Volare

Claim
marker

201 E Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

marker
(312) 410-9900
Incorrect info? Correct your listing
Photos
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Volare - Chicago, IL
Reviews
( 31 )
( 19 )
( 3 )
( 5 )
( 8 )

Best

Always amazing and usually much faster than posted

Worst

Better than expected. Whitefish perfectly cooked. Calamari could use lemons on the side.

Volare Ristorante Crapola Universale (read-sux ass) 5/14/2010

Here's the crappiest, shittiest restaurant in USA, you can quote me on that. Greedy bastardized failed waiter by the name of Benny and his silly cohort of cooks who will make you wait for 45 minutes for an overpriced steak. Pros: Nothing, amazingly so, the crappiest place ever. Cons: Stupid managers, affected by Scarface movies, owner idiot more

Horrible Guest Service 4/5/2009

We came downtown for our friends 30th birthday weekend bash! Our friend is an italian food connoisseur and after reading most of the reviews on Volare, we decided to make Saturday night reservations for her special night. We had reservations for 6:30pm and called around 6:00pm to check to make sure that we would be ready to be sat when we got there. I talked with a very snotty young man who refused to give me his name who informed me that he couldn't seat us until 9pm even though we had a reservation. When I asked what the point was to have a reservation if it wouldn't be honored he replied ""seriously honey, its saturday night, we don't have the time to honor everyone's reservation request"". We cancelled and ended up at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery on Grand Avenue and had a blast along with great service. So, I can't rate the food, b/c we never had it. I can however speak about how horrible the customer service was. Just imagine how it may have been in person!! I'd spend my $$ at someplace else even if it is a bit more expensive. You're downtown, you pay for the ambiance, experience and of course, the great food and great service. Volare has alot to work on!!!! Take your $$ elsewhere! Pros: Seemed like it would be delicious food.... Cons: Rude, inconsiderate-unorganized staff more

Editorial review from GrubHub 12/7/2008

by Matt at GrubHub Provided by GrubHub
They sent alfredo sauce instead of vodka... that's a rookie mistake. more

Order the Chicken Cacciatore 9/13/2008

It was our first visit to Chicago, and Volare was highly recommended to us. Our waiter was very attentive and polite, and the atmosphere was inviting. The menu offered a variety of dishes which anyone would have difficulty choosing from, so I asked the waiter to surprise me with a dinner of his choice. I was brought Chicken Cacciatore and it was magnificent! The flavor and texture was everything that made every bite to be savored. The chicken was tender and covered in a perfectly cooked sauce made of fresh red peppers, mushrooms, onions, green olives... and the pasta was coated in a thin yet tasty tomato/garlic sauce which I have never tasted the likes of before. Later we walked by the Volare during rush dinner hour and it was packed. MY SUGGESTION would be to avoid the rush dinner hour so you could savore the experience of this small yet lovely place and all it has to offer. It is packed during dinner hour for a reason! Once home I tried to google recipes to duplicate this dish, but was unsuccessful in finding anything that closely matched the ingredients. Would I eat at Volare again during my next visit to Chicago? In a heartbeat! Pros: Great Food Cons: Dinner Hour Rush more

You've Got to Be Kidding Me.. 8/5/2008

This place should be shut down. The service is horrendous and takes the words ""disgusting, and inhospitable"" to another level. The food is absolute junk - it's a complete tourist trap because it's next to the Inn of Chicago which is another place that should be condemned. You want Italian food? Go to Little Italy or another place - take your money and time elsewhere. You'll wait at least an hour for under-whelming food. If you like this place, you obviously have no taste and must not be from a metropolitan city. Pros: NOTHING Cons: complete facade, humid, watery food, service is below par more

Decent food, Bad service, Reservations no honored 3/21/2008

Made a reservation that was not honored. Got to the restaurant and was told it would be a very short wait for my table. After about 20 minutes, was asked if I wanted to sit outside in an enclosed area, mind you it was in the 30s that evening. Was assured it was fully encloced and there were plenty of heat lamps. My other option was to wait an additional 35-40 minutes minimum for a table inside to open up. Opted to eat outside rather than continue to wait and was surprised to see that there was about a foot and a half gap between the ground the the tarp covering the area. Food was nothing to write home about and the server went out of his way to sound Italian when he clearly was not, rather annoying. Overall, they did not honor my reservation, why take them if you are going to turn around and make people wait 20 plus minutes and the offer them to sit in a supposed warm enclosed area when in actuality, it wasn't. If you are looking for a good Italian place in Chicago, this is not it. Essentially me and my guest would have wound up waiting over an hour for a table inside with a reservation, poor customer service. The table next to us had their food brought out to them cold after the waiter claimed everything was cooked to order and took longer. A woman at the table mentioned they ahd waited over 35 minutes for their food, so obviously the food runner and or server forgot about them. Pros: Decent menu, good location Cons: Small, crowded, very loud, very poor customer service, don't bother making a reservation, they won't honor it. more

Editorial review from GrubHub 2/27/2008

by Josh at GrubHub Provided by GrubHub
Excellent food (outstanding!), delivery was 20 earlier than expected, all packaged well and delivered in perfect condition. Perfect experience and food. more

6 Stars (Is that possible?) 2/19/2008

I couldn't disagree more w/ the previous review. I travel for a living and consider myself somewhat of a tested veteran when it comes to dining out. Volare is no doubt one of Chicago's best restaurants and one of the better Italian meals I have found across the entire country. Whatever the fish special is get it, but oh yes, with a side of fresh pasta rather than the usual sides. You won't regret it. Every visit to Chicago consists of a stop at Volare and I can't wait to finally take my wife there. Pros: Extraordinary Italian dishes Cons: Noisy and packed like sardines more

always good 2/11/2008

We live in the hood, and go there often...Owners and staff friendly always make you feel at home, food... more

always good 2/11/2008

murray Provided by Partner
We live in the hood, and go there often...Owners and staff friendly always make you feel at home, food always good... more

Al Fresco Italian 7/4/2007

I ate in their patio on a perfect Friday afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. The service was... more

Al Fresco Italian 7/4/2007

hk123j Provided by Partner
I ate in their patio on a perfect Friday afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. The service was excellent, valet parking wasn't too bad for ... more

expect a wait 4/30/2007

i've tried eating here 3 times, and each time had to find another place b/c the wait times were so... more

expect a wait 4/30/2007

Soo Provided by Partner
i've tried eating here 3 times, and each time had to find another place b/c the wait times were so ridiculous. i finally came here on a saturday ni... more

Avoid this restaurant if you want great Italian food 3/6/2007

Visiting Chicago for the first time, I really wanted some authentic southern Italian cooking, Chicago style. Service was great, wine list was terrific, appetizers and salad were wonderful. Everything was going great until our entrees came to the table. The red sauce on the chicken parmigiana was some of the worst I have ever tasted--not red but really orange...too thick....I was looking for something that had a hint of some herbs, spices, and tomatoes.....this had zero flavor. The white sauce was way too thick, and my friend said it tasted like macaroni and cheese, the bolognese was way too chunky, and overall I left far more food on my plate than I ever do in a good Italian restaurant. Pros: Good wine list Cons: Bad food more

Authentic, fabulous food with great servers who seem to love what they do! 11/10/2006

Volare is one of our favorite Chicago stops. Great food. When sea bass is a special, get it! Pros: Servers describe the specials as if they are preparing before you. Cons: Can be noisy more

Quaint Italian 8/24/2006

Out of town on business in Chicago and we heard of this great Italian restraunt around the corner from where we were staying. Although the food and atmosphere were great, we had a reservation and waited over an hour. After being seated the service was very attentive and ended up being well worth the wait. Presentation and wine selection was excellent. A must eat if going to Chicago! Pros: food, service, prices Cons: closely seated, long wait even w/ reservation more

I'm confused about all the good reviews. 8/13/2006

We arrived at 4:30, (after noticing that they we still setting up a little earlier), to avoid any problems with being too early. Apparently there were other problems beyond our control. Is the wait staff here trained to make tables wait for no reason? The wine order seemed to require a management consultation, and we didn't have our wine for 30 minutes. The house salad was wilted, the pasta had obviously been left under heat lamps forever, and the marinara sauce had CHEESE in it. Perhaps we're out of step: I'm familiar with old school mid-Amercian taste for salt and cheese, but -good- Italian restaurants will show you a better way. Pros: Nice patio area Cons: amazingly slow service. Cheesey, salty, heat-lamped food. more

What a find! 7/21/2006

While on a business trip and staying at the Swissotel on E. Wacker in Chicago, we decided to wander around looking for an Italian restaurant. In less than 15 minutes we found Volare, and what a find it was. It was a Thursday night and there was a 45 minute wait so we put our name on the wait list, left to window shop at the nearby mall, returned 30 minutes later and was seated about 25 minutes later. Pros: Excellent service, atmosphere, and reasonable prices Cons: a little bit of a wait more

Always Ask the Desk Clerk! 6/7/2006

I dined at Volare on the recommendation of the desk clerk at my hotel. What a find! Outstanding food, good value, great vibe, good service. Started with a Caprese salad, which came garnished with four drops of real balsamic vinegar, thick, syrupy, delicious. The bread basket featured an Italian loaf, and a foccacia. My entree was a radiatore pasta with Bolognese sauce. The pasta was tossed with the sauce, rather than having it ladled on top, allowing the pasta to soak up the sauce, making the dish more integrated and flavorful. Dessert was vanilla gelato, with generous vanilla flavor. Great meal! Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Did I say Food? more
< Previous 1 2 3 4 Next >
Menu for Volare


Summer SALE!!!:
15% OFF all yearly plans
Use year15 at checkout. Expires 1/1/2021
Editorial
  • In Short
    Volare means ""to fly,"" and this Streeterville restaurant has earned its wings with attentive, friendly service, a pleasant atmosphere and reliable Italian fare. Regulars fill...

  • 10/7/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday To Friday From 11:00 AM To 11:00 PM Saturday From 04:00 PM To 11:00 PM Sunday From 04:00 PM To 10:30 PM
  • Payments: Discover, Diner's Club, Master Card, Visa, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: Central, Near North Side
badge