Best Lasagna in Chicago (2026)

Pequod's built its reputation on one specific thing: a deep-dish pie with a caramelized cheese crust that blackens at the edges and holds the sauce inside like a cast-iron dam. The room reads dive, not destination, and reservations are the move, not optional. The sausage deep dish is the standard order. Opinions on whether it clears the hype will vary, but the crust construction is genuinely its own thing, distinct from every other deep-dish room in the city.

RPM Italian is the kind of River North room that earns the expense-account label honestly. The crispy Brussels sprouts draw consistent, unqualified praise, and the pasta program holds up at this price point. The Fritto Misto has drawn some skepticism given its cost, so calibrate expectations. The room runs dark and the atmosphere is intentional. For a special-occasion dinner downtown, the full package, service and setting included, generally delivers at the level the price suggests.

Bar Siena's strongest argument is its patio, and happy hour sharpens that case considerably. The Margherita pizza, a Paloma, and a glass of rosé is the standard play here, and it works. Portion sizes run on the smaller side for the price, and the room can feel uneven when it needs to step up for larger parties. Come for the patio and the pizza at the right hour, and the experience lands; come expecting the full upscale Italian room and the gaps show.

Siena Tavern is a reliable after-work room in River North, the kind of place that fills steadily on weeknights without requiring an occasion to justify the bill. The Wagyu meatballs, arancini, and coccoli are the anchors of the appetizer run, and the cocktail list holds its own. The room runs dark, which either suits the date-night framing or makes it harder to read the menu, depending on preference. The menu has shifted over time, and a few longtime regulars have noticed the edits.

Spacca Napoli draws its reputation from Neapolitan technique, and the burrata is worth ordering before the pie arrives. The pizza has earned national-level recognition, and the more creative specialty options give regulars something to return to beyond the classics. Reservations a few days out on weekends are standard operating procedure. The room is family-friendly and the service reads as consistent. For serious pizza, this is one of the rooms Chicago points to when the city makes its case.

Gino's East South Loop runs the deep-dish standard with a corn-meal crust that sets it apart from the other major rooms. The Supreme deep dish, loaded with large-cut sausage, is the order that comes up most reliably in the record. The South Loop location gets particular credit for floor service, with staff who navigate the menu well for first-timers. The thin crust is also available for the table that can't reach consensus. Group-friendly and consistent.

Labriola Ristorante reads from the outside as quieter than it is inside, and the room fills up more than the storefront suggests. The pizza and pasta are the reasons to come, and the tiramisu finishes the meal well. Service quality has drawn some inconsistent notes, with at least one account of front-of-the-house lapses that undercut what was otherwise strong food. When the room is working, the Italian cooking holds up; service is the variable worth watching.

Al's has been running the Italian beef since 1938, and the sandwich is exactly what Chicago means when it uses the phrase. Thin-sliced roast beef on a roll, dipped in jus, with giardiniera. The bread absorbs the drippings and holds. Some accounts note the beef can run toward the dry side, so wet or dipped is the call. The Combo, with an Italian sausage alongside the beef, is the standard upgrade. For anyone visiting Chicago, this is the canonical version of the format.

Calo Ristorante is a North Side Italian room that has held its neighborhood standing across many years of service. The ravioli draws the most specific praise, with accounts of fresh flavors and the occasional creative preparation that separates it from the straightforward pasta-house category. The room is a genuine sit-down experience, not counter service dressed up. Reservations by phone are possible but the wait can still run a few minutes on busy nights. The food consistency is the main argument for a return.

Maggiano's is a chain, and that context matters for calibrating expectations. The Chicago location, on Clark Street in River North, runs as a large-format group and occasion room where the Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms, Rigatoni D, and Chicken Marsala are the through-line orders across the record. Skeptics coming in from other markets have generally found this location holds up better than expected. For work dinners and group celebrations where the logistics of a big table need to go smoothly, it delivers.

La Villa operates as a dinner-and-theater room, and that occasion framing is where it functions best. Groups coming in before a show, including from the northern suburbs, have used it as a reliable pre-curtain option. The tableside dressing and gravy get specific praise, and the service navigates large parties through the menu with attention. The food, centered on chicken, pork, and vegetable preparations, reads as solid rather than exceptional. The banquet and lounge capacity makes it a practical choice when the headcount is high.

Mia Francesca is a Lakeview institution, and the room feels like one. The staff treats regulars and first-timers with the same attention, and the Chicken Milanese draws consistent, specific praise as the signature plate. The ravioli is reliable, though portion size relative to price has drawn some measured notes. For family dinners, post-holiday gatherings, and occasions when the room needs to feel welcoming rather than formal, Mia Francesca has held that role on the North Side for years.