Trattoria Gianni
jane val · 581 Google reviewsTrattoria Gianni — neighborhood italian in Lincoln Park. It wears its years well. The bartender knows what they're doing. Cheryl Wong: "The salads were fresh and perfectly dressed, and the veal meatballs were especially enjoyable" [patio]
What 399 diners keep saying
What 399 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Cosy Italian restaurant with great food and service. The fried calamari was one of the best I have tried. The handmade ravioli was delicious. The chicken dish stayed true to the natural flavors. It was a great meal and the mouse cake was AMAZING!”
“We enjoyed a wonderful 3-course dinner here during Restaurant Week 2025. They have a great menu with multiple options! It is well worth the $45 per person. The service was outstanding, and it was not too crowded so we could hear each other! We had the seafood salad, beet salad and polenta with mushroom for our appetizers. Although the pasta was tempting, we had the branzino and risotto (we are suckers for anything with truffles ) for our entrees. For dessert, the tiramisu was the winner, with the cannoli a close second. Thank you. We will be back!”
“Had a lovely experience here! The food is very decent, though I think their seafood dishes are significantly better than dark sauce/beef ones. Just a note. Lovely patio to sit there and watch the sunset.”
“I came here on a Saturday night with a group of five and loved that they have round tables that are perfect for larger groups. We all ordered the Restaurant Week menu and shared all five appetizers: Polenta ai Funghi di Bosco, Misto di Pesce, Insalata Barbabietola, Insalata della Casa, and the Polpette di Vitello (veal meatballs). The salads were fresh and perfectly dressed, and the veal meatballs were especially enjoyable. For my entrée, I ordered the Linguine Portofino. The pasta and seafood were perfectly cooked, and I appreciated that the dish didn’t feel heavy at all. It also had a generous amount of scallops and shrimp. Others at the table ordered the Risotto ai Funghi, Branzino alla Griglia, and Costoletta Vesuviana, and everyone seemed happy with their choices. For dessert, we shared the Tiramisù, Cannoli, and Gelato, and had no complaints. The tiramisu was light, fluffy, and a good portion size. I love the old-school Italian vibe of this place and can see why it’s been around for so long. Our waiter was excellent and made the experience feel relaxed and comfortable. My friends and I were able to sit, talk, and enjoy the evening without feeling rushed, which made the night even better.”
“This place was PACKED on a Friday night before a show at the Steppenwolf! I walked in as a party of one, fully prepared to sit at the bar for a glass of wine and a “snack” before the show. The host was an older gentleman who was not manning the front of the restaurant. The kitchen does were open and he was just milling about. He finally (street a solid 10 minutes) wandered over to the front of the restaurant. He assumed I was with the others waiting so I spoke to and said “party of one”. His response was “no we cannot for a party of one!” I asked if there was anything at the bar and again his response was rude: “no we cannot serve you dinner”. I told him that I’m a party of one looking for a glass of wine and an appetizer before the show. He sat me at the bar. The food was incredible (antipasti platter) as was my Super Tuscan. But everyone seemed incredibly stressed at the restaurant. Is this the vibe EVERY night before a show? For a restaurant directly across from the Steppenwolf, you’d think they’d have this pre-show thing down by now. At 715 the entire restaurant emptied as the theater goers left. I still didn’t have my check. The gal took it but it still wasn’t run through. I would love to come back for the food because it was indeed amazing. But I’m not a fan of a stressed out host telling me what I can and cannot do. Get ahold of your restaurant sir.”
“Came here for valentines dinner. The service was exceptional! The serving sizes were a bit small and not too many vegetarian or alcohol free options. The dishes were okay, definitely good but missing some flavor. I did very much appreciate the bread service.”
“Real Italian food. Not the American version of it. Highly recommend. Grazie mille.”
“Perfect spot for a quick dinner before the theatre. I ordered the Zuppa di Pesce which was exactly what I needed on a cold winter night, and it arrived promptly with plenty of time before I had to leave for the show even though the restaurant was full and I sat at the bar. I was in and out of the restaurant in 45 minutes, which theatregoers would surely appreciate.”
“So thrilled to find this gem! I went twice this week; the bar for a drink before the theater (convenient across from Steppenwolf) and loved it so much, we returned for dinner. Marco was wonderful, and we had a great dinner. I have food allergies and they clarified what I could have. Looking forward to returning.”
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