The Village
Quick info
About The Village
The Village is an Italian restaurant in Chicago, operating at 71 W Monroe St since 1927. Its character comes from a romantic setting built around classic dishes and an extensive wine list. The signature plate is Veal Parmigiana, a popular main, and Meat Ravioli anchors the pasta side. For dessert, Sicilian Cannoli is on the menu. Reservations are advised.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid multi-storey car park · Paid parking lot · Paid street parking
- Good for kidsHigh chairs available · Has kids' menu
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
78 dishes · mains $3–59Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention lasagna, meatballs, minestrone and four cheese ravioli.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention lasagna, meatballs, minestrone and four cheese ravioli.
Customer Review Summary
The Village draws consistent praise for its lasagna, with multiple reviewers calling it divine and highlighting its distinctive split of red meat sauce and white cream or bechamel layer. The meatballs and meat sauce also earn repeated mentions as standouts, with one diner noting they are pork free, expanding options. Pasta more broadly is a centerpiece: one reviewer singles out the homemade pasta as the crown jewel of the menu, and the Budino di Pane, a pistachio and chocolate bread pudding, earns enthusiastic praise as a rich, indulgent finish. The atmosphere is frequently described as intimate, warm, and old world, with dim lighting and holiday décor adding to the appeal for special occasions like anniversaries and honeymoons. A few reviewers raise concerns about inconsistency, citing hard, dry meatballs, overcooked chicken parmesan, and bland seafood pasta on separate visits. One diner found portions underwhelming for the price and described the interior as dark and outdated, with stairs at the entrance posing an accessibility issue. Several suggest booking ahead, noting the restaurant often accommodates walk-ins even when reservations appear unavailable.
Customer Review Summary
The Village draws consistent praise for its lasagna, with multiple reviewers calling it divine and highlighting its distinctive split of red meat sauce and white cream or bechamel layer. The meatballs and meat sauce also earn repeated mentions as standouts, with one diner noting they are pork free, expanding options. Pasta more broadly is a centerpiece: one reviewer singles out the homemade pasta as the crown jewel of the menu, and the Budino di Pane, a pistachio and chocolate bread pudding, earns enthusiastic praise as a rich, indulgent finish. The atmosphere is frequently described as intimate, warm, and old world, with dim lighting and holiday décor adding to the appeal for special occasions like anniversaries and honeymoons. A few reviewers raise concerns about inconsistency, citing hard, dry meatballs, overcooked chicken parmesan, and bland seafood pasta on separate visits. One diner found portions underwhelming for the price and described the interior as dark and outdated, with stairs at the entrance posing an accessibility issue. Several suggest booking ahead, noting the restaurant often accommodates walk-ins even when reservations appear unavailable.
Featured reviews
- Melissa D'Angelo
“We were celebrating the first night of our honeymoon and we were treated to a special table in an alcove with a great view of the restaurant. The food was delicious and the service was attentive and friendly. And a complimentary cannoli for dessert.”
- Megan Mulholland
“My friend and I came here, Chicago’s oldest Italian restaurant, for dinner. We didn’t have a reservation but they found a seat for us. The village and authentic Italian ambiance was such fun. Some people were eating in little “cottages.” Our service was good and my meal was yummy. My friend said hers was fine. It was fun to learn about the history.”
- Michael Buscho
“Travel into Sicily when you go to the Village. Juan was our server and he made this experience one of the best! Not only did I order the pork chop but I was able to add broccolini and a sausage. When it sounded like Juan didn't understand …”
- Suomirakastaa
“We stopped in on a Monday afternoon around 2pm. We started with the Garlic Bread for $11...quite disappointing for that price point. It is listed(and pictured on other reviews) as coming with parmesan cheese on top. The option of adding more cheese(mozzarella) was an extra option and charge which we didn't do. Well, the bread came out with no cheese at all. Luckily, they keep parmesan cheese shakers on the table with the salt & pepper. So, we put it on ourselves. The Chicken Vesuvio was pretty lacking on the potatoes...but flavor and cook on the chicken was good. I feel like the portion was not as generous as other pictures we had seen online. My husband left still hungry...pretty sad when $45 a person doesn't fill you up. The Shrimp Tuscany is one of their "house specialties" and once again, the cook on the protein and pasta was good. But, it was pretty boring and bland flavor wise. I took the top off of the black pepper and went to town. That definitely helped but I still wasn't wowed. Both entrees came with a soup or a salad so we went with one house salad and one minestrone soup. Both were yummy. And they also bring a bread basket to the table after you order entrees. So, don't waste your $11 on the garlic bread, just eat the bread they bring and dip it in the olive oil and parmesan cheese that's on the table. Also, this is the darkest, most drab, and outdated place I've seen in a long time. It's very stereotypical "Italian decor." And there are no windows looking out to see the city...so you're just "trapped" in a cheesy(no pun intended), wore out, cliché Italian restaurant. And don't go here if you have mobility issues. It's tight quarters and there is a large set of stairs leading up from the street level entrance. I didn't see an elevator but maybe I missed it? And there is no handicap stall available in the women's bathroom. Although without an elevator, a wheelchair wouldn't make it up those stairs anyway. Final verdict: the meal was fine, although overpriced imho($107 all-in for two entrees and one appetizer, no drinks only water), and a sad dining atmosphere. I wouldn't recommend it nor would I return.”
- Christopher MacDonald
“Table for 3 Supper on a Sunday night. The atmosphere and ambiance of the place did give off nice Italian vibes. A comfortable, dim, lighting. The menu offered lots of choices. We opted for a Fettuccini Alfredo with grilled chicken, a …”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Opened in 1927, this romantic Italian restaurant serves classic dishes & has an extensive wine list.”
- Has fast service
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
- Serves local speciality
Amenities
- Paid parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- Has kids' menu
Show more amenities
- Serves vegan dishes
- Has bar on site
- Casual
- Offers kerbside pickup
- On-site services available
- Serves beer
- Offerings· 10
- Serves alcohol
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Serves happy-hour drinks
- Serves late-night food
- Has private dining room
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
- Family-friendly· 1
- High chairs available
- Planning· 3
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Usually has a wait
- Dining options· 6
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has catering
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Atmosphere· 5
- Cosy
- Historic
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upmarket
- Crowd· 2
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
- Highlights· 6
- Has fast service
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
- Serves local speciality
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Parking· 3
- Paid multi-storey car park
- Paid street parking
- Valet parking
Location
How The Village compares to nearby italian restaurants
- The Village · This shop4.54,909 reviews
Mentioned in reviews: lasagna, meatballs, minestrone
- Acanto4.51,168 reviews0.3 mi
Mentioned in reviews: candles, rigatoni, happy hour
- 5,039 reviews0.7 mi
Mentioned in reviews: lasagna, chicken parm, garlic bread
- 948 reviews1.2 mi
Mentioned in reviews: rigatoni vodka, meatball salad, short rib ravioli
The Village This shop | Acanto | Il Porcellino | Viaggio Restaurant Chicago | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5(4,909) | 4.5(1,168) | 4.8(5,039) | 4.7(948) | |
| Price | $20–60 | $50–100 | $30–80 | $15–30 |
| Distance | — | 0.3 mi | 0.7 mi | 1.2 mi |
| Open today |
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How this listing is sourced
Hours, contact details, and amenities are sourced from publicly available business data and re-checked regularly. Listings are ranked independently — no paid placement.