Adalina

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Modern Italian in the Heart of the Gold Coast

Adalina occupies a prime address on North State Street in Chicago's Gold Coast, offering a refined take on Italian cuisine under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Soo Ahn, a recognized Top Chef alumna. The premise is straightforward: traditional Italian flavors handled with contemporary confidence, served in a setting described as timeless yet alluring.

The kitchen's foundation is handmade pasta — extruded, stuffed, and shaped in-house — alongside imported meats and cheeses, hand-selected beef, and fresh seafood. The result is a menu that moves comfortably between shared antipasti and bold main plates without losing its Italian footing. Eater Chicago has called out Adalina's pasta among the best in the city, and the restaurant has appeared on Eater's list of 38 Essential Restaurants in Chicago, earned a Jean Banchet Award nomination for Best New Restaurant, and received recognition for both Best Dish and Best Meal.

What's on the Table

The dinner menu reads as a confident mix of classic references and sharper modern instincts. Antipasti include Gnocco Fritto with 24-month aged Prosciutto di San Daniele and Mieli Thun honey, Charred Octopus with Sicilian pistachios and horseradish goat cheese, and a Blue Fin Tuna Tartare finished with toasted chili oil. The handmade pasta section is the heart of the menu: Crab Agnolotti with Japanese spider crab and lemon beurre monte, a Spicy Vodka Rigatoni spiked with gochujang and stracciatella, and a Lobster Spaghetti with sungold pomodoro and furikake. Bistecca cuts — including a 45-day dry-aged bone-in ribeye and A5 Wagyu from Kagoshima — anchor the more indulgent end of the menu.

The beverage program earned a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2022, a recognition that reflects the seriousness of the wine list. Cocktails are equally considered, ranging from the signature Calabrese (Dobel Diamante Tequila, Calabrian chili agave, black lime) to the theatrical Velluto Rosso, served with a house-made strawberry and bitters lollipop.

Atmosphere and Beyond

The romantic ambiance that press outlets from Forbes to The Infatuation have noted is reinforced by Rose Lounge, a speakeasy-style space beneath the restaurant offering a specialty cocktail list for a more intimate experience. A patio extends the dining footprint when the season allows. Private dining rooms — recognized by Crain's Chicago Business — and a full catering program round out what Adalina offers beyond the main dining room.

For Chicago diners looking for modern Italian cuisine done with real technique and a well-stocked cellar to match, Adalina is a consistent and well-credentialed choice.