Torchio Pasta Bar — Restaurant in Chicago

I recently moved to Chicago from the Netherlands and was advised to try Torchio Pasta Bar for what was promoted as an "authentic" Italian experience. Regrettably, both the food and service fell far short of my expectations, especially considering the price point. To further note, this food is NOT a representation of true Italian food at all. This is Italian-American at best.

From a presentation angle, the fettuccine and scallops dish I ordered was disappointing. The dish was marred by an excessive use of oil, giving it an appearance akin to eating pasta in swamp water. Traditional Italian cuisine is usually characterized by light and fresh flavors, so the overwhelming presence and taste of heavy cooked oil suggests a lack of culinary skill rather than constraints with the ingredients.

My dining companion opted for the restaurant's signature Torchio pasta, which was marginally better but still underwhelming. The dominant flavor of cream overshadowed the dish, suggesting a lack of complexity and culinary expertise on the chef's part. The presentation also fell short, reminding me of the meals I was served during my early years in the Finnish military.

As for the service, it was lackluster even by Dutch standards, which are not particularly high for establishments at this level. Adding to the disappointment, the restaurant imposes a 3% fee for credit card payments. This practice is uncommon in the Netherlands and I have seldom seen it in the U.S. either. This adds to the impression that the restaurant prioritizes profit over customer experience.

In summary, based on my experience, I cannot recommend Torchio Pasta Bar for those in search of a high-quality pasta meal in Chicago, particularly given the cost. It seems the primary focus here is on maximizing profit rather than delivering an authentic or quality Italian dining experience. My overall review is a 2/5 stars, as no one was rude to me during my...

We first saw Torchio while walking past it on a weekday on our way to Cocoro (our favorite Japanese restaurant in Chicago). It was packed and looked great. We checked the reviews and it had 4.9. I couldn't believe it. Well, today we tried it and I'm happy to report the 4.9 rating on Google is 100% real and well deserved. This is the best pasta I've ever had on this side of the planet, bar none. They make all the pasta fresh, in-house, including the Campanelle, which I had with the mushrooms, taleggio cheese and black and white truffle. Simply exquisite, but nothing compared to my wife's seafood pasta with some of the best mussels I've ever had, which were melt-in-your-mouth good. Needless to say, her spaghetti had a perfect bite to it that alone earned a 5* review. The Burrata Pesto appetizer was great, but really needed a bread of some sort on the side. We were delighted with the wide variety of incredible choices on the menu and can't wait to try the rest of what they had to offer. We only hope there were more alcohol-free pasta options. Finally, we strongly recommend the flourless chocolate cake if you have room left for a dessert. What an excellent find, and it made sense that they were so packed late on a weekday. Ruined us for pasta anywhere else. PS - As a Urologist, I strongly approve of their diligence in making sure our glasses of water were full throughout our meal. Rest assured, you won't be asking for water...

It was a perfect meal, I just needed to start with that. After all these years of traveling around the world and having experienced some of the best (and worst) food out there, this is on my top 10 for pastas, hands down. If I could, I would give Torchio 10 stars.

We have tried pastas from many Italian joints in the US and overseas, including some of our unforgettable experiences in Italy, we know well that underneath all of that simplicity lies much love in those dishes. Handmade pasta requires dialy efforts from 5am, this is when everything starts. The rest takes fresh ingredients and balance in flavors, but what stands out a pasta dish is always the sauce, everything we have tasted was perfect, from the basic marinara sauce to the meat sauces. The handmade pastas were definitely one of the best we have tried, the texture, consistency and the perfect balance between soft and chew...yummmm. I feel bad for the non-gluten eaters, and people who think the food here is over priced. When was the last time you had a perfect Gnocchi an inch in diameter and in length.

We are glad to have found this place after it opened in 2019, and seriously we will start coming here at least once a week and try everything on the menu. ...