Petterinos — Restaurant in Chicago

Was quite disappointed with the service we received. The restaurant itself was great, was beautifully decorated for Christmas, the hosts were lovely we were running late to our reservation and they still sat us when we arrived.

However the experience at the table was not as pleasant. I didn’t catch his name but I heard we were sitting at table 50/51 and our reservation was at 4:15pm on 12/10. When we arrived the server was hovering and was asking what drinks we wanted while we were still trying to sit and take off our coats. It was just really awkward because he kept hovering until we figured out our entrees.

Once we ordered the drinks the server continued to ask what we wanted to order for entrees and we hadn’t even gotten our drinks yet. We did order the truffle fries as an appetizer and that arrived before the drinks did. Which is fine as I understand the bar was most likely getting backed up.

We ordered the gnocchi and the raviolis - they arrived before we were done with the appetizer. I understand that pastas are quick to cook, but I’m not sure why the server didn’t wait a little bit before sending the ticket back to the kitchen. Then once we got our food the server disappeared and we had to flag him down to get fresh Parmesan on our food. We also noted how it was a bummer that this Italian restaurant didn’t have bread for the table like most Italian restaurants. Well as soon as we were done with our food we overheard the table next to us ask for bread. Our server never even offered bread - I’ve never had to ask for bread at an restaurant. We also saw as we were leaving that nearly every table had bread.

I’m not sure if this was a new server or maybe an off night for him but Overall we just felt rushed and underserved for the price point - we expected a certain level of experience and did not receive that. Just a disappointing time as we traveled to the city for a fun...

Petterinos is perfectly situated in the Loop in the theater district. It was easy to make a last minute reservation for a Friday night as we saw a musical at the CIBC Theatre.

They offered us to sit outside, but it smelled like sewage and I figured there's no amount of flowers that can cover up that smell. It isn't the restaurant's fault, but they weren't doing anything to blow the scent away from them either.

We had been here a few times in the past when going to the theater, but I gotta say, Petterino's is dying a slow death. This place used to be packed before a show and now its a former shell of itself.

We had a server that was either new, or just not very attentive as he left drinks unrefilled and empty on our table He never checked on us. Never checked to see how the meal was. He was just not there.

A different server/runner brought our bread to the table and then refilled it for us.

I ordered the Steak & Frites (steak & fries for the English readers out there). The steak was a terrible cut of beef. I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked to perfection...that is to say, if the steak itself wasn't tough, ultra-chewy, and had cartilage or fat coursing through the entire cut.

The fries were a bit limp and not very flavorful or warm. My wife got the rigatoni a la vodka with a gluten free noodle, and said it was fabulous.

So not all dishes are cooked terribly. And I know you're wondering why I didn't send back my steak. Well, our server never showed up until half our meals were eaten so that we couldn't return them.

The one thing he did deliver rather quickly was the check and he kept checking up on whether we paid it our not.

There are just so many better places in the area now that it's not even worth visiting or a drink...

Made reservations for 8 in December 2021 for a family dinner. The menu essentially has something for everyone and all the offerings were delicious. Everyone had positive comments about the food, environment and while waiting for your food, you can take a gander at the many caricatures that adorn the wall and see if you can recognize the famous people represented.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, we couldn't all sit at a grouped table and ended up with two tables that accommodated four that were next to one another. I like how they give a small paper bag for your mask to keep you from placing your worn mask on the table.

Many people go here for dinner and drinks before or after a play in the nearby area so expect a crowd. The dress code is wear to work, business casual, or dressier if you're heading to another destination when done here. Seating can be close. There are tabletops and a few booths for seating options. The menu is available online to assist in making your decision so the entire group is not waiting on you to make life decisions.

Our table was ready as scheduled and our host was new but he managed everything very well and I didn't mind leaving a generous tip. The manager came over to check on us and even apologized for an appetizer she felt wasn't up to her standard and replaced it. That was cool because sometimes you order an item and it seems like it's from the kid's meal menu.

Absolutely worth another visit and I would refer others here to dine. A well-earned five-star review. Keeps up the top-notch service despite the...