Riccardo Enoteca

Came here for restaurant week. The restaurant is fairly small but has a nice cozy feel. The bacon wrapped scallop on top of lobster bisque was the best app. It did not disappoint. The lamb rack was good but ordered medium rare and it was definitely cooked medium if not medium well. Even with being overlooked they were quite tender. The flat iron steak was a bit chewy but flavor was good. The panna cotta had an orangey flavor that I wasn’t expecting but was still good. The cannoli was nothing to write home about. Overall it was a good restaurant week experience with some highs but missed the note a bit.

We went for our anniversary.
Parking in the area is nearly impossible in that part of Lincoln Park, btw, so give yourself some time to find parking if you drive.
They provide a complimentary taste (bruschetta) and bread basket, both of which were delicious and fresh. I enjoyed the sangiovese they had on the menu as well.
We ordered the fava beans, mussels, vongole pasta, and risotto, all of which were recommended and enjoyed. The broth in the mussels was delicious esp to soak up the toast points.
The seating is tight, but it’s kind of like you’re in Europe. Make a reservation, b/​c otherwise you might have to wait until 10pm for a party of two.

Small romantic pizzeria. Reminds me of a place my grand parents would of frequent back in the 40s. Light music in background I wanted eat across the street but hour wait and wife said NOOOO.

The food was good but the service was bad. This was only our first time there so we would be willing to give it another chance. The waiter competed got my order wrong. Everyone at my table got their food but me and all the waiter did to make up for it was to give my a small plate to share other people’s food. Very tacky and presumptuous that I can eat the other’s food or they would be willing to share. There was no compensation, no apology and the delay in my food caused us to miss our parking deadline so we had to pay extra for parking.

Small, intimate restaurant. Very friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. Calamari was perfect. A neighborhood gem.

We highly enjoyed our dinner at this little restaurant. High quality, hand made pastas, tasty risotto with fresh seafood, fresh bread, good service and nice ambiance.

Based off the reviews of this place, I had higher hopes. The service was great (loved our waiter), we were seated immediately, and the ambiance was nothing special but it was cute. They also served a good Malbec which is a plus in my book.
The food, however, left something to be desired. None of my party walked away loving their meal. I ordered the Chicken Milanese, which was a very large portion, however I‘ve never had this dish where it’s served dry. The chicken, although cooked well, without any sauce or bruschetta-​like topping, was pretty much the same thing as ordering a schnitzel. It did come with some greens. The next member of my party ordered the trout, which he enjoyed, however the portion was just comically small next to the other dishes on the table. This was served with 3 pieces of asparagus. Lastly, the third member ordered a pizza. As this was the reason we came here (she was looking for neopolitan pizza), we had high hopes, however the black olives were so salty she couldn’t finish the pizza and the crust was not what she was expecting.
The table next to us both ordered pasta which looked amazing and a good sized portion, so I would recommend that route when dining here.

We were looking for authentic Italian in a casual setting. For us it is all about the authenticity. Riccardo Enoteca is spot on. They deliver. Our server was polite, accurate and efficient. He anticipated our questions and stayed one step ahead of us.
I suspect that people who left negative reviews are used to other Italian-​American-​immigrant-​style cooking (also great when authentic). But this is intended to be true Italian; and, the authenticity shines through.
If you haven’t been, and wonder what Italy is like, try this restaurant.

We found a real gem in this cozy little spot near Lincoln Park. A true Milanese bistro, the menu features a number of small plates, pastas, and upper-​crust pizzas, in addition to classic meat and seafood dishes. A great place for a tasting party with friends! In fact, the two of us had the three-​course tasting menu, which comes with your choice of appetizer/​soup/​salad, risotto/​pasta/​pizza, and dessert… Which gave us six yummies to share. You pick from the open menu.
We started with a grilled calamari plate and carpaccio salad. The calamari was tender, buttery and kissed with sweet roasted garlic then finished with lemon. Don’t expect rings, this is classic filet style. The carpaccio was perfectly thin and tender, with very fresh arugula, parm shavings and avocado, which was a surprise. It needed a little lemon for my taste, which the waiter brought promptly. The Saffron Risotto Milanese came next. Simmered in a veggie broth, the saffron flavor was rich and fragrant; but what really made the dish was the tender veal and ricotta meatballs. Sooo yummy! But wait… We also had the Risotto Funghi with truffle oil… Decidedly better than sex. O. M. G. The rice was oh-​do creamy, and the mushroom-​truffle flavor was downright decadent. I blushed with every bite!
Finishing off the meal was a lovely, light panna cotta. More like a Crème Carmel than any I’ve had before, it was smooth and creamy, but not overwhelming. The pistachio gelato was classic — great full flavor and an ample portion, too… A belt-​loosening, perfect finish to a decadent bistro dinner.
The wine list was thoughtful and offered some tasty Italian treasures. We had the Vitis Friuli Grave Cabernet Franc, which was medium bodied, with light fruit and a very smooth finish.
I’m looking for more «business» opportunities to return to Chicago, just so I can enjoy another meal here!

Solid Lincoln Park wine bar! The Cod special was a little bland but everything else (tricolor salad, pesto ravioli and wine) was great! I would go back and i would recommend it to a friend :)

This cozy Italian restaurant in Lincoln Park is perfect for a small group or date. I definitely recommend calling ahead for a reservation on the weekend.
We were seated within a couple of minutes of our reservation time, and the servers were very attentive. If they have it, I would definitely recommend their daily special Olive Cunzate — warm, seasoned olives in oil. For a vegetarian option, the ravioli filled with ricotta cheese and spinach and topped with pesto sauce was a delicious (but very heavy) option.

Thank you to Unilocal for helping my family and I find this place! We had a concert and needed a place close to the venue, and Unilocal definitely pulled through. There was no wait and we were seated right away outside on the cute little outdoor seating section. I was pleasantly surprised with the prices on the menu– they were comparable to ferndale/​royal oak, mi, where I live, not outrageous big city prices. The waiters were polite and prompt and were very helpful. You could tell they made their own pasta and the pizza made in the wood fire oven was outstanding. Would visit here again in a heart beat.

Some of the very best Italian food served in Chicago, and I have eaten in Rome, Milan, Florence and Naples.
We had a pre-​theater dinner 04.15.2015. Ordered risotto with veal meatballs and a sea scallop entrée off the specials menu. Absolutely perfectly prepared and delicious!
This was our 2^nd trip here — skipped Tiramisu this time, as we find it a little bland.
Service is top notch!

Has a fancy, classic Italian vibe. The Modella pizza is amazing. I haven’t tried the others, but now I want to!

Wow. I’m so glad this place was one of the participating restaurant week restaurants. The food here was delicious. We tried the:
appetizers
Octopus Genovese (with roasted potatoes & pesto sauce)
Fava e Pecorino (served warm with aged Pecorino & truffle oil)
Modella pizza (Stracchino, wild mushrooms, arugula, prosciutto, truffle oil)
main course
Spicy seafood pasta
Grilled scallops and shrimp
Pennoni Carbonara (Bacon, Egg yolk, pecorino & parmesan Cheese)
dessert
Tiramisu
Everything was so good. My favorites were all the appetizers. Service was spectacular. Ambiance was wonderful. A small little restaurant with a nice cozy feeing. Parking can be difficult.

I was looking for a place to try that met the following criteria:
— Worth the trek out of our own neighborhood
— Not super duper expensive
— Doesn’t require a reservation three years in advance
I happened upon Riccardo Enoteca and the reviews sounded like it fit the bill so I made a reservation for the next night. It wasn’t crowded at all when we got there at 8:30 on a Friday night so while I didn’t have to make the reservation, I’m glad we did just in case.
We really enjoyed absolutely everything from the fantastic service, yummy food, and the overall ambience of the restaurant. The wine options were just a little more expensive than I wanted to spend that night so we stuck to beer, which went well with the pizza and pasta.
I would especially recommend Riccardo Enoteca if you live nearby or have easy access along Clark St. We’ll definitely be trying the Trattoria across the street.

I’ve been wanting to come to Riccardo Enoteca since moving to the neighborhood a year ago and falling in love with its sister restaurant across the street, Riccardo Trattoria.
I have to say, our experience was pleasant and I have to believe that the negative reviews are from the time frame when the restaurant was new and just getting into its own groove.
My fiancé and I were seated at 6 pm on a Friday without a reservation, but the place filled up quickly after we arrived (and isn’t large to begin with). We were greeted by a nice server who peppered some Italian into his service all night, which was well played if not a little corny. Service was a reasonable speed throughout the meal, giving us time to order drinks, enjoy our appetizer, and decide on a main dish without feeling rushed.
The fried mozzarella was an upscale twist on a fried mozzarella stick and went well with the arugula, cherry tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar it was served with. I loved the Orichette Puligese, which was a pasta dish with spinach, Italian sausage, and a hint of spice from chili flakes. My fiancé wasn’t too happy with his pizza, but only because he failed to realize that the Caprese pizza would have whole slices of tomatoes on it… and he hates tomatoes. I thought it was delicious and that it was a nice option if you don’t want a pizza with a ton of cheese.
Overall this was a great option for dinner and I can see us coming back for drinks and small plates in the future.

My wife and I eat out a lot and we have plenty of faves however there are but a few that have specific dishes we crave, this is one. While we have enjoyed all of the meals we’ve had here the Pizza Sardenara is, SPECIAL. It is the closest to my dear Sicilian Grandmother’s. We spoke of it for a month until we were able to return.
I’m just saying.

Charming, cozy, welcoming 12 – 15 table neighborhood gem providing fabulous food and service. Fresh, authentic, top of the line ingredients. This place delivers a most satisfying night out with a date or good friends. A full bar offers an adequate selection of boutique Italian and other wines, grappas and liquours.
We had the 1) Eggplant Parmigiana, 2) Fish stew Cioppino style in white wine and spicy tomato broth 3) Soft thin crust Stracchino, wild mushrooms, arugula, prosciutto [San danielle], truffle oil pizza and 4) vanilla white chocolate panna cotta. All memorable. Prices are fair and reasonable for the level of quality and service you receive.
Valet parking across the street.
A charming delightful experience with great food and service.

In a word, excellent. The sign of a fantastic meal is one you are still talking about days, nay weeks later. It surprises me that the average rating isn’t higher — we were pleasantly impressed with our meal.
Riccardo Enoteca, the very little sister of Riccardo Trattoria across the street, occupies the old Clark Bar space. They’ve done wonders with the space, you’d never know it was a neighborhood dive that had seen better days. There are maybe 15 tables, and about 8 seats spread across two bars; ideal for parties of 1 – 2. In warmer months, there is also a small patio.
I highly suggest making reservations, rather than dropping in in our way to a show at Park West, like we did. We got lucky and got the last two seats at the counter/​bar near the kitchen overlooking the whole restaurant.
We split two dishes — the caprese pizza and tortelloni al pesto. Pizzas come in a variety of styles; ours had a thicker, almost pan-​style crust and was maybe 9″ in diameter. The pizza was good, but the shining star of our meal and the dish we’re still talking about was the tortelloni. Our order came with approximately 5 handmade tortelloni; we marveled at how delicious, delicate and fresh the pasta tasted. I’ve had my fair share of homemade pasta and this is some of the best I’ve had in a long time.
Given how great our dinner at Riccardo Enoteca was, I’m kicking myself for only dining at Riccardo Trattoria once. That. must. change. 4.5 stars — the pasta was phenomenal, the pizza was good, but not as special.