Club Lago

Wow! My wife and I love this authentic, historic, charming restaurant. Our first time here and the European cup was on the TV. Everybody was speaking Italian and it was like we were at a private party in a good way. The food is amazing! The character is unmatched! Our first time here but it reminds us Soo much of our past trips to Italy and how much we like Italians. Thanks for being sooo authentic! We will see you often.

Don't go here if you want to eat late. There are other options in the area that are better. It was my birthday, but I had to work late. So I looked online for something different than where I usually go. Mistake. Unfriendly service as if they wish I hadn't shown up, and I felt like they didn't like working there or people in general. I didn't stay too long, left before closing time, but felt like I'd imposed. And it seemed pricey for what I got. Not a good experience overall. There are other restaurants that are open late and have better food and service. Go there instead. Going out should be pleasant, not feel shameful.

As an Italian, I like to look for the, what I would lovingly call, "hole-in-the-wall" places. After scrolling Google Maps for Italian dining, the red and white checkered table cloths caught my eye and I told my partner "this is the place"! We arrived and were greeted by the gentleman behind the counter. He knew the name without even needing to look. When an owner takes this much pride in their family run business, you know it's going to be good. The fried calamari was well seasoned and incredibly tender and, paired with cocktail sauce, not a marinara, was THE right choice. We both ordered the special, Chicken Ruscatana, and MY GOODNESS the flavors! The sauce was rich with a subtle sweetness that set everything on a oath to deliciousness! We're Cabernet drinkers and the wine we chose paired nicely. The meat sauce on the mostaccioli was absolutely the best I've had out! We finished with the lemon Italian ice dessert was the perfect finisher! Service was all around amazing and our waitress, I don't recall their name, was so bubbly and sweet. Loved it!

Superb old school Italian! Fantastic service and food enjoyed on their sidewalk patio. Generous and tasty portions of fried calamari, onion rings, chicken parmesan, and carbonara.

Absolutely obsessed with this place and will probably try to visit every time I’m in Chicago. We were greeted immediately when we came in and told to make ourselves at home, which as a bartender from a small town, I love. They immediately took care of us and the wait for food wasn’t too long. The food was amazing and large portions too, so I was able to bring it home and enjoy. My boyfriend got the pizza bread and loved its uniqueness. I would definitely recommend this place to any and everyone!

Looking for a dive-y authentic Italian meal? I had one of the best entrees I've ever had in my life at this restaurant. If the chicken rusticana is available, GET IT. The meat sauce for the pasta was insane as well. On top of that the owner was incredibly kind and knew his reservations. The wait staff looked like they genuinely enjoy working there. All around such an amazing experience

Authentic and comfortable Italian restaurant in chill neighborhood of River North. It has a friendly bar, comfortable cozy booths like old time Italian restaurant, and also have tables which can accommodate parties. I HIGHLY recommend Calamari salad and Eggplant parmigiana. Guido Nardini : owner and highly talented chef.

Delicious and homey Italian restaurant I had the white clam linguine and everything was perfect!!! The carbonara was also tasty and creamy

Wow! My wife and I love this authentic, historic, charming restaurant. Our first time here and the European cup was on the TV. Everybody was speaking Italian and it was like we were at a private party in a good way. The food is amazing! The character is unmatched! Our first time here but it reminds us Soo much of our past trips to Italy and how much we like Italians. Thanks for being sooo authentic! We will see you often.

Don't go here if you want to eat late. There are other options in the area that are better. It was my birthday, but I had to work late. So I looked online for something different than where I usually go. Mistake. Unfriendly service as if they wish I hadn't shown up, and I felt like they didn't like working there or people in general. I didn't stay too long, left before closing time, but felt like I'd imposed. And it seemed pricey for what I got. Not a good experience overall. There are other restaurants that are open late and have better food and service. Go there instead. Going out should be pleasant, not feel shameful.

As an Italian, I like to look for the, what I would lovingly call, "hole-in-the-wall" places. After scrolling Google Maps for Italian dining, the red and white checkered table cloths caught my eye and I told my partner "this is the place"! We arrived and were greeted by the gentleman behind the counter. He knew the name without even needing to look. When an owner takes this much pride in their family run business, you know it's going to be good. The fried calamari was well seasoned and incredibly tender and, paired with cocktail sauce, not a marinara, was THE right choice. We both ordered the special, Chicken Ruscatana, and MY GOODNESS the flavors! The sauce was rich with a subtle sweetness that set everything on a oath to deliciousness! We're Cabernet drinkers and the wine we chose paired nicely. The meat sauce on the mostaccioli was absolutely the best I've had out! We finished with the lemon Italian ice dessert was the perfect finisher! Service was all around amazing and our waitress, I don't recall their name, was so bubbly and sweet. Loved it!

Superb old school Italian! Fantastic service and food enjoyed on their sidewalk patio. Generous and tasty portions of fried calamari, onion rings, chicken parmesan, and carbonara.

Absolutely obsessed with this place and will probably try to visit every time I’m in Chicago. We were greeted immediately when we came in and told to make ourselves at home, which as a bartender from a small town, I love. They immediately took care of us and the wait for food wasn’t too long. The food was amazing and large portions too, so I was able to bring it home and enjoy. My boyfriend got the pizza bread and loved its uniqueness. I would definitely recommend this place to any and everyone!

Looking for a dive-y authentic Italian meal? I had one of the best entrees I've ever had in my life at this restaurant. If the chicken rusticana is available, GET IT. The meat sauce for the pasta was insane as well. On top of that the owner was incredibly kind and knew his reservations. The wait staff looked like they genuinely enjoy working there. All around such an amazing experience

Authentic and comfortable Italian restaurant in chill neighborhood of River North. It has a friendly bar, comfortable cozy booths like old time Italian restaurant, and also have tables which can accommodate parties. I HIGHLY recommend Calamari salad and Eggplant parmigiana. Guido Nardini : owner and highly talented chef.

Delicious and homey Italian restaurant I had the white clam linguine and everything was perfect!!! The carbonara was also tasty and creamy

Wonderful guys, Guido and Giancarlo and they love fucked up comics! Their food is great and I've been to Italy.

How have I never come upon this cute old school Italian spot? Went for a casual dinner after yoga and it was a super casual crowd. Service was fast and friendly and she gave me my pasta recommendation, which I loved. If you only get one thing, get the Italian scampi. Our server said it was her fave dish and it did NOT disappoint! The shrimps are huge and breaded so lightly and the flavor was amazing. The sauce was also so good, I scooped it with a spoon. My friend got the linguine and clams was which was also delish. The lemon Italian ice was nice I was told and the espresso gelato was soft, creamy and decadent. It might have been the smallest and lightest touch espresso martini I've ever had. Will definitely be back for either pasta and to try others, taking off one star bc I thought the portions were pretty small and the espresso martinis were light and also small.

I went with friends on a Friday evening and was a bit nervous seeing how empty it was, but that quickly turned to surprise as soon as the food came out. We ordered fried calamari for the table and I got the chicken parm - both delicious! BUT. My friends both got the carbonara and were kind enough to let me try a bite and let me tell you we could rave about it enough. It's been weeks and we're still raving about it. I highly recommend!

I feel like a regular when I come to Club Lago, despite not living anywhere near Chicago. The first time we ended up here after lunch at Mr. Beef (also recommend-it is right down the street) and had a chill time enjoying some afternoon cocktails. You can tell It is family owned and how the employees enjoy working here amid their interactions with each other and the customers. several regulars stopped in while we were there, which is always a good sign to me. they had some fun and unique beers to try and of course limoncello. The second time we came, i was preggo and the owner/manager was able to recommend this great n/a beer. We also tried the bomb meatballs and garlic bread. We will be back next time we are around to try a full entree for lunch as we keep teasing ourselves with the smells as we sit and enjoy our drinks.

Classic, old-school place with really nice waiter and front staff. The pastas were all stellar and the cannoli was amazing. Great for a low key relaxing meal.

You can tell this place has deep roots in Chicago! There must have been about 10 things on the menu I wanted to try. I ended up with the carbonara and boy was it DELICIOUS. The portion was huge and I got through about half before I had to tap out entirely. From decoration to service to menu items, this place feels classic in the best way possible. I highly recommend! - AT

I love this place for their spaghetti and meat sauce. It tastes identical to the way my dad made it growing up, I always come back to have it. Though recently I've been diagnosed with celiac and can no longer enjoy. Please get gluten free pasta! I miss coming back:')

Great Italian comfort food. Chicken marsala was a highlight. However, we had to wait an hour and 15 minutes for our appetizer and meal during dinner when there were multiple empty tables around us.

My visit to Club Lago was fantastic! The place has a warm and welcoming vibe, and the staff went above and beyond to make our dining experience enjoyable. The menu featured a variety of mouthwatering, homemade Italian dishes that left a lasting impression. From the cozy ambiance to the flavorful food, Club Lago is a top-notch spot for a delightful meal. I highly recommend giving it a try!

Discovered this gem and had a wonderful experience! The bartender was super friendly and welcoming. The tortellini in vodka sauce is the best!! Love the vibe and will make sure to have time for dessert next time!

Best Italian Family restaurant in town. The brothers and their staff run a tight ship. Great location, "old school" atmosphere and above all else excellent Italian food!

I'm there often. No foo foo stuff just good, honest comfort food. A place where I feel like family. Try the manicotti, it's like my mother's. The meat sauce! The chicken Marsala. The soups! I could go on. Love the Nardini brothers and the staff. On a different note, customer phone guy from yesterday hasn't realized he was the problem. No one wants to hear about your car repair or any other crap in your life blasting on a phone WHILE THEY'RE EATING.

My Dad was an 18th District Patrolman and he would take me to the best places in Chicago. Lago was incredibly special to me because when we ate downtown he would always take me to the bank first. My Dad is the kind of person who really has solid priorities so he would get his check, deposit it, and then we would go somewhere he was familiar with because he really appreciates being recognized. The only other place in Chicago with meatballs that good was Mama DeLuca's in Old Town. So when I am feeling nostalgic and I want to spend time in a totally charming capsule, I enjoy visiting this family restaurant.

Don't miss this place in River North! Classic old school Italian spot. Super casual but yet everything you need! Went on a Friday after work and was able to get in and out in an hour. If you like calamari- theirs is one of the best! Lightly battered and the cocktail sauce has a nice sweet taste! Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken & Broccoli added and the shrimp scampi pasta was what the waitress recommended and it didn't disappoint! The scampi sauce was super unique and much better than any one i've had. As a garlic lover, I loved the extra garlic they made it with! The dirty martinis with blue cheese olives were made right. Looking forward to making this a go to quick Italian dinner spot. You can tell it's family owned and they welcome you like family!

charming, old-school restaurant. The vintage decor and friendly staff add to the authentic experience, making it a great spot for a casual meal. If you're looking for a reliable neighborhood joint with classic flavors and a relaxed vibe, eat at Club Lago.

This restaurant has been here for a very long time and I got a green noodle pasta with tomato and mushroom sauce. The green noodle recipe has been at this restaurant since the 1950s which I thought was very cool. It is made out of spinach, but you don't really taste that. I did order meatballs and they might've seem to forget that's OK though the sauce was good. The waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable of the recipe. The ambience was very old and family vibes. We also got the cannolis and that was very tasty.

Chicken parm you taste so good. Also... italian beef you taste so good. Shoestring fries you taste so good. That's my review.

Laid back neighborhood Italian place not too far from River North. Staff was super friendly and efficient. Everything we ordered was delicious. Eggplant parm was done to perfection, Veal piccata was the best we ever had. Cannoli was excellent and expresso served old-school style with a slice of lemon rind. Only disappointment was the carafe of house Chianti. Next time we'll order a regular bottle.

A no frills old school italian sports bar with classic italian dishes. It's been around forever and tucked away in a quieter part of river north, but I'm glad I finally tried it. The sidewalk seating is cute, but we sat in the vintage interior. My house Chianti was very well priced for a glass of red in the area and went nicely with my meal. My friend and I split a large house salad, which was classic and fresh but not as large as I expected. I also got the pasta Francois, which wasn't what I expected either - a classic red sauce linguine with a few broccoli pieces. Nothing special but not bad either. I just wish there were descriptions on the menu so as to help with deciding what to order! I tried my friend's chicken Marsala too, and this was tender and sweet.

Came here for dinner and this place is definitely diner vibes. Everyone was very friendly but service was a bit slow for how empty it was. The food was also okay but nothing fancy and I think there are better options in river north. Bathrooms could use some cleaning but the reason for 3 instead of 4 stars was that their final bill for the table was hand written and they tried to charge us $60 more than what the actual bill was for, could have been a simple mistake but that math was horribly off and is someone didn't double check they'd have been robbed. Hoping it was an honest mistake though but not a bad spot to drop in for a lowkey dinner if necessary.

By far, the best little place in Chicago! Food presentation is impeccable! Italian dishes at their finest!! Give this place a try, never dissapoints!!!

We came in last minute because I was in the mood for italian but didn't want to go to a trendy/upscale place. Club Lago fit the bill - homey, inviting, and we got in for dinner right away. Our server was nice. The food wasn't the most fancy italian food you've ever had, but still good. I ordered carbonara, which was more like alfredo than carbonara, but still decent. My boyfriend got the chicken vesuvio which I thought was very good. Would definitely come back for a low key meal and drinks.

Recently had chicken parm for lunch and my gosh was it good. Sizable piece of chicken bursting with flavor and a nice side of pasta with meat sauce. Very reasonable. Old school setting. Always nice to walk-in to places like this and get a firm handshake from the proprietor. Very welcoming and a nice touch by John Carlo, if I'm not mistaken.

Ordered from Uber Eats. Wouldn't let me select the pasta- with meat sauce. I wanted to select my own pasta choice. I was given Angel hair /thin pasta. It wasn't good. Let us choose please.

Some of the food is good. The waitstaff is friendly, but the owner is rude and obnoxious. He was confrontational about something silly, and when we pushed back, he then cursed and yelled at us in front of my four year old daughter. We had been customers for over 40 years. Since 1983. Never again. Avoid. An addition to address the reply from the restaurant: GianCarlo, unsurprisingly, you have not presented complete or accurate facts. An 83 year old grandmother was having lunch with her son and her four-year old granddaughter around 2:00 in the afternoon. Me and my four-year old had just arrived in Chicago and she was FaceTiming her mother, who she'd never been away from, at a time when there were a total of three other patrons in the entire restaurant. The volume of the FaceTime was not unreasonable. And you had Adele playing loudly throughout the restaurant. Too loud, even for people who like Adele. You approached the table and asked us to use headphones in a manner that was not particularly polite. Instead of using headphones, which we don't carry with us everywhere we go, we stopped immediately. Surprised by the nature of your approach and general demeanor, I said to my mother after you walked away, something like: "I can't believe that, there are only three people in here other than us and we were not that loud." The comment was not meant for your ears, and I don't know how you heard it over Adele, but apparently you did and then decided to re-engage us with a barrage of insults and profanity worse than "asshole" about how we have no restaurant etiquette and are impolite. You even said you were going to teach us about restaurant etiquette. Your condescension reached a pinnacle when you said: "I hope you've learned something about restaurant etiquette today." All the while, I am telling you, over and over, to "go away" and "to leave us alone." And as any parent would do under the circumstances, to get away from my 4-year old and to stop yelling and cursing in front of her. I indeed called you an "asshole" after you re-engaged on us. I am sorry that you apparently think that my use of the word under those circumstances justified your escalated indecency in front of a child. I'm comfortable letting yelp's users decide whether my characterization is correct.

Best veal parm ever! Wonderful mom and pop place with great service. Definitely a do over!!

Appetizers were good - fried veggies with ranch and calamari. Pasta was very average -- fettuccini Alfredo and tortellini. Cute little local stop but the food didn't knock us out of the park.

Old style upholstered Italian sewer is fun. Good is pretty good and service is excellent. Uncrowded when we visited for lunch. Executive salad is recommended with house dressing. Veal Saltimbocca was flavorful and aw-ten-tic. Not much of a beer selection beyond the basics but you'll get by. Recommended.

Their meat sauce with mushroom is to die for!!! The capallini quality was subpar and portion was kinda small for the price. But that sauce was magic and amplified everything else. It's no surprise they've been around since the 50s. We dined on the patio and felt really safe since there weren't any tables around us. Service was top notch. The aperol spirits was light and refreshing. I couldn't taste the alcohol but the drink still tasted great. My husband ordered the veal sassi. I'm not a big meat eater but the sauce was legit! Friend got the fried calamari and had positive things to say. It's been a day and I'm still thinking about the meat & mushroom sauce. I can't believe this was my first time dining here despite living in the neighborhood for 4 years. Can't wait to come back for more of that sauce! As for enforcing COVID guidelines, I think they ask you to wear a mask walking around inside. Didn't take my temperature. Had paper menus.

"You can't go home again," he said. Last week, my husband and I moved back to Chicago from the Great State of Florida, the land of Hurricanes and mediocre food. Last night, we dined at one of our favorite restaurants, Club Lago. It was like stepping into a time machine and zooming back 13 years. Nothing changed. The place looked the same. Same waitstaff. Same bar. Same fabulous onion rings. Same great spaghetti sauce. Same neighborhood atmosphere. When it came time to leave, we encountered a situation. No cabs. We stood and waited with our hands in the air. Nothing. I stepped back inside Lago's and shared my dilemma with Guido, one of the owners. He remembered me from 13 years ago. Wow! He ordered an Uber and charged it to his account. I offered to give him money, but he refused, saying, "I want you to come back." "That's always been a gaurantee," I said. What a delightful evening! So, yes, Mr. Wolfe, you can go home again.

I visited for lunch. Old school Italian feel throughout the restaurant. Had a solid pasta with meat and mushroom sauce. Service was good, though the server had the unfortunate habit of affecting an Italian accent.

If you come here, you HAVE to get the eggplant parmesan. I'm not even a big fan of eggplant parms but this was recommended to me by a friend and I have to say it was actually super delicious. The portions are also pretty large - you can probably split 2 plates between 3 people. The menu wasn't the most vegetarian friendly and other items were not at the same level as the eggplant parmesan. I will say that the service here was phenomenal and everyone made our large group feel very welcomed!

This place is phenomenal. Classic, Old School Italian-American spot like I grew up on. I'm from Cleveland, but this place felt like I've been coming here all my life. Exceptional food and service. The Calamari was fresh, not overly breaded, and definitely worth ordering again. The highlight for me was the veal cutlet. Perfectly crispy, not dry, with excellent flavor. The meat sauce was also great. This is the place you want to become a regular at. I can't wait to go back. Server Jody was a true professional and made you feel like a friend. Definitely recommend this place over any of the snooty, overpriced Italian restaurants nearby.

Among the most authentic of Chicago haunts, everything about this timeless place is a comfort. The food is solid and the service is homey. Not for trendy foodies, but for down-to-earth folks.

Some of the best Italian food anywhere!!! There onion rings are out of this world! The chicken and veal dishes are all fantastic

I was excited to try this place close to my work, but sadly I was extremely unimpressed mainly due to the service. It took over 50 minutes to get our food when we were the only table in the restaurant. The Italian sub was hardy, but I wasn't overly impressed by it. Very nice wait staff and great location in Chicago!

This family owned restaurant is excellent! How many restaurants can you walk into and feel like family being welcomed in by the brothers GianCarlo and Guido Nardini. The service is friendly, and efficient- the food is consistently good from old family recipes. Jenny as a server and bartender is witty, funny and whipsmart at Jeopardy

Great home style Italian food! The platters come with Plenty of food! Staff super friendly and polite!

The atmosphere is old school and original. Fantastic food, the people are great, very friendly and attentive. If you get the chance to eat here you won't be disappointed!!

It was nice eating in their outdoor house and it very warm. Service was great and food was good. They brought some bread and butter complimentary to start and then we ordered minestrone soup which was very good. We had the chicken parmigiana and veal limoni for dinner which came with a side of pasta. My chicken was very good. I had the tomato sauce on my pasta which I liked and my husband had the meat sauce on his which he didn't care for and said it had too much meat in the sauce - he preferred mine. I would definitely go back.

Always a great meal. Love atmosphere and staff. Their meat sauce is top of the line. Friendly and neighborly. Will always go back

I had the chicken parmesan. It was excellent. And the quantity was large, just right for me. A side order of pasta with meat sauce was also very good. The Italian bread was fresh. The cost was only $23, very reasonable for such a meal.

A very not upscale restaurant in an upscale neighborhood selling old school Italian food. At first glance you want to turn and leave because visually it has a look of one of those places that tries to hard to look unassuming...red checked table clothes, but then you realize that this place is not going for that look, this is the look. Food is good and the portions are huge. You can easily split a dish or take half home for a snack for the next day. I prefer the baked pasta dishes as they seem to have more sauce that just the pasta and sauce. The meatballs were nice and juicy and are a must with the baked pasta. I really love their pizza bread and that in itself can be a meal. It is topped with sliced Italian sausage. While it is great, I don't recommend eating more than 2 slices, otherwise you will not be able to finish your meal. Staff is nice. Our bartender Felicia was the hardest working person in the joint, serving drinks and food at the bar and it appeared that she was also taking drinks to tables as well. Not sure if he was the owner or host, but there was a silvered haired gentlemen behind the bar as well who was very cordial. My only complaint would be the $9.50 for a glass of Prosecco...that is an upscale price and too much, in my opinion, for a neighborhood place. But this is a place I can definitely visit again.

Freshest calamari I've had in years! Great shrimp cocktail. Unbelievable chicken parmesan! Excellent staff. Buono appetito!

Club Lago was fine. It just wasn't my kind of place. It has a dark old timey feel inside and it is mostly older men sitting at the bar and chatting about work and the good ole days. My mom and I sat outside because it felt a little dusty and crammed inside. I can appreciate the mom and pop atmosphere and the fact that it seems not much has changed since they first opened in 1952. The people inside seemed like regulars. A stop on their way home from work to talk with old friends and catch up with the old Italian men working behind the bar. The manager was extremely friendly and made a point to welcome each person that walked through the door. We ordered the pizza bread appetizer which wasn't anything spectacular. Just something to snack on. We also had two glasses of wine that the waiter recommended. They serve the wine in stumpy, stemless glassware. I was a bit confused by this at first, so I read into it. Apparently, this is more traditional. Given that Club Lago was created in 1952 I appreciate that they have kept it traditional. My mom and I were both not very impressed with our wine. Our waiter was friendly.

I was hoping for more, but just wasn't impressed. I tried the meatballs and honestly did not finish the small plate. Not sure adding pasta for $16 more would have made a difference.

The service was SO SLOW at lunch! We were waiting for the check for about 20 minutes. I finally got up and walked up to the bar, and the owner came over and was like- need something? Then he got right on the check. Sorted out division of $$ in 2 mins with my lunch mate, then waited another FIFTEEN minutes. Fortunately neither of us had meetings or places to be. I finally got up again and went to the bar, they ran the check, and we left. The place was about 60% full on a Friday at lunch time, no real reason for service to be so slow. At least they were nice. Food and wine was okay just Meh- 2 stars. Spaghetti tasted like chef boyardee, but the salad was fresh and good with an amazing house Italian dressing. Overall, it was okay, but I will not go back and would not recommend for lunch.

I haven't been to Club Lago in ages but it was just as wonderful as I remembered. The staff is incredibly friendly and gracious, the ambiance charming, and the food was all delicious. I was trying to find a fun, old-school Chicago place and this was spot on. Perfectly executed martinis and we had several veal dishes which were all excellent. The one thing I wish they would reconsider is to make the veal limone with capers rather than mushrooms. Not sure why mushrooms but that's how they do it. And pick up some coffee beans to go in the sambuca (cheesy I know but still!). Otherwise, we had an amazing evening!

My first time here and I loved it!!! The out door seating was nicely lit and seating was comfortable! I ordered the Sirloin steak. It was one of the most delicious steaks I've had !!!. Since the meals were so delicious we had to try the desert. We definitely weren't disappointed! Everything was delicious! The service lady was so sweet and welcoming We will be returning often