Il Mulino Restaurant Review

1150 N. Dearborn St. (Elm St.) Send to Phone

Tucked into a stately mansion, this urbane Greenwich Village transplant brings the dishes of Abruzzo, Italy, to the Windy City.

Il Mulino Restaurant is one of our 2012 | Top 10 Chicago Romantic Restaurants |

Cuisine

Italian

Open

Dinner nightly

Features

Romantic setting
Private room(s)
Full bar
Reservations suggested
Outdoor dining
Valet parking
Business casual

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Full of flourish with a surprisingly unfussy feel, this elegant Italian spot in the historic Biggs mansion benefits from the glint of chandeliers and candlelight, starchy tablecloths and marble fireplaces that cast an attractive glow. The crisply outfitted staff, while proper, is pleasant and attentive, delivering the regional specialties with style and grace. Here, the quality of the ingredients turns seemingly simple preparations---Sardinian prawns in white wine sauce, for example---into notable dishes. That's true from the complimentary fried zucchini and garlicky breadsticks to the light-as-air tiramisu topped with chocolate shavings. The veal saltimbocca, aromatic with sage and prosciutto, and the tableside-deboned bass in buttery herb-flecked sauce, are standouts. But the pappardelle with sausage in basil tomato sauce is quite good, too. Still, the deafening volume, frenetic activity and gouging check can dampen the experience for romantics. Check out the extensive list of Italian wines (if you have bank).