Restaurant

La Scarola

Name: La Scarola
Address: 721 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL, 60654, US
Telephone: (312) 243-1740
Price range: moderate

Italian•Chicago•moderate

La Scarola is one of the best italian restaurants in Chicago for date night, especially if you want a strong option in Chicago.

La Scarola operates on a logic that most Chicago Italian rooms have quietly abandoned: the room itself is the destination.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

La Scarola operates on a logic that most Chicago Italian rooms have quietly abandoned: the room itself is the destination. Not the room as backdrop, not the room as a vehicle for a chef's ambitions, but the room as a living, breathing thing — close tables, low ceilings, the kind of noise that reads as company rather than intrusion. This River West red-sauce institution has reportedly never once attempted to be anything else, and the confidence of that refusal is genuinely rare in a city that keeps renovating its traditions into irrelevance. It draws the couple who still believe dinner should feel like an occasion, the group of four who want something serious in the glass and a reason to linger. At price level two, it asks almost nothing of your wallet while reportedly demanding everything of your evening. The wine list is where La Scarola quietly builds its case. The Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Gold is known for the kind of structured, dried-cherry depth that pulls a long table into focus; the Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino is a genuinely serious pour for a room this unpretentious — earthy and tannic, the sort of bottle that slows a dinner down in the best possible way. The Prisoner Red Blend is there for the table that wants richness without ceremony, and diners consistently seem to find it does exactly that. For those wanting to open with something bright, the Lanson Brut Champagne is listed as a natural starting point before committing to a bottle of the Enroute Pinot Noir, which has a reputation as the most graceful wine on the list relative to what it costs. Practical intel: regulars reportedly favor early weeknight arrivals, when the pacing has breathing room and the room hasn't yet hit full pitch. Seating toward the back is said to be where the atmosphere deepens and the lighting earns its keep. Book ahead for weekends. Do not arrive expecting innovation — arrive expecting a room that knows precisely what it is.

Sophie Laurent, Food Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Date Night Group Dinner Italian family dinnerwarmromantic

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Taste ID

Rate this restaurant

Start with one score. Add details or a review when you want to help other diners.

Taste Score 8.4/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

2,145 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.4/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 2,145 reviews

Best for

Date Night and Group Dinner

Price and pace

moderate

Neighborhood

Chicago | 721 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654, USA

Price

moderate

Taste Score

8.4/10

Phone

(312) 243-1740

Inside the restaurant

Photos of La Scarola

1 photo

Watch

La Scarola on video

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Menu and ordering

La Scarola menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. La Scarola is listed in the moderate price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Lanson Brut Champagne

Fruity notes of ripe orchard fruit, tangerine, lemon with compliments of freshly baked pastries delivering a fresh sensation on the palate.

Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Gold

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino

Sweet, dense, juicy nose with slightly spicy notes and creamy finish, dominated by ripe cherries and plums.

Enroute Pinot Noir

On the palate, the fruit is ripe and red raspberries, cherries and plums with spicy accents to give it depth.

Prisoner Red Blend

The Wine features enticing aromas of bing cherry, espresso and roasted fig. Persistent flavors of ripe raspberry, pomegranate and wild berry linger harmoniously for a smooth and luscious finish.

Check the current menu

Why go

What makes La Scarola worth the move

La Scarola looks like a good night-out option in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Lanson Brut Champagne and Prisoner Red Blend also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 2,145 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 2,145 Google reviews

Best for

Date Night and Group Dinner

Style

Italian in Chicago

Spend

moderate

Best for

Date Night Group Dinner Italian family dinner warm romantic

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 2,145 reviews

Price point: moderate

Popular dishes: Lanson Brut Champagne, Prisoner Red Blend, Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Sophie Laurent for La Scarola

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Google snapshot

9.2 from 2,145 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Sophie Laurent

No diner notes for La Scarola yet.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 721 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654, USA
Phone: (312) 243-1740
Price: moderate
TastyPals score: 8.4/10
Google rating: 9.2 (2,145 reviews)
Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Chicago

Read guide

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does La Scarola serve?

La Scarola is a Italian restaurant located in Chicago, Chicago. La Scarola operates on a logic that most Chicago Italian rooms have quietly abandoned: the room itself is the destination.

What is La Scarola best for?

La Scarola is best for date night, group dinner, italian, family dinner, warm, romantic. La Scarola looks like a good night-out option in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Lanson Brut Champagne and Prisoner Red Blend also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 2,145 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at La Scarola?

La Scarola is in the moderate price range (moderate). Google rating: 9.2 from 2,145 reviews

What should I order at La Scarola?

Start with Lanson Brut Champagne, Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Gold, Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino and Enroute Pinot Noir. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is La Scarola worth visiting?

La Scarola holds a 9.2 Google rating from 2,145 reviews. La Scarola looks like a good night-out option in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Lanson Brut Champagne and Prisoner Red Blend also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 2,145 Google reviews.

Where is La Scarola located?

La Scarola is located at 721 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is La Scarola good for a date night?

Yes — La Scarola is tagged for date night dining. La Scarola looks like a good night-out option in Chicago because it reads polished without feeling overly formal. Lanson Brut Champagne and Prisoner Red Blend also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 2,145 Google reviews.