Ti Amo - Hoffman

In October of 2008 Babaluci closed its doors. Last week I visited their replacement
"Ti Amo." Here's my take

Ti Amo, an affirmation of romantic feelings. If names mean anything, you’ll be feeling warm and fuzzy inside after dining at this suburban restaurant. Openend in January of ’09, Ti Amo replaces the vacancy left by Babaluci, but can it fill your stomach equally as well?

When it comes to ambiance, the new restaurant departs from the homey and family feel of it’s predessecer. Hand written menu boards and newspaper clippings have been replaced by décor straight from a Pottery Barn catalog. Dim lights and dark woods retain a certain romantic vibe but a certain charm has definitely been lost.

Service has lost some of it’s charm as well. The old place had servers that remembered your name and shared stories with their guests. The new restaurant has yet to hit it’s stride. Throughout our evening, multiple orders were brought out incorrectly and/or never brought out at all. Case and point, our fresh mozzarella bruschetta was forgotten about and eventually served toward the end of our entres.

The food though, does hold its own. The afformentioned bruschetta had garlicy chunks of tomato, cubes of fresh mozzarella, atop thinly toasted bread. Entres are done comendably. Al dente rigatoni and asiago satisfy pasta cravings, while the tender veal marsala swims in a lovely pool of marsala wine and wild mushrooms.

While our evening so far has been a mixed bag, dessert definitely proved to be on the positive side. Sinfully sweet carrot cake satisfies even the sweetest of sweet tooths, while the creamy connoli’s hid a refreshing hint of mint within.

Dinner for two will run about $70-75 with tip, definitely up a few bucks over it’s predessecer. Overall Ti Amo offers above average food, generic décor, and inexperienced service.
Location
1001 W. Golf Rd.
Hoffman Estates, IL