🇮🇹 Chicago Italian Restaurant | Quartino Ristorante Review

This week, I finally visited Quartino, which had been on my list forever! 😋 The flavors were great and prices reasonable, though portions felt a bit smaller compared to another favorite, Volare. We went with four people, so we ordered a bunch to share — everything except the pizza was finished (we were really hungry! 🍽️). 🦑 Crisp Calamari – served with tomato sauce and lemon 🍋. Not bad as a starter — honestly, the first dish always tastes fine as long as it’s edible 😂. But personally, I found the squid a bit too soft and lacking chewiness. 🍕 Margherita Pizza – a pleasant surprise! I expected it to be just okay, but the crust was super crispy, and with the melted cheese and tangy tomato sauce, it was hard not to grab extra slices. 🍝 Fettuccine Alfredo – the star of the meal! ✨ This was the most unique Alfredo I’ve tried — rich, creamy, almost with a hint of powdered milk flavor. Topped with Parmigiano Reggiano 🧀. If you love white sauce pasta, don’t miss this! Best shared though — it can be rich for one person. 🍰 Tiramisu – recommended online, so we gave it a try. You can definitely taste the liqueur, but it’s not overpowering. A safe and tasty choice! 🍡 Meatball – you can add meatballs to pasta, but we ordered it as a side. Served in red sauce with cheese, the meatballs were firm and flavorful — a reliable classic. 🍚 Porcini & Truffle Risotto – porcini mushrooms + white truffle = a winning combo! The risotto was slightly al dente, but it worked well texture-wise. 🥩 Beef Short Rib – the sauce got a bit salty toward the end, but the meat was tender and fell apart easily. Kinda reminded me of the braised beef from Whole Foods hot bar… in a good way 😄. Overall, no major disappointments here! The vibe is cozy and vintage, prices are fair, and it’s definitely a spot I’d return to. 👍 #ChicagoEats #ItalianFood #QuartinoChicago #ChicagoFoodie #PastaLover #ShareablePlates