Il Porcellino?

I know LTH tends not to favor LEYE and affiliated spots, but my friend really wants to try this place. Anyone tried it?

I went over the summer and was excited to try it.

Started with the garlic bread which Yelpers said to try. It was an interesting concept of a warm loaf of bread quartered which garlic butter is poured over tableside. Good not great.

The pasta dishes were also good but not memorable including a pricey lobster pasta special for the evening.

Atmosphere was upscale pizzeria with red checkered tablecloths and high top tables in the bar. Frank Sinatra playing on the sound system. Going for an old-school Italian vibe.

Nothing wrong with the place just no reason to return.

agree with above, cool/lively dining space, the food itself ranges from good to ok.

As far as LEYE goes,

I love the food at RPM.

pairs4life wrote:As far as LEYE goes,

I love the food at RPM.

You must mean RPM Italian. RPM Steak is a disgrace.

stevez wrote:

pairs4life wrote:As far as LEYE goes,

I love the food at RPM.

You must mean RPM Italian. RPM Steak is a disgrace.

I've only been to RPM Steak once but I had a pretty good meal there - nothing great, but good enough. There are other places I prefer though so I can't guarantee a return.

Any suggestions for similar atmosphere/menu and price point with better food? It's a birthday and we will be driving in from the north burbs.

I consistently enjoy Siena Tavern. Slightly more expensive but better food IMO.

stevez wrote:

pairs4life wrote:As far as LEYE goes,

I love the food at RPM.

You must mean RPM Italian. RPM Steak is a disgrace.

Nah it's da bomb. Not sure what you're eating there but what I regularly have is tops.

DutchMuse wrote:

stevez wrote:

pairs4life wrote:As far as LEYE goes,

I love the food at RPM.

You must mean RPM Italian. RPM Steak is a disgrace.

Nah it's da bomb. Not sure what you're eating there but what I regularly have is tops.

I will admit that the shrimp cocktail with the humongous shrimp was pretty good, and the king crab leg with miso glaze was wonderful as an app, but any steaks that our party ordered left much to be desired in both the flavor and quality of meat department, compared to most of their competition.

The service was abysmal from the moment we walked in the door. At the time we went, I was walking with a cane due to an injury. Instead of seating us at our appointed reservation time, they kept us standing in the bar for 45 minutes while seating other parties first. When we finally got to our table, the service was perfunctory at best, with the servers much more geared to the obvious expense account style parties in the room.

Just thought I'd pop in for some closure, we went last night and had a very nice dinner. The service was very good, reasonably priced wines, loud.

The roasted stuffed artichoke was really good, as were the fried Brussels sprouts. I had an off-menu carbonara that was cooked right (egg, no cream) but I'd have liked a bit more, or more flavorful, guanciale. Eggplant parm special was salty, per my friend, but my husband really enjoyed the steak with rosemary garlic butter. Desserts were serviceable, the Nutella lava cake was tasty but we didn't taste much Nutella, just a few hazelnuts on top.

Wouldn't rush back because there wasn't much unique or outstanding about it, but we'd go back if friends wanted to do so. I wouldn't gush over it but wouldn't NOT recommend it.