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Located in the heart of Chicago at 1045 W Fulton St, il Carciofo is a vibrant Italian restaurant that offers a delightful dining experience. Known for its authentic Italian cuisine, il Carciofo features a menu that highlights fresh ingredients and traditional recipes. From the moment you step inside, you are greeted by a warm atmosphere, an open kitchen, and a beautifully designed bar area, making it an ideal spot for both casual dinners and special occasions.

At il Carciofo, diners can indulge in a variety of mouthwatering dishes that showcase the essence of Italian cooking. Highlights from the menu include:

Fried Artichokes - A must-try appetizer that has received rave reviews for its crispy texture and flavor.

Boscaiola Pizza - A Roman-style pizza topped with fennel sausage and maitake mushrooms, praised for its airy crust.

Hand-Rolled Pasta - Seasonal offerings include dishes like Cacio e Pepe and Gnocchetti Pesto, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to fresh ingredients.

Desserts - Don't miss the homemade Pistachio Gelato and Chocolate Gelato, which are perfect for rounding off your meal.

Situated in the bustling Fulton Market District, il Carciofo is conveniently located near several popular attractions. Visitors can explore the vibrant local scene, including art galleries, shops, and other renowned restaurants. The restaurant is also easily accessible, with various parking options available, including valet and paid street parking.

https://www.google.com/local/review/rap/report?postId=ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURfMFBDajZ3RRAB&d=17924085&t=1

places/ChIJlUSEXAAtDogRL4uQxSuDhgg/reviews/ChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURfMFBDajZ3RRAB

Loved this place. The fried artichoke was great. The salad I got was amazing with that cheese. Carbonara was too salty for me personally. The straciatella sandwich was sooo good. The chocolate gelato was phenomal.

https://www.google.com/local/review/rap/report?postId=ChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURfMHZHN2V3EAE&d=17924085&t=1

places/ChIJlUSEXAAtDogRL4uQxSuDhgg/reviews/ChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURfMHZHN2V3EAE

Absolutely incredible! Nice big space, open kitchen and beautiful bar. Chef's counter was an awesome spot to dine.

Everything was awesome including the seasonal Spritz,Fried Artichokes, carbonara, Boscaiola pizza and Pistachio Gelato! Look forward to returning here and also to Rosemary.

https://www.google.com/local/review/rap/report?postId=ChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNmcmJlTklREAE&d=17924085&t=1

places/ChIJlUSEXAAtDogRL4uQxSuDhgg/reviews/ChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNmcmJlTklREAE

The dishes use few ingredients, but that simplicity packs a lot of flavor.

We didn't order the namesake and instead jumped right in with the Abbacchio alla Scottadito, which is one of the many dishes that I can't pronounce on the menu, but those lamb ribs were fantastic. The rosemary was subtle and didn't over power the dish.

The highlight for me was the Roman style pizza, Boscaiola. The fennel sausage and maitake went so well together with the airy crust.

In my never ending odyssey to try all of the fresh pasta in Chicago, the hand rolled pasta had hits and misses.

The cacio e pepe was over salted to the point that I couldn't have more than a couple bites. This was the only dish I tried that the seasoning was too aggressive.

The Gnocchetti Pesto was light and the pesto added a freshness to the dish. It was a little gummy.

The ravioli was a pleasant surprise and had a nice amount of ricotta and spinach filling. Restaurant ravioli always seems so underwhelming, but this was my favorite of the three I tried.

The lemon sorbet was fantastic. It is very rich and the portions were great. Best split with a date or the table.

With a seasonal changing menu, I'm looking forward to what comes next. I'll definitely be back to order another one of the pizzas.

https://www.google.com/local/review/rap/report?postId=ChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUR2MEwyRFZREAE&d=17924085&t=1

places/ChIJlUSEXAAtDogRL4uQxSuDhgg/reviews/ChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUR2MEwyRFZREAE

We dined here 3 days after their opening, so if you're reading this months from now- please keep that in mind.

The food was all very good. We started with the artichokes, burrata, and lamb ribs. Next we moved on to the mortadella pizza and then we finished with two pastas, the carbonara and the oxtail tagliatelle.

The artichokes were amazing- and i don't normally eat artichokes. The burrata and parma ham was average, the bread which accompanied it was excellent.  The lamb ribs- beautiful- i could have eaten those all night.

The mortadella pizza was really more of a sandwich of sorts- but i would come back just for that. it was great.

The oxtail pasta was probably the best thing we had that night. The carbonara was not my cup of tea. i found the pecorino being used to be a bit too funky for my liking. However- the dish was executed flawlessly, i just didn't care for the taste.

Chocolate gelato for dessert was great and the Cocchi Barolo Chinato is going to become a staple of my wine cellar.

Service was a bit hit and miss, but is to be expected with a restaurant which just opened 3 days earlier. It did seem like our server had way too many tables. We waited at times  more than 15 minutes for our wine order/refills. The dessert wine showed up 10 minutes after gelato.

We asked that everything be coursed out but all three of our starters showed up at the same time, which on a tiny table, is my biggest pet peeve with restaurants today. I understand the need to get the whole order at once, but be realistic, there's not enough room on a two top for everything to show up at once. Also, the tables are extremely close together... like someone's ass is going to be in your face if they try to squeeze between the tables instead of walking around the row.

Overall though, it was a great meal and we will be returning for sure.

Street parking was plentiful.

https://www.google.com/local/review/rap/report?postId=ChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNfNkpPYWVBEAE&d=17924085&t=1

places/ChIJlUSEXAAtDogRL4uQxSuDhgg/reviews/ChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNfNkpPYWVBEAE

Such a great experience! The restaurant is beautiful and our waiter was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The food was so good. We got the fried artichoke, beef arinchini, the lamb, carbonara, the spicy rigatoni, the potatoes and the pistachio gelato. The artichoke with the lemon was something I’d never had before and definitely something I’d recommend! The lamb was falling off the bone it was so tender. The pistachio gelato may have been our favorite even though everything was amazing. You could tell it was homemade and tasted very fresh and delicious.

Experience 5-Star Italian Dining at il Carciofo, Chicago

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il Carciofo is a culinary gem in the heart of Chicago, offering authentic Italian cuisine in a cozy atmosphere. The restaurant features a menu that celebrates seasonal ingredients, with house-made pastas and a curated selection of Italian wines. The inviting ambiance makes it a perfect spot for food lovers and families alike.

il Carciofo

Savor authentic Italian cuisine at il Carciofo in Chicago. Indulge in farm-fresh flavors and a cozy atmosphere. Book your table today!

Experience 5-Star Italian Dining at il Carciofo, Chicago

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