Acanto — Restaurant in Chicago

I was really looking forward to try this place in our first visit to Chicago since we love trying out italian restaurants at every city we visit, so we went on Friday Aug 29 at 5pm. The places is decorated delightfully and the ambience is really beautiful and romantic; low lights with candlelights on the tables. Food was amazing however, service leaves a lot to be desired. When we walked in, the host (hopefully he wasn’t a manager) told us to wait a couple of minutes to be seated, which was completely understandable since the place was packed. A couple of minutes into our wait, some friends of him walked in without a reservation and were immediately seated in the bar area, which was fine with us since bar seating is usually first come first serve and we wanted a table. The problem was that this “host” completely forgot about us, he grabbed menus for his friends and stayed chatting with them. We didn’t say anything but a female host noticed and she immediately took care of us and showed us to our table. The gentleman filling up the glasses of water was the best service we received at this restaurant; he came to our table 3 times before a server even showed up to take care of us. He was very attentive and corteous. After 15 minutes of being seated, the server came to our table so we immediately ordered food and drinks, since we were afraid when she would show up again. Food arrived in a reasonable time and was absolutely delicious; One of the best chicken picatta I have had. I’m providing this extensive and detailed review just as feedback for an opportunity of improvement in the customer service area. An excellent restaurant experience includes both, good customer service and delicious food and even though we loved the food, we won’t go back or recommend to friends due to the lack of...

Very fine dining located right by the Art Institute, to say the least. Let's start with the atmosphere. It's dripping in ambiance, from the candlelight on each table to the racks of liquor illuminated on the wall, to the oil painting of a fox in the corner. This is the perfect spot to enjoy some good food and mingle with friends. Service was fast, friendly, and knowledgeable. The sommelier, Greg, was especially good at facilitating the process of my party choosing their wine. Now let's get down to the real business here. The best way I can describe the food here is that it makes one appreciate just how precious food is, and more importantly, how precious good food is. Starting with the appetizers, the collection of meats and cheeses, as well as the olive appetizer, were a delectable treat to start the dining experience. Entrees were similarly very tasty. My chicken piccata, with the aptly named piccata sauce, was playful and light, with underlying layers of taste if you investigated hard enough. One member of my party ordered a hearty, meaty steak that with just a few bites filled me up well. The menus here are seasonal, so these dishes might not be what you see on the menu when you come here. But please, I beg of you, Acanto, do not get rid of the classic Tiramasu dessert. A delicate yet rich concoction, and served with sweet and delicious chocolate sticks, this was the best tiramasu I have ever had, hands down. I was mesmerized with each bite of it as I savored the cream and cocoa and all of it. This reminded me of why I love Acanto. No messing about, just dang good food. If your ever in search of fine Italian food after a day touring Millennium Park or the Art Institute, this treasure of a restaurant will...

We had the opportunity to eat here with some friends Saturday night before a show.

Atmosphere- 10/10. The dining area was calm/classy and gave a really good vibe for the night. Good lighting and music all throughout the meal.

Service- 10/10Hannah was our waitress and was very helpful with Chef Troy to accommodate my wife’s allergy. She continually asked the staff about dishes we wanted and was great in recommendations for dinner and dessert.

The Food- 12/10 I am a big foodie if that isnt apparent. My wife and I had the pleasure of eating at Temporis before with Chef Troy and his creations in a fine dining setting. To see Chef Troy accomplish a different style that was not only delicious, but a perfect balance for Italian dining was incredible. I got the bruschetta and the meatball for my meal and my wife had the lobster ravioli. The bruschetta was one of the best I have had in my life, and the meatball had one of the best savory sauces I have had in my life. The lobster ravioli was divine and had the perfect amount of lemon on the top of each bite (mind you they don’t skimp on the lobster for the ravioli like some other restaurants). My friends had the cauliflower side dish and that was sensational. One of the only times I wish I received the item myself.

The food was one of the best I have had in the city and I eagerly await any restaurant or concept Chef Troy works on in the future. Thank you to the staff and restaurant for your service for our group, and I am eager to eat more items on the menu...