Ranking Chicago Vodka Pastas

Sofia Losure

Vodka pasta, formally known as Penne alla vodka, is smooth, delicious, and adored by many. My roommates and I, as enthusiastic fans of the dish, have spent the past few months trying vodka pastas from different restaurants across Chicago. Vodka pasta can be considered a sort of “cheat code” to eating at higher-end restaurants. It is delicious, filling, and usually one of the cheapest items on the menu. Below is a ranking of the vodka pastas served in 5 Chicago restaurants: Adalina, Formento’s, Ciccio Mio, Trivoli Tavern, and Quartino.

1. Adalina ($28)

If you’re looking for a unique vodka pasta, the Spicy Vodka Rigatoni at Adalina is the one for you. The dish incorporates stracciatella cheese, pepperoncino fresco, and gochujang—an exhilarating combination of flavors. The handmade rigatoni is cooked to a perfect al dente, making each bite a combination of bouncy chewiness from the pasta and smooth richness from the sauce. As a lover of spice, gochujang, and vodka pasta, I would rank Adalina’s vodka pasta as the best in Chicago.

2. Formento’s ($24)

Formento’s vodka pasta is the first I tried in Chicago, and as it started my obsession with the dish, it holds a special place on this list and in my heart. For $24, the “Paccheri” dish features large, handmade noodles, coated in vodka sauce, pecorino, and parsley bread crumbs. Paccheri is both the name of this dish and the type of noodle used in it, which I believe is the highlight of the meal. These in-house noodles are divine, as they are cooked perfectly al dente and taste incredibly smooth. If you’re looking for a restaurant with available reservations, excellent service, and a reliable pasta dish, Formento’s is the place for you.

3. Ciccio Mio ($25.99)

At Ciccio Mio, beyond an intimate, dimly-lit Italian dining experience, you can enjoy a truly classic vodka pasta. Spicy vodka sauce, parmesan, and basil are the key ingredients in its Rigatoni Vodka, and they blend together to create a velvety, subtly sweet sauce. Each bite is accompanied with a small kick, but the “spicy” aspect of this dish is mild. You can’t go wrong with Ciccio Mio’s beautifully curated dining space and delicious pasta. If you’re interested in dessert, the daily sorbet (which was raspberry on the day we visited) is definitely worth the extra $9.

Ciccio Mio’s vodka pasta - photo credits to my roommate Mia Mahon!

4. Trivoli Tavern ($24.99)

Trivoli Tavern and Ciccio Mio are part of the same restaurant group, Hogsalt, so it is without surprise that the vodka pastas at both restaurants are quite similar. Trivoli’s Vodka Rigatoni features vodka sauce, rigatoni, and basil, and is a classically delicious dish. I have ranked Trivoli below Ciccio Mio because I preferred the overall dining experience at Ciccio Mio, but the pastas themselves are almost indistinguishable.

5. Quartino ($15.75)

Quartino’s offers a good, but not great, Penne Alla Vodka. Its key flavors are vodka, tomatoes, garlic, red chilies, fresh basil, and cream. The pasta is imported, meaning that this dish lacks the wow factor of fresh, hand-made noodles. The flavor of the sauce is nice, but it lacks the velvety smooth texture that an impeccable sauce requires. If you are looking for a high-end, life-changing vodka pasta experience, you might want to make a reservation at one of the restaurants ranked higher on this list. However, if you are taking a large group out to eat and want to make sure no one leaves hungry, Quartino’s is a solid choice, as its service is fast and portions are large.

Quartino’s vodka pasta - photo credits to my roommate Mia Mahon!

Vodka pasta is delicious. If you’re interested in going on a flavor-filled adventure, I recommend Adalina’s. If you’re looking for noodles delivered straight from the divine, I recommend Formento’s. If you’re looking for a classically delicious dish and aesthetic dining experience, I recommend Ciccio Mio and Trivoli Tavern. Across the board, however, I recommend ordering vodka pasta if available, as it is generally a reliable choice that is very hard to go wrong with.