A Tavola
Chicago
At a glance
Located in Chicago's Ukrainian Village, A Tavola offers diners an authentic Northern Italian culinary experience. This restaurant is known for its traditional recipes and hand-selected ingredients that transform each dish into a journey through the finest flavors of Northern Italy. Guests can enjoy renowned dishes like the legendary gnocchi with browned sage butter, a house specialty that has captivated diners for decades. Each meal can be paired with a handcrafted cocktail or a selection from an Italian wine list, enhancing the dining experience.
A Tavola provides a variety of intimate spaces perfect for hosting personal celebrations. From milestone anniversaries to business gatherings, the venue's elegant layout ensures that every occasion feels special. The charming La Terrazza patio allows for dining under the stars, providing a lush urban oasis atmosphere that is particularly enchanting during spring and summer. Whether for a rehearsal dinner or an al fresco celebration, this setting adds a touch of magic to any event.
The restaurant's atmosphere mirrors the warmth and simplicity of a traditional Italian home, making each visit feel welcoming and personal. A Tavola emphasizes not just the quality of its food but the creation of a convivial environment where guests are treated like family. This commitment to hospitality and culinary excellence continues to define the dining experience at A Tavola, making it a favored destination for those seeking a taste of Northern Italy in Chicago.
Reviews
Boutique Italian restaurant, hidden away in a 2 flat. Very nice patio for al fresco dining if that is your preference. Friendly staff, curated wine list, and daily menu specials.
Loved everything about this place! The food was amazing! Tonight I ordered the stuffed calamari and it is now my favorite dish in GE! Gina the owner is attentive and checked in on us a couple of times. Cathy is also a great bartender. Very authentic Italian food. Can’t wait to go back.
If you enjoy the feeling of accidentally breaking into someone’s house for dinner, A Tavola is the neighborhood gem for you. It is remarkably easy to miss from the street, and yes, that is the correct door. When you open it and immediately find yourself standing at someone’s table, don't panic—just keep walking toward the counter to find the hostess. It’s intimate, dark, and thankfully avoids the deafening roar of most modern dining rooms. We kicked things off with the limoncello martini, which comes with a sugar rim that adds a bit of "fun" to the start of the night. The focaccia was genuinely yummy and packed with flavor, which was lucky because I needed it to survive the olives—they were aggressive enough with the heat that the bread became a necessary safety measure. The service is patient and friendly, which is helpful when you need someone to guide you through the logistics of the menu. On the pasta front, they’ll let you upscale the gnocchi to an entree size, but I found it a bit too heavy on the cheese to actually let the brown butter shine. The short tubes, however, were a much bigger hit and arrived in a very respectable portion. If you have any room left, the panna cotta is creamy, smooth, and highly recommended. It’s the kind of place that feels like a well-kept secret, provided you can find the door on the first try.
A Tavola was an amazing atmosphere that we loved dearly. The intimate setting made our meal feel very special, and we loved every second of it. The martinis were excellent, and in my opinion, rival the most famous steakhouses and restaurants in the city. Not to mention, they are amply sized. We got the burrata special appetizer which was excellent along with the house bread and olives. We also had the Casio e Pepe and the filet which both tasted fantastic. The filet was more medium than medium rare, so keep that in mind if you prefer more pink/red in your steak. Every restaurant operates on a different scale! Our server, Tim was fantastic. We were the only patrons for a good portion of the night as it was a colder weeknight, but Tim made us feel as though we were in our own dining room! He was extremely welcoming and truly added so much to our experience. We loved our visit and plan on coming again with company to try the veal and florentine steak!
It’s my new favorite place! They have half-price wine bottles on Tuesdays, great service, and the staff are so easy to talk to. Perfect cozy spot for a date night.
