Natalino's

08/18/08

Good food - questionable service

by noyuppies at Citysearch

I ate there for the first time on a Sunday evening. The atmosphere is lovely - great bar, cool dining room, and the do a nice job with the outdoor seating considering you are right on a busy street. I felt the service was lacking. We sat with our drinks from the bar for about 20 minutes before anyone came by to set the table with napkins, silverware, etc. Then our waiter came up and asked if we wanted appetizers without bringing menus. Once he brought the menus the bus person asked if we wanted bread. That didn't arrive until the apps came and we asked the waiter.

We ordered a bottle of wine and our waiter brought the wrong one. It was good, but the wrong bottle! He asked if we were ready to order and we asked if there were any specials and he said, oh yeah.... and rattled them off. He wasn't a pill or anything, but I didn't feel like he knew his job very well. The whole meal took about 2 1/2 hours! It wasn't well executed and the restaurant wasn't busy at all. There were only about 8 other tables occupied.

That being said, the food was great. I had the risotto primerva and it was great. My friend had the risotto with veal and porcini mushrooms and it was outstanding! I wish I had ordered that!!

I don't live in the neighborhood so I probably would'nt make the trip to go to Natalino's again. My advice is if you are picky about service, you won't like it. If you can go with the flow, the food is very good.

• Pros: really good food - nice atmosphere
• Cons: slow inexperienced service (waiter and bus person)

06/29/08

AMAZING!!

by wackyjack at Citysearch

Natalino's is incredible! The atmosphere is old school with big booths and big martinis. The menu has everything you would ever want at an Italian restaurant and one thing is better than the next. I highly recommend the burrata cheese (no one else has it in Chicago) Chilean sea bass and calamari. You will definitely walk out of there really happy and really full!

• Pros: Food, service, free valet
• Cons: nothing

06/24/08

Great Food and Great Price

by TasteBuds69 at Citysearch

One day while I was reading the Chicago Sun Times I came across this review and the picture of the food looked delicious. I automatically knew I had to visit this restaurant since I'm a lover of italian food. I made reservations for ten and the restaurant was very accomdating. We arrived and the waiter was very nice. Brian explained the menu to us and was very nice and mannerable. We ordered the food and even though it took a while to come when it did arrive the food was phenomenal. Everything on the menu was delicious. The waiters was also very attentive and caring to me and my party. The food was very tasty and we received large portions for the price we paid. Everyone was able to take a plate home. I wasn't able to get to the desserts but I will definitely visit again and order the desserts though the desserts looked very delicious. The decor was amazing also. Its a perfect group or date place. Overall the restaurant was great and it has free valet parking. Its a short cab ride from Michigan Avenue. And if you go there try to get Brian as your waiter. Also try the polenta and sausage appetizer and the chicken caccaintorie. There to die for.

• Pros: Great food, Great price.
• Cons: Probably needs a bigger space cause this place gets crowded quick.

06/19/08

Good variety, great food.

by SuzChitown at Citysearch

The food (we started with the rolled eggplant appetizer, had the tortellacci al aragosta and veal saltimbocca for entrees, and the canoli plate for dessert) was outstanding and well priced. The service was a little slow but I got the sense that it was the exception rather than the rule (they were completely packed, with a wait, on a Tuesday night). Our waiter, Chase, was very pleasant and knowledgable about the menu. Ambiance was somehow both intimate and friendly.