Ресторан · Chicago · ⭐ 9.7/10 · 5186 reviews · $$ · updated: 2026-06-30 19:39:24
Address: 564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
Alla Vita: Boka’s Pasta Powerhouse on Randolph Row
When the team behind Girl & the Goat and Momotaro turned its attention to Italian food, the result was never going to be timid. Alla Vita is chef Lee Wolen’s high-volume love letter to handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza and sauces built the slow way — a West Loop dining room that runs at full roar from the first basket of bread to the last spoon of tiramisu.
The Chef Behind It
Wolen earned his reputation at Boka, where he was named Chef of the Year by the Chicago Tribune and Eater Chicago and spent five straight years as a James Beard finalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes. In September 2021 he took over the former Bellemore space and reopened it as Alla Vita — proof that a chef with fine-dining chops can cook red sauce without irony.
What to Order
Start with the wood-fired bread with taleggio, orange-blossom honey and black pepper, then the fritto misto — shrimp and calamari with a lemon–Calabrian chili aioli. The ricotta dumplings in cacio e pepe sauce are the signature: pillowy outside, molten cheese in the middle. The vodka rigatoni arrives creamy and properly spicy, the mafaldine tangles prawns and calamari with Calabrian chili, and the margherita pizza comes chewy with a nicely charred bottom.
The Space
The dining room is enormous — hanging plants everywhere, string lights, flowing curtains suspended from the ceiling and a wavy overhead installation that seems to ripple as the room fills up. A long bar anchors one side, and a greenery-draped pergola gives part of the floor the feel of eating in a garden after dark. Expect a serious buzz on weekends.
Who It’s For
Big tables of friends splitting half the pasta list, birthday crews, corporate dinners and anyone who judges an Italian kitchen by its dumplings rather than its novelty.
Good to Know
How hard is it to get a table? Reservations open sixty days ahead on OpenTable, and prime evening slots vanish fast — book the moment your date unlocks.
Can I walk in? Yes — the bar and the patio seat walk-ins first come, first served; arriving right at opening is your best bet.
Is lunch served? Yes, with a lighter midday lineup of sandwiches, salads and spuntini alongside the pastas.
Anything for vegetarians? Plenty: the ricotta dumplings, the mushroom lasagna and several pizzas keep meat-free guests happy.
What’s the dress code? Smart casual — West Loop polish, no jackets required.
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 11:00–14:00, 16:30–22:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:00–14:00, 16:30–22:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:00–14:00, 16:30–22:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00–14:00, 16:30–22:00 |
| Friday | 11:00–14:00, 16:30–22:00 |
| Saturday | 16:30–22:00 |
| Sunday | 16:30–22:00 |
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Visitor reviews
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Alla Vita was wonderful for the food. The wood-fired bread is something you order 'for the table' and then guard like a dragon. The mortadella toast is so flaky and flavourful that one portion feels like a personal failu…
****update: alla vita reached out to me after an OpenTable review and made things right by offering a gift card I can use on my next visit. I genuinely appreciate this kind of customer service and will be back next time…
Reviews last updated: 2026-06-30 19:39:24
Data is refreshed monthly. Sources: chicago-trend.com and editorial picks based on reviews.
I took my best friend Scarlett here for her 18th birthday, and it was just fantastic! The restaurant itself would get 5 stars from me with its hanging vines, romantic arches, really cool light fixtures and beautiful wood…
Alla Vita was the first restaurant we visited after arriving home from Rome last spring… and somehow the experience didn't end at the airport. The flavours, the music and the warm atmosphere were as if Italy had followed…
My dinner tonight at Alla Vita was wonderful! I went during Restaurant Week and chose from the regular menu. I expected smaller portions but left completely satisfied. The main pasta dish was a good size. For a first cou…
Alla Vita is a wonderful place in the West Loop. The atmosphere alone makes it worth a visit. The space looks cosy and thoughtfully designed, with warm Edison-bulb lighting, greenery and beautiful ceiling details that gi…
We came on a Monday and booked ahead to sit outside. In the warm season they have a cute patio. When that patio is closed, you can still enjoy the beautifully designed and chic interior. We were seated quickly and starte…