Siena Tavern
Quick info
About Siena Tavern
Siena Tavern is an Italian restaurant on Chicago's Near North Side at 51 W Kinzie St, serving Neapolitan pies, homemade pastas, and wine in a space with a bar and lounge. Much of its character comes from the interplay between the open dining room and the bar and lounge, where guests can settle in for a full meal or a more casual evening with small plates and drinks. The menu leans into Italian staples, with Coccoli appearing as a popular starter and Orecchiette as a popular pasta, while Truffle Gnocchi Pacetta offers a richer option among the mains. Reservations are advised, especially for weekend dinners when the dining room fills up. The lounge area provides a separate setting for drinks and lighter fare, making the restaurant flexible for different occasions.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid multi-storey car park · Paid parking lot · Paid street parking
- AccessibilityDoes not have assistive hearing loop
- Good for kidsFamily friendly
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention rigatoni alla vodka, sea bass milanese, espresso martini and truffle gnocchi.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention rigatoni alla vodka, sea bass milanese, espresso martini and truffle gnocchi.
Customer Review Summary
Diners consistently single out the Rigatoni Alla Vodka as the standout dish, with several calling it one of the best pasta dishes they have anywhere and praising the sauce. Close behind, the Sea Bass Milanese draws repeated praise for its crisp exterior and tender, flaky interior, and the Truffle Gnocchi is called a house special worth recommending. Happy hour at the bar earns strong marks, with the Strawberry Spritz and Espresso Martini highlighted as favorites. The Diablo Pizza drizzled with hot honey and the short rib with creamy risotto come up as satisfying choices, and the tiramisu is described as creamy and perfectly sweet. A recurring complaint centers on billing: one reviewer notes that fees and an automatic gratuity calculated on top of those fees turned a modest tab into a substantially higher total, calling the practice misleading. Another diner reports having to ask twice to have silverware replaced because pieces still had food on them. Service is generally described as friendly and knowledgeable, with staff offering solid dish recommendations, and the private cellar space gets praise for special events.
Customer Review Summary
Diners consistently single out the Rigatoni Alla Vodka as the standout dish, with several calling it one of the best pasta dishes they have anywhere and praising the sauce. Close behind, the Sea Bass Milanese draws repeated praise for its crisp exterior and tender, flaky interior, and the Truffle Gnocchi is called a house special worth recommending. Happy hour at the bar earns strong marks, with the Strawberry Spritz and Espresso Martini highlighted as favorites. The Diablo Pizza drizzled with hot honey and the short rib with creamy risotto come up as satisfying choices, and the tiramisu is described as creamy and perfectly sweet. A recurring complaint centers on billing: one reviewer notes that fees and an automatic gratuity calculated on top of those fees turned a modest tab into a substantially higher total, calling the practice misleading. Another diner reports having to ask twice to have silverware replaced because pieces still had food on them. Service is generally described as friendly and knowledgeable, with staff offering solid dish recommendations, and the private cellar space gets praise for special events.
Featured reviews
- Rachel Vk
“Not an exaggeration by any means, but the Rigatoni Alla Vodka I’ve eaten here is quite possibly one of the best pasta dishes I’ve eaten anywhere in the world. That sauce is worth a king’s ransom. We also ate the pancakes, chicken sandwich and the kale salad and everything was lovely. Our server Daniela was courteous, friendly and helpful. Would definitely go back! Best Italian fare in town”
- Lynn Findlay
“We had a great experience at Siena Tavern. We sat outside and enjoyed the gorgeous weather. We shared the diablo pizza 🍕 drizzled with hot honey, so yummy. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful. It has a great vibe. I would highly recommend! …”
- Monet Felton
“Great Happy Hour. Definitely some hits and misses with the food. Wasn’t impressed with the arancini or the mini tavern burger. Would definitely reorder the sea-bass Milanese. The pizza was pizza nothing special. The strawberry spritz was on …”
- Prabhmeet Kahlon
“The vodka rigatoni is my favorite! I love to come by specifically for that! Their portion sizes look small but it’s plenty for leftovers. I stared with the No. #8 at the cocktail bar. It’s a refreshing tequila drink, 10/10. They also have happy hour (3-6pm). The salad, soup and burrata with olive oil toast were tasty, and perfect for apps. For my entree, it was a short rib. Very rich and tender, on a bed of creamy risotto. The risotto itself could have been a complete dish, it was delightful! The tiramisu was divine for dessert. It was creamy and fluffy with the perfect amount of sweetness. The staff is so kind and in the evening they have live DJs playing great house and ambiance music. The inside is pretty and the booth seating is intimate but cozy. It’s a great place for birthdays or anniversaries. They also offer dining at the bar.”
- Bryant A
“Once you go inside you get a cool, chic and modern vibe. The staff were friendly and polite to me, my sever had great recommendations and I’m glad I listened to her. The food absolutely blew my mind, the pastas sounded too good, I had to …”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Neapolitan pies, homemade pastas, and wine in an upscale space with a bar and lounge.”
- Has fast service
- Has great beer selection
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great coffee
- Has great wine list
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Paid parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Dogs allowed
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
Show more amenities
- Family friendly
- Serves alcohol
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Serves beer
- Serves coffee
- Offerings· 5
- Serves cocktails
- Serves healthy options
- Has private dining room
- Serves spirits
- Serves wine
- Dining options· 2
- Has catering
- Has table service
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
- Popular for· 1
- Good for solo dining
- Atmosphere· 5
- Cosy
- Lively
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upmarket
- Crowd· 2
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
- Planning· 1
- Usually has a wait
- Highlights· 4
- Has fast service
- Has great beer selection
- Serves great cocktails
- Has great wine list
- Accessibility· 1
- Does not have assistive hearing loop
- Parking· 3
- Paid multi-storey car park
- Paid street parking
- Valet parking
Location
How Siena Tavern compares to nearby restaurants
- Siena Tavern · This shop4.64,941 reviews
Mentioned in reviews: rigatoni alla vodka, sea bass milanese, espresso martini
- Crying Tiger4.81,764 reviews0.1 mi
Mentioned in reviews: crying tiger dessert, pork belly, lobster pad thai
- Havana Grill4.52,305 reviews0.1 mi
Mentioned in reviews: mojitos, carne asada, cuban food
- 3,509 reviews0.2 mi
Mentioned in reviews: ceviche, pisco sour, lomo saltado
Siena Tavern This shop | Crying Tiger | Havana Grill | Tanta Cocina Peruana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6(4,941) | 4.8(1,764) | 4.5(2,305) | 4.5(3,509) | |
| Price | $30–60 | $50–100 | $20–30 | $50–100 |
| Distance | — | 0.1 mi | 0.1 mi | 0.2 mi |
| Open today | ||||
| Good for kids | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
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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.