Martino's - Lincoln Square [Uno Di Martino]

Martino's is one of my favorite Italian places in Lincoln Square and I'm afraid they're in trouble. I'm a big fan of helping the underdog business whenever I can so here's my two cents: They have amazing food at really reasonable prices and they're BYOB. Right now they're closed for a family emergency, but when they open back up I recommend it to everyone. They're always empty when we go...I think because it's not the best location -on Lawrence next to Stefano's.

Just check it out, I'm sure you'll be as pleased as my boyfriend and I always are.

Sarah

Welcome to LTHForum!

Are you referring to Uno Di Martino?

(The only "Martino's" I know is on Peterson).

Uno Di Martino
2122 W Lawrence
(773) 878-0695

Martino's
3431 W Peterson Ave
(773) 478-5410

Best,
Michael

Yes, Uno di Martino's. I couldn't remember the full name. (That would help in recommending a restaurant, huh?)

rockstarsbl wrote:Yes, Uno di Martino's. I couldn't remember the full name. (That would help in recommending a restaurant, huh?)

I've edited the thread title.

Best,
Michael

Damn, I was actually kind of curious about Martino's, not Uno di Martino (where I've been, liked it okay, older son liked the weird decor, haven't been in a rush to go back).

Mike G wrote:Damn, I was actually kind of curious about Martino's, not Uno di Martino (where I've been, liked it okay, older son liked the weird decor, haven't been in a rush to go back).

Martino's is an Italio/American place. You've seen this restaurant a million times. The best example of it that I can think of is Sabatino's without the musicians, tuxedoed waiters and flaming desert. Their execution of the food is not nearly in the same league, but at least you get the idea of what the menu is like. Although it's in my neighborhood, I rarely go.

Martino's
3431 W Peterson Ave
Chicago, IL
773-478-5410

Mike G wrote:Damn, I was actually kind of curious about Martino's

stevez wrote:Although it's in my neighborhood, I rarely go.

With good reason.

Martino's is a favorite of my in-laws, so we wind up there from time-to-time when they are in town, unless I put up a considerable stink.

Best,
Michael

stevez wrote:Martino's is an Italio/American place. You've seen this restaurant a million times. The best example of it that I can think of is Sabatino's without the musicians, tuxedoed waiters and flaming desert. Their execution of the food is not nearly in the same league, but at least you get the idea of what the menu is like. Although it's in my neighborhood, I rarely go.

Steve,

I think you are giving Martino's a lot of credit even mentioning them in the same sentence as Sabatino's. Martino's is fine for what it is, a pizza place with a moderately well fleshed out Italian American menu and slightly better than ok execution.

I'm not digging at Martino's, in fact I occasionally get pizza delivery from them, just wanted to reinforce they ain't no Sabatino's.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:
I'm not digging at Martino's, in fact I occasionally get pizza delivery from them, just wanted to reinforce they ain't no Sabatino's.

Enjoy,
Gary

The Sabatino's reference was only to illustrate the type of items on the menu. I think I made it pretty clear that it ain't no Sabatinos. If not, let me clarify that point right now.

We live within two blocks of Uno di Martino, yet we've never been there. The reason? The menu just doesn't wow us. We already have two decent Italian places within walking distance: Pizza D.O.C. (which has more then just pizza), and Bocca della Verita, which we wish would have more varied appetizers, but which at least has some interesting (and delicious) fish dishes. We always said we'd give Uno di Martino a try some winter night when it was too snowy to walk - but then that happened, and we still didn't go (struggled out to D.O.C. instead). Uno di Martino needs to re-vamp their menu, IMHO, to make them stand out a little more. For example, last time I looked at their menu, the most interesting appetizer was Caprese (yawn).

Akatonbo wrote:Uno di Martino needs to re-vamp their menu, IMHO, to make them stand out a little more. For example, last time I looked at their menu, the most interesting appetizer was Caprese (yawn).

Sometimes, the most simple menus produce the best food.

Best,
Michael

I live in the neighborhood and, after months of intending, finally visited Uno Di Martino about a month or two ago. It was a weeknight and we were one of three occupied tables. The server was a teenager and unable to answer any question about the menu. He was nice and tried hard but it became frustrating and ultimately comical. For example: they were out of the pasta I ordered (penne or rigatoni, which seemed weird--they obviously weren't busy) and our server delivered the news with a cooked piece of another kind of pasta in his hand. He displayed it and asked if I'd mind substituting it. I asked what other varieties they had and...he had to return to the kitchen. Even though there were few tables, he never noticed an empty water glass. However, to his credit, when I asked he was very good about rushing to get it. It was very well intentioned but not appropriate for a restaurant at the same price point as D.O.C. or Bocca or Francesca's (where I thought I'd read here these owners trained).

Meanwhile, the hostess, another woman and two very young children were hanging out in the dining room in a way that was uncomfortable: sitting at a table talking, walking with the children back and forth through the dining room, and ultimately retreating to the back room with others (family members?) where they apparently had some sort of a dinner. The kids kept wandering out of the back room. None of this is awful per se, but it wasn't what I was expecting and it's not the way they bill themselves.

The entrees were fine, I had pasta bolognese and my friend ravioli of some sort. She really liked her ravioli, my dish was fine. I ordered a crisp for dessert that was clearly warmed up from the night before. It was bad but I don't remember if I returned it. I remember worrying that if I did I might hurt the server's feelings.

Anyway, I'd rather go somewhere I feel comfortable (not like I'm invading a family function) and the service is better. I'd prefer Bruna's but if I don't feel like driving so far there are plenty of other, better options in the area.

eatchicago wrote:

Akatonbo wrote:Uno di Martino needs to re-vamp their menu, IMHO, to make them stand out a little more. For example, last time I looked at their menu, the most interesting appetizer was Caprese (yawn).

Sometimes, the most simple menus produce the best food.

Best,
Michael

Agreed, but sometimes it just displays a lack of imagination. My point is that with other good choices for Italian dining very nearby, they need to distinguish themselves in some way. I'm familiar with D.O.C. and Bocca, and know what I'm getting at those places, whereas Una di Martino is an unknown risk of my dining dollars. Seeing the same old stuff on their menu just doesn't inspire me to eat there.

Akatonbo wrote:I'm familiar with D.O.C. and Bocca, and know what I'm getting at those places, whereas Una di Martino is an unknown risk of my dining dollars.

If we never placed our dining dollars at unknown risk, we'd never find anything good to eat.

A group of us dined at Uno di Martino over a year ago. I know we enjoyed the meal. We haven't been back since, mainly because there are too many new and different restaurants to try.

Others have written about their experiences here, here, and briefly here.

Looking for pasta+parking on Lawrence this evening, I remembered the Third Thirsty Thursday meal at Uno di Martino. Peering in the windows, the disarray of the place made it seem that Uno di Martino had closed. Anyone know if that is indeed the case?

I went to this restaurant in early August for the second time. I really, really wanted to like it, as our first visit had been just "ok". My boyfriend lives less than a block away, so it would have been really convenient to have a good Italian restaurant right nearby. Sadly, we had what was easily one of my worst experiences in an Italian restaurant in a long time.

We came in at around 7pm on a Friday night, after work. There was only one other table occupied in the whole place, so we figured we'd at least get excellent service. Not so. Our waiter was consistently absent, our food took too long to come out (we waited for our entrees for almost a half hour after we finished our appetizers), and bussing a table seemed to be a foreign concept, as our dishes stayed on the table most of the night.

We started with an order of bruschetta, which came out on bread that was slightly soggy, like it had been made and had sat out for awhile. My boyfriend had the gnocchi, which he found to be not cooked very well. He described it as being very dough-y, like it hadn't been cooked long enough. I had a tilapia sauteed in a white wine sauce, and the fish was overcooked to the point of being quite dry.

With so many good choices for Italian in the area, I'm not surprised this restaurant is having trouble if my experience is at all like the average experience there.

Just noticed tonight that Uno Di Martinos is now closed.