I come here for lunch because it is near my work. Â There are a couple things I always like to get. Â Bread = A+ (so soft and tasty...try with their special oil and parmesan). Â Italian wedding soup = A+ (really super tasty). Â Caprese = B+ (good and fresh, but portion a bit small and it's really hard to mess this up). Â Molten chocolate cake = A+ (who doesn't like molten cake???). Â I've had different chicken dishes and they've all been very unmemorable and dry. Â If they can fix their chicken dishes, it would definitely be 5-stars.
Review Source:Went with 2 other couples on a Staurday night. Being firmly ensconced in the Glen, the area and restaurant itself was packed to capacity. The ambiance and lighting was cozy and open, although they have packed a lot of tables into the space so there's not alot of space between you and your neighbor.
We had reservations and were seated right away at a nice big round table. Our waiter was very good and patient as we spent close to an hour catching up with the others in our group since we had not seen them in a while.
We all ordered some cocktails and beers and passed around the bread with a nice olive oil dipping sauce. The downside of the place is they have 1 beer on tap which is Blue Moon. If you enjoy Blue Moon this is good. If you don't, this is not good. However, they had a decent selection of bottled beers.
Everyone had a salad and all were quite good. Entrees ranged from pizza to talapia to spagetti & meatballs. All were good and well prepared. They also have a menu featuring smaller portions which was a plus.
Prices were reasonable and we were not rushed at any time. I would definitely go back - especially in the summer to check out their nice patio for a meal outside on a warm evening.
Food was good. Â Service was good. Â Prices were good.
Only complaint is that there was a slight mis-match between the menu and the ambiance. Â Upscale decor and presentation, but the menu was pretty classic italian like I'd expect to find in a place with red and white checkered table cloth. Â There was definately some fine cuisine on the menu, and the appetizer we had was great, but the menu seemed to be dominated by the same items you'd find at Olive Garden (better than Olive Garden, though, when you taste it).
We will go again. Â Location is great. Â Restaurant is kid friendly. Â Free valet is nice. Â And, like I wrote above: Food was good. Â Service was good. Â Prices were good.
Consistent and tasty food. They start you off with warm bread and dipping oil and I've tried many things on the menu...calamari, flatbread, salads, spaghetti and meatballs..while very simple, very well done with a flavorful pomodoro sauce. Their desserts...tiramisu, berry cake, and creme brule are a wonderful way to end the meal. And of course, grab a few minty chocolates on the way out. Great for families, lunch date or date night
Review Source:This is an Olive-Garden clone. It's like every other Olive-Garden clone. The food is decent, the service is decent, everything here is decent. Nothing here is special. There isn't anything here that will make you say "WOW that was awesome". There isn't any signature dish. There isn't anything special in the dining area (which is huge). It just is. On a night when you're bored and cannot think of anything better, this is your place. There is definitely nothing wrong here....but nothing special either.
Review Source:This place was way more hype then anything. We went as a big group (10 ppl) on a Friday night. The wait staff seemed so confused: first they lost our reservation, then didn't give us silverware, messed up the grilled calamari order, and again one of the entrees. The food took FOREVER to come and it didn't even taste THAT good. I've had better Italian dishes a cheaper places. Overall, not worth the time or money. Would not go back.
Review Source:I have to agree with a number of the other reviewers, I'm not entirely sure why there is so much negativity about this place. Â I've been here several times since I moved into the area and have always had a good experience. Â The decor is kind of kitschy in that it's a Roman ruins kind of theme with painted grape leaves and lots of fake stucco with these strange and random columns but the service is good and the food better than decent.
The waiters are attentive and I've never had to wait long either for more bread, water, or refills. Â If I have one complaint it's that sometimes the waitstaff can make you feel rushed. Â I don't think this is their intention but it is the case that their attentiveness and desire to be helpful can cross the line into annoying. Â
As to the food, I've never had a bad meal. Â This definitely isn't your home cooked Italian but then again, I don't expect it to be either. Â For means of comparison, I'd say that it's a step up from Olive Garden. Â However, you're not paying an incredible amount for a meal so why complain? Â The lobster bisque is good, the lobster ravioli better, and the sandwiches are a great lunch option. Â
It's a solid three stars and that's exactly what I expected the moment I walked in; maybe others were expecting more, but it's not trying to be Charlie Trotters.
I don't understand all the negative reviews here. The service and food were very good. I had the Penne Mediterranean, which the waiter recommended adding lemon and garlic. The portion was large enough to take home. The bread was amazing. I picked up a carryout menu and definitely will return.
Review Source:Ouch.
We walked in and sat at the bar, where I ordered 2 peach bellinis (which were ok but not much a of 'bellini') while my lady-friend used the restroom. I was asked if we were eating dinner but I said no and that we would be eating appetizers (on special). Unfortunately, we did not get a menu or even a glance for about 10 minutes before I had to ask for one, then received a full dinner menu which we did not require. Although we werent in much of an eating mood anymore (after 15 more minutes) we glanced at the correct menu, when it eventually came, then were reminded that we had 30 minutes for the appetizer special to still apply. We finally ordered a tasty flatbread that earned BRAVO! their star otherwise I'd have to give zero (if it were possible).
We're both 25 years old and noticed that every person in the bar area was older (60+) and got much more attention and service than we did. Several people came in long after we were seated at the bar and they got served drinks, appetizers, and ordered their second round before we got the right menu. I may be younger but I tip appropriately, if the age-ism we experienced was because they figured we were cheap then thats terrible.
And for the record it wasn't even busy, I could certainly cut some slack if it was crowded or if there were large parties but there was nothing of the sort.
The only reason I'd go back is to take advantage of the appetizer special. If I decide to go back I'll wait for the summer because if we get the same treatment as we did this time we'll walk somewhere else that will offer better service.
I'm a reasonable person and very polite especially when it comes to food service; I also rarely give negative reviews on Yelp or elsewhere, but BRAVO! earned this negative review for sure.
There is nothing BRAVO! about this restaurant. It was my third time coming here today and it will be my last.
Once we were seated our waitress, Jen L., came by asking what we would like to drink. She brought us our drinks and asked if we were ready but we needed another minute. That minute turned into 15 minutes. We tried waving her down... we tried grabbing the attention of other works... we were pretty much invisible. I was ready to leave but my friend finally got Jen's attention. Immediately, Jen admitted that she forgot about us because she was having problems with another table.
After being neglected for 15 minutes... it took about another 30 minutes for our food to come out. What did Jen have to say this time? "Sorry but the kitchen is backed up because we're the only restaurant open in the area due to the power outage". So is BRAVO never busy unless all the other restaurant are closed?
Aside from the horrible service, the food was just as bad.
Pasta Pomodoro wtih Chicken - This dish is not restaurant quality and it seemed like i was eating something off a kid's menu. Angel hair pasta with bland tomato sauce and 3 DRY thinly sliced chicken. I ate about half of it before I couldn't eat it anymore. I wished I ate more bread which was the only decent thing they served.
Pasta Bravo! - This is their signature dish and its disgusting. The dish looks like a bunch of rigatoni noodles swimming in a pool of cream sauce. The dish is bland and so creamy that it leaves you feeling nauseous.
Rigatoni Melanzana - The best dish out of the three but nothing special.
Probably the worst restaurant in The Glen. Don't waste your time and/or hard earned money here.
Our second time here in 5 years.
We came as a party of 11 on Father's day.
Salads and soups are not included, so once you price that in the meal; this place is pricey.
I had the veal Marsala and it was probably the lowest quality veal I have had in a long time. My wife had the scallops with gnocchi, that were very good.
The other entrees did not set off any fireworks with the rest of the family.
My brother in law's veal Marsala was somehow lost in the kitchen and he did not get it until all of us were pretty much done with our meals.
Overall not too bad of a place, but if I am driving to Glenview for Italian, then I would rather go to Cafe Lucci on Milwaukee.
I must admit i didn't have great expectation of Bravo! Cucina Italiana before i visited... thinking that its a chain restaurant and in a mall
but i must say i was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food served
since we came with a large group, we ordered a bunch of appetizers: calamari fritti, portobello flatbread, crispy shrimp napoli and all of them tasted good
I had the potato gnocci with scallops and that was only ok, the scallops was small and tasteless, the gnocci was a  bit tough but the sauce that came with was good
my boyfriend had the Pasta Bravo and that was much better than my entree
the others ordered a variety of plates and they seemed to be happy with them
service was friendly despite a bit of immature
all in all a good family restaurant and definitely suitable for large groups
Bravo is a pretty good restaurant. Â There's plenty of variety in menu options here, and mostly everything is good. Â The complimentary bread is the bomb, and you can't really go wrong with any of the appetizers (especially the Lobster Bisque, which is just phenomenal!). Â The service has always been pretty good, and the atmosphere is very trendy and upscale.
I've only had one odd experience here, and it involved sorbet and chopped onions. Â My sister and aunt both ordered a sorbet to split, and in their sorbet they discovered a great amount of chopped onion pieces. Â We spoke with the manager, as it seemed like it was done intentionally, and he insisted that it wasn't. Â Either way, it was just a minor flaw in an otherwise good dinner.
This is a good place for Italian, and I recommend it!
Honestly, when I think of carbs around the north burbs, Bravo comes to mind. Â Maybe because I totally ate everything in sight here after I ran the Chicago marathon.
Really, how can you go wrong with ordering the signature Pasta Bravo! dish? Â Mushrooms, grilled chicken, and red pepper sauce are the perfect combination. Â And in case anyone asks, yes, chocolate chip bread pudding does count as carb loading.
I was also told to tell yelp that the bread oil and lemon butter sauce with that one pasta dish are good. Â So good that you need to mop it up with the bread and/or try to avoid splashing it all over your shirt.
Bravo for being possibly one of the worst restaurants in the Glen. I've given this place two tries and will not make the mistake a third time. Is it just too much to ask to offer good food and service? The food is worse than Olive Garden. Pastas have no taste or flavor and seem like they were nuked in back and brought out. Even the wine tasted stale.
First time here, we sat outside in their small outdoor area and received so-so service. Second time, we sat inside and received so-so service with a side of attitude. What annoys me most are the teenagers they've put in charge of seating people, they have no clue and make people wait unnecessarily when almost the entire restaurant is empty. No need to pay good money to eat bad food and receive amateur service. There are far better restaurants in the Glen.
Ahhh the Glen... A whole street of nothing but eateries... Being that there is so much competition, a restaurant has to be good to get those repeat customers. I, at one point, was one of those customers, until I learned not to be such a suburbanite, and started to venture into the city for food.... anyways...
Bravo has a few tables outside for dining if the weather permits. Inside, you are taken away into this white-columned, high-ceilinged, low-lit, well decorated, huge dining area. Â Before you get seated have a drink or two at their bar... On weekend nights they have live music, which is an enjoyable treat. Â From the bar, I especially enjoy their Bellinis. Â The mix of champagne and peach puree is always delicious! Though, depending on the bartender they can be packed with ice sometimes.
After you are seated, they bring out some warm bread for you. The rosemary bread is served with oil only, no cheese. I wouldn't suggest eating too much of it, as it is OK, but I would save my appetite for the good stuff. Â For an appetizer, order the Cheese Ravioli Al Forno... wow... it is cheese ravioli covered with Alfredo sauce then garnished with tasty basil-pine nut pesto and tomato sauces. Â This starter could without a doubt be eaten as a meal. Don't miss out....
I go to Bravo to order one thing on their dinner menu, and that would be their signature pasta dish: aptly named the Pasta Bravo! This dish consists of large amounts of rigatoni mixed in with a good amount of real wood-grilled chicken! You can definitely taste the wood-grilledness... Then its mixed in with mushrooms and a perfect amount of smooth roasted red pepper cream sauce.... Dee-lish! This pasta is always consistently good.
The service here is a bit hit or miss. . . Â But the cooks know what they are doing. . .
As much as I like coming here for lunch I'm afraid I cannot say the same for dinner. Â The dinner menu is significantly more expensive. Â The surprising part is that the service really declines around dinner time.
Maybe just a bad server but he didn't have a clue and showed little respect. Â Service was very displeasing. Â I hope they hire some pro's I'm tired of these amateur servers in what are supposed to be higher end restaurants. Â
The food was displeasing too. Â The scallops were so small and they were overcooked. Â Having entrees over $20 per I expect much better.
The lunch is 4 stars the dinner is two stars which leaves Bravo as a lunch only option.
I am reluctantly a fan of Bravo Cucina Italiana. My reluctance comes from nothing except the fact that it's in the suburbs and it's a chain. Usually, I have problems with chains, and they inevitably screw something serious up. But Bravo didn't do that, and actually, we had a fairly nice dinner there. ::Big sighhhhhh of reluctance::
Meeting up with my momma in the burbs, we originally planned on Wildfire (in my opinion, a much better restaurant/chain) but the wait was, um, an hour at 6:30. Can you even believe that? Okay, sorry, irrelevant. We journeyed further into the depths of The Glen (formally Glenview Naval Air Station) and found Bravo, so we went. No wait, thankyouverymuch, and were seated right away in the humongo dining room. The place is gigantic--think Cheesecake Factory enormity--but it has a nice side bar where people can sip cocktails and listen to a lounge singer do 40s and 50s standards.
They've got gazpacho, chopped salad, linguine with shrimp, pizzas, steaks, all the stuff you expect to be on the average American-Italian menu. I chose the salmon, drizzled in garlic and pesto with capers, crispy potatoes, and pan roasted green beans. Our young waiter was kind enough to knock off the taters and fill up my plate with greens instead (gotta stay svelte, you know). My mom ordered the tilapia which came smothered in crab. She was pleased, and so was I. If I had one complaint, it would be that the green beans were super salty--don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed them. I'm just fishing now...
So anyhoo, perhaps the next time I'm willing to make the short trip up there, and Wildfire is still chock full of blue-haired specials at 6:30pm, we'll make our way back to Bravo. Hopefully then I'll find something REALLY wrong with it to report.
I went here for lunch with coworkers today. Â Actually, the boss picked up the tab, which was nice. Â As I test out new Thai places with their Khee Mao and Japanese with Yakisoba, I have a habit of testing traditional Italian restaurants by trying their spaghetti and meatballs. Â I know...why order something you can whip up at home in a flash? Â But, if the sauce is great and the meatballs are tender and full of flavor, you're most likely going to find lots of good options for return visits. Â I figure that if they can't get the simple down, then why come back?
I'll definitely be back to Bravo! for lunch again. Â The pasta they use is thin spaghetti, not vermicelli, thin spaghetti. Â The meatballs were good and meaty and I liked that you could see (and taste) the bread crumbs in them. Â They were super tender and the sauce was great, not too tangy, not too sweet. Â Juuuuust right! Â For $11.99, it's easily enough to feed two people with an appetizer. Â
I didn't try it, but my coworker's chicken in a balsomic sauce with veggies looked great too and she said she enjoyed it a lot. Â I'll definietly go back.
BRAVO!
I work in Glenview, and my regular lunch buddies and I frequent Bravo quite often. The interior is beautiful, and while I can see how it would make for a wonderful dinner atmosphere, I generally arrive with 4 hungry guys just looking for a good meal in the middle of a disgruntled workday.
They serve a very good rosemary bread with an herb olive oil blend on the side, but they are slightly stingy with the portions and we always end up asking for two or three baskets before the meal. Since I gave up meat (not just beef, all meat) for Lent every meal I've eaten at Bravo has been vegetarian. They have a decently good pomodoro sauce and I usually enjoy it over angel hair. It's not on par with something I'd find in the city, but it's decent for the suburbs. I switched things up my last visit and tried a tomato, basil, mozzarella panini with pesto spread and was pretty satisfied for having had a sandwich without meat. One of my lunch companions lives by the talapia salad and I'm sure it is what drives him to suggest this as our lunch time destination weekly.
One huge gripe is that the service is SLOW. We try to take our lunches a bit later when we want to come here to avoid the rush. Each time, we have informed our server upon greeting that we are on lunch and that we will be ready to order within 2 minutes. In each of our 5 visits, we have had to ask for the bill prior to our food arriving and scarf down our food because it has taken almost the entire hour to arrive. My food isn't piping hot, nor is it cold so I'm not sure if it is service or the kitchen. We haven't explored pre ordering yet, but it has been mentioned for the next visit. If I had time to enjoy my meal here, it might be worthy of a fourth star.
We're from the city, but upon venturing out to the burbs for some recliner-searching, we decided to visit Bravo. We've been to a Bravo before when we lived in Ohio and enjoyed them well enough, so we thought we'd give it another shot. And, for a suburban chain, it's not bad.
FYI and for planning purposes, we walked in at around 2:30 on a Monday afternoon.
Starting off with the good stuff...
The Pomodoro sauce is tasty, whether it's with the penne or on the Chicken Parm (which I had). The Lasagna is pretty good and you get quite a hefty piece with the full order. The olive oil concoction that you get with your bread is incredibly tasty too. BUT, you can definitely tell that it's a commercialized version of Italian food.
Our waiter was nice enough - he got us refills and some extra Pomodoro sauce (I'm an anti-Italian in that I LOVE tons of sauce. Warning, the chicken parm comes with hardly any).
My main complaints?
The second we walked in the door we were greeted (rather UN-greeted) by the host talking on the phone for about 3 or 4 minutes...without even looking at us with a smile. Nothing. Not a glance. Just ignored us. Minus a star.
Once he got off the phone, it was a brief hello. That's it. No smile. No "welcome." Nothing. Upon letting him know that we preferred a booth, he looked over some highlighted paper work for a least 30 seconds and walked slowly to the only open booth. He then proceeded to plop some menus down on our table and walk away.
Considering the host is the FIRST person that the customers meet, doncha think the manager would make sure that he/she was at least friendly? Hmph.
My other complaint...
The salad I ordered (house with Italian) was probably the WORST salad I have ever had. In my life. Truly. Minus one star. The iceberg lettuce was wilted and brown, as if it had been sitting in the dressing for a couple of hours. Speaking of the dressing, the entire salad was drenched in it. Ridiculously drenched. Nothing tasted fresh at all. If a restaurant can't make a simple salad, I question the overall quality.
In conclusion, not a bad place for the 'burbs, I would guess. BUT, if you live in the city, I would suggest Fiorentino's or La Gondola instead.
I LOVE this place! Â Anytime I'm out that way for dinner with my family this is where I request we go. Â They have a great Chicken Parmigiana amongst many other dishes. Â Oh, and their Martini's are outstanding! Â My mom and I especially love their Pomegranate Martini. Â Not on the drink menu most of the time - if at all - they will make it if you request one. Â We've never had them say no. Â
If you plan to go their on a weekend night I would suggest making reservations just to be on the safe side. Â
Good food, nice environment and good service. . . All in all, I highly recommend you try Bravo Cucina.
It was a Thursday night when I dined here, so without reservations at 6:30, we were seated right away and the waiter came by immediately. Â The bread was fresh out of the oven and was delicious. Â They give you two types; I like the crunchy seasoned one over what looked like sourdough with their own olive oil concoction.
They have a large  menu and I didn't get to look through everything.  I settled on the Pasta Bravo! which was recommended by a friend I was dining with.  It's their signature dish, rigatoni tossed with wood-grilled chicken and mushrooms in roasted red pepper cream sauce.  For the price, the portion was just right and I ate it all.  The sauce was good but maybe there wasn't enough of it because the pasta was a little dry.  The chicken was very tender though.  I also got to taste the Pesto Tortelloni: fresh cheese and spinach stuffed pasta tossed in housemade basil-pine nut pesto sauce and topped with sun dried tomatoes, red onions and pine nuts.  Those are all my favorite ingredients and it was very good; better than my own dish!  Too bad chicken is another $1.99. Â
This place had several good items on their menu and I would definitely return to try some other dishes.
Bravo is probably one of my favorite sit-down lunch locations. Â I have serious cravings for their chicken chopped salad. Â I love that the chicken is sliced so thin. Â It gives it this illusion that it is more apart of the salad than just the protein thrown on top. Â It becomes more like the lettuce in how it lays and intertwines with the rest of the ingredients. Â Very nice.
The ambiance is nice. Â I have only been there during the day. Â There are a lot of tall windows that let in natural light. Â Parking can be harsh with all the shoppers from The Glen competing for space. Â You may need to walk to one of the parking garages within a block.
Bravo to bravo? Â I'd say that's kind of a stretch, but the pasta bravo, their proclaimed signature dish, was pretty tasty. Â The dish is advertised as rigatoni with chicken and mushroom sauce. Â The sauce was smoky and flavorful, but they were kinda stingy with the chicken. Â The pre-dinner bread and dipping sauce was good, and the house salad was excellent. Â Service was just OK, and the ambiance is faux Umbria trattoria. Â The clientele was that bored suburban housewife type that longs to be a sophisticated boulevardier, but doesn't quite pull it off. Â Very Stepford-ish too. Â I dunno...I've been here only once so your mileage may vary.
I'd definitely go back if I ever found myself in "The Glen", but I would never make a special trip there. Â Speaking of "The Glen", that whole set-up kinda creeped me out. Â I felt like I was on some movie set. Â It's like they tried to create a hip urban environment in the middle of the 'burbs. Â
So, yeah, if you find yourself up there for any reason, check it out just so you can say you have. Â Otherwise, save the gas money and time and go to the plethora of Italian eateries in a real city neighborhood.
After reading the reviews of other yelpers, maybe it was just my table, but the service was horrendous. Â We first waited a couple minutes just to get seated when there was obviously plenty of open tables. Â Once seated, we waited over 5 minutes (no exaggeration) for the waiter to come over. Â All night, the service was slow, and we were always waiting around and looking for the server to come back. Â It's funny because the bus boys that night were extra prompt, almost to a point where they were bothersome while me and my party tried to eat our dinner.
I did like their food and their portion sizes are spot on.
Would I go back? Â If I were in the area and other people wanted to go, I guess I would, but I wouldn't actively push to stop by this place again...
Bravo is a chain restaurant firmly planted in the burbs. If that's your bag, keep reading. If not, head somewhere else (you probably would never head up to Glenview anyway).
What can I say? It's a suburban Italian eatery with good food, good service, and a generic reproduced feeling (like Starbucks). Â Go to Gusto Italiano (also in Glenview) if you'd rather have a more homey atmosphere.
Bravo is a beautiful restaurant. Â I can't believe this is the first review! Â
It is a chain, that originate in Ohio, and now we are lucky enough to have a location in Glen in Glenview. Â
So understanding that this is a chain restaurant, the food and restaurant is really great. Â The restaurant itself has really high ceilings, they feature live jazz a few nights a week, they have huge plants, and outdoor seating when the weather is right. Â The wine list is fairly extensive, but reasonably priced. Â I don't really feel like I'm being completely ripped off when I'm paying a little over 20 bucks for a bottle of wine. Â There is also a private room in the back that can be reserved for parties. Â
I recommend the Chicken Marsala, as well as the pizzas, and the bruschetta with mushrooms and goat cheese is REALLY good. Â The bread the bring to the table is sun-dried tomato focaccia, and it is served with a sun-dried tomato oil. Â Yummy.
The only concern that I have with this place is that the service is inconsistent. Â I have been here a few different times, and the service has either been great or we have waited over 10 minutes for a bill and been passed off from waitperson to waitperson. Â
but the food and the atmosphere will have me coming back.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,916 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
