La Scarola
12 people recommendvia r/chicagofood13 comments cited below
What people say, in short
La Scarola is repeatedly recommended for Italian food, with two commenters explicitly calling it a city-best pick. Several praise the food, and two highlight generous portions. One diner singles out the meatballs from a past visit. The large servings are not an unqualified advantage: another likes the restaurant but warns they may leave a visitor with unwanted leftovers. One commenter also praises the room's lively energy and people-watching.
Address
La Scarola, 721 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Meatballs
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to La Scarola, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/ikki_vikki_ in r/chicagofood · Jan 2024portion
Strongly picks La Scarola, noting big portions make it affordable if shared.
- Recommendsu/sciguy0504 in r/chicagofood · Jan 2024taste
Votes for La Scarola, praising the food and generous portion sizes.
- Recommendsu/Then-Assistance6261 in r/chicagofood · Jan 2024taste
Says La Scarola's food is far better than the Club Lucky food just criticized.
- Recommendsu/Caiteoc in r/chicagofood · Jan 2024
Ranks La Scarola among the top Italian spots in town.
- Recommendsu/Emotional-Cut-1998 in r/chicagofood · Jan 2024ambience
Loves La Scarola's overall vibe and energy; calls it a fun place to people-watch.
- Recommendsu/yanderlei2 in r/chicagofood · Nov 2025
Named as a final-meal pick with no detail given.
- Recommendsu/Ceeboy_ in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Calls it the top Italian restaurant in the city.
- Mixedu/DREWBICE in r/chicagofood · May 2024portion
Says they like it, but portions are very large, which might be too much for a visitor.
Show all 13 cited comments
- Recommendsu/Big-block427 in r/chicagofood · Feb 2025
Recommends La Scarola.
- Recommendsu/vintagemugbetty in r/chicagofood · May 2024taste
Says the meatballs were exceptional on a past visit with colleagues.
- Recommendsu/LordBiggieOfApinto in r/chicagofood · May 2024
Named in a list of picks, with no further detail.
- Recommendsu/rHereLetsGo in r/chicagofood · Jan 2024
Names La Scarola as their top pick.
- Recommendsu/No_Brain_5164 in r/chicagofood · Jan 2024
Says La Scarola is top tier.
More maps in Chicago, United States
- Places to visit in Chicago
- Best steak in Chicago
- Museums in Chicago
- Best pizza in Chicago
- Best burgers in Chicago
- Best cafés in Chicago
- Best breakfast in Chicago
- Best bars in Chicago
- Best sushi in Chicago
- Best ramen in Chicago
- Indian restaurants in Chicago
- Best brunch in Chicago
- Best seafood in Chicago
- Bookstores in Chicago
- Parks in Chicago
Did this page answer your question?
Freshness
Details last checked 4 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.