Lombardino'sfood was amazing!The asparagus soup to die for! Oven brick pizzas full of flavor! Overall was a great experience!6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best Madison restaurantsLombardino's NEVER disappoints! The food is consistently amazing, the staff are warm, friendly and knowledgable. The ambiance is great either for a romantic dinner for two or a family group. We have nothing negative to say about this amazing restaurant. Always SO SO good!6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMLombardino'sThe food was a bit overpriced and presentation for the entrée was not great. That being said, the steak was fantastic and the Cesar salad was exceptional6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMGood quality with a little adventurTasty selection of seasonal dishes along with Italian classics. Busy on a Thursday but nevertheless god service.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food; good serviceLombardino's has been a Madison favorite for fine Italian food. My wife and I both had different fish dishes that were excellent. The menu regular -- halibut with potatoes -- was grilled perfectly. The special cod in parchment with veggies was good as well. Mild, flavorful fish!
Asparagus starter comes with a fried egg on top, so be warned. We loved it but you may not be a fried egg on top of steamed asparagus person.
Tiramisu was pretty good but nothing special. Decaf coffee was very good as well.
Service was good but not excellent. The server seemed a little inexperienced and lacked confidence. She gave us plenty of olive oil for our bread -- and then gave us more without more bread! A small mistake granted.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary DinnerThe food at Lombardino's is consistently good -- using expertly prepared, locally-sourced ingredients. This evening was no exception. Our waitress (Haley) answered our questions about the menu, timed the meal so that everything came out at a good pace, and made great wine suggestions. The selections of wines available by the glass is excellent. We were so pleased with our dinner -- highly recommend Lombardino's.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyable birthday dinnerI took my wife to Lombardino's for her birthday dinner and we really enjoyed the food and the ambiance. It was a little dark in the restaurant, but each table had its own candlelight or small lamp and it was very quiet and easy to talk to each other without shouting to be heard. The wait staff was very efficient and knowledgable about the menu and the specials. Having a reservation was helpful because this place can get very crowded on the weekends!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThe carpaccio was excellent!The carpaccio was excellent! And the Lombardino's pizza was perfect! Love the arugula on the top as it adds a freshness to each bite.
Each couple ended up ordering the same two items to share and there was plenty of food.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMClosest to Italy that Madison getsHaving traveled in Italy a fair amount, it's tough to find a good Italian restaurant in the Midwest that can live up without the wincing twinge of Olive Garden flair. Lombardinos is the farthest from that and the closest we've come in Madison to some of the best places we've eaten in Italy. Outstanding menu, outstanding dishes, and the service was delightful. We had our two children (ages 5 and 8) with us and they cleaned their plates completely (no kids menu, thank God!). We will be back.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMdrop from the sky..?So its been a while since we have been to Lombrdino's and when we got there we were suprised that there is no longer any parking! The experience simply is not good enough to overcome the fact that there is NO parking. Considering the WI climate there are about 19 days a year where its worth walking to!5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food and serviceFood and service was excellent. Second time dinning. We would go back again5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious MealOne of the best salads I have ever eaten! It was on special with roasted beets, gorgonzola, toasted pistachios, and a ginger vinaigrette. Incredible. The pasta dishes we had were also prepared to perfection!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways goodLombardino's is always good. Their seasonal offerings are creative and tasty, but I keep going back for the spaghetti alla bolognese.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMCozy restaurant with traditionalCozy restaurant with traditional feel. Friendly, competant service. Food was good - we tried two pastas, a risotto and the featured fish. The preparations were interesting, but not too weird. The portions were large enough to satisfy my hungry sons. The salads were well prepared. There were good wine and beer choices. A great place for a family dinner when visitng Madison.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMPleasedThe food was what I've come to expect from Lombardino's. The sausage in the orecchiette was too salty. Still a great dish, but found is more difficult to enjoy. The bar staff is great, with outstanding service. As for the dining waitstaff, a cocktail I had ordered mid-meal didn't arrive until dessert.
Overall, I was satisfied and will return.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesomeThe food was absolutely amazing. I got a pizza (it wasn't one of those sissy pizzas that fits on a tiny little plate, it was good sized and filling). My date got some shrimp pasta for and loved it and we got some awesome grilled asparagus for an appetizer. The portions are not wimpy at all so you get your money's worth. The total came to about 40 so not bad considering it's a fancier place. I was expecting to pay much more. Our waitress was the sweetest and happiest waitress I've ever had. It was my date's birthday and I dropped off flowers to be put at our table and the gentleman I gave them to found a vase and made them look awesome, my date was so impressed. Everything was awesome!!! Definitely will be going there more often now.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome ItalianFirst time going here, have heard a lot of great things about it and now I see why.
Food was wonderful, nice feel of a neighborhood Italian restaurant. Fresh ingredients, great
sauce and flavor.
Highly recommend.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMLombardino's is a neighborhoodLombardino's is a neighborhood treasure. The food is as close as it comes to Northern Italy in Wisconsin. My favorite place to eat in Madison.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousStaff was very knowledgable and friendly. Food was excellent even the next day for leftovers. Bar had good micro brews to sample and the bartenders were extremely busy, but was good enough to handle a crowded night even with only 2 bartenders on staff. Will definetly visit this place again.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousThe food was amazing. Cooked perfectly with awesome flavor.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst-rate Mainstream ItalianThis restaurant has been popular for years, for good reason. The food is excellent, flavorful and fresh. The service is just right, friendly and attentive but not rushed or pushy. The setting is pleasant, if not remarkable. Everyone in our party enjoyed their dinner (pasta dishes, pizza, and swordfish).
No doubt Lombardino's has carefully determined what its customers want for dinner. The menu doesn't offer much Italian ethnicity; it plays safe with pasta and pizza, and familiar entrees like steak, pork chops and fish. All of it is excellent (hence five stars), but you won't find anything exotic -- well, maybe the octopus.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the food (homemade pasta),Love the food (homemade pasta), wait staff (attentive without hovering) and nice wine list. Also really love the preserved decor of old Madison, back when this was part of the Italian section of town. I hope it stays like this. A real neighborhood gem.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently great gourmet ItalianMy husband and I have been going to Lombardino's for years for special events or just when we want a great meal. It's a good place to bring out-of-town guests with various diets and preferences. The food preparations are consistently unusual and delicious. Also, Lombardino's is one of the few good restaurants open on Sunday night in Madison, which is often when we don't want to cook.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMBest in MadisonOur favorite restaurant and chef in Madison in a sea of other excellent local and area choices. Most frequent choice for comfort, a romantic dinner or special occasions. We anticipate the refreshing seasonal menu changes -- and the nightly specials! (Hoping for the reappearance of the light, crunchy spring salad featuring crisp greens, fresh pea shoots, toasted almonds and goat cheese!)
On Wednesday night, I invited friends (including one with a special needs diet) for an important celebration dinner. Patrick O'Halloran and his kitchen again exceeded expectations. Convivial, comfortable atmosphere, reliable nuances in flavors, lovely presentation and attentive, knowledgable service -- without a hint of anything pretentious.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother excellent experience!Quality, excellently-prepared food made from local ingredients. Professional and friendly service. What more could you ask for? Lombardino's is a truly special place.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAll the food was wonderful,All the food was wonderful, but the appetizers (gorgonzola stuffed dates & eggs al forno) and ice creams (sea salt carmel & sour cream) were outstanding. We enjoy Lombardino's food as much as anything we get when we visit restaurants in New York.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMVery tasty. Delicious CesarVery tasty. Delicious Cesar salad, bolongese, and pizzas.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMLombardino's is always great.Lombardino's is always great. It's a bit on the pricey side, but you can find some relatively inexpensive items on the menu. The food is always very good to excellent, and the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The only drawback to Lombardino's is the size of the restaurant. It is, unfortunately, small, and so getting a table without a reservation can be a real challenge. Even if you do make a reservation for the same day you may find yourself eating a bit earlier or later than you had originally envisioned.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMSevice, food, wine was wonderful.Sevice, food, wine was wonderful. We have been to many great Italian restuarants on the East Coast. Lombardino's was equal and better than some of them. We will come again when we're in Madison.
Thanks so much,
Gloria Bonnicksen, Arbor Vitae WI 545684/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were from out of town andWe were from out of town and stumbled upon this place. It was excellent and I highly recommend it.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMI have been going to Lombardino'sI have been going to Lombardino's since I was in high school at West (40+ years ago). We would have pizza at your restaurant after our Friday night football games or on Sat nights throughout the year.
Still a great place for food and conversation!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Italian food, especiallyGreat Italian food, especially pasta! The menu is not extensive, but we all had pasta in our group, and it was well-made. My husband and I had the lamb ragu on linguine special--excellent!
The photos on the website are beautiful but misleading--no scallops, no lamb chops.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOnce again, Lombo's is goodOnce again, Lombo's is good enough to revisit frequently and have a different fantastic experience each time. So we did! Three times in one week. The lamb sweetbreads with pea shoots and feta were so good we had to go back. My wife and I both called to see if the sweetbreads would be on the specials menu again. Once we found they were, back we went. Can't say enough about the constant high quality of Madison's best place to eat.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMReturning magnetism!Dining experience, culinary expertise and attentive service combine to keep bringing us back.....from La Crosse!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMMy friend was so right!Enchanting food, friendly waitress, and festive decor. My friend had recommended Lombardino's for a couple years now, but I was never able to get to it---I live out of town. Well, three friends and I just dined there Saturday night, and we all ate like maniacs, the food was so good. My steak was a special, and worth every penny. The portions were appropriate: just large enough. Try the beet salad, too. The zesty ice creams were delightful, too. I loved this place and will return the next time I am in Madison.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWell Hidden Madison GemWalking into Lombardino's, I knew I wasnt going to be seeing a smaller bill, but man was the dinner worth every penny.
-The food: Amazing. Be adventurous. There are many words and foods you may be unfamiliar with, but Lombardinos has a way of blending the flavors together.
-The restaurant: make reservations. I thought I was a bit crazy to be making a reservation for dinner with my girlfriend at 6:15, but I was thankful I did. They already had a 3 hour wait for those who did not plan ahead at that time.
-The experience: We were seated promptly at our reservation time, and did not leave until almost 2 hours later. You would think this is rather extreme, but the food and service keeps you entertained every minute.
Overall great experienc4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food stands out comparedThe food stands out compared to many restaurants in Madison.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMJust kidding on the scenicJust kidding on the scenic view. We met friends there and had a nice dinner and visit.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMA very comfortable settingA very comfortable setting with consistently good food...4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent restaurant thatExcellent restaurant that takes advantage of its proximity to great local meat and produce providers and changes its menu seasonally.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWe always enjoy dining atWe always enjoy dining at Lombardino's, great servers,bartenders and food!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't miss this place!The food was fabulous and the service was great. It is an older building and many would pass by because of that, but they would miss out on one of the best places to eat in Madison.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of Madison's gems! IfOne of Madison's gems! If you are local or traveling to Madison, you cannot go wrong for Italian food here!3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperb food in the neighborhoodThe Jumbo Tiger Shrimp and Pappardelle with Vegetables were memorable. The calamari was great. The orecchiette pasta was a bit too heavy for an otherwise very good sausage and rapini dish. We will be back when we can afford it.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AM5 star quality food at middle5 star quality food at middle class prices. Absolutely a wonderful place. One of Madison's finest.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMLombardino's has consistentlyLombardino's has consistently fantastic Italian food. Make a reservation the morning of or the day before. Yes, even on Monday.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWe loved our dinners. It wasWe loved our dinners. It was hands down one of the best meals we've had in a loooong time!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMHaven't been here in yearsHaven't been here in years and am wondering why. It was fantastic. My husband had the chicken which was great but I highly recommend the wood fired swordfish dish. It was absolutely delicious. I can't wait to go back.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMPossibly our favorite.The best attention to detail of any restaurant in Madison. EVERYTHING on the menu is fantastic. All of the serving staff and bartenders are exceptional. Lombardinos will never disappoint.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMLomardino's has become oneLomardino's has become one of our favorite restaurants since recently moving to Madison. We have always had a very enjoyable time. There are many excellent entres on the menu but occasionally there are specials that are very overpriced.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AM