Advertiser Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers.
Siena Tavern has been a great spot for upscale Italian since Top Chef alum Fabio Viviani and DineAmic Hospitality opened it in 2015. I live just two blocks over from its sister restaurant, Bar Siena, and I go there fairly often. I’ve been to Siena Tavern half a dozen times through the years and have always had a solid experience. After checking out Christkindlmarket, we stopped in for dinner.
Anthony’s Take: The restaurant feels elegant yet comfortable. This time of year it’s decorated for the holidays and is even more inviting. The food and service are solid. I’ve never had a bad meal here. This is the more serious, sophisticated sibling of the West Loop’s Bar Siena and a great place for a business meal or date.
Decor & Vibe
Siena Tavern is inviting with dark woods and lush banquettes. The environment is much more subdued than it’s sister restaurant Bar Siena and the crowd tends to skew a little older. A festive Christmas tree graced the lobby during our visit and it kept us in the holiday spirit after being at the Christmas market.
The bar fills most of the dining room to the right of the host stand and provides a little more casual experience.
Food
The menu has a mix of antipasti, soup, salad, pizza, pasta, and entrees.
We started with the Coccoli. The crispy dough was airy light and worked well with the Stracchino cheese, Prosciutto di Parma and truffle honey.
We also had the Wagyu Beef Meatball. It was sizable and great for sharing. I’m always a sucker for meatballs and enjoyed this one.
For mains, we each had a pasta dish. I chose the Baked Lasagna with ricotta, meat ragu, and parmesan. It was a little soupy, but the flavors were great.
My husband had the Orecchiette with Prosciutto sausage, watercress, chili flakes, and Pecorino. He loved the flavors and portion size.
Our friend ordered the Gnocchi with truffle cream, fried sage, and crispy pancetta. He was also happy with his choice.
Drinks
We started with a pitcher of white sangria and then shifted into wine. The espresso martinis above served as dessert for my dining companions. All of the cocktails and wine at Siena Tavern are made well and pair nicely with the food. They are a little pricey, but that is expected given the setting.
Overall Impression:
Siena Tavern offers a solid menu of upscale Italian fare. It’s a nice place to take the parents, a business associate, or a date that you want to get cozy with over some wine or cocktails.
Anthony’s Credit Card Pick: When I’m dining out, I want to maximize my points earned. My card of choice for restaurants and food delivery is the American Express® Gold Card. With it, I earn four Membership Rewards® Points for each dollar spent at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the US. It also includes up to $120 annual credit (up to $10 per month given in statement credits) for Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations. Plus, up to another $120 annually (up to $10 per month) in Uber Cash that I can use for Uber Eats. When I’m hungry, this is the card I choose. (Terms apply and enrollment required for select benefits.) Learn more.
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
