Sapori Trattoria Reviews

We had an absolutely outstanding experience here for my cousins bachelorette party dinner. The staff was incredibly attentive and went above and beyond with helping us store some of our belongings during dinner. Our food was delicious and authentic, which says lot considering I had just gotten home from Italy one week prior. Enjoy your meal!

We started with the Crostini di Avocado, which was really good. The creamy avocado tasted so good with the parmesan and tomatoes (and they were very generous with the avocado - a rather filling app). I had the Rigatoni Caprese, which is a huge portion loaded with melted mozzarella and basil...very good (plus enough leftover for another dinner at home the next night). My husband really enjoyed the Spaghetti Barese with veal and Italian sausage (another large portion). Service was very quick, although not super attentive.

I'm not Italian but my wife is half-Italian. So many that's where I get my love for Italian cooking and Italian restaurants. Their menus are always filled with items that strike my fancy and curl my taste buds. Saproi Trattoria is one of my favorites. Located at 2701 North Halsted Street, south of Diversey, in Chicago's Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhood, it is a small but romantic establishment that specializes in home-made pasta and classic Italian dishes. Open from 4 to 9 on Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday and 4 to 10 on Friday and Saturday, its menu features fried calamari, meat lasagna, rigatoni caprese, lobster ravioli, bruschetta, bucatini carbonara and gnocchi Al Brivido. I love to sample as much as I can. On this occasion, I started with bruschetta with toasted Italian bread, marinated tomatoes, balsamic and grana padano cheese, veal meatballs, a cup of minestrone with mixed vegetables, tomato and beans and Caesar salad with Romaine lettuce, garlic croutons, grana padano cheese and Caesar dressing. For my entree, I chose spaghetti barese with meaty sauce, meatballs and Italian sausage with a side of roasted broccoli. For dessert, I opted for bread pudding with raisins and raspberry sauce.

We cannot say enough wonderful things about this lovely family owned Italian restaurant. The food and service are always remarkable & the manager Ricardo is an incredibly gracious host. The appetizer calamari is perfectly prepared and delicious, the best we’ve ever had, as are all of their homemade pasta plates. Sapori is a must if you’re visiting Chicago or looking for a wonderful dinner after a Cubs day game.

My husband and I have been coming to Sapori Trattoria for about 15 years and always had an amazing meal. It's a great date night choice, but we also had large groups and parties there with everyone leaving happy. The wait staff is great and makes good recommendations. There is also a full bar and a decent wine list. The menu didn't change much in 15 years but everything is cooked with precision. Daily special are also a great representation of seasonal foods and wines.

This was a dinner I won't forget for a long time. I was in town for a conference, and after a long and exhausting day three of us came to Sapori Trattoria for dinner. The food was delicious (simple, fresh and just tasty), the service was superb and the experience was incredible. The desserts are a must. Really, please don't skip this course. The lemon sorbet is delicious and beautifully presented. The bread pudding was light (yes, really) and fluffy with a fresh raspberry puree. Absolute perfection in every way. Oh...the decor is cosy (interior brick wall) and modern all at the same time. Sigh.....

I've lived in Chicago and the suburbs my whole life. This was my first time going to Sapori Trattoria. It was the best Italian food I've ever had in Illinois! I highly recommend it.

We visited this restaurant whilst on a short break in Chicago and it was well worth the taxi ride there from our hotel downtown. We had an early dinner reservation at 6.00 pm and the place was pretty quiet on arrival. However that soon changed after we were shown to our table in the back room. Our Waiter (Christian) was very pleasant and attentive throughout and the meal was delicious. My starter was the brussel sprout salad which was unusual and very tasty. I followed with the meatball spaghetti which was good also. Portions were generous and The main was served good and hot - which is a must for me. My husband was really pleased with his choices of the baked mini pumpkin starter followed by the veggie lasagne. No room for pud sadly and by the time we left the whole restaurant was heaving with people evidently enjoying their dinner choices. In summary, a really nice evening with a good, unstuffy atmosphere with Very good and wholesome food. We look forward to returning when we next visit Chicago.

We were guests of friends for a chatty get together during a recent visit to Chicago. The restaurant was an eclectic mix of old world charms that took advantage of fair summer weather to open windows and fill curbside tables. It had a big crowd for a midweek evening. The wines by the glass were respectable and the menu itself was deep with traditional trattoria appetizers and entrees. The fried calamari and bruschetta were excellent. Each of us selected an entry—three were pastas. Once the entrees arrived we realized that one was sufficient to feed the four of us. We each did what we could but our hosts ended up taking about 5 lbs of leftovers for their return trip home. The food was home style and I gathered nobody visits this place just for the food. Overall it was an enjoyable get together.

I joined my cousin for a meal here, and I’m so glad I did. We sat in a small, somewhat private, room. And our server was fabulous. We were comped with bruschetta before our meal and dessert after our meal. I had a fabulous gluten free shrimp with veggies and pesto dish. My cousin had salmon and spinach. Everything was customized for us, and our server was so eager to please. Prices are reasonable, and the menu is extensive. Can’t wait to return.

This place is absolutely a must! The service and food are exceptional! These servers are professionals and know the difference between vegan, vegetarian, etc. I had an outstanding meal here as did all of my dinner mates. The food is not only prepared to order, but it is beautiful as well. I think the marinara sauce requested spicy was the freshest I'd ever tasted! The special request of sautéed mushrooms in oil (no butter) was an abundance of fresh mushrooms. The portions are very generous and just wonderful.

We had this restaurant cater our recent event. It was the best catered food that I have ever had. I really wished I lived close because I would go there all of the time

Our quest to discover the best spaghetti and meatballs in Chicago took us to Sapori Trattoria in the city's Park Wet neighborhood, a short drive from our Gold Coast apartment. Located at 2701 North Halsted Street, at Schubert, south of Diversey, Sapori Trattoria opened in 2001, almost closed in 2003 but since has emerged under chef Anthony Barbanento's culinary magic as one of Chicago's leading and most popular Italian restaurants. It's home-made pumpkin ravioli is rated "best in Chicago" according to one food critic. But I came for one of the house specialties, spaghetti alla Scoglio, spaghetti tossed with fresh shrimp and tender scallops in a tangy tomato sauce with veal meatballs, fennel-flecked Italian sausage and meat sauce. A delicious combination of fresh pasta and seafood. The rest of the meal also was a delight. My wife and I started with bruschetta, toasted Italian bread topped with marinated tomatoes and basil, minestrone and Caesar salad with romaine lettuce tossed and topped with shaved parmesan cheese, the chef's special Caesar dressing and croutons. My wife was ecstatic when she discovered veal ossobuco on the menu, veal shanks braised in rich red sauce atop a mini-meat lasagna with roasted potatoes and sauteed spinach. Half-Italian, she loves ossobuco. But it's a rarity on a restaurant menu and this veal version rated five stars with her. For dessert, we shared bread pudding with raisins and raspberries and vanilla brandy sauce and home-made tiramisu.

Winter finally arrived in Chicago last night and we enjoyed the night at Sapori Trattoria. First off, the service was excellent. All of the staff was extremely prompt and polite. Never had to wait for any aspect of our meal. But we never felt a sense of intrusion. Ed was our server and was helpful and he had a friendly attitude. We enjoyed spaghetti scolio and gamberoni e broccoli. We shared a rustica salad first. The entrees were very flavorful and hot. Portions were large without being a ridiculous amount of food for one person. The room was very relaxing and nice, simple decorations. Great place to talk and enjoy a quiet evening. We never felt rushed or pressured. The other guests were enjoying conversation. Nice mixture of families, friends, and couples were there. All seemed to be in a happy mood. Overall, it was a perfect evening. Next time we will probably share an entree and try a dessert. Cocktails looked interesting, maybe next time.

We are from NC and pick this restaurant because it was near are family we were visiting. The food was unbelievable, the service was impeccable and the wine selection was excellent . We will visit again !

From the second you step in the door, you smell the food and it's smells amazing. They immediately bring bread and water to the table. The bread is solid Italian bread -- perfect for sopping up sauce. The Pennette Cardinal was delicioous, but the chicken pieces were a tad big and not very flavorful. The Carbonara was great; it did have a heavy flavor of bacon grease, but that didn't detract. The star of the show was the Osso Buco. It is melt in your mouth delicious. And the way they pair it with lasagna turns a great dish into a sublime one. This restaurant is not convenient for me, but I will be back and I guarantee I will order the Osso Buco again.

This place came by way of local recommendation. Wow! The service and food were awesome! Will come again

I rated this restaurant two years ago, and we just went back for a similar business dinner. If anything, this dinner was even better - especially the pumpkin ravioli served as an appetizer. The private room was very attractive and inviting and the service was impeccable. One of our guests wrote a thank-you note and another said she's looking forward to being back in two years. Now I just need to find an occasion to take my wife!

A date at this Italian restaurant is perfect! Such a warm, welcoming atmosphere with great service and amazing food! They have a huge patio! Carbonara was amazing! Be sure to try!

My daughter recently became engaged and moved to Lincoln Park and I wanted to celebrate her engagement and have the families meet. She had taken me to Sapori for Mother’s Day and we had an excellent meal that evening, so I called the manager and asked about reserving a private space for the celebration. The manager, Ricardo, was charming and accommodating when I made the reservations from Boston, greeted us when we arrived, congratulated my daughter and her fiancé in person and had even printed congratulations to them on the menus! He also had special appetizers prepared and sent over dessert samplers at no charge. The “semi-private” room that we had reserved was roomy and quiet and a potentially awkward “meet the parents” situation was turned into a wonderful celebration for all. If you’re celebrating, this is the place to be! Grazie, Ricardo!!

Sapori Trattoria had been on my to-do list for a while, and I'm thrilled I finally gave it a go. The ambiance was absolutely fantastic, and the staff couldn't have been friendlier. We kicked off with the burrata appetizer, and I'm super grateful for the waiter's suggestion. Seriously, the creamiest burrata I've ever indulged in. The bread had that perfect crispiness, and the prosciutto was a delightful addition. But the true superstar was the Carbonara. Now, I usually don't lean towards carbonara, but this dish completely blew me away. It's hands down my favorite pasta experience in Chicago! We also ordered the pesto, which was a hit as well.

I had the most amazing meal recently at this great restaurant, and I can’t wait to come back! The food is delicious, and the service is consistently attentive. My new favorite dish is spaghetti with amazing meatballs presented in delectable homemade marinara sauce. As a mainstay in Italian homes and residents, I chose to try their spaghetti and meatballs, and Sapori hit it out of the park. Other memorable choices previously enjoyed have been shrimp with broccoli pasta, vegetable lasagna, sea bass and those scrumptious pumpkin stuffed ravioli. Their seasonal baked mini pumpkin is a reason to return daily! My companions have all gushed about their meals as much as I am in this review. This place is a winner.

From my very first phone call to see if they had openings to our ‘goodbyes’… This dining experience was one of the best. The pasta combinations were incredible. Andrew, our waiter, knew when to come to our table and when to let us enjoy our evening together. I’ve provided pictures of what we had, but I would lay all of my money on the probability that anything you order will be amazing. After dinner they brought us dessert,of which we didn’t order. Again… Delicious! We were all more than happy to read the personal message from the chef and provide our feedback at the end of the evening. This place is a MUST if you’re near.

Wanting to go out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, not an option for now, we placed our first ever delivery order from Sapori Trattoria. The service was impeccable. All the food arrived hot, all in sturdy microwaveable containers except for the soup (double packed and film-wrapped to avoid leakage), the bread (well wrapped which kept it warm) and of course the Tiramisu. The salad dressing was, as it should be, on the side, as was grated cheese. The food was delicious, a good pick-me-up. We called the restaurant directly so their staff could keep all of the payment (otherwise the delivery services take a large fee.) We could not have been more pleased, and will continue this for the lockdown duration. The only thing we forgot was to ask them not to send utensils or napkins, since - eating at home - we have our own.

Ate here with a Groupon. Tasty food. Omar served us well. Rose wine was average. Would return if in the area....20 minutes south of the gay district. Would return

Not overly large, just right. Great attention from wait staff and kitchen. After traveling all day to visit family, we went for an early dinner. Nice menu. We had three different entrees and appetizers—all were excellent. Homemade spaghetti with veal meatballs and Italian sausage was excellent as were the Pennette Cardinals and Pasta Contadino. Saw several other items come from the kitchen, and all looked delicious. Definitely a place to go back and back again.

Our waitress was very sweet and knowledgeable, and gave us good advice on what to get. I had the bruschetta and vitello ossubuco, which was wonderful, and the portion was huge. My husband had the lasagna and loved it! Overall, it's a cute neighborhood spot and we will definitely be back.

Noteworthy: This is the largest portion of lasagna I have ever been served. My companion thought the chocolate cake with raspberry topping was the best ever. Wonderful staff. To keep in mind: This place was very loud, worth knowing in advance if you’re looking for a quiet dinner spot. We arrived at 8:00 with a reservation and were promptly seated. We ordered the grilled calamari, lasagne and stuffed chicken. Service and staff were great. We had a disagreement on 3 or 4 stars, but the food itself wasn’t far enough above average taste-wise to keep me from trying an experience somewhere else next time.

Full marks to the staff. Waitress was great as was the front of house keeping our table even though we were caught out in heavy traffic and ten mins late . We did call ahead . Mussel broth to start which was really nice followed by the much reviewed lasagne. This whilst being ok ,was not as good in our opinion as others have reviewed. The sauce was good but it had by far too many layers of pasta. This also just came as Lasagne with nothing else . Perhaps a side order of salad and garlic bread would have been a great suggestion or even coming with the dish. Over all the experience was good and a bit expensive for what we got. Would we re visit No!

This is a large restaurant that serves hugely generous portions of well-prepared Italian classic dishes. The staff are a real plus at this restaurant-they genuinely want to ensure that you're having a positive experience. I've been here twice and found this to be true on both occasions. The noise level is tolerable and this is a great place to come with a group and be able to have a conversation with everyone at the table. The prices are moderate and the parking is easy around here. Everyone I've been here with really enjoyed the evening.

My wife and I decided to take a little ride on the CTA brown line for an Italian dinner in Lincoln Park. We wanted to get a little further out from our hotel at river north. Lincoln Park has a wonderful youthful vibe and Sapori Trattoria plays into that while serving abundant, flavorful, authentic Italian food. The bread is warm from the oven and yet still crusty. I had spaghetti Brunese, which is spaghetti with veal meat balls and sweet fennel sausage. It was a large delicious portion and the sausage were particularly pleasing. My wife had carbonara and it was also prepared authentically and with a generous amount of pancetta and also a large serving. We split a delicious warm bread pudding and left satisfied with the service, the food, and the price. Tutto perfetto

Some really creative menu choices (the pumpkin ravioli was savory rather than sweet and it was delicious)! We all enjoyed our entrees and appetizers. Service was fantastic. Will definitely return!

This is a very comfortable and relaxed place. The food is delicious and they have a wide variety of dishes in the purest Italian style. Delicious desserts. Recommended!

Sapori serves delicious food! My family, a party of three, had a lovely dinner tonight, eating outdoors in a heated tent and isolated from others. The shrimp and pasta dish was out of this world. The risotto a la fungi was very nice. We really enjoyed the warm bread with olive oil. We ordered a tiramisu for desert to share among three of us. It looked too big even to share, but we all loved it and managed to finish it. Thank you, Sapori staff for being so wonderful and for making our short stay in Chicago such a nice experience.

A busy place so best to make a reservation on weekends. Excellent food - shareable size portions . Great service. Great wine selections This is everything you want in a neighborhood Italian restaurant. Fun and contemporary atmosphere .

We went here as a group with 3 couples. Each of us got a different entree. The pasta dishes were delicious and the portions were generous. It was very busy and a bit loud but we enjoyed our outing.

we went here for dinner with our youngest daughter, wonderful atmosphere, great food, our server Javy was great!! very attentive. Appetizers were tasty, Entree's were very, very good. dessert was a great finish for the night.

The customer service at this restaurant was outstanding. We went on a Saturday night, we were quickly seated and were offered complimentary appetizers and an upgraded bottle of wine when the one we chose was not available. We ordered the lasagna and lobster ravioli- both were delicious. Also spilt in half by our waiter when we mentioned we wanted to share. Finished off the evening with a complimentary glass of moscato. I believe our waiters name was David - it was on Saturday July 28th. Really appreciated his efforts to make it a memorable night.

I am so lucky to live 2 minutes away from this restaurant. This is the best Italian food I've ever had, including multiple restaurants in Italy. Whatever you chose, you won't regret. Wine is a little on the expensive side though, so have a glass or two before going there if you are more price sensitive.

My wife and i recently visited this restaurant with our son and fiancee to celebrate their engagement. It was a.very busy Friday nite but we seated right on time. The wait staff was very friendly and informative. Gia was awesome. The menu featured many homemade pasta dishes. My lobster ravioli in a blush sauce was light and packed with lobster. My wife had a pumpkin ravioli which was accompanied w butternut squash and other autumnal seasonings. We.split a beet salad with goat cheese which was very fresh and flavorful. I dont usually have dessert but couldn't resist the tiramisu. It was delicious. Finally the wine list was excellent and reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend this lovely Lincoln park Chicago gem

Had a family/group dinner - was excellent. Burrata was excellent, service was very good. Place is much bigger than seems when you walk in. Enjoyed our meal, wine and dessert very much. Great experience!

I’ve been to this restaurant many times. I’ve not had a meal I haven’t liked yet. Every dish is very flavourful...the portions are huge and the service is exceptional. I mentioned to our waitress if she could bring out a dessert for my sons birthday and she brought out 3 different delicious desserts at no charge. My son always orders the The zuppa di pesce and he can never finish it which means leftovers the next day :) It’s a great dish to share. Also, Mon-Thurs if you park at Home Depot which is a few steps away the restaurant will validate your parking. Buon appetito 👌🏼

On our week long vacation to Chicago we went twice that's how much we enjoyed it. The food is great and you get a big portion! It's a bit crowded so if you don't book in advance you might get one of the less favourable tables. If you are in Chicago and don't mind going away from the centre this is a hidden gem.

we ate there with a group of 15 before seeing a play. We had tomato and basil bruschetta, rigatoni caprese and chicken breasts. For dessert: tiramisu, bread pudding and chocolate cake. Everything was delicious and our waitress, Karol, was very efficient and friendly. We drank a chianti which was good. Nice decor with all those crystal chandeliers. We will be back to try the osso bucco.

Loved the place. The burrata was delicious and my zuppa di pesce amazing. Really BRAVO to the chef and the team!

We had my grandsons rehearsal dinner at Sapori on Friday night. Vince was very helpful in planning the dinner and very accommodating. The dinner was served family style and the food was well prepared, served flawlessly and arrived at the tables hot and appetizing. The servers were great and paid close attention to the children in our party. The evening could not have gone better. All 60 of us had a great time.

Food was great. Burrata and squid to start. Pasta portions were huge. Service was friendly and helpful. Prices were very reasonable for the quality.

We celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday at Sapori Trattoria. It was great. The service was attentive and friendly. It was made extra special by the personalized birthday menu. A very nice touch. The food was very good. We split fried calamari and brussel sprout salad for appetizers. Both were very good. For our main courses we had a variety of pasta dishes. All were well done. The portions are pretty large so we definitely had leftovers. The desserts were also very good. A great evening, we would highly recommend and I can't wait to go back! Thank you.

The atmosphere is rustic and comfy upstairs, and the food and service are top-notch. The pasta portion sizes are huge—you may want to share. We started with a seasonal mini-pumpkin stuffed with bacon and sausage that was absolutely out of this world. We will definitely come back on our next trip to Chicago!

We eat here from time to time as we live in Lakeview. The owners and staff in general tend to be particularly warm and dedicated to ensuring customers have a very nice dining experience. Portions are huge and invariably result in having the same good dinner the following night at home. Takeout is also very efficient and good. The restaurant is rather noisy given how popular it is. Everything is excellent. I can't think of a single dish I've (or others in my party) had that I didn't like a lot. The osso buco is really good and their bread pudding is the best in Chicago. I highly recommend the restaurant for a fun night out with friends or as a couple.

This place is great in that there is a no-rush vibe, which is what we look for in a quality restaurant. So, probably not for people who seek a rush-job meal. We had main dishes: Cappellacci all'Aragosta (hand made pasta filled with lobster and a cream sauce) was outstanding! The Bolognese, often my go-to dish, was excellent! Great variety of wines. Next time, I'll try the Baby Back Ribs, braised in milk. Sounds delicious!

We made a reservation for today, April 4th 2021, for 5 pm. We made this reservation 6 days in advance and show up on the day of the reservation to find out they’re closed. Their excuse was “We’re redoing the flowers”. Don’t buy it, absolutely insane that they can’t let people know they can’t take their reservation in advance. Been looking forward to this all week and now will never come back.

According to TripAdvisor, Sapori Trattoria is ranked No. 19 of 4,140 restaurants in Chicago. Considering a few of the restaurants that are rated ahead of Sapori Trattoria aren't on my "to go" list, that's a very impressive statistic. So is the food and service and atmosphere at Sapori Trattoria. Located at 2701 North Halsted Street in the city's Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods, it is an Italian ristorante serving fresh pasta and other authentic Italian dishes. Among the favorites on the menu are lobster ravioli, bruschetta, fried calamari and bucatini carbonara. Open from 4 to 9 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 10 on Friday and Saturday and 3 to 9 on Sunday, it is everything that my half-Italian wife could wish for. We started with bruschetta with toasted Italian bread topped with marinated tomatoes, balsamic, grana padano cheese and fresh basil, Vitello meatballs with marinara sauce, ricotta cheese and basil, minestrone soup with mixed vegetables, tomato an beans and Caesar salad with romaine lettuce, grana padano cheese, garlic croutons and Caesar dressing. For her entree, my wife chose Vitello Osso Buco with tomato braising reduction, carrots and onions served over a small lasagna. I was prepared to order spaghetti barese with meat sauce, meatballs and Italian sausage before I noticed that Branzino was on the menu. I never pass up Branzino if it is offered. The meaty and tender and tasty Mediterranean sea bass came with lemon caper sauce, citro salad and grilled lemon. For dessert, is there any other choice but tiramisu?

There is a reason ST is rated #1 Italian Restaurant in a city with a large Italian population; it is simply the best! The menu offers a wide selection of novel & imaginative selections, but we always gravitate to the original “ old fashioned” favorite like pasta w various sauces, Fettuccini Alfredo, various Linguini’s & Ravioli’s and my favorite, Lasagne. There is a nice US & Italian wine selection and incredible desserts, although I strongly recommend the Tiramisu. If you prefer well prepared, original recipe Italian using fresh ingredients, you will love Sapori Trattoria.

We chose this restaurant because of its trendy neighborhood vibe. Great atmosphere, good service and over the top food. Not touristy at all! We will go back!

Was working in Hammond and had time to kill so I tried to find a local place to enjoy. This was it. Food was fantastic. I had grilled calamari for appetizer and linguine with clams for dinner. It was fabulous and the wonder service topped it off. Great atmosphere and great patio. Highly recommend.

Went here for the first time a few weeks back and truly enjoyed the atmosphere - the service was very friendly and personable. Not snooty in any way. A great menu made it very hard to choose! Enjoyed Risotto Pescatore - loaded with seafood that didn't smell at all, and a very, very generous portion! Also had the homemade lobster pasta - the sauce alone could have been a dish. Another great portion that just leaves you wanting more! Great spot for that special night or occasion - and can still go wearing nice jeans and a nice top.

Since I began submitting reviews to TripAdvisor in 2012, I have become a critic of websites. Why don't some restaurants include desserts in their menu listing? Not so Sapori Trattoria. Located at 2701 North Halsted Street, south of Diversey, in Chicago's Lincoln Park/Lake View neighborhood, it is a cozy, intimate and romantic venue with bricks walls, wood floors, bar and glitzy appearance that offers an authentic Italian cuisine, including fresh pasta. Open from 4 to 9 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 10 on Friday and Saturday and 3 to 9 on Sunday, its menu covers all bases from bruschetta and minestrone to spaghetti to home-made tiramisu. My wife and I started with bowls of minestrone, veal meatballs with marinara, basil and ricotta, bruschetta with toasted Italian bread topped with marinated tomatoes and basil and Caesar salad with crisp Romaine lettuce tossed with chef's special blend dressing and croutons. For an entree, continuing my quest to find the best spaghetti dishes in Chicago, I indulged in spaghetti Barese, fresh spaghetti sauteed in rich red sauce with veal meatballs and Italian sausage. Delicious. My wife opted for veal Osso Buco with a tomato braising reduction, carrots and onions served over lasagna with sauteed spinach and roasted potatoes. For dessert, we shared home-made tiramisu, ladyfingers soaked in espresso and liquour, mascarpone and cocoa powder and baked bread pudding with raisins, white chocolate, salted caramel gelato and raspberry sauce.

Wonderful experience. From the arrival they receive with dedication and pleasure. A very comfortable and relaxed place. The food is delicious and they have a wide variety of dishes in the purest Italian style. Fast service and permanent attention so that everything is perfect for visitors. Delicious desserts. A special thank you to your excellent staff, very affectionate, friendly and professional. They made us feel very welcome. We will return whenever we are in Chicago.

The food was nice (I had the lamb chops) but I was very disappointed with the wine. I ordered a glass of Italian wine (12$) and sent it back because of strong cork taint.The waiter brought me another glass, telling me that it was from another bottle and had been filtered "just to be sure". It was the exact same wine.The fact that the waiter didn't even ask if the second glass was fine, even though I didn't drink it says a lot.

After seeing Blueman we wanted Italian. Our gps said this was the closest to us so we took the 20 minute walk-- best decision we made. Very nice restaurant. Great atmosphere. The food was awesome! Best meatballs I have ever had, the pasta is all handmade .The Caesar salad was fresh and the dressing was perfect. We had a great waiter who took very good care of us. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. Just be prepared....the portions are huge!!!

What a perfect place for dinner while visiting Chicago! It was a beautiful evening and we were offered a table by a large open window at the front of the restaurant. It was almost as if we were sitting outside...the ambiance made us feel Ike we were at a quaint restaurant in Tuscany. Our server, Ted was was over the top and made us feel like we were the only people in the restaurant (it was full). The food was excellent and the wine list extensive. I would highly recommend this place to anyone! It was the perfect ending to a three day weekend in Chicago.

There's a reason why this place is rated #1 by TripAdvisor fans. The portions are huge (I mean HUGE), everything is homemade, the pasta is perfectly cooked and service is stellar. All for a reasonable price. You'll end up taking home a doggie bag, you can guarantee it. We split a wonderful Asparagi salad for starters, just loaded with diced, grilled, crispy fresh asparagus on mixed greens with balsamic dressing. Then our eyes got bigger than our stomachs -- loved the Rigatoni Bolognese -- huge rigatoni's al dente swimming in a rich meat sauce. We also ordered a half portion of Pennette Cardinale -- a wonderful creamy sauce with chicken chunks. We had leftovers of both -- and therefore lunch tomorrow. Dessert menu looked enticing but no room to spare. Lincoln Park neighborhood is lucky to have this superb Italian restaurant.

We go here every few months, most often when another couple is with us. It’s like neighborhood Italian that you would expect to find in NY in the Village or another cozy area. Eating in different rooms or outside so you can get away from a family of children if one happens to be there. Great tasting wines at reasonable prices. The best pumpkin ravioli anywhere as well as interesting new comers.

Pasta was cooked to perfection! Had the lobster ravioli and my son had the gnocchi. A must do in Chicago.

We had a really disappointing meal here, it started badly with the lady serving us walking off after 3 out of the 4 of us had ordered starters and without even understanding which of us had the food allergies. I had to go and find her to add the starter and explain the allergies. The food was ok but all very salty and the garlic on the Rigatoni Caprese was overpowering. A real shame as we were expecting so much more

I have been frequenting Sapori for almost 20 years. I have never had anything less than an excellent meal here. The wait staff is professional and the owner/chef will often come out and see how your evening was. Make sure to make a reservation on weekends/ special occasions. Try the lobster stuffed pasta...incredible. Also, sign up and they will send you frequent coupons and birthday coupon!

Modest dining environment that is busy with a lot of wait staff. Extensive outdoor dining on the adjacent road outside that was "closed" to allow for additional seating. Unfortunately, another Post-Covid setback is that most restaurants have replaced their experience service personnel, and this restaurant is not an exception. The inexperienced folk that are now filling in as "servers", are CLEARLY not properly trained basic server/restaurant protocols, and many don't know how to explain the menu, what questions to ask, how to maintain the service-experience (pouring water/wine, replacing dirty silverware, dropped napkins, etc), and essentially every question I asked about the menu was replied with "I'll have to check on that...". Additionally, prices have gone up 20-30%, and the food is marginal at best - typical of what I've seen in store-bought frozen food quality. I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for - and I'm GLAD to pay a premium for an experience that warrants it. But alas, such an experience is missing... I've said this often, and it is unfortunately a reflection of the times, - "Today's Mediocrity is the New Excellence"... Sad - the only upside to this is that I won't be coming back...

I’m in Chicago for a conference and met up with my cousin who recommended the restaurant. As I was waiting outside, several people who came out asked if I’d ever been there, and told me that it was excellent. They were all right. I couldn’t decide between something with pumpkin and the vegetable lasagne, but went with the butter and sage pumpkin and stuffed pasta. The flavors were exceptional. The atmosphere was great as well.

The atmosphere is amazing. Large patio area for outdoor dining, 2nd floor open air windows with warm fall breeze. Parts of restaurant are cramped and tight. The decibel is high. We were yelling at one another (party of 5). Starters were good, calamari and steamed clams. The clams shells were unnaturally white and came with a grilled dipping bread-the bread definitely was “charred” for taste. The homemade pasta was great. The lobster ravioli were ok. The vodka sauce was rich and flavorful with great mouth feel, the pungent fish taste was off putting. Was expecting the buttery taste of lobster. The marinara sauce had a strong oregano tang. The service was impeccable. The martinis were great.

We did 3 pasta dishes, all of which were delicious. Spaghetti and meatballs, gnocchi and penne vodka. Also had brussel sprouts that were well done. Meals were delivered via DoorDash.

Amazing place. Just like being in Italy. Food could not have been better. There were 4 of us each had a different pasta all great. Portions are Hugh. Deserts fantastic atmosphere beautifully rustic.

My wife and I had the most amazing anniversary dinner at Sapori. The homemade pasta was the best, the very best, I've ever had...freshly made, and their red sauce absolutely amazing. I still thinking back on it now...and licking my lips. Everything else followed suit...the mushrooms and the lamb were to die for. And then Chef Anthony came out to greet us, and he was ever so humble and gracious. What a great night! Well done! I highly, highly recommend Sapori!

Some of the best pasta in Chicago! The mushroom risotto is outstanding and if you’re lucky the short rib ragu will be on the specials menu! Make sure to save room for dessert. The sorbet flight is delicious! The staff is super attentive. This is a Chicago must visit!

The only good thing our party of four encountered in our visit to this restaurant was the wonderful service provided by Dali S. Cocktails and wine by the glass were forgettable and the large portion entrees were each worse than forgettable, The restaurant itself, which is huge and occupies numerous cramped rooms on two floors is singularly unattractive and charmless, Prices are high for such low quality food and drink,

We celebrated a friend's 30th birthday and they were very accommodating by giving us a table upstairs as well as personalizing the menu's to incorporate the birthday girl's name. They also brought out her dessert with the special candles we gave to them, All the food was all delicious and you could really tell it was homemade and fresh, My only negative was we were there for 3+ hours and had somewhere to be. We were not expecting the dinner to last that long, but better than being rushed out.

We visited Sapori Trattoria after some searching for a place to eat prior to a music show. The menu was full of authentic Italian dishes like Zuppe de Pesce and Ossobuco. I’ve had the Ossobuco here in AZ (when you can find it), but this is the first place I got two veal shanks, and instead of being on saffron risotto this was on top of meat lasagna. The Zuppe de Peache came in a large bowl stocked with calamari, mussels, shrimp, scallops and fish and was spiced to her preference (she likes it spicy). The wine list was great, the bread a traditional rustic loaf, and the Tiramisu was light, flavorful and not too sweet. Overall, a fabulous meal and highly recommended.

This was a wonderful dining experience from start to finish! The service was extraordinary and the food was a true Italian experience. Everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed their meal and their sampling of desserts. From hostess to waiters to cooks we were treated like royalty. The atmosphere is cozy and friendly. Definitely a place I would revisit when in Chicago!

11 years after our previous visit, (an earlier trip to Chicago) we returned to find this restaurant still excellent. Great variety on the menu, attentive service and comprehensive drinks menu. It may be a while, but we will be back.

In my quest to discover the best plate of spaghetti and meatballs in Chicago, it figured that I would have to visit Sapori Trattoria. Located at 2701 North Halsted Street, between Schubert and Diversey, in the Lincoln Park/Lakeview neighborhood, it is a small and intimate Italian ristorante that specializes in house-made pasta and other authentic Italian dishes. Along the way, it has earned a reputation as one of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago. And its version of spaghetti and meatballs is first-rate, too. Open from 4 to 9 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 11 on Friday and Saturday and 3 to 9 on Sunday, it offers every traditional Italian dish that my half-Italian wife has ever eaten. We started with bruschetta with toasted Italian bread, marinated tomatoes, balsamic and grana padano cheese, two bowls of minestrone and a Caesar salad with Romaine lettuce, garlic croutons, grana padano cheese and Caesar dressing. For her entree, my wife chose meat lasagna with meat sauce, marinara, bechamel, mozzarella, provolone, parmesan and ricotta cheese with a side of grilled asparagus. I cheered the spaghetti Barese served in a meaty sauce with meatballs and mild Italian sausage. With a side of sauteed spinach. For dessert, we shared portions of tiramisu and bread pudding with raisins and raspberry sauce. It's no wonder that Sapori Trattoria is always rated among the top 10 Italian restaurants in the city.

We arrived in Chicago and wanted to support a local Lincoln Park restaurant during the pandemic. We’d made reservations through open table about a week in advance and we were able to secure a 7:00pm outdoor res for a Wednesday night. Great service and a careful explanation of mask rules (required to be on any time the server or assistant is at the table as well as entering inside the building). Delicious meal. The seafood risotto was excellent. The salmon was very good. But the hit it out of the ballpark entree was the shrimp and pasta. The risotto and the shrimp pasta were both enough for two; our son happily took the leftovers home with reheating instructions from our server. The menus are modified for the pandemic (if you are a long time regular there the restaurant offers explanation of why some favorite dishes are not yet available). Tables are distanced from each other. And if you are lucky you might catch a Groupon from Sun- Thursday dining.

Awesome food, the pasta and the risottos were great. Too large plates... we didn't know they have more tables upstairs and behind the bar, so they gave us a small table that was available in the front, but wasn't a good place to stay....so, it's better to reserve....

A group of 5 of us had dinner on NYE (6PM) and had a wonderful time. The food was delicious and the portions were HUGE!! We easily could have split one entree between 2-3 of us. The atmosphere was cozy albeit a tad warm and crowded but it was to expected on a holiday evening. Our waiter was fun with a great sense of humor. I would definitely recommend Sapori Trattoria!

We had dinner with some dear friends from California. We had been shopping for some furniture down by the corner of Halstead and Clybourn and it was one of those brisk but comfortable late Autumn evenings. So we walked the 20 blocks. The reception at Sapori's was warm and friendly and we were immediately seated, had our drinks in front of us in short order. We were able to have a great conversation even though the tables around us were having a good time catching up. The food was fantastic - I had the lasagna (which I left at least a third). My wife had the sweet potato filled pasta which I tried - YUM! We had purchased a GROUPON and we had a minor mix up with that but everything was fixed by the GM - Ricardo - he and his staff are very professional and made all of us feel welcomed and special. Highly recommend.

Let me preface by stating that we have dined at 30 of the top 60 trip advisor restaurants in Chicago. We enjoy a quality restaurant every week. 99% of the time they live up to their ratings. Unfortunately, Sapori Trattoria was the exception. While we rarely provide reviews anymore, I am compelled to do so now, not so much as a complaint, but rather, a warning to future diners so that your time is not wasted as ours was. So what was our experience? 1. A 7:00 pm reservation made 45 days in advance. We arrived promptly at 6:50 and were asked to stand in a hot stairwell until a table was provided at 7:25. Do not assume your reservation means anything. This is a local Lincoln Park place and neighborhood walk-ins may take precedence. 2. The table we got was upstairs in a room that held 15 - 20 tables in a space that should have only accommodated about 8 tables. There is more room on the train at rush hour. There was not more than 6" - 9" between tables. Servers bumped us a dozen times. Back to back chairs actually touched. Downstairs was even more crowed. 3. With those crowded conditions it was hot and loud. I do not mean a "good vibe" loud. I mean it was like sitting on the curb on Wells street watching a jackhammer and bulldozer work. Unless you can sign and/or read lips, forget about talking. Bring plenty of deodorant because you are going to sweat. Don't wear anything nice. 4. Service was very poor. Waitress barely introduced herself or stopped. She bumped us in passing more times than the number of words she said to us. Our meal was set down within 5 minutes after we placed our order. So much for enjoying some wine and bread. They must have wanted to turn the table. Our food was obviously mass produced earlier in the day. 5. The wine pours were uneven (shows lack of detail) and were not more than 3 oz. 6. The quality of the meal itself was ok but not anywhere close to a top 25 restaurant. Quite honestly, the food is more like a top 1,000 restaurant. We were in and out in 1 1/2 hours (including our stairwell waiting time). Everything was rushed. Again, this was just our experience. It seems that many people are delighted with the place. You may want to judge for yourself and end up having a great experience. In our case, we didn't complain to management, we just move on. There are thousands of restaurants in Chicago at many different price points. Our suggestion is that you pass on Sapori.

Terrific neighborhood Italian restaurant serving generous portions of fresh and interesting Italian food. The chef stops by to personally ask guests about their dining experience. And the bread and olive oil are incomparable. Great service as well. And reasonably priced.

Dined here on a Friday night and the experience was ok. The server greeted us and advised that bread would be arriving shortly, which never came. The food and drinks were good. Overall, with the bill being about $100.00, free bread should be a given!

About 10 years ago, our family headed over to the north shore for dinner, but the restaurant we wanted to go to was closed, unexpectedly. Plan A was a no go. So we searched OpenTable and Yelp and made a reservation for that same evening at Sapori Trattoria on Halsted. Plan B was a go. We've been back about once a year, for great, authentic, Italian appetizers and entrees (and desserts). There are some core items on the menu, which are our go-to's, but seasonal additions and creative options. We've been for family gatherings, birthday's, vacation announcements for the kids, end of the school year celebrations and even witnessed a marriage proposal (not ours) in the small side room on the main floor. Our home mailbox receives a note from Chef Anthony several times a year, with a coupon of the amount of an appetizer. Nice touch and great reminder to head back to Halsted again. Our original Plan B has been our Plan A ever since.

Is a nice Italian place with great food, service was good as well. My family enjoyed very much. We are from Puerto Rico visiting Chicago and we ended having dinner here. No regrets at all.

Bought a groupon voucher, think it was $25 for $40 to spend. The restaurant is much bigger than it seems from the outside and there is plenty of room. The dishes are not cheap but they're about right for a good italian restaurant, having the groupon definitely helps. You get unlimited bread which is delicious and freshly cooked so still hot. There is oil on the table but some balsamic would've been nice too. The mains were fantastic, and huge portions, enough to take home and make a big lunch portion afterwards. I wouldn't make this a regular outing as it's fairly pricy but with the groupon its actually a great deal!

I made this reservation for my sister's bachelorette party a few months ago and worked with Vince to set it all up. We arrived a little late and this super busy place was ready for us, and even acknowledged my sister on the menu! Vince allowed us to bring a huge cooler we were taking on a party bus after dinner and he stored it for us during our meal - how nice is that?! They quickly brought us bruschetta and calamari that was excellent. Quick drink and entree service too. We were very impressed! Then they were able to split checks for the table which helped us out a lot. After dinner our party bus was late to pick us up and they let us hang out at our table and then helped us haul our cooler onto the bus. Just above and beyond service, and the food was top-notch too. Highly recommend! :)

The Vittolo Paesano is possibly the best thing I’ve tasted. Ever. Veal cooked to perfection with roasted potatoes & artichokes in a cherry tomato sauce. I’ve been very fortunate to experience fine cuisine all over the world, and this was just a moment. Epic. Grace, my wonderful server, recommended I try a couple wines to pair, offered her opinions on the homemade Caesar dressing (delish) for the salad. Necello walnut liqueur paired with the chocolate panna cotta was divine. A neighborhood gem about 15 minutes from downtown Michigan Ave. Don’t miss it!

Found this place online from North Carolina. Good reviews. Booked in. Arrived to find place packed. Seated right away. Wifey had Caprese, I had Bolognese following Caesar. Both amazing. Best Italian in memory. Service great!!

We got in before the dinner crowd by getting there around 5:45 on a Friday night. Plenty of tables, great service. By the time we left, there was a line pretty 8 couples deep on Halsted St. Great appetizers such as "grilled bread with prosciutto and pickled peppers" or "charred octopus". Not sure the actual names; that's the content. Main courses can be basic or creative ranging from lasagna to risotto with several types of mushrooms to chicken breast with provolone and asparagus. Reasonably priced, fast service (for our arrival time)

We went on a Saturday night with a 12 and a 7 yo! The place was packed but we had s lovely time! Their cocktails were great and the food amazing. Restaurant was not too loud we were able to have good conversation. Portions are huge!

We come here often because the food is really good but Sunday night service was horrible. Hardly anyone there and the waitress barely paid attention to us. Long wait for drinks, food and check. Very disappointing

The excellent service started even before we stepped into this classic and fantastic Italian Restaurant.We traveled as a group of 10, 6 adults and 4 pre-teens,so we arrived in a large rental van.Having no where to park to get to the valet we left the van down the street as one of our party went for help.The valet immediately rescued us and ran to our van so he could park it and we could enjoy our meals.Pete our waiter was fantastic! Friendly,informative and attentive he met our every need. The food is fabulous.The Veal Osso Bucco was a masterpiece.My wife who never finishes her entire entree just about licked the plate clean. The Zuppa di Pesce was likewise one of the best I have ever tasted and I found myself continuing to sample the broth even when I thought I was done. Save room for dessert! I did not,but most of our party did and they were all more than ecstatic with their choices. ONE of the BEST! You most try this restaurant you will not be sorry.

This restaurant is a gem - and I want to thank the staff and chefs for providing my family with an excellent array of cuisine. The seafood was made to perfection! The waitstaff was excellent and attentive. Not one complaint! Thank you!

We had dinner here prior to attending the Blue Man Group show down the street and we couldn't have been happier with our choice! I had the lobster stuffed ravioli and my friend had the seafood stew (I can't remember the proper name of that dish), but both were delicious. Our waiter was wonderful in helping us select a wine and couldn't have been more attentive to our needs. Thank you for a great start to a fabulous night!

Went early on a weeknight and it was full. Excellent friendly service. Great pasta and sauces, all homemade. The staff was attentive and helpful. The manager, maybe he was the owner, was genuinely interested in our experience. The pasta some of the best I have had in the area. We had the bucatini carbonara and the spaghetti with red sauce and sausage and meatballs. Good for the whole family. Also has a nice wine list.

We ordered the Bolognese and Pennette Cardinale, with both being delicious and generously portioned. Complimentary bread and oil was also some of the better I've had. Would describe the atmosphere as quaint but not quite sure I agree with their designation of upscale. Restaurant had a more casual vibe and certain things such as the standard glasses the wine was served in gave a lower end feel. Would definitely still recommend, though.

Food was slightly better than average Italian but the whole experience is not satisfying. Dining room is a long, narrow, noisy and a very uncomfortable place. I was seated across refrigerated gelato display that had lights with ball-park intensity glaring in my eyes so they hurt. I asked is there a way to help me with this,- no help. Looks like they have another space that they could have offered to move. I was literally escaping lights and waited on outside bench.

I am a trained bartender, their spritz is better than mine! I have eaten in Italy, their food is comparable. I was raised with great service, theirs is fantastic! You walk in and they make sure that everything is catered to your personal taste, while being extremely personable and professional at the same time, the manager knows his wine list and doesn't try to push whatever is more expensive but what matches what you are looking for. The food was great and I was satisfied with my main course. Also the value is unbelievable: for what they offer the price is cheap! I highly recommend to anyone and am sure that I will be back whenever I return to Chicago.

My wife and I are new to the Lakeview neighborhood and have heard great reviews about this place. It lived up to it's reputation. Our portions were enormous and our server Mike was helpful and attentive. We split a meat lasagna and a rigatoni with tomatoes and mozzarella, and both were delicious! A little noisy, but that's probably the only negative I can give them.

This is not a neighborhood of great restaurants but Sapori stands out. The food is good, really good. Our table enjoyed the meat lasagna, risotto al funghi and I had the zuppa pesce. My zuppa was generous, complex, spicy (as requested) and fresh. Salads were simple, but beautifully dressed. Service was excellent, we enjoyed ourselves with conversation and drinks and very tasty bruschetta. I have a feeling that one you place your order you will be served quickly, so if you want a leisurely pace, take your time with the menu. Not fancy, but really good Italian food in a welcoming setting.

I booked a reservation for a 6-person table. The restaurant is actually quite large, with 3 separate rooms. Great staff, especially our waitress! I ordered the vitello paesana. Fine, but nothing special. Nothing over $96 on the wine list, but also most wines under 90 points. Believe me, you can find 92 point wines for less money. Pretty noisy, even upstairs with only 8 tables. Desserts were also fine, but not amazing.

This is by far the best Italian restaurant Ive ever been to. They have street side seating which is where we decided to dine. The food is outstanding! Their Calamari is one of the best I've ever had in Illinois. The Lasagna was outstanding and the portion size was enormous! Fresh bread was warm and delicious. Our service was really good as well. I can't wait to go back here.

Food was delicious, the ambiance is great, and the price was fair. The restaurant is pretty loud, but that is mostly because it is always full. The gnocchi was phenomenal. This place is the real deal.

We had dinner here with some friends. The restaurant is huge—much bigger than it looks from the street—and was really distancing its tables, which was nice. Overall, it was a solid Italian meal. Would I traverse the city to eat there, or put it on the list of Chicago’s must-try restaurants? No. Would I eat there again, especially if in the neighborhood? Sure. Ambience wasn’t bad but wasn’t great; it was pretty generic. Service was attentive enough but not fantastic. The menu was enormous and had all of the Italian classics you’d want, including antipasti, salads, lots of pastas, and entrees. Huge portions, easy to share. We had a couple of salads that were both fresh and tasty. Pastas as mains were what you’d expect—well-executed standard Italian dishes. The chicken Parmesan was great; the chicken itself was moist and juicy. Mushroom risotto was also delicious, with the right texture and an earthy flavor. And ravioli stuffed with lobster had nice seafood flavor, though wasn’t distinctly lobster-ish. Average wine list, but some decent by-the-glass options appropriate for the price point of the restaurant.

My husband and I ate here after a movie. We've been before early, around 5 and no crowd. This time, at 7:30, it was predictably crowded.The restaurant is narrow, so the crowd had to pour onto the street. I pushed my way thru to the reservation desk and got seated in about 10 minutes. We sat in the back where the tables were crammed in. Our waitress, Marilyn, was terrific. Very personable and accommodating. The calamari was great. I had the delcious Pasta Contadino (pillow pasta with sausage and bacon). My husband had the pumpkin ravioli, which he enjoyed. Unfortunately, the noise was unbearable, we've never been in a restuarant where it's been so noisy. Marilyn felt compelled to comp out Tiramisu dessert because of the noise!! We'll be back, but much earlier in the evening.

Warm friendly spot with intimacy and really great food and a well selected wine list. The mussels or grilled calamari are a good choice for starters or share a pasta. I loved the Brussels salad. Gnocchi are awesome too. One of us had the osso buco which was done perfectly. Great tiramisu

Very good food, service, and prices are reasonable. Nice atmosphere. Great portion sizes, I have been back many times! Great date spot

Very good food. Salmon, Sea Bass and Rigatoni all very good. Way too LOUD. No amount of good food can make up for such loud volume. Too bad.

Excellent, reasonably priced Italian food. Friendly service and noisy neighborhood ambiance (although we asked for and received a quiet room).Every course was simple and excellent tasting. We tried the bruscetti (sp?) and then the spaghetti - came with meatballs and mild Italian sausage. Very tasty. Brief but excellent wine list and not pricey.

My partner and I had a terrific experience at Sapori last night. From coming through the door, the warm, helpful, skilled and knowledgeable service was top-notch. The manager was so nice and really knows his wine list, and our waiter took very good care of us. We felt like this was a restaurant where people enjoy their work and set themselves a high standard. And the food? Generous and delicious. We will return when we come back to Chicago!

Lately, my wife and I have been trying to determine which restaurants serve the best items in the city...like bruschetta, Eggs Benedict, Caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs, veal scallopini, ossobuco, lasagna and tiramisu. Sapori Trattoria, one of our favorite haunts, rates very high in several categories. Located at 2701 North Halsted, at Schubert, south of Diversey, it has been serving the Park West, Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods since 2001. It's a small neighborhood restaurant but chef Anthony Barbanente delights his loyal patrons with home-made pasta and other classic Italian dishes. In our most recent visit, my wife and I indulged in our favorites--bruschetta with toasted Italian bread topped with marinated tomatoes and basil, Caesar salad with romaine lettuce tossed with the chef's special blend dressing and croutons, minestrone, spaghetti sauteed in rich red sauce with veal meatballs and Italian sausage, fresh oven roasted Chilean sea bass with fresh spinach in a light tomato sauce with roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and potatoes, home-made chocolate/hazelnut panna cotta and home-made bread pudding with rains, chocolate and raspberry sauce. Trust me, the spaghetti is as good as I've had anywhere at anytime. Love the bread pudding, too.

We ate here on Wednesday evening, and thankfully we had made a reservation, because the place was very busy. We sat outside, and ordered two entrees, a side, and a bottle of sparkling water. While there were few relatively small issues relating to service, we overall had a very good experience, and enjoyed our evening. The quality of the dishes, ranging from a side of vegetables to two pasta dishes, was very good, and the portions of pasta were very generous.

What a tremendous find. The food was fantastic. Our service staff was great. Gia made our whole dinner an incredible experience. She was very helpful with food choices and very attentive to our needs. At our table we enjoyed the Gnocchi with chicken in pesto. The portion sizes are huge. Enough to take home for another meal, we also had the veal osso buco which was very tender and flavorful. My wife had seafood and pasta. There was a great abundance of seafood and it was done to perfection. They also have an arrangement for parking at the Home Depot lot right next door. Ricardo the manager was very accommodating and friendly. He made us feel welcome the moment we walked in. The whole experience was fantastic, my wife thought he was a “beautiful man “. She has never complimented me like that!

Three of us had a lovely dinner. There had been comments about noise but we asked for a quiet table and were seated in a smaller room that was quiet and very pleasant. The food was great with very large portions and I think we took home as much as we ate. The service was terrific and we would highly recommend this warm and accommodating restaurant.

There are many items on the menu that you don't see too often at Italian restaurants. We loved sitting outside on their improvised dining room on the street. They also have covered tent-like pods to sit in. I loved the stuffed chicken.

I had the seafood linguine and 2 glasses of wine. Couldn’t have imagined a better dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant.

Amazing italian with very large plates! It is a bit expensive but everything was coooked authentically with great flavour. My seafood risoto was amazing and very loaded and rich with seafood, and cooked perfectly! For dessert I tried the choclate cake and it was delicious as well.

I dined here with friends and it was perfection! Hands down the best AUTHENTIC Italian restaurant in the city. The Zuppe de Pesce was perfection! The sauce was superb. The shrimp were succulent and the pieces of salmon was cooked perfectly. The tiramisu and the Panne Cotte melted in my mouth! I will certainly go back.

So amazing! Went in January and still was reservations only, or a wait....thank goodness we made reservations! The food was outstanding !

This is a very good neighborhood gem. Amble portions excellently prepared. The spaghetti with veal meatballs is to die for!

The best part of the title of this review is that the visit was during Chicago restaurant week, on a Saturday night and this restaurant was still able to deliver. The place was packed, JT we had reservations and only waited about 15 minutes. The server was attentive. If I would have anything to say about the meal is that it was extremely loud, due to the size of the room and hard to hear the server. The prices on the menu were extremely reasonable. We ordered from the restaurant week menu and got the deal of the century but the prices, and I believe the portions that we got are the usual portions, very worth the prices. The food was delicious. We had calamari and burrata for appetizers. We had two pasta dishes a d took at least half home, but fully satisfied. Of course my son had his whole plate of Veal Marsala and had none left. Dessert was polished off easily, tiramisu and bread pudding, both excellent! Due to the size of the rooms I do suggest reservations, but do not pass up this place!!

Meal was unique blend of flavors. Service impeccable. Bar great. View gorgeous. Worthy of top chef status!

This was our third or fourth visit to Sapori, all of which have been great. The food is always very good, starting with fresh warm bread. The menu isn't extensive, but everything we've had has been wonderful. Service the first visit was exemplary; to be honest it hasn't been quite as good since but always above average. We had two appetizers, four cocktails, a cappuccino, and a couple desserts and the bill came to $130 before our $16 coupon. Don't be afraid to fill out the comment card... we get a coupon maybe once a month, generally $12-$16. We recommend reservations on Friday or Saturday nights; they're always busy!

We were looking for something out of the ordinary while visiting family in Chicago and walked by Sapori, we had never eaten there so we thought we'd give it a try. Boy are we glad we did. Even though they were busy we were seated promptly and our server (John) took very good care of us.The Gnocchi, Aragosta and Pollo Ternana along with the Salmon were delicious..The menu was pretty extensive and I don't think we could have gone wrong with any choices. We will def. try them again. 2 Thumbs up!

Great bustling atmosphere here, but you are well attended-to. Food is first-rate, and Chef Anthony cares about what is put on the plate. We had the milk and honey ribs, which are unique to this restaurant, and out of this world (fall off the bone, for sure!) The osso bucco, bucatini carbonara, meat lasagna, duck and lamb chops are all exquisite. Let's not ignore the avocado toast and the grilled calamari...and you must finish with the tiramisu, the chocolate panna cotta and the bread pudding with raspberry sauce. You will be VERY happy you dined here!

This was definitely probably one of the better Italian places I have ever dined at in the states. The calamari was cooked perfectly and so tasty. We share different items so that we could try multiple things. I had the lobster ravioli, which was sweeter than I expected, but still so delicious. My friend had the osso bucco which fell off the bone and had so much flavor. We shared the little bit of lasagna that came with it and it was delicious for what we got to try although I would have liked to have tried more. The veal meatballs were cooked to perfection and flavorful. We also tried the mushroom risotto. It had a little bit of spice that I didn't expect. It was good but probably our least favorite item we tried. The wine selection was really good. We finished our meal with a hazelnut chocolate panna cotta and it was amazing! I would go back here again in a heartbeat. My bill with two glasses of Chardonnay and splitting the food was 70$ before tip.

I was at Sapori last weekend and again an amazing meal! I have been there many times and the food is excellent. I had the spaghetti with sausage and meatballs and it was maybe the best Italian dish I have had in my life. Pasta is fresh and tasty, sauce rich and flavorful and the meats were exceptional. They pack so much flavor into a basic dish but that's how the great chef's do it. Add in good service, good value and you get one heck of a restaurant!

Six of us dined there recently and it was an excellent meal from start to finish. We started off with the Avocado Crostini, Grilled Calamari and Fried Calamari which were all good. Our entrees included Gnocchi al Brivido, Seafood Risotto, Pollo Ternana, Vitello Paesana and Lamb Chops. All of the entrees were delicious and the service was unbeatable. We had a birthday among us and the waitress brought a Homemade Tiramisu for the table which was excellent. It was a first time visit for four of us but we definitely will be back.

We loved our visit to Sapori Trattoria. Each course was interesting and perfectly executed; the service was lively and attentive.

Dinner with a friend; staff was friendly. Server was a little busy but was doing his best to be attentive. Food was very good and servings GIGANTIC. Too full for dessert unfortunately. The restaurant is quaint, but gets very loud...

Great fresh pasta and the staff reaches out letting you know they appreciate your service. Feels like family, tastes like home.

Excellent service and food. My wife and I shared the Caesar Salad. She ordered the Linguini and Clams and I ordered the Pasta Contadino, but instead of the shell pasta, I asked them to substitute their in house homemade Angel Hair. Fantastic! See pictures. Could not resist the $9.99 corkage fee, so we BYOB'd. Do not hesitate! Highest Recommendation. Warning: The menu fairly states they can not guarantee food allergy safety for nuts, Gluten, shell fish, etc., beware.

Sapori Trattoria and chef Anthony Barbaneute have come a long way since the small neighborhood restaurant opened in 2001 and almost closed in 2003. Since then, it has emerged as one of the top 100 restaurants in the United States, according to Zagat. And Chicago magazine touted Sapori's house-made pumpkin ravioli as "best in Chicago." Located at 2701 North Halsted, Sapori specializes in house-made pasta and other classic Italian dishes, including osso buco, veal scallopini, meat lasagna, bruschetta and spaghetti and veal meatballs. My wife and I started with Caesar salad, minestrone soup, bruschetta with toasted Italian bread topped with marinated tomatoes and basil and Burrata Pugliese, mozzarella with a creamy middle, toasted Italian bread, marinated oven-dried tomatoes and prosciutto. You simply must try this unique and delicious dish. It was recommended to us and we certainly weren't disappointed. For the main course, my wife chose an old favorite, osso buco with veal shank. I passed up the meat lasagna with ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan in favor of spaghetti with veal meatballs and mild Italian sausage and rich red tomato sauce. For dessert, I loved the traditional tiramisu while my wife was delighted with scoops of lemon and coconut sorbet. Next time we'll order the bread pudding and chocolate raspberry cake. Yes, there will be a next time. This is an Italian restaurant that begs for seconds.

I took my family to Sapori while on a weekend trip to Chicago. A charming place located in the Lakeview area north of downtown. We got spaghetti, lobster ravioli and gnocchi. All were excellent and very fresh. This place deserves its high TripAdvisor rating. The neighborhood feel added to the experience. We will most definitely return on a future trip.

Sapori is a dining tradition for us every summer we visit Chicago for Cubbies games. The food & service are always excellent, but on this last occasion Ricardo went out of his way despite unexpected weather challenges to make our experience exceptional. Their fried calamari appetizer is the the very best, lightly battered and always perfectly prepared. The portion is large so it could easily feed 4 ppl. The pasta plates are all delicious and huge, so we usually split one for our entree. They also offer GF options for almost all plates. Until next summer, thank you Ricardo & Ally for a wonderful evening!

Outstanding Italian cuisine, excellent wine list along with fun dining experience. They handle larger parties with reservations. Walk-ins seem to be seated quickly as well. Their menu is varied, offering options for meat & seafood lovers along with vegetarian options. From appetizer to dessert, this place won't disappoint.

The restaurant is dark and dingy looks nothing like its photos published by owner. Sat at a table a corner facing a wall in a room at the rear. The noise level was unbearable making conversation with my spouse impossible. The calamari was tough and tasteless concerned it may have been pig's bladder (known to be substituted for calamari). The pasta dishes were bland. this is type of place people give reviews to because of the size of the portions- but if if you are interested in quality skip this dump.Waitress is much better than the place it self.

Dined here on busy Wednesday evening without reservations. Promptly seated at a corner table in the rear dining room. Service very good--timely, knowledgeable, and courteous. Server made very helpful suggestions. Menu contains many Italian style; including small plate appetizers, pastas, and larger entrees. Friend and I opted to share an order of rigatoni and an order of stuffed chicken breast. Both were delicious. However, I was disappointed that the chicken entree was not near as warm as the pasta dish. Prices were reasonable, especially for the location and service. Atmosphere a bit crowded as tables are positioned closely together, arriving and departing from table difficult not to disturb fellow diners. I will return.

We tried Sapori on the advice of a friend, and we weren't disappointed. It's a warm and cozy place with really good Italian food. My son had the grilled calamari as a appetizer, and thoroughly enjoyed it. For dinner, he had the Chilean Sea Bass, and I had the Vegetarian Lasagna. We both enjoyed our meals! The lasagna was huge, and delicious, and I took half of it back to the hotel. The pasta was light, thin, and fresh. Portions were ample and we left satisfied. Will definitely go back on our next trip to Chicago.

The price that we paid for the food we ate at this restaurant was not worth. It took so long for our waiter to come and check on us, to see if needed any more drinks etc. The risotto was not properly cooked. The desserts are not worth $7.99 that you pay. Parking on the street was easy on a Saturday night. Nothing special about the food.

We came here for dinner the other night and we had an awesome meal. Our waiter Marco was really good, the only comment would be that we had to wait a few minutes to ask for things like the check. Our pasta was very tasty & just as people have mentioned previously the portions are huge. For dessert I tried the Panna Cotta and I absolutely recommend you leave room for it! The prices are a little high, but you are in the city so take that as you will. We would absolutely come back here!

Sapori’s is in Lincoln Park, a very young community. The restaurant took reservations and honored them on time. The place is intimate and very loud. My friends and I are what you refer to as “mature” and the noise was a little much. But looking around,we raised the age of the patrons by quite a bit. We laughed because young people have a million conversations going on at once and by the time people have been together for 30 - 40 years, they have much less to say to one another. But it didn’t stop us from loving our meals. Caesar salad was outstanding. Definitely recommend it, but if you can’t tolerate noise...bring ear plugs.

Ten years ago my family stumbled upon this little corner restaurant. What a delightful dining experience Every time I am in downtown San Jose I make it a point to stop in for a fun time and excellent food. The staff makes our stay very enjoyable. Every dish served has been the best ever. So it’s hard to say which ones is my favorite. I guarantee you will love the cuisine and the atmosphere of this small but enjoyable place to eat. This is why I give it 5 stars because every time makes me hurry back for more enjoyable pleasures. 😎👍 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!

I recently sponsored my global board of directors at Sappori. We were having our Fall board meeting in Chicago. The global members were universally pleased with Anthony's dinner. We had almost 30 people and the food arrived flawlessly. The servers were pleasant and efficient. I would not hesitate taking this group to Sappori again. Thanks Anthony.

I chose Sapori Trattoria for a special occasion after seeing great reviews here in Trip Advisor. Wow what a fantastic restaurant! The food was great as I expected, but it was all the other stuff that really sets this restaurant apart. First some friends wanted to buy a bottle of wine to surprise the birthday boy and they made it really easy. Then as we were arriving in the Uber, I got a text that our table was ready...nice touch. This is a fun lively place with several different dining rooms. It’s not a quiet fancy-schmancy place. Not stuffy. When seated, they gave us menus that actually said Happy Birthday Eddie on the top. Again, such a nice touch. Great bread, great wine and hearty portions. Another thing I loved was the service. Not once did we ever look up wondering where the waiter was... how often can you say that about a restaurant? Too bad I don’t live in Chicago or I’d come back to Sapori Trattoria all the time!

My husband and I went here a couple of times and each time the food was delicious and fresh and the service was excellent. It gets very busy so I suggest going early and making sure you have a reservation. The waitstaff is always willing to offer suggestions if you can’t decide (because everything sounds and is delicious).

Fantastic authentic Italian food. Plan on bringing some home as the portions are very generous. The staff could not do enough to make our dining experience a pleasant one.

Sapori has been around for awhile and there's good reason for it. It's a perfect spot to grab a casual meal with really really good food. I've been here about five times and always try to get something different because each dish seems to be just as good. Highly recommend the lasagna here, it's a can't miss!

My friend and I discovered Sapori 5 years ago and it is still our go to restaurant for every and any special occasion!! The food is INCREDIBLE with a lot of different meat/seafood options for individuals with all types of eating preferences. The wine selection is fabulous and the atmosphere is perfect for a romantic date or a dinner with family/friends! Chef Anthony is the nicest man and makes such an effort to get to know his regular customers. If you are a fan of lobster I HIGHLY recommend the lobster ravioli! The sauce is out of this world good and Sapori’s bread is a treat with all their dishes. I am also partial to the Carbonara and usually have enough for some left overs for lunch the next day! Sapori is worth a visit!!

My wife and I recently visited this restaurant with several other couples and while none of the items were terrible they wasn’t anything memorable either. We all shared several appetizers, including the bruschetta, calamari fritti, crostini, and the insulata rustica. The crostini were good, but I would rate the others as average. My wife had the rigatoni and I had the lasagna. Both were ok, but unimpressive and neither of us finished much of our meal. As many others have said, portions are large, but we really prefer a little serving of a great entre vs a huge portion of an average dish. Our waitress was excellent and turned what would have been a disappointing dinner into an ok one.

A nice choice of dishes coupled with great service made for a fun evening. Sitting outside added an extra touch. Dishes were so large we took half home.

Darlene, my daughter Amber, her husband, Adam, and I had a wonderful dinner here on Thursday night. Our server was excellent and the food surpassed our expectations. I really enjoyed the osso buco. Hearty and flavorful and made with veal not pork, it was served on top of a mini lasagna that was definitely a great added touch. Everyone else enjoyed their pasta dishes. We appreciated the visit from the chef and had the opportunity to discuss his take on several of our selections. The prices are reasonable, the total tab for 4 without tip and including 6-7 drinks was just under $200.00 Nice location and atmosphere . Looking forward to a third visit the next time we visit Chicago.

This is such a charming little restaurant with amazing food! We started out with the fried calamari. Superb! The service was great and the lasagna tasted fresh and homemade. They give you a wonderful homemade bread to start with and I believe between four of us we had 2 servings. Great place that I will visit again if I'm ever back in the area.

This restaurant was exactly as expected. Freshly made pasta,lotsa red sauce and huge portions. The two of us split an insalata mista and Zappa de pesca which was plenty of food. Also split a bottle of wine. The food and service was good and a good value. Wine mark up was very high. Not fine dining but good dining.

This was a wonderful dinner spot that I stumbled on and will be back. Work is going to force me to stay in Chicago for about a month this Fall; and Sapori has certainly helped me to decide in what neighborhood I will have to find a room. The meal (Mista Salad, Pollo Ternana, and Panna Cotta) was near flawless. (The chicken was a touch on the dry side.) The service was impeccable - both the trainer and the trainee. Price was reasonable and the portion was generous. The decor and location was simple and understated - I was very comfortable in jeans and a shirt. The idea of spending a month in Chicago is one I detest; Sapori will make it more pleasant.

Great smaller place with some tables outside. Every pasta on the menu is homemade as are the variety of sauces. Everything was delicious. The salads are gigantic and easily shared by two people, we tried the asparagus and Cesar, both were great. Everyone at our table ordered pasta - the lobster stuffed pasta was by far the very best! The dinner portions are very large. Wine selection was good, lots of reasonable priced Italian varieties as well as some CA cabs. We were so full from dinner there was no way to try dessert. Great meal, not rushed at all and easy to have business conversations. Great find!

Went to a wedding reception upstairs. We got to try many items family style. Each was great on their own. Fried calamari was very tender. Bruschetta with avocado was great. Rigatoni was some of the best I’ve ever had. Filet mignon, mushroom risotto, sea bass, the list goes on and on. Been to many great Italian restaurants and this is right up there. You will be happy.

This is one of the worst kept secrets in Lakeview! Founded in 2001 and almost closing in 2003, it has become the 'go to' place for top shelf Italian served in generous portions. Do not make the mistake in thinking it's a big plate of noodles in red sauce. What you will find, if you can get a table, is perfectly prepared pasta, fish, veal, lasagna balanced with 'gravy' that can save you a trip to Italy! Coupled with attentive, knowledgeable wait staff, a kinetic ambiance and you have found your new favorite place. I know I have, hope to see you there soon!

Just got back from a trip to Italy and I was very impressed by this restaurant. Great service. Our server took care of us very well. Each of our meals was prepared wonderfully and we all enjoyed it. Restaurant had a sign that there was free parking at Home Depot which is half a block south on the same side. I was great not to have to drive around the area to find a parking spot. Restaurant offers corkage for wines brought in, but truthfully once I got there I realized that the restaurant has many Moderately priced wines on the menu. Will go back again---

We came for dinner. Selected this resturant based on Yelp reviews. It did not disappoint. Everything was delicious and fresh. Will definitely return.