Topo Gigo Ristorante

In Short – Boisterous groups fill long wooden tables and pass colorful plates of antipasti in this dimly lit room, where photos of Rome hang on red clay-colored walls. Written in Italian, the menu includes popular starters like mussels marinara, oversized bruschetta or smoky-grilled portobello mushrooms atop moist polenta. Pasta entrees feature seafood, sausage, vegetables and rich sauces, like signature fusilli with chicken and sweet tomato cream sauce.

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:: Ask for one of the few raised tables in the back corner for a quieter dining experience.

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User Reviews (32)

ambiance	96.66999816894531% positive	“This Italian restaurant is authentic, fun and serves delicious food.” “its a shame - the wait staff is usually fun and the food is fine, but we also require curteous treatment at the front end when spending our well deserved nights out on the town.” “Fun atmosphere and incredible food” “The food is really good and they play live music making the whole night really fun.” “personally love Topo Gigio for it's food and atmosphere.” “The food, ambience and service are great at Topo Gigio, however they do not honor reservations---UNLESS you know the owner.” “It was a fun evening, and the food made the experience very enjoyable.” “When crowded the atmosphere is very fun and loud.” “Not the place for a quiet, romantic dinner.” “We enjoyed great cocktails at the outdoor bar and got the scoop on local favorites for music and late night fun from a pleasant bartender.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“suggest all the appetizers and entres, but skip the dessert.” “the food deserts drinks and service is the best in america i've seen in a while!”
drinks	92.8600025177002% positive	“P.S. To save $, ask for a carafe or half a carafe of your favorite wine, the house wines are excellent and VERY affordable” “We were sat inside within 20 minutes and enjoyed a lovely Amarone from a diverse wine list and enjoyed fantastic fare (Lake Superior whitefish and Frutti de Mare.)” “We enjoy the bar and outdoor patio, however the service is awful.” “The wines are very good.” “the food deserts drinks and service is the best in america i've seen in a while!” “Not only is the food great, but it has one of the few outside bar areas where single girls can hang out without getting harrassed.” “We enjoyed great cocktails at the outdoor bar and got the scoop on local favorites for music and late night fun from a pleasant bartender.”
food quality	95.95999717712402% positive	“Not only is the food great, but it has one of the few outside bar areas where single girls can hang out without getting harrassed.” “You will like your meal!” “Great food and good service” “Enjoyed the authentic italian dishes.” “The pasta is always fresh and has a bit of kick to it.” “The food, ambience and service are great at Topo Gigio, however they do not honor reservations---UNLESS you know the owner.” “the best spaghetti sauce I've eaten in Chicago yet.” “The food is really good and they play live music making the whole night really fun.” “restaurants,but we really enjoyed the food.” “have had what is on and "off" menu, it is great food.” “If you want great italian food and friendly service try Trattoria Roma across the street!” “It was a fun evening, and the food made the experience very enjoyable.” “have never been to Topo and had a bad meal.” “Fun atmosphere and incredible food” “The Seafood pasta is sooo good and the calamari is a great appetizer.” “The food is for modern tastes and it reminds me of eating at night in the best places I found in Rome.” “Good food and service” “The food was fantastic.” “The food is great and the prices very competitive.” “Good food.” “However, you HAVE to get past that in order to get some of the best italian food ever.” “The food is consistently great and I always have a good time.” “The ceaser salad was the best we'd ever tasted, and their menu items were interesting, but not too un-traditional.” “went here for the first time the other night and the food was excellent!” “This Italian restaurant is authentic, fun and serves delicious food.” “its a shame - the wait staff is usually fun and the food is fine, but we also require curteous treatment at the front end when spending our well deserved nights out on the town.” “The chicken dishes are delicious as well (my daughter's favorite).” “the food deserts drinks and service is the best in america i've seen in a while!” “personally love Topo Gigio for it's food and atmosphere.” “One of the owners is from Italy and goes back often, an really know how to keep the great italian food fresh and consistent.” “The food is absolutely superb!” “The food is very tasty, and the portions are huge.” “For just slightly more than shopping-center-restaurant prices, we got really great Italian cuisine.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“We were sat inside within 20 minutes and enjoyed a lovely Amarone from a diverse wine list and enjoyed fantastic fare (Lake Superior whitefish and Frutti de Mare.)” “have had what is on and "off" menu, it is great food.” “The ceaser salad was the best we'd ever tasted, and their menu items were interesting, but not too un-traditional.”
overall	100.0% positive	“Topo Gigio is a great place to meet with friends or family and be treated like a king.” “Topo Gigio is a very good place to go.” “have been several times, this is my favorite restaurant in Chicago.”
service	72.6200008392334% positive	“Terrible customer service - Extremely disappointing.” “service was great,from the host to our waiter.” “Every member of the staff that we interacted with was so nice we felt like regulars.” “First off, the man greeting and seat the customers was very rude (and his breath was unpleasent).” “its a shame - the wait staff is usually fun and the food is fine, but we also require curteous treatment at the front end when spending our well deserved nights out on the town.” “Good food and service” “We enjoyed great cocktails at the outdoor bar and got the scoop on local favorites for music and late night fun from a pleasant bartender.” “We enjoy the bar and outdoor patio, however the service is awful.” “not sure who the old host was, but our host (Tom) was very nice and not rude at all.” “the food deserts drinks and service is the best in america i've seen in a while!” “Great food and good service” “If you want great italian food and friendly service try Trattoria Roma across the street!” “The food, ambience and service are great at Topo Gigio, however they do not honor reservations---UNLESS you know the owner.” “The mussels were ok, the entrees were bland and the service was HORRIBLE.”
value	100.0% positive	“Prices are very reasonable and portions good size.” “Some friends of mine and I picked the restaurant because the prices were fairly reasonable and we were shopping in Old Town.” “The food is great and the prices very competitive.” “For just slightly more than shopping-center-restaurant prices, we got really great Italian cuisine.” “P.S. To save $, ask for a carafe or half a carafe of your favorite wine, the house wines are excellent and VERY affordable” “The food is very tasty, and the portions are huge.”
wait time	100.0% positive	“We were sat inside within 20 minutes and enjoyed a lovely Amarone from a diverse wine list and enjoyed fantastic fare (Lake Superior whitefish and Frutti de Mare.)”

08/25/11

Great Italian Food

by ChicagoBorn11

I like to visit this place with friends and family. We always get great service, friendly waiters & amazing food. The menu is smaller than most, but I think that lends itself to their stance of perfecting italian food as they know it. It's a must try!

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08/12/09

Good food and service

by d_taylor2006

I've gone here at least 10 times. The pasta is always fresh and has a bit of kick to it.

The reason I'm writing was I went there the other night with my parents that were in from out of town. It's hard for my dad to stand up for a long time. The place found him a stool and sat us real quick.

Pros: The food is allways good, a it's a fun place
Cons: Long wait

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06/24/09

Cheap & Mean

by markoc

My fiancee and I dined here the other night, and neither of us could finish our dinners, so we asked to have them both boxed up to take home. Fifteen minutes later, the restaurant was closing and the waiter still hadn't brought our food back. When we asked the hostess for help, she sheepishly replied that the busboy had given our food to someone else, and since the kitchen had just closed there was nothing she could do. But it gets worse... She promised that the restaurant would make it up to us the next time we came in, but when we called the manager tonight to get our comped meals, he said he would comp one meal, but ONLY one. I told him that two dinners had been taken from us, but he insisted that the hostess said it was just one dinner, and in his words, "I'm not going to give away anything that I can't verify." The guy was so cheap and so mean that I said we wouldn't come back even for the one free meal, and he said, "Good! I'm glad to hear it!" I don't know what bothers me more: the manager's rudeness and cheapness, or the fact that both the waiter and the hostess ducked responsibility and blamed the lost food on the busboy... Stay away from this place.

Pros: NO pros
Cons: They lost our food, lied about it, then wouldn't replace it.

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05/26/09

My Favorite Italian Food

by aly511

I have been to Topo Gigio two times and both times I had such a great experience. It is good for date night but also for big groups because I have done both. The Seafood pasta is sooo good and the calamari is a great appetizer. I highly reccomend!

Pros: Food, Wine, Service

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02/04/08

Best evrything!

by 2lurth

the food deserts drinks and service is the best in america i've seen in a while! They have bars outside and inside. They have a awesome party room that me and my family threw a party in. Best catering too.! i highly Recommend this restraunt for catering parties or anything!

Topo Gigo Ristorante

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What People Are Saying About Topo Gigo Ristorante

Elisa Kronish

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Editor's Tips

08/25/11

Great Italian Food

by ChicagoBorn11

08/12/09

Good food and service

by d_taylor2006

06/24/09

Cheap & Mean

by markoc

05/26/09

My Favorite Italian Food

by aly511

02/04/08

Best evrything!

by 2lurth

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