Best Cozy Restaurants in Belmont Central / Cragin

Great experience. Great food. Great server. Good music. Only down side was that they ran out of meatballs and tiramisu. The ribs were amazing. Chopped salad was delicious. I even loved the salami and pickled eggplant they bring to the table. We will be back!

We dined at Il Carciofo for first time 2 nights ago. We were five people, celebrating a couple birthdays. Overall, it was excellent. For antipasti, we had the artichoke, lamb ribs and calamari. All were excellent. Lamb ribs were a little fatty for my taste, but lamb is fattier, and everyone else at the table loved them. Terrific flavor with the glaze, so tender. Artichoke was also a fave. Next we had the mortadella pizza (really more like a panini) - so, so good - one of the best things we had. For pasta we had the rigatoni carbonara, rich and delicious, the oxtail tagliatelle, my personal fave, and the mezza rigatoni alla amatriciana, spicy and very good. For the forgo, we had the halibut with clams and mussels - was good, but not special, and a tad overcooked. We also had the veal saltimbocca, which was very good and enjoyed. We had the potatoes and fungji e formaggi as contort (sides). Potatoes were great; the funghi were special, really loved them. Finally for dessert we ordered pistachio gelato - did not enjoy; it was not creamy, a bit more grainy (coursely grpund pistachio?). They also brought us the Zeppole di san Giuseppe for the birthday dessert, and it was delicious. Our server was really great, attentive but not overbearing. She explained all the dishes and did a nice job on a very busy Friday. The restaurant is lively and kind of loud, but not so much that you can’t hear others at your table. Wine list is good, some nice, creative cocktails. Overall, a great experience that I highly recommend, and I congratulate Joe Flamm and his team on another great restaurant.

Love Boka for a few reasons Food: the best duck in the city and no matter how often we get the duck it feels new and different. Excellent starters and small plates Wine and liquor: a great wine list that has some seriously great finds served with care and a great cocktail list to start or finish your night. Service: consistency is key, we enjoy coming back because there are so many familiar faces which really helps put you at ease with your dinner. The meal is timely and well attended. With a great support staff making sure no need is missed. I don't recall how many times we've been over the years but it always feels special and fresh and fun.

I was so happy we were able to get in last minute. We looked at reservations for tonight around 11 am, the only thing available was 9:15. Maybe 45 minutes later a 6:45 pops up and we were able to snag it. We had the short rib humus, whipped feta, hamachi, pork belly, steak & frites, fried halloumi and two kabobs. Perfect for all 4 of us hungry eaters. 100% will be back- if you can get in I highly recommend trying anything and everything on the menu. Service was impeccable. Food was courses perfectly and everything came out hot right out of the oven. If you have been to Bavel in LA you will love this “sister” in Chicago

every time we eat at girl and the goat, i fall in love all over again. the food is creative and always delicious. the ambiance feels so cozy and casual, intimate, and like a warm hug. i love that i celebrated my 40th birthday here at the king’s table and then, 10 years later visited for my 50th birthday and tho we sat at a different table, had a repeat visit from the same server - GARY!!! definitely try the steak in citrus dressing, the pork belly in crabmeat sauce, and always the pig face. always always the pig face. and the crumpets in the pate order. my GOSH so good