Follia Restaurant

The Scene – Sticking out like a very fashionable sore thumb in the gritty Fulton Street warehouse district, Follia is chic and icy-cool. Cement floors and a polished blue glass wall are juxtaposed against elegant silver linens, mod dress displays and a canvas of synthetic turf hanging on an exposed brick wall. The room buzzes with loft-dwellers and corporate diners, and a hip young crowd congregates in the attached Fulton Lounge. – – The Food – Just about everything on Follia's small menu scores, from mouthwateringly fresh, paper-thin prosciutto and mushroom pizza to…

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What to Drink:: The quintessential Southern Italian liquor, limoncello is mixed with Grey Goose vodka for the restaurant's Limoncellini.
Where to Sit:: Tables against the brick wall offer the most intimacy.

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User Reviews (27)

ambiance	87.5% positive	“Service was excellent, small but interesting menu, food very good, nice atmosphere, prices are a little high, but BYOB helped.” “The byob was fun, but it is easy to overserve yourself.” “Nice atmosphere.” “The ambiance is unique and impressive and it's very easy to meet fun people there.”
dessert	0.0% positive	“Risotto was a little disappointing, but our very apologetic server provided dessert on the house to compensate.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“gelato with expresso sauce is an egg size scoop of gellato with expresso poured over it, sort of like soupy luke warm coffee.”
food quality	84.56999778747559% positive	“Yes it is a little on the expensive side, but every aspect of the food has been excellent every time I have been here and I feel it is worth it.” “Trendy spot with good food” “The food is always good but can be expensive.” “best food - best pizza in chicago area - good and fast service -” “can't wait for the next "best pizza" award-because for sure this is a contender!” “We sent bad food back, on the way to the kitchen they dropped it off at another table.” “Only good entree was the seabass over sparce sliced potatoes.” “My advice is to go to the Fulton Lounge attached to the restaurant and enjoy a similar atomosphere without the bad food and service.” “The people who are giving Follia negative remarks do not know good food (ex: upset that the specials cost more - THEY ALWAYS COST MORE!” “Despite the snooty fashionista crowd and the small space , it was worth the visit for the food” “The food was excellent.” “best food in chicago area” “If you want great pizza (very thin crust just like in Italy and almost as good) and authentic dishes (including honest-to-goodness bufalo mozzarella from Naples), this is the place to dine.” “I had a wonderful sea bass and my husband had the lamb chops that were fantastic.” “There was no creative and unique presentaion of the meals (like at BLACKBIRD) The second course I ordered "baby lamb" which consisted of 5 small pieces of lamb on the bone for $28.00.” “Special of fusseli with salmon had an off taste and very little salmon, expensive $35, raviolli with pheasant in chestnut sauce was terrible.” “wonderful food” “The worst thing about it is how pretentious the place and the management seem: don't waste your money: there are plenty of better -and way cheaper- places for pizza and good Italian food in town.” “The ingredients very fresh and the artichokes properly prepared (a rarity in chicago).” “definitely best pizza in chicago, accommodating waitstaff, fresh cheeses and authentic Northern Italian style cuisine” “Wines are also great, there is all u need to have a delicious dinner!” “The veal saltambocua was much more tasty and half the cost.” “Follia has THE BEST pizza I've had in the U.S. (after having lived in Italy), the other dishes are fantastic.” “Service was excellent, small but interesting menu, food very good, nice atmosphere, prices are a little high, but BYOB helped.” “The food is so AMAZING.” “Great food, best Italian in town.” “gelato with expresso sauce is an egg size scoop of gellato with expresso poured over it, sort of like soupy luke warm coffee.”
menu variety	50.0% positive	“Service was awful, waiter failed to have any knowledge of the items on the menu.” “Service was excellent, small but interesting menu, food very good, nice atmosphere, prices are a little high, but BYOB helped.”
overall	100.0% positive	“As Italian I can say Follia is definetly the best Italian restaurant in town, top 3 in the whole US.” “If you want great pizza (very thin crust just like in Italy and almost as good) and authentic dishes (including honest-to-goodness bufalo mozzarella from Naples), this is the place to dine.” “It is definitely the best restaurant in the neighborhood.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“Food was good, but for all the hassle will not go back.”
service	70.37000179290771% positive	“Pizza is even better than in Italy and the atmosphear is very friendly.” “My advice is to go to the Fulton Lounge attached to the restaurant and enjoy a similar atomosphere without the bad food and service.” “Service was awful, waiter failed to have any knowledge of the items on the menu.” “The people who are giving Follia negative remarks do not know good food (ex: upset that the specials cost more - THEY ALWAYS COST MORE!” “best food - best pizza in chicago area - good and fast service -” “The ambiance is unique and impressive and it's very easy to meet fun people there.” “Risotto was a little disappointing, but our very apologetic server provided dessert on the house to compensate.” “Like it a lot and good people watching.” “The waitstaff was competent and service was excellent.”
value	56.25% positive	“Special of fusseli with salmon had an off taste and very little salmon, expensive $35, raviolli with pheasant in chestnut sauce was terrible.” “The worst thing about it is how pretentious the place and the management seem: don't waste your money: there are plenty of better -and way cheaper- places for pizza and good Italian food in town.” “Service was excellent, small but interesting menu, food very good, nice atmosphere, prices are a little high, but BYOB helped.” “Pizza was good but not worth the hassle.” “Despite the snooty fashionista crowd and the small space , it was worth the visit for the food” “Be very very careful, and what ever you do, don't order the "special", you'll pay a hefty price.” “The food is always good but can be expensive.” “Yes it is a little on the expensive side, but every aspect of the food has been excellent every time I have been here and I feel it is worth it.”

02/20/09

Best in neighborhood

by cmroma at Citysearch

Like it a lot and good people watching. The food is always good but can be expensive. The owner is very colorful and watches the dining room. It is definitely the best restaurant in the neighborhood. I think they have a new place that I want to try.

Pros: fashionable
Cons: kind of expensive

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12/30/08

Very Good

by bonvivantsuisse at Citysearch

Very fashionable! Good menu and very authentic.

Cons: Too far from the Gold Coast

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10/05/08

BEST ITALIAN IN TOWN

by matthewgourmet at Citysearch

As Italian I can say Follia is definetly the best Italian restaurant in town, top 3 in the whole US. Pizza is even better than in Italy and the atmosphear is very friendly. The owner is extremely careful to details. the ingredients used are top quality. Wines are also great, there is all u need to have a delicious dinner!

Pros: food, wine, ambience
Cons: neiborhood

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04/30/08

Substandard and pretentious

by Bixie at Citysearch

Lame to say the least. You'll end up paying 50 bucks for a burnt pizza and a glass of wine consumed in a tiled narrow room that seems more like the bottom of a gloomy swimming pool. The worst thing about it is how pretentious the place and the management seem: don't waste your money: there are plenty of better -and way cheaper- places for pizza and good Italian food in town.

Cons: poor value for money

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02/11/08

totally strange

by honeybrown04 at Citysearch

If you're expecting an Italian restaurant, don't go to Follia. They trick you on many levels. First, the atmosphere will leave you stratching your head. I understand trendy, I don't understand hands coming out of a brick wall and manequins everywhere when I want to eat. I also don't understand green tile on a bar in Chicago...I thought I was in Miami. The one good thing I can say about my experience there was our bottle of wine was delicious as was the veal saltambocua. We too got tricked by the Market Price veal chop. Not only was it not a good cut of veal, it was breaded and fried to look like nothing more than a veal cutlet with some lettuce and tomatoes thrown on top...and they have the nerve to charge $50!!!! The veal saltambocua was much more tasty and half the cost. All in all a puzzling experience.

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Follia Restaurant

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Editor's Tips

02/20/09

Best in neighborhood

by cmroma at Citysearch

12/30/08

Very Good

by bonvivantsuisse at Citysearch

10/05/08

BEST ITALIAN IN TOWN

by matthewgourmet at Citysearch

04/30/08

Substandard and pretentious

by Bixie at Citysearch

02/11/08

totally strange

by honeybrown04 at Citysearch

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