Va Pensiero: User Reviews

We recently hosted a wonderful wedding rehearsal dinner at Va Pensiero. Jeff and Maureen Muldrow were terrific and helped us to plan and deliver a very successful event. Luis, the manager, was very gracious and helped us to make some last minute room rearrangements and set up our A/V equipment. They all were very "can do," "no problem" people.

Our guests were delighted with the food and the service. It was a nice summer evening and we started with passed appetizers and drinks on the outside patio. Among our selections, we chose beef tenderloin, duck breast, smoked salmon and little pizzas. Delicioso! The rack of lamb, salmon, chicken and pasta dinner entrees each tasted great and were presented with flair. There was a lot of sampling of each other's dishes at many of the tables because everything looked and tasted so enticing. The same was true of our lovely desserts.

We received many compliments from our family and guests. Thanks to the Muldrows and the Va Pensiero staff for a memorable evening.

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Our recent dinner at Va Pensiero was one of the outstanding dining experiences we have had in a very long time! The servers were friendly and helpful without being solicitous. The food was outstanding and served beautifully. We shared two courses and they were split for us in the kitchen and the presentation was lovely. When I said that one of the veal pieces was delicious but slightly gristly, the server brought us a cappucino pudding and cookie dessert which was one of the best ever! We will return - and soon. (Please touch up some of the "bubbling paint on the windows."

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We used Va Pensiero recently for a private party, which was trult a spectacular affair. We've eaten here several times for a romantic dinner, so we already knew the food is amazing, but they went above and beyond for our friends and family. We reserved one of the private rooms, which had a fire in the fireplace and beautiful decor. She took care of all of the planning details, which allowed me to relax. We dined on tender filets, swordfish, and butternut squash ravioli...all of it exceptionally prepared. Then they set up a dessert table for all of the guests...phenomenal. Every single guest commented on the quality of the food and service. I highly recommend Va Pensiero.

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Va Pensiero is unpretentious but truly outstanding. Having traveled around the world, it's wonderful to have such a world-class restaurant right under our noses. Va Pensiero employs the freshest ingredients and makes a point of getting them from local sources whenever possible. The wine list is comprehensive and of good value too. And the dessert menu is sublime. We always feel welcomed and cared for at Va Pensiero. This restaurant is not as well known as it could be. Maybe that's better for those of us who enjoy it so much.

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Everything at Va Pensiero is absolutely amazing- the service, the decor, and most importantly the food. I particularly loved the pumpkin soup and the beef medallions, and the homemade tagliatelle with mushrooms and truffle oil will make you understand what great pasta is supposed to taste like- absolutely perfect. For dessert, get the zucchini walnut cake- unbelievable.

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A wedding and reception with an open dinner menu is enough to make any restauranteur shudder, right? Wrong! Chef Jeffrey Muldrow and partner Maureen Muldrow did all that was possible (and one or two impossibilities) to ensure a calm, memorable and gorgeous event. The night of the wedding was the first time I met either of the Muldrows; I was not an old friend, nor was any attendee of the event. Nevertheless, a beautifully appointed parlor was transformed into a bride's dream. Schedules were met. Adult menus. Children's menus. Transformation of the room between ceremony and dinner meant that all guests would file into the hotel lobby or decend on an already busy main dining room below full of Sunday night dinner-goers. The ever-calm and professional Maureen Muldrow ensured all were delighted to be there, and though I never saw the kitchen, I would imagine that Chef Jeffrey and crew had a night to remember since they were preparing exquisite cuisine for not just the dining room, but for the open-menu wedding dinner above. Not one slip. Not one err in our orders. Quiet, unobtrusive service ensured we all had enough to eat, we all enjoyed, and we all went away very satisfied about this event. After a brief discussion with the Chef and his partner later, I walked away realizing how much they love what they do, and they love to make a difference in the lives of others. I look forward to our next event at Va Pensiero, and
I won't wait until then to return.

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We had our wedding reception at Va Pensiero in October. We rented out the upstairs parlor and the two rooms on the bottom floor. We could not have been happier with EVERYTHING about the night. The rooms were quaint and comfortable. They can't accommodate a huge party, but that makes for a more intimate experience. We had around 95 people, and that seemed to work perfectly. I think any more and we would have been a little cramped.

We started out with appetizers in the upstairs parlor. The upstairs of the building houses a very quaint, old fashioned Inn (The Margarita Inn), and you can rent out their parlor, which has very eclectic furniture and a piano that you can have someone to play and was just perfect for the appetizers.

The appetizers were amazing. We got to select which ones we wanted and were so happy with all of them....polenta with red peppers, tiger shrimp (served on a spoon which is very unique and everyone enjoyed) with pistachio pesto, tenderloin beef on flatbread, and a small caprese salad, all very delicious.

After appetizers, everyone went downstairs for dinner. The west side room was set up for our dinner party and everything was perfect. Dinner was amazing, our friends and family are still talking about it, almost a month later. One thing that I would like to note is that we have a vegan friend. At our tasting, Jeff (owner and head chef) asked if anyone had any special dietary needs, and we told him about our friend. His staff made their way to her at the party to talk about what she would like for dinner and Jeff prepared an amazing meal for her. She was incredibly happy and loved the meal. Jeff told us that he wanted EVERYONE to have an amazing meal and didn't want people who have restrictive diets to be left out. We were really happy that they didn't just make her a plain pasta dish, but went out of their way to make her something that she really enjoyed.

For dinner, we had it family style (we chose that way) with a salmon dish with a marscapone sauce, a chicken, spinach, currant dish with delicious gnocchi, and a cheese ravioli dish. All were delicious and people that don't even eat chicken or fish loved it all.

For our wedding cake, we used their boudino cake which is an individual chocolate cake with warm melted chocolate in the center Everyone had one. It was amazing and perfect for a symbolic wedding cake.

After dinner, we moved to the East side room where we had rented a dance floor and everyone danced the rest of the night away. They set the rest of that room up with benches and tables so that anyone who wanted to sit and chat, could.

They have a bar, but they also set up a bar in the upstairs room and in the room where we danced. We had to rent our own speakers and microphones, but were able to set that up in both of the downstairs room beforehand, and they worked out great. We didn't not use a DJ or band, but just put together a playlist on our computer and played it over the speakers that we rented. It worked out better than I had expected.

Not only is the food amazing, the wine selections great and the rooms perfect for what we needed them for, but they have a fantastic staff. The owners, Jeff and Maureen are so accommodating and helpful and knowledgeable. They will bend over backwards for you and made planning a large event easier than I expected. Luis, the manager, is also so accommodating and nice and there whenever you need him. The waitstaff is also amazing. I have never had such spectacular service before...and this translates to their regular restaurant too, during normal business hours. They were there with more bread or water or wine before you even realize that you needed it.

All in all, I could not have asked for a better experience for my wedding. They are a bit pricey, but well worth every penny!

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Had the parmesan tasting menu the other night and it was fantastic...The tast of the cheese came through in every course. For the pasta course they actually tossed the noodles in a bowl formed from the wheel of cheese itself! very classy and old school. The service was great as well. Cant wait to try the regular menu.

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We had not been to Va Pensiero in two years after a particularly lackluster meal there in 2006. We had a birthday to celebrate and thought we'd give it one more try. First we'll agree that yes, the service is great - attentive without being overbearing. It was nice to see some old standby's still being served like the pesto spread and focaccia, the octopus appetizer and the tiger shrimp with pistachio pesto appetizer. There were only three of us so of course we couldn’t try everything but we have to say that the other menu choices were OK, but not great. The cucumber gazpacho should have been less tomato based - it was really just a regular old gazpacho with pretty cucumber slices in the bottom of the bowl. The house cured salmon wasn't the star of that appetizer as the crème fraiche and unpeeled cucumber slices overpowered the delicate flavor of the salmon. The scallops with orange and lobster essence was too salty and the tomato based pearl couscous served with it fought with the flavors of the dish - a more neutral flavored creamy side would have brought the dish together. The rigatoni with sausage, cream and peas was tasty but a bit too rustic for this level of fine dining and is more of what one would expect at Francesca's. Except for a few items the remaining choices sounded lackluster, it just isn't as good or inventive as when Peggy Ryan was the chef. The need to paint the chair rail around the main dining room as the paint is all chipped off and it looks run-down. It isn't a bad restaurant it jsut leaves you with a feeling that it could or should have been better.

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We recently had a luncheon at Va Pensiero for about 90 adults and 60 13-year olds. We were able to reserve the entire restaurant, with the adults in one room and the kids in another. Everything about the event went perfectly -- the setting was unique and intimate without feeling crowded, the service was efficient and unobtrusive and the food, from appetizers through dessert, was absolutely great. Jeff and Maureen, the owners, were extremely helpful in planning the event, very easy to work with and very accommodating when some last minute changes and complications arose. Our guests are still telling us what a great time they had, and I get the feeling they aren't just being polite. Va Pensiero obviously isn't the cheapest place around but I can't imagine the food or service being any better, even at a more expensive downtown Chicago venue. Very highly recommended.

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