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312 Eats
River North · Italian

LIA Tavern

4.5117 reviews ·Opentil 9 tonight
The mezcal and mole espresso martini was insanely good, also loved the maple old fashioned and Creole Paper Plane
Josh BanfieldJosh Banfield · 367 Google reviews
Read the reviews on Google →

LIA Tavern — River North italian that most people haven't found yet. Low-lit and personal, a strong date-night pick. Strong pours and a bartender who takes pride in the work. "The cocktails were incredible, and the wine list was fantastic" — Maria Dubov

🌱Vegan & vegetarian friendly — real options, not one sad pasta.

What 117 diners keep saying

RomanticCozyTrendyGreat cocktailsHidden gemDate night
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Reserve on OpenTable
11 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654
River North
Today5-9PM
Sun–MonClosed
Tue–Thu5-9PM
Fri–Sat5-10PM
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What 117 diners keep saying

verbatim, from Google
Review photo by Kaitlin P
Jun 2026

went here for their $30 girl dinner deal and loved it! i got the espresso martini and it was sooo yummy. all of the food was very tasty - it came with fries, caesar salads, and choice of pasta or pizza. i chose one of the pastas and it was good. overall a great deal, friendly staff, and good vibes.

Kaitlin P

Kaitlin P

15 reviews on Google

Review photo by Noor A
May 2026

we loved their girl dinner concept, the space is super artsy and fun to hang out in. the service was friendly and fast. the drinks were yum, pasta wasn’t mind blowing but the vibes make up for it

Noor A

Noor A

68 reviews on Google

Review photo by Shivangi Patel
Feb 2026

Absolutely incredible meal here! Easily one of the best spots in Chicago - a true hidden gem. Very easy to snag a reservation here, so definitely check it out before it blows up. Had the truffle mushroom pizza, and it’s one of the best tavern style pizzas in the city. I’ve been here twice for the pizza because it was THAT good. Their spicy vodka pasta is actually spicy, which is super rate. The ambiance is also very nice. The drinks are incredibly creative too. They have a great daily happy hour too. Overall, one of my favorite spots on Chicago. I can’t recommend it enough!

Shivangi Patel

Shivangi Patel

22 reviews on Google

Review photo by Ailie Olson
Jan 2026

We really enjoyed our dinner at LIA Tavern! The drinks were fun! The food was delicious- we tried the Brussel sprout salad and vodka sauce pizza both were great!

Ailie Olson

Ailie Olson

6 reviews on Google

Review photo by Jay Fal
Dec 2025

Had an amazing time 🙌 Big shoutout to Rasheed for keeping everything running smoothly and making the experience so fun 🎉 Also thanks to Sam, the bartender 🍹 who made incredible drinks and really elevated the night ✨ Highly recommend stopping by for great vibes and awesome service 😄

Jay Fal

Jay Fal

338 reviews on Google

Review photo by Karina
Nov 2025

Great happy hour spot! $10 cocktails that were delicious and amazing appetizers. You absolutely must try the garlic milk bread.

Karina

Karina

13 reviews on Google

Review photo by Nancy S
Oct 2025

They have a good happpy hour menu and pretty cool interior space. Food was good

Nancy S

Nancy S

584 reviews on Google

Review photo by Steven Parsons
Sep 2025

Happy hour is one of the best values in the city. Please dont change that! The fluffy pillows and pork belly were fenominal. I really enjoyed the mustard kick to the tartar. The cacio y pepe was fantastic, I couldve ate that all night. The steak was cooked perfectly but there was little to no crust, and the seasoning didnt come through. The potatoes were a fun and enjoyable twist though.

Steven Parsons

Steven Parsons

205 reviews on Google

Review photo by Maria Dubov
Sep 2025

This was a truly unique experience — equally beautiful and delicious! We were smitten with the shrimp in yellow sauce and the roasted bacon, which was a standout dish. The cocktails were incredible, and the wine list was fantastic. The restaurant feels like a little museum of modern art combined with fine dining — plush, yet casual enough to relax and enjoy the night. We happened to be the first table to order the bacon, and to our delight, the chef (who is also the artist behind the presentation) came out personally to ask how we liked it. We absolutely loved it — crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, perfectly balanced with a chi-vinegar reduction and coconut sauce. Bravo!

Maria Dubov

Maria Dubov

36 reviews on Google

Review photo by Jaryd Cain
Sep 2025

This place is our new go to date night spot! Such a breath of fresh air , from the staff to the presentation, and the food and the drinks I can’t say enough good things about this hidden gem ! I wish I could go back everyday !

Jaryd Cain

Jaryd Cain

42 reviews on Google

Review photo by 나는나비
Sep 2025

New restaurant in River North! Love the vibe and food. Espresso martini was so good

나는나비

나는나비

8 reviews on Google

Review photo by Nadia D
Aug 2025

We visited LIA on our recent trip to Chicago. What a beautiful restaurant and the drinks are amazing. We were so lucky to meet Jesse and Karina - they really went above and beyond to make us feel welcome.

Nadia D

Nadia D

19 reviews on Google

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