Papa Milano Restaurant

(773) 480-2950

1 E Oak St
Chicago, IL 60610 41.9006 -87.6283

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Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central

Price:

$$

Last updated 4.01.09

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Lunch Spot, Food Delivery

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Pizza, Italian

Smoking Permitted:

Yes

What People Are Saying About Papa Milano Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Whether longtime regulars or newcomers, diners feel comfortable and welcomed at this Gold Coast spot. The tiny dining room fills up fast, and in warm weather, the outdoor patio along posh Oak Street is filled. The menu offers Italian dishes, including an entire section devoted to spaghetti. It also includes salads, cannoli and ricotta-stuffed crepes filled tableside.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
When you have to wait, head next door to Mondelli's Lounge (owned by the same family). When your table's ready, Mondelli's gets a call.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. Surprise small slice of cake at the end was tasty and a nice bonus to a reasonably priced meal.
food quality
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. can honestly say it was some of the worst food I have tasted in Chicago.
  2. The food is good and consistent.
  3. Good food, good portions, good prices.
  4. Salad crisp, pasta dishes also big portions and flavorful.
  5. The price is right, and the food is great--not that nouveau-style Italian food, but just down home cooking like my grandma used to do.
  6. The place was packed so we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, but once we were seated we had fast friendly service and some great food.
  7. always order the cheese ravioli and the salad with house dressing.
  8. neighborhood place with great pizza (if you like thin crust which we do).
  9. Surprise small slice of cake at the end was tasty and a nice bonus to a reasonably priced meal.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. Would definitely return with a big appetite.
service
60.0% positive
  1. The service was also good.
  2. The place was packed so we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, but once we were seated we had fast friendly service and some great food.
  3. Also, our waiters were not overly polite.
  4. Their tiramisu was very good, but when we wanted to order some more our waiter informed us that he closed our check.
  5. However, the experience would not be so bad until we received our check and were charged $20 service charge.
value
100.0% positive
  1. Salad crisp, pasta dishes also big portions and flavorful.
  2. So that was really surprising and put a huge dent on our experience.
  3. The price is right, and the food is great--not that nouveau-style Italian food, but just down home cooking like my grandma used to do.
  4. Good food, good portions, good prices.
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. The place was packed so we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, but once we were seated we had fast friendly service and some great food.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/19/08

CLOSED

by TheAFYears at Citysearch

This was the BEST Italian Food in the city but it is closed, gone. I was told some store has bought the space. What a shame!!!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/23/07

The real thing

by chowfunner at Citysearch

Forget the trendy trattorias, this old-time Chicago establishment has hearty Italian-American food that is well -prepared, ample and fair-priced.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

06/22/06

not too impressing

by turbo5150 at Citysearch

I chose this restaurant based upon other revivers and was not overly impressed. My friends and I like to go out and try new restaurants and this was not our favorite. We were seated quickly and we placed our orders but the service was not too quick. Also, our waiters were not overly polite. They were not rude but seemed annoyed, kind of like your grumpy uncle. The food was ok. I had chicken parmigiana and it was quite tasty but my friends lamb was quite salty and my others friends lasagna would be better with some spinach (it was mostly ricotta and marinara sauce). Not tragic but had better Italian for the same price. Their tiramisu was very good, but when we wanted to order some more our waiter informed us that he closed our check. It was surprising as we were still eating and when we insisted on getting the desert he was annoyed that he would need to start a new bill. However, the experience would not be so bad until we received our check and were charged $20 service charge. It was only four of us eating and gratuity is usually added for party of 6 or 7. So that was really surprising and put a huge dent on our experience.

  • Pros: good tiramisu
  • Cons: service, food
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/31/05

Great little find

by ironsij0287 at Citysearch

My friends and I were walking down Rush St. trying to find a place to eat when we happened to come across this place. The wonderful smell drew us in. The place was packed so we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, but once we were seated we had fast friendly service and some great food. I had the gnocchi and it was very tasty. Some other friends had a pizza and it looked excellent as well. Prices were very reasonable for that area. Definitely a place I would go back.

  • Pros: Good food, Friendly service
  • Cons: A bit cramp
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/19/05

Good down home italian food

by tcdalton at Citysearch

I love this place and try to eat there whenever I am in the city. It is nothing fancy, but the pasta reminds me of the stuff my grandma used to cook. I always order the cheese ravioli and the salad with house dressing. A cannolli for dessert tops off the meal. The price is right, and the food is great--not that nouveau-style Italian food, but just down home cooking like my grandma used to do.

  • Pros: great food, great prices

The Details on Papa Milano Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great italian food
  • fast friendly service
  • big portions
  • good prices
  • good local fare
  • way too big small
  • tasty surprise small slice
  • wonderful smell
  • big appetite
  • always order cheese ravioli
  • always order salad
  • very good tiramisu
  • not overly polite waiters
  • big flavorful
  • love place
  • worst food
  • bad experience
  • like thin crust
  • great pizza
  • nice bonus
  • huge dent
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