Bruna's Ristorante: User Reviews

Bruna's Restaurant
By Unicorn56 from Little Italy, July 24, 2009

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Luciano is the second owner, not the original owner of Bruna's.. The original owner 's family came from Luca Italy. Her photo still hangs today in the back room.. Food is still very tasty, but you cannot be in a hurry if you want to eat there. They like you to enjoy your food, not gulp it down.

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Not nice people
By beebs4ever from wicker park, June 22, 2009

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The food here is fine, but the service is terrible. Everyone is rude from the minute you walk in the door - and you're treated as if you're lucky they let you in. I've eaten here several times and this is always the case. Last weekend they screwed up our reservation and treated us terribly - which was the last straw.

There are many other Italian restaurants that deserve your business far more than this one.

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Disappointing
By spinbaby from NW Side, March 18, 2009

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After meating up with 12 people and ordering appetizers, entrees and dessert which all totalled to a hefty sum...we were asked to leave our table before figuring out the bill and without having finished our coffees. This was very disappointing because although the prices were higher than expected we enjoyed the food. However, the service was slow and ther were significant delays between appetizer and entree and dessert. Being asked to leave was out of line....they wanted to break down our table of 12 to seat smaller parties waiting at the bar....they just lost 12 potentially returning diners.

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Genuine Italian Restaurant
By Piero from Europe, September 23, 2008

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I am one of those who accidentally found out about Bruna's almost a year ago. I must say I understand both good and bad reviews the place got. I would overall rate Bruna's as one of the best in Chicago and as my number 1 favorite. The food bears the marks of real Mediterranian cooking. Good quality olive oil, elegant condiments light and edible starters. Above all the selection of wines is doubtless superior to most of similar restaurants in the area. Far from feeding the customers with Latin American or dubious Napa wines (though these remain available) the owner has made a good effort to bring some of the finest European wines that exist. True to its origin (Tuscan) wines I have found there are the reputable Montalcino and Montepulciano (di Siena and not the inferior di Abruzzo). Just worth going there for the wines alone!
The desserts were a tat disappointing, ut this more in the sense that not up to the quality of the rst of the meal and the wine. They were still not bad at all and it is possible that I just made a bad order the only time I personally ordered dessert.
Regarding the bad reviews posted here, I would bet money that this place got thumbs down by people whose idea of Italian cuisine is shaped by "little Italy" mexican/chinese run restaurants where the cooking only vaguely resembles the real thing and which boast Italian names for their dishes and are typically exaggerated in their cooking (i.e. sauce is too heavy, poor but over-parfumed olive oil et etc). There is nothing wrong with that of course, alot of people would like it, but this is the reason why the less travelled of us will tend to dislike what happens to be the real thing, similar to what you'd find in Florence, Pisa or Siena.
So Bruna's would be a place to go if: a) you miss the Italian cooking you previously had in Italy during your trip, b) if you really want to experience what happens to be genuine (for the better or worse) Tuscan food.

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Tradition in the name
By Paula from Chicago, February 19, 2008

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After a week of careful and methodical browsing through possible choices for my Valentine's dinner, I, unfortunately, chose Bruna's. Seeking to have an authentic experience, a hidden gem, away from the well-known fanfare of downtown restaurants, I only found priceless disappointment. The ambiance's glamour was lost in old (not old world), badly lit, too crowded room. The service was automatic and rushed. The first sign that the food was going to be a disappointment, came with the bread, which was almost stale (a tradition in Tuscany?). After trying to finish a dish of penne a la putanesca, a big bowl, Maggiano's style, unimpressive and forgettable noodles with tomato sauce that anyone could have made at home, and an eggplant parmigiana, dry layers of bread crumbs topped with cheese, we ordered dessert in hopes to give Bruna's a last chance to redeem itself. In the end, our frutti di bosco cake was better skipping as well. Everything could have made its way to lost memory if it was not for the a la par downtown bill which confirmed that this was going to be a bad memory.

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On the contrary, it is...
By TMXXXX1 from chgo, IL, February 12, 2006

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On the contrary, it is a gem. Food is very good. Redecorate? Why? Low-lit room is full of unduplicatable murals. All-male pros for waiters, not giggly girls. Solid value. The front bar makes up in character what it lacks in size. The owners OK, but Fontenella's owner a couple doors down is even more accomodating.

Best Italian food in the...
By John Wilson from La Grange, IL, January 14, 2005

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Best Italian food in the city. Luciano serves his family wine as the house wine and he is half the draw of this place. Incredible!

My girlfriend and I "stumbled"...
By R T from chicago, IL, July 4, 2004

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My girlfriend and I "stumbled" across this intriguing and relatively unknown area. We decided on Bruna's and must say that we will return. We typically go to Piazza Bella or La Scarola, but this was up there with the best of them. The food was fresh, hot, and wonderfully prepared. The prices did seem a little higher then expected, but I have no complaints. You get what you pay for.

I was so disappointed in...
By M M from Chicago, IL, June 17, 2004

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I was so disappointed in this restaurant after reading these rave reviews. The prices were far from reasonable. I paid $17 for one of their special pasta dishes that was tasteless noodles, mushrooms and peas. Another diner ordered a veal dish... very small portions and nothing special. I love to find neighborhood gems, but this is definately not one of them.

My parents have been going...
By Melissa Lamb from Chicago, IL, July 24, 2003

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My parents have been going to this restaurant for almost 30 years. I have grown up here. Every time we went out for a family dinner, we went (and still go) to Bruna's. The food is better than anything you will ever find in Italy, especially the Tiramasu! Prices are very, very reasonable! The atmosphere isn't necessarily the best (it hasn't changed since the restaurant opened) but after your first bite of food, you will forget all about it! Anyone we have ever taken to Bruna's loves it. I highly recommend it!