Volare Reviews

This place is amazing. Excellent and attentive waitstaff. Gnocchi was fabulous. Husband got Valentine’s Day special with lobster, mussels, squid ink pasta and said it is the best Italian he’s ever had.

Local bello..staffe super efficient and very friendly... we ate very well (Italian cuisine can do) with excellent qualità.Sempre very crowded!

We visited this restaurant on our last day in Chicago! We are so happy we did The food is amazing and cooked to perfection The staff are very kind and friendly Portions are HUGE! Only issue.. and this is personal … I absolutely love squid ink seafood pasta … and order it anywhere I go however I have never had it with tomato sauce … it was really weird tasting !!! Just didn’t belong But everything else was perfect and 5 out of 5

Again, Volare did not disappoint! Wonderful meal and service. Portions are large and could easily provide your lunch the next day.

Excellent food! Pretty good wine list focused on italian wines at relatively fair prices. All employees were very pleasant. Entrees are huge - Risotto Volare could perfectly serve two people. The Tagliata di NY (grilled 12oz prime NY steak) was awsome and the roasted bone marrow incredible. Hope I can return anytime soon.

Visited here last night for the first time while in town visiting. Our friends had made reservations weeks in advance but we still had to wait approx 30 after our reserved time to be seated. We used valet parking, which I would recommend if driving there. Staff was courteous and professional. Jesus our waiter was very kind and attentive. Food was good, not the best Italian I’ve had but good. I had the lasagna which was a bit different in flavor. Overall had a good time with friends.

My wife and I decided to travel from New York to Chicago (my original home) to celebrate our 46th Wedding Anniversary. We chose Ristorante Volare where we have been dining for decades and host an anxiously anticipated company dinner during the Inspired Home Show (formerly known as the Housewares Show). As we enter the restaurant, we see owner Benny Siddu recommending a testing a wine with patrons. When he finishes he immediately recognizes my wife and I, greets us with a big hug and welcome. After asking what brings us to Chicago we said our 46th wedding anniversary. In minutes Benny handed us two glasses of bubbling champagne while our table was prepared. On our way to being seated, our favorite waitress, vivacious Silvana, greeted us with big hugs stating, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith, we are so glad to see you. Things are returning to normal when we see long times friends like you! Happy Anniversary.” While determining which type of Italian wine to select, Richard the Sommelier asked us some questions about our preferences. He suggested a very nice red blend from the Piedmont area Il Baciale Monferrato Rosso which was a fabulous choice. We started with our favorites Caprese salad, Penne a la Vodka, Fettuccini Bolognese. My wife selected Chicken Francese as her entree and a chose a a hearty Veal Chop. Everything was prepared to perfection and absolutely delicious better with each bite. Our wine ran low and Silvan suggested a half carafe of a super Tuscan. Outstanding. As we finished our wine, out comes Benny, Silvana and the available wait staff with a plate of assorted desserts singing happy anniversary! What an incredible touch to conclude our phenomenal evening at Volare. As we are leaving Benny asks where we are staying, told us to be alert, then offered to drive us to our hotel. No we stated appreciatively, we assured him we would be careful. Genuine hospitality shown at a superior level. Once again Ristorante Volare, Benny Siddu and team, delivered beyond our expectations for another unforgettable evening at 201 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL. We highly recommend spending an extra evening in Chicago so you can enjoy this delightful, culinary experience…Italian cooking at its finest. Wesley & Cathy Smith

The owner came from Sardinia in Italy to make a name for himself in Chicago! It includes several wines that are imported from this region by the restaurant itself! The pastas are generous portions and please all palates! The halibut (fish from Alaska) was the special of the day so we had the pleasure of tasting it! Very busy and noisy like every Italian restaurant and even simple in its decor! But the cost-benefit ratio is very good! Special mention goes to the Mexican waiter Alexander who showed a famous balance of competence and attention! The owner came from Sardinia in Italy to become famous in Chicago! It includes several wines that are imported from that region by the restaurant itself! The pastas are generous portions and please all palates! Halibut (Alaskan fish) was the special of the day so we had the pleasure of tasting it! Very busy and noisy like every Italian restaurant and even simple in its decor! But the value for money is very good! Special mention goes to the Mexican waiter Alexander who showed a famous balance of competence and attentiveness!

I am not a fan of the "big" Chicago restaurant scene but this is an exception. The owner is from Sardina, and he knows what he is doing. Hence, the bottarga pasta (good bottarga comes from Sardinia) was delicious. I was with a party of 7 and everyone has a great meal. I would return in a heartbeat. Service was professional. I little noisy, but who cares with food this good.

Place always delivers. The team chatted up my daughter about her Def Leppard concert shirt (proud moment for a dad) and as always the pasta was fantastic. Tiramisu is a must even if you are not hungry.

Wow, this is truly a traditional Italian restaurant. The food and service were exceptional. This is a big, loud family Italian restaurant; everyone is having a great time. Our waiter, Roman, was available with his assistants and made sure our every need was met. I chose the Pollo Alla Parmigians which was magnificent. Everyone in our group of 6 was very pleased with their meal. I highly recommend this restaurant to my friends. Five Stars (May 9, 2025)

If you want an exceptional menu offering of Italian food and wines, this is the place. We appreciated the reservation and suggestion made by Cecilia on the phone to come early if we wanted an outdoor table and we are so glad we did. The specials were wonderful and the waiter helped our selection by recommending options of other sauces for the items we were considering. It was a great evening- excellent service and a nice quaint restauant we will certainly visit again. The house Chianti was very good.

We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here. The food was delicious, and the portions were huge. We chatted with the owner, who was super warm, friendly, and entertaining. We appreciated his humor, candor, and hospitality. The staff were friendly and engaging. It was a memorable night and a great place; we would highly recommend it!

The food was first class, fresh and generous portions. The service was genuine, attentive and overall, a good vibe. It is now our favourite Italian in Chicago, and we will be returning again and again, would highly recommend this restaurant.

Volare was amazing! The staff were very attentive and accommodating. Our waiter was very personable and funny :) Food was delish. I got the Fettucine alla'arragosta and my partner got the chicken parm. Both were exquisite. Definitely go here if you are in the area!

Recently held a business dinner at Volare and they really hit it out of the park! Food was phenomenal,, service was great (Thanks to our waiter Jesus!) And the wine flowed, as it should. Stellar evening

First night in Chicago, flew in late afternoon, checked into hotel and wanted a nice meal walking distance from our hotel. Went to Volare, excellent restaurant and atmosphere, fantastic service. Would recommend highly - but make a reservation!

My wife and I discovered the Volare Ristorante over 30 years ago and now every time we stay in Chicago we always find time for a wonderful meal at this restaurant. We always enjoy the tasty Italian food/wine and the vibrant atmosphere. You almost expect to see Frank Sinatra sitting at a corner table. If you are ever in Chicago and are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant I would highly recommend Volare!!!!

It was a Saturday night and we were three. We did not have a reservation, we politely asked if any tables might be available and after a short wait, a table was provided. The service was impeccable from the moment we sat down. The food even better. After a few appetizers, squid ink pasta, chicken parm, and a bolognese we were quite delighted. The house glass wine recommendation was spot on and the dessert…. The tiramisu was decadent but the crème brûlée was the best I ever had. Thank you Volare Ristorante Italiano for a wonderful meal. I’m happy to have found you.

To me, the key to a great restaurant is atmosphere, food, and service. And Volare hits all three. It's high energy, with a great wait staff ( Nancy you are awesome!) and food out of this world. No need to go into specifics of what we ordered but I will say everything was fresh, delicious with generous portions. Benny and his staff are top notch, and thank you to Cecilia who was able to accommodate a last minute change in our reservation. So bring your friends, get yourself a table, enjoy the wine & food and have a great dining experience.

WONDERFUL Italian food & service!! Our Pendry Hotel Concierge hit the bullseye by suggesting we dine at Volare. Our grilled halibut was a moist, very tender large helping pieces with included green beans and perfectly roasted baby potatoes !! And our penne bouillabaisse was perfectly cooked with a generous amount of meat in its sauce. Plus one of the best, most generous portions of capressi with red, ripe tomato slices . A big YUM on everything!!

The restaurant is a standard Italian style. It is a bit dates and overall one gets a sense that it has seen better days. The carpaccio was amazing but in general the meals weren't something memorable. It wasn't a bad experience in any way, but it wasn't quite worth our short taxi ride.

According to city regulations, restaurants were open only in outdoor tables. In this case, it meant sidewalk tables surrounded with plastic panels, but allowing air exchange. In this particular night, it was 32o F so at first we kept our jackets, but latter, the heaters placed on the floor roasted our legs. My husband ordered ricotta ravioli and a salmon he enjoyed very much. I asked for a tagliatelle with asparagus and prosciutto, with a delicious taste but very overcooked, that fell into pieces every time I took a bite. Next time I will clarify that I prefer "al dente".

Was looking for Italian carry out and this was super close and able to serve even though it was late (hint, if it won’t let you order online because it’s too late, just call, they can take your order on the phone). Food was ready pretty quick, though had to go to the bar and pay separately for drinks and then had to go ask for cutlery. Had the Salad Volare and the bruschetta. The salad was very good and the bruschetta was a “DIY” that had SO MUCH tomato topping but only 4 pieces of bread? Had to throw out the topping but we’re in a hotel and it wasn’t like I could save it for later. Overall, food was good

Food was excellent! I loved my pasta with clams, several folks had the semolina pasta and raved about it, the salmon was also a hit. Caesar salad was fresh and lovely, and the calamari light and flavorful. The tiramisu was phenomenal, very creamy, not too alcoholic or overly drenched in espresso. Portions are huge! Our waiter Madrid completely enhanced the experience. He was extremely knowledgeable about both the wine list and the menu. He made excellent recommendations, and was spot on about how much to order in the way of appetizers which let us enjoy our entrees and dessert! Service was excellent. As a group of eight he (and the kitchen) managed to get everything out correctly and together. I’d highly recommend Volare! We will be back!

This place is so much fun! We sat out doors in the covered patio on a fall evening with heaters on and a rainy back drop out side. Absolutely romantic! Our waiter was o thoughtful and the food was outstanding! We were celebrating an anniversary and he was so attentive to bring extra special ail treats to the table. I love the food and location and the Italian dishes are authentic and made with love. Excellent service!

We had high expectations based on the positive reviews. The dated and tired decor was the first disappointment, and it was downhill from there. The food was mediocre at best. Overall, we regretted choosing it over so many better options.

We had a really good dinner at Volare. The service was perfect, attentive, but nor rushed. The food was wonderful, especially the lasagna. I loved how fresh it tasted. The dishes are really big, in fact we should had shared 2 apps and a main dish. The only thing I didn’t like is that they put us to seat at the patio and it was really hot, even though we had reservations. But I would definitely go back.

Delicious authentic Italian with wonderful service! Nice outdoor seating too. Our server made great suggestions. Nice variety of appetizers and entrees.

Awesome experience. The wait staff is very attentive and helpful. It almost seems like there are more staff than patrons. Place was packed on a Thursday night. Highly recommend the meat, cheese, olives, and sun dried tomatoes. We had the black ink pasta with seafood….Amazing.

The food is great, made fresh and hot! This restaurant is also very friendly and ensures a pleasant dining experience. The food is also very reasonably priced! Highly recommend for a date night or an elegant dinner with friends!

Juileano made our experience outstanding! He managed to make all our needs reality. My daughter raved over his mock tail and the food was fantastic as usual! Thank you!!

My husband and I had just arrived in town and wanted a good dinner near our hotel. Based on menu and reviews, Volare seemed to fit the bill. While our food was delicious (carpaccio, tomato/mozzarella salad, pasta pomodoro and risotto), the overpowering noise coming from a large group of soccer fans celebrating Italy’s win ruined our evening. Their screaming and chanting made any kind of conversation at our table difficult to impossible. Since we had the same server as this group, she was limited in her ability to respond to requests in a timely manner. We waited too long for bread, butter, drink refills, and wouldn’t even consider dessert - we just wanted to get out of there! It would have been nice if the management had stepped in on behalf of all the diners who were having their meals disrupted.

We had a wonderful meal!! We started off with the calamari and it was fantastic. We decided to try the Linguine alla Argosta and we were happy we did. It was amazing. Wonderful flavors and the lobster was cooked to perfection. The staff were all very nice and attentive. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Had a large group go here. Bianca was one of the best service person ever. She answered all our questions about the food, and her attentiveness was excellent. Food was some of the best Italian we have ever had. Definitely will eat here again next trip to Chicago.

We stopped into Volare Ristorante for early supper one recent mid-week day. To our surprise, the Restaurant Week was in full-swing and the offerings on the 4 course meal for $39 looked interesting. We’re so glad we tried them! The warm Kale salad starter was the best we have ever had. It was flavorful and the grilled garbanzo beans added a delicious texture variant to the greens. My Conchiglion was creamy and rich. My companion’s Raviolli pasta was delightfully al dente. His entree was a perfect little ( 4 oz ) fillet. I thoroughly enjoyed a small and flakey piece of sea bass on a bed of fried polenta. We finished by trying lovely tiramisu and dark chocolate mousse desserts. They were exquisite, especially with coffee!

This place impressed us tremendously! Service was attentive, food was high quality, wine menu was extensive. We enjoyed a great Brunello, had bruschetta, tasty main dishes, and gelato for desert! We interacted with the owner several times as he came by the table. Overall a great experience at an authentic Italian restaurant.

While visiting Chicago we had the desire to eat something Italian, so we chose Volare. We were very satisfied, the owner is welcoming and the dishes are truly Italian cuisine. We had pasta with clams and bottarga, Sardinian malloreddus and a seafood risotto. With a glass of white wine and a tiramisu we spent around $120. The place was quite busy, I highly recommend making a reservation.

A group met for dinner, I had never been here. It was excellent on all counts! There were 13 of us, everything was ready when we arrived. It was restaurant week and they had a great menu for it. We started with Al la carte apps- calamari, egg plant, caprese, bruschetta- all excellent! This was followed by the restaurant week menu- a charcuterie tray, rigatoni with squid, clams and mussels, strip bass, and finally a fruit tart. All amazing!! The service was excellent throughout the evening. I would come back in a minute!!

A jewel of a local Italian restaurant. Went on a Monday and it was packed. I had one of the specials and it was excellent. My supper mates has the lasagna and a spaghetti. They were a little less enthusiastic than I was but still enjoyed it. I would recommend.

Last Saturday my friend and I went to Volare Italian restaurant. I think it was my first time there, unless I was there years ago. It is among the best Italian restaurants in Chicago, if not the best. Everything was wonderful. The bread was great. The Caesar salad was excellent, the eggplant parmigiana was fabulous, and the tiramisu was the best I've ever had, including New York and Italy! Our server was extremely helpful and attentive. I can't wait to go back!

Having booked well in advance we were look forward to our first night out on our trip to Chicago . Between the Bruschetta , Misto , Fettuccini bolognese and veal limone we were very happy . Then however our evening went downhill when our waiter after all of that started asking for his tip ??? . We had left cash on the Table but as he had not seen the tip on the bill he was not happy . This behaviour is not good enough and left a bad opinion of the place on us . Never again .

Had the pleasure of dining here this evening with our son and his girlfriend. The food was perfect. The wine was excellent. And Jorge was the most professional server. He anticipated what we would need without being overbearing. I HIGHLY recommend based on service and quality. You will NOT be disappointed.

We were staying just around the corner at the Embassy Suites and were looking for a restaurant within walking distance. What a great find! Our waiter was very knowledgeable with his suggestions -- including splitting their house salad which was more than we could finish and quite good. My wife tried the linguine alle aragosta and was prepared for spicy, but it was not too spicy. She pronounced it the best she has had. I had vitello al Limone and it was very good -- not the best I've ever had but quite good. The owner and managers circulated making sure diners were taken care of. We will definitely return on our next trip to Chicago!

What a little "off the beaten path" gem. It had been recommended by a friend and we made a reservation. Arrancinni were on the specials menu last night and we ordered them. Delicious; crispy on the outside and filled with ham, peas and cheese (and of course, rice). Our Caesar salad was amazing, topped with a thin slice of parmesan (or maybe peccirino ) topped with a fileted anchovy. My gnocchi in vodka sauce was outstanding! The gnoccchi were light and fluffy since they were made with some ricotta as well as potatoes. The only bad thing was that I was unable to eat it all ! My friend's linguini with clams had lots of clams in it. And, the semi-freddo was the perfect end to the meal. Can't wait to go back to Chicago to eat there

This was a recommendation from Russel, our concierge at our hotel. What an excellent suggestion. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, we were treated like a member of the family. The food was amazing as well. Our server (wish I could remember his name. Waiter from Sicily) recommended a great bottle of wine and made great entree suggestions. Great experience. I would highly recommend.

Our server was scatter-brained, but still giving this 5 stars because the busser sort of made up for him and the food was amazing. We started with sharing the Insalata di Mare, which was perfectly presented. I savored every bite of the Fusilloni al Ragu di Vitello. And I certainly didn't regret indulging in the Ricotta and Almond Cheesecake.

Nice atmosphere, recommend making a reservation, especially on a weekend. Wait staff were helpful and they have someone to assist with selecting a bottle of wine. We had the grill octopus, squid and shrimp, was good, would order again. I had the lamb shank which was a special. It was good, but for sure not the best I’ve had. My guests had the ravioli and spaghetti with extra meatballs, both were good. We finished with the cannoli, it was very good! Would definitely go back.

Excellent food, Sergio is great. Got our table right on time despite that the restaurant was packed. Veal limone was outstanding same as the seafood grilliata. Make a reservation otherwise you will face long wait time.

I went for dinner with my wife during my last visit to chicago . All the staff was very kind , attention and service was flawless. Great option if you are staying in the down town area

Top Shelf all the way ! With my wife for New years eve the food and service could not have been better. This ranks among the best Italian I have sampled in New York and Philadelphia. Not much to look at from the outside, but inside...magnifico.

Volare means to fly…and this meal..made my heart soar with memories of my family dinners..Our server, Madrid, made us feel like honored guests, family …he was professional, kind..truly a gentleman…old world server..folded our napkins , held chairs, helped on with our coats..he truly is a gem…we were blessed with his presence…the food was beautifully presented…the calamari lightly battered…perfection…we had gnocchi with vodka sauce.. veal, braciole, wonderful…a lovely wine…a perfect evening…thanks Volare…

Food and atmosphere good. However waiter was rushing us. All smiles and chat during dinner but when he wasn't happy with the tip due to poor service his mood dipped!

This was one of the most spectacular meals we’ve had in a long time! The service was also excellent! Everyone spoiled us including Jesus and Richard. Please do yourself a favor and make this part of your Chicago visit! Just glorious!!

My wife and I had an early dinner on a Wednesday in early November. We were seated and drink orders taken quickly. The staff was engaging and helpful. We ordered an excellent house wine with our bread and good olive oil. The minestrone was different but tasty. My wife’s house salad was excellent with enough for two. I had the seafood ravioli special that was outstanding. My wife’s chicken parmigiana was delicious. The atmosphere is old Italian, like you are at a family gathering! Everyone is happy in this gem of a restaurant in Streeterville. Don’t miss it if you are in Chicago. We won’t.

Delicious italian food! Desserts were amazing too!! Try the chocolate cake and tiramisu! Also the creme brulee looked amazing!

i got the pomodoro spaghetti and it was the best spaghetti i have ever eaten. i also got some meatballs which were very good as well. the bread was so delicious that i just had to eat more than i normally would. the staff was very friendly and kind and made it a safe place to eat during covid. i totally would recommend this place and i hope to come back again soon.

I am Italian and I can say that this restaurant, of Italian cuisine, is really excellent. Fresh meals cooked with ingredients that come from Italy and very kind staff: in particular the owner (originally from Sardinia) has a lot of passion and the waiter who served us (Mr. Salvatore from Rome) was very kind. I definitely recommend it. Fair prices not excessive.. I am Italian and I can say that this restaurant of talian cuisine is really excellent. Fresh meals cooked with ingredients from Italy and very kind staff: in particular the owner (originally from Sardinia) puts a lot of passion and the waiter who served us (Mr. Salvatore di Roma) proved very kind. Definitely Recommendation. Fair prices not excessive.

Very very good. Book early. This place was hopping. A fabulous atmosphere with sumptuous aromas swirling as you enter set you up for a great dinner. The menus is extensive, varied and offered delicious authentic Italian food and wine. The portions are (very) generous. Our waiter, Nick, was excellent. Well worth the money.

Always great food at Volare. Whether its a pasta dish or a seafood entree we are never disappointed. Drinks are always well done too. Service is first class. Always a go to place when in Chicago.

Beautiful restaurant about a block away from the Miracle Mile. Fantastic staff. Place had an old school feel to it. Wife had a very good lasagna and I had the gnocchi alla vodka, made out of ricotta instead of potatoes. Best I’ve ever had. Also had an excellent beef carpaccio. The reservation site said they didn’t have any tables available, so we just walked up to see, and they waved us right in. Best meal of our trip.

Very nice italian food, good value and excellent service made this a very nice evening. The food was hot and plentiful. I went with the seafood linguine special which was excellent, and my partner enjoyed her whitefish. I struggled with the messiness of the lobster though, especially considering it was covered in tomato sauce. A small quibble though, as this really helped solidify Chicago as an amazing place for foodies. It really is a go-to for your Italian stop on a food tour.

We had a great time & the best ravioli ever. Definitely will go again when in Chicago! Our waiter was outstanding & the patrons were all happy!

This was our third visit to this restaurant and it is consistently wonderful. The owners/managers actively help the staff and seat the patrons. No matter what we have ordered everything is fabulous. When we are there we feel like we are at a family operated trattoria in Italy. We would recommend anything on the menu from starters to dessert. There is also an extensive wine list, by the glass and bottle. Just go and enjoy!

The staff is super friendly and efficient. Sat at the bar to eat and have a couple of drinks. The risotto was excellent! Had fun conversation with a waiter who was from Sardinia so we chatted in Italian while he was stopping by for drink orders and another waiter who was trying to get into acting. The bartender was attentive and efficient with my order.

We had two appetizers, 2 mains and two desserts and every single one of them was mediocre. The house made raviolis were pleasant enough, little did we know that was the high point of the night. The NY Prime steak was cooked properly but under-seasoned, embedded in incredibly greasy inedible rice and covered with oily arugula. Once you scraped off everything the steak tasted pretty good, but for $37 I expect better. The side veg were flavorless. Desserts were worse than what you'd find in a diner. Service awful. We waited so long to have our drinks order taken that we ordered food at the same time. And forget about them clearing your plates or filling your wine glass. Also they sat us in a corner where the waiters stood throughout the meal. Once I had to ask them to move as they were touching me and making it almost impossible to relax. A real disappointment.

I travel to Chitown periodically and discovered Volare a number of years ago. The staff is attentive and the food is solid basic Italian. Their entrees are reasonable and most of the pasta is home made. Note that it is a good idea to call for a reservation.

I used to go to Volare regularly whenever I was in Chicago for a trade show. I went with colleagues and entertained clients. With good reason: The food and service s fantastic! Always. When we decided to go to Chicago for a quick trip, going to Volare was a given. It's been nearly 10 years since I was there and it was just as I remembered. On this trip I went with my wife and she loved it too. Never, ever disappointed. Go and find out for yourself!

A not to miss experience. Everything we ordered, from cocktails to desserts, was nicely presented and tasty. The eggplant appetizer was so tasty & delicate. The veal dishes were perfection, as was the pork special. Don't miss this restaurant.

When my wife and I were first married, we lived on East Superior Street, off North Michigan Avenue. One of our favorite dining destinations was Volare. Located at 201 East Grand Avenue, at St. Clair, a short walk from our home, it had the look and feel of an old world Italian restaurant. It still has. Family owned and operated, it opens at 3 Monday through Thursday and at 4 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And, yes, it features one of the best dishes of spaghetti and meatballs and you'll find anywhere in Chicago. It has always been one of my wife's favorite restaurants. She is half-Italian and is partial to Volare's veal medallions sauteed in lemon and white wine with broccoli. Of course, I came for the spaghetti and meatballs with fresh tomato, basil, garlic, olive oil and white wine topped with fresh mozzarella and home-made meatballs in tomato sauce. With a side of baby spinach sauteed with garlic. We started with bruschetta with grilled Italian bread, diced tomatoes, Frantoio olive oil and shaved parmesan, a bowl of minestrone and a Volare-style Caesar salad with parmesan and white anchovies and raw egg. For dessert, we shared a portion of banana bread pudding and chocolate cake with chocolate mousse, chocolate sauce and strawberry. After several years, it was a very enjoyable experience to return to Volare, a very good Italian restaurant that never grows old.

Good atmosphere, Italian food, good service and variety. Highly recommended the carpaccio, seafood salad and breads

Yesterday, we had booked a table at Volare to celebrate my wife’s birthday. When we arrived, the front desk was quite disorganized. After some waiting, the manager offered us a table outside the restaurant. We indicated that we would prefer sitting inside and that we had reserved a table. The manager did not listen and he was quite uninterested in helping us despite a number of empty tables inside the restaurant. We had to go to another nearby restaurant, where we were treated much better. We don’t recommend Volare!

Had a wonderful dinner here during a recent visit to Chicago. The menu and food were excellent. The service was friendly and attentive. Can't wait to go back!

Where I’m from you don’t walk into an Italian restaurant and run into employees who are actually Italian. Even though I’m sure I butchered every pronunciation, our waiter made very good suggestions and they have designated water refill/plate clearing employees which meant we never went thirsty. Calamari starter was lightly fried and the marinara sauce was a million times better than what you get at the store. The gnocchi sounded great but the table next to us had two people order it and neither liked it or took it with them in a to-go box. Chicken parm and risotto very good. What I’m assuming is the owner’s $200,000 Bentley parked in the front (could be customer’s? Like dang what is the markup on this meal?) turned me off but my spouse thought it was a cool flex.

For the second time in two years, we went there for dinner. Packed inside and in the patio. Service was good and the waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful. Roasted beets and kale salad was fresh and delicious. For the main, we ordered Volare risotto (seafood risotto) and spaghetti Neri al Pesce (seafood spaghetti). Both were out of this world.

Have eaten at Volare many times and recently about a week ago. Service very good with place crowed, order and food arrival good timing. Menu is very diverse and has something for everyone including the kids. I've had the chicken parm with pasta and also the pasta with white clam sauce, both have been excellent. My only not so good was the fried calamari which I didn't think was good. Prices are reasonable for downtown Chicago the chicken Parm is $26 with the pasta side not sure that could be any less expensive. Again your in the downtown Chicago right off Michigan ave. Management friendly, servers friendly and place is clean and atmoshere is Italian. I gave it 5 stars and will be there often.

Real Italian food at a nice location, close to Michigan Avenue. Crowed place but of course the reason is the quality of the food, the waiters and the wines.

You have a lot of choices in a city like Chicago but for good, classic, Italian fare this is excellent. I selected it as we had my 2.5 year old granddaughter and kids like pasta! We ordered everything for sharing and were not disappointed. Plus, they had reasonable bottles of wine! Service was classic and accommodating. We ate outside as the night was so pleasant. I’d certainly return.

The food was amazing. I tried the Spaghetti neri al pesce and the Garganelli al Ragu di Manzo. Both were great but I would recommend the ragu. The inside area of the restaurant was loud and very busy when I went so I would recommend sitting outside where you can people watch

We stopped at this restaurant by chance, as we were looking for a place to eat for lunch. We were not disappointed, quite the contrary! The dishes were very good, with a wide choice between pizza, pasta and salads. We were served by a very warm and kind waiter! Only small downside: the terrace is a little narrow... But that is the only negative, everything else was perfect! We highly recommend this restaurant!

There are as many Italian restaurants in Chicago as there are hot dog stands and pizza parlors and sandwich shops. But in our quest to find the best spaghetti and meatballs in the city my wife and I have discovered that, like pizza and hot dogs and sandwiches, everybody has a different twist, a different recipe, a different taste. But there are very few complaints. Not from this diner. One of favorite Italian eateries is Volare, family-owned and operated with an old world atmosphere and a menu of Italian classics masterminded by Massimiliano Compagnini. Located at 201 East Grand Avenue, at St. Clair, a block east of the Magnificent Mile, in the Streeterville neighborhood, it opened in 1997. From 4 to 10 Sunday through Thursday and 4 to 11 on Friday and Saturday, it provides a wonderful dinner escape for businessmen and tourists and shoppers. We started with bruschetta with grilled Italian bread, diced tomatoes, olive oil and shaved parmesan, bowls of minestrone and Caesar salad with parmesan, white anchovies and raw egg. For an entree, my wife chose veal limone, veal medallians sauteed in lemon and white wine with baby spinach sauteed in garlic. It isn't an authentic Italian restaurant without a few veal dishes to choose from. And it isn't an authentic Italian restaurant without spaghetti and meatballs on the menu. In my quest to find the best spaghetti and meatballs in Chicago, Volare made my short list. Its spaghetti al pomodoro with fresh tomato, basil, garlic, olive oil and white wine topped with fresh mozzarella and home-made meatballs and Italian sausage in tomato sauce is as good as it gets. For dessert, we shared large portions of tiramisu and cannoli. My wife, who is half-Italian, gives Volare four stars, her highest tribute. That's good enough for me.

We had a 7:30 reservation, arrived at 7:25 and were seated immediately. Within 2 minutes we had water and our server appeared with menus. The food was outstanding, from the focaccia bread to the almond semifreddo. The Gigliata Mista was exceptional and could have served four. I had the squid ink pasta which was wonderful and my husband had rigatoni with veal ragu, also very good. The only complaint we had is the portions are so large we left some food on the table. Kirsten was our prompt, friendly server and the rest of the service crew displayed the same demeanor. A great evening. We will return next time our travels take us to the Windy City.

This restaurant is delicious !!! Everything I ordered it was excellent! The service and the staff was great, I really recommend this place

Best service we have had since before Covid. Food was good, Mussels were delicious and a little spicy which we love. The service was 5 stars. Our waiter ( we didn’t catch his name), went OVER the TOP to provide us with such an amazing experience. But the perfect hospitality began before we even sat down. We arrived 1 hour before our scheduled reservation, just in case they could squeeze us in on a VERY busy Saturday night. When the hostess checked us in we requested a table outside and were told it was first come first serve, but that she would take note. Within five minutes after checking in, we were sat at a table outside. It was a truly special evening.

This place was so surprising. Who knew Wixom had this hidden gem? Food was very good and so was the service. Looking forward to coming back and trying something new of the the menu. New York strip was a little overcooked however still very good. Will be coming back soon!

Fantastic dinner. We were seated immediately. Wait staff was very friendly and attentive even with it being a busy labor day weekend. The bruschetta was good, but not amazing. The gnocchi alla vodka was incredible. They make them with ricotta and they’re these perfect little pillows that melt in your mouth. It’s also a large serving. Do yourself a favor and get the gnocchi. Finished everything off with maybe some of the best tiramisu I’ve ever had. The ratios in it were perfect. All in all, a great experience. If I’m ever back in Chicago, I know where I’m going.

Okay where to start, this was at five stars all around. Ambiance was great! Where should I start? This was five stars all around. The ambiance was great! The crusty bread and the olive oil, I could drink that olive oil as a cocktail. For appetizer I had the grilled seafood. It was cooked to perfection, perfectly flavorful octopus, calamari, and shrimp. Yum! The marinara sauce for my daughter's pasta was great. But my entrée, the spaghetti carbonara with chopped lobster and shrimp, topped with black caviar that gave a touch of crunch... Carbonara has three simple ingredients but is so simple to mess it up. This carbonara was perfect, thank you Uri. Richard recommended Cabernet Merlot wine that was great. Sara, my server, you deserve a special thank you. You are friendly, knowledgeable, and approachable, with great recommendations. Ask for her, she is from Milan, you will feel like you're in Italy. Even though we were satisfied, we saved some space for dessert. The tiramisu was so delicious. Mascarpone cheese, creamy not overly sweet with the ideal amount of coffee taste. And this was a first. The owner introduced me to his friends and made sure that I arrived back to my hotel door, safe and sound with my daughter. Thank you so much, I will not forget about the experience and will be back soon!!!

What made this a wonderful night was the authentic Italian food and a great atmosphere. This was in no small part made so memorable by Salvatore who was such a great host. Thank you

First make sure you have a reservation as we did. When arrived a large group of people were waiting. But we moved to the front and seated quickly. Atmosphere is business casual but can be a little noisy due to the large crowd. We started with the Bruschetta, Fried Calamari, for main course I had a half order of Lasagna and my spouse had the Lemon Veal. The meal was delicious and of course we ate too much. Portions were decent size and presentation pleasant. Service was friendly and courteous and efficient. We totally enjoyed our meal and definitely recommend this restaurant for dinner. We plan to come back. Valet parking is available.

We visited Volare for dinner this evening on what was a busy Thursday night and the entire experience from service (Jesus) to food and drink was exceptional until we tried to pay our bill. Firstly, my card, which I have used in every restaurant for the last five nights without any problem was declined. Then my wife’s card which has been used about twenty times during this trip and a few times already today, was also declined. Thankfully we also took another card, which worked, but unfortunately this also came with a charge for using abroad. When we returned to our hotel we checked with our card provider and they confirmed that a payment hadn’t even been requested so it seems that a great night could have been ruined by a ‘restaurant error’ and what would have happened if we didn’t come prepared with spare cards…..? It will put us off returning in the future when we are back in Chicago which is a real shame as the service, food and drink was great and the bill was very reasonable.

Excellent food and impeccable service. We dined there New Year’s Eve and it was a wonderful experience. I had filet, lamb, and salmon combo. It was supposed to be lobster but I preferred salmon so our server substituted. Husband had pasta which he liked very much.

Volare was an excellent restaurant. The food was delicious and the service impeccable! Special thanks to Benny Siddu, the owner, for his warm hospitality and personal service. We would definitely return. Highly recommended.

Absolutely amazing dinner as I venture inside a restaurant for the first time since Covid. We were made to feel safe and very welcome in this incredible restaurant. Can’t wait to go back!!

Compared to my hometown, all of Chicago has great Italian food; but when I really want to impress someone with the variety of comfort to fabulous Italian food, I take them to Volare. This trip was a but different. It was just my husband, I, and our picky eater 7 year old grandson. He didn't want anything on the menu. Our waitress said she could get him something special. He didn't want something special and settled on plain grilled chicken! I ate the lasagna, one of my favorites. Its homemade rustic and our waitress described to my husband just like my mother would describe her lasagna- with love of every detail! My husband was torn between the chicken parm and the risotto. So the waitress brought a 1/2 order if the risotto- maybe boy chicken would eat it! But boy chicken became bread boy- devouring the first basket of delicious warm bread varieties. I couldn't help but try the risotto- perfection! My husband said the chicken parm renewed his faith that truly good Italian restaurants could make chicken parm with taste and texture ( his last chicken parm restaurant experience was like eating tasteless, flaccid cardboard) This was perfectly cooked. Back to bread boy. He ordered chocolate gelato and I ordered the green apple sorbet. The Sorbet was sharp tart and fabulous. Bread by tried some and took my bowl! He informed me I could put the gelato on the biscotibut only take a bite! Each bite was sinfully delicious! The service excellent, excellent, excellent! We have had pretty bad service this trip since COVID pandemic undid the restaurant industry- but here- this was like coming home!

It is an elegant, nice and lively place where you will find tasty Italian food and Good wine. We had lassagna, pizza Bufalina (mortadela was awesome), Tagliere salami and risotto Fattoria. All the dishes were big and very tasty but a little overpriced if you go with your kids. The next time we will go as a couple to Enjoy the more romantic experience.

Go to Chicago often but first time to Volare. Everything about it was excellent from the atmosphere, service, and of course the food! We were celebrating my wife's birthday and couldn't have picked a better place. We will be back again without a doubt! Do yourself a favor and go there!

Volare is always a solid choice for authentic Italian in Chicago. This was our second visit to the restaurant, and we enjoyed our experience dining on the patio this time. Our waiter was prompt and accommodating, as this trip I needed gluten free options. The gluten free pasta bolognese was fantastic, and the portions are huge! Don't forget to get a reservation, as this place will be busy. We will definitely eat here again when in the city.

We ate at Volare’s during our recent visit to Chicago and oh.my.god....if you can appreciate authentic Italian food - this is the place for you! The staff was wonderful: friendly, genuine and professional and the service and turn around was fast! The Insalata Di Mare was the best I’ve had outside of Sicily itself! This place will be on our bucket list for our next visit for sure!

Very friendly and attentive staff, excellent food, busy atmosphere with large wine list. Bread was delicious and menu was extensive. Definitely returning!

My family and I went to Volare for an early dinner around 4:00 p.m. last night. Overall, I’d rate the food closer to a 2.5, but the excellent service brought my rating up to a 3. Even though the restaurant wasn’t busy, it took nearly 40 minutes for our three entrées to arrive. Our server was wonderful, attentive, friendly, and apologetic about the delay, which we really appreciated. For dinner, we ordered the Linguine Arselle e Bottarga (Volare’s version of pasta vongole), the halibut special, and a pasta with Italian sausage and cheese that was served in a small casserole dish. Unfortunately, none of the dishes really impressed us. The halibut was extremely salty, lacked a sauce, and the side potatoes were mushy and tasted like they came from a box. The sausage and cheese pasta reminded us of an upside-down pizza more reminiscent of Hamburger Helper dish than an authentic Italian dish. The linguine with clams also fell flat, coming across as bland and uneventful. Given the price point and reputation, we expected more. Honestly, chain restaurants like Francesca’s or Maggiano’s offered a better tasting dishes for us. While the service was top notch, the food was a disappointment, and we wouldn’t return or recommend Volare based on this visit.

Visited from KC for a conference and had dinner. We totally enjoyed the entire experience. The food and service was great! Enio was great!!! He did an excellent job and answered all of our questions. Looking forward already to another visit to have dinner…

Fantastic food, excellent service. The daily dinner specials were varied and uniformly wonderful (we each had something different, but shared - I had Alaskan halibut: moist and flavorful) A busy evening but still we were able to hear everyone talk. Will be back!

Dinner at Volare was terrific. The dining rooms are lively, with patrons enjoying conversation, dinners with family and friends. The restaurant was crowded, with a waiting list, but our reservation was promptly honored. Service was superb and smiling. The dishes were each expertly prepared: a special appetizer of sausage-stuffed peppers went perfectly with the complimentary focaccia; Salad Volare was a generous portion including meats, cheeses, and nicely dressed vegetables; rolled, stuffed eggplant came in a sublime sauce; a creamy risotto with chicken and peas was delicious and hearty. A wonderful experience- we will be back!

The food was good and the service was satisfactory but our overall experience did not meet our expectations. Maybe because we felt that the. service had been a bit rushed that evening. For example, the main course was served and we had not even finished our cocktails. When we go out for dinner on a Friday night, we want to be able to take our time and enjoy our experience. We don’t need to feel pressured or rushed to eat fast .

This is a thriving, lively Italian restaurant. The food is excellent and the staff go out of their way to ensure everyone has a good time. Portions are extremely generous. The salads are particularly good.

Made a reservation for a Friday night while in town with my daughter. The food was really good, the wine selection was nice and the wait staff were excellent. The portions are large so be prepared for that or split a meal. It was a very busy place on a Friday night so I suggest reservations if you want to eat before 9pm. I would definitely recommend it.

We went here last minute because it was close to our hotel with good reviews. AMAZING food wine and cocktails! I ate from the special “Chicago restaurant Week” menu and my husband had squid ink risotto - everything was delicious and cooked to perfection! Highly recommend!

We were seated immediately and they acted like they were happy we were there. Nancy, .”our server was friendly and very attentive. The linguine with clams and Botarga was outstanding. The clams were really small but cooked perfectly. We were glad we split the pasta as the portion was huge. The pesce bianco with a lemon and caper sauce was again huge but delicious. The veal chop pounded for veal Milanese was delicious. The homemade gelato was really good, especially the supmoni. Not traditional but really good.

I discovered Volaré a few years ago when I was staying at the Intercontinental on Michigan. The restaurant is just behind the hotel. It has since become my favorite Italian restaurant anywhere. I was just in Chicago for work a couple weeks ago and I dined there twice in three days. I took a group of nine and then a more intimate party of four. Everyone loved it. The Formaggi, Insalata Volare, Spaghetti Neri and Bolognese are some of my faves. Benny and his staff know how to do it and do it right. The food, drinks and service can’t be beat.

I can’t say enough great things about Volare. I called earlier in the day and spoke with Cecilia. I made the reservation and asked for a nice table to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We were greeted and seated by the owner and treated like royalty during the entire visit. We started with Carpaccio and for the entree I had the “Volare”, a seafood risotto dish. My wife had the “Fusilloni”, a veal and noodle dish. Both were excellent and the serving size was huge! The prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food! Afterwards they surprised us with a tiramisu dessert plate with cookies and fruit, and sang happy anniversary to us. The entire experience could not have been better and we will recommend Volare to anyone coming to Chicago, and return on our next trip. Thanks to everyone at Volare! Truly our best dining experience in Chicago and a memorable 20th anniversary!!

We have always loved Volare and they are certainly stepping up during the Covid pandemic. Took home a wonderful dinner tonight. Risotto with chicken, STELLAR!! Linguini with clams, delicious!! We will be picking up again soon, we really enjoyed it. Hang in there Volare, we can’t wait t return and dine in your lovely restaurant ❤️

Booked this place based on reviews. The outside did not look like much and almost cancelled. So glad we did not. Please note that you absolutely must have a reservation. The place is incredibly busy. Nothing unusual as we have found this to be the case in most good restaurants in Chicago. The food was great. The service was awesome. Our server Jason, was informative, energetic, positive and made us feel at home. Great evening.

We made a June reservation back in April. When we arrived, our table was not ready and we were told to go stand by the bar. The seats along the bar were full and there there was literally no place to stand that was not in the way of staff rushing by. It was very loud and impossible to carry on a conversation while we awkwardly waited to be seated for 15 minutes. Once at the table, which was located towards the back of the restaurant, it was somewhat quieter. There were many gluten free options on the menu. We shared the jumbo prawns and the salad. Then my husband had spaghetti with meatballs and I had the veal with roasted potato wedges and broccolini. The food was excellent and the table service superb.

My wife had linguini with lobster. I had the salmone e caponata and I think our son had veal. The food was outstanding, even the appetizers and salads. The service was also impeccable. A reservation is recommended, but I would give this gem a 5+ if I could.

I got a reservation at this popular spot based on Trip Advisor and overall it was good. The atmosphere is convivial and our server was terrific throughout. The appetizer platter we ordered of salumi, cheese and such was great. My wife and I each got a bowl of the minestrone and it was wonderful with great depth of flavor. My wife got a pasta bolognese and it was great as was a side of sauteed spinach and a couple meatballs. I ordered the Volare Risotto with lots of seafood and squid ink risotto. The rice was very good even if the overall presentation got a bit muddy. But the menu promised scallops, shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, and lobster. I found one scallop. I found two small shrimp. I found 3 mussels one of which did not taste good. I found 4 tiny clams and no lobster at all. It was abundant with calamari but though it was edible, it leaned toward the rubber band side of the calamari spectrum. It was disappointing. At one point someone who must have been on the management side of the operation stopped at our table to ask how it was. I was honest with him and then, to my surprise, he started to argue with me. He claimed no lobster was supposed to be in the ristotto. Since Volare has you scan in the main menu on your phone, I pulled it up and enlarged that part of the menu that promised lobster and scallops among other things. He seemed flummoxed and said he would get back to me. We never saw him again but they did comp the entree. The customer is not always right but . . . sometimes they are and for sure you don't argue. Overall, a good evening but not altogether what I was hoping for.

What a wonderful place with super service and very tasty food. The caprese salad with bufala mozzarella was amazing with a wonderful dressing. I had the risotto with chicken, peas and four cheese sauce. This was so good that the others kept asking to taste more. The other entrees ordered were ravioli with ricotta, fettuccini Bolognese, and linguini with lobster meat. All were excellent and served in ample quantities...better be hungry when you go here! The atmosphere was warm and the service was outstanding. This was well worth the 45 minute drive from our hotel.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Took my mom here after visiting Monteverde the night prior which was a tad disappointing. However, this meal was not. Started our night off with a few cocktails at the bar with this extremely sweet bartender. Service/staff excellent. The pasta and food exceptional. Portions are large and I always say..you can tell it’s a good italian restaurant when the tomato/other sauces are good. Can’t recommend this place enough!

Highly recommend the Squid Ink Pasta and Chicken Parmigiana. The Somm was excellent as well, we loved our bottle of Barbaresco! The staff was excellent and so was the ambiance. Can’t wait to come back.

This place is all business-no personal touches. The food tasted mass produced and my spaghetti was overdone with no seasonings in the marinara. Tiramisu has chocolate syrup on top. Had to ask for water refills 3 separate times and were hurried out once we were done w our meal. This is tourist oriented and not sure why it Came highly recommended. We spent almost 200 dollars on a below average meal without drinks!

We found that this place seems to be popular for dinner, it's definitely not a good idea to go without a reservation. That said, even with a reservation, we ended up waiting for 15 min to get seated. Not good. Service was underwhelming. We had to ask for the wine list 3 times, and one of us got served the wrong wine. We asked for more bread, that never came. The food itself was basically OK, not much flavor and a bit on the salty side. The place was very lively, to the point that it was hard to carry on a conversation.

We had a delicious dinner with family. The gnocchi was delicious. The spaghetti niero was excellent . The lasagna was wonderful. We had a lovely evening. Definitely authentic Italian. Service was impeccable

Volare's Lasagne we recommended on my newsfeed as the best in the state of Illinois. I was skeptical, but when it was only 3 blocks from my hotel, I had to give it a try. The lasagne is excellent, set off by the smoothness of homemade pasta. Can't beat that! But, what did beat the food was the atmosphere and service. Although reservations are customary, this is a large enough restaurant that they do accommodate walk-ins with some comfort. I was there early on a Sunday night. The service was outstanding. I had 6 people that added to my dining experience. What I appreciate is that no one asked what I needed. Instead, they saw or anticipated my needs and provided the service in a professional and unobtrusive ways. I hope you get that I am recommending Volare's.

Wow! What an experience! Madrid was our waiter, and he made the evening! Great service, food was excellent, his recommendations and knowledge of the drinks and food were awesome! Highly recommend Madrid and the restaurant. Will definitely go there when in Chicago.

I write these notes here to remind myself where to eat (here plus elephant & castle) and where not (Roma Akor and Shula’s) when I travel. This place is a happnin hangout with tons of locals who know the bartender and clearly visit often I had a vodka martini (excellent and big) and a beef bragiole (hope I remember that right) off the specials. Go.

If you want original Italian cuisine, look no further, no plain trip needed… also , amazing hosts and staff that will treat you like family. Generous portions and very reasonable price. I had a lobster pasta and my husband the short ribs, both unbelievable!!! We will be back! True gem.

The food here is amazing and the service is excellent. I’ve dined here twice in the last two months on business with small groups of 8-12. Both times I was expecting to have long waits, food delays, etc. and it was the opposite. Cristiano happened to be our server on both visits. He is a true professional and makes excellent recommendations. The restaurant is run very efficiently. Looking forward to returning in September with my spouse.

Highly recommended! Food and staff are great! Love this restaurant! The pasta sauce is the best I’ve ever had and the wait staff is wonderful! A must visit eatery! We were Chicago for two nights and had dinner at Volare both nights.

Best food with top staff. We were greeted warmly and served quickly. We even got a wonderful cocktail on the house from the chef. I'd love to come back with my daughter. ❤️

This was my first night in Chicago and the restaurant was highly recommended by hotel staff. The service was great and i got salmon wuth vegatables. I was thhrilled with the taste as it was cooked just how i ordered it.

We went on a very busy mid-week nite. I made reservations on-line and we were seated immediately at a nice table. Danny, our waiter provided superb service. The ink seafood pasta was excellent. cannot recommend the quality and service enough.

Food wAs great. It was a busy Saturday night, we had a reservation but still ended up waiting a long time (more than 20 mins). It was a good thing bar seating opened up, which we didn’t mind. Bartender was friendly. Extensive drinks and food menu. Everything we ordered was very good - Caesar salad, black pasta and the sea bass. Tiramisu was authentic, had a hint of liqueur and a good amount of chocolate. Not related to the food - the guy who looks like the manager was supporting his staff and complimenting the kitchen crew that they were doing a good job. This was nice to see. Definitely would recommend this place!

This is my 10th time going to Volare in Chicago. The bread is fantastic. The service is great the wine, the pasta, the salad everything tiramisu is out of this world fantastic Italian restaurant. I must stop in Chicago.

Fish was excellent. A little on the expensive side. Mixed fish starter had a bit too much balsamic. Service good. Busy atmosphere.

I absolutely loved my dish, Malloreddus Alla Sarda. It was cooked perfectl - probably the best Italian dish I've ever had. My daughter ordered the spaghetti Parm and really enjoyed it. Our friends did not enjoy their spaghetti Parm and ravioli. The bruschetta was ok but I'd have loved more basil.

We had a wait despite booking Once you got seated service was excellent but food was very average although lots of it Compared to other Italian restaurants this is overpriced

Tremendous Italian restaurant near the lake and Michigan ave. Ever had a bad meal here. Gnocchi. Pasta with veal ragu. Broiled seafood. All good. Service friendly and attentive.

Great place, the hostess were very polite. The service is also great, professional. Great for pretty much every occasion! Food as well great, good portions and delicious. The pastas are perfectly cooked and have a lot of flavour.

Our hotel recommended this place, and they were spot on. Looks like a family establishment and the place was buzzing with customers. Our pizza was very good, but the lasagna was excellent. The lasagna alone could easily have fed 2 people as could the pizza. Obviously we had leftovers. The food and service were both excellent.

This very popular always busy restaurant is at least as good as ever. Danny, our waiter, was a gas, and the food was excellent as always and a good value. Will continue to return there.

This is a fantastic restaurant. We had booked with them to bring a group of 25-30 people to the restaurant for dinner. We work with Cecilia to plan the meal. She was extremely helpful with all aspects of our planning. Once we got there on the night of the dinner everything was ready and in place. The wait staff was amazing and attentive throughout our event. The food was excellent and received rave reviews from everyone in our group. I highly recommend Volare whether you're doing a dinner for two or for 30. It would make an excellent choice.

The busiest Italian restaurant downtown Chicago. Having the best dinner experience with fritto di calamari, spaghetti neri, gnocchi vodka, Volare risotto and tiramisu. Such an amicable day with the delicious food, awesome service from the door to the table. All the staffs are working really hard. I highly recommend everyone to experience the Italian cuisine in the heart of Chicago!

Haven't eaten a thing but Saturday night crowd and vibe plus service tells me this place is special. Bartender knows everyone, waiters long timers. Ambience pure Italian. Two thumbs up 👍 👍. Way up!

Fantastic food but so impressed by the staff. We had just arrived in Chicago that afternoon and had gone to the Navy Pier. We were ready to eat and had past by this restaurant on the way to the Navy Pier and though there was some great places to eat at the pier we decided Italian sounded good. Took a chance on Volare but the wait time was an hour and 45 minutes. It had already been a long day and I told my daughter let’s go on and see if there is someplace close to the motel. As we were leaving, a man stopped us and told us he would have a table in 5 minutes, A table was set up for us on the patio area in a matter of 5 minutes. He was so nice as was the young man carrying the table out and the waiter who took our order. Would give them ten Stars if possible not only for the food but for them being so kind to a couple of visitors to their city.

We brought our small family company here for a wonderful meal to celebrate St.Patrick's day. The service was outstanding and the food was some of the best Italian food we have ever had. The Ceasar salad and pasta were amazing. Can't wait to come back when we're in Chicago next time.

I was in he mood for old-school Italian and this place had baked clams and veal scallopini on the menu so decided to give it a try. I sat at the bar and was well taken care of as far as prompt and friendly service by the female bartender. Had a quartino of a nice Italian sauvignon blanc that was reasonably priced, and the complimentary bread with olive oil and parmesan was tasty and much appreciated. The baked clams were very small Manila clams, not the usual east coast cherrystones or top necks. They were stuffed with seasoned breadcrumbs and served over some sort of tomato based sauce. These were not what I had in mind as I love a well-executed baked clam (chopped clams with onions, peppers, garlic, oregano and breadcrumbs was what I was craving) but these were disappointing on a few levels. The only reason I finished them was because I was really hungry. Upon the dining room manager's recommendation I ordered the veal marsala, which came with seared brussel's sprouts and a small slice of potato gratin. I also added a side of fettucine alfredo (hey, I was hungry!). The veal was a very adequate sized portion of 3 or 4 thin pounded cutlets, and they were properly cooked and tender, but obviously not seasoned at all. Very bland. The marsala sauce had little to no marsala wine flavor, and the overwhelming flavor that did come through was that phony tasting modified wheat starch used as the thickener in fake brown sauces. Once you know what that tastes like, you can never un-taste it. The potato gratin was decent but I focused on the fettucine which was ok if not a little heavy and thick as the sauce congealed with the pasta. The brussel's sprouts were on point and delicious, clearly the highlight of the entire meal.

Been comming here for decades. Business meetings, friends, family what ever, its always excellent! We ordered some meat balls and Calamari for apps. Both where fantastic! The main courses consisted of Fettuccine alla Bolognese, Rigatoni all' Arrabbiata. Both dishes were prepared perfectly. The Bolognese was fantastic, and authentic, like being in Bologna! The Rigatoni was also great, prepared with pancetta, the sauce was excellent. The owner and manger came over to chat. Fantastic service. Only down side was, if you order expensive liquor, make sure the bar tender brings you the CORRECT liq. We ordered Belvenie, they brought us Johney Black. I correct they brought the right drinks immediately. Btw they didn't comp us for that..only downside of the evening

Went there on a whim as it was near our hotel. Inquired of folks leaving—all said it was delicious, delightful, nice… no indoor seating as all tables were reserved. Didn’t mind though. Our server (‘Ariana Pamela’) was most attentive to us, efficient, kind! Her colleagues were also responsive throughout our dinner stay (water refills, bread, clearance of dish ware but not overbearing, intrusive! ). Unfortunately we will be returning to the area for medical attention at Northwestern but a highlight will be returning to Volare!

This is a very busy restaurant, but it runs like clockwork. Owner was very visible. Our server was excellent and recommended dishes which we all enjoyed. Excellent dining experience. When in Chicago again, we will definitely return.

Even though it was full, a table was fixed for us, but the cold wind was blowing from the window section. But good service and good management, and a really good atmosphere. We ate pizza and they were excellent. Highly recommended.

Local family-owned old world Italian restaurant. Diverse menu of homemade classics made it difficult to choose. We had their tagliere misto (charcuterie) board for 2 , shared a Caesar salad, the sea bass special and the Volare (seafood) risotti. Everything was excellent! Generous portions will have you leaving with leftovers! Enjoyed the bustling atmosphere of the restaurant and our waiter, while extremely busy, who was on top of everything. Nice evening. One tip though - we had 7:30 reservations and we weren’t seated until 8:15. This restaurant, like so many others, needs additional employees. The owner cannot find anyone who can competently fill the open positions so the overall service is impacted. This is soooo unfortunate. Please do try this amazing little spot, but pack your patience and go with a spirit of generosity.

My wife & I had a great experience. We shared a Burrata and then she had the veal and I had the lasagna. Both were excellent in presentation as well as flavor, and portions were generous. We chose an Chianti reserve wine and it was very good. Another place we can return without thinking it twice. Eliseo, our waiter, was very good and attentive. To the minimum detail. Thank you Eliseo and the rest of the Team, for a wonderful experience.

This was close to where we were staying on out long weekend and with us both having a craving for Italian food we checked it out. We hadn’t booked but they were able to seat us outside in the coveted area which is heated and is toasty warm. We didn’t catch our servers name but he was brilliant and even gave us a great recommendation for breakfast the following day. The food was served quickly and was really tasty. If we are ever in the area again we will be back.

Fun, vibrant place with amazing service and food. Madrid was our waiter and was top notch. He helped us choose dishes and was so friendly and attentive. Everything on the menu was really good! Definitely recommend for groups.

I usually don’t frequent Italian restaurants when I’m abroad but being in the company of foreign friends I tried this restaurant. I would say I was not disappointed, good and honest cuisine, traditional Italian dishes cooked in a homely way, all well done. Very hospitable and kind staff, very generous portions!!

Fantastic! The best service and Italian food we have ever had ! I have never had such flavorful amazing lasagna. Staff was fantastic. Absolute Italian experience very one needs !

We had a mediocre take out dinner from Volare. The food was mediocre with poor calamari, lasagna and arrabiatta. The only dish we thought was good was gnocci. The prices were reasonable. We received the food in a reasonable time.

We had dinner here after a long tourist fjord in Chicago. Carlos, the waiter who served us, was extremely kind and efficient handling my wife's dairy problems perfectly. The food was very good, consist that we are not in Italy. Maybe a little expensive...

I booked ahead for a birthday dinner for 14 people while in town for the holidays and called a few times to change the # of people on the reservation and they were very accommodating and friendly about it each time. The ambience was lively and the service and food was excellent; I had the lobster linguine which I am still craving and my sister-in-law raved about the risotto but everyone loved what they ordered. It was the old school, Italian experience I was looking for and I’ll be returning again whenever I am in Chicago.

Quaint, reasonable, delicious Italian! Pasta was divine and dessert was amazing! Staff attentive and helpful with selecting wine by the glass…can’t wait to return the next time we visit Chicago!

The food and service were excellent. I highly recommend. Atmosphere, wine, cannolis and feeling of family! I really enjoyed this restaurant after a long day and will most definitely be back!

Although you may have a wait, as it’s very highly rated, it’s worth it. Waiters and seconds are both very attentive and the food comes out hot from a kitchen runner, not the waiter, ensuring it’s delivered immediately after it’s cooked. I seriously doubt you’ll find something not cooked to your liking!

We were a group in town for the Notre Dame football game staying in town near this fine Italian restaurant. We dealt with Cecilia for the reservation of 12 of us on a busy Saturday night . We were prompt seated at 6:30 and our terrific waitress handled the group well . Appetizers here were superb . The eggplant rollatini was awesome . Insalata Volare delicious . Portions generous . Everyone loved their entree choice from thin sliced veal in a light lemon sauce to fettuccine bolognese. Save room for dessert . The house made tirimisu is Devine as was the dark chocolate gelato . Reasonably priced wine list . If I lived in Chicago it would be my new favorite Italian restaurant. Fairly priced considering the excellent quality of the food .

The best Italian meal I have ever had, the Lobster was to die for. Service was first class and nothing was too much trouble. The only problem is make sure you book a table as it is booked up because it us so good.

Arrived early for our reservation and were seated immediately on the patio; as requested. Service was amazing! Jorge was friendly and efficient. He answered every question and made great recommendations. The food was excellent - from start to finish. Here on vacation; but, will definitely return when in town.

I highly recommend you visit this restaurant for authentic Italian cuisine in Chicago. This place was filled with locals, all clearly repeat customers. The service and food were excellent. I would go back next time in town.