NW Chicago - Nonna Pino's or Zia's

I am meeting a friend for dinner around Mt. Prospect. I think I have narrowed down our options to Nonna Pino's or Zia's. Any preferences for one over the other?

Thanks for your help!

Personally, I feel the food is much better at Zia's.

Zia's. Seconded.

And if you were interested in Mexican at all, see the Don Juan's thread a little below this one, and also:

THIS PLACE gets a LOT of love.

I agree with the choice of Zia's in terms of food quality and atmosphere.

another vote for Zia's on both food and atmosphere

Thanks. This really helpful.

The two Mexican suggestions look great. Are both equally as good? What would you say is the main difference between the two?

I've only eaten at Don Juan's, but will add to the voices saying it's a great choice. That was my family's go-to restaurant anytime we ate out when I was a kid, so I think there's a bit of sentiment there, but it is really just solid Mexican food.

Nonno Pino's usually, in my experience, has very good sauces with horrible pasta. I do like their risotto, but I'm not exactly a connosieur, so I'm not sure it stacks up against other places.

I've not been to Zia's, but when the choices were Nonna Pino's or Basta Pasta, Basta Pasta was head and shoulders better. We were sad it was sold. Sadder it closed.

I think that the food at Zia's is slightly better than Nonna Pinos. However, I prefer eating at NP as the tables are so tight at Zia's that it is impossible to have a conversation without the next table being involved in it.

Personally, Don Juan's is really top notch both in food and atmosphere and would is weekly stop on those weeks that I commute into the city from Woodstock.

With the exception of Tailgator's BBQ which has some of the worst BBQ I have been served, it is difficult to go wrong at ANY of the places in Edison Park.

jlawrence01 wrote:I think that the food at Zia's is slightly better than Nonna Pinos. However, I prefer eating at NP as the tables are so tight at Zia's that it is impossible to have a conversation without the next table being involved in it.

My thoughts also, exactly. Zia's when it's crowded can be somewhat of a pain.

Does Don Juans still have Patrick's specialties on one side of the menu? I used to love those. It has been a long time since I've eaten there. I liked the regular mexican food too.

We decided to go to Flamingo's. I will report back afterwards.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I am excited to have such a great list of restaurants in this area.

tonirogerspark wrote:Does Don Juans still have Patrick's specialties on one side of the menu?

Yes, they do. I usually order one of Patrick's specials instead of the more traditional Mexican fare. He's yet to disappoint.

LTH Editor please intervene here -the name of this resto is Nonno Pino's ,not Nonna Pino's -I'm sure they'd like the correct name known,plus there is a difference in Italian; Nonno=grandfather, Nonna = grandmother.