Trattoria RNB — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

Trattoria RnB is not your typical Italian restaurant. Their menu is inspired by more traditional, Neapolitan cooking. So if you are expecting your alfredos and chicken parm with lots of sour marinara sauce, this may not be the spot for you.

The place is small, with a few seatings inside, and a patio outside. It was quite hot inside, but it was also very hot outside so it probably felt hotter than it actually was.

I got invited to try a 10 course tasting menu. But we didn't end up getting all 10 courses because it was tons of food and there was a bit of miscommunication between myself and the staff. Staff was incredibly nice about it and we came to an understanding. I did end up having the opportunity to try so many things. Here is what I tried.

I started off with some Italian Taralli, a salty, peppery cracker. It was very dry, and something I didn't really enjoy.

I was impressed by the drink selection; although small, every single drink I had was amazing. My first was the Hibiscus Heaven (gin, grapefruit liquor, lemon juice, hibiscus ginger beer). A refreshing drink after how hot it had been that day.

My first course was the homemade focaccia with roasted red pepper, roasted zucchini, and artichokes as a topping. The focaccia had olives and cherry tomatoes. I loved it! I think my favorite pairing was the focaccia and the roasted red pepper.

My next course was the burrata with flatbread focaccia. I enjoyed this dish; the olive oil, and the burrata really mended well together. I wish I had more flatbread but I was told the burrata is often eaten by itself. I'm not a huge Burrata fan, but I enjoyed the bit I had. Honestly, I feel as if this should come in a smaller portion, depending on how many guests there are.

My next course was the Parmigiana (eggplant parm). Which was absolutely delicious! The marinara sauce the eggplant was cooked in is amazing. It isn't too tangy or too sweet. It is perfect and full of flavor. It is one of my favorite evening courses.

For the next course, I had a chance to try Suppli for the first time. Fried balls filled with rice and cheese. I was not much of a fan sadly. I understand why people would like this, but the textures were very off for me.

Pizza was the next course. A traditional slice of pizza. With garlic, cherry tomatoes and basil. I actually loved it, it didn't have any cheese on it, but the flavors from the tomatoes and garlic really made up for it. You could tell it was fresh out of the woodfire pizza oven, too.

We had the chance to try this homemade salad, Vendure Della Casa (eggplant, zucchini, red peppers, artichoke, and frizelle) . It was supposed to be a palette cleanser, but I thought it was way too bitter from the lemon.

Now, here is where things went a little downhill because of miscommunication. I never said I don't eat most seafood, it is not an allergy for me, I just don't eat it. I should have properly told the chef this before beginning the tasting. However, despite this. I was still open to trying the things he prepared for myself. I had a chance to try the Cozzo alla Tarantina (mussels with fresh tomato) and the Saute di Vongole (sauteed baby clams). I am not the biggest mussel and clam enjoy-er, but I tried it. Outside of the unpleasant texture, I did like the sauces the seafood was cooked in.

By this moment, I could tell the miscommunication somewhat soured the experience. The staff was very kind about it. They offered me my next drink and I got the Sgroppin (lemon sorbet, prosecco and vodka). I really enjoyed this drink, it was the perfect blend of refreshing and smooth. It honestly tasted like juice. One of the highlights of the evening.

Our next courses were pasta, and to be perfectly honest. I did not enjoy either of them. I felt as if the pasta was too al-dente. Almost hard too hard to chew. I got the Ziti Spezzati Alla Genovese and the Spaghetti alla Nerano. I enjoyed the slow cooked ragu of the Ziti but I felt like both pastas were undercooked. I only took a few bites before I...

My recent visit to what I thought was Trattoria RNB was one of the strangest dining experiences I've ever had. What I booked was supposed to be a nice Italian dinner with a friend, but there was no distinction made anywhere online that the rooftop dining area, Tetto, is a completely different atmosphere. The misleading reservation process and subsequent evening of bizarre interruptions completely ruined our night. I literally walked out thinking if I had went to the wrong place but I didn’t - the host had information to our reservation and sat us down without questioning anything.

First, and most bizarrely, a man came up to our table, uninvited, to take photos of us in the middle of our conversation. He directed us to pose and took about 10 photos, then returned a few minutes later trying to sell them to us. It was a completely random and unwelcome interruption, and the fact that the restaurant seems to allow this is baffling. We also saw another person walking around selling Italian ice, which made the whole place feel less like a restaurant and more like a carnival.

On top of that, the atmosphere was chaotic. For a Sunday dinner, the place was extremely loud with a DJ and a smoke machine. This wasn't mentioned anywhere online and made it difficult to even have a conversation. The service was also incredibly slow; it took a full 30 minutes just to get a glass of water after we were seated. When we asked for a server, our own server told us our server would be right with us before she came back herself later. It felt like I was an annoyance to the entire staff the entire time. To make matters worse, the place has an automatic 20% gratuity built in that no one calls out. Overall, the entire experience was just weird and annoying. The food was so mediocre and my soda was flat when it came out.

The unprofessional atmosphere and constant interruptions made it impossible to enjoy our time. I definitely will not be returning to Trattoria RNB. Genuinely don’t know where the positive reviews are from and the fact that it was THAT misleading online is such a disgusting business practice....

Long Review – Worth the Read!

I first noticed this charming restaurant while driving by a month ago. Intrigued, I did some research and couldn’t wait to visit. Unfortunately, each time I attempted to dine there, they were closed. Lesson learned: always check the hours!

Finally, eight days ago, I arrived on a busy Saturday evening. With no seats available inside, we opted for the patio near a heater despite the chilly weather.

What I Loved: I was impressed as the staff graciously apologized to walk-in guests without reservations, offering them the option to wait or take food to go. Once seated, we were informed about the busy night ahead and things may take a little longer. They made sure to take care of us, even inviting us inside when seats became available.

Walking into the restaurant felt like stepping into a trattoria in Italy, the kind only locals know about. The pizza was divine—and reminded me of Naples. The homemade pasta was perfection, and the mussels were absolutely to die for! This meal transported me back to my days living in Italy, away from the tourist trap restaurants.

A Second Visit: I returned today, craving pizza and pasta, but they were out of pizza. While disappointing, it’s a sign of their growing popularity. Pamela, my server, delivered the news with grace and empathy, which made the experience enjoyable despite the setback. We quickly and playfully switched gears, and she suggested some fantastic alternatives that I loved!

I truly appreciate good communication and understand the importance of patience in the dining experience.

To those leaving negative reviews: It’s easy to critique from the sidelines. I challenge anyone who thinks they could do better to step into a server's shoes. Patience and kindness are free and...