La Villa Restaurant Reviews

If you're looking for good Italian food for around $20(+/-) a plate, OR really good pizza, La Villa is the place to eat on the North side of Chicago. Yesterday my family and I ordered this 7-course meal for $18.95 each. We couldn't believe all the focaccia bread, incomparable salad bar, and bread w/ garlic we were offered BEFORE our delicious entrees. I've also had the pizza before -- it's the best. Atmosphere is always very well-decorated according to the season. Beautiful place. Plenty of parking available.

My friends & I came here to celebrate their son's recent accomplishment. I would think the management (I think its management) would be happy to receive $ from our crew of 20. But instead he was very disrespectful & rude. He tried to laugh it off, but we decided after eating here, that this would be the last time we ate here.

We visited here to meet up with friends Feb 28. It was great. The crab legs were so good. And the staff is so friendly. Thanks again!!

After being introduced to La villa by a friend that lives near, I have been to this establishment again & again for about 15 years. Not a bad dish on the menu and there pizza stands up to any made in Chicago. Aside from the restaurant, there is a cozy bar area with tables & full food service and live music on certain nightgs. What prompted me to write this review however, is the New Year's Eve party I attended at the start of 2014. Not a first timer to this event, I had high expectations. Not the first time my expectations were exceeded. Appetizers at buffet and walked through the room with open bar before dinner. 4 course meal with Filet Mignon and Lobster Tail accompanied with Red & White on the table. DJ throughout the night kept an upbeat atmosphere as people danced and made regular trips to the Open Bar with Top Shelf liquor after dinner. Party favors and bubbly distributed to all tables and dancers as the year came to an end. At midnight a traditional Countdown with balloons and confetti dropping from the ceiling. Who could ask for anything more? My party of 10 certainly left in good spirits at the start of 2014!!! PS. At La Villa I have attended other parties as well (birthday, shower, funeral) always good food, great service and reasonalby priced. One party to keep an eye on is the Haloween Costume party. Done that several times and never been dissapointed with that either

The #1 place to go for pizza, dine in or carry out..

Went there Saturday for an early Valentine's dinner. The food was amazing. It is not often that I leave food on my plate, but I did that night. Had the Boston sea food plater, and it was HUGE.

I've always ordered the thin crust pizza which is good. Went to a banquet here and though the food was below average.

We were there for the first time with another couple. What an awesome dinner experience! The beer was cold, the meal terrific, and the service was just perfect. Highly recommend this restaurant.

There were two parties going on at the same time but they did not clash. I was surprise that there were not noise from the other party and ours since we were separated by folding doors. The service was the best and the food was okay too. I can see using the place again.

The family that runs this restaurant has been making gluten free pizza crusts for over a decade and it is incredibly delicious. While I enjoy gluten, my husband does not and therefore this pizza makes the both of us very happy. If you're dinning in i recommend the linguine with clams- (very large portions and it even tastes good the next day) or the pork chops. I have them every time and they are always caramelized to perfection.

Let's start with the delicious salad bar, who has that anymore. Dinner was over the top with tender Veal Francese and the Steak, Shrimp, and Pasta combo. We sat at the bar and the service was excellent provided by Jose the bartender. Finish it off with entertainment by a gentleman that plays the piano and accordion simultaneously . Sorry didn't have room for desert. Give it a try!

Invited by locals, was not aware of their excellent choice for a most delicious lunch treat. I began with the Ministrone soup, then chose the Red Snapper Stuffed with Crabmeat, served with Roasted Potatoes & vegetables. I was extremely pleased with the dish & the comments of my other friends who chose Fettuccini Alfredo & other fine dishes.

This is indeed a favorite for many From the extensive dishes offered Mainly Italian , to the wine list which is affordable what is there not to like It is family friendly and we were provided a lovely table decanter to aureate our red wine!!

What a jumping place, drinks and food were great. Service even thru they were crowded, was perfect. They had a Elvis impersonorn sing and they show was outstanding.This place is a must try.

We were passing thru Chicago, expecting to stop at Smoque. When we couldn't get a table, we found La Villa. What a find! Delicious pasta and pizza. Our waitress, Edith, was exceptionally friendly and full of great advice. If you want good Chicago style deep dish or pan pizza, this is your place. A word to the wise, give yourself time. The pan and stuffed pies require 40-45 minutes cooking time!

I have been ordering from La Villa for over ten years and I never have experienced this awful service. After waiting over an hour and a half their driver calls me and says they are outside. When I go outside they’re not there. Apparently the lady who took my order sent it to the wrong address and they said they would make me another pizza and send it right away. I told them can we get a free pizza or fries for the inconvenience? No, Sam (the manager), said they rather cancel the order so now on I’m ordering from Mama Lunas where they’re pizzas are bigger and they actually care about their customers. This will be the last time I order from La Villa. I wouldn’t recommend ordering from this place to anyone.

Italian to the core, perhaps we have bigger expectations for Italian restaurants. We found the menu prosaic, with few innovative choices. When I ordered my Pasta Faggioli (3 Northern beans in natural juices, pastina, white wine garlic sauce, onions) with maximum herb seasoning, it still came bland. My husband had one of the standard seafood linguinis and thought it was all right. Prices were competitive, but we would have preferred more and paid more. We can cook better at home.

were do i begin we had rented out a room for a baby shower we had about 50 guest the host suggested which room would be best the staff helped with everything we did a buffet style setup cost per plate anything i needed the staff took care of it i highly reccommend having your party here all of our guest loved the food and the family friendly atmosphere

We had a large group with over 20 people requiring separate checks with kids scattered at difference seats - getting who was on what bill was tedious for our waitress, but she was awesome. Atmosphere - cozy and family oriented. A little dark. Food - good. I had the gnocchi which was excellent. I wouldn’t recommend the chicken Parmesan as it was kind of blah. Drink - the wives love the Long Island Ice Tea.

I have enjoyed LaVilla for almost 40 years. My family ordered from them when I was a kid and I worked there as a driver in the late 70's & 80's which means I ate my way through half the menu several times a week. I now live in Elk Grove Village and still drive down specifically to pick up LaVilla food. The steaks are incredible. I love chicken -- best fried chicken I ever had, one of the last places to make great pizza bread and steak fries -- no skimpy skinny stuff here -- and, of course, the pizza is scrumptious. If you live in the area or visiting from out of down, you owe it to yourself stop at LaVilla.

Choose your main course, select your side pasta and soup, then visit the salad bar. Guaranteed you won’t go home hungry but will probably be taking enough home for another meal. Great food, great service and a very nice ambiance. Two different salmon dishes and eggplant parmigiana, spinach mash potatoes, fresh salad choices, minestrone soup, and warm bread, a really fine dining experience. The only criticism was the people at the next table who had broken volume controls. Not something the restaurant could help.

We have eaten at la Villa twice now, most recently for a wedding reception. The food is very good. My favorites are the Chicken noodle soup and the Pasta. The roast pork was a little dry but lots of flavor and the chicken was excellent.

I have been eating at La Villa for over 5 years. Their food is always consistently very good. They have one the only salad bars that I know of in Chicago. Their Pizza is one of the best I have had. The Pizza is never greasy, perfectly crisp and delicious.

This place is amazing! Food is Great people are great you can't go wrong. We have been eating here since I was little. I was married here 8 years ago . What can I say but mmmmmmmmmm good.. you won't be disappointed with the menu neither.. Good hungry!

Love this place. The food is consistently good. and lots of it. Start off with soup and then move on to the varied items on the salad bar. The complementry bruschetta comes with chrused garlic and olive oil. Most entrees come with your choice of pasta. I've tried chicken and veal parmesan, braciolla, breaded veal cutlet, ect. My husband usually gets the chicken marsala or piccata. Always enough for leftovers the next day. There is ample parking also which is good to know in the city. Enjoy!!

See other reviews for how great the food and hospitality is. I couldn't agree more. My tip: I love to dine in the bar area on Friday and Saturday nights. There's this lounge singer -- Tom Moran -- with an accordion and a midi machine that I just have to see two or three times a year. Also, I just had a lobster, shrimp and risotto stuffed pumpkin here that blew my socks off!

We have been going there for over 25 years. Great service and food. We especially love ordering their pizza to go...we pick it up as we live close by. Free, huge parking lot. The pizza is old school and we love the sausage, onion and green pepper pizza. So good. They also have a banquet hall and we have had several parties there. Service is awesome and the staff is friendly. Good prices too!!

This long time restaurant has a very large menu at fair prices. Food is good with many pizza selections. Jose the bartender makes the drinks with love and care. The entertainment, accordion player Tommy Moran who has been there for 11 years gives you a night of fun entertainment and plays a lot of your old favorites. Enjoy.

About 100 of us gathered at La Villa Restaurant for a reunion luncheon. The restaurant has plenty of parking. Our room had been downsized a bit because of a funeral luncheon, but we still had more than enough room. The service was efficient and very attentive. Our meal started with an appetizer of a type of pizza cornbread, as well as regular bread. The salad was good with three different dressings. We had bow ties pasta, Italian sausage with peppers and onions, Vesuvio chicken, a vegetable medley & roasted potatoes. We finished with a cup of ice cream with a choice of chocolate syrup or strawberries. Everything tasted great and the service was really, really good. The restaurant, including the restrooms, is clean and well-kept. Fantastic luncheon!

I always order Italian food but they do have other entrees. It is a family friendly restaurant. The staff is professional and friendly. This is one of my favorites.

Best eggplant paramasen ever. If you r looking for plain salad bar, not the place to go. Best salad bar ever with all the different salads. Went twice in one week. Live in NC and we have nothing to compare. The service was great and the owners delightfully nice. You can rest assured if I get back to Chicago I will visit again. All food is homemade, what a difference. Normally i don't like terimeisu but this one is light and not bitter. Very good. Wonderful!!!

This place is the real deal. The food was delicious. The portions were so big I assumed my mother-in-law was in the kitchen telling them I was too skinny. They had SO MANY options from which to choose, including several gluten-free options. The staff were friendly and appropriately attentive. There are also several sections to the restaurant to allow for different crowds / parties and plenty of parking. My only disappointment was that the didn't offer gluten free bread / bread crumbs as I really wanted some baked clams.

In my quest to find the best mostaccioli in Chicago, I discovered La Villa, an old-school charm of an Italian restaurant that puts out an Italian spread in the old-fashioned way. Located at 3632 North Pulaski Road, in the city's Irving Park neighborhood, La Villa offers tavern-style pizza, deep dish, heart-shaped pizza, stuffed pizza, chicken, veal, pasta, ribs, rib tips, steaks, chops, seafood and sandwiches. Open from 10 to 10 on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 10 to midnight on Friday and Saturday, this is homestyle Italian cooking the way my wife's grandmother used to do it. I started with a six-piece jumbo shrimp cocktail with lemon and cocktail sauce, bruschetta with diced tomatoes, garlic, parmesan and toasted bread, a bowl of minestrone and Caesar salad with Romaine lettuce, croutons, parmesan and Caesar dressing. The mostaccioli with meat sauce, ricotta, bits of whole tomatoes and extra mozzarella cheese came with a side of Italian sausage. For dessert, I couldn't resist the home-made tiramisu with creamy custard, whipped mascarpone cheese, lady fingers, espresso and cocoa powder.

From the time we walked in till the time we left everything was wonderful. The service was amazing, friendly and attentive staff. This restaurant knows how to do it and they do it well. The food was amazing. The best veal I have ever had!! We live pretty far away from this restaurant however do not mind driving for this kind of dinner. We will be back for sure. Kudo's to everyone at this restaurant haven't enjoyed a meal like we had there in a long time.

We have eaten here numerous times and each time we never were disappointed! !! The servers were friendly and the food was great!

When we were kids, we used to go here with family and friends. Now, we´re ¨grown up¨ and STILL coming with family and friends...continuing the ¨tradition¨ with the newest generation.

We've been eating here since it opened in 1971. The food is always delicious from the pizza to the filet mignon! The salad bar is wonderful with antipasto and pasta salads. The service is fantastic. You will not be dissapointed!

We went there with the family ! The food was excellent ! The service was great very friendly and assertive ! I would highly recommend this restaurant ! I highly recommend the lasagna ! The ribs were great also !

Attended an event. The pasta course was al dante, a rare occurance at any event. The main courses were served family style as requested and the food far above most events. The staff was efficent and not intrusive. Again not the usual event experance. Far better.

It is hard to believe that this restautrant of 80 plus years does not have a review on "TripAdvisor." Recently "Check Please" a WTTW PBS Channel 11 did a review on this restaurant and we would have to agree that it is excellent. A few years ago we were invited to a function and I was very skeptical when entering the restaurant. The host kept ordering Hor'd oeuvres each was better than the last. We had a wonderful time and have been back many times. Unfortunately the restaurant is a few miles away from where we live and not very accessible. I am sure that if you visit, you will not be dissappointed and Chris who is the owner will add joy to your visit and include a hug. Parking is available with and attendant.

I like a lot of their plates. Steak ala villa is god. They have very nice salad bar. I never get to desserts often since the portions are fair there. I admit I know the owners too.

I started going there in highschool (carl Schurz from right down the street) with a teacher for team dinners. I got my family hooked on the place, now we have every birthday party, graduation party, and baby shower there. I even had my wedding reception there! Its dark, intimate and cozy. The lady who runs the place is great, as is the food.

This is REALLY delicious pizza- in my opinion- tops! The ambiance and service is great. The salad bar is a super addition to any meal or by itself. Regular customer. Also has full bar

You have to love LA villa. From the friendly service to the salad bar to the bar filled with regulars, this is a casual spot that offers consistently good Italian food. Plenty of parking and check out the live entertainment on the weekends. We went on a weeknight, but I assume the live music is still flowing. If you are near Avondale or old Irving, check it out.

I love their pizza ❤️ I can eat it 5 days a week ! Their food is excellent! ! Chris is a great host ! The staff is very friendly and professional ! I recommend this restaurant to everyone ❤️❤️

Food and service was excellent. Everything was geeat. Salad bar has everyting you want. The staff is very friendly.

Full disclosure, my family has been eating here my whole life. My favorite is the thin crust pizza, but they have excellent fried chicken, steak fries (thick cut), my favorite creamy garlic dressing. If I am passing through the city or heading in to see family, I always order something for delivery or carry out. You cannot go wrong. We have only dined in a few times. It is dark woods and makes it dark in here, so the ambience is old school, but the good food is worth it either way. Enjoy!!!

I ordered the Thursday Special for Rib takeout/pickup. The ribs were very very good. Recently I ordered ribs from a place a few blocks away, and they were a disappointment. La Villa's ribs, by contrast, were great. Plus, with two full racks, we got pasta with one and potatoes with the other, as well as cole slaw as a side with both. For just over $30 this was a great dinner as well as lunch the following day for two hungry adults and a toddler who gobbled all of it down as fast as we could put it on her tray. One day earlier we ordered La Villa's thin crust xlarge "special" pizza. It tasted great and, again, this made for a great dinner for the three of us plus there was enough left over for lunch the following day. Total cost for the pizza was just over $20. It can't get any better.

We relocated from the Northeast 4 yrs ago and have been searching for good pizza in Chicago. The thin crust and thick crust pizza is solid. Great taste, good amount of toppings, great delivery and really just tastes great. Not greasy or flimsy . We've been very happy with this place and we only order from here now.

I have been eating the pizza and food at La Villa since 1984. In 1987 my family moved to Patterson street about 200 ft from La Villa's south entrance. I have eaten La Villa for more than 30 years and have never had a bad pizza. In fact this pizza is hands down my favorite. Yes, I place it above the Chicago staples (Malnati's, Giordano's, Pat's, etc...). La Villa still makes their pizza the old school way, with homemade everything. The double dough sausage was our family tradition. The sauce is unique with well balanced garlic and just the right amount of zing. The sausage is perfection. Since moving to the burbs in 04' we try to pick up food when passing through the city. We also dine in a few times a year. I really miss this pizza! Growing up we would pick up the phone and order our usual and they always knew who it was for. Then a 20 second sprint down the block through the pick up entrance and the awesome staff was always there, with the food ready with a smile. When dining in the restaurant, they serve up some really authentic traditional italian food and it is always a great experience. La Villa also serves up one of the best Long Island Ice tea's I have ever tasted. Warning: more than 2 of these and you will be on your butt! For take out or lunch their Fried chicken and sandwiches are fantastic. The BBQ beef deluxe served with steak fries and yummy cole slaw was my lunch time favorite. All the food at La Villa is really good but the star in my opinion is the wonderful pizza. I think it is high time that La Villa get it's proper recognition as one of Chicago's great Pizzerias. Although it is not in a marque location it is easily accessible from the 90 or 94 or locally down Pulaski. In summary if you are looking for a true Chicago Pizzeria with great service come to La Villa, you will not be disappointed!!!!

We went to LaVilla after a Friday night basketball game. We were treated so nice by the very pleasant hostess. Our waitress Jackie, just great. We were very well attended and she made small talk with us but knew when not to interrupt ... My husband ordered a thin crust pizza- thank God he ordered quite a bit for my son and a few of his teammates who later joined us. We took just enough home for an extra dinner. My family loved it. I had a salad with walnuts and strawberries and it was excellent. Everything was perfect. Lots to choose from on the menu.

One thing is for sure you will walk out with leftovers. This classic Italian restaurant doesn't disappoint. With soup and salad bar included with your meal, Orders included red snapper francese, veal francese, veal scallopini, and a gluten free pasta with vodka sauce and chicken. All were so pleased with the taste. Only downside was there was no room for dessert. Next time.

Very nice neighborhood place and reasonable prices on lunch and drinks... Jus ta nice place to go and kick back.

This is the place to go if you're hungry for Italian. Soup, salad bar, focaccia bread and whatever entree you order should have you leaving stuffed.

Want to feel like you are part of an Italian family? This is the place! My favorite is the Chicken Tetrazzini - a huge portion that always gives me lunch the following day. But everything is good, and the service always friendly.

I had been here twice before for wedding receptions and usually order the pizza, so this is the first time I ordered the Chicken Vesuvio. I ordered it with white meat only (an additional $2). The chicken came with potato wedges, and both chicken and potatoes were covered with the tastiest sauce I have ever had. It is garlicky with just the right amount of oregano and white wine. After I ate the food, I licked the plate! Highly recommended!

I moved to Springfield 3 years ago, but you still can't keep me away from my favorite place! I delivered this LaVilla Special pizza to my friends Linda and Bob at WonderLake, Illinois as I was passing through from a vacation in Michigan...I just had the urge to jump off of I-94, visit my old neighborhood and grab a pizza to go...from a place I've been going to for over 40 years!! My daughter's wedding was here too, as well as my retirement party... and as you can see, Chris and Randy takes care of me. I feel like family returning home! ( That delicious pizza ended up in WonderLake, Illinois still warm because they wrapped it in double foil and a box)

Newly Remodeled, the Banquet Hall is Beautiful. Of course the food is good. Even the Corned Beef for St Pats day

This place started as the neighborhood pizza delivery or pick-up, just a little window around the corner from where they are now. Then they grew to be a little Italian place, and then a bigger place and then expanded into the banquet hall and even an additional room for lunch more recently! They keep growing but they have not lost their family and food values. I have grown up eating their pizza, from the pick-up window all the way till a month ago! I am spoiled because it's the neighborhood place and we all want to break out of the usual routine. But now and then we want something that tastes like home and we go to La Villa and are never disappointed. And any time we have people from out of town or certainly, Chicagoans returning home, we always go to La Villa. Everyone has loved it. The only complaint is that when you have eaten the salad bar, there's no room left for dinner. So pace yourself folks! We will be having lots of La Villa pizza over the new few months as the BlackHawks are in the finals again and it is the dinner of choice. We HAVE to eat it or they might not win!

There are a lot of outstanding Italian restaurants in Chicago and my wife and I have dined at many of them. But none of them offers a menu featuring so many delicious items as La Villa at 3632 North Pulaski Avenue in Chicago's Old Irving Park neighborhood. Opened in 1972 by Salvatore Canale, La Villa is a homey, family-operated restaurant serving home-made Italian/American fare in a sprawling, kid-friendly space. Canale created his family style joint from the ground up, starting with pizza. La Villa oozes with old-school charm. There is so much...pasta, ribs, steaks, chops, veal, seafood, pizza. You can dine inside or order pickup or delivery. You can even have it catered or arrange for a party or business meeting in a private room. The daily specials are special, especially on Friday (red snapper or walleye pike or jumbo butterfly shrimp) or Saturday (1/2 slab of ribs, full slab of ribs, flank steak rolled with prosciutto, mozzarella and breadcrumbs topped with meat sauce or the combo (filet, fried shrimp, fettucine alfredo. And don't forget: Dinners include soup and salad bar and bread and butter and pasta or potato. Are you still hungry? On our most recent visit, we ordered bruschetta and shrimp cocktail for appetizers, lasagna and veal scallopini for entrees and home-made tiramisu for dessert. How many restaurants have you visited that offered seven selections of veal? For that matter, how many restaurants have you visited that offered veal at all? It's also fun to "create your own pasta dish" at La Villa...spaghetti, meatballs, marinara sauce, mostaccioli, manicotti...with garlic bread. But that's not all. The thin crust cheese and sausage pizza and the full slab of ribs are as good as I've had in Chicago. The busy bar scene and live music make for a a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

I bet this place is amazing for big parties, especially kid parties. For my husband and I, not so much. Okay food. Good service. A really old fashioned salad bar with a lot of things I don't eat - so I passed on it.

My "wow" is for the incredible service - from my first phone call days before my reservation for a larger party with all my questions through our parting the night after our meal. Extremely attentive and very friendly staff. Went out of their way to make our farewell to our friends extra special and memorable-had no idea they would do this; we didn't make any special requests - I was just glad to find a place that took reservations for larger parties and had a festive atmosphere. We were greeted to balloons on the table, friendly, knowledgeable, and, like already mentioned, attentive staff. Then, as our desserts were being served, what comes out...a special plate "painted" with a special colorful farewell greeting with little cups of ice cream with candles! I don't know if this kind of stuff happens much anymore, but I do get out much and have not experienced this before. Wow.

This place is amazing!! It is a little on the expensive side but it is so worth it. Their pasta is amazing and you may have 2 meals out of one.

I don't know why I haven't previously reviewed La Villa. I've been eating in the restaurant almost once a week for the past decade. Probably 40+ times yearly as part of a men's dinner group, and also as someone who has attended many banquets here. What you get here is value, and excellent service. It's part pizza parlor, part Italian Restaurant, and part bar which serves food. There are four parts/sections to La Villa. Christine, the owner, is hands-on, ever-present. Teresa who books the parties is a master at giving the most for the fewest dollars. Jose the bartender has been here more than 30-years. Lydia, my favorite waitress, is a master at remembering people, what they drink and what they like to eat. The restaurant has undergone a head-to-toe refurbishment this past year. There's a very loyal patronage and you get to know one another. But first time or infrequent visitors are made welcome, by everyone. The new flatbread menu is good for people who want to eat light. The pizza's are popular with hundreds sold out the "back door" weekly. I like the salmon, offered in several different options. The Sicilian Chicken has been a good choice for me. And at other times I like the featured huge salad with sliced chicken breast (which is large enough for two!). Drinks are large, and strong and underpriced for the market. There's a huge parking lot. For banquets, I've been to some which are almost 200 in size with bands, etc., and they've been handled well. This isn't a 5 star restaurant nor a restaurant which belongs Downtown. What it is, is a great neighborhood restaurant where neighborhood folks go to eat regularly because the food is good, the drinks are good and the prices are reasonable.

This restaurant can't be missed if you are from the Old Irving Park area. The service has always been excellent. The food is very good, but could certainly use some fine-tuning and new dishes on the menu. The salad bar is excellent! The alcohol drink prices need to be toned down a bit. This restaurant charges River North prices for alcohol without the prestige or atmosphere.

We've only ordered take-out/delivery from here. Loved the vesuvio chicken. I thought the pizza was OK.

Convenient to a nursing facility where my family visits frequently, so we stop in frequently. We also used them for a recent catering at the facility and it went flawlessly. Love the staff and their La Strada room!

If you get their pizza you will not go wrong here. Plus if you get it take out or delivery, you get a liter of pop so that's a plus for the value. But inside the restaurant the food is only average in my opinion, especially for the prices. This isn't to say it's bad by any means. But, compared to some other Italian restaurants in the city, their pricing is a little out of line for what you get. I think this place is best for bigger groups where you can get some appetizers and pizza, and enjoy the drinks. Normally, I would never drink a Long Island, but Jose the bartender makes the best one I've ever had. He's also a great bartender if you ever want to sit at the bar for a while too. Overall, not a bad place.

We ate in the bar so that we could enjoy the entertainment. They have a live performer Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-10. He has lots of personality and likes interacting with the crowd. Food was delicious! We had the braciole and chicken cacciatore, along with calamari. They also have an old time salad bar with all the usual items like 3 bean salad, pate, olives, etc. They also have a very attentive wait staff who constantly refilled the water and bread and removed used plates promptly. Fun spot if you're in the old Irving area!

as i stated in a earlier review of La Villa we finally got a chance to sit down and dine in what an experience this was our waiter was phenominal he waited to see if the steak we ordered was the way we wanted it also the atmosphere couldnt be better

My father took me to a little store front on Addison 40 years ago to the best pizza in town. Nothing has changed, long since moved to its location around the corner on Pulaski. Great food and service is the norm here. Pizza and pasta are still cooked old school. The new Strada room is beautiful .Great for young and young at heart.

I don't know what happened but their crust tastes like cardboard lately. I love thin crust pizza, but they lost their touch. I ordered 2 pizzas today, and the crust severely disappointed me. They need to get back on track...

We ate here for a birthday celebration. The place is a classic! The food was really amazing good! And the salad bar, wine selection and prices were all great! Two large parking lots. Well trained wait staff and yummy desserts! We plan to become regulars!

This rating should really be 4.5 or 4.75 only because the service could have been quicker ... in by 7 out by 9 pm on a crowded saturday night. But tight to move around the tables. We had the rolled flank steak and chicken parm ... both outstanding ... great flavor on the gravy. Salad bar is great ... my favorite is the seafood salad and the beets. I had creamy chicken rice which was also very tasty. In the bar side an accordion player entertains the crowd. Highly recommended

My favorite part of LaVilla is the salad bar. The creamed herring is made in their own sauce & it's delicious. Shrimp salad, eggplant salad, artichoke heart salad, etc.....Great selection. And the usual salad & pudding. The soup is Wonderful, every single one. The portions are Big, and love the breadstick packages on the table, very old school. I have ordered delivery many times & have never been disappointed. The food is Always hot, all wrapped in foil. Red Snapper is excellent, pasta dishes are always Great. And the Best Bruschetta I have ever had! Everyone loves it. I go to or order from LaVilla several times when visiting Chicago. I highly recommend!

This place is a throw back in a good way. The thin crust pizza is really good, the pasta dishes are above average and they have a huge salad bar. Portions are big and the prices are reasonable. It's a total throwback, especially in the bar area, and that's what makes it great.

This is the kind of restaurant I want to go back to. They have plenty of food and it was all good. I love restaurants that are homey and reasonably priced. There is a salad bar, hors d'oeuvres, and great choices. It's fun and inviting.

La Villa is another wonderful Italian restaurant that we didn't become aware of until friends who live in the Old Irving Park neighborhood tipped us off to what we were missing. Located at 3632 North Pulaski, La Villa is a jack-of-all-trades, a dine-in restaurant with a bar/lounge that also caters to banquets, weddings, anniversaries, parties, delivery and takeout. A neighborhood fixture since 1972, La Villa features a truly Italian-American cuisine with an old-school charm. There is an emphasis on pizza but the menu features a wide variety of dinner options. The specials are to die for, especially prime rib, beef stroganoff and chicken Vesuvio on Monday, tilapia and New York strip steak on Tuesday, veal parmigiana on Wednesday, walleye pike, red snapper and shrimp ala capri on Friday and a full slab of ribs or fried shrimp on Saturday. The dinners include soup, salad bar, bread and butter, pasta or potato. You better come hungry. We did. I started with a shrimp cocktail and my wife and I shared an exceptional order of bruschetta, toasted bread topped with chopped tomatoes, garlic, Romano cheese and basil. For an entree, my wife chose veal Saltimbocca, a rarity on many menus, medallions of tender veal with prosciutto, mozzarella and black olives sauteed with wine sauce. She said it was the best she has ever had. I had quite a decision to make. The selection of seafood included everything except barzino and Dover sole. I finally settled on red snapper over walleye, broiled salmon and shrimp marinara. It was so delicious and filling that we barely had enough room left to share a dessert of tiramisu. Steak and chicken and pasta lovers will be satisfied with the many options. Sandwiches, too. Italian sausage, BBQ beef, Italian roast beef, ribeye steak, meatball. And we haven't even mentioned the celebrated pizza, thin crust or pan or stuffed. Suggestion: Take something home with you.

We were around 40 people for a family friend's wedding anniversary. The place is very cozy, kids friendly and staff is great. We loved the food and to our surprise there was live music since it was a Friday night. The solo musician-singer did a great job. The food was excellent, I strongly suggest ribs , pizza and salad bar. At the end of the night, we didn't want to leave the place, such a perfect Italian family restaurant and banquet hall.

We were there on a Sunday lunch. 10/26 Ordered Lasagna and stuffed artichoke. Food was great. Just what you would expect from an authentic Italian restaurant. The good thing is that this is a family owned restaurant. We were showed the place. Very nice place for a big party.& family dinner.

We visited Friday May 5th 2017 at 9pm with a group of 5 adults and 1 seven year old. We were from out of town staying in an AIRBNB close by. We made a reservation and were seated right away. She asked if we wanted quiet or in the bar, we chose the bar where there was live music. We were there for a 21st birthday celebration. The waitress was great, the service was great and the food was AMAZING. I had the veal parmesan and it was by far the best I have ever had. My daughter had spaghetti and loved it also. One of my friends ordered filet mignon and said it was incredible and the other the full rack of ribs and cleaned his plate. The birthday girl and her boyfriend ordered something vegan and I can't remember. For desert we were treated to a birthday Tiramisu for the birthday girl and they brought out a huge plate of mixed pastries for us to share. We will definitely be returning for this amazing experience again.

I moved into the area about a year ago and I have to say, we go to La Villa about once a month. The food is so good and reasonable! We always take home left over because the portions are so big! Once in a while we come to just camp out at the bar with Jose. He makes a great martini. The last time we visited Sarah waited on us and she was extremely friendly and helpful. the main room of the restaurant reminds me of how my italian uncles used to decorate thier basements. If you are italian, you understand what I mean by this! Very stuck in a time period, but I love it!

We were looking for a quick dinner after a trip to Millenium Park, but wanted dinner close to where we live. Many of the restaurants were already closed by 9, we got in here the folks were really welcoming. We were a large group of 6. They have a seven course meal too, but we just wanted to eat simple stuff. So we ordered wings, hamburger, cheeseburger, spaghetti, chicken soup and an Italian roast beef sandwich. The portions are huge. The grown men couldn't finish their sandwich and my burger came with coleslaw and fries. I loved the meal and had it all. We didn't order drinks but they do have a nice bar. The overall vibe is very family and warm. The servers and waitresses are friendly and nice. The minsetrone soup is here famous. Have tried their pizza too.

Very old school circuses but the food was pretty awful. Gobs of cheese over pretty plain and tasteless pasta. Honestly I felt like I stepped back in time to the 1970's! People were nice but the food was not.

I went to LaVilla based on the Check Please reviews from the show. It was my birthday and I wanted to go to a restaurant with atmosphere besides good food. I had the linguine with red clam sauce which was terrific. Our waitress was not only attentive but had a great sense of humor. Everybody in our party enjoyed their food and the tiramisu for dessert. We will definitely be coming back here to celebrate more birthdays. It is not only a great restaurant but an experience!

Often when one travels back to their roots certain necessities occur. For example one must stop by and say hello to their 3rd grade teacher, perhaps a favorite aunt or just have a drink at an old watering hole. When in Chicago I try to fit in a stop to an "old school" Italian restaurant named La Villa that brings back memories and smiles of many festive occasions breaking bread and sharing a good time. Let me define "old school" as how or rather what the results are when dining in one of these established eateries of an Italian nature. First, the food is authentic, fresh, good-tasting and plentiful. The wine prices are reasonable as are all possible beverage choices. Third, the service comes with an automatic greeting and smile. Fourth, the professional standards of cleanliness, décor, and comfort are equally met, addressed and executed upon. In short, one feels like they are home or down the block at Mrs. Zito's house. The final benchmark of true success is just how much left over can one fit into the doggie container - no bags here folks, just safe storage conveyances for transport. There is no one dish, side, entrée or special that can be offered here as a better or favorite desire because it's all good. Take a drive, sit back and relax, dig into the salad bar, enjoy a drink and feast like the old days so when the check arrives you won't pass out. It's worth a visit, trust me, every minute and every dollar spent.

We really wanted to like La Villa we both had the Chicken Tetrazzini. With Chicken soup and the salad bar. Everything tasted great. About an hour later while both my husband and I were volunteer at our school. I excused myself an had to go to the restroom. I got in there just in the nick of time and had the worst diarrhea that foamed and bubble out of my body. I have had food poisoning before but nothing like this. I came out of the restroom all sweaty feeling like I got hit by a Mack Truck. We went home and continue the fireworks at home. OMG never again! What a waste of money!

7/29 If I could give this place a 10, I would. This is by far the best hospitable, attentive customer experience I have ever had. Fatima, the waitress was Excelente, also the hostess and staff. We ordered the popular Chicken Vesuvio, fried calamari and lasagna which were all large portions. It came with soup and salad, fresh french & focaccia bread plus crackers. Everything was superb. Pomegranate martini is a must. A place for family dinner, date night or celebration. A delightful place. Live entertainment.

La Villa is really one of those sleeper restaurants on the northwest side of Chicago. Located on the west side of Pulaski Rd., just north of Addison St., there is plenty of off-street parking on either side of the restaurant. When you enter through one of the several entryways, you are immediately impressed by the ambiance in the interior. There are several rooms that can be closed off and used for private parties, as well. Bonnie was our server and was very efficient and personable. We did not order any appetizers other than a cup of soup that came with the meal. We chose the pork chops which were huge and came with vegetables. We also ordered the meat lasagna and it was one of the best lasagnas that I have had. They also bring out a couple of different breads to the table, and both were tasty, fresh and, I think, homemade. They also had a small plate of roasted garlic that they brought to the table - a nice touch.

Like a step back in time with Great Italian food and service. Suggest sitting in the bar area if he singer is there!

Well since I got my tax return I had to treat myself to La Villa. It's one of these restaurants where you're breaking the bank for Italian food.especially custom making your own pasta with shrimp Alfredo and fettuccine you will not be disappointed is the portions are pretty decent and you won't be leaving unsatisfied . The pasta is piping hot and fresh vegetables cuz I usually order it with broccoli and spinach. I taking a lighter out since I know that their pasta dishes are very filling or Rich. So I got the dinner salad with Italian dressing and as an appetizer I went with deep battered mushrooms with marinara sauce. As for the end if I still have room I'm going to eat tiramisu. I also do recommend if you want to have occasions their banquet hall is very good for how much they charge but I'm only coming here to make an encore eating at lobelia since I had a craving for it. The two best Italian American restaurants. La Villa in Northside Chicago,IL and Jim and Pete's by Elmwood Park, IL.

Outstanding service. Bottomless bread basket, served with olive oil infused roasted garlic. Yum! Food was average

My sister and I would walk by La Villa on our way home from school and buy french fries to go when they first opened in 1972. They started with a small take out pizza/delivery place. We would also stand in front of the storefront window and watch them hand toss the pizza dough. The La Villa "special" pizza is made the same way and tastes just as fantastic as it did the first time I had it, over 40 years ago. We celebrated our nephew's graduation from high school and each one of use had a delicious and very generous dinner. The portions are huge. The owners are like family and have provided wonderful celebratory family dinners, funeral and a christening luncheon for us. They've expanded the restaurant and can accommodate large group. A real plus for a city restaurant is the ample free parking! I love this place and the family. Here's what is really exceptional, they have employees that started when they first opened! Great food, great family, great location, great place to go for a great time!