Best Fun Restaurants in Little Italy / University Village

Pizzeria Portofino - Chicago I had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday at Pizzeria Portofino in Chicago, and I can’t recommend it enough! From the moment I made the reservation, the experience was exceptional. The manager emailed me to ensure everything would be perfect for my special day, which was a thoughtful and personal touch. The atmosphere at the restaurant is warm and inviting, with a lovely Italian charm that makes you feel right at home. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, providing service that made the night feel truly special. And then, of course, the food – absolutely amazing! The pizzas were cooked to perfection with fresh ingredients, and the flavors were spot-on. We also enjoyed a variety of appetizers and pasta dishes, all of which were delicious. It’s rare to find a place that combines great food, fantastic service, and a personal touch like this. Pizzeria Portofino definitely made my birthday one to remember, and I’ll certainly be back again.

We really enjoyed our Thanksgiving at RPM Seafood. The food and service was excellent and the atmosphere was beautiful. Thank you for an exquisite Thanksgiving celebration.

The Girl and the Goat always exceeds expectations, even when my expectations are sky high! Thank you! We had the Pig Face, String Beans, Goat Belly, and Steak. The dishes all exploded with flavors. The balance of seasonings, use of citrus, vinegar and other elements of the dishes played well and makes the culinary experience here amazing. The cocktails were yummy as well. The Peach-Te-quilla was light and refreshing. The Spicy Fat Boy had a ton of flavor. To finish the night, we had the Toffee Pumpkin cake and a neat pour of the Pappy Family Reserve. The Pappy was a treat and made a great night even more special! Thanks to Stephanie and all the team at the Goat. You are all AMAZING!

We were seated 10 minutes early for our 1pm reservation. Out server arrived at our table immediately and greeted us. We put in drink orders then when she came with those we ordered our appetizer and meal. We thought it might take a bit of time as the place was full but it was all out quickly. Ordered thr pot pie and braised beef and both good. This is where service got slow but I think they seated 3 or 4 new tables in her area at once so she was busy. Ordered thr mint cheesecake and that was amazing. Bill was $80 plus tax so not really bad for 2 people to have a nice meal with drinks and dessert. The tree and Christmas decorations were beautiful and we lucked out and were seated near the tree. Will make it a tradition each year to go back. Lucked out on the reservation because we missed it when it opened. So glad we got one!

The staff could not have been friendlier or more attentive. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the food. Highly recommended.