Andie Sweeney
10/10 from experience to food. This small Italian restaurant is perfect for a Chicago winter evening. Make sure to order the pasta starter which gives you a taste of about 5 different pastas. It’s fun to do with a group or partner and compare which one everyone likes the most. It’s a great idea, so you can try more than 1 pasta and not feel grossly full. Pelago is quiet, small, and classy. I love it! P.S. their starter bread and butter is addicting (see image).
Jaime Bowden
Absolutely one of the best meals I've ever had. If it's your first time visiting, splurge and go for the chef's tasting and you'll get to try SO many different things. There are five courses: cheese, risotto, pasta, choice of meat or fish, and dessert. Each course comes with a sampling of 3-4 items! Everything was out of this world and the wait staff was amazing. They were attentive, warm and knowledgeable. I really felt transported to Italy!
miguel chang
The experience I had for each apetaizer was spectacular, I loved them all but the most explosive was that of different SPAGHETTI! Come and enjoy an exquisite plate of food!
Shelli Moore
Excellent restaurant. Food was great, service was excellent. You'll pay a little more but it's worth it.
Amanda H
We enjoyed a nice dinner at Pelago. Overall the food was a 3.5-4 out of 5.
We had a few dishes: the burrata (which was our favourite), the fettuccine with truffles (when I had this dish last time here about a year ago it was much better. This time it felt like the pasta was just slightly overcooked and not as good as previous), the pompano fish (it was good) and the lamb special (this was okay).
Service is always great here though and the ambiance is nice. Not sure if I would come back again though
Marciano Siniscalchi
This upscale Italian gem will delight locals and natives alike. We had been to Pelago a few times before, but only for lunch. Last night my wife and I decided to splurge a bit for Valentine's Day, and we were rewarded with a sophisticated, yet daring 5-course performance by chef Mauro Mafrici.
The theme of the evening being Valentine, each course incorporated the color red. We started with a tomato and seafood soup, wonderfully supple yet flavorful. Next came cappelletti in a bacon sauce; if you ever wondered about the canonical definition of "al dente," this was it. The following dish, risotto with nduja sausage dressing, highlighted chef Mafrici's creative reinterpretation of Italian culinary tradition: risotto is very much a northern dish, whereas nduja comes from Calabria. I substituted branzuni for the default beef dish, though both proved delicious. The grand finale was rose petal panna cotta, featuring, yes, edible petals.
If you are looking for a classy excursion into the finest Italian cuisine, Pelago is the go-to place.
Claire Jones
High end yet small, quiet and intimate. Delicious Italian fare. I had a lovely fish soup and sausage, peas, stuffed pasta in a delicious sauce. Cordial prompt service with a smile.
Recommend highly
Ken Metcalf
A true 5 star Italian dining experience. The food and service were both excellent and the deserts and cheeses were equally tasty. A slightly more formal setting with nice small touches like a small chair for the ladies handbags. Would recommend it for a special occasion.
Yency Guzman
Best Italian food I have ever ate! Definitely reccomend! Chef Mauro is amazing! 🤗 ..My favorite part was dessert
Sahar Nadimi
My favorite restaurant in Chicago! It is a hidden gem. We have been coming here for the past few years for a lot of special events such as birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Everytime we come here it’s truly a memorable night. The staff is so great. The restaurant is very clean and beautiful. The food is out of this world. We love Pelago for its 5-star service every single time we go here. Highly recommend!!
Jenny Common
We had a wonderful meal here on a Thurs evening to celebrate our Anniversary. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, we were treated so well. The employees seemed to really like being there and wanted to show us a good time (which they did.) Our waiter was very friendly and happy to give suggestions when my husband was trying to narrow down his dinner choice. We had some nice cocktails while waiting for dinner as well as a salad that we shared. The meal was delicious! My husband had lamb and I had the gnocchi. Sure, the place is pricy, but the atmosphere and service (not to mention the spectacular food) is worth the price. This is not some place I would go all the time because of the price, but I would go for special occasions or maybe just for a nice date night. I would recommend Pelago Ristorante for sure!
Vally Graham
Owner is the most popular and authentic Italian, his pasta is sublime and well cooked. One of the few left of Chicago. Go if you are in the Golden coast you would not be disappointed.
C Thompson
We're surprised to see some negative reviews here: I think most were towards the wait staff and the pricing. For us, the wait staff were very pleasant (the female hostesses were not the nicest, however our actual waiter was great). The best pasta dish by far was the truffle fettucine which is not on the menu; it is amazing. Regarding the pricing: this is always subjective. For three of us dining the bill came to $977 before tip so there you go. That's the benchmark and you can decide if you want to dine here. We chose some great wines so most likely the bill could be smaller for most people dining here with three guests
Robert Navarre
My wife and I absolutely love the food AND the staff at Pelago. The restaurant is very intimate, cozy, and comfortable and the food is fantastic. I love fish and the preparations are delightful. My wife prefers meat and is never disappointed. We highly recommend Pelago, a gem in the heart of Chicago.
Gunjan Bali
Pelago is a great dining destination in Chicago for Italian food. They have several vegetarian options on the menu and everything is expertly prepared. My friend and I both had a mushroom and shaved truffle dish over fresh make fettuccine. It was one of the best dishes we’ve ever had. For dessert I had a banana cheese flan that was out of this world. The wait staff expertly takes care of you. They operate like a well coached soccer team. They are attentive without being instructive.
Rajiv Sinha
Ridiculously delicious. Must try if you want to experience authentic Chicago food! Get the sweet and spicy peppers on it. So good we ate there twice in one day. Also, the hot dog is incredible. Chili on chili dog was a bit sweet, so we didn't care for it. <br/><br/>Be prepared for large crowds but very well worth the wait.
Palmi
Beware – old style tourist trap! We were a group of four having a great weekend in Chicago with high expectations for Palego. BUT when a smooth waiter giving us the tour and recommending selected wines – no price mentioned – and bringing us more wine without warning us for over $300 a bottle – we felt cheated. No responses to our protests so we left very disappointed – and the best – with a 20% service charge for $323. Unprofessional and bad business!!
Pg
Uneven. Expensive. Desserts are good.
Slowfoodie
The service and atmosphere at this restaurant are quite good. However, the food is below average. The presentation and ingredients are both nice but all five dishes that my wife and I shared for lunch were bland and rather pedestrian. If that was my only complaint, I would not write a negative review. However, when the bottle of wine we ordered was not available, our waiter presented us with a substitution which he said was the same value. I recognized the substituted wine as a bottle that retails at roughly $12. The wine we ordered was $67 on the list. I was engaged in conversation with my wife when he brought it out so I didn't really put it together until I saw the label again and asked the waiter about it and to see the wine list again. I didn't complain to him because I didn't want to get into some adversarial discussion with him during what was meant to be a nice romantic lunch. He came back to our table toward the end of our meal and told us that the owner authorized him to reduce the price of the wine to $54. I have no quarrel with a restaurant owner marking up his wine however he wants but this experience left a bad taste in my mouth and ruined our experience. Just for perspective, the original wine retails at $30.
Dave The Foodie
Best Meal Ever. My Best meal ever was at Pelago Ristorante in Chicago by Chef Mauro Mafrici. PELAGO, redefines up-scale Italian dining with a focus on homemade pastas and fresh seafood. I recently had a wonderful Carnaroli Risotto with mixed herbs from Pelago, and I can honestly say it was the best Risotto I have ever had. My 2nd plate was an exceptional Roasted Filet of Cod with Potato, Back Olives and Cherry Tomato. The Cod Filet was seasoned perfectly and was very fresh. The attention to detail in each plates presentation and the passion that is put into to each dish was above and beyond any restaurant I have ever dine at.
David D Rozek
The perfect Stripped Bass. My Stripped Bass was perfect. Nice lunch portion size and excellent taste and flavor. Not the normal lunch dish and an excellent value when you choose the 2 course menu option. Our server - Franco really understand good food and gave us great service.
Tom
Pelago ... Worth Skipping. Considering this place has a very good Zagat rating and it is also found as recommended on the website of the Peninsula, we gave it a try. Yuck! The service staff was truly disappointing wIth their lack of understanding of how to present and explain the course being served; the bread was not warm; the wine flight that was ordered for my party arrived with no explanation of the wine selected for the course served. So, we had to "work" the staff with a flurry of questions thoughout the meal to find out what the hell was being served. Food quality was ok. Presentation was ok. Nothing to write home about. Don't waste your time, if you enjoy a restaurant with an attentive and knowledgeable staff ... you won't find that here.
Skip
Amazingly Outstanding. I can not say any more, ignore the complaints. This is the place for a real high quality meal. Pricy but well worth it. It can be noisy when busy. A definite return trip is planned
Vivian
Was kicked out!. Sunday after taking our son to the park - we thought we would stop over for a beverage. It was a beautiful day and we have frequented Pelago on various occasions - sitting outside. Before being seated, we informed the hostess that my husband and I would only be having drinks and something light for our toddler. Ten minutes into our visit - the owner informs us that we have to pick up our stuff and sit on the other side of the outdoor area - as, "This area is for our customers who purchase food." I was absolutely appalled. What was even more ironic was that there was NO ONE seated outside the restaurant other than us. <br/><br/>What a horrific experience. Interesting what happens when you are dressed more on the casual side vs. decked out in designer wear. Food - on the various occasions I visited (prior to this event) was okay - but since this is my first review of the place (read between the lines - NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT) - WILL NEVER GO THERE AGAIN!
Hollykm
Best. Lamb. EVER.. Ate there with friends from NYC twice in November - lunch on a Sunday and immediately went back with a bigger group the next day for dinner. Rack of lamb so good I literally teared up, and the chef was great - sent out all kinds of goodies, including more dessert than we could eat. The next night I got a great wine recommendation from the bartender, had very good lamb (not as good as the rack of lamb), and my companions were also all really happy. And FULL! I'm definitely going back sometime soon. One tiny flaw? Sunday lunch waitstaff had a couple of small hiccups, but the next day's dinner staff was perfect even with a busier service.
Vincent Martinez
Atmosphere is elegant and inviting. Service personal and knowledgeable. Food choices limited, but every available choice is inviting. Highly recommended for a relaxing long lunch.
Jm
Yumm. Best meal in ages,and it was gluten free! My dinner guest had a gluten and dairy free meal, which was also excellent. Very attentive service, fresh seafood, classy place, great wine and a pleasing atmosphere. It was not cheep, but it was a good value. Highly recommend for anyone and so exciting to have a gluten free friendly place.
Mady
Such a disappointment !! After hearing such raves, the food was so mediocre I had one of the daily specials first. Grilled sardines very fishy. The pasta course was good but my main course, langoustines, seemed to be previously frozen , stingy and tough. Our companions had fish which also disappointed and which they were sure was frozen. And my husband was disappointed too. Very expensive- over $500 without wine and dreadful. Don't understand the great reviews
Bazoo
Magnifico!. Pelago well exceeded my expectations. It's easy to underestimate its extravagance just by walking by or looking at the website. To start, the ambiance is top notch and the service was impeccable from the maitre de to the busboys. The food was truly delicious, and you will savor every bite. They had a tasting menu that all can enjoy and the portions were just right. If you enjoy wine with your meal you will not be disappointed as they have some wonderful choices. We had a large party and they catered to our every need, ensuring that we all had a great experience. Pelago would be a great choice for any occasion, from a romantic dinner for two to larger celebration. This is a truly magnificent restaurant and you will surely not be disappointed.
John Shaw Foster
Unbelievably unique! The food was amazing and the service was even better. Combinations like this are hard to find, but pelago provides a delicious and comfortable atmosphere to savor some of Chicagos best Italian food
Henk Slagman
Best Italian restaurant in town.. Food, Styling and Service are triple A.
Bella
Fabulous Food/Beatifully Appointed Space!. Mauro Mafrici made me love asparagus! That's no small feat. I had the opportunity to have lunch there and had one of the most heavenly risotto dishes w/asparagus. I've returned several times and have NEVER had a disappointing meal. The food melts in your mouth...and don't even get me started on the desserts. Even Mauro's petite Italian cookies, make you long for an Italian grandmother!
Scubafrog
We went for breakfast, excellent! Prices were very good for downtown Chicago! And the quality and quantity of food was exceptional! We have not had service like this in a very long time. Highly recommend.
Diner Food Lover
GREAT ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. My wife and a freind went last week for lunch and we went this Sunday for lunch.<br/><br/>WONDERFUL is all I can say. <br/><br/> We plan to go frequently and are very much looking forward to their opening for dinner as of October 7th.
GC09
One of best dining experiences yet!. From the time you walk in to the time you leave, you will not be disappointed. The environment is upscale, interesting and beautiful but at the same time it does not break the bank. They really pay close attention to detail here. We went for lunch and the menu is amazing. It is not to large so you are overwelmed but you have some great dishes to chose from. The food was some of the best I have had since moving to the city 2 years ago. We couldnt stop talking about how well everything was. We got a pasta dish with crab and spinach in a garlic sauce and a veal with goat cheese dish. Needless to say we did not have any left overs. Then we went for dessert (after seeing some dishes come out we couldnt pass it up). This too topped our expectations! The presentation was great. Service was spectacular. The Chef Mauro is a genius! I will definitely be recommending this to everyone I can!
Kiki Luthringshausen
I was excited to be introduced to a new place off the grid yet right under my nose. This upscale, elegant restaurant is the real thing.
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