Va Pensiero
What People Are Saying About Va Pensiero
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Gracious service and a reputation for excellence have made this elegant space in the basement of the stately Margarita Inn an Evanston classic. A chatty crowd of professionals and NU students with parents in tow fill the inviting dining room, which boasts classic Romanesque decor, complete with columns; the textured golden walls are covered with tasteful paintings of Italian street scenes.
The Food
Va Pensiero's hearty, ever-changing Italian fare impresses with inventive flavor combinations and artful presentation. A Parmesan basket brims with chunks of tender scallops and shiitake mushrooms; pistchio pesto brings pan-sauteed tiger shrimp deliciously to life. One delicious pasta dish presents savory artichokes, roasted tomatoes and roasted chicken, all bathing in a sweet lemon rosemary cream beneath perfect parsley pasta sheets. Meat and pasta plates include succulent pan-roasted veal medallions with white truffle polenta, and flaky roasted salmon with a subtle mustard mascarpone glaze.
User Reviews
Anonymous
October 16, 2008
this place has some great italian food. some of the best around and the menu is fabulous! i suggest trying just about anything, its all good. it's not the cheapest place so this would be for a bit of a nicer dinner, but the food is delicious!
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ihatetocook
March 24, 2008
From the time we entered Va Penseiro, we were treated like royalty! The service was exceptional and the servers were so discrete...it was as if our water glasses were refilled and bread replensihed magically! The Wine list was excellent and reasonably priced. The food was even better than the service! We had the beet salad and the field greens with gorganzola and michigan cherries. Both were tasty and a wonderful start to a fabulous meal. My husband had the pork and I had salmon with lentils. Both main courses were taste sensations that exceeded our high expectations. We ended the evening with the budino~ a warm chocolate with a a melted chocolate center ~It was to die for and the creme brulee, again an exceptional taste sensation delight! We go out to eat almost every weekend night. After our ivsit to Va Pensiero, we know where we will be going again and again!
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arafel
January 31, 2008
I really don't understand why this place gets such good reviews. The food was bland when it wasn't strangely acidic. The mushroom soup might as well have been battery acid. The portobello piccatta... just yuck. Overcooked mushroom with soggy breading and a really strange souffle on the side. I am normally the type of person who loves to try adventurous dishes and I'm not much of a picky eater, but this place couldn't seem to get the most simple dishes right. Even the pre-meal bread was rubbery. I couldn't make myself take more than a few nibbles of anything, before I gave up. The weight staff and manager were aggressive. We were constantly being interrupted by questions about how we were doing. When it became obvious how unhappy I was with the food, the waiter's demeanor became odd and pouty. It was very uncomfortable. Otherwise, the place is cute. They have interesting presentation... too bad nothing tastes as good as it looks. I wouldn't recommend this place AT ALL to anyone - EVER. Yuck!
read full reviewThe Details on Va Pensiero
The Extras:
The restaurant offers six private dining rooms that seat 12-200 people.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Hotel Restaurants, Romantic Dining, Quiet, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, Business Dining, Online Reservations, Group Dining
General Info:
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
Yes
