Ресторан · Chicago · ⭐ 9.5/10 · 16121 reviews · $$ · updated: 2026-06-30 19:39:22
Address: 626 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
Quartino: The Salumeria That Took Over River North
Walk in and look up: whole prosciutti and house-cured salumi hang over the marble counter like a Milanese deli transplanted to Chicago. Quartino has been the city’s benchmark for Italian small plates since 2005 — everything cured, stretched, rolled and cut in-house, then sent out in portions built for a table that shares.
The Concept
Quartino is the Italian project of Gibsons Restaurant Group, opened in December 2005 with executive chef and co-founder John Coletta — a son of Italian immigrants and author of a cookbook on true Italian pasta. His menu tours the regions: Neapolitan pizza from a stone hearth oven, hand-cut pasta from a dedicated pasta kitchen, Acquerello risotto. The Italian government has honored the restaurant with its Ospitalità Italiana award for keeping tradition honest.
What to Order
Build the first round from the salumeria, then add the house-made goat’s milk ricotta with oregano and Sicilian olive oil on grilled Pugliese bread, and pancetta-wrapped dates stuffed with gorgonzola dolce and honey. From the pasta kitchen: ravioli with braised pork, speck and fava beans, or gnocchi with green beans and arugula pesto. The beef short ribs with salsa verde are the sleeper hit. Finish with zeppole and a pour of house-made limoncello.
The Space
Two lively floors of pressed-tin ceilings, white subway tile, vintage mirrors and reclaimed wood — the fixtures were salvaged and refurbished, which is why the room feels decades older than it is. It is loud, warm and unapologetically festive; sidewalk tables appear in the warm months.
Who It’s For
Groups who order for the middle of the table, wine-first diners, and night owls — this is one of downtown’s rare full kitchens running past midnight.
Good to Know
How late is it open? Until well past midnight every night of the week — a rarity for River North dining.
How does the wine work? By the quartino (quarter liter), mezzo, litro or bottle, drawn from small family-owned Italian estates.
Do I need a reservation? Recommended for prime evening hours, though the two floors absorb walk-ins better than most neighbors.
Gluten-free options? Yes — a dedicated gluten-free menu covers pasta and more.
Is there outdoor seating? Seasonal sidewalk seating in warm weather, first come first served.
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 11:30–00:30 |
| Tuesday | 11:30–00:30 |
| Wednesday | 11:30–00:30 |
| Thursday | 11:30–00:30 |
| Friday | 11:30–00:30 |
| Saturday | 11:00–00:30 |
| Sunday | 11:00–00:30 |
Photos
Show 2 more photos
Visitor reviews
Reviews last updated: 2026-06-30 19:39:22
Data is refreshed monthly. Sources: chicago-trend.com and editorial picks based on reviews.
Many places were fully booked for Valentine's Day, but Quartino's had plenty of open seats, and it was definitely a worthwhile experience.
The pizza was wonderful, soft and tasty. The prices of all the dishes were reaso…
A wonderful high-end Italian spot that really stands out, especially for its focus on small portions, which makes it easy to try a variety of dishes. Everything is made with high-quality ingredients, and you can really t…
This place is huge and loud. It's like a classic red-sauce Italian restaurant and has amazing offerings. It runs incredibly efficiently and clearly has wonderful processes for takeout and dine-in. We never felt forgotten…
Quartino Ristorante was a nice place with a cosy atmosphere. You can tell the food is fresh and well cooked. The chicken parmigiana was tasty, but it doesn't come with pasta, and the portion seemed a little small for the…
Everything was very tasty, but the service was just useless.