OLIO E PIÙ — Restaurant in Chicago

Olio e Piu is a stunning restaurant with elevated cocktail and Italian dishes.

REAL QUICK:

Ambiance: Stunning, perfect for a date night, girls night out or even a business meeting. Lively and energetic but still feels quiet and intimate

Food: Absolutely AMAZING! Relative portion sizes, my friend and I both had to go boxes for our mains. Menu Highlights are: -Farfalla Rosa cocktail, Fritto Primavera for a starter, Pistachio Gnocchi for main and the Banana Chocolate Crostata for dessert.

READ BELOW FOR THE FULL DETAILED REVIEW:

I visited Olio e Piu on a Thursday evening and the restaurant was extremely lively and exciting. I was greeted immediately by the hostess who was friendly and engaging and was seated immediately. I highly recommend making a reservation as I can see this place filling up quickly.

Upon seating, our server, Peter started us off with complimentary bread and walked us through the menu and offered some of his favorites (which was appreciated! I love a good suggestion.) Olio e Piu offers a robust menu with soooo many great starters, main dishes, and cocktails. Here's what we tried (and LOVED):

Cocktails: We started our evening of dining off with two cocktails the 'Farfalla Rossa': which was a nice and light martini with lychee and cranberry, 'Calabrian Peach Sour': a vodka cocktail that had a good balance of peach with punches of sour. One cocktail simply was not enough -- Later in the evening after our meal we weren't quite ready to go, so we also tried the 'Vulcano': which was not only visually stunning but tasty with the smokiness from the tequila. 'Olio's Sour': which gave a citrus sour balancing freshness and a sour kick.

As if the drinks weren't enough we loved loved LOVED the food.

For starters: Fritto Primavera: Calamari and shrimp battered and fried to perfection and paired with a tasty tartare aioli which we could not get enough of!

Delizia di Granchio: This a cold starter containing oranges and tomatoes served with a nice portion of crab meat. An interesting take and paired together really had this freshness which we loved.

Mains: Gnocchi Pesto e Pistachhio: A menu highlight for sure!! The gnocchi was made absolutely perfect it almost melted in my mouth. The basil pesto was fresh yet creamy and pistachio not only added texture with the crunch but just created good flavor too.

Ravioli di Carciofi: Cheese filled ravioli in a tasty cream sauce which had a nice density and nice buttery/cream flavor. So yummy and buttery

Desserts: Cannot leave without a sweet treat We loved our desserts which were a: Sorbet (lemon and raspberry) the raspberry held a such a bold flavor and three scoops is absolutely enough to share with the table (though you likely wont want to use so yummy)

Banana/Cioccolato Crostata: Talk about a dessert done right! Chocolate and banana were balances perfectly and the mousse like ganache paired with bananas and cream really outdid itself.

Overall you have to go and try out Olio e Piu for date night, business dinner whatever it is you will not be...

Note: Opening a restaurant is very tough (and I visited in the first three weeks), so this post is more a preliminary survey than a hard review.

OLIO E PIÙ opened December 13th in Chicago's River North area. I walk by this restaurant on my way to work every day and watched them in development for many months. When it finally opened, I was very excited to try it!

My girlfriend and I ate at Olio Friday night. The restaurant was full, despite a late reservation (9:15pm).

Mood: From the outside, the holiday decorations created a warm and inviting allure. The inside was equally appealing with a rustic Italian ambiance underscored by delicately vaulted ceilings, white-washed walls, and vintage décor. One drawback was the top count. The number of tables dwarfed/diluted the feeling a bit and it felt a bit crowded.

Drinks: I got the Olio's Sour, made with real egg whites. Very tasty! I also liked that it was topped with a sprig of fragrant thyme. My girlfriend got the Vulcano, she said it was good but it did not knock her socks off - although she noted that it was nice they had a tequila-based drink on the menu. If you like Italian wine, they have a robust selection for you to choose from.

Food: I got the Ravioli Di Carciofi. Portion a little small, but I am a big guy and we didn't get any appetizers. I thought the stuffing of the ravioli was very good, but concerned that the pasta was undercooked (a little too dense) and the seasons atop the dish was a bit too judicious and overpowered the softer flavor of the artichoke. All this said, I am not an Italian and this place seems very authentic so I could be the one in error here. Plan to come back with actual Italian friends to get a full opinion. My girlfriend had their gluten free pasta with the sauce from their gnocchi pistachio pesto dish - which she said was delicious.

Service: My girlfriend has Celiac (so she is literally poisoned if she has gluten). The staff went out of their way to make sure that her food was safe - and, critically, they didn't make her feel bad for asking many questions about the ingredients. Speed-wise, it did take some time for us to get our drinks and food, but feel like this is common for new restaurants and will get worked out with time (and the wait wasn't so long that it was harmful to the experience). The service staff was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Overall, the visit was very exciting, and I plan to come back again in a month or two. I'm looking at all the food photos others posted and excited to try a few new items - they look delicious!

Good luck to management with their first year...

If you’re looking for an upscale Italian spot in Chicago with a brunch menu that blends elegance with comfort, this restaurant delivers in spades. With a great atmosphere, an open kitchen for some culinary theater, and a menu that’ll make your taste buds sing, it’s a solid choice for a leisurely Sunday meal. But be prepared to really lean into the "leisurely" part—the service here is as slow as a Sunday morning… and not in the best way.

We kicked things off with the “Pancake Fragola e Amarena” which were a revelation. Light, fluffy, and sandwiched between each flapjack was delightful cherry Amarena chantilly, they felt like clouds kissed by a cherry orchard. The fresh strawberries and maple syrup added just the right balance of tart and sweet. Honestly, I could wax poetic about these pancakes all day.

The “Uovo, Prosciutto e Patate” was another hit. The poached eggs were textbook perfect—soft, silky, and oozing with golden goodness. Paired with roasted potatoes and a savory garlic-paprika mayo, this dish is a love letter to breakfast staples. The prosciutto added a salty, luxurious touch that brought everything together beautifully.

The “Frittata Zucchine e Menta” was enjoyable, though just a tad over-salted for my preference. The zucchini and mint offered a refreshing twist, but the seasoning could’ve taken a step back to let those delicate flavors shine. Still, it’s a dish that holds its own alongside the more indulgent brunch fare.

Speaking of indulgence, the “Chitarra alla Carbonara” was a carb-lover’s dream. The guanciale brought a rich, smoky depth, and the creamy egg yolk sauce clung lovingly to the chitarra pasta without feeling overly heavy. With light sprinkles of black pepper and Parmigiano, it’s a dish worth every bite. Honestly, I’d return just for this plate of pasta perfection.

Overall, while the food hit all the right notes, the service was slower than an Italian summer afternoon. It took far too long to get drinks, water was spilled onto the table with nearly every refill, and placing our food orders felt like waiting for a plot twist in a slow-burn movie. The lack of detail on service detracted from what could’ve been a flawless experience. That said, this Italian gem serves up a delicious brunch with dishes that range from light and comforting to downright luxurious. If they can get the service up to par, this place would be a no-brainer for a perfect Sunday brunch. Until then, come for the food, stay for the atmosphere, and pack a little...