Merlo On Maple

Chicago, United States

3.6

Open now

28 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 312-335-8200
Website:
merlochicago.com
Address:
16 W Maple St, Chicago, IL, 60610
b/t Dearborn St & State St
Near North Side
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
630 ftClark & Maple NB
680 ftClark & Maple SB
810 ftClark & Elm
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Delivery
No
Take-out
No
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Dinner
Parking
Valet, Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Dressy
Ambience
Romantic
Noise Level
Quiet
Alcohol
Full Bar
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
No
Dogs Allowed
No
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
Yes
Bike Parking
No

Today

Today 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Open now
Local time (Chicago) 18:08 Thursday, 5 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Wednesday 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Thursday 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Friday 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Sunday 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Description

Specialties

Merlo features authentic Bolognese Italian and serves the freshest ingredients possible, many imported directly from Italy. Executive Chef, Luisa Silvia Marani, takes great pride in her handmade pastas, homemade sauces and her ability to acquire the freshest truffles available anywhere. Each course is made to order and requires accurate preparation time. Merlo is a slow-​dining establishment; so come for romance, or for an important business dinner. Merlo will accommodate private dining with prix-​fixe menus for any special occasion. Italy is known for more than just the cuisine, which is why Merlo also offers the finest Italian wines to compliment the food. Along with regular wine selections, a Reserve List is available for those wine enthusiasts with a taste for something special. Along with the cuisine, comes the heart and soul of generations before this chef and her husband, Proprietor, Giampaolo Sassi. Bön Appetito!

History

Established in 2004.

Merlo on Maple is an Italian family owned and operated business established 10 years ago. Silvia, our executive chef, is applying the «Slow Food» concept, combining traditional, authentic recipes from Bologna, Italy, with the best local and imported ingredients to prepare classic dishes. Giampaolo selects the best wines from Italy to complement the cuisine and enhance your dining experience.

Meet the Business Owner

Giampaolo Sassi S.

Business Owner

Giampaolo Sassi and his wife, Chef Silvia, came to Chicago and the restaurant business later in life. They might tell you they’re making up for lost time.

Giampaolo visited his son, Marcello, in Chicago. The trip was meant to be a brief repose before getting back to work, but he came away struck by the lack of classic Bolognese cuisine in the city.

And so, Merlo on Maple was born. «It was a great opportunity for Silvia to show her passion for Bolognese culinary traditions,» he says. The restored townhome at 16 W Maple is the perfect spot for each of them. Silvia was born to cook, and Giampaolo is a gifted storyteller and businessman. Their dedication and passion for serving delicious, authentic Italian grows every day.

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28 reviews of Merlo On Maple

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Miami, FL
Off the beaten path… loved the «brownstone» feel & the specials were delicious! Would go back!
Place rating: 5
Shawnee, KS
The food was wonderful! Each course was delicious and beautifully presented. The service was friendly and attentive. We will definitely return!!!
Place rating: 5
Park Ridge, IL
Service, ambiance, food, and wine are all top notch. An authentic experience! The owner still watches over the guests. A special place!
Place rating: 5
Clearwater, FL
My absolute favorite restaurant in Chicago. I’ve been there four times over the years and it never disappoints. Fave items are tuna carpaccio and the taglioline with the veal ragout. I love to eat at the bar where Sam makes me feel like a VIP. This is a locals spot… you won’t be disappointed in the food and service and I’m confident of you check it out it will become your favorite place as well.
Place rating: 5
Roselle, IL
I love this place, it’s a bit expensive but absolutely worth it! The foot is quality and the service is exceptional. The restaurant also has a quiet and romantic setting perfect for dates or special occasions. Will definitely be coming back
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Charming restaurant with a super location in the Gold Coast. Located in what was once a townhome, it has several floors and we were treated to a lovely little room with just a couple of tables over looking the street… very romantic! We ordered the burrata cheese appetizer which was very good and a large portion. Next up was the special pasta… homemade thin pasta with pork sausage, truffles and other mushrooms in an olive oil type sauce and it was amazing. For an entrée we split the dover sole which was delicious. A surprise dessert came since it was my birthday… beautifully displayed panna cotta. Wonderful evening and meal.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
My wife and I dined at Merlo this evening. The food was wonderful and the service equally excellent. But this was the second time we had the misfortune of being seated on what is evidently known as the «middle floor.» This floor consists of a few booths and tables with a distinctly different ambience than either the lower or upper floors. It is off the bar and the kitchen where one is «treated» to: 1) the pub-​like and fairly loud (for an otherwise elegant dining establishment) pop musical fare emanating from what was on this occasion an empty bar; and 2) the swinging kitchen door and occasional sounds of clanging pots and pans. When we were seated, we asked about the other floors and were told that the top floor was closed and that the lower level (with a significantly more refined atmosphere, complete with lower lighting and light classical music in the background) was hosting a «private party.» As it turned out, the alcove off the lower floor had a party of eight and there was another apparently unrelated party of four at one of the many other tables available in this strikingly more elegant ambience. When we inquired as to why we weren’t given the opportunity to be seated on the lower level (especially when we requested a «quiet» table in our reservation through Open Table), we were told that next time we should «call» and ask not to be seated on the middle floor. Sadly, there will be no «next time» for an establishment that plays these kinds of coarse stratification games on a Tuesday evening with an abundance of openings. Any restaurant that is so self-​absorbed that it fails to offer its best, when available – even to apparently unworthy low-​brow «walk-​ins» like me willing to drop $ 350 for a nice meal out – obviously doesn’t want or need my business.
Place rating: 1
Chicago, IL
Toooo pricey for the low quality Italian food!- undercooked Osso buco & over parmesaned, salty pasta dish!-yuck! NOT too mention COLD espresso afterwards!
Interesting old home turned into a restaurant so it is a shame to experience such poor quality food, smallish portions, and mediocre service.
The staff in the kitchen kept coming out to see if there are customers in the dining area (we were seated in the base level) in uniforms.
Will not be going back!
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
Our go to place. Fantastic everything. The best food in the city. The best service in the city. The ingredients are spot on and their preparation brings out the best. The artichoke salad, tuna carpaccio, and ravioli are incredible. Not to be missed.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
I came here for restaurant week and got a really good deal for the price. I think I would give a 3.5, if i could. The service was great.
Appetizers :
Tarta di carciofi — Best of the 3
Insalata croccante di mele verdi, noci e gorgonzola — salad as described, nothing super special
Involtini di melanzane al pomodoro e basilico — good
Main :
I cannot recall what my friend had. I was a pasta with a light cream, oil or yellow sauce. I tasted it and thought it was ok.
I had the lamb shank. I was really happy with my choice. The lamb was flavorful and very tender.
Dessert :
Budino di amaretti — Very good
light chocolate cake — good
The food was good but not so good that I’d make a trip back.
Place rating: 1
Chicago, IL
I had made a reservation for Valentine’s Day over a month prior. I had read great reviews and was thrilled to have dinner here with my loved one.
When we arrived, they placed us at a table that was not romantic at all. It was quiet and uncomfortable. I asked for a table in the front room where you have a view of outside and they said everyone had assigned seating and they are fully booked. I found this interesting considering I booked over a month out and probably way earlier than half of the people dining there.
We ordered appetizers, a salad, and main dishes. The proportions were extremely small and for a beautiful little Italian restaurant — I had very high expectations for the food. Nothing was really the right temperature or tasted good — if we had to compare the food to something we decided banquet hall food — which is never a great experience.
My boyfriend also ordered a old fashion drink because he loves whiskey. They mentioned they have a full bar and make great drinks — he said it was probably the worst drink he ever had which is not good considering how many of these he has had in his lifetime.
Lastly, when we were walking out and leaving after skipping dessert and just wanted to leave — we figured at least one of the hostess’ would say thank you for coming in. She chased us out the front door not to say thank you — but for some reason ask what our name was under our reservation in open table to she could record it.
Overall, it was an extremely disappointing experience that I had scheduled for over a month in advance. Sadly, I would not recommend or return to this restaurant.
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
Went to Merlo on Maple this past weekend for Restaurant Week as it made Phil Vettel’s list of restaurants to try for RW 2016. The service was good, though our server made a few awkward comments such as, «The owners would not be happy if you ordered that dish,» and «I wish I could fire the entire kitchen staff tonight.» The restaurant has an adorable ambiance as you’re dining in an antique three flat. The food was good. We tried a salad, artichoke tart, four different pastas, the panna cotta, and a pudding dessert. The reason I give 2 stars is the portion sizes are the smallest I’ve ever seen (6 noodles for $ 22? the cheapest glass of wine for $ 14 – 16? four sprigs of lettuce for $ 17?) and the experience is just not worth it. Our eyes popped out when the bill came as we were still hungry. You can go to Rose Angelis in Lincoln Park, which offers the same ambiance with decent service but fantastic home cooked Italian food with portions so large they last for days, all for less than half the cost of Merlo. Also, we were a party of 4 and felt like we could not talk to each other because the place was so oddly dark and quiet. Sadly, we will not be going back.
Place rating: 4
Houston, TX
Was a very traditional bolognese restaurant. Great intimate atmosphere, knowledgable staff, clean restrooms, and an extensive wine list. A bit on the pricy side. Small portions and 8-​course option available. Was glad I tried it, but wouldn’t necessarily by the first place I recccomend for Italian.
Place rating: 2
Wheaton, IL
Once a gold coast gem, the building, food, and service all seem worn out. We had 7:30 reservations on a Friday night two weeks before Christmas and only four tables were occupied on our floor. Our server was a bit short tempered and actually scolded my husband for ordering his steak «medium-​well». The artichoke tart was excellent but tiny for the price. My pasta was sticky and a had cooled a bit. With so many truly outstanding restaurants in Chicago, it’s annoying to drive an hour from the suburbs and pay top prices for a less than average experience.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. Nothing compares to the authentic, homemade food. Chef Silvia puts love into her cooking, and it shows. Everything I’ve ever had there was delicious. It’s hard for me to choose one dish because I want to order everything! Go to Merlo if you’re looking for a great meal and a cozy atmosphere, you won’t be disappointed.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Absolutely wonderful! My husband and I meet with our dearest friends to discuss our new business ventures. Upon entering Merlo on Maple the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Our reservation was for 7pm and our table was ready in a timely manner. I order the Insalata Croccante and the Pesce del Giorno which was one of the specials for the day. It was paired with a Sancerre Patient Cottat recommended by our server. My husband enjoyed the Tagliatelle al Ragu and Risottodello Chef Risotto 38. We enjoyed ourselves and all our servers recommendations to the fullest. Pricey but worth the experience. Will dine again… soon!
Place rating: 5
Lombard, IL
Loved this restaurant! We ate in a private area that used to be the parlor/​bay window of the brownstone, with great people watching outside. The Italian dishes were wonderful, and rivaled anything we had in 2 trips to Italy. We can’t wait to go back to this little gem!
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
My family met my boyfriends family for the first time at this restaurant. A minor celebration was greeted with fresh flowers on their garden table and an amazing server.
Like in most authentic Italian restaurants we went with the servers choice for everything. He created a tasting menu for us and was even able to accommodate my mothers allergies.
The wine our server paired throughout was unmatched. With both of families being very well traveled I was nervous when picking the right restaurant. Merlo went above and beyond to offer authentic Italian food that all of us could enjoy.
Place rating: 5
Schaumburg, IL
Im a Chicagoan, since birth. Best Italian restaurant in Chicago. Service is outstanding without being overbearing. The wood is original. The food and drink is fresh and beyond satisfying. Cozy and quaint. There is no doubt the prices are worth the meal.
Place rating: 1
Centro Storico, Rome, Italy
Stuck in 1988. Expensive, in the sense that you don’t get what you pay for. Food is fine (nothing was bad, except the raw artichoke salad, nothing was great). Not original food. Not worth it. Service was good.
You could do a lot better in Chicago.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
The food was really fantastic. Quaint and romantic atmosphere that is harder to find as corporate Italian restaurants have started taking over. Everything we ordered for appetizers and main courses was outstanding. There are some comments about the prices being high and the portions being low. The portions are small but the entrees were very different from what you get in most Italian places these days, so I didn’t mind smaller portions. The food is clearly prepared with love, and I was ok with the prices. The staff was friendly, but maybe lurked a little too much. The dessert wasn’t as good as the rest of the menu. Wine list was actually really good and a good bottle is surprisingly reasonable.
I would go back.
Place rating: 1
Chicago, IL
I would never recommend this place to anyone. It is overpriced for mediocre, at best food. At first we ordered a couple of appetizers to share. The portions were so small they made Quartino’s tapas plates look like a hearty meal and at twice the price!
My friend and I ordered a pasta dish that was a little too «al dente» but to make matters worse, it was starchy. I ordered a veal chop that came out just barely warm enough to not send it back. The atmosphere was nice but not enough to go back or recommend to anyone.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I found this restaurant by looking up Italian places. This place is right in the heart of Gold Coast. I pass by here so many times and never pay attention to this street. The food is great and very delicious. The waiter is funny and attentive to anybody he serves. The restaurant is nice and very cosy for any occasion to come here to. The crowd that night was all old, young and middle age people. I would definitely come back here with friends and family. It’s nice to know that when you go to a restaurant the people who work there is trying to make sure you have a great time eating there and wants you to come back.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I went to Merlo on Maple with two of my close friends and were floored by our amazing experience. I studied abroad in Italy traveling through much of the northern region and was very impressed with how authentic our meal was. The atmosphere was also incredibly quaint and charming. Giam Paolo, the owner, was very kind.
For appetizers we ordered the Involtini and the Tarta di carciofi, which were absolutely fantastic! Our server seemed very knowledgeable about the wine selections and recommended a bottle that we all ended up loving. I ordered the Tagliatelle di faro pasta and the black truffles in the dish were to die for. One of my friends ordered the Ossobuco and the other ordered the Lasagna. They were all incredible!
Both the food and the service were top notch. Our server had great recommendations and all the courses were timed perfectly. I will definitely be going back. Merlo on Maple is truly a hidden gem and a must try!
Place rating: 3
Westlake, OH
I ordered the highly touted bolgnese pasta. The pasta must have been pre cooked in the morning since they walked the plate out in like 3 or 4 minutes. It was actually pretty good, however the portion size is way too small for $ 20. Pasta is cheap, no need to be skimpy on the noodles… Just sayin!
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
I LOVE Merlo on Maple. It is great for a foodie and romantic. That said, This last experience gave me sticker shock as it was WAY more expensive than I remembered. The food was good but the portions were really small and left me wanting more and wondering what cost so much. I mean, look, I’m not a cheapskate, but the cheapest glass of wine is $ 14 (they had one for $ 9 but it was SO sweet– and their wine by the glass is really a limited selection)… I don’t know about Merlo anymore. I’m not sure it’s worth it unless you are looking to drop a good amount of coin and that doesn’t bother you. The food is good but… I’m not sure if it’s worth it.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
I’m a bit conflicted in this review, as we experienced less than ideal service and execution, while enjoying some incredible homemade pasta.
There were 8 of us for dinner last night in celebration of a special birthday. Merlo was wonderful in having a special gelato with a candle brought out for the birthday boy, but throughout the evening the service was spotty and a bit aggressive.
Our server was gregarious and personable, but kept trying to sell an 8-​pasta tasting course, where unfortunately there were quite a few allergies at the table so we weren’t interested. They still persisted until I blatantly said «I think we may consider just the entrees».
As for the food, the lamb shank was so-​so, but lacked the in depth flavor I was expecting — I would stick with the veal shank (osso bucco) instead. The bolognese had the same issue — the pasta was absolutely spot-​on but the meat sauce was dry and lacked rich and robust flavor.
I mentioned the gelato above, which was great they were able to accommodate, but instead of asking if anyone would like coffee, dessert, or an after dinner drink, they brought it out immediately after dinner, causing an awkward length of time before returning to take everyone else’s order.
All in all, I’d go back if it were just 2 of us and for some of the food items. Unfortunately the less than stellar service and execution outweighs this, so we’ll see.
Place rating: 5
Huntington Beach, CA
This a really fine place. If I was not so lazy, I’d look through some of the reviews to research what kind of house this was or who owned it. It’s a quaint old home converted into a very classy three story restaurant. The service, décor, ambiance and food were all excellent. A very quiet place to dine since the individual rooms are sampler than a traditional dining hall. The waiter Maeda special appetizer mixed plate for each of us. It was phenomenal. Beef carpaccio, eggplant, sliced salami were all awesome. The osso buco was outstanding as was the risotto. My dining mates greatly enjoyed the special beef roll.
The place is not cheap but well worth a try.