21 Best Italian Restaurants in Madison

“Always amazing here. Food , atmosphere, staff, and great cocktails to boot.“

“Great experience…everything from the ambiance to the waitstaff to the drinks, appetizers, entree, desserts and coffee were amazing!“

“I've been going to Ginos for years! Best sandwiches in Madison! I'm just sorry they aren't open more! Love, love, LOVE them!!!“

“Y'all.…. this place is out of this world!! Everything from the wine, appetizers, entrée desserts and coffee are just phenomenal!! Do not pass this place up! I love the line of this chef… The way the music goes, that’s the we dance! And that’s exactly what this place is all about. Everyone loves this place! Tony Bennet and famous athletes from all over - including Reggie Bush!“

“After 29 years of living near Madison, we finally went for dinner last night. Everything was delicious- mocktail, bruschetta, both pasta dishes (mushroom truffle & sausage rigatoni), as well as the light, fluffy desserts (butterscotch pudding & cheesecake with rhubarb/strawberry compote). Super happy our waiter, James, sent us home with an extra baguette & recommended making French toast - which we did today! We’ll be back with friends and recommending to others!“

“We have been to Nonno's at least 4 times in the past few years! This restaurant is the absolute best Italian food our family has ever had. The service is top notch! Our son Sean loves going here and always orders the Chicken Alfredo with lots and lots of cheese. I always order Spaghetti Bolognese which never disappoints!! Thank you to our waiter and the staff for your wonderful hospitality and service.“

“Good food and nice place!“

“Two of their standard items can be made vegan - neither are vegan by default so just ask. Totally worth it, pick up some sourdough while you are there.“

“Great pizza and nice ambiance as usual. What made our evening even better were the warm smile and friendly personality of our waitress Mel! She nicely engaged in joking conversation, went above and beyond to accommodate our special request, and frequently checked in to make sure we had everything we needed. Outstanding food and service — we’ll definitely be coming back!“

“It has been quite some time since my last visit to Olive Garden, likely around the start of 2021. At that time, I was quite disappointed with the standard of both the food and service. However, this time around, the experience was truly exceptional. The food was excellent, and the service was equally commendable. The ambiance, however, still appears somewhat outdated. Olive Garden may benefit from updating.“

“We had the absolute honor of being one of Jasper’s first tables, he was such an incredible server! So attentive and so helpful! Our drinks never stayed empty, our soups and breadsticks were refreshed so quickly, and our food came out so fast. On top of that, all of the food was absolutely delicious. We will definitely be coming back!“

“My granddaughter and I was touring downtown Madison about two weeks ago, we came across D’Vino as we walked. The special for the day was crab cake and green fried tomatoes, of course we went in to order. The food was amazing. My granddaughter love the atmosphere of the restaurant and so did I .She order a pizza that was the best she ever had. The food was so good, even the water was great. We will be back!“

“Great service and great food! I highly recommend this restaurant for the great dining experience!“

“The service was the best. Araceli was amazing server , help us with everything we need , the best GF menu I had so far .. I recommend this place very clean classy .. Barb the manager came and checked on us to make sure we had everything we needed .. very happy and I’m definitely going to be back soon“

“I visited a few years ago. I had so.e dish of ground beef eggola t in a garlicky onion tomatoes sauce served with jasmine rice. one of the tastiest meals I've had.“

“Great steak, even better lobster mac & cheese, which was so delightful after a long day. But I’m telling you whatever you do… Do not let them talk you into getting the A2 steak sauce. They convinced me A2 was better than A1 sauce, it’s not, and then they charged me for it. Beware.“

“Bunky’s is simply amazing! They catered our wedding 12 years ago. Authentic Mediterranean food, expertly prepared, with superb customer service... highly recommend!“

“If you’re in the Monona area or nearby cities and craving pizza, Rocky Rococo absolutely delivers 🔥🍕
From the moment you walk in, the vibe is welcoming and friendly, and the staff go out of their way to make you feel taken care of. The pizza? Next level. Perfectly thick, buttery crust with just the right amount of crisp, loaded with fresh toppings and rich, flavorful sauce. Every bite tastes like it was made with care.
The slices are huge, the ingredients taste fresh, and everything comes out hot and fast—exactly what you want when you’re hungry. Whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch or feeding a group, this place hits every time.
Honestly one of the best spots in the area for comfort food done right. Highly recommend if you want consistently great pizza and friendly service. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“We came in on a Monday night in the summer. We have been coming here a lot recently. We love the food! Pizza is great, salads and meatballs too! Our table tonight was two young kids and two adults. Most people wouldn't want our table. Servers don't like kids. I assume that means low bill and low tip. However, my husband and I have worked in the restaurant business for a long time! We know how to tip and never order off the kids menu. We were told our server Lydia would be with us shortly. However she never came by. I had to ask for service after we came in to eat and we're very hungry. It was my daughter's birthday and they just got done with Ju Jitsu practice. My daughter told me she was starving. I know! She never came to the table. We were ignored for a while and told to order at the counter. There were open tables and not too many people in the restaurant. Thank you to the shift manager who finally helped us. We also asked Lydia to help with our check at the end and she told us she couldn't help us. She was so rude! Thanks Lydia. If you go on a weekday you might not even get service unless you ask. We'll be back to eat the food and hope we don't ever get Lydia. She was only serving two tables and both were finished before we got our food. She was not that busy but decided she didn't want to serve us.“

“Always excellent pizza and sandwiches. we've never been disappointed. fun staff, Aubrey is very fun and an excellent waitperson. we love her! best pizza in Madison. highly recommended!“

“We used to go to this Rocky Rococo‘s when we lived in the area. We went back for old time sake, and now, it’s better than ever. The new owner, Victoria, takes great care of each, and every customer to make sure they’re happy and well fed. Way to go Victoria!“