05/26/08

Great place to show someone they're special to you

by enjoy2max

I took out of town friends intending the evening to be special.

The waiter was generous in his suggestions, helpful in choosing among the wines that caught my interest. We ate 3 course from the a la carte menu. You're free to mix: some can eat a la carte while others choose the fixed price menu and they'll match courses for you. The reviews here of the truffle gnocchi are uniformly raves. Our waiter's modest opinion: best pasta in the universe. It was fantastic. All pastas can be served as main courses, but this one is too rich for that. Be prepared for smaller portions than usual. The shrimp appetizer was outstanding. And yes, as others have pointed out, it is two shrimp for $15. They're perfect, though.

All three of us chose the herb crusted filet as our entree. We all agreed it was the best filet we'd ever eaten. I'm mostly a vegetarian yet I found myself restraining my knife so as not to leave my guests in the dust. Perfectly pink center, crusty outside, flavorful, moist, yum. The pastry with browned butter and herbs was fantastic.

The lemon vodka cream desert with a polenta cookie and chunks of Meyer lemon was divine. Just right to share. We enjoyed sharing three different desserts. Of the three, the gelato selection was my least favorite, the lemon cream above and the chocolate carmel concoction left us licking the plates. We left satisfied yet not stuffed.

The waiter didn't bring our coffees till after we'd finished dessert (like they do in Europe, he informed us when we wondered if he'd forgotten). So if you like yours with dessert, ask. The 2003 Brunello di Montalcino ($155) he recommended was perfect with our filets,and he decanted it. The only service glitch:some of that wine I had been looking forward to drinking was cleared away for desert! Service was great, atmosphere was special, food was outstanding. Bill before tip was $535 for three of us.

• Pros: best ever herb crusted filet mignon, extensive wine list, truffle gnocchi is divine, validated parking.
• Cons: very expensive.

03/18/08

Exemplary service, Outstanding food, Wonderful atmosphere, Reasonable parking fee

by margolis

This is an upscale, award-winning establishment meant for the sophisticated palate. If you don't mind forking over big money for a great meal, read on. The valet was efficient and very reasonable for Chicago at $14. The host was friendly. We were promptly seated, honoring our reservation. Our waiter was informed, efficient, friendly, and helpful. The other wait staff was equally as wonderful. The decor is a bit outdated, but the atmosphere is clean and upscale. We had a romantic table with a view of Michigan Ave and Lake Shore Dr. Our booth was comfortable and roomy. We chose the prix fixe menu, a DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) tasting menu. Every one of the eight courses was magnificent. Yes, the portions are small, but when you eat eight of them, you leave full. If you want to stuff yourself until you're uncomfortable, this is not the place. This restaurant is geared toward gourmands, not gluttons. If you appreciate 100 year old balsamic vinegar and artisan produced ingredients, then this place is for you. The prix fixe tasting menu we enjoyed is comprised of protected designation of origin products. In other words, they are produced within the specified region using defined methods and satisfy a defined quality standard. A nice touch was the Moscato d'Asti they served with our dessert, compliments of the house, in honor of our anniversary. We also thoroughly enjoyed the complimentary bottled still water served with our meal. Our glass never got below half-full. The dolci they serve with dessert were very tasty and a highlight of our dining experience. Other highlights were the rabbit, which we substituted for the Dover sole, and the cheeses served throughout the meal from the appetizer to the cheese course. $500 for our meals, cocktails, valet parking, and tips. We feel it was priced a little high, but we will definitely return. Next time, we may trying dining a la carte. Definitely highly recommend for special occasions.

• Pros: Service, Parking, Food Quality, Atmosphere
• Cons: Decor Outdated, A Bit Pricey

08/27/07

A Dieter's Dream- 1 bite Portion Control....all for only $285.00!!!!!

by lroncoli

We have been to many 4 and 5 star restaurants and I can't believe that Spiaggia is considered anything above 1 or 2 stars! The scallop appetizer sounded absolutely delicious on the menu and to our surprise, for $24, the ONE measly medium-sized scallop that arrived at our table was only so-so tasting. I ordered ravioli with my meal and AGAIN, for $18, I got ONE small piece of bland tasting cheese-filled ravioli! The main course of sea bass (a few bites) was very bland. I can justify paying high prices if the food is exceptional, but it wasn?t any tastier than the food court at a local shopping mall. Also, every time you touched your fork to your lips, or used your knife, a server would come by and replace them with a new, clean set. It was actually annoying. The owners and staff of this place are laughing their way to the bank. They kiss a little booty, change your fork like you are royalty, pretend the mediocre food in front of you is ?art? and then giggle and they hand you a GIGANTIC bill as your stomach is still growling. If you are on a diet, this is the place to go! Four bites served per guest.

I felt so bad for my boyfriend. He was so excited to go to this place and we ended up laughing at the service and food the entire time. A few hours after we left, he looked at me and said ?I?m hungry. Do you want Taco Bell?? Spiaggia was a $285.00 joke on us! At least now we have a fun story to tell our friends!

• Pros: None
• Cons: Bite-sized portions, Over-priced, Over-rated

06/05/07

Average dining experience...honest review

by wushah

So I ate at Spiaggia while at a conference last week. I really thought this meal was going to be the culinary highlight of my trip (as I had dined at 3 other restaurants as well during the conference). I was largely disappointed for several reasons. The food was good but not amazing. The portions were just too small. In fact, I had to eat a lot of bread in order to feel reasonably satiated. I just expected more. Perhaps, Spiaggia is a victim of its own hype. You hear about it, but, just by reading some of the other reviews, the post-dinner reaction seems to largely be the same. The dining experience doesn't match the hype. The ambiance is nice. The jacket requirement is okay. The drink menu is average. The wine list is good. The staff was very good. Nonetheless, all those things are secondary. It comes down to the food, and if you have to eat bread in order to make the dining experience even an average one, something is wrong.

Eating at Spiaggia won't be the worst thing you can do, but I feel confident it won't be the best either. For the price, it comes up short IMO.

• Pros: staff
• Cons: small portions

05/21/07

BEST MEAL OF MY LIFE

by kfox

Spiaggia, Form the moment I entered the restaurant to the time we left we felt cared for. The service was outstanding. The sommellier, Steven Alexander, was not only good looking but very helpful. For $135 we felt like the Chef's tasting menu was a steal. We left full and can't wait to come back.

• Pros: Staff, Food, Wine
• Cons: none

05/16/07

A simply unforgettable culinary experience

by lbg1971

Enjoying a meal at Spiaggia is not just the epitome of culinary delight, but also a truly tasteful experience for all the senses. Upon entering the restaurant, your eye is immediately drawn to the breathtaking view of Lake Michigan. After being seated, the extremely courteous and knowledgeable service team will acquaint you with the many delights of the menu, attend to your every desire and insure you will enjoy a meal marked by splendid and attentive service, excellent wine pairings and sublime Italian cuisine inspired by James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Mantuano. After you dinner, should you choose to indulge, an unparalleled cheese selection will be presented to your table, from which you may select an array of diverse choices. And no dinner at Spiaggia is complete without a sampling of their excellent homemade gelato or pastries.

When you step into Spiaggia, expect excellence in cuisine, ambiance, service and management. A night at Spiaggia is truly without equal in Chicago.

02/20/07

Enjoy the lovely views and complementary COC*ROACHES

by msw701

We found this restaurant in a Chicago guide book last July, and I went there with my mom, my two aunts and my cousin. When we were almost done with our appetizer, we noticed a COC*ROACH crawling on the wall. Our extremely officious waiter jokingly disposed of the insect. A few minutes later, there was A SECOND COC*ROACH -- this one nearly crawled onto my cousin's shoulder. Again, our waiter brushed this off. To make up for it, he offered us...a few free desserts.

Now, there were dozens of other patrons nearby. We didn't scream or yell "COC*ROACH!" We remained calm and polite -- none of the diners knew what had happened. And for our efforts, we were rewarded with...free dessert. What better way to placate a group of four women?

So, if you happen to be dining there and see one of these insects, please scream as loudly as you can. Then, maybe *your* meal will be as free as the COC*ROACHES that accompanied ours.

• Cons: C**KROACHES, officious waiters, sexist management

12/25/06

The Big Lie

by lobbytn

un-attentive service, basically the experience was very bad. food was disappointing, portions were ridiculously small. don't waste your time. any other restraunt in Chicago would be a better choice.

12/19/06

Surprisingly Anticlimactic

by catchris98

Have always heard great things about this place, but never went until recently. Decor has a kind of Carnival cruise line dining room feel to it. More just elegantly bland than cheesy. Service is what you'd expect...top notch. The pasta course was superb, but the main (veal chop $42) was the smallest I'd ever seen and the fattiest I'd ever tasted. And the taste itself didn't was very ordinary. I felt annoyed afterwards and I didn't even pay for it. It's one thing to charge these prices for near perfection, but this is far from it. Rather, this is a dated place where the reputation exceeds reality.

• Pros: Service, Pasta course
• Cons: Tired, price, small portions, mediocre food

11/05/06

Great culinary experience

by marakelian

Spiaggia was such a great experience. The food was great and the service very experienced, knowledgeable, and attentive. I ordered the tasting menu, which proved to be too much food, but enjoyable nonetheless. The only complaint I have is the lobster, which was quite chewy and overcooked; otherwise, every course was great, especially the lamb and cheese courses. The robiolo langhe was the best cheese I have ever had and the cheeses were well paired with the honey. I find the true test of a restaurant to be how great the dessert is, because so few do it well. The dessert was fantastic! I highly recommend Spiaggia, and will definitely be dining there again, this time trying the truffle tasting menu.

• Pros: Food, service, ambiance
• Cons: Lobster