Danny’s Cafe

Very nice place. Great food and always treated very well when I am here. I highly recommend this be your stop

Great old school italian food. They always have daily specials. Wednesdays and Saturdays they have neckbones. We love their artichoke hearts They advertise themselves as the home of the fried meatball sandwich. Occasionally, they will do an Italian Soul Food night. You need to make your reservation early for those nights.

So the story starts out like most, celebrating the holidays at my dad’s, we normally get some food catered so no one has the burden of cooking for the whole family… My brother says he’ll take care of it and shows up with Italian from Danny’s Café… this is where it gets good.
The food was indescribably good (but I’ll try my best to explain). I’ll start with the salad which was delicious, very fresh and crisp, loaded with the basics like lettuce, red onion, etc. but also mandarin oranges and tons of firm and spicy Gorgonzola cheese, topped with a strawberry vinaigrette that balanced the bite of the cheese very well. The rigatoni — perfectly al dente, and made with a lot of fresh Italian sausage crumbles the size of small meatballs, topped with one of the best vodka sauces I’ve ever had — very rich and creamy. The chicken francese was fantastic, lightly egg battered and very tender with an amazing lemon butter sauce. The baked eggplant lasagna was definitely the best ever — I love eggplant but normally pass because in my opinion, most restaurants cut it too thick and over bread it which makes it greasy. Danny’s was perfect, exactly the way I like it — thin slices (about ¼″), neatly breaded and layered between lasagna pasta and sauce, topped with a layer of cheese.
Thankfully, Danny’s provided about a quart of extra sauce for each of the entrees and salad. The amount of high quality, fresh food we received was unbelievable. I can only imagine that the food will be even better (although I can’t imagine how) when I visit the restaurant… which will be soon.

I had bookmarked this restaurant based solely on Unilocal reviews … Unfortunately I was very disappointed and dissatisfied … I was craving spaghetti and meatballs and had read that was a good plate here… Not so, meatball was sooooo dry I needed a knife to cut thru it and sauce was so sweet and thick needless to say I didn’t finish my food … Hubby ordered some chicken dish and it was very skimpy … They split a single breast in two and then cut in half … Mother’s plate was the ONLY ok one, she had chkn Marsala and said it was good … Nope I won’t return !

We just so happen to go on a night of live music. A man singing Sinatra and Bennett type music and he was excellent. The calamari melts in your mouth. The portions are huge enough for 2. The leftovers tasted better the next day. First Friday of month all entrees are $ 11. We want because I heard it was good and we bought a Groupon. Can’t wait to go back. But I did not like the bread and olive oil. But with $ 20 of a good bottle of wine it was great food for a good value.

Brought my boyfriend here today and he loved it too! Our waitress was great, food came out fast, and everything was delicious!

I have been to this restaurant a couple times (thanks to Groupon) and I must admit the food is excellent starting with the soup and salad. I had the Chicken Parmigiana with the penne pasta and my daughter had the cheese ravioli and the portions are huge! I ate and still had enough for lunch and dinner the next day. The owner is a really nice guy who you can tell the community knows well. This place give you the feel of your local mom and pop restaurant where everybody know everybody name. If you want good Italian food with nice size portions, this is your place.

Yesterday I discovered the latest restaurant I would not have known existed, otherwise, if not for Groupon. I am glad we did. I would like to start by saying the name of the place needs to be changed. Danny’s Café sounds like a diner or brunch place. Benito is the excellent chef, and the affable owner is Vito. The new name writes itself: «Vito & Benito’s Italian Restaurant»
My wife and I almost didn’t enter Danny’s because the lighting was too bright. I noticed in other reviews this was mentioned. I am never shy when I go out to enjoy myself, so rather complain about things that are easily adjusted, I mention them. So I asked the waitress if she could turn the lights down a little. She said «no» because «customers liked them bright». A: I am a customer, no? B: Did customers go out of their way to tell her they loved the glaring lights? We ordered our drinks before we even sat down and 15 minutes later they arrived. I never received the pasta fagioli I ordered, either. I may have paid for it, I don’t know. Thus, the four stars and not five. However, our waitress was otherwise very nice and very sweet. She is a work of art in progress.
Vito to the rescue! Vito is a friendly, charming, down to earth, plain spoken man who loves his restaurant and gives the whole place a welcoming and relaxed air. Vito turned the lights down bringing the room to a perfect soothing, non-​diner-​esque feel.
The prices are very reasonable here at Vito & Benito’s mom & pop restaurant. But I honestly think Vito should make the portions a bit smaller. This is not a criticism. He is extremely generous but I would hate to see his good nature put him under. Also, and more importantly, bringing WEEKDAY business in; people with jobs want to feel like they can eat a bit lighter during the week without the feeling like there’s so much temptation to gorge oneself. I’m sure any customer reading this wants me to shut the Heck up but sometimes more is less and vice versa.
The Caesar salad, although you couldn’t see the anchovy, the flavor was dancing in the background. Mini-​croutons and medium sized romaine lettuce slices; Perfect and simple.
The baked clams were whole with a perfect and delectable breading with a lemony brown sauce that complimented the clams perfectly. So many restaurants use minced or chopped clams, even canned like Harry Caray’s. This is Italian sacrilege. These clams were big, fresh and fantastic.
Vito knows his stuff.
The Chicken Marsala was light and perfectly cooked. The mocha colored gravy with carefully placed, not over-​cooked, large sliced mushrooms was very pleasing to the eye and absolutely perfect on the palate. The gravy seemed vinegar based which I love because it gives the gravy a nice kick. So many Chicken Marsala entrees I have had just can’t balance the flavors or get all the ingredients cooked just right. Bellisimo, Vito e Benito!
The fried meatball sandwiches accompanied by the perfect marinara sauce, on crusty Italian bread, cut in two inch wedges were fun, different, and delicious.
The Peroni beer was served in chilled Peroni glasses. The perfect classy vehicle for the Italian ice cold beverage.
The pasta was al dente but the tomato sauce was on the sweet side. I love a hint of Italian pepper and basil in my tomato sauce but that’s a personal preference.
The ricotta cheese cake was airy, not overly sweet, with a firm and tasty crust. I can’t stand overly sweet heavy desserts. This, with a creamy cappuccino, was the perfect ending to a fun and friendly experience.
I look forward to going back and trying the Zuppa Di Pesce and the Filet Mignon and shrimp Entrée (14.95? Insanely reasonable!). My wife and I were in awe of the dishes we saw coming out of the kitchen and the enthusiasm with which they were received and consumed by very very happy customers. Salute Vito & Benito!

Saw a Groupon for $ 13 for $ 25 so I decided to try them out. I was very pleasantly surprised by the portion size of the entrée, level of service by the waitstaff and the quality of food. The menu prices need to be updated but this is a true mom and pop homestyle restaurant. I would recommend others try them for a good comforting meal in a quite atmosphere.

Went for a family celebration. The service was nice, but the food was just ok.
The good:
— service was attentive and friendly
— vodka sauce was pretty tasty!
— they had gluten free pasta for a family member :)
The meh:
— atmosphere, no music or candles. Doesn’t impact the food, but the hospital lights weren’t a great touch
— house salad… Pretty boring
— clams and calamari, pretty meh
— bread. It was bread. I’m a great lover of bread and this was pretty meh
If you’re interested in family friendly service, want a vat of tasty vodka sauce, and can accept a boring salad this could be a good fit for you.

Friends in town visiting, met at my fav place their treat. Frutti de Mare. Yum Yum.
Everything is great here and you could never go wrong.
Great food, friendly and fantastic service and fun atmosphere. Best place to come for an enjoyable experience that you will be sure to tell others about.
Like I said, the Frutti de Mare is delicious and worth every enjoyable bite. See for yourself.

Excellent service. Great food. Extensive Italian menu. Huge portions. Vito was extremely welcoming. Danny was a great waiter. Stuffed artichoke hearts were yummy. Vito also let us try the neck bones pro bomo. We will be back!

This weekend we took our 93 year old sister to Danny’s for their neckbones! She thoroughly enjoyed them, as it took her back a few years to when she used to cook them. My husband had the Caesar Salad with chicken breast and he couldn’t have been more satisfied. Loved the dressing. Their balsamic dressing is equally as delicious. One of the highlights of the meal was the broccoli appetizer. Kudos to the chef. Only complaint was the al dente pasta… some of us like our pasta cooked a little more.
The other highlight of the meal was our server, Danielle! She was attentive, friendly, and efficient. She’s a keeper! Thank you, Danielle!

Always enjoy the varied cuisine and service. Terrific neckbone.

Headed over this time with my mom in tow and tried the Italian sausage burger again — just as good as I remembered. Mom had the eggplant parm sandwich on special which came with soup. We both had the escarole –literally the best I have tasted. I’m excited to have an event here in a couple of months — the food is incredible and the service is top notch.

I’ve been to Danny’s more times than I can count on my fingers and toes — every time I leave full and happy! My favorite is the rigatoni w. Vodka sauce and crumbled sausage. Huuuuuuuuuge portions — enough for dinner and lunch the next day. Vito, the owner, is a sweet man. Suggested the pasta primavera (blondie style) and again I was pleased! They do have a party room available which I used for a holiday party and their family style package worked out nicely! Id recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious, authentic Italian food!

Another successful lunch date with my man.
Can’t wait to come back and try something else.

We just left Danny’s as we celebrated our Godson’s christening. We want to thank Danny’s for their great service (ask for Susie) and Vito for checking in. The party room seats 50 comfortably and the larger room 100+.
My family is still raving about the service, family style food and warm reception. This place honors authentic Italian food. We had linguine agli e olio, rigatoni w/​vodka sauce, killer meatballs, chicken parm and their house salad with salad dressing u dream about.
Thanks to the entire team for making our event so special and affordable. GO DANNY’S

I grew up in Melrose Park. Danny’s has the best Italian food in town. I usually get the Chicken Piemonte, Pork Chop Vesuvio, or Giambotta. And to start, fried calamari and a salad with creamy garlic. The meals are delicious! They’ve updated the atmosphere over the years. Friendly, fast service… Cheap dinner specials every 1^st Friday of the month. Highly recommend to all of my family and friends.

I’m really sorry, but I was just not impressed at all — I hate leaving bad reviews and I do not want to be mean — I’m just being honest.
The service was great and friendly, but the food was not that great at all.
The Chicken Piemonte was swimming in a thick sauce like substance that had no hint of white wine at all — the side of spinach was so overly cooked and also swimming beside the chicken on the same plate — the chicken was sad, it was grilled (fried), and topped with what I would bet were canned flavorless blond mushrooms.
The Vodka sauce was so so — the eggplant parm was thick and a little greasy — again, almost everything is fried at this place which really turns me off. I realize that most people batter and fry their eggplant then stack it and bake it — the problem with that is you often end up tasting the grease more than the eggplant — there is a trick when making egglant Parm and lasagna and tasting grease is not one of the tricks.
The neck bones were ok, however, they lacked flavor — sorry, just judging them against my Mom’s and Aunt’s neck bones I ate when I was growing up. They need to add something like some hot Italian sausage or some hot giardinera when cooking neck bones to give them some flavor. These were very bland. Yes they were tender, but when you cook anything in gravy for hours it will become tender.
The best parts of the meal were; the cup of marinara they gave with the bread — very good gravy, and the Escarole and beans — the 3^rd best part of the meal was the balsamic salad dressing. Other than that, I think this is just another large portioned NON authentic Americanized (Chicagoized) Italian Restaurant where patrons are more impressed by the huge portions than they are excellent or authentic Italian or CHICAGO Italian flavors.