The Village — Restaurant in Chicago

On my first trip to Chicago, I happened to be staying at the Hyatt Centric Loop that was a block away from The Village (the neon sign reads “Italian Village”). The restaurant advertises that it is the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago. Lured by the desire for a classic Chicago experience, I made a reservation at 7 PM on a Saturday night, and at the appointed time, my friend and I ventured into a restaurant that had been open since 1927.

After entering the doors, we climbed a staircase to the main floor. This is an eatery from a time when windows were thought to distract from the food and the decor transports you to the owner’s vision of Italy. Landscape frescoes adorn the walls with prop awnings and other architectural decor fitted with twinkling lights. There are little alcoves positioned in various places against the wall for a private dining experience.

The front of house acknowledged my reservation, and my friend and I were seated at a two-top at the back of the restaurant near the kitchen where I could see the large compliment of staff moving back-and-forth. We did not wait too long before our server checked in on us. The manager even stopped by to make sure that someone had touched base with us. While we reviewed the menu, baskets of fresh hot bread were provided. Olive oil, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and chili flakes were already on the table.

My friend and I decided to share the entire meal so we could order a full complement of courses. My friend started off with the Chardonnay and I had sparkling water. My friend enjoyed the white wine, and my sparkling water came without ice which was exactly as I ordered.

We selected for our antipasti the meatballs. Two meatballs arrived, and they were large and had the proper amount of luscious marinara sauce that was balanced and not too tart. The meatballs had the right proportion of beef, pork and binder so that they were juicy and delicious.

For our second antipasti, we ordered the two soups that were available. My friend had the minestrone, and I had the chicken soup with pastini pasta (tiny pasta balls). Both soups were tasty, warming, and obviously homemade.

To avoid overeating, we ordered a side of mostaccioli with pesto as our pasta course. I added the pasta side late and didn’t see that pesto was not on the menu, but without making a fuss, they accommodated my request, coating the pasta in a light mixture of olive oil, crushed basil, and garlic. It was tasty and I enjoyed it. The pasta was cooked perfectly.

For the primi, we ordered the veal marsala. It came with four healthy sized pieces, served on a bed of capellini—everything was nicely covered in a mushroom marsala sauce. The pillows of veal were possibly the most tender I’ve eaten in an Italian restaurant. The sauce did not have a strong marsala wine flavor, but I enjoyed the mushroom-forward sauce.

The service was impeccable. All of the courses were timed so as soon as we finished one, the next was only about a minute or two away. Staff cleared the plates, refilled our bread basket, and provided new silverware for each course without being intrusive.

We ended our meal with their rum cake and spumoni. The rum cake was the star. It was light as a feather, with just a hint of rum and a creamy white frosting. The two scoops of spumoni was a nice counterbalance, adding the traditional Italian flavors.

This is a an excellent, casual Italian restaurant. We enjoyed our dining experience at the Village and recommend it...

Honestly I should say a Solid 4 on food over all. I read the reviews on Google and saw the lasagna being bland. As a cook, I was curious as to why this was and why the oldest italian restaurant in town would allow this. 🤔

Now, the lasagna. I had asked for it baked and with an additional $3 charge. I figured why not. When I tasted it, however. I could tell the ground beef and the red meat sauce where, in fact, blended together. Instead, of which cooking it together and allowing the sauce to blend very well and harmonizing. So that bland taste your tasting in the ground beef. Means they didn't season the ground beef properly during its cooking stage. Now, maybe it's a new recipe in guidelines of basing because any people have allergies and the The Italian Village is trying to accommodate those recipes for non garlic and onion individuals.

Now to the cheesesticks. I feel they could have been cooked longer. The cheese wasn't even "melted or melty" at this point. Which means it was undercooked but barely. So maybe in the fryer by atleast another 1 or 2 minutes. With that said. Though the marinara had really large diced onions

The chocolate mousse was in fact really good and as was the bread sticks. It was decadent though I feel it could be taken to a new level vanilla beans.

So over all, it is that same Italian Village and perhaps the cooks are in a hurry due to the high demand. Over all, a solid 4. It would be high if the flavors were more impeccable. 😋

As far as lack luster? I'd definitely say I hope the chef reads this and accommodates more requests with the lasagna. As over all it was not that flavorful and just loaded with too much cheese in my opinion. To cover the...

Nestled discreetly in the heart of Chicago Centric Loop, The Village is a delightful culinary gem that continually captivates patrons with its unique offerings and warm hospitality. My recent visit to this establishment left me with a medley of impressions, from the tantalizing flavors of their dishes to the impeccable service provided by the staff.

The menu at boasts a variety of exquisite dishes, but one that truly stood out for me was the Salmon Puttanesca. The perfectly cooked salmon fillet, adorned with a piquant puttanesca sauce bursting with olives, capers, and tomatoes, was a harmonious blend of flavors that lingered on the palate. Each bite was a testament to the kitchen's dedication to using quality ingredients and executing dishes with finesse.

For dessert, I opted for the Tiramisu, although it didn't quite live up to the rest of the meal. The flavors were rather subdued, lacking the robust coffee and mascarpone essence that characterizes a stellar Tiramisu. Nonetheless, the disappointment in dessert was swiftly forgotten thanks to the standout main course. The Salmon Puttanesca alone is reason enough to revisit, not to mention the attentive service that leaves a lasting impression.

The waitress, whose name I unfortunately didn't catch, was a beacon of warmth and professionalism. She attended to my table with genuine care, offering insightful recommendations and ensuring that my dining experience was nothing short of exceptional. Her friendly demeanor added an extra layer of comfort to the meal.

The decor was tasteful and complemented the overall dining experience. I love every aspect of my...