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Alla Vita Chicago Reviews
Every meal was so good and authentic tasting! Recommend
Every meal was so good and authentic tasting! Recommend meatballs app and also sharing entrees amongst a group so you can try a variety of their dishes.
Service & ambiance is great, but food was okay.
Not the best Italian food I've had in the city. Menu is a bit limited. Was my second time here and the arancini never disappoints as an appetizer! Only downside is that it is a bit salty. The ricotta dumplings were a bit salty and heavy due to the amount of ricotta in each dumpling, but flavor was great.
Excellent ambiance.
Delicious food. Rightly mentioned in the Michelin Guide book. The service was nice ands well.
Totally loved the vibe of the place.
The table was ready on time and serveers were very sweet. We had Vodka Pasta and oh my god, must try! Margarita Pizza is another very well cooked dish. 100% Recommended
The Gnochetti Sardi was good.
The gnocchi was perfectly cooked to an al dente bite. The ragu sauce was just ok IMO. Lacked some flavor and maybe other ingredients but overall good. The Arancini balls were outstanding. Could eat those all day with a red sauce. Service was great. She made sure our wine glasses never reached empty and was very personable.
10/10 experience.
The food was outstanding, some of the best Italian food in Chicago. There is a reason that this place is popular. The chicken parm was especially delicious no wonder it's a featured dish. The vodka rigatoni was good but a little spicy. The appetizers were all delicious we got the bread, meatballs and the octopus. The octopus was some of the best we have ever had. The bread and the meatballs were very delicious as well. The birthday cake ice cream was the best I have ever had. The tiramisu was good and the chocolate budino was good but it was not very sweet so not for everyone. The service was amazing, everyone was very delightful. Overall very good food, great service, and popular ambiance. 11/10 would recommend
Had a great time at Alla Vita.
Walked in solo while on a business trip and ate at the bar. Started off with the marinated olives and loved the variety of olives provided. Highly recommend their Rigatoni alla Vodka super delish! And the gelato was super rich and flavorful, I got the coffee hazelnut. The decor and vibe of this place was great will definitely have it on my list for when I'm back in Chicago! The bartender and others working were kind and attentive, and I appreciated the service
Alla Vita in Chicago delivers a delightful Italian dining
Alla Vita in Chicago delivers a delightful Italian dining experience. The vodka pasta is rich and flavorful, the fire table bread is a must-try, and the olive oil froyo offers a unique and refreshing dessert. It's a perfect spot for a memorable meal.
This place is so cute and has a great vibe.
We were seated very quickly to our table. The waitress was def on point and always checked on us. The food was absolutely amazing, fresh, and fast! Everything we ordered was really good and seasoned well. The bread, pizza, meatballs, bolognese pasta, and chicken parm all were good choices. My only down fall was I wish the chicken parm came with pasta, it was def a let down without it. I will def be back
Honestly if you want to reel me in , it always starts with
Honestly if you want to reel me in , it always starts with aesthetics. It's gorgeous from the small wine cellar to the pergola in the middle of the restaurant. But to keep me coming back, the food has to be amazing. Alla did deliver , my only complaint would be the slow bar service. Not sure if they were backed up or they forgot about us. But hey we all have a slow day here and there. So that was a thorn ! But my rose has to be the sea bream . I have never had this fish . It was a whole fished and cooked well. It was so nicely soaked in garlic and olive oil . Chicago still amazes me, which is how I like each of my first culinary experiences to be. Make a reservation or get lucky like me and walk in . Please go hungry!
Amazing
10/10. Every single dish was perfection. As good a house made pasta I’ve ever had. We had a party of six and shared 6 entrees and two appetizers. Every single thing was fantastic. Love this place.
Memorable night out
Was only able to get a 6:00 pm reservation on a Friday - and that was over a month out. It’s a popular place. Beautiful restaurant. It was already packed when we arrived and even more packed when we left. Service was spot on and food was great. Burrata app was especially good. Ricotta dumplings were very good also - very rich, so glad we split them. Really a great night out.
Great atmosphere and food
We went for a late lunch (about 30 minutes before they close for midday) and had one of my favorite meals of the trip. I had the lunch special - with salad, rigatoni al La vodka and gelato. My husband had the meatball sandwich. Both were amazing! I saw others’ food and wished we could come back and try more! We arrived with no reservations and got the last spot at the bar. Would recommend getting a reservation if you can!
Ok
Pleasant space, nicely decorated, friendly staff. The food is fine, but not great. Housemade pastas are heavy, not one with a simple Pomodoro sauce; the tagliatelle was underdone, the meat not tender. Margarita pizza nothing special. Limoncello, bizarrely, not on the menu– but they have it at the bar. Rhubarb cake very good. Annoyingly noisy when crowded. Be on the lookout for surcharges.
So so good!!! We had several recs for great Italian
So so good!!! We had several recs for great Italian restaurants in Chicago and I am so glad we went with Alla Vita! I can't stop raving about it. Food and service were amazing!
I went here my last night in Chicago, and I can truly say
I went here my last night in Chicago, and I can truly say it was great choice! Me and my family did make a reservation because we knew it was going to be crowded and I can say that you should do that if you can. Right when we walked in the ambiance took my breath away. Me and my sister shared the whipped ricotta for an appetizer and that was just alright, but my friend got the Kale Caesar. Although the Kale Caesar didn't really taste like your usual Caesar salad, it was still good. As well as that, I got the Cavatelli and it was great with just the right amount of spice. If I came back to Chicago, I def would come here again!
Loved this restaurant! Great drinks, great food, great
Loved this restaurant! Great drinks, great food, great service! The vodka rigatoni was amazing!!! The inside of the restaurant is so warm and cozy and the ceiling is so unique. A great place to come with friends and split a bunch of dishes to try the whole menu. Will definitely be coming back!
Came here with two close friends for restaurant week.
This is was my first and only restaurant week for lunch in 2024! It did not disappoint. We each had three courses and it was very delicious and in good portions. Service was swift and kind. I'm glad I finally got to try this place after hearing about it for so long. The decor is absolutely gorgeous!
The food at Alla Vita is as good as advertised.
The bread, with the orange honey sauce, is delicious, and very unique for an Italian restaurant. I had the Chicken Parm, which is their featued item, and is excellent. I will definitely be eating here again!
Great prices and location.
Food was amazing can't leave anything negative, our server Nicole was very attentive and nice. Would be back soon!
Do not get the chicken parm! It was a rubbery,
Do not get the chicken parm! It was a rubbery, ultra-processed "chicken" piece with a disturbing texture. What an absolute slap in the face for $34. Our waiter could tell we disliked the dish and avoided asking how the food was, instead asking if we would like to box up the "chicken." Reheated frozen Tyson chicken is significantly better than what we received. This was my first time at Alla Vita and after hearing such glowing reviews, was absolutely let down. Additionally, the famous rigatoni a la vodka was much too al dente for my preference. Borderline uncooked pasta shells. The Arancini was good, but painfully average.
When is the last time you said I LOVE THIS SALAD? My lunch
When is the last time you said I LOVE THIS SALAD? My lunch companion said the same thing! He enjoyed the Alla Vita Chopped while I sampled the Arugula & Apple Salad- Crunchy Hazelnuts, chewy farro, zesty pecorino, and a tart lemon tarragon vinaigrette came together in a perfect symphony of flavors. While the salads were gorgeous and tasty, the space is inviting and very hip, the service was impeccable. Especially because our business meeting took longer than expected and despite the lunch shift ending and the restaurant essentially closing between shifts, no one rushed us or even tried to take the signed paid check (that part we did promptly so not to keep our server. I went to the server and handed her the completed transaction just in case she was trying to get home. ) Thanks Alla Vita! Your patience was much appreciated.
Came here because I saw great reviews & even looked some up
Came here because I saw great reviews & even looked some up on YouTube. Took my bf for his birthday and the menus came with "happy bday ... on top" which was very sweet but they misspelled his name after I called and reserved & made sure I spelled his name out. I was a little disappointed with the taste of the food. The pricing was not worth the food. The place inside is beautiful and has a calm feel to it. My favorite item on the menu was the appetizer which we had bread with cheese.
The atmosphere was absolutely stunning.
The arancini balls were fantastic - definitely recommend!
Great new restaurant visit!!!
First time at this restaurant for lunch with a friend and I was not disappointed!!! I was immediately greeted as I walked through the door. The service was awesome and the Kale/Brussel Sprouts Cesar Salad was amazing!! It was entree size and very filling. Will definitely come back for dinner and try the pasta dishes!!
Top notch italian
One of the best fancy italian meals I've ever had. The place lived up to the immense hype online as well as from my colleagues who had eaten here previously. I didn't have to pay for this meal so factor that in but everything I had was delicious, full of flavor and prepared perfectly. We started with the Alla Vita chopped salad, meatballs and frito misto. Of those, I'd say the salad was the highlight. Then we had the Ricotta Dumplings which are as good as advertised and the Tagliatelle which was pasta with a meat sauce and also very good. For the next course we had the chicken parm which was probably the best I've ever had along with crispy potatoes and roasted broccolini. So much flavor on the sides, was really pleasantly surprised. Finally ended the night with the coconut ricotta mouse cake which was a perfect light chocolate dessert. Service was excellent and enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant. The noise was not too loud so could easily carry on conversations with my table mates. Can't recommend this place enough for business or date night. Just don't bring the kids.
Middling Italian Cuisine
We found Alla Vita to serve up overall mediocre Italian cuisine, but question if our recent return from a trip to Italy sullied and tainted our culinary experience here by comparison?!? The food was swimming in overly dependent heavy sauces leaving nothing in particular to write home about save the large portioned Chicken Parmigiana that was worthy of a return engagement on its own merits. Service was somewhat lacking although incredibly accommodating on the side of the kitchen.
Great restaurant, great service, superb food.
Visited on 22/10/23. Really enjoyed it. The restaurant had a lovely ambiance and the service was great. And then we come to the food - oh wow!! I had the Ricotta Dumplings and honestly, it was one of the nicest meals I’ve ever had. Divine. I’ll be thinking of it until my (hopefully) next visit to Chicago.
3 1/2 dots
Pleasant space, nicely decorated, friendly staff. The food is fine, but not great. Housemade pastas are heavy, not one with a simple Pomodoro sauce; the tagliatelle was underdone, the meat not tender. Margarita pizza nothing special. Limoncello, bizarrely, not on the menu– but they have it at the bar. Rhubarb cake very good. Annoyingly noisy when crowded. Be on the lookout for surcharges.
The Perfect Evening
This was the second time visiting this restaurant and it again exceeded our expectations. Our server Haneem (I hope this is the correct spelling) was wonderful! Attentive, very sweet and always smiling. Our reservation was at 10:00 pm but it was honestly worth the wait. The food is absolutely phenomenal and the service is too. We will be back again for more delicious food and a great time.
Be prepared to be grossed out
Went to Alla Vita last night with family to celebrate a milestone birthday. I was able to overlook the $25 martini, I didn't cause a scene when I found a long hair in my pizza but then I found this hunk of plastic in my chopped salad... What exactly is going on in that kitchen?!? I would have given no stars if possible. All the bougie decor in the world can't make up for food that causes you to lose your appetite.
The food was amazing! The ricotta dumplings were heaven!
The food was amazing! The ricotta dumplings were heaven! They really make you feel special on your birthday as well
I love this place and always return when I get a chance to
I love this place and always return when I get a chance to visit the city. The ambiance is immaculate. From the flower decorations on the floor, the ceiling fixtures and beautiful bar. It's so nice. Great service as well. Loved our waiter, very attentive to our needs. Food came out quickly and was fresh. The cocktails are interesting and great way to start- got the under the pergola and it was refreshing. The kale Caesar salad was also excellent, had a good texture profile. We had pastas to share. The vodka is by far my favorite. It's rich without being overbearing and the pasta has pockets filled with sauce which I loved. The ricotta dumpling dish is also very good but a little goes a long way - I'm glad I shared it because it would have been too decadent for a main dish alone. The pepper on it really added to the flavor profile.
Go just for the ricotta dumplings
A really lovely restaurant with amazing Italian food! Between three of us, we were able to try several different dishes, and each of them was really delicious. But the ricotta dumplings were simply amazing--tender and luscious. Yum! The noise level when we were there (on a Wednesday evening) was beyond "energetic"--it was really hard to talk or hear anything. Service was excellent and attentive.
Alla Vita was delicious! 4.
5/5. My only complaint is that it did seem a little overpriced, but everything was still great nonetheless. The atmosphere was fantastic. Will definitely be going back!
Came here for dinner with a friend, though we accidentally
Came here for dinner with a friend, though we accidentally made a reservation for a week ahead of our day! They were able to get us in despite having a booked house. Everything was delicious. My plate, the cacio y pepe dumplings, was incredibly rich. I couldn't even finish it all. Great concept but would have liked to see it presented differently as you end up just getting about 8 noodles. Still five stars because of great service, great people, beautiful atmosphere, and great food.
Phenomenal food and even better service.
One of the better dining experiences I've had in a while complete with a stunning environment. Couldn't recommend enough!
If you are in Chicago this restaurant is a must visit! The
If you are in Chicago this restaurant is a must visit! The food, service and atmosphere is all incredible. I can't speak highly enough. Sebastian helped us choose what to order since it was our first time here, he recommended the Ricotta Dumplings and the Rigatoni- both were melt in your mouth good! We couldn't even get a photo before eating! We also were given a surprise desert at the end of the meal, which was so yummy. Michela was our waitress and she was extremely friendly and attentive. We definitely will be eating at Alla Vita anytime we are in town!
Came to celebrate a birthday, we were taken care of by
Came to celebrate a birthday, we were taken care of by Emanuel. He was extremely helpful with the menu, super friendly and kind. I love the attention to detail, even the menus had "happy birthday" printed on them. The ambiance is so calm and soothing, we tried the prosciutto pizza, mushrooms, potatoes, chicken parmigiana, rigatoni and the tiramisu. Everything was amazing and the food came super fast. I loved everything about my experience and will definitely be coming back. Thank you to Emanuel, with the friendliest smile, and thank you to all the amazing staff.
New spot for me and I absolutely loved it.
My server suggested the bucatini and I am a big fan of it now. The ambiance and service was great as well. I had one of their mock tails since I don't drink alcohol but still enjoy a good drink. I personally loved the roasted chicken with the sauces on it, but my partner could have gone without it or on the side. If you come here make sure to order the house bread. Perfectly toasted and crunchy on the edges, but soft and cheesy in the middle. Next time I'll make sure to ask to sit in the main dining room.
LOVE the interior of this place!! The rigatoni Alla vodka
LOVE the interior of this place!! The rigatoni Alla vodka and mushroom pizza are the best! The pasta is perfectly Al dente and the sauce is delicious. Highly recommend the Calibrian chili as well on top of the pizza. The staff is very friendly and service is good.
Amazing food and service! I love this place.
The ambiance was dope as well. I would highly recommend this spot.My favorite thing was probably the aranchini; incredible!
There were 7 of us.
We were seated at a lively table near a window. We had an early (5pm) reservation so we were starving. The drink menu had some very interesting concepts, we ordered the Little Havana (rum with bitter bianche and mint) and the Notte Oscura (Gin cynar and balsamic). All agreed these were delicious, but spendy at $17. We had a plethora of appetizers which included whipped ricotta, fritto misto, arancini, and wood fired meatballs. We agreed they were all delicious-so much do that we devoured them before taking a picture! For dinner each couple shared a pasta and a pizza. The sauce on the tagliatelle was rich and felt luxurious. The ricotta dumplings melted in the mouth and the sauce was so creamy I scraped the bowl clean. Extensive but overpriced wine list. Service-just ok, maybe a newbie? 3% service charge for staff automatically added. We will definitely be back!
The service was amazing and our waiter was very personable.
This restaurant has a lot of delicious options that all tasted amazing. I also ordered roasted octopus that was accompanied by a delicious savory sauce and beans.
True 5 star dining
This is my new favorite restaurant! The food is fantastic, unique flavors, exciting combinations and delicious all around. Our server, Antonio was wonderful and took great care of us. Truly an excellent experience; we will certainly be back.
Great Lunch
Great lunch at Alla Vita, not an extensive menu but enough to choose from. We tried three different dishes at lunch, everyone enjoyed theirs. The fritto misto was excellent, Fast service and tables nicely spaced out. For sure would return.
Good food, pleasant vibe
On a rainy January Thursday night at 6:15, Alla Vita was full and bustling but our table was waiting for us. We got a 4-top near the wine refrigerator for the 2 of us which gave us plenty of elbow room. We questioned our waiter about the 3 specials on offer and then ordered. For 2 of us, we ordered 2 apps (the roasted clams special, roasted octopus with cannellini beans, crab bucatini, also from the specials list, and a side of broccolini. This was ample for 2 of us. All was delicious; tho the clams were a bit chewy the sauce was excellent with thick slices of ciabatta bread to sop it all up. Then, to our surprise, a runner brought a plate of rigatoni with vodka sauce, as "a gift". I was happy to try it as it's a dish I've heard of but never eaten. We each sampled a little but we were pretty full by then, so let most of it go. I have to say while the pasta was perfectly cooked and it was probably a good version of the dish, creamy tomato sauces are not to my taste. We skipped dessert, opting for an espresso (his) and a limoncello (mine). The food is tasty; the menu has familiar and popular "Italian-American" dishes, served family-style. Prices are reasonable for a downtown restaurant, except for a couple of the meat dishes (bistecca a la Fiorentina for $125!) Service is skilled and friendly. The decor is attractive. While pretty loud, we were still able to carry on a conversation. We were even able to find street parking a block away. We had a good time.
Amazing food but expensive!
The food was fantastic! Best gluten free pasta dish I have ever had and I will be dreaming about it for a long time. My husband said his pizza was incredible as well. Service was good. We didn't have a reservation so we sat at the bar. I did dock one star because of the price. They charged me $11 for a glass of wine that costs $10 for the whole bottle at a store. I understand upping the price at a restaurant but that seems steep.
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Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Alla Vita Chicago at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Alla Vita Chicago page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
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1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
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* DistinguishedTree58, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* DistinguishedTree58 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
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3.) Finding the Reservation
* DistinguishedTree58 now uses their connections at Alla Vita Chicago to secure the table.
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* Once the reservation is secured, DistinguishedTree58 receives the $200 reward which is credited to DistinguishedTree58's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Alla Vita Chicago!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
