Adesso: User Reviews

I went to Adesso last night and had a wonderful experience. The place was very modern and the music had me dancing in my seat. I ordered the pasta carbonara and it was wonderful. Also the french onion soup is probably the best I have ever had. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to have an enjoyable meal form beginning to end!

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having recently lived in rome and new to chicago, i was on the lookout for good italian food in the lakeview neighborhood. walking down broadway, the first thing that caught my eye was the gorgeous flowers on the back walls- i decided to give it a try once perusing the menu outside. i'm always a fan of italian restaurants that use the language, presenting their dishes as contorni, insalate e zuppa, etc. rather than dumbing it down for the average eater. inside, the simple and crisp design was pleasant and unabrasive- unlike many "mediterranean" restaurants whose decor distracts from the from the food or, even worse, tries to make up for it. the service was good- attentive but not overly so. they let those like myself enjoy their food once it arrives without having to be badgered with infinite "points of service." water was prompt and refilled when necessary, and bread and butters followed shortly afterwards. the menu described many beautiful and scrumptious-sounding dishes, and those around me had large portions of meat and pasta that they seemed happy with. i decided on the gnocchi con zucca (pictured,) as my craving for fall flavors has been strong since the leaves turned. my mother made gnocchi about a once a week growing up and as a result i am many times disappointed with other versions, but i was happily satisfied. like a true italian dish, it was simple and rich, the soft gnocchi and sweet butternut squash married perfectly and allowing each other to shine. added pepper and parmesan cheese (as suggested by the waiter) culminated in perfection for my taste buds. i finished up with a classic tartuffo- hazelnut and zabaglione gelato dusted in cocoa and adorned with a shot of espresso. big enough for two to share, indeed, but why not splurge when new to the area... i savored the half-melted swirls of decadence until the bowl was clean. a lovely night of exploration... next time i'll come with a bottle of wine (it's one of many in the neighborhood that are byob) and friends to make a celebratory night out of it.

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We went to Adesso last night. We had a party of 4 and did not have a reservation. We had to wait about 40min but it was worth it! We LOVED the food. We can't wait to go back.

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Wow, was Adesso a disappointment. I had high hopes for this restaurant, especially after reading some of the previous reviews here. But after the experience I had last week, I could never recommend this spot to anyone I like. The eggplant parmesan dish sounded great on the menu, but ended up lacking in flavor. Seriously, the taste would have been hugely improved if they had poured a jar of ketchup over the bed of overcooked spaghetti noodles.

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Without a doubt, the most bland food I've ever been served in a restaurant. Truly, it was just one small step up from a bowl of plain boiled spaghetti. No flavor at all in either of the dishes we ordered. When I sat down and saw the limited choices of pasta, I had hoped that maybe those few dishes were ones that were done very well. Not so. We had eggplant parmagiana and the pumpkin gnocchi and both were terrible.

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Adesso was so accomodating for our group of 30 - they rearranged the entire restaurant to seat us together. We had appetizers and dinner - the food and service were phenomenal and the prices were totally reasonable!

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I've lived in Lakeview for a few years now, and originally had high hopes for Adesso, especially considering there are not many sit-down Italian places in the area. I've been there twice now over the past year, and will definitely not be back. The food is mediocre at best, and overall seems to be flavorless. I ordered what was purported to be an arugala salad with balsamic dressing, and it was extremely bitter. The eggplant parm was soggy, and the marinara was lacking in abundance. I have no problem with the ambiance, and the outdoor seating is always nice. The host seemed friendly and the waitstaff was fine...but the food really leaves something to be desired.

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I ate at Adesso for the first time back in March on a Friday and I actually went back the next night too! The food and service was that great! Pasta was unbelievable and the service was warm, friendly and professional. The fact that this place is a b.y.o.b. makes it that much better. They could honestly charge twice as much for such high quality food. The prices are more than reasonable and are very affordable. Check it out!!

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Adesso is one of the first restaurants I tried when I moved here from the west coast, and I have been back several times. In short, I love the food and I think their prices are very reasonable given the quality of what you get.

My only gripe is their soft drinks - I really wish they'd get a fountain for sodas as the bottled soda route is wasteful of glass and makes it more expensive. It's a small complaint, though, given the REALLY good food and attentive and friendly service. Warmer weather months are the best time to go for good outdoor seating and people watching.

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My partner and I love Adesso - we've never had a bad experience! Their rosemary sea salt fries are fantastic - we often have cravings and make up an excuse to go!

Our favorite is the lasagna barese. You receive a tasty, healthy helping that is more than enough to take home for lunch the next day, reminding you of your great dinner the night before.

While the atmosphere can seem a bit stark (and still reminiscent of the Einstein Brother's that was there before it) Adesso takes full advantage of their corner location in the summer months and offers a lively outdoor dining option.

Forget the other reviews - the whines about service and parking - and give Adesso a try on your own!

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