La Scarola or Sabatino's?

Hello there! First post on LTH. Thanks for having me. I've got my mother and her husband coming into town this weekend and I'm having a hard time choosing between La Scarola and Sabatino's. Haven't been to either, but I'm encouraged by the good reviews. Any strong opinions one way or the other? Thanks!

You can't go wring with either choice. Go with the one that is most convenient to your loication and that will take your reservation on a Saturday night.

I'd have to throw my support to Sabatino's based on the total experience there. Both places have wonderful food. However, the combination of the old school feel and friendly vibe, the excellent food and the strolling muscians at Sabatino's would make it my choice.

They are pretty different places, the old school "formal" Sabatino's and the storefront urban(e) feel of La Scarola.

I agree with stevez that both are pleasing in their way, but like YourPalWill I probably prefer Sabatino's, if only because I feel it represents a vanishing breed of restaurant.

I will mildly demur.

While I prefer Sabatino's overall, it both depends on when one is going and what one wants to eat. La Scarola is a little better for pasta dishes, while Sabatino's shines on some of the meat and seafood dishes. And Sabatino's has been known to phone it in on the weekends when the main concern for the kitchen seems to be getting them in and out, and not delivering a quality meal.

La Scarola is guilty of other sins on a busy night, such as being generally rude and unwelcoming, but they seem to maintain higher food quality.

So, on a weekend or a busy holiday, I would prefer La Scarola because I have faith that they will deliver more consistent, and higher, quality. Any other time I prefer Sabatino's, though in our city there is no lack of other places that deliver excellent Italian food. For that cuisine, more than any other, I believe there are so many worthy contenders, possibly 100 or more, separated by the smallest differences, any one of which can be wonderful or less than wonderful if they are off, on a given day. As Steve said, if not exactly in the same context, it all depends on where you are - no matter where, there probably is a damned good Italian place within a mile or two.

You have pitted my two top-Italian eateries in all Chicago against each other. I love them both.

Based on your post of having guests coming in from out of town, I would choose La Scarola. When faced with a similar challenge on a few occasions over the past year or so, I generally have opted for La Scarola with out of town guests and Sabatino's for locals - I feel that Chicagolanders tend to appreciate Sabs more than those from out of town, whilst La Scarola to me is better to introduce non-Chicagoans to the City.

Bster

That settles it. And well put. Thanks for all for the comments. I've made reservations at La Scarola for Saturday. If it was good enough for Sinatra...

Bster wrote:You have pitted my two top-Italian eateries in all Chicago against each other. I love them both.

Based on your post of having guests coming in from out of town, I would choose La Scarola. When faced with a similar challenge on a few occasions over the past year or so, I generally have opted for La Scarola with out of town guests and Sabatino's for locals - I feel that Chicagolanders tend to appreciate Sabs more than those from out of town, whilst La Scarola to me is better to introduce non-Chicagoans to the City.

Bster

Anyone been to La Scarola recently?
I'm thinking of taking the family there this weekend...
I need an Italian place to go before theatre on Sunday that is not the Italian Village.
Thanks

irisarbor wrote:Anyone been to La Scarola recently?
I'm thinking of taking the family there this weekend...
I need an Italian place to go before theatre on Sunday that is not the Italian Village.
Thanks

I believe The Florentine is opening today. Might be fun to go to an entirely new place.

I had a surprisingly good lunch at Volare yesterday. I'm not sure where your show is, but if it's anywhere near the east side, I'd strongly consider Volare.

Volare
201 E Grand Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-410-9900

David Hammond wrote:

irisarbor wrote:Anyone been to La Scarola recently?
I'm thinking of taking the family there this weekend...
I need an Italian place to go before theatre on Sunday that is not the Italian Village.
Thanks

I believe The Florentine is opening today. Might be fun to go to an entirely new place.

Yup.

The Florentine (the website right now is unhelpful)
in the JW Marriott
151 W Adams St (at LaSalle)
Chicago, IL 60603
312-660-8866

stevez wrote:I had a surprisingly good lunch at Volare yesterday. I'm not sure where your show is, but if it's anywhere near the east side, I'd strongly consider Volare.

Volare
201 E Grand Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-410-9900

What did you have? I work steps away and have avoided it for the last couple of years because the first couple of dishes I tried (linguine with clams and I can't remember what else) were not good.

Kennyz wrote:What did you have? I work steps away and have avoided it for the last couple of years because the first couple of dishes I tried (linguine with clams and I can't remember what else) were not good.

One of my dining companions ordered the Grigliate Mista on the appetizer menu. It was the star of the show and was perfectly cooked, very flavorful and enough for a full meal. I had a half order of the Pappardelle alla Bolognese, which I really enjoyed (though it might be considered slightly oversauced by some).

irisarbor wrote:Anyone been to La Scarola recently?
I'm thinking of taking the family there this weekend...
I need an Italian place to go before theatre on Sunday that is not the Italian Village.
Thanks

I eat there pretty regularly and the food is as good as ever. However, if you are going to theater in the loop, you might consider some of the other suggestions as they are significantly closer.

We're going to the Lion King.
My main concerns are the parents, who are very, very picky.
Can't be too expensive,
Can't be too loud.
Cant' be Italian Village (LOL)
Rosebud is closed on Sunday.
If it's walking distance it can't be far, since one had knee replacement last Spring and uses a cane.
Truthfully if I had my druthers, I'd have them choose, but they don't know anyplace.
Scarola sounded more family, homey, and they have valet.
We also need somewhere open early, since curtain is at 6:30.
and heaven forbid they can't eat late!
I'm thinking you get the picture....

irisarbor wrote:Cant' be Italian Village (LOL)

That's good, because the rancid table olive oil, stale bread, $20 pasta plates, and wrinkled hockey puck eggplant parmesan on a recent visit (upstairs) were about as far from my positive memories of the space as could be imagined.

How about Petterino's (get the chocolate pudding for dessert)?

Petterino's
150 North Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60601
312-422-0150

stevez wrote:How about Petterino's (get the chocolate pudding for dessert)?

Petterino's
150 North Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60601
312-422-0150

Agree with Steve's suggestion. Petterino's is safe for the 'rents (Lettuce Entertain You Italian), not too expensive, used to doing pre-theater dinner, and 2 blocks from the Lion King. Pudding is good too!

Although we're now far afield from the original topic, I thought I report back that we went with Petterino's
in part for the $14 dinner and a show valet deal....x2 cars that's a deal...

but they really did a great job,
Food was wonderful, service fanstastic,
and everyone, including the 'rents, behaved themselves pretty well.
(we had one flagrant texting teen -not MY child)
but that was the worst that happened...much better than in years past..LOL

I can personally highly reccommend the crabcake app, jumbo shrimp cocktail,
and the waiter could not have been nicer swapping out mashed for fries, etc.
Strawberry shortcake to die for!
no chocolate puddin last night
Thanks all for your help...

irisarbor wrote:no chocolate puddin last night

Wait...are you saying that there was no chocolate pudding on the menu? That would be a tragedy!

They said they were out of the chocolate pudding...
the desserts that got ordered at our table included
the chocolate ovation x2 (delish, but very very chocolate)
strawberry shortcake x2 (one the best renditions...)
and a pecan-chocolate chip pie with pecan ice cream- also very excellent.

Petterino's is a great restaurant for both pre- and post-theater in the Loop, but I'll just point out for future visitors that despite the restaurant's Italian-sounding name (it was named for Arturo Petterino), the menu is American.

If you're not seeing a show (or want to eat afterward), one of the of the best bargains in the Loop may be Petterino's "Seven after seven" menu, which offers seven three-course menus for $20 after 7 p.m., with free valet parking.

BTW - You can always leave your car with Italian Village's valets during shows, even if you don't eat there.