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This was very disappointing. The only good thing I had there was the pizza.

I've been to Quartinos at least 8 times in the past year while traveling in Chicago. The service has always been fast and friendly. The atmosphere is casual and fun, and sitting in the bar is a great place for a meal when traveling alone. I love their caprese salad, funghi pizza, cheeses and wines. I've tried a number of other items and they are all good, many excellent. I've recommended this spot to others and they have come away impressed as well. Casual, loud, fun, and tasty at a great price!

we went late for wine and dessert - we had a profiterole, fondue and some sangiovese. our server was excellent, friendly and attentive, but not overly so. the sangiovese was excellent and the profiterole was delicious. the fondue was good but perhaps a little overpriced, and a fair number of the strawberries were overripe. the atmosphere was casual but fun--a good place for a casual date (please note--this refers to the wine bar section of the restaurant--we were not seated in the dining room).

Though we noticed the table of businessmen next to us - two young, casually dressed girls - got special treatment and service by the entire staff, our waiter was great, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered the sampler of bruschette, the caprese salad, and the gnocchi. Would have like maybe a little more balsamic on the caprese, but the mozzarella (melt-in-your-mouth soft) and tomatoes were very fresh and delicious. The gnocchi was kind of soft (almost the texture of the mozzarella), which I'm not used to, but I liked it. We soaked up the extra pesto sauce with bread so we could savor every last drop. Wish I could have ordered wine, but as it was my lunch break I figured I probably shouldn't. :) But I'll definitely go back to try some of the other delicious looking items on the menu and I'll bring lots of friends so I can have a taste of everything they order! Fast service for the lunch crowd, but I also feel like you could sit and eat as long as you'd like and they wouldn't mind. Not quite cheap enough to eat at every day (unless you just order the sandwiches), but I thought the food was definitely on par with some of the much more expensive Italian places in town.

The food was fine (nothing to write home about...particularly the margherita pizza which was essentially just a cheese pizza - no fresh tomatoes or basil in sight). The wine isn't really that great of a bargain. It was loud and extremely crowded, and overall just a "so-so" experience. I might go back, but only if someone else suggested it...it won't be MY pick next time! Bottom line: The concept is great -- the execution isn't.

The atmosphere at Quartino is great... busy, crowded, fast service, trendy.... HOWEVER the food and wine did not live up to the reviews I read. While the food was okay it did not live up to the price or reviews. I would be careful when ordering here.

What a wonderful VALUE!! I have no idea how these guys are doing it with these wine prices but it's rediculous! We started with a half liter of the house red for $8..... that's 2/3 of a bottle! It was light, with berry and cherry flavors and paired well with our choice of salumi and cheese.