Macello — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

If you're searching for the best Pugliese cuisine in Chicago, look no further than Macello Cucina di Puglia. Opened for over 18 years, this gem continues to serve exceptional dishes that transport you straight to the heart of southern Italy.

From the moment you step through the door, you're not just walking into a restaurant — you're entering a warm, inviting atmosphere where each meal tells a story of passion, tradition, and culinary artistry, their staff are so friendly and knowledgeable, Kristian the bartender, Alex the server made my night even better.

I had the pleasure of visiting last Thursday, and not only was the food absolutely divine, but the experience was elevated with live Italian band music, filling the space with nostalgic Frank Sinatra oldies. It truly set the perfect mood for an unforgettable night.

Now, let’s talk about the food. Where do I even begin?

The must dish to try is their Fired Calamary, mamma mia outstanding, the Seafood Grigliata was an absolute masterpiece, perfectly grilled and bursting with fresh, briny flavor that had me savoring every bite. The Molese Pizza with Tuna was equally spectacular, offering a unique twist on a classic, with the tuna bringing a delightful richness that balanced beautifully with the crisp crust.

For a heartwarming, indulgent dish, the Tartuffata was a showstopper — a rich, truffle-infused treat that felt like pure luxury in every bite. The Lamb Chop Casserole was another highlight, tender and full of flavor, with a deep, savory sauce that paired beautifully with the perfectly cooked lamb.

I also couldn’t resist the Farro ai Frutti di Mare, a beautifully balanced grain dish paired with the freshest seafood. The Cavatelli al Forno was another standout, a comforting pasta dish that showcased the kitchen's skill in creating dishes with deep, nuanced flavors.

And, of course, no meal at Macello is complete without dessert. The Croccantino was a sweet and crunchy delight, but it was the dreamy Tiramisu that truly stole the show — light, airy, and perfectly balanced - it was the perfect end to an incredible meal.

If you’re in Chicago, Macello Cucina di Puglia is a must-visit. The exceptional food, warm ambiance, and lively entertainment create an experience that will have you coming back time and time again. Highly...

Sad to not give 5 stars! My parents came to visit me in Chicago for the weekend & I wanted them to experience restaurant week. After deciding between several Italian food places, we chose Macello because of their options offered for restaurant week. Food was amazing and my parents (who don’t dine out at nice places a lot) and roommate loved every course, the experience, and the knowledge the server had about what was best/what each dish came with. When the check came, my dad noticed that we were charged the $60ish dollar/person price tag for the restaurant week experience but then an additional $12ish dollars per each desert we ordered (this is supposed to be included in restaurant week). Unfortunately, we all think the extra $50ish dollars on the tab was hoping to go unnoticed after our two bottles of wine & the restaurant getting ready to close. I served the last 6 summers in fine dining and at another restaurant and unfortunately knew a server or two who would notice people who might not read over the full bill before putting their card down (because they had a bit to drink or looked like they had money), and add/not take off things they were supposed to. This could have been an honest mistake & I love to give people the benefit of the doubt, but this server was VERY knowledgeable about the rest of the restaurant week process/items. Also restaurant week had been going on for a solid week at this point, so the server should 100% know dessert is part of the all inclusive price. He also dropped the bill and then stayed away for a solid 10 mins (in an empty restaurant) or so while we all discussed & double checked that dessert was included online and we weren’t the ones messing up. When my dad brought it to his attention, it was almost an immediate “I’ll go fix that” without even looking at what we were talking about. All of our red flags when off at the table and unfortunately this tainted the almost perfect experience we had here. My parents were also servers growing up so have an appreciation for how hard the work can be. My dad always tips 20+% but did not this evening. A good reminder to look over the check for...

Extremely disappointed. We made a reservation (which we were asked to confirm 3 times - twice by phone and once online), and waited half an hour for our table. Judging by the absolute chaos in the packed foyer, we were by far the lucky ones. We ordered entrees and dessert and by the time we left, people who were waiting with us for their reserved tables still had not been seated. The hostess seemed completely overwhelmed, understandably so, but management seemed to do absolutely nothing to explain the situation, assuage the hangry diners, or offer the staff any support whatsoever. I wish I could sufficiently convey the complete pandemonium that was going on in the waiting area. The throng of people was being pushed in to the already crowded dining area, clearly disturbing those who had already been seated. Once we finally got to our table, our experience improved, but only because being locking in a port-a-potty would have been an improvement over the waiting area. The server was fine. He seemed entirely unfamiliar with the item I ordered off the menu and asked me to spell it, but was otherwise relatively timely compared to the front of the house. The entrees were good, nothing special, although the dessert was sublime (flourless chocolate torte and watermelon sorbet). Still, not nearly enough to get us to come back.

Additionally, I called the next day to speak with the manager. I had figured that there could very well have been some extenuating circumstances that contributed to the mess of the night before and wanted to offer our scenario as a learning opportunity. After explaining what had happened to the person who answered the manager’s phone line, this person informed me that he was not the manager, that the manager was not yet in, and that he would leave my contact information for the manager to call me back once he arrived. I never received any communication from anyone at the restaurant, manager...