Caro Mio Italian Restaurant - Chicago, IL Review

My husband and I have date night Saturdays. It seems to be the only time in a week that we can sit and chat about the weeks happenings. :) Since this is our only time alone, we try and do something fun-- theater, new restaurants, etc.

This week, we decided to try out a new restaurant called Caro Mio Italian Restaurant - Chicago. We went with another couple-- so we were a group of 4.

I called over to see if they took reservations. They didnt for a party our size, but said that I could call on my way over and they would put me on the list. Nice. I appreciated that.

When we got near the restaurant, we were happily surprised to see that parking was not an issue-- another plus!

When we walked into Caro Mio I was so relieved that we called ahead of time. There were a lot of people there and the wait would have been really long. Phew!

The decor was quaint and warm. It had an Italian feel with bold colors and an intimate setting. There are probably only 20 tables in the entire place-- so definitely small.

The menu offered many different options- everything from traditional Italian dishes to fish. The pasta is all handmade and definitely the thing to order! I ordered their Chicken Parmesan dish over handmade Rigatoni in a creamy tomato sauce. The pasta was so delicious that I couldn't even make it over to the chicken. Delectable. Truly. The pasta melted in your mouth.

My friend ordered the pumpkin risotto. She really liked it. Although everyone liked their respective dishes, the pasta was probably the biggest hit.

I should also note that we ordered the bean salad for an appetizer and it was delicious too. If you order it, be certain to splurge and get the cheese. It is worth every penny.

Another huge plus of Caro Mio is that it is a BYOB restaurant with no corkage fee. So, pack a few wine bottles and be on your way to this little hidden gem.

My bottom line: Check it out! I am Italian and VERY picky about Italian restaurants, but this pasta was delicious. Skip the other menu items and order a big bowl of pasta. It is worth every bite and every calorie.

P.S. The average bill is $30per person-- not cheap, but not overkill either. Mangaire!