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Merlo Maple St
Merlo Maple St
(312) 335-8200
16 W Maple St
Chicago IL 60610
Chicago IL 60610
44% mojo
based on 12 reviews
Summary
Overall
Value
Service
Quality
Distribution
5
(4)
4
(0)
3
(0)
2
(3)
1
(5)
Monthly Average
No Data Available
12 Reviews
Featured Positive Review
Featured Negative Review
vittoriop
vittoriop
10/19/07
Best Italian Restaurant in Chicago period.
I'm Italian, I lived 33 years in Italy. This is (at last!) an authentic Italian restaurant.
Food is excellent. They also import fresh things from Italy.
I've ever had good service, the guys complaining were probably unlucky.
The owners are really passionate Italians, she is the cook. Talk with the owner, ask him how come many of the VIPs that go there are not exposed in pictures like in other restaurant. A classy place.
I've even been there for Valentine, the 80$ dinner was excellent.
It is not cheap (nor too expensive) but it worths every cent.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
harveydundas
harveydundas
12/28/04
Harvey Peyton
This place is located in a three story mansion but if all the hot air and pretention were drained out you would be eating in a basement; undoubtedly the most over-hyped and under delivered dining experience we have had in Chicago; rude and inattentive wait staff, cold food and poorly prepared and presented entrees; just an overblown "yuk" that should not be inflicted on any unsuspecting couple; stay away at all costs; if you blunder in by mistake--run like Hell for the door!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Reviews
harveydundas
harveydundas
First To Review
MFoley
MFoley
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thieves, Thieves, Tramps and Thieves
How do you say "shakedown artists" in Italiano? I booked a private party for a group of VIPs for my firm at Merlo on Maple. Having spoken to the catering manager of the restaurant more than ten times over a period of two months and exchanged confirming emails, when the guests arrived on the evening of the dinner, they were greeted with an extortion attempt. The host at the door stated, "we will have to charge you a $500 room rental unless you change your wine selection to meet your guarantee." If you were a meeting planner who made every effort to ensure a top level dining experience, how would you like your guests to be greeted in such a manner? If meeting the guarantee was a legitimate concern, why didn't the catering manager discuss this matter with me before the event. It's completely unprofessional to conduct business in this manner. Two words: Never again!!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
How do you say "shakedown artists" in Italiano? I booked a private party for a group of VIPs for my firm at Merlo on Maple. Having spoken to the catering manager of the restaurant more than ten times over a period of two months and exchanged confirming emails, when the guests arrived on the evening of the dinner, they were greeted with an extortion attempt. The host at the door stated, "we will have to charge you a $500 room rental unless you change your wine selection to meet your guarantee." If you were a meeting planner who made every effort to ensure a top level dining experience, how would you like your guests to be greeted in such a manner? If meeting the guarantee was a legitimate concern, why didn't the catering manager discuss this matter with me before the event. It's completely unprofessional to conduct business in this manner. Two words: Never again!!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: Best Shakedown Artists in Town
Cons: No Apologies for Unprofessional Behavior
Recommended: Yes
dkcford
dkcford
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Embarrassing
Took 3 out of town guest here on Friday night and I was embarrassed. This night was a disaster mostly due to a very bad waiter, who did not listen, ignored us, continued to push food that we did not want. We waited sipping water for 45 minutes and finally had to ask again for the bottle of wine that we ordered and if we could have bread while we waited to order. The fish special tasted very fishy (not fresh) and when I told the waiter he argued instead of listening. I could go on and on. Just do not go to Merlot. The attitude and food quality is bad. This is a tragedy for such a lovely building and dining space. Interior beauty cannot not make up for bad service and food.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Took 3 out of town guest here on Friday night and I was embarrassed. This night was a disaster mostly due to a very bad waiter, who did not listen, ignored us, continued to push food that we did not want. We waited sipping water for 45 minutes and finally had to ask again for the bottle of wine that we ordered and if we could have bread while we waited to order. The fish special tasted very fishy (not fresh) and when I told the waiter he argued instead of listening. I could go on and on. Just do not go to Merlot. The attitude and food quality is bad. This is a tragedy for such a lovely building and dining space. Interior beauty cannot not make up for bad service and food.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: Beautiful building
Cons: Bad service and food
Recommended: Yes
vittoriop
vittoriop
Friday, October 19, 2007
Best Italian Restaurant in Chicago period.
I'm Italian, I lived 33 years in Italy. This is (at last!) an authentic Italian restaurant. Food is excellent. They also import fresh things from Italy. I've ever had good service, the guys complaining were probably unlucky. The owners are really passionate Italians, she is the cook. Talk with the owner, ask him how come many of the VIPs that go there are not exposed in pictures like in other restaurant. A classy place. I've even been there for Valentine, the 80$ dinner was excellent. It is not cheap (nor too expensive) but it worths every cent.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
I'm Italian, I lived 33 years in Italy. This is (at last!) an authentic Italian restaurant. Food is excellent. They also import fresh things from Italy. I've ever had good service, the guys complaining were probably unlucky. The owners are really passionate Italians, she is the cook. Talk with the owner, ask him how come many of the VIPs that go there are not exposed in pictures like in other restaurant. A classy place. I've even been there for Valentine, the 80$ dinner was excellent. It is not cheap (nor too expensive) but it worths every cent.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: Food, ambience, style.
Cons: I couldn't find one.
Recommended: Yes
macjcg
macjcg
Friday, August 24, 2007
Not enough good seating
We did get the window seat we requested as it is the only place to set with any degree of ambiance. From there all down hill. Rissoto expensive and disappointing. I have enjoyed rissoto more at other Italian eateries for half the price and twice the quality. It was sticky and quite tasteless. We asked the waiter to reccomend a wine in keeping with our pasta entrees - also disappointing. Upon leaving we we were given a written narrative on the wine - nice thought however it is not reccomended for pasta - to pricey for a basic Italian eatery in Chicago.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
We did get the window seat we requested as it is the only place to set with any degree of ambiance. From there all down hill. Rissoto expensive and disappointing. I have enjoyed rissoto more at other Italian eateries for half the price and twice the quality. It was sticky and quite tasteless. We asked the waiter to reccomend a wine in keeping with our pasta entrees - also disappointing. Upon leaving we we were given a written narrative on the wine - nice thought however it is not reccomended for pasta - to pricey for a basic Italian eatery in Chicago.
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: Location good
Cons: Interior not
Recommended: Yes
tonyjfly
tonyjfly
Monday, December 11, 2006
Avoid Anytime
We were a party of four that was seated upstairs. The dining room was uncomfortably warm and very far from romantic!. The service was slow, unattentive and unprofessional. Our waiter was very slow to bring our wine selection and then spilled the wine on the menus and the table when pouring it into everyone's glass. He did this each time he poured. The food was very slow being served and when we wanted to order a second bottle of wine I had to get up from the table and look for our server. Mind you we were drinking $100 to $160 per bottle wines. The "homemade" pasta was served in a clump that I could pick up in its entirety with my fork, so it was necessary to cut bite size "pieces" from the clump. Finally the "complimentary" after diner liquor drink was spilled on one our parties sport coat to end our evening. There are many other better Italian resturants in the area that I would pick over this place. Not worth the trouble!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
We were a party of four that was seated upstairs. The dining room was uncomfortably warm and very far from romantic!. The service was slow, unattentive and unprofessional. Our waiter was very slow to bring our wine selection and then spilled the wine on the menus and the table when pouring it into everyone's glass. He did this each time he poured. The food was very slow being served and when we wanted to order a second bottle of wine I had to get up from the table and look for our server. Mind you we were drinking $100 to $160 per bottle wines. The "homemade" pasta was served in a clump that I could pick up in its entirety with my fork, so it was necessary to cut bite size "pieces" from the clump. Finally the "complimentary" after diner liquor drink was spilled on one our parties sport coat to end our evening. There are many other better Italian resturants in the area that I would pick over this place. Not worth the trouble!
Read more at chicago.citysearch.com
Pros: None
Cons: Inattentive staff, Below average food and presentation, uncomfortable dining rooms
Recommended: Yes
Business Details on Merlo Maple St
Phone Numbers:
Primary Phone: (312) 335-8200