It's clear this is the type of place that has very loyal diners. It has the look of an unassuming, family style, classic Italian eatery, but the vibe inside reads sophistocated and wealthy. The service was absolutely phenomenal and staff seemed authentically genuine and like they love what they do. The sort of place where you feel instantly welcomed on your way in and personally invited back on your way out. The food was rich, flavourful and indulgent. Everyone enjoyed their food and portions are large too. It's not trendy or hip, but it's classic and warm Italian. I understand why their diners are so loyal.

Absolutely amazing! Love this historic gem! Food is stunning! Staff and service are always looking for and anticipating what you may need . My favorite restaurant in Chicago. We just moved from Atlanta. It's a special place that probably is tied to a certain era that is hard to find and once you find it, you realize that there may not be any more of these left. Just go often and enjoy is my recommendation. Love it!

A true gem of a restaurant! We absolutely love the La Scarola. The service is always friendly and fast. They treat you like family here which is a rarity these days. Our food was out of this world. I had the special, halibut, and my husband had the veal chop. And although I asked for no salt in my dish, it was packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. The atmosphere is great too! Old school Italian all the way. Definitely give this classic a try!

Holy Amazing Italian! What a truly fantastic place I wouldn’t have known of it wasn’t for our host knowing of this spot. Everything was truly wonderful, 3 of us had the best corner table, sampled a majority of the menu, and were able to transact over dinner to work on a great business relationship to start. The Veal Chop was insane and the Carbonara which isn’t always offered was made special for our table, a great meal with authentic preparations that made me think of my times back in Italy. Absolutely, every time I come back to Chicago, I’m coming back. I can’t recommend a better italian restaurant than this one!

Calamari and sausage and peppers were outstanding but the highlight of the meal was the tiramisu. Easily the best tiramisu I’ve ever had. My main chicken entree was delicious but a lot more oily and rich than necessary, and everyone I dined with felt bad after the meal. The service was noticeably poor. at one point we tried to order a cannoli and the waiter refused because he had already closed us out and was too lazy to open a new tab. We were all shocked since we’ve never had a restaurant refuse to take our money before.

Came to dinner with the family. Excellent. Classic and Traditional. Feels like home. The ambiance was great with an affluent clientele. The menu is superb. Quality in every category.

This is one of the best Italian restaurants I have been to having great character in an old school atmosphere. The service was amazing and that includes the food also. Eggplant Parmesan cooked perfect along with the sauce being season and spiced. The octopus was cooked absolutely out of this world and tasted amazing.

It’s really old school American Italian food-a lot of sauce. The pastas are good, but I wouldn’t say it’s amazing. The fried calamari is surprisingly good, very fresh, chewy inside crispy outside. Tiramisu is top 3 from what I’ve had. The service is okay, and either the fountain drinks or the ice tea is not free to refill (Hello? Really?) It’s a decent restaurant, but kinda overrated, so don’t have too high expectations.

I mean, this is Chicago so there are 1001 Italian spots in this city but if you’re looking for a nostalgic place with la famiglia 🤌🏼 vibes this is your spot. I have always come here for the amazing authentic atmosphere but the reason I gave it 5 stars is the food has really picked up the pace. We ordered the shrimp appetizer placed on a bed of mashed potatoes (who TF would have thought 🤯) drenched in an amazing red sauce that you’ll want to save your bread for. Second dish we split the rigatoni with meatballs. Huge portion and again the sauce was incredible. Finally, finishes with the Steak Vesuvio and it was incredible. Accompanied by some steak house style potatoes drenched in another amazing sauce. This place is the real deal and is one of the only Italian joints I consistently come back to. You pay for the authenticity, now the food is just a bonus.

What a unique Chicago gem. Definitely a must-visit place in the city!! From the moment you walk in, the owner, Armando, makes sure to make each guest coming in feel like part of a big Italian family. No one passes through the door without being asked their name and hometown, even on a busy and overbooked night like Valentines Day. We had to wait for a long time (if you really hate waiting I would not book this place on a big holiday) but it was so worth it for the delicious food and experience. The setting has charm that’s difficult to describe: it’s super cramped and all the tables are very close together. It’s the classic dim lighting, checkered table cloths, photos of famous people with the owner covering every inch of the walls, bread and olive oil on the table type of place. But the intimacy of it makes for a very personalized and romantic experience. The food was excellent and the portions are ENORMOUS! Definitely order the pasta faggiole soup if you’ve never had it. The wine was also good and reasonably priced. Definitely will be coming back! Don’t skip: the grilled calamari, veal chop allá gabe, rigatoni mandera

It had been over 2 years since we have dined at La Scarola due to living in Florida and COVID but they didn’t disappoint and exceeded our expectations. I was celebrating Father’s Day with my family. The service was outstanding and the food was amazing! Our favorite restaurant is run by Armando and he is the best. Thanks for a delicious meal and great memories. See you soon as our son now lives in Chicago.

Hands down the BEST Italian in Chicago maybe even outside of Italy. Service is always prompt and warming. I highly recommend the meat lasagna and it can easily be shared so you can save room for tiramisu for desert or try two main courses between 2 people. If getting a second main I would recommend the chicken parmagiana. Can't go wrong. It's a very quaint and charming atmosphere and if you're lucky you'll run into a celebrity who is dining in. The hand written specials menu add a personal touch. I recommend reservations as it could be a long wait or worse it could be full. Plan ahead and it won't disappoint!

A great example of old school Italian food. The chicken vesuvio is fantastic and easily big enough to split. The eggplant parmesan was nice but too much cheese for me. Linguine with clams was very good. Vegetable sides are generous and delicious. Service is always great. Ambiance is definitely casual but overall it is definitely a restaurant providing consistently excellent food and service. If you have not been here definitely worth a try.

This is truly a classic Chicago hidden gem, but for those who know... know. This is just one of those places that get harder and harder to find. They focus on the food here and it shows, large portions & larger flavors. I could tell you more but honestly you're better off going, picking ANYTHING and just enjoy it! This gem holds a forever place in my heart & my tummy lol

What an experience. From the owner greeting you at the front door. Front of house was on point too with Making sure we had everything from wine to explaining different dishes and recommendations. My favorites was the grilled octopus appetizer and Veal Allá Gabe with vodka sauce. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Every single time I come to Chicago. This is my go to place! Make sure to make a reservation because this place is always packed.

Great pasta! Penne vodka pasta! Love the mussels! This is a local gem! Very traditional italian restaurant

Food is tasty & well-seasoned, but the prices made no sense. Sooo expensive!! $72 for 2 people - just entrees, no drinks, no dessert, no appetizers! Definitely call for a reservation. The place fills up quickly.

Great dinner! We ordered Capellini Fra Diavolo and Pasta Lorenzo. Both dishes were super delicious, and generous portions loaded with plump juicy shrimp. Service was fast and servers attentive, despite being there on a busy Friday night. Five stars all the way.

If I could give the service and the cooks 10 stars I would! My girl friends and I are visiting from San Antonio and we've never had Italian food this delicious. The restaurant has character and has been featured on The Food Network. If you are looking for authentic homemade Italian food you have to try La Scarola. Plan ahead and make reservations, you won't be disappointed!

This is by far the best Italian food we have had in the city! The staff is absolutely amazing. You can see how hard they work to make their customers happy and to make sure everyone is enjoying their experience. Amazing quality delicious food!!!!! We will be back!!!!

Best Italian in Chicago. And I’m an Italian snob… Armando who is one of the owners is the best. It’s gotten very popular (and rightfully so) so make sure to make a reservation as soon as in advance as you can. Every dish is great. Penne alla vodka and grilled calamari are popular dishes everywhere, but they hit different here. Everything really hits different here. Five stars all around.

The best Italian food my cute bf and I have had in a long time (maybe ever). Make a reservation before hand and if there is still a little wait, worth it. The owner had amazing hospitality and great sense of humor. We ordered the mussels and wish we ordered it twice. Got one of the specials and the rigatoni. So delish. Can’t wait to go again next time we are in Chicago!

Bustling spot with great service and really good food. One of the best pasta fagoli out there. Large portions, great for groups. Very good wine list.

There was some confusion about the reservation, but they were more than happy to accommodate us when it was cleared. Food was absolutely fantastic, servers were on top of everything, all in all it was a great experience.

Service was awesome and the food always hit the spot.Everytime I go there it's like I am at a family dinner.dessers are yummy too:)

Fantastic classic Italian food. Went there for a birthday celebration, and the food and service were fantastic. Would totally recommend. Just make sure you make reservations at least a week in advance. As soon as we walk in we were welcomed by the owner, and we felt welcome. Our server, Feliciano was top notch and busser, Cesar made our dinner a fantastic experience.

If I could give a 7/5 to this restaurant, I would. The best pasta I have ever tasted in Chicago, it was delicious. The drinks were also very good. The only downside is the time it takes to sit at a table. The food immediately makes up for the time spent waiting!

Boyfriend and I went here for dinner and everything was amazing! Food portions were generous, and is delightful in taste. The cheesecake at the end was the cherry on top! Must try if you’re from out of town like we are. Will definitely be back!

Great food! Price was more than reasonable just a little small but definitely would go back!

Welcoming restaurant with the warmth of a family! Food was great with large portion for sharing between 4 people. I wished I had known about the size before ordering.

I used to frequent this place in the late 90s and early 2000s. It was the best Italian restaurant in the city then. My wife and I returned today and it hadn't changed at all. We were treated like family from the minute we walked in the door. The best there is.

Classic Italian restaurant. Always great, always consistent. Excellent assortment of Italian wines and impressive daily specials. My go to when I'm in the mood for Italian. I have to mention the service as always is exceptional 👌.