Calo Pizzeria Restaurant & Lounge Reviews

Everyone knows about this place and it gets crowded, make reservations. Great seafood, scallops were huge and tender, deliciously cooked. Pizza great, pasta great, don't fill up too much on the delicious bread they have healthy servings. If you want a place for family, friends and fun this is it. I liked that we could go out to dinner on a weekend (with reservations) and we got the great feeling between restaurant and active nightlife with their bar. Love this place, I hear the ribs are great but I always seem to have a taste for their pasta, haven't tried it yet.

There was a buzzing crowd at 7:30 on a Tuesday evening. It was crowded, but not noisy. There was a nice variety of choices on the menu, as well as a variety of prices. I enjoyed the House Pinot Noir and a simple pasta with meat sauce. My friend got the Calo Special Pizza. We were both happy when we left.

This is not the place for fine cuisine, but it is good for hearty meals. I would recommend this place for someone who isn't choosy about finesse and prefers bulk.

The food was very good with a wide selection of menu items. The portions of my order were substantial. Service was friendly and prompt.

I can tell the difference between chopped garlic and fresh besides the olive oil very poor quality. I asked for grill calamari and the price doesn't match the quality of ingredients as important it is in Italian food.

Walked up without a reservation on a Saturday late afternoon. Short wait to be seated at a hightop. Dining room and bar were packed with locals, who obviously frequent Calo. We had a house salad, pizza, and spritzers. Great pizza! Great Service! We saw many other dishes that looked to be delicious. The Locals know!

I wanted a good steak, but my son, who lives around the corner from this restaurant, didn't want to drive, so we tried Calo. We should have left when the bread arrived. A basket of cheap white "French" bread, like you would get for 99 cents at Jewel, and 2 limp pieces of foccacia, were served with some sort of whipped butter that wouldn't melt. A good, toothsome, artisinal bread is the hallmark of any good Italian restaurant. The salad, iceberg, cucumber cherry tomato, was very cold and fresh. Then my steak came. At a moderately priced $32, it was a decent sized (10 oz) filet and perfectly cooked to medium rare. Unfortunately, it had been marinated in some sort of garlic flavored broth that gave it a peculiar and fake flavor. Who marinates filet? Restaurants that serve ungraded filets; that's who. Although it was properly cooked, this cut had none of the telling, buttery, melt in your mouth flavor that a Prime filet would have. The 'garlic' mashed potatoes also tasted like garlic flavoring. There was nothing wrong with this meal; it just wasn't anything to make me go back.

My son In Chicago said he had heard of this good rib place. He took my wife and myself to Calo Ristoran te, which someone had told my son it was a good place to eat ribs. I ordered the bar-be-cued ribs. But before we ordered we were seated and served some great warm Focaccia bread. Service was good, food came soon and the ribs were great. The sauce on the ribs was a good spicy, but not to hot ,sauce. The garlic potatoes had a nice bit to it. The meal was very good.

Hadn't been here before joined some family, it was outstanding. Tried the octopus as a appetizer and the mussels some of the best I have ever had.

What a wonderful Italian restaurant! I had the Scampi Di Jonghe and it was outstanding. My daughter ordered the Calamari Alla Griglia appetizer as her main meal and I thought she wouldn’t get enough to satisfy her. But this plate came with 4 nice pieces of calamari on a bed of sautéed spinach. We all got to taste the calamari and it was tender and delicious. My husband ordered minestrone soup and I will be sure to order this myself next time because it was one of the best I have tasted. Also ordered was Vitello Carciofi (veal medallions), also excellent. Tiramisu for dessert was perfect. This restaurant has something for everyone even if you’re not in the mood for pasta or pizza, they have baby back ribs, steaks, etc. and great service too!

I've been coming since it opened. First with my grandparents and of course now with my friends and spouse. Second generation running the place, couldn't be nicer. Great food. Accommodating. Allows substitutions for things you can't eat. Great place, not for foodie snobs but for people who like very good food at an affordable price in a great Italian style.

Food was excellently prepared and portions were large. Service was really good and the restaurant was really busy. Had grilled octopus for appetizer, which was delicious. Had pasta, veal Marsala, chicken cacciatore and a seafood dish.

Calo has everything! My wife and I have our Tuesday afternoon date. She is still working and I am retired after 45-3/4 years as an International Consultant to the Electric Power Industry. I know the world and have been to 40 countries. Calo has an extensive food and cocktail menu. This week, I had veal marsala, which is not on the menu. Ask your waiter for their veal dishes. Afterwards, we went to Simon's for their Glogg! Weird but wonderful place! Go there this Holiday Season! IAndersonville has several good restaurants and some interesting stores like Cowboys and Astronauts. Nice stuff for men. You can buy your husband's Christmas gift there!

This is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago. You need a reservation because it’s always busy. The food is excellent- extensive menu - and the service is excellent as well. Prices are reasonable, and there’s free parking in a lot across the street (for a small tip). Highly recommended.

I've seen many excellent reviews of Calo and finally decided to give it a try. 6 pm is a bit early for dinner along this Andersonville strip, but the restaurant was already bustling...with "early birds". The crowd is a bit "older, if you will...which may explain some of these amazing reviews. Italian food has evolved over the past few decades but Calo seems a bit stuck in the past. Offerings are as "traditional" as the come...no one is reinventing the wheel here, which has both good and bad connotations. The menu harkens back to the 70's and 80's...traditional "New York Italian...heavy on the grease and cheese, light on the flavors. Out of a sense of nostalgia, i ordered the Chicken Parm, while my companion ordered the Shrimp Risotto. The appetizer, Baked Stuffed Clams, came quickly...they were a bit sandy and fairly bland and greasy, haphazardly arranged on a bed of romaine. When the entrees arrived, the portions were huge, but they suffered from the 80's concept of Italian food. The Chicken Parm was as i remembered it from that time period; soggy, greasy and covered with a pound of melted mozzarella, while the pasta side was huge and relatively flavorless. The Shrimp risotto suffered from tough shrimp and mushy rice. Neither entree was horrible, but neither were they anything other than "typical". I suppose if you miss the greasy, cheesy Sicilian American food of a bygone era, you may enjoy this spot, as the service is good and the dining room is lovely...it's just not for me.

From the greeting at the front door to the goodbyes from staff, this restaurant has never been a disappointment. The ambience is pleasant and the bread basket brought to the table before you’ve ordered has warm, homemade and addictive Italian breads. Every entree our family orders has been delightful. One outstanding is pasta with a vodka sauce...and yes, it’s suitable for children. Portions are huge so there’s always leftovers to enjoy the next day.

We came to Calo with a reservation for a special occasion.We arrived on time. We waited for about 15 minutes and inquired about the delay. The hostess said people at the table were just sitting there and not leaving. This happens - but there are several polite ways to handle this. Instead they told us our table was ready and proceeded to try and seat us in the bar. When we said no-We had made a reservation, it was a special occasion and we would like to be in the restaurant both hostesses were very icy toward us and we had to speak to the manger to be seated. Im not sure what was going on with that but once we were seated we enjoyed our evening. Our waitress was wonderful! The shrimp risotto was amazing! Everyone enjoyed their meal!

First time in Chicago we wanted Italian food. We were walking around and found this gem. It was an older place, but had a lot of character. We were warmly greeted by one of the owners and they accommodated our large group. They have a great beer and wine list and the food was delicious. I could tell that everything was fresh and made from scratch including the pasta (many places use pre-made ingredients). The sauces were exquisite and service continued to be warm and friendly, even on a busy Saturday night.

This restaurant has the perfect atmosphere for dining with friends. My daughters andI joined a friend for a leisurely meal. Beginning with cocktails, we enjoyed conversation and the wait staff was good about taking our order without interruption. The meal prep was unhurried, which tells me it was made to order, especially since each one of us ordered a different type of pasta. All were very delicious and the portions were very large-no room for dessert. If you would like a relaxed atmosphere and delicious food, come to Calo’s

This place continues to serve great food with outstanding service. We have been to this place a number of times and it is always outstanding. It is amazing that moe people don't know about Calo's. Try it once and you will come back again and again.

I've been doing to Calo's since 1977 when I moved to Chicago. Calo Ristorante is a family-owned and operated Italian restaurant in the Andersonville neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. The dining room is decorated with natural brick walls, hand painted murals, and photos of Old World Italy. In addition to Italian specialties, Calo serves steaks, veal, chicken, and fresh fish of the day. Meals come with a choice of soup (minestrone or soup of the day) or a house salad with homemade dressing, warm bread and pizza bread, baked potato or a choice of pasta. The linguini fruitti di mare (shrimp, scallops, clams, calamari, mussels, red or white sauce) is wonderful. I also liked papperdelle con funghi (grilled shrimp, porcini, portobello, shitake mushrooms,cream chardonnay wine sauce, drizzled white truffle oil). I usually get the baby back ribs with pasta and meat sauce. The ribs are tender and plentiful; I usually take half of them home. The servers are attentive and friendly. The come back frequently for additional drink order or to refill the water glasses. I've never felt rushed or ignored in this restaurant.

I have been a regular customer of Calo Ristorante since 1991 and the food has been consistently good if you go to lunch on Tuesday or dinner on a busy Saturday night. It's only been in the past 5 yrs that I discovered their seafood selections. The fried calamari is a must-not sure how they get that coating so light but NOT greasy, the king crab legs are some of the best I've had anywhere and what I like is that when the serve them, they are already cut in half-so NO FIGHTING WITH THE SHELLS. On special occasions we get the Zuppe de Pesce. It is a huge and delicious pile of seafood;scallops, clams, mussels, whitefish, crab, lobster in a delicious red sauce and comes with pasta and salad too I think. Anyway, we split it and still have enough left for lunch the next day. Whenever we stray or are out of town and try a seafoos restaurant 9.5 times out of 10 we say "It's not as good as Calo's" and it's been that way for years. I've honestly NEVER had a bad meal at this restaurant. From the pasta to the pizza it's all really good.

Really good restaurant offering variety of Itallian dishes. Food and service were great. The portions are huge in comparison to European standards so sharing is a good option.

Oh, I can not tell you how much weight i put on because I became addicted to this pan pizza - you cannot have only one slice-. I used to live a couple blocks from the restaurant and their delivery is the best. I love the crust and all the fresh ingredients they use. I always had their Calo special large, it comes with a delicious a bit spicy sausage, mushrooms, onions, green pepper and lots and lots of fine mozzarella cheese!, the sauce is superb. For in restaurant dinning their menu is just amazing and very hard to resist. I love Calo's! oh and they have reserved parking across the restaurant which in this neighbourhood is a luxury!

I have been going to Calo's for years and this is the first time I have spent $200 on dinner and my experience has be anything but exceptional. I have never been to an establishment where the staff sides with staff when the server makes a mistake. So what happened, I took my family to Calo's for a going away dinner tonight 4:30pm dinner reservations. My sister could not join us for dinner, so I ordered a rib dinner to go. I preordered the ribs with the server at the same time we all ordered dinner. After dinner the server brought the check to me and walked away with my Visa card, she was gone a few minutes then came back and asked to see my ID. Not sure why she asked for my ID when she never carded me for my beer. After I paid the bill, we all left the restaurant and walked to the parking lot. I put the food in the back of my car when I realized the server never gave us the rib dinner. I went back to the restaurant and told the hostess about my missing rib dinner and she called the server over to ask about the ribs. I asked the server what happened to the rib order and she said, "well, I didn't charge you for ribs". I said that charging me for the ribs was not the issue. I ordered ribs and she failed to give me the order. I also tipped this server 20+ % and for what? Another, employee standing at the front desk sided with the server making excuses for why the server forgot the to-go order. She scolded me like a child and said, "everyone makes mistakes; I should not put the server down" I have a right to be upset with my order and I never put the server down. The server dropped the ball during a time restaurant was not slammed. The other staff member at the front desk wouldn't stop with the scolding. She went on and on about how she was going to give me the ribs for free; I should get over it. I never asked for anything for free. I decided not to say anything else to this staff member. I expect good service from Calo since this is considered a better quality eating establishment. Tonight, I have learned that the customer experience at Calo's comes last and their employees come first. I won't stop going to Calo's because I love the food, but I won't forget the experience.

We had a great time for my moms birthday dinner. The fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and Vongole were both delicious. We had leftovers to take home. Great atmosphere and service.

Monday, July 10 after 10 pm.... Not a usual time for dinner but my friend and I had attended a fundraiser at Mary's Attic down the street and wanted to revisit Calo after 20+ years. What a fabulous surprise... Totally remodeled and very sleek and lovely. We were happy to learn dinner was still being served and we quickly ordered a wonderful Crab Cake (2) appetizer and a grilled octopus delight. We shared a Portobello Gnocchi dish- excellent! Portions were generous enough for a doggy-bag. Service was very good despite the late hour and I do believe we were among the last to leave. We have already planned a return trip.

Good pizza - I would not recommend getting anything else because the entrees are mediocre. Cleary they don't have a real chef in the kitchen.

This was our third time at Calo, and again the food and service was very good. My Chicken Saltimbocca was delicious, as was my friend's squid special. This place is a staple for the Andersonville crowd and those in-the-know. Consistently good.

I did some digging to find a restaurant that was romantic and gay friendly and found this amazing Italian restaurant online. They didn't take reservations online, but all was quickly resolved from a short phone call. The food was absolutely fantastic, easily one of the best meals I've had in Chicago. We started with the Rotolo Di Mozzarella - best mozzarella I've ever eaten in my entire life. For dinner, I had the Bucatini Al Pesto - again, just an amazing dish. The portion sizes were ample, and had we not been staying at a hotel, there would've been left-overs for sure. The only fly in the ointment was the over zealous busboy who CONSTANTLY reached between us to clear dishes from the table that he could've taken away from the other side of the table without intruding on our personal space. And they had us re-use our utensils and the way we found that out was the same busboy took our silver ware off our finished first course and plunked them summarily on the unclothed table; "plunk". Kinda low rent.... The space is well done, good noise levels, perfect lighting, very clean, and the staff were always in motion keeping things going. Great, great, great dinner.

My wife and I were in the area doing an architectural tour, and wanted to try something in the neighborhood for dinner. I opened the TripAdvisor app, and settled on Calo. It was 6 o'clock on a Saturday evening, so the place was packed. We didn't have reservations, but luckily the hostess found us a table for 2 near the bar. We ordered frutta di mare and mussels for starters. Everything was excellent, tasty, and fresh. The marinara sauce was delicious. For the main course we ordered a pizza capricciosa. This came with tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, mushrooms, dry cured black olives, and artichoke hearts. This was truly delicious. We topped everything off with an excellent sorbet made from wild berries. The server we had was very attentive, and the price for what we received was reasonable. We look forward to going back here again.

This was our first visit here, and we were very pleasantly surprised. An interesting place: bar with the TVs on the one side, and a quieter dining room on the other. Excellent daily specials, along with the usual Italian specialties. Very good service, good wine selection (and good prices), and good beer and booze selection at the bar. Ended up costing us much less than the quality would have suggested.

When you're an Italian food groupie like myself, you seek others. My husband and I have been coming to Calo for years. So after my dear, sweet friend and I saw a play, I thought instantly of Calo. Sakeeb, after 4 years, recognized me! Carla recognized and remembered my name! Food- they make the most delicious pastas. I had paparedelle (sp) With mushrooms. There was a creamy white truffle sauce. Served with a crispy salad I was in heaven! Lovely meal with friends!

Luckily the food was good. Took forever to be seated. Service was SLOW and perfunctory. Took forever to get the check. If you're going to go anyway in spite of the service, Ziti Vodka was very good, as was Gnocchi Gorgonzola. Fettuccine Alfredo was more buttery than cheesy, so know that before ordering. Margherita Pizza was good too.

Great italian,calimari,ribs cappucino free parking across the street. Wonderful restaurant in Andersonville that most out of towners dont know about

Had to wait three times as along for a table as we were originally told. They are two many nearby great restaurants to wait so long for the mediocre decor and service. The salmon was quite well prepared and the bread was delicious.

Ok. Risotto friuta de Mari with white suace. It was rice with over cooked camari shrimp,scallops, mussels and clams good.rosotto shod be creamy not plain with oily sauce. Good pour on the Scotch

Calo always delivers a great experience. It is a perfect place for a large group or a couple. Food and service is always great.

Calo Ristorante. There was 6 of us ladies, we were not only treated excellent but the food was outstanding. Chicago and it's neighborhoods are so fun, take the Metro, take a cab, take a bus, all are available within minutes......

Was in Chicago for a long weekend to celebrate a friends birthday. We decided to go to Calo Ristorante after I had read a bunch of good reviews and it was close by to our Airbnb, The dinner was very good. The place was packed as expected on a Friday night. We had made reservations - thank goodness - but we still ended up having to wait another 10-15 minutes. Two of us had the halibut special. The piece of fish was nicely grilled and it was a very large piece of halibut. Much larger than I expected. Especially for fish. It was on a bed of spinach and came with a side. I chose pasta. Before I forget, we did start out with the calamari appetizer. Perfect fried and also a very large portion. My husband commented that they didn't include any of the tentacles. He doesn't like them. I do. :-) He had a pasta dish - Bucatini Al Pesto. Another huge portion. Nicely done al dente pasta in a pesto sauce. He took a large togo container. We had it for a late dinner the following night. The restaurant was busy and pretty loud. The server was attentive but not overbearing. They were on top of things. Overall Calo was very good. I would definitely come again when I'm back in Chicago

This is a very good Italian restaurant up in the Swedish Andersonville neighborhood. A nice benefit: they have an attended parking lot in what is a tough neighborhood for street parking. Salads are large, with a delicate house Italian dressing. Entrees are similarly large. I enjoy the pastas with Italian sausage, but my friends tell me the seafood is wonderful, too. And Italian place or not, they have very good barbequed ribs! Excellent and reasonable wine list. Martinis are huge and very good. There are two sides to the restaurant: a sports bar-type side with TVs (avoid it if you want a relaxing dinner) and a separate dining room (my choice).

First time here and will definitely be back. The food was outstanding and seasoned to perfection. They also have free parking across the street. The menu is so vast that its overwhelming. That's why you cant come here just once. Calo Ristorante will be seeing me again very soon!

Very authentic flavors. The Beef ribs, salmon and risotto where hits at our table. Every dish was right on point and the service was friendly. I will be back next time I am in Andersonville neighborhood.

First time here and i have to say it's the best thing crust pizza I've had. The seasonings where perfect and I will definitely return again.

Delicious Italian food, great Italian wine, real espresso and very good service, all in a nice ambiance. Went for dinner, 6 people with no reservation; quite busy for a Wednesday night though. Big portions & great value.

It's such a treat to dine at Calo! First if all, they know how to make a cocktail. I recommend the Negroni. Everything I've tried on the menu has been superb: from soup to fish to pasta to dessert. AND on top of it all, the service is top notch. The staff is well-trained and experienced and know how to provide an outstanding dining experience.

This place always provides 100% satisfaction. The food, the service, and the atmosphere are all on point. I highly recommend splitting a bottle of wine and enjoying every moment spent here. Although they are known for their ribs and pizza, I tend to stick with their seafood dishes and can testify wholeheartedly that they are beyond delish! *cheers!*

I frequent Calo both alone and with friends. The cocktails are awesome, and quite generous. Calo makes one of the best Vesper martinis in Chicago - outstanding. The entire menu is filled with consistently excellent traditional Italian cuisine. I love the chicken Vesuvio here - one of the best I've ever had. Located in a bustling Chicago neighborhood for those visiting and wanting to get away from the touristy places. Great wine selection as well. The bar and adjacent dining area or very lively, and another room provides a quieter experience.

We had a group of 12 friends. Everyone loved the fantastic food and the service, led by Juan, was tremendous. They were attentive and timely. We will be back!

This fabulous Italian Restaurant is consistently excellent. I’ve never had a bad meal here. This time, we introduced our neighbors, a couple, to Calo’s to celebrate their recent nuptials. I had salmon, my spouse had pasta with chicken and veggies (and subsequently got three more meals out of the leftovers). Our neighbors got veal and pasta. They were over the moon happy with the food. Our server, Lou, was excellent as well. We will keep coming back.

This is one of my favorites in the north side of Chicago. Calo knows steaks, seafood , pastas and everything in between. I went out to dinner with a friend and tried the skirt steak. It was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. My friend had the grilled pork chops that were also quite delish. The decor is lovely. The staff is friendly and attentive. This place should be a staple for anyone's Chicago restaurant list!

I have not had a bad meal from Calo in all of the 20 yrs I've been coming to this place. Wether it is delivery, luch on a Tuesday, or dinner on a Saturday night, Calo delivers fresh and consistent delicious foods. I have eaten seafood from many places, but I love theirs the best. The crab legs, the zuppe di pesche are amazing. Keep it up everyone.

Take out and they couldn’t be nicer. Very professional. Seat at the bar while I waited. Food was good as always. Super accommodating. Love this place.

Loved the food it was delicious service was great awesome portions and free parking ! We will definitely be coming back

Only giving three stars-food was very good. Service was terrible. We sat for 20 minutes before we saw waitress. We did have water and bread while we waited. Party of 4- 2 ordered off the daily special paper sheet. The other two ordered off menu. We waited another 15 minutes for our check. We later looked at bill and were charged full price for daily special. Oh well! Been going here for years, first time poor service.

We had a private room for a birthday party, so I was not in the main dining area. The private room was spacious. The service was very good. Great drinks and food. The town of Andersonville was very cute. It makes for a nice walk before or after dinner. It is about $25 taxi ride from the city.

I went for lunch, and typically going for lunch the restaurant is relatively empty so that is nice. There is parking across the street also a big plus especially in this part of the city. The food was ok, I've had the chicken alfredo, the pizza, the ribs, and the vodka cream pasta. But the bread assortment is the star. Broken down, The chicken alfredo had some to be left desired. The Pizza.. relatively pedestrian.. the ribs again, relatively pedestrian. The Ziti Vodka was definitely the star of this place. It as very tasty and worth of an italian restaurant in the city. The staff was attentive and nice as well.

We ordered takeout so won’t be able to comment on service. Food was good, nothing special but good and fairly big. Pizza crust was very yum.

Every aspect of the visit was on point. From the door to the dining. Manager and greeter welcoming, food delicious, accommodated special request, timely service, everyone is on top of it. This is how a great restaurant operates

Every pasta dish we’ve had here has been amazing! Lasagna and the gnocchi are delicious. The flourless chocolate cake is a true delight for a chocoholic! The bread is always fresh and warm. What truly makes this restaurant amazing is the service. Ecaterina, our waitress was amazing! Prompt, professional and she paid attention to every detail. She even wrote happy birthday in Romanian on my daughter’s dessert plate. 😍 Ioana, the manager is extremely professional and accommodating. Thank you Calo for another wonderful birthday dinner.

Service was friendly and prompt, food was plentiful and tasted delicious. Parking was free across the street. Hostess was prompt to seat. Restaurant was well decorated and a nice environment for family and friends.

It would be impossible to complain about any aspect of the dining experience at Calo's; even the long wait for a table was nice due to the pleasant company we had at the bar. I don't think there are strangers in a bar in Chicago, just new acquaintances. Once we were seated, we enjoyed friendly, attentive and knowledgeable service. We were craving pasta on this particular evening but started with a cheese appetizer that was beautifully served atop fresh greens and perfectly "dressed"; fresh bread was served alongside. We chose the "ravioli alla milanese" (stuffed with angus beef and served in a light tomato sauce) and a classic "linguini alla carbonara." Fresh green salads were served with the pasta. We left quite satisfied and agreed to return as soon as we can.

Excellent pizzas Very good products Excellent desserts Very friendly staff Very good Italian I recommend

We chose a salad lunch and was delighted with what arrived at our table - beautifully presented and such a simple dish. Some bread, a glass of wine and a window table - perfect. A great choice of entrees also - will be back.

We frequently have lunch or dinner at Calo with friends and family. Good comfort Italian food (generous portion) and staff are always on point and efficient. We usually have pizza, pasta and fried calamari (always yummy). This week, I tried the grilled baby octopus and it was so good, definitely will order that again. They do have a parking lot across the street from the restaurant you can park for free, just need validation, but it fills up fast.

Calo's is our family's favorite restaurant. Last Sunday night was no exception! We were warmly greeted at the door and seated right away. We had never dined in the bar area before but it was very cozy and not loud at all. Our waitstaff was friendly and made sure everything went well with all our courses. My spouse had a delicious gluten free pasta meal. I had the vegetarian lasagna to die for! We came by public transportation from Rogers Park. We had a wonderful and relaxing evening to cap off the Labor Day weekend.

Great decor and service. While I love classic Chicago pizza, Calo reminds me how good classic Italian thin crust can be.

We went to Calo's to celebrate my hubby's birthday. It was delicious! Their garlic mashed potatoes cannot be beat. Their ribs are stupendous. And the spumoni ice cream is the best, Although when you order it for delivery, they give you a full pint but in the restaurant they give you a small sliver. But it's the best Spumoni in town. Anybody looking for a wonderful meal should go to this restaurant!

My wife and I went to Calo Ristorante for lunch. I grew up in the area as a kid. We both ordered OTOLO DI MELANZANA Eggplant rolled and stuffed with garlic, ricotta, parmigiana, light marinara sauce, baked with mozzarella. It was soooooo good and very filling. I would highly recommend this place

Enjoyed everything about this restaurant, even the bread served at the beginning of the meal was tasty, usually it is just an after thought but this was not the normal bread served at most restaurants at the beginning. The Italian food was good and also the ribs ordered at the table were very tender as well. Pricing was very reasonable and will be back.

This place is just perfect! Parking across the street. I went here with some of my girls and it was the perfect spot. I had this awesome pasta that was just to die for! The bartender was amazing as well. The wine selection is nice. goes great with the food.

Due to COVID, we ordered takeout. We think the patrons are not being cautious enough, although the staff all wear masks, etc. The servings are large so we had the leftovers for lunch. The risotto con fungi was the best risotto I have had outside of Tuscany. It was amazing. The arugula salad with balsamic vinaigrette was delicious. We didn’t really like the sausage and red pepper pizza, but maybe it’s just different.

Went to Calo for a birthday dinner with family. We had a round table for a party of 8, which was nice for being able to talk to everyone (although the room was pretty loud... not impossible to converse, though). The food was delicious. Salmon special with asparagus/mushrooms was the highlight, but all the food was good. We shared tiramisu at the end which was excellent.

We had a group of 12 that ate there on Saturday night. We had reservations. It is a lovely setting and the food was reasonably priced. A lot of us ordered the half-slab of ribs and we all enjoyed it. I tasted a friend's pasta dish and it was delightful. I felt that the serving-size was just right and the service was excellent.

This may be the best kept secret in town Staff is very professional and the food was top shelf Andersonville is a cool little neighborhood Menu is very diverse. Steak was perfect. Appetizers were very very good. Focaccia was amazing A must visit

The food here is terrible, but boy, if you're hungry, there is a LOT of it. You get bowls of pasta that would feed 5 people. Food is bland, overcooked and completely uninspired. There are so many better choices for Italian than this place, esp since the prices are so high. For example, the "special" of grilled octopus was 20+ dollars when all that it really was was the appetizer version of the grilled octopus (14 bucks) but they give you choice of potatoes and a salad. Plus the dish was NOT grilled, but probably boiled and overdone to the point of rubber. Blech. But it certainly was packed on the night we were there.

Calo Restaurant is a great Italian Restaurant, a family place. Lots of multi-age people, bustling. Good Italian food. You should visit often.

We were a walk in but quickly seated even though it was pretty busy. Great location in historic North Clark Street. Excellent menu for all. Food arrived in a timely fashion and was excellent. Great Service and well worth a visit if you are in the area!

I have been a regular customer here for probably 40 years. It never disappoints. The food an service is always excellent. I had not been in a few years since I retired and moved from the City. I was very happy that the food was still excellent and the service still impressive. It is a great place for a special occasion (this was a birthday surprise for me) and a romantic spot for dinner. I truly recommend this place for some great and authentic Italian cuisine.

Love this place from they're full slab of ribs for only 12.95, great starters and one of the best thin crust pizza ever. Sit at the bar and ask for Carla she's great!

The food was better than average and with the light lunch crowd service was good as well. Warm, tasty bread for starters, decent calamari and salad. There are a lot of pretentious, trendy places around here so it was refreshing to skip the pretense for an old school, predictable lunch. Also good for kids with all the pasta dishes. While I'm at it leave room for desert as they do have some pretty good after dinner treats.

We went for an evening meal because we were told it was good. That is correct. The menu is so large, anyone should be able to find something they like. Service was perfect, food delicious and there was plenty of it! I would love to return to try another of their delicious choices.

This is one of our favorite go to Italian restaurants. The food is fabulous, as is the service. There is lots to choose from in the vast menu, and the restaurant is always crowded. Important to have reservations especially on weekends. There is a small parking lot, free to park (with tip of course). Highly recommended!

Have been to Calo many times over the years and can only say it's gotten better over time. Fresh seafood and pasta, fantastic meats and a nice wine selection all come together for a great evening. The pizza is awesome no matter if you take it to go or dine in.

I just received a fabulous delivery from this place. I got the cappallini pasta with mussels in white wine and the spumoni (Italian ice cream cake). Everything tasted good and the portions were good size. Plus the delivery was very fast.

We walked in because my friend had heard good things about Calo's and who is not in the mood for good Italian food. We found that to be true. I had Chicken Parm that was tender and breaded just right with great cheese and wonderful sauce including the pasta on the side which was don perfectly. My friends all enjoyed their meals as well. The bill was a wonderful surprise- My wife and I had eaten out the night before in Chicago and spent $50 more than the meal for 4.

I went here with friends for the first time and had a great time. It was bustling and lively with a diverse group of diners. It was a great atmosphere. Our server was very knowledgeable and offered informed recommendations based on our varied tastes. I had a huge ribeye with mushrooms that was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Fried mozzarella was a great appetizer and the house salad was great. I would definitely want to try to the pasta and/or pizza next time! Cocktail menu and wine list were also traditional and extensive.

We love to sit at their bar and enjoy the crowd which always shows up in this Andersonville local. Portions are huge so we always split our items. Grilled calamari may be the best in the city. I'd ask them to hold the garlic though. Chicken Milanese is fabulous and enough for three! We always meet regulars who are long time customers. That says a lot about Calo.

The only good things I can say about our dinner this past Saturday was that I was with a group of good friends, the food was great as always and our waitress was very good. Otherwise our dining experience was horrible. They sat us at a table on aisle - leading to the washrooms and right behind us the aisle was a the main aisle for waiters to carry all the food and dirty dishes. We asked to be moved and were told there was no other spots available. One young waiter in particular kept on bumping into my friends chair throughout our meal almost dropping what he was carrying. This should not have happened as many times as it did. Across from us was a good size table of people sitting. I know the restaurant has no control of what people do - but one of the kids - a girl of about 7 kept running from one end of the table to the other and stopping and jumping up and down like a rabbit. This caused the floor to vibrate under our seats all throughout our dinner. Another girl of sitting directly across from us (who was about 16 years old) kept stomping her feet under the table throughout our dinner causing the floor to vibrate even more than the young girl hopping up and down every few minutes. My friend and I did not have a pleasant time eating at all. I was going to say something to the parents - but they looked like the kind of people that didn't seem to care what their kids did in any kind of restaurant as they never once told the young girl to stop running back and forth and jumping up and down. We don't know how the people sitting at the table with the 16 year old did not feel the floor vibrating so much. If I come back to this restaurant - I will only come for lunch to see if I have a better experience. I guess I was upset cause I have been to this restaurant several times before and everything was always great.

We had a very nice time at Calo. The service was very good- friendly and attentive. I was particularly appreciative that the bartender was very helpful as I considered what draft beer to get. They have a very good beer selection. I had octopus and loved it. We highly recommend Calo!

Nice, casual restaurant with really good food and solid, professional service. They have a small parking lot across the street, which is great in this very busy area of Andersonville! Big menu with a variety of choices from pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and more! I totally recommend this fine establishment.

The restaurant has two sides: sports bar with TVs on one side, and tables and booths on the other. Good Italian specialties, and surprisingly for an Italian place, very good barbeque ribs! Very reasonable prices, and free parking, which is a real plus for this neighborhood!

Ordered pizza, fried chicken, ribs, mash potatoes, fries, calamari and onion rings. First time I ever had their fried chicken and found it to be extremely good. Ribs serving was smaller than expected and had a flavor that some of us did not care for. I enjoy their thin crust pizza, so that was AWESOME as usual. Side dishes were ok but the coleslaw was outstanding. Very creamy and tasty.

Went tonight with a good friend who loves the ribs. I had a pasta dish that was well done - big portions and my dish was very flavorful. They are kind and replenished the bread basket often and each entrée comes with soup or salad etc.

Perhaps the most notable failing was the mediocre (and that's being generous) service. Either Costello was really over burdened or he should find a new career. The pasta was gooey, the meat sauce tasted as if it came from a can. My wife thought her pizza was quite good, so maybe this is just a pizza place and I expected too much from them.

What can I say? This place has great food and great atmosphere. Also I don't eat crab legs, but this is the only place that cracks the legs for you so all you have to worry about is eating. BE WARNED they are pricey. Everything else is great, I've had the ribs, chicken, pizza, and chicken alfredo. Great place to take a date, low lighting inside, romantic me thinks.

My family and I went there last week. We loved every dish we had. The prices were very reasonable for that area of Chicago. I highly recommend it for romantic couples' dinner and also families. Outstanding!

Our group of 30 had reservations and was promptly seated for a weekday lunch. This family owned restaurant was adept at taking our orders and serving the adults and our children quickly. We enjoyed warm bread while our meals were prepared. The folks at our table of six said the chicken sandwiches were good and my lasagna was outstanding with a flavorful red sauce. Parking is free in a lot across the street. The restaurant is handicapped accessible.

This is a well appointed decent Italian place. The menu is big enough without being overwhelming. It's cozy and modern, not too bright inside. Nice feel. Casual. I had the seafood ravioli. They were good but slightly over cooked. Most others in my party had the salmon special. All claimed it was excellent. The bread before the meal was excellent. The drink selection was decent. Service was good.

Great menu with a nice variety of options. The calamari friti was so tender and the dipping sauce had a nice bite to it. We enjoyed the salads. The Smoked Braid Salad is a must try. They did not scrimp on the ingredients of this delicious salad. The Wedge salad was also great.

If you want great service and consistently good old-school Italian food in Chicago, Calo is your place. The menu rarely changes, though there are specials, and the hospitality and service is unwaveringly friendly and professional. We go to Calo for big family-plus-friends birthdays and celebrations and are never disappointed. There are trendier and fancier Italian restaurants in Chicago, but Calo is always a good value and a good time.

This classic Italian restaurant has it all--great service, fine wine, generous portions of Italian pastas, seafoods, and meat. Dinners come with soup or salad and generous portion of focaccia and Italian bread, very fresh... Free parking across the street.

This is a C+ old-fashioned Italian-American restaurant. The pasta dishes were swimming in soupy sauces and didn't have much taste.

If you want great Italian food, this is the place. Everything coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled amazing. I had a HUGE bowl of spaghetti and meatballs-very delicious. I understand their pizza is beyond compare. Busy place but they keep it moving with efficient kitchen and servers. It’s worth the wait.

Went with friends who love this restaurant. Everything about it was enjoyable. We got a table right away. The quality of the food was very high, portions were generous and the service was attentive and efficient. I'd highly recommend.

While Andersonville has many solid offerings with many ethnicities represented, Calo's provides good-to-great food in excellent quantities and reasonable prices. Great bar with a good selection of craft brews, and a nice wine menu. The Salmon Limone is my favorite with capers and a generous piece [nearly half-pound] of fish. Nearly every menu item will result in "leftovers" to take home. I skip the side of pasta and opt for a side dish [spinach is great] for a few extra dollars. And there is free off-street parking, a true bonus in this busy neighborhood.Though the space is large [ambiance is great in the two eating areas and the bar area], this eatery fills up quickly, so try to reserve before 6:00 PM, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.

We took our friends from San Diego to our favorite restaurant. They have travelled the world and we wanted them to enjoy a great martini and a delicious meal. I knew they would enjoy the friendly staff and warm atmosphere. We had fish, pasta, and a beautiful entre salad. My friends loved the food and our server Stephanie. His special martini was the best he ever had. I am sure the San Diego area will be hearing about Calo’s.

We saw Calo's reviewed on TV and checked it out on a cool, dreary Memorial Day. Seating and service was prompt, but mechanical. Maybe it was busier than they expected, but it doesn't take any time to smile. Staff seemed grumpy. Food was very good, huge portions. Street parking a little tricky. Another reviewer mentioned a parking lot across the street but we didn't see it. Nice decor. Get a booth if you can. The tables are too close together....no privacy at all. Next time, we'll try dinner with a reservation.

We came in Sunday afternoon. The food here was very good with large portions! Our waiter, Gilbert was very pleasant, professional and when mistakes were made, Gilbert quickly corrected things. I took one star off because my order got mixed up with another one and the hostess at the front was not particularly friendly at all! Otherwise, the atmosphere was very elegant. The prices were pretty good for what we all ordered. I would definitely return.

Why did it take so long for my wife and I to discover Calo Ristorante, the excellent Italian eatery at 5343 North Clark Street in the Andersonville neighborhood? Opened in 1963, it delivers old-time Italian dishes in large portions at reasonable prices in an Old World setting. They serve steaks, seafood, pasta and pizza in an exquisite fine dining atmosphere with hardwood floors, mahogany bar, natural brick walls, murals of Old World Italy and many HD flatscreen television sets that add a sports bar touch to the occasion. Unlike most upscale Italian restaurants, it offers carryout and delivery. Like most upscale Italian restaurants, it features an extensive menu guaranteed to satisfy your taste. Start with a terrific recipe for bruschetta, toasted Italian bread topped with roma tomatoes, cannellini beans, basil, garlic and EVOO. You can't pass up the Mediterranean salad, mixed greens and Romaine lettuce tossed with tomatoes, Kalamata olives, onions and cucumbers in a vinaigrette dressing topped with Peta cheese and chicken. Or you might opt for minestrone or grilled calamari or baked clams or Scampi de Jonghe or grilled octopus or black mussels. Entree? How about Ravioli di Aragosta, saffron pasta stuffed with lobster ricotta cheese, brandy cream sauce, sun dried tomatoes, asparagus, portobello mushrooms and grilled shrimp? My wife chose chicken Saltimbocca. I had grilled shrimp with meat ravioli. It might not sound compatible but it was delicious. You might prefer ribeye or filet mignon or New York strip or pork chops or two pounds of Alaskan King Crab Legs or lasagna or a Neopolitan pizza. Trust me, you won't go away hungry or disappointed.

This is one of our favorite Italian restaurants, as the food is consistently excellent. The menu is extensive, and we've never had a bad meal here. We keep bringing friends here, and they fall in love with Calo as well. Our server this time, Sandy, was attentive, friendly, and personable. This restaurant can get really busy, especially on weekends. Be sure to make a reservation.

Food was tasty, had a delicious scallop/pasta dish (I took much home and made two more meals of it)! Bread served included focaccia with tomatoes. Pretty pricey even so. Staff appeared overworked and not very accommodating. And it was SO SO SO noisy. The TVs were full blast and they refused to turn down. This is not my experience most places, especially at that price point. Impossible to have a conversation, which is a big part of the meal to me. Too bad. Won't be going back.

We had a great dinner at Calo, the food was amazing, delicious wine. My only complaint was that our server Anna seemed mad at us and not even a smile from the hostess. The bartenders seemed super fun however, wish we could have had one of them as our server!

A neighborhood fixture. Varied menu selection has enough choices even for those not into Italian. That being said the Italian food is very good with nice size portions. Friendly and courteous staff adds to the dining experience.

This past weekend we went to dinner at Calo’s for my wife’s birthday because she wanted fish and my (Italian) mother-in-law felt this was our best option. My wife’s favorite dish is Frutti di Mare so we had to go to a legitimate place to get this. Calo’s hasn’t failed the family and I am definitely a fan. The location is great in the underappreciated neighborhood of Andersonville. A huge plus is, straight across the street, they have a private parking lot that is free to customers with a validated card. I like the atmosphere of exposed brick and Italian pictures and art. I had no issues with the noise level, but then again I love dining in the city and I expect it. (It takes a lot for me to have noise complaints.) The servers were very attentive and especially helpful with my 2.5 year old who has some dairy allergies. However, this didn’t stop him from further proving he is Italian by devouring much of the Insalata di Pesce. My Italian In-Laws and wife all enjoyed the Insalata di Pesce, each piece was large are delicious. We also had an order of Fried Calamari (for me, the American) and I thought it was some of the best I’ve had. My wife and her father both had the Risotto Fruitti di Mare and loved the generous portion and quality of the seafood. My mother-in-law and I had the Risotto con Funghi which was huge and I shouldn’t have finished it but I couldn’t stop myself. I loved that this also included just the right amount of grilled chicken that made this a dish to remember. (Most certainly can be 2 meals it’s so big.) The meal ended with a generous sized Cappuccino and an above average Tiramisu. Always a hit with the family and I definitely recommend this Calo Ristorante and it’s certified by my Italian Family!

Service was fast and cordial. Food was delicious. Meat sauce was a 10 with the chicken tender and moist. Bread just average but both chicken dishes were perfection. The pasta was slightly el dente which is perfect for me.....I will be back.

it doesnt pretend to be posh but what it does, it does well. Its american italian food. Dont come here expecting elaborate italian fare. It's not.Its tasty, plentiful and excellent value. Great wings, great ribs special. Great cocktails!

Fabulous place, from the bread to the salad dressing to the pasta to the fish. We enjoyed the lasagne and whitefish. The risotto was to die for! Loved the mushroom risotto with chicken. Great ambiance in a fun neighborhood!

My husband and I went to Calo Ristorante for a family birthday party. This Italian restaurant offers a wide variety of good food at reasonable prices. There are many different choices for appetizers, salads, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. I have food allergies, and the staff was able to serve me plain broiled chicken, broccoli, a baked potato, and a plain salad without dairy products and gluten. All of the people in our large party of twenty people were happy with the food and the generous portions. Parking is available in a lot across the street.

Family wedding in their lovely private room. Food was terrific and service was excellent. Parking across the street was very helpful.

Calo Ristorante has mastered the art of being a a place for the stomach and the heart. These kinds of restaurants are rare. It's a place where you remember your food, but also the ambience. Waiters act happy you've shown up to eat and talk about the dishes with love. A scrumptious basket of Italian bread and pizza bread tempts you to indulge before your generous portion of flavorful Italian specialties arrive. We all had a pasta dish, but the table near us all had chops or steak. Our table was happy with our choices but they looked equally as happy. We will keep this place as one of our go-to-special places for birthdays and holidays. And wait--isnt Mother's Day coming up?? Yippee!!

What a great neighborhood restaurant Italian style. The appetizers were absolutely terrific. The garlic mash potatoes were the best. Had the seafood linguine with white sauce. Portions are huge and the service was like a tag team wrestling match. The were coming at you from everywhere. Good times.

Went there for a special occasion on a Tuesday night and it was packed. Do not consider going on weekend without a reservation. Menu was extremely extensive and it was very difficult to decide on just one thing. Service was exceptional at a time where it’s really poor these days. Marco, our waiter gets a huge shout out. Selection of bread came as well and the pizza break was amazing. I ordered fettuccine monte e mare, superb. Very light sauce, shrimp was perfect and I would easily order it again however I would like to try other options. My date had rigatoni barese and he very much enjoyed it. Platters were huge, filling and got your moneys worth. Definitely looking forward to going back to this superb restaurant.

My family has been eating at Calo since my grandparents moved to Andersonville in the late 70's. My whole childhood, if we got pizza, it was Calo's. Their thin, crisp crust is almost cracker like, but still chewy. The sauce is thin and sweet, such a nice contrast to bubbly, lightly browned on top cheese. I always wanted sausage and black olives on mine. Their Italian sausage is something special. Sweet and earthy with fennel seeds in every bite. I've lived out of state for the last eight years, and still rave to my friends about this pizza. We'll be in town this month, and you can bet we're sharing a large pie on the first night!

The ribs here are fabulous, fall off the bone type, with a delicious sweet sauce. They run a Sunday thru Thursday special, $15.95 for a full slab, can't beat it. Great focaccia--good pizzas and baked clams, as well as calamari. Nice friendly neighborhood place, very friendly, reasonable wine list. Ask for a booth in the bar!

Calo's is a Chicago Northside landmark. All the food is fresh and plentiful . From great Pizza to all Italian dishes to sea food or steaks . You gust can't go wrong! Started going at the old location in 1974. now ever time I'm back in Chicago I just have to go!

We went to Calo for carryout pizza. Good food, and the pizza's were hot and ready to go when we arrived.

Our waitress blew the deal for us. She wasn't friendly upon greeting us. She didn't take our order for at least 10 minutes, even though we knew what we wanted. She didn't revisit the table after delivering the food. The lasagna was great, the salad was good. The bbq chicken pizza was not the best we've had. The service is really what blew it for us...except the kind bus boy Mario who came in and saved the day multiple times.

This restaurant was one that we used to dine at on a regular basis in years past. The food & service were always both good (not great). The last few visits, things have definitely gone down hill. This last "adventure" was our last time dining at Calo. It started from the beginning. We finally were given water and bread after 2 reminders. Next was our salads, which looked like yesterday's salads. The lettuce was a nice shade of brown. Then we were on to the main course. I ordered rigatoni with meat sauce and my wife ordered linguini with clams. Her dish was ok, and the reason I know hers was ok... I had to eat half of it, because my rigatoni was maybe half way cooked. I sent it back and a few minutes later the same plate was back in front of me, fresh out of the microwave!!! It was not edible. When I told our waiter to take the dish away and to just take this off my bill, he said nothing, just took the plate away. At this point I expected the waiter to inform the manager of the problems with our meal. This didn't happen and no apology. I know it wasn't the waiters fault, but he was as bad as the food. It's too bad.... We used to enjoy this place, but 3 BAD experiences in a row!!! Not a coincidence. Way too many good Italian restaurants in Chicago to waste your time and money at this place.

I have been going to Calo’s for many years and when I visited last, I was very dissapointed because it seems the pizza was different. Very different. It looked more like a NY style pizza. Chicago thin crust pizza should always be made with cheese being the last ingredient put on top. The way Calo’s USE to make it. Now they put the pepperoni on the top of the cheese so it is a greasy mess. I don’t understand they changed it. Please explain Calo’s!!!!!

I have been going to Calo for a decade. It is a true neighborhood place in a neighborhood called Andersonville in Chicago. They are a true, family-run, classic Italian restaurant. They have a fantastic GM named Saquib who makes sure everyone feels welcome and like family. Their menu is extensive and delicious. Every kind of pasta and sauce, ribs, seafood, salads, and classic Italian meat dishes. I highly recommend this place. It is a must-do in Chicago.

I am surprised this restaurant has a 4.5 average rating. My husband and I went twice now and while the Italian food was ok, we agreed on both occasions that it was not great. We've had much better noodles and better sauce elsewhere. Also, the side salad is a lot of white iceberg lettuce. On the positive side, the portions are large, pizza-like bread that comes with meal is tasty, service is good, and they have parking.

Drinks were good and relatively decent pours. Calamari was tender and not overbreaded with an ok sauce. Fig bruschetta was excellent with a thin slice of prosciutto on top. My main which was a Special, was a flop. Shrimp arriabata on fettuccine. Four shrimp total, none hiding or fell off on the way to the table…. They were a bit fishy but ok while the pasta was undercooked or old. It was not al dente…. And covered in a red sauce which was slightly peppery but nothing special. The chicken medallions were very good in a tasty cream sauce. The asparagus side was sparse. White fish was well received as well as the mushrooms on pasta. Service was average and the noise level ok. Probably closer to 3.5 but not a four. Prices were reasonable.

This restaurant always serves good food consistently. The menu is extensive, although we seem to gravitate to our favorites - mine is lobster ravioli. Even the bread basket is outstanding with very fresh and tasty focaccia. It's generally pretty crowded, especially on west, so reservations are recommended. Service is great, and prices are competitive. We'll keep coming back.

I have been here countless times and I'm just now writing a review. The space is huge, cozy, and welcoming. I've been in the dining room with large groups or just with a pal, and every time we have amazing service. The portions are huge and easy to share, but you won't want to! Don't fill up on the bread, because there's plenty of food on hand. The Manhattan's are stiff, and pasta is plentiful! They always have a great daily special and they do offer carryout/delivery- my only note is that they do not do their entire menu for carryout, since it would take away from the integrity of the meal. I totally understand, but bummed that I can't get some of my favorites to-go!

We wanted to love the meal. The server was helpful and efficient and cheerfully offered recommendations. The food was disappointing. The pasta was overdone and stuck together. The meat sauce was bland. The baby octopus was not prepared in a way that made it tender. The flavor was good, but the consistency was like rubber. It was not at all enjoyable to eat. But, that must be the way some diners enjoy the dish, as a steak knife accompanied the dish. Not for me. Everyone at the table was polite about the mediocre meal. There are many fabulous Italian restaurants in Chicago. Calo, unfortunately, is not one of them.

We eat here all the time....and never are disappointed. Consistently great meals--steaks, pasta, veal and chicken dishes. Something for everyone! It's popular weekend evenings--I suggest reservations! Enjoy!

we went to this great place by accident. Everyone enjoyed their food. My steak was great. The waitress was very accommodating for my husband to switch out the lobster for crab on the Surf N Turf.

A group of us went there for a late lunch/dinner before a graduation ceremony at Loyola. There was certainly plenty of room for us, especially since it was mid-afternoon. The wait staff was very good and knowledgeable. The food was flat out tasty. I had the Fettuccine Rosa, which was excellent. It was full of shrimp and homemade pasta. My companions had similar experiences.I am sure it is crowded at dinner time but it is well worth going to. It was a very good dining experience. Many Thanks to Calo Ristorante!

Tough veal chicken had no flavor box pasta canned mushrooms that were slimly The only thing they have going for themselves is nice size portions You'd be better off at Carrabba's

When in Chicago, we always go to Calo's for their Ribs Special! I don't really like meat but their ribs are yummy! Most of the time, depending on how hungry we are, we take the fullslab with garlic-flavoured mash and the soup. That meal is so good and filling. The place is pretty huge but it's good to check in advance if you are a larger group. The place is nice and the waiters are efficient and nice. Nothing to complain. The meal is Under $20/each excluding tips and tax. PS/ I will be back to calo's in October and I am already looking forward to it.

Both. Have gone to Calo's many times to enjoy the "italian" food, generous lunches at reasonable prices, good tap beer , nice assortment of good wines, and some really good specials. The "Salmone Limone" is an especial favorite, with a 1/2 pound of the freshest salmon, capers, and broccolini. Other entrees are equally tasty and well-prepared.Portions are generous - you always take food home. Pastas are adequate. Has off-street parking in the crowded by interesting Andersonville neighborhood. Any occasion is a reason to visit Calo's

Take-out pizza (Calo stuffed special with mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc.) was very disappointing, especially when the very thin crust came burned. Free parking in dedicated lot across the street in this otherwise very busy area was convenient.

We had good service, very good pasta and I enjoyed the atmosphere. The value was very good, Nice size portions and not overly priced. My only complaint was they did not provide a dessert for the Birthday Person.

This is probably one of the busier places in Andersonville. It's a good place that offers great comfort food. Carb heaven! I would avoid some of the seafood and stick with the pasta dishes.

My wife and I attended with 2 other couples on a Sunday night. The food was well prepared, the servings were ample and the service was very adequate. There are a number of very good, not overly expensive Italian restaurants in Chicago. This one definitely fits that bill. It is a big space but not crowded. There were six of us and everybody was pleased with their food. A soup or salad comes with all the main courses, which are ample, so a starter in not necessary unless you are really hungry. I had the veal picante and my wife had the salmon. Both of those entres were very good. We will be back

This wonderful Italian Restaurant is actually in a little area known as Andersonville. It's a bit on the outskirts of Chicago, but well worth the time to go. The town is filled with cute shops and boutiques! Finishing the day at this gem finished made our day. Will definitely go back on our next Chicago visit! And they have free restaurant parking which was great for us! The portion sizes were perfect for us ladies. :)

This restaurant is one of our favorites because it is consistently excellent - in food and service. The menu is diverse (try the lobster ravioli - yum!), and prices are competitive with other Italian restaurants we have tried. Dinner always starts with a basket of mouth-watering focaccia that is so delicious, I general eat way too much of it and have to take most of my dinner home. Also fabulous - the pizza, farfalle con verdura, and grilled chicken in white wine sauce. Free parking in the lot across the street (we give a nice tip) seals the deal.

The only selling point to this place is the complimentary bread. I ordered the seafood pasta, and was extremely disappointed. The squid, obviously frozen, was so tough it could have another life as leather soles. I didn't eat much of the food and complained about the squid and was offered 5 dollars off the meal, which I took. Would I go back, no!

The food was amazing. Right when we arrived, we were greeted, seated and given water and a basket of bread (both Italian and homemade focaccia). The staff recommended mozzarella sticks in lieu of the fried mozzarella because we brought our young children and they thought it would easier for them to eat. They were very conscientious of our kids and how their dinner would be easier to eat. We had shared meals for our family and they brought them out pre-split so we wouldn’t have to do so at the table. We had seafood dishes (linguine Del Mar and risotto Del Mar). Both were amazing. The seafood was plentiful and tasty. We also had a filet mignon that was cooked to perfection. We took dessert to go and it didn’t disappoint. The cannolis were fantastic with the heavier filling and crispy shell. The flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce was a perfect complement. And the tiramisu was perfection. We highly recommend this restaurant.

I love this place! One of the best places in Chicago for Italian Food! a wide selection of good food, wine and mixed drinks. The atmosphere is so relaxing. Combine the food and drink and Calo's is a virtual Shangri-La. They have the most flavorful Baby Back Ribs, Lasagna and pasta dishes ever! I celebrated my birthday last winter at Calo's and thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience. When I think of really great Italian Food in Chicago, Calo's Ristorante is the place that first comes to my mind and the only one I know I will head out to...Visit this restaurant and you will know for yourself why I think that this is the best Italian restaurant in Chicago.

When the waitstaff is mainly Russian and Mexican, you know you're not dealing with a first-generation Italian restaurant. Calo, in fact, has been open for 80 years, and some of the people around us as we ate lunch seemed like they'd been coming there for nearly that long! The food was decent, classic southern Italian, and there was plenty of it, too. Of course, we paid rather dearly for it; I've been in plenty of Italian restaurants that were cheaper. All in all, a solid three star.

While staying at a local hotel, we ordered dinners delivered by Calo Ristorante. The meals were hot, fresh and delicious. The delivery people were friendly, professional and efficient.

Went there with five others and we all ordered different foods... All food was excellent... A bit pricey but worth it. I would recommend this place...

Andersonville is getting more popular day by day. Calo is one of the busiest restaurant in that neighbourhood. Portions are big, foods are better than avarage. Unfortunately coctails are not as good as i expected. Keep in mind that this restaurant is always busy(especialy at weekends). Make your reservation and dont expect calm, romantic atmosphere.

Years ago I recall a forgettable visit to what I call a "tomato sauce" Italian restaurant on Clark Street. (Andersonville did not exist as a trendy destination). There was even an improbable couple playing an electric piano and "singing" a la Captain and Tennille. Fast forward to re-decoration, a review in a local PBS show, and a HUGE improvement in the food. It's now one of our neighborhood choices. Our last visit was for a birthday Their mussels in cream wine sauce could pass for Belgian: plump, delicate, exquisite. Friends had calamari fritti, a chicken Marsala, farfalle Molese and lemon chicken. They were all traditionally well-made, yet with a lighter touch. I don't understand the disparaging comments made elsewhere about the bread--I make my own focaccia, and theirs made mine seemed inadequate. They brought a tiramisù with candles for the birthday boy, a nice touch. The portions are traditional Italian LARGE-- plenty of leftovers. For a Sunday night the room was quite busy and loud. Our server was lovely, knowledgeable. and a genuinely personable. Kudos to her!

I have never been to this hidden gem in Andersonville before, didn't know what I was missing!! The dinner salad and bread were so delicious I could have made a meal of it, but I had to order lobster ravioli which were fabulous!! Also had a great gin and tonic to drink on a hot Saturday afternoon!!

My parents were hosting Christmas dinner for 25 people and wanted a traditional Italian dinner without cooking it themselves. We catered Chicken Parmesan, vodka sauce penne , eggplant Parmesan,breaded fried chicken, and Cesar salad. The food was on time , hot, and very tasty! The guest compliments were of all ages from children asking for more chicken and pasta to adults saying the eggplant and chicken Parmesan are outstanding ! My parents were please that everyone enjoyed an Italian dinner! Thank you Calos for your attention to detail with your scrumptious food. I can see why my parents are patrons to your establishment.

We had grilled and spinach appetizer, Super. Grilled eggplant with baked cheese. Also, super. Portion sizes are enough for two! Sit down dinner becomes take out the next day!

nice and very good service. I love this place, their menu, the location, the cocktails and the service

This was a wonderful surprise. I lived in Chicago for 17 years before moving to NYC and had never thought to eat here. I avoid large family Italian restaurants. But while in Chicago last weekend I came here with a friend after he recommended it. There is something a bit magical about this place. I got the sense that this is a place families have been coming to for generations. It was a big place, but intimate: crowded, but not loud. Well maintained. Lots of families. My friend and I were seated at a generous booth. It is an Italian-American restaurant, so I pretty much new what I was going to see on the menu. Of course I had to try the calamari fritti. It was fresh and melted in my mouth. The focaccia and cut loaves of bread were warm and delicious. I ordered one of the specials, baby-back ribs....and got a soup and pasta with it!! What?! Half my meal came home in a doggy bag. We never felt rushed. The service was attentive. As large as it is and as many people were there to eat, I marveled at how well the whole enterprise seemed to be running. This jaded New York diner was impressed.

I dined with four Filipino women including my wife. There was parking and a parking attendant to help us which is why we ended up way up here. Parking in Chicago is at a premium! We ordered the Clam Chowder and it was so good! We got three pasta dishes and tried some new things. The mushroom tasting one was strong and different. Wait staff was very good and helpful! Overall food was good, but not most excellent, but the price was fine for this food. I would go back to this Ristorante!!

Friends recommended the Calo for lunch. Knowing it was on "Check Please" made us excited to visit. The menu items were varied and the prices were reasonable. The ambiance was inviting and the decor was very attractive. Our hostess and waitress were very pleasant. I thought it odd that the hostess would serve the finished dishes to people instead of the waiters/waitress'. All in all, the food was delicious and was plentiful! I would go back to experience dinner.

We've been here multiple times and it never disappoints. The flap its are excellent and the ambiance is nice weather it's a date night or a family dinner. The staff is attentive and the service is prompt. The pasta dishes taste like they are homemade by you Italian grandmother. The dishes are sizable but not quite family style dinning. I've always left with take home and end up eating it for lunch that makes for a tasty two day affair. I've not yet tried the ribs but a future trip is on the calendar to get after the ribs as I've heard many good reviews. If you have time to explore the neighborhood you won't be disappointed as there are fun bars and neat little shops around. Try the Swedish bakery nearby if you can as well. This place will not disappoint and if if your a local and haven't been you'll ask yourself how you've never been swayed to go. Well worth a trip for anyone in other neighborhoods.

I love everything on their menu: from pizza to their entrees. The food is fresh, it tastes amazing and the service is great. Well done guys!