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Merlo on Maple
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
16 W Maple St(between State St & Dearborn St)
Chicago, IL 60610
Neighbourhood: Near North Side
(312) 335-8200
- Nearest Transit:
-
Clark/division (Red Line)
Chicago-red (Red Line)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Tenea H. said: "Coco Pazzo deserves their solid four star rating. We came here for restaurant week and chose the prix fixe menu. Everything that I ordered was amazing! I had the barbabietole e anatra to start, which is a salad that includes crispy…" read more »
61 reviews for Merlo on Maple
Review Highlights
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"The atmosphere is romantic, but not stuffy." In 12 reviews -
"And for desert, you have to try the panna cotta - yummo." In 4 reviews -
"he was very knowledgeable about the wine list and the menu." In 5 reviews
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61 reviews in English
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Review from Meghan P.
Chicago, IL
5/22/2012
What an adorable little spot hiding amidst the madness.
Very charming and old Chicago feel to it when you walk in its like you're transported out of the Goldcoast and to a little italian Grandma's house... a classy one of course.
We went here for a rehearsal dinner for my sister's wedding. We were brought to the lower level where it was intimate and nice to sit and chat with family friends. The appetizers they walked around with were fresh and tasty.... give me more mozzarella pllllease:)
When seated it was a traditional meal with an antipasto salad that quite honesetly brings this place down a half star, because there was no flavor, one apple and it was just odd. I understand antipasto is not always Salad, but it was a little lack luster. We then had some delicious pastas. Although we were warned they are not american sized dishes and that is the truth. Just a little serving which for me personally works well, but for some of the boys left more to be desired.
We also had sharing desserts so the few bites that I got were delectable but nothing I haven't had before.
I would definitely go back and order some other things off the menu to try some of their other homemade dishes! (And skip the antipastooo) -
Review from Rob S.
Chicago, IL
3/4/2012
I went here on a double date. First, the good news. I loved the setting: post-Fire Victorian rowhouse turned swanky restaurant. The sound level was low, so we were able to talk at our table, which made for an enjoyable evening. Our food was good: I could taste how fresh everything was, and the portions were just right. Our server was very nice despite the fact that she seemed on the verge of snapping and going all Sybil on us any second.
Now the bad news: The atmosphere was leaden and a bit stodgy. I don't even remember our appetizer or my dessert, if that says anything. Overall, I expected more for the price. The company with whom I was there saved the night. -
Review from Jami S.
2/21/2012
Very charming, intimate, and romantic atmosphere. Def a date place. My group of 4 each bought the Gilt City promo for a 8 course meal and a glass of wine. I'm always skeptical of those but this ended up being a great deal. The portions were plentiful and pretty big for the amount of them. The pastas were all fantastic, the dessert (angel food cake in red food dye) not so great. But everything else tasted amazing. Plus the drink list is extensive. Def order a martini or a fruity drink, the bartender knows his stuff!
I felt our waiter was a bit pushy, trying to up sell us and hurry as along. So that part was a bit annoying but the ambience and the food made up for it.
I would go again on a date. Very good pastas! -
Review from Noah S.
Chicago, IL
4/21/2012
The Parm Soup was extemely well executed. The pasta special of the day was spinich ravioli stuffed with formage, also executed very well. Lamb shank was brasied to perfection. Yet the rissoto was over cooked and not creamy.
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Review from Jessica S.
Chicago, IL
3/3/2012
We went to Merlo on Maple to celebrate a late Valentines Day. The prices are welcoming based on usual Chicago pricing but is made up for on small plate presentation. We had the tagliatelle with truffle and a ravioli on special. Both were good but the flavor profiles were identical, still really tasty. So based on food alone, I would give Merlo a better review, but they need to get rid of their wait staff. Our server had no idea how to explain any of the menu and made a comment to my boyfriend at one point that he hated working. It was just weird. The were out of the bottle of wine that my boyfriend really wanted and instead of coming to our table and asking what we'd prefer- he brought a new bottle of wine to our table and just opened it.. then explained that the bottle we had wanted was no longer available. We didn't want that bottle of wine, yet felt in an awkward position to send it back after he started opening it.
The atmosphere is intimate and unique for the location, its like your eating at your Italian grandmas house. We wont be back due to the lack of service but it isn't a complete miss. -
Review from Saira K.
1/29/2012
A beautiful restaurant. Elegant and romantic, and the very best service. One of my favorite dining experiences in Chicago. The salad was delicate. The pasta was just perfect - it was definitely 'homemade' - such texture! And the real treat was the Torta al cioccolato con panna montata - fondant dark chocolate molten cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries, which I had with a perfect Earl Gray. Italian food - one of life's most pleasurable of pleasures!
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Review from James H.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I expected more from Merlo. The the staff was very friendly & the beautiful converted house with a decent wine selection makes for a very intimate atmosphere great for dates but as a higher end, classier restaurant it was below average for it's market. We were seated on the first floor & the booth was full of crumbs. Furthermore the tablecloth had hairs stuck in it & the plates had crumbs on it. We had the Gnocchi Di Spinaci which was decent but the sauce over-salted & lacked the unique taste we expected. We also had the Imprigionata alla Petroniana, it was spiced well but the tenderloin was overcooked. In all I have had better at Pasta Palazzo for half the price.
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Review from Ellen C.
1/2/2012
Housed in an adorable brownstone, Merlo gives a rustic, intimate feel. It's a great place for dates, double dates, and for small groups of friends to get together for a chat over good food. I'm sure they had a great list of wine since everyone else had wine on their tables, I unfortunately am not a wine enthusiast so we skipped that part of the experience.
When we arrived we were greeted with friendliness and warmth, our coats were checked and we were led to our table downstairs. There were pictures and paintings on the wall that reminded me of a combination of a restaurant with someone's nice, comfortable living room or sun room. Somewhat dim lighting with candles at every table. Out of 5 stars for romance, I would say the atmosphere was closer to 3.5.
Seated, we looked through their menu which just the right size with a good selection of salads/soups, appetizers, pastas, meats, and seafood. We were looked after well, with the waiter coming to our table after about 5-10 minutes and coming to check on us throughout the meal. But I do have to say that a table nearby left after the waiter apparently took too long to get to their table.
We ordered the artichoke tart as a shared appetizer, and for our entrees the braised lamb shank and the fried seafood platter. The waiter was kind enough to ask if we were sharing the appetizer and upon us saying yes, proceeded to serve our appetizer on two separate plates - nice, detailed touch. The tart was delicious, had a great combination of artichoke, cheese, and egg flavors. It tasted more like a quiche with a fantastic buttery crust, perfectly paired with the slightly bitter, sweet and tangy salad that adorned the side. The lamb shank was really tasty, it had some great rich flavors and was paired with some perfectly cooked potatoes and asparagus bundle. The fried seafood left something to be desired though. There wasn't enough contrast of textures or flavors, that plate definitely fell flat. The fried scallops were tasty but that was about it - everything else was the same old stuff that you can find elsewhere in a light breading. That plate was admittedly pretty disappointing, especially since there were no sauces so it got very boring very quickly. All in all, I'd come back again but not for a while. -
Review from Leslie M.
Los Angeles, CA
3/20/2012
Merlo is top 3 of my favorite restaurants! It's a very quaint little restaurant in an old brownstone with great ambience. The food is such good quality and so flavorful. There isn't one thing I have tried there that isn't fabulous. The pastas are the best... and everything is homemade. I can't rave enough... and the weird thing is whenever I get a chance to go, it's never crazy busy like I think it should be.
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Review from Stephen P.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2012
My wife and I have been wanting to try this as we had visited their restaurant on Halsted (now closed) and had a great experience.
We went for an early dinner on New Year's Eve after shopping and had a fantastic experience. We brought our 14 month old daughter and I was a little worried about how she would be received on a Saturday night holiday, granted it was early. The staff was extremely accomodating and friendly to her and seemed to enjoy having her there.
The food was amazing! My wife ordered the Minestrone Soup (Minestra di verdure e legumi) which she claimed was the best she had ever had and begged me to try it, I wondered what could be so amazing about soup but once I tried, I agreed. I had the Insalata Mista which was perfect, the celery is a welcome addition. My wife had the (Tagliatelle al tartufo nero fresco burro e Parmigiano Reggiano) which was "amazing". Our daughter had the (Tortelloni ai funghi porcini), although slightly heavy, she sucked it down. I had a special pasta dish that was little pouches filled with veal and covered with morel mushrooms...melt in your mouth.
The service was excellent, helpful and warm. The setting was cozy and quiet. A perfect night for a special occasion! -
Review from Candy K.
Chicago, IL
7/3/2011
A charming and Romanic restauraf nt hidden in the gold coast. The atmosphere was delightful, the staff and service service was personable. The food was exquisite ....authentic Italian just like grandma would make it.
Worth the time and money for those who wish explore an unique kind of dining experience . -
Review from Happiness L.
Chicago, IL
2/19/2012
This place is charming with a friendly staff. A few missed beats in timing during the meal were ok...the food was pretty good....artichoke tart, lamb shank, and panna cotta. Really some of the best panna cotta. The reason only three stars? For the money I simply think there are better restaurants even though this place is enjoyable.
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Review from Wendy B.
Sugar Land, TX
10/24/2011
I am still thinking about our meal! Our waitress was truly amazing and knew their cuisine/menu inside and out! The Buratta appetizer with candied onion, red peppers and pears was so delicious! The Taglioline paglia e fieno was so incredible and probably the most authentic Italian dish that I have ever had. Great wine list and the dessert we ordered was very good as well. I would highly recommend not leaving Chicago before you dine at Merlo on Maple. I am looking forward to returning some day!!
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Review from Philip M.
Los Angeles, CA
10/5/2011
I don't think it gets much better than this. Incredible Northern Italian cuisine - homemade EVERYTHING. Be prepared for fairly small servings; we usually get a few things to share. Knowledgeable staff, great Italian wine list and very nice owners. This is one of the best kept secrets in Chicago.
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Review from Restaurant G.
Chicago, IL
11/17/2011
I had high expectations for Merlo on Maple, I found the ambiance stuffy and a little too home like for a night out in Chicago. I had the Bolegnese pasta, all the standard meaty and tomato flavors were represented. For a restaurant, the food was a little too basic. Our service was adequate, and they offered a wide variety of drink selections. The restaurant is just east of North Dearborn on Maple.
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Review from Vivian V.
Chicago, IL
10/18/2011
I cannot think of a more charming place to go for a nice bold Italian wine. David knows his stuff! Very quaint and the service is amazing. I recommend for a romantic evening.
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Review from Lauren M.
Chicago, IL
11/25/2011
Pretty good food, but very salty. Small menu bc it changes very frequently, love that. GREAT atmosphere, wonderful date spot. Staff is helpful and know the menu well.
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Review from Sheila G.
Santa Clara, CA
8/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
We've been here multiple times because the pasta is very good (though watch out on the risotto - consistently over salted so you feel completely dehydrated). But I think we're over Merlo on Maple. The service seems to have declined in the four times we have been here in the past couple years.
Today the waiter forgot one of our appetizers and instead brought out the main dishes - for which you think he'd be apologetic. Instead HE was the one with the attitude. And though the owner/manager was right next to us, he didn't say a word either. So much for service. At ~$30/dish, service shouldn't be so shoddy.
Also - the appetizer special (figs with prosciutto) wasn't worth it. It was literally slices of prosciutto and some fresh figs. For $18 - seriously not worth it. The eggplant appetizer is good though.
FYI - dessert isn't all that great but there is a little park across the street where there is a gelato vendor with decent gelato and lots of great people-watching.
Pros: Handmade pasta
Cons: Service -
Review from Carol K.
3/1/2008
Fabulous. Absolutely fabulous. How was it that I had never been to this place? It's been on my list for some time now to try and I finally was able to go this past week.
Located in a beautifully restored 4 story townhouse, Merlo is a pleasure to look at with its dark woodwork, banisters that shine, hardwood floors and historic prints located around.
We were seated right away in the main floor dining room which consisted of some tables and booths but still gave a feeling of intimacy with the lighting and music. Each table gets a silver candlestick holder- something about that just felt so Italian as the white taper flickered with every passing person.
We started with a couple of the appetizers- the tuna carpaccio and the artichoke salad. The carpaccio was the true winner- thinly sliced tuna with crumbled egg, capers, fresh basil and lemon vinaigrette. Absolutely delicious!
For our pasta dish- we went with the server's recco which was pasta topped with crumbled veal and cheese. Also delicious. The only hiccup was that the server forgot to bring it out before our entrees so we split it as a side to our entrees. Given it was his mistake- he comped the pasta for us, which was nice and it was handled so quickly that it didn't take anything away from our dinner.
Both of our entrees were perfectly prepared and so good. I had the veal chop which was slightly pounded, breaded and served with lemons for squeezing. My dining companion had the beef tenderloin which was so good, I couldn't figure out what it had on top of it other than a fabulous cheese. I could have eaten his whole entree- but even though I encouraged more entree "sharing", the look on his face as he ate each bite stopped me from asking. Darn him- he is always a better "orderer" than me!
As for desserts- they were both out of this world. I had a warm chocolate cake served with whipped cream . . mmm . .I am still thinking about it. We also had the their version of tiramasu which was also really tasty.
The wine list features many Italian wines and since Italian wines are not our area of expertise we asked for some help from our server. His suggestion was great- I only wished I had written down what we had as I would love to go out and purchase a few bottles.
David, our server, was amazing. He was attentive, knew just what to suggest to us in terms of food and wine and was never far away if we needed something.
A great evening out with wonderful company and amazing food. You can bet we will be back, and soon. Only this time, I'll let my friend do all the ordering for me.Listed in: My Friends Go To List, Mama Mia! That's Italian!
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Review from Haley B.
Chicago, IL
12/14/2009
What joke this place is. I can't believe I am seeing so many 5-star reviews here! I went to dinner here with my Dutch grandmother who appreciates cozy atmospheres, good food, and good wine. Our server was so over the top and wouldn't stop talking about head chef Sylvia "Who is borderline obsessive and neurotic with the way she cooks Italian." Direct quote.
Let's just say that mother makes a better lasagna... and when I eat at home I don't have to pay $86 or deal with obnoxious servers.
This place is ridiculously overpriced, super pretentious and a huge letdown for the facade they put on. The only reason it got more than 1 star is because my grandmother's pasta was actually decent. Not worth $24, however. Save your time and your money and skip this place. You will be sorry if you don't. -
Review from Tu'ens N.
Chicago, IL
11/23/2010
Easily in the elite of Italian restaurants for pasta in Chicago.
I haven't tried any secondi but the appetizers and pastas I've had have all been really outstanding. bravi -
Review from sarah b.
Denver, CO
4/29/2007
Merloverated on Maple
Yes authentic in that they use quality Italian ingredients, but something not-quite-right about the implementation. Had Tortelloni with sage butter sauce and it was medicre. Ordered a $32 appetizer special with some special cheese and arugula salad on the side and the cheese wasn't that great, the salad less impressive.
I will say this, the bar area is warm and quaint and they have a GREAT out-door deck area over-looking Maple. We went early(pre-theater) and had the deck/veranda to ourselves.
I would not return to over-pay for mediocre Italian in this great city of Italian restaurants, despite the quaint/cozy/romantic setting.
I would, however, definitely return to sit outside and drink wine for happy hour on a warm summer's night. -
Review from Christina S.
Corte Madera, CA
6/23/2008
I am surprised Merlo on Maple has recieved such positive reviews. I was absolutely disappointed by my dining experience here. I went friday evening with my husband and two friends.
To begin with, service leaves much to be desired. Our waiter was knew nothing about the menu items, and when I asked him for a suggestions between the gnocchi or the lasagna his response was..."well, you know, the gnocchi is heavier since it is made from potatoes." Literally, this guy had no clue. When I asked him how a certain pinot noir I was that I was about to order was his response was...."it's pretty good." Where do they find these people????
If there is one thing I know, it's italian food. I have been to practically every italian restaurant in the city, and the food here is probably in the bottom 10% of all italian restaurants in the city. I had the gnocchi with a "parmigiano reggiano" fondue and black truffle carpaccio. It had absolutely no taste what so ever. And, as anyone knows, any dish that involves truffles should definitely have taste to it. However, my gnocchi simply tasted like soft potatoes. However, to give the restaurant some credit, a friend ordered the slow stewed lamb shank, and said it was fabulous.
Besides the service and food, I felt the restaurant was very outdated in both presentation of the food and the interior decoration of the restaurant.
Please, take your business elsewhere. There are so many better choices in the city, especially for italian. -
Review from Tera D.
6/18/2010
What a little gem! If you're driving too fast, or perhaps just never drive in this somewhat obscure area, you could miss Merlo on Maple. But it is definitely worth seeking out for a fantastic, classic Italian experience.
I don't know if we just got a great server, or were in an extra great mood because technically we were out celebrating a recent engagement, or maybe it was the fact that I wasn't picking up the tab... But it was an overall awesome time.
For parties of 5 or more you can do a great appetizer platter where they give you 3 or 4 of the best apps, all plated for each individual. So convenient and soooo tasty. For entrees most of the group had pasta because they all sound amazing. I had the Taglioline paglia e fieno, which is a little heavy on the truffle oil, but personally I love truffle oil, so I found it delectable. And for desert, you have to try the panna cotta - yummo.
There is no doubt that it's expensive, and frankly, the portions aren't huge - you won't have a drop of left overs. But the all around experience is pure class, and the food is delicious. -
Review from David S.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2011
Silvia (Executive Chef and Owner) at Merlo knows true, authentic Italian cooking. I had the lobster risotto and let me tell you, it was divine. My facial expression after the first bite showed my love for it, and Silvia, having her own meal a table over from myself noticed my expression and asked for a review. This restaurant has an fine food restaurant ambiance combined with a familiar, warm, family feel. While their prices are high average, the love, art, and skill shine through with each and every bite.
Our service was good, though I found myself having to pour my own wine a couple of times. I wish he would have been able to pronounce the names of the dishes in proper Italian.
I will be back soon, and will be observing the kitchen as well! -
Review from Fabrizio G.
San Francisco, CA
6/29/2007
Probably the best (authentic) Italian restaurant I'd ever been in 7 years, since I moved to the States from... Italy.
Quality ingredients and traditional preparation are the key elements.
It is pricey but totally worth in my opinion. Sorry, but great "slow food" doesn't come cheap!
Portions are small and that's authentic Italian too. Don't forget you are suppose to eat antipasto, primo e secondo! Good luck with that... :) -
Review from Heather R.
Chicago, IL
8/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
Had a wonderful evening dining here with a girlfriend. We sat outside and had a wonderful experience. Our waiter was outstanding, other bus-boys and servers were very friendly and attentive.
Wine recommendations were phenomenal...definitely try the Antipasto all'italiana...it was AWESOME! -
Review from Renee V.
Chicago, IL
7/8/2010
I have to says this place is way over the top. Went last night for a birthday celebration, I should have stayed home and cooked. Two stars for the celery and artichoke salad. Who charges $40 for rissotte? I guess my bad for ordering. Everything was over salted, we ordered the tuna which came highly recommended it was embarrassing it was so thin and dry.
The waiter was amusing but was not to concerned when we told him the food was salty, he offered nothing. We left two plates full on the table.
Hey the wine was good!
Try Schwa's if you want to drop some coin.
Unremarkable birthday dinner. -
Review from Patti B.
Evanston, IL
11/9/2007
I'm so glad this place is just one minute away from where we live (although we'll be saving it for special occasions since it is a bit of a splurge)! The food was delicious and the service impeccable. We knew it was going to be good once we tried the bread and couldn't stop munching on the "chips". I've also never had a server so genuinely happy to be make sure your meal is going well. It was quite an experience.
We had a tough time picking an appetizer but ended up going with the mozzarella, which was flavorful but not heavy, and beautifully plated. For entrees, I had the handmade spinach and potato gnocchi. It was so good it may even have one-upped my previous favorite from a place back in California (definitely in flavor, almost in texture). My boyfriend had the beef tenderloin and enjoyed it as well, although we both thought my gnocchi was really the highlight of the meal. By the way, when you order a white wine, ask the waiter for his favorite - I didn't catch the name but it's the one that's described as very crisp and it's wonderful.
Don't forget to try the angel cake dessert, and you will have room because the portions are not too big. It's really their version of tiramisu and it's delicious. Another party walked in just as the cake was brought to our table and they definitely ogled it as they went by. Let me tell you, it tasted as good as it looked! -
Review from Matt W.
Chicago, IL
6/23/2008
Went for Valentine's day with the lady and she is a big slow food person and this is based on that premise. Take your time, use great ingredients and do it the way your grandmamma used to do it. Get the Tagliatelle al ragu bolognese (cut and pasted that from their website). My girlfriend got that and I stole half of it when she was in the bathroom. You can just tell the difference of fresh homemade pasta... it was amazing.
The bill was very reasonable even after some great wine and you could tell the waiters were very enthusiastic and were very proud of the quality of food they were serving as well they should be.
The atmosphere was romantic and quiet without being boring or dull. It was perfect. Swing over to the Back Room on Rush for some Jazz afterwards and you are set for the night. -
Review from Maria W.
Chicago, IL
6/28/2009
Dined here tonight with my favorite boys (husband and brother in law) and the company was 5 stars. The overall experience, however, was only 'good." We had the cheese plate (delicious gorgonzola) and the off the menu special app of the barrata which was served with some greens and heirloom tomatoes (we had a much better pairing with the barrata at Prairie Grass). The pasta course was shared bolognese and vegetable lasagna - both very good (I would suggest you request extra bolognese). We all had the osso bucco (very tender, garnished with lemon zest) with mashed potatoes.
During the course of our long dinner (we were in the dining room but apparently our server was also taking care of the al fresco diners downstairs which elongated our dinner experience) we had a sparkling and 2 delicious reds...3 bottles total. When we were deliberating the 3rd bottle of wine, I suggested that we ask to taste the wine as we were unfamiliar with it and it was offered by the glass - however, we were told that we could order a glass, but could not taste the wine in advance of ordering a bottle. -
Review from Ezekiel D.
Salt Lake City, UT
10/21/2008
This is a very cool little brownstone with great character and incredible service. We had a large group that would not fit in the private room, so they were kind enough to put us in a semi walled off area in the back where she could roam. Our server was so knowledgeable and explained the thourougly Italian menu well and made your mouth water with his description of the specials. If you are with a group and new to the place they offer to do an appetizer tasting plate for each person to save the hassle of passing plates around and parsing portions (highly recommend the eggplant).
The chef is amazing with a pairing of ingredients that is perfect. It was a little annoying but expected when my pregnant wife wanted some tomato sauce on the side to feed the craving, but the chef did not want to mess with the flavor. It was more than made up though when she made a special side of fresh pasta in tomato sauce. -
Review from Sarah G.
San Francisco, CA
5/7/2011
Merlo was one disappointment after another.
The lobster risotto ($38) was over cooked. The fish of the day ($46!) was a very bland Turbot that came in a boring and dated presentation of some side salad and skewered vegetables. We should have had the guts to send it back. Our third dish was a pretty good pasta with veal, but it was not memorable.
For 2 glasses of wine and 3 plates our bill came to $200 with tax and tip. For this price tag there are so many incredible places in Chicago to dine and I would not waste my money or my taste buds on this over priced and mediocre disappointment.
The whole experience felt dated and past it's prime.
I am baffled at how Merlo has earned 4 stars on Yelp. -
Review from Matt T.
Scottsdale, AZ
3/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
Now I am not the kind of person who goes to overpriced fancy pants restaurants. I do enjoy fine food. And I do enjoy wearing suits but when you combine those two, I don't like it. Well that all changed when my family and some family friends were asked to meet up for dinner at Merlo. And from just opening the front door I knew this restaurant had a huge stick up their ass, and yes I know restaurants do not have asses but just go with it.
We were seated in a private section (there was 9 of us). So that was nice. Our waiter was their before we even sat down. He took our drink orders. Usually when I go out for drinks and not drinking (in College, there is a difference) I usually order a Cuba Libre. Which is a rum and coke. Now I prefer dark rum instead of white rum. But their dark rum selection was awful so I got white rum but with the help of two limes. It was still a good drink.
We ordered a ton of appetizers, and for the love of me I can't remember what their names where. I know we did a sampler plate (for each of us) since we were more then 5 people (nice touch). And we ordered a type of cheese that looks like mozzarella but when you cut it open, it spills out like an egg. Both of which were very tasty.
I won't go into what everyone ordered because I thought mine was the best. I ordered the gnocchi with spinach. Even thought it was a small serving (they pride themselves on "slow food" and European portions).
I think there were 8 total. But it was homemade fresh pasta and the sauce was rich. It was delicious, a must try.
Overall, was it worth it? No, it was very very expensive. But I am glad I went. If you had a party and wanted great Italian food. Go here. Try it. -
Review from Lauren H.
Chicago, IL
7/14/2011
This was one of the most romantic restaurants that I have ever been too. The food and service was great too.
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Review from Suzanne P.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2011
Delicious food, warm and quiet setting. Serving sizes are a bit small. But authentic Italian cuisine.
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Review from Jessica M.
Nashville, TN
7/27/2006
The food was absolutely amazing here - perhaps the most authentic Italian I've had since returning from living in Italy. The only reason I give it less than 5 stars is that they lost our reservation -- although they did attempt to make up for it by treating us to desert. I would comment, finally, that it is a somewhat conservative restuarant - white table cloths and all. Good for a quiet, romantic dinner rather than a first date or "see and be seen" kind of thing.
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Review from L M.
Chicago, IL
8/1/2010
I think I got the idea to go to this place because I wanted to try a different Italian place and this restaurant was on Opentable's list of most booked Italian restaurants in Chicago. Now having gone there, I can't, for the life of me, imagine why this place made the list. Is it the location? How the place looks from the outside? The cute name of the restaurant? Please, tell me - I'm dying to know. Because I can guarantee you one thing - it's not because of the food.
So I went here on a Friday night. Sat outside. Ambiance - decent. I didn't go inside so I can't comment on the interior. It looked nice from the outside. The waiter/service - decent. He seemed pretty knowledgeable about the menu and kept commenting about this and that that was imported from Puglia, Bologna, and other places in Italy. Sounds good so far, right?
This is what we ordered - the "special" appetizer of the evening - zucchini blossoms (imported from Puglia I believe), lighted dusted with flour and flash fried, also filled with some sort of cheese (imported of course!), and on a light salad. Give me a break! It tasted just like fried zucchini sticks! Don't get me wrong - I love a good fried zucchini stick - but don't sell it as your imported special of the evening and charge $15 for it! Not a good start at all. I was hoping the dinner would redeem the meal.
Nope. For dinner, my husband had the restaurant's "signature" pasta dish (according to our waiter), which was the Taglioline paglia e fieno
(Hand-made green and yellow tagliolini with a veal and Prosciutto di Parma ragout, topped with a hard boiled quail egg and drizzled with white truffle oil). Sounds delish. It wasn't. It looked like Hamburger Helper on pasta (I'm serious). As for how it tasted - it tasted okay. Nothing spectacular - pretty mediocre. It tastes like a dish that your most average cook could whip up (with the help of Chef Boyardee). I had the Tagliatelle al ragu Bolognese - a pasta dish with bolognese sauce. It was fine. Again, nothing spectacular and I've gotten this dish from just about every Italian restaurant I've been to in Chicago that offers it and I've definitely had much better.
So there you have it. The positives - like I said, the ambiance outside and the service were pretty good. The pasta is homemade and it tasted fresh. The wine we had (4 glasses total) were all good. The negatives - umm, the food. It wasn't terrible, but for a cook who has had recipes passed down from great great grandma from Bologna and who just moved here from Bologna about 9 years ago and who supposedly imports a lot of her items from Italy and who charges over $20 per plate of pasta (very small plates of pasta also I may add - which is fine, no one should be eating their weight in pasta - but it is really expensive for what you get), I'm expecting a lot more out of my experience. BTW, most of their wine is pretty pricey as well.
We didn't even order dessert because I didn't feel like spending another $15 on a slice of Pepperidge Farm chocolate cake. About $150 later (4 glasses of wine, 2 pasta entrees, and one app) we left extremely dissappointed in this restaurant. For that kind of money - I suggest you try many of the other fantastic Italian restaurants in the city (my favorite is still Riccardo Trattoria). -
Review from marissa d.
Chicago, IL
7/7/2008
possibly one of the best meals i've ever had. george d. is right - the atmosphere is a little old school...could use some updating. but i'll let it slide because the food was so egregiously good.
getting to the good stuff. this was the restaurant i chose for the honey's birthday dinner. with the help of our knowledgeable server, we started with an excellent chianti, then we had prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella with asparagus and tomatoes, the tagliatelle bolognese (both incredible...especially the mozzarella/asparagus), and for our entrees i had the beef tenderloin while george had the lamb. both of us could not stop raving about our entrees. beef tenderloin = happiness forever and ever. i'm even considering going back there for my birthday in a month because it was so good (but i won't...because we have a rule about trying new places blah blah blah).
DESSERT! dear god. our server recommended the panna cotta, which we got. we also had the angel food cake which is really the authentic italian version of tiramisu. i don't have the words or the time to describe how perfect these desserts were. just remember to order them when you go.
so, summing up, i'd say merlo on maple is average.
OMG JK ROFL!!!!!111! .....merlo on maple is fantastic. andddd i'm done writing this review. -
Review from George D.
Chicago, IL
6/30/2008
There was an article in Chicago magazine years ago about restaurants in spaces that have been converted from former residences and since I saw it, I've been meaning to try Merlo. I finally got the chance last week, and the girlfriend and I had an outstanding dinner.
First the bad: the decor could use a little help. We sat in the small first floor dining room, and it had a little too much of an old school feel--more like a steak house than an upscale Italian restaurant. It was sort of private and romantic, but not much fun. I saw the downstairs room, which seemed a little better, and I've heard that the upstairs and the porch are really nice... but they were both closed. I can understand the upstairs dining room being closed, because it was a Wednesday night, but the weather was gorgeous so I'm not sure why they weren't seating outside.
Aside from that, though, our experience was great. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and the wine list, and was pretty funny too. He also made the very helpful suggestion that if we wanted to try some things, we could split an appetizer, split a pasta and order entrees, and we'd be satisfied with the portion sizes. He was right, I'd suggest doing exactly that if you're thinking of having dinner here.
The food was really tremendous, and very authentic. My lamb shank tasted a lot like the Greek version my mom makes (which I love), and it was fall-off-the-bone tender. The girlfriend was raving about her beef tenderloin several days later. I tasted it--it had tons of seasoning and was very good (but my lamb was better!). Our appetizer was balls of mozzarella wrapped in a salty prosciutto and served with asparagus and cherry tomatoes: outstanding. For the pasta, the waiter suggested the tagliatelle bolognese, which is sort of their specialty. I think I'd eat that at every meal if I could. We couldn't pick just one dessert, so we got two. I don't see either of them on the menu on their website, so I'm going to have a hard time with the actual names. The panna cotta was pretty good, but the other one was amazing. The waiter said it was an authentic tiramisu, without all the layers of whipped cream and stuff, and it did have a similar taste--creamy, coffee-laced--but it was ten times better than the tiramisu you normally get. I don't remember what they called it... something that starts with "B".
Anyway, I can see from the fact that there's very few reviews here that Merlo on Maple is somewhat undiscovered amongst the Yelp crowd. But you should definitely try it. Italian restaurants have a hard time distinguishing themselves from the crowd, but Merlo does authentic Italian food perfectly.
