Chicago Italian is led by Sarah Grueneberg's pasta playground Monteverde and a deep bench of MICHELIN Bib Gourmand pasta makers, from Tortello to Daisies. Evan Funke's Tre Dita brought hand-rolled glamour to the river, while River North classics like Ciccio Mio and RPM Italian keep the booths full. From the West Loop to Logan Square, these are the rooms defining Chicago Italian right now.
The full ranking
Chicago Italian is led by Sarah Grueneberg's pasta playground Monteverde and a deep bench of MICHELIN Bib Gourmand pasta makers, from Tortello to Daisies. Evan Funke's Tre Dita brought hand-rolled glamour to the river, while River North classics like Ciccio Mio and RPM Italian keep the booths full. From the West Loop to Logan Square, these are the rooms defining Chicago Italian right now.
Monteverde (West Loop)
James Beard winner Sarah Grueneberg runs the city's most coveted Italian reservation, handmade pastas that set the Chicago standard, from cacio e pepe to a ragu alla Napoletana of pork shank and meatballs. The Pastificio open kitchen pulses with energy. MICHELIN Plate.
Ciccio Mio (River North)
From the Bavette's and Gilt Bar team, an old-world River North room of velvet and dark wood serving nostalgic Italian with precise technique: lasagna bolognese, crispy chicken parmesan and shareable antipasti. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
Tortello (Wicker Park)
Venetian-born chef Dario Monni runs this beloved Wicker Park pastificio with traditional sfoglina pasta-making on full display: burrata tortelli, pappardelle all'anatra with braised duck and honey-ricotta focaccia. A multi-time MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
Osteria Langhe (Logan Square)
Chef Cameron Grant cooks focused Piedmontese cuisine, daily risotto, Northern-style fettuccine with meat ragu and prosciutto-wrapped rabbit, paired with a list stacked with Barolo and Barbera. A consistent neighborhood destination since 2015.
Daisies (Logan Square)
Chef Joe Frillman's sunlit Logan Square gem runs a family farm to supply its seasonal Midwestern-Italian kitchen, where vegetables star and pasta reaches poetic heights. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand plus Chicago's only Green Star.
Piccolo Sogno (River West)
Chef Tony Priolo's beloved River West trattoria has delivered rustic Italian with impeccable consistency since 2008, handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas and one of the city's most romantic patios.
Tre Dita (Lakeshore East)
LA chef Evan Funke brings hand-rolled pasta mastery to an art-deco St. Regis room with river views, the city's most glamorous Italian night out: dry-aged bistecca alla Fiorentina, pici cacio e pepe and a 700-bottle Italian list.
Il Carciofo (Fulton Market)
The Roman-style sibling to Rose Mary landed as a favorite new pasta spot of 2025, a creamy rigatoni alla carbonara with guanciale and fried artichokes imported from Rome. A spacious Fulton Market room faithful to the Eternal City.
Alla Vita (West Loop)
Boka Restaurant Group chef Lee Wolen's sprawling West Loop Italian-American room, draped in hanging plants, where cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings became a neighborhood obsession and the chicken parmesan stays crisp. MICHELIN-recommended.
RPM Italian (River North)
Lettuce Entertain You's glossy River North blockbuster packs big booths with groups drawn to the bucatini pomodoro, daily housemade pastas and a sleek, high-energy setting with outstanding service.
Ranked across 5 sources: The Infatuation · Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago (2026); Modern Luxury Chicago · 10 Best Italian Restaurants (2026, unordered); MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2025, Bib Gourmand, Green Star & Recommended (unordered); Yelp · Ranked by Rating (June 2026); Google Reviews · Ranked by Rating (June 2026). Full scoring is on the Methodology tab above.
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