Cavatappi

WHAT THE HELL??? why is this place closed!!!

This restaurant has closed. Tried to go here on Saturday and there is a sign on the door indicating that Cavatappi is closed until further notice.

In an area full of chain restaurants, I was surprised (in a good way) to find Cavatappi. The wine list is extensive and the staff was knowledgeable about everything on the menu. I appreciate the wine pairings they suggested. I’ve had a little bit of everything, but I always go back for the veal ravioli w/​asparagus, sausage, mushrooms and black olives. Other recommendations: Eggplant, arugula, tomato, mozzarella salad w/​balsamic; Cavatappi pasta with red wine infused sausage ragu and the oven roasted salmon.
Great for date nights, but also good for family dinners too. Simple yet elegant décor. This easily has become my favorite place to eat on the Southside. If you haven’t been yet, you’re missing out!
P. S. Free valet!

How to woo your woman.
Step One: Set the mood.
The hubs took me somewhere fancy sounding, Cavatappi. Inside the décor is simple and the atmosphere is nice. There’s an upscale vibe in the sense that staff addressed us in a more formal manner (pulling out my chair when we were seated). Staff wear a traditionally formal black pant and white dress shirt uniform (some with ties). And the menu prices are what you might expect from a higher end restaurant. But in no way is there an enforced dress code, we were in jeans and sweaters.
Step two: Get her drunk.
I drank the lemon drop martini and it was drop yo pants and yo panties good.
Step Three: Speak to her in Italian.
We shared a large Pere e Gorgo Insalate and the Ortolana Pizze. All the menu items are referenced in Italian. Translation, pear and Gorgonzola salad and a pizza. The salad was really good. Because we were sharing they did what all good restaurants do, they split it for us so we wouldn’t be fork fighting to get the best toppings first. The pizza was a thin crust with basil, garlic, mozzarella and veggies. It was good but nothing that knocked my socks off.
Repeat step two if necessary.
FYI, the designated parking lot was on the opposite side of the street or if your feeling fancy and like to pop for VIP valet service pull right up front.

So I didn’t have a signature dish that really represented what they specialize in but it was satisfying. Recommended to me by my most attentive and gracious server were: pan seared chicken that was also baked and seasoned to perfection, seasonal veggies, two glasses of wine and a chocolate molten lava cake a la mode for dessert. It was enjoyable but I’ll be sure to try the pizza (supposedly very good) or a pasta dish next time. Oh, how can I forget to mention the eggplant salad? Molto delizioso ! The prices were reasonable, the staff was pleasant and courteous and there’s plenty of seating.

I’m always excited to try something other than chain restaurants, subs or greasy pizza in the area.
The bread left much to be desired. The pear and gorgonzola salad is pretty good. The pasta was delicious, but we had enough room left for dessert. We had a peach cobbler-​esque dish that was probably the highlight of our experience. The service wasn’t bad. The wine list is impressive. I appreciated the free valet.
I wasn’t blown away by my experience, but I’ll definitely return.

Not your run of the mill pizzaria.
You know how Chicagoans are about pizza: kind of how al Gore is about the Internet. We think we invented it. Or if we didn’t invent it, we perfected it. And there are LOTS of great Chicago pizza parlors.
This is sort of a gourmet pizza restaurant, for when you want something a little extra-​special.
The pizzas are delicious. The crust is perfect, and the toppings are well-​chosen. We have also eaten in and tried their entrees, which also were very good. We are happy with the service, as well.
Can you find good food at lower prices in the neighborhood? Sure.
But this is in its own category, and it is worth checking out.

Excellent food and wine. Wood fired pizza was excellent, we had several entrees-​each one better than the last., tried a few different desserts-​again, rave reviews!
Great service– can’t wait to go back!

Yuck. The staff hover over your table like vultures scoping the desert land for carrion. My fork was removed from the table 3 times, each time I had to ask for another one. The bread basket, which had good intentions, was obviously kept warm in the oven, too long — very stale and almost impossible to break apart. I’ve had better jarred alfredo sauce than this. The vino (we had 2 different ones) was acidic, bland and cheap cheap cheap. I’m not sure why folks flock to it — perhaps they think expensive food means good food? Candles mean romance? Just a strange, expensive and bland experience. I recommend they take a page from Barraco’s down the street. Now THAT’s how you do Italian!

Ordered the fettuccini a lo scoglio or seafood fettuccini. Good, not spectacular but good, partner ordered a sausage pizza. Good too, thin, crispy. Service was very good. Drinks kept coming way before the glasses where empty. Very impressed. I will go back to try other dishes. Could be better but not bad, nice environment by the way

I’m so excited I have this place so close to home! I decided to have my Birthday dinner here this year and am so happy I did.
The service is awesome. They were friendly when I called to make reservations and had no problems at all with us bringing my favorite cupcakes in for the celebration. Our server was sweet (I wish I could remember her name). The busboys were a bit inexperienced but still very good.
We tried a little of everything. We started with arincini (yum), the trio of bruschetta and calamari/​shrimp. Everyone at the table loved the appetizers! For entrees we shared a couple of pizzas, risotto and a few pasta dishes. Everything was perfect and the timing in the kitchen couldn’t have been better. The BF and I already decided this is our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood and can’t wait to become regulars! We didn’t try dessert but did have coffee and I’m not joking when I say it was the BEST coffee!
Wine list is reasonably priced and they have a different martini on special each day. They have a small little bar area if you would like to go that route for some wine and apps.
My family loved it as well and I’m pretty sure they are jealous I live so close. It will become a regular destination of ours. The quality for the price point is unbelievable!

After visiting Italy for the first time in 2011, we had a quest to try and find wood fired pizza in Chicago that would take us back. Cavatappi did just that. Their selection of pizzas, the flavors, the crust, all capture true italian pizza. We have tried other places in Chicago, such as Coalfire and Macello’s…still, we come back to Cavatappi for the flavor.
Also, their lasagna is made very close to what you would find in Italy. We like that they serve half portions of salad. The wine list is awesome, with one of our favorites from Puglia region, the Botromagno Primitivo. Service is great, being attentive, and non-​intrusive if you are in deep conversation. How great it is to have such a great restaurant on the Southside!

You had me at free valet but when I saw your prices on my favorite Argiolas Vermentino and a woodfired oven? I knew it was love…
This is an authentic Italian restaurant with some slightly Americanized standards. The pastas are delicious and you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Space is cute and definitely on the noisy side (mostly because its full of people having a great night out) so don’t expect this to be a quiet, intimate dining experience.
The prices here made me realize how expensive the city really is. Pastas in the 9 – 13 range, and entrees mostly under 15? For real. But their wine list is heavy on my faves and at really user friendly pricing. I don’t remember the last time I paid under $ 7 a glass for even the crappiest wine so imagine my delight when I found my fave Sardinian white for less than that!
Staff is very friendly and accommodating and portions were huge enough that I was able to make two meals out of it. The ragu is a fantastic and screams traditional Italian cooking style.
Save room for the dessert. Tiramisu ftw.

Agree with the other reviewers that it’s very nice that Evergreen Park can sustain a relatively upscale, sophisticated place like this.
Really nice, interesting wine list with lots of Italian selections by the glass.
The good warm bread they serve brushed with garlic butter is addictive.
The pear/​gorgonzola salad was fine, nothing to be ecstatic about, and it had just a bit too much balsamic vinegar. But the cavatappi with sausage ragu was VERY tasty. Not your ordinary red-​sauce restaurant pasta dish. I asked them to melt some cheese over it, which really made the dish.
The service was good.
As others have noted, this place is very noisy and loud, even when not very crowded. And it gets a major demerit for showing a hockey game on the huge projection TV on a Friday night. Cavatappi, are you trying to be a sophisticated bistro or a sports bar?
They should also work on the music. I’ve noted over and over again that restaurants that give a lot of thought to the menu and wine give almost no thought to the aural experience. To complement the mute hockey game, they had some awful, too-​loud, live guitar/​banjo player guy. Might have been ok if they’re going for a sort of bohemian coffeehouse thing, but that doesn’t work with the rest of the concept. Why not pipe in some contemporary Italian vocalists mixed with some jazz? That would be much more appropriate.

Solid 4 star meal.
Great prices, pleasant staff, wonderful experience overall.
Not best in class, but pretty solid. I’d return, if I was in the area.
The by-​the-​glass wine list was superb in selection and price.
Portions were massive!
I you like cream sauces I definitely recommend the Agnolotti alla Boscaiola –veal filled agnolotti with asparagus, dried tomatoes, black olives, mushroom, sausage and the aforementioned cream sauce.
Everyone at our table was pleased with their meal and the value.
Bonus point for serving Illy coffee!

Went there for a date night with my husband and really enjoyed our dinner. As you walk in the restaurant it is very cozy and welcoming. The projection TV on the wall is a nice touch too. I am glad to see EP getting some real decent Italian food. Way above Barroco’s any day! The server was very friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. The food was really good and the portions were a very generous size. My husband had some type of pasta and I had the swordfish special… we were both pleased with our entrees as well as the appetizers we ordered. Next time we will save room for dessert.
It is nice to see an upscale restaurant in the area that has dress standards too… refreshing not to see sweatpants!
All in all we had a really great experience and we will be back to try some more from the Cavatappi menu.

I’m so happy that Cavatappi is so close to me! Real Italian food on the South Side, I was beginning to think all we get is Irish Pubs. My friend and I tried this place out of chance. Every now and again, I’ve seen large crowds in there.
The day that I went was on a Wednesday and they were showing Casablanca projected on the wall. It wasn’t many people in there and I kind of got worried that the food would be something like Olive Garden. NO I was wrong. I had their Lobster Fettuccine and it was delicious! It was their special for that day and only $ 18 with huge chunks of Lobster. I was quite impressed by the owner/​chef who welcomed us and then that amazing dish.
I can’t wait to try it again! The atmosphere is perfect for a date.
THe $ 5 homemade Chocolate Mousse was quite impressive as well.

Went to Cavatappi for the 2^nd time and while I wasn’t super thrilled with my pasta and Alfredo sauce I tried some of my dad’s fish and it was AMAZING and my brother in laws Veal was good. My sister LOVED her ravioli thingy and mom enjoyed her cavatapi. We also ordered Polenta fries for my 3 year old nephew hoping he would think they were french fries (and he did) and they were soooo good. They taste a little different but in a good way. The Pistachio gelato was yummy as well.
The reason for me posting though isn’t the food but about the awesome waiter who gave my not so happy nephew a ball of pizza dough and some toys to roll and cut it with. He was in his GLORY and it made dining soo much nicer for the adults. BRILLIANT IDEA!

Returned to Cavatappi to use a Groupon I’d bought a couple of months ago. Called ahead and had a reservation for 8:30 p.m. Got there at about 8:25 and had to wait about 10 minutes beyond our reservation time, but I was pleased because it was PACKED.
While we waited, we asked the bartender for a glass of water. He was very attentive making sure it was filled while we stood there — sure, it’s something little, but he did have a full bar and we didn’t pay for a drink.
My husband and I decided to split a couple of appetizers and a pizza. While we waited for our food, we had bread brought to our table. The bread was SO much better than last time, we even asked for a second helping. Definitely improved!
Ordered the polenta fries again, and was SO happy that the portions have increased. Still really good. Also ordered the puffs of potato, which were delicious. Same dipping sauces as the polenta, and really great to share.
The pizza, as before was great.
The service was wonderful, and the young busboy was incredibly attentive. It’s not often that you get such personable waitstaff during such a busy evening. Never felt rushed, and had our glasses refilled often without being asked.
I would say that this experience was MUCH better than my first experience and I am glad that I gave it another chance. The change in portion size is a HUGE plus — I felt like I got my money’s worth, and that my husband and I had a nice meal for a reasonable price. Will definitely be on our list of date night places, and looking forward to going back again.

Groupon almost expired on me. Whew lol
So I drive up and they have free valet… I HATE valet and I think to myself. this is Evergreen Park, not Chicago so FAIL on that. I parked across 95^th street and made it safely across the street. Upon entering its almost like going into someones house. Its small and VERY noisy, but had a nice bar and decent set up of tables. I was shocked at how busy this place was on a Tuesday. I waited about 15 mins for seating and the host was very pleasant.
The waiter we had was EXCELLENT and I am sad I can not recall his name DOH! Always attentive and patient explaining everything to us being our first time.
Ordered 3 apps to start. stuffed banana pepper, calamari and shrimp, and this shredded potato stuffed with cheese. All very very good, spicy home made sausage and sauce was a nice surprise.
One of my guests had the minestrone soup and it was average, but they commented on the amount they received and was not too happy.
Oh yes the bread. how could I forget!!! Crisp warm buttery bread. DELISH!
We then had 3 pizzas all differently topped with meats and veggies. When I saw how crisp the dough was on the edges I got SUPER excited and then was a tad disappointed when it wasn’t crispy all the way to the edges. Sauce was good and plenty of cheese and toppings, however the toppings were kinda scattered on the pizza so one piece didn’t have any or little of one thing or another. If they had taken a few minutes more they would have been great.
So all in all it wasn’t bad, but a few small things coulda made it great.