Trattoria Demi

My brother-in-law and I kind of stumbled upon this place because we walked into Edzos and saw a massive line and then I saw this small, intimate Italian restaurant next door and we thought, "Why not?" Trattoria Demi is one of those Italian places that are small enough to be a great spot for a date, but also low-key enough to take kids and family.

We both had the lunch pasta specials, which consisted of a bowl of pasta and a salad. However the real star here was the grilled octopus with cannellini beans. It was so good, that we ordered a second plate! The octopus was grilled to perfection and the citrusy, tangy sauce with the beans was a perfect compliment.

I've been working in Evanston for 2 years and for some reason, haven't made it over to Trattoria Demi for lunch...until today. I am so happy I did and annoyed that I didn't come back sooner!

The atmosphere is casual but comfortable. Upon entering we were immediately told we could sit anywhere. We chose a 2-top by the brick wall and waited for the server. Only a few other tables were occupied. The waitress approached us and told us the daily specials including homemade lentil soup.

I chose the special which was ziti in a red pesto sauce, made with sun-dried and fresh tomatoes. It was really good but not as good as the lentil soup. The soup was FANTASTIC!! Not as thick as many lentil soups i've tried, but it had a wonderful taste that I couldn't get enough of. I can't wait to come back when they offer this soup again.

A true winner, this place serves great food, the service is pleasant and the restaurant is definitely cozy. I've only eaten here for lunch but am determined to try it for dinner in the near future.

Definitely a fan. Is it on par with Campagnola or some of the other 4 star Italian restaurants I've rated? No. But without 1/2 stars on Yelp, we have to try our best to differentiate. More eloquent and delicate than Dave's Italian Kitchen. The service reflects this upgrade in class.

Sharing an entrance with Edzo's, it's a weird entrance and quite unassuming from the outside. There's no hostess stand or anything -- when you walk in, you are in the middle of the dining room. Nevertheless, the atmosphere and ambiance is quite nice but not overly formal. No tablecloth or linen napkins. Still suitable for a date.

The menu covers the full spectrum of your classic Italian fare, from antipasti to pasta to meat entrees to seafood and pizzas. In my two times here, I've gotten pastas and they have been on point. Cooked al dente and with plenty of fresh ingredients, I have no complaints.
This most recent time I had the Linguini with mussels, clams, prosciutto, and white wine sauce. Portion size was good and I enjoyed every bite. I would always clamor for more mussels and clams but I really could have used more. The plentiful fresh basil garnish on top was much appreciated.

Table bread is very soft and worked very well with olive oil. However, I must note that the first time I came the bread was not nearly as pleasant. Perhaps it was the off hour between lunch and dinner, but the bread was hard.

Dessert was fantastic. Hazelnut pear tart with coffee gelato. Presentation was superb with a mint sprig and a couple fresh berries on the side.

The bang for your buck is quite reasonable once you realize that Olive Garden isn't any cheaper. Will definitely return to try some other items on the menu.