Basilico Ristorante

In Short – Families pack this expansive dining room decorated with white linen-topped tables and a ceiling covered in eclectic canvas paintings of homey dishes. Popular selections include cold antipasto with imported meats, cheeses and anchovies, and a hot version with stuffed artichoke, fried calamari, fried zucchini, mussels in white-wine sauce, baked clams and pizza bread. Spaghetti and meatballs with marinara and fettuccini Alfredo are pasta faves, while veal Vesuvio and shrimp scampi round out the massive menu.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:: The wine list includes about 25 bottles from Italy, California, Australia and Washington state, which range in price from $18.95 to $36.95. More than half of the selections are available by the glass for $6.50 to $8.50.

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User Reviews (14)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“cannot even begin to describe the wonderful food and ambiance Basilico Ristorante offers.” “From the artistic and romantic ambience to the huge portions and homemade recipes, Basilico Ristorante is Heaven!” “Brightly lit, lovely sparkling decor, and very friendly but not too loud an atmosphere.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“On the evenings they have it, the lobster ravioli, served with a light cream tomato sauce is great.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“Their salmon served on a bed of angel hair pasta with a light lemon/wine sauce is just wonderful.”
food quality	94.44000244140625% positive	“Great food, great service, and great prices, The Bruno family has answered the bell with this beauty.” “cannot even begin to describe the wonderful food and ambiance Basilico Ristorante offers.” “I had the stuffed gnocchi with their own famous basilico sauce - a fresh tomatoe, garlic, olive oil and basil.” “When you read the menu you feel like you're in for a fantastic meal.” “would recommend it to anyone looking for great Italian food.” “Good selection of very good Italian food, very well prepared and very attractively served.” “It is a perfect place to experience Italian cuisine.” “The food was mediocre.” “Bisilico Ristorante has wonderful Italian food that you might order from any other italian restaurant (like Fetuiccine Alfredo, or ravioli), but their specials are to "die for” “The steaks are truly excellent, the Italian veal dishes superb, and one could dine alone on the appetizers.” “This is Italian food at it's best.” “Their salmon served on a bed of angel hair pasta with a light lemon/wine sauce is just wonderful.” “On the evenings they have it, the lobster ravioli, served with a light cream tomato sauce is great.” “The linguine with clam sauce is our favorite.” “all fresh fish dishes are done to perfection.” “to leave - the food was excellent - service was excellent.” “Our families make special trips several times a year just for a get-together to enjoy their wonderful food.” “their special appetizer platter has baked clams, fried zucchini, calamari, and lots of other delicious goodies.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“Good selection of very good Italian food, very well prepared and very attractively served.” “When you read the menu you feel like you're in for a fantastic meal.”
overall	100.0% positive	“For some time now i have been searching for a great down home Italian restaurant.”
service	93.33000183105469% positive	“to leave - the food was excellent - service was excellent.” “Brightly lit, lovely sparkling decor, and very friendly but not too loud an atmosphere.” “Great food, great service, and great prices, The Bruno family has answered the bell with this beauty.” “Pass up all those expensive restaurants in Lincoln Park/Square, etc. and head out to a warm and friendly place.” “An older experienced man the second, gave excellent friendly professional service.”
value	91.66999816894531% positive	“From the artistic and romantic ambience to the huge portions and homemade recipes, Basilico Ristorante is Heaven!” “Pass up all those expensive restaurants in Lincoln Park/Square, etc. and head out to a warm and friendly place.” “From the huge portions that you cannot stop eating to the ceiling decorated like a true Italian cafe.” “Great food, great service, and great prices, The Bruno family has answered the bell with this beauty.”
wait time	100.0% positive	“Scheduled to be in Chicago for a week long training course, in the Rosemont area, I checked out citysearch to see where the good italian places were.”

09/12/10

80th birthday luncheon

by caldarone at Citysearch

Had an 80th birthday luncheon for my wife. Prior arrangements were made as to what we wanted.The luncheon was in a separate room which could hold up to fifty people. There were 44 guests.

THE SERVICE WAS TERRIBLE ! When the guests started to arrive the tables were not even set up.My son , daughter,son in law and daughter in law had to help set up the tables.

Lunch was off the menu with pasta on the side and ice cream with whipped cream and crushed nuts for dessert. They forgot the pasta on the side and when reminded they served it in a bowl instead of individully.The ice cream had no whipped cream or nuts.

Drinks were very difficult to get because they had too few waiters.Glasses , cups and dishes were piling up on the tables because they didn't have enough help. I could go on but it would take a book. . The 80th birthday which was supposed to be a special day was ruined. I made a big mistake by paying the bill.

I later tried to contact the owner through his help since he was never there.I went there several times but he was never in I left messages with the help to have him call me..Either his help wasn't giving him the messages or he chose not to respond..

It appears as though the owner and the help do not have much regard for their cusomers satisfaction.

Most of the luncheon was very chaotic.

A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT

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09/05/10

The Best Food

by sheila 52 at Citysearch

I live in Mchenry il, my mother lives in Chicago. We have eaten there before and i absolutley love there food.It was our anniversary and could have gone anywhere, but we chose Basilico's. the service is fantastic and Owner goes above and beyond everything was perfect.> I Highly reccomend ths ristorante for italian food.

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07/05/08

I wasn't impressed

by Savvysdad at Citysearch

Overpriced number one. The food was mediocre. When you read the menu you feel like you're in for a fantastic meal. Then the food comes and and its blah. Everything tasted the same.Take a pass and save your money............Just off the top of my head there are three other places that are far and away better than this place. Da Lucianos on Grand Ave in Elmwood Park, Augustinos on Harlem Ave. in Chicago and Gianottis on River rd. All three of the Italian restaurants are within 5 miles of Basilico. With these three near by I couldnt understand why anyone would come back to eat here. Da Lucianos is an absolute must! make a reservation!

Pros: parking
Cons: tasteless food,price

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04/11/08

Close your eyes..you're in Italy!

by nancyandjay at Citysearch

Absolutely love this restaurant... tell your "special someone" that you will be dining in Florence, Rome or Tuscany tonight... and head out to this charming restaurant where several booths have the names of cities in Italy engraved on wooden signs! The linguine with clam sauce is our favorite... all fresh fish dishes are done to perfection... lasagna sooo good! their special appetizer platter has baked clams, fried zucchini, calamari, and lots of other delicious goodies. The night we dined at Basilico's, they had ribboned lobster ravioli which paid tribute to the colors on the Italian flag. Love their house chianti and their daily specialties are truly unique. Pass up all those expensive restaurants in Lincoln Park/Square, etc. and head out to a warm and friendly place. Our families make special trips several times a year just for a get-together to enjoy their wonderful food. The owners are at the door to greet you as you enter "a little bit of Italy on Cumberland".

Pros: Food, decor, friendliness
Cons: none

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01/21/07

So much more than expected!!

by isabella_750 at Citysearch

Scheduled to be in Chicago for a week long training course, in the Rosemont area, I checked out citysearch to see where the good italian places were. Basilico was rated highly, so I thought I would give it a shot. I will be deeply honest when I state that upon arrival at the restaurant location I was a bit hesitant. The restaurant is actually in a business building, and at first glance you might not consider it to be the highest class. I'm here to tell you DON'T think like that or you will miss out on one of the most incredible italian meals you will ever have. Not only that, but the service was friendly, punctual, and helpful. I happened to get there for an early dinner and had the priviledge of meeting the owner who greeted me at the door. The food was exceptional! A simple request to the waiter about changing one of the menu options was greeted with an "of course!" I had the stuffed gnocchi with their own famous basilico sauce - a fresh tomatoe, garlic, olive oil and basil.

If you are in the Chicago area do yourself a favor and find this gem, you won't regret it!!

Basilico Ristorante

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What People Are Saying About Basilico Ristorante

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Jennifer Olvera

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Editor's Tips

User Reviews (14)

09/12/10

80th birthday luncheon

by caldarone at Citysearch

09/05/10

The Best Food

by sheila 52 at Citysearch

07/05/08

I wasn't impressed

by Savvysdad at Citysearch

04/11/08

Close your eyes..you're in Italy!

by nancyandjay at Citysearch

01/21/07

So much more than expected!!

by isabella_750 at Citysearch

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