I've had several memorable meals at Spiaggia. Â First, the ambiance is great here. Might I suggest a snowy night during the holidays so you can look out toward the park and stare and into your significant other's eyes with love and lust! Â Then sit back, have another glass of wine and get ready for an incredible meal. Â We split the squid ink and lobster spaghetti and it was incredible. Â The wife had the snapper and I the rib eye, both were very good. Â Plan a few hours so you can enjoy every course of the meal. Â I sit here on the West Coast and my stomach is rumbling writing this review. Â Time for another trip to Chicago.
Review Source:My wife and I have been to about 10 Michelin starred restaurants between Chicago and Paris...and have to say this is the only Michelin starred restaurant that we have been to where we left disappointed. Â Spiaggia is on the upper end when it comes to price but on the lower end when it comes to quality of food. Â We both got the truffle tasting menu with wine pairings and ended up paying about $700 with food + parking...and...we can't say any of the courses were that impressive. Â The food wasn't memorable...and the wine wasn't that good either. Â My wife and I are casual wine drinkers at best...but rather than picking up notes of apples, roses, etc during our 3rd wine pairing (etna rosso)...all we tasted was wet dog. Â The only reason that I didn't give it 1 star was that the restaurant was nicely decorated inside and our waiter was kind. Â However, when we go to a nice restaurant...we go for the food and Spiaggia was lacking.
We have relied on Michelin's rating system for many of our special moments in the past (engagement, anniversaries, birthdays, etc) and the restaurants always delivered. Â I hope that this was just an off night at Spiaggia...and not a case of Michelin continuing to rate a restaurant highly based on previous reputation rather than current performance.
Overall...I'd say save your money and go to any of the other Chicago Michelin star restaurants and get a meal that is twice as good for half the price.
Spiaggia recently announced that they were rolling out a series of four themed pasta tasting menus, the first being filled pastas. At $95 for six courses this is pricey (especially for pasta) but considerably less expensive than their typical tasting menu (currently is a six course menu featuring Perigord black truffles for $175, but at times can exceed the cost of Alinea). My wife and I had been wanting to try Spiaggia and decided that this would be a nice opportunity to do so at a more palatable price point.
Entering Spiaggia we were reminded some of Per Se in terms of the view, riding an escalator up to the venue, and the large door to the reception area. There is an luxurious foyer, floor to ceiling windows with Lake Michigan off in the distance, the ambiance is pure elegance but not without an air of stuffiness. Our captain presented us with three menus soon after being seated (there is an a la carte menu, also extremely expensive in addition to the tasting menus); I enjoyed the flexibility Spiaggia has in that our captain explained that we could each select different tasting menus and it was also alright for one person to order a la carte and the other to do a tasting menu if we so desired. We both opted for the pasta tasting menu and my wife added the wine pairings (priced at $55) and I chose cocktail pairings ($45). The cocktail pairings were fun; about two to three ounce pours each featuring a different liquor with some nice ingredients such as mezcal and kumquat jam for the bourbon based cocktail. While they were fun and I enjoyed them, they did not pair as well with the food as did the more traditional wine pairings.
Soon after ordering bread service commenced; four different breads with a basil bread filled with cheese being the standout. Not quite up there with L20's or Sixteen''s bacon buns, but among my favorite bread I have had during the past year. What was nice was we were offered additional bread on three further occasions during the night; as my wife and I both have rather robust appetites this was much appreciated as it ensured we were comfortably satiated by the end of the evening. My wife is famous for stopping for pizza on the way home from fine dining, so that she did without (aside from eating three girl scout cookies when we arrived home) was a good sign!
The food was quite good, but that is to be expected at this price point. Even though a pasta tasting menu does not sound as though it would have the excitement of a typical tasting menu, they did a nice job adding a variety of exotic flavors and ingredients to jazz everything up and the pasta itself was far superior to most other pastas I have consumed. The first course was a lot of fun and included three different miniature portions of pasta (one made from squid ink) each topped with a different caviar or roe. Some pastas included seafood and others were paired with meat such as some excellent lamb meatballs and another with Jidori chicken roulade. My only disappointment food wise was we elected to add a black truffle supplement to one course ($20 each) and the quantity of truffles was so stingy it barely impacted the dish and left me feeling a bit duped out of $40. In addition to the six courses there was an amuse bouche and five different mignardises delivered with dessert (one oddity about this was there was a single piece of each, so difficult to share).
Service at Spiaggia is as polished as you would expect from a Michelin starred venue and they do an excellent job adjusting the menu to meet dietary restrictions and aversions. When there was a delay with one course they apologized and refilled my wife's wine glass. The only negative of the service is it is just a bit too impersonal; while I appreciate formal service, I find a dining experience far more enjoyable when the staff's personality shines through. Grace and Eleven Madison Park would be the two venues that I feel are the gold standard in having both formal yet personable service. For it's price range Spiaggia also fails to deliver a comparable overall experience as do several other top tier restaurants where in addition to a wonderful meal you receive one or more of a kitchen tour, meeting the executive chef, souvenir menu, elegant mignardises cart, a take home pastry etc. Not a big deal, but when splurging for such an expensive meal it is nice to feel pampered and as though you had a memorable evening beyond simply the luxurious food that was consumed. This was no doubt an excellent meal but for this price tag my expectations are adjusted upwards accordingly. While I would say that Spiaggia met my expectations they certainly did not exceed them.
Yum yum.
I held a private event at Spiaggia on Saturday and the food was delicious. We did the black truffle tasting and my favorite courses are the gnocchi and risotto. Thank you Scott for taking care of us.
My colleagues and I chatted at the Spiaggia bar after the event and we were the last ones left in the restaurant. Thank you Yuri for staying late cause of ius.
Chad - thanks for scaring the livings out of me. But I forgive you since you have cool friends, haha :)
This might be the first michelin star restaurant that I will make a pretty immediate return to!
Unfortunately, I have to join the chorus of dissatisfied reviewers. We ate here three nights ago on a Wed night. Our meal was absolutely wonderful. We ordered individual items since the two tasting menus seemed a bit daunting. My two star review is entirely based on the service experience. We arrived on time for a 7pm reservation on a Wednesday night and our table was somehow not ready even though the restaurant was only half-full. We were invited to sit at the bar while we waited (perhaps 10 minutes or so); the wait was not off-putting just odd. We ordered a drink at the bar and were escorted to our table and our drinks were brought to us. So far so good. Our primary waitress then welcomes us after another 5 minutes or so go by (we have our drinks- so again- not a huge issue so far). First impressions on our waitress are very positive as she explains the three different menus. Then, we were basically abandoned for 35 minutes. The ancillary staff popped in and out to refill water but our waitress never checked on our table for 35 minutes (it might have been longer). My dinner companion and I started wondering if she hadn't stopped by because our menus were still opened so we eventually closed them 15 minutes in.... and then we slid our closed menues closer to the edge of the table. What was off-putting was that she didn't disappear completely- she would walk by our table, check in on other tables and not check-in on us. We were not given an opportunity to order until 50 minutes after we walked into the place. From here, I suppose service improved (we DID enjoy our meal and I don't know if it makes sense to complain about cost since the food and space are wonderful), but we expected more from a restaurant of this caliber. Other odd service things happened like drinks and plates being snatched away without asking if we were done ("may I take this?" "are you done enjoying that" seem like industry standards).
Review Source:All I really have to say is, hands down, the BEST gnocchi I've ever had. Soft, fluffy, and just downright YUMMMM! You probably have gnocchi at other restaurants and think, this is good. But until you come to Spiaggia, you probably don't know what gnocchi is really supposed to taste like at its best.
The service at Spiaggia is comparable to any of the top restaurants in SF. One of our waiters used to work at Michael Mina! THUMBS UP!
This was the most disappointing dining experience I've ever had. My very generous employer took me there because he knew I'm a foodie and it was my first trip to chicago. There were a total of five of us. The waiters were snobby and pretentious. If you read other reviews, that's a recurring theme. Â Actually seemed to look down at the choices made by my very successful bosses, who happen to have simple tastes. We ordered a variety of dishes. I ordered the tasting menu prepared by former top chef contestant Sarah because it also sounded very exciting and unique.
The tasting menu consisted of marinated fluke with uni; Â squid ink fettuccine, trout, dashi braised veal cheeks with celery root puree and a hazelnut cake.
Each dish was blander than the next. The quid ink fettuccine was inedible. Cold and sticky with zero salt. Presentation wasn't any better. The trout was actually delicious and the veal cheek wasn't bad, but for $165 it was insulting. The cake was dry and flavorless. Why finish a flavorless meal with anything other than a flavorless dessert? The total bill... drum roll please, admittedly 2 drinks per person for 5 a person party.... $1200! And two of the women didn't even order an entree.
The owners should be ashamed of themselves for swindling half the city. No wonder locals say it's the most over-rated restaurant in Chicago. My advice? Hit the hot dog stand on the corner before this place.
By far the most expensive diarrhea I've ever had. Some of the food was good... some not so much. Luckily I had a gift certificate, otherwise I would have felt terrible paying this much money for dinner. Staff was very nice and accommodating but service was kind of slow. If the fancy schmancy, white table cloth, multi-course meal is your thing then check it out, but my stomach did not agree and I believe there are so many better options in Chicago at half the price.
Review Source:This is my go to place to celebrate life's achievements!  I love the swanky, fabulously outdated dining room.  The service is impeccable and surprisingly friendly considering they high level of the restaurant.  You really feel taken cared of.  The best  menu item is the gnocchi and luckily my birthday falls during white truffle season.  I love the bread service (a warm assortment.)  The gelatos are amazing for dessert.  They get it right every time!
Review Source:Great food, excellent service! Â I came here for an event that treated us so I can not attest to the prices, but the wine and food are delicious. Â The decor is classy, albeit a little older. Â We started with a cheese and prosciutto appetizer, then a hand-made pasta dish, and I had the chicken for my main course. Â Each was very good and with portions that were just right. Â What seals the deal is the service, they are spot on!
Review Source:I will preface this review by making clear that the service was impeccable. Very professional but welcoming. No snobbery or nonsense.
The remainder I will state very simply. Everything we ate and drank at this restaraunt was exactly twice as expensive as it should have been. From the $18 glass of prosecco to the $65 piece of fish. I would have been pleased if I spent exactly half as much for what I got.
We did not get a single course that was propoerly seasoned (which would have helped me justify the expense) and we did not have an extra $300 to spend on truffles on every plate, so we settled.
Was it bad? Not at all. It was....fine. I love fancy places. I just think that $300 for a dinner should buy you a mind that is blown.
Spiaggia has been crossed off of my bucket list and I shall never return.
Ultimately, it wasn't the food itself that resulted in 2 stars. It's the fact that I know at this price point I could have much more exceptional meals in Chicago, NYC, SF, SEA, BOS, LON, etc... I know Oprah, Obama, etc... love this place - doesn't matter. Is the food good to great? Probably. Worthy of paying $30 for a micro app portion of gnocchi - negative ghostrider.
All that being said, if someone else is paying - show up and do some damage.
Came here last Saturday and were incredibly disappointed.
My husband and I both tried the tasting menu. Â At $165 a person without wine pairings, this is already similarly or even more expensive than much finer places like Jean George or Daniel in New York where we moved form (Spiaggia has one Michelin star while JG and Daniel have three). Â But whatever, cost is not a huge deal if the food is worth it. Â And boy it was NOT at all.
The first course was the Sunchoke panna cotta with Maine sea urchin, Mieli Thun mountain flower honey and blood orange. Â It did not look like panna cotta but a bowl of custard and tasted like crap. Â We were having trouble even figuring out how to eat it when the waitress came by with spoons and said that "tonight's was especially runny" so maybe the spoons would help. Â Hello? Â At a restaurant that charges $165 for 5 courses, you don't serve a course if it's "especially runny."
Chitarra spaghetti with basil fed snails, shaved baby artichokes, basil and toasted breadcrumbs. Â It was not as terrible as the first course, but definitely not great either. Â The snails were miniscule and there were only two of them. Â To be honest, it was a little bland.
The next two courses were pretty decent - the Organic Acquerello risotto with Maine lobster, La Quercia Guanciale, Caciocavallo Silano DOP and Mieli Thun dandelion honey and the Wood roasted pancetta wrapped squab with porcini mushrooms, Â heirloom grapes, mortadella and sage. Â Even though I'm not a huge fan of squab, it was still cooked well and I enjoyed it.
The fifth course was a rather boring dessert. Â I don't even remember it, except that I do remember feeling disappointed with the overall meal and kind of surprised at how quickly it went by and how unimpressed I was by the entire experience.
The service was decent, although not all of our dishes came out at the same time which is unusual for a place that charges so much. Â I definitely am not coming back.
I went with a group of 11 to celebrate my birthday and ordered the Truffles Tasting Menu with wine pairings. Â We were told the restaurant waits all year for this menu.
Beginning
We started off bad when we were split up into two tables and was not able to enjoy the meal as a group (at least the tables were beside each other).
Middle
1. I was constantly pushed forward in my seat and into the table as the servers had to walk behind me. Â Mind you I am a tiny girl and certainly not taking up a lot of room. Â
2. My friend discovered a string in his veal.
3. The server was unable to describe the wines - everything was "beautiful".
4. My friend asked for a special desert for me and the server told him it will be great. Â I got the same desert except I had a candle on the side.
5. Food was presented in a boring fashion and the food was nothing special.
End
We received a bill of $300 for the tasting menu and $300 for the wine pairing - $600 in total pre tax and gratuity. Â Really over priced for food that I can't remember and an experience I would like to forget.
We spent half the money at Tru and Moto for a far better experience. Â Wish we went somewhere else instead.
I hosted a private dinner here for work and was extremely pleased with everything. We were in one of many private dining rooms on the third floor and had excellent service and excellent food. In addition to our two waiters, we also had a sort of event coordinator who was there making sure things were running smoothly and adjusting times when we had late guests.
The truffle arancini appetizers were simply amazing. The caprese salad contained bufala mozzarella, which was some of the most delicious cheese I've ever eaten. I (along with most of the group) got the famed wild boar gnocchi for my entree and was not disappointed - perfectly-cooked gnocchi and flavorful ragu. To top it off, the tiramisu was very good and the selection of gelati and sorbetti was tasty and very cute - they were presented as individual scoops in little edible pastry cups.
I will definitely consider hosting another work event here. Alas, I don't think I can afford to come here on my own dime. I'll be thinking about some of these dishes for a long while...
Overpriced. Â Way, way, way, overpriced. Â Came here for my birthday dinner because it was one of the places on my list that I've been wanting to try for a while. Â Having just returned from a 10 day trip to Italy, my hopes were high. Â Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Â The food was good, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't out of this world, which is what you should expect based upon the prices!!! Â Dear lord!! Â Save your money and go somewhere else, seriously. Â I can think of a handful of other Italian places in Chicago whose food exceeds this place and whose prices are a fraction of what you will pay here.
Review Source:My wife took me for a surprise birthday dinner at Spiaggia.  The menu is printed everyday so she was able to get them to write Happy Birthday which was a nice touch. The service and food for a place of this type is on par with others in the Chicago area. The food and presentation was very nice.  The overall look of restaurant  is nice.
My one issue is with parking.  They have valet parking but the signage for it is very hard to see and not clear.  Management should look into making it a bit easier for patron to find  the valet.  Maybe a sign on Michigan and Walton directing them to it?
I'm not going to get into detailing everything we ordered. Â This is a beautiful place. Â The service was good but not top notch and when your dropping that kind of cash you should expect and receive TOP NOTCH service. Â The food......presentation was nice, as for the food quality....it was good not excellent and way overpriced! Â
As for returning, well, that probably won't happen. Â
I had to go because I've heard so much about this place but Spiaggia is by NO means even close (talking about food quality) that good!
Unless you absolutely must try it like I had too don't do it. Spend you cash someplace else. Â Trust me, you will drop some serious cash at this place.
I went here with a friend who was visiting from out of town. It seems like it would be a nice place for a date because it isn't too loud and the setting is very conducive for romance! The service was excellent. The staff were attentive and very nice. I was slightly worried because a lot of times staff at upscale restaurants seem to project an aura of pretentiousness. The staff here, however, were not at all like that. Really great service.
My friend and I both ordered the same thing
Gnocchi - came with mushroom cream sauce and black truffle. The server suggested the dinner portion since we weren't getting any starters. The gnocchi was pillowy soft. The dish was amazing. The only downside is it was so creamy (and great at first), but by the end the creaminess was a bit much. Maybe the dinner portion wasn't such a good idea after all...I wish we had gotten to try some other things.
Rosemary bread - Or at least I think it was rosemary...it was a few weeks ago so I can't remember. I could just eat that bread forever. Best of all the bread options presented.
Panna Cotta - really small portion, but really good. The watermelon granita (?) and shaved melons were a nice refreshing contrast to the panna cotta. caramel (or burnt white chocolate? I have terrible memory apparently) at the bottom pulled the dish together nicely, it added the sweetness needed in dessert.
Pros - great food, excellent service, nice ambience
Cons - expensive (although I knew that going into the dinner so I really can't complain)
I probably won't go back again or if I do it won't be for a while. I can't afford to eat like that all the time on student loans!
I love Spiaggia.The food, customer service and ambience has yet to disappoint. I have been here a handful of times and always have left happy. I think its a nice go to pick for a romantic special occasion. Â The last visit was during the winter and it was warm and welcoming. Â
ALWAYS finish dinner wiht the gelati. Â Even if you think you dont have room!
At these prices, your food had better be through the roof. Â A recent dinner at Spiaggia was closer to the basement. Â
I hadn't been there for a good 15 years. Â Fifteen years ago, the food was beyond compare. Â I Â still remember a sublime ravioli as if it were yesterday. Â But today . . . .? Â
On a recent Tuesday night, a girl's night out to celebrate a birthday, the beautiful dining room was only a third full. Â I can understand why.
Other than the affable host who seated us, service was stiff and uninformative. Â Nobody told us anything about the food. Â Waitstaff for our table was exclusively middle aged tuxedoed men of the style found in hotels in the 1970's. Â Our waiter didn't say one word to us about the food or wine, except to tell us we should order all three courses (appetizer, pasta, main course) off the ala carte menu for a "traditional Italian dinner," and that the pastas were not main course size but appetizer portion. Â
I've travelled to Italy over 10 times and this had nothing to do with traditional Italian food.
Since the appetizers were priced from $30 to $90, we passed on those.
The "appetizer portion" pastas -- thirty bucks -- were literally six forkfuls.  Small forkfuls.  We counted them.  That runs to five bucks a small forkful.  At five bucks a bite, the pasta had better be overwhelming.  My spaghetti with lobster was totally ordinary.  Light tomato sauce.  Couldn't taste the alleged lobster at all.  You can get much better at Coco Pazzo or any other high class Italian restaurant in the city without the pretension -- and a lot more than six forkfuls for your thirty bucks.  My two friends had the gnocchi, which was slathered with obscene amounts of  cheese and truffle oil.  Tasty but a cheap trick and very, very heavy.. Â
My entree, a venison sausage with allegedly all sorts of interesting things going on in it -- I can't even remember what the menu said -- tasted like dry venison sausage with a smear of a mustard sauce on the plate, some grapes. Â If memory serves, it was $62. Â Maybe $64. My friends had the halibut and salmon dishes. Â I tasted them. Also cost more than 60 bucks each. Â Very average. Â If anything, both fishes were slightly overcooked.
Nobody came by during the meal to see if we were enjoying our food and our highly overpriced bottle of chianti. Â (Maybe they knew what a ripoff it was.)
The bggest insult, however, came with dessert. Â When I made the reservation, I mentioned that one of our party was having a birthday. Â I didn't know if they'd do anything for her, but it never hurts to mention it. Â
Well, time for dessert came. Â We ordered three desserts. Â Seventeen bucks each. Â The waiter brought three desserts. Â The panna cotta was delicious. Â The gelato was totally forgettable. Â (I forget what the third dessert was.) Â When we were halfway through our desserts, the waiter came with a huge plate of rhum baba with a candle on it ... "happy birthday and compliments of the house." Â
After we'd ordered and paid for a dessert for the birthday girl? Â THEN they bring the complimentary dessert. Â How cheesy. Â How very cheap.
This place has turned over the years from an absolutely stunning restaurant to a total ripoff. Â The clientele seemed to be 60+ expensse account types, not foodies. Â Michelin should be ashamed for giving it a star. Â Never again.
I ate here with a group of 6 a few weeks ago on a Monday night - I know, who goes to a place like this on a Monday night, but it was a business dinner. I wanted to use open table to get the dining points, but alas, for a party of this size you have to call the restaurant to make sure they can accommodate your group. Â
Half of our party arrived early and we settled into the bar area waiting for others to arrive. Â The wine list is extensive and exclusively from Italy, but the way the drink menu is laid out is a little confusing and hard to read. I go with a red wine from Tuscany (the name escapes me) which is priced at $29 for a glass! Â The rest of our group orders a drink and we are escorted to our seats just around the corner. Â
The dining room is very opulent highlighted by the dual glass chandeliers and views out onto Michigan Ave. We were presented with two menus, one a choice of tasting menus and their a la carte menu. Â While I would have loved to try the tasting menu inspired by their "Top Chef", the group decided to plow ahead off of their regular menu. The menu is organized into three sections; antipasti, primi piatti, and secondi piatti. I chose to go with the carne cruda, the finely diced raw veal lion. Â The veal was very rich and best eaten with the crustini that it's served with. Â It was a good start but not too memorable. Most others at the table went with the diver scallop, which looked delicious although you only get one.
I next went with the potato gnocchi, which was explained as the item that never leaves the menu. It was pillowy goodness, especially when paired with the ricotta sauce. So far the highlight of othe meal! Â I decided to finish with the venison sausage wrapped with artichokes and foie gras. Â What a little piece of heaven. It was clearly the best dish of the night, but very rich. I believe that I got 4 pieces of venison sausages all wrapped with that delicious foie. Wow - everyone at the table was jealous of my choice and it would be the reason to head back again sooner. Most others at the table ordered some sort of fish dish to finish. I can't remember what I ordered for dessert, but it wasn't spectacular or all that memorable.
All in all it was a great dining experience, but not a place that I would rush back to given the choice. The downfalls were the wait time for the check, required jackets for men, as well as the prices of the wine list - we got one bottle of white $90 and a bottle of red that was approx $200. The servers made you think that Spiaggia is the only place you can get these wines, while I researched afterwards and found them online for less than 1/8th the price. the service was impeccable yet stuffy. While I loved what I ordered, you can tell some others at the table left not overwhelmed. For the money I want to feel blown away and leave the resturant in bliss planning my next return date - since I cannot honestly say that I felt that way, I'm giving you 3 stars Spiaggia for the quality of food and service. I would recommend you to friends who want to dine on Michigan Ave, but for the money I would rather go to Next or Alinea.
Completely overrated. Â How did they get a Michelin star?
Throughout our meal I twice joined the empty wine glass club. Â Empty wine glasses aren't suppose to happen in top-end, top-priced restaurants. Â But bone dry glasses are apparently the standard here.
I started with an awesome morel mushroom dish. Â Heavenly. Â When we finished the appetizer course, we had no more than ten seconds before the pasta course arrived. Â Bad timing, really bad for what is suppose to be such a great restaurant. Â When I mentioned it to the waiter, he told us he'd noticed it too. Â "Noticed?" Â How about stepping in and doing something about it? Â Or maybe managing the process! Â
Pasta was a nice fusilli that we shared.  And then, as to be predicted, we waited... and waited... and finally were brought our main courses.  My  cappesante dorate (scallops) were burnt from their long experience under a heat lamp.  As lacking in moisture as my wine glass.  Come on, what kind of a joint is this??? Â
Serious foodie friends had told us Spiaggia is the most overrated restaurant in Chicago. Â We've always enjoyed Cafe Spiaggia, so had to try the main show regardless of the negative advice. Â Now we understand. Â Once wiser, twice the fool.
And yes, it is a great setting.
i almost dont even want to take the time to write this. Â i have already been ripped off enough. Â I plan on letting every outlet such as YELP and TRIP ADVISOR know to stay away from this overpriced , underwhelming establishment.
from the moment we walked in I felt as though they could do without our business. Â The wait staff, with the exception of the bartender, were standoffish. Â it took us 20 minutes to just get a menu.
after we received the menu we realized you couldnt have a meal without at least 180.00 in food(90 each). Â we had already ordered two drinks a piece.
I will cut this short. Â the food was underwelming and underseasoned. Â our meat was tough. Â only high point was the 15 gnokki you get for 40 dollars a person.
So the Hubs and I booked a reservation for our 3rd wedding anniversary. Â We've heard mixed reviews that ran the gamut from "spectacular" to "Meeeh". Â Since it was on our restaurant bucket list, we decided to give this one a go.
The service was wonderful...at first. Â We were kindly greeted with a Happy anniversary from the host to the server and even to the busser. Â The server advised us that we should each order an appetizer, a first course and a second course. Â
We decided to pass on the tasting menu (it sounded wonderful, however, we could've gone to Hawaii for those prices). Â When we ordered we ordered an appetizer to share and each had a first course and second course. Â The server tried to sell us on a bottle of vino, but we declined (I'm a light weight). Â After we ordered, we both agreed that the server changed her tune a little. Â We felt that she thought we were going to be "THAT" cheap table ( My snooty radar went off). Â Don't get me wrong, we may have been the smallest tix of the night, but we walked out of there $400 lighter.
The appetizer came and we ordered the Cappesanta Dorata Con Spugnole E "nduja. Â It was a delightful well prepared 2 piece scallops (total). At $33 dollars you may have expected at least 3 pieces. Â Just sayin'
The hubs ordered the Veal Filled pasta and I ordered the Gnocci with Truffles. Â I would come back, but only for the Gnocci alone. Â The gnocci was the perfect density, texture and chewieness. Â The umami of the truffles were so divine! Â I would've been in heaven if they gave me a tub of this stuff, but alas it was a rinky dink portion that was an absolute tease.
The dinner course was decent, but nothing worth mentioning. Â I've had a fish course about as good, just half the price.
Overall, the ambience was romantic. Â The food, one real highlight and the rest just decent. Â It is a place to try just once. Â The overall value didn't meet my expectation for those prices. Â Maybe I'll go to the cafe instead.
I thoroughly enjoyed Spiaggia. Â The service was exceptional and gracious. Â The decor was clean, well thought out and designed beautifully, especially the tiered dining area. Â Quarters can be a bit tight while moving around the restaurant, but otherwise very comfortable.
The food was exceptional. Â The Gnocchi was pillowy heaven and floats in your mouth before melting in rich unctuous sauce. Â The steak was perfectly cooked and presented the way a steak should be, with great presence !
Over all Spiaggia is one of my top three Chicago restaurants. Â I've read some of the other reviews that have been a bit lopsided, but my experience was nothing short of fabulous. Â Please try for yourself, if I'm wrong you can be mad at me for a minute, maybe five minute at those prices. Â But, if I'm right, you'll be in for a real treat!
I am known among my close friends as the Top Chef Pool Master. For the past 5 or 6 seasons I have been running a pool which now involves a spreadsheet, a point system and a set of rules. Oh yea, it's very complex. While I might not have been a fan of Sarah's behavior on TC, I was rooting for her because she was one of my picks. In the end, I was happy that Paul won but was slightly disappointed that we couldn't bring home another TC victory to Chicago. As you can imagine, I was really excited to get to try Sarah's Top Chef inspired menu upon my first visit to Spiaggia.
The tasting menu consisted of Meyer lemon marinated fluke with uni; hand cut squid ink fettuccine with ruby red shrimp; pumpernickel crusted trout with fennel kraut puree; dashi braised veal cheeks with celery root puree and a hazelnut flour cake with peppermint gelati and cocoa nib streusel.
Everything was wonderful but the best dish of the lot was the crusted trout. I would sell my soul for another serving of that amazing creation. It was hands-down the favorite of the table and Chef Sarah should consider putting this on the regular menu. The fennel kraut puree was wonderful and I practically licked my plate clean. The squid ink fettuccine came in a close second.
Dessert was also fantastic as were the dozen or so assorted gelati and sorbet they brought to our table - with their compliments. The passion fruit sorbet was unbelievable. While I enjoyed the oh-so-decadent raspberry hazelnut flour cake, the shining star for me was the bonus macaron they brought out for us. It's the stuff dessert dreams are made of!
As expected, service was impeccable. They were not pretentious...totally friendly yet totally professional. If you choose to do the tasting menu, the entire table has to do it. We had a couple diners with special dietary restrictions; one non-meat eater (so embarrassing) and one with seafood allergies. Spiaggia accommodated our diners needs without hesitation. Â I did not participate in the wine pairing but several in our party did and they quite enjoyed it. I did, however, get in on some cocktail action...their drink menu is not to be missed.
I was a little sad that Chef Sarah was not in the kitchen upon my visit but I imagine she was kicking it with Beverly. Sarah, we should meet up if you want to get in on my TC Pool action...and bring some of that trout with ya.
Overrated, indeed.... Â
I asked my fiance to take me here for my birthday and honestly regret it. Â Compared to the vast number of fine dining establishments in Chicago, Spiaagia truly comes short. Â
The evening just started all wrong. Â First, we had quite early reservations at 6:30pm. Â We walk in and the host tries to seat us next to this wall on the smallest size table they have. Â There was a booth open right next to us and I asked if we could have that instead and he said that was reserved for a larger party later. Â I also saw other larger tables on the other side of the restaurant with views to the lake, but decided I only get one opportunity to ask for a change in seat. Â It is important to note that at this time, ALL the seats (booth and larger tables) were taken up by couples, so it wasn't like I was asking them for a favor. Â When you take a step back and look at the restaurant, the seat they put us at was what I call an "after-thought" seating. Â They were probably like, hey, we can fit another table here, let's do it.
After spending a few minutes annoyed, I asked to be moved and they moved us up to seating closer to the bar and entrance of the restaurant, a four-top. Â They didn't bother giving us the table next to the window with the view of the lake. Â And the booth I requested for in the beginning, well that stayed empty for an hour and a half until they sat someone there. Â And in all honesty, they could have seated them at the table they eventually gave us since it was a four-top. Â I guess we just weren't special enough to have the booth. Â This is a feeling I absolutely hate.
The service was fine. Â It took our server a while to get to us, but she was nice, friendly, and enthusiastic, so I appreciated that. Â I did notice that they had a lot of the bussers bringing out the meals and they often stumbled over descriptions which I found distracting. Â
For our appetizers we had the diver scallop w/ mushrooms and parm and the diced raw lamb with apples and olive oil. Â These were fine dishes. Â The scallops were cooked well and the lamb was obviously high quality. Â For our pasta dishes I had the urchin pasta and my fiancee had the cheese filled pasta with lobster, sea beans and caviar. Â This was my fiance's favorite dish. Â I was however, underwhelmed by my urchin pasta and at one point craved the urchin pasta at Davanti Enoteca on Taylor. Â The urchin flavor here was very very subtle and the pasta was all over the place in doneness. Â Some were cooked right while others were extremely "al dente."
Our final dishes were probably the most underwhelming. Â I got the pancetta wrapped guinea hen with squash puree and brussels sprouts while my fiance got the prime strip loin. Â For what we ordered, the prices were astronomical - $50 for chicken and $52 for prime strip! Â There was nothing special about the preparations, they tasted quite standard. Â And worst of all, my fiance's steak was overcooked. Â He asked for medium rare and got what was almost medium well.
I'm so disappointed, and having to write this review, I had to relive what is one of my most disappointing fine dining meals in Chicago. Â If you want "fancy" Italian, try Davanti Enoteca or better yet, go to Tuscany on Taylor. Â After a $500 bill, I really wanted to go to these two restaurants to make up for the disappointing meal I had.
Spiaggia remains exceptional. Â Service was flawless; friendly but not obtrusive, helpful but not at all condescending. Â My request for a particularly rare type of rye was taken without a batted eye.
Since my last visit in '09 they have jumped on the locavore bandwagon in a major way. Â I'm glad always to know the sources, but of late they are not only stressing it on their menu but pushing the message through the waitstaff. Â
Our waiter made sure we knew that the tasting menu offered was the same as had been featured on Top Chef; unfortunately I stopped following the show after season three and thus was blissfully ignorant. Spiaggia was great long before there ever was a TC. Â Â In any event, were not up for the adventure.
 I enjoyed the Iberico ham as an appetizer, and my companion the buratta.  I was keen to sample the latter but it was so good I never had a chance.  The ham was, of course, utterly superb -- as it must be -- but in retrospect I can't help wondering why an ostensibly Italian restaurant presents a Spanish-style ham. Eh, who cares?  One bite and you forget.
For our entrees I had the veal chop, while the others had the strip loin with savoy cabbage wrapped oxtail and the pancetta wrapped guinea hen (a preparation I must remember to try at home). Â All were excellent.
OVER...wait for it...RATED. extremely vastly so.
some colleagues and i came for dinner this past Monday night. i was rather looking forward to it after seeing tony compete on top chef masters and sarah on top chef. i wasn't a fan of her and her beverly-slighting, but the hand-made pasta and meatballs all looked so incredibly delicious on the show. as a huge fan of black squid ink pasta, when i heard the tasting menu consisted of her top chef finale inspired dishes, i immediately overlooked the fact that she didn't actually win (GO PAUL!!!) and jumped on it.
well, the first appetizer (NON top chef inspired) course was my favorite. it was fluke marinated in meyer lemon, delightfully tangy with some uni. next came the long-awaited black squid ink pasta which was ... just okay. the dish didn't meld together for me, and i wasn't a fan of the long wide noodles. not sure why that inspired such ladeeda from the top chef judges...although sarah wasn't there that night so maybe it was an off night?
everything else was okay. nothing blew my mind, but the veal cheeks were tasty and i liked the kumquats and minty ice cream in the dessert course. but for those prices, it was NOT worth it - i walked out the door with $180 less in my wallet. and i only enjoyed about 2/3 of the components of my meal.
another thing that stuck in my craw - the service was C-R-A-W-L-I-N-G. Â Most of our party didn't do the 5-course special but my friend and i who did requested that the food come out more quickly. needless to say, it took a while and most of the party were starving by the time their mains finally came out. even getting the dessert took 20+ minutes, then the check. and all this in spite of the fact that the dining room was 90% empty! in hindsight, that's never a good sign.
i still want to try cafe spiaggia bc i hear that shares the kitchen but at a much more reasonable price, although part of me wonders if i'm just going to be disappointed again.
We recently celebrated my birthday at Spiaggia and had an amazing time. The meal was basically perfect in every way. The restaurant itself was beautiful and unique, the staff was super friendly and helpful, and each course was more delicious than the last.
We started off with a couple drinks while we navigated the menu and the wine list. I was a little intimidated going in because I'm not exactly an expert on Italian wine, but the wine list is extremely descriptive and easy to navigate. I will say that the list was extremely expensive (very few bottles under $200, and I didn't see any below $150).
Our server gave us plenty of time to make a decision and was very knowledgeable about all the options. We were on the fence about doing a tasting versus the pre-fixe and ultimately chose to supplement the pre-fixe with a cheese course between entrees and dessert. It was definitely the right call for us.
My wife started with the Iberico ham and I chose the roasted vegetables and polenta with a fried egg. The presentation on both courses was amazing. The polenta was crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, and so much more flavorful than I expected.
Next we had the tagliolini with butter, Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh black truffles, and the Amarone risotto with lamb hearts. These two dishes were the stars of the night. Our server mentioned that he felt the best way to taste truffles was in a simple buttered pasta, and after trying the tagliolini I have to agree. It was amazing. I also chose to add fresh shaved truffles to the risotto and it was a good decision. The risotto was far and away the best I ever tasted. I didn't know it was possible to make lamb hearts so tender and flavorful.
For our mains we chose the guinea hen and the wood-grilled prime strip loin. Both dishes were perfectly executed and delicious. They were also very generous servings, larger than I expected.
The cheese course was also very well-done. The accompaniments included a chili sauce and flavored honey, which were definitely different from the usual figs and bread.
The desserts were outstanding as well. I had a ricotta mousse with grapefruit sorbet and various pieces of candied citrus fruits. My wife had an assortment of gelatos which had a texture unlike any I've ever tried. Completely smooth and rich-- this stuff was the real deal, exactly like the gelato in Italy.
I really can't say enough about how much we enjoyed our meal at Spiaggia. It is definitely in the upper echelon of fine dining in Chicago. I can't wait to return for another special occasion in the future!
Went to Spiaggia for Valentine's day this year and it was phenomenal. Â We had the four course tasting dinner.
I started w/ Caviar, Gnocchi w/ Black Truffle Sauce (the best gnocchi I've ever had), Duct wrapped Prosciutto, and the Gelato sampler (Salted Caramel, Gianduja, Passion Fruit). Â The salted caramel was my favorite.
Julie had the Scallop w/ Cauliflower Mash, Butter Linguini w/ Black Truffle (this was very heavy/rich but really good at the same time, trout (ehh, but might be because I'm not in love w/ Trout), Pomegranate sorbetti w/ chocolate mousse.
Service was 9 stars out of 10 - The only reason they didn't get a perfect 10 was I had sparkling water that was swapped for flat once and my glass was a empty a few times. Â
Atmosphere was very nice, romantic.
Decor was nice, I feel like it will need some updating within a few years so it doesn't feel like a restaurant that "was" there.
Price - You pay for what you get.... Now, out the door after tax and tip for (2) four course menus, (2) martinis, (2) upgrades on dishes (caviar & linguini w/ black truffle) we were at 480 dollars. Â Now, it was fantastic, but that is an incredible amount of money.
All in all I say if you're looking for a romantic dinner to make someone feel special, go for it. Â But go for it knowing that if you're looking to tie one on a bit, you'll likely be in the 400/person range. Â Even glasses of wine were priced at around $25-40 per glass.
Good stuff.
Thanks,
Joe
We went here on April 2, 2011 for my husband's birthday. Â It happened to be the black truffle menu. Â That night, we started with Champagne, of course, and then had the full tasting menu with the wine pairings. Â Some of the dishes were great - but there were a few issues with a couple things...like the Lobster.....
Here is WHY I think this is SIMPLY one of the most AMAZING restaurants and Executive Chefs EVER! Â I emailed them after the dinner - to let them know about the glitches......Sarah Grueneberg called me back personally! Â Not only did she do this - she had us back in for a full tasting menu custom prepared by her with wine pairings -she TOTALLY made this for my husband and I. Â This is above and beyond what anyone could have asked for - and to top it off - simply put - some of my favorite dishes EVER! Â And the Sommelier paired the wines to perfection! Â
The food was outstanding -the wine was impressive - the view is to die for - and the hospitality - none like it in the city! Â Period! Â Do not miss going here - and enjoy some of the best food you will have the chance to savour! Â :0) Â LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!! Â When I was younger - a gentleman that I worked with who was a diehard Italian man always said that Spiaggia was the ONLY place he would ever take people to eat in the city - and now I know why! Â ;0)
Tony Mantuano, the head chef, was on Top Chef Masters and referred to as THE master in Italian fine dining. Perhaps Sarah Grueneberg, the executive chef, was still competing in Top Chef Texas last night? Spiaggia is touted as Obama's favorite restaurant. Perhaps too much hype?
4 stars for dessert
3 stars for dinner
Advice: Do not add truffles to dishes, they have a nice aroma but not a significant flavor.
Wood roasted winter vegetables with an egg over polenta - The polenta stick was tender and crispy, the bits of vegetables were well seasoned. The red wine vinegar beets were overwhelming.
Agnolotti filled with veal, topped with truffles - The little pasta presents were cute but the dish lacked the perfection I expected. The one-note sauce almost tasted like it was thickened with corn starch.
Wood roasted trout with abalone mushrooms, BASIL FED SNAILS, creamy white polenta - Yes, you read it correctly, basil fed snails. Most amusing part to my meal, and they did taste like basil! The trout was a delicious fillet of fish without need of any fancy complements.
Mint gelato - incredibly delicious. Every dessert ordered at the table looked and tasted extraordinary. I could be back just for dessert.
Good, but not great. Â That concisely tells the story of Spiaggia. Â Food is good, but nothing spectacular in any course. Â (The amuse-bouche is the best.) Â Service is acceptable, but the kitchen is understaffed and so it takes a very long time to get even the first course. Â (Note: only go here with people you can easily engage in conversation, or else it will be a painful experience.)
The view is great and the decor is tasteful. Â
I do not consider price in my reviews, but if I were to incorporate value for the meal, then Spiaggia would receive only 1 star.
Spiaggia has been regarded as "Chicago's only four-star Italian dining destination" by Phil Vettel, and so of course I wanted to put this to the test of my own palate. In one word? Phenomenal.
If you're looking for a restaurant with exceptional service, come to Spiaggia. The serving staff was friendly, professional, yet unpretentious. They ensure you're taken care of, and are quite personable while doing so. Our main server was a true delight. It also doesn't hurt that Tony Mantuano himself was making the rounds, and stopped by to say hi to each and every table.
When receiving words of recommendation from the head chef, go with it. Chef Mantuano told us white truffles and the menu had a common theme of dishes laced with the truffles. When he also said their wood burning oven was top notch, I had a much easier time narrowing down my choices.
And hands down the best gnocchi you will ever have!! The uni risotto with white truffles are to die for. I could go on about the food, but I'll let everyone else cover the details. :)
Spiaggia is a "straight A" restaurant and should be applauded as such. I'd recommend Spiaggia to anyone looking for a special occasion dinner out, for the tastiest of Italian cuisine, for the most elegant of settings and incredible service. (Just save your pennies before you go, so you can splurge on what your heart desires)!
Be sure to check out chef Sarah Jayne on Top Chef Texas! After dinner here, I am hoping she's in it to win it!
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
2,915 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
