Alla Vita

Allavita was the very first restaurant we visited after landing home from Rome last spring… and somehow the experience didn’t end at the airport. The flavors, the music, and the warm ambience felt like Italy had followed us back to Chicago. We absolutely fell in love with it. On our first visit, Lanthan welcomed us immediately and graciously found us a table even without a reservation — a kindness we still remember. Since then, we’ve returned often to explore different dishes and are never disappointed. One of the most memorable was the carne crudo — unbelievably beautiful and served with delicate little pillows of dough you could gently crack open or fold around the tartare. Thoughtful, refined, and completely joyful to eat. These are the kinds of dinners that make you excited about life — and about chefs who still manage to surprise you. General Managers Nicole and Jo have been incredibly warm and gracious, and servers Jo and Oscar make every visit feel special and welcoming. The entire team consistently guides us to wonderful choices on the menu. Allavita isn’t just a great meal — it’s an experience we genuinely look forward to again and again.

Allavita was the very first restaurant we visited after landing home from Rome last spring… and somehow the experience didn’t end at the airport. The flavors, the music, and the warm ambience felt like Italy had followed us back to Chicago. We absolutely fell in love with it. On our first visit, Lanthan welcomed us immediately and graciously found us a table even without a reservation — a kindness we still remember. Since then, we’ve returned often to explore different dishes and are never disappointed. One of the most memorable was the carne crudo — unbelievably beautiful and served with delicate little pillows of dough you could gently crack open or fold around the tartare. Thoughtful, refined, and completely joyful to eat. These are the kinds of dinners that make you excited about life — and about chefs who still manage to surprise you. General Managers Nicole and Jo have been incredibly warm and gracious, and servers Jo and Oscar make every visit feel special and welcoming. The entire team consistently guides us to wonderful choices on the menu. Allavita isn’t just a great meal — it’s an experience we genuinely look forward to again and again.

My dinner tonight at Alla Vita was great! I went during restaurant week and chose to eat old of that menu. I was expecting smaller plates but walked away completely satisfied. The main pasta dish was a good size. I got the Arancini for the first course. Since I waited maybe 5 minutes at most after sitting down before my server, Bry, came to greet me, she felt bad and also brought over the tuna crudo. I didn’t think twice about the wait but it was very much appreciated as was the visit by the manager to see how my meal was. I then got the meatballs which were delicious, tender and not dry at all. The beef shank ragu tagliatelle was outstanding with the fresh pasta! Then to finish it off, I got the chocolate hazelnut fudge gelato which was rich and delicious! For my drink, I got the No Sleep Till Brooklyn bourbon drink which was great. The decor in the restaurant was very cool and had a great atmosphere! I would highly recommend it!

My dinner tonight at Alla Vita was great! I went during restaurant week and chose to eat old of that menu. I was expecting smaller plates but walked away completely satisfied. The main pasta dish was a good size. I got the Arancini for the first course. Since I waited maybe 5 minutes at most after sitting down before my server, Bry, came to greet me, she felt bad and also brought over the tuna crudo. I didn’t think twice about the wait but it was very much appreciated as was the visit by the manager to see how my meal was. I then got the meatballs which were delicious, tender and not dry at all. The beef shank ragu tagliatelle was outstanding with the fresh pasta! Then to finish it off, I got the chocolate hazelnut fudge gelato which was rich and delicious! For my drink, I got the No Sleep Till Brooklyn bourbon drink which was great. The decor in the restaurant was very cool and had a great atmosphere! I would highly recommend it!

****update: alla vita reached out after an open table review, and has made it right by offering a gift card to use on my next visit. i genuinely appreciate that kind of customer service, and will return next time i’m in chicago. visited for an intimate birthday with a friend. had an espresso martini while we waited for our table to be ready, it was delish. only complaint is that it was $22, so i only got one. our server joe was amazing. all around provided amazing service. i did the restaurant week menu, and unfortunately i have to say that the food was extremely mid for the price. i started with the tuna crudo, which was probably the saltiest thing i have ever had in my life. second, i had the kale caesar, which was pretty delicious, but had entirely too many red onions. then i had the chicken parm, which was literally just chicken with cheese broiled on top, no pasta…flavor was definitely lacking. had olive oil gelato and a birthday dessert, which i did not like the olive oil gelato because the olive oil flavor was way too overpowering, and the ice cream birthday cake was just okay. even with the restaurant week deal, i feel like $91 for that meal, including FIVE DOLLARS for a 12oz can of sprite, is just too much. not sure that i would return.