Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
1 / 10

Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A stylish West Loop spot renowned for contemporary Italian fare, especially its artisanal pasta, made with passion and fresh ingredients.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio

Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A stylish West Loop spot renowned for contemporary Italian fare, especially its artisanal pasta, made with passion and fresh ingredients.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"This place rules! You'll want to fly back to Chicago just for another bite."

TIP

Book Reservations Early

Popular spot, especially for special occasions. Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance.

Dine at the Bar

For a unique experience, try to get a seat at the bar to watch pasta being made.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens Tuesday 11AM

Cuisine

Italian

Price

$$$

Phone

(312) 888-3041

Address

1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Mesmerizing Pasta Making

Mesmerizing Pasta Making

Witness skilled pasta artisans craft fresh pasta by hand, a culinary ballet behind the bar that's a feast for the eyes.

TikTokThe First Timer’s Guide To Eating In Chicago - ChicagoRestaurants in Chicago
Iconic Cacio e Pepe

Iconic Cacio e Pepe

Experience the legendary Cacio e Pepe, a creamy, toothy masterpiece that put this classic dish on the map.

These Are the Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago
Refined Italian Cuisine

Refined Italian Cuisine

Indulge in expertly crafted contemporary Italian dishes, from rich meatball ravioli to delicate seafood.

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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

& one of the most stunning restaurants ✨📍monteverde #chicagofood #chicagoeats #italianrestaurant #travelfoodie #foodietiktoker
@sydneycertified
21 likes • 851 views

Book Reservations Early

Popular spot, especially for special occasions. Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance.

Dine at the Bar

For a unique experience, try to get a seat at the bar to watch pasta being made.

Monteverde in Chicago - every single dish 10/10 #chicagorestaurants #chicagofoodie #italianfood #pasta #greenscreenvideo
@iamkkg4
51 likes • 2.5K views
this is what i came to chicago for 🥹 good food & good people - now it’s my job . . . . . #chicago #chicagofoodie #pasta #italianfood #chicagoitalian #foodie #chi #foodtok
@madwalb
724 likes • 8.9K views

Share Plates

Order a variety of dishes to share and taste the diverse flavors on offer.

Ask for Recommendations

Don't hesitate to ask bartenders or staff for wine pairings or dish suggestions.

Not safe for work this burrata e ham is insanely tasty and the mostarda ties it all together mmm #monteverde #monteverdechicago #westloop
@vivianandthecity
2.2K likes • 55.2K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Book Reservations Early

Popular spot, especially for special occasions. Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance.

Dine at the Bar

For a unique experience, try to get a seat at the bar to watch pasta being made.

Share Plates

Order a variety of dishes to share and taste the diverse flavors on offer.

Ask for Recommendations

Don't hesitate to ask bartenders or staff for wine pairings or dish suggestions.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Monteverde is celebrated for its exceptional Italian cuisine, particularly its fresh, homemade pastas and refined dishes. Diners rave about the fun atmosphere, attentive service, and the unique experience of watching pasta being made at the bar. While generally praised, some find the portions to be small for the price, and the restaurant can be quite noisy.

"I ordered the butterscotch budino and a cold brew — it was something new for me and absolutely delicious. Not too sweet, but a bit rich, so I couldn’t finish it.

I sat outside and really enjoyed the atmosphere. Since it was a Friday night, it was quite crowded, but the service was still great and the staff were friendly.

I’ll definitely come back to try the food."

chayda m

"One of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago! The service was excellent with professional waiters, the food was fresh and top quality, and the prices were very reasonable for what you get. Highly recommended—just make sure to book in advance!"

Navid Goharian

"Fresh pasta and other dishes that made my mouth dance! The fish was amazing and my favorite of all the. Items we tried. The meatball was delish but a little to salty for me. The icecream cake was the best I have ever had Not too sweet and was surrounded my a delicious meringue."

Marlene Singh

What People Like

Fresh handmade pasta
Fun bar atmosphere
Attentive and friendly service

What People Dislike

Portion sizes can be small
Can be very noisy

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Monteverde is a very popular restaurant and reservations are highly recommended, especially for peak times. Book well in advance.

TikTokGoogle Review

Monteverde is renowned for its fresh, handmade pasta dishes and its fun, vibrant atmosphere, particularly the pasta-making at the bar.

TikTokRestaurants in Chicago

The menu features several pasta dishes and appetizers that can be enjoyed by vegetarians.

Yes, the intimate atmosphere and delicious food make it a great spot for a date, though it can be noisy.

Google Review+1

Yes, a unique feature is the open pastificio at the bar where you can watch the chefs prepare fresh pasta.

TikTokRestaurants in Chicago

Yes, Monteverde offers a gluten-free menu, making it accessible for those with dietary restrictions.

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Celebrity chef and partner Sarah Grueneberg teamed up with fellow partner-owner Meg Sahs to open this decorated West Loop trattoria back in 2015 and the pair has since garnered an impressive collection of accolades including a coveted James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2017 and Restaurant of the Year at the 2018 Jean Banchet Awards. If that isn’t enticing enough, consider the grub: plump pillows of homemade egg yolk raviolo stuffed with roasted sweet potato and 'nduja salami, Mangalitsa pork meatballs awash in sultry pomodoro sauce, and blackened redfish piccata glistening with caper brown butter, all prepared with farm-fresh ingredients and exquisite technique.How to order: Available for pick-up and delivery via Toast, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash.

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James Beard Award winner and Top Chef finalist Sarah Grueneberg—who formerly cooked at the acclaimed Spiaggia, also in Chicago, and Brennan’s of Houston, and also published a cookbook (“Listen to Your Vegetables: Italian-Inspired Recipes for Every Season”—serves up plates of pasta and large shared plates (like tomato braised pork osso bucco) at her West Loop restaurant, which popped up in 2015. Open for lunch and dinner, there’s a gluten-free menu available at both meals, as well as aperitivo (2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

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We’ve yet to find a scenario where coming to the best Italian restaurant in Chicago isn’t a great idea. But this perpetually-booked spot from a Top Chef alum will definitely need a reservation months in advance for your group dinner—try for a table during weekday lunch to increase your chance of success. Personally, we like to walk-in solo and grab a seat at the bar facing the pastificio and smile maniacally at all the pasta we can’t wait to consume, because nearly every dish is excellent (and reasonably priced).

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You might recognize the chef-owner at this West Loop eatery: Sarah Grueneberg finished in second place on Top Chef's ninth season and has also won a James Beard Award. She's secured a top spot in pasta-loving Chicagoans' hearts, too, with her beautiful menu of Italian treats. You mustn't skip the ragu alla Napoletana, a huge plate of fusilli in red sauce with pork osso bucco, soppressata meatballs and Italian sausage.

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Classic meets innovative at chef Sarah Grueneberg’s forward-thinking Italian restaurant, where a strategically placed mirror grants diners a view of pasta makers rolling and filling select pastas to order. The West Loop location means the restaurant gets busy before Blackhawks games, but Top Chef finalist Grueneberg’s dishes, designed for sharing, are always a game changer.

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One of the most lauded restaurants in the city, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio is a stunning — and wildly popular — West Loop hot spot that continues to fire on all cylinders. For those able to snag a reservation, "Top Chef" alum Sarah Grueneberg and James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2017 will take you on an adventure of singular flavors, snacks, and types of pasta, from crispy chicken polpettine and stuffed cabbage with porcini bolognese to soppressata meatballs and gianduja cream puffs. As for Monteverde's intricate and wholly original handmade pasta dishes, options rotate regularly, and span the spectrum from ricotta- and spinach-filled tortelli with roasted miso and ramps, to creste di gallo pasta (so named for the fact that it resembles a rooster's crest, per Lilly's Fresh Pasta) with lamb and prosciutto sugo and whipped feta.

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Why you’re here: You want a buzzing West Loop dining experience without the pretension. What you’re ordering: Hefty dishes to share like the burrata e ham featuring tigelle “pillows” that can be stuffed with burrata, prosciutto and seasonal mostarda and the ragu alla napoletana featuring osso bucco, soppressata meatballs, Italian sausage and fusilli. Monteverde put cacio e pepe on the menu before it was trendy, and its version is a knockout combination of bucatini, pecorino and ricotta whey to create a creamy, toothy bowl of pasta you’ll want all to yourself.

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At the intersection of Texas, Italy and Top Chef, you'll find Monteverde, Chef Sarah Grueneberg's ode to her birthplace, wanderlust and the inventiveness that tv viewers witnessed on season 9 of the Bravo show. If you're looking for traditional dishes, you're in luck but there are also adventurous new flavors not usually seen in an Italian kitchen. You may get religion trying handcrafted pasta made fresh daily - either classic Italian pastas or Grueneberg's innovative riffs like wok-fried arrabbiata or tortelli verdi with roasted white miso.

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Tigelle at Monteverde The warm, made-to-order, lard-laced rounds of Italian flatbread are only available with the burrata and ham plate ($20) at the West Loop restaurant. Stuff your own sandwiches with Broadbent country ham from Kentucky, creamy burrata cheese from California and charred local Mighty Vine tomatoes. Seasonal garnishes change, currently grilled and pickled ramps, but in the summer, find Grueneberg’s favorite Italian-inspired variation with melon and country ham.

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Italian Restaurant Chicago Photo by Kama Tulkibayeva on Unsplash. Monteverde is at the top of this list for one reason: it’s a favourite Italian restaurant in Chicago. Every dish here is fantastic, from the housemade pastas like cacio e pepe and tortelli di zucca, to the ragu alla Napoletana (with perfectly-cooked pork shank, sausage, meatballs, and fusilli) – which is one of the most delicious plates of food we’ve ever eaten.

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Monteverde is for sure not the newest spot on this list, but it’s still on the newer side (as in it wasn’t around when I was a kid growing up in Chicago) and has the most incredible pasta in the city. It has a beautiful interior design with a very homey feel to it with pasta hanging along the bar. My favorite part is, if you sit at the bar (walk-in seating only), you can watch people make the pasta by hand daily.

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When you head up the few stairs to Monteverde, it’s more of a delightful surprise that the restaurant leans away from heavy Italian decoration. Instead, the atmosphere has a bucolic, rusty, and otherwise Midwestern feel. This comes as no surprise because while the menu has some dishes that are intrinsically Italian, they each have an intimate spin that presents as homey yet carefully crafted.

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If Italian food is your date's love language, the way to their heart is easily accessible with a reservation at this beloved West Loop restaurant. Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio puts contemporary twists on Italian classics like grilled octopus, meatball ravioli, and carrot and lamb merguez lasagna. The food menu alone makes it an approachable-but-adventurous date-night spot.

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This is the first place we make reservations at when someone from the East Coast tells us they're visiting. Every Italian dish is fantastic, from the housemade pastas like cacio e pepe and gnochetti con pesto, to the ragu alla Napoletana, which is one of the most delicious plates of food we’ve eaten.

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Not only can you now order your favorite Monteverde meals for pickup and delivery, but you can also order meals kits to spice up your at-home cooking. Available Thursday through Sunday through the restaurant's website.

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We had the most amazing dinner for our nut and sesame allergic son. The restaurant created a menu for our table that was totally safe for him. Our server was an allergy mom too so she totally got it!

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Monteverde is a stylish Italian restaurant in the West Loop. You won’t leave here hungry. Monteverde strives to create recipes rooted in tradition with some modern advances.

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It is handmade in house, and every bite is better than the one before. Aside from pasta, Monteverde has incredible schnitzel, meatballs and steak. What more could you need?

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Come here on a date, with a group, or by yourself, and order every single pasta on the menu," the entry for Monteverde goes on to say.

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