Merlo on Maple
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 335-8200
- Price:
- $$$
- Hours:
- daily 5-10 s-t, f-s 11
Editorial Review for Merlo on Maple – by J.P. Anderson
The Scene
Occupying a series of intimate rooms in a three-level Gold Coast townhouse, this welcoming Italian restaurant makes dating couples and groups of suits feel equally welcome. Handsomely stained wainscoting accents warm golden walls adorned with framed landscape paintings. Enthusiastic servers extol the merits of the kitchen's northern Italian specialties.
The Food
A complimentary basket of warm rosemary crisps whets the appetite, paving the way for tempting starters like light, lovely rolled eggplant and beef carpaccio sprinkled generously with shaved truffles and celery. Light pasta sauces let the fresh ingredients speak for themselves, from earthy porcini mushrooms with tortelloni to veal ragu paired with taglioline. Tempting meat and fish options include pepper-crusted tuna, stewed veal osso buco with saffron risotto, and oven-cooked red snapper and scallops. Kissed with caramel, panna cotta is a simple, sinful dessert.
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Insider Tips
Where to SitBooths are fairly tight; request a table in the sunny, glassed-in front room downstairs instead.
User Reviews for Merlo on Maple
10/19/2007 Posted by vittoriop
I'm Italian, I lived 33 years in Italy. This is (at last!) an authentic Italian restaurant. Food is excellent. They also import fresh things from Italy. I've ever had good service, the guys complaining were probably unlucky. The owners are really passionate Italians, she is the cook. Talk with the owner, ask him how come many of the VIPs that go there are not exposed in pictures like in other restaurant. A classy place. I've even been there for Valentine, the 80$ dinner was excellent. It is not cheap (nor too expensive) but it worths every cent.
Pros: Food, ambience, style.
Cons: I couldn't find one.
08/24/2007 Posted by macjcg
We did get the window seat we requested as it is the only place to set with any degree of ambiance. From there all down hill. Rissoto expensive and disappointing. I have enjoyed rissoto more at other Italian eateries for half the price and twice the quality. It was sticky and quite tasteless. We asked the waiter to reccomend a wine in keeping with our pasta entrees - also disappointing. Upon leaving we we were given a written narrative on the wine - nice thought however it is not reccomended for pasta - to pricey for a basic Italian eatery in Chicago.
Pros: Location good
Cons: Interior not
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