Osteria Via Stato - Chicago, IL Review

Here are the hours: Main Dining:Dinner:M-Th: 5pm-10pm Fri-Sat: 5pm-11pmSun: 4pm-8:30pm Enoteca: Lunch:M-Sat: 11:30am-3pm Dinner: M-Thurs: 3pm-11pmFri-Sat: 3pm-12am
Sun: 4pm-9:30pm

First, the location is great if you are at a nearby hotel. Also the restaurant is attached to a hotel.  If you live in Chicago, get ready to valet park or search for parking for a while. The decor is very nice; arched ceilings and lots of rustic wood.  Our server was top notch.  I have to say, she made it an even better experience.  Wines are Italian only; you can buy it by the glass, 1/2 bottle or whole bottle. There are 2 ways to order food here; family style (which includes appetizers, and main course) and a la carte.  We chose the family style for 2.  I like the concept and I think the food was great.  Really, just needed more of a selection of main entrees.  We first got Italian olives with some oil and bread. Our appetizers were meatballs in marinara and cooked onions with baked cheese on top (tasted like au graten potatoes but with onions) 2nd and third helpings if you like.  Our main course was the short ribs with polenta and pork shank stew.  I really liked the short ribs better than the pork. The server stated the pork was a house special, but I wasn't that crazy about it.  I must admit, by the time the meal was over, my wife and I didn't have room for dessert. Just in case we needed something to satisfy our sweet tooth, our server came over and gave us a chocolate bar with sugared orange rinds and almonds. The chocolate was wrapped in paper, which she folded over and whacked with a spoon to get all the flavors mixed together. In all, I would recommend this restaurant, but it is on the pricier side so expect to spend around $100 to $125 w/ tip if you order dessert. Overall, its another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant that delivers good quality, but expect to spend for that special occasion. 

My name is George I work, eat and play in Chicago.