DeNucci's — Restaurant in Chicago

My husband and I had a 5:30pm reservation this evening, and I had been looking forward to trying to this place for months since they opened.

Let me start by saying the restaurant was almost empty when we arrived. The hostess decided to seat us all the way in back of the restaurant by the registers and high chairs. We kept passing all these cozy looking booths on the way, and my disappointment level quickly started off the evening at a high. I felt like I was at the worst possible table in the house in a dead restaurant, so the atmosphere rating takes a hit for me there.

As far as the service, I will say our server was very attentive. I am pregnant so I can’t eat unpasteurized cheese. I told her my restrictions upon ordering and she went out of her way to make me feel accommodated. Unfortunately, the food just overall missed the mark.

Starting off high, I thought the chicken parm was executed really well. Perfectly crisp, not soggy at all. Perfect sauce to cheese ratio. The sauce itself was very simple, yet fresh. Our second favorite was the arancini, it came out hot and it had a nice texture/crunch. We ended with pistachio gelato, which I also thought was meal highlight.

Getting into the lows, we ordered the tagliatelle bolognese, made will fresh noodles. Unfortunately, the pasta was just a huge miss for me. The noodles were all clumped together. My husband and I bit into big dough chunks where the pasta stuck together multiple times. My husband initially asked me if there was another meat in the pasta because he kept biting into dough balls. I feel like if you’re going to serve fresh pasta on the menu that should be something you are absolutely watching out for. Fortunately, the bolognese sauce itself was decent. We also got the chopped salad, the italian dressing was insanely bitter and sour.

My honest initial thought after our first dining experience is that DeNucci’s is offering very classic Italian dishes, and I truthfully don’t think they compete in the slightest to other Italian spots in the city offering a similar menu. I also hate being sat in the back of the restaurant while empty, so I think that has tainted my desire to wanting...

DeNucci’s – A Lincoln Park Gem for Italian Comfort Food

DeNucci’s has quickly become one of our favorite go-to spots in Lincoln Park. Nestled on Dickens Ave, this Italian-American restaurant nails that perfect balance of cozy, classy, and crave-worthy—from the charming ambiance to the comforting food that keeps us coming back.

We grabbed a seat at the bar for dinner and were met with fantastic service and an energy that feels both relaxed and refined—exactly what you want on a Friday night.

Let’s talk food:

Mozzarella Sticks – These are not your average mozzarella sticks. Perfectly crispy on the outside, melty on the inside, and served piping hot with marinara sauce that’s just the right amount of tangy. They’re a must-order.

Kale Salad – A refreshing and flavorful start to the meal. With lacinato kale, Brussels sprouts, golden raisins, watermelon radish, pecorino romano, chopped almonds, and a citrus vinaigrette—it was bright, balanced, and had great texture in every bite.

Lumanche Arrabbiata with Crumbled Sausage – Absolutely incredible. The lumache pasta holds onto that spicy arrabbiata sauce so well, and the crumbled sausage takes the dish to the next level. Bold, flavorful, and perfectly satisfying.

Friday Special: Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare – A standout. Generous portions of fresh seafood tossed in a rich tomato sauce with al dente spaghetti—it’s everything you’d want from a seafood pasta dish. Comforting and elegant at the same time.

To top it off, the space itself is warm and welcoming with a sleek marble bar, great lighting, and a buzzy neighborhood vibe. It’s the kind of place you can dress up for or roll into casually and still feel right at home.

Final Verdict: DeNucci’s delivers across the board—food, service, and atmosphere. Whether you’re in the mood for a big bowl of pasta, a comforting appetizer, or just a cozy corner to share a bottle of wine, it’s one of the best spots in Lincoln Park to do it. We can’t wait to come back.

10/10 – A...

I came here based on the positive reviews and how delicious the food appeared in the pictures posted. I was incredibly disappointed. We had no reservation, but it's always good to test the waters that way and see how the hosts will handle it. The hosts informed us that we would have to wait until a table, patio, or the bar opened up. In other restaurants, I would get an estimate time, but here they informed me that they did not know and dismissed us from the conversation. Another guest came in (also with no reservation) and the host informed her that a table in the patio had opened up and gave it to her instead of us who were waiting over 10 minutes already. Eventually, a couple of spots opened up at the bar so we sat ourselves down. First, I would like to start off with the garlic rolls appetizer. The sauce it came with lacked flavor. The rolls themselves also lacked flavor. I felt as if I were biting into plain grocery store rolls. I ordered the lumache arrabiata and my friend ordered the maine lobster ravioli. My friend stated that the dish had no flavor and no seasoning to which it was unfortunately bland and unsatisfactory. For the lumche arrabiata, I loved the spiciness, but disliked the sourness of the sauce. We also ordered a margherita pizza since the pastas were not filling. I honestly don't know how one could go wrong with pizza. It was so salty and was missing something. The only thing that was good about it was the sundried tomatoes on top. I really enjoyed the sweetness of it. But whenever I had to bite into a spot where there was no tomato, it was salty. Overall, the food ranged from below average to average for high quality prices. The service from the bartenders was alright. I wouldn't say it was above and beyond. As a person who enjoys food, I was very disappointing and was left...