Friend recommended lunch at Biagio's Bistro. Wife and I had lunch there today. The male head waiter is very polished and professional with a sense of humor. He explained the entree comes with soup or salad and bread and butter. We chose the shrimp and pasta to split, more than enough for both of us. We will definitely come back, it was a most pleasurable lunch before going to the Esquire to see a movie. read more

Tomato basil soup was light and creamy, simply good.Steak was perfectly cooked as was the pasta. Could have used more seasoning on the steak. Couldn't figure out the cannoli filling. It was grainy like the sugar in the cheese wasn't worked in enough. All in all worth going and since i was there on a Tuesday night at 5:30, service was very fast. Lost one star for horrible tomatoes . read more

What a gem of an Italian restaurant. The husband and I stopped in to feed our pasta craving and were not disappointed. The Waldorf salad was out of this world tasty (it is listed as a specialty). I would have liked my apple chunks a little smaller, but that is a quibble at best. I opted for the pesto pasta- fettuccine noodles with the best olive oil/pesto/parmigiana mix a carb loader could ask for. And the portion was huge! Definitely enough for a take home box. Cincinnati is definitely scarce when it comes to Italian restaurants that deliver delicious and authentic Italian food for reasonable prices. This place more than fits the bill. Do yourself a favor and get in there already. read more

So so delicious! Try the Penne Brasciola (spelled incorrectly, sorry!) or the pesto - so so worth the carbs! The chocolate cream pie was so good as was the cannoli as well. Try it, you won't be disappointed! read more

Wish I could have given this place zero stars. This place is where Italian food goes to die. I didn't think you could burn pasta, but apparently you can and serve it to people none the less. Italian food generally makes me happy, this pasta was soul crushing. The silverware and glasses were filthy, the service was terrible. Avoid this place at all cost if you enjoy food and want to leave happy read more

Wow! After working at a small business for over ten years now, this gave me an "at home" feel. They truly care about what you think of each item. And let me tell you, each item was phenomenal. I came here today for the first time and I am already planning when to come back. The artichoke dip was the mostly garlicky divine appetizer. The wedding soup was the best I've ever had. And the the seafood Alfredo was creamy and delicious. I was shocked at my bill being less than $40 after ordering two appetizers plus my entree. Easily tasted better then many $100+ restaurants I have been too. How can anyone enjoy Olive Garden when you can have quality like this and the wonderful small business feel that I always seek out. read more

A garlic lovers dream! The second you walk in the door, you smell the garlic. I came here with my realtor and I've very unfamiliar with the area. It's a little while in the wall restaurant, but has that old Italian charm. We sat by the window because it was light and beautiful but there are plenty of romantic tables too. My realtor insisted on trying the artichoke dip, which was essentially cheese, garlic and olive oil. I don't think there were any artichokes in there. The pita points seemed a little stale. Be prepared for super big portions too. Both of our pasta dishes were enough to feed 2 people. I had the veggie pasta with chicken. I wish mine had a little more salt, but it was good. My realtor was a little disappointed within his pasta dish too but said he's had a lot of rest dishes there. Obviously the pasta is fresh and amazing, and the chef cooks it out in the open, which is cool. They have an awesome dessert case that I wish I would have taken advantage of! Maybe next time.... read more

This place is a hidden gem parking can be difficult, but the food is amazing. Feels like you're in Europe as much as you can and B will still be in Cincinnati. read more

My family and I are visiting from out of town, and we found this little gem, in town. Our waitress, a blonde lady whose name I didn't catch, was very delightful and accommodating. We ordered the artichoke dip, fettuccine Alfredo, and penne boscaiola; all of which was very good. Their tomato soup was one of the best I've ever had, as it was sweet, but didn't taste like pure sugar. Being able to watch the chef cook was very interesting, and it made us feel at home. Over all, it was a great experience and we plan on returning. Nothing beats great service, and hand made pasta by someone who cares about good ingredients! read more

Just ordered their food through Seamless and had to leave a quick review. I've dined in at their restaurant several times over the years. Their Fettuccine Alfredo was one of my favorites in the city, with a very rich sauce and lots and lots and lots of garlic. Really nice. I ordered their Fettuccine Alfredo this evening. The sauce was lack-luster to say the least, very watery with barely any flavor at all. It was very disappointing and I didn't even finish it. So sorry to see this change in quality. read more

Great atmosphere and freshly prepared food at a very reasonable price. Staff is always friendly and willing to explain any items on the menu.... Be sure to try dessert... read more

Well, this is an interesting place, my family took me here for my birthday, the food was very good, although I didn't see any capers in my Chicken scallopini , thought it was interesting that they don't use much red sauce, which is fine. Although the deserts were very rich, they were excellent. The service was interesting, they were attentive, but a tad odd, kind of reminded me of the soup nazi on Seinfeld. Not mean, but no smiling, and not particularly friendly, when we walked in, he said , " sit wherever you like". read more

Biagio's Bistro - Chicken Scaloppini - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We came here for our anniversary. Like what I read in other reviews I agree there isn't much ambience here. The walls have peg boards you would find at an old clothing store. There is only music playing in half of the restaurant. The chef was on Facebook on his coumputer at one of the front tables. But don't let the lack of atmosphere stop you from visiting here. The food here was spectacular. I had the pesto pasta and my husband had some seafood pasta dish. We both loved our food and both had at least a meal leftover to take home (huge huge portions). The desserts here are very good. I would stop by just to try a dessert they had that many in their dessert case I wanted to try. Everything tasted homemade. Price for me was reasonable for what you get, but only in my budget for special occasions. We spend $60 ish for dinner and both had water. I would return for another special occasion. read more

First time at Biago's today. We enjoyed a nice dinner there with our son and his girlfriend. We arrived around 4:15 and there were only two other parties there the whole time. I suspect they get quite busy at dinner time. Our party ordered a variety of salads, soup, and pasta, and we shared the bruschetta. The bruschetta was good, and there was plenty for all four of us. I had the tomato basil soup, and although it was on the sweet side, I liked it. I also tried a bite of Paul's Caesar salad and thought it was overdressed. I chose the penne boscaiola, which was delightful. Honesty, it doesn't get much better than freshly made pasta. Pasta portions are enormous (enough to feed three adults), but that's okay, because leftovers are a plus. For my favorite course, dessert, I opted for the chocolate covered cream puffs. OMG, OMG, OMG! Sooooo good! Service was spot on. Our drinks were refilled regularly and it was nice to have our leftovers boxed for us. In terms of atmosphere, I enjoyed the comfortable seating and the Italian music. Like many of the places on Ludlow, Biagio's is in need of some updating as far as the interior goes. I'm all for dimly lit when it comes across as romantic, but it casts a somewhat depressing air at Biagio's. read more

Biagio's is open for dine-in service again! Same great chef and friendly personnel! This is our favorite Italian restaurant since discovering it a year or so ago and have been here several times since then. My wife and I had Chicken Scaloppini (my favorite!) and our son had Chicken Alfredo. Delicious! For desert, Banana Cream Pie- wow!!!! This was our first choice after the world opened back up. You won't be disappointed!!! read more

Great atmosphere and the food is always awesome as is the service. It's also nice to watch your meal being prepared while sipping a glass of wine. read more

Had the most amazing Italian meal today! Best I have had since my visit to Italy. We started with the bruschetta. I never eat bread, but the pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella combination was so good, I could not resist. Had three pieces The entrees were equally authentic and delicious. We ordered penne boscaiola, tilapia, pesto pasta, and lasagna. None disappointed. The service and ambiance were welcoming and relaxing. Biagio is amazing. Large portions very reasonably priced. Best meal I have had in a very long time. read more

At first glance, this seems like a cool, hole in the wall trattoria. But it's one of those restaurants on Gordon Ramsay's kitchen nightmares: 1. Waiter forgot that we ordered beer. 2. The bread basket was definitely just white bread out of the bag. 3. Pasta was okay, but a bit over-cooked and needed some salt. Not a surprise that we didn't order dessert. read more

I've loved this place for years. Great food, small menu, quick service, and very fair prices. The white sauces tend to be their specialty, but I've never had anything bad here. You owe it to yourself on a cold day to get some of their italian wedding soup. My wife and I like to go here on dates and each get a cup of soup then split an entree. Desserts are top notch too, but who has room for it? read more

Love Biagios. My husband and I have been there many times. Great service and owner is awesome. They hosted our 50th wedding anniversary for 16 people and our grandsons 18th birthday with at least 15 people. Great service both times. The food is to die for. Would highly recommend Biagios read more

Biagio's Bistro - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Great authentic Italian food! Service was fantastic, and the owner extremely entertaining. Only negative was the parking situation.

Best Italian food I've had in the greater Cincinnati area. Amazing service and very authentic food. Huge portions and daily prices for what you get. If they have the lasagna, I definitely recommend but they run out fast. read more

The Service was really great. I am thankful for such a warm welcome and service. The food was good and was in more than sufficient amount. Everything was fresh and delicious. ONE MUST TRY! read more

Biagio's Bistro - Fettuccine Alfredo with Tomato Basil soup - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Small hole in the wall place but the food is amazing. Limited menu options but they are all made right in house and you can't go wrong with any of them! I had the lasagna this time and the fettuccini Alfredo the last time and both were fantastic. The real reason I came back here was the fact that my boyfriend has never had a cannoli before. It was hands down, the best cannoli I've had outside of NYC. read more

Biagio's Bistro - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Biagio's Bistro is a gem of clifton and great Italian restaurant all around. You walk into the restaurant and are instantly hit with the smell of garlic searing in a pan...amazing! The chef is entertaining to watch as you sit and wait for your meal or eat your delicious meal with a show. I've had the seafood Alfredo and it's delicious. This past time I ordered the Chefs special which was two blackened fillets perfectly cooked and served with a pesto linguini pasta. read more

Biagio's Bistro - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I was on the fence about this place and thought the Yelp photos were so-so. Gave it a shot. So glad that I did! Everything was fantastic. Bruschetta appetizer: perfect. Not too vinegary, just right. Chef's special filet w/ cheese ravioli: perfect. Flavorful, cooked just right. Couldn't stop eating it even after I became full. I hope to order this again. Desert: Chocolate cake. It was so-so, but everyone I know agrees I'm a chocolate snob. Will try something else from the large desert case next time. The tiramisu is much better. I would order it again. It isn't as pretty as the cake but it tastes better. read more

Great food and environment. Amazing for the community too. Last meal I got the steak and it was cooked perfectly. The crust was delicious too. read more

A friend and I went to dinner here while on a girls trip in Cincinnati. We wanted good Italian food and this place did not disappoint! I ordered the Chicken Scallopini and my friend has the Chicken Alfredo. Both were amazing! Bread for the table is included, as well as soup or salad with any entree. We highly recommend visiting! read more

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If I could give this place 10 stars I would. We ate here Friday night and talked about it all weekend. We had the artichoke dip, seafood Alfredo, and tiramisu and it was honestly euphoric. This restaurant will be my excuse to leave Oklahoma and come back to Cincy!! read more

This place is absolutely to die for. Me and my fiancé came down to see my grandparents. They wanted to take us here for dinner. Everything was so mouth watering and the desserts are the bomb dot come. This is very worth the 2 hour drive down. I had the Chicken Alfredo and Cesar salad. You will definitely have left overs for the next time you get hungry or your lunch for work. They cook your pasta right in front of you which was so cool to watch. Made you think you are at the Melting Pot. Everyone is super friendly and the owner treats you like family. This is a true Italian restaurant and worth every penny. read more

Best tomato soup ever. I had a pasta dish that was great. Love how Biagio cooks right there - good place!

My first time, will not be the last. Fantastic food and great value. Had the pesto pasta with chicken and it was outstanding. Probably the beat pesto I've ever had and great fresh pasta. Enough for two. Friendly, cozy feel, great service. Biagio prepares his entrees in an open area of the kitchen near the entrance. My table was six feet away and I enjoyed the 'show' and noticed his communication with his staff and control of the timing of sending out entrees. This is a really well run place with great food at a reasonable price. I highly recommend it. read more

It's been 2 years since I've been to Biagio's but I figured it was time to give it another shot. I entered with an open mind but I left with bad taste in my mouth. It pains me to say this - because I loathe big corporate chain restaurants (I'm looking at you, Lobster Garden) and I know people who love Biagio's - but places like Maggiano's beat the pants off of this dump in nearly every aspect. (1) Atmosphere. There is NONE. This is a converted Hallmark store that still maintains the pegboard walls where card displays used to hang. The ceilings are covered with water stains and mold. The "kitchen" is a glorified omelette station from a hotel buffet. Plates and silver are a mish-mash of cheap dimestore stuff, a lot of it seems swiped from the dining halls at UC. Wine glasses were dusty. Biago may be the atmosphere, but not when I've been there. Despite the small crowd, he never stopped by to say hi. (2) Food. There is so little attention to detail here that it is downright laughable. The difference between the "house" salad and the "Greek" salad? Feta cheese. Both are romaine, chopped tomatoes, and canned olives. What's in the Caesar you ask? Just romaine. The special I ordered was described as a grilled mahi-mahi over a Mediterranean pasta. The mahi was cooked properly, but it was a poor cut of fish with the skin left on. The Mediterranean pasta consisted of overcooked egg noodles mixed with the previously mentioned canned olives and tomatoes. I'm still trying to figure out how canned California olives translates to the Mediterranean. I was thinking at a bare minimum I'd be getting Kalamata. The overcooked egg noodles were also used in my wife's Chicken Fettucine Alfredo (not fettucine) and another pasta dish ordered by a friend. The chicken was reheated and overdone. None of these had any flavor to speak of. (3) Service. Friendly and attentive but ignorant of the menu and really no attention to detail. Instead of clearing our appetizer/salad plates and then bringing dinner, she scooted them over and served our entrees. When we asked about dessert, she told us we should walk up to the dessert case at the front of the restaurant and see what they had. If Biago's were a cafeteria, I would probably forgive many of its failings and appreciate the "eclectic Ludlow vibe." But at a cafeteria, I would be serving myself. At a cafeteria, I would expect the food to be overcooked and sitting around waiting to be reheated. Checking out the dessert case would seem like the perfectly reasonable thing to do. And it would all be fine, because I paid less than $10. But Biagio's is NOT a cafeteria. It's a sit-down restaurant where the average price for entrees is $17+. A dinner for two, with appetizer, drinks, and dessert is going to run you $60 before tip. That's highway robbery whether you've been to Italy or not. For the record, I've been to Italy 4 times. And unlike Biagio's, I'll go back. read more

I have walked past this place about 873 times in the past few years while living in Clifton, and didn't stop in for dinner, until a friend suggested it, and then I was there again a month later! What a great option on Ludlow! I've had sandwiches, pasta, and soup and all were good-the pastas have probably been my favorite. Portions are sizable, but not overwhelming and not paltry. All were prepared with great care. The tomato soup was good, but didn't change my life. What I think sells me on this place is the ambiance. The bistro/cafe ambiance with dim lighting keeps this place great for a quiet dinner. This can be hard to find in Clifton. There's one or two seating areas for larger parties which can be boisterous, but there's also more intimate tables on the right side. If the delicious food and ambiance were not enough, the element that set (both of my) visits over the top was the service. The servers demonstrated great consideration and intuition while I was there, having lengthy conversations with my companions, we were not interrupted, not pestered when we hadn't opened the menu for the first thirty minutes after sitting down while we caught up over drinks. And, as the conversation continued, we were not brought the check to push us out while we sat and talked after our meal. Great option for lunch or dinner, catching up with a friend, or a date! read more

Okay, I'm not really sure what's wrong with everyone else who reviewed this restaurant (besides Lily D.), but Biagio's is by far the best Italian restaurant I've ever eaten at in this city. I'm from a long line of Italians, and their marinara sauce is absolutely divine. It's the closest thing you can get to Italy in Cincinnati. It tastes just like my grandmother's recipe straight from Sicily. I went to Biagio's for the first time last night, in celebration of my birthday. I ate lasagna, which was one of the chef's specials for the night. It was absolutely marvelous. One of the people I was with had the pesto pasta, which was equally delectable. I've heard the dessert was marvelous, but unfortunately we didn't get any. There was cake at home. I'm going to use that as my excuse to go back! I snuck a glimpse at the dessert case on the way out - the tiramisu looked to die for. It's my favorite dessert, and I definitely want to try it at Biagio's. The atmosphere at Biagio's is perfect for a small Italian restaurant. It's small, quaint and dimly lit. The only thing I would caution people about is that it may be a good idea to make a reservation if you're going on a Friday or Saturday night. We made a reservation, and I'm certainly glad we did because we chose from about four tables. Also, some of the tables are in a corner and are somewhat confined, so you may want to let them know when you make a reservation if you want a more spacious seat. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and the food was magnificent. I'm looking forward to returning soon and trying some desert! read more

I received a personal message on Facebook from Biagio's Bistro in response to my review of 08/04/10, and wanted to make sure that it got shared with the broader Yelp community, in the name of transparency. I stand by the review that I posted, which reflects an experience that I had at Biagio's in 2009. I do not know what to say to his charges that I did not order what I said I did (see below), unless I have provided incorrect names. I do not wish to get into the semantics of what a pasta with meat sauce is called, or what chicken with lemon sauce should be referred to as. One of the items was a special. And I feel that whatever Biagio has to say to me ought to be made available to all of you as well, since he seems keen to have his say in the matter, to the point of being self righteous and defensive. Has he responded to anyone else's critical remarks with a personalized (and rather accusatory) message? And just curious if this is generally a typical Yelp experience that I should be aware of, as a new user? ---- Hello Sarah.... We appreciate the amount of time and energy that you put into the review you placed on Yelp regarding Biagio's Bistro. Since we are an independently, family owned and operated business we take these types of comments very seriously.... As you might guess we were quite disturbed by your review given the fact that the food items you expressed you ordered and were served are not on our menu nor served in our bistro. "... The flavor of the chicken piccata lacked pizzaz and the chicken was overdone. The simple Itai benchmark of spaghetti with meatballs was flavorless and could have been from a can. If the pasta is fresh, they must be freezing it or something, because the texture was off. We ordered a fried appetizer that arrived soggy and cold. The tiramisu was pedestrian. None of the portions of what we ordered were generous, ....." I am not sure what you are trying to convey with the use of the letters "Itai" however, we do not serve chicken piccata, spaghettii & meatballs nor anything "fried". And, with all due respect, Our Tiramisu is anything but "pedestrian". It is made fresh with real cream, marscapone and other secret ingredients that give it the special taste, texture and flavor that people love. Additionally, your comment - "... None of the portions of what we ordered were generous..." is shocking as one of our biggest comments is that our portions are too large! Perhaps you were confused by the location of the restaurant you were dining in - as there is another restaurant on Ludlow that serves 'italian style" meals but clearly you did not eat those menu items in our restaurant. We are located at 308 Ludlow Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220. If you did in fact eat in our restaurant at some other time, and actually ate something we serve and still did not llike it, then that is your opinion and we can respect that. We simply ask that before you post a review against anyone that you have your facts straight. if you would like to discuss further, please feel free to call me. Regards, Biagio 513.861.4777 read more

I feel compelled to add a review here to offer a counterpoint to the negative reviews that have been left, because this truly is a great little gem of a restaurant. I have never had less than an excellent meal here, and every single friend I have referred has come back raving about the experience. The pasta dishes are fantastic and flavorful (the person who posted that they were "bland" must have been spending too much time at chains like Maggianos, where every dish is over salted) with generous portions and a salad or soup included in the price. I love the pesto pasta with chicken, but have also had several specials (including the Lasagna) that were extraordinary. I've never had a problem with special orders and -- in fact -- have received several dishes not on the menu just by describing what I wanted and letting Biaggio take care of the rest. Plus, the tomato soup is some of the best I've ever had. The actual place itself is functional and clean, with a cafe vibe. The wait staff is mostly college kids (shock -- you're right next to UC) so the level of help can be hit or miss depending on the night, but you expect that eating so close to campus. Having said that, I've never received "bad" service. Ignore the middling reviews, this is the best kept secret in Cincinnati. read more

Coming from an Italian background (my Mom was born and raised in Rome, Italy), I was expecting a lot more from Biagio's food-wise. That being said, it was still one of the more authentic Italian restaurants in the area. I had tomato basil soup (delicious), bruschetta (so-so) and the Greek Salad (good, but nothing special). The service was left to be desired. I didn't have a very respectful waiter and unfortunately, he overcharged me close to ten dollars! Kind of a big mistake to make. I might go back, might not. read more

I came here on a week-night and there were 2 other tables besides me. It was very cozy and quiet, with the subtle sounds of the kitchen. The chef literally was cooking at some stove-burners facing the restaurant so that you could watch him cook. It was pretty neat but he was also watching me... so that was awkward... I wasn't too hungry and didn't want to have to bring any leftovers (planned to go to movie theatre right after) so I only ordered the bowl of tomato bisque (based on many positive reviews) and a side of the house salad and house vinaigrette. The bisque was definitely on the sweet side, but it was very good.. fresh, flavorful, and hearty with a swirl of cream. The salad was very fresh and had your typical fix-ins, but I absolutely loved the house-made vinaigrette despite how simple it was. It reminded me of my mother's dressing, which is primarily vinegar, maybe sugar, and minced garlic. My only complaint about the food was the complimentary bread.. it was very dry and almost stale tasting.. and the butter was just a solid chunk and was difficult to spread. Overall, I was satisfied with my meal and would like to come back and try something else. I am hoping that their pastas are equally delicious! Think tasty home-cooking and don't expect an extravagant, over-dressed Italian meal. read more

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Biagio's. I lived on Ludlow for a few years in college and used to have many lunch dates and anniversary dinners here. As others have mentioned, Biagio is the atmosphere, the owner, the chef, the namesake...and the Vespa owner (if you ever see it parked out front). Biagio is jovial and is often seen talking with customers as he cooks. He even once sent over free dessert when my (now) husband took me there for an anniversary. Tucked in the eclectic gaslight district, the location is fantastic, right across from the Clifton firehouse. The interior decor isn't trying too hard at all, with the vast majority of the decoration being wine bottles and dim lamps. I have always had good luck with the food, but my favorite meal is getting the tomato basil soup with a Greek salad. The soup is out of this world, a bit sweet for some, but I think it has a wonderful depth of flavor. I have also heard that the sandwiches are a great choice, and they come with a side of soup or salad for dinner. Then dessert, this is what dreams are made of! I generally order a cannoli, my favorite dessert. The filling and shell are both always flavorful and very fresh. The tiramisu is beautiful and my husband claims that Biagio's tiramisu is one of the best he has ever had. Last time we ordered it, I couldn't even snap a picture before it was completely consumed. Even though I don't live in Clifton anymore, Biagio's is still a favorite. Try it-But don't expect your typical chain Italian flare. This feels so much more like home, just the way Italian food is meant to be! read more