Pasta Palazzo — Restaurant in Chicago

I have heard a ton of hype and that always makes me skeptical because you know what they say is true - expectation do usually lead to disappointment. So I went in with low expectations and wound up very pleased with the overall experience.

First off, I love love love the interior of the pub. It was definitely a step up from your typical neighborhood pub. The night we were there was a Sunday and they happen to have live Irish music which may or may not be your thing. I would have liked it a lot better except we were out with a couple we hadn't seen in a while and having a conversation was rather difficult. Not a complaint, just an observation!

For starters the other couple ordered chili mac; which sent me into a two-year-old-style tantrum internally of course, but since you don't know me, it's okay to vent. Just as a personal rule, I don't eat chili mac. There were about 30 other items on the menu I would have loved to have ordered for a community app. Everyone else seemed to enjoy it. Out of protest, I refused to try it. Don't know if anyone caught on to my not so subtle response or not, but moving on....

I had the Beckett burger with the curry mayo. I liked it a lot. My only request would have been that the mayo be a touch more currier (I realize this isn't a word). I also had a bite of the Joyce and to my surprise, I liked that even better. I really hearted both burgers as I am a sucker for the pretzel bun. One surprise was that I was expecting curry seasoned fries and what they call curry fries is really just plain fries and a curry mayo dipping sauce. One could argue semantics here, but I won't.

As for the service, it was good. We were disappointed that they were out of cream or something very basic like that so the specialty winter drink they were advertising was 86'd for the night. Other than that, I had no problems finding a tasty beer to wash down my burger and I do believe I would recommend The Grafton for your burger needs when Kuma's just...

Our lunch at Pasta Palazzo was completely unexpected—and turned out to be one of the best meals of our trip!

We originally had reservations at SummerHouse, but didn’t realize they were only serving brunch when I was craving lunch. So we decided to wander and stumbled upon Pasta Palazzo. It’s a small spot and honestly, from the outside, I wasn’t sure what to expect—but I’m so glad we gave it a chance.

We were greeted warmly and told to sit anywhere, so we grabbed a cozy table by the window. Our server was super friendly, attentive, and helpful in answering our questions about the menu.

We decided to build our own pastas—my husband went with spaghetti and Bolognese, and I had cavatappi with the tomato cream sauce. (A quick note: the sauce has chunks of tomato, so if that’s not your thing, you might want to choose another option or just pick them out like I did.)

The food came out piping hot and fast, and it was so good. Perfectly al dente noodles and such rich, flavorful sauces. My husband is still talking about how good his Bolognese was!

To top it off, the prices were shockingly reasonable—more affordable than some fast food places, which is rare to find in Chicago, especially when visiting as a tourist.

If you're in the area, whether local or visiting, Pasta Palazzo is a great casual lunch or dinner option. We’ll definitely be back the next time we’re...

I loved my pasta with grilled chicken and Alfredo sauce. I said "my" because you can customize your pasta dish at Pasta Palazzo. This represents exciting possibilities.

For instance, if you cook pasta dishes (as do I), and there's one you want to create, you can go to Pasta Palazzo, have them make your wish list dish, and, if you like it, try it at home. Only don't. It's much easier, and it's better to have it prepared for you at Pasta Palazzo.

I had no problem finding parking. Our waitress was super outgoing and friendly, and it was entertaining to watch the chefs prepare the food on the other side of the counter.

Lastly, I don't think I've ever shared how I came to be at a restaurant I patronized, but this story is pertinent.

I was driving down Halsted with my wife, searching for a fresh place to try, when suddenly, a shooting flame from a restaurant caught the corner of my eye. The flame came from the oven at Pasta Palazzo.

We turned the corner to try another restaurant, but it had not opened yet.

Upon that discovery, the image of that flame bursting into the air came to mind and drew me right to Pasta Palazzo.

You have to go.

BTW, a friend who went to cooking school told me to always order the appropriate (white/red) house wine. He said it's always a safe bet. He was right.

So, Go....