This high priced and overly hyped restaurant is so disappointing. I've eaten here once and will never return. The food is tasteless. Italian food should never be tasteless. Shame on Olio e Piu. By the way, the good reviews on Yelp are a result of the management offering "free" desserts to diners if they can demonstrate that they have left a positive Yelp review. I told them that I was not going to leave a review mid-meal and had no interest in dessert anyway. Ugh, this place is bad.
Carly S.
I went to Olio e Più for my first time last night and I really enjoyed it! To start, I really liked the vibe - my boyfriend and I went around 630pm so given the sun was going down, it felt really relaxed and cozy. For my drink, I ordered the White Plains - super refreshing and tasty. My boyfriend got the Old Fashioned which he said was one of the best he's had in Chicago (and he always orders an Old Fashioned). To eat, I ordered the Gnocchi Pesto e Pistacchio and boy, was it good. I will say, our service was some of the best we've had in a long time as well. We had a really nice experience and meal and can't wait to come back again! Thank you to the Olio e Più team for a wonderful Friday date night!
Nicki C.
Perfect date night resturant! If you're sitting near the windows you feel like you're in an Italian terrace, a lot of light and greenery. The whole restaurant welcomes and comforts you. The meals are tasty, packing tons of flavor, and great portions to share a bunch of plates! Drinks were different, but in a good way. Not your typical sour or old fashion. The sour was herby from the thyme but also sour, not too sweet either, it's a good cocktail to start with and enjoy with apps. I don't drink old fashions but was told it was good, not traditional, but it was thumbed up by a whiskey drinker. Absolute fav antipasti was the carpaccio di pulpo. Never had octopus served this way and it made my tastebuds dance! So light and delight, very fresh. Fritto primavera only had a few shrimps, but it cooked well. Not super greasy or overly breaded. Great dish for sharing with a group. Loved that the sauce wasn't a typical marinara. Gnocchi was soft and pillowy and the pesto wasn't over powering. It was a hug in a bowl. Lamb chops were juicy, seasoned well and cooked to a good temp. Fillet was tasty as well, love a fig and Gorgonzola pairing. I ordered a glass of red wine with my lamb chops and it paired perfectly. I asked for a glass of Pinot noir and our server suggested their take on a Pinot and it did not disappoint. Now the dessert! Another item recommended by our server...great recommendation! I imagined an overly banana flavored tart with some chocolate, then when it came in like uh oh might be too rich. It was perfect. The banana and cream complements the chocolate beautifully. It toned down the chocolate without over powering it. You'd have to taste it! Service was quick, friendly, and helpful! Shoutout to Roxana for great hospitality and helping us choose some of these tasty dishes!
Tracy H.
When it comes to Italian food, I thought I was well versed, but was surprised to see such a diverse menu with dishes I had actually never seen listed before. Olio e Più is much more elevated than your standard chicken parmigiana/lasagna spot. I'm 100% going to be "sunset" dinner time gal from now on. We booked for 6:30 and were sat by the windows where we got to experience the warm natural lighting dimming down until nighttime throughout the meal which was the perfect vibe for a weekday date night. The restaurant was quite busy for a Thursday, but it wasn't loud at all which is good if you want to be able to converse with your dining partners. Upon entering, we were quickly seated and I kid you not...complimentary bread/olives/and olive oil were on our table in record time (literally 3 seconds after we sat down!) We were seated at one of the very small two seaters, and were originally worried that we'd be knocking into things, but there was never an issue with having too many things on the table because of how seamless the placing, removing, and replacing of the dishes was. For newbies to the cuisine, you may scratch your head reading the menu, but fear not! Our server gave us excellent explanations of every category as well as the most popular dishes (you can't go wrong with these suggestions, so definitely go with these for your first visit and venture off to the rest on the next!) You'll need to put in your complete order so they can space dishes out properly, so organize your menu or do what I do and research ahead of time and bring your list! From what we ordered, the portion sizings were perfect to share between two. I'm almost never in the clean plate club, but we polished off every single dish and were super full with no need to carry leftovers home! Dishes were cleared quickly, and water cups were never empty. Let's get into the food: CAPONATINA: This is a cold eggplant dish. Probably the most surprising item on the meal because the flavors were totally unexpected! I would love to eat this again when it gets warm out, it was super refreshing and mildly tart. GNOCCHI PESTO E PISTACCHIO: Not a huge portion but perfect to share alongside with another main. Loved the pistachios in it, I don't know why all pesto based pastas don't add in nuts for texture, but they should. The gnocchi was soft and chewy and the sauce was generous. I'm absolutely coming back to try the carbonara next time! BRANZINO: Flakey fish already filleted on a bed of artichoke(?) Flavor of the fish shined through with seemingly no sauce! Very tender with a lightly crisp skin. If you're someone who's trying to do a soft entrance into the world of fish/seafood, branzino is always a good place to start. Half dozen oysters: This seems to be a special for the night or off menu, but the oysters were quite big and fresh, and came accompanied by multiple sauces and a lemon wedge. NOCCIOLA E TARTUFFO CHEESECAKE: Surprisingly one of the stars of the meal despite us being full!! Definitely not as it appears. This dessert is shaped like ladyfingers, but when you dip your spoon in, it's as soft as butter with no cake texture. I don't love cheesecake, but I loved this. I'm always looking for desserts that aren't too sweet, and finding anything within that requirement is hard for me to find. The gold flakes have the essence of truffle (not sure if intentional or if it was picking up flavors from something on top) but it was a lovely addition. I love food that's beautifully presented AND equally flavorful, so this dessert hit every point. Was not expecting to find a new favorite dessert tonight! Drinks: I ordered two of the Olio's Sours because I liked it that much. I will definitely have to try the Farfalla Rossa that everyone keeps talking about next time! Overall a lovely new addition to River North! The area would be hard to park around if driving, but the restaurant itself is right on the corner with its own entrance on the street.
Jake S.
Great spot with awesome food and a classy ambiance. Will definitely return. Our waitress Roxana was very friendly and provided excellent service. We enjoyed the gnocchi and snapper - both very good. I have also recommended Olio to a few friends, and all have loved it!
Greg P.
Olio e Piu is opposite corner of RPM Italian, seems they are here take on the opposition and I can see why. The restaurant has a very open concept layout with lots of windows. I imagine it gets very bright during the day however we had a Thursday evening reservation, so instead the yellow lighting throughout the restaurant felt welcoming and intimate. However the restaurant has a very lively feel to it, due to the open concept it is quite noisy. It was at maybe 30% capacity but felt a lot more than that. If you're looking for quiet night out this may not be it. The bar layout looks really appealing and I would come here just for drinks as they are quite good. There is one thing that I did dislike about the layout and that is that the 2-person tables are quite small, and in order to optimize seating capacity they are placed adjacent to each other with only a plant to separate the tables. The awkwardness is not only that the other table is so close but the plant being so close to your face when you turn to the side. The manu at Olio E Piu is very segmented to offer a dining experience that will take some time enjoy. You start by selecting your starter (crudo, appetizer or salad). Followed by a first dish (pasta) and a second plate (protein). You can order all at once and your waitress will stagger your plating for you giving you ample time to enjoy the food and chat. Our total dining time was over 2 hours due to the staggering of our menu. This is why I say this is more of an experience than simply a dinner. Speaking of our waitress, Roxana was very welcoming, and explained the menu in detail. She helped us make decision and provided recommendations. When I had questions about a dish she was happy to answer them and if she didn't know about a particular sauce she made sure to get the answer. We started with drinks which were the the Old Fashioned and the Farfalla Rosa. Both were amazing. I would recommend trying either of them. The old fashioned has a nice twist, it's mixed with tequila which you can taste right away but it works so well, it also has lavender and plum which somehow fuses the flavors together to create great drink. This old fashioned is less bitter and spicy and more of the sweet side which I really enjoyed. For starters we had the Tuna Crudo. I found the flavors to be similar to a good ceviche (due to the lemon, avocado and shallot combo). The tuna was very tender, almost melt in your mouth. It may have been slightly over salted but still very delicious. We moved on to the (first plate) pasta. There were so many great sounding pastas on the menu to pick from but we settled on "Chiatarra Aalla Carbonara" and "Spaghetti All'astice". The Chiatarra was super creamy and rich with early flavor. It was my favorite dish of the night. The spaghetti was also a hit, each bite you'd get a bit of sweet tomatoes flavor followed by the creamy lobster flavor, only to finish with a lingering spiciness. For the second dish we got the Filetto Gorgonzola and Lamb Chops. The filetto was really good, the beef tenderloin was cooked how I liked and the Gorgonzola sauce was good. Just make sure to spread the sauce around, it can be a bit overpowering if you get too much of it in one bite. The figs go well with the snap peas and veggies that come with the dish, so I liked to pair those when taking a bite. The lamb chops unfortunately were cooked to a medium rare instead of medium how we ordered. They were not our favorite. The veggies that came with the lamb chops had great flavor however, they were covered in a delicious artichoke puree. I wanted more of the veggies, and less lamb chops. For dessert we got the hazelnut cheesecake (Nociolla e Tartufo Cheesecake) and gelato/sorbet. Both were great but the cheesecake might be my favorite dessert in a very long time. I'm salivating now thinking about it while writing this review. It had lots of different textures from creamy mouse to soft wafted and even crunch hazelnuts. Not overly sweet but lots of depth. The Cheesecake and Chiatarra
Andre W.
Lovely Italian restaurant in River North! I walked in on a Thursday evening and the vibe was nice as you hear good date night and friend group conversation going on with a side of dim lighting. Grabbed a seat at the bar while I waited on my date and saw my friend Tim Williams curated the cocktail list so I had to grab a drink. I opted for the Season 4 which includes rum, vanilla, Fernet and pear liqueur. Very interesting cocktail but pretty good. Once seated we were greeted by an amazing server in which I dont remember her name but she was dope. I recall her being from Italy and spoke with an obvious accent. I decided to have another cocktail which was the Olio Sour...I saw that it included grappa and limoncello along with lavender, thyme and egg white so I was sold and it was very good! Date got the peach sour which was just as good. Our waitress gave great advice on food so we went with a good portion of her recommendation. As appetizers we went with the salmon crudo, calamari (Fritto Primavera) and Insalata Di Barbabietole which is braised mixed beets, pecorino mousse, mixed herbs, crushed pistachios, microgreens. The latter was the best of the 3 by far. Calamari was good but the Insalata was top notch. As for entrees, we shared the Branzino (very good) and the Spaghetti All'Astice which is a lobster spaghetti thats pretty good as well. We were swayed towards the Panna Cotta for dessert and it was definitely worth the calories lol! Overall staff here is dope as couple of them including the manager walks around to ensure you're having a great dining experience. Great service, food, cocktails and atmosphere. Olio is definitely a place to try as its a very good experience.
rachel n.
Came back to give the Chicago location another try. We had a reservation for four at 7:30 and were quickly seated upon arrival. We were seated at a table in the very back corner. We received water pretty quickly but the rest of the service was kind of slow. The food was excellent. The carbonara was perfection like I remember it. Although the service wasn't perfect, it was way better than my last visit. I'm hoping that this location can grow out of the service inconsistencies
Kendra L.
First of all service and ambiance here is an immediate 10/10. Moving on to the actual food - our meal leaned heavy on seafood (we didn't necessarily plan it that way but their seafood dishes all sound great!). We got the tuna crudo and crab meat appetizer to start and it definitely kicked off the meal on a good note! The tuna was fresh and beautifully presented and the crab was refreshing with generous portions! Next up for main entrees we selected the lobster meat spaghetti and grilled branzino! The lobster pasta was more favorite out of the 2 but nothing against the branzino as it was still fresh and flavorful! I just love a good slurppable pasta moment! I'm also a fan of their mocktails and my dinner companion loved their whiskeys so they definitely have solid drinks for a good time! Don't skip dessert, their tartuffo cheesecake was lovely! I'd recommend this place if you're looking for nice atmosphere with your meal, everything we ate was delicious and the service was outstanding
Katie L.
TLDR: come for the carbonara - it's so good Service is excellent - our waters were constantly full & I appreciate that level of attentiveness The starters were ok, but they tasted cold, and what I mean by that is they tasted like they've been sitting in the fridge already prepared for awhile then served. Went for a birthday celebration that the hostess said happy birthday, but didn't feel extra special during. Not saying we expected anything at all, but even a candle on the cheesecake would've made an impact. Good place for a date night, friend catch up, or even sit at the bar and enjoy some pasta! Def will come back for that carbonara.
Came here during a weeknight for dinner! Our server was Peter and he was so good and thorough with explaining the menu to us since it was our first time. He was very patient and gave his personal recommendations which I greatly appreciated. I would note that we felt for a party of 2, the table space was quite small considering our drinks, bread, appetizers and plates on the table. We found it a bit difficult to enjoy our meal without potentially knocking something over while eating! For drinks we tried the olio's sour and farfalla rossa. The farfalla rossa was sooo good with the lychee and cranberry, would highly recommend this cocktail! For appetizers we tried the fritto primavera and carpaccio di Polipo. We did prefer the fried calamari and fried shrimp over the octopus since we felt like the carpaccio di polipo didn't taste like much. For our entrees we tried the carbonara and orecchiette salsiccia. While I did enjoy the carbonara I wouldn't say it's the best one I've tried. Still a solid choice though! My friend said the orecchiette salsiccia was a little on the drier side for her liking. Lastly for dessert we got the panna cotta and Nocciola e tartuffo cheesecake. Both were so yummy but if you like hazelnut like me, I'd highly suggest getting the cheesecake!!
Perla Gharbi
The restaurant exuded warmth and sophistication, reminiscent of home. Our waitress Rosie was kindness personified as she guided us through the menu options with a helpful explanation. We opted for non-alcoholic beverages that proved to be refreshingly delicious. The appetizer, consisting of crab and fennel, was delightful. The tuna dish was equally impressive, with avocado adding a nice touch. The main course, which featured meat, was cooked to perfection - soft, juicy, and delicious. The pasta dish was incredible, thanks in part to the subtle use of spice. And the lobster was simply divine.We were thoroughly impressed by each dish. We were thoroughly impressed by each dish we had the pleasure of trying. From the flavorful appetizers to the expertly prepared entrees and decadent desserts, every bite left us wanting more.Thank you for having us.Kid-friendliness: There where children when we went and they where having a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna Crudo
Perla G.
We had a memorable dining experience at this cozy chic restaurant, which felt like home. The attentive personnel, including our helpful waitress Rosie, guided us through the menu options. We started with delicious bread and olives, followed by impeccable crab appetizers and tune. Our main courses included flavorful pasta with lobster and tender meat with vegetables. For dessert, we indulged in decadent chocolate cannolis and banana chocolate cake.
Jo F.
Went with a group of friends and the food was amazing. We eat Italian frequently but the ravioli with artichoke was the best I've had anywhere. We also had a variety of delicious appetizers. I have to say the kitchen ran like a well oiled machine. Our waitress, Nikol, was WONDERUL - very attentive, had great recommendations, and unfortunately for her, we needed help with suggestions including everything from the wine to dessert and we all thought she was great. Downsides would be that it was extremely loud - very crowded so we felt like we were shouting. And the food was very fast at all the tables. Much faster service than anywhere. So if you're in a hurry it's great. But if it's a night out with friends, you'll be done quickly.
Yuliia Starovoit
I am thrilled to have found an amazing Italian place in Chicago! From the menu to the location and service, this place has quickly become an absolute favorite of mine.Extra credit goes to the service—valet parking, host and servers :)It's one of the best places with a modern vision of an Italian restaurant that is both fair and aesthetically pleasing. I highly recommend trying the salmon, tuna crudo, and carpaccio Dipolipo!I'll definitely be back to try more and discover other menu items! CheersParking: Restaurant offers a valet parking which is so convenient!
This high priced and overly hyped restaurant is so disappointing. I've eaten here once and will never return. The food is tasteless. Italian food should never be tasteless. Shame on Olio e Piu. By the way, the good reviews on Yelp are a result of the management offering "free" desserts to diners if they can demonstrate that they have left a positive Yelp review. I told them that I was not going to leave a review mid-meal and had no interest in dessert anyway. Ugh, this place is bad.
I went to Olio e Più for my first time last night and I really enjoyed it! To start, I really liked the vibe - my boyfriend and I went around 630pm so given the sun was going down, it felt really relaxed and cozy. For my drink, I ordered the White Plains - super refreshing and tasty. My boyfriend got the Old Fashioned which he said was one of the best he's had in Chicago (and he always orders an Old Fashioned). To eat, I ordered the Gnocchi Pesto e Pistacchio and boy, was it good. I will say, our service was some of the best we've had in a long time as well. We had a really nice experience and meal and can't wait to come back again! Thank you to the Olio e Più team for a wonderful Friday date night!
Perfect date night resturant! If you're sitting near the windows you feel like you're in an Italian terrace, a lot of light and greenery. The whole restaurant welcomes and comforts you. The meals are tasty, packing tons of flavor, and great portions to share a bunch of plates! Drinks were different, but in a good way. Not your typical sour or old fashion. The sour was herby from the thyme but also sour, not too sweet either, it's a good cocktail to start with and enjoy with apps. I don't drink old fashions but was told it was good, not traditional, but it was thumbed up by a whiskey drinker. Absolute fav antipasti was the carpaccio di pulpo. Never had octopus served this way and it made my tastebuds dance! So light and delight, very fresh. Fritto primavera only had a few shrimps, but it cooked well. Not super greasy or overly breaded. Great dish for sharing with a group. Loved that the sauce wasn't a typical marinara. Gnocchi was soft and pillowy and the pesto wasn't over powering. It was a hug in a bowl. Lamb chops were juicy, seasoned well and cooked to a good temp. Fillet was tasty as well, love a fig and Gorgonzola pairing. I ordered a glass of red wine with my lamb chops and it paired perfectly. I asked for a glass of Pinot noir and our server suggested their take on a Pinot and it did not disappoint. Now the dessert! Another item recommended by our server...great recommendation! I imagined an overly banana flavored tart with some chocolate, then when it came in like uh oh might be too rich. It was perfect. The banana and cream complements the chocolate beautifully. It toned down the chocolate without over powering it. You'd have to taste it! Service was quick, friendly, and helpful! Shoutout to Roxana for great hospitality and helping us choose some of these tasty dishes!
When it comes to Italian food, I thought I was well versed, but was surprised to see such a diverse menu with dishes I had actually never seen listed before. Olio e Più is much more elevated than your standard chicken parmigiana/lasagna spot. I'm 100% going to be "sunset" dinner time gal from now on. We booked for 6:30 and were sat by the windows where we got to experience the warm natural lighting dimming down until nighttime throughout the meal which was the perfect vibe for a weekday date night. The restaurant was quite busy for a Thursday, but it wasn't loud at all which is good if you want to be able to converse with your dining partners. Upon entering, we were quickly seated and I kid you not...complimentary bread/olives/and olive oil were on our table in record time (literally 3 seconds after we sat down!) We were seated at one of the very small two seaters, and were originally worried that we'd be knocking into things, but there was never an issue with having too many things on the table because of how seamless the placing, removing, and replacing of the dishes was. For newbies to the cuisine, you may scratch your head reading the menu, but fear not! Our server gave us excellent explanations of every category as well as the most popular dishes (you can't go wrong with these suggestions, so definitely go with these for your first visit and venture off to the rest on the next!) You'll need to put in your complete order so they can space dishes out properly, so organize your menu or do what I do and research ahead of time and bring your list! From what we ordered, the portion sizings were perfect to share between two. I'm almost never in the clean plate club, but we polished off every single dish and were super full with no need to carry leftovers home! Dishes were cleared quickly, and water cups were never empty. Let's get into the food: CAPONATINA: This is a cold eggplant dish. Probably the most surprising item on the meal because the flavors were totally unexpected! I would love to eat this again when it gets warm out, it was super refreshing and mildly tart. GNOCCHI PESTO E PISTACCHIO: Not a huge portion but perfect to share alongside with another main. Loved the pistachios in it, I don't know why all pesto based pastas don't add in nuts for texture, but they should. The gnocchi was soft and chewy and the sauce was generous. I'm absolutely coming back to try the carbonara next time! BRANZINO: Flakey fish already filleted on a bed of artichoke(?) Flavor of the fish shined through with seemingly no sauce! Very tender with a lightly crisp skin. If you're someone who's trying to do a soft entrance into the world of fish/seafood, branzino is always a good place to start. Half dozen oysters: This seems to be a special for the night or off menu, but the oysters were quite big and fresh, and came accompanied by multiple sauces and a lemon wedge. NOCCIOLA E TARTUFFO CHEESECAKE: Surprisingly one of the stars of the meal despite us being full!! Definitely not as it appears. This dessert is shaped like ladyfingers, but when you dip your spoon in, it's as soft as butter with no cake texture. I don't love cheesecake, but I loved this. I'm always looking for desserts that aren't too sweet, and finding anything within that requirement is hard for me to find. The gold flakes have the essence of truffle (not sure if intentional or if it was picking up flavors from something on top) but it was a lovely addition. I love food that's beautifully presented AND equally flavorful, so this dessert hit every point. Was not expecting to find a new favorite dessert tonight! Drinks: I ordered two of the Olio's Sours because I liked it that much. I will definitely have to try the Farfalla Rossa that everyone keeps talking about next time! Overall a lovely new addition to River North! The area would be hard to park around if driving, but the restaurant itself is right on the corner with its own entrance on the street.
Great spot with awesome food and a classy ambiance. Will definitely return. Our waitress Roxana was very friendly and provided excellent service. We enjoyed the gnocchi and snapper - both very good. I have also recommended Olio to a few friends, and all have loved it!
Olio e Piu is opposite corner of RPM Italian, seems they are here take on the opposition and I can see why. The restaurant has a very open concept layout with lots of windows. I imagine it gets very bright during the day however we had a Thursday evening reservation, so instead the yellow lighting throughout the restaurant felt welcoming and intimate. However the restaurant has a very lively feel to it, due to the open concept it is quite noisy. It was at maybe 30% capacity but felt a lot more than that. If you're looking for quiet night out this may not be it. The bar layout looks really appealing and I would come here just for drinks as they are quite good. There is one thing that I did dislike about the layout and that is that the 2-person tables are quite small, and in order to optimize seating capacity they are placed adjacent to each other with only a plant to separate the tables. The awkwardness is not only that the other table is so close but the plant being so close to your face when you turn to the side. The manu at Olio E Piu is very segmented to offer a dining experience that will take some time enjoy. You start by selecting your starter (crudo, appetizer or salad). Followed by a first dish (pasta) and a second plate (protein). You can order all at once and your waitress will stagger your plating for you giving you ample time to enjoy the food and chat. Our total dining time was over 2 hours due to the staggering of our menu. This is why I say this is more of an experience than simply a dinner. Speaking of our waitress, Roxana was very welcoming, and explained the menu in detail. She helped us make decision and provided recommendations. When I had questions about a dish she was happy to answer them and if she didn't know about a particular sauce she made sure to get the answer. We started with drinks which were the the Old Fashioned and the Farfalla Rosa. Both were amazing. I would recommend trying either of them. The old fashioned has a nice twist, it's mixed with tequila which you can taste right away but it works so well, it also has lavender and plum which somehow fuses the flavors together to create great drink. This old fashioned is less bitter and spicy and more of the sweet side which I really enjoyed. For starters we had the Tuna Crudo. I found the flavors to be similar to a good ceviche (due to the lemon, avocado and shallot combo). The tuna was very tender, almost melt in your mouth. It may have been slightly over salted but still very delicious. We moved on to the (first plate) pasta. There were so many great sounding pastas on the menu to pick from but we settled on "Chiatarra Aalla Carbonara" and "Spaghetti All'astice". The Chiatarra was super creamy and rich with early flavor. It was my favorite dish of the night. The spaghetti was also a hit, each bite you'd get a bit of sweet tomatoes flavor followed by the creamy lobster flavor, only to finish with a lingering spiciness. For the second dish we got the Filetto Gorgonzola and Lamb Chops. The filetto was really good, the beef tenderloin was cooked how I liked and the Gorgonzola sauce was good. Just make sure to spread the sauce around, it can be a bit overpowering if you get too much of it in one bite. The figs go well with the snap peas and veggies that come with the dish, so I liked to pair those when taking a bite. The lamb chops unfortunately were cooked to a medium rare instead of medium how we ordered. They were not our favorite. The veggies that came with the lamb chops had great flavor however, they were covered in a delicious artichoke puree. I wanted more of the veggies, and less lamb chops. For dessert we got the hazelnut cheesecake (Nociolla e Tartufo Cheesecake) and gelato/sorbet. Both were great but the cheesecake might be my favorite dessert in a very long time. I'm salivating now thinking about it while writing this review. It had lots of different textures from creamy mouse to soft wafted and even crunch hazelnuts. Not overly sweet but lots of depth. The Cheesecake and Chiatarra
Lovely Italian restaurant in River North! I walked in on a Thursday evening and the vibe was nice as you hear good date night and friend group conversation going on with a side of dim lighting. Grabbed a seat at the bar while I waited on my date and saw my friend Tim Williams curated the cocktail list so I had to grab a drink. I opted for the Season 4 which includes rum, vanilla, Fernet and pear liqueur. Very interesting cocktail but pretty good. Once seated we were greeted by an amazing server in which I dont remember her name but she was dope. I recall her being from Italy and spoke with an obvious accent. I decided to have another cocktail which was the Olio Sour...I saw that it included grappa and limoncello along with lavender, thyme and egg white so I was sold and it was very good! Date got the peach sour which was just as good. Our waitress gave great advice on food so we went with a good portion of her recommendation. As appetizers we went with the salmon crudo, calamari (Fritto Primavera) and Insalata Di Barbabietole which is braised mixed beets, pecorino mousse, mixed herbs, crushed pistachios, microgreens. The latter was the best of the 3 by far. Calamari was good but the Insalata was top notch. As for entrees, we shared the Branzino (very good) and the Spaghetti All'Astice which is a lobster spaghetti thats pretty good as well. We were swayed towards the Panna Cotta for dessert and it was definitely worth the calories lol! Overall staff here is dope as couple of them including the manager walks around to ensure you're having a great dining experience. Great service, food, cocktails and atmosphere. Olio is definitely a place to try as its a very good experience.
Came back to give the Chicago location another try. We had a reservation for four at 7:30 and were quickly seated upon arrival. We were seated at a table in the very back corner. We received water pretty quickly but the rest of the service was kind of slow. The food was excellent. The carbonara was perfection like I remember it. Although the service wasn't perfect, it was way better than my last visit. I'm hoping that this location can grow out of the service inconsistencies
First of all service and ambiance here is an immediate 10/10. Moving on to the actual food - our meal leaned heavy on seafood (we didn't necessarily plan it that way but their seafood dishes all sound great!). We got the tuna crudo and crab meat appetizer to start and it definitely kicked off the meal on a good note! The tuna was fresh and beautifully presented and the crab was refreshing with generous portions! Next up for main entrees we selected the lobster meat spaghetti and grilled branzino! The lobster pasta was more favorite out of the 2 but nothing against the branzino as it was still fresh and flavorful! I just love a good slurppable pasta moment! I'm also a fan of their mocktails and my dinner companion loved their whiskeys so they definitely have solid drinks for a good time! Don't skip dessert, their tartuffo cheesecake was lovely! I'd recommend this place if you're looking for nice atmosphere with your meal, everything we ate was delicious and the service was outstanding
TLDR: come for the carbonara - it's so good Service is excellent - our waters were constantly full & I appreciate that level of attentiveness The starters were ok, but they tasted cold, and what I mean by that is they tasted like they've been sitting in the fridge already prepared for awhile then served. Went for a birthday celebration that the hostess said happy birthday, but didn't feel extra special during. Not saying we expected anything at all, but even a candle on the cheesecake would've made an impact. Good place for a date night, friend catch up, or even sit at the bar and enjoy some pasta! Def will come back for that carbonara.
Restaurantji Recommends
Came here during a weeknight for dinner! Our server was Peter and he was so good and thorough with explaining the menu to us since it was our first time. He was very patient and gave his personal recommendations which I greatly appreciated. I would note that we felt for a party of 2, the table space was quite small considering our drinks, bread, appetizers and plates on the table. We found it a bit difficult to enjoy our meal without potentially knocking something over while eating! For drinks we tried the olio's sour and farfalla rossa. The farfalla rossa was sooo good with the lychee and cranberry, would highly recommend this cocktail! For appetizers we tried the fritto primavera and carpaccio di Polipo. We did prefer the fried calamari and fried shrimp over the octopus since we felt like the carpaccio di polipo didn't taste like much. For our entrees we tried the carbonara and orecchiette salsiccia. While I did enjoy the carbonara I wouldn't say it's the best one I've tried. Still a solid choice though! My friend said the orecchiette salsiccia was a little on the drier side for her liking. Lastly for dessert we got the panna cotta and Nocciola e tartuffo cheesecake. Both were so yummy but if you like hazelnut like me, I'd highly suggest getting the cheesecake!!
The restaurant exuded warmth and sophistication, reminiscent of home. Our waitress Rosie was kindness personified as she guided us through the menu options with a helpful explanation. We opted for non-alcoholic beverages that proved to be refreshingly delicious. The appetizer, consisting of crab and fennel, was delightful. The tuna dish was equally impressive, with avocado adding a nice touch. The main course, which featured meat, was cooked to perfection - soft, juicy, and delicious. The pasta dish was incredible, thanks in part to the subtle use of spice. And the lobster was simply divine.We were thoroughly impressed by each dish. We were thoroughly impressed by each dish we had the pleasure of trying. From the flavorful appetizers to the expertly prepared entrees and decadent desserts, every bite left us wanting more.Thank you for having us.Kid-friendliness: There where children when we went and they where having a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna Crudo
We had a memorable dining experience at this cozy chic restaurant, which felt like home. The attentive personnel, including our helpful waitress Rosie, guided us through the menu options. We started with delicious bread and olives, followed by impeccable crab appetizers and tune. Our main courses included flavorful pasta with lobster and tender meat with vegetables. For dessert, we indulged in decadent chocolate cannolis and banana chocolate cake.
Went with a group of friends and the food was amazing. We eat Italian frequently but the ravioli with artichoke was the best I've had anywhere. We also had a variety of delicious appetizers. I have to say the kitchen ran like a well oiled machine. Our waitress, Nikol, was WONDERUL - very attentive, had great recommendations, and unfortunately for her, we needed help with suggestions including everything from the wine to dessert and we all thought she was great. Downsides would be that it was extremely loud - very crowded so we felt like we were shouting. And the food was very fast at all the tables. Much faster service than anywhere. So if you're in a hurry it's great. But if it's a night out with friends, you'll be done quickly.
I am thrilled to have found an amazing Italian place in Chicago! From the menu to the location and service, this place has quickly become an absolute favorite of mine.Extra credit goes to the service—valet parking, host and servers :)It's one of the best places with a modern vision of an Italian restaurant that is both fair and aesthetically pleasing. I highly recommend trying the salmon, tuna crudo, and carpaccio Dipolipo!I'll definitely be back to try more and discover other menu items! CheersParking: Restaurant offers a valet parking which is so convenient!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Charcuterie, Burrata Mediterraneo, Tuna Crudo, Bruschetta Burrata E Tartufo