Formento's Reviews

The food is so fresh and unique. We tried many appetizers; the meatballs outstanding. Freshest creamiest ricotta ever tasted. Clams with sausage. Delectable. All pastas are homemade. We had the blue crab with pasta. The wood grilled Branzini filet delicious. Finished it off with a rhubarb pannacotta. Delightful. Bring your own wine and pay the cork fee. 3x cost of wine in store. Too bad too humid out to enjoy outdoor dining. All light up and very romantic.

The sandwich shop around the corner from the main dining room is Nonna's. They have a very limited area to sit but the food is excellent. They recently made a "Best Sandwich" list for a sandwich I had not tried at that location so back I went. The Meatball Sandwich on their menu is fantastic and I can see why it made the list. It is very big and favorable. It was just $10 for a delicious big sandwich. I have yet to grab anything from Nonna's that I would not eat again. It is a couple of dollars more than your standard sandwich shop but it more than makes up for it with quality and quantity.

I hosted a group of 14 at Formemto’s so we were able to try many dishes which they will serve family style if desired. They have a wide variety of traditional Italian dishes so making a choice can be tough however I am not sure any choice would be a bad one. We began with Antipasti of Porcini Bruschetta, Nonna’s Meatballs, Chopped Antipasti Salad, if I had to pick my favorite it would be the bruschetta although the salad was fresh and the meatballs tasty. Our Primo was a Rigatoni Vodka, loved it and could have stopped there. Our Secondi was Chicken Parmesan, a fish dish that I can’t remember the name and Eggplant Parmesan which was accompanied with Gorgonzola-Mashed Potatoes and a vegetable. I could not pick a favorite, all were great. Finally for desert, which I wished I had saved more room for, we had both Formento’s Chocolate Cake, and Lemon Semi-Freddo. I love chocolate so you can guess my favorite. Formento’s has an extensive wine list and a sommelier that will help you make a wise choice to compliment your dinner selections. The service was fantastic, attentive and professional but not stuffy. I will definitely be back to try some of the dishes we could not fit into this night’s dinner.

Travelling with wife and friends to the city every December. Friend was pregnant, hungry and ready to not be in the cold. W Randolph has incredible restaurants with top chefs and James Beard nominees - and we did not have reservations (bad idea). Stumbled across Formento's and grabbed a booth in the bar. From there it was all uphill! Food was delicious and great portioned with appropriate pricing. Waitress was new and a bit slow most of the time. Her politeness made up for it but it was slightly irritating. However, she always tried to make up for it and was appropriately apologetic. Drinks were awesome, Gem Lettuce salad is a MUST and the Bucatini was perfect. We sprung for desserts, which the front of the house COVERED due to the slow service. We hadn't even complained... he had just noticed and wanted to cap the night off well. Even covered my wife's salad (sent the wrong one out the first time). This type of service, the kind that is UNEXPECTED, not necessarily NEEDED, and ABOVE AND BEYOND is so hard to find. Must try for lover of New Italian food.

I let my husband pick the restaurant. I am so glad I did. Formento’s was delicious. The waitress was so sweet and kind and always had a big smile on her face. The wait staff were very attentive. I ordered the sirloin steak and my husband had the scallops. We also had a side of the pasta with mushrooms. For dessert we had the tiramisu. Every last bite was delectable. The restaurant is romantic yet lively. There was music playing in the background and a beautiful vibe with beautiful people...

If you know the real Italian cuisine this restaurant will disappoint you. In this restaurant there is nobody that knows Italian food!!! Nice place but everything is terribly overpriced. Tiny dishes.

My wife and I ate here with two other couples. The food was good and the staff was very friendly. I wouldn’t make this a go-out-of-my-way place but I don’t regret it at all. We had a good time.

I really wanted to love this place but it fell short on a few fronts. The service at the bar was horrible. Not sure how/why you can serve the wrong drinks and it takes so long when there were only 8 people at the bar on a Monday night. Cocktails were great but the service was not. We got tired of waiting for another round of cocktails and moved into the dining room for dinner. We ordered a few appetizers for the table- shrimp scampi head on was avg, crab artichoke dip below avg, meatball awesome. The sommelier was awesome and helped us pick 2 amazing bottles of Amarone wine. 3 of us ordered pasta entrees and they were all amazing, linguine w/clams, orecchiette and sausage and a ziti in vodka all were great. We had 1 Bronzino Seabass and he sent it back due it it being over done and ordered a pasta and it was great. The service was great at our table in the dining room but there are too many inconsistencies here to give this place a higher rating than average.

On a tip from local colleagues had dinner here on a warm night. Outdoor patio seating was perfect. Service was efficient and friendly. Everything we had (three of us) was excellent and included made to order non dairy requirements. Highlight was a risotto with lobster—perfectly prepared (not an easy thing to do) and perfect portion size. Highly recommended for a nice night out—nice wine list too!

Rating is really 4.5 stars. Excellent service until time to get check. Very good top notch menu. Very good food prep and flavors. Good ambiance. A bit pricey, but not as memorable food as I had hoped

Walk in on a beautiful Thursday evening. We could only get a table in the bar area. The service was terrible, our waitress filled our water and then disappeared for half an hour. The maitre de ended up taking our drinks and food order. Food was good but nothing exceptional for the price. Strangely the waitress reappeared 45mins in while we were on appetizers. She was attentive from there on in, but we probably should have left earlier. There is so many great alternatives places to eat in this area. May try again but not before we try the many other competing and awesome looking restaurants nearby.

Visiting a relative in Chicago and they booked the reservation here. We were very pleased with the entire experience at this establishment. The staff were friendly and attentive. The choices were varied and plentiful. And the food was excellent. It was so filling I had no room for desert.

Great meal, good service. Dinner there with friends/family while in the West Loop for a wedding. Dinner for 7 on a Friday night. Great experience. Great selection. Cocktails and wine topped it all off.

We booked a table for 7 on a random recommendation from someone we met at our hotel lounge! The service was excellent, the drinks were special and the foodwas great. We really loved all the appetizers that we shared. I love it when the food and drinks are delivered to the right person and they hit the mark on this. Every single person we encountered from the minute we stepped through the door was pleasant and accommodating! Hope to come back some day

We went here on our last night in Chicago and it was the best restaurant we had visited.....we were able to sit outside and the service was truly excellent. The food was very well priced and a little different with great choices. Would certainly recommend.

Took my team out for dinner, one of which is Vegan. Chefs and our server went out of their way to accommodate everyone’s needs. Food was incredible. Do not skip the cauliflower it was hands down our tables favorite. We had filet, pasta, risotto and everyone loved their choice. It was our first visit, will not be the last!

It's been a long time since I first went to Formento's and I returned last week with family who were in town. I can't believe I stayed away for so long! Their patio is picturesque, lined with flowers and adorable yellow tablecloths, everything we ordered -- from the artichoke appetizer to the Branzino and scallops to the tiramisu cheesecake and chocolate cake -- was fantastic. And to top it all off, the service was outstanding. Everyone was friendly and attentive and didn't mind that we took our time at dinner. Can't wait to come back!

Went there with some colleagues to take out a visiting speaker, so wanted something nice, and local. I figure it’s a bit pricey but the food was very good and the service was excellent- must have had at least 5 staff taking care of 4 of us at different times. Fancy wine list, lots of options for shared plates, plus a selection of individual mains. I’m not the hugest fan of whole artichokes, but theirs is truly excellent. Calamari was good, too. I had the scallops - delicious and not heavy. Our guest had the huge NY steak, and we ordered broccolini as a side (yum). Another in the party had the squid ink pasta. We shared a dessert - chocolate cake - OMG. If you love good food, enjoy Italian fare and have something to celebrate or someone to impress, it’s probably a solid choice.

Wanted to try a new restaurant and went to Formentos on randolph...glad we did. Started with cocktails apps pastas. The burrata and toast and roasted cauliflour were really good,but the bucatini wit the egg yolk on top was great,also got the meatballs in red gravy on the side and they are really good. Chocolate cake is delish. We will b back!! Nice restaurant ambience and service was tops. GO!

We went here with our children and their spouses. We were seated promptly and the wait service was fantastic. We ordered a variety of pasta dishes along with some chicken parmesan and everyone was pleased with their food. The prices were good and the portions were even better. The only negative thing that I could say is that it was a little difficult to hold a conversation because of the noise level. I am not sure if it was where we were seated or if this is a problem restaurant wide but I would definitely go back and give it another try.

Nice restaurant located in the West Loop area. Very easily handle the group of 11 with a prior reservation. They had a good selection of appetizers all of which were quite good. The service was good especially for a larger group.

It was fine. The meatballs were good. They ran out of mussels which was disappointing. We had the lobster risotto and the ricotta ravioli for our entrees, both of which were on the smaller side and served luke warm. We then split the affogato and a scoop of gelato for dessert, both of which were just average. The service was impeccable though. Overall, it was an average dining experience and I was expecting a lot more from this place.

The service: The arrogant attitude starts at the door. Some of my 7 person party got to the restaurant early but they wouldn't seat them. I don't understand this at any place where you have a reservation AND the place is EMPTY. The attitude continued when we ordered and a member of my party wanted their salad with their entrée and was informed by the server that "chef" serves the meal in courses. The only acceptable response from the server is "Yes" unless "chef" is paying for the meal, which, to be clear, they were not. The 'tude continued when a companion asked for more of the toasted foccacia. When it didn't arrive after 15 minutes i asked about it and was told that the bread had to be heated and that it could be waiting in the kitchen or on this very tray here. It was and instead of placing the plate in the middle of the table as the previous one had been, the server slams the plate down in front of me, who had not placed the order. It was like a caricature of what a Midwesterner thinks a New York or Paris hoity toity waiter would behave. I recently ate in Lima Peru at Central a Michelin star rated 6th in the world restaurant where the actual chef brought out one of the courses and got none of this attitude. The food: no matter how good the food, there is no room for attitude at a restaurant but this place's fare was only ok. I had the beet salad and it was good but nothing different than I've had at other places. The chicken parmesan came out as a deep fried slab with a bone sticking out, covered in a thick layer of mozzarella cheese that could have come from Dennys and tasted the same - no shade on Dennys it is good food for a third the price. Another companion ordered the bone in filet that was tasty but the portion was very small... We've had the same at much better places e. g., Steak 48 that was the same price but bigger and better. He also had the sautéed mushrooms that were a soggy, salty mess. Chicago has too many good places to eat with better service to spend your time and money here.

Went to Formento's tonight for dinner. Here are the pluses: 1. Attentive staff. 2. Beautiful space. 3. Noise level is OK, so you can talk to and hear your fellow diners. Weak spots: 1. 2 of the 3 dishes my guest and I had were were misses. 2. The staff all wear earpieces--like they are K-Mart greeters or secret service men. It was disconcerting and not what I expect from a moderately high end restaurant. There are better Italian places in Chicago and better restaurants in the Fulton Market district than this one. It was my first time visit, but I wont make a beeline back to visit.

Really enjoyed the Italian food and service. Great choices even for vegetarian eaters. Best Italian dining experience of our Chicago trip!

Service was excellent in this very pleasant Italian on West Randolph. The Buffalo Mozzarella with eggplant caponata was very nice and all four entrees (three fish and one veal) were very well received. The prosciutto wrapped veal with morels was exceptional.

The restaurant is all around beautiful with a romantic atmosphere. The servers are so friendly and polite. You get very fancy, high quality food and the price is very good compared to what you'd expect to pay. Next time I'm in Chicago, I'm coming here again.

Had dinner during a business trip to Chicago so we were able to order a variety of appetizers. The fried clamari was delicious and the shishido peppers were very good. The meatball was also tasty. The cauliflower was ok. For dinner I had the orichette pasta. The waiter told me the regular order was a small dish, but that would have been enough after the appetizers. It was good, but there was a lot of food leftover. I really enjoyed the Randolph Mule. Would visit again if I was in west loop.

This Italian restaurant offers the option for small plate shareables. We enjoyed a variety of choices and all were good. Great wine selection and service.

$3 for a club soda. It's just gas. And a lime wedge. So what do they charge for coke five dollars? Give it up. Go elsewhere.

Best Italian resturant, the food is so delicious seriously kudos to the chef. The resturant is located in Fulton market area which is a live area with a lot of restaurants and shops. Our order of cauliflower and octopus for appetizer was so good. Our entrees the salmon and bronzini was cooked perfectly and so flavored, side dishes of asparagus and Brussel sprouts perfectly marinated. I highly recommend and I will be going there again for sure!

New chef, new menu.. Exciting dining in the new outdoor space... The best Italian food in the city.. Starting with Crispy vegetable salad, a satisfying mix of fresh vegetables , ricotta Salata and herbs.. Delicious Fresh Pasta with snap peas and crab Moist swordfish with smoked paprika and sweet pepper romesco The best negronis in the city.. Formentos is where you need to eat , If you want to sit outdoors on a summers night and feel like you are in Chicago, or maybe Rome..enjoying all the best of food and wine and spirits.

We had a business dinner here in a private room. I was embarrassed for our guests who were hosting. We were told repeatedly that what we were ordering from the menu wasn't available "up here." We kept asking what that meant and it was never really explained but apparently different parts of the restaurant are run differently with different availability of items. All very confusing and a huge distraction to what was meant to be a business dinner. We won't be back.

First time visiting, and very impressed by the food. Great ambiance, fun and full of people. Service was very good at the bar, not average for dinner at the table.

My husband & I LOVED this restaurant: great atmosphere, superb food & incredible service. We were in Chicago on vacation, & some local friends took us here. Our visit to this restaurant is a memory we'll long savor!

Magnificent! We shared plates. Everything was remarkable. Pasta dishes were wonderfully rich. Finished with a tasty gelato and tiramisu. Excellent wine list. Easy location. On top of it - a charming waiter who was helpful and not overbearing. Will return many times!

From the moment my boyfriend and I stepped in the door we were treated wonderfully. Our server was very knowledgeable about the extensive wine list. The bottle we ended up with was perfect. The bread and olive oil was delicious & went superbly with our octopus appetizer. I had the halibut special-delish albeit a wee pricey. My boyfriend had the black squid ink pasta & it was very good. The decor was inviting & comfortable. The manager even gave us a $25 gift certificate because I mentioned that the ladies' room was out of toilet paper and hand soap. Basically seemed like an overall great place. Good for date night!

I really enjoyed our visit. The wine list is extensive, plenty to choose from. Service was great! Timeliness and delivery...super! Each of us selected primi plates and shared...2nd bottle of wine, onto pasta plates...plenty of food at this point, no need for entrees. Rigatoni, linguine with clams, carbonara, were my favs!

We went for a business dinner there and it was fantastic. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable. They also had a decent selection of wine and bourbon which was appreciated. The food was excellent overall and I enjoyed the experience.

This was our second visit to Formento's and will be our last. The food is nothing special and is extremely overpriced. Service is just ok. Our waiter never told us his name and we had to wait for our check. At this price point the food should be much better and service impeccable. There are better options in Chicago for Italian dining.

Great food; great service on what appears to be restaurant row in Chicago. Serendipitously, "fell" into Formento's on a Saturday night. Great food. Recommend the branzino (hope I spelled that properly) and the eggplant parm. Liked it so much, went back on the Tuesday night and ate the bar and was served by the Eric brothers.

Went here for a business dinner and it was worth every penny! Service was outstanding, wine was amazing and the scallops were to die for. We got a lot of apps and they were all delicious. Can’t wait to go back to Chicago and visit this place again!

We went to celebrate my wife's new job and had a great meal. Clam and sausage appetizer was great as was the meatballs (probably the best I've had!). We then had a nice pasta course followed by an excellent steak. Our waiter/sommelier Alex had a superb grasp of the menu and wines that would accompany our food nicely. He was attentive but not over the top. Really nice evening and we would definitely go back.

Very good Italian, they style themselves as an upgraded "red sauce" Italian place which I didn't get....there was nothing on the menu that reminded me of that. Small plates; we over ordered and they should have told us that. Stand outs were the grilled calamari, orchietti, kale salad. Shrimp was fine, mushrooms ok and brick chicken fine but not outstanding. Service was attentive and friendly.

Love having dinner on West Randolph when I visit Chicago. The neighborhood has such a great vibe and offers the very best of Chicago. Formento's is no exception to the rule of quality and experience on the block. Outstanding service. Personal and not at all pretentious. The restaurant itself is pretty ordinary inside, but the food is truly outstanding. Traditional Italian food done extremely well. Among the three of us we had pastas, shell fish, fish and a number of well-prepared but simple vegetables. All were delicious. Perfect choice for Italian. So good.

I went to Formento's for a work dinner and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. Surprised because I often find American restaurants overdo the salt and butter, in portion sizes that would feed a family for a week - no wonder they need defibrillators in airports and shopping malls! The food at Formento's was flavorful, without being so rich you feel like you've been crumbed and battered from the inside - all too often my experience in US restaurants. I had the quail which was very good, and some great tasting appetizers. Accompanied by great wine and outstanding service it was a very enjoyable evening.

Elegant but casual fine Italian restaurant having no comparison with the "red sauce" places of the old days. Wonderful furnishings, relatively quiet ambience (easy to share conversation with tablemates), incredibly knowledgeable and efficient servers, and very fair prices. The food servings, of course, are what make this restaurant so worthy of maximum star reviews. From antipasti (the sautéed cauliflower with soppressata and chiles, and the burrata with green olive tapenade were both phenomenal); to the primi (the carbonara topped with an egg will blow your foodie mind); to the entrees (pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto with large white beans and braised swiss chard is great); to the desserts (try the chocolate cake with hazelnut praline and a scoop of vanilla gelato -- it is sheer gustatory delight), this menu is wishlist fulfillment for someone looking for a tremendous Italian food experience in Chicago.

Our group of 7 was not overly impressed. Food was just ok and portions were actually good, but seemed greatly overpriced. Our waiter really tried to push us to a 3-course meal. Evidently they're introducing a new menu that's not as concentrated on heavy pasta dishes. The location is off the beaten path and we would not make an effort to go back.

This restaurant specializes in pasta dishes. We were not disappointed. You can have two sizes depending on your appetite. Our party of four enjoyed a wonderful meal. The service was excellent, thank you Chris!!

Terrible service and ruined evening. We had dinner yesterday at this restaurant with my husband and his mom. We arrived around 7.30 pm, mom is on a special diet and can only eat until 8:30 pm. We made an order and waited for more than 40 minutes only for appetizers - salads and frito misto. Several times they reminded the waiter of themselves. The appetizers were good, but then something went wrong again. Mom ordered an appetizer for herself for the main course - prawns and they brought her a completely burnt dish. When we told the waiter about this for the first time, he did not apologize, did not offer to redo the dish, but simply took the plate. When we asked to clarify what was the matter, he replied that he was not a cook and he did not cook this dish. When we asked to call the manager, he also did not settle the issue in any way, mother was already in a bad mood and she did not want to order anything. At the end of the evening, this dish was also included in the bill. Just disgusting service and a place you never want to return to.

There are lots of quality Italian restaurants to choose from in Chicago. Formento's has a very nice interior vibe with good quality food. The meatballs and sausage are great. The Italian entrees can all be shared. The pastas we had were great. The cocktails and wine list are all good. My only comment is there are much better Italian resturants to choose from elsewhere in the city.

We came to Chicago in January 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. Things were just starting to reopen, and we booked a food tour online. We showed up to Fomento’s for the start and we were the only people there: No other guests, no guides. We asked Richard Koskowski, the manager, and he didn’t know anything about the tours resuming since they shut down in 2020. It became evident there was no tour, but Richard offered to make good on Formento’s part of the tour. He gave us the food food tasting at no charge and offered some suggestions about other restaurants to check out. We ordered a meal and it was excellent. I highly recommend Formento’s and it will be a “must” every time we visit Chicago.

Came to Formentos after a show at the old Schubert theatre. It's a beautiful location. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and helpful in selecting great wines for our meal. He was also very friendly and personable in general, which is appreciated. Not phony or snobby at all which i sometimes have encountered in this area. Our scallops were perfectly cooked, and delicious. The kale and walnut pesto pasta was incredible, a dish I wish to recreate! And the branzino was to die for. It was honestly one of the most beautiful fish dishes I've ever ordered. Smoky, crispy skin, delicate flakey meat, the fennel broth was delicious and tasted almost sweet with hints of vanilla...it was so good. Our desserts were good, too. Tiramisu is highly recommended. I will not forget this meal and I cannot wait to come back again soon!

Food was pretty good, although nothing felt really unique or special on the menu - seemed like fairly standard upscale Italian fare. Service was pretty slow, even for being there with a large group.

Way overpriced, small portions, the service was excellent but food was sparse to say the least, came away still hungry.

Wow. This place is very, very good. The service is perfect. The food is fresh and out of this world. The decor is lovely. If you like Italian dishes, you must visit.

Everything from the food, vino, service to the decor is classic Italian, the way it should be on the west side of Chicago. Our server, Liliana, was excellent and made our dinner very enjoyable. Formento's has a well-deserved reputation for fine Italian dining and it certainly lived up to that rep.

There were four of us all ordering different entrees. The menu offered a half dozen pastas to be shared with the table. We ordered entrees and then two pasta dishes to be shared. The Pasta was excellent and beautifully complimented our entrees. I ordered "Monk fish on the bone". I needn't know what on the bone meant but soon learned the monk fish which looked like a nice serving was actually 1/3 bone. I think I had the equivalent of a quarter lobster tail. I was hungry for more which seldom happens to me.

I was recommended this place by a friend and it did not disappoint. The service was wonderful. The reservation was made and it was notated that it was our anniversary. Every staff member that walked past our table wished us happy anniversary. They even gave us a hand written card with well wishes from the team. The food was amazing and the portions are huge. We ordered the chicken parmesean and it essentially is a whole chicken. We were able to split the dish on a recommendation by our waitress. Because of this the restaurant is reasonably priced. It can be expensive if you make it. Overall we were impressed. Will return in the future

The food was spectacular, event was wonderfully decorated. The staff amazing, from the event coordinator Karen, the bartenders, the servers and valets. I couldn't have been happier. Clean, clean,clean. I wouldn't have an event any when else

Chicago has many excellent Italian restaurants and yet we keep getting surprised when we find a new one. First, Formento's is elegantly decorated in the market area west of Chicago's central business district. White table cloths and well trained service make this a place where you expect good food and get it. We shared lightly breaded calamari with a sharp arrabbiata sauce, incredible burrata cheese with prosciutto, and fried olives that were so unique and tasty, but hard to spear with your fork! Among the entrees consumed were a swordfish in parchment with potatoes and onions that was among the best such fish ever eaten, bucatini carbonara, orichetta and sausage, and quail saltimbocca, a truly unique dish. Our meal ended with one shared piece of a spectacular chocolate layer cake. The pace of service was perfect, not too rushes, nor too slow. Well worth a visit if you like good Italian food.

Buccatinni heaven. I absolutely loved it. We decided to skip appetizers to make sure we had room for desert and it's a good thing we did. The entree size was so filling. The service was great and the atmosphere was good. We were well attended without feeling like someone was at our table every minute. The staff moved seamlessly, like a well rehearsed dance. This is definitely on my return to list.

Wow, such a perfect experience for our meal in Chicago. Only here for a matter of hours during our adventure we were so fortunate to choose Formento's. We shared scallop crisp, fresh & fantastic. Spouse enjoyed Tagliatelle and we shared roasted Brussels. I enjoyed the roasted beet salad with goat cheese and pistachios. Knowledgable server knew the menu and was concerned about food sensitivities, very nice. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal tonight and service was perfect. This is our pick when in the Windy City.

The food was good not great, a tad on the oily side. Upscale, Fulton market area with seating outside. Cocktails very good, except their system went down and our waiter was unable to order more cocktails. Hmmmmmm.

We went with a couple friends and were very surprised with the appetizers and the entrees . We had the meatballs and the cauliflower along with the scallops , and all were delectable. We also had the lamb and the pork as entrees and they were on the smaller side but also very well prepared . Desserts also did not disappoint. The ricotta cheesecake was very balanced and paired well with the great Italian wine we had. Overall a great experience, and our server was very knowledgeable in the wine selection .

Reservations are definitely recommended. We were there for dinner on Saturday and it was packed. There is a full bar with experienced bar tenders that can turn out a well made cocktail. There is an excellent selection of appetizers and you can hardly go wrong. I had the calamari which had an interesting sauce instead of marinara. For dinner I had the canestri which is a pasta with a very good red sauce and a meatball and sausage on the side. I was glad that they offer half portions because that was plenty. My wife had the butcher steak which was perfectly prepared. Our server was very knowledgeable and she had a great personality. This is an excellent choice for a special evening.

Had the pleasure of having Christina as a server on our last visit! She is an absolute delight! So professional, truly knows how to make a dinner an experience! Great job!

Went for restaurant week, we did the tasting menu. Food was great, I highly recommend the Bucatini carbonara. Although it wasn't hot when it came. I know this is a dish that's hard to keep hot, but also goes back to slow/okay service.

Everything we had… Heaven! Shared Ceasar, special pasta stuffed w ricotta cheese in a truffle butter sauce(soooo good!) and a bucatini carbonara pasta and an order of crispy, can’t stop eating , brussel sprouts. Ended w a peach cobbler a la mode. Yummm!! Jonathan our server was terrific! All the staff was so courteous. Can’t wait to return!

Wonderful Italian restaurant in the "West Loop" area. There were about 12-14 of us and we were seated promptly at a large table...the service was excellent!! I had the Chicken Parmesan and it was a very large portion....I could only eat about half of it! I always need a little 'sweet" after my meal and the Frozen Lemon Mousse was perfect!! Cold and tart but yet sweet!! Prices were a little on the high side but for a restaurant of this quality it was well worth it!!

Three of us enjoyed excellent service from the wait staff and sommelier at this comfortable and handsome West Loop spot. The real wine list is an impressive inch-thick time, but we had something brand new (a red) suggested by the somm. And we couldn't decide on the glasses of white, so he gave us all two half glasses of the two different whites! Very generous. The creamy ricotta appetizer was great, as were the two pastas with crab and butternut squash. The cauliflower could have been crispier and was rather too spicy to be wine friendly. Scallop were excellent. The branzino was very good, but what it was served on was just meh. Also, I think branzino served whole (instead of just the filet we received) tastes better. Whole fish retains more juiciness. We all shared a piece of the fabulous chocolate cake to go with our remaining red wine. Perfect ending!

We recently hosted a rehearsal dinner for our daughters wedding at the Event Space at Formento's. The room is beautiful, brick and wood with huge windows overlooking Randolph Street. White tablecloths and great lighting. The service was perfect and the food was delicious. We loved the family style format. Also, the bartender did an amazing job of keeping all the guests happy as well as helping out with A/V needs for the event. Perfect.

Ate there last week with my family for a celebration. Our experience was bad from the moment that we walked in until we left. We had reservations for 5 people at 8:00 on a Tuesday night. My daughter got caught up in traffic and was about 10 minutes tardy. They would not seat the four of us until she arrived. When she finally arrived we were seated at the worst table that they had between a post and a bus station, even though there were plenty of tables available. After being bumped for the fifth time by a waiter or busboy I finally went and complained and we were seated at a very nice table. Why we weren't seated there in the first place I can't understand why. The service was poor. We waited about 10 minutes before a waiter showed up who said he'd be right with us. Another 10 minutes later he was. We ordered a bottle of semi-expensive wine, apps and dinner. The apps never showed up. The food was not that good. I had pasta with a lamb ragu. The dish was small and very bland. Stouffer's lasagna has more taste. Everyone's meals were also below average. When I pointed out to the waiter that we didn't get our apps instead of apologizing he just said "do you still want them?" My daughter said she did so eventually they came but alas, nothing to write home about. When the bill came he charged us for the apps. Most quality establishments will comp them or offer a desert for the table as recognition for the mistake. If you have read any of my previous reviews I am extremely positive and complimentary in almost all of them but there was nothing that I could paint a happy picture about here. Never again, one and done!

Had dinner with the fam a few days ago and had a great night! Started with fettuccini Alfred Pasta with white truffle and the egg plant Parmesan. What a way to start, both dishes absolutely incredible, we all enjoyed every bite! We then ordered our entrees including the short ribs, Branzino, skate and the butchers cut steak. The entrees all prepared perfectly and totally delicious! We loved the food, the casual ambiance, the outstanding service by Erik and a perfectly paired bottle of wine. The recipe for a truly great night! Obviously I would highly recommend this restaurant!!!

Delicious wood-fire grilled Branzino! Fabulous clams!! Shrimp that will make you come back!!! Staff was extremely friendly, engaged and helpful. Can't wait to go back. No draft beer, though, but don't hold it against them as their bottled selection was pretty good and the wine made up for it.😁

We stopped in here for drinks and appetizers before meeting up with some friends and family at another restaurant and I was so disappointed this wasn't where we were eating. The food we did have was fresh and exciting and the ambiance of the inside was to die for. The drinks were very good as well. Fair warning if you sit outside, you may be attacked by bees...but with such an amazing dinning room and bar why bother yourself with wildlife?

This place is awesome. I've been there twice now in the last 3 weeks. Very good food and relative to price expectations for Chicago and more specifically for the west loop location, I think it's very reasonable. Wine options were also very good and I had a chianti (Ama) which is not available outside of restaurants.

My wife and I asked our daughter what restaurant she wanted to go to for her birthday and she picked this restaurant. We were not disappointed. The service was great and the food was delicious. My only complaint was that it is a little pricey so if you decide to eat here keep in my you will pay for the good food. Once my wife retires, we probably won't be able to afford to take out the daughters to a place like this for their birthdays. It was good, but you pay for it. Keep that in mind.

I had the Bucatini Carbonara which was very good. Came with a side Caeser salad. The Carbonara was very good. Prices were reasonable. On restaurant row in the West Loop area of Chicago.

The service and food were very good. We had meatballs and olives as appetizers. We enjoyed them both. I had canestri for my meal and it was outstanding. My wife had the pappardelle and really enjoyed it. The portions were nice size. They have a very nice wine selection.

Saturday night and no specials....hmmmm. Meatballs were really good, pasta was average and small portions. Service was awkward. When does food come out....very disorganized on a Saturday night.

Im very picky about Italian food and therefore my standards are very high. I thought the food here, unlike all the other reviewers , was disappointing. It's Italian food for non Italians. The pasta was over cooked. The service was just OK. And the fish was just ok. I didn't like the atmosphere myself. It wasn't hip or fun but neither is it cozy. But I thought it was a fine place for families. They did make a pretty good meatball as an appetizer.

It all started well, with some nice apetizers and a nice local beer. And then I got a really, really, really (I can’t stress that enough) spiced pasta that would not let me appreciate anything else for the rest of the evening and since I have been invited I had to endure my ordeal. I see that maybe they have others not so spiced dishes, from other reviews, maybe it is just me. My pasta was not italian, maybe it was mexican! I would rather explore other restaurants in Chicago’s wonderful Randolph st. foodie area. If you are into chilli, though, go for it!

Was excited to try another place in this district of Chicago, though was unpleasantly surprised. Let me start by saying the space is large, clean, beautifully decorated with places for large groups, families, couples & a solo (beyond the bar). Our server was very nice, prompt & informative. However, the rest of the staff is disinterested to the point of unpleasant. Again, we arrived during “Restaurant Week” so there was the option for the entire table to order the prep four courses, or from the menu. A drink flight was offered too. That was the first problem, as we all agreed, ordered the prepared flight courses, and drink flight, yet both were simply bad. The salad my companions ordered, looked average - they said okay. My one meatball was, well, just okay. The pasta for all of us, I ordered a different option In the flight, was good. The rest, main course (mine “White Fish”) was bad, to very bad. I even asked how old the fish was. It turned out to be old. Dessert wasn’t even that good. The $39 wine flight was barely an entire glass in the servings. I am confident the three of us did not drink 750ml, which would’ve been a bottle had we ordered instead of the three $39 flights. Sad. Our pre-meal drinks were good, though at $16-18 each, they should be. Again, unfortunately, one of my companions had a fly in her wine, and it took awhile to remedy with the ‘staff’ that seemed to think it was no big deal. Yuck. So, the food and drinks were average, to slightly less, at best. For $125 each in this district, with great competition, it’s not even close. As for the better than expected, the restrooms are nice, but solo; if someone is using, you have to go downstairs, in the dark. The staff didn’t assist with this info either. Won’t be going back. Sorry.

Arriving for our reservation we were graciously greeted by the hostess and informed we would be seated when the rest of party arrived. Which they did 10 minutes late. We were seated immediately with no problem. What transpired over the next three hours was one of the best dining experiences we have had in Chicago with our daughter. Our server picked up immediately that we were there to celebrate an event, engaged in a quick conversation as to what our daughter had accomplished earlier in the day and crafted our evening with expert precision. The anti pasta, primi selections and all of our entrees were prepared expertly. My entree of bone in fillet was prepared perfectly, which I have found to be the exception when requesting medium rare. Our server assisted in pairing a wine with our entrees and she was spot on. We have this restaurant on our list of places to frequent whenever we are in Chicago, no matter what the occasion. You should too.

Formento's is a great location for a downtown Chicago wedding reception. Our family's wedding party came here after a nearby church wedding; we started with hor d'ourves in the outdoors sidewalk space just before the front entrance. All these hor d'ourves were excellent; with plate after plate arriving as the whole crowd arrived. We then had dinner in the upstairs event space. The chicken parmigiana with pasta was also very good, as was the traditional wedding cake dessert. After we finished eating, the staff removed several of the tables to form a dance floor. A smaller side room was configured as a children's play ear, which greatly reduced the figiting during the wedding speeches. Overall this was a good location for a medium sized function, such as the family wedding.

Decided to eat here on a recommendation and couldn't be happier. We ate on the patio on a beautiful night and it was extremely quiet and relaxed. For appetizers we had the meatballs and calamari. The meatballs were excellent and the calamari was very tender with a great breading and flavor. However, they do pack some spice with their pepper seasoning. For dinner we had the Bucatini and lamb. The Bucatini was new to me and I was very happy. It was different having a raw egg yolk on top but that tied everything together when you mixed it in. I highly recommend it. The lamb was outstanding the the combination of the berries and mushrooms was perfect. For dessert we had chocolate cake (unbelievable) and tiramisu. Their tiramisu is a special recipe and has the regular flavor but an even better and sweater after taste. Our waiter Jesus was great as was the rest of the staff. We even got the pleasure of meeting Henry, Jonathon, and the chef Todd. Couldn't be happier with my dinner and evening and will be back the next time we visit Chicago.

Fun place with many interesting things to try. Food was very good as was service, in a wonderful Chicago neighborhood fun to walk around.

Totally stumbled upon this place, was headed to an italian place that looked so shady we didn't even get out of the car, kept driving until we found this place. We found in Chicago there were a lot of unique dishes, strange mixtures of foods, so places that was not so good, but at this place it was amazing!! Staff were fantastic, service great and food even better. Don't miss this place, go!

In the up and coming west loop/Fulton market area there are many great restaurants in walking distance. Formentos is an authentic Italian place with home made pasta and a great wine list. The calamari and octopus appetizers were as delicious as advertised in other reviews. Highly recommend both. I had the squid ink pasta which came in an appetizer portion! That left room for a spectacular dessert! Others split the steak. Our waiter was energetic and extremely helpful in the ordering. Put this one on your list!

We were seated right away ( with reservation) in a lovely big roomy booth. There were eight of us. Great wait staff. I had a chopped salad that was great and the scallops that I split. They did not charge more to split or seem annoyed. The scallops were delicious. We had creamy mashed potatoes and grilled brussels sprouts. I would order everything I had again. Everyone at the table seemed happy with their food. My son has the lamb chops and said the were the best he ever had and then quickly correct his statement and said "better than anyones but yours mom :) "We sat for a bit after dinner and they did not make noises about us leaving. Located in real upcoming area

We went on Valentines Day but it wasn’t that crowded when we arrived, so I guess I would expect better service? We were told we had to order everything at once, even though we usually like to order Appetizers right away while we decide on Entrees. We also asked for bread three times and it never came. The wine list was also weak for an Italian restaurant.

Friends in from out of town. We had a nice relaxing dinner on a Friday night. The portions are a bit small but the food was good .I had the bronzino which was tasty.

First time here with our son and his wife. Great vibe and our server Julian was great and helpful. We shared the shrimp dejonghe as an app. Linda had the diver scallops and I had the walleye. I always order fish or seafood in Italian restaurants and I am never disappointed. Overall a great dining experience. Jim and Linda Munro Korner Kottage Bed & Breakfast Suttons Bay, MI

We went here before a show and told them we had a tight schedule. Our waiters were awesome. They didn't make us feel rushed but served us in a timely fashion. My husband got the grilled branzini fish which was cooked perfectly. I had the summer ravioli which tasted homemade, the zucchini and squash were not overcooked. We split the Kale salad which tasted like everything in it and had been picked out of a garden that morning. We come here whenever we are in Chicago and are always impressed by the food and impeccable service.

My daughter and I had reservations we made via opentable.com. We arrived about 15 minutes early, and on a busy Saturday night, we were seated immediately. Service was just over-the-top! We never had to wait for a refill of water, dishes were quietly whisked away, and everyone was very nice. We weren't rushed, which was good because the food was delicious!

We recently dined at Formento's and had a very average experience. No dishes were memorable. Luckily the service was good, otherwise I'd give the place a worse rating. We started with the fried green olives. There were six small olives on the plate. Next we ordered the caesar salad. There was way too much dressing with little flavor. The croutons were triangles of soft bread. The Italian wedding soup was bland with no fresh herb taste. The rigatoni with vodka sauce was like the rest of the dishes- flavorless. Since none of the starters or entrees were that good we didn't choose to order dessert. The prices were too high for the quality of the food.

Our family had a very enjoyable dinner last Saturday. Since it was during Restaurant Week, we decided to order the special 4-course dinner, which offered different selections for each course, accompanied by the wine paring. It was so interesting, delicious & fun and also very reasonably priced. We shared selections and got to taste many of the restaurant’s specialities so we know what to order next time. Service was excellent and we had a very enjoyable family dinner.

We were recommended this restaurant by a bartender in our hotel. We told him we wanted somewhere he would go (not a tourist trap) that was mid-priced and kind of casual. The meatballs were to die for, the bread was delicious! The chocolate mousse cake was divine! Our server was VERY passionate about the restaurant and the food, which was fun. My entree of the rigatoni was good but they are serious when they say it is spicy...I love spicy and I had a hard time enjoying it. We enjoyed our time here and would come back for sure!

Went here for a business dinner with 10 people. Excellent, efficient service. Very good appetizers and excellent entrees. The pasta is so fresh and meat and seafood options were delicious. Only tweak would be on dessert menu - team tried several different options. Felt tiramisu was too "heavy" (like a crust versus traditional lady fingers) and pavlova was difficult to cut and eat. Still a great choice in the area. Highly recommend.

currently they must have 30 tables outside, some on the sidewalk & many in the street. We had early reservations at 5pm on a nice day, not hot or humid, but it was extremely hot in the direct sunlight. Ask for a table w/shade. I had the NY steak & it was excellent and a healthy portion, the sides were also plentiful. We had dessert even with Jeni's Ice Cream across the street, get the thingy w/ marshmallows. Most important - Fido was allowed, outside only of course

I really enjoyed my visit. After having studied the menu in advance, I knew I wanted pasta. I had the canestri, which I don't regret, but I kind of wish I had had the smaller portion, which would have let me try something else too. But no worries; I will probably go back on a future trip. The service was excellent, and it was refreshing to see so many young people running the house. I also particularly enjoyed my olive appetizer, which was copious enough to allow me to take some back to the hotel for a snack. Plus the house "Randolph Mule" - a Moscow Mule as an apéritif - was very tasty. Easy to get to on the Red Line.

I was here for a small party in their upstairs private room. The food was outstanding, although we filled up so much on the yummy appetizers that there wasn't a lot of room for the entree. But the dessert was a chocolate cake (for my friend's birthday) which was extremely memorable.

On Valentine's Day, my partner and I went to Formento's for dessert only. After dining at Au Cheval (skip it!), we decided to head somewhere that was worthy of hour time, money, and taste buds. Cue Formento's. While we did have to wait nearly 20 minutes longer than our reservation, totaling nearly a 40 minute wait, once seated, the apologetic staff and managers bent over backwards to make sure we had a great experience. We received prosecco and apple-spiced cheesecake gratis. In addition, we ordered the chocolate hazelnut cake. I dream about that cake. As we were leaving the manager introduced himself, gave us his card and said for us to come back! We will indeed!

There was much to love about our post-show meal at Formento’s. The venue is a wonderful blend of elegant and casual, making it a popular date night spot. I appreciate how the dining area is divided into multiple sections, so despite the a near full house, the noise level was manageable. Our personable server provided our party with an impressive overview of the menu, highlighting the popular dishes and making recommendations on how to order to maintain an acceptable meal pace. Drinks were refreshed at appropriate intervals, as were our plates and silverware. At times, the upsell pressure was stronger than I would have preferred, but overall, the staff were superb. The food was generally on point. The burrata, the perfectly roasted brussels sprouts and whipped ricotta were all fantastic. The bucatini carbonara was a disappointment, it was delivered at less than room temperature, so the sauce had a gummy texture. I’d definitely return the next time we visit Chicago.

We went to this restaurant because we had read good reviews, but also because we were on our way to the Adele concert, and it was a great location. We had a nice patio seat, party of 4 of us. We started with wine and cocktails, and then also an appetizer for the table. The name of the app is escaping me. I had the gem lettuce salad and a pasta for my meal, the mushroom fusilli. This was a nice amount of food after having some bread and olives which the serve to the table, and sharing the appetizer. We all loved what we got. Two of my friends got the Branzino. They loved the presentation. Everything about this place was great. I would go back without a doubt. Excellent service.

Nice place before going to the United Center, far enough away from all of the traffic but still convenient. Every employee is very professional and very friendly. They really hit the nail on the head in terms of service. Just about everything on the menu sounds outstanding. We had the gem salad, meatballs, bucatini, pacchari, and scallops. Everything was very good, but portions are very small and while I understand we were in the city it was still expensive. And I wouldn’t necessarily any dish stood out in particular. All just good meals and you get what you expect. I would definitely go back, just not too often. Plan on ordering many dishes not only to try lots of items but to be sure you’ll leave full. Would have liked to try the gelato.

We ate at Formento's on a busy Friday night and had the luxury of being seated at an outdoor table. The waiter seemed a bit confused by our cocktail order, nothing out of the ordinary, two martinis, a chardonnay, and a cosmopolitan but eventually he got it straight. After the initial miscue, the service improved. Our sommelier was very knowledgeable and had a great command of his wine list. The food was spectacular, especially the fish. All in all, a delightful experience.

After a day of strolling around Lincoln Park Zoo, we decided to take a Lyft to the West Loop for dinner. Unfortunately, the place to which we were heading had a two-and-a-half hour wait, so we walked around until we settled on Formento's. We were greeted by a pleasant doorman who showed us in. The dark wood, brick and timber interior provided a nice old-world elegance. We asked to see a menu before making our decision to stay, the the wait staff kindly obliged. We decided to dine there, but took advantage of the beautiful weather in the outdoor dining area. Our waiter was very friendly and upbeat. He had nice, positive things to say about our selections (well...a good employee) and assured me they offered a very nice Riesling wine for me to begin with. We began with a nice, shared, antipasto which was excellent, and a small plate of giardiniera (which appeared to be homemade and was delicious). There was also garlic bread which was wonderful. For entrees, three of us ordered the Chicken Parmesan. The chicken breast was flattened out, breaded and large enough to fill the entire plate. It was covered in red sauce with three slices of cheese melted on top. I would rate it as passable, nothing to write home about. The Chicken Parmesan was served with a side of spaghetti. I did not care for the sauce and left all, save one bite. My friend's (adult) son had the Canestri with Sunday Gravy which he (said he) enjoyed, though he left a good portion of the meatball. On the whole, it was a nice experience with friendly people, however, it's not the food that would cause me to return.

Went there for a business dinner. Service was great, the food was very good, and the deserts were great. The staff were friendly, very nice restaurant. Will recommend and eat there again.

I highly recommend Formento's. We had the artichoke appetizer and the scallops and while many restaurants would serve these items, I found their preparation better than any I have had

Food was outstanding as was table service. Weak weak weak like was the hostess. She never stepped out from behind her fortress. Asked me when I came in if all four of us would still be coming. I said yes. She told me to go wait and let her know when the entire party was there. Here's my gripe...the place was empty at 5:50pm. All four of us would be there. Why couldn't she seat me? Instead I stood there like a big dork.

We dined here after reviewing the menu and reviews and the choice was perfect for our occasion of getting together with friends and family. The ambiance was great for conversation while dining. We chose not to order drinks, yet our service was exemplary which was appreciated. We started with an order of Whipped Ricotta which included roasted tomato served with a country bread and this dish was amazing and a nice light start to the meal. We also ordered Nonna's meatballs which were tasty. Entrees ordered were the Wood Grilled Branzino with Wheatberries which was very flavorful, Bucatini Primi was quite tasty yet is a more rich type of pasta dish, Brick Chicken and Scallops Antipasti. All dishes were delicious and everyone enjoyed their choices. We ended with their chocolate torte and a ricotta cheesecake dessert. This is fine dining with the most attentive service we have experienced in quite a long time. And, when the manager comes to the table to inquire about your evening - that is a special touch that is lost among most establishments - it was greatly appreciated.

Ate yesterday evening and Massalin K. took excellent care of us. Brother in law moved in nearby and my wife and I came downtown on the train to hang out and go have dinner. He is visually impaired and has a dog. We were able to get a table for 3 (plus Hank) just walking in. The place is quite large but we sat outside as the weather was spectacular. Massalin welcomed us and went over some pertinent information and we ordered cocktails. Then of course food. Whipped Ricotta was pretty good as well as the meatballs, which Hank seemed pretty interested in. He does have a weakness. Mushroom risotto was had by my wife and her brother and they were very happy with their dish. I had the Carbonara. Outstanding! Only one place in Chicagoland that I’ve been to, which compares. The other places I think of that compare are in Sicily. I was stationed there 87-89 and fell in love with the perfect Carbonara. Well done Formento’s. Impressive. Enjoyed the entire meal as well as Massalin and the other staff members I interacted with. Looking forward to visiting my brother in law again. Who knows. Maybe we will go without him. Ha! Thanks again. And well done.

We came for date night and sat in their outdoor tent. We felt very safe and perfectly comfortable! The service was wonderful, though it was a little loud. We had the kale salad and cauliflower to start. The cauliflower was recommended by our server and it had a good range of flavors, but wasn't as crispy as I was hoping. I got the bucatini and my fiance got the risotto. My bucatini was cold and the noodles stuck together. I also wish the pieces of bacon were smaller and the egg yolk was mixed in (though it did look beautiful this way!). The risotto was incredible! Nice and spicy and the seafood was delicious! The piece of carrot cake we had for dessert was underwhelming. I would love to come back another time and try some other items on the menu!

Located on Randolph Street in the West Loop. Service is more than attentive and the staff seems determined to please. If you are in the mood for pasta, the offer 2 portions sizes. This allows you to enjoy some of their interesting appetizers without being overwhelmed with a portion of pasta that you might not be able to finish. There are some traditional choices like pork neck gravy and rigatoni. Their meatballs are astounding. They also offer selections like orecchiette with roasted mushrooms, peas and peppers. That was wonderful. Fish and meat are offered under the Primi selections. There's a small selection of excellent desserts. It's possible to have a very expensive Italian dinner here! Street parking only.

It was our anniversary, and we go here every single year for it. However this year the entire vibe was different - the waiters were in jeans, they wouldn’t take our wine order with the food order because they claimed they needed to get the food in ASAP and then our server forgot about us so by the time he came back our food was already there and so we just got glasses of wine instead of a bottle, then we got the truffle pasta at market price for $60 which wasn’t even worth it because the truffles they had weren’t ripe and you could barely taste any truffle, and on top of that our waiter just kept pushing the specials on us to get us to to buy it which clearly would have given him commission because he was so pushy and at one point even said “wow you must want it, I can read your mind, I’ll go ahead and put that in for you!” Which...NO. We didn’t want it and I didn’t appreciate him being so pushy. And lastly, he was SO loud and not “high end” like the restaurant usually is and was in our faces and used the exact same lines at every table around us, and it completely took away from the ambiance. His name was Anthony and he completely ruined the reason we love formentos and have come every year for 4 years. We will be going to a new restaurant next year.

Had dinner with a group from work. We had several appetizers, pasta plates, and then I had the lamb for my main. All the food was really nice. Service was slow, but more in giving us enough time to enjoy our meal and each other, so if you're in a hurry, might be too slow. Would visit again.

This is a really authentic Italian eatery everyone's food was beyond excellent Scallops, Grilled Giant Prawns, and Brick chicken add small portions of Bucatini, Canestri and Giant beans of course preceded by Calamari Tempura, Grilled Octopus and Pancetta Cream Mussels made this an extravagant affair. Service was top shelf including a Sommelier's advice on wine selection. Definitely as good as it gets!

Read an earlier review and I totally agree that the food is great, I mean really good pasta and interesting combination but the meatballs....I can't stop thinking about them ! You might call me a meatball snob- they might just be the best I have ever had. All the appetizers were outstanding. Scallops were outstanding and I am very particular about them, usually don't order and these were some of the best I have had too. Really all the dishes were great. They handled our 14 people party effortlessly and our server was so nice- explained things easily and made suggestions and he was just a nice guy- Jesus He was charming , the place is so pretty and can't wait to return.

Pretty restaurant. Good service. So loud you had to shout to hear at table for four. Why oh why do restaurants design like this. Pork was a bit dry. Brussel sprouts not cooked. Beef was very good. Glad to leave after straining to have dinner conversation. Way. Way too loud.

I am so tired of restaurants with glass brick and metal walls which create so much sound that you can't think, let alone have a decent dinner conversation. Having said that, the wait staff was helpful and professional. The food itself was OK at best. The drinks are seriously overpriced. Given all the competition on Randolph street there is no reason to go here.

My meal at Formento's was fabulous. Our waitress Meghan took such good care of me. She asked me about my allergies and even shared her personal story of understanding being afraid of cross contamination. She had brothers with food issues. She checked with the chef about anything I ordered and he even came out at the end of the meal. I had delicious branzino and brussel sprouts. I also had sorbet for dessert. They assured me that there were many other things I could of ordered, but I'll save those for next time.

My boyfriend and I went here before a concert at City Winery to get a nice dinner to start our evening out right. First I must say the service was excellent from the start, we were treated warmly and given a nice seat at the window, our waitress (Allison) got our drink orders and I mentioned we were on a budgeted timeline for dinner. Allison helped us with the menu, told us how to order starting with the snacks and worked our way down the menu, we had the kale salad, agnolotti pasta, branzino which were all very good. Our service and meal were excellent, wine list is very good too! We enjoyed our evening out at Formento's very much.

My husband and I went here on a Thursday evening to celebrate his birthday. His February birthday happens to fall during Chicago Restaurant Week every year, so it always gives us a good excuse to go out and sample the Restaurant Week menus. This place is along Restaurant Row on Randolph Street near the West Loop. We arrived fairly early at 5:30 and were seated right away. We both went with the Restaurant Week prix fixe menu. To start, we shared "Nonna's meatballs" and a very flavorful and fresh salad. For the first course we shared two pastas: buccatini in a pepper and oil sauce, and pasta in a tomato-meat sauce with a huge dollop of ricotta on top. It's impossible to say which was better. For the second course we shared a small steak in a green pepper sauce and a fillet of branzino. Again, both were excellent. The finale was chocolate cake and gelato which our server brought out with a candle since she knew it was my husband's birthday. The food was truly perfect. We also got the wine pairing for $25 each. To say that it was a good deal is an understatement. We each got three glasses of wine that were practically full pours (sparkling, white, then red) and a small serving of port with dessert. We were quite tipsy when we left! Our server was also very good. She was enthusiastic and attentive but not overly so. I was very impressed with this place and would definitely come back again. Will recommend.

We found the restaurant very attractive, and noisy. The food was disappointing. Nothing we ate had any zing. It seemed generally under seasoned.

We ventured out in the snow and walked into Formento’s at 5:45 in a Saturday night and were seated without a reservation. The server was very knowledgeable but the helpers were exceptional. Water glasses filled in seconds, every piece of the table setting exactly in its place and the dishes cleared quickly. For apps, we had meatballs that were big and flavor. An order is 3 meatballs. The whipped ricotta came with a pile of toasted crusty bread. The mussels were the hit and the liquor in the bottom of the bowl consumed all of the bread at the table For mains we had the rich and creamy carbonara, the fussili with tender beef cheeks (like stroganoff just as the sever said). the squid ink pasta with lobster was rich and the pasta with mushroom and vegetables was delicious. The chocolate cake was good, the apple crusting was better Only complaint, the back room is exceptions loud

Italian restaurant in a cool space on Randolph in the Fulton Market District. The Service was top-notch. Food was an A-. Not phenomenal but very good. Whipped Riccota appetizer very nice and entrees were well prepared and timely served. Plenty of outdoor seating if that is your preference. Interior is cool, dark and the music will have you Shazzaming all evening. Really refreshing to find a place with great service during the Pandemic. Would certainly go back. Prices are reasonable.

This review is based solely on the meatballs because it is all we had time for. However, those meatballs were divine and will be the meatballs against which all other meatballs will be judged from now on. So light -- not really a word I associate with meatballs, but it was. Not dense at all. I'm normally not a great fan of tomato sauce, but licked the plate clean this time. Another thing that made this enjoyable was the bartender. I didn't get her name, but she was great. Atmosphere was nice. Reasonable decibel level for conversation at the bar.

We went to dinner on Friday with 4 friends from out of town (2 were in from Italy). So we took them to Formento's. The service, food and wine were exceptional. Our friends visiting from Italy were very impressed. I personally enjoyed the rigatoni, along with prawns for appetizers and the jewel lettuce salad. We even saved room for the chocolate cake desert. Everyone left very satisfied !!

The restaurant has great service, great food, and a great crowd. The menu is fulfilling and gives a number of choices, though they do not go off the menu. If it is not on the menu, fuhgetaboutit!! The service was really terrific and the waiters were very interested in our being happy. The experience was terrific and in a city of great restaurants, I will return to Formento's

I would defintely come back and recommend this restaurant to a friend. The pasta was al dente and the flavors were great, not too saucy as it should be. We got the burrata as an appetizer and this is the one thing that can be improved in terms of food, it had a pesto sauce that took away the great burrata flavor. The tables are very close to each other so it can be hard to have an intimate conversation. It was a great surprise to find a restaurant like this. Priced fairly.

Starting with the drinks, all the way through the dessert everything was excellent. The Pomerita is a fantastic refreshing drink, perfect some a summer evening. The dry aged bone-In ribeye melts like butter, and the Paccheri is the best pasta dish I've ever had. This is definite recommend.

This place has a modern, trendy feel and gets pretty packed on a Saturday night. We had dinner on the early side, but by the time we left there was a huge crowd of people waiting for tables. Our server was nice, but I thought a little pushy. A few times before we ordered, he came over to recommend that we share some appetizers, but we just weren't that hungry. I don't mind helpful recommendations, but I don't like being made to feel guilty that I'm not ordering a 4-course meal. Anyway, our main dishes were very good and the banana split we shared for dessert was awesome.

We held a wedding rehearsal dinner for a party of 50 in the spacious second floor "Ballroom" private area of this wonderful Italian restaurant on West Randolph. Ashlei and Monica are great to work with in planning an event, and Antar did a great job executing the service during our four-hour event. Their website has a downloadable "event packet" that displays the numerous bar and food options for an event. We chose a "family style" option - which allowed our guests to experience a variety of appetizer and entree options. There are two large monitors in the Ballroom space that allow for easy viewing of videos/slide shows played from a laptop. We would consider Formentos a relatively "high end" option, meaning the food and service are great and that you will of course pay for this.Bottom line - as "out of towners" we are glad we chose Formentos for this milestone family event in Chicago.

Spare yourself the disappointment. Food and service are mediocre. Ambience is quite dismal. Was sorry to have tried it on our wedding anniversary. There are too many good restaurants in Chicago to end up here. None of the reviews I read seemed accurate, even the most recent I could find from a year ago. Wish they had been.

My friend and I shared the cauliflower appetizer. Loved the cauliflower itself, but I was not a fan of the pepperoni (unnecessary). We also shared the meatballs, which were good. Then we shared the Bucatini and the Roasted Skate Wing. The Bucatini was quite good, very rich. The Skate Wing (which is one of my favorite types of fish) was not impressive. It was very soft, not crispy on the outside (which is the way I like it and how it is normally served). We also split the chocolate cake, which was very good. They also served us a complimentary trio of sorbet, as it was my friend's birthday.

Went downtown for birthday celebration and tried Formento’s. Located in the west loop, so many restaurants in the area to try. Started with a glass of Prosecco that went well with the oil and bread that they served us. We ordered calamari for an appetizer. Very tender with a little added spice, went well with a nice house Cabernet . For our mains we ordered the ravioli with beets, it was so good but it was 4 cheese ravioli with thinly sliced beets on top. Very good but would have loved at least 2 more. The other entree was the saffron risotto with bay scallops. This dish will keep you thinking about how good it was. Finished the meal with cinnamon gelato. Will go back, the reason I gave it only 4 stars even though the food was outstanding was because they had our server, servicing to many tables and they were very spread out. We wanted another glass of wine and could not get our servers attention because she was servicing tables far from us. Not her fault, I blame management.

Chicago needs another Italian restaurant as much as it needs another major league baseball team. But make room for Formento's. Located at 925 West Randolph Street in the West Loop, it serves classic Italian fare in a spacious setting with a huge wine list. This is old-school Italian...gleaming mahogany banquettes, red dome chandeliers, chocolate-colored wood trim around the booths, white tablecloths, a wine list of over 600 bottles. Opened in 2015, Formento's has made an immediate and lasting impression. In an era where dress codes are kaput, this is an elegant venue that cries out for diners to dress in coat and tie, dress and heels. Is there a more refined red sauce experience in Chicago? I doubt it. Executive chef/partner Todd Stein has put together a menu that puts a smile on everybody's face. Start with marinated olives or prosciutto or whipped ricotta or calamari or fried chicken. That's called a snack. Then choose meatballs, mozzarella, fettuccini or rigatoni for an antipasti. I didn't have to look twice to choose an entree--whole grilled Branzino with crispy potatoes. I was introduced to this Mediterranean sea bass a couple of years in Florida and I was smitten. Whenever I find it on a menu, which is becoming more frequent, I order it without blinking an eye. My wife opted for the pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto with creamed spinach. Dessert was an easy choice, too, traditional and always tasty panna cotta and chocolate hazelnut cake. I'm told the one of the signature dishes at Formento's is shrimp scampi. Maybe so. But as long as Branzino is on the menu, I know where I'm going.

I look for any and all excuses to eat dinner at Formento’s. The only bummer is that they’re not open for lunch. The homemade meatballs are to die for. If you can only eat one dish, that’s what you want to eat. Their pastas are homemade and are stellar. The Bucotini is the most decadent pasta dish I have ever had. The limited menu helps ensure that every meal is great. Even their steak and chicken dish is wonderful – the brick chicken is super yummy. And the desserts are a must the tiramisu is amazing. They also have an extensive wine list and have just about anything one might like and a guaranteed delicious bottle of it.

Really good Italian, with really fresh pasta and delicious starters. Good choice of Italian wines from all regions.

Ate here a couple months ago with family and brought my company back for our annual dinner. Was perfect!!! Food and service were outstanding and everyone loved it. Had most every appetizer and all were excellent. Main entree's were loved by all!

My husband and I spent a while trying to figure out where we were going to go for dinner while in Chicago for the night. While out getting drinks, we got hungry and saw Formento's and decided that's where we would go. We were very pleased with our decision! Our waitress recommended the perfect wines, made sure my food perfect despite my dairy allergy, and was just pleasant to deal with. The food was amazing! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We got the prawns for an appetizer and I had the brick chicken with a side of their potatoes for my meal. It's a cute place for just drinks too, if that's all you're looking for.

This is my fave neighborhood joint. First, their meatballs are to DIE for. So are most of the other apps, including the fried chicken which is ridiculous, off the charts delish. I could just eat a few order of those for dinner. But the pastas are the star! Everything is made fresh and you can tell. Raviolis are among my faves and the bucatini with the fried egg is decadent. They do a really nice butcher steak and my husband gets the scallops nearly every time because they are prepared beautifully. Cannot say enough good things about this place!

Seriously, if you see any other comment with less than 5 stars - you’ve been fooled and tricked! Just messing with you, I know everyone experiences it differently but I LOVE FORMENTOS!!! So far the best octopus and calamari I have had in my life and believe me, I have been to many places specialized in sea food etc . The choice of wines , EXCELLENT!! Especially when you like Italian wines. Service tutti perfetti and atmosphere great, I am Just in love with this place! Can’t wait to eat here again!

Food is outstanding, just loved it! Service is amazing and loved the decor. Outside dinning is available, would make the most of it in the warmer months. A great location with so much happening on Randolph St. Easy to get into and worth the visit. I’ll definitely return on our next visit to Chicago

I didn’t have a reservation so I sat at the bar. It was a great decision as Travis was excellent. He makes a great old fashioned as well. They have have a good menu and I tried the meatballs for an appetizer. They might need the best I’ve ever had. For dinner I had the Orecchette which is a squid ink pasta. It was excellent and had a little spice. No taste of the ink. Henry is a manager there and does a wonderful job of keeping up with the staff and checking on costumers. Highly recommend

Late night., great meal. Came over on Christmas Eve when another restaurant failed us. Saw a bunch of cars and hoped they still took clients. Told me to come on in! Not many restaurants open and willing to have you come late. About half full and service was the best I have encountered in a long time. Serve very promptly, hot and delicious. Great time! Thank you Formento's!!

We have had good meals at Formento's in the past but tonight, we had a terrible experience. Even though there were not many customers in the restaurant, the service was very slow -- even though a lot of staff were walking around. We had to go up to the host to get our drinks after our waitress ignored us. Then, after we got our food, the many staff who didn't help us earlier, tried to take our plates too quickly. The food was not hot when we got it and the flavors were really strange. The chef must have changed. We will not go back there again.

Great food and service! Wonderful wine and good recommendations of what to order. Be sure to save room for panna cotta dessert.

We had a great business dinner Formento's last evening. Our large group was quickly accommodated by the great staff with two tables put together outside (it was a spectacular October evening). The menu is extensive and we tried almost everything on it. My favorites were the bucatini pasta and pork loin, but everything we tried was enjoyed and eaten. I will definitely go back again and recommend walk (or Uber) to this West Side establishment.

This was our second visit to Formento's. We had been there about 6 months ago, liked it then and liked it this time also. There were four of us. We shared three appetizers: shrimp scampi, mushrooms, and short rib. I thought the head-on scampi in a tomato based sauce was excellent. The mushrooms were good but not memorable and the short rib was very nice. Two of us had the branzino and raved about it. The lamb dish was also very well received. I had the skate wing. It's not something you see on a menu all that often and I was psyched to order it. It was a generous portion and prepared milanese style but the breading seemed to overpower the fish. I guess I prefer it sauteed without any bread crumbs. We sat in a back room this time and I think I prefer sitting up front where there are windows looking out on Randolph Street.

We ate at Formento's before a Blackhawks game. It's a great location for pre- or post-game. Quick service. Good bar. But the food isn't anything special. You can do better on Randolph in a variety of cuisines. Happening neighborhood but not sure what all the fuss is about here.

We hadn't made reservations and couldn't get into some restaurants that had been recommended. We were able to get a last minute reservation at Formento's and we were very happy with this choice. The food and service were excellent. My only complaint was that the booth side of our table meant that we were sitting too low and the table was too high. Those seated on the other side in chairs had a comfortable height. I had the duck with polenta which was outstanding.

Chicago already has many, many just ok Italian restaurants. Ate here family style as part of a large group and the side of mash potatoes was the standout. The introductory salad was also very nice. Everything else was just ok.

We had a group of 9 for a reunion from our training in Buffalo NY. The organizer lives in Chicago and gave us high hopes for the food. All apps and entrees were excellent. Unfortunately, they were out of the octopus appetizer after the server touted it being excellent and recommended ordering two for the table. He also selected two wines, which were also great, but both were the last bottle in their wine cellar. They did provide us with a few complementary side dishes to compensate us.

The wife and I made our annual trip to Chicago and wanted to find a really good Italian restaurant. We found an amazing one! Formento's was exceptional! From the homemade focaccia bread to the amazing chicken and calamari appetizers, our meal was great from start to finish. Try the Canestri pasta with Nonna's meatballs or the scallop risotto. You will thank me. Special thanks to Anthony and Andres for making our evening and meal special. We can't wait to go back.

There are lots of quality restaurants to choose from on West Randolph St. in Chicago. Formento's has a very nice interior vibe with some pretty darn good good. Please try the meatballs. They are an appetizer and are scrumptious. The Italian entrees our group shared were all top notch. The steak we had which was ordered rare was an excellent cut but unfortunately was cooked closer to medium. The bartenders and wait staff were well informed and very helpful. Very nice wine list including some great choices from Italy. We will be back.

This is a nice addition to Randolph. We prefer it over Vivo and find it to be a fresher menu. Solid service and excellent food!

Let me say this, I like Italian food but in Chicago Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen. Having said that, this place is fantastic. West loop location is lively without the hassles of truly being downtown. Service is wonderful. Food is amazing. Caution: Bring your credit card.

West Randolph Street has become one of the hottest places in Chicago for upscale restaurants, and Formento's may be the best kept secret of entire area. It's one of our most favorite Italian restaurants in all Chicago.

My wife, son and I had Christmas Eve dinner at Formento's, we decided to order several dishes to share The positives: meatballs and pasta dishes were excellent. Stay with them. The bread and dipping oil was very good also but we only received 2 small pieces for the 3 of us. The negatives: the short ribs were extremely fatty and hard to eat, they also had the strong taste of balsamic vinegar. We also had the brick chicken. We each took a bite and left the rest. Very bland and tasteless. Our waiter was extremely rude, we felt like we were being rushed for our order like standing at a deli counter at lunch time. I don't know if he was trying to see how many times he could turn the table over or what. The rest of the staff was attentive.

Great dinner last night. Our server Murphy was outstanding. He helped us navigate the menu and as a result we had a wonderful dining experience. Great food and service.

Visiting Chicago for the first time, we stumbled across Formento's on West Randolf Street. Externally it looked "good" as indeed it was internally and we were seated quickly. On perusing the menu we found quite a diverse selection. However, while doing so we were approached by a very pleasant waiter who endeavored to "sell us" the 5 course menu. As both myself and my wife are seniors, we no longer enjoy the large appetites we once did and said we really wanted a "smaller meal". I must point out here that the "5 Course Option" was not a deal or similar, with all items being individually priced. A very slight "disappointment" showed on the waiter, but he then went on to explain that any of the "Primi" courses could be served as larger "Entrees". We eventually decided on a "Antipasti" each, along with a shared "Gem Lettuce" which at the end of the day, were "ok" but nothing that special. For "Entrees" we both went for a larger portion of two "Primi" courses, namely Linguini with clams and a Rigatoni will Fennel Sausage and Meatball. Again, well presented and "ok" but nothing special. In the meantime we overheard other waiting staff trying to sell the "5 course option" to what I presumed to be first time visitors. The big rub came with the check. The 2 "Primi" courses we had are listed at $17 on the menu, but as we had upgraded them to "Entrees" the price zoomed up to $32 each + tax + service. As I only received one small piece of Fennel Sausage and one Meatball .... as stated on the "Primi" course, it means I was charged $15 for a few extra pieces of pasta. Coupled with this, my wife's Linguini with clams produced a similar situation. Nice food, pleasant surroundings but grossly overpriced when upgrading.

Had dinner with work. I had the lamb, which was delicious. I think for what’s on offer, they’re a bit too pricey for what they offer - hence 4 instead of 5 stars - but loved the atmosphere. We were seated at a round-ish table, and I loved that. Great bar in the upfront area.