Fortunato Fish and Oyster — Restaurant in Aurora Township

I was wary to try this place bcuz of some of the reviews. But it’s a very short drive from my partner’s place and we’ve been wanting to check it out, so finally pulled the trigger. It was legitimately very good. The menu, from the drinks to the appetizers to the entrees and desserts has a great selection that provides variety but is still curated.

We had reservations and were seated right away, and our server was very attentive throughout the night. Drinks and food all came quickly. I thought the portion sizes were very good, and the prices fairly reasonable. It’s not going to be the least expensive place you go but it’s not supposed to be.

We got 2 appetizers: lobster maki waygu meatballs with a bread stick

Entrees: the fjord trout the lobster linguini

Dessert: the chocolate Bundino

4 drinks: 2 Mediterraneans 2 other drinks my partner ordered but I don’t remember what they were

The lobster maki was SO good. 8 pieces I believe. Large sized roll. Waygu meatballs were so tender and yummy. Perhaps a pinch salty but that’s personal preference. My partner didn’t think they were. You get 4. Plus the breadstick. They were medium sized. I think it was reasonably priced for what you get.

My trout was a very good sized portion. At least 6oz I believe. If not more. And I love that they prepare it medium rare. So many places cook their fish well done bcuz they’re afraid someone will get sick maybe, but this place clearly trusts their food source, preparation, and quality. It was buttery soft and well seasoned. The garlic chips and micro greens on top were great as well as the sauce. Came with carmelized cabbage on the side, a generous portion. So well seasoned and soft enough to cut with a butter knife but still a little crunch to it. Perfect texture. I could see how someone might want a starch to go with the meal, tho. Some kind of potato or grain. I was more than full by the end thanks to the two appetizers before it. But I could see how if you didn’t get apps, you may find the dish lacking a little. But honestly it was SO delicious.

My partner really enjoyed his linguini aragosta. I tried a bite and it was very flavorful. Good amount of lobster too.

I’m not a huge dessert person but it was my partner’s birthday so they give you a complimentary dessert. We went with the chocolate bundino and WOW. I expected to take a bite and be done bcuz I don’t really have a sweet tooth but I think I ended up eating more than he did! I would go back just for the dessert.

Our drinks were great too, and again arrived quickly. My small complaint about that is that I don’t think they listed the drink prices for those on the menu but I could fully expect to be wrong on that. I looked around but didn’t look that hard. I know some places do that and I’ll never understand why. I saw prices for the wine and non alcoholic drinks but I didn’t see the cocktail prices. Again, could have possibly missed them tho.

Before tip, and with the dessert being complimentary, after taxes our total came out to $201 and change. Again that’s for: 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 4 drinks. And everything was quality and well portioned.

There are cheaper things on the menu than we got but there are also more expensive things. Just like with most menus. So your experience will vary.

I truly enjoyed the whole experience. I would say the music was a little loud, which is why I take one star off for atmosphere. But not unbearable. So otherwise, this place exceeded my expectations. To be fair I went in pretty wary bcuz of some reviews, but I have to say I didn’t experience any of those issues during my visit.

I’d give it 4.5 stars....

My family and I visited Fortunato based on a recommendation from family friends, and it exceeded all our expectations! From the moment we walked in, the cozy yet upscale vibe of the dining room set the stage for an amazing lunch. Our waitress, Paulina, was a delight—knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. She explained that Fortunato focuses on Northern Italian cuisine, especially seafood, which excited us, as we often visit family in Northern Italy and are big fans of this style of cooking.

The wine list offers excellent choices from across Italy, and we chose the 2023 Surrau Limizzani Vermentino di Gallura—a perfect seafood pairing. We started with Blue Point oysters (fresh and wonderfully sweet, enhanced by a champagne mignonette) and Calamari a la Plancha, which was sautéed with cherry tomatoes, arugula, shallots, and lemon shallot butter—bright and full of flavor. The grissini came warm and soft, perfect for soaking up the calamari butter sauce.

For mains, my mom chose the Linguini Aragosta, and my dad and I ordered the Ox Tail Genovese Agnolotti. The linguini was loaded with tender lobster, complemented by a subtle fennel essence, while the agnolotti stole the show. The oxtail filling was perfectly tender, the fresh pasta divine, and the brown butter sauce (almost like a light broth) made the dish unforgettable. The finishing touch? A shaving of truffle. This is a must-try dish!

To finish, we tried Luxardo Amaretto (surprisingly almond-free and wonderfully smooth) paired with the Chocolate Budino. The budino, similar to chocolate mousse, was rich but not overly sweet, and the chocolate shortbread was the ideal accompaniment.

Paulina’s excellent service and menu expertise made our experience extra special. Fortunato has quickly become a gem, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know. We can’t wait for the grab-and-go...

We were so excited to try this new restaurant but unfortunately we walked away extremely disappointed. I made a reservation online and wrote in the message section that we were celebrating my husband’s birthday and would also be bringing our 11 month old daughter and would require a high chair. They specifically offer a dining area for “all ages” and a dining area for 18 and up. We arrived to our reservation and are lead to our table where there is no high chair so I politely ask for one. I’m told they have no high chairs. This is a disappointment but I decide I’ll just hold my daughter for our meal because we really were looking forward to the food. I could have let it slide except for when I went to change my baby, there were no changing tables in the restrooms. Now, I completely understand and respect some establishments are meant to be child free and had that been relayed to us at any point I would have cancelled our reservation without a fuss and planned to come another night when we had childcare. But not only did no one reach out to us after I wrote that we would be requiring a high chair in our online reservation, but they specifically advertised one of their dining areas as “all ages” where kids were welcome. We decided to just walk out and dine elsewhere. We did speak to the manager on our way out, she was very kind and understanding but obviously this did nothing to solve our issue. So beware, not a child friendly...