Nando Milano Trattoria

Wow, I am impressed!!! The outdoor seating of this place is to die for, with perfect little twinkle lights and right in the middle of division on wicker park it’s both trendy and peaceful! A great romantic vibe. The food was also delicious and reasonably priced considering the service and the location. I loved how portion sizes were reasonable, I got a pasta and didn’t feel ridiculously stuffed at the end. The cheapest wine (a Pinot Grigio) was also great! They are generous with their wine servings and the food comes out with just the right amount of time after the appetizer. I would definitely return to this place and recommend it to all my friends.

Good weather made it perfect for dining at this restaurant and so we were seated outside. The ambience was great, the service was great. The food was good, and came in good time. Only real comment was that the food was a little small, but it was enough with appetizers. They also gave a complimentary pannacotta because it was my birthday and it was good too. Cozy little restaurant if u wanna get away from the busy bar area of buck town.

Loved this place. Food is super delicious. Extensive menu, lots to choose. Loved the bison carparccio and burrata salad to start. The spaghetti alla pescatora was delicious as was the lamb chops. Donut with Nutella, yum. Dan are server was fantastic. Would definitely recommend.

Superb service. Wonderful food and great cozy atmosphere. We went on a Monday and the place was almost full yet the service and food was excellent. Enjoy

Living in Chicago I always found it difficult to find a truly amazing dining experience. Nando is it, though!
My friend and I walked in on a whim on a Wednesday night. The restaurant was small with ambient lighting and close tables. The first thing I heard were people cheering their drinks in Italian (Salut!) I was a little intimidated but then our host appeared. He was an absolute delight! He graciously welcomed us and asked if we spoke Italian. Neither of us do. He smiled and welcomed us again as he ushered us to our table.
We ordered fabulous red wine and our host checked in on us to see if we had questions about the menu. We both ordered pasta dishes that were AMAZING! The portions were smaller than a typical Italian restaurant but I ate everything on my plate and felt pleasantly full.
It was on the menu but the host also mentioned that they make all their pasta fresh in the restaurant. I’m definitely getting the Gnocchi next time because there is nothing better than freshly made Gnocchi!
We were asked if we wanted dessert which we didn’t but the host made us «something a little sweet.» It was a limoncello shot! He said they made fresh limon and limecello at the restaurant. It was super sweet and tasty– I love lemon.
The whole experience was lovely and made me feel very welcomed. It was like returning home to a big Italian family.

My husband and I chose this restaurant for a large family gathering. We had eaten here before and chose it for the quality of the food, and they definitely delivered again. Everyone loved the food.
The reason I’m not giving 5 stars is because the staff were a bit too pushy. We were already 10 people giving them a ton of business, and yet they kept trying to get us to order more antipasti, more wine, more everything. And not just a reasonable amount more, but like 3x what we would realistically ever consume.
I’ll definitely go back, but I recommend staying firm and not letting the staff take advantage of your good spirits.

Great food. Well-​proportioned. Super service with very friendly staff. Who could ask for more?

Love the salad, it’s one of the best I’ve had in Chicago. And the fungi risotto is great as well.

Cozy Italian restaurant.
Ambiance: It’s a cozy Italian restaurant that is a bit small where tables are pretty close to one another. The décor made it feel like an authentic Italian restaurant. My friend and I came in around 8:30pm on a Saturday night and were able to sit at the bar right away. It’s dimmed lighting with candles at the table, while romantic I wouldn’t call it ideal for a date night. It was loud and echoed and even sitting at the bar, I had a difficult time hearing my friend. However, I wouldn’t make it a reason to deter you from the restaurant. The have an open kitchen as well so that could play into the loudness. With that being said, we didn’t reek of food leaving the restaurant either. It terms of dressing code, I would go above casual, but not super formal.
Food:
HIGHLIGHTS
Price point– main course averaged $ 20
Main course-​Ravioli Di Granchio (crab ravioli with scallops and lobster cream sauce) and Tortelloni Di Ricotta in Salsa DI Noci (ravioli with ricotta cheese and spinach in a walnut sauce)
Dessert-​Semifreddo Al Chioccolat (special that wasn’t on the menu)
Wine– Pinot Noir and Sauvignon
DETAIL
I ordered the the Ravioli Di Granchio (crab ravioli with scallops and lobster cream sauce) and the pinot noir. Portion size was perfect, I was not overly full and finished the whole dish. I didn’t taste much crab, but nonetheless still delicious especially the cream sauce. I wouldn’t say it’s the best crab ravioli I’ve had, but it was good. They only had one pinot noir, but it wasn’t anything special, it was alright and I only ordered one glass. My friend ordered the Tortelloni Di Ricotta in Salsa DI Noci (ravioli with ricotta cheese and spinach in a walnut sauce) and sauvignon. It doesn’t look like the square ravioli that we may be accustomed to, so don’t be alarmed. This was also delicious. Although, the sauce kind of tasted like a pesto, but not an overpowering one, the walnuts may have balanced that out. She really enjoyed her wine and got two glasses. As for dessert, the semifreddo al chioccolat, AMAZING. Highly recommend. It was like a frozen white chocolate mousse with bits of something crunchy in it as well (not sure if there were wafers or chocolate bits) topped with milk chocolate. So good. I’m salivating writing about it. It did take a bit of time for it to come out, I’d say about 15 – 20 minutes.
Service: It was alright, nothing spectacular. I’m not sure if the host was the owner, but he seemed to really take pride in making sure everyone was having an enjoyable experience. It did take some time for us to put in an order though and I’m not sure if that’s because we were sitting at the bar or not. But it was fine.
I would go back.

The place is very nice, but the owner is a racist and classist, you need a White person to treat you right

I love this place! Especially for the quality of the food and the authenticity of the atmosphere, it is a wonderful deal — I brought my boyfriend here for Valentine’s and we had a beautiful meal including desserts and a bottle of wine for about $ 100. Everything is super fresh, perfectly prepared and well-​portioned. The maitre d’ was warm and welcoming and the ambiance is calm and relaxed, fancy enough, but not fussy. Also, the gnocchi is the stuff of DREAMS!!!
Grazie, Nando!

I’m not typically one to eat my feelings, but Italian food, pasta in particular, gives me comfort. I call it sweatpants food. Not because I eat so much of it, I can only wear sweatpants. Not because I wear sweatpants while eating it (except maybe when I’m dining in). But because it makes me feel warm, cozy and comfortable. It was exactly what I craved on a blisteringly cold night.
The manfriend ordered the gnocchi alla nonna and I ordered the cavatelli with shrimp and tomatoes in a pistachio cream sauce. Prior to our meals arriving we ate the bread that they I think they make in house. It was quite good. Both of us enjoyed our meals, but I liked his a bit more. The sauce was delicate and the gnocchi so light and airy. The flavors in mine are hard to describe, but the dish was rich; the saltiness of the shrimp helped balance it out. Overall, the food was well executed. Portions were adequate; if you’re just there for a main dish, I don’t see you leaving with leftovers.
We arrived at Nando about 25 minutes before closing; it wasn’t how we planned it, it just happened that way. The owner (?) let me know the kitchen closed soon when we arrived. I asked if it was ok if we dined and he said it was. That felt like a half truth because we were reminded at least 2 more times that the kitchen was closing at 9 sharp. When we placed our orders (entrees only, we weren’t looking for a long, lingering meal), we were given the option of pre-​ordering dessert, which we declined. When we got our meals, we were given a three minute warning on the kitchen closing and yet another chance to order dessert. Again, we declined. Everyone was polite, but it’s hard not to feel like we were a big inconvenience on what appeared to be a slow night (only one other table in the place when we walked in). The only other knock was that the music was unnecessarily loud; until it was lowered, we couldn’t even carry a conversation while we waited for our food. Aside from the feeling like we should make a quick exit, service was knowledgeable, attentive and friendly.
Overall, I give the whole experience 3.5 stars. I’d definitely try the place again and see if we can put that first awkward meal behind us.

I want to start by saying, a trattoria who makes their pasta from scratch has my respect!
I just returned from Italy which made me even a tougher critic of Italian cuisine and this place still managed to impress me. To sum up what you can expect at Nando is cozy neighborhood spot where traditional Italian dishes are cooked to perfection!
We had a Seafood Linguini and Fettuccine Bolognese, both dishes were flawless from the exquisite handmade noodles to sauces which makes you want to leak your plate. Excellent wine list and surprisingly large variety of desert options (loved Nutella Crepes!!!) completes a fabulous dining experience.
However it would not be fair not to mention outstanding service and atmosphere at Nando. It’s a cute place with a warm feel and they have a beautiful outside space (for the few warm Chicago nights we get to enjoy:)) The wait staff is friendly, attentive and very knowledgable of the menu. Their chef Alessio Vullo is actually there and he periodically comes out to great his guests. This man doesn’t need to hide in the kitchen, he can be proud of his food!

It was Saturday night at about 9 pm and we were starving with no reservations or plan. After checking Unilocal,enter Nando Milano. My friend and I were also excited that we were able to score a patio seat on a lovely night.
The food was very good. To start, we had share the 3 arancini. They were delicious and pretty easy to share with 2. The prosciutto or the bolognese were my favorites — both rich and light at the same time. The spinach and marscarpone was good too but the meat ones definitely trumped it. We also ordered a wonderful (and reasonably priced) bottle of montepulciano d’Abbruzzo. It was nice and big and went well with our meal.
The main sources were even better. I had the Ravioli Di Granchio, a crab ravioli with scallops in a lobster cream sauce. Decadent and very tasty. You could taste that the pasta was fresh and handmade. My friend ordered the gnocchi with gorgonzola in an aurora sauce (like a blend of tomato and cream). They were light and fluffy. There was a nice balance in the dish and the gorgonzola didn’t overpower it. Conversation halted at this point as we devoured the food.
Service was great. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the food and wine. He was attentive but not too pushy. In true Italian style, no one rushed us out while we were finishing our wine even though it was after closing time. One of the owners sat next to us and was very friendly and approachable.
Overall, it was a great experience and I am looking forward to coming back again. It was also pretty reasonably priced given what we ordered (about $ 55 per person with tip).

I honestly can’t think of one negative thing to say about this restaurant. It’s cozy, with an understated classy décor, fantastic service, and a great wine list. This restaurant has an awesome ambiance, and is perfect for a date night.
I had a Mother’s Day lunch here, and my mom loved it. We ordered the arancini trio, each featuring a different filling, but they were all equally delicious. I ordered the almond encrusted salmon which was perfectly cooked. My mother ordered a house made pasta with sundried tomatoes which was amazing. I will definitely go back and try some more menu items.

We had a group of 4 eat dinner last night, while Do-​Division was happening, and this was a Sunday night. Got seated promptly. This was our 2^nd time, and what I enjoyed the most last time was the pasta. We ordered the lasagna, squid-​ink pasta (kind of like a ravioli), pesto gnocchi, and the pasta with riccotta (closest to a fetticuine alfredo which was requested). BEST part is the pasta — home made, so yummy. Gnocchi has a great texture to it. My mother-​in-​law loved her lasagna and my brother-​in-​law who is a bit picky finished EVERY bite.
Portion sizes are decent, not overly done, and of course the manager stopped by and was super friendly like last time.
Why go to a place that doesn’t have home-​made pasta and basically pay the same amount? Come here for a nice, quiet dinner. Also has a romantic feel. :)

We were greeted at Nando Milano Trattoria by a young woman with an Italian accent. The interior was dimly lit, rich woods, and intimate. It was sultry in the classiest sense of the word… and we crushed hard.
I don’t normally go for Italian food, but I saw Anthony M’s review and pictures and planned an impromptu date for that same evening.
I think the most important thing for you to know is that Nando Milano Trattoria is authentic Italian food served by Italians but different from a typical Italian American restaurant.
Typical Italian American restaurants focus on generous portions of familiar dishes: spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, etc. They have big personalities, big families, sloppy hugs and kisses, and comfortable atmospheres. Nando Milano Trattoria is the refined, tender, smaller brother from Italy. Perhaps a little perfectionist and a little creative… Nando Milano Trattoria is my favorite Italian restaurant to date.
M loves it too. We still talk about how we must go back… How we MUST bring certain friends and family members there.
After a delicious meal and at least two drinks each, the Italian owner came by and chatted with us. He was a charmer without being pushy. He gave us each some limoncello that was made from his family’s recipe. It was a perfect way to end the evening.

SIMPLY AMAZING
I’m Sicilian & I hate going out for Italian food because it never tastes right. After tonight I must change my mind because this was one of the best Italian dinners I’ve ever had. The owners were born in Sicily & moved to Milan before finally setting up shop in Chicago. This place is a cozy little gem that will knock your socks off. Save your money for your transatlantic flight to Italy & just drive over here for dinner.
A really great friend of mine called & said he would be flying into Chicago & wanted to go out for a great Italian dinner. It took me days to figure out where I should take him. I finally decided to come here because I knew everything was made in house. My buddy had the best meal of his life & he said when he comes back to Chicago we are coming back here for dinner. So thanks to everyone for providing this fantastic dinner for an old friend. You made me look like a Rockstar.
When I walked in I was greeted by Jelena who I thought was the hostess but then realized she was also our waitress. This place is small & I think Jelena was taking the orders for every table. She never made us feel like we were waiting for service. She even spent time hanging out at our table & when my buddy said he couldn’t see the menu in the darkness… Jelena went & grabbed a flashlight for him to see it. I call that 5 star service. Thanks for making our dinner a memorable experience.
There were many specials to choose from. We decided to go with the mussels with saffron, capers & chili flakes to start with as an app. The mussels were incredibly fresh. It also came with two pieces of toasted garlic bread which tasted so good in the saffron sauce. We had to ask for another bag of their house made bread to dip in the sauce. We kept dipping our bread in the sauce until the juice was all gone. When you’re Sicilian & something tastes good then you use you’re bread to clean your plate & we totally did that.
This place makes everything fresh. The bread we were using to dip into the sauce was made in house. In fact, the pasta & the ricotta are all made in house. I must give you some words of advice for Italian food, if the pasta isn’t homemade then don’t eat there. Anyone can open a bag of dried pasta but not everyone can make a fresh pasta noodle. My pasta was beyond amazing & that is because it was made fresh. I am proud to say that the pasta here is some of the best in the city.
I must mention the dipping oil for the bread. I loved how it was presented on the table. The dish had olive oil with red pepper flakes and a few other herbs along with 4 green seeded olives. The olives were really good and luckily my buddy wasn’t into olives which meant I got all four. I was in olive heaven.
There was much to choose from on the menu. The apps, first plates, second plates and desserts all looked so good. We started out with a great bottle of red from Sicily. The wine was full bodied with hints of vanilla, chocolate and tobacco. I will tell you I did taste the tobacco but it worked with the sweetness flavor. I wish I remembered the name of the wine because I’d love to order that again.
When it came to me ordering the pasta I had a hard time. I was interested in the Rigatoni with house made sausage, peas & a tomato cream sauce. I thought for sure I was going to get that until our waitress told me to order the fresh house made Pappardelle. These noodles are a large, broad, flat pasta noodle, similar to a wide fettuccine. The best part is that all of the pastas are made in house. The Pappardelle came with a Wild Boar Ragu that was simply amazing. This delicious sauce made me want to go home and start making my own version of it. Thanks chef for setting the bar too high even for me to achieve.
My buddy who loves lobster ordered the house made ravioli di Aragosta E Granachio. He’s an East coast guy, so he knows seafood. He mention his favorite place in Boston for lobster but was quick to recommend this place as his new favorite. Again I was looking like a super hero.
As the evening rolled on we met Dario who is one of the owners. We spoke about Sicily and he even knew my Dads town in Sicily was famous for making chocolate. It was great talking about food & culture. Dario is what every restaurant owner should be. He’s the face up front and he keeps all the customers happy. Dario treats everyone like family and that is simply the Italian way.
For dessert we did a little table stalking and ordered exactly what our neighbors ordered. We got the mifreddo al torroncino which is not on the menu but it should be. It had crushed up almonds & hazelnut w/​chocolate cake. We also ordered the Torta do Ricotta which is the best cheesecake u will ever have. We had 3 rounds of homemade cello… lemon, orange & rhubarb (Mom’s secret), then ended the night on the Espresso Martini.
This was a perfect evening of old friends & dinner. The owners, chef & staff served with smiles & I can hardly wait to come back. Thanks!

Came here with my two friends who have been raving about this place for a couple of months. After dining here I can totally see why they wouldn’t shut up about this place.
Excellent service! Everyone in this establishment was personable, friendly and provided first rate customer service.
We shared the:
— Calamari Fritti: normal calamari, but still good.
— Mussels: so so good! I’m so glad our server recommended these
— Saffron Rice Balls: these were so good we got two more orders
For my entrée I got the Ravioli Di Aragosta E Granchio (house made crab and lobster ravioli with scallops in a lobster creamy sauce). The seafood inside the ravioli was so fresh and the sauce was rich and creamy. The only downside was that I wish i would have been given 10 more raviolis.
I will definitely be going back to Nando Milano Trattoria.

Nando Milano embodies one of the things that make Chicago such a wonderful city: mom&pop style restaurants. This place is a gem among all the sports bars and coffee shops that make up the wicker park neighborhood. There is nothing cookie cutter about this place. Their staff seems to take pride in what they do and care enough about their jobs to provide excellent service. The food is spot on, although I’ve never been to Italy so I can’t comment to its authenticity (but I have no doubt it’s spot on). They have ladies nights on Wednesdays with drink specials and during the summer they have a beautiful outdoor patio.
A little bit more on the details:
Polenta ⁹⁄₁₀
Gnocchi Della nonna, ⁸⁄₁₀
Squid ink sea bass ravioli with clamp mussels ⁸⁄₁₀
Gnocchi tomato 8.5÷10
Their vintage industrial décor is pinterest-​worthy and they’ve got a surprisingly good music selection. Despite all the italian places in chicago, I would highly recommend coming here if you want to have a great dining experience.