Riccardo Trattoria

"Need an Italian restaurant to visit with your parents or significant other? Riccardo Trattoria is a great option. It’s nice without being too trendy, and perfect for a low-key special occasion dinner or even a nicer weeknight meal. Get any kind of pasta." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"Coming from a family with a rich restaurant pedigree, chef-owner Riccardo Michi whips up some of the finest Tuscan food on the North Side. Diners love the daily specials and crowd pleasing dishes, such as lobster-and-crab-filled ravioli and luscious panna cotta. Don’t miss out on the tripe Florentine, either: the veal tripe braised with veggies and tomatoes is a memorable recipe." - Ashok Selvam

"Riccardo Trattoria is nice enough for a special occasion, but also affordable enough that your little brother can take your parents there to thank them for letting him move back home to work on his screenplay. Order any of the pastas (the pappardelle with ragu is delicious), and an entree like the osso bucco. This also happens to be one of the only restaurants on this list with a burrata dish worth going out of your way for. It’s straightforward (with just olive oil and carpaccio), but magically delicious. Like Lucky Charms, but with meat and cheese." - adrian kane

"Riccardo Trattoria in Lincoln Park is nice enough for a special occasion but doesn’t feel formal or stuffy. Order any of the pastas (the pappardelle with ragu is delicious) and an entree like the osso bucco. This also happens to be one of the only restaurants with burrata worth going out of your way for. It’s straightforward with just olive oil and prosciutto, but absolutely delicious." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor

"Sometimes you want to celebrate in a nice neighborhood restaurant, and in that case, Riccardo Trattoria is perfect. It’s cozy and elegant, with great Italian food. Your server will most likely be charming and make sure you leave feeling special." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor