Ciccio Mio Review

Author: Madeline Mahoney

Photographer: Karina Mak

Ciccio Mio is an Italian restaurant in River North that has been gaining attention on social media for its unique ambiance and tasty food. 

Ciccio Mio’s foyer is a sight all on its own! The walls are lined with bottles of wine and a mirror that maximizes the small space. There is also a couch, which would be convenient if you were waiting for your table to be ready. Behind the foyer is the dining room, which is actually quite small and filled with velvet banquette seating and leather chairs, adding to the intimate experience. The space is dark and intimate – perfect for a romantic evening.  

Appetizers

The service was extremely prompt. (I do not think my water glass was ever close to being empty!) I began dinner with one of their signature cocktails, the Bella Punch. Made with vodka, cocchi rosa, St. Germain, and lemon, our server described this drink as having an almost bubble gum sort of flavor – in a good way! The meal began with complimentary bread accompanied by olive oil with balsamic vinegar, pickled veggies, and soppressata. The bread had the perfect balance of crust and soft interior. The pickled veggies and soppressata elevated this beyond your typical bread and olive oil. 

Complimentary Bread

Mains

We ordered two pastas – the Spicy Vodka Rigatoni and the Black Truffle Bucatini. The spicy vodka rigatoni came highly recommended from Yelp, and we were not led astray. The pasta was al dente and flavorful without being especially spicy. Also, the portion size was generous. However, while I really enjoyed this dish, I have to admit I prefer this rigatoni dish from Alla Vita, an Italian restaurant in the West Loop. The black truffle bucatini was good yet not exceptional. The truffle certainly came through, but the texture was rather oily. Though I enjoyed both pastas, they were definitely not the best pastas I have had in Chicago.

Spicy Vodka Rigatoni

Desserts

For dessert, we tried both the Pavlova and the Toasted Almond Cookie Gelato. Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert that originated in New Zealand or Australia. It was visually stunning, and the combination of ice cream, meringue, and strawberries made for a very sweet dessert. The pavlova was enjoyable, but the toasted almond cookie gelato is a dessert I am still thinking about! The towering swirl of gelato was covered in sea salt and almond cookie crumbles and served with two almond cookies on the side. The generous amount of sea salt balanced the sweetness of the rich gelato perfectly, making it a tasty and unique dessert. If you are going to Ciccio Mio, you have to finish your meal with one of their gelatos!

Pavlova

Overall, the food may not have been the peak of Italian cuisine (with the exception of that gelato!), but it was enjoyable. Not to mention, the incredible ambiance makes Ciccio Mio worth the visit. If you want to get dinner at Ciccio Mio, reservations fill up quickly, so plan ahead!