Tufano's Vernon Park Tap Reviews

Tufano's is one of those truly great Chicago restaurants. Nothing fancy, but great food and drinks. Very relaxed atmosphere, although sometimes on a busy weekend night , you feel like you're elbow to elbow with the next table. But, that's part of the fun! Never had a bad meal or time there! Just remember to bring cash.

Tufano's never disappoints. I've visited this family owned and run Italian restaurant many times, when I lived in Chicago, and now when I visit. Wine in water glasses...so old school. Parking in Little Italy is tough so the complimentary valet parking is wonderful. Be sure to tip the valet what he/she is really worth to avoid walking a few blocks.

Tufanos is such a wonderful experience every time I've been and this time was no exception. It is off the beaten path with a mostly local clientele. Always friendly staff are attentive but never intrusive. The ambiance is perfect. But the food - oh my. My table enjoyed bruschetta, mussels, calamari, veal Marsala (my favorite), rigatoni, eggplant lasagna, tiramisu, limoncello. Tufano's will not disappoint. Cash only! Very reasonable prices and the house Chianti is a winner. Mangia!

We visited Tufanos as a family for a birthday dinner. The owner was seating customers and gave a choice of where we wanted to sit. The young man who waited our table was very nice and made suggestions for our group. We tried a variety of dishes and enjoyed all of them. Favorites include the lemon chicken and lobster ravioli. The casual atmosphere is comfortable - come as you are. The only draw back was the menu on the chalkboard - it looks cool and can be changed as needed, but an older person in our group could not see it well (a printed menu may be helpful for those with limited vision). We will definitely return as there were many more dishes that we want to try.

If you are looking for the place the locals eat, outdoor seating with ambiance, and great prices, Tufanos Vernon Park Tap is the place for you. We were there for our first time this Saturday night, and the place was packed, but we didn't feel rushed at all. Our waitress, Emily, was one of the most amazing servers we have had at any restaurant. She is a credit to Tufanos and one of the many reasons we would go back. She was honest, had great recommendations, and was a doll to boot! The fettucine alfredo was yummy but could have been a bit more salty. The salad was fresh-tasting, and all of our pasta dishes were yummy and big enough for leftovers. If it is nice out, sit in the outdoor seating area which looks over a large fountain. We were there at night, and it had such a fun "Chicago summer night" feel. Eating inside with a group of five or more is great as well due to the round tables. So nice to be able to see and hear everyone. Prices are wonderful! For five full entrees, one soda, three desserts, and one salad, our total bill was $70.

Paige is a great server. Self described hole in the wall. You have to know it's here, cause there is no signage, which is great, cause it would get overran. This is some of the best Italian food in Chicago. Quaint little family place on Vernon Park Place, by UIC. We had the Tufano's special salad, eggplant parmesan, sausage and peppers with garlic oil noodles. Incredible food, and large portions!

Tufano's is one of the few real Italian restaurants in what's left of Little Italy and it's the real deal. Their food is outstanding and is always consistent. This has been my go to whenever I needed an Italian fix. You won't be disappointed.

Perhaps a marketing gimmick but 4th generation and still going is fantastic ! Is is rumored that the current owners grand father did cook for Al Capone which adds to the great ambiance ! Very friendly staff handing out great zucchini Parmesan , Lemmon chicken that was awesome Affordable also on the wines proposed

This is the kind of place you go to and you just sit back and enjoy a good old school Italian meal. You feel like you are back home at Nonna and nonnos house and it’s always Sunday. Food is delicious and the the wait staff is friendly as any restaurant I’ve ever been to. They make you feel like family and won’t let you leave hungry. Great time and great people.

We lived for years in Little Italy, and Tufano's was our go-to spot. It's still our go-to spot, though we can no longer walk the three blocks from home to the restaurant. Now it's a five minute drive. Food is consistently good; service is friendly and efficient. It's priced right for a couple or a big group. And believe me, we've had big family dinners here, and will continue to do so. You'll see your neighbors here, that's for sure. And if you're not a Chicagoan, this is your chance to feel like one.

Our friends have relatives and friends who visit restaurants all over the Chicago area, then recommend some to our friends, who recommend some to us. Sometimes, they like a place so much that they invite us to tag along. On this occasion, they even invited some other friends. So there we were, six of us, sampling the wonderful Italian cuisine at Tufano's Vernon Park Tap. Located at 1073 West Vernon Park Place in Little Italy's University Village, it is a fourth generation, family owned restaurant that opened in 1930. When you sit down at the tables with checkered tablecloths, you get a feeling that you're being returned to the old days of Prohibition. But Tufano's knows how to treat today's generation of diners. In 2008, it received the American Classics Award from the James Beard Foundation. Love the food, the service and the old-school setting. The first thing my wife and I noticed when scanning the menu was the presence of five veal dishes. We have veal every Sunday in our home and, despite the expense, it is beginning to find its way on more and more menus. We ordered veal parmigiana with pasta and veal limone with angel hair. Delicious. The six of us also sampled bruschetta, the antipasto salad, sausage and peppers, Caesar salad, fried calamari and Tufano's special salad for starters. The other entree choices were meat ravioli, lemon chicken with potatoes, orange roughy with broccoli and pasta with garlic, olive oil and shrimp. It reminded my wife of her beloved Italian grandmother in the kitchen. Next time, we'll have to try the spaghetti or mostaccioli or veal vesuvio with potatoes and peas. Dessert? After all of that? Well, we did make room for some gelato and tiramisu. Hey, it's an Italian restaurant, isn't it?

Fun hidden place to dine, great for those on a motorcycle looking to park and relax al fresco. Food is good, staff very friendly and its steps from little Italy, so you can go to Mario's afterward for ice.

A friend recently convinced me to try out Tufanos by saying that I would be receiving a home-cooked meal. Enticed by this description, I expected to encounter savory, uncomplicated dishes, a cozy, dressed down atmosphere, personalized attention from staff, and most importantly great prices. Most of characterizations did ring true at Tufanos family restaurant on my recent visit We were warmed greeted by the owner and his daughter, and ushered to our table after a very brief wait. Our waiter was attentive and responsive throughout our meal despite a full house. The spacious, uncramped dinning room, with its 70s style wood veneer paneling, unpadded seats, and black & white tiled floors, created an austere, no frills, vibrant atmosphere, somewhat reminiscent of a university canteen. The noise levels permitted lively dinner table banter without stressing one's voice; our neighbors were more than two arm's lengths away. We received our appetizers in less than 10 minutes following our order...the rest followed in rapid succession. For our main courses, ordered and shared the restaurant's 3 recommended dishes: lemon chicken, shrimp, broccoli and shells, and spinach ravioli. The flavors were uncomplicated and slighly bland; the presentation was unadorned and mundane. I would not classify it as either savory or home-cooked: this was not grandmother's food. Regrettably, they had sold out of eggplant, which meant that we couldn't sample what other reviewers claimed was Tufano's signature dish. While my expectations of high-quality, savory food were not met, I was overjoyed to learn that the final bill for a salad, calimari appetizer, three plate dinner, and two half-carafes of house red totaled less than $25 per person, tax included. Overall, Tufanos offers decent food with recession-adjusted prices.

This place is always so good. The staff is friendly and highly competent. And the food is extraordinary. Our party ordered a wide range of meals and everyone was more than happy. The linguine in clam sauce, the mussels in red sauce and the chicken picante were standouts. We all shared a big salad that had lots of stuff in it and was delicious, especially with the hot and crispy bread. Service is quick and friendly. No credit cards accepted(cash and checks only) and no reservations. There is valet parking so use it if you drive. This restaurant has been in the same location for many, many years owned by the same family. Give it a try and you’ll know why.

Just can't get enough of this neighborhood family run restaurant. Lits of items with different kinds of sauces to make everyone happy in your party. Good Italian beer. Outdoor patio is a wonderful spot by the fountain nearby for any beautiful Chicago evening. Reasonable priced and they only take cash.

My family and I were celebrating my daughter's college graduation and we wanted to somewhere really special that has great food that we'd all enjoy. I found about about Tufano's from great reviews on Yelp, so we took a chance. We were so glad! Joann, the manager was so accomodating and gave us a nice round table so we could all chat together. The wine, bread, meals, desserts, and coffee were wonderful! We loved the atmosphere and were pampered by the server. I'm so glad we chose Tufano's! Our dining experiece made our celebration even more wonderful! We will be back soon!!!

We had invited several guest to celebrate the birthday of my husband, as well as saying our farewells to him. Dennis passed away Monday, October 17, 2016

This is a great and authentic italian eatery frequented by locals but where everyone seems welcome. Nothing too fancy other than the great value of the food you get here. Traditional recipes with some adaptation/americanization, but otherwise true to their form. The place is more like a meat market or deli, but depending on what you get, you are looking at a meal that will be cooked to order, with great passion and excellent ingredients. There are tables inside and outside, but the place is small and fills up quickly during lunch hour. It has been featured in the DDD tv show and that should give you an idea of the type of joint this one is. Run by the owners and attended with a smile, you're in for a great experience as long as you don't expect a black tablecloth experience.

This place is awesome. We found it basically by happy accident, and it was great food, people, and location. Wish we lived closer so that we could go every week. Didn’t know what to order, and a lovely lady took perfect care of us-chicken piccata to die for! GO EAT HERE!

It’s out of the way but worth it! Get a spot on the patio, get a glass of wine and relax. The food is out of this world, just like your Italian grandma used to make. Don’t have an Italian grandma? This is what it would have tasted like HAD you had one. The service is friendly, wine is great, pasta is fresh, just go already!

Great food great service what more can I say except forgot to tell you the prices are very reasonable too . This place has been a fixture in Chicago for more years I can remember.

We started with a great dinner here at Tufanos. My daughter in law to be, has been coming here since she was a little girl with her family. We had a reservation, there were 15 of us. The meal was served family style, our server kept the wine and food coming. We had a salad, which was delicious, I had 2 servings. Calamari, stuffed shells, rigatoni, chicken picata, and potatoes. Everything was excellent. I believe it was the owner, he helped carry all of our things to the trolley we had waiting. Great family atmosphere. My first time and I will be back!

I had late lunch with my children last week. The food was OK. The location was good and the atmosphere was very good. Though the food was not exceptional, the value was great. It made for a very pleasant time.

Tufanos is a neighborhood staple for several generations. Food is flavorful with large portions. Valet parking is available. It can get noisy making it for more casual family dining, rather than a quiet dark date place, but go if you want a light public first-date place. Our meals all required a request for added sauces, tended to be served a bit dry. The calamari was fabulous. The salad is served family style, order the 3 serving size for 6 diners. Salad is the antipasti style with artichoke hearts, pepperoncini, cheeses and salami. Cannoli are large and crisp, freshly filled, shells are are not soggy. Espressos and cappucinos are available. Restaurant is cash only. There is an ATM if you get caught short. Entrees run about 9.95 - 18.95. Service is fast. Large extensive blackboard menu with nightly specials. No reservations, so be prepared to wait on weekend nights, bar area available that gets crowded. Wines are reasonably priced served old Italian style in a glass, not stemware. Our tab ran $200 inclusive of 20% tip for 5 adults, 5 entrees,4 drinks, 3 desserts, 2 coffees. There is no "rush" to turn over your table, be comfortable to order slowly and enjoy your meal time. Dress runs casual to dressed-up. No reservations are available, but they seem to be able accomodate any size groups. There are some interesting Chicago celebrity artifacts on display for browsing while you wait.

This was my 2nd time coming to eat here. I was excited to order the clam linguini but I have to say that it tasted way better the first time I ate it. I didn't find it with much flavor. My friend ordered Chicken marsala. It was very tastey. Instead of potatoes, she substituted broccoli and it was really delicious. We also ordered the half order of calamari and I believe we would have been fine without it. The workers were very attentive. Wasn't sure how to pay at first. Left the bill there with my card but it wasn't until I got up to ask where to pay, when I was then told they do not take card. They only take cash and check. The atmosphere was very nice and comfortable.

We started with the Moscato which was very good, but served in beer glasses.. I am not sure why. We had the stuffed artichoke, which was OK. I had the eggplant parm, which was Ok- but the sauce was not very flavorful. Like it had not spices in it. Kind of pricey for just Eggplant and no salad. The service was good and the food came out fast.

My wife and I were in the area today, and decided to do Italian for lunch. I quick Google search showed great reviews for Tufano’s. In our research, we also saw that it was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives; we figured that it would deliver a level of quality. Unfortunately, we found this not to be the case. We were the first customers to arrive for lunch on a Friday. Our server was polite and friendly and gave recommendations, but we only saw her a few times. After seating us with the menus, she didn’t return to our table for 15 minutes or so. Instead, she sat down at a nearby table with the busboy and talked about going out and who was interested in whom. We also heard frequent swearing coming from the kitchen area. We could also see that the chef was on his phone for quite a while and cooking food at the same time. We braced ourselves for a bad experience with the food, figuring it would match the service. We ordered the fried calamari, the stuffed shells, Auntie Jo’s Farfalle, and the Lemon chicken with potatoes (one of their signature dishes). The calamari came out quickly; we ordered a half order and were astonished by the portion size. It was quite good. I was amazed and pleased by the lack of grease and oil. It came with cocktail sauce and lemon. If you happen to go to Tufano’s I do recommend the fried calamari. The stuffed shells were ok. I did like the red sauce on them, and the ricotta filling wasn’t bad. Overall, I’d give the dish a 3.5 out of 5. Auntie Jo’s Farfalle was a bit bland. I expected the sausage to lift the dish up, given the mild and bland sauce, but there wasn’t much sausage in it. There was also very little basil, which would also help the dish. I got the concept of the dish, and it might have been great if it were executed well. The lemon chicken was the biggest surprise. We had high hopes for the dish, since it was showcased on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. What a disappointment… It came out mostly black and very dry. The potatoes were burnt on the outside and undercooked on the inside at the same time. This was due to the varying thicknesses of the potatoes. Despite there being a lemon on the plate, I could not taste lemon. The flavor profile was mostly burnt char from the chicken. We considered trying the tiramisu, but after so many misses, we decided to cut our losses. Overall, the food was inconsistent, and the service was poor. It was a place we very much wanted to like, but besides the calamari, it was disappointing. I doubt we will return.

I saw this place on Food Channel, took my Mom and family for dinner and boy were we disappointed! You talk about about bland flavorless gravy! Does the chef not know about Oregano, Thyme and Basil? The service was slow(place half empty), not mention that our waitress told my Mom she spilled her beer half way, BUT SHE CHARGED us anyways! The salad is large but with boring dressing, The calamari was good but without any seasonings and the dipping sauce was BORING, the meatballs as it was listed on the wall menu was ONE! Yes, one stinking meatball for almost $4.00 and it was baked, flavorless clump of meat. We had vodka sauce that was watery, marinara that was bland, but plenty of bread! With so many other places to eat, go anywhere else but here! Yes I know alot of people like this place but too bad..............I thought it was a waste of OVER 200 bucks for a mediocre meal! Go anywhere else for alot less!

Wonderful family run Italian eatery. Fast, friendly service with HUGE portions for a very moderate price. Located away from downtown area but served by train with a short, safe walk. Cash only.

Ate at Tufano’s twice last week, by happenstance. Very gracious owner/host and staff, including the bar. Very good basic Italian - very many different dishes. One day, arrived early’ish on a beautiful afternoon and sat on the patio. Fresh bread with small plates for olive oil to dip came when we were seated. One salad generously served us both. Two entree’s, we shared with each other. Friends then invited us another evening, and met at the bar, where the bar tender is very friendly. For dinner, we started outside, but dashed inside when rain started suddenly, and staff promptl\ly got us reseated and food moved. Prices are remarkably low for this big city, and food is very good, and drinks are generous and inexpensive. We’d certainly go back next time we’re in Chicago. Valet parking is free - best parking option if driving.

Huge portions, good service and the most casual setting. The menu is on chalkboards so you may have to get up to see what you want but your not likely to be disappointed. I have eaten there since I was s student in the 60s and I keep coming back for traditional Southern Italian cooking.

I’m not Italian but I grew up in an Italian neighborhood just south of Hartford, Ct. I know a little about good Italian food and hospitality. And Tufanos serves both equally well. Six of us went for lunch and Judy (our server—-who has been there for 34 years) made us feel so welcome and appreciated, we went back for dinner the following evening. Chalk board menu, hardly any decor, but the food and the mood? Mama Mia! It was all soooo good. The customers at the other tables even came over to chit chat on both occasions. We drank some wine and we tried a little of everything. My only question is “Why can’t I live near a restaurant like this?” It felt like home from the moment we walked in the door. Judy, thank you so much for making us feel so welcome. We all look forward to coming back again.

3 generations of great customer service combined with authentic food. The sauces are ridiculously delicious. It's definitely one of those "Chicago MUSTS", you won't regret it. Friday night is Clam night.. do not miss it, they do run out.

Plan to arrive early as they do not take reservations for less than 10. The outside patio is the best seating, and valet parking available. Dishes are homemade - come hungry as portions are large.

We love Tufano's. They serve great Italian food at reasonable prices. The wine is also very reasonably priced, as is the valet parking. Keep in mind they only accept cash and that waits can be long on nights when either the Bulls or the Blackhawks have games at the United Center. I recommend the Tufano's special salad and the chicken picante. I also like the spaghetti with garlic and oil. I almost always have leftovers to enjoy the next day. The restaurant has a very neighborhood real and you often see police officers dining there. The menu is only available on chalkboards hanging on the wall and the waitresses are likely to call you "hon."

Have been there two times in the last month. Service is always friendly. Food comes out hot and there is plenty of it.. Great place to take friends for a casual dinner. Dump the Valet parking and just stand at the lot and charge $5 to park. It would free up the street

Sat at bar, just stopped for dinner, special menu on chalkboard made me dizzy. Too much good food to decide from, I went with the tilapia Vesuvius , great choice. Not my first time here and never have I been disappointed. Reasonable prices, great authentic Italian food with wonderful service. Make it a stop in Italian village off Taylor St.

I love this dish so much I have trouble ordering anything else off of the chalkboard menu. This cash only establishment is a real treat. If we are within 15 minutes of this location when we are in Chicago, we go! The teen love the ravioli and my husband adores the eggplant. Whatever you order, you are sure to enjoy. Love the free (do tip) valet parking. Not easy to find with no real sign on the building, but once you find it, you won't soon forget it! Enjoy!

We had a wonderful meal, but the most amazing part of our evening was Joe ! He took care of us as if he knew us.

An incredible tourist trap! Ignore anything you read, this is a horrible restaurant. All I need to say is that it calls itself an “Italian” restaurant, but doesn’t use or even have olive oil at all!!!! How is that possible? NO OLIVE OIL!!! Well, they use a blend that is mostly canola oil. No self respecting Italian chef would ever do that!! Ever!!! The service is terrible. The prices are stupidly high. They never came over to refill our water glasses. They never came over to see how our food was, though our pasta was falling apart overcooked, and the pork chops were so tough as to not be chewable. They forgot half of our desserts and didn’t even apologize. Just a terrible, horrible, expensive, reprehensible experience. Though a few dishes were okay, most of the food is inedible. If they are cheaping out on the oil they use, it makes me wonder what else they are cheaping out on!!!! This is a tourist trap that may have been good decades ago, but is now a place you would have to pay me to eat at again. Actually, no, I would not return even if you paid me. Simply a terrible experience in every way. Life is too short to eat this food!!!!

I met a large party here and our food proved good though not fantastic. The pasta was good and the meatballs tasted homemade. I liked the bread. Service was friendly. Parking was a challenge. Ambience was lacking.

I've eaten at Tuffano's many times through the years & its Always really good. Very old school (doesn't take credit cards) but always a fun time.

Tried this place for the first time the night after Thanksgiving. Easy to get to from the loop area by car. Located by the IUC campus down a very small side street. Valet parking right outside the restaurant. Excellent down home Italian (red sauce). Lots of traditional Italian dishes and they specialize lemon chicken and eggplant parm. Sone good quirky is the menu is shown on a chalkboard. Bad quirky is they don’t have any beers on tap (bottles only), even though they have a full bar and it is cash only. Just kind of a pain to make sure you have enough cash to pay for everything. However, there is an ATM on site. Dishes are reasonably priced. Most cost between $10-20. No sides come with the entrees but you did get a large basket of bread to start off the meal. No reservations are accepted but the restaurant wasn’t too crowded the Friday night we went. May be most crowded when there is a Blackhawks game going on that night as the bar area is littered with Blackhawk paraphernalia. Kid friendly restaurant.

We went here with friends for supper on June 12. I had the chicken parm with rigatoni, and it was excellent. My husband also enjoyed his tortellini. Ample portions and friendly staff. We used an Uber to get to the restaurant, which looks like a house from the outside. The friendly lady who said she lived next door was helpful in telling us that we were at the right place.

Great food, vibrant ambiance, and friendly service makes for a wonderful dining experience. Attended an office party there and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. I'll be back for dinner soon.

First went to VPT back in the 80's. Nothing fancy other than the food is awesome. Many choices for all types of eaters. I would highly recommend the Shells and Broccoli. Have made my own version here in California for my daughter for years and its one of her favorites.

Tonight was our first time back in 30 years. It remains every bit as good now as it was years ago. Still no reservations, still no credit cards, still fantastic rustic Italian food. Five of us ate (more than we should have) for $145 which included a bottle of wine. Eggplant parmesan, sausage with rapinni, and lemon chicken, shrimp alfredo and calamari are all without a doubt great. You can't miss here.

Authentic Italian food. Excellent bartender. First time I had a Dirty Martini with an Anchovy stuffed Olive ... Tasty! Excellent food. We'll priced and professional staff. What more can you want. Thanks again to the bartender and his private stash of Olives!

I was part of a large group of parents visiting a near by college with our kids for freshman orientation in June. We were hosted by the folks at Tufano's with nothing but great food, drink and friendly service. The italian dressing was home made and yummy, the pasta dishes were so good and the tiramisu... WoW!!! Yum-O! The location is original and feels comfortable. The staff is ready to serve and well versed on their menu. It's a great family restaurant or a great date night location. I'll be back when I visit my college kid!!!

We visit family in Chicago (NW Suburbs, lots of city visits too) 6-12 times a year. This time, we flew into Midway and needed a "time out" from late rush hour traffic on the way home ...7ish on a Tuesday night. Sister in law suggested Vernon Street Tap, and WOW what a find!! Authentic, little Italy, delicious food. Friendly, treats you like family owner and waitresses. Great blackboard menu, lots of variety, very reasonable prices and large portions. We tried a bunch of stuff and made it a family style experience for 3 of us, which was GREAT. Highlights: eggplant parm, perfect for splitting 3 ways with some other stuff. Firm, delicious eggplant, almost lasagne like with cheese and sauce to die for. Linguini/clams/red sauce was quite good, lotsa clams. Antipasto salad was good, lots of nice salami, cheese, peppers and split 3 ways. Chicken Lemon was garlicky and plentiful with neat potatoes. Broccoli with shells was garlicky and good. Wine comes in water glasses (how fun!) And very reasonable. And the cannoli at the end was perfect ... sweet, cheesy and crunchy. Loved, loved, loved the super casual atmosphere and the no rush attitude. Old school in all the best ways. Brother paid, but i understand it's a cash only place... probably how they keep prices so reasonable. Great night, thank you!

Large portions, friendly waitresses and cash only. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It's all good. Great spot before a Hawks game. Fast service.

The linguini with shrimp in Marinara was very good. The lemon chicken was flavorful. I will definitely go back in the future.

This restaurant is loud and kind of an Italian family place. Fun and lively. Calamari is phenomenal and delicious!!! Could not be better. The bread is spectacular. The pasta is usually cooked perfectly. Truly perfect. As to other things I’ve had: The chicken of the chicken parmesan was pounded so thin and fried so much that it has like shoe leather. You couldn’t taste chicken, let alone know that it was chicken. In my opinion inedible. Other dishes ranged from okay to good. The experience is really fun though the food is just average. Nothing special.

That's right, no menus. There is a chalkboard with all the entrees listed and it won't be an easy decision. As a Tufanos groupie for over 30 years I can attest that I've never had a bad meal here. My favorites are: the special salad, porch chops vesuvio, chicken piccata, lemon chicken, and anything covered with their red gravy. For desert, the tortufo (frozen raspberry sorbet covered in dark chocolate) is delicious. It's a family friendly place to enjoy a great meal. Mangia!

I have to say that the food is very good, but $18.00 gets you a 4" x 4" piece of Eggplant parmigiana and salad. It can be the best, which I would say is the best that I ever had, but the price it way too expensive to justify....

I was very disappointed in Tufanos. The food was mediocre at best. I had Tilapia Vesuvio, which the waitress recommended over the Chicken Vesuvio. The fish was tasteless and sopping from the sauce, which was on the bland side and only mildly garlic-y. The boat potatoes were greasy and soggy. The service was snobby and un-welcoming. The iced tea tasted like instant. Plus, they do not take credit cards. It's a 15-ish minute cab ride from downtown, definitely not worth the trip.

A winner of a James Beard for excellence, Tufanos is part of Chicago's old Little Italy both in culture and menu which is written in chalk everyday. It is filed with families who have been coming for generations ... eve though they may now be driving from the suburbs, The food is great in an old school cooking tradition and portions are large. Very good pricing. The bar is well equipped.

Walked in on a Friday 30 min prior to closing. Place was close to empty Service was excellent. Food was good; appetizer was calamari and we ordered Chicken marsala and a chicken piccata. Calamari was one of the best I had. My chicken marsala was not the best I have every had but it was still good. Her chicken piccata was tasty and filling. Both portions were large. They have valet parking REMEMBER _ CASH ONLY - no credit cards. They have a ATM there, but CASH only.

This resturant is in a residencial area and almost no signs. Busy, loud, simple, menu on the wall.....and outstanding true Italian food. Had the eggplant pamesan.........excellent. By far the best Italian Food I had...Price $ 15 - 20 per person.

Six of us went to this Italian restaurant one night. My Italian wife gave it a thumbs up. This is a neighborhood restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. The staff was professional yet friendly. The food (chicken, sausage and peppers, salad) was good but you need to order the tiramisu. It's the real stuff, not some frozen store bough version.

This is by far my favorite Italian eatery in Chicago. It has never been a disappointment. The wine is tasty, food is excellent and service is great!

A neighborhood place with a large selection of Italian classics. Service is fast and courteous in a familiar kind of way that evokes a nostalgic through back to little Italy in America. The food is good, the atmosphere is warm and comforting. Worth trying.

Pointed out to me by great friends that know Chicago inside out, this place is worth a detour for its very affordable American Italian favourites. Mine are the mussels in red sauce appetizer and Saudage and peppers main course.

We came here on the advice of my son's friend and found it quite enjoyable. It's an old fashioned restaurant where many of the patrons seemed to know each other. After having a drink at the bar, the four of us were seated at a nice table in a sun room type area. There are no paper menus. All the food items are written on big chalk boards which I found a bit hard to read. I ordered the chicken Parmesan, again on recommendation. I thought it was odd that the chicken was shaped in two perfect rectangles, but it was tender and juicy. There was enough sauce and cheese to cover the side of pasta that came along with the meal. My husband's meal was the real winner. He ordered stuffed shells that were overflowing with a well seasoned ricotta. They were delicious. If you are looking for a casual home style Italian restaurant, this is the place to go. The atmosphere was homey, and servers were friendly and helpful.

Went here Friday evening before going to the Cher Concert at the UC. The food was delicious, my husband and I both had different pasta plus, an excellent caprese salad. The staff is very friendly, the restaurant is adorable, a cute neighborhood establishment. Restaurant is in Little Italy on Vernon Park Pl, they offer valet parking, no charge, just tip the gentleman & enjoy your dinner. We highly recommend Tufano's to everyone who enjoys Italian Cuisine. The menu is extensive, lots to choose from. They also have daily specials. It is a CASH ONLY restaurant !!

This family-run restaurant may come up a bit short on atmosphere, but it more than makes up for that small shortcoming with outstanding Italian offerings. From the cavatelli to the stuffed shells, from the marinara sauce to the vodka sauce, you cannot go wrong with any of their pasta dishes. Certain unique touches, such as no menus, only strategically-place chalkboards and a strict cash-only policy adds to the charm of this spot.

I had the Lemon Chicken it it was just awesome, I am NOT a big fan of lemon chicken but this was really good. The staff was very friendly and we got served right away.

My visit to Tufanos' was June 26, 2013. The menu is was written on a chalkboard on the wall. As I dined with a large group of people, the meal was served family style. The bread was crunchy on the outside and soft inside. The salad came tossed with an Italian dressing. The chicken was roasted and served with thin potatoes almost like chips. The meatballs were the size of baseballs. The pasta had a nice and light marinara sauce, not too heavy. As mentioned in other posts, the parking was valet and the restaurant only accepts cash. My dinner was $14 including tax and tip.

Large portions, friendly waitresses and cash only. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It's all good. Great spot. before a Hawks game. Fast service. Owned by a family since the 1930s. Old school. Not fancy, just plain and simple delicious food. Best grilled calamari anywhere. Vodka sauce is to die for. Closed Mondays.

Used to be a destination for Italian food but not anymore Long gone is the white awning and the cuisine that made this place famous So so pasta and entrees Better choices abound

This place has "old Italian neighborhood" charm. It is an old restaurant in an old Italian neighborhood. The neighborhood has changed, but this place hasn't a great deal. It has gotten bigger over the years, but the food remains the same. It has no real pretensions to be anything than sort of blue collar Italian. It is typical of what this city used to have more of. The food is good of the Italian "red gravy" variety. Service is good when not over-crowded. There are certain charming things about the place, but if you are looking for Italian food to rave about, then move along. If you want Italian that screams "neighborhood joint" then you will probably be satisfied.

This place is fantastic, friendly staff, excellent food, and great service. I had their signature dish the lemon chicken. I got a whole chicken for $14. It was seasoned perfectly and served with potatoes. My wife got the chicken marsalla and it was also very good. Make sure to ask for the house wine, it's not listed on the wine list.

Not fancy, no reservations. No tablecloths. Good, solid food, menu on the blackboard. Guys out front to park your car are probably named Sal or Angie. No credit cards. In a neighborhood,

Went to try out this place and found they had a happy hour with 1/2 price on appetizers. Their meatballs were really good. One was spicy with bacon! YUM! Burrata /Arugula salad was great. Don't like to eat a ton at night so this was just perfect! Plan to go again!

Honestly everything is a daily special here. Chalkboard menu loaded with old favorites and something new. Great service for those in a hurry to catch a game. A regular stop when going to see the Blackhawks. Cash only so be prepared. Otherwise do not miss this Chicago favorite.

I visited Tufanos for the fifth time this past week...every time on my last five visits to Chicago. It is nothing fancy, but the food is the best. I especially like the Tufanos salad and Tufanos chicken. I look forward to visiting as soon as I land in Chicago. The restaurant is near the University of Illinois at Chicago. The restaurant looks like any other house in the neighborhood. This is a place the locals go so do not want to ruin that. But if you have time and can sneak over, then definitely worth your time to go.

Wifey and I have been dining here for years. Family -owned neighborhood classic. Went last week to celebrate 41 years of marital bliss. Fried calamari, lemon chicken, and veal Marsala...all were great examples of why we keep going back. Wonderful waitress and the manager (a Tufano family member) was very helpful with tips on warming leftovers. Cash only.

Three words to describe this place - “Just the best”. Family owned for three generations. Great food, sensible prices, neighborhood atmosphere, friendly efficient staff. Complimentary valet parking. Without a doubt, best calamari in the city. Only accepts cash.

When the late (original) Mayor Richard J Daley wanted Italian food, he'd head for Tufano's. When he decided to bulldoze half of Chicago's Italian community around Taylor Street to make way for the University of Illinois-Chicago, the bulldozers stopped about four doors east of Tufano's, sparing the restaurant. When the third generation of the family took over the restaurant, Joey expanded beyond the original dining room which was tucked in behind the bar - but he didn't change the food! Tufano's has a comfortable, noisy dining room with a side patio and private dining room in the back. Families with roots in the neighborhood come in from the suburbs to eat here. The menu is still written on blackboards and it's all cash. I once asked a waitress how the baked eggplant was prepared and she looked at me and said, "wit' red gravy!" That's all you need to know. But here are a couple of tips: you only need special salad for one to feed a table of four; the chicken Tufano's (used to be called Chicken Vesuvio but there must have been some kind of copyright hassle) is great - ask for the bone-in version which used to be the only version - baked with tons of olive oil, garlic, and sliced lemons; all the regular pastas - with sausage of meatballs (red sauce) or shells and broccoli (garlic but no sauce) - are ample portions and very tasty. There is a wine list but we always have the house red or chianti. If it's summer, you might want to skip dessert and go over to Mario's lemonade stand on Taylor Street afterwards. I've been to Tufano's a million times, but I'm writing this review today in homage to my mother-in-law who died this past weekend and introduced me to this real Chicago treasure. No reservations - just show up! It's a little bit out of the way - on a dead end street just south of Harrison & Racine - the valet is free, but give the guy a big tip.

Nice family style Italian and have visited many times and all. The biggest problem is their "Valet" parking is a mess with cars lined up down this small neighborhood street...Dangerous getting in and out of your car.

An acquaintance from Denver said we must seek this place out and eat here, so we did. As advertised, the herby roasted chicken and potatoes (the house specialty) does not disappoint, but I would have to describe the rest of the selections on the menu as affordable and reasonably priced, but boringly predictable mom-and-pop Italian fare: spaghetti with unremarkable marinara sauce + (whatever). Filling. Reasonably priced. Nothing to write home about.

I've visited Tufanos a few times and have never left hungry or disappointed. The lemon pepper chicken is a MUST! I brought a friend who was visiting from Hungary and she could not stop raving about the food. A true, neighborhood Italian restaurant that is authentic and in the heart of the city. They do not not accept credit cards and street parking is very tough to find. Valet service is available for $5. For true Italian cuisine and always friendly staff, head here. I'll say again- the lemon chicken is a MUST!

Service was excellent. Ordered pasta with garlic and oil, got pasta with red sauce, which is fine, love that also, plus meatball. The red sauce recipe nor the meatball simply did not measure up to my wife's and was some of the blandest I've ever had. I was so looking forward to 'Momma's kitchen' as I walked to the restaurant, but left disappointed. Their flavors didn't match expectations.

We were trying to get to this restaurant since December, but because they don't take reservations, it was tricky to make it there on a day where there wouldn't be a long wait for a table. It was an hour drive for us too, so that was another thing with not being able to reserve a table We went on a Saturday at about 5:00 p.m. and there were still some tables so no problem with that. The service was great, and the food was fantastic! Good menu selections, and fresh warm bread with parm and delicious olive oil, wow, so glad we finally made it there!

Just off the busy Taylor Street area. Easy valet parking. Now for the food. It was delicious! I can't believe I forgot about this place. Love the Chicken limone with angle hair pasta, Service was great and the server was friendly and right on. Just love the feel of this restaurant.You almost feel like your in someones home. The menu is on a chalkboard. Who needs the fancy stuff. I want good food and Tufano's has it. Will be back on May 20th, and I can't wait.

Having seen Tufano's on DDD we were eager to try this restaurant....................we can't see what all the fuss is about,............the place is very plain looking, hard to read menu's on blackboard's....................if you're not sitting in the right spot you'd actually have to get up to read the menu and stand there while you made up your mind, service was neither good nor bad.............just middle of the road...............food not great, not terrible, somewhat bland.....the owner was there and said hello......................the prices are not high and not low..........again, pretty much ....................average...........I think I make better Italian food..............there really isn't anything special here, and it is difficult to find.......if you want to park, you'll probably have to take the valet parking, which costs.........

Consistently very good for years. Chicken Vesuvio a favorite and I believe originated there. Everything I’ve ever had good. Service can be spotty.

Everything here is good!! Chicken picante with a large Tufano's Caprese salad is enough for two and really delicious as are the fried clams!!

BEST. CALAMARI. EVVVVVVVVVVER!!!!!!!!! I'm not a big Italian food eater. Don't care too much about pastas. But I DO LOVE seafood. The calamari here is seasoned PERFECTLY, crisp on the outside, and tender inside (so many other places make it waaaay too chewy, not here!). I've made a special trip to the restaurant to get a big tub of this-and nothing else- for takeout. So worth the trip. TIP: if you get it for takeout hurry up and take the lid off so the steam doesn't make it soggy.

This is an old world Italian restaurant. We were there on a Saturday. Although the staff was pleasant, the service was horrible. The waitress hardly attended to us and even suggested we hurry with our order because it's so busy. We sat outside bc it was faster to be seated. Our dishes sat on our table so long that I cleared it off myself. The food was mediocre at best and prices the same as a place with better food and service.

Was there for a client dinner this past Thursday nite before the Hawks game. We started with a delicious salad, followed by fried calamari ( delicious ) and sausage with peppers ( very good ). The main course was chicken picante ( very tender ) and had shells with broccoli and shrimp. Everything was served family style on large platters with more than enough to go around for everyone. All our client really enjoyed it and had high praise for the restaurant....

One of the very special Chicago neighborhood restaurants. A family run business that has consistently delighted a fiercely loyal group customers for generations. I personally love the stuffed shells with vodka sauce, the Tufanos special salad and, the calamari (if you are dining in).

Nothing fancy, just some pretty good Italian food at reasonable prices. Service was great. Restaurant was able to accommodate our large group of eight easily. I had the eggplant which was good- (not as good as what I make at home, but I make excellent egg-plant parm). Serving portions were very generous. Tufano’s has an authentic neighborhood feel. Felt right at home in the place. No menus, everything is on a black board. I loved the fact that this was good Italian food without all the pretentiousness that a lot of Italian restaurants seem to have nowadays.

If you are used to good Italian food...you won't regret a stop here..food is excellent...make a reservation..take a cab because you won't see a sign outside this place..it's in a neighborhood and is where the locals go..not fancy but over the top great! Try the lemon chicken or the homemade cheese ravioli..great eggplant too! Calamari is fantastic...

We went here with friends. It's a family, neighborhood restaurant. I was really glad that they serve 1/2 portions because the servings were huge. The food was tasty and the service was great. I would go back there again.

It is cash only here, so forget the credit cards. It’s the real thing, no nonsense. Good old fashioned Italian red sauce. Fried Calamari, eggplant parmesan, iceberg lettuce salad, bread, olive oil, Chianti, and lots more. What else could you want? Oh, I know. Valet parking? No problem.

The authentic Italian food, the atmosphere, and then there are Judy and Sarah, the most amazing servers around. You feel immediately they are your friends! Great old school atmosphere!

I love Chicago...it's a mecca for truely good restaurants...I love Gene and Georgetti......there's a lot of good restaurants in Chicago....but you can't beat Tufanos...its not fancy...its just good...the kind of good that makes it stand out in a town full of outstanding restaurants..

Family owned, delicious, friendly restaurant. Cash only, no reservations unless you have 10 in your group. Fast service. Chalkboard menu. Grilled calamari is insanely good. Not expensive. Casual dress. Outdoor dining when the weather is nice.

Very good, casual Italian restaurant. Nice menu, good food, good service and the price for the quantity of food you get is hard to find. I don’t live in Chicago, but if I make it back, would definitely come back. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the spaghetti with marinara, husband had the chicken piccata which we really enjoyed and our friend had the linguini and clams in a red sauce. We also split a caprese and green salad. The restaurant offers free valet parking.

Recently celebrated a family birthday at Tufano's. We were a party of 19 and they took care of use from beginning to end... food was some of the best Italian food I've ever had and the service was outstanding. Next time I'm in Chicago, it's on my list of places to go to...

This neighborhood restaurant has been in the same location for over 75 years. The owner, Joey, is a great guy and has carried on the tradition started by his family. The food is genuine Italian (and it's called gravy not sauce!). Dishes are simple but excellent, very reasonably priced, with good service. The vesuvio chikcen and potatoes are the best I've ever had. No frills, just a great place to meet with friends and family. Try the house chianti, it's unique and really compliments the food. Very busy on nights when the Blackhawks or Bulls have a home game.

Born and raised with home made Italian food. Lots of red sauce, pastas, lemon chicken, and garbage salad!!!!! Been coming here for 35 years ! A small, quaint, neighborhood eatery ! Never had a bad meal. Wish there was one in Florida. I'm moving there and going to miss this place! Any visits back to Chicago will include a trip here and a Hawks game !!

A friend who grew up in Little Italy suggested that I try Tufano's for quality local food knowing that I avoid restaurant chains. It's a family restaurant that was closing the next day for a relative's funeral.Here we were treated like friends the staff wanted to have return. We had the merlot which was smooth and so good we indulged in an second glass. The calamari was served piping hot and awakened my memory of eating fried clams a beach shack on the South Shore in Boston. The Tufano salad is big enough for two to share and included artichoke hearts (my favorite), two kinds of cheese, Italian salami and black olives. We split an order of lemoni veal, with a subtle sauce and served on a bed of wonderful angel hair pasta. The spumoni was very rich and flavorful. The restaurant is in a residential neighborhood so it has no sign and you should use the valet parking for convenience and to avoid a parking ticket. This is not elegant dining, but you will feel relaxed and at home here. I have already suggested it to friends.

The best experience you will ever have from the delicious food to the wonderful staff. It is like being a member of the family when you arrive. Joe will greet you with a smile and make sure you order their Lemon Chicken. All of their pastas are homemade. A must!

A cab drive that should have took 8 min, took 30. My 12 year old and I arrived at close. Walked in and the waiter said the kitchen was closed. Massively deflated. We sat down in the bar, when the owner walked up, and said, we go ya. Went back to the kitchen, and came back and said this is what we have. Yes, yes, and yes. Food was amazing. Never had better Italian in Chicago. But the ambiance, and of course the owner, made our night exceptional. Grazi Tufanos! You are the best!!!

My 16 yo daughter and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Tufanos last week - the staff (especially our waitress, Tina!!), the food, and everything about our dinner was perfect! A neighbor who used to live in Chicago highly recommended Tufanos and boy was he right! The calamari was the best ever (and I've eaten a lot of calamari!), the house salad was perfect, and the meatballs / sausage and spaghetti was delicious! When we return to Chicago, we'll most definitely return to Tofanos! :)

$30 dollar date. Great food, even better service. Will definitely be coming back! Thanks for the great meal!

Recommended by a friend. We were not disappointed. Service was solid even though we were there at prime time Saturday night. We had calamari, mozzarella and tomato, linguini and red, lobster ravolli. All were top shelf. Great atmosphere on the patio. We will be back.

As a native New Yorker, this place is basically at the level of a Long Island diner. Mediocre bread, cheap cocktail sauce with the fried calamari, everything drowned in sauce. Eggplant parmigiana was good, everything else was mediocre or worse. People are friendly, and the valet parking is free, but we will never go back.

I'm not kidding you, you cannot beat Tufanos for good, down home Italian cooking. I have never had a bad meal there. The atmosphere is like eating in your Aunt Rosie's basement - simple, loud, and extremely welcoming. The house and antipasta salads are very vinegary, but so was Aunt Rosie's and I learned to love that. The menu in general is large. Lots of meat and chicken choices and many, many pasta dishes. All are excellent. Nothing is ever too salty (a sure sign of bottled something or other) or over seasoned. Their gravy (read red/spaghetti sauce for non-Italian folks) is delicious and truly like Mama made it. Now here is the kicker, I kid you not, they make the best fried calamari anywhere, anytime; and I have tried a lot of calamari in my day. Crisp breading and really tasty with the calamari itself moist and tender - absolutely no tough, chewy pieces ever. Wines by the glass are decent choices and Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc at $7.50 a glass is kind of unbelievable. They only take cash, but who cares the whole damn menu is a deal. Valet parking is free, just a tip. You won't find a better bargain or better straight forward good eating anywhere else. I recommend it highly. To top it off they are really nice people. The family is always there to meet you and greet you. I live about 8 miles away but we know folks who come from Crystal Lake quite regularly, that's how good it is. Go, eat, have a good time - "mangiare bene"!

We've been coming here for years. It's about as down to earth and authentic as you can get. The food is homemade. Very reasonably priced and very generous portions. Coming from an Italian family I am very picky about Italian food. This place never disappoints. So many great menu options. The Tufanos salad is a great way to start your meal. The endless bread is amazing!! Can't go wrong with the lemon chicken, broccoli with shrimp and shells, or cavatelli with bolognese sauce. We come here regularly.

This restaurant has been run by the same family for decades. The food and service are reliably good. This restaurant does not take credit cards, cash and personal checks work. There is an ATM at the entrance. Eat in or out in the garden.

Incredibly friendly, we did not have cash, but they told us to have lunch and mail us a check! Pretty unheard of in today’s world. Great service, outstanding menu, genuinely good food and very good atmosphere.

Super friendly staff and good food Very beautiful place, the only problem is it’s a cash only or Venmo place so no cards are accepted to pay!

The food and service are great! This is a cozy, old school, Italian place. Last time we were there, my 84 year old mother got there before everyone else and the waitress took amazing care of her. We have used this location whenever we have had to go to an event at the Pavilion. They have

Even though he's reported to be a bit of a jerk (and I'm being nice compared to other people's comments), Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives (aka DDD) does showcase some great places. Having lived in the 'burbs but have worked at the Med campus at nearby UIC, I figured Tufano's was a joint that I would have frequented. But considering that it's tucked away on a quiet residential street (with a UIC parking lot on the other side) and has no signage, it's an easy place to miss. Coming into town for a day trip, my wife and I decided to have a leisurely lunch at Tufano's before heading into the Loop (and going to Book of Mormon!!!). If you're driving, realize that this is a restricted street, so Valet Parking is the only way to go. I chuckled to myself that some people who are not familiar with the city might think the big guy in the hoodie might go out and do a Ferris Bueller with their car! Me - I knew I was in good hands. Take a look at the name - you walk into a bar. And it's a very nice one; long and well stocked. Dining is in the back and on the side, separated from the bar area, so noise shouldn't be a problem. Considering we were there for lunch, there wasn't a noise problem. We decided to sit in the windowed front area, and were the only people there for most of our meal. As I made a trip to the restroom, I saw a group of local 'guys' finishing their meal and speaking in hushed tones - man, I love Chicago! ;p Also, there were photos of local and national celebs with autographs on the wall - with the obvious Francis Albert Sinatra pic and autograph. I thought the poster of DDD with GF was a bit tacky for the place, but hey - wayagonnado? ;p Our waitress, who had probably been working there for a long time, asked for our orders and brought us some wonderful bread, which was eaten the typical 'Chicago' way - oil, parmesean, and black pepper. Wonderful crusty bread with a doughy inside that held the mixture well. I do know the local bakeries off nearby Taylor Street, so if they didn't bake it themselves, they go to the right place for their bread. The Tufano's salad is your standard Chi-talian fare - cubes and strips of cheese, salami (at the bottom), roasted red peppers, greens. But what really stood out was the vinagrette - a touch of red wine, slightly spicy, working well with everything on the plate. Then came the entrees - chicken parmesean for me, and half spinach, half meat ravioli (requested) for my wife. We also ordered a glass of wine for each - typical rustic Italian wine, served in what can best be described as small soda fountain glasses(!). The chicken was excellent, with the parm breading the right crunchy consistiency, and occasionally charred, which added to the flavor. Mine was served with penne and an obviously home made red sauce - an amazing flavor! And the ravioli was great as well - the beef was well-seasoned, and the spinach still had a nice bite (in other words, it wasn't overcooked) - but the sauce complemented the flavors perfectly. We ended lunch with a tartufo (split scoop of mint ice cream (Oberweis?) covered in dark chocolate) and a cappucino (don't ask for decaf - it don't exist). We never felt rushed, everything was what you would expect at your local haunt - great food, good service, comfort. Realize that Tufano's is CASH ONLY (they have an ATM that charges $3) and there's nothing there that tells you this. Some signage would be helpful... As we left, everyone working there made us feel like we were locals and that they'd see us next week. One of them was the owner we saw on DDD, sitting at the bar. And the valet parking? A bargain at five bucks. There are other well-known places in the area - Tuscany, Rosebud, etc. - but if you want a true neighborhood joint that serves good food with a true Chicago bent (no-nonsense service, no pretenions, etc.), you have to stop in at Tufano's!

My husband and I saw this restaurant on a top 25 list of places to eat in Chicago and we were not disappointed. It was quaint and the food was outstanding. They do not have individual menus but everything is listed on a giant caulkboard. They are cash only, but an ATM is available if needed. The portions for the food are large. My husband had the lemon chicken and I had the Eggplant Parmesan- both were very great. Service was very good. I would definitely visit again. It was about a 10 minute cab ride from the hotel but relatively easy to get to.

For the price, the food is great. Large portions, nicely cooked, very fast service. Great for family or large parties who might be cost conscious. Food was fine. This is not high end Italian cuisine.

This is always a favorite with my family. Food is delicious and service never lets us down. I highly recommend Tufano's if you have out of town guests.

A local recommended this place. Not fancy but a real authentic family Italian restaurant. Bring cash or have Venmo. Great food and cool experience.

Had not been in a few years. The restaurant has changed a bit, but the food hasn't. Nice outdoor patio. Judy our server was so much fun and a great help with our choices. The eggplant is the best I've ever had. The salad is amazing and so was the smell of the Lemon Chicken from the table next to us. Thanks for a great evening...nice to go back and find the same great food.

No trills, Italian pub/restaurant with classic decor and absolutely awesome food and pleasant service. Simple decor, the smell of fresh garlic, no menus, (All written on a blackboard on the wall), and classic Italian music piped in. No credit cards accepted, so food prices are beyond reasonable! I can't wait to go there again!!! The Bolognese was as good as my Nona's. The prices are fantastic and don't forget cash only!

Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap was our destination & dinner on the patio was just what we needed. Summer finally arrived in Chicago. It’s easy to see why this restaurant has been able to stay so popular. We were greeted and seated by the owners and received fabulous service all night. We had appetizers and entrees and everything was well prepared and very fresh. Awesome crusty bread. Old school Chicago. My first time there, but not the last. Lots of restaurants to choose from in this city and you should get yourself to Tufano’s.

stopped by for dinner tonight with some friends and this is definitely one of Chicagos finest Italian restuarants because when they say old fashion home style , they mean old fashion Italian. had the Bruschetta appetizer and this is simply wonderful, fresh diced tomatoes with a hint of garlic on turano bread... mmmm ggoooood ordered the Chicken with lemon and it was so juicy and moist ( half order good for 1 or 2 but you wont go wrong either way. also ordered the shrimp alfredo and man o man were these shrimps large and plenty in this plate and the linguine was fabulous. ordered sausage with green and red peppers and this was a great accompaniment to our meal. and of course you must try the cannoli with some good Italian coffee and wha laaa you have just had a sensational Italian meal . great restaurant atmosphere, not grand just plain and home feel to it, cash only in this establishment and valet parking in this restaurant that's seated right smack in the middle of the block of this residential/ uic neighborhood.... the menu is written on the chalkboards up on the walls so bring your reading glasses if you can't see to well... buon apetit !!!

good old fashion restaurant.Menu is on the chalkboard. reasonable prices and good food. Beware it is cash only!

Stopped here at the recommendation of a young Chicago friend, who thinks it's exceptional. The menu offered an interesting selection, and my food (served too quickly causing me to feel a bit rushed) was very, very good, but not exceptional. Basically, standard Italian fare. In addition, the decor is unremarkable at best, and although I know it's been in the same family for 75 years, the interior doesn't reflect and special patina or period influence as much as it's just "plain Jane". The bread was nothing special and they were certainly stingy with the butter. I knew I wasn't getting attention from the waitress when, by the time she was available to ask for more butter, I'd just about finished my dinner. I had to ask someone else to get me a glass of wine, and when it was time for desert, my original waitress made no effort to explain what was offered with any enthusiasm. Maybe she was having an off day, but for a restaurant with so many excellent ratings, I'd like to assume my experience was an anomaly. Finally, the valet parking, while reasonably priced, was awkward and a bit slow. Worth visiting, and I try again next time I'm in town, but it will be for convenience and just for a good, not great meal.

Tufano's is a unique little restaurant. The food is good especially the lemon chicken. They do not take reservations so get their early. The staff is friendly and Joey is a great host.

This has been one of my favorite restaurants for years. The eggplant parmesan is the best and one thing I crave but everything I have had over the years has been great, including the sausage and peppers. The tiramisu is wonderfully light but rich at the same time. One thing to remember is that they only take cash or checks but that is a small inconvenience for good food.

Yep I grew up on this street and still visit Tuffanos. Don't expect anything fancy like a tablecloth! Try to Chicken Picante, Special Salad (with cheese and salami) and the Raviolis or the Lemon Chicken on the bone with sliced vesuvio potatoes. Small bar in the front and casual restaurant. There is no telling who you will see there as it is a favorite of sports people, Judges and politicians too. This used to be THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD! You will return! Tell em Mike D sent you

One visit to the Tufanos web site and you would think they were the crème de la crème of the Little Italy food scene in Chicago. But when you peel back the proverbial onion and actually experience Tufanos, you will find there is more to the story. And it’s hardly worth the hassle of going. Sure, they were featured on Diner’s Drive-ins and Dives. They had the Stanley Cup. But perhaps all of this fame has gone to their head because the food is mediocre at best, service and responsiveness nothing exceptional and the overall experience was average at best. Especially when you consider the options, specifically the Italian options, in the immediate area. Let’s start with the “contact us” on their web site. Like so many companies that have a web site “just because “ Tufanos wants to hear from you and they have an e-mail address. To which messages fall into a black hole and are never replied. Upon arriving, expect to get attitude and hassled by the valet. Short, curt, rude and just generally unpleasant. Don’t even think of asking a question for you might never see your car again. The interior screams of a typical Chicago neighborhood dive bar. We sat at the bar and the bartender was reasonably pleasant. He was gnawing on a toothpick like a beaver chewing on wood but he was the most professional and pleasant of the bunch. Which is not saying much. Sure, incredible price points and you really could not find a glass of wine, salad, plate of pasta in this area for less. But you get what you pay for. Sloppy preparation, bland flavors and food that I can easily prepare at home. The bruschetta came as five pieces with barely seasoned pale red diced tomatoes spooned on unexceptional bread. Don’t bother. The Tufanos special salad is a heaping bowl of pale white butt ends of iceberg lettuce that had seen better days. Cubed cheese, some (read very few) veggies and a single piece of salami (all off the Sysco truck) comprised their “everything” salad. I would hate to see their house salad. Perhaps an empty bowl? The salad was “dressed” with an uninviting amount of poorly blended red wine vinaigrette. Skip it. The basket of bread tasted like it had been sitting out since last night. Watch your teeth. The D&D special is supposed to be shells with peas and a vodka cream sauce. Stay at home and buy your own box of Barilla, jar of sauce and can of peas and you would probably fare better. Overall, really disappointed. Having been to “dive” restaurants in Milan, Florence, Venice and many other cities in Italy, Tufanaos needs to stick with being a neighborhood bar and skip the food all together.

This no-frills place is a little off the beaten path, but the food is wonderful! The extensive menu is on a few large chalk boards and every dish we had was excellent. I'd start with a Tufanos special salad and go from there. I had a mixture of spinach and meat ravioli that was great. Next time, I'm going for the veal parm. The wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Lots of old-time and new celebrity photos on the wall. Place seems to have a huge carry out business and I can see why. Valet parking. It's not glitzy, but it sure is good!

Great. Food. I've been several times now for my company's dinner during a trade show. We eat family style and it's the best way to do it. The ravioli and salad were excellent, so was the eggplant parm. Definitely worth a visit and a great way to get away from the chain Italian places in town. It's where the locals go from what I hear!

Love this place. Absolutely the #1 spot before a bulls or hawks game. I recommend the stuffed shells and giant meatballs. Really, you can't go wrong. Price is right too. Enjoy

For many years has been a great place to meet your friends and enjoy a good Italian food. The number one of course is there lemon chicken which cannot be beat anywhere. Tried their shells with oil and garlic you will flip and if you do not like it I'll pay. Other choices on their menu you will be happy including their special salad. Come on down and enjoy.

Nice local Italian south of the Loop. Parking is tough but have $5 valet. Not a fancy place. good basics. Food can be hit or miss

I've been going to Tufanos for years. With all the great Italian restaurants in the city, this one is a keeper. The atmosphere is simple with very casual decor and a feeling that you're eating with family rather than at a restaurant. The food is consistently fabulous. Just bring cash - no cards accepted here!

The food was delicious. The service was wonderful and the atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for. We like the little tucked away places and this place was perfect!

From the Blackhawk jerseys hanging behind the bar to the photos hanging on the walls in Tufanos Vernon Street Tap, you will immediately feel at home in this restaurant. Once the food and drinks are delivered, you will think you died and went to heaven! Warning: only cash is accepted but valet parking is free, other than a tip!

Went here on recommendations of locals. Was here on job assignment. Had the lunch special, Eggplant. Wonderful. Probably seven layers of eggplant block smothered with a delicious marinara sauce. Quick service at lunchtime. Just the right size portion. Would be a do over.

Great food, easy before a ballgame, family owned and run forever. Lemon Chicken, shells and broccoli in garlic are favorites. Best joint in little Italy

Tufano's is a great neighborhood place that started as a bar and began serving food back when I was in diapers growing up in Chicago. The same family still ownes and operates this neighborhood Italian restaurant. Don't be in a rush because you will want to enjoy everything from the salad thru whatever is up on the blackboard menu for specials and make sure to include dessert. Remember that this place is closed on Monday!!! No Checks or credit cards excepted, so bring cash or you will have lots of dishes to wash....

My parents took me here as a kid and now 40years later I'm taking my own kids. Thai place is not fancy but just really good Italian food. I love the chalk board menus. Make sure you get the calamari, sausage and peppers, lemon chicken and pork chops. Great tiramisu, cannoli and spomoni for dessert.

The place was definitely busy and the staff was accommodating. The calamari was alright, the pasta and sauce were ok and nothing that would make us come running back. The broccoli was better than average.

The house salad and chicken is the call at this long time restaurant. Great food and friendly service makes me come back from a long way. Hard to find the first time but, after that, it's like next door. You must try this place.

We found this place on diners, drive ins and dives, and it did NOT disappoint us!!....Food was spectacular!!...Best calamari I've ever had, and I'm serious....walk into this place HUNGRY!!...because the portion sizes are great! When we return to Chicago, I'll be looking forward to our dinner at THIS restaurant!!

What a wonderful place! The Lemon Chicken was delicious, as was the magnificent tiramisu. Donna, our server, made us feel welcome and special as well! I cannot wait to go back!! Please remember they only take cash!

If you don't know where Tufano's is, you won't necessarily stumble upon it. But if you are in the neighborhood which contains many other Italian restaurants, Tufano's is a place to stop. If you're coming on a night of a concert or something going on at the UIC Pavilion or the United Center, be sure to come early, or about the start time of the event, as it can be quite busy. But the food is definitely worth the trip. There is no menu, as everything is written on large chalkboards. We had the special salad appetizer and bruschetta and there was more than enough for four of us. Each had a different entree and no one was disappointed From the veal parmigiana to the shells with ricotta cheese, everything was delicious. Top it off with a cannoli and you will have a great meal. The only drawback is that Tufano's is a cash only restaurant, but there is an ATM on the premises. Worth a trip for an authentic Italian meal!

Always happy to see you, food always exceptional, with huge portions and great service. Calamari and stuffed artichoke were exceptional!

It's an old house from the 1930's & family owned. We have been several times the menu is on a chalk board & has a full bar. Casual dress is fine,a lot of locals like to eat here. Fresh made pastas old family recipes we had cheese ravioli, stuffed shells. There is valet parking he works for tips.

My wife and I had dinner here last night after going to a show at the UIC Pavilion 2 blocks away. Tufano's has been a pillar of the neighborhood for so long, and we try to get here when we are in the area for dinner. For a Saturday night at 9pm, the bar was packed and the dining room was coming off main dinner hour...and then many others came in like we did after the show to fill it up again. This is not "fancy" Italian, this is down-home red sauce joint food, and they do it right. A no-frills chalkboard menu for food and wine is posted in many parts of the long dining room, with very reasonable prices on everything. My wife and I love their fried calamari, and their "Tufano's Special" salad (like a chef's salad) is how we usually start. This time we chose veal parmesan and cheese ravioli (added a meatball for a few more bucks) and we each had a glass of red wine. Straight up marinara sauce on our entrees, but great quality for the price.

After seeing that this place had been highlighted on the Food Network triple D show & had several great reviews, we were expecting to get our socks knocked off. While everything was good and they accommodated my request to add peas and mushrooms to my Alfredo, it wasn't as great as we anticipated. I had the house chianti wine which tasted fine but came in a small juice type glass vs a wine glass. I regularly get the house chianti in these types of Italian restaurants so this was unexpected. It was typical pricing - probably $15/plate average. Yes it's still cash only with an ATM on-site. Some of the staff seemed very friendly and others more indifferent, but they all tolerated our little 15 mth old granddaughter just fine, which was greatly appreciated! If you are nearby and want some no frills, good Italian food I would recommend this place.

We came here before a concert at the nearby United Center and had a great meal. The meat lasagna was the special and my son ordered that, it was great! I had the fettuccine Alfredo and it was good. I like a little more garlic in the flavor, but it was good. The Tufano's salad was also very good, a meal in itself. We even splurged on dessert, which was great! They have different ice creams that come covered in a chocolate shell, they're good! It's a good place to keep in mind if you're coming down early for a concert and have some time, nice change from the things on nearby Taylor St. Oh, and they have complimentary valet parking. We'll definitely come back again to try something else! The big thing to know is that they don't accept credit cards, so bring cash. They do have an ATM on site, but best to avoid the fees by bringing your own.

We just love this place. My husband and I went here after he'd gone with a former colleague. This is old-school Italian at its best, and I'm almost reluctant to write this review in case more people decide to try it. (Clearly, it's too late for that!) We were there on a Saturday night. As the place doesn't take reservations, I was initially assuming that we'd have a very long wait--but we were in in twenty minutes. The veal was fabulous, as was the cheese pasta. And the calimari was outstanding--very fresh, tender, delicately fried and seasoned. Fortunately, we saved room for the excellent cannoli. A terrific place. We can't wait to go back.

Tufanos has been in this location since I was a child. Food was always excellent. The original owners have passed and I have been there since then and wasn't disappointed. Good Italian food.

The warm greetings, quick and efficient service and delicious food offerings are why we made this our second visit. And we live in the suburbs. The lemon chicken was outstanding and my husband loved his rigatoni and mushrooms. The antipasta is a steal at $5--plenty for 2 to share with all the toppings you would imagine. Can't wait to return!

Vintage Chicago neighborhood Italian restaurant! Feels like sitting in my Grandmother's dining room when I am there.

Tufano's has a great local atmosphere! We ate at the bar, which was entertaining as we watched customers come in and out of the restaurant. The menu is vast and the "Specials" board is somewhat overwhelming...in a good way! As an FYI...lasagna is only served on Sundays. We were a bit disappointed when we went on Friday night and there was no lasagna on the menu or specials board. Also, be prepared to pay cash. There's an ATM in the bar area for anyone who forgot to bring cash with them. Prices are low (for Chicago) and the food is high-quality! Enjoy! I've traveled across 4 continents and eaten at (and reviewed!) a ton of restaurants, hotels, and things to do. I would love to continue to share my knowledge about restaurants, things to do, and hotels with you as I travel to new places. Be sure to follow me on Trip Advisor to get my latest updates! Just click the 'Follow' link under my profile beside the review!

Old fashioned Italiano. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes here. It's a personal favourite in Chicago and it never fails. Go for the Lemon Chicken, you won't be disappointed.

I have had this place on my list for 5 or 6 years, I waited WAY TOO LONG!! Serious old school, from the chalkboard menu to the wooden tables and chairs. And it's not just the ambiance, the food is SO good! Braciole was very tender, very flavorful! The sauce/gravy on the pasta was extremely good! Bruschetta appetizer was quite possibly the best I've tasted. Valet parking is great! Don't forget to tip them. Oh, and it's CASH ONLY, although they have an ATM.

It looked good coming in but the food itself was not that great. The best thing was the bread and olive oil to start. The shells, brocolli and shrimp in garlic was ok; chicken was bland. Salad was a good mix. Tiramisu was decent but not exceptional. Any Italian Mom could do equal or better and even an non-italian could deliver something similar at home. Save your money and time and find a better place.

A friend who was visiting Chicago with us wanted to go here because she saw it on Diners, Drive-In's & Dives. First, let me say Tufano's is neither a diner, a drive-in, or a dive. What it is, is a good place for authentic Italian food. Two important things to know before you go - 1) parking is valet only - the restaurant is in a neighborhood with permit parking only - the parking lot across the street belongs to the university, 2) Tufano's takes cash only - and there isn't an ATM close by. It was obvious Tufano's is a popular local restaurant - cops and business people at nearby tables. The menu is on a chalk board and there were lots of choices the day we went for lunch. Salads are large (our waitress told us 2 would be enough for the 3 of us). We shared salads and a large calamari plate before our entrees. Our friend asked the valet what was good and he suggested the lemon chicken. She saw it on a couple of nearby tables, so ordered it for herself. She declared it excellent. I had a half order of rigatoni with (a very large) meatball. My companion ordered an additional appetizer - brushcetta. Wine was also available. I'd come here again if I lived in Chicago.

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap has been a staple in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood since 1930. Located at 1073 West Vernon Park Place in University Village, east of Racine, a favorite hangout for the University of Illinois-Chicago community, it offers an old school setting with checkered tablecloths and a menu of Italian delicacies, especially veal. Open from 11 to 9 on Tuesday and Wednesday, 4 to 9 on Thursday and Friday, 4 to 10:30 on Saturday and 3 to 8:45 on Sunday, owner Joe Di Buono took over the popular restaurant in 1980 and now runs it with his daughter Darci and sister JoAnn while sister Teresa and daughter Disa wait tables. My wife and I started with bruschetta and fried calamari. I couldn't resist the spaghetti and meatballs. Meanwhile, my wife had o decide which of five veal dishes she wanted to order. Who doesn't like veal? Tasty, lean and healthy. But too expensive for most grocery stores to carry in their meat counters. At home, we get ours from Paulina Market on North Lincoln Avenue and indulge in my wife's recipe of veal scaloppine with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese every Sunday. At Tufano's, she was tempted by the meat ravioli. She loves meat ravioli but rarely finds it on restaurant menus. Finally, she chose veal Limone with angel hair pasta. For dessert, we had tiramisu.

My husband & I enjoyed a delicious dinner at this gem of a restaurant. A really great neighborhood place with fantastic food & friendly service. Joey’s homemade gravy is absolutely the best, it’s like a mouthful of truly yummy comfort food. Pasta is cooked perfectly & with this sauce, yum!! We also had the lemon chicken which was very tender & flavorful. Meatballs are great & the special salad is what you should start your meal with. This was our first time & we cannot wait to return.

First the good news. The prices are reasonable and the portions are generous. However the food quality is averege. The caprese salad had hard and dull tomatoes. The mussels were small and the angel hair pasta was a bit heavy with garlic. Wine prices are fair, reds served, at room temperature in short juice-type glasses, and the choices are ample. The bread was stale but the canoli and tiramisu excellent. The atmosphere is neighborhood tavern-like and be forewarned: they only take cash.