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Sapori Trattoria
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian
2701 N Halsted St(between Diversey Pky & Schubert Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighbourhoods: Lincoln Park, DePaul
(773) 832-9999
Announcement
Friends and Family Mondays 2 apps, 2 soups/salad, 3 entrees & dessert $21.95
Tuesday-Italian Tapas $4-$15 Live Conversation friendly Jazz
- Nearest Transit:
-
Diversey (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Wellington (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Fullerton (Brown Line, Purple Line, Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 4:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri 4:30 pm - 11 pm
Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
Sun 3 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
529 reviews for Sapori Trattoria
Review Highlights
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"It is by far the best Lobster Ravioli I have ever had." In 67 reviews -
"Started with the Crostini Di Avocado and Polenta Fries." In 14 reviews -
"I had the spaghetti with veal meatballs in a rich red sauce..." In 9 reviews
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529 reviews in English
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Review from Wei H.
Chicago, IL
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I walked in with a flat stomach and walked out with a food baby.
Appetizer:
Crostini di Avocado - Enormous amount of fresh avocado accented with the perfect hint of citrus and cheese. Avocado fills you quicky though so this four piece appetizer is meant to be shared by 3+, assuming one of you 3 is an avocado die hard fan, like me.
Salad:
Instala Stella - not much to it. Fresh leaves and drenched in vinegrette
Entrees:
Milk and honey baby back ribs - "tender" does not do it justice. As soon as it meets the warmth of your mouth it melts. Then the meat and the juice start hugging and dancing on your tongue. I don't enjoy beef as much as seafood but the texture and flavors of this dish are the best treatment of beef that I have ever tried.
Zuppa di Pesce - humongous amount of food. Amazing scallops and mussels. The clams shrimps, salmon and calamari IMHO are a bit overcooked. I like clams and shrimps dressed in light(er) sauce. And I prefer raw salmon. The sauce in this dish is divine though. Ask for spicy. The subtle kick complements the dish very well.
Dessert:
Panna Cotta - please get it. I had no idea what suspended creme meant but I was sold on chocolate and hazelnut. The consistence is like a mixture of custard and flan. We couldn't finish it but every bite was an euphoric experience. Glad that we saved room for this dessert.
I am definitely coming back to try more on their menu. Food baby #2. -
Review from Michelle B.
Chicago, IL
5/21/2012
One word - YUMMM. Not sure that's a word, but I'll go on...
The only reason for four stars and not five is that I felt it was a touch pricey for a "local neighborhood" spot with very little ambiance. This is a great spot for a date, a group of girlfriends or parents in town (I came with two of my gal pals). The crowd is boisterous and you are immediately welcomed with big smiles when you walk in, even if you are 10 minutes late (as I was).
I had one or three delicious martinis. The dinner menu options are incredibly hard to choose from but I landed on the pumpkin ravioli. I was not disappointed. The dish was filling and very, very flavorful, leaving me excited for the next time I venture out of the Gold Coast to Sapori.
And not to be outdone by the food but the service was wonderful as well. -
Review from Romana Y.
Chicago, IL
5/15/2012
I'm usually not a big fan of Italian food; however, the food here was amazing: fresh and light.
We had several dishes: calamari, lobster, lobster ravioli, mixed seafood dish (with pasta), veal dish, sea bass, pumpkin/squash pasta, bread with olive oil and cheese. Everything exceeded our expectations, and the ambiance was equally as great!
Truly a great Italian spot! I will certainly be back! -
Review from kat v.
Chicago, IL
5/13/2012
I have taken both my mom, my dad, good friends, and a few hot dates here on several occasions. I have never been disappointed!! The food is ALWAYS good, no matter what you order. The salads are yum, the entrees are yum, the deserts are yum. You can't go wrong here. My dad even loved it, and he lives in Italy half the time! I've also been to Italy half a dozen times in my life, and Sapori Trattoria is the closest thing you're going to find in Chicago to real quality Italian food. Try the salad with goat cheese, the caprese, melon wrapped in proscuito, pumpkin ravioli, chicken, tiramasu, irish coffee...really, everything is fantastic.
Here's the best part - I have recently been put on dietary restrictions, and Sapori Trattoria is GREAT about adhering to your dietary needs without acting like you are a bad person for it (like some restaurants do). In fact, they even have gluten free spaghetti!! Yessss :-) Ask about their gluten free, lactose free, whatever options because they'll take care of you and you will NOT leave hungry.
Sitting outside is nice. The downstairs dinning room is probably better than sitting upstairs, because I thought the music was a little too loud upstairs and it was hard to hear each other. -
Review from Carol K.
5/9/2012
What a great find! Tucked away on Halsted is this great little Trattoria which I have driven by many times and never given it a second look. Well look, people, as this place not only has great tasting Italian food, but servers who take pride in what they do.
We had a larger group so we were seated at a big "family sized" table in the back . . .not exactly private but enclosed enough to give you the illusion of privacy. The warm Italian bread with the olive oil and Parmesan was quickly devoured while we sipped our drinks.
We decided to try a range of appetizers- grilled calamari, fried calamari, rigatoni with bolognese sauce, crostini with avocado, and the burrata plate complete with sliced meats. All were good but my favorite was the crostini with avocado.
Next up? A salad served family style. I have no idea what was in this salad (maybe cheese, apples with some kind of a mustard dressing?) but whatever it was, it was a great starter course for us.
And then the entrees came. Holy cripes! The serving sizes are huge! The lasagna that one person had surely could be 4 servings, my sea bass could easily have served two and the lobster ravioli was enough that we could all share and still enjoy as an entree.
And for dessert- the bread pudding or the tiramasu would both great bets!
Nicki was our server and he was great! Plenty of suggestions for us and took care to make sure what we ordered came out at the right time. No request was out of bounds and he took care of us with a smile on his face for the entire time we were there, which, after the day I had had was much appreciated!
Because Italian restaurants are plentiful in this city, I usually rate them by their bolognese sauce. And while good here, it wasn't the best I have had in the city . . . .funny as I expected to be able to rave about it. It tasted a little over cooked.
Also- if you drive, you might be able to find parking on the street, or you can park for free in the Home Depot garage just south of the location. Just remember to get your ticket validated at the restaurant.
Good food, great service in a casual Trattoria style restaurant. You may think you just stumbled onto a side street in Rome! -
Review from Sylvia C.
5/7/2012
I was here on a date recently, and it was the perfect venue. The outside is very unassuming, with a worn out awning. Inside, it was cozy and warm. We were greeted by our awesome waiter and were provided warm bread with olive oil and parmesan.
For appetizer we had the Crostini di Avocado. Creamy and delicous! A little too much olive oil, as I don't like the feeling of too much oil in my mouth, and avocados have oils of their own. But still delicious.
I ordered the milk and honey ribs, which the waiter said he thought it was the best thing on the menu. My date ordered the mushroom risotto. The ribs are fall off the bone. Flavorful sauce with rich bbq. The ribs sat on a bed of carrots that were julienned too long. It's awkward to pick up with the fork...doesn't stick like pasta so hard to twirl onto the fork. Then you get sauce all over your face because the end of the carrot string hit your chin as you try to shove the fork in your face...but I digress. Ribs, good. The sauce is on the salty side, so mashed potatoes or rice would've been a perfect accompaniment, but it only came with the cumbersome carrots.
I tried the mushroom risotto. The mushrooms were definitely fresh and flavorful. Again, maybe a little more salty than I would've liked. But still good.
I would've given this place 3 stars for the food based on the above...it was delicious, but not something that would make me crave it again and go back. Perhaps if I tried a pasta dish, it might've been different. Shrug. I gave 4 stars because the service was excellent. The waiter anticipated our every need. When my drink was down to it's last few sips, I already had a new one. He was very attentive.
Even more impressive, we had leftovers and he sealed it so well that it didn't make the car smell like food after seeing a movie! -
Review from Alex H.
I'm breaking my own no-5-stars-based-on-a-single-meal rule here. Yes, it's that good.
Like many Yelpers do, I began formulating this review in my mind well before the meal was done. And I'm still struggling with whether to write a serious, superlative-filled rave or simply a string of guttural moans. Please know that it was a toss up.
The food is unbelievable. Started with the fried calamari: perfectly breaded, perfectly crispy, and served with the best marinara sauce I've ever tasted. I'm not a big bread eater but I was quick to make my own ad hoc bruschetta with the leftover sauce.
Next we had the caprese salad: fresh, simple, and delicious. Amazing how 4 simple ingredients (mozzarella, tomato, basil, and olive oil) can marry so perfectly. Yes, this is a little over the top, but best basil I can remember tasting.
The entrees were the crescendo: Baby Back ribs were falling off the bone tender. No idea why they even gave me a knife. Marinated in milk, honey, and thyme, this is one of the best things I've ever eaten. The rabbit ravioli, served in a burnt butter/wine/cream sauce was also superb. I realize that this sounds rich/heavy but in reality was subtle & delicate, and the flavor profile was the work of a genius. If I had to pick one of these to order again I'd go with both.
The service was also warm and on point. Perfect spacing between dishes, never an empty wine glass.
The best meal I've had in a long time. Can't wait to come back. -
Review from Meredith K.
Chicago, IL
4/27/2012
We like this place! Good bread, good cocktails, decent wine. I've been there twice. The first time I had the mushroom risotto which was super yummy. The next time I had the gnocchi with shrimp and calamari which was also pretty good! The staff is really friendly and helpful. You usually leave with a few more meals for later!
I had the chocolate panna cotta the 2nd visit and it was amazing. My boyfriend had the spicy seafood dish the first time. He loved it. The 2nd time he tried the meat lasagna. It was good but not as good as the other dish. I'm sure we'll be back. -
Review from Anthony J.
Chicago, IL
5/15/2012
Had their specialty dish, the thing mentioned over and over in reviews, the Lobster Ravioli. Think the name is a little fancier than that, but that's what it is. A bright orange sauce and homemade ravioli, stuffed with a lobster puree or some such thing. Quite tasty, but not super lobster-y. Could've used a bit more lobster in the filling, instead of whatever the filler material was. My wife had the same thing, and she wasn't too crazy about it. Still, that said, I enjoyed its freshness and homemade-ness.
Also had the Crostini di Avocado. Basically Italian guacamole on toast. Doesn't sound too special, but its very tasty. If you like avocados (my wife doesn't - I ordered it just to spite her!) this is a wise choice
Additionally, props to them for seating us Friday night with no reservation. Perhaps it was just our lucky night. We rolled in there when we couldn't find parking near the Duke of Perth. Bit pricier at Sapori; I might rate them higher if they cut the prices a bit. Anyways, 4 stars, well-earned, even if I'm bringing their average DOWN with a positive review. -
Review from Robert H.
Chicago, IL
4/30/2012
This was a great place. I was there on a 2nd date and it was perfect.
Great service, food, and atmosphere. I had a reservation at 7:30pm on a Friday and arrived a little before that time. My date and I were seated in less then 5 minutes and had our drinks just as quick. Our waiter was a perfect mix of attention and allowing us space and time to eat, drink and socialize.
The food was great and the cost was about correct too.
Great time. I'll be back. -
Review from Jeff G.
5/10/2012
was all right.
all the appetizers were very bread heavy: bread up front, bruschetta, cheese on bread, guac on bread. besides that it was salad. not much choice
i do like that they make pasta homemade and that -
Review from Jackson C.
Austin, TX
5/15/2012
Wow... wow. The Crostini di Avocado appetizer was incredible. For the main course we split two dishes - the Osso Bucco & Gnocchi Seafood dish were full of flavor and they don't mess around with portion size!
If you've already got your Chicago-style pizza fix, this is the other MUST have in town.
Service was great and informative, owner happened to be present and attentive. I'm budget oriented, but the dishes here were worth every penny. Can't wait to come back! -
Review from Colleen R.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2012
This is comfort Italian! The warm unlimited bread will get your meal started right. Then, your giant sized salad and entree will put at food capacity. I've never made it to dessert. Would recommend!
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Review from Tzofit M.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Came here with some friends on a Monday night. Place is cozy inside and the atmosphere is nice.
Food was rather good, but not the best Italian I've ever had. Service was a bit disappointing.
But I'd def come here again. -
Review from Girl In RiverWest S.
Chicago, IL
5/10/2012
After my first time going here in 2005, I still go here. Always the best of everything! Always!
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Review from K. D.
Chicago, IL
5/11/2012
I honestly loved everything about Sapori Trattoria!
From the moment we walked in, the servers were SO friendly. I had bought a LivingSocial deal yesterday, and then called the restaurant to use it that same day, and they were very accommodating. When the actual voucher wasn't emailed to me in time, I just brought in my confirmation email, and they were so nice about it!
The avocado appetizer was amazing. I'm still thinking about it. I had the lobster ravioli and it was divine.
I will definitely be back! Cute little Italian place with free parking Sunday-Thursday... what more could you want? -
Review from Noah D.
Chicago, IL
4/5/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I don't want to hate, but I really wasn't into this place. The service was rushed and impersonal. It seemed clear to me that our server was more interested in turning over the table than in trying to enhance my experience. But beyond that I didn't love the food. I'm generally a little picky about Italian food and maybe I was expecting too much based on the reviews, but the food just wasn't that good.
I got a black gnocchi seafood special and my gnocchi was undercooked, the sauce just tasted like salt and the seafood bits were few and far between. The girlfriend ordered penne with sundried tomatoes, chicken and artichokes in a white sauce. it was better than mine but still had salt as its main flavor.
Considering the portion size, the prices were reasonable, but just piling on a ton of pasta doesn't really make something a good value in my mind and after having a glass of wine and dessert I wouldn't say that the bill was cheap.
Everything was fine, and the girlfriend and I had a lovely evening, but there was nothing special to me that recommends this place over any other mediocre Italian place in the city, so I don't think I'll be going back but other people seem to love it so it's worth deciding for yourself. -
Review from Bruce B.
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love places that give you great bread and olive oil when you sit down. This place is the best for that. Also, the food is damn good. I had the rabbit pasta. Let's just say that furry cute critter goes well with a soft shell of flour around it. Bring your date here and she'll put out for sure.
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Review from Anna P.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2012
Sapori Trattoria is straight up decent, but nothing stellar. I dined there with my boyfriend on a Saturday night, and was instantly charmed by the ambiance - a very comfortable space!
The food, however, was nothing to write home about. We ordered the Crostini di Avocado, which was nicely executed. I had the Spaghetti Barese (spaghetti and meatballs with sausage) which was okay - the sauce didn't have a ton of flavor, however, and the meatballs weren't well seasoned. My boyfriend ordered the Zuppa di Pesce, which came with a ton of seafood, but the sauce, again, lacked flavor. Additionally, we ordered this dish "extra spicy" but there was barely a hint of heat.
As others have mentioned, the portions are huge (hooray, leftovers!) but Sapori ultimately disappointed, especially when you could go to nearby Angelina Ristorante (where I've had much better meals) instead. -
Review from Lauren G.
Chicago, IL
5/10/2012
LOVE LOVE LOVE Sapori Trattoria. The food is amazing (the best Cappellacci di Zucca - or Pumpkin Ravioli) I have ever had....and I have tried quite a few versions. The staff is so friendly, I always receive coupons in the mail, and they have done personal menus for a friend's birthday that I planned and given my mom a rose on Mother's Day....all in all, I'd eat at Sapori at least once a week if I could!!
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Review from Amy H.
3/16/2012
ooooooooooooooooh, my god. All I have to say is that you need to order the Cappellacci di Zucca (pasta stuffed with pumpkin in a burnt butter sauce with butternut squash, sage and pinenuts). It is absolutely incredible. This might be one of the best dishes I've ever eaten.
The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because our service was lacking. We had to track down two servers (couldn't find ours? He disappeared) for wine refills. And the restaurant is a little too dark inside, in my opinion! -
Review from Melanie S.
Chicago, IL
2/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Not like this place needs another review but that's never stopped me from adding my two cents.
I've been here a few times and I like it more and more every time. The service is undeniably friendly, everyone from the host to the bussers to the servers are all welcoming and accommodating. And of course, the food is pretty spectacular too.
Some menu highlights:
Martini al fresco:- Effen cucumber vodka, fresh lime juice, St Germain, prosecco and garnished with fresh cucumber. I am a sucker for cucumber cocktails and this one had my name all over it. Deliciously refreshing.
Calamari: I've tried both their fried and grilled versions and both are ridiculously good. I am a happy camper anytime I see grilled calamari on a menu since most places only offer fried. The grilled is lightly charred and smokey and the fried is tender, not greasy, and a squeeze of lemon is all it needs. I don't even bother with the marinara sauce it's served with; it simply doesn't need it.
Avocado crostini: a great twist on standard bruschetta. Fresh, ripe, diced avocado with parmesan and provolone cheeses, chopped tomatoes, and a touch of citrus on crusty bread. So decadent and rich. Great starter to share when paired with the calamari.
Risotto ai funghi: I didn't love the texture as it wasn't very creamy, but the flavor was good. To be fair, good risotto is quite hard to master, but I'd probably skip this in the future.
Pastas: I've had the pumpkin ravioli, which comes with the classic components of brown butter sauce, sage, and pine nuts and it's pretty terrific. Last night I was in the mood for eggplant parmesan but was dismayed to not find it on the menu. Our adorable server, Benji, assured me it would be no problem for the kitchen to make it for me. I am so grateful they did, because it was fantastic. My friend ordered the vegetable lasagna and couldn't stop raving about it.
Dessert: I'm generally too stuffed to order dessert so the only thing I've had is their lemon sorbetto, which is served in a frozen lemon shell. I love when places do that.
As I mentioned before, the service is stellar. Menu recommendations are spot-on and they always aim to please. I often receive coupons in the mail that save money (usually it's in the form of a $14 gift certificate), and I welcome anytime I can save some dough. In my opinion prices for pasta dishes (without any protein) are a couple of dollars higher than they should be ($20 for eggplant parmesan and vegetable lasagna seems a little spendy), but the prices are offset by the plentiful discounts they frequently offer, so I guess it evens out.
Parking in the area isn't too difficult on weeknights, but I'd imagine it's problematic on the weekends...but they now allow you to park for two hours in the Home Depot lot just down the block, so be sure and take advantage.Listed in: The Italian Job
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Review from Mandy M.
Chicago, IL
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sapori Trattoria could not have been better! I made reservations for my family to celebrate my mother's birthday. when confirming the reservation, they ask my mother's name and when we arrived, the menus said "Happy Birthday, Pam" which was a very nice touch!
Bread was just as it should be - soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside and perfectly warm and they kept it coming for my hungry brothers & the hubs.
All entrees were extremely large portions, the lasagna was enormous, and all very tasty! Not one complaint from my picky family.
Wine list was good and service was excellent.
And the dessert - YUM! They brought out a birthday dessert plate that was a large piece of each of their tiramisu, bread pudding and some chocolate yumminess that was heavenly.
And we just got a coupon in the mail with a handwritten note thanking us for coming. Great customer service! Will be back! -
Review from Suzanne P.
Chicago, IL
3/14/2012
I love this place. The location is perfect, the atmosphere is great, and the food is amazing. I'd give it 5 stars but our service was not great.
I've been here twice. We went again last night for the small plates. That was insanely delicious.
We had the avocado crostini (unreal), rigatoni caprese, mushroom risotto, shortribs and veal meatballs. All delicious and perfect portions.
We had the tiramisu for dessert. Utter perfection.
Our waiter was really slow and inattentive. He seemed like a nice guy, he just sort of went through the motions and we kept having to ask for things. He didn't give us the tapas menu at first either, and at first seemed like he had no idea what we were asking for...
We will be back for sure. Hopefully next time we just get a different waiter! -
Review from Matt M.
2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is buzzing with staff. I assume there is a 75:1 staff to customer ratio, but I didn't count. There was always someone filling your glass, grabbing your plate, being polite. That is something that sets you apart and is clearly what has been ingrained in the staff.
The food was pretty good. I'm not going to lie, I see everyone on yelp (which is why I went here) screaming that it is the best italian food and the food is soooooo great. Well, I found the food to be - ok. It was satisfying, good portion sizes, good seasoning, and great presentation. I am not, however, going to say the flavor is five stars. That being said, it is very good.
The atmosphere is also quite incredible. -
Review from Dan R.
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yes, it's "as good as it gets".
Everything we had - grilled calamari, rabbit ravioli, lobster ravioli, gnocchi, short ribs, bread pudding was absolutely excellent. But it was also unique and not something we have ever had elsewhere.
The service was very, very good as well. They struck the right balance of helpfulness and leaving you alone to enjoy your dinner. It was clearly all about us and not about them.
My daughter brought us their after she got a 15% discount with a birthday greeting from them. Nice!
I want to go back. Soon. -
Review from Anne C.
4/12/2012
Fantastic pasta, great service, and a really cute cozy location. The perfect place for a quiet date night or for catching up with the girls. The prices are a little higher, but for homemade pasta and huge portions it is worth it. They also have really fun weeknight specials that I highly recommend you take advantage of like wine discounts or one night where they feature a second Italian-style small plate menu. So fun!
Listed in: Dining Italian-style in…
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Review from Katy S.
2/11/2012
Sapori is a cozy spot with excellent food and service; I recommend it. It appears to be a tiny little restaurant but it is secretly much larger. There are additional rooms in the back and upstairs that are excellent for large parties.
Making a reservation for a Friday night was simple and the restaurant was busy but not packed. Our waiter was very polite and kind, not pushy. I order the rigatoni caprese, and it was delicious. I also tried the gnocchi which was very good too. They have a nice wine list and serve fresh bread before the meal. Everything was delicious but slightly overpriced. I paid $20 for a pasta dish that probably should have only cost $15 in my opinion. I will go back, and Sapori is definitely worth a visit. -
Review from Vera S.
Chicago, IL
4/25/2012
This place is pretty awesome. I've been there a few times in both small and super large groups and have had excellent service both times. We went for a birthday with a large group and they brought out a wonderful free dessert spread for everyone to taste. The best part about this place is that there's a personal touch. The chef sent us a handwritten note a month after our visit with a coupon. I'll be going back for sure.
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Review from Nisa D.
Chicago, IL
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went there yesterday to celebrate early Valentine's Day. The waitstaff is fantastic, the ambiance is perfect, but most importantly the food is just amazing.
The resturant itself is small and intimate, with exposed brick and small tables with white cloth over them. Definetly a spot for a date. We order the Monday special and we had: Calamari Grilled, Cesar Salad it was crisp and fresh,Risotto Pescatore ,Spaghetti allo Scoglio , Lobster ravioli and to end the night with a bread pudding.
Overall a great place :) -
Review from mad i.
Chicago, IL
2/13/2012
Lobster Ravioli!
Saw it on Chicagos best, and it did not disappoint. Waaaaay better than Francescas lobster rav downtown on Chestnut. Cute place, beware the wait. And they will straight up turn you down at the door.... -
Review from Irene G.
2/7/2012
Excellent food, excellent service! I really enjoyed my time at Sapori. I dined here with a group of 10 and everything was impeccable. The manager on duty was super nice and took care of us. We were seated at a semi-private, cozy area upstairs. I loved the ambience of the place-it was crowded, but still intimate enough to enjoy if you're on a date. Sapori is one of the best Italian restaurants I've had the pleasure of dining. The rigatoni was sooo good and cheesy and their bruschetta was unique as it had avocado on it! I highly recommend this place. Make a reservation at all times. I can't wait to go back.
Ps: The bathroom is very clean. -
Review from Amanda C.
2/13/2012
I had a great Friday night dinner here. The atmosphere is cute and cozy with dark lighting and white lights strung about. The restaurant has several rooms and is quite large, despite what its exterior might lead you to think. Dinner was a few hours long as I was catching up with a friend, and our server didn't seem to mind we were slower than usual. He was very friendly.
My food was delicious (gnocchi with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes). The portions are very large- I ate so much at dinner and still had leftovers. We split a bottle of wine and had two entrees, and the cost was $48 per person with tip. Given what we had ordered I thought this was slightly high, but definitely enjoyed the food and experience and would go back. -
Review from Viv C.
Cook, IL
2/23/2012
Really enjoyed the dinner in this Italian Restaurant.
Staff are really friendly and they try their best to serve you.
Before I went, I made a reservation via Yelp but somehow, the restaurant didn't receive my reservation when we arrived on a busy Sat night.
It's super crowded and people can't wait to get a table for those delicious looking cuisines. Staff knew our situation and promised me that they will still take care of my reservation and try to find a table asap.
While be seated, we enjoyed the priceless appetizer-mussels. It is so FRESH!
At that moment of tasting the freshness, I totally feel it's worthy to visit this restaurant and I can't waiting to have my entree.
We order pasta, but I can't recall which one we ordered. Only memory it still remains in my mind is their pasta sauce; it is so special and you don't feel sick or increase the blood pressure after the meal.
I bet the food quality is so far the best but this is a bit over my budget if I didn't use their coupons/ promotion. -
Review from Jen B.
1/13/2012
It's hard to not address up front how off the chain the food is, because it SHOULD NOT be missed by anyone, but the service is what makes Sapori truly amazing. I hate to be cliche but when the shoe fits: They really do treat you like a guest in their home. A very popular, hard to get into home, I admit, but once you're in, it's worth the wait.
This place has Date Night written all over it. Dim lighting, exposed brick, cozy atmosphere. Aside from the random TV in the bar (??), the vibe is pure intimacy.
Everything I've had has been incredible. Risotto. Gnocchi. Ravioli. Lasagna. You cannot go wrong. It's not the most inventive Italian dining you'll find in Chicago, but why mess with what works: Bold sauces, lots of cream and perfectly made pasta.
This is a pricey night out, especially if you add wine. I think the bottle list starts at $30 and go up (way up) from there. But the nice thing is that there are usually specials and discounts if you look. Plus, they mail you coupons for your birthday...and half-birthday! No kidding.
Top my list of places to bring dates, parents, carb-loving friends....that covers just about everyone I know. -
Review from Jen R.
12/29/2011
This place is just way too good. That's all I could think of since the CMYE here. Now, what do you do when everything is so damn delicious, but upwards of $20 a pop? Well, you hit them up on Tuesdays for their live jazz and tapas, when you can easily get 2-3 smaller dishes for the same price.
Of course, when you have my luck, you'll arrive to find out that you've come on the first Tuesday they've ever had to cancel it, due to too many reservations. Luckily, the manager was awesome, moved us to a corner table, and let us order off the tapas menu. With two requirements: 1) we understood that not all the items were available and 2) we didn't wave our tapas menus in the face of the other suckas, mocking them. No problem there.
At this point you might think, Jen keeping her mouth shut?! Impossible. Well, not when the food is this good. Everything we ordered was delicious, from the Cappellacci di Zucca (my fave - order it and thank me later), to the Rigatoni Caprese, and the Milk and Honey Baby Back Ribs. As Mr. Scott D. would say, they were the truth. The Crostone Di Avocado is a must for any avocado lover, and the Chicken Tortelini and Veal Meat Balls were ridic. And the Tiramisu freebie for all the confusion? Perfect. I so need to become a regular here.
Conclusion: It's worth the waddle when you're stuffed with a Sapori Trattoria baby. -
Review from Pascal M.
2/1/2012
Sapori Trattoria is ***In Mr. Burns (from The Simpson's) voice*** "EHHHHHXCELLENT"
Can't believe I lived by this place for almost a year while I was in school and never visited. Glad my girl and I came here after a hard days work. We were seated just before the dinner crowd showed up, so that was a plus.
While they're a bit more expensive than I'd prefer, they deliver finely executed classical Italian cuisine.
The atmospheres a little crowded, but I've been to a lot of Italian places like that. So i personally am not bothered by sitting close to other patrons. I like how deep the restaurant goes and the dark wood flooring and furniture. Their patio is open when weather permits, so that has to be a real treat. Especially if you can catch some live music.
Their antipasti's and insaltae's are simple, but done with attention and care. We had their Crostini Di Avocado and we shared their Insalata stella. The crostini was a great way to start, they finished it with a good quality olive oil that I would have robbed the chef at gunpoint for. The salata was fresh, but overall just OK. I would go with their Caprese or Caesar next time.
For entrees, you cant go wrong with any of their pasta or protein dishes. Especially anything with veal. I had the Vitello Ossobuco alla pugliese, this is simply a soul satisfying dish. My girlfriend had the Milk and Honey Baby Back Ribs and ordered a small portion of Rigatoni Bolognese. These were both as equally delicious as my veal.
A nice bottle of Cab complimented are meal perfectly. They have a beautiful Italian wine selection and very accommodating service to assist the non wine enthusiasts.
Tiramasu, duhhhhh...a must order.
Sapori Trattoria is great for a late date (go around 830-9), early dinner, or anytime for lunch. The food will make you feel good, but I cant say the same for your wallet. -
Review from T F.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 4/17/2012
This place is fantastic. I've been coming here for years with both family and friends. It's a lively environment with great food. Their Zuppe di Pesce is my favorite in the city. All of their food and wine is fantastic.
The service is also great. The owner, Anthony, is so grateful and friendly.
Finally, there are people in their 20's and in their 70's dining here. It's one thing when a place is popular among a certain demographic, but this place is so good that everyone and their mother love it. Literally.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/25/2009
Excellent food. Great environment for a lively date, family dinner, or a bunch of friends getting… Read more »
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Review from Andre W.
12/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Sad to say I have lived around the corner from this place for almost 2 years and never stopped by. I have walked by quite often and thought about it, but just never stopped :(
A friend of mine raved and raved about the food here and decided it was a good idea to go on a double date here...Hell yeah!!!!
We made a 7:15 reservation just to be on the safe side, but it wouldn't be that crowded on a Tues nite...Wrong! It was mad crowded...glad we reserved a spot.
The place was small and has a nice intimate setting as I would expect any Italian place to be.
My friend was looking forward to their tapas tuesday menu as she wanted to share multiple plates, but they told us since they were so crowded there was no way they could handle Tapas Tuesday. My friend asked to see the manager and he was nice enough to cut us some slack. Tapas tuesday was on!!!
Milk and Honey Baby Back Ribs - Very tender and flavorful...definitely the highlight
Gnocchi Bolognese - amazing (I hardly ever use that overused term)
Rigatoni Caprese - Awesome!
Zucca - Great butternut squash and pumpkin dumplings
Crostone Di Avocado - pretty damn good
Chicken Torteloni - Very good and creamy
Veal Meat Balls - was good
Dessert: Tiramisu - Melted in my mouth..some of the best I've had outside of Italy
This place has made me a fan and the people who run this joint are completely awesome! I hear the bread pudding is out of this world so I will def return for that alone...looking forward to going again soon :) -
Review from Carol T.
Chicago, IL
4/9/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The bread is awesome!
