Chicago｜Tried the Hype Italian Spot – Honestly, Not Necessary 😅

The buzz around Olio E Piu has finally reached Chicago, but the menu here is quite different from the NYC location. I wanted to try their pizzas, but they weren’t available… a bit of a letdown. That said, the restaurant itself is beautiful!! Especially on a nice day, sitting outside feels so relaxing—they even have a Steinway piano inside. 🎹 🍝 Carbonara A classic egg‑yolk pasta, usually a must‑order. But wow—unbelievably salty! All four of us thought so. Maybe it was an off day or inconsistent prep, but it really missed the mark compared to the authentic Carbonara I’ve had before. 🍤 Fritto Primavera Fried seafood and veggies—just okay. The seafood pieces were tiny, not very satisfying. 🐟 Branzino Del Marinaio The star of the meal! A whole sea bass with tomato and lime—fresh, tender, and well‑balanced. Everyone agreed this was the best dish. 🍰 Tiramisu Actually good! Rich coffee‑liqueur flavor. We also tried the alcoholic sorbet (you pour a shot into the sorbet)—unique and fun to try! We’ve had this place bookmarked for a while, but the visit was disappointing. The bread was average, pasta too salty, service was inattentive, and prices weren’t low. Chicago has so many better Italian spots—save this one for a date night quota (the ambiance really is lovely). 📍 Olio E Più 445 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654 #RestaurantReview #GlobalFoodies #Chicago #ChicagoEats #ItalianFood #FoodieContest