FOOD: (4/5) - Grilled octopus: good, cooked well, served over a balsamic sauce which added a unique taste I haven't had before with octopus (I personally might ask for it to not have that dressing if I were to order it again) - Gnocchi: really good, it was very fluffy compared to store bought gnocchi and it tasted like it was just made fresh - Vitello Bertucci: good, the breading was a little thicker than I prefer, but my boyfriend liked it - Veal Mondelli: good, it had a unique sauce that tasted like a combination of different sauces I have had. Can't say I have ever had one that tasted like it and it was very intriguing SERVICE: (5/5) - Our waitress was knowledgeable and able to answer all of our questions. - My water never ran out, someone was coming around refilling them. - They have the things to check you out right at your table, which I think speeds up the process because sometimes it feels like you are waiting forever to get your card back when they have to take it to a register. - They box your leftovers for you and put them in reusable containers that you can throw right in the microwave. AMBIANCE: (3/5) - The back is a nice little Italian feel with the walls painted. - It has a lot of pictures of celebrities that have visited hung on the walls. - It's a little loud and you definitely hear other people's conversations. It's like that in most Italian restaurants that stuff as many tables throughout and don't have booths or anything to try to provide a more intimate experience.

No matter how many times I visit this place, I still am blown away by how amazing it is! The ambiance is very authentic Italian Chicago with pictures all over the walls, proper mood lighting, and all of the hustle and bustle of a thriving restaurant. The service was amazing as always! Very direct, very friendly, very Chicago. I've tried to order other things from the menu and every time, I do, I always regret not getting the meat lasagna. This time, I just ordered what I love. The MEAT LASAGNA! It is absolutely amazing. No matter how many times I have it, I always leave wanting to come back and have it again asap. This is THE Italian restaurant in Chicago. Make sure you call ahead and reserve a table. Otherwise you might miss out on an amazing experience.

This place is a Chicago classic! One of my absolute favorite Italian joints in the city. It's cozy, homey, the kindest staff, and you feel welcome the moment you step foot inside. Food is next level: everything is fresh and made with love. Some of my favorites are the risotto, broccoli and goat cheese rigatoni, gnocchi and their bruschetta app. Right off the Grand el stop makes it easy to get to. If you haven't been yet I highly recommend you visit as soon as possible -- it's a gem!

Celebrated my sister's 31st birthday here. She's lived in Chicago for 4 years now and has only been once, but she loves how personable and down to earth the owner is. He was just that when we met him, he took care of us like family and made sure everything tasted great. Food was absolutely phenomenal, I expected decent but WOW! The parmigiana mista was my favorite dish and the drinks were great as well. The place was absolutely packed and for good reason - everything was authentic! Can't wait to come back with more friends and family!

Southern Italian spot that has great ambience, friendly service, and generous portions. Pasta dishes are enough for 2-3 servings. The menu is extensive with several daily specials. The waiter was great offering amazing recommendations. It can be difficult to get a reservation. We arrived before restaurant opening, so we were able to snag a great spot. The waiters were attentive - didn't rush you even though it's a popular spot. Definitely will come back again!

The very best Italian restaurant in Chicago and surrounding areas. Had take away, sausage and peppers, Shrimp Armani, pasta soup, so delicious! Armando is the very best host.

The food was amazing and delicious and the Atmosphere was amazing and service was phenomenal

The food was so good that I think my Italian mother-in-law would have approved. I had the lasagna which came with a lot of cheese as it should! The wine also tasted great. Our server was very attentive and he and others sang happy birthday to the table behind us. It was very cute.

Don't skip on La Scarola! I was visiting my cousin in Chicago and this is her favorite Italian place she likes to take guests to. We came here for an early dinner and it was already busy, luckily we had reservations. Walking in we were greeted by the staff. There's tons of pictures all on the walls which gave homey cozy vibe. The Italian food here is wonderful! We ordered the escarole and beans and mussels to share. Both dishes were delicious, very light and love the garlic flavor. For the entree, I ordered one of the specials, pasta amore which had shrimp, scallop, zucchini in a garlic creamy sauce. This dish was so tasty! Full of flavor and good amount of seafood. The pasta was cooked al dente which is to my liking. Others in my party order the eggplant Parmesan and the Chilean sea bass. I sampled a little bit of those dishes and it was pretty good. The eggplant was tasty and not too heavy. Also sea bass was very tender and pretty flavorful. Overall, we had a lovely meal and great experience. Next time I am visiting Chicago, I will be stopping by here again!