Orso's — Restaurant in Chicago

Review for Orso’s on Wells Street

Alright, let’s get down to business. My neighbors and I have recently turned dinner into a weekly tradition, and Wednesday nights? They belong to Orso’s. Why? Because Orso’s delivers more than just food—it creates moments that feel purposeful. And let me tell you, their Wednesday night pizza deal is unbeatable: buy one pizza, get one free when dining in. For takeout (or maybe delivery, though I’m not 100% sure), it’s buy one, get the second half-off. But honestly, you want to sit down, soak up the atmosphere, and savor the full Orso’s experience.

Before we dive into the pizza, let’s talk salad. With five of us at the table, we’ve learned the hard way that a proper family-sized salad isn’t on the menu. It’s a missed opportunity, really—big, shareable bowls of iceberg lettuce and veggies are an easy win. Think Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder’s salad: simple, satisfying, and enough to feed the whole table. Orso’s could take a note here. But even without it, Orso’s has a secret weapon: Orlando. Our waiter isn’t just a server; he’s a miracle worker. Somehow, he brings out a salad that’s perfect for all of us to share, making it seem effortless and special at the same time.

The pizza? Absolute perfection. Crisp, golden crusts, gooey cheese, and toppings that are so fresh they might as well be singing. But here’s the thing: Orso’s isn’t just about pizza. When Wednesday nights aren’t in play, we’ve created family-style Italian feasts that are nothing short of spectacular. The ravioli? Like soft little pillows of joy. The lasagna? A warm, comforting hug on a plate. The calamari? Crispy, tender, and completely irresistible.

What makes Orso’s special isn’t just the food, though—it’s the way they make you feel. It’s a place where connections happen, where laughter fills the air, and where every meal becomes an opportunity to pause, savor, and celebrate life’s little blessings.

So, gratitude to God and to those at Orso’s who make every visit feel like a gift. If you’re looking for a spot to make memories and enjoy incredible food, Orso’s is it. Come for the pizza, stay for the family-style dinners, and leave with a full belly and a full heart. And if Orlando is your server, consider yourself lucky—he’ll make sure your visit is nothing short of...

This was our first time in Orso’s. We had high expectations based on the google reviews & convenient location (several blocks from home).

It’s Saturday night (08/26), we came around 7:10 PM. Sat at the table in the patio. Waited for 15 minutes before our server approached us.

Kamilla took our orders, Penne Alla Vodka + iced water & Rigatoni Paisano + a Coors Light.

Upon taking our order, we requested Kamilla to separate our checks after meal.

10 minutes later, we were in shocked that she presented us with a check before our dinner even on the table! It was extremely rude to be given a check before dinner was consumed.

She had a little bit accent, we were not sure if she didn’t understand our request? My friend was aggravated, he immediately asked a lady (who looked like one of the managers, she wore a suit) of what just happened! She apologised and told us she would take care of it.

Within 5 minutes, Kamilla came back to our table while we were enjoying our dinner. She once again presented us with 2 separate checks this time!

She was clueless! The Manager obviously did not resolve this issue, my friend advised the Manager twice, we’d like to have our separate checks after meal (after dinner).

15 minutes into our meal, Kamilla came back to our table and asked if we were ready with the checks (meaning pay). At this time, I couldn’t handle my patience any longer, “We are still having dinner!”

Everything was excellent, the ambiance, the cleanliness, the warmth of the host who escorted us to our table (5 stars) our dinner was exquisite! (5 stars). However … our dinner experience was ruined by the lack of professionalism, etiquette and lack of service training by our server, Kamilla.

Disappointing! By the way, we were celebrating my friend’s Birthday! Thank you, Orso’s...

A Sunday on a beautiful afternoon. Thought I would try this place as I have walked past it several times. We sat on the patio. Our fellow diners arrived before us and had their menus. We sat down and asked for menus. After receiving them we were greeted by our waitress. Very friendly. We weren't quite ready for our choices so she left. After quite a while I had to hail her over from the bar where she was busy talking to another server. Took the order and after a short while food was delivered. Ten minutes into our meals, she asked if we wanted parmesean cheese. Wouldn't you think you would ask that when you delivered the entrees? Also I noticed that no bread was brought out and maybe that is this restaurants policy but not most Italian restaurants that I have eaten in. Overall the service was less than attentive. One shouldn't have to ask for everything. Water, ordering menus. The food--- Oh I had great hopes because they have been a family business for many years and the reviews were decent. I don't know about my co diners but my food was quite disappointing. The sauce had that canned sauce taste -so definely not mamas recipe. The pasta served with was overcooked. This is a lovely patio for summertime but maybe try the pizza or brunch because the dinner food we ordered was not so good. I probably wouldn't go back. I am wondering what was wrong based on...