. Can't wait to come again in person.

OMG! If you ever have the opportunity to be in the downtown area of Chicago and have a craving for some great Italian food, then you MUST try this place! We were lucky enough to walk in at just after 7pm, and the girls at the hostess stand asked if we had a reservation, and we replied no. They then went onto say they would not have a table until "around" 8:30 pm! I asked if we could talk to the manager and a really nice guy named Benny came over and said, he's "not really" taking walk in's, but he said follow me and took us over to a very quaint table just outside on the patio! Man, we really got lucky because we could see the line starting and reaching outside onto the sidewalk from our table, at almost 7:30 in the evening! Bryant was our server, and he was amazing and the food was one of the best Italian dinners I've had in a long time! My wife and I split a Cesar salad, which was huge, and a plate of linguine with clams and it was so dam good! We topped off our fantastic meal with their tiramisu for dessert and OMG, it was amazing! What a lucky date night for us in Chicago and we can't wait to go back! Thank you Benny and Bryant for an incredible evening!!

The food & service were amazing!!! The Gnocchi with Vodka sauce & Fettuccine Bolognese we so delicious!! We will for sure be back!

We spent 8 days in Chicago and had our own culinary tour of the city from morning until night. This was my favorite eatery experience exceeding my expectations Hubby made res well in advance as recommended and we were given a very nice private window table. Overall the ambiance is nice, not romantically quiet but not overwhelming loud considering tables are spaced close together. The service was excellent from start to finish. Quick, efficient and friendly. And the food was exceptional. We started sharing an Italian Chopped Salad and a Seafood antipasto salad. OMG the seafood was fresh with the calamari so tender and perfectly seasoned. The highlight was the entrees. I got the gnocchi with vodka sauce, the best I have ever had. I still think about this dish and wish this restaurant was in our town. Hubby had the grilled salmon with deliciously prepared veggies. Wowie...sooo good. Someday I may be back when we are in the area again. If not, I just have to savor it in my dreams.

If you are looking for authentic Italian with superior service this is a must stop!! Stopped in without reservations, we were seated at a high top and immediately served bread and our win order. Both dishes were incredible, I had the Malloreddus alla Sarda. They were out of gnocchi so it came with noodles (the server reviewed this with me when I ordered). The pasta was cooked perfectly and the meal tasted wonderful!

We made reservations for 7:00 pm on 20 June 2024. When we arrived our table was ready and we were taken to our seats. The place was packed and the staff did a wonderful job. There were all types of people which makes me a fan. The place was busy but not loud, you could carry on with a conversation at your table. We ordered drinks but no appetizers (normally we do but we had eaten a lot during our trip to Chicago). The staff checked on us the entire time we were there and all were very friendly. The food was excellent, I highly recommend Volare Ristorante Italiano.

from the outside, it doesn't look like much, but the inside is beautiful and very classy feeling. always love some good Italian food in the city, but the dishes here didn't give me the satisfaction i was hoping for. the lasagna was very brown and overcooked, salty, and overall didn't have a fantastic flavor. the gnocchi looked promising, but lacked flavor. on the other hand, the tiramisu was delicious & picture worthy. the staff was great and friendly, but the food & prices don't warrant a reason to come back anytime soon

Let me start off by saying that this place was very surprisingly full of families. Lots of kids and huge family gatherings. So I don't think it's a great intimate spot. Service was slow because I guess they were running around for all the tables inside and seemed slightly short staffed. But eventually that slowed down and they could properly cater to our table. We ordered the gnocchi, some house made pasta in white wine sauce and a bottle of wine. We ended with two desserts - the crème brûlée and the chocolate decadence cake. The desserts won the deal for me. Gnocchi was okay - soft and nice and the sauce was creamy. But the spaghetti was a bit plain and dry. Overall it was noisier than we expected. And I think the food was overpriced for the quality. Portions were generous but still overpriced. While it's close to home, I'm not convinced to go again.

Server was kind of rude. I think he may have been mad we ordered 5 appetizers to share for the 3 of us instead of ordering regular dinners. I compared the prices and it still made the bill more than the equivalent to 3 dinners though. Wouldn't go back, oh yes and also the bread tasted stale. I've bought better focaccia in the day old bakery bin.

What was good about this place? Uuumm we were seated as soon as we walked in. In a nutshell, this is a complete tourist trap that is comparable to an Olive Garden or even a Carrabba's. Then again, it should have been a clue when you have a nice white table linen, but on top of it they have a paper table cloth. We were seated, the waitress was nice, but between her and the busboy trying to upsell and push everything on us, almost felt like we were buying a car. The burrata had absolutely no flavor. It didn't have a hint of anything. We did tell the waitress and she seemed surprised by us saying this. The chicken parm, I've had better at a night out at Olive Garden or Carrabba's. The spaghetti was absolutely nothing to write home about. The meatballs were good though. And the red sauce, I've had better from Rao's. Oh and the manager's/owner's enjoyed casual conversation the entire time while we ate at the hostess stand area. Guess they don't care about the dining experience or want to work the room to see how the customer experience was. I could be more detailed on our experience, but these are the highlights. If you decide to go, don't say you weren't warned.

It was hard for us to choose a restaurant. We were actually planning on going to a different restaurant but then I pulled a Hail Mary and I wish I didn't. I was always told I need LESS TIME on the SATs as a kid and perhaps this rings true for picking restaurants as well, lol. Party of 5, 2 kids. No reservation. I was shocked and thrilled and pleased that they were able to squeeze us in within 10 minutes of getting there - the place was packed! Everyone was INSANELY NICE who helped us. We were seated, hungry and ready to order. My kids got the pizza that they actually really liked. My husband got the chicken parm and he rated it a 4/10. Our friend got the gnocchi and I really don't think he liked it either. He took like 4 bites and boxed it to go. I got the salmon with spinach, and both the cold and warm seafood salad.... - The Salmon & Spinach. I truly hate to say this but, THEY BOTH ABSOLUTELY SUCKED. The salmon was burnt and the greens were bitter AF. Every time I took a bite I felt like I was eating char. Truly sad as salmon is my favorite food on earth. - Cold Seafood Salad. I was pleasantly surprised with the generous portion, lots of seafood piled high! I thought it was tasty but I actually HATE the taste of LEMON and that's what it was adorned with. I wolfed it down regardless because I love seafood so much though. What's funny is at some points of eating, I could tell if I were eating cheese or not. It almost tasted like a Caesar Dressing at times. The menu never said anything about cheese though so I'm pretty sure it was just the oil and lemon combination making that flavor happen. I'd rate this dish a 6.5/10. - Warm Seafood Salad. I actually wish I got TWO of these versus one of this and one of the cold seafood salad because I LOVED this one!! Exactly what I wanted! I also asked for no balsamic so I believe they just didn't put any dressing on it (the best) and I wished I had asked for that with the cold seafood salad. Huge chunks of octopus, etc-- So good! I'd give this one a 9/10! This all being said, I wish we went to the restaurant across the street because the others in my party did not like their food but man oh man do I love octopus!

LITERALLY THE BEST GNOCCHI EVER!! my sister picked this up for me for takeout and brought it back for me :) It tastes delicious as it has ricotta inside and the sauce melts in your mouth. Highly recommend going here as the food is delicious!

If you enjoy Italian meals with an energetic setting this place is for you. Staff was on top of it from start to finish...... From the bread to the main course, Linguine Arselle e Bottarga, to the crème brûlée , the food was outstanding. Chardonnay with the meal and sambuca to finish it off..... a fantastic dining experience!

Everything was so delicious. If you are looking for casual fine dining in Chicago Magnificent Mile area, this place will not disappoint. Even the complimentary bread was delicious. Appetizer: bruschetta Entrees: gnocchi alla vodka (I have never had handcut gnocchi like this - so pillowy and soft), ravioli, lasagna, chicken marsala We were too stuffed for dessert Our server was very efficient and friendly. The ambience is casual but classy. Would come back here in a heartbeat!

I am a loyal customer here but this is my first time experiencing this. I came in and tried to book a table and there was no available table for us and then 2 mins later 5 people walking without reservation but they seated 5 people without reservation. That was unfair for me and my husband. And especially the asian lazy in the front desk was giving us a hard time and wasted us time

We ordered Volare catering last minute for a recent holiday. First off, I spoke to Cecilia and she was super helpful and patient in taking my family's order and in being accommodating to my family's last minute request. The food was phenomenal, fresh, and Volare provides good sized portions for large groups. Our crowd loved the food and we were so happy with our choice. We ordered vodka pasta, sausage and peppers, chicken Francese, the vesuvio portaoes, chicken parmigiana and more. Everything was absolutely delicious!! It was our first time trying Volare and it definitely will not be our last! Their staff is amazing and the food is great! We look forward to visiting in person soon.

We recently visited Volare with a group of 9 for my daughter's sweet 16 that included six 16-year-olds. The ambiance was great, and the gentleman by the hostess stand went above & beyond, trying to accommodate our slightly larger party after we had one additional person join us. He was understanding & professional. However, our experience was impacted by one of the hostess's behavior. When i asked her about the approximate wait time, she seemed visibly annoyed, even making a face when my husband asked a question. We were later told that she might be new, but her attitude felt unprofessional and made us uncomfortable. Aside from that, the food and the rest of the staff were wonderfu.

I met up with a coworker friend today when in town on a work trip - it was about a 5-minute walk from the hotel and she said they had the best lasagna she ever had in her life, so I was sold. They have both indoor and outdoor seating - be aware it's on St. Clair St, I believe, but you have to go down stairs to get to it, if you're coming from Illinois St or Michigan Ave. We started off with bruschetta, which was great, and I also had a mango martini, which was tasty but strong. We decided to split the lasagna and the chicken parm; both were very good but I'm not usually a fan of lasagna with meat sauce, so I actually enjoyed the chicken parm a bit more. For dessert, I'm a tiramisu girl, and they had that on the menu and it did not disappoint. It was very fluffy and had only a hint of coffee taste, which was great. I would definitely come back here again, it had an old-school Italian restaurant vibe and waitservice was fabulous too. Their pizzas all looked great as well so I might get one of those next time or different pasta, though. Overall it was reasonable for downtown Chicago, as well - my cocktail was $16, my friend's glass of wine was $8, and entrees (including pizza) start at $20 (I believe the lasagna was $23 and the chicken parm was $25).

We normally do not order anything other than wood fired pizzas and some salads at Italian restaurants. However while visiting in Chicago recently we decided to have dinner here by looking at their menu on Yelp. It was a nice day to walk around and see the beautiful tulips and the restaurant was located at a short distance off the Michigan Avenue. We sat outside and ordered a few dishes, including grilled seafood, lasagna and lamb chops. We loved the flavors of the grilled seafood. The lasagna was delicious. This was the first time having lasagna without the noodles in it. I had a few bites and my husband finished the dish. The lamb chops cooked perfectly, medium rare, as requested. Excellent service.

After a long day, we decided to order Volare to go! I got the fettuccini bolognese and calamari. I loved the taste of the bolognese and even though we ordered to-go, the calamari was still crispy. The bolognese had a lot of meat too so it was filling and can feed 2 people! For a Wednesday night, it was packed but we didn't wait long for the food. Would love to visit again to sit and eat there.