Being a foodie (Italian) with discriminating taste, I will say this is an awesome neighborhood gem! Opened only 6 weeks ago, Sal's was a wonderful surprise! We loved the grilled calamari (it was the most tender we have ever eaten and is perfectly accented with lemon and fresh tomatoes. We ordered it without the capers), the yummy caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes and balsamic, the to-die-for fresh tagliatelle with Bolognese – I hate to admit it but the bolgnese rivals my mother's where no other restaurant has even come close – and the very good chicken marsala. Regarding the latter, we recommended they provide more chicken on that entree as there was only one smaller piece (should be 2 larger pieces) but it was very tasty served on a bed of delicious garlic mashed potatoes. Suggest adding more appealing dessert options. A huge kudos to the chef! Great addition to the neighborhood! Cheers to your success! ���
This place was amazing!!! Everything was so good!! I have never had grilled calamari but it was freaking amazing here!! Highly recommend!! Great outdoor seating!!
Awesome place with great food. The staff is great as well. I recommend it to anyone looking for great Italian food.
Loved everything about our experience! Service, speed, selections, taste, plus homemade gelato!! We will back!! The prices do add up if you get everything, starter, entrees, dessert, and drink. But we had lots of leftovers, full bellies, and wonderful service from multiple wait staff. Can't wait until it is warmer so we can eat outside.
good & the prices are quite reasonable. The wait staff, chef, & owner were all very attentive, welcoming, & friendly.
We had the grilled calamari, fettuccine carbonara, gnocchi marinara, & olive oil cake along with a bottle of Marchesi di Barolo that complimented all courses.
We are going back in two weeks & are very excited to try other menu items.
We were staying in the city for a wedding and spent Friday evening at Sal's. Everything from the wine, to the appetizers to the meals, to the dessert we enjoyed was incredible. We were lucky enough to get a table outside too. I particularly loved the beef carpaccio and tomato linguini with black truffle cream! Seriously good eats. Will definitely return.
Great atmosphere. It’s like a downtown restaurant with a neighborhood feel. Really nice bar. The bartender could do with learning how to smile, though! Didn’t look like he could take the pressure of it being so busy.
The food was great although one of our party had the carbonara and it was incredibly salty. In fact, she couldn’t eat it. Everything else was good, though - and great value for money.
Will definitely be back.
Love, love, love it. Food is excellent. Pasta is properly cooked. Sauces are varied and delicious. Best grilled calamari and tiramisu I've had. Staff is respectful, friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. Beautiful bar area and great selection of beverages. Floor to ceiling windows that open to the lovely neighborhood.
Great food and service in a lovely setting. This is a great addition to the neighborhood.
The food was great and decently priced. The hostess was very polite and the waitstaff was excellent. This place was a pleasant surprise.
Great Food. Great Service. Can't wait for you to serve brunch and so glad this is on our corner! Welcome to the neighborhood!
Im a lover of good old school Italian without the " twist"..when I want Italian, I need it to be the kind that my grandmas made, real , honest, flavorful.. and bursting with love.. the sauce better be rich and thick, the balls better be savory, moist, and rich in texture and layered flavor from the garden.. So, I welcome Sal's... with a smile on my face, the basil eminating from my pores, and the rich full bellied delight.. that only my nona's sauce and balls could bring..abondonza, mangare!
Went with a group of friends, and we'll be back! Beautiful restaurant! Excellent food and excellent service!
LOVE this place!! This is the 3rd time I’ve been to Sal’s and it never disappoints. I highly recommend the burrata as its some of the best I’ve ever had. We got the fusilli and cacio e pepe, but I would also recommend the carbonara. The service is excellent and the inside of the restaurant is quaint and romantic. Can’t wait to go back!
There aren’t enough stars for this place. The food was absolutely phenomenal, I’d come to Chicago just to eat here. I had the whitefish, tasted the bolognese and carbonara. All of it was phenomenal. Meatball appetizer and blueberry cheesecake for desert. The environment is great. I’ll come back next time I’m in town.
We came in with a party of 12 and a time limit. The staff was absolutely incredible, every server/busser asked each invidual how their food/experience was. Food was outstanding, the mussels were probably the best I’ve ever had. I cannot rave about this place enough. I will definitely be back!
An all-around amazing experience! The servers are incredibly attentive, the atmosphere feels so cozy, and the food is incredible. Hats off to our main server, Braulio - he’s a breath of fresh air. Sal’s is a great place to have dinner with somebody you love.
Great experience from start to finish. The hostess was very welcoming, and the staff was great throughout the dinner. Highly recommend the burrata which is served with a tomato jam, it was excellent. Definitely in the running for our favorite neighborhood spot!
Sal's is delightful. The ambiance is lovely, warm and relaxed, it is loud when full but we could still hear each other. We made reservations which I would recommend. Our server seemed new and unsure of some of the items but she did a wonderful job. The food and drinks were delicious. We had Spaghetti Carbonara, Ceasar Salad, Spaghetti Bolognese and Fettuccine with Roasted Rabbit. It was a lovely evening and a lovely meal!
We Loved the cozy, beautiful atmosphere on a beautiful evening allowed the doors to be open. Our server, Chase, was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. The food was amazing and fresh- we started with the meatballs and calamari which were both outstanding. All of our meals were amazing too! Highly recommend!
Update: Sal’s is still my favorite restaurant. The mussels are incredible and the trout was a pleasant surprise as one of my favorite dishes. I cannot say enough good things about the ambiance, staff, food, and entire experience. You will not be disappointed! // Sal’s is the most perfect, cozy, beautiful, delicious restaurant in Chicago. Skip the big fancy River North steakhouses and instead be treated like family at Sal’s. The staff is attentive without being annoying and the food is truly amazing. They make all pasta from scratch, it can’t be beat. They go the extra mile to make your time there amazing. Thank you for giving us a little slice of Italy right here in Lincoln park Sal’s!
Server Sophia was outstanding! The red snapper special with pancetta jam and grilled chokes was one of the best dishes at any Italian restaurant anywhere. Good overpriced (as usual) wine selection. Fresh pastas. Can't wait to return. Neighborhood gem.
Sat outside and enjoyed an amazing meal and service! Caesar salad, drinks, bread, fish special and tiramisu were all fantastic! Also our server, Braulio, was wonderful! Service all around was so good- attentive but not pushy. Suggestions were great and he listened to our needs. Highly recommend!
The shrimp and sausage over mashed potato appetizer dish was one of the best, more of a dish than a shareable appetizer but very good. Ordered the chicken parmesan with spaghetti and a side of meatballs. Overall I was satisfied and it was good, but this isn’t my first rodeo. Meatballs were tough and seasoning was off, almost tasted frozen, the sauce was amazing, noodles were slightly under cooked according to my wife and overall seasoning issues that you normally find in an “average” Italian restaurant. So I give 8/10 or 4 stars . P.S. I definitely recommend the shrimp appetizer dish, but perhaps you both get your own. Unless you don’t mind eating from the same bowl
Excellent Service and great food.
Had the trout…the combined flavors carried it away - just so good!
Bread, olive oil and parmesan cheese reminded me of Italy.
Sat outside.
A wonderful dining experience.
Good food, friendly staff, recommended.
Sal’s is the definition of high quality neighborhood spot. Everything on the menu will make you want to order it again. The pork chop? Arguably the best in the city. The Bolognese will have you thinking about it for days. Couldn’t ask for a more vibrant atmosphere to enjoy a fantastic evening with friends or family.
Had a splendid meal at Sal’s the other night. Would recommend reserving through Yelp as the restaurant is deservingly busy. We sat on their sidewalk patio, which is one of the most inviting outdoor spaces in the area. Dog friendly!
We tried the meatballs, Caesar salad and Fra Diavolo pasta. All were terrific, but the Fra Diavolo was next level. Perfect blend of spice and fresh flavors.
Personable service and friendly customers here. Prices are also reasonable for the high quality of food. Looking forward to my next visit!
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