Italian Kitchen in Deerfield

I've seen only passing references on the LTH Forum to the Italian Kitchen restaurant in Deerfield. It's a family-owned restaurant that's been around since the early 1960s. John and Emerald Sciarretta own the place and are on the premises routinely. The food is quite good and the prices are very reasonable. One of my favorite dishes is their spaghetti carbonara which I just brought home. My wife ordered the Italian beef sandwich.

Their take out menu offers bargains: All of their take out pasta dishes are less than $10 unless you order pasta with meat or fish. The most expensive dish on the take out menu is a full rack of grilled lamb chops at $23.95. Otherwise their dishes run $16.95 or less.

Besides dining in and taking out, you can have your food delivered. They also offer catering.

Hours are Tues. - Fri. from 11 am to 11 pm, Sat. 4 pm to 11 pm, Sun. 4 pm to 10 pm, closed Mon. Their website is http://www.DeerfieldItalianKitchen.com They offer daily dine-in specials.

Regards,
Grandpa Bob

Deerfield Italian Kitchen
648 Deerfield Rd. (just east of Waukegan Rd.)
Deerfield, IL 60025
Phone: 847-945-2727

I had one of the most excruciating restaurant experiences of my life at Italian Kitchen and cannot imagine ever returning there. That said, I'll admit that I never actually ate there. The experience was so miserable, I followed my strong hunch that eating there would be a complete waste of time and money and walked out before consummating the error of entering in the first place.

=R=

I think I've only had pizza from there once, and it was over 15 years ago. I don't remember anything special about it, but my cousin absolutely loves it. I would add that he's not known for his taste in food, so it doesn't mean much to me.

Wow Ronnie, that must have been quite an experience!

Ouch Ron - that was REALLY harsh.

I went to a holiday party they catered last month and it was good. They MAKE their own pasta. John and Emerald were on site and did everything - from greet and serve to clear - they did not have to - their deal was just for the food. They brought the vibe that their place is a neighborhood family-owned trattoria - maybe with idiosyncrasies in service and all.

I have been twice in the past year and have not really been impressed either time. Service wasn't good, special request (no mushrooms) not honored after being asked if they could honor it, etc. Wouldn't rush back, may be willing to see if third time's a charm if the circumstances are right.

Louisa Chu wrote:Ouch Ron - that was REALLY harsh.

I went to a holiday party they catered last month and it was good. They MAKE their own pasta. John and Emerald were on site and did everything - from greet and serve to clear - they did not have to - their deal was just for the food. They brought the vibe that their place is a neighborhood family-owned trattoria - maybe with idiosyncrasies in service and all.

Yeah, every once in a while something happens that completely transports me into my 'negative' universe but hey, at least I didn't slam the food. For all I know, it could be quite delicious (in other words, please take my half-informed opinion for what is).

=R=

I didn't even know this place was still in business. When I used to work at Baxter Labs, which is not far from this place, we'd go after work for the Kitchen Pizza, which had myriad toppings, but most importantly, Italian beef and bacon. Now, this was back in the '70s, so I have no idea what, if anything, is the same (I know I'm not). But I do have very fond memories of the place. Knowing it's still there makes me want to visit again, if just for old-times sake.

I loved this place when I grew up in Deerfield. That may have been before I defined my palette, but nontheless I have great memories of the food.

Plus, the owner's son had a full beard in the 8th grade and that was....something.

Anybody else want to hear the gory details of Ronny's "excruciating" experience?

Last time we ate there I did see a picture of Ronnie with the red circle and slash through it .

I've had some good meals and some not so good. The pasta has never let me down, the bread is
generic, and the service friendly. I went to wedding they catered and it was delicious.
We go there when fighting traffic to go further from home isn't an option.

Due to popular demand I will share my experience with IK here:

Walked in right about 5 pm on a Saturday and were seated promptly.

We were handed menus and a printed sheet with the daily specials.

The first 4 items we ordered from the daily specials menu were not available. Huh? This seemed odd very odd given the fact that it was 5pm on a Saturday. Whatever, given the constraints, we ordered the sausage over polenta appetizer. The dish eventually came to the table and guess what? There was no polenta. I asked our server about it and after disappearing briefly, she returned to say that they were out of polenta. So, not only were they out of a ton of things at a prime hour, but those missing items were from the daily specials menu, which they could (and should) have just not given us. Then, even as we ordered something they supposedly had, they didn't really have it but served us the dish without a major component anyway, never even acknowledging -- until we brought it up -- that the polenta was missing. That's when we got up, dropped a few bucks on the table to cover our soft drinks and left.

Beyond all this, though, it's an Italian restaurant running out of polenta -- a staple that can be stored dry and really isn't perishable. That doesn't instill confidence at all. There's a Whole Foods 1 block away from this restaurant and most (if not all) of the items that were missing -- including the polenta -- could have been purchased there. But instead of giving a damn and sending someone over there to buy ingredients, they just moped along, providing one of the poorest restaurant experiences I've ever had.

Some friends of ours continued to dine there and reported to me that the menu was eventually changed to contain some text that basically says they reserve the right to run out of ingredients, or something to that extent. That's fine, because I reserve the right to never set foot in the place again.

And there you have it.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Due to popular demand

You callin' me "not popular"?

I'll have you know, sir, that I have polenta in my pantry and plenty of drops of sweat for whisking. As well as maybe 20 posts on this board.

Seriously, I hope you try it again with better results. It's close to you and not a chain, at least!

DeathByOrca wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Due to popular demand

You callin' me "not popular"?

LOL . . . Nah, I just wasn't sure if a few requests really constituted "demand."

DeathByOrca wrote:I'll have you know, sir, that I have polenta in my pantry and plenty of drops of sweat for whisking. As well as maybe 20 posts on this board.

Looks like 19 to me

DeathByOrca wrote:Seriously, I hope you try it again with better results. It's close to you and not a chain, at least!

Good points, both. Seriously.

=R=

The first 4 items we ordered from the daily specials menu were not available. Huh? This seemed odd very odd given the fact that it was 5pm on a Saturday. Whatever, given the constraints, we ordered the sausage over polenta appetizer. The dish eventually came to the table and guess what? There was no polenta. I asked our server about it and after disappearing briefly, she returned to say that they were out of polenta. So, not only were they out of a ton of things at a prime hour, but those missing items were from the daily specials menu, which they could (and should) have just not given us. Then, even as we ordered something they supposedly had, they didn't really have it but served us the dish without a major component anyway, never even acknowledging -- until we brought it up -- that the polenta was missing. That's when we got up, dropped a few bucks on the table to cover our soft drinks and left.

That's hilarious. I had an experience like this years ago at a place called Cafe Pergolesi. Went in for breakfast or lunch and started trying to order off the menu, but a key ingredient was missing off every single thing I tried to order. It was like the Monty Python cheese shop sketch, one by one we worked through the menu determining that everything they offered was impossible to make at that time. Finally they allowed as how it was the day after a Jewish holiday, and they basically hadn't been to the store yet. Which raised the question of when they planned to do this shopping if not prior to, say, noon on a day they were open for lunch.

I just don't get the mentality that opens for business when you're incapable of actually operating your business. What do you think you're going to do all day?

I went to Italian Kitchen for the first time about a month ago. My cousin swears by the pizza and just loves the place so we went. The pizza was ok, nothing spectacular. The service was meh, just as unimpressive. I wouldn't rave about the place but it's a fine meal if there aren't any better options.

Ronnie, I would have been just as upset about that experience! Jeez.

I'm with Ronnie,
I seriously live like 1/2 a mile away, and have had catered out food at different places and events and been completely underwhelmed everytime.
That being said, my son went to a football banquet there one time where they treated the kids like kings!
He loved the food, but he is 12, and (then 10,) and eats things that are downright scary....
I've never eaten in, just never been impressed enough to want to...
meh sums it up-
Tonellis used to be our Italian go to-
how I miss it...
sigh

I also live 1/2 mile from the place, and haven't eaten there in years. What does that tell you?
Gotta agree with the previous spot-on comments: "so-so, nothing special, mediocre at best food and service" pretty much sums it up accurately and honestly.

The Wife and I had dinner there last night. Got home late and I was too tired to cook.

Got there at around 7:30. Was told there was a 20 minute wait. While waiting outside, noticed that the cursed furniture store next door to the east is going out of business. Got our table in 10 minutes.

I chose the Spaghetti Basilico Gorgonzola and Wife had Pesto Chicken Pasta. Both items were quite tasty and there was enough for leftovers.

I will admit that our server left a bit to be desired and we tipped accordingly. Otherwise, it was a good meal in the 'hood.