Top Best Italian Restaurants in 31st Street Harbor

"Take in panoramic views of the Chicago River and the city’s famed architecture from Gibson’s Italia’s multiple outdoor options, located right on the city’s famed Loop. Steak and Italian food come together here for an extensive menu full of pasta, many meats, seafood, and sides. Warmer weather pairs perfectly with the restaurant’s spritz selection, which includes a classic negroni and a non-alcoholic melon option."

"A chic, brick-accented spot inspired by red-sauce joints of the 1950s The B. Hospitality guys (The Bristol, Balena, and Nonna's) opened the doors to their sprawling Randolph Street restaurant back in 2015 and have been serving up well-executed takes on mid-century, southern Italian cuisine ever since -- even with a menu overhaul leaning toward lighter, seafood- and veggie-focused fare a year later. The dining room's old-school vibe -- complete with crimson banquette seating, white tablecloths, and black-and-white photos -- invites diners to try pasta dishes inspired by the classics like rigatoni, in which the ricotta-topped pasta covered in a pork neck gravy is accompanied by spicy fennel sausage and fluffy meatballs."

"Situated in the hip and busy Fulton Market District in Chicago's West Loop, Formento's is, at its core, a homage to traditional Italian home cooking. Executive Chef Todd Stein features the light and bright flavors of Italy with the best ingredients he can get his hands on. Meanwhile, the recipes are all based on traditional family recipes from the owner's grandmother, while Chef Todd contributes new-age dishes to the menu as well."

"Formento’s is an old-school Italian with a classic look with white tablecloths and big leather booths. The menu reflects the look of the restaurant as it serves Italian-American staples. Some typical examples of the dishes on this menu include bone-in veal parmesan, bucatini carbonara, and canestri in pork neck gravy."

"In the meantime, please enjoy the restaurant’s description: Riccardo started his career at a very young age in Milan's prestigious GIRARROSTO which ..."

"Description: Coda di Volpe, located in Lakeview, is the epitome of consistently-delicious Italian food. Serving wood-fired pizzas and classic Italian dishes, you really can't go wrong with heading over to this place."

"The Loop isn’t quite rife with French cuisine so this casual steakhouse, attached to the Hyatt Centric and run by WellDone Hospitality Group, has been a welcome addition to the area since opening two years ago. Whether guests stop in during lunch for a beef dip sandwich or treat themselves to a nice hunk of dry-aged beef at dinner, there are plenty of delicious choices that’ll evoke visions of Paris."

"Kick off the last day of your Chicago itinerary with brunch at Cochan Volant, a French bistro in the Loop that is basically a brunch-lovers paradise."

"If you can’t stop the kids from jumping on the bed all the time, Altitude Trampoline Park may be the answer. Take them to this 33,000 square feet space of indoor trampolines and other fun attractions, including monkey bars and foam pits. Kids will be able to jump and flip to their heart’s content and you are free to join in on the fun or just relax and watch."

"Another cooling dessert worth highlighting is the gelato at Black Dog Gelato, which the brainchild of crafty pastry chef Jessie Oloroso. Her offbeat gelato flavors are fascinating, not only in surprising ingredient combinations, but in silken texture and illustrious hue. You really can't go wrong with any of the them, from the rich malted vanilla to the goat cheese-cashew-caramel."

"Ukrainian Village, West Loop, & Logan SquareThis tri-location neighborhood gem starts with traditional Chicago-style gelato made with fresh local ingredients, then spices things up with modern medleys like mango hibiscus, goat cheese cashew caramel, and malted vanilla pretzel."

"Black Dog offers some of the most unique gelato flavors in Chicago. If you’re feeling adventurous, this is the only gelato place to go."

"Small-batch donuts are the name of the game at this adorable Glenview spot, where they bypass preservatives and trans fats in favor of natural ingredients, making all of the jams and fillings in-house. The Boston Cream, stuffed with rich pastry cream and glazed with shiny ganache, and the oh-so-springy Strawberry Glazed are highlights."