La Cantina

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71 W Monroe St (at Dearborn Street)
Chicago, IL 60603

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(312) 332-7005
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La Cantina - Chicago, IL
La Cantina - Chicago, IL
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Reviews
( 131 )
( 30 )
( 12 )
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( 32 )

Best

Italian Village deserves to be called as CitySearch's best. This is my favorite Italian restaurant in the hood. Their food reminds me of my visit to Italy when I was younger. Amaz...

Worst

My girlfriend and I were excited to try an Italian Village restaurant, so we decided to go with La Cantina. (The restaurant downstairs.) Besides the fact they seat you in the hall...

New York in Chicago 5/17/2005

what a place!!! the decor is amazing, the romance is all over, the service is like nothing in Chicago. The have all the levels of servers, you do not even get to put your fork down and they are there for your every need! The food is so authenic and delicious and I have never seen a wine list. Best of all, they are happy to have you. Pros: romantic, great food, affordable more
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A great meal, a good value 12/22/2003

Took three friends to the Village (1 or 3 restaurants in the Village). It was packed, but we were seated within minutes of arriving (w/o a reservation). Make reservations, if possible, especially on weekends. Service was pretty good, but not outstanding--w/ so many people to serve, it must be overwhelming to please everyone 100%. We had two servers--one for drinks/odds-ends, & another for entrees, which made things a bit confusing. Food quality is very good. Bread is fabulous when served HOT--unfortunately they served us cold bread initially. Portions are also sizable but not as monumental as, say, Rosebud or Carmine's. Prices are pretty good, considering the area--I got a generous plate of meat spaghetti, w/ salad, for $11.50! Ambience is awesome--it appears as if you're in--get this--an Italian village. (Great place to take a date.) It's cramped--a small place that takes advantage of every square foot of floor space. Recommended! Pros: Food!, Ambience, Value more
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A great meal, a good value 12/22/2003

Took three friends to the Village (1 or 3 restaurants in the Village). It was packed, but we were seated within minutes of arriving (w/o a reservation). Make reservations, if possible, especially on weekends. Service was pretty good, but not outstanding--w/ so many people to serve, it must be overwhelming to please everyone 100%. We had two servers--one for drinks/odds-ends, & another for entrees, which made things a bit confusing. Food quality is very good. Bread is fabulous when served HOT--unfortunately they served us cold bread initially. Portions are also sizable but not as monumental as, say, Rosebud or Carmine's. Prices are pretty good, considering the area--I got a generous plate of meat spaghetti, w/ salad, for $11.50! Ambience is awesome--it appears as if you're in--get this--an Italian village. (Great place to take a date.) It's cramped--a small place that takes advantage of every square foot of floor space. Recommended! Pros: Food!, Ambience, Value more
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frank was the best! 11/9/2003

i treated my best friend to a weekend in chicago for her birthday--and dinner at the village made the trip extraordinary! we arrived around 5pm, and we were seated immediately. the food was delicious (yummy cheese & spinach ravioli for me, and a chicken/sausage concoction with fettucine alfredo for my friend)...the service was first-rate (frank was our waiter: attentive without 'hovering,' extremely polite; and the other waitstaff were friendly and prompt)...the price was reasonable for the location. i highly recommend the village!!! Pros: impeccable service, short walk to theatre, reasonable prices more
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frank was the best! 11/9/2003

i treated my best friend to a weekend in chicago for her birthday--and dinner at the village made the trip extraordinary! we arrived around 5pm, and we were seated immediately. the food was delicious (yummy cheese & spinach ravioli for me, and a chicken/sausage concoction with fettucine alfredo for my friend)...the service was first-rate (frank was our waiter: attentive without 'hovering,' extremely polite; and the other waitstaff were friendly and prompt)...the price was reasonable for the location. i highly recommend the village!!! Pros: impeccable service, short walk to theatre, reasonable prices more
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Italian Village 8/10/2003

Best ambiance in an Italian restaurant that I have found here and abroad. It's a great date spot and they have a fantastic wine list that's pages and pages long. The service is friendly and intimate and the food speaks for itself. The pollo ala vesuvio is wonderful if you love garlic and the eggplant parmigiana is the best that I've had. The Italian Rum cake is also really tasty. I don't think that the prices are too expensive and lunchtime is a great value. Liked the background music too which wasn't merely Frankie and Dean crooning out the same tunes that I hear in every other Italian restaurant, although they sang too. It was nice to hear a variety of songs including ones actually sung in Italian Pros: moderately priced, beautiful decor, friendly more
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Italian Village 8/10/2003

Best ambiance in an Italian restaurant that I have found here and abroad. It's a great date spot and they have a fantastic wine list that's pages and pages long. The service is friendly and intimate and the food speaks for itself. The pollo ala vesuvio is wonderful if you love garlic and the eggplant parmigiana is the best that I've had. The Italian Rum cake is also really tasty. I don't think that the prices are too expensive and lunchtime is a great value. Liked the background music too which wasn't merely Frankie and Dean crooning out the same tunes that I hear in every other Italian restaurant, although they sang too. It was nice to hear a variety of songs including ones actually sung in Italian Pros: moderately priced, beautiful decor, friendly more
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Best place to go before catching a show! 6/4/2003

Within a short walking distance to all the major theaters in the Theater District, this place has a head start in being the establishment of choice for a meal before the show. You can also specify what time you need to be out by and the waitstaff will do everything they can to help pace your meal, accordingly. The food is just ordinary, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Prices are reasonable and coupled with an intimate, romantic atmosphere and top-notch service, this place will have you headed out to the show with a spring in your steps! Pros: excellent service, intimate atmosphere, good prices Cons: average food, no parking, limited seating more
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Best place to go before catching a show! 6/4/2003

Within a short walking distance to all the major theaters in the Theater District, this place has a head start in being the establishment of choice for a meal before the show. You can also specify what time you need to be out by and the waitstaff will do everything they can to help pace your meal, accordingly. The food is just ordinary, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Prices are reasonable and coupled with an intimate, romantic atmosphere and top-notch service, this place will have you headed out to the show with a spring in your steps! Pros: excellent service, intimate atmosphere, good prices Cons: average food, no parking, limited seating more
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Great Evening... 2/25/2003

The food was very tasty, but I have to say the best part of the Village was the atmosphere. The service was outstanding, although the one bad point would have to be the overcrowding... but that's due to the restaurant's popularity! Pros: service, food, setting Cons: expensive, crowded, bad parking more
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Great Evening... 2/25/2003

The food was very tasty, but I have to say the best part of the Village was the atmosphere. The service was outstanding, although the one bad point would have to be the overcrowding... but that's due to the restaurant's popularity! Pros: service, food, setting Cons: expensive, crowded, bad parking more
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Don't waste your money... 2/17/2003

Don't waste your money! Our food was cold, the waiter spilt water on my daughter's lap, the food lacked flavor. Very, very disappointing... The best part was the bread and butter served before our meal. This place has a great reputation, but I'm not really sure why. Maybe the other 2 restaurants they own are better - but I will wait for someone else to review those. more
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Don't waste your money... 2/17/2003

Don't waste your money! Our food was cold, the waiter spilt water on my daughter's lap, the food lacked flavor. Very, very disappointing... The best part was the bread and butter served before our meal. This place has a great reputation, but I'm not really sure why. Maybe the other 2 restaurants they own are better - but I will wait for someone else to review those. more
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so so, not worth the money 2/17/2003

with a reservation we had to wait for half hour. then we were seated by the door(!!!) almost at the coat check counter. around us were all young couples like us (who seemed not worthy enough to be seated more towards the center of the restaurant!). the food was ok but not worth the money. portions are very small more
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so so, not worth the money 2/17/2003

with a reservation we had to wait for half hour. then we were seated by the door(!!!) almost at the coat check counter. around us were all young couples like us (who seemed not worthy enough to be seated more towards the center of the restaurant!). the food was ok but not worth the money. portions are very small more
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Still Has The Charm & Value ... 1/13/2003

Wow, what a Saturday afternoon lunch, a real Italian experience. The Italian Village continues to be a top notch dinning pleasure. Service was wonderful and attentive. The food was great and the portions were more then expected. For our out of town guest, Italian Village provided real charm and they easily accomodated our party of nine in our own special dinning room. Pros: Great Value, Great Service, Great Food Cons: Oh those stairs! more
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Still Has The Charm & Value ... 1/13/2003

Wow, what a Saturday afternoon lunch, a real Italian experience. The Italian Village continues to be a top notch dinning pleasure. Service was wonderful and attentive. The food was great and the portions were more then expected. For our out of town guest, Italian Village provided real charm and they easily accomodated our party of nine in our own special dinning room. Pros: Great Value, Great Service, Great Food Cons: Oh those stairs! more
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Standard fare 12/19/2002

The food is good but pretty ordinary. The portions are decent. The service is excellent. If you need to feed a large group, these guys can handle it. Otherwise, you can do much better. Pros: downtown, service Cons: ordinary menu more
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Standard fare 12/19/2002

The food is good but pretty ordinary. The portions are decent. The service is excellent. If you need to feed a large group, these guys can handle it. Otherwise, you can do much better. Pros: downtown, service Cons: ordinary menu more
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A taste of home. 11/14/2002

I have been dining at the Italian Village since my child hood. When my father first came from Italy ,back in the old days, he was a busboy there. I have eaten all over the city and never experienced another restaurant with its level of ambiance. Pros: good prices, Excellent servers, valet parking more
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Menu for La Cantina


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Owner Message

  • La Cantina is an Italian Steak and Seafood House located on the lower level of the Italian Village Restaurants . Patterned after a wine cellar with narrow isle and tucked away booths. Customers dine amongst the salt water fish tanks while enjoying a menu filled with traditional favorites and Steak and Seafood dishes from all regions of Italy.

Editorial

  • In Short
    One of three Italian Village restaurants under a single 75-year-old roof, La Cantina is located on the basement level. The room exudes a cozy, wine cellar feel, with booth...

  • 2/24/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-11pm Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-12am Sat 5pm-12am
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diner's Club, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Central, Loop
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