Club Lago Reviews

I just got home after a fantastic meal with friends at Club Lago. The restaurant has been in the same location since the 1950's, and it hasn't lost any of it's '50's charm. The traditional decor reminded me of the Italian restaurant that was a family favorite when I was a kid. The food is classic homestyle Italian fare - nothing pretentious, just delicious food in generous portions. I had the lasagna, which was tonight's special, and it was awesome - homemade, with an amazing red sauce. One of my dinner companions had the chicken parmesan, which is a specialty of the house for good reason - it was juicy and flavorful. The service was prompt and attentive. For this meal and on previous visits the owners, Guido and GianCarlo, welcomed us like family and make sure that everything about our meal was perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great classic Italian food in a comfortable, traditional setting.

Dark but with a small bit of charm. Staff is gracious and attentive. Warm bread always a nice touch. Sausage & Peppers disappointing but other items pretty good.

Have been looking for a real, classic, family style Italian restaurant. Club Lago is it! Paul, our wonderful server, guided us through a very delicious dinner. Started with the light and fresh calamari and shared two flavorful meals. One was a special that night - a combination of chicken and eggplant Parmesan. The other was a superb veal dish. The meat sauce on the side of pasta had such a deep and awesome flavor. Finished with several Cafe Onestis! From the time we entered, everyone, from the owners to the servers and helpers, made our experience so comfortable, enjoyable and fun. Found great parking next door through Spothero.

This joint is a blast! Great cocktails! Great Service! Great Food! Fantastic, authentic, your grandma from Milan, Florence, Naples, Calabria or Sicily might be working in the kitchen, food! You get the idea. And C'mon - where else in town can you order a dozen baked clams and a carafe - yeah carafe - of Chianti or Chablis - yeah Chablis?" Generous portions of everything tasting just he way it should - the bread was excellent too! The atmosphere is old-skool because that's just the way it is goombah! Easy, relaxed, fun, and kinda intimate-dark. Eat and drink here. You will not be disappointed!

Simple, unpretentious Italian food in a neighborhood place. Great, fresh pasta done to perfection. Excellent service.

We stopped in on the recommendation of family friends and we were so glad we did. We were treated warmly from the minute we walked in until we left. The manicotti was the best I have ever had - wanted to try the Veal Rusticana, a definite must for our next visit. The bread basket and portions were generous, too! Guido and Greta took excellent care of us! A real Italian feel!

This is just a wonderful restaurant to visit! Guido is so warm and welcoming! Tatianna was especially kind and efficient as our waitress! For the best calamari served with a smile, this place is a must!

Was very nice ! Service was outstanding Paul was our waiter went the extra mile! Food was good! Atmosphere very nice! Appears one of the two owners which are brothers -Restaurant been in family for many years, are always on property!! With that being said they make sure smooth sailing for all!!

I'm a Chicago native now living in L.A. No one makes an Italian beef sandwich the way they do in Chicago, and I've never had a better one than the ones I get at Lago. I go there whenever I'm in town. Nice friendly place, great food. Owned by an Italian family that's been doing this for generations. Informal, good prices, clean, good vibes. --Ivan Goldman

This place is like going back in time. The gentleman who seated us was named Guido (I think). There are coat racks at the end of the leather booths, and checkered tablecloths. The atmosphere is so cozy and so familia! You can easily imagine a table of 'fellas toward the back from back in the heyday of Chicago. They have Old Style on draught which was tough for me to find. The antipasti appetizer was big enough for 4 people, and was scrumptious. I had a meatball pasta dish, and not only was the food so tasty, it was in portions that made sense. Rather than over-pile your plate with bland food, they give you great food where you can clean your plate. The service was so friendly and homey that I felt like I'd been going there all of my life. Would definitely go back!

This is an old-style family restaurant that does it right! The food is excellent, service is excellent...even when it's busy, and the owners are really nice. A very family friendly restaurant and bar and lots of fun!!

This place has been serving excellent Italian food at this location for likeover 50 years. They must be doing something right...and they are. Very casual atmosphere ,old bar, booths and tables in the back, a couple of tvs and friendly staff and owners. Everybody seems to know everybody. We were there for lunch. T he food was great. Kind of a basic traditional Italian but with some American lunch specials. I love saying this the price did not match the quality . This place was reasonable! Great food and prices a good 25 % less than what you would pay elsewhere in River North. Club Lago is on the corner of Orleans and Superior, kind of off the beaten path. Try the baked clams appetizer. All. He specials were great. Have a drink at the bar.Enen though the owners look young,they have been working there since they were in short t pants,nice guys but don't mention the Cubs around them. Club Lago,we learned, is White Sox territory. Good food,good bar,good pricing.works for me!

Excellent service, excellent food. Old school vibe, calamari is as if your Mother and cousins made it. Perfect for holiday parties. Everyone should visit it for a taste!

So nice to see a small part of the Chicago that was still in buisness. As the crowds wait in the street for a seat in the latest hip pizza place, drown in faux retro hot dogs, and submit their senses to chain run obliviousness, just a few blocks further west is Club Lago. Calamari salad, Italian sausage, carbonara, eggplant, and veal at least 6 ways. Bread, wine served like in an Italian home, and the decor that came with the place 50 years ago. Not to be missed.

Club Lago is truly an outstanding, true Italian restaurant in the River North area of Chicago, at the cross streets of Orleans and Superior. Street parking or nearby lots, but worth every effort you put forth in going to this casual, yet fine Italian restaurant. I had the best Italian meat sauce on spaghetti that I've ever had anywhere. Their food is fresh and delicious. The restaurant has been there a long time and has maintained the tradition of excellence. Interior is smallish, with outdoor seating in good weather, but always best to make advanced reservations. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful with the menu, and your food arrives promptly. This is a go-to Italian restaurant. You will not want to eat Italian cuisine at any other location. Enjoy!

Club Lago is a good neighborhood place to get good traditional Italian food at a really great value in the city. Service is very good. We enjoyed the fried calamari and pizza/sausage bread to start. My veal parmesan was well prepared and comes with a side of pasta. Ended with the lemon ice. Menu is simple and short but has all the Italian favorites you would expect to have at a very good traditional Italian place. The prices are really good most entrees below $20 which you don't normally find in the city.

OK so all in good mood coz first night of a month in the States but this bar/restaurant had great atmosphere, lovely folks working it, and great food so it’s getting the top rating! I’m not an expert but I have a feeling this is quintessential downtown Chicago. Thanks all for a lovely evening.

Stopped by for a glass of wine at the bar. Definitely has the feel and presentation of a vintage neighborhood place. Upside: reasonable prices, great jazz music on stereo, nice wood bar with booths, traditional menu items (including chicken vesuvio). Downside: draws a blue-collar clientele, who don't always have the best manners. Some places would not tolerate a guy swearing into his phone like we encountered. Limited wine list in an otherwise well-stocked bar. If you are looking for a nice Italian place with character and want to impress clients, try another restaurant. If you are looking for a modestly priced place to watch sports and kibbutz with staff, this serves you well.

This place is a local gem! Great service and over the top homemade Italian food. Nice wine list and lots of locals at the bar. You really feel welcomed here. Family owned for three generations. You must try the pizza bread appetizer, it is out of this world.

I was in Chicago for a week long business trip. Our group of 26, Alliance Hospitality, chose Club Largo for dinner. The service was impeccable and the apps, dinner and dessert was fantastic! One of the best dinners!

Went here for lunch on the recommendation of Doug, our Chicago Greeter who is a regular customer of GianCarlo and Guido. Had a great value lunch and was very well looked after by a really friendly waitress who was obviously tired from working long hours the night before. This didn't matter however as she couldn't do enough for us. Great food, great surroundings, highly recommended, thanks Doug!

red sauce italian...good stuff.

Classic Italian neighborhood bar/restaurant -- right down to the red-and-white checked tablecloths. Family friendly. The food is always good and reasonably priced (the $3 side of sausage might be the best-kept secret in River North). The only negative is that they don't serve pizza (but I'm sure that's intentional). Open for lunch and dinner -- except on Sundays. Highly recommended.

Always a pleasure eating and/or drinking at Club Lago. Nothing fancy, just good food (or drinks) served by friendly people in a relaxed environment. A very welcome break from corporate restaurants/chains.

The Guido sandwich is hands down the best sandwich I have had in Chicago. Italian Beef, Meatballs and Sausage.... in a savory sauce that brings the flavor home just right. Club Lago is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Chicago and has my vote as easily one of the best spots in town. This is the genuine article, it is outstanding straight old school Italian. Do not miss this place!!

We have been driving by Club Lago for years before we finally tried it the other night. Needless to say....I wish we had just kept driving by. First of all, I see all the positive reviews on here and the place was packed the night we went, so obviously some people seem to like it but I honestly thought it was awful. We started out with the antipasto which was basically slices of salami, provolone, and jardiniere. The salami seemed like it was literally from Oscar Mayer and the cheese did not seem like anything special at all either. Kraft maybe? I ordered the Veal Parmesan and My fiancee got the Chicken Limone. We weren't even half way through the antipasto before the waiter was bringing out our meals. Fast service is ok at McDonalds....but here it was a little ridiculous. When I made a comment to the waiter about our entrees coming out so fast....he just smiled and proceeded to make room around our antipasto plate to place the entrees down. The veal parmesan was almost inedible. There was sooooo much sauce and cheese that after cutting into the veal twice the whole plate just looked like a disgusting mess. The sauce was also very bland tasting and it had tons of tomato chunks in it (some people may like this but I do not). Entrees come with a side of pasta so I had the meat sauce with penne. The meat sauce tasted EXACTLY like it had just come out of a Chef Boyardee can (NO JOKE). Basically, even though we live right near this place, we will continue to just drive by and never go to again.

I had the veal picante and it was great. My wife had eggplant that was also great. A corner bar/restaurant that brings you back to years past in Chicago. Grab an old style beer and you have the perfect meal from an era gone by.

This third generation Italian restaurant just off the beaten path still owned and operated by the grandchildren of the founders, has lasted more than 60 years for a reason. The deep fried calamari melted in my mouth and reminded me of much more specialised seafood restaurants. The authenticity is amplified by the red checkered tablecloths and the photos on the wall including the one depicting this as the location of filming Mad Dog and Glory. The true test was the spaghetti and meatballs. If you're s northern Italian food lover, this doesn't. Disappoint. Enjoy.

Love eating here it's as if you're been a regular forever. Really good food all my favorites were in the menu. I would add good service and lots of charm. It's a vintage atmosphere with all the classics to let you know they are on top of their game. The dishes are fabulous and I love the wine served in big non wine glasses. It's a very reasonably priced dinner to. My entree was $16.00

They rightfully take pride in the fact that they're not fancy. A place you went to with your mom & dad when you were a kid. Delightful "old" atmosphere (that I hope they never change!!) with food that's tough to beat. Plan on going again and again.

Got “stuck” in Chicago due to Hurricane Florence. Not a bad place to be stuck! Had to get emergency prescription fill and worked with CVS. They were fantastic, especially Rema. While picking up our meds, we asked about a good Italian restaurant close by. She enthusiastically recommended Club Lago, a few blocks away. Are we glad she did!! Entering the restaurant was like stepping back in time. The whole ambiance was 1950’s. We loved it- Starting with the baked clams, the stage was set for delicious! Next came the nightly special...outstanding! Rigatoni with a special sauce...It was special!! We topped it all off with espresso gelato. I’m wearing out the adjectives, but it was once again delicious. This is one of those true hidden gems. You can’t go wrong at Club Lago!!!

My wife and I live in California and my nephew (not my neighbor) told us about this place...and he was spot on. We had a wonderful meal and good wine. The calamari was especially good and plentiful. The Spag with 2 sausages, and saltimboca were especially good. A special thanks to Giancarlo (?) and Genvieve for outstanding service...we will definitely return the next time in Chicago!

This was a real local place with wonderful staff. We enjoyed a nice evening. The food was great. I loved their fettucini alfredo. The garlic bread was nice as well.

This is a nice local place, has a good selection of draft beers, in a nice spacious setting . A very friendly barman gave good description of the beers and I can high recommend the lager lager (yes it is called that !) $4 a large beer is a stunning value for a craft draft . Very friendly place

In our neighborhood - great place to sit at the bar and have a drink - old school charm. Excellent staff - friendly and quick. Food-wise we stick to the Chicken Parm and Chicken Marsala, both very good. Giancarlo and Guido treat you like family. They also do a great job with to-go orders.

Had dinner with a large group of associates from Alliance Hospitality, wanted a local place with great food, and this place did not disappoint! Service was great, food even better!!!!

We just got back from Club Lago for a quick lunch. It was delicious! I had the roast beef plate with a side of pasta and it was terrific. The meat sauce was very fresh tasting. The owner and all the servers were friendly and even gave us a lemoncello digestif on the house. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone.

Family dinner to celebrate a Northwestern graduation. Ages 2-85 in attendance. Fabulous sauces. Subtle, attentive and friendly service. House Chianti is sublime. Atmosphere is vintage Italian with some Chicago thrown in. All in all, my new favorite restaurant in the Windy City. Great value too. I’ll be back. Often I hope.

My buddy who lives nearby took me to Club Lago, which has the same look and feel as it did (or so it seems), yet somehow fresh, when it opened during the Prohibition Era 1920s. It is a PROPER Italian bar and restaurant passed down through the family. I will always make a point of coming here when I am in Chicago. Food was just good. Good, good food. Had a nice chat with brother Guido who tended the bar. You just can't find places like this anymore, except this one is for real.

I love Chicago and I love Club Largo. If I lived in Chicago I’d eat here a lot. True Italian style. Great Bloody Mary. Fantastic pasta. The bread is amazing. If you are visiting Chicago and you want to know the city, this is the best way to understand and enjoy Chicago. The Calamari is worlds best. You will never regret going to Club Largo. I love this place. I’ve been visiting for over 30 years.

I’m on a mission to find the best old school Italian restaurant. My wife and I live in the city and dine out at a minimum of six nights a week. As Italian is my favorite I’m always looking for some place else to try so when I read the reviews on Club Lago, needless to say I was excited. Even walking to the place we could smell the garlic. We entered and yes it is old school but not classic. The place is definitely in need of some basic maintenance, as it seems tired, but that’s not what we came for, we came for the food. We ordered the Executive salad with Italian dressing to start. For $11 dollars and for the portion it was okay. It was a salad and one could easily get a better salad elsewhere. Ok, never mind we came for Italian food and the best way to judge an Italian restaurant, especially southern Italian, is the pasta and the gravy (in this case for me meat sauce). I had the spaghetti and meat sauce and my wife had the linguine with white clam sauce. Maybe it was an off night, maybe the regular guy who cooks was off that day or maybe we went to a different Club Lago, what ever the reason the food was just awful. The pasta itself was tasteless and even worse it had an aftertaste. My meat sauce was maybe what you’d get in a school cafeteria; it had no beef flavor at all. I literally couldn’t eat beyond two bites. My wife’s linguine with white clam sauce was the same. She felt the pasta was so over cooked as to become one big blob of pasta. It was not a traditional white clam sauce. Both the appearance and taste were totally different. It was a white thick paste similar to a roux that was completely tasteless. The server was “in the weeds”, which means there was not enough staff to work the room, and it’s not that big a room. No one came to check on how we were doing or acknowledged the fact neither of us had barely touched our food. At this point we just wanted to leave but it took 10 minutes to get someone to get us our check. To see what other reviewers have said about their experience compared to ours is mind-boggling. If you want Italian food I don’t recommend you come here as there are better choices in Chicago or really anywhere.

Had reservations with another couple. Promptly created and seated by friendly staff. Very helpful with parking questions as well. Very pleasant atmosphere - busy but easy to talk at table. Drinks were fine but a little on the small size. Appetizers - garlic bread and fried vegetables were excellent. Soup was tasty and hot. Eggplant Parmesan was very good as was a pasta dish. Orange roughy was over cooked, rubbery and fishy tasting. Waitress was very professional and concerned and took dish away and offered to have it redone or substitute another. I passed. Overall, food and service was very good but I will stay from the roughy next time.

My hubby and I were wandering and found this place, stopped in for a quick drink and ended up at the bar chatting for about 2 hours! Was a fun place to stop for a sip, next time we will have to actually eat instead of just drink!

I had a night out with old friends and Club Lago was recommended. It was fabulous. Even though I am not a sports watching person the Hawks were playing and everyone was going nuts! The energy was fantastic. Our friend dines there often so the owner greeted us immediately and engaged us throughout the night. He is hilarious! The drinks were delightful and made to exact specifications. Thank you. Our waiter could not have been more accommodating. My friend recommended the Chicken Parmesan. It was fabulous! I am looking forward to my leftovers for lunch. For dessert the cannoli. MMMMMMMMMM! I love the atmosphere of this place and the personalized touch of the owner and wait staff. Even the bathroom had pictures of what I think was the owner and his family. It kind of made you feel like you were having dinner in someone's home. I will most definitely come back.

An honest to goodness neighborhood corner bar and restaurant like the "old days" growing up in the city. How unique that the genuine ambience has been preserved in the big city River North area. Stepping into Club Lago is like stepping back fifty years - guests enter the friendly bar area lined with small tables. The adjoining room contains the predictable dinning room with small and larger tables to accommodate various size parties. The effect is warm and welcoming especially when the friendly service includes plenty of good humor and joking. The food is authentic and well prepared. The menu offers quite a variety with daily specials so there is no chance of redundancy. Our favorites included the pasta with rich red gravy and tender meatballs, as well as the chicken parm. Go to enjoy "Nonna's cooking" and stay for an old neighborhood esperience.

This Iti place has been passed down through 3 generations. You can't get better eggplant parmesan! The former food critic for the Sub-Times said it was the best ever. Prices are great. Staff is wonderful. My overflowing glass of wine was served in a short water glass for $4. Their green noodles, loaded with cheese, are wonderful, as are all their salads. The steak is huge with a simple pasta on the side. Cooked to perfection. For the portions you get, not a bad price. I have left-overs for 3 days! Men seem to love their tetrazzini. Too many butt-bound calories for me. They also have tasty specials every day! It is a gem of dining in Chicago. You will love it!

My husband and I were having our anniversary weekend in chicago and its so very odd every time we ask people for a good italian restaurant people can not name any place so when someone told us about this place we took their word we got a little dressed up not exactly knowing what we were getting into We walked in and were immediately dissappointed it was a diner very loud very old diner The food was so-so I would not pass this on as a good italian restaurant

Corner bar restaurant, very friendly, solid service, food was good but could have used more seasoning. Fried zucchini and mushrooms were breaded & fried perfectly. Good beer, nice place to sit and vsist.

There are many quality Italian restaurants in Chicago and Club Lago is one of the oldest and most underrated. Opened in 1952 at 331 West Superior Street, at North Orleans, in the River North neighborhood, it has been operated by three generations of the Lazzerini family. They have satisfied everybody from George Halas to the first Mayor Daley to Ernie Banks with a northern Italian cuisine and full bar and an extensive menu that includes nine veal dishes, something you don't see at most Italian ristorantes. If veal isn't your taste, you can choose steaks or chops or chicken or pasta or fish or paninis. It's a friendly neighborhood atmosphere that has been drawing loyal customers and out-of-towners for 65 years. With that kind of longevity, they must be doing something right. My wife and I have visited Club Lago on several occasions. Each time, we try to order something different. But we have our long-time favorites. This time, we shared shrimp cocktail, garlic bread and the Lago salad bowl, a julienne of ham, turkey, eggs and cheese. For her entree, my wife couldn't resist veal saltimbocca., tender and tasty and so Italian. I adhered to my more fish/less meat diet and chose the broiled filet of orange roughy, a fish I rarely order (and rarely see on a menu) but always find to be filling and satisfying. But I always have trouble passing up Club Lago's spaghetti and meatballs. For dessert, we shared cannolis and spumoni. How Italian can you get?

I have only been to Chicago 4 times and I have been to Club Lago on all 4 trips. Great food and service. I love the Carbonara they make, probably the best I have had and I try a lot of Carbonara. The owners are friendly and always present. It is a great place to take family or friends for some good, solid comfort food.

Apparently this was an Al Capone hang-out. Menu is ok, but our saucy waitress was only too happy to let me order off menu and have a 1/2-portion pasta ahead of my carne as it should be. Solid wine offering. Veal saltimbocca was very good. Waitress gets top marks.

Club Lago is a diamond in the ruff! It is like taking a step back in time to an old time Chicago Italian restaurant. The food is delicious and the servings are very generous. The servers are friendly and attentive. It has become one of our go to places.

Great food, great atmosphere. If your looking for fancy pants go some place else. This place would make my italian Nanna proud. Italian food made well.

We were greeted warmly by the host and seated promptly. The Italian menu was very complete as I had spaghetti with meatballs. The food was authentically great and a very large portion causing me to take some home. Our waiter was very cordial and efficient. The owner came by our table and asked if everything met our satisfaction. We all were very pleased at this restaurant and I'll definitely be back here on my next visit to Chicago.

Crowded and noisy, but nice old bar decor. Wine was reasonable and good bread. Had chicken dish which was OK, overdone calamari served with chili sauce. Easy to get a reservation for five, even though it was packed. Staff had minimal involvement but good enough. Would not go back but family get together which was enjoyable.

From start to finish the atmosphere was old school family owned business. We called ahead to make sure they had space for our party, they got us in right away. The food was classic and delicious - just like grandma used to make. Nothing fancy..just amazing food. They say the recipes are the same since 1952. From the veal to the stuffed manicotti we loved it all.

This is our "go to" spot when in Chicago! The food is always delicious and consistent. It is authentic and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Gian Carlo and Guido strive to make it a great experience. They are very hands on, in fact, every time we dine there, we see one or the other there if not both! Favorites include: chicken or veal parm, veal milanese, any of the pasta dishes with meat sauce and they have the best cannoli in Chicago! Great place for families, a date, group of friends or a business lunch! We will keep going back for years to come!

Old school, good food.

I walked into Club Lago on the recommendation of a former resident of Chicago, and I think I am forever ruined for ever ordering Italian food in my local area ever again! Wow. I can't recall how many different dishes of veal they served, but all of them sounded great. I was in a pasta mood and ordered the linguine and clams, and I overate since each bite just built up to the next, and I still didn't finish my plate-so the serving was not skimpy. As I was dining alone I sat at the bar, and the atmosphere was lively and fun, not to mention you get a nicely poured drink as well from the barstaff. All in all-you can't go wrong here. I'm definitely going back.

Wanted a little Italian so looked up and found this place. It's primarily an old style corner bar which has food service. The kitchen turned out a great antipasto platter which was too big but was nonetheless totally consumed by myself. The pasta entree reminded me of the Italian countryside with the freshness of the ingredients. The red wine was perfect. If you want to see a small place put on a great show this is it. Don't go for ambience or any frills. This is basic good cookin'.

We've been going to Club Lago for several years. In a neighborhood full of over-priced, over-hyped corporate-owned restaurants, it's nice to see some local flavor still exists. This probably isn't the place to take a client you're trying to impress, but it's the perfect place if you're looking for a friendly, casual neighborhood restaurant with consistently good food at reasonable prices. I strongly recommend their veal parm. It's my favorite thing on their menu..in fact it's the best veal parm I've had outside of Italy. Add a glass of the house Chianti and enjoy!

This is a no-frills Italian-American restaurant… that’s your warning. If you are coming here for a taste of authentic Italy, you may find it, but you’re more likely to find something your Italian grandparents or parents made at home. Really, this is Italian food how I make it at home… I’d call it Italian-American comfort food. If you like that kind of food, this place it great. If you are looking for refined Italian cuisine, go somewhere else. The value is good, service is friendly and the food reminds me of meals I had as a kid.

Club Lago is one of my very favorite places in Chicago. From the moment you walk in you feel like a regular who has been coming there for years. Due to the graciousness of the brothers that run the place; Guido and GianCarlo Nardini. Belly up to the bar or have a seat. The food is excellent Italian fare. Complete with a loaf of fresh Italian bread. Believe me when I tell you, if you haven't eaten at Club Lago you haven't been to Chicago.

If you are looking for a very good old school Italian meal and ambiance this is the place for you. The service was great, very friendly atmosphere, and the food was very good. I thought the food pricing was very good however mixed drink pricing was bit steep given the portioning. We will return!

Stumbled in to Club Lago for dinner last Friday, turned out to be a great find in the area. Old school feels in this place with a traditional, east-coast Italian style menu. The chicken piccante couldn't have been done any better, we will be back!

I think you may need to be a friend of the owner to get a good experience here...but we did not enjoy ourselves...too many tables/chairs squeezed into too small of a space, calamari was undercooked and doughy, manicotti and chicken parmigiana were both drowning in their respective sauces...took an hour just to be able to place the order in the first place. would not recommend.

Guido has been a great host for years, the staff is super, and the formula has continued to work for decades.The baked clams appetizer is very good. The veal dishes are terrific and be sure to get the meat sauce on the side pasta. Everything tastes fresh. The place is on the small side and now takes reservations so make one.

I personally liked the place but my wife thought the ragu/beef sauce was like Chef Boyardee (I liked it). The waitress was not dressed properly and sadly her very large stomach was hanging out which wasn't sightly. Our dinners were very good, Chicken Parm and Eggplant Parm. I thought the meatballs were old school and great but my wife having soured on the antipasto (all meat, no salad) and the sauce didn't care for them. Very old school joint. I'd go back but not with her.

Last week I stopped into Club Lago for the first time and am glad I found this little gem of a place. The food, amazing...like my Italian grandmother was in the kitchen. The meatballs, like everything else, are handmade fresh daily. Made only of beef, I asked because I prefer the trinity of meat (veal, pork, beef) in mine. They did not disappoint, moist, full of flavor and not too large, perfection. The atmosphere is sheer 1950's Chicago with its tin ceiling, red/white checkered tablecloths, rough around the edges waitress who was amazing. Meal prices are very affordable and reasonable. I guarantee you will not be disappointed eating here. The place is rather small so come early or make a reservation. One more nice little touch, a scene from the 1991 movie "Mad Dog Mad Glory" starring Robert De Niro and David Caruso was filmed in here.

Club Lago is my place for business meetings in this part of Chicago. We are always warmly welcome, and professionally served, no matter who I am sharing space at the bar or at one of the tables. Northern Italian food here reminds me of my Italian mother's delicious works. Nothing fancy but very good bar and kitchen right out of the 1950s.

We had such a great time there for New Year's Eve! On New Year's Eve they put together a nice spread of food, have an open bar, and a DJ. I love the Eggplant Parmigiana. And the staff always makes you feel like family! A true Chicago place to go!

I was staying at Swissotel in Chicago. A friend and I were looking for good, affordable, non-hotel food. Jerry at the Hyatt recommended Club Lago. It was a short cab ride (we walked back). I don't know what the previous reviewer was thinking when they said that Olive Garden was better. This place is WAY better...not even in the same class. The food looks and tastes like homemade (which I'm sure it is!). The lady behind the bar was very friendly as was everyone at Club Lago! The atmosphere was great. I had tortellini with meat sauce and it was wonderful! The next time I'm in Chicago, Club Lago will be on my dinner list!

I was staying in Chicago for the marathon in October last year. My accommodation was not far away from Club Lago and I first visited for lunch and was greeted so nicely and sat down by the friendly staff who were engaging and just terrific. I ended up coming back four times within a space of ten days of my trip from having lunch, tea and then drinks on my final night. I highly recommend the warm and friendly staff at Club Lago and especially if you are looking to get a great carbo feast pre marathon race. Kind regards Brian Lyons ( Tasmania, Australia )

This is an old-time Italian restaurant. The place oozes history. Met a colleague for lunch and was surprised that the food was as good as it was. We sat at the bar to eat and my salad was very good. Beer was good, too. Staff was friendly and quick. What more could you ask for? I recommend for good authentic Italian.

Just like the old days and the tip off is the painting above the bar of the real Mayor Daily - like the first one. Food is great and not outrageous - solid all the way around. Wine food, Food good, staff good, bread good. Want fancy, head somewhere else. Grew up in Chicago mid century and this is my go to place when in town.

After stopping in to many wonderful and weird art galleries, repair to this fine family-run joint and enjoy the green noodles or whatever you fancy off the menu. It's all good, some of it great. the ambience is great, especially after the rush, in the lull between lunch and drinks. It's Italian-American at its truest.

So this is interesting. Clearly not updated since the late 70's early 80's. Food is basically sound. Very good very basic fare. There's a smell.that's neither good morning bad. Maybe just old. Efficient, good basic food. But I must say the Italian beef was awesome, the pizza bread good, the veal saltimbocca good. But basic meatballs were worse than cardboard. Not dry, just flavorless balls of pressed meat. No salt, pepper, olive oil or anything. Just lumps of flavorless stuff. Ironically the sauce they were in was good. So this place is a paradox. Could be open another 50 years or close in a month. I enjoyed it but it's borderline enough to hope it makes it because it's not certain. Nice people too. I hope the tighten up the edges to keep it a good reliable neighborhood fixture. Buon appetito.

This is not the white tablecloth, with candles on the table that some may expect, but it is a very good, classic Italian restaurant. The chicken parmesan is fantastic, and the spumoni is a must try. I highly recommend this for a classic, homemade, no-frills dining experience.

We stumbled upon Club Lago, wandering the neighborhood near our hotel. This is the Chicago Italian neighborhood restaurant we had hoped to find. No chain here. Real deal. Run by a family, with a tradition. Class operation. So glad we found it. Initial serving of bread was very tasty. One of us had the roast beef plate. One of us had the lasagna plate special of the day. We both had minestrone. That was extra, but in a large bowl and tasty, with so many veggies. We both had chianti. Food and beverage were delicious and reasonably priced. We had to take out some food, as there was much-too-much to finish it all. On arriving, the bartender greeted us with a smile and took us to a table. We felt very welcomed, in a place which might have a local clientele. We were served professionally and enthusiastically by a waiter new to the restaurant. By the end of the evening, we were calling each other by our first names. By the time we left (around 8:30pm), the entire restaurant was full. On a Monday evening. Wonderful neighborhood place (with a lengthy family history), red-white checkered tablecloth ambience and excellent food and service. Not sure which of the owners was so nice to us, when our waiter got so busy, but we felt like part of the family and will return again, on our next trip to Chicago.

Cosy restaurant on the corner, red and white checked tablecloth, a bar section at the door, the tables a bit further in. Semi-loud clientele and a winelist that didn´t make you pay more for the wine than for the food. The food was tasty and all-in-all a pleasant, relaxed dinner in the hood.

When visiting friends in the City, we were looking for a restaurant on Open Table that had a reservation for 13 on a Saturday night and Club Lago popped up. We walked in with our large group and 7 boys (!) and the owner (?) greeted us like we were old family friends. He ushered us to our table and we settled in for a fun night. I wish I lived in this neighborhood. Old school Chicago location right on the corner, tin ceiling. Looks like it's always been a bar or maybe a bakery. Our server was very patient with the kids, answered lots of questions and recommended the nightly special (delicious). The rest of the menu is your typical pasta and sauced dishes. No kid menu but offered half portions for the kids. Chianti in a carafe! This is not high-end Italian but we really enjoyed the welcoming environment and the opportunity to spend an evening with old friends. Another large party also there that night celebrating an engagement - seems like a place where people really feel at home.

I've been here 5-6 times for lunch, never disappointed. Very much of an old school, throwback feel to the place. Food is good, reasonable and plentiful! Bring your appetite! Lentil soup is top notch! Saw Mayor Rahm Emanuel here once, so that's saying something.

This little gem was in my sales territory, I stopped in and kept going back. Let's just say my dads one of the toughest people in the world to please when it comes to Italian food. He came from the homeland, only eats home cooked meals, he is a "no frills, no one makes it as good as your mother" kind of guy. Let's just say we had to take the pasta away from him because we thought he was going to explode. I wouldn't take anyone here if they were looking for a "fancy" meal, but if they're lookin to eat some delicious carbs, this is their spot.

Went to Chicago on a romantic weekend. We had dinner at Club Lago partly based on the location. It was on a list of romantic restaurants -- it's definitely not! This restaurant is way casual. Wine is served in carafes, there's no tablecloths, and tables are very close to each other. We did get in right away with our reservation and our server and all other employees were friendly and helpful I thought the food was just okay, not as good as Olive Garden. I had the veal and the mushrooms and artichokes in the sauce seemed to have been canned. The restaurant was extremely crowded with lots of large groups, so we could hardly hear each other talk. I don't even know if they were playing music. If you're with a big group looking for an inexpensive dinner, this could work for you. Our bill -- 2 dinners, 2 salads, a full carafe of wine, and dessert was $76 -- which I think is pretty inexpensive for Chicago.

Wonderful neighbor restaurant with terrific service and great food. The restaurant has a home-like feel to it with an old school bar in he entrance. I would return on the future just to have a few drinks and rap with the bartender.

Delicious Food - The minestrone was like mama's. The fried Calamari was outstanding. Don't miss the pizza bread. The Eggplant Parmesan is one of my favorites but you have never tasted any dish as delicious as Bracioline all'agro! They even had a delicious gluten free pasta dish. Visit this old fashion family owned business since 1952 for a real treat.

Family was in town over the Holidays and wanted to wander Michigan Ave and then get some good Chicago style Italian nearby. Club Lago was perfect. It is a refreshing diner style old school Italian place on the edge of River North. The Old Style neon sign outside, and the locals sitting at the bar reading the paper was a refreshing change from the rest of the area. The reviews were spot on. The Parmesan dishes were all fantastic as was the pasta with clam sauce. It fit the bill perfectly for old school Chicago style Italian just a few blocks off Michigan Ave.

So far two visits for lunch and I got the special both times. Stuffed pepper with a side of pasta and meat sauce on my first visit. This was good not awesome but really good. My last visit the special was roast pork. This was great with delicious gravy and mashed potatoes and green beans. The green beans were crisp. Both times I have been in here I have enjoyed the food and the staff. Regulars walk in and the staff/owner greet them by name

Club Lago is the real Chicago deal! Sitting at the bar or in a booth, you'll be treated to good chicago-style Italian American food. Red leatherette and stainless steel doesn't seem to have changed in decades and it's awesome. This place is a welcoming family affair and pride of ownership abounds when it comes to atmosphere. Come to Club Lago for a great Chicago experience. The big portrait of Mayor Daley the First hanging over the bar will smile upon you when you do.

Wonderful food, great prices in a truly Chicago neighborhood resturant. The menu is the same as when I was there 24 years ago and they have got it down! The portions are huge and the prices are not! Step into Chicago, go to Club Lago

This is a very local place with amazing service. The owner Gian Carlo was great and treated us like family although it was our first time, connected with us since the first step we took into his restaurant. And the food was outstanding, very much authentic Italian food made with lots of love. I would love to come again.

We were "carbo loading" before the Chicago Marathon & this little place filled the bill nicely. I had a spicy tomato sauce on rigatoni and my wife had spinach fettucine with meat & mushroom sauce. Pretty good onion rings as well. No frills, but good eats.

I can't believe I've lived within walking distance of this restaurant for three years and never made it over! The food is awesome! It's old school Italian with friendly service, great food and fun, simple decor. If you've ever been to Club Lucky, the decor feels similar, but Club Lago is a little more casual. We had the antipasto, eggplant parmesan, chicken parmesan and chicken marsala. We also had a side of meatballs and sautéed spinach. All of us loved our meal and the price is crazy reasonable!

Club Lago Rating Yay! I'm a fan. All changes saved Weird story. Our friend booked another restaurant on Open Table. We went to that place and they said there was no such reservation. She had been talking to the manager of Club Lago, thinking it was another place. So she called the Guy she's been talking with and realized it was not what she thought she had booked. So our party of 17 went to the first place, learned there was no reservation and then went to Club Lago. Really good home style Italian red sauce place. Nice people. Big portions. Quality ingredients.

I visit Club Lago often for not only lunch but dinner. You can always get a great meal while having cocktails with your Friends and Family. Its like going to an Italian, Cheers.

found this family-owned and operated mid-priced gem on the internet when we were visiting Chicago. Best northern Italian food I’ve ever had. the chicken parmesan was so tender it almost tasted like veal. Waitress was superb and personable. Don’t miss this place if you are in Chicago.

We stopped in for dinner on a Saturday and had a wonderful old school Italian meal that reminded me of a place I used to go with my grandparents. It’s off the beaten path and isn’t swarmed with tourists. If you’re looking for down home Italian in the heart of the city, go to Club Lago!

Went with friends to a good old style restaurant and had a great time.We ordered eggplant Parmesan and linguine with pesto and shrimp. Our friends ordered the linguine with pesto and shrimp and soup and a large Italian salad.. The food was good the service outstanding but very noisy for conversation. Desserts were cannoli and spumoni ice cream delicious.

Club Lago is one of the oldest restaurants in Chicago, a throwback to the 1950s when people dressed for dinner and the Italian dishes tasted like they came from your grandmother's kitchen. Meet "Real Chicago." Opened in 1952 and located at 531 West Superior at Orleans, one block south of Chicago Avenue, in the River North neighborhood, Club Lago is a North Italian restaurant serving traditional fare with a small bar in a retro tavern setting. Family owned for three generations, it features a tin ceiling, terrazzo floor, old back bars, Amato's bread and Anichini's sausage. You can't get more Italian than that. Open from 11 to 10 Monday through Thursday and from 11 to 11 on Friday and Saturday, my wife and I opted to sample the lunch menu on a busy mid-week afternoon. For starters, we chose shrimp cocktail, garlic bread and minestrone. For entrees, how can you pass up pasta with meatballs and baked mostaccioli with onion rings? After my wife eyed the dinner menu, we decided to come back a few days later. Why? The pizza bread with sausage for an antipasti was wonderful. So was the veal saltimbocca and veal parmigiana with sauteed broccoli and sauteed spinach. We love veal--we usually have it at home every Sunday--and you can't get good veal at many restaurants. Club Lago is an exception. Did I forget dessert? What's more Italian than spumoni and cannoli? For a piece of "Real Chicago," make plans to visit Club Lago.

Looked like an authentic itailain restaurant, but maranara was very bland. Pasta was mushy and over cooked.

Nothing fancy, but great food and great service - they make you feel at home. Neighborhood establishment that has stood the test of time. And the food is plentiful and delicious. Priced well for a Chicago restaurant.

I have eaten at Club Lago several times over the last 13 years, when I visit or am here for work from New York. The atmosphere and staff are great, and the prices are extremely reasonable. The food is unbelievably good, with so many great choices. minestrone soup: great. Eggplant Parmigiana is excellent (a little different than some places). Baked clams are great, and the onion rings are the best around. Cottage fries are a must try. They have great menus for lunch each day as well. There are many more things I will be trying in future visits here.

This gem is our favorite spot for our family to dine when in the city and to invite friends to. There's something for everyone on the menu. The staff is super welcoming great people. The food is fresh and delicious - my teenage son and his friends always order the 'Guido' Italian sub. The ambiance is retro, casual, and so cool! Easy to park nearby. In the heart of the city.

I love this place. I’ve been going here for 30 years. Absolutely traditional Italian and absolutely Chicago. Food is excellent and it’s just the place. What can I tell you. Don’t miss it. Breaded Clams. Bloody Mary’s. Good wines. Tell me if I’m wrong!

Been here for dinner a few times. A warm and welcoming historic pub atmosphere. Food is good and service is also. Its not fancy but its good. A lot of focus on the red suace based items.

Went there for a birthday dinner. The food was really good. The staff was really friendly. It was a pleasant surprise to find, and we will definitely be going back.

I returned here tonight after many years away and the food was just as good or better than it was 15 years ago when I ate here weekly. Guido and JeanCarlo are wonderful hosts and I found out tonight that they have had the same chef for 32 years. Try one of the veal dishes. My favorite is Veal Sassi, cooked with Marsala and mushrooms and artichoke hearts. Hard to beat and impossible to beat for the price.

Step back in time....old school Italian.....nothing fancy...1950's decor...just excellent home made Italian food with service to match! Anyone who gives this less than 5 stars does not get the uniqueness of this place.....Food quality amazing...Excellent wines.....small.... Totally substance over style....Can not wait to return....Thank you for a fantastic evening!

Yes, you can get a great Italian meal in River North without pretention or outrageous prices. It is "old school" and looks like it hasn't been updated in decades. But the food is excellent, the servers know the food and are attentive. It is a great neighborhood restaurant. Try the spumoni.

This is a restaurant with a very homey feel. We made a reservation and were seated within minutes of arriving (we only arrived 10-15 minutes before our reservation time). The service was great and the chicken parm was amazing! Pasta is a side to the chicken parm. The sauce wasn’t great and the side was small. It wasn't the traditional angel hair type pasta that I normally get served with chicken parm. But the chicken was so great and the portion was so large, that I didn’t really care too much about the side. We ordered a glass of wine and it seemed like a small portion, but it was served in a small glass cup, not a traditional wine glass. So, I could have underestimated the amount I received. Overall, my experience was great!

In 1952, Gus and Ida Lazzerini opened Club Lago at the corner of Superior and Orleans in an area known as Smokey Hollow, a warehouse district inhabited by printers and paper salesmen. In 1980, son-in-law Francesco Nardini inherited the restaurant and the neighborhood turned into art galleries and lofts, Chicago's version of SoHo. Today, the third generation, GianCarlo and Guido Nardini, have taken Club Lago into the new millennium in an area called River North, with condominiums and trendy restaurants and saloons. But Club Lago hasn't changed since the 1950s. It remains a Northern Italian restaurant serving traditional cuisine with a full bar in a retro tavern setting. Club Lago offers daily menus. But veal (nine dishes) and chicken (five dishes) top the list of favorites. Love the veal limone and veal Saltimbocca. Other signature items include chick parmigiana, scampi Italiano, onion rings, pasta with meatballs or sausage, Lago fried shrimp, fired calamari, baked clams, filet of orange roughy and garlic, pizza or tomato bread. My wife and I started with shrimp cocktail and the antipasto platter of ham, salami, pickled vegetables, olives, hard boiled egg, tomato and provolone cheese. We couldn't resist the veal, a rarity on most menus. I had veal limone while my wife chose a personal favorite, veal Saltimbocca. For dessert, we shared lemon Italian ice. Club Lago is a genuine Italian neighborhood restaurant, very authentic with all the frills and bells and whistles.

I eat out in Chicago for buisiness all the time. Brought the family here based on the reccomendation of the hotel conciere. Its just a few blocks from the office, but have never eaten there. The server was nice, food was average. We shared calamari, pasta and a salad. They charged 18.50 for a salad "platter" that was on a small dinner plate and had three olives, half of a hard boiled egg, two wedges of tomato and two or three slices of cucumber. It wasnt much more than you would expect as a free salad with an entree. After I complained they reduced it to $16. I asked the manager to please give the $16 to the waitress and left.Po Definitely would not reccomend or ever go back.

Came here because my daughter purchased a Groupon pkg and the food was excellent. This place is small and cozy with an old town Italian flare to it. I had the scampi Italiano and my spouse had the big shrimp and we both agree the food was excellent. Nice birthday gift.