Benvenuti Ristorante

CLOSED. OUT OF BUSINESS. Slipped badly in last months, cutting portions is a sure sign of imminent failure in the restaurant world. Stopped taking their own coupons.
Looks like they finally went under. Closed sign in window, business sign gone, place is empty.

I too am completely surprised at the level of 4 and 5 star reviews for this restaurant. We went the weekend before Valentines Day based solely on the Unilocal reviews. Considering the amount of family members coming in, leaving, and sitting around while we were there, I’m fairly sure that’s where it’s coming from.
As someone else stated, we too had staff staring at us through our entire meal (The cook/​bouncer was somewhat intimidating!), had a family table behind us where they sat and gossiped the entire time. The wait staff was nonplussed, inattentive and maybe a bit standoffish. There was only one other table of paying customers, yet our Caprese salad came with a hard woody top, and one meal came cold while the other was hot. Sadly, the cold meal had good flavor and probably would have been wonderful hot (Eggplant Parmesan). The hot dish, a mostoccoli that was in just a plain bland sauce, was less than average. It was named after someone. Neither of us can remember exactly, but maybe Amy’s Way pasta, something like that. The Parmesan, though in a bowl was generic powdered, and the wine was substandard.
We went for an early Valentine’s dinner, found an near empty diner with mediocre food and service and overall, considering the caliber of food that should be in the area, a fairly poor experience. Follow the other reviews at your own risk.

I am shocked that the reviews are so far off on this place! We went for Christmas eve dinner, family of 5. The restaurant (which looks like a diner, very small and brightly lit, inexpensive looking finishes on everything, etc) was completely empty so I felt silly having made a reservation, but you never know. The only other people in the restaurant appeared to be family of the staff by the way they were speaking to each other. Waitress may have been on her first day, I asked what was in chicken vesuvio and she said I should read the menu. Not in the menu, why I asked. So she went back to ask the manager and we did not see her for a good 5 minutes. Was told they had gluten free pasta over the phone. Waitress said no way, they had nothing GF. Oh, wait, we do. Pasta. My husband ordered a dish and was told a full 10 minutes later they were out. We had reservations for 6:30 so guessing we were the first (only?) table of the evening, why did it take 10 minutes to find out they were out? Food took a very long time, when it did arrive was completely forgettable. Wood grilled pizza had a good outer crust but toppings were greasy and bottom crust soggy. Yuck. Staff was having a very good time in the back, screaming at each other I think in a fun way, but completely unprofessional. There are so many good Italian restaurants in Chicago, baffled why this is even considered mediocre.

Maybe because it was the day of the week but it was the worse experience ever! Waited 5 minutes just to receive a menu, order an appetizer but never received it, didn’t have what I originally ordered, and took an hour just to receive food that wasn’t cooked all the way… when it was finally ready to go we didn’t even get the right check! On top of that the owner was outside drinking with friends or family while it left one waitress on the floor handling 4 tables, which she obviously couldn’t handle.

Well, well, well … Another 5 star restaurant found via my fellow Unilocalsters! Great job finding this out of the way place.
This restaurant is very personal. Small, family run and quality food. Kudos to the owners and the staff!
We enjoyed gnocchi, white sauced shrimp and broccoli and lemon salmon. All three dishes get a 5 star review. Another YUM for Unilocal

Definitely give this cute little Italian place a try. I came here with my family and tried a little bit of everything. Growing up on Italian food I can tell you the cook at this place has got it right. The service was great, the brick oven ads a nice touch and the décor is cute and quaint. I wish I would have been able to try the dessert with nutella but they were out. I guess I’ll just have to come back to try it out.

I thought this was strictly a sports bar, so imagine my surprise to find a little Italian ristorante occupying the south end of the building. They could use a sign that says «restaurant» pointing toward Grand Avenue, since you’re faced with two long ramps and no idea where they lead. My husband was sure we were headed for a service entrance right up to the point we burst into the little restaurant.
The food for the price was excellent. I had a bowl of very good rustic-​style minestrone and a salad, followed by a slice of Sicilian cheesecake that was peppered with raisins, candied fruit peel and almonds. Very good. A decent quality, rare, rib-​eye steak with perfect broccoli and roasted potato wedges was served to my dining partner. The sauteed mushrooms were so good, i stole them all one by one when he wasn’t looking. I came away with the impression of having eaten a very good home cooked meal. I’ve heard they turn out a great wood-​fired pizza. A friend remonstrated me sternly for not ordering a pizza.
Stop in here for a comfortable, reasonably priced dinner if you’re in the area.

Just had dinner at Benvenuti. I absolutely LOVED their bread! It was very fresh and totally top notch. The entrée I had was the Mussels in Marinara. That was ok. The service was really good. I didnt have time to try their signature dessert with the nutella. This place looks promising though. Its has a really nice décor and I see they have a brick oven. I would come back. Id like to try more of the food on their menu.

Love the family atmosphere, My boyfriend and I were there friday night, the service was great (I think her name was Diana). Ordered fried calamari which was good but the pizza was amazing, probably one of the best ive had. Benvenutis is our new spot for pizza!

We went to dinner, the food was fair. The employees have a lot to learn. While reading the menu the waitress approached us about 4 times to ask if we were ready to order. When you see customers still reading the menu you should know they are not ready to order. Another waitress had on a skin tight white tee shirt with a black bra which looks real trashy. Another employee had cigarettes sticking out of his shirt pocket. While having dinner my view was watching the employees going out for a smoke, and it was not 15 feet away from the place of business. (Its a law) Sometimes 3 employees at the same time. While we are eating the entire staff stare at us eating, as 4 and 5 employees sit at the bar. As we entered there is a blackboard with the daily special, the handwriting was so bad we could not read what it said. The black sheer curtains at the entrance to the bathrooms,(I thought I was going into a fortune telling room.) Another curtain on the entrance to the kitchen (how sanitary is that?) The owners and the employees got to get their act together, they are all very non professional which is bad for their business.
Patsy

Just ordered a pizza delivery from them. didn’t know what I want I gave them a free hand. I have a chicago style pizza with onion italian sausage mush and green pepper and tone of cheese (without ask for extra)… and IT’S AWESOME!!!
next time I’ll switch sausage for pepperoni
finely I found my neighborhood pizza
Thx for make my day :)

The food was good, but the atmosphere of having the whole family (staff) sitting around and going out for cigarettes when they wanted kind of made it feel like we were invading their private space. It is not appetizing to see the cook out there smoking, coming back in and then going into the kitchen. Nor is it very professional to have employees texting, sitting around talking as if they were in their living room and the patrons were just an afterthought. I prefer a more professional, restaurant like atmosphere when I go out. It takes away from your appetite. I don’t like to see the help sitting around especially when they are all gathered right out in the open.
The bread and the grilled vegetables are a good start. Not enough garlic or spice in the other dishes for my liking. I’d give it another shot and hope that it would be busy enough to occupy the staff.

This is not a place I would typically stop in and try but my family went here and loved it. The restaurant is very small, but the service is great! I wish they placed some music though, it was awkward how quiet it was in the place. We went on a Monday night, so I’m sure during the weekend is a lot more busier. I would definitely do take out on the way home from work. The start you off with a homemade loaf of warm bread with balsamic vinegar, oil, garlic as a dipping sauce. It’s the perfect mix of each, if you love garlic this is for you… I had the farfelle Pasta, mushrooms and peas with a cream sauce… It was excellent and the portions are enormous so there were plenty of leftovers the next day. Everyone that was with me also enjoyed the meal and said they would return. I hope this places makes it because it’s in weird location, but definitely worth trying. I want to go back and try their pizza’s.

Fantastic pizza! Benvenuti Ristorante is excellent authentic Italian pizza. Two different people, both born in Italy, had told me about his restaurant. I had to try it. They said that it is the closest they have come to real Italian pizza in Chicago. I’ve been many times and I’m really blown away by the food and service. The owners and staff are great, friendly and diligent. The food has always been terrific. Two others that I recommended Benvenuti to had the same experience that I’ve had. They are now hooked as I am on this restaurant. Can’t say enough good things about this place, well worth the trip.

I love this place in a most lustful way! Have been back a few times since our initial visit and have LOVED everything we tried! The Portabella appetizer with a balsamic reduction and feta is absolutely wonderful! The pizzas are fabulous and I still adore the Gnocchi. Everything has always been fresh and wonderfully prepared.
Still have yet to try the signature dessert, but. I DID have a spoonful of the imported Nutella (from the GIGANTIC jar behind the bar). Folks, I hate to break it to ya, but… we are getting sub-​par Nutella here in the good ol’ US of A… The stuff from Italy is waaaay creamier and smoother and has a much richer and less sweet taste. Heaven!
Do yourself a favor. go here.eat…you’re welcome!

I have been here four times and each time it gets better. Pizza is delicious, fried and the grilled calamari are great. Try the special Benvenuti dessert, you won’t be disappointed. Servers are very attentive. Will definitely be going back.

Benvenuti is an excellent establishment. They are owned and operated by a wonderful Sicilian family who have obviously put a lot of care and effort into their restaurant. I ate their two days ago and everything was wonderful: the mussels, shrimp, calamari, vodka pasta, pizza, the list goes on. Check it out, it’s definately worth it and the ambiance is nice, it’s a classy yet affordable place. Delicioso!

It would be much better if I ordered right dish. But my co-​workers kindly shared their pizza with me. Those were great.
The place is fairly new to this area. The decoration is decent and very clean. There also have a big bar area. Five of us were the first table there for lunch.
They have the complementary Italian bread with a plate with cheese and balsamic vinegar which were great together. I could just eat the whole loaf of bread for lunch. We started with a house salad and a Caprese salad. Caprese salad was pretty good which came with 5 big pieces. House salad was fresh with Italian dressing on the side. The dressing didn’t have much salt in it. It was basically a little bowl of nice looking olive oil.
Three of us ordered Pizza and one ordered Penne with vodka sauce. I ordered Panne e Panneli as a Sicilian specialty which I never heard of before and wanted to try. Unfortunately, the dish came with two huge piece of bread and some fried dough in the middle. That’s it. The fried dough slices were soaked with oil. I went back to finish up my tasteless salad.
I tried one piece out of every pizza: the winner is artichoke and mushroom! Spinach and tomato was good too but it was a little bit watery. Olive, artichoke, and ham one was too salty due to the green olives. The best part is the taste of those dough were baked in wood burned stove with a little bit burned on the edge. The pasta was very good after my friend requested the additional sauce.
Now my favorite part of this meal: the dessert. I ordered Benvenuti specialty– a warm crust filled with Nutella and banana. It was soooooo good. The contrast between crust and soft banana with melt nutella gave a great feeling in the mouth. It only costs $ 5 and comes with Two. Highly highly recommend. Tiramisu was great too. My friends also liked their Canoli and cheese cake.
The waitress was very nice to us even after 5 of us bugged her quite a few time with all different annoying requests (mostly from me).
We will definitely come back again. And maybe i should start with dessert…

Great food, great service, employees and owners very friendly and professional, Excellent!
phone number has been changed, it is now 847 260‑5176, now serving beer and wine, floats my boat!

My dad and I are huge fans! The pizza is phenomenal. Once you take a bite of the pizza, it sends you to Italy … wood burning stove and all! The service is outstanding, walking in you become part of the family!