Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Belmont Central / Cragin

Overall, the best restaurant I’ve been to since moving to Chicago. The appetizers were phenomenal, the main courses felt a little short, but still we’re good . And I did notice that they forgot to give us our onion soup and sparkling water we ordered 

I had a delightful lunch at Gibsons Italia with my friend, and it was an experience to remember! From the moment we arrived on the 3rd floor, we were treated to excellent service. The staff was attentive, friendly, and ready to answer all our questions—including explaining what gold-extruded pasta meant, which we found fascinating. The food was absolutely delicious! The salads were fresh and flavorful, the portions were just right, and the baked potato was a standout—so good that I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. The ambiance, paired with the gorgeous riverside view, made it hard to leave after our meal. Instead of heading out right away, we decided to continue our stay at the bar, and I’m so glad we did! PJ, the bartender, was exceptional. His service, engaging conversations, and the memorable baked Alaska he recommended truly elevated our experience. He even crafted some amazing drinks that were the perfect finish to our visit. From start to finish, Gibsons Italia exceeded our expectations, and I can’t wait to return—especially to see PJ again for another round of his amazing hospitality. Highly recommend!

A unique dinning experience. It was our first time and the staff did an excellent job of guiding us to a wonderful experience. We got to enjoy several different types of seafood and tried two different steak types. Everything was prepared well and tasted fantastic. The sommelier was helpful and paired our meal with very nice wine.

We came over to check in about 15 mins before our reservations and we were seared immediately. Everyone was so friendly and polite. The place was decorated beautifully. We love the fairies that come around to the table no matter how old you are. They were so sweet and make the experience even more enjoyable. Our waiter was wonderful so attentive, never having to look for him, always refilling our glasses and providing prompt and friendly service. Food came out quick and was very good. We never felt rushed. We were able to go by the tree and take pictures. It was just a fabulous time. We had our first experience there last year and now we’ve made this an annual tradition. We look forward to many more years to come.

Our night was so enjoyable, and it started with our server. He was personable, helpful and good humored. The cocktails are creative, I had the Japantown and loved it. Very original, very refreshing. We shared the garlic fried rice, brussels sprouts, fire chicken and steak kalbi. Every bit of it was delicious. Truly, could not have been happier with the experience.