Positano Ristorante — Restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace

As an Italian food enthusiast, I have been longing to become a "regular" at a new eatery; thus, I have ventured far and wide (on this side of town) during my extended stay in the suburbs attempting to find a restaurant that serves classic, delicious Italian dishes in an intimate, serene setting. While I have tried out a few local spots, as you may already know, I am slightly selective when determining whether or not to write a review. Nothing has dazzled me quite like the Positano Ristorante experience; and for this reason, dear readers, I am proud to say: mission accomplished.

Positano Ristorante has managed to exceed every mark in my book: solidifying them as my new spot to lounge and dine solo or bring loved ones.  Positano Ristorante is the ideal for exceptional, classic Italian dining; as a customer, I deeply appreciated the impressive level of professionalism received in terms of service in tandem with exquisite dishes, atmospheric excellence typified by warm lighting and tasteful, minimalist decor that heightened the overall dining experience.

Every dish was well-executed, with fresh, crisp ingredients and aesthetically-pleasing presentation. For dessert, I thorougly enjoyed the most delectable tiramisu (the only dish eaten too quickly for a glamour shot; highly satisfied with this choice; texture neither flaky nor soggy) thick, even layers of moist, caffeinated cake with rich hints of subtly dark chocolate and ample cremé atop tinged with a sweet drizzle. Count this tiramisu enthusiast impressed.

I will let the media speak for itself as pertains to the rest of the dishes, as there is a plethora attached to this post.

Before concluding for the purposes of (finally) executing a concerted review; I must also mention affordability.

While the dollar range budget-wise for an exceptional meal may appear to be higher than the average dining experience when attending such an outstanding eatery, one must take into account a particularly important facet of fiscal expenditure: quality of product/ experience. I hold this aspect of dining in high regard, and every so often, enjoy a meal within a different price range in order to indulge in the moment. That being said, Positano Ristorante is more than fair with pricing. We spent far less than anticipated, considering the overall quality of the dining experience.

I have also come to realize I tend towards pescetarian diet as opposed to vegetarian; the plump, delectable shrimp and deliciously tender calamari at Positano convinced me of this.

I have no regrets; as the meal enjoyed at my new favourite spot was well worth the dietary deviations.

Positano Ristorante, you have given me renewed hope in suburban dining itself.

Thank you for an incredibly memorable experience.

I'll be back with Grandfather soon for arancini and of course, the best...

ITALIAN CUISINE AT ITS BEST THE CALFA FAMILY’S CHOICE THIS RESTAURANT RIGHTFULLY NAMED “POSITANO” IS A JEWEL OF OAK BROOK AND IS A WELL-KEPT SECRET!

THIS MAGNIFICENT ESTABLISHMENT IS JOHN AND BONNIE CALFA’S CURATION. THE CALFAS ARE PROMINENT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT SPECIALIST, AND DEVELOPERS WITH A WORLDWIDE PRESENCE. THEY ARE OWNERS OF “THE MALL OF OAK BROOK” AND CURATORS OF THIS AUTHENTIC AMALFI COAST ITALIAN FISHING VILLAGE TREASURE.

FRANK AND HIS BEAUTIFUL AND COMPETANT WIFE ARE EQUALLY YOKED MAESTROS OF THIS ORCHESTRA OF EQUISITE DINNING! THE FLOOR MASTER JOHN IS SILENTLY CALLING THE CADENCE OF THIS DELECTABLE ONE OF A KIND, UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

THE THEME AND MOOD IS SILENTLY “GODFATHER” ITALIAN CHIC, (MY FAVORITE MOVIE).

“THE GODFATHER” IS ALSO THE NAME OF THE MENU OFFERED AND BEST “MIXED DRINK” I HAVE HAD IN A LONG, LONG TIME! IN FACT, THE FOOD, AND DRINKS, WERE BEYOND THE BEST THAT I HAVE EVER HAD!

THIS SHOULD MEAN A LOT COMING FROM THIS FREELANCE, UNPAID, INDEPENDENT HIGHLY CRITICAL AWARD WINNING ENTREPRENEUR. AFTER ALL, I HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DINING REFERENCES.

FOR FORTY YEARS, I WAS A “HIGHLY CREDENTIALED” CORPORATE AND PROFESSIONAL DINER! I USE TO TAKE WEALTHY INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS OUT FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, AND “HAPPY HOUR”, EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK EXCEPT FOR SUNDAY!

FROM THE FOUR SEASONS HOTELS, THE HISTORIC CHICAGO “ITALIAN VILLAGE”, NICKS’ FISH MARKET, THE DETROIT SAINT REGIST HOTEL, THE HISTORIC PALMER HOUSE HOTEL RESTAURANTS AND PENINSULA HOTEL, HOTEL DU LOUVR, HOTEL LAFAYETTE, AND VIRTUOSO “DIZZY GILLESPIE BAR” IN PARIS, FRANCE I HAVE EATEN AND ENTERTAINED AT “THE BEST OF THE BEST - FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC!

“POSITANO IN OAK BROOK” IS A SILENT GIANT IN ITALIAN CUISINE. IT IS WONDERFULLY DONE IN ALL CATEGORIES THAT COUNT - LOCATION, MOOD, STATUS, HIGH-END PRESENCE, AND FOOD PRESENTATION, DINING VALUE, INTERIOR DESIGN, CLEANLINESS, STAFF CORDIALITY, MANAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP AVAILABILITY, AND OVERALL DELIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE!

“POSITANO RISTORANTE” GALLANTLY COMPETES WITH THE BIG BOYS IN DINING HOSPITALITY AND COULD EASILY BECOME AN ANCHOR ESTABLISHMENT WITH A BIGGER FOOTPRINT AT THE WONDERFULLY OWNER MANAGEMENT “JRC MALL OF OAK BROOK”!

TRY IT! IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, I WILL PERSONALLY ALLOW MY WIFE TO PAY FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE!

I JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT EMPIRICAL INFORMATION IS POWERFUL! HAVE A GREAT DAY,

~ LCIII Chairman Emeritus, and Chief Business Counsel LaSalle Companies, III *Ingenieure Incomparable *International “It is extremely rare to find all of Mr. Chapman’s qualities in a single individual!” - Verbatim Quote, FBI...

Absolutely wonderful restaurant. This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants I’ve been to, and it is very special to my wife and I.

I first went here four years ago for a work dinner with a big group. Our full group was first timers here and everyone was impressed. Absolutely delicious food.

The first visit was such a great experience that several months later when I had a first date coming up, I chose to bring her here for dinner.

It quickly became our favorite nice date spot, and we visited several times. The food, service, and atmosphere are all top notch. The food is always delicious. Some of our favorite menu items are the penne con pollo, pollo parmigiana, bruschetta, and meatballs.

And the chocolate fudge cake… it is our favorite chocolate cake we have ever gotten from a restaurant. The only time we’ve ever been disappointed here was when the chocolate fudge cake was temporarily removed from the menu awhile back. We were elated when we saw it was added back to the menu. We absolutely love it.

Perhaps our favorite visit here was in June 2023, when I proposed at the same table we sat at for our first date. The staff could not have been more gracious, and it was an all-around wonderful memory that my wife and I will forever have.

This past weekend, my wife and I returned for our first anniversary. We again sat at our table, and had an absolutely wonderful meal.

I’ve been here for work dinners, birthday dinners, first dates, date nights, and everything in between, with both big and small groups. Positano has been a great experience, every time. It will continue to be our go-to spot for a nice dinner out.

It’s also my understanding that the Oak Brook restaurant is recently under new management. After our visit this past weekend, I can confirm that the food and service has not skipped a beat. If anything, it’s gotten better.

We can’t wait to...