Fiorentino's Cucina Italiana

07/27/10

Great cozy Italian

by Amber Gibson at Citysearch

Incredible service and wonderful ambiance really elevate this place to a great restaurant even if the food does not always deliver.

Service was just fantastic, our waiter was knowledgeable and pleasant and even folded my napkin when I went to the ladies' room!

We sat in the garden. which was so charming, straight out of a fairytale. Flowers and plants separate the dining area from the street, so we really felt like we were in another world. And little Christmas lights strung up add a whimsical yet romantic touch.

The food was overall very good, although I had a few minor quips. My arugula salad was far too oily, but the parmesan reggiano served with it was excellent. The arancini appetizer was disappointing, and tasted like something I would eat in a cafeteria. I can see how it would be a great comfort food if made well, the the outer shell was too soggy.

On the other hand, the octopus carpaccio was fantastic, very fresh and matched well with tomatoes and arugula. The pasta alla salsa cruda, a special for the evening, was good as well. Linguine with fresh crab, shrimp and scallops, and each was cooked to perfection in a very simple olive oil, garlic, tomato and onion sauce.

My friend had the stuffed gnocchi and really loved those - he had never had gnocchi before but said he would definitely order it again.

• Pros: Service, Ambiance, Patio, Pasta alla Salsa Cruda
• Cons: Arancini

04/28/10

Great restaurant!

by sanjay1814 at Citysearch

This is a great place!

• Pros: Good atmosphere, friendly service, affordable
• Cons: none

08/11/07

Best Italian in Lakeview/Lincoln Park - Hands Down

by olgah2004 at Citysearch

We live pretty close to Fiorentino's and are lucky enough to walk there. Our favorite appetizer is the fried calamari - which is consistently very light, tender and fried to perfection. The sauce they serve with the calamari is TO DIE FOR. You'll want to dip your bread in it! We've tried alot of the entree's there but a couple are standout favorites -- the Speidini is the best thing on the menu. It is very tender filet mignon that is thin and sauteed with spinach and lots of garlic with Vesuvio potatoes. (my mouth is watering as I write this...). The Fettucini Alfredo is also incredible - so rich and creamy its like a sin on a plate. Everything here is homemade - down to the noodles. The Lasagna is delicious as well. The portions are very large so expect to take a doggy bag or two home with you. We have never made it to dessert but I'm under the impression its just as good as everything else. They now have a full bar which makes a pretty darn good martini and their wine list has something for everyone. You will really be treated like family when you go and the food will keep you coming back.

• Pros: Food, atmosphere, friendly staff
• Cons: Location

07/20/07

A Romantic Evening Out!

by saribou at Citysearch

My boyfriend and I went here last night for our anniversary... the place is small, so make a reservation because it fills up fast! I wish we had come earlier, though, because the patio is non-reseveration, first-come-first-served basis, which is too bad because it would have been really cute to sit out there! But nonetheless, the inside was still cute, if a bit crowded. We ordered one of the less expensive wines, but I was not disappointed, as one usually is when ordering affordale wines out. It was pretty good! For our appetizer, we ordered the baked clams, which were actually pretty bad. It didn't seem like there was any clam in there at all, just a lot of breadcrumbs and oil. Fortunately for the restaurant, our main courses arrived looking much better than the appetizer, and they were able to redeem themselves. My boyfriend ordered a veal dish, which was good, but not completely outstanding. I ordered the Linguine with Mussels, in the spicy tomato broth, and wow! it was great! I'm still thinking about it today actually! The sauce was really good, and the mussels were plentiful, huge, and bursting with juices!! All in all, it was a satisfying experience, and a great place to go for a classy, romantic outing. I can't wait to go back and eat more mussels!

• Pros: Atmosphere, Garden Patio, mussels, wine
• Cons: Patio is non-res, small, hostess seemed a bit snooty

05/31/07

Romantic Outdoor Italian Dining on a Warm Summer Night; Food Hit-or-Miss

by mrjustice at Citysearch

Arrived early (6pm) on a warm night to enjoy the outdoor Patio (told on phone patio is not reserv.). Very pleasant and romantic atomsphere outside. Initially Server was friendly and talkative, but perhaps because it got busier she seemed to grow indifferent (especially after we declined desert?). We did, however, Order 3 appetizers -- Muscles in Wine Sauce: tasty sauce and tons of Garlic, but some of the Mussels tasted less than fresh. Grilled Baby Octupus: Fantastic presentation, very fresh, best I've had. Tomato & Mozzarella Salad w/basil: Light, fresh & delicious as expected. For Entrees - Tortellini w/ proscuito, peas & mushrooms in a cream sauce: filling of course, but loved it. Riggatoni w/ Artichoke, Tomato, Olives & Onions -- not so good, sauce too astringent, too many onions, and only sparse artichokes. House Sicilian White Wine was really nice. All-in-all, a pleasant albeit not spectacular experience.

• Pros: Outdoor Patio; Grilled Baby Octopus Appetizer; & Tortellini in Cream Sauce Entree
• Cons: Mussels Can be less than Fresh; Service & Entrees Can be hit-or-miss