Our La Dolce Vita Cucina Chicago menu brings together homemade pastas, premium steaks, fresh seafood, and house-made gelato, all served in the heart of Portage Park. Since opening our doors in late 2024, we’ve built a kitchen that respects Italian tradition while keeping things interesting with multicultural touches you won’t find at every neighborhood spot.
Whether you’re planning a weekday lunch, a full dinner out, or just want to know what’s worth ordering before you walk in, this guide breaks it all down. We picked five standout dishes across our lunch and dinner menus that represent what we do best, from our handmade linguini to our 16oz Ribeye that regulars keep coming back for.
Here are our top picks, what makes each one worth trying, and a few details to help you plan your visit.
1. Linguine neri frutti di mare
If you scan the la dolce vita cucina chicago menu for a pasta dish that does something genuinely different, the Linguine neri frutti di mare rises to the top fast. Squid ink pasta made fresh in-house, paired with a full lineup of shellfish, this is the dish we sell most at dinner service, and for clear reasons.
What you get
Your plate arrives with handmade squid ink linguini cooked al dente and tossed with shrimp, calamari, and clams in a light, savory sauce that keeps things clean rather than heavy. The black pasta carries a mild, natural brininess that deepens the overall flavor without pushing the seafood to the background.
Why it’s a house favorite
Guests come back for this dish because the squid ink linguini is made fresh in-house, not pulled from a supplier, and that shows up in the texture and the way it holds under the seafood. You get a bowl where the pasta stays firm and actually contributes to the dish rather than just acting as filler.
When a dish gets reordered this consistently by first-timers, the product is doing all the talking.
Keeping the sauce light was a deliberate call by our kitchen. Heavy cream-based preparations tend to drown out shellfish flavor, so we strip it back to let the shrimp, calamari, and clams stay upfront on every forkful.
Price and what to know before you order
This entrée sits at $28 on the dinner menu. Plan your appetite accordingly since the portion is full and complete on its own without needing a starter to round it out. If you have a shellfish sensitivity, flag it with your server before ordering because the dish contains clams, shrimp, and calamari throughout.
2. Bistecca Toscana
The Bistecca Toscana is the centerpiece steak on the la dolce vita cucina chicago menu, built around a 16oz Ribeye finished with a clear Italian direction. It earns its place as a chef recommendation every dinner service, and the portion size alone tells you this dish means business.
What you get
Your plate arrives with a 16oz bone-in ribeye cooked to your specified temperature, finished with Tuscan herbs and a clean pan sauce that grounds the cut in Italian tradition without overcomplicating the meat.
The sear and internal temperature are managed closely in our kitchen because at this size, consistency separates a good steak from a great one. You can taste the difference when a ribeye gets the attention it deserves.
Best sides to pair with it
Roasted vegetables and house-prepared potatoes sit alongside the ribeye without competing with the meat, keeping the plate balanced. Ask your server about current seasonal accompaniments, since the kitchen rotates additions based on what comes in fresh.
A ribeye this size holds heat well, so take your time with it at the table rather than rushing through the first few cuts.
Price and portion expectations
The Bistecca Toscana is priced at $55 on the dinner menu. At 16oz, this is a complete meal without needing a starter to round out your order.
Most guests finish satisfied, so plan your appetizer choices accordingly before you sit down.
3. Salmone alla griglia
The Salmone alla griglia is a chef recommendation on the la dolce vita cucina chicago menu, built around a premium Scottish salmon that most Chicago neighborhood restaurants don’t bother sourcing.
What you get
Your plate features a Loch Duart salmon fillet, grilled and finished with fresh seasonal accompaniments that frame the fish without overloading it. Loch Duart is a Scottish producer recognized for slow-growth aquaculture, which results in a denser, richer fillet compared to standard farmed salmon.
The sourcing alone sets this dish apart, and the preparation stays clean specifically so you can taste the difference in the fish itself.
Who this entrée fits best
This dish works for guests who want a protein-forward plate without the richness of a heavy steak or a cream-driven pasta. The grilled preparation keeps calories in check while still delivering serious flavor, making it one of the most balanced options available at dinner service.
If you prefer lighter, ingredient-driven choices, this is a reliable pick that holds its own against anything else on the menu.
Price and ingredient highlights
The Salmone alla griglia is priced at $34 on the dinner menu. The Loch Duart sourcing is the standout detail here, since that producer is widely recognized for sustainable farming practices that consistently produce a better-quality fillet.
4. Margherita pizza
The Margherita pizza on the la dolce vita cucina chicago menu proves that straightforward execution beats unnecessary complexity. With just a handful of quality ingredients, this pizza delivers a result that stands comfortably alongside the heavier, more elaborate dishes on the menu.
What you get
Your pizza arrives with fresh mozzarella, crushed tomatoes, and basil on a hand-stretched crust baked at high heat. The simplicity here is intentional: every ingredient is visible and accountable, which means the kitchen has nowhere to hide if quality dips.
Simple preparations expose the ingredients, and our kitchen treats that as a standard, not a risk.
When this pizza shines most
This option works particularly well during lunch service, when you want something satisfying without the weight of a full pasta or steak. Sharing this pizza as a table starter during dinner also makes strong sense when your group hasn’t landed on a single direction yet.
Price and easy upgrades
The Margherita pizza is priced at $18. Ask your server about available protein additions like grilled chicken or shrimp if you want a heartier plate without switching to a different section of the menu entirely.
5. Pollo alla Milanese
The Pollo alla Milanese rounds out the la dolce vita cucina chicago menu with a classic Italian preparation that works as well at lunch as it does at dinner. A breaded and pan-fried chicken cutlet, this dish keeps things familiar without being heavy.
What you get
Your plate arrives with a thin, breaded chicken cutlet pan-fried to a golden crust, served with fresh arugula and a lemon garnish that cuts through the richness of the fried coating. The preparation stays true to the Milanese tradition: no heavy saucing, just a well-executed cutlet with clean, bright accompaniments that let the technique carry the plate.
How it compares to other lunch entrées
This dish gives you a lighter, crispier option compared to the pasta and steak choices on the lunch menu. If the Margherita pizza feels too casual and the linguini too substantial for midday, the Pollo alla Milanese sits comfortably in between without sacrificing flavor or leaving you hungry.
It’s the kind of plate that satisfies without slowing you down for the rest of the afternoon.
Price and the best time to order
The Pollo alla Milanese is priced at $22. Lunch service is the ideal window to order it, since the lighter preparation fits the midday pace better than a heavier evening entrée would.
Next steps
You now have a clear picture of what stands out on the la dolce vita cucina chicago menu, from the handmade squid ink linguini to the Loch Duart salmon and the Milanese-style chicken that works for any hour of the day. Each of these five dishes reflects what our kitchen prioritizes: quality sourcing, honest preparation, and portions that actually satisfy.
Your next move is straightforward. Check current hours, browse the full menu, and reserve your table before you head in so you’re not waiting at the door. We also offer online ordering through Toast Tab if you’d rather enjoy any of these dishes off-site. Gift cards are available digitally as well, making it easy to share a meal here with someone else.
Head to La Dolce Vita Cucina to make a reservation, place an order, or get directions to our Portage Park location.