Ciao Baby, Barrington, Il.
Ciao Baby is good food, cozy, reasonable prices and convenient. That checks all of our boxes.
Ciao Baby
232 E Main St, Barrington, IL 60010
Phone: (847) 381-3555
No Website
One of the better American Italian-style restaurants in the Chicago suburbs. No pretensions—just consistently good food. We’ve been going to Ciao Baby for about ten years because it delivers what matters: well-prepared dishes, reasonable prices, an attractive, comfortable setting and easy parking.
The Place
Italian restaurants are everywhere in the Chicago area. And Main Street downtown Barrington isn’t where you’d expect to find a reliably good Italian-style dining experience. But that’s exactly what we’ve found at Ciao Baby.
The restaurant occupies one of several storefronts on a short block. You enter directly into the front room, a cozy, well-designed space where menus are displayed on chalkboards. The second more formal back room has interesting faux Italian scenic windows, and we prefer is quieter atmosphere and it is warmer in the winter. Both rooms are nice, tables aren’t crowded, and the lighting is pleasant. Yet the front room does have a trendier character.
The Food
We love Italian food and have been eating it for more than 65 years—around Chicago, across the U.S., and four decades of traveling in Italy. Ciao Baby doesn’t pretend to be a temple of regional Italian authenticity, and that’s fine. The food is Italian-style, well prepared, generously portioned, and among the most reasonably priced we find.
We’ve had pasta, fish, chicken and eggplant Parmigiana, and various specials. On this visit, we started with the lollipop lamb chops—a favorite of Andrea’s and something not often found at a casual early-evening dinner They were reasonably priced and properly cooked medium-rare, though I’ve had more melt-in-your-mouth versions elsewhere.
I ordered the shrimp pasta Diavolo, mild and as requested lightly sauced, with perfectly cooked pasta and large shrimp. I’ve had this dish more than 20 times over the years, and it’s been consistently good. Andrea had the reliable eggplant Parmigiana. In the past, one of Andrea’s favorites has been the always nicely done baked cod—another dish that’s not easy to find.
Every meal comes with unlimited small loaves of crusty, tasty bread served on a cutting board. Salads no longer come with entrées, but there are several good options. One standout value: a small side salad for $1.25. It’s simple and modest, but just right as a starter.
One note on sauces: in many Italian restaurants, some dishes—especially pasta—can be over-sauced, which can leave the pasta soggy. I’ve learned to ask for half the normal sauce or sauce on the side. When I asked the manager about this, she explained (fairly) that many customers prefer extra sauce. That’s true—but I’d prefer restaurants err on the side of restraint and serve the pasta perfect and offer extra sauce by request. At Ciao Baby pasta with half the sauce is perfect for my taste.
The Experience
We visited on a cold Friday night, arriving at 5:30 p.m. The front room was about half full, slightly less in the back room where we sat. By the time we left around 6:45, both rooms were nearly full—always a good sign on a winter night.
The crowd was a comfortable mix of young couples, seniors like us, and multi-generation families. The restaurant promotes itself as family-friendly, and it clearly is.
We’ve always felt welcome and unhurried at Ciao Baby. Service is generally good, though in the past few years there have been occasional slow-service nights, usually attributed to short staffing. Management is typically visible and working hard to keep things moving, which we appreciate.
Verdict
Ciao Baby isn’t trendy or flashy, and it doesn’t try to be. What it offers instead is more valuable: consistent, well-priced Italian-style food in a comfortable setting, a place we return to regularly—and recommend.
⭐ Food Quality: Excellent
💰 Value: Excellent
🕐 Early Bird Experience: Always enjoyable, best to make a reservation
🔇 Atmosphere: Comfortable, everyone welcome
👍 Would Return: Yes, it’s become one of our go-to places for Italian food