Isacco Kitchen

Eh. We went based on the number of stars because we were nearby for Riverfest and ready for dinner, but I wish I would have read the reviews more closely. I'm truly baffled by the glowing reviews, and I can absolutely see the similarities in experiences reported that were not so positive.

Service was ok; server was nice enough. The appetizers we ordered - the zucchini blossoms and the Brussels sprouts - were pretty good. Not the best we've had, but we were hungry and they were decent. They did bring bread and butter - bread was hot but served in a paper bag, which I guess is supposed to be kitschy but we found strange. The butter was loaded with garlic flavor but didn't appear to have garlic in it - it had an odd oily consistency. It was soft, at least, so there's that.

The entrees, however, were BLAND. Like someone had come in and just stripped all taste from them. Both the gnocchi (which was undercooked, and the chicken that accompanied it was a bit tough) and the veal ravioli were severely lacking in actual flavor. And calling the veal ravioli "veal" would imply that there was enough veal in the (also undercooked) pasta to taste it... but there wasn't. (Don't get me started on the lack of salt and pepper on the table, too. It never did arrive, and it might have helped make the meals at least palatable.)

The food was presented well (and I've posted pics... someone like me will probably breeze through and go "oooooh yum" but keep reading... because it didn't taste like much of anything.) We had it boxed up to go (why, I don't know, we weren't really going to eat it again) and when we got home we discovered the to-go bag they prepared was leaking butter sauce from the ravioli all over our SUV. Packing fail.

So, basically... we spent $100 for mediocre food and one cocktail (which wasn't even what my husband wanted because despite the "full bar," they don't carry Jameson. First world problem, I realize, but when you're told they have a full bar and they can't make the first two drinks you request... maybe stop calling it a full bar.)

I love local businesses, I love trying out new places, I'm ALL for spending money on great food (and do it quite often)... but I wouldn't dine here again.

I've been getting behind on my reviews, but this needs to be said- Absolutely one of the best restaurants in the Fox Valley area!!!
Seasonal menu offers mini meatballs over creamy poloenta, Short rib manicotti
is outstanding. Chef also brought me a warm loaf of freshly baked bread w/ herbed butter & oil. Top notch foodie experience. Can't wait to go back!!

Isacco Kitchen has become my favorite go-to restaurant around St. Charles. The staff is warm, welcoming, and focused on service. The food is always top quality, fresh ingredients, and a beautiful presentation. Even on the few occasions something has not met an expectation, the team handles things courteously and tries to rectify. My family and I have been here countless times over the past few years and have had some great great meals.

The soups are always a highlight, changing seasonally. Currently they are serving a minestrone but I always look forward to the butternut squash and others. When my wife and I go there, we find ourselves focusing on sharing a number of appetizer plates. Recently we have had some great oysters, the meat and cheese platter is always a fun assortment, stuffed dates with salad, and the mini meatballs with polenta are some favorites for us. Always a great variety.

We have had some great pasta dishes. My newest favorite is the mushroom risotto with foie gras. A little sweet, served with a fried egg adding richness to this decadent treasure!! The lamb osso bucco is always a hit. And I could go on.

Fabio has turned me on to some great wines at a great price. He has a knack for picking some real winners!!

We have eaten inside, outside, and at the bar. We have gone for date night, birthday celebrations, family get togethers, and just to grab a great meal.

This is a great place!! Thanks for all your hospitality!!!

If I'd reviewed this place before we went there last night, it would have been a solid 4 star review, but...

Last night my wife and I took a foodie friend of ours who was visiting from out of town. We think the charcuterie starter that Isacco serves is simply without parallel. It beats Neo's Salumi bar in terms of value, if not quality! Enough meat and cheese for 4 and too much for 2 people...

After that, things got a little weird. We decided to just go with starters instead of entrees, our friend got the shrimp with gnocchi, I got the mussels, and my wife got the fried beet salad. The shrimp/gnocchi was delicious, if a little small on the gnocchi bits, my mussels were perfect with a great bread for sopping up the slightly spicy juice left in the bowl (yes!), but my wife's beet salad arrived with kind of a duck confit mixed in.?!?! WTF? Duck?

We were confused since the menu definitely doesn't mention this. Our waiter offered that Isacco had taken the night off, and the "kitchen help" were being a little creative tonight... Needless to say, that was a surprise, and not altogether welcome... Menu descriptions should be pretty darn close to describing what will arrive -- and any additions should be discussed with customer before hand. What if my wife was vegan?

So I'm docking a point for adding meat to a dish that obviously shouldn't have any. I suggest you double-check with the waiter to be sure you're surprises are limited...

The warm bread was delicious as always, and service was fine.

TIP: Check out the bathrooms when you go, they look like something straight out of Banksy's house!

I first went to Isacco Kitchen when my parents brought me there earlier this year. My first visit their I thought the food was amazing.

The quality of the food Chef Vitali cooks is out of this world. Everything there from the appetizers to their deserts are one of a kind.

My favorite dish at the moment is the Kobe Beef.......so delicious!!

First time here for dinner, what a gem to find, welcoming warm and cozy.
the salads we had were out of this world as were the main courses.
Ari, our waiter was efficient attentive and very charming.
as we were eating I watched the other guest's plates, so many interesting delicious choices.
definitely will be back soon
NJ

Went on a date this friday night to Isacco based on the great reviews.
We walked in and were greeted by a hostess that invited us to pick our table. I thought that was a little weird since its basically her job to find us a table, but whatever. The decor is a bit interesting with random modern art pieces on the wall and basically spray paint graffiti on the ceiling. The music was a mix of early to late 2000s alternative rock music, which i thought was strange, but whatever.
So the waiter comes to take our drink order. We both aren't wine drinkers so we declined and it seems like he checked out at that point as he really wasnt as engaging or attentive as other tables. 2/5.
They bread came out and was served to us cold in a paper bag. Like a little sandwich paper bag that homeless people hide bottles of liquor in. It didnt have a bad taste and was fresh but would have preferred it hot. 3/5.
We ordered the meatball appetizer ($12). 6 little meatballs came on a bed of mashed potatoes and marinara sauce. The meatballs were dry and over cooked. They crumbled when putting a fork in them. 2/5.
I ordered the flank steak toscano ($26) medium rare, and my date had the seafood risotto ($29). My steak came more medium than medium rare which was fine but it was tough. I didnt feel like it was seasoned at all and that was masked by a mushroom sauce/glaze they poured over it. The ends of the steak were pretty fatty as well. The polenta underneath was pretty delicious though. 2/5.
I didnt try my dates risotto. She wasnt a huge fan of it and left most of it. Her complaints were that the calamari was chewy, but liked the sauce and scallops in it.
Check was $73 after tax.
I would probably give it another shot based on the stellar reviews, perhaps they were just off tonight.
2/5.

Being Italian, I'm a "bit" particular in my expectations of Italian food. Isacco was a last minute family dinner on a Sunday evening (two weeks ago) and sat on the patio. The food tasted as if it came from the Old Country!

From the moment we walked in, we felt like we were at home. Our server, Fabio felt like family and treated us as if we were at his dining room table.

I cannot speak highly enough of the food... I had the Crab Ravioli and each taste was absolutely perfectly put together. My husband had the lamb shank and risotto and compared it to the food on our honeymoon. Every guest in our party was extremely happy with the food and the service.

We will be frequenting this restaurant!!

(Side note, below I marked "Good for kids and average noise level, due to us sitting outside on the large patio. I do not believe this restaurant is good for small kids on the inside as it is very small.)

I had really high hopes for this place, but it was just disappointing.

Appetizers- The reason this place gets it's two stars was because of the tempura battered zucchini flowers. It was one of the best things I've tasted. We had sausage eggplant rolls and the eggplant was all soggy and the sausage was just decent.

Dinner- crab ravioli- the worst dish I've ever tasted. It had so much fishy taste and lemon that I couldn't even eat it. Practically inedible.

Chicken something something- chicken was bland and not juicy. Spinach was overpowering and bitter.

Short rib manicatti- again, practically inedible, it was just a soggy mess

Flank steak- the steak was decent but not that great

Service- it was great but couldn't make up for the food

I had high hopes for this place after reading the reviews and hearing about the freshness and the handmade-ness but it just wasn't good.

We stopped by during river fest and there was no one, and I mean, NO ONE there. Oddly, that was mildly appealing as we wanted some small plates and wine. We sat on the patio, right next to where they grow their own basil and rosemary.

The server was pleasant, albeit, a little unrefined. Not a deal breaker. The bread was delivered in a brown paper lunch sack, presumably because we were outside? The bread was warm, but I found the herbed butter to be overwhelming.

Bottles of wine were reasonably priced, with a heavy emphasis (naturally) on Italian wines

We started with the antipasto and cheese plate, of which 90% was winner. The green British Stilton seemed out of place.

For apps, their sausage stuffed mini tri-colored peppers over creamy polenta rocked. It was so good I had to try and recreate it for Father's Day. I'm fairly certain we ordered more apps to share, but I was so hooked on this one, i wasn't paying attention to anything else.