Cento

Name: Cento
Address: 122 W. Mifflin St., Madison, WI, United States, 53703
Telephone: (608) 284-9378
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

4.7

2786 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Top Tags:

"Exciting Things are on the Horizon -- Coming Soon!"

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(608) 284-9378

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Italian, Wine Bar, Pizzeria
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(608) 284-9378
Website
http://www.centomadison.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Chris Myers
Catering
For catering inquiries, please contact Jordan Bright at jbright@foodfightinc.com.
Private party facilities
At Cento, we pride ourselves on hosting spectacular private events. Whether you would like to entertain a select small group, or host a large reception throughout the entire restaurant, Cento offers a number of options suitable for any occasion. We tailor each event to suit your needs, and a dedicated staff will ensure that every detail of your event is attended to. Experience Cento from within the intimate atmosphere of our second dining room, which can accommodate up to 35 guests. Our second dining room is equipped with a private bar and is perfect for any occasion, whether it"s a business function or a celebration with family and friends, and is situated a few steps up from our main dining room. For larger groups, exclusive use of the restaurant can be arranged for both luncheon and dinner events, with the front lounge and bar as the perfect setting for a reception in advance of a seated event.
Private party contact
Jordan Bright: (608) 284-9378

Location
122 W. Mifflin St., Madison, WI 53703
Neighborhood
Madison
Cross street
Fairchild
Parking details
Two public parking structures adjacent to Overture Center offer more than 1,400 parking spaces. Additional parking ramps can be found on State Street and the Capitol Square, and on-street metered parking is also available for short-term parking in the downtown area. www.cityofmadison.com/transportation/parking.cfm
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

45 Wisconsin Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

What 2,786 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

B
Bossypants
Chicago
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Cento is our "go to" restaurant while attending Overture performances. The food quality & selection is superb while quite moderate in price. The staff is welcoming and attentive.
Is this helpful?
S
Scott
Milwaukee
13 reviews
2.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall2food1service2ambience4
We were excited about trying this place prior to seeing a show at the Overture. Great location, but was disappointed by the overall experience and food. The server asked if we were celebrating anything, and we said no but commented on attending the show. Instead of saying, enjoy the show, they said, just to let you know you can’t stay here until the show. Mind you, we had no intention of doing so. I get why there would be a policy since we were early. But don’t think it should have been verbalized so early in the evening. I did need to use a mobility device, when seated they asked if could move it to another location to get it out of the way. I completely understand and agreed. It was moved. But by the end of the dinner, we paid and we’re ready to go. The server even came back and picked up the signed receipt.. and still no signs of the mobile device. After a few minutes, we had to flag someone to get the mobile device. One would have thought if there was a policy to get people in and out that they would have been on top of returning it after taking it away. By this time I was ready to go as the food was lacking quality. We ordered the lamb meatballs as an appetizer. They came out before the drinks. The meatballs came with a piece of bread/toast that was placed on top of the meatballs. It was not very appealing as half of the toast burnt (dark black). We are normally not ones to complain, but it was so black, it was unacceptable and didn’t want to eat it. We flagged someone down to share this concern. The person we reported it to replaced it with just a piece of bread. Not toasted at all. They then asked if they should take away the burnt piece. They did. But seriously thought they would have taken the whole thing and redone it. The balls themselves were dry. The chicken Parmesan that I had for dinner was also burnt on the edges. Didn’t want to complain again. But overall the dinning experience was lacking and could have been better
Is this helpful?
KP
KaiP
Milwaukee
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is my second time at Cento and it was just as good this time! I went with my family and my partner and they were all impressed. Great service, our server was very friendly and helpful.
Is this helpful?
AF
AshleyF
Northern MI
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service was great and food was amazing! I definitely recommend the grilled octopus appetizer. Super convenient location to the theater.
Is this helpful?
MT
MadTownMama40
Milwaukee
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2023
overall3food4service4ambience2
We love the atmosphere at Cento; unfortunately, when we arrived it was FREEZING inside. People were in sweatshirts, jackets, etc. Granted it had been warm day outside earlier, but by 9pm it was definitely cold. Hosts need to keep the temperature set to appeal to customers, not to the waitstaff (who I am sure are running around and tend to run "hot"). Our hostess did attend to our needs and assured us the temp setting was set warmer, but I felt cold air blowing on my feet and kept my jacket on as well as a cashmere wrap set over me like a blanket. The food was delicious for me and three others at our table (salmon was cooked perfectly!) but my husband and son both had the chicken parmesan, and agreed it was bland. Our waiter worked really hard for us, and overall it was a nice graduation celebration (with complimentary dessert for our son!).
Is this helpful?
MC
MamaCat
Milwaukee
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great place to celebrate a special occasion! The food and service were outstanding!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
5 reviews
vip
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 28, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience3
Very enjoyable except for the load noise level which makes conversation challenging.
Is this helpful?
EL
EllenL
Milwaukee
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on April 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous dinner and overall dining experience!! Thank you!!
Is this helpful?
A
Anna
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We loved our meal and the service was outstanding. Its one of our favorite restaurants.
Is this helpful?
AC
AmyC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Cento has been a special place for my husband & I. I wanted to dine there for my birthday since it's my first birthday without him. My girlfriends had a great meal with excellent service. A top shelf restaurant in my book. Thanks for making my birthday special.
Is this helpful?
S
Scott
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience1
This was our first time at Cento and after having read other reviews and hear say, the experience was disappointing. Restaurant is pretty loud (at last in the main dining room), even if it was at about 60% capacity (high ceilings cause too much echo). We had Brussel sprouts and bacon-wrapped dates for appetizers (sprouts were a bit burnt and the flavor was too strong). The tagliatelle were fine but the Agnolotti barely contained any amaretti (4 pieces in the entire dish). For the food offered, this restaurant is overpriced. Overall, will not go back to this restaurant.
Is this helpful?
m
madclash
Milwaukee
26 reviews
vip
3.0
26 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall3food4service4ambience5
Pretty sure the foie gras French toast had no foie gras in it. Otherwise the food was very good.
Is this helpful?
CM
ChrisM
Milwaukee
44 reviews
vip
3.0
44 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall3food2service5ambience3
while our server was very good and courteous, the food was mediocre and not good. The fried olives were unappetizing and the roast chicken was just okay; the pasta dish was less than okay. It was the special, and was to have fish on it - but it only had a very small amount of fish and was mainly noodles, so not very filling. We still tipped well as the server was good. I was disappointed that the food was not better prepared. Cento is a beautiful restaurant with good service - but the food should be better.
Is this helpful?
R
Redrider
Minneapolis
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was our first time at Cento ~ We were very impressed. We will definitely be back. We had the brussels sprout appetizer and it was very good... a nice change from the usual brussels sprout app. Both of the entrees we chose were delicious and we would both chose the same again. However, with the choices available, we would choose some of the other options as there were many that appealed to us. It is located very close to the Orpheum Theatre and we liked the option to walk there from dinner.
Is this helpful?
BH
BarbH
Milwaukee
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I ordered the April halibut pasta special that benefits Second Harvest. Please put this on your regular menu! Outstanding!
Is this helpful?
JD
JeanD
Milwaukee
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 9, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience2
The restaurant was too noisy. Hard to visit. The food was okay but not worth price.
Is this helpful?
RL
RobinL
Milwaukee
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great Sav Blanc. Makes for a great time!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The brunch had a nice selection, everyone was pleased with their choice. The boozy brunch special is a great value. Service was great
Is this helpful?
JL
JayL
Milwaukee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Enjoyed able evening, great food, and Excellent service!
Is this helpful?
CS
ChrisS
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Steven was a great waiter and the food was amazing.
Is this helpful?
S
Sarah
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wow what an incredible dining experience and 5 star menu!
CentoResponded on March 31, 2023Glad to learn your experience was a positive one, Sarah. See you next time!
Is this helpful?
C
Cate
Milwaukee
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on March 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were celebrating a special occasion, and our waiter Austin was great. Just the right amount of attentive service but not too much. Great wine and food recommendations and he got us out of there in time for our show at Overture.
CentoResponded on March 30, 2023Really glad you had a positive experience, great to hear Austin took such good care of you. Thanks for reviewing. Have a great day!
Is this helpful?
P
Phyl
Milwaukee
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
This was our first time there. It was delicious . Service was wonderful with Natasha. Prices are a little high. It was busy and a bit noisy but fine with us. We also got a free birthday treat which was very nice.
CentoResponded on March 30, 2023Hi Phyl, we’re thrilled to get this kind of feedback, so happy to hear Natasha took great care of you. Thank you for taking the time to review us. Have a great day!
Is this helpful?
K
Kelsey
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I absolutely loved Cento! The space that we were seated was very nice for the occasion that we were celebrating and the food was amazing!
CentoResponded on March 29, 2023Hi Kelsey, that’s wonderful to hear. Thanks so much for leaving us a review. Hope you have an amazing day!
Is this helpful?
LC
LoriC
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our waitress, Abbey, was great as was the food. We had the bacon wrapped dates, brussel sprouts, Tagliatelle, Creste di Gallo, and tiramisu, all wonderful!
CentoResponded on March 29, 2023We appreciate the positive feedback, so happy to hear Abbey took great care of you. We will share this review with our team!
Is this helpful?
TF
TamF
Milwaukee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We received great service and the food was delicious.
CentoResponded on March 29, 2023Thanks for the great review. Have a great day!
Is this helpful?
LW
LeahW
Milwaukee
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Boozy Brunch may be the best deal in the entire city!
CentoResponded on March 29, 2023Really glad you had a positive experience. Thanks for reviewing. See you next time! Chelsie Leslie Cento Assistant General Manager
Is this helpful?
JL
JoeL
Kansas City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Pre theater brunch. Too many options! How to decide between tagliatelle and crab cake Benedict ? You can’t do you have the crab cake for brunch and order the tagliatelle to go and have that for dinner!
CentoResponded on March 29, 2023We appreciate the review. Thanks for taking the time. Hope to see you again soon!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The tagliatelle bolognese was AMAZING. Great atmosphere, great service, great wine selection. I'll definitely be back when I'm in Madison again!
CentoResponded on March 29, 2023Glad to learn your experience was a positive one. Hope to see you again in the near future! Chelsie Leslie Cento Assistant General Manager
Is this helpful?
j
jocan
Milwaukee
103 reviews
vip
4.0
103 reviews
Dined on March 23, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Food and drinks were very good for dinner before theater. Waitstaff very attentive and prompt service. The place can be noisy when full of diners.
CentoResponded on March 29, 2023Thank you for the review. We look forward to serving you again soon! Chelsie Leslie Cento Assistant General Manager
Is this helpful?
JD
JmarD
Orlando
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 23, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience5
Rose was a great server! Food was delicious! Fun night!
CentoResponded on March 29, 2023Thanks so much for the kind words, happy to hear Rose took such great care of you. We look forward to serving you again soon! Chelsie Leslie Cento Assistant General Manager
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on March 23, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Nice outing before seeing a show at the Overture. Happy hour menu 4-6 and theater menu on show nights!
CentoResponded on March 29, 2023Thanks for the great review. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Is this helpful?
C
Cloisters
Milwaukee
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall4food3service5ambience5
They were superb at accommodating our needs and requests. Thank you! Their food is usually excellent, but this time, both scallops and salmon were overcooked and over-seasoned.
Is this helpful?
D
Delaney13
Chicago
35 reviews
vip
5.0
35 reviews
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went for Brunch and ordered from both the breakfast and dinner sides of the menu. Everything was delicious and well-prepared. Drink prices were reasonable and the service was very good as well. Highly recommended.
Is this helpful?
c
charless
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
It's always pretty loud, what with the open kitchen and all. Other than that it's fantastic.
Is this helpful?
MS
MelissaS
Las Vegas
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic food and fantastic service. Highly recommend the cheesecake!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 14, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience3
Food and service excellent as always. It gets really loud when busy. We had a very early reservation in an attempt to avoid that but ended up seated between two large tables of after-work groups. It was loud.
Is this helpful?
JM
JessM
Milwaukee
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience4
Food was outstanding, as always. Service was a bit slow.
Is this helpful?
EC
ElizabethC
Milwaukee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The boozy brunch was a great value. Excellent cocktails and plenty of brunch items to choose from.
Is this helpful?
SR
SaraR
Atlanta Metro
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
Our teenage grandsons and we love this place! Love the decor, the menu, and the food. The brunch menu especially has such a wide range of selections! Every time we come to Madison to see the grandkids we book Cento, sometimes even twice in the same weekend!
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Cento offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (608) 284-9378.

Cento is rated 4.7 stars by 2786 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(608) 284-9378

122 W. Mifflin St., Madison, WI 53703

Additional information

Cross street
Fairchild
Neighborhood
Madison
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Italian, Wine Bar, Pizzeria
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Two public parking structures adjacent to Overture Center offer more than 1,400 parking spaces. Additional parking ramps can be found on State Street and the Capitol Square, and on-street metered parking is also available for short-term parking in the downtown area. www.cityofmadison.com/transportation/parking.cfm
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Chris Myers
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.centomadison.com/
Phone number
(608) 284-9378
Catering
For catering inquiries, please contact Jordan Bright at jbright@foodfightinc.com.
Private party facilities
At Cento, we pride ourselves on hosting spectacular private events. Whether you would like to entertain a select small group, or host a large reception throughout the entire restaurant, Cento offers a number of options suitable for any occasion. We tailor each event to suit your needs, and a dedicated staff will ensure that every detail of your event is attended to. Experience Cento from within the intimate atmosphere of our second dining room, which can accommodate up to 35 guests. Our second dining room is equipped with a private bar and is perfect for any occasion, whether it"s a business function or a celebration with family and friends, and is situated a few steps up from our main dining room. For larger groups, exclusive use of the restaurant can be arranged for both luncheon and dinner events, with the front lounge and bar as the perfect setting for a reception in advance of a seated event.
Private party contact
Jordan Bright: (608) 284-9378

Featured in

45 Wisconsin Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Cento

Not available on OpenTable

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Featured in

45 Wisconsin Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Menu

What 2,786 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

Does Cento offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Cento restaurant rated?

Not available on OpenTable

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Featured in

45 Wisconsin Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day