DiSotto Enoteca

Super cute wine bar– definitely more of a wine bar than a restaurant, although the food is delicious. There aren’t very many options for food, but everything we ordered was great. Some of the portions are much larger than you would expect for the price. Lots of wine options, and the space is very cozy. Would be great for dates or small group dinners! Will definitely go back. It shares an entrance with the restaurant upstairs — just go straight in and down the stairs! The polpette and pane con tartufati were very good, as was the seafood pasta.

What a fabulous wine bar! Tucked away in the basement we almost missed it but thanks to my husband’s keen eye we were treated to some lovely wine, tasty meat and cheese board and relaxing music. Service was very personal and our server was extremely knowledgeable about all the wines and suggested some great pairings.

How cozy us this spot in the basement? It has an extensive wine list which I would sample from if not for the headache I have brewing.
Not too busy early on a Monday night when rain is imminent.
My server was over right away with a bottle of water and promptly took my order. Since it’s tapas style I’ve chosen: 1 piece mushroom and goat cheese bruschette, beet salad with ricotta, orange and mint and then the gnudi with butternut squash.
Do not sit by the glass doors to the wine unless you are roasting. Brrrrr

Ordered take out, had the linguine sora asunta. The cream in the pasta is DELICIOUS! The dish is big enough for two people. The restaurant was very nice and cozy. Customer service was great too!

Actually 4.5 stars. All around very good, but not anything extremely mindblowing. Some things were better than others. The mushroom fontina bruschetta was uniquely tasty (for mushroom lovers). The gnudi di zucca pasta with pumpkin seeds was a big surprise. The flavors were subtle but very good. Also, the use of Gorgonzola with those bbq short ribs made it less boring and added more complex taste. Of course, there were some disappointment. The beef carpaccio was overwhelmingly flavored (not a good thing in my book). The eggplant (polpette melazane) was probably the most boring thing I had, with a score of adequate.

Unilocal totally got this one right! This place does not disappoint. Came here on a Friday night around 8. We didn’t have a reservation, but there were tables in the bar as well as in the dining room. My date and I split the Carpaccio di Manzo (beef Carpaccio), the Pane con Tartufati (toasted pullman + egg + fontina + asparagus + truffle oil) and the Veal with Polenta entrée. Everything was absolute perfection. Our server was prompt with our drinks, and gave us excellent recommendations. After dinner, we went downstairs to the underground bar/​wine cave, where we split an excellent bottle of red wine. We will definitely be back!

Wow what a great experience. It began with walking into what felt like a wine cellar at old European winery. Loved the atmosphere. Be aware it’s in the basement of Francesca’s. There’s no signage outside on the street.
Then we were seated & waited on by a very friendly nice waitress. Service was great.
Then there’s a nice wine list. The restaurant serves mostly small plates & we started with the olive mix which were served warm, which at first felt strange when you bit into one but it got better by the bite.
She had the lobster salad which had large chunks of lobster.
I had the tagliatelle del mare, homemade pasta (awesome) mixed in a red sauce that had just the right amount of spice with mussels, shrimp, & scallops. It was best I’ve ever had.

I almost don’t want to review this place because then my secret is out. This is an adorable, intimate wine bar located underneath Francesca’s restaurant in the Gold Coast. Perfect for a date night spot. The menu is primarily wine options, but there are some appetizer options as well. You can also order food from Francesca’s upstairs I believe.
The place itself is quite small and elegant. There is low lighting and both high tops/​wine tasting tables as well as cozy couches. This is not ideal for big groups unless you happen to snag the longer tasting tables.
The only reason it’s not 5 stars in my book is the price. Although I know good wine doesn’t necessary come cheap, it would be nice to have more inexpensive options as well.

I’ve been there a couple times and love the atmosphere. Fun place to go with friends, or alone to unwind with a book and a snack.

So we came here on a friday night when my family came in… party of 6. They dont take reservations but luckily we walked in and immediately got a table. The fam is an array of dietary restrictions but this place was a winner on every level. Food was incredible. Small menu but every single item was incredible. I cannot wait to go back! Some items we cannot stop thinking about, the burrata, the beets, the Toasted pullman bread, Polpette di Melanzane, and all 3 pastas. My dad tends to be super picky and absolutely loved it! The ambiance and service were quite delightful as well. This was one of those experiences that makes you wanna keep the location private so you can always get a table. There is valet ($ 16) but with the outside construction you may need to go in and get them!

Beware, it’s a wine bar and not a restaurant. Their food menu is limited, as well as the wine list by the glass. However, they have an extensive list of wine by the bottle and it’s a cute little spot to get a glass of wine after work.

This is a cozy italian wine/​small plates venue in the basement of another restaurant. I went here with my girlfriend based on the strong Unilocal reviews. We thought the place met our expectations: the dining room does have a nice décor/​rustic italian vibe. We really liked the wine selection and how they offer two sizes: a ‘taste’ (which is a half glass) or a full glass. We enjoyed sampling many different wines on the menu with the half glass option. One of the reds I tried was the most memorable wine I’ve ever had.
For food, we had the butternut gnocchi and the honey bruschetta; both were tasty and recommended.
Overall, we enjoyed the wine and the small plates — I recommend this place for a relaxed evening or anyone in the mood for sampling wines.

The info about closing at midnight is nit always trie. Tonight they close at 10pm. Thamks God we called.

First time at the restaurant, with 2 kids… and it went great. The food is pretty good, kids friendly, fast and courteous service
I definitely recommend this restaurant.

I called for reservations on Christmas eve and was told they didn’t normally take them but for that night they were!
Lucky me.
Although they weren’t needed as there was only 2 other couples there and they ended up closing early.
We had a great time. The wine list is well varied and somewhat pricey. We ended up with a couple bottles of some nice Italian wines.
The staff is very knowledgeable. It’s super cozy.dark.intimate. a great place for date night or an evening with friends.
The food was very good as well. The menu is small and limited but it’s certainly has enough offerings to satisfy you. We had the pork belly with gnocchi. It was the biggest most delicious pork belly I ever had. We also had the arancini which were equally delicious.
Definitely a hidden gem. Even the locals didn’t know about.

As others have mentioned, this is a hidden gem.
My friend and I never would’ve found this restaurant if it wasn’t for Unilocal.Actually, we might have found it since (later) one of my good friends stated he and his wife had their engagement party at DiSotto Enoteca. They rented out the area and it was the perfect size for them.
She loved the ice cream puff dessert and shrimp Gamberetto. My favorite dish was the eggplant balls: Polpette di Melanzane.
We didn’t care for the truffle egg toast, but I loved the seasoning on the asparagus that came with it.
The ambiance was intimate and quiet. Perfect for a catching up with close family/​friends or a date. I would def come back here again.

I had a late night meal on my own (at the bar) after a long day of work events. Oh boy, the service is SPECTACULAR. On point recommendations, attentive but not overly so, delicious food and terrific wines by the glass.
I took some to go for my partner who was working in the hotel. He profoundly enjoyed his meal as well
I wouldn’t call this a quiet restaurant, but I loved the ambiance and the style. Would be happy to return again!

My vote for the most romantics ‘bar’ in Chicago. It offers everything you want in a quiet romantic place — in a basement speakeasy type setting, walls lined with wine and great tables and seating. We had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday.

Hands down, this is my favorite place to go on a date night in Chicago. The most romantic setting, a quiet environment, gorgeous wine selection, and the absolute BEST food. I have been here two Valentine’s Days in a row with my boyfriend and we will definitely be back. On Valentine’s Day they have a special menu which is always really fun! The menu seems to rotate on a regular basis, but I’ve never been really let down.
Note: They are located in the basement of Francesca’s, so you have to walk into Francesca’s first, and then tell them you’re dining at Disotto Enoteca. I also recommend having a reservation, since the seating room is fairly small at Disotto.
The asparagus ravioli was the best ravioli I have ever had in my life, and I love meat. Their valentine’s day dessert special was also the best dessert I have ever had in my life. I was waiting to write this review so that not everyone would learn of the secrets of DiSotto, but I figured it was time to share the love. The portions are amazing, the taste unparalleled, and the ambiance my favorite.

I had been wanting to come here for some time, and I was really excited to try this place. I was not disappointed.
This restaurant is located in the basement of Francesca’s, and they do not take reservation. I came with a party of four, so I was pleasantly surprised that we found a table right away. We sat down and we were immediately greeted by our waitress. She was very knowledgeable about the wine and food menus. You get four pieces of crostini right away, served on a cutting board — they were really good!
We started off with the Poppette di Melazane, which is eggplant meatballs. It was AMAZING! So good that we had to order it twice! Next, we got the Burrata Con Pomodori, which is sort of like a cheese-​ball with pistachios and pesto underneath. It was a little watery, not sure if that’s how it normally is, but it was our least favorite. We also got the Cozze e Sopressata, steamed mussels. They were really good, and the sauce that they came in was very flavorful. We also ordered the Pepperonata e Formaggio di Capra, which is bruschetta with a goat cheese spread. I’m not a big goat cheese fan, so I did not try it, but everyone else said they loved it. We finished with an order of the Gamberetto, which is shrimp and pickled veggies. It was very tasty as well.
Overall, the really cozy and intimate environment combined with the great food and wine, makes this place a must. I will definitely be going back soon!