There is no way you can rank the ambience, food or waitstaff at less than five stars. We had a big party, and they were great on a busy weekend. I can vouch for the lasagna, cheesecake, & linguini nero. Thanks to the staff for a good night. Yelp wants me to write more, but just go try it yourself. read more

Coming back for the lunch special I was a little underwhelmed. The pasta portions are small and somehow they have no glasses of wine except for one or two. Everything else is by the bottol - I would expect more in the wine selection from them. The quality of pasta was good. The Alfredo sauce is on point. The gnocchi Gorgonzola I tried was epic as well. But also small in portion. The vinegrette salad is basic and I wish they had another soup option as I'm not a minestrone fan. read more

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Fabulous homemade pasta and the staff is amazing. Definitely recommend. Very small. read more

Baroncini - Inside bar - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

We were there tonight and had the Sea Bass that was fabulous! Mac our waiter went above and beyond for us! He was so knowledgeable of the whole menu and we absolutely loved him!! We will definitely be back again and again!! read more

We came to Baroncini last night for a late Valentine's Day date, and it was such a cute, cozy little Italian spot in downtown Iowa City. Our server was very kind and we enjoyed her a lot. We ordered the Spinach Ravioli and a Margherita Pizza to share. The pizza was fine, however the toppings were quick to fall off. The spinach ravioli (not pictured) was amazing. I was a huge fan. We also split a bottle of riesling and the cheesecake for dessert. Both were wonderful. We are excited to have found a new spot in Iowa city and are looking forward to returning! read more

Baroncini - Margherita Pizza - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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They sent out chicken that wasn't fully cooked, so that was messed up. They fixed the situation, but that shouldn't happen at a nice restaurant. But otherwise, the food was delicious albeit a bit pricy. read more

Fabulous!! The food, the ambiance, the staff all phenomenal. We stopped by for dinner before seeing a show nearby and highly recommend. You MUST make a reservation as people around us who did not make a reservation were told their table was only available for an hour (which is reasonable but we were glad to not have felt rushed). I got the mushroom truffle pasta and my partner got the fettuccini panna. The waitress recommended adding steak to the truffle pasta - it was a great add but the pasta would have been on its own as well. We each loved our meal and had enough leftovers for a full second meal. We also got the cheese cake which I highly recommend. read more

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Darn good food. Server was especially on point re wine recommendations. Ambience a bit noisy but the food made any inconvenience worth it.

Excellent lasagna! Cosy friendly dinner atmosphere! Service were very polite and responsive. Great spot for a date night or a small family dinner. read more

They have incredible bruschetta (probably the best I've ever had). Not a huge fan of the other food however I would stop in again for drinks and to have that bruschetta again. It is a little dark inside and it's not very large however the staff is incredibly friendly! read more

Wonderful atmosphere, was warm and inviting. The waitstaff was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and very attentive without hovering. The food was delicious with reasonable portions for the price point. I definitely suggest the minestrone, and the mascarpone cheesecake. This is my new favorite stop for Italian food. Everything was made from scratch. read more

Traveling, we searched out a recommended Italian place and settled on this one. 5 star experience all around. Outside window a little deceiving: looks like a pizza joint. Inside is a beautiful little restaurant with very pleasant atmosphere. Seated right away and I chose the Tagliatelle with truffle. Absolutely delicious, with freshly made pasta, I happily over-ate, barely any to take home. The recommended wine was perfect as well. Our server took the experience over the top: bright, engaging, knowledgeable, and attentive. Stop looking. Go there. read more

The best meal I had while visiting Iowa city. It's a cozy and intimate restaurant with friendly staff and amazing fresh food. I can't wait to return! read more

Baroncini - Capellini Al Frutti Di Mare - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

The food was excellent! The recipes were original, not the usual. My grandson proclaimed "the Bianca Pizza" as the best pizza in the world! Loved the cozy ambiance. Service was excellent and fun! read more

This was a great little place. I sat outside on this occasion. The service was prompt and very friendly. The food was amazing. read more

Baroncini - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Had high hopes for this place unfortunately the service wasn't good. Food was mid..not really worth the $$ sadly

Well...I wish it was better. In fact I wish it was better than just edible. My wife and I were looking forward to an Italian dinner. We were met by a very loud server and his trainee. We ordered drinks and later ordered our salads and entrees. The drinks were good but straight forward. The salads were quite good (best part of the meal). Then the entrees. The ravioli were bad. Should have been a nice simple dish but instead tasted old, refrigerated, and unbalanced. My squid ink pasta fettuccine dish was equally wrong. A veloute sauce should be smooth, rich, and velvety. This was an acidic gravy that didn't make sense. We both left our plates largely uneaten. Service turned out to be loud and disingenuous. Lots of canned, gimmicky statements by the server. It left both of us feeling angry with the experience. My rating is probably higher than it should be simply because the salads were delicious. Nothing else was. read more

Enjoyed dinning in this restaurant last night Oct 24 2025. I have had food in restaurants for 50 years all over the United States , Mexico, Canada ,grand Cayman Islands . This Italian restaurant is the best I have ever had! I didn't realize that it could get so incredibly better! I've had Italian food so many places in the past and this is next level. Everyone at our table of 7 trying each other's food. Amazing place! Thank you-Jeff Downs read more

Best Italian food in Iowa City! Authentic and fresh. Hard to get a table but more exciting when you get to go.

I've been a couple times now and it's ALWAYS good. The service is so quick and accommodating, would recommend if you're looking for a more intimate restaurant in Iowa City that isn't pricey! read more

Very kind staff, great service, and the food was amazing! I see why this is such a popular place.

Great food and nice presentation. My husband's pasta dish & my Veal & roasted veggies came fairly quickly. Our meals were very flavorful and delicious. The menu had a lot of great items to choose from. The descriptions in the menu made it hard to choose! We'll definitely be going back again to try something different. While waiting for our drinks the owner of the restaurant stopped by our table to introduce himself & make sure we were happy with our service. The wait staff were very friendly and attentive. We sat out front of the restaurant & the ambiance was so relaxing. The tables were nicely arranged & with umbrellas. They had pretty little flower planters that made the area look inviting. We only stepped inside to let them know we would like to sit outside, but from what we saw the inside looked nice also. read more

The service was excellant. The only thing better than the service was the food!! Delicious!!

Very good food, awesome service, quite the hidden gem down town!! Definitely recommend. Try the Cioccola Tissimo dessert! read more

Baroncini - Bar area - Italian Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Amazing food and atmosphere, but you almost certainly need a reservation as they have around a dozen tables

The closest place to Italy you'll get in Iowa City. If you're looking for an authentic italian restaurant, come here! It is a bit pricey compared to other places in Iowa City, but it is also that much more authentic. Sometimes, it can be hard to get a reservation here so make sure to call ahead! The food, ambiance and staff are all incredible. You seriously can't go wrong with anything you order-- the pasta is delicious. We tried the truffle pasta and it was SO good. The dessert also was delicious. The downside is there are not many seats inside so that's why it's so hard to get a spot. It's great for a fun date night or special dinner with friends. Highly recommend!! read more

I ordered a chicken sandwich and waited for 40 minutes. At that time was told they mixed up my order and it would be another 7 minutes. I was the only person in the restaurant. I had another disappointing meal there earlier this year . Thought I would give them another chance. So disappointed. This place used to be great. Not so much anymore. I left without the sandwich. read more

Went for a birthday Dinner. The steak was overcooked we ordered Medium-Rare and sent it back. They left the vegetables which were great and brought a new Steak which was delicious. Service was impersonal, rushed and strange. Ambiance is very small- too bright. Not our scene for date night. read more

My wife and I ate a wonderful lunch here today. We both had Victors Gnocchi alla Vittoria. Victor designed this dish for the Best of Iowa City Food competition last month. It was wonderfully tasty with a nice glass of red wine. Stop in a have some before it is off the short term menu. read more

Preface to this review... we had been spending long hours at the Iowa hospital with my husband's mom who is at her end of life when we were searching for places close by to take a break and have a nice dinner when we found this gem. I called to make sure we could get in and the manager said, "absolutely! How many people? And when can we expect you?" We left our hotel after cleaning up and walked the short walk. We were greeted by one of the servers and sat outside since it was a nice night. We brought our own bottle of wine ($15 corkage) and ordered a glass of Prosecco (delicious and cold!) and a cold beer for my husband per the server's recommendation. Started with burrata as the appetizer, highly recommend. My husband had the spicy seafood pasta and I had the truffle mushroom pasta and added chicken. Not only did the food taste great but the pasta dishes came out piping hot (that's HUGE on my husband's list). We had a delicious peanut butter/chocolate dessert and casually finished up and strolled back to the hotel for the evening. Hands down this was the best restaurant we have experienced since even before Covid. I can't express any more how this meal and the service and kindness was EXACTLY what we needed on that night. I only wish I would have taken pictures of the food but we were focused on other things. I can't recommend this restaurant anymore than I already have. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! read more

This place has the best Italian food in town. The only down side is that seating is limited, but that also makes it a nice spot for romantic dinner. The servers have always been knowledgeable and friendly. read more

My wife and I went here for the first time on our anniversary. Our experience was marred by the noise level. The room is narrow, and the walls are hard, so sound reverberates. We were seated right next to the entrance, and every time someone came in, all we could hear was "Welcome to Baroncini etc." We asked to be moved to a quieter location, which was done quickly and nicely, but the room is what it is. We'll try a less busy time in the future. Our pre-dinner drinks seemed to take a long time, but my wife's amaretto sour was exquisite. I was delighted to find Menebrea Ambrata (amber/dark) beer on the menu, my favorite Italian brew. My wife's fettuccine panna was delicious, but some of the pasta was stuck together. It wasn't a large amount, but a noticeable lapse in technique. I had the Cannelloni alla Rossini, a favorite from years gone by in a little Los Angeles restaurant. It was different from my memory; I have mixed feelings, and would have to try it again. We'll come at an earlier hour next time to avoid the noise. The menu has some tempting dishes I'd like to try. read more

Went here for my mother's birthday dinner and had an outstanding time. The service was the best in Iowa City. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and wine list and made excellent recommendations. I got the lamb entree and it was phenomenally done. Our salads, pasta dishes, appetizers and dessert were all incredible down to the plating. Best Italian in iowa City area by a mile. We'll be back. read more

We feel very fortunate to have such a great restaurant and chef in Iowa City. The food is excellent and is of such a high quality that you would normally only expect from fine dining in a large city. The space inside is fairly small so reservations are necessary. read more

Food was mediocre. Steak was overcooked- we sent it back and they sent another that was cooked better. Ambiance was not romantic.

Loved the food and the ambiance at the restaurant Service was great Would definitely recommend... read more

My partner and I came to Iowa City for St Patrick's Day weekend, and my friend recommended this restaurant for dinner together. It's convenient since we're staying at the Graduate hotel. The initial experience at the door was a bit of a dilemma as our reservation wasn't marked in their book for today -- thankfully they were accommodating and we were able to sort it out with the GM who said it was him that replied to my friend's email last week for a reservation tonight at 6:30 for 4 people. Our server Alex is great, he's very knowledgeable and made great recommendations for someone who's been here for 9 months. We all can appreciate a server whose recommendations are actually great, we all loved our food, and it was exactly what he said it would be. I can also appreciate him having his mask on and properly. They gave us 2 rounds of complimentary bread that was warm and crispy with some fresh oil. For appetizers, we did bruschetta alla caprese with prosciutto and antipasto charcuterie. My friend did ravioli do zucca, and her boyfriend did the lasagna alla bolognese. I did the tagliolini con tartufi with steak and went with a marinara sauce instead, and my partner did the gambetto di maiale. For dessert, my partner and I decided to pass on it as we were both too full. My friend and her boyfriend split the torta al mascarpone. I'd recommend Baroncini to anyone in the area looking for an authentic Italian dining experience in Iowa City, and I'd also suggest making a reservation because there was a line at the door for seating. read more

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In Iowa City for parents weekend and got a reservation at Baroncini. My son always wanted to go and heard great feedback. It was one of the best Italian meals I've had with the exception of restaurants in Italy we've visited. I had the LINGUINI CON GAMBERI black noodles homemade delicious. My wife have the BUCATINI BOSCAIOLA great flavor and a little spicy and my son had the FETTUCCINI PANNA. The owner/chief stopped by our table a few times to check-in on us. We finished up with a few cannolis and cheesecake. I would highly recommend. Call in advance and get a reservation. read more

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Long-term Iowa City fixture retains cozy appointment, despite being hemmed in by scruffy smoke shops. Interesting menu with some Italian classics and some more adventurous options as well. Extensive and unaffordable wine cellar; beer list from the 1990s served in inappropriate glassware. Decor and atmosphere are pretty convincing, but perhaps a bit "hard" - table cloths would help to soften sounds and improve the overall look. Also, having "Volare" (a.k.a., "Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu") on repeat on the stereo is a bit on the nose. Food is generally of good to excellent quality, but plating is less consistent; the Tagliolini Con Tartufi is, without exaggeration, one of the worst food presentations I've ever seen, extremely unappetizing and really very careless. Good job it tastes alright. Service is perfectly fine and friendly. Overall, certainly good with plenty potential for better, but I sense that chef/owner Baroncini is not particularly interested in self-improvement. read more

Cute vibes but the chairs were busted up. Super nice waiter. When he asked for our drink orders, my little sister actually had the nerve to ask for "orange juice," without even looking at the menu. I thought we were just getting water... Our waiter's eyes literally popped open and I thought he was going to spontaneously combust. He actually stuttered when he repeated back, "Orange juice???" I think he short-circuited because he hesitated before muttering "I think we do fresh-squeezed orange juice..." while my dear sister stared at him with waiting eyes. I thought she was insane. Who expects an Italian place to have orange juice??? He went to the back and took 5-10 minutes before returning with our drinks. I can only imagine that he was panicking trying to figure how in the world he was going to conjure up orange juice. Did they actually have a juicer??? Because the orange juice was definitely fresh squeezed, and quite delightful. I can only say I was impressed by the food, and more importantly the service. The octopus was very tender. read more