Acanto
Chicago
Visit during Aperitivo Hour for a taste of Italian cocktails and smaller bites.
Located at 18 South Michigan Avenue, Acanto brings a taste of Italy to the bustling streets of Chicago. Nestled within the Cultural Mile and directly across from Millennium Park, it is a prime spot for both locals and visitors looking to enjoy a slice of Italian culinary tradition.
Acanto’s menu is a journey through Italy, featuring dishes that blend the flavors of the North and South. Patrons can indulge in handmade pastas, savor stone-baked pizzas, and explore an array of seasonal specials that highlight Italy's diverse culinary heritage. The dining experience is enhanced by a quiet and conversational atmosphere, making it ideal for leisurely meals.
For those with a sweet tooth, the dessert offerings bring an inventive twist to Italian classics, thanks to the creative influence behind these crafted delicacies. Diners can also sample exquisite artisanal cheeses as part of the dessert course.
Wine enthusiasts will find Acanto's wine program impressive, featuring an extensive list of over 700 wines that span Italy's 20 distinct regions. This wine selection displays both upcoming talents in the winemaking world and rare vintage finds, appealing to both connoisseurs and casual wine drinkers. In addition to the wines, the drink menu offers a selection of traditional Italian cocktails, including spritzes and negronis, alongside craft-worthy options in beers and spirits.
Ultimately, Acanto's ambiance and its dedication to the culinary arts make it a sought-after destination for anyone eager to partake in flavorful Italian fare paired with exceptional wines.
Reviews
Had the lunch pri fixe menu with fennel and arugula salad, buccatini, and vanilla bean gelato. Everything was delicious. Definitely recommend!
The food was really great, and the service was above average. Thankfully, the hostess was able to accommodate our party of six on very short notice. She was extremely polite and immediately said, “Let me check on that before I give you an answer,” which I really appreciated. She was friendly, professional, and made the entire experience start off on a positive note.
I was truly impressed by the outstanding service we received from Austin. We were walking around Millennium Park during our family vacation and decided to stop nearby for lunch, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. Everything exceeded our expectations. The atmosphere was wonderful, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the food was absolutely amazing. Every detail made us feel comfortable and taken care of. Honestly, if the lunch experience was this good, I can only imagine how incredible dinner must be. We enjoyed it so much that we are already planning to come back for dinner before our trip ends. Highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Chicago. Great food, great service, and an unforgettable experience. Thank you, Austin, and the entire team for making our family lunch so special!
Acanto was a fantastic choice! Our waiter, Andrew, had great style and a cool attitude to match, making our visit truly worthwhile. He recommended the focaccia bread and seeded crackers, which were excellent served with olive oil. For our meal, we enjoyed the Calamari appetizer and the Rigatoni, though the Lobster Cappelletti wasn't quite for us. Despite that, we are still giving 5 stars because the service was excellent. We initially planned to dine at The Gage next door but pivoted to their sister location, Acanto, due to seating logistics. We can’t wait to return to try the fish and chips at The Gage! The Gage menu is also shared on this review.
Visiting in Chicago for a couple of days. Did some research on great restaurants and decided on Acanto. We are so glad we did! Acanto is gorgeous — the candles were plentiful and cast beautiful reflections throughout the restaurant. Phillip, our server, was attentive and really seemed to care that we had a wonderful time. The food — absolutely incredible! We started with a couple of items from the happy hour menu — the star was the Aroncini! We have traveled the world and had it in many places from street food vendors to high end restaurants. This was absolutely the best! We then ordered and split the Apple Panzanella — another winner. For entrees I had the Pumpkin Agnolotti, the pasta was amazing and the pumpkin filling so yummy. My husband had the Fusilli which was loaded with seafood. I really enjoyed the Angnolotti and would definitely order it again. We shared dessert, the Torta Barozzi, a flourless chocolate cake, but with a twist — rum caramel! Oh my! It was a lovely way to end the evening. Pic’s of my favorite items are below. We’ll be back!
